Housework Harmony ~Andrew McAllister

Housework......
UGH.

Actually, typically I don't mind it, but lately it is just getting too monotonous and repetitive.
It was a stressful winter, a lot of it stuck indoors thanks to the craptastic cold weather (Up YOURS Polar Vortex!) so that means that the house is needing extra TLC because the children were going stir crazy exploding toys, crayons, paper, books, pots, pans...whatever they can get their paws on..... and somehow it all ends up in my livingroom.

You don't know pain until you have stepped on lego pieces, three times in a row.

Spring cleaning is upon us now, and I got a head start last weekend, which is good because my list is through the roof.

Now I am a stay at home mom, so the bulk of household responsibility falls on my shoulders. That was never a problem until child numero deux came along.
With my first child, I was June F'n Cleaver....it was all so easy. People really got annoyed with me. The house was always spotless, things always belonged in a place, she even loved to help, we had so much free time....But alas she's older now and my second let's just say I love her so much, wouldn't trade her for the world....but she's a busy one....
Now, between both of my kids, appointments, activities, housework, meals, homework, sleeping issues...etc...I'll admit it, I can no longer keep up! I have been waving my white flag for the past year. Just when I think I catch up, boom.... I don't. My hobbies (like this) get put on hold because my to-do list is long. Too Long.
That's actually one of the many reasons I am so behind in my blogs in the past year. It's getting harder and harder to keep up with everything I need to do, let alone WANT to do.

My husband, I try 'not' to put to much pressure on him... I get it.... I stay at home, he works hard to provide for us.... but at the end of the day, I am not a maid. I'm not an employee. I'm a wife. I know when to give up control (hahahaha, it's soooo haaaard)  I need help.

So when Andrew approached me about reading his new book about domestic partnership and housework for review, I was so thrilled to grab a copy for review! (took me a while to get around to reading but I got to it!!) I knew he had been writing it and had been counting the days for it to become available!

My reading 'Housework Harmony' is probably WHY I did not throttle my husband on the weekend when all hell broke loose over my daughters messy room.

Book Description:

Looking after your home and your children can place constant demands on your energy and free time, which is why housework is so often the flashpoint that brings out relationship challenges. Housework Harmony turns this problem into an opportunity by showing you how to replace tension and resentment with supportiveness and a growing sense of closeness. This book uncovers the many behavior patterns, commonly held assumptions, societal pressures, and other hidden landmines that influence how couples choose to share their domestic workload. Housework Harmony provides alternative approaches that will have you and your significant other cooperating like never before, opening the door to a loving partnership that will spill over into all aspects of your relationship.

My Take:

The first chapter made me laugh. Andrew brings a fun sense of humor to his writing.
As I fully immersed myself into reading, I started searching my home for video cameras... because so many of the scenarios, attitudes, thoughts he uses and describes in his book, are ones that take place here on almost a daily basis. Like my husband and I were Sam and Nicola (the fictional couple in the scenarios provided) 
It doesn't just stop at me. Reading 'Housework Harmony' scenarios was like reading any discussion I have ever had with my friends, colleagues, read in parenting forums or even drama that plays out on Facebook.
The good news is, the arguments and emotions that take place in this house are NORMAL.
It happens.

I AM NOT ALONE.

*PHEW*

So what did I think?
I think this is a must read for couples, housewives.... etc....
Because not only did he provide the explanations for how 'I' feel, as a reader Andrew gave me the male perspective and it.made.SENSE.  
(Men, you also get to see the female perspective)
He breaks it down for us in different scenarios and uses "Win Principals" to help relate, and you will relate!
 (If not...than I know you have a maid and full household staff....BITCH)

It's reasonable, it's sound advice and most importantly.....it....makes sense.

I LOVED Chapter Six.
Chapter Six made we want to stand up and applaud.
Andrew deserves a standing ovation for the common sense, breakdowns and advice in regards to certain stereotypes that are rampant in today's society. He took them on beautifully (I especially appreciated the stay at home mom ones! ;) )
What else can you expect from this book? A pop quiz! A his and hers quiz! Something you both can do individually than work on using the advice within the pages of the book to your advantage.
Everything is eloquently written, easy to follow and the steps to get you and your spouse on the same page.

Do I think I can get my husband to read it? HA! My husband will agree that I have a better chance of teaching a monkey wearing high-heels the Electric Slide in icy -30 degree weather..... but at least now I am armed with some extra insight as to how to deal with the Housework Battle woes that plague us and I have already explained some to him from the book and it's working!!
We actually joked the other day that we are on the same page about a chore and I started jumping up and down, gave him a hug and a kiss yelling 'Screw being on the same page!! We are finally in the same Chapter and that in itself is enough!!'
We both laughed, he agreed.

I think from now on, every wedding I attend, I am going to gift a copy of this book to my friends.... heck, why just stop at my friends. Maybe I should just be like that crazy British Lady who crashes that wedding in that commercial to talk about Bums....(ewww) but instead I will crash events to plug Housework Harmony. I'll even put on a fancy accent when I do it....maybe even a wig....I digress....

All in all, I advise you all to truly seek out a copy of this exceptional, helpful book.
And Andrew....please....could you remove the video surveillance now?

Author Andrew McAllister, Ph.D. has a blog called To Love, Honor and Dismay.
I encourage you to click the link to check it out!

Also be sure to check out "Unauthorized Access" the 5 Star novel by Andrew McAllister called you can find my blog review regarding that novel here!

                                          ***GIVEAWAY***

Need some domestic bliss in your life? Do you need help to gain some perspective when it comes to the he cleans-she cleans arguement? Do you want your own hardcopy edition of your very own? The Author has been kind enough to gift one to one of my readers!

All you have to do to enter is email me: reeniediva@gmail.com with 'Housework Harmony' in the title and your Name, Age, State/Province in the body, and name your least favorite chore. The one you want more help with!

One entry per person.
Open to residents of Canada and the US.
Must be 18 or older.


Contest Closes and Draw will be held on April16th at 8pm!!
As soon as the draw is complete, I will contact the winner via email and announce it via my Facebook Page!

Good Luck!

Unauthorized Access 2.0 ~ Event! Interview! Giveaway!

When you believe in a book and an author so much, what do you do?

Promote, Promote, PROMOTE.

 Yes, I have talked about 'Unauthorized Access' before, twice actually (but who's counting) however.. I have some exciting and fun stuff to share!!!

If you have no idea about this novel I have declared 'Phenomenal' than please click this link to read my original blog review!
 
So why all the fuss? Why am I pushing this book at you AGAIN? (Well, for one, I can't exactly beat you over the head with it... saying 'Read me' 'Read me' so this will have to do!)
 Besides it being a MUST HAVE for your book collection, Unauthorized Access is celebrating a brand new cover!! 

 HOW exactly does one celebrate a brand new cover? By offering the e-book FREE for a THREE DAY event!! Andrew McAllister has graciously invited the world to read the suspenseful story he has created! Not just that...oh no...Not only can you get this gem for your Kindle for free at his event, please see the end of this blog for a print edition GIVEAWAY! (I really sound like a used car salesman, eh?)

On March 6th thru to March 8th Unauthorized Access will be FREE for Kindle on Amazon.com!!!

 http://www.amazon.com/Unauthorized-Access-ebook/dp/B00896U00C

If you are on FACEBOOK than please RSVP to the event using this link!!
(Tell Andrew I sent you!)

I recently interviewed Andrew McAllister where he discusses everything from the new cover, to how he got started writing. Even sharing his dream cast if Unauthorized Access were to become a movie!

Moi: What made you decide to give the book a fresh new look? Who designed the cover? 

Andrew McAllister: First of all, a big thanks to you, Reenie, for featuring me on your blog once again. You’re a wonderful supporter of indie authors and it is much appreciated! (You are very welcome Andrew!)

I work with Thomas K. Matthews Illustration out of San Diego. The original book cover for Unauthorized Access was purposely designed to have the look and feel of an old-fashioned pulp fiction paperback, with an edgy feel to it. After doing numerous book signings and other public events, however, I decided I would rather present a modern look and feel, more consistent with the story and with today’s thriller genre. I couldn’t be happier with the result! And so far reader response to the new cover has been amazing.

Moi: What was the process like?

Andrew McAllister: The process was amazingly interactive, despite the fact that I live 3,000 miles from San Diego. First we brainstormed a few general concepts that we thought might work on the cover, basically drawing from scenes in the book. We thought of a young woman running through the woods at night, for instance. We finally settled on an urban look because that matches the story. Then Tom Matthews worked up several concept covers, using different images, color schemes, layouts, typefaces, and so on.

We settled on the one we liked the best and then had a series of interactive work sessions. That was a blast! Through the magic of Skype and email we were able to work as if we were in the same room. We fiddled and tweaked the details until the result satisfied both of us. The process took a few weeks but I feel like the result is well worth it!

Moi: Do you have any other novels or plans for one in the works?

Andrew McAllister: Absolutely. I try to avoid saying too much about my works in progress because I have a tendency to think out loud and paint myself into a corner. I don’t want to decide I’d like to go in a different direction with some part of the story, and then feel like I can’t because I already mentioned a particular detail publicly. The book is another thriller, though, in a similar vein as Unauthorized Access. There is plenty of raw emotion and uncertainty over how the characters can possibly end up okay. The main character is a college student who reaches out over the Internet to someone he has never met, hoping this stranger can help him out of his situation. His message? “I think someone is trying to kill me.”

Moi: What inspired the novel Unauthorized Access?

Andrew McAllister: Some number of years ago the itch to write a novel became so great that I couldn’t possibly ignore it, so I started spending my idle moments wondering about story ideas. Besides being a writer, I am also a computer scientist, so I had a vague idea that the story should have an Information Technology angle. They say to write what you know, right? Then one day I was listening to an interview with an Internet security expert on public radio. “Can you imagine what would happen,” he said, “if someone managed to take down the systems at a bank?” His remark got me imagining exactly that scenario, and Unauthorized Access was born.

My first decision was that the book wasn’t going to be a story about the cyberattack, but rather about the people affected by the attack. I was thrilled when one reviewer commented on this, saying that Unauthorized Access “…may have a computer-based premise, but the novel is entirely the story of the protagonists, not their computers.”

Moi: When did you begin writing?

Andrew McAllister: For me, writing began as a natural spinoff of reading. I was a voracious reader growing up, and I still am. The idea of writing didn’t occur to me, however, until I was an adult. Then one day the idea just strolled fully formed into my brain. “You’d like to be a novelist,” the idea informed me. I agreed, and we’ve been partners ever since. I started the way most writers do, with short stories, writing contests, and writing classes. I’m still quite fond of the short-short story that was a contest winner with Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.

Then one day I decided to take the plunge and write a novel. After that initial effort crashed and burned, I picked myself up, dusted off my ego, and had another go. Before long I was working on Unauthorized Access.

Moi: You are an avid reader. Can you share your biggest literary influences?

Andrew McAllister: I’m an omnivore when it comes to books. I’ll read just about anything if it has conflict and can hook me enough to keep turning the pages. I have to admit, though, that my fave reads are action and suspense. I love World War II history, so authors like Alistair MacLean, Jack Higgins, and Ken Follett are naturals for me. In fact, an audio book version of Follett’s The Key to Rebecca is currently plugged into my car stereo. Other notable reads that come to mind are Jaws by Peter Benchley (which I read in a single sitting), The Godfather by Mario Puzo, and everything by Stephen King. The Stand is my favorite book of all time.

The bulk of my reading over the years, however, and the greatest influence on my writing has been the work of thriller writers like John Grisham, Lee Child, David Baldacci, and Christopher Reich, to name just a few. I love it when characters are thrown into terrible messes and must scratch and claw their way back some semblance of normality.

Moi: You have had so many wonderful 5 star reviews. Can you describe that moment when you read the first one?

Andrew McAllister: You know, if there is one aspect of the published novelist experience that has surprised me the most, it might be online reviews. Some of my expectations turned out to be true, for instance that reviews have become an important “currency” by which an ebook is judged while someone is considering whether to read it.

One thing that surprised me, though, was that almost everyone who reviewed Unauthorized Access on Amazon or Goodreads has reached out to me beforehand. People have sent me emails, Facebook posts, text messages, even phone calls to let me know how much they enjoyed the book. The idea of writing a review often comes up as part of these conversations, and once the idea has been broached, most people are happy to help out by writing a short review.

My first 5 star review followed an email I received from a young Canadian college student who was traveling in Europe last summer. She downloaded Unauthorized Access onto her Kindle on a recommendation from one of her girlfriends. She ended up reading the entire book in a single sitting while on a long train ride. It was a delightful feeling to have that email pop up in my inbox. In some sense this type of feedback is a validation of years worth of effort.

Moi: Are there any genre’s you enjoy that people might be surprised about?

Andrew McAllister: Like I said, I’ll read anything that holds my interest, but it’s usually more about the individual book than the genre. I’ve never been much into romance books, but I recently read On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves. It was wonderful! The first night I started reading it I was up half the night. In this case the cliché was true – I couldn’t put it down. I also truly enjoyed The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I’m not sure if reading two books is enough to classify me as a romance-aholic, but I can certainly appreciate some books in the genre.

Moi: As I mentioned in my blog, I could picture Unauthorized Access as a Hollywood Blockbuster. If that were to happen, who could you see in the lead roles?? Cast your movie!!

Andrew McAllister: It makes me happy that you’re not the only person who has suggested the idea of a movie. Of course that’s the kind of validation only a few authors ever get to enjoy. It’s fun to dream, though, so here goes.

I should start with Rob and Lesley, the young couple who are also the two main protagonists. I’ve described Rob as having dark, spiky hair, so I thought someone like Josh Hutcherson would look the part. For Lesley I chose Odette Annable. What a handsome couple! Do they look like they belong together or what?

Tim Whitlock is the same age, but he’s a complex character, a little on the geeky end of the spectrum, with many different sides to his personality. My bet is that Michael Cera could pull that off.

Stan Dysart is the bank president. He’s charming, professional, and ultra capable, but he’s no shrinking violet. He has a surprisingly ruthless side that not every reader sees coming. I’m going with the very distinguished Eric Roberts.

Then there’s the ultimate menacing bad guy, Ray Landry, who also has a cultured side. One look at Jason Statham’s face and you know he could pull off that role!

Finally in Chapter 1 the reader meets Mary, Stan Dysart’s capable office manager. Who better to play this role than our very own Reenie!

(I would LOVE to! Have my people contact your people!!) ;)

                                            GIVEAWAY!!!

Do you want to own your own print edition of Unauthorized Access compliments of the author?? I have ONE up for grabs and if you ask my previous winner (or the people I have gifted this book too) they will tell you 'it's goooood!'

The rules are simple:

Open to residents of Canada & the United States.

One Entry Per Person.

You can enter one of two ways!!

Email me your name, age and province/state at reeniediva@gmail.com to enter OR visit my Facebook Page and send me a message with the same information.

Contest Closes March 9th at 7pm EST.


Happy Reading Everyone!

A Suspenseful MUST read ~ Unauthorized Access!

If I could describe my next recommended read in one word, it would be.......

                                                    PHENOMENAL!!!

Win this book! Enter the Giveaway below!

If you love a wonderfully told, suspenseful novel that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat, than you are going to thank me for introducing this book into your life!
 (I will accept flowers, wine, and visa gift cards ;))

Unauthorized Access by Andrew McAllister is a novel that needs to be catapulted into the "Bookish Big Leagues" (aka Best Sellers lists) Another debut author who has delivered and I will be reading this novel again!


Honestly, I am so excited about this novel I don't even know where to begin!

Here is the book description from Amazon:

 "Young computer programmer Rob Donovan receives an emergency call from his boss at the First Malden Bank in Boston after the first successful cyber attack in American banking history scrambles thousands of account records. First Malden’s survival is on the line as furious customers and voracious reporters descend on the bank. Rob is part of the team trying to fix the damage, until the FBI charges him with the crime and brings his world crashing down. Facing prison time and the loss of his fiancée Lesley, Rob’s only chance of reclaiming his life lies in cutting through a web of mistrust and betrayal to uncover the startling truth behind the attack."

When I read that excerpt, I was immediately hooked. It sounded like it had page turner potential. I was not disappointed!

Why was that? Well read on....

From page one I was impressed with Mr. McAllister's writing style. It was descriptive, witty and overall had a great flow. The character dialogue was natural, and you almost felt immersed IN the story, rather than just reading it. This book would make an amazing movie! (Listen up Hollywood!)
It's a book that while entertains, certainly makes you think! In this day in age with terrorism, cyber-theft, and relying on technology are YOU prepared should your bank suddenly be sent into a panic? This book may have you hollowing out a teddy bear for stashing emergency funds. (Sorry Ted!)


 The story is told with all key players points of view. Watching their stories unfold from the start always adds that extra thrill. It helped build the novel into an amazing climax with a fantastic ending!

The lead character Rob Donovan is one of the most 'down to earth' characters I have ever read as a lead in a suspense or thriller. He doesn't have the skills of a cop, FBI agent or that of which you typically see in the role of a hero. (I could probably handle a gun better than this guy)  The struggle he endures throughout the book is close to home as what any human being put in that position would go through. It's a very realistic portrayal, and it's enough to put knots in your stomach.
Can you imagine being accused of a crime and not one single person believes you, including those you love?
*shudder*
How do you think you or your loved ones would react in a situation where you are cleverly framed?

Lesley McGrath is not only Rob's fiancée, but her uncle is Rob's boss (The Bank CEO), and she is a news reporter for a local television station. (Oh what a tangled web we weave...) Her situation is tremendously complicated. How do you cope when you may not know your partner as well as you think? How do you maintain your professionalism and bias at your job, when two people you love are involved in the biggest story making headlines?

Tim Whitlock is Rob's best friend and coworker. Scheming, mislead and delusional are all appropriate descriptions for his character. Passive Aggressive to the core, he is by far one of the more complex and interesting characters in the story. His emotions and involvement in events are twisted. Not the kind of friend you want at all.You'll end up loving to hate him.

Stan Dysart is Lesley's uncle and President and CEO of the First Malden Bank. He's a shrewd businessman who loves his family, and his business and will do what it takes to ensure his bank and customers (even niece) are taken care of. He was one of my favorite characters...both lovable and sly. Following his particular storyline made the story that much better.

One word to describe the relationships and portrayal in the novel: Real.

 I can be picky about the conclusion of my novels, that is why I am extremely pleased with how this book ended. I won't spoil it for you at all. You have to read it and see why I am thrilled! The only teaser you get is after the amazing climactic scenes, the ending was brilliant! Perfect! The Epilogue was my favorite, right down to the final sentence. Unlike most books I have read, I couldn't exactly 'see' where this was going, and I like it that way.The author keeps the reader on his/her toes.

One word to describe the conclusion: Satisfying

It's not a book that you can easily put down (Yes... I am enthusiastic, deal with it)  I have several people in mind who I know will enjoy suspense and thrillers (**cough** DAD **cough**) and I am going to make sure they pick one up! I am completely championing Andrew McAllister and look forward to his next novel! Click here to find a copy in paperback or kindle edition!

NOW that I have convinced you that this book is for you.... It's time for some fun!!

                         GIVEAWAY WINNER:

CONGRATS TO MELISSA F FROM ONTARIO!!! :)

She has won an autographed copy of Unauthorized Access!!