Book Review: The Atlantis Origin Mystery Trilogy

The Atlantis Gene: (from Amazon)

The Immari are good at keeping secrets. For 2,000 years, they've hidden the truth about human evolution. They've also searched for an ancient enemy--a threat that could wipe out the human race. Now the search is over.

Off the coast of Antarctica, a research vessel discovers a mysterious structure buried deep in an iceberg. It has been there for thousands of years, and something is guarding it. As the Immari rush to execute their plan, a brilliant geneticist makes a discovery that could change everything.

Dr. Kate Warner moved to Jakarta, Indonesia to escape her past. She hasn't recovered from what happened to her, but she has made an incredible breakthrough: a cure for autism. Or so she thinks. What she has found is far more dangerous--for her and the entire human race. Her work could be the key to the next stage of human evolution. In the hands of the Immari, it would mean the end of humanity as we know it.

Agent David Vale has spent ten years trying to stop the Immari. Now he's out of time. His informant is dead. His organization has been infiltrated. His enemy is hunting him. But when David receives a coded message related to the Immari attack, he risks everything to save the one person that can help him solve it: Dr. Kate Warner.

Together, Kate and David must race to unravel a global conspiracy and learn the truth about the Atlantis Gene... and human origins. Their journey takes them to the far corners of the globe and into the secrets of their pasts. The Immari are close on their heels and will stop at nothing to obtain Kate's research and force the next stage of human evolution--even if it means killing 99.9% of the world's population. David and Kate can stop them... if they can trust each other. And stay alive.

(I am not including the other two synopsis here because you have to start with the first and follow the story in order.) 

First, let me say, I normally read mystery, crime, and true crime books.  Also, I am way behind on doing any sort of book reviews.    So look for a few books to show up soon including a couple of series and a few true crime books.   With that in mind, I thought I would share the Atlantis Origin Mystery Trilogy.  

My take:

What I enjoyed most about this series is that it mixed history, science, and mystery together and combined a couple of main characters, Kate and David, who you follow throughout the series.   The Series starts with The Atlantis Gene and concludes with The Atlantis World and in between you ride along through a bunch of twists and turns that leave you simultaneously scratching your head, wanting throw the book (or Kindle in my case) at the wall because the bad guys (the Immari) in this series are so unlikable, and yet you just can't stop reading.  

The story starts when we find out that human history was given a little kick in the pants several thousand years ago, just at the brink of our extinction, when a little gene therapy saved us and  helped us advance.  Of course this little kick came from your friendly aliens.   Throughout the series, we follow Kate and David in their race to save the human race and Earth from themselves and some not no nice aliens.    

Now let me say that without giving away anything in this series, the main characters Kate and David, are both likable and cute.  Kate is a doctor specializing in Autism and reversing the effects and David is your average super hero/secret agent.     As you follow Kate and David through this series and their natural attraction to each other, of course, they fall in love, and I don't think I am giving anything away here, because that move is pretty obvious from about 5 chapters in to the first book.   Anyway, it is an intergalactic roller coaster that can only end in one of two ways, we survive or we become extinct.    

The first two books follow a single fight here on our world but by the third book the series crosses the universe and back in the effort to save little old us.   It is a fun ride! 

Just the facts:

The books are easy to read even with all the science mumbo jumbo mixed in.  Actually, I didn't mind that and was able to follow.    The history facts that are woven into the story are fascinating and made me actually look up some of the true life facts thrown at you.  Full Disclosure: I love history so I may or may not have downloaded a book on Proto-Indo Europeans.  I know, I know, I am a history nerd.    Between the three books you meet a large cast of characters and by the third book you may have a hard time remembering who was who in the first book.   There were a few things that I kept wanting resolved from the first book that just seemed forgotten but don't give up, you will get your answers, eventually.   

I enjoyed this series and recommend it to anyone who likes Science Fiction and Mystery books.   It crosses back and forth between those with a little Romance thrown in.   

Wednesday Obsessions: Alex and Ani, Magnolia Market, and more

Today I am doing something a little different.  I am sharing things I am currently obsessed with.  Now keep in mind I am in no way a fashion blogger but this is fashion heavy today.   These are just things I LOVE! 

Alex and Ani Braclets  

I own a few of these wire charm bracelets (about half are Texas Rangers somehow or another, go figure) and I am totally obsessed with them, especially Alex and Ani's because they are very well done.  I have, over the years, become a bracelet-a-holic.  This goes well with my shoe collection and the handbags I have got to organize before my husband realizes I don't recall what I have and starts tossing things.    These are a few in my wish list.  

I want this in August and March

I love Love!

This has to be one of my favorites! 

Now let me just say for a moment, that my step-daughter has recently become a closet raider and anytime I start to clean out my jewelry box when she is around to organize the thing, she pops in and starts the whole "so, what don't you want?" and trust me if there is anything pink, she snatches it up!  Sadly, for her, I don't own much pink.  I learned at a very early age, Gingers didn't wear red or pink and that has stuck with me.

Magnolia Market by Joanna Gaines

I love Fixer Upper.  I am a huge Joanna and Chip Gaines fan.  I am trying desperately to come up with a reason to go to Waco to visit their store but here are some of the things I adore! 

Anything that says "I love you to the moon and back".  My husband doesn't know it but this is how I think of us.  

I will probably make my own sign but I love this one!

I don't know how strange it is that my favorite book, probably of all time, is a Dr. Seuss book but this book is one that I eventually buy every child in my life.  I love it so much and this sign might actually be on my "wish list" not because I couldn't make one but because this one is so stinking cool!

Oh, the Places You'll Go is my favorite book ever. 

I was watching an episode of Fixer Upper the other day (that I had already seen about 4 times but I am obsessed with this show!) and I noticed Joanna and Chip had a garden full of these cute little signs.   I started to say to myself, this is what I need for next years garden.   A paint pen and these signs and I will actually know what is planted. (Because let's face it, in the Texas heat trying to save the paper seed wrappers is just not going to work!).   Immediately I started to think, how can I make these.   Low and behold, they sell them!   I adore these things!  I may still try and make some but if not, it is great to know I can get a dozen anytime!

I need a dozen of these things!

Okay seriously, I have a really charming 1970 Ranch Style farm house that has a few additions over the 45 years and sits on about an acre and a quarter of land north of Dallas.  My house has no shiplap.   Trust me when I tell you, that won't stop me from creating the look.  I have the room picked out.  I have the wall figured out.  I just need to get someone in to refinish my original hardwood floors and we need to lay the alternate flooring in the room I want to create the shiplap look in.   (We have a big room that serves as our family room.  It is the old garage that in a prior renovation became a room.  There is a door that goes to the deck in the backyard and this is the wall I want to do this on.  Shh! Nobody tell my husband because I think he might pop a blood vessel.  Anyway, there are a few things that need to happen in between.  If I could just get the floors done, the kitchen redone, and this room fixed, I would be completely done with this house.)   

Anyway, I love this t-shirt.  I don't need a t-shirt.  I have 400 or so, mostly Texas Rangers t-shirts, but I love this anyway!

If you watch, you understand this T-shirt. 

Just an aside here, I admit that while Joanna and I are nothing alike physically: she is thin, with dark, amazing hair,  beautiful, with a sort of boho style I wish I could carry off, while I am chubby (fat), often frizzy haired Ginger, who is just okay looking, and my style is a cross between baseball super fan and camo goddess (thanks to hubs), most of the time.   Anyway, I love her style.  Almost everything is distressed, country, and old and if you have followed my blog or taken a look at any of my DIY furniture restorations, you know I am a HUGE fan of distressed,country and old.   I mean, I own a 1970 farm house for crying out loud.  Besides, Joanna and Chip have chickens and Hubs and I have...chickens!   They have goats, and we are planning on adding goats as soon as we put in a new fence out yonder.  (That's Texan for the back yard).    So see, aside from the obvious fact that she is incredible and I am crazy, we are the same! 

I guess when baseball season ended for the Rangers, I had to turn my attention to something aside from being a super fan.  It happens.  So here is a short list of a few other things I am currently obsessing over:

Wife Swap:  Hubs and I could not sleep last night and we ended up watching a string of these things on whatever channel it is on.  OMG!  We laughed so hard.

Every show on my DVR that I have to catch up on.   That includes Quantico which just has me puzzled and engrossed each week, Limitless which I am way behind on but love, and Heroes Reborn which is just so....Heroes.   Hubs doesn't watch these and so I have to find alone time to catch up. Don't worry, he is sure to go hunting soon without me!

Shows that I am current on but still obsessed:  The Bastard Executioner which has to be the bloodiest show on TV.   It isn't Game of Thrones worthy just yet but it is getting there.   The Walking Dead which just gets a little bit more twisted each season.  Fear the Walking Dead because I seriously started to really get into that one before the what was it?  Six episodes ended.   

Now Reading:

Go Set the Watchman.   I know, I know, there is controversy.  I know the spoilers already.   I haven't gotten that far into the book as yet but I have to say, there is a certain charm to these characters in the prequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, which spills over and you remember how much you love them, even if they changed.   I mean, who doesn't change as they grow older?  I was a very liberal, very love will conquer all kid.  I had these dreams and ideals that nobody could live up to in the end.  Life has a way of beating you down, just a little.  So it beat down some of our favorite characters and time changed them.  Why would that shock anyone?  Time changes everyone.  Not always for the better.  

Okay lovelies, that is is for me today.   Happy Hump Day!

Manic Monday: 50 Shades of entertainment

Texas may not be under Blizzar conditions but we woke up to freezing rain this morning in DFW and we expect possible ice tomorrow.  The metroplex will virtually shut down with all of our bridges and overpasses should be get ice tonight....so secretly I am kind of hoping for ice.  Today has been such a Monday.   Sadly, I had so many great ideas for a post for today and I can't recall a single one right now!  Typical.

So instead I thought, because I had shared some kind of deep stuff and sappy-emotional stuff lately, I would share something lighter.  


50 Shades of bored:
I don't understand the fascination with this book series at all.  I tried to read the first book and got maybe halfway through before I  tossed the book across the room put the book on the coffee table and buried it under a pile of magazines never to be seen again.  I just couldn't care less about the characters and I found the writing so lacking there was no way I wanted to invest another moment of my time in that book.  It was a good remedy for insomnia but I heard some single lady on the radio say she has read the series 4 times because she just loves it and I can't help but think, what am I missing?

Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Episode:
I have to admit that I loved almost every minute of the show.  I came in about 45 minutes late and I really wish we had taped it.  I enjoyed the look back and the memories so very much.  I was a little confused about why Chris Rock spent more time talking about Eddie Murphy then Eddie Murphy spent talking and I laughed at myself when I literally sighed in relief that Miley Cyrus had cloths on but I felt so overwhelmed by Paul Simon's performance and I was just glad Paul McCartney is still around.   I totally get that Kanye West has made his career pushing the box but could he not just turn it off for one night?  This wasn't suppose to be a night about how weird Kanye is and yet the main drawback to the whole show was Kanye's performance.  Actually, the main drawback was that Kanye was invited to perform at all.   Aside from that it was amazing seeing all the stars from the past and I absolutely had to hold back tears when I watched the tribute piece to those SNL has lost over the years.  So much talent has come off that stage.  So many laughs.  Is there anyone alive who hasn't been touched by SNL?

Gone Girl:
I read the book first and watched the movie Friday night.  I thought the performances were good but considering I knew exactly how screwed up these characters were to begin with I found myself putting up barriers as I watched the movie.  I did not want to get reinvested in these people because I didn't like them the first time.   I did think Ben Affleck made Nick Dunne a lot more likable in the movie, which says a lot about the fact that leaving out the first person point of view helped redeem Nick a lot.  There is still nothing about Amy Dunne to like. It is a strange thing to hate the characters, not really like the book and although I did kind of enjoy the movie in the end, I feel like it is a good read and the movie was worth the time invested.   I can't explain it but I guess it becomes about being fascinated with the train wreck and not being able to stop looking combined with knowing that inside we are all just a little bit less mentally sound than we appear to be.  Some of us, like Amy, do a really good job of hiding just how disturbed we are.  Most of us, just feel on the edge at times and walk slowly away and coming back to normal.

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The Walking Dead:
I have to admit, I haven't caught up since it came back 2 weeks ago.  I didn't realize it was back and when I planned last night as my catch up night, I ended up watching SNL instead so, please nobody spoil it for me.

South Park:
I know this is stupid.  I know this show has been out for 15 years.   I know, I know, I know, but I never watched it until......Joe.  Now I can't get enough of the stupidity of it.  Seriously, I think I fall asleep to South Park almost every night. I laugh at some of it.  I cringe at a lot of it.  I roll my eyes at most of it but every once in a blue moon there is a little piece of gold hidden in one of those stupid cartoons that just makes it worth it.   The characters just make me laugh and that's okay M'kay?

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CNN:
I wake up to CNN because life isn't life if you don't know what ISIS is doing and that is just sad.  I wish I could just forget them.  Don't we all?

What I am looking forward to:

Game of Thrones:
Just waiting...waiting...waiting.

What I am reading:

source

I first heard about this book when I was reading one of the many articles I read in the last two months on Amanda Knox and I have been putting off reading it only because I have it in paper not on my iPad.  This means I don't get to read at night in the dark like I prefer because the hubs is asleep so it is harder to find time to read.   I am not far in but I am loving this book.  I will do a review, evantually. Someday, but it has sex, murder, mystery, and I am only a few chapters in but I can promise you the writing surpasses 50 Shades...of anything.

Alright, I hope everyone is having a safe, warm, and dry Monday!   Happy Fat Tuesday Eve as my Lousiana friend just reminded me.

  

Audible

If you follow along you know I became obsessed with Serial and podcast and this led me directly to Audible.com.  Not only does Audible sponsor a lot of podcasts but listening to books and podcasts has become my way of entering my mind while I work, cook, drive, and in the all too rare times, work out.  

Audible is easy to download and yes there is an app for it that transfers anything I get online to my phone.  Best of all, they have daily deals and sometimes you can get a book for $2 or $3 that you really want to "read" anyway.  

I am in-love with audible.com as much as I am in love with some of my true crime type podcasts.  The only suggestion I have for anyone wanting to listen to a book is that if you pick something with a ton of detailed info, it may not be the right book to listen to.  I purchased "It Starts with Food" on audible but found it way too hard to take in all the information they included without giving it complete attention so I can ended up just getting  e book to read.  

That's ok because apparently audible will change out any book you download and realize it isn't what you wanted, although I haven't figured out that part yet.  

Marriage Monday: Learning MARRIED: A little help please!

First let me say that Every Single Day, I thank GOD for my husband.  Being single today is hard.  Harder than most people think.  There are a lot of good single people out there but unfortunately, there are a lot of single people out there who are single for a reason.  Don't believe me?  Ask your single friends about their last date from Hell.  I bet most of them will tell you about the last date they actually had.  :(

I came to a realization very early on in my marriage (I have been married 3 months so everything is early on right now but this was about week 3) that I had no clue how to "be" married.  You see, I had been a "me" all of my adult life and now I needed to start thinking like a "we".  This was all new to me, even though my husband and I lived together first, I was still doing my stuff.  

So at some point I decided I needed to find some help on just being married. This stuff doesn't exactly come naturally and relationships, all relationships, are hard.  I mean, all relationships are really hard, family, friends, kids, and husband and wife.  You only have to look at the divorce rate to know that marriage isn't easy.  

So, I turned to a sweet and awesome couple I know and asked them for some books.   Thanks Donny and Katie for helping me out on not only on recommending books for me but also on making me feel, not so alone in learning how to be married.     I admit, I came into marriage thinking everything was going to just be natural.  Living with another human isn't natural automatically, it takes work.   Especially, when one or both of those humans are stubborn, know it all's who have been doing things their way for a long time and not expecting to change.  GUILTY!

Anyway, Donny and Katie individually sent me a list of books and being the cutest couple on earth, they of course sent me the same list without knowing it.  (Seriously, y'all).   I completed one book so far in the Donny and Katie healthy marriage series of books.  (Okay, that's my name for it, like it or not) and that book was AMAZING!

   The first book they recommended was The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  I read this book very quickly and part of it is because it is an easy read.  The thing is, it makes so much sense.   I realized very early on in reading that my love languages were physical touch and gift giving.  Now, physical touch doesn't mean getting busy for all the guys out there reading thinking, "Oh yes, that's me!"  It means hand holding and kissing that doesn't lead to getting busy and just cuddling.   Yep, that's me.   Next is gift giving.  Much to my husbands dismay, whenever I come home from the store, I usually have a little something for either him or my step-daughter.   Nothing big, mind you but a little gift.  Gummy bears or peanuts or something I know they like.  It drives him nuts but I realized immediately, that's me saying "I love you and thought about you while I was shopping."   Now, I am not going to share his love language but know that they are not mine.   It took a while for me to figure him out but when I did, I started adjusting some of my behavior to speak his language.  Not only has life gotten easier but it has made us closer.


I also did some research and found a lot of books with high recommendations on Amazon.  How we Love by Milan and Kay Yerkovich is one of those books.   Now, to be honest, I just started this book so I can't give you a ton of input on it yet, however, it gets 4.5 stars on Amazon and that is always a good sign to me. 

Finally, I discovered iTunes has a LOT of podcast material and since I have a good little commute everyday, I have enjoyed the ability to listen to several on my way to and from work.   Here are the three I am enjoying most:

Ohana Baptist Church Marriage Classes podcast: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/marriage-classes-at-ohana/id78822318?mt=2&i=320476482

I am not Baptist, I am Catholic but that makes absolutely no difference when I am listening to the pastor in this series.  The pastor is funny and speaks in a friendly manner that is inviting and captures your attention.   A little background.  This is a class he gave at his church in 2004.  The class is based on a handbook they provided and some of the audio is hard to hear because you can't hear the questions but you still get this amazing weekly or daily pep talk about God's plan for marriage.  I highly recommend this series.  

Save the Marriage podcast with Lee Baucom PhD.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/save-marriage-podcast-how/id680884572?mt=2&i=326678847

I am not going to lie, this is my favorite.   The podcast is enjoyable, easy to listen to, covers a vast amount of information and situations and even though it is called SAVE the marriage it doesn't mean you have to have a troubled marriage to learn.  In fact, Dr. Baucom mentions a few times that he does the podcast with the idea of teaching people how to have healthy relationships before their marriage needs saving.   The latest podcast, by the way, has Dr. Gary Chapman being interviewed about the 5 Love Languages.  The interview is funny, insightful, and I wanted it to go on and on.

Marriage today with Jimmy and Tammy

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/marriage-today-jimmy-karen/id209659095?mt=2&i=326568253

This is a series I just started listening to but I have to tell you they seem cover a variety of personal issues that effect the marriage and it is done, again, from a biblical basis so they are teaching family values with a sense of humor and the information is spot on covering subjects that trouble most people in today's society like fear, anxiety, and insecurity.  


One of the things I found most interesting in all of these classes is how they all agree on the basic principal that making a marriage work, in the end, is a lot healthier than letting it fail and falling into a pattern of marriage and divorce which seems to happen, a lot.  The failure rates on 2nd and 3rd marriages are even higher and people tend to get on a merry-go-round searching for a 'soul-mate' who understands them perfectly never realizing, that person doesn't exist.  I mean really, do you even understand you perfectly?  I don't.  
 *With the knowledge they are not recommending you stay in every situation.  Abuse is abuse, pure and simple.

Alright, that is my list.  So what books or podcast have you found most useful in making your relationship healthier?   Any relationship, parent, friend, husband-wife, kid.   Seriously, I am going to need that kid one soon.  I have an 11 year old now!

I'm a freak!?!?

It is really interesting....being a single person in 2013.   I think my life has been relatively uneventful until now.  I have been responsible and tried to do the right thing....apparently even though I have done that, I am a bit of a freak.  I didn't realize this until T informed me a few days ago of this fact.   Men are so strange.  So, I am a freak.  I don't really know why...probably the red hair thing.  I can not tell you how many times I have been asked "Is it true what they say about gingers?"  Let me set the record straight right now.  Whatever you have heard about red heads. Whatever people have said about how freaky we are.  It is absolutely not true.  We are worse.  Okay, now that that is cleared up......

 I thought I would embrace my freakishness.

What makes me a freak?  I used to think it was being a female and being so in to sports but I met a lot of ladies who are that way and realized, that doesn't make me a freak, it just makes me really cool.

The first night T and I officially went out, I picked a place that we could watch the Rangers play.  Yu Darvish was pitching.  I admit, I didn't see much of that game.  When a guy makes you laugh and smile so much that your face actually hurts, you have to ignore baseball for a little while.  Okay, maybe that does make me a freak, I don't know.

I like ketchup and onions on my hot dog and beans in my chili.  I think that makes me a definate freak in some peoples eyes. 

I keep my good alcohol in the freezer.   I don't know if that makes me a freak or just really smart.

I know my dogs are just dogs in my head but I still refer to them as my kids and say stupid stuff like 'Come snuggle with mama.'   That is mostly just trying to get the little goobs to do what I want but I reason with them like they are people so maybe that is a little bit freaky.

I do not understand the Texas fascination with Whataburger.  I admit it. That may not make me a freak outside of the state but in the state not only am I a freak but the fact that I prefer Heinz to Whataburger ketchup may actually get me kicked out.  While we are on the subject....Dr. Pepper is fine but Cherry Coke is AMAZING!  Especially if you can find a drug store and have them make it fresh! Just saying.

I want to be a good house keeper but I want a wife to be a good house keeper for me.   If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

Okay, honestly...I really can't think of anything that makes me a freak unless you think that shrine I have to Dirk Nowitzki is odd.   Aside from that, I am pretty normal for a girl who gave her bike it's own bedroom and named her Skye.

---I feel a sudden need to add...this is a little bit tongue in cheek and T was teasing me because my dogs have their own steps and I had a bunch of books sitting on my coffee table because I had just been to the book store.  At least, I think that is what he was teasing me about.  Boys are so....male!



Happy Friday, FINALLY!!! Have a good weekend. 



Simply,
Laura