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Book Review: At Risk by Patricia Cornwell

2 out of 5 stars

 

The trouble with a successful author’s work being treated like a publisher’s ‘product’

This ‘novel’ should have stayed a short serial, because it is so thin on plot, there was really no point in trying to blow it up into a full book just for the sake of the with a hefty pricetag, let alone as a hardcover, when it would at best merit a slim paperback.

Winn the main character stars out fantastic, and we love his gran, though it is pretty silly to have her ‘solve’ the crime in some sense. But then Winn goes on the wild goose chase, and the whole book goes to hell in a handbasket.

Every detail the author gave to provide characterisation at the start of the book as they all lurch into action, and manage to go to it with all of the liveliness of cardboard. Once again, the author is thin on motive, and the whole thing smacks of “Phew, glad I got that out of the way!”

All of her most recent books have felt like that–I know her topics are seldom cheerful, but where is the fun, the wisecracks, of the early Kay, Marino and so forth?

It is a shame that Cornwell has descended into the dark realms of despair with her most recent books, but it is not surprising if she is expected to churn and grind out her next book like a hack writer meeting a deadline.

Definitely give this a miss, and her ones where the serial criminal is a werewolf-I mean, I ask you.  Just like sex is supposed to sell, sensationalism is supposed to as well, but this is a real waste of everyone’s money, time and effort.

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Book Review: Call Home The Heart by Shannon Farrell

5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic Times Review

 

Widowed by a shooting accident on her honeymoon, Muireann Caldwell discovers that her wastrel husband has left her penniless, and almost homeless. She now faces returning to a smothering family or charting her own course with the crumbling Caldwell estate.

 

Deciding to tackle Barnakilla and its mountain of debt, Muireann turns to the handsome, capable Lochlainn Roche, her late husband’s estate manager, for support.

 

Lochlainn worries that with Augustine dead, his lifelong home will be forfeited, especially if the young widow decides to run home to Scotland. But he’s surprised by the strength Muireann displays and grows to admire her courage and determination. She grows to love Barnakilla as much as he does. Dare he hope she returns the love he has found for her?

 

Ms. Farrell weaves a wonderful tale of survival and love that defeats seemingly insurmountable odds. It is refreshing to see a heroine with such strength and common sense, and a strong hero who actually believes she can have it! CALL HOME THE HEART is a story you won’t want to put down.

 

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Fashion Comfort and Style

 

Though style and comfort may appear to be a contradiction, it is possible to dress stylishly and still be comfortable! Thanks to innovations from designers like Stella McCartney and Donna Karan, women no longer have to force their bodies into stiff and tight clothes with unnatural shapes.

 

By using new fabrics and unique lines of construction, designers are now creating magnificent garments that fit and flatter the body without any of the sharp uncomfortable lines of the past that made a woman feel more like a mannequin than a person.

 

Some of the most stunning designs from recent runway shows are ones that incorporate fluid fabrics with distinctive draping techniques to create beautiful garments that incorporate comfort and style. Out with the corsets and girdles ““ comfortable style is finally available for every woman!

 

Look for the latest styles that are made in easy, fluid fabrics that flow over the body. The stiff fabrics of yesterday are typically uncomfortable and difficult to adjust to the body’s movements. Rather than walking around in uncomfortable,  sometimes scratchy, clothes, opt for softer fabrics that glide around the body and adapt to your motions, draping your figure rather than squashing it.

 

New styles and lines of construction mean that clothing is fashionable and up to the moment, and with the variety of choices available for styles and fabrics these day, where pretty much anything goes, there is no reason to be uncomfortable in your clothes ever again.

 

Even tailored clothing is being made in softer, more attractive fabrics that fit into busy lifestyles flawlessly. Many of these fabrics are wrinkle-resistant and require practically no ironing. Stylish, comfortable, and easy to care for…what more could a woman want? Women should never sacrifice comfort for style and with the current advances in fabrics, design and clothing construction; it is not even a problem.

 

Flip through your favorite fashion magazine or visit the ladies’ section at a department store and you will find examples of stylish clothes that actually feel good to wear. Forget about squeezing into tight, scratchy clothes– now you can look stylish and feel stress-free at the same time.

 

A humble black yoga pant for less than $20, combined with black shoes, flats or heels, can help you look stylish and comfortable at the same time, and can be dressed up or down with a longish lack tunic top as well. Just add accessories, attitude and flair, and enjoy. Now that is a recipe for comfort and style.

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Day Care Business for Work At Home Moms Part 3

[continued from Part 2]

Another important difference between looking after other people’s children as a nanny or teacher or daycare worker, and going into business for yourself, is that it takes time to build up a list of children who will attend your daycare. There are many home daycare centers to choose from in every town. Once parents find a good center they normally stay there long term.

Finding new clients can be difficult, especially if you don’t take care of infants or babies. However, there is often a reason why day care facilities refuse to take children under six months, usually to do with safety issues, and whether or not the child has had its vaccinations.

So you might find a niche specializing in small babies for those women who really need to go back to work but can’t find a daycare facillity willing to take a child under 6 months. It can be more demanding work in some senses, but then so can chasing around toddlers, and multiple kids in the terrible Twos stage.

Getting clients can be easier when you are licensed, but to begin with you need to rely on networking with parenting groups, people at your church, people in your community and friends in order to build your business.

Now that we have got the negative aspects out of the way, it’s time to consider the benefits of owning your own daycare business.

Continued in Day Care Business for Work At Home Moms Part 4.

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Day Care Business for Work At Home Moms Part 2

[continued from Part 1]

There are a few important distinctions between working for someone else taking care of children, and running your own in-home facility.

The first is money. At home childcare businesses can be profitable, but it normally takes six to eighteen months for Wahms to see any substantial income coming in. This may not be a problem for you, and if you are committed to building the quality and size of your business, the start of your profitability can be on the low end of that scale.

Also, if you are getting to look after your own children, you may decide that even if you are  not that profitable, you are saving money on your own child care by being at home full time, plus saving on things like commuting to work, gas, work clothes and lunches, and so on.

It can take several months to a year to turn a daycare into a profitable daycare business for many reasons. First of all, each state has its own licensed childcare requirements. Getting licensed to have a home daycare means attending classes, passing certification and having your home inspected.

While you are going through this process, you can look into doing some unlicensed childcare for a few children to start building your business. Babysitting for a couple of hours each day can help bring extra income in, and give you a feel for the scale of the project you are setting yourself by looking after more than just your own child or children at home.

Each state has its own rules for unlicensed childcare. You should take the steps, however, to get licensed because it will increase your employability, in the eyes of parents and make it easier to get funding for your daycare facility.

It can also take a while to become a profitable daycare facility because of the start up costs involved. While you do have some baby and child items from your own children, there are many things that you’ll need to buy in order to make your home functional as a safe and stimulating daycare facility.

You’ll want to buy tables and chairs, art supplies, music CDs, games and other activities that the children can use while they are in your home. You will also need to cater to children of various ages up to pre-school. You can write off most of these on your taxes, but you need to keep receipts and excellent records.

Day Care Business for Work At Home Moms Part 3 deals with other important differences between working for other people, and setting up your own daycare busines.

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Day Care Business for Work At Home Moms Part 1

 

Many potential work at home moms (WAHMs) think that starting an in-home daycare business might be an easy way to make extra money and stay at home with their children at the same time.

Owning a childcare business can be rewarding and does have many perks. However, the realities of this type of business are far from the expectations of most people considering childcare.

It is not the easiest way in the world to make money, and does not give you the freedom, and relative freedom from responsibility, of other work at home opportunities.

If you have experience in child care or a degree related to the child care field, then opening your own daycare as a work at home mom is a natural extension of your out of the home job, in which case, it would not be such a huge leap to take on daycare in your own home as a business.

However, there are a few important distinctions between working for someone else taking care of children, and running your own in-home facility.   We will deal with these distinctions in Part 2.

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Making the Decision to Work at Home Part 2

[Continued from Part 1]

 

The qualities of a successful WAHM

 

There are also several qualities that make a Wahm successful. Before you start working at home, evaluate whether you have these qualities, or can develop them with time and effort.

Working at home normally fits into two different categories. You can either work as an independent contractor for a company, or you can work for yourself. Either way, you are going to be in charge of your own schedule.

Therefore, you will need to be extremely organized, self-motivated, and will have to work well without having a supervisory presence in your working life.

Even those who choose to work for a company are responsible for scheduling their own time and meeting deadlines without a lot of input from supervisors.

Another important skill to have as a Wahm is time management. When you work out of the home, you’re going to be confronted with two sets of challenges each day. You’ll be faced with the work you need to get done, but you’ll also be in the midst of your household, where there are always going to be things that need to be done.

If you focus too much on your work, your household chores will get out of control, and vice versa. Having good time management skills and being able to set clear priorities will help you tackle the diverse challenges of being a Wahm.

Making the decision to become a Wahm requires a lot of thought and consideration. If you are thinking about working from home because you are having a baby, or because you are tired of sending your children to daycare, take some time to write down the pros and cons of becoming a Wahm.

Above all, talk things over with your family to ensure that you are making the right decision for the family unit. You will be doing two full-time jobs from the same space, your own home, and will need support from your partner, friends, and family. Just because your time might be more flexible, it does not mean it is ‘free’.

There are plenty of resources online for moms who are looking to find out more about the realities of working at home.

Once you’ve considered your position and done the necessary research, you’ll be better equipped to make the right decision for you and your family.

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