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Monday, December 28, 2015

It's Monday. What Are You Reading

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Merry Christmas to all my book blogging buddies. I've had extra time off and have put it to good use.   I subscribed to Kindle Unlimited but cancelled before I had to start paying; I just found that most of the available books were self-published romances and I didn't think it was worth $11/month for unlimited access to them.  Have you tried it?  What do you think?

I have published a few reviews lately.









Books I read and for which reviews are scheduled:



Your Heart's Desire

New from NetGalley





Saturday, December 26, 2015

Review: Love Lucas


Love, Lucas

About the Book:

When Oakley Nelson loses her older brother, Lucas, to cancer, she thinks she’ll never recover. Between her parents’ arguing and the battle she’s fighting with depression, she feels nothing inside but a hollow emptiness. When Mom suggests they spend a few months in California with Aunt Jo, Oakley isn’t sure a change of scenery will alter anything, but she’s willing to give it a try.

In California, Oakley discovers a sort of safety and freedom in Aunt Jo’s beach house. Once they’re settled, Mom hands her a notebook full of letters addressed to her—from Lucas. As Oakley reads one each day, she realizes how much he loved her, and each letter challenges her to be better and to continue to enjoy her life. He wants her to move on.

If only it were that easy.

But then a surfer named Carson comes into her life, and Oakley is blindsided. He makes her feel again. As she lets him in, she is surprised by how much she cares for him, and that’s when things get complicated. How can she fall in love and be happy when Lucas never got the chance to do those very same things?

With her brother’s dying words as guidance, Oakley knows she must learn to listen and trust again. But will she have to leave the past behind to find happiness in the future?

My Comments:

This Edelweiss galley has been on my Kindle for a long time and who knows why it caught my eye today.  It is the story of Oakley, who had been the all-American high achieving, over-involved high school student until her brother became ill with cancer, at which point she pretty much dropped out of life.  After he is buried, she and her mother go to California for a few months.  Oakley is depressed and is allowing life to pass her by.  Her mother gives her a book of letters from her brother, which encourage her to move beyond where she is and live again.  Of course that is easier said than done, but the cute boy next door is there to help her.  

I found Oakley to be reasonably believable.  I would expect a high school senior who has recently lost someone she loved to be self-absorbed and emotional.  I did not find Carson to be believable--everything about him made him seen like a mature man, not a high school boy.  He wasn't a bit selfish, he showed emotional insight, and he didn't allow Oakley's rejection to dissuade him.  

The story at times could be a real tear-jerker and I found tears rolling down my cheeks so there was enough realism to tug at my heartstrings--but I found the relationship between Oakley and Lucas to be more real than the one between Carson and Oakley.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via Edelweiss.  Grade:  B+ 

Friday, December 25, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: December 25-31

Book Blogger Hop




Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  This week's question:

 What is your preferred format for reviews? Do you tell the story or do you focus on characters and the reason someone would like the review? 

Since I start my review post with the Amazon blub, I don't find it necessary to tell the story.  I try to pick out something about the story that caught my eye or meant something to me.  I may even veer off of the book review per se to discuss something that the book brought to mind.  I try to tell readers what I liked about the book and what I did not.  I try to let my readers know what they are likely to enjoy about it, and what might bother them. 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Review: Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

 
Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

About the Book:


Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind  ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie… 

Los Angeles, 1938.  Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her  dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide.  What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future. 

My Comments:

Those of you who are familiar with Susan Meissner's books know that her "thing" is to take an artifact from a by-gone era and use it to connect a woman of today with a woman from the past.  While often the books tell two stories, the modern day story in this book is brief, and with the relatively short time between the two story threads, there are two women who appear in both stories.  

The story begins in 2012 in a second-hand shop in Los Angeles, but quickly moves to Hollywood in the 1930's.  The stories about the filming of Gone with the Wind were fascinating and showed that Meissner had done her homework.  Still, this isn't a story about filming a movie; it is the story of two young women, their dreams for the future and their relationship with one another and with other people in their lives.  Both Audrey and Violet have felt rejected and are afraid of being rejected again, so they make decisons to protect their hearts, decisions which end up bringing them pain.  Still, they are constants in each others lives over decades.

While many of Meissner's early books were published by Waterbrook, a Christian imprint, and contained mild religious content, this one is published by NAL and is not at all religous.  

I enjoyed Audrey and Violet's story but I found the modern-day sections rather forced and hard to believe.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley.  Grade:  B+

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Build Wealth & Spend It All: Quick Review

Build Wealth & Spend It All: Enjoy The Life You Earned

About the Book:

You can build wealth. You need to protect your retirement savings from future nationalization, taxation and redistribution. You deserve to spend everything you have earned and saved before you die. 
This is not a novel to numb the pain in your life for just a couple of hours. It is a tool box with the tools you can use to fix your life...forever. 
Dr. Riggs has been building wealth for over fifty years through several very different and very successful careers, each of which made him a multimillionaire. In this book he explains the three basic and easy to understand financial concepts anyone can use to both build and protect their wealth. But it was only during this past year, while he was visiting his 96 yr. old mother in a nursing home, he gained insight into what awaits most of our retirement savings.
The money his mother had earned as a public school teacher and had frugally saved for over 50 years was rapidly being drained away as she dozed off in her chair. They were taking it simply because she still had it; while other residents who had already enjoyed spending their money, were now getting a free ride.
He had helped his mother to save and invest when he should have encouraged her to spend. He had failed his own mother by not encouraging her to spend all she had earned and saved, while she was still able to enjoy it. But he was determined not to fail himself.
He needed a plan...a logical plan to enjoy strategically spending or gifting it all away over a predetermined period of time; before the private IRA, 401(k) and Roth retirement accounts are nationalized and redistributed. He needed a plan to spend it all and die broke - insolvent, but not illiquid or destitute. 
  
Surprisingly, his plan for building his wealth was simpler and came more naturally to him than his plan for spending it all. 
In this book he explains the three basic and easy-to-understand financial concepts anyone can use to help build their own wealth:
(1) Understand the difference between true assets and actual liabilities. 
(2) Always know where you are in the economic cycle. 
(3) Understand the implications of the coming demographic changes. 
Your grave stone will have two dates separated by a hyphen. You have no control over the dates but you do have control over the hyphen ... that's your life. Let this book show you how to make the most of that hyphen.

My Comments:

Most financial planning books tell you to save your money while you are young, invest it in mutual funds, and withdraw part of it when you are old, and leave the rest to your kids.  This book agrees with part about saving your money, but it is the author's opinion that our tax system/government is going to end up confiscating large portions of people's IRAs and 401Ks to get the money to support all the baby boomers who have not saved enough for retirement.  Stanley Riggs, the author, is a fan of investing in real estate and businesses.  He is also in favor of people front-loading their retirement spending during the first years of retirement, and then dying broke, or close to it.  

The book was easy to read and if you agree with his assessment that the government is going to take people's retirement accounts, then you'll probably agree with his choice of investments.  Since I don't agree with that prediction, I take a jaundiced eye toward the book.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a complimentary review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B-.  

Friday, December 18, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: December 18-24

Book Blogger Hop




Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  This week's question:

Which format do you use? Blogger, Word Press, or an independent format?
 Any reason for your choice?

When I started this blog ten years ago I had never heard of WordPress, so I used what most people I knew were using, namely, Blogger.  I've stuck with it all these years because it is free and easy.  While WordPress may have more power once you learn it, I think the learning curve (and options) on Blogger is more limited even now.  This blog is a hobby and while I know many bloggers feel WordPress is more professional, the reality is that I am not a professional blogger.  I enjoy making a few (and believe me, it is a few) dollars from this blog, I'm not under any illusion that if I only moved to a self-hosted WordPress blog, I'd get rich.  If I moved to WordPress I'd have to either drop the ads and the revenue they generate or I'd have to pay for self-hosting, which would cost more than those ads now generate.  Also, if I moved I'm sure I'd lose readers who check my blog through a feed reader and click on it periodically but who aren't invested enough in it to actually go to the trouble of changing their subscription.  

Friday, December 11, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: December 11-17

Book Blogger Hop




Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  This week's question:

 Are you a blogger that only has reviews on your blog or do you feature giveaways and attention-attracting posts such as personal and bookish posts?

While this is primarily a book blog, as the tile This That and the Other Thing implies, sometimes I write about non-bookish things.  If you look at my menu bar at the top, you'll see links to pages that list my "issue" posts.  I also have a link to my author interviews.  I do giveaways periodically as well, and sometimes I participate in link-ups of various kinds, particuraly bookish ones or Catholic ones.  I wrote a few financial posts until I decided to start a blog specifically focused on financial planning and financial products.  

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Review: Innocence Lost


Innocence Lost - A Childhood Stolen

About the Book:
On July 14th, 1942, me, my mother, father, precious little brother, Chaim Kabliski, Aunt Ania, Uncle Addam and my cousins, Adiya and Aaron, were all forcibly evicted from their beautiful apartment in Warsaw by heartless, well-armed German soldiers with snarling dogs and crammed into a cattle wagon along with eighty other suffering souls. 

When we arrived at a camp called Auschwitz/Birkenau, they were all murdered in gas chambers, burned in ovens like trash and their ashes unceremoniously spread like fertilizer on a nearby field. Only through a miracle did I survive. I want you to hear my story so the world will never forget. Those horrible people may have stolen my childhood, but they can’t steal my memories. So, let me begin.

My Comments:
I found this story hard to believe.  The introductory material says the author talked to an Auschwitz survivor and based this novel on her story, so I don't know how much is true and how much is not. Basically the little girl in the story was pulled out of the line to the gas chamber by an SS doctor who had recently lost a daughter her age.  He took her into his home, and when the camp was abandoned, he took her with him when he fled.  Eventually he ends  up as a Catholic priest.  She marries and moves to Israel.  

The story was compelling at times but it is a self-published book and it shows.  The writing is not of a professional caliber.  Oral histories can be fascinating and this one shows the ending of the war through the eyes of one of the villain class. It shows an unlikely alliance between an SS physician who hates Jews, and a young Jewish girl.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B-

Sunday, December 06, 2015

Quick Review: Cookie Classics Made Easy




About the Book:
The 40 recipes in this delicious collection use a foolproof formula that requires just one bowl, minimal baking equipment, and no previous experience! You’ll find your tried-and-true favorites here -- from Chewy Chocolate Chip to Oatmeal Raisin, Shortbread, Ginger Molasses, and Snickerdoodles -- plus many more that are sure to become new must-haves, such as Lemon Ginger, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Rum Raisin, Pecan Delight, and Vanilla Walnut Pear. Warm, crave-worthy cookies are just minutes away!

My Comments:
I love to bake cookies; luckily my family likes to eat cookies.  I hoped for a Kindle version of this NetGalley; unfortunately I got only a time-limited galley.  As is my practice, I don't cook from time-limited galleys.  I will tell you that the recipes looked good and that there are pictures of most of them.  Just as I have, the author learned that you really don't need to mix the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry in another.  I'll give the book a B+ because the recipes look good and the pictures are pretty.

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

From My Archives: August 2006

What was I writing about in August, 2006?  Well, my daughter had just changed schools and was looking for a Girl Scout troop.  At that point, I didn't want to be the leader.

We recently observed the 10 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  In 2006 I was looking at the 1 year anniversary.  , both what was different and what I remembered about the storm.

In the summer of 2006 we took a family vacation to Gatlinburg.  These photos show my now-11 year old with ice cream. This set shows sights we saw.  I wasn't very good at using Blogger back in those days, and I think we were still on dial-up.

In August 2006, I started showing evidence of what I was to become; namely, a book blogger.  I wrote my first book reviews:


What do you think?  Should I go back and put in book covers and blurbs to make them match my current reviews, or should I leave the past in the past?

Friday, November 27, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: November 27-December 3

Book Blogger Hop




Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  This week's question:

How reliable can you say you are in terms of having promised reviews completed for blog tours or publisher and author requests?

I like to think I'm reliable.  I used to do a lot of tours that required me to post on certain days and I was fine with that for a long time.  Recently I've become far more seletive about which tours I sign up for just because I realized that the deadlines were making this too much like work.  Perhaps if signing up for a tour was the only way I could get review copies, I'd be more apt to do it, but since I have more NetGalleys than I can read, and they don't have deadlines, I'm leaning more and more to them.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Blog Tour and Giveaway: An Endless Christmas




An Endless Christmas: A Novella

About the Book:

There's no getting out of Christmas now, despite Katie rejecting Micah's marriage proposal. Cozy up this holiday season with Cynthia Ruchti's new novella, An Endless Christmas. The Binder family celebrates every Christmas as if it were their last. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.

My Comments:

I really enjoyed this sweet Christmas read.  As noted above, Micah's family celebrates each Christmas as if it may be their last together and this year a couple of things happen that remind everyone that this really COULD be it--and yet there is a new generation, so while things change, family remains.  Cynthia Ruchti managed to write an emotionally moving story while staying true to the Christmas novella genre.  

The book is Christian fiction, so we know it is Jesus' birth, not Santa's arrival that is being celebrated and there are evangelical moments in the story, so it is probably too religious for those who don't like religious fiction, but since I prefer Jesus to Santa, I had no problem with it.  

An Endless Christmas is a book of contrasts--Micah and Katie live in Florida, but are celebrating Christmas in Minnesota.  That Christmas season involves both death and new family members.  Katie is from a small family that was never close; Micah's family always spends time together at Christmas. I think we all have our dream of the perfect Christmas; I think Cynthia Ruchti is telling us that the perfect Christmas is the one we make perfect, not the one that goes the way we plan.  

One thing I really liked about the story is that the characters went through Bayport Minnesota, which is where my parents met.  

I'd like to thank the nice folks at Litfuse for providing a complimentary review copy.  Grade:  B+

Celebrate the holidays with Cynthia and An Endless Christmas by entering her $100 Target gift card giveaway!

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One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of An Endless Christmas
  • A $100 gift card to Target
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 30th. The winner will be announced December 1st on Cynthia's blog.

endless christmas-enterbanner

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Review: Gifts from Our Father--A Catholic Prayer Book for Kids


About the Book:
How well do your loved ones know their Catholic Faith? Share your faith with the future of our Catholic Church with Gifts From Our Father - A Catholic Prayer Book for Kids. This hardcover book teaches Catholic prayers and traditions in a fun, simple, and easy to understand way without watering down our faith. Illustrated for kids yet written for adults, this is the perfect resource for Catholics of all ages who want to strengthen their knowledge and love for Christ and His Church.

My Comments:
If you are looking for basic textbook on Catholic beliefs, traditions and prayers that can be shared by the whole family, you may have found it here.  Gifts from Our Father begins with prayer, and after describing prayers of gratitude, petition, forgiveness and adoration, the Nicine Creed is presented..  This is followed by the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  More prayers are presented including a prayer for the Holy Father, Acts of Faith, Hope and Love and the Act of Contrition (a heartily sorry version).  Holy Days of Obligation are discussed and then the liturgical year, including prayers for each season.  The Seven Sacraments are listed and described and, as appropriate, the Mass gets several pages.  Eucharistic Adoration is described and the Amina Christi and The Divine Praises are printed.  The Rosary, its prayers, mysteries and promises take up five pages.  The Memorare, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes come next. The section on the Communion of Saints describes the canonization process, talks about living a holy life and then describes several saints and gives prayers of others.  

The book is printed on high-quality glossy paper and the illustrations are eye-catching and charming.  While the prayers in the book  use "you" and "your" rather than "thee" "thou" (except in the Rosary prayers) they are the adult versions of the prayes, not re-worked children's versions.  A family that wants a handbook of basic things that should be taught to Catholic children will find just what they need in this book. 

Scripture quotes are from the NRSV.  The book has an Imprimatur and a Nihil Obstat.   Grade:  A. 
I'd like to thank Catholic Word for sending me a review copy of the book.  Catholic Word describes itself as " a one-stop resource for leading programs and religious titles from over 35 top Catholic publishers. For over 15 years, Catholic Word has built a reputation based on quality, personal relationships and a devotion to excellence in service."  The mission they espouse is "to build up the Church one soul at a time through top quality Catholic materials and resources. Wherever a person is on their faith journey, we offer real help to taking the next step closer to God. Our motto is to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason."  They claim to be "100% faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium".  

Monday, November 23, 2015

It's Monday, What Are You Reading

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my book blogging buddies.  It has been a good year for my family; I'm truly blessed and I wrote about it here.  One thing we did this year was renovate out bathrooms.

I managed to read quite a bit this week.  Reviews of these will be published in the future:

   

The Great American Dividend Machine: How an Outsider Became the Undisputed Champ of Wall Street



Review: Jesus, Pope Francis, and a Protestant Walk Into A Bar


About the Book:

Pope Francis has taken the world by storm, captivating Catholics, Protestants, and non-Christians alike. Sneaking out of the Vatican at night, washing the feet of inmates, and taking selfies with young fans is certainly unlike any religious leader we've seen in a while, and some of the religious establishment is uneasy about it. The revitalization Francis is bringing to the Catholic Church is not without precedent, however. Jesus had a similar effect in his day, drawing crowds with his humility, kindness, and wisdom--even as he drew the disapproval of established religious leaders. The things that have brought Francis such media attention are the same things that made Jesus so peculiar and attractive in his day.

Thoughtful examination of Jesus' example and legacy, as well as an honest look at the similarities and differences between Catholic and Protestant faith, invites reflection on the heart of Christianity and how we relate to our fellow Christians. Readers will discover the power of heartfelt joy, radical love, and passion for justice to shake people out of religious complacency and into dynamic, contagious faith. Jesus, Pope Francis, and a Protestant Walk into a Bar looks at what is universal among Christians, what is unique to Catholics and Protestants, and how all Christians can practice understanding and cooperation across differences.

My Comments:

This book is designed to be studied by a group.  Each chapter begins with a scripture passage, which the author uses as a starting point for the discussion topic.  At the end of each chapter are discussion questions.  The basic thesis of the book is that Protestants and Catholics share many common beliefs and it is those beliefs that Pope Francis' ministry is focusing on, not the divisive points.  The author is a Presbyterian pastor and he makes it clear that he disagrees with the Catholic church's stance that it is the true church.  He also disagrees with the Catholic church's teachings on homosexuality and the ordination of women.  However, he admits to sharing more beliefs with the Catholics than with some of the low church Protestants.  

The first main chapter starts with Jesus' calling the apostles (John 1:43-51). The authors point out that when asked who he was, Jesus did not reply with a resume, but with "come and see".  They point out that Pope Francis seeks the poor and the marginalized and preaches by his actions as much as with words, and that he describes himself as "a sinner". They also point out that many of the marginalized have given up on churches which seem too clean, too caught up in church rules.  The discussion questions after the chapter ask study groups to discuss the popularity of Pope Francis and whether they believe it is increasing or decreasing, what they like about him, and what they don't.  They ask participants who are Catholic whether they could respond to a Protestant who asks why they are Catholic "come and see", and ask the same of Protestants, if questioned by Catholics.  Getting down to the nitty-gritty, readers are asked "If, as Jesus and Pope Francis contend, real power is dirty, simple, smiling, inviting, and on the margins, is your congregation demonstrating such power to the world?  How?  If not, what might you do to help create such a ministry?".  Finally, readers are asked in what ways they or their congregations distanced themselves from the slums of the world.  

This is not a book about doctrine, it is a book about action.  It does not compare the Protestant views on Communion with Catholic teachings on the Eucharist.  It does not debate infant vs believers' baptism.  It doesn't even consider whether there should be a Pope.  The authors like Pope Francis' humility and outreach; they would like him to change the Church's teachings as noted above but admire that he hasn't made those teachings and other "thou shalt nots" the focus of his papacy; rather they point out that Pope Francis is about relationships, as Jesus was.

The final part of the book is a recommended reading list for both Catholics and Protestants so that we can better understand each other's teaching.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I suspect that just about everyone would find a discussion question or two in this book that make them uncomfortable, and I guess that's a good thing.  Grade;  B+

Friday, November 20, 2015

Book Blogger Hop: November 20-26

Book Blogger Hop


Book Blogger Hop is hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  This week's question:

Do you read every day? If so, do you have a "page goal?" 

I read something every day.  Sometimes I'm in the mood for books; other times blog posts are enough.  I don't set a page goal because this is fun, not work.  


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Seven Quick Takes: Things for Which I am Thankful

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1.  As I start to plan Thanksgiving Dinner, I can sit back and think of the things for which I am thankful.  The first, of course, is my family.


It has been a good year for us.  My son recently started his second year on the job.  He works for the catering company at the Superdome.  Unfortunately it is only part-time, and during the summer it gets to be practically nothing, but he is gaining experience and it gets him out of the house.  Hopefully the next step will be to get a job to fill in the hours that the catering company doesn't use him.  Unfortunately, the money that paid to find him the job he has and to support him when he started it doesn't pay for a second job (he's autistic); the only way they will help him find another job is if he loses this one--and you can be sure it will be another low-wage part-time job.  My older daughter is doing well in college and we are going to get her today.  She's across the state but it is a pretty day and we have time off coming, so rather than have her wait and come home with friends in the middle of next week, we are getting her tomorrow. The youngest is getting big fast; it won't be long and she'll be gone too.  My husband is a salesman and this has been a good year.  

2.  I am thankful to live in the USA.  For all the threat some feel from Muslims, the reality is that we haven't had war on our soil in over one hundred years.  We enjoy economic prosperity and personal freedom.  God Bless the USA.

3. I am thankful that my family is doing well economically.  As noted above, my salesman husband has had a good year.  We have reached the point that interest and dividends add up.  My parents left us money.  I write about these things on another blog:  Racing Towards Retirement.

4.  I am thankful for good health for my family.

5.  I am thankful for good food, and thankful that my parish takes care of the poor.  One week the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts collected over a ton of food for the parish food bank.




6.  I am thankful for my Catholic faith.  It was a gift from my parents and a gift from God.

7.  I am thankful for my readers.  Like Kelly said, I appreciate those who click on ads, or use my links to buy books, as well as those who read and comment.  

Happy Thanksgiving.  

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Snagshout: My Review

Honestly, is a sale at your favorite store an opportunity to save money or is it an excuse to spend money?  Some people are less fussy about what they get if they save money on it; others only purchase at a discount what they would have purchased anyway, or use the discount to purchase things they wanted but couldn't afford at full price.


If deep discounts get you to buy, whether you need an item or not, stay away from Snagshout. On the other hand, if you can use deep discounts to purchase things you would have purchased anyway, Snagshout has some real bargains.  

Bebella Luxury Wild Collection: Professional 1.25" Pure Onyx Ceramic Plates Hair Straightener Flat Iron (Classic Zebra)

My youngest wanted a flat iron.  Snagshout offered this Bebella Luxury Wild Collection: Professional 1.25" Pure Onyx Ceramic Plates Hair Straightener Flat Iron (Classic Zebra) for $11.49.  It sells for $22.99 on Amazon.  The catch?  I have to review any products I get from Snagshout on Amazon.  I've never used another flat iron so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it did straighten my daughter's hair.  

Best Anti Snoring Device - Advanced Sleep Apnea Relief - Most Comfortable Stop Snoring Solution - 4 Premium Nasal Dilators - 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed - Aid for High Sleeping Quality

Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky with the first product I reviewed.  While my husband said Dr. Sleepwell Snore Stoppers were not uncomfortable to wear, they didn't quiet his snoring.  These sell for $13.89 and I got them for $,97.  Because I am a Prime member, shipping is free.  

While I haven't seen a lot of products on Snagshout that I can't live without, I do have my eye on a few things.  The more reviews you write, the more items you are allowed to "snag" at one time.  Right now I have to write my review before I get another product.  I can work my way up to having five products out at a time. 

For those who like to (or at least don't mind) writing reviews, Snagshout could be a money-saver; for those who buy things they wouldn't already buy, this could turn out to be a money suck.  Grade:  A