Pop Goes The Weasel by M.J. Arlidge

Genre:  Adult, Thriller

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

DI Helen Grace returns in Pop Goes the Weasel, the electrifying new thriller from M. J. Arlidge.

The body of a middle-aged man is discovered in Southampton's red-light district - horrifically mutilated, with his heart removed.

Hours later - and barely cold - the heart arrives with his wife and children by courier.

A pattern emerges when another male victim is found dead and eviscerated, his heart delivered soon afterwards.

The media call it Jack the Ripper in reverse; revenge against the men who lead sordid double lives visiting prostitutes. For Grace, only one thing is certain: there's a vicious serial-killer at large who must be halted at all costs . . .

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Helen Grace Series.  I didn’t read the first book.  I loved that the chapters were short yet full of intensity. In this book we have a serial killer who is killing men who have visited prostitutes. What was disturbing was that the killer keeps sending body parts to the victims’ families. I loved this because it was just creepy enough to keep me reading, turning pages as quickly as I could.  The author has done a great job of creating characters that have flaws. This makes them more believable. If you like lots of description in your books then this is the book for you. I can’t wait to see what cases Helen Grace has in the next book, “The Doll’s House”. I feel like I definitely must go back and read the first book in the series.  I will leave this warning. This book is quite a bit on the dark side. Maybe that is why I liked it.

Fat Free For Life: 13 Principles for Guaranteed Weight Loss and Ultimate Health by Braxton Cosby DPT

Genre:  Nonfiction, Self-help
Source: I purchased a copy

If you are looking for a book that will help you set and keep your weight loss goals, then look no further. This book focuses on the whole you. In his book Braxton starts off talking about a time he had to face a persistent painn. It hampered his ability to do things. He finally realized he was dealing with fear. The fear of the pain was so real in his mind that it prevented him from moving forward.. He learned to move past the fear and the pain.  When I read that I really needed to hear it. I had stopped working out. I am facing double knee surgery  in about three months.  The procedures they had tried on my knees had stopped working. A few hours on my feet meant almost unbearable pain, so the idea of working out, doing my therapy, using my recumbent bike was out the window. When I realized that it was the fear of the pain that was keeping me from doing what I knew I needed to do, I took action.  After working out on my bike I realized that the knees actually felt better.

Through this book the idea that I had to have a solid plan and  be willing to execute that plan ws reinforced. I loved that Braxton reinforced my Christian beliefs that I must get my strength from god because this is definitely the hardest battle I've had to face. One of my favorite parts of this book is the "Cosby Corner" found throughout. He had one named "Why You Shouldn't Trust Yourself". He made a point that saying "I'll have just one" wo't work. I laughed because I knew how true this was. When i decided to make changes in the way I ate, I made a conscious decision to never eat another cream horn. This was before I decided to throw out ALL sugar.  I told my husband of my decision and he said he would help me by justing letting me have one. I reminded hi the last tie he said and did that I ate all six of them in one hour. There are some foods that I had to make totally off limits because I can't trust myself to eat just one.

Another important chapter to me ws Chatper 9 "Buddy Up"
this chapter encourages you to find an accountability partner. this is so important. When I began my journey into eating a Paleo Diet my husband not only supported me but joined me. He decided we would all eat this way. My83 year-old  mother lives with us and has lost 17 pounds just by eating what we eat.  After I finished my 30 day challenge with Braxton Cosby, I joined a challenge at school with some of my fellow teachers.  The motivation and lessons I learned from this book is what I will pass on to my friends and colleagues when I recommend this book to them.

So I have to ask you. Are you ready to set and keep your weight loss goals? Then purchase this book and get started.

The Key to Tartarus by Nancy Richardson Fischer

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

When Evangeline's best friend and "almost" boyfriend Raphe is kidnapped by a sinister, supernatural being, she must use her magical powers and wits to try to save him. Her journey takes her into a mythical underworld where she battles furious spirits, her own self-doubts, and ancient, cruel Gods, as she struggles to find Raphe. In the end she will be forced to make an unbearable choice. Either save Raphe, or condemn him, and others she cares about, to be tortured for eternity...

My Review:

How far would you be willing to go to save a friend. Would you go to Tartarus, the pit below hell? Evangeline, the latest descendant from Pandora does just that.  She has already lost so much. She lost her best friend who belonged to a secret sect that exists to protect her and all descendant of Pandora.  When people stopped believing in the Gods they began to wither away. Zeus has never forgiven Pandora for trapping annihilation in the box. He will do anything to make that happen. If he can just kill the one who holds Pandora’s key, then someone else will be able to take the key and open the box.

Zeus earns Evangeline’s trust. As an old man receiving chemo, he has convinced her to read to him. She is a volunteer at the hospital where her current guardian, a doctor works. This is the same doctor who is helping to keep her mother alive as Evangeline tries to find a way to break  the curse Zeus placed on her and her ancestors.  When he convinces Evangeline to bring her best friend Raphe to the hospital things are set in motion. A gate to the underworld appears in his room. He grabs Raphe and goes through the gate.  Even though it may cost her the life everyone is trying to save, she goes anyway.  The only other way to enter the underworld is to die. Many will be willing to sacrifice their lives so that she can live. Zeus is sure to change the rules if Evangeline is to survive.

This is the second book in the trilogy. The third book “Fate’s Key” will be out this spring. This series is a definite must read.  The first book sucks you in, the second book thrusts you forward into her life and adventures, making you want her to succeed for all of mankind.  What will the third book hold? I guess that in some ways we are all like Pandora, curious.  It is this curiosity that will drive you to read this series.