"Defensive Tactics" by Steve Westover

Here's a fabulous book I just read! Thanks to a good friend, I had the opportunity to read this book (for free!) and participate in a blog tour. So glad I did!

From the back cover:

"Paul Stephens has it all-a wonderful job at the FBI, a potential new girlfriend, Emily, and a great apartment. Even when Jimmy, a friend from the past, unexpectedly ends up on his couch, Paul manages to keep it together, despite Jimmy's eccentric ways and sudden interest in Emily. But when a plan to arrest a corrupt judge puts Emily's life in danger, Paul is forced to make decisions that put everything on the line. And with Jimmy along for the ride, anything can happen as they race to save Emily."


The story begins with Jimmy. Life is going well for him until tragedy strikes. To deal with his pain, he sinks into a life that brings him unhappiness and unstability. For the next few years, he becomes irresponsible, lazy, and unhappy with himself. Then a choice he makes brings him in contact with friends and situations that changes his outlook on life and brings him hope.

This is where we meet Paul and Emily. Two new FBI agents in Kansas City who have eyes for each other, until Jimmy steps into the picture. Paul takes it upon himself to direct Jimmy into turning his life around, but not without some distractions! Emily becomes involved in a case to bring a down a corrupt judge. Not only is her life at stake, but Paul's job is on the line to protect and assist her. Jimmy, who also takes a likeness to Emily wants to help out as well. Soon Paul, Emily and Jimmy along with fellow FBI agents are scrambling to figure out and bring down the 'bad guys.'

This book is action-packed! With unexpected twists and turns, it keeps you turning pages. The development of each main character was done very well. Jimmy learns about honesty, commitment, and second chances at life. Emily learns the value of not compromising her beliefs and becoming the main force in bringing justice to those who deserve it. Paul becomes "the man" in protecting and helping those he cares about, even if it may mean losing his job.

I'm amazed that this is Steve Westover's first novel! I really enjoyed the humor, the suspense, the love triangle and overall, the way he writes. And not very often can you find a story like this with corrupt business owners, judges and FBI agents, that is told in a clean way and with light LDS influence. It was fantastic! Thanks, Steve! Looking forward to your next read!

You can purchase his book here. And to learn more about Steve Westover, you can read his blog.

Coming Soon...

Stay tuned for my review on "Defensive Tactics" by Steve Westover!

Life and its complexities...(is that a real word?)

Do you know how many times I have started to write on this blog and ended up erasing the whole thing because all it contains is my whining? Yes, life kinda sucks right now...has since Richard lost his job in January. He's since worked at a job that paid minimum wage (that totally didn't work! Full time boring work, with no $$ at the end of it!) So now he's working for Rosetta Stone part-time and is making $.75 more! Wow!! We're moving up in the world! The search for a career job seems impossible. Isn't having 2 Masters degrees supposed to land you something in the working world? Apparantly not in our case. :P

This past May we couldn't afford the $1200 rent anymore, or any rent for that matter, so we moved in with Richards parents. Thank goodness for family who have the space and can put up with us for a bit till we can get back on our feet! I have to admit, it's been really hard! I'm trying to be patient, non-judgemental, non-whiney, and try the bloom-where-you're-planted outlook, but wow, I seem to manage to be the complete opposite! I sure hope we're learning whatever it is we're supposed to be learning!

I do have to say (and if I didn't I'd be totally ungrateful!) that we have amazing friends and family in our life that give us love and support and financial help! Without you, I don't know how we'd get through this! Thank you so much! I can't wait for the day when we can turn around and give financial help to those who need it, or surprise someone with a jar full of money on their doorstep, or slip $400 into someone's scriptures, give someone a gift card to a favorite restaurant, take someone's kids clothes shopping, or help someone with their car problems. All this brings tears to my eyes as I remember these things being given to us since March. I feel that the Lord is blessing us, even if it's not always in the way we want. We do have a place to live, the kids are happy and healthy, we have great friends, and our cars are at least in running condition! (Knock on wood!)

When it rains, it....hails!!

Here's our past week (or so):

Wednesday the 27th-Richard hurts his shoulder, ends up in a sling, hurts a lot! Richard finds out he won't move on to phase 3 for Foreign Service (a job we really, really wanted!!!)

Friday the 28th- Richard ends his job with the Joseph Smith Papers project. sniff and yay!

Tuesday the 2nd- Richard has a terrible sore throat, go to doc (no insurance now) Sara goes to doc, infection in her big toe. (weird!) Ethan calls home to say he's sick. Mom is skeptical. Ethan throws up all day. Mom no longer skeptical. Preston comes home sick with sore throat and
tummy ache. Mom is getting very tired and cranky!

Wednesday the 3rd- apply for medicaid. Nope. don't qualify right now. Maybe next month. Apply for unemployment- nope, don't qualify either. Church doesn't pay into unemployment. sigh.

Thursday the 4th- Mom's back goes out on her. Can't move much. Chiropractor will be more expensive now that we don't have insurance. sigh.

Friday the 5th- have to decide what we're going to do about our housing. (Recently found that landlord is raising the rent and he's really sorry.) How the heck to we find somewhere else to live when we're unemployed? We don't want to pay higher because we can't afford it because how do you save on church employment?

So there it is! Thanks for listening. Just nice to vent right now.

It's about time!!

FINALLY!!! I'm back at it! The g-y-m.

At least 3 days a week now and hoping for more. Mondays is step aerobics with some jump rope, ball, and other stuff thrown in between (kicks butt!) Wednesdays is pilates fusion which is where I discovered some muscles right behind my knees! It's been a long time since I've gone to that one and my muscles are really letting me know about that. Then Fridays is Zumba! Soooo fun and super intense. But, I picked up on the moves, now we'll see about fine-tuning those moves and actually look like I know what I'm doing. I know, I know, it takes a few weeks to catch on. Now that I have a friend to go with, it sure makes a difference so we can laugh at each other or with each other and push each other. Hopefully Saturdays will be raquetball and weights with the hubby. He got me a raquet and a cute pink/white glove for Christmas and I'm dying to use it!

The only thing I'm not good at and don't want to do is weights. I HATE weights! I took a power pump class a while back and I was good and actually went quite regularly, but thoroughly didn't enjoy it. Not sure who really does. Then my back had some issues and I had to stop going. It's taken me a while to get my back sorted out so in the meantime, got out of shape and added some more unwanted pounds to the tummy. But, with Richards help, I'm going to try out the weights and see if I can build up the muscles so that the aerobics will have more of an effect on me. Good luck to me!

So here's to the new year and a resolution to lose 20 pounds and feel good! My friend even started up a weight loss group so we can support and be held accountable to each other. We range in weight from 148-214. We have a group weight goal as well as individual goals. I'm also working on 1 treat a day if that, limiting my portion sizes (no seconds), NO sodas or sugary drinks, tons of water, and more protein and veggies.

What I'd like to know is what works for you to lose weight? Any tips that work? Please share! Good luck to all of you who are working on the same resolution!