Book Review: Steele Resolve

Get it here: Steele

Wow, finally a different type of Crime Novel. If you were looking for those Main Characters in a book that are a member of the LGBT community, (because we all know there are so few out there and the ones that are, are completely overblown) then look no further. Detective Steele is a no-nonsense, down to earth, competent person, and yet she struggles with life’s hardball’s just as the rest of us. Recently she had to become the guardian of her nephew due to her brother’s death and she is reeling with the responsibilities while trying to solve what looks like a Serial Killer running rampant in her town.

The twists and turns in this novel, as well as the heartache, grief and compassion will keep you on the edge of your seat and will grip you until the very end. And what an end it is, I never saw the twist of who it was coming, and that made this book that much more enjoyable for me. I like it when a book can surprise me and I will certainly be picking up the next book. This will go on my series to watch list.

Etsy Find: Turquoise Pendant

Here is a Beautiful Turquoise Pendant:

Etsy Store: OfftheNeedle

Book Review: The Love Magnet Rules

Get it here: 101 Love Tips

Mr. Stone has created a compilation of tips for finding and dating that special someone. I found his book to be humorous in some of his word choices (don’t be a jerk, lol) and most of the tips were what I consider to be common sense. But there were plenty that made me think, made me realize I hadn’t considered that, and the section on Internet Dating as well as Social Media is a valuable tool for everyone in the Dating “Game”.

I have already given this book to a friend of mine and will hop that she takes these tips to heart, truly follows them and finds her true love. For myself, this book was a personal reminder (As I’m married) to continue to treat my husband as if he were truly that special someone, to not get complacent and slack off in the intimacy department. We all want to be treated well and as Mr. Stone says: If they are special, treat them as such. 

Book Review: For those in the shade

Get it here: Shade

So this is the second book in the dead bank diary series.  I wanted to give the series another chance even though the first book was a struggle at times to read.  I think with this book the author redeemed the series.  I was able to follow along and even though there are still sentence structure errors throughout the whole book, they are not as distracting (or I simply got used to them) as they were in the first book.

The story follows Anna the "middleman" and her new companion Marc as they try to unravel the mystery of who tried to break into Illya's bank, as well as what they were trying to do there.  The emphasis on financial information was less pronounced than in the first book and there was more intrigue and mystery and “who dun it”, which I think helped make this book more interesting to me and easier to read. If you didn't read the first book you can jump right in here, there is a little over view in the beginning that will help you figure out who is who. 

Book Review: The Float Tank Cure

Get it here: Float Tank Cure

(Self-Help/Biography)

I recall hearing about this a few months ago, so I was curious about it and when I saw this book I figured, why not? I’m glad I got it because Mr. Scott truly explains what this is all about. Does it seem strange? Does the idea of disconnecting from the external world and lying in a dark room floating in a salt water tub even frighten me a little? Sure, but I am willing to give it a try after Mr. Scott has laid out all the benefits: a proven way to reduce pain, enhance your physical recovery and a way to disconnect from the world.

I’m also getting this book in the paperback format to give to my husband who suffers from anxiety and has never liked the side effects the medicines give him. He will be able to benefit from the wisdom imparted here. And maybe Mr. Scott will have persuaded him to give this a try? I’ve already looked up the nearest float center and will be giving them a call.

This book is not your typical “self-help” book, it is Mr. Scott’s story of how he discovered floating, the benefits he was able to reap from it and how he was able to eventually bring it to others in an affordable way. This book I think is best for us newcomers to take away that strangeness and get us acquainted with what Floating really is all about.

Book Review: the Heartbeat Thief

Get it here: Heartbeat

I'm Back from vacation and here is the first review and personally: What A Book!

I positively devoured this book. A weekend and it was over and I was left with a satisfying afterglow from the story. Even though the reading of this story was pleasant and entertaining, the premise of the story, the pondering upon the meaning of death, leaves you with a sense of reflection and makes you wonder how exactly you are living your life and how Death ultimately fits into your plans. Are you afraid of Death?

Young Senza, at the tender age of 18 makes a deal with the mysterious Mr. Knell and her life is never the same. Will she find love or ruin? Has she truly cheated Death?

Using Death as an old friend, an old lover, this topic has been done and written about before, true, but never in such a manner. This book was refreshing and at first I picked it up thinking maybe it might be a novel akin to a vampiristic theme, but it never went towards the macabre other when our main character met and dealt with a certain mass murdered in London. Even though it wasn’t what I was expecting, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to any of my friends. 

Book Review: The Strange Attractor

Get it here: Strange Attractor

What a Plot! This one took me awhile to get into, to understand the characters and their relationships. Mr. Dobie is a strange fellow in my eyes, but that gives him a certain charm. There are some funny moments, such as when he is arguing with the detectives about the “other woman”.  It wasn’t until then in the story that I truly got into it and the book took off for me. Everything else beforehand seemed to drag on a bit. Maybe because Mr. Dobie, a Mathematics professor, was out of step with the rest of the world, he was perpetually looking at the rest of us through his mathematical viewpoint.

Once pulled in however, the mystery of the “who dun it”, why did his former student kill him self, how did the “other woman’s” body end up in his bedroom will keep you glued to the pages in an effort to figure out each minute detail for yourself. By the protagonist being a math’s professor, there is much mathematical language in here that might put some people off, but it is well worth it sticking it out until the end. I’m glad I did!

Book Review: Love on a boat

Get it here: Love on a Boat

What a great story! I really enjoy romance novels, in the Mediterranean, its sort of my thing having grown up in Europe, so this story was spot on for me. The characters drew you in and I was rooting for Flynn and Kate a few chapters in. The little details in the book; that flesh the characters out are believable and give it that little extra something.

It was the first time reading a romance that took place primarily on a boat/yacht and the pier, but I wasn’t left behind with unfamiliar terms or descriptions. I think the author really kept it simple and focused the plot on the relationships between the people and how it evolved and I loved that.

The romance in this book builds, like a crescendo until the very end and it survives some life and death situations. There’s also a minor romance in here between Steve and his wife Donna and it is nice to see how it works out for them in the end. A great read for the end of summer (kids off to school and you’ll have some time to read).

Book Review: Bits and Pieces

Get it here: Bits and Pieces

This is an interesting collection of short stories and some of them were extremely interesting whereas others were not. The book is divided into three “parts” and there is a story for everyone. Even though I did not like every short story there were some that really drew me in. Due to the slow pacing of the book overall, some stories felt like they were dragging on and on.

Other than that, the stories are well written and the transition is so smooth between some stories that I had to flip back a few pages to ensure it was really a different character. I think the main premise from this book is that here are a collection of stories of everyday life’s problems and how the individual characters handle them. My favorite two stories were about the accountant and the one about Amala because I could identify with them the most. 

Book Review: Birth of an Assassin:

Get it here: Birth of an Assassin

Jez and Anna are the main POV in this book along with come other dicey characters that have a hatred for Jews (Jez being the main one affected, although Anna does get caught up with it somewhat). Jez, has his heart set on joining the Russian army and is disillusioned with any type of religious zeal his family has. Through some (for him) fortunate circumstances, he finds his career skyrocketed through the ranks with choice posts wherever he wants and thus he comes into the spotlight of Otto, who will stop at nothing to destroy Jez.  

Having read the other book by Mr. Stone, (The Turkish connection), I had high hopes for this book and Mr. Stone sure didn’t disappoint. The story telling was superb and the plot was believable. Even though there are references and connections to the Turkish Connection, you do not have to read that book to enjoy this one. I am hoping that there will be another book in this series, I truly enjoy the world building and the unique characters. I recommended that book and I recommend this one as well. 

Some New items:

Here are the latest picks from my Store:

99 bead Tasbih

99 Bead Tasbih, assorted, going to a local shop for selling

108 Bead Wood and Tree Agate Mala

Tree Agate Mala 108 Bead

2 Special Request Rosaries

Book Review: The Traveler

Get it here: Traveler

Ever since I had watched the Looper movie I have been fascinated with the Time travelling stories. I think that they bring such a wonderful “what if” quality to our lives and this book, The Traveler has certainly delivered. You meet Dan who discovers that he suddenly unlocks this hidden power he has to travel to the past. He cannot resist visiting his hometown of the past, just to “relive old memories”. One thing leads to another and he severely mucks things up both in the past and therefore in the future.

I know some reviewers didn’t like the ending but I did, it ties things off if the author is done, but also leaves him a nice place t pick up in case he wants to start another story with Dan, maybe one where he joins “Thomas” in his profession? Characters were fleshed out and even though this is a Sci-Fi book, the (shocking) twists are still somewhat believable.

An enjoyable story, guaranteed to leave you turning the pages to see what will happen next! If you could travel through time, would you?

Book Review: One before Bedtime

Get it here: One Before Bedtime

This is a collection of short stories, each just about the length of a chapter. They cover everything from mysteries, thrillers, horror, ghost stories, tragedies and skepticism. They are all very well written, and even though they do not relate to each other I found that I was spell bound by this book, I kept turning the pages, and kept on reading. The title of the book is aptly named, you will want to finish just one more before bedtime, but it will turn into two, three and so on.

The words are written well and easy to understand, I only had to look up one word in this book. The stories, even though they are not related are structured in such a way as if one leads to another and so on until you reach the last one, the climax of the book. I truly enjoyed this book, just wish it were longer, or at least that some of the stories would have been given one or two more chapters.

Book Review: The Avocadonine and Spring Stone

Get it Here: Avocadonine

This is a good mystery story, as well as a representation of high school life for Rey Naresh and his friends. He gets a reading from a gypsy at a young age and that reading, strange as it was becomes important in his life when he reaches the 9^th grade. This is a great mystery about a lady from Russia who is trying to gain control of the youngster’s minds once they reach 9^th grade, not just in Rey’s hometown, but eventually all over the world. She wants this so that she can “help children become better and smarter”.

I kept thinking that if you take all those post apocalyptic novels (like Maze Runner, The Giver, Insurgent) and rewind a few hundred years, this is how it might all have begun. With a simple idea from someone trying to me it all “better”.

I did like this book; it was well written, had a good flow and will definitely be picked up by younger readers. You are drawn in and follow along with the kids as they try to unravel the mystery, find out just who is involved and how and ultimately try to stop the plot. It’s a great book and a unique story well worth taking your time checking out. 

Book Review: A Simple Soul

Get it here: Simple Soul

The story is grand, the characters detailed, the plot seamless. This book has the writing style that transports you to Russia, lets you follow the characters and does not distract with poor spelling or errors. I did like this story and found the plot, characters and setting to be both interesting and detailed. The love story between Elizaveta and Timofey was full of passion, disappointment, strategy and turmoil. The ending is satisfying and ties up all the plentiful plot twists.

I loved reading Anna Karenina as a young adult and I really like the grand sweeping majesty of other Russian Novels. This one, however, came up short in my book. Mainly because it was so long with so much detail that I felt like I was being given 5-6 pages in background and history for each character that easily could have been summarized in one or most 2 pages. I understand that the way this book was written that it flows better that way, but I do believe it could’ve been abbreviated in a few spots. 

Etsy Store Picks:

Here's the link: OfftheNeedle

Tasbih and Mala I made yesterday. The mala is for sale on Etsy, The Tasbih was given to a friend of mine. 

108 Bead Mala

99 Bead Tasbih

Book Review: The Ancient Ones

Get it here: The Ancient Ones

This story is a wonderfully exciting and thrilling Sci-Fi meets Fantasy story. I would actually categorize it in with the Epics. You liked Game of Thrones, Prometheus or even the Hunger Games? Then you will love this story. It brings grand sweeping world building along with intricate plots and betrayals and ultimately redemption. I loved this story, and I was sad it ended. In the last bit of the book I kept checking to see how much of it was left because I wanted to know how much time I had left with the characters I had come to care for.

The story is centered around Tianna Collins, a young girl, on verge of graduation and seeking to become a lumia apprentice. However, destiny (in the form of her former childhood companion) has other plans. She will be led on a wild chase across many worlds in search of her true identity, the mystery of her murdered parents and the unraveling of a diabolical plot that reaches up into the very ranks of the Ancient ones themselves. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book; you will love it as much as I did!

Made some Earring Sets...

Another Tasbih..

I just love making these.. They are so quick and each one is different and has its own unique touches:

Book Review: She only speaks to Butterflies

Get it here: Butterflies

What an amazing read! This is an overall wholesome story, there's a lot of small town gossip, a lot of love and faith and compassion and hardship as well. There's a mystery of who is setting the fires within the town, there's newcomers and then there's the questions of will this lady's daughter ever speak again or will she forever be struck mute by her fathers traumatic death.

I really like the story; its a refreshing one, there's not a whole lot of eroticism so if that's what you're looking for then this is not the book for you. This was a good book based upon Family Values, friendship, community, neighbors-helping-neighbors, basically everything that a small town stands for is what you get here. The characters are fleshed out and believable you truly do care and feel with the mother Sherry about her daughter and the hardship she faces and she's a grieving widow as well so you get parts of that story too. I also was able to really laugh with the characters in the book when the story brought a little more joy and humor to lighten up the mood. And I loved the ending, simply said it was perfect.

Two new Bracelets...

Book Review: Harry Watts, Bounty Hunter

Get it Here: Harry Watt

Written in the style of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, this book will entertain you and leave you shaking with laughter as you follow the incredible story of Harold (Aka Harry) Alphonse Watt, Bounty Hunter, as he tries to accomplish a job and stay out of trouble. How can he help it if trouble just seems to want to follow him to Venus and Mars? Fleshed out Characters, engaging back stories and interactions between them all will leave you caring about the mission and rooting for Harry as he goes about his business.

There are one liners and pop culture references abound in this book (Dr. Noe, anyone?) and they are not cheesy, they really do fit in the story. I found his remarkable prowess with the ladies to be a bit farfetched, but hey, it’s a story so I went along with it. This is the first in a series, so you will have to hang on to find out what will happen, will civil war break out? Will Harry end up back with Sybill? Will he ever have a meaningful relationship with his daughter? Tune in next time folks!

Recent items

Here are some of the thing that have been recently created in the OfftheNeedle Shop.

If you like any of it head on over...

Tree of Life Pendant

Bracelet

Wash/Dish Cloth Set

Bracelet

Book Review: Enough

Get it here: Enough

I’m really conflicted about this book…

I love the story and think this is such an incredible story that everyone should read. Everyone in the US should be familiar with the circumstances surrounding private Slovik’s execution. He was (as the author remarks in the end) a very self-absorbed man, constantly be wooing him self (“They are out to get me” rhetoric) regardless of what others may be suffering. His wife had two miscarriages and is suffering medically and here he is saying they’ve had it in for me hon, never mind your hardships. I actually would say he reminds me of someone suffering from depression.

But, in the end he did make some very poor choices and even though at the time of his execution there were 49 other death sentences, his was the only one carried out. And the fact that no one had been executed for desertion since 1864, and no one since, does make you think about how maybe writing a confession about things you never actually did isn’t such a good thing.

What I wasn’t crazy about is the flow of the story, you start out with the viewpoint of a witness at the execution, then work your way back to before, around the time he and his wife met and then you work your way back towards the execution ending with one of the executioners. The different view points in each chapter threw me off on the going back part, once the story was turning back to the actual flow of events, it wasn’t as bad, but all that in itself made it hard for me to read this book and I think detracts from the story. Others might be fine with it and even think that this disjointed way of presenting the story even adds more to it.

Book Review: Hat of Keepings

Get it here: Keepings

An interesting and dare I say it: “Spellbinding story”?! Jane and Sara, two teenage Witches stumble upon a murder in progress and get pulled into a devious plot of a Blood witch trying to recover the Perigon Amulet. The two girls are at first not believed by the adult witches, but after a Jane gets her memory erased, Sara ends up being helped by the head witch Melissa, the guardian of their coven.

Teenage readers will gobble this book up for the interactions between the characters, the excellent story and the heartbreak between the two girls in their relationship with each other. There is a betrayal, lost family members found and an epic battle that was frozen in time, reignited with the classical good vs. evil.

This was a fast and entertaining book and it looks lie (according to the epilogue) that the story isn’t over, that maybe more is to come. The author did tie up any loose ends and plot twists that were left hanging so you can certainly read this book as a stand alone if you wanted. 

Book Review: Murran

Get it here: Murran

This was a very, very interesting story. It was very well researched and all the characters feel flushed out and you are able to care about them very quickly. Having grown up in a different country coming to the US; I fully understand the conflicts of self identification Trey as well as Mr. Jackson went through. The different cultures and settings: Africa vs New York were very gripping, detailed and interesting to read. You almost felt as if you stood right there in the story with them. I really truly enjoyed the story and I couldn't wait to find out how what Trey would ultimately do with his life: would he stay in Africa with the Maasai or would he return to New York to face the consequences of his decisions in life?

Early in the story as we follow his decisions in life we could almost noticeably root for him and yell at him for being an idiot and to not throw his life away and that of his sister and for him to be a man and stand up to the gangs. I do understand that those are hard things to do and it's easier to just tell somebody to do something when you're not the one standing there having to live with the consequences of standing up to the gangs. Ultimately this is a really good read and I think this might be a very good one for young teenagers as well as adults to get a sense of the definition of what is a warrior; what are the Warriors weapons and how are the cultures different in Kenya vs the USA...

Book Review: The Turkish Connection

Get it here: Turkish Connection

This novel is a fantastic read! The writing, plot, characters are all simply amazing! The story keeps you gripped right from the first few pages, the characters are all well fleshed out and described you could imagine them standing right next to you. I could not put this book down even though I dreaded to turn that page knowing each one brought me closer to the end! I truly enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading the other books by this author.

Mehmet has a rough start in life, but what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, right? Well in this book that sentiment is embraced by all characters, it’s a gritty world, dog eat dog fighting for survival every day. With Yuri, Mehmet finds a little reprieve and almost something akin to an apprenticeship. And so we follow him along, through the good times and the bad, and watch as he evolves his thinking, his morals and his will to survive. 

Book Review: The Dead Bank Diary

Get it here: Dead Bank Diaries

The characters are fleshed out and you get just enough back stories on them to know who's who and how they work together and their relationships but you're not bogged down with too much information. The story takes place in Moscow and has to do with the money flow between banks and how people’s lives are changed as they try to stay alive and make deals however they can.  

Overall this story follows Anna, a “middleman” as well as her partners Peter and Igor as they're trying to make money and how the world has changed from when they started getting rich in the business to now, how it currently is.

I think this has a really good story and plot to it, it's pretty mysterious but the poor translation/editing really detracts from the story and didn't let me get into the flow of the events. I truly hope that there will be a follow-up book, or maybe this is the first in a series so that some of the loose ends will be tidied up. 

Book Review: She's all caught up!

Get it here: All caught up!

This is a memoir from Jamila Davis, chronicling her life up until and beyond her capture and incarceration for a Bank Fraud Scheme. It shows how our choices in life (good and bad) come with very real repercussions. It follows along, showing how she grew up, her ever changing circle of friends and family and how all of this can easily influence a young child.
I really was able to sympathize and put myself into Jamila shoes since I went through many of the same phases as she did in life. I ended up having help with my family who taught me the hard way to knock all my nonsense off, and for her, her choices led to where she is now. But she is still a strong, smart and resourceful woman and I would encourage any young teenager to read this book. They will quickly learn how you can think you are all that and noone can touch you but you are always only a few steps ahead of the consequences of your actions and if you trip up they are going to catch you! I will make my children read this book when they are old enough, that's for sure!

Book Review: At the Sharp End of Lightning

Get it here: At the End of Lightning

What a Fantastical new world we have been introduced to here! Imagine that there are four worlds, each lying on top of each other with Daimanland, Humana World and two worlds full of sprites living in Oceanlight and Forestlight. There is“thinness” in between the worlds and the pollution form ours is slowly seeping into the others. Helia from Forestlight and Yalara from Oceanlight are on quests to try and stop the pollutions and save their respective worlds.

This is the first Fantasy novel I have read that had an environmentally conscious undertone to it and that made it very very interesting. This is very well written although some of the word choices made me use the dictionary to look up the meanings to better understand the usage. I wouldn’t let this deter you from reading this book. It has some very unique Ideas about our relationship with our own earth. The only thing I didn’t like the many loose ends in the plot, it didn’t really advance much throughout the book but it was still a great book.

Book Review Tuna Life

Get it here: Tuna Life

What do several missing girls, an accountant-turned-CEO of a Tech start-up, a Russian Businessman and two nosy reporters have in common? Well, tuna life draws them all together in a thrilling masterpiece set in Australia amongst the new Tech scene of start up companies all wanting to make the quick extra dollar on new Apps.

The characters are complex and you are kept guessing till the very end (even after a very climactic scene) about who was behind the murders. And it has the ultimate twist; I tell you it is worth the wait to finish this book. I enjoyed the story, it had me gripped the entire time and it was a bitter sweet moment when I reached the end. This is a great story; about how money corrupts, the loss of our privacy with each new app and social media sensation and what happens when the killer is hiding amongst us ordinary people? Is killing ever truly justified?

Book Review: The 8th Journal

Get it here: The 8th Journal

This coming of age mystery story follows Holly as her world is rocked: She finds out she is adopted and her late biological mother wants her to finish the hit series she published. Talk about high expectations! Holly is relatable; esp. to young adults entering their college years, the uncertainty of life and what to make of it can be daunting for all of us.

A maze of Family secrets, puzzles and dangerous incidents will have our main Lady and her closest friends Johan, T.J., Gilbert and the Professor on their toes trying to solve the mystery while staying ahead from a stalker, and the press.

Other than the odd really narrow format, I enjoyed this book immensely. I loved reading the satisfying ending where the characters all get a happy ending. I wouldn’t mind to read another book about Holly’s adventures.

Intrigue, humor and a fresh perspective in a seen it all, read it all mystery market. This new author is someone we have been subconsciously craving and seeking but never found: Until Now! 

Book Review: Lethal Authority

Get it here: Lethal

This is a classic who done it thriller set in the military and intelligence community. The first chapter does a fantastic job of orienting you within the series and setting up the back-story. You get to know the main character and his back-story and start to care for him and his friends (and possible lover?).

Semi-Spoiler alert: It was rather convenient how, in the story older, more experienced agents from different agencies started to defer to the main character even though he hadn't fully graduated from the training program yet... I don't know how plausible that is, but it did help to keep the story flowing as they followed up less and then worked together and hunted down the bad guys. The ending was very satisfying in how it tied up all loose ends but it did introduce some new plot lines in the last chapter that will be answered in the next book.  Overall, a satisfying good read that will keep you engrossed from cover to cover.

Book Review: South of Good

Get it here: South of Good

This was a very interesting and entertaining book and I enjoyed the story immensely. The well thought plot keeps you reeled in to the very end. There is action, humor, betrayal and even a little romance. You can truly imagine the characters and their reactions to the situations they have to face since they are very fleshed out and realistic.
The plot follows Hardin, a local south Texas sheriff and his friends when they get themselves into a bit of trouble early in the story. As we follow along, the trouble just keeps snowballing from there. Throughout this story Hardin's girlfriend gets kidnapped, a few people get killed and someone inherits a lot of money. Many things happen and the situations keep coming, but Harding and his "posse" deal with it all and handle it with humor and bravado.
This is a great law enforcement themed (DEA, Coast Guard, Sheriff) read, the classical good guys vs. bad guys and the Good Guys will prevail! (But how battered they will be, and who will ultimately be left standing you have to read to find out!)

Long-term Projects..

We're talking serious long-term. I've re-started this King Size Blanket for my Dad I started back in Spring of 2011.
..
Yes, thats right: Spring of 2011.
..
This blanket has almost taken on a life of its own in my humble opinion. It is a beautiful pattern, but a bit monotone, and having two under 3 kids running around the house certainly doesn't help. not when they LOVE playing with yarn. Somehow the pieces of yarn Mom cuts off are not as interesting as the yarn she s currently using..

BUT.. I want to finally finish this one and get it out of my house. I have tons of little patterns and projects queued in my Ravelry account and others started laying about the house (I'm sure they drive the hubby nuts each time he sees one. He never mentions them though, Bless his heart) that I want to finish and get done.

So here is the latest pic:

I will be adding more pics as i get more done on it...

As for my other side business? Well, I have a nice selection of Inventory currently and as a Tasbih only takes about an hour or so to make I'll be making more as I sell them. The Rosary that has been requested will have to wait until I get all the supplies in.

Happy Crafting!!

Artsy Fartsy Muslimah: Refashion: 15 Minute Kaftan

Love her ideas!! I have so many Dupattas around that I will never do anything with! Now just onwards to actually following the instructions, lol



Artsy Fartsy Muslimah: Refashion: 15 Minute Kaftan: I love dupattas because of their beautiful colors, fabrics and decorations!  But I do not like to wear them on my head.  There is just...

New Product:

I just finished making these three: 

OfftheNeedle

Book Review: The Fall of Icarus

Get it here: Icarus

This is a compilation of short stories. The first is about a man riding the elevator throughout his day as he comes and goes from the hotel. I took this to be an almost anecdotal tale where if you do not seize the moment and opportunity as it is in front of you, you will come back to it in your mind later asking yourself: why did I not take it? A good question, too many of us nowadays are on autopilot and not spontaneous enough to fully enjoy life.
The second story is more a sort of alternate view from the author of how he envisions how the Tale of Icarus played out.
The third story is a telling of a tale by an archivist to an elderly couple of a Girl who learns to fly. These are really nice, thought provoking stories. I loved reading these and then sitting with my thoughts and figuring out how I would have reacted in those situations, as well as how I can take what was learned (the regrets and discoveries) in the stories and apply it to my life. How maybe the “safe, middle” path is not the best one to take, maybe be a little more spontaneous in life to truly live.

99 Bead Tasbih

Glass crystal beads, 8mm, silver tassel

Selling things on Pinterest?

Here's the link:  http://pin4etsy.kickoffpages.com/?kid=6A1N9

not sure if its going to be the next "thing"

Sneak Peak

Just finished three more Prayer Bead Chains... Heres a sneak peak: (Will be posted in both the Etsy and Ebay stores later today)

Book Review: Soaring

Get it here: Soaring

What an empowering and uplifting read! This book couldn’t have come in a better time for me, I have been experiencing some of the “Baby Blues” and this book really helped me out of the funk! I am able to see each day differently now, enjoy each day and I am able to be more loving to everyone. Not being a member of the catholic faith, there were some biblical verses strewn throughout the book, but they are not “preachy” and do not detract from the main message. No, they help define it!

This book has a step by step program to help you envision and work towards what you want in life. By being more loving towards yourself you are able to fill your life with love. At the end of each chapter, you have simple steps and diagrams on how to integrate the chapters lessons and how to actually use them in real life. There are anecdotal stories from both the author and other people throughout America who have used these steps to turn their lives around to do what they love or are passionate about. They have found a way to visualize where they want to be, and by creating positive thoughts, and empowering reinforcements of their love for themselves they were on their way, they were Soaring!

Book Review: Guardians of Shadows

Get it Here: Guardians of Shadows

This was a hard book to begin reading by itself. I would imagine reading it in the correct order in the series (this is book 8) would be much better. That being said the book is a fantastic story set out in the middle of Space. Ethical Questions such as: “Simply because we have the power to destroy another living sentient race, should we?” And more are asked and explored within the story, taking our heroes on a perilous journey full of wonder, excitement and thrilling action.

Terr the main character has the “hand of Death” a tremendously powerful weapon that can destroy a Spaceship quickly and completely but he struggles to find a balance with this new found power and how to consolidate it in his relationship with Teena. She is kidnapped while they are out on a cultural exchange mission by the Kran, the invading force and he sets out on a dangerous quest to rescue her from deep behind enemy lines.

Ultimately I would recommend purchasing the previous books in this series since the writing is superb, but with having the foreknowledge of what led up to the events in this story it would be more enjoyable. 5Stars for a great story (my mistake for getting this book before the others is not worthy of taking down a star)

The Store has opened:

Either Ebay:amirah1984

or Etsy: Offtheneedle

The store on Ebay has more Items at the Moment... We will see which one sells faster and that will be the one I keep promoting.
Some of the Items I have listed:

Book Review: The Jewel Box

Get it here: Jewel Box

Everything is Big in Texas, Even life!

This was a very interesting and rewarding book. The story reads just like talking with your best friend who is telling you about her day. I quickly started to become engrossed in the different characters and was sad whenever tragedy struck. And like life happening all around you, tragedy did strike often and ruined many things in Cherie’s life. But throughout it all, I found remarkable that she stuck it out, and she got back up and tried again to provide for a better future for her daughter Nikki.

Her good friends were a hoot! I loved the kookiness of Delilah, and she reminds me of one of the friends I have here in TX. Beau, with his witty, smart remarks and quotes from great literature became a father figure to Cherie and helped her through some of the tough times in her life. This story plays out in TX over the 60’s and 70’s and gives many culture references such as music or news flashes like the Vietnam War ending.

As another reviewer said, this story is almost a chick flick in its humor, drama, self deprecating characters and the heartbreak and hope that runs throughout the story. A refreshing read that I would recommend to anyone to add to their summer book list.

Other Bloggers

I'm noticing that most of the bloggers I've been following since 2007 or so are no longer active (insert frowny face). I think it's a sad but undeniable fact to see how the internet effect upon our life (and its importance) ebbs and flows. We used to sit at our computers for hours, "stalking" others blogs, writing our hearts out about so many different issues and now we are mostly absent from the Blog-o-sphere and more focused on the "hip", Tumblr, Facebook, or Twitter...
I know I have had my fair share of absences, but I should be here to stay now that I have had this absence to regroup and refocus...

A great Article:

3 Brilliant Things That May Surprise You About Muslim Women!

Here is an excerpt:

"..the fact is no one would like to be judged or tagged just by a piece of clothing, or by narrow minds. With a little bit more empathy and awareness, we can simply recognize we don't know what kind of amazing stories, minds and human quality may be before eyes;.."

Book Review: A Deadly Deed Grows...

Get it here: A Deadly Deed Grows

This is a fantastic book written in the style of the famous Nancy Drew series. If Nancy was all grown up, that is. You got mystery, thrilling action, romance and good ‘ol fashioned sassy characters. You'll love to hate the bad guys and love and root for the good guys. All the characters are so well fleshed out that you seem to truly start caring for them.

I absolutely liked this book. The romance and mystery was perfectly balanced, each bringing its own elements to the story without being distracting. I couldn't seem to put it down and finished it very quickly, devouring each page. The title I think is really clever. You won't understand it at first, but as you read the book, you'll soon understand how it all plays into the storyline. One of my favorite characters is Claire, her sharp wit and sassy attitude makes the main girl Mira think twice more than once. I’d certainly purchase a book from this author again. 

Book Review: Coercion

Get it here: Coercion

What if, the Espionage, machinations and plotting had continued after the fall of the USSR? As a child of the ‘90’s I pretty much grew up not aware of the cold war around me, but this story still manages to get you to care about the characters, even sympathize with the “bad guys”. You can truly understand why they think going about their plots in this particular should be the right way. But ultimately you are rooting for the Lonesome Private Detective to figure out the intrigue and all the players before he himself gets “taken out” by a devious little device. I am sure you won’t look at routine doctor visits the same.

I couldn’t lose myself within this story. Not like the other books form Mr. Tigner. I can’t even really put my finger on what specifically, maybe because there were so many important players? Regardless, the plot was well thought out, the characters were fleshed out and each had their own distinct personalities. Finally, you have an exhilarating chase around the world with a climax in Siberia. If espionage, Russian Courtships and an unrelenting, SERE trained American hero is your thing, then this is the book for you

Book Review: Betrayal

Get it here: Betrayal

A highly ethical man, Odi is pushed to the limits of his morals when he and his entire team are betrayed while carrying out a covert mission in Iran. Facing death and despair he resolves to seek revenge from those responsible. This leads to a fast-paced race through intrigue, politicking, double-crossing and so much more. His Twin sister is on the other end, working for the FBI and you will have to read the book to see if she ends up hunting him or helping him and ultimately if he succeeds in taking revenge.

A very remarkable and enjoyable read, I finished this book in record time (even with kids running around the house), I barely was able to set it down. Coming from a military background myself I found the facts and details within the book to be believable and realistic. Nothing was farfetched and I was able to understand and imagine this story taking place today among our current political system. The twists and even a major plot turn half way in the story left me saying: “What?!” out loud and chuckling to myself for not having seen it coming. Overall, a very enjoyable thrilling read.

Book Review: Flash

Get it here: Flash - Tim Tigner

Move over James Patterson, Tim Tigner is in town!

An exciting, fast paced thriller written in the style of the Bourne stories. I could barely put this book down it had me so riveted and drawn in from the first chapter. The characters are fleshed out and believable and the story does not seem far fetched that you could not easily put yourself in their shoes.

What would you do if you awoke in a trunk with a dead body not remembering how you got there, much less the last few years of your life?

This intriguing premise is the baseline for the story and it doesn’t unravel, it stays wound up tight as we follow our two lead characters find their way trying to prove their innocence from the Law, while staying a step ahead of a assassin and a brutal lawyer. How the plot twists and turns and keeps you on the edge asking: Is this it? Will he/she not survive this time? The chemistry between our two lead characters is good too, not something that feels forced or unreal. 

Ramadan Kareem!

Book Review: Hellbender

Get it here: Hellbender

If you've been reading along in the series, asking questions and waiting for the answers, well here they are. Many loose plot lines from previous books are tied up in this novel. How things work: magic, Fangborn, and otherwise, as well as our girl Zoe grows up. Figuratively speaking, but she does set standards for herself, starts relying on herself more while still taking advice as compared to earlier books where she desperately was seeking others opinions and trying to shoulder the responsibilities off on others. Here, by the end she takes matters into her own hands (so to speak) and sets things right. She also chooses between Will and Adam…

Really enjoyable book, esp. since the other ones in the series sort of dragged on for me, this book brought them all together and rewarded me for sticking it out. I liked the relatable and fleshed out characters and was able to immerse myself in the world. When the next one comes, I will be looking forward to it. 

Book Review: The Prince

Get it here: The Prince

Man this book has it all: Family Drama and Intrigue, Power Struggles, Action, Heroism and the atypical Good vs. Evil. Set in a Star Wars worthy universe and you have: The Prince: Lucifer's Origins. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next one. Even if you only read this book it has enough in it to be a standalone.
The Sci-Fi elements in this book are not so technical or “out there” that even a novice reader would have difficulties. At the same time there is enough in there to keep you at the edge of your seat throughout the story. I want to write this epic review but I would be giving away major plot spoilers here.
Throughout the story Prince Victor goes through so many trials and each time you ask yourself, is this time going to be the time? Will he perish? Will he get captured? As we follow along as he examines the role his family as “royals” should be playing in the everyday lives of the citizens. Should they rule absolutely? Or is it time to maybe usher in a new era? The writing is spot on with no errors or sentence structure mistakes that would jar you out of the story and the writing is also not boring. There is humor in here as well and you don’t even notice that this book has a grip on you until you are near the end, thinking where did all that time go?
Do yourself a favor and pick this book up… you will enjoy it from cover to cover. I know I did!

Islamic Joke (Repost for Ramadan)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Two men are in the desert, one called Steve and the other James. They have no water, are very thirsty but suddenly notice a Mosque nearby. They decide to go in with James telling Steve, "I'm going to pretend my name is Abdul, otherwise they won't give us anything to eat or drink cos' we're not Muslims. You change your name too." But Steve refused. "I'm not changing my name for anyone! My name's Steve and that's it."

They go in and meet the Imam. "Hi, my name's Abdul and this is Steve."

The Imam replies, "Hello Steve and Assalamu 'alaykum Abdul." He turns to Steve and says, "Come and have some food and water Steve."

He then turns to Abdul and says, "Ramadan Mubarak."

Book Review: Riding

You can find it here: Riding

When I first bought this book I thought it would be a nice quaint story about a family and how working for the IOC shapes their lives over time. This book is that but it is also so much more. It deals with their triumphs and pitfalls, how simple life can throw them a curveball and ultimately how they pick themselves up again.

I was able to identify with the mother, Elizabeth more than I've been able to identify with a character in years. How her life and sense of identity changes: first after her marriage then again after having a child. Following her story, as well as her husband Mario and their son Andre as their lives are shaped, expanded and enriched over the years due to their exposure to the Olympic Games, is a satisfying experience. 

Andre finds passion and acceptance in cycling and overcomes his physical setbacks. Mario is a very responsible man who travels and works very hard to keep his family living comfortably. But through all that he strives to stay close to his wife and son.
As this was a pleasantly surprising and uplifting story I will recommend this book to many of my friends.

Book Review: Tesla

You can find it here: Tesla-Dystopian-Science-Fiction

 While this book is aimed at an audience a little younger than myself, I enjoyed reading it, and found it to be well written. As other youth novels this is a entertaining book and packs in loads of action and plot twists which I enjoy. This book is set in a Post-Apocalyptic World which is getting hotter, and Water is becoming scarcer. Within the story we find Sebastian, a young teenager on a quest for discovery of who he is and what his role will be in the world. After his home is destroyed he is chased by relentless cyborgs and then sheltered by Steam academy. Here he must figure out who his friends are and who is his enemy. Friends such as Melanie, Isaac and the reluctant Gavin help Sebastian as he discovers that there is much more behind the seemingly good will of the Academy then he realizes. The writing is geared towards teenagers so adults won't get too much from this book but I will definitely recommend this book to my younger cousins as a good summer read. The ending is a cliffhanger that will leave you asking how the story continues and if Sebastian will ever get the answers he is looking for.

islamic joke - moral, be honest! lol

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم


Two men are in the desert, one called Steve and the other James. They have no water, are very thirsty but suddenly notice a Mosque nearby. They decide to go in with James telling Steve, "I'm going to pretend my name's Abdul, otherwise they won't give us anything to eat or drink cos' we're not Muslims. You change your name too." But Steve refused. "I'm not changing my name for anyone! My name's Steve and that's it."

They go in and meet the Imam. "Hi, my name's Abdullah and this is Steve."

The Imam replies, "Hello Steve and Assalamu 'alaykum Abdul." He turns to Steve and says, "Come and have some food and water Steve."

He then turns to Abdul and says, "Ramadhan Mubarak."

Some Jokes I found:

Once upon a time there was a female brain cell which, by mistake, happened to end up in a man's head.
She looked around nervously because it was all empty and quiet.
"Hello?" she cried, but no answer.
"Is there anyone here?" she cried a little louder, but still no answer.
Now the female brain cell started to feel alone and scared and yelled at the top of her voice,
"HELLO, IS THERE ANYONE HERE?"
Then she heard a faint voice from far, far away
...


"We're down here ."

______________________________


A boss' best worker named Colin claims he knows absolutely everyone, trying to convince the boss he should get a raise. So the boss goes: ''Riiight, let's go fly to Hollywood and meet... Tom Cruise!''
Colin: ''Sure, me and Tom are good buddies.'' Later, Colin and his boss are in Hollywood and are knocking on Cruise's door. Upon opening the door, Tom shouts: ''Colin! What a great surprise! Please, you and your friend come in and join me for lunch.'' Upon leaving the house, Colin's boss is dumb-founded, but not 100% convinced. So Colin proceeds to say: ''Fine, let's go to President Obama.''
Later that day, Colin and his boss arrive in D.C. Upon entering the White House, Colin gets eye contact with Obama who exclaims: ''Colin! How great to see you! Please, come have a cup of coffee with your friend and I to catch up. So the boss is now 90% assured that Colin does in fact know everyone. So as one last attempt, the boss challenges Colin to have known the Pope personally. Colin says: ''Why sure, my family and I lived in Germany for a while, and we knew the Pope very well.''
So after landing in Rome, they head for the town the Pope is scheduled to be doing a speech on. After many attempts of trying to make eye contact, Colin says: ''It's no use. I can't make eye contact through all these people. Wait, I'll go up the stairs, as I know the guards well, and come out on the balcony with the Pope.''
Sure enough, the Pope is shortly joined by Colin on the balcony.
5 minutes later, Colin returns to where he was previously standing to find that his boss had a heart attack, and was surrounded by paramedics. Colin asks him what happened, to which the boss replied: ''Well, when you were up there, a guy next to me shouted - Who the F*CK is that next to Colin?!''


_____________________________________________________________


I was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital after my wife had gone into labour and the nurse walked out and said to the man sitting next to me, "Congratulations sir, you're the new father of twins!"
The man replied, "How about that, I work for the Doublemint Chewing Gum Company."
The man then followed the woman to his wife's room.

About an hour later, the same nurse entered the waiting room and announced that Mr. Smith's wife has just had triplets.
Mr. Smith stood up and said, "Well, how do ya like that, I work for the 3M Company.

The gentleman that was sitting next to me then got up and started to leave.
When I asked him why he was leaving, he remarked, "I think I need a breath of fresh air."
The man continued, "I work for 7-UP."

Book Reviews...

I just finished a two day book marathon, lol. Well I guess you could sorta call it that, I started reading this book and couldn't put it down until I just finished it.

At times funny or sad, at other times a disturbing and even surprising account of daily life for a Muslim Expatriate within Saudi Arabia.

The book title is: "In the Land of Invisible Women" by Qanta Ahmed, MD.

What I found most remarkable about this book, is the unknown fact that even the men and boys suffer from their own "imprisonment" within the system of religious doctrine in the extreme form. We normally only hear about the women, how they cannot drive, or how the Mutawaeen seem to seek the complete removal of all women from the public face of society.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that women do not suffer, but I was (obviously mistaken) under the impression, that the men there on a whole just accept the situation for what it is and exploit it to their favor.
I suppose I need to hereby express my ignorance of the fact that even men there are uncomfortable and feel emasculated and powerless by the way the Mutawaeen accost anybody who does not behave/dress in a "proper" way. I was somewhat aware of the fact that this generation of Saudis fall back to Bluetooth and other modern age devices to "date or even hunt" young Saudi females. I just wasn't aware of just how stifling such a societal upbringing can be for young adults.

I am gladdened to read that there are Males there that are patrons and empowerers of Saudi women, and help guide them towards educational and professional success.

And I weep for all the young children and women who suffer abuse and death in their everyday lives. May Allah (swt) grant them peace.

The authors description of her Hajj and Ummrah make me want to hop on the next plane and head to Mecca.

Her journey throughout this book, of a westernized woman who rarely gave her Islamic faith any deep thought, to a woman who recognizes her intricate role within the Islamic Ummah is fascinating.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, even if it is just to learn a bit more about life within Saudi Arabia. It is so much more than just that, and I'm sure that many more books can dissect the enigma that Saudi culture is to us Western bred people, but this is very relatable book that will make you worry and laugh with its author as she moves from one mishap, to another.