June 25, 2013

Logitech G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review

Looking for a new gaming headset with great audio capabilities and a mic for others to hear you talk with? The “Logitech G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset” is a great option for gamers, and non-gamers alike that can appreciate good headsets. Take a look at the features and see for yourself why this could be the best gaming headset for you to use next.


Logitech G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Features
On-Cable Controls Keep the mute switch and volume dial close at hand for quick, precise audio adjustments. All attached to an extra long, x-meter cable.

Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround SoundYou can hear up to seven discrete channels of audio data plus the low-frequency effects (LFE) channel, known as 7.1 surround sound. Dolby Headphone technology perceptually positions each channel in the correct location to reproduce multi-channel content the way developers intended.

Lay-Flat EarpiecesWe know even twin gamers are one-of-a-kind. For a personalized fit, the earpieces swivel up to 90 degrees. And because they can turn to lay flat, they’re less prone to breakage from everyday wear and tear.

Sports Performance Cloth Ear Cups - Marathon gaming sessions mean heat and sweat. We covered the G430 ear cups with carefully selected sports performance cloth for a comfortable, soft touch even after hours of use. And they slip off easily for washing to keep the headset in top shape.

Lightweight DesignThe G430 earpieces have been designed to be slimmer and lighter, without skimping on audio quality. A lighter, balanced assembly means you stay focused on the game. You might even forget you’re wearing a headset.

Folding, Noise-Cancelling Mic - When you want to be heard, you will be—loudly and clearly. The noise-cancelling mic can be adjusted to pick up your voice alone. Don’t feel like talking? Easily fold it up and out of the way.

Full-Speed, All-Digital USB In-game sound isn’t an effect. It’s a critical component of game play. Our USB headphones surround you with aural information. The sound is crisp and clear, and the jack on your sound card stays open for desktop speakers.Logitech G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset


My Thoughts
This headset is designed with the gamer in mind. It has features designed extensively for long hours of gaming, and of course, use of both the earpieces and the mic. It is designed to last and hold up for serious gamers, and anyone who wants to use this stylish headset.

Headsets have a love/hate relationship with me. I really love to use them, but often they make me uncomfortable. My head is sensitive, and I can’t withstand lots of pressure on it or anything too heavy. The first few days that I wore this headset, it was a little uncomfortable. However, after wearing them for about 1-3 hours each day, after about a week, I was able to wear them without any issues. I only heard clear audio and was able to talk in TeamSpeak clearly.

The audio quality of the surround sound earpieces is really amazing. It is very high quality and I love just listening to music with them. I use the headset when gaming too though, and it works flawlessly for that as well. I don’t really see the need for surround sound with things like TeamSpeak, but it of course works well in there as well, and some of the voices from people sound clearer with this too.

The mic works well and I’ve had no complaints of coming in too soft or too loud on anybody’s systems, so it gets an A+ from me on that. I also like how I can mute the mic or adjust the volume right on the headset’s cable.

One of my favorite features I haven’t actually tried out yet, but the fact that the ear cups can come off to be washed is amazing. I’m a Nursing student that has taken Microbiology, so trust me – this is something all headsets need!

Overall, this is a high quality headset with superior performance at a very reasonable price. If you want a new headset, this is one that you should seriously look into. I highly recommend it.



Disclosure: Thank you to Logitech for providing me with the product for review. All opinions, experiences, and thoughts about the product being reviewed are my own.

June 24, 2013

Intentional Walk by Rob Rains

Intentional Walk by Rob Rains is an inspirational read about how baseball and faith can go hand in hand. This book looks at how St. Louis Cardinals players, management, and staff have had faith influence them in their lives.


Book Description
Intentional Walk features the stories of Adam Wainwright, David Freese, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday, Carlos Beltran, Jason Motte and other members of the 2012 Cardinals, written as those players and the rest of the team tried to repeat the 2011 world championship. The book talks about how they became Christians and offers their testimony about what it means for them to have God play such a prominent role in their lives.

Playing for first-year manager Mike Matheny, a strong Christian as well, these men talk about their success and failure, about the challenges that come from playing baseball at the highest level, and how thankful and blessed they are to have that God-given ability. In the end, however, what is far more important to them is their life-long relationship they have established with Jesus Christ.” – Intentional Walk


My Thoughts
Intentional Walk is a look into how the Christian faith plays an important part of some of the St. Louis Cardinals players, management, and staff. Even if you aren’t a fan of the team, this book isn’t really about that. It is about faith, baseball, and how their beliefs get them through injuries, tragedies in their lives, wins, losses, and much more.

I found this book to be a really uplifting account on how religion is still found in sports, and how faith can help people through such a wide array of situations in life. If you are a baseball fan, fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, and have a strong faith, and/or are a Christian, this book will be worthy of your time to read. I definitely recommend it.



* Thank you to the publisher of Intentional Walk, Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy of this book for review as part of their Book Sneeze program. All opinions expressed are my own.

My Animal, My Self by Marta Williams

My Animal, My Self by Marta Williams is a wonderful book that animal lovers will greatly enjoy. The author is an animal communicator that helps us to see how our relationships with our animals often reflect ourselves.


Book Description
In this groundbreaking book, animal communicator Marta Williams brings into focus an unexamined dynamic in our relationships with our animals: the idea that our animals are often our mirrors. Deeply and inextricably connected to us on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels, they can pick up and reflect back to us the issues and events of our lives. Through stories, exercises, and an extensive questionnaire, you will gain unique insight into the healing and teaching roles of your companion animals, both past and current, and the profound gifts they offer.” – My Animal, My Self


My Thoughts
My Animal, My Self is a book for true animal lovers. As an animal lover myself, I really enjoyed this book and learned quite a lot about my animals, and myself. Learning how animals can mirror us and how they can teach us many lessons in life, is a joyful and insightful read.

Some companion animals can mirror us in negative ways though, and this is of course not a good thing for us or them. The author gives examples of how to change this situation for both the human and the animal, which will hopefully help many humans and animals alike out there.

I found this book to be really interesting and would love to see this researched in more depth. The topic is truly worth looking into, and if you are an animal lover, this is definitely a book that you want to read! I highly recommend it.



* Thank you to the publisher of My Animal, My Self, New World Library, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 20, 2013

I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert

I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert is an honest memoir written by a very strong woman who willingly opened up about her life. On the surface it seems like it is a cute and interesting read, but it is so much more than that. It is inspiring, heartfelt, and one of the best memoirs I have read in a long time.


Book Description
When Jennifer Gilbert was twenty-two years old, someone tried to cut her life short in the most violent way. Not wanting this traumatic encounter to define her life, she buried it within and bravely launched a fabulous career in New York as an event planner. Always the calm in the storm—from fixing a ripped dress to relocating a lavish party on two days' notice—she was convinced she'd never again feel joy herself. Yet these weddings, anniversaries, and holiday parties slowly brought her back to life. No one's entitled to an easy road, Gilbert learned, but instead of anticipating our present in a goodie bag, it's our presence that is the real gift.” – I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag


My Thoughts
I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag is a look into the life of a woman who was attacked violently, lived through it, and instead of just giving up on everything (including herself) – she moved on and created a business, a family, and finally, decided to write about it. I applaud her greatly for having the strength to share her experiences with us in a very honest and real way throughout the book.

Sometimes memoirs can be a little dry, but this one was written in a very easy to read manner, and fully kept my interest throughout the book. I enjoyed more about the author’s personal life and story than about the nightclubs or parties. That is just me though.

If you enjoy memoirs and reading courageous stories by women, this is definitely one you need to read. I highly recommend it.



* Thank you to the publisher of I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag, Harper, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 19, 2013

A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb

A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb is a beautifully written novel that is set in a small village in 1937. It is a passionate, and haunting tale of love, obsession, and is much more than meets the eye.


Book Description
A spellbinding tale about the power of love, the danger of obsession, and the unfaithful nature of memory, A Half Forgotten Song is by turns haunting, joyous, and heartbreaking.

1937. In a windswept village on the Dorset coast, fourteen-year-old Mitzy Hatcher has endured a wild and lonely upbringing. But the arrival of renowned artist Charles Aubrey, along with his exotic mistress and their two daughters, changes everything. Over the course of three summers, Mitzy develops a deep and abiding bond with the Aubrey household, gradually becoming Charles's muse. Slowly, she begins to perceive a future she had never thought possible—and a powerful love is kindled in her. A love that will grow as she does: from innocence to obsession; from childish infatuation to something far more dangerous.

Years later, a young man in an art gallery happens upon a hastily drawn portrait and is intrigued by its curious intensity. The questions he asks lead him to the seaside village—and to the truth about those fevered summers of long ago.” – A Half Forgotten Song


My Thoughts
A Half Forgotten Song is the type of book that transports the reader back in time to live with the characters while unraveling their story. Mitzy Hatcher is a memorable and very detailed character that captures the spirit of the novel for me. However, the other characters aren’t just supporting roles with bleakly created profiles – these are unique characters that could have novels of their own, too. This is a very detailed story that is woven around similar threads, but captures the imagination of this story long after you finished reading the last page.

The beginning of the story is a little slow, but it intensifies as the story is laid out. The twists and turns along the way show how brilliant this writer is, and the ending is just superb. This is truly a work of art that anyone who enjoys reading should definitely read. I highly recommend it.



* Thank you to the publisher of A Half Forgotten Song, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Time Flies by Claire Cook

Time Flies by Claire Cook is a novel that has a heartfelt story at the center with memorable characters that come to life through the pages. It is a humorous look at how life can go, and what a high school reunion can resurface in people.


Book Description
Years ago, Melanie followed her husband, Kurt, from the New England beach town where their two young sons were thriving to the suburbs of Atlanta. She’s carved out a life as a successful metal sculptor, but when Kurt leaves her for another woman, having the tools to cut up their marriage bed is small consolation. She’s old enough to know that high school reunions are often a big disappointment, but when her best friend makes her buy a ticket and an old flame gets in touch to see if she’ll be going, she fantasizes that returning to her past might help her find her future . . . until her highway driving phobia resurfaces and threatens to hold her back from the adventure of a lifetime.

Time Flies is an epic trip filled with fun, heartbreak, and friendship that explores what it takes to conquer your worst fears . . . so you can start living your future.” – Time Flies


My Thoughts
Time Flies is a book that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster right along with the characters. Melanie is rightfully hurt after her husband leaves her, and quite literally chainsaws their bed after he leaves. Having the tools (and knowing how to use them) surely helped with this, and she seizes the moment to use the springs in a project. It is a humorous, yet very real look at this character and her journey.

Claire Cook writes in a fun to read style that makes it easy for the reader to get lost in. You can start reading one of her novels only expecting to read a few chapters, and get sucked into reading half the book without even noticing how late it is in real life. This book is no exception, so be prepared to read this for hours before putting it down. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.



* Thank you to the publisher of Time Flies, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 18, 2013

Sniper Elite: One Way Trip by Scott McEwen

Sniper Elite: One Way Trip by Scott McEwen is an intense adventure novel that is full of action. This story focuses on the military in great detail, while still making it intense and a very compelling read. If action and adventure is your thing, this is a book you’ll definitely want to read.


Book Description
In direct defiance of the president’s orders, Navy Master Chief Gil Shannon, one of America’s most lethal Seal snipers, launches a bold mission comprised of Seal Team Six and Delta Force fighters to free a captured female helicopter pilot being held by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

The president is afraid a botched rescue could jeopardize US foreign policy as well as end his presidency. But once the special ops community learns that one of their own—the first female helicopter pilot of the Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)—is being held and brutally mistreated, there is no executive order strong enough to stop them from attempting to rescue her.

This fast-paced, action-packed thriller with incredibly realistic and blistering battles introduces a new American hero, Gil Shannon, whose iron will and expertise with the .308 Remington Modular sniper rifle will spell the difference between freedom and an ignoble death for America’s female POW.” – Sniper Elite: One Way Trip


My Thoughts
Sniper Elite: One Way Trip is the type of story that makes it easy to see the “good” guys from the “bad.” However, it also makes you look at how our government is able to handle black ops type missions, and how all of the different types of military personnel thinks differently, ultimately leading to friction and drama from within.

This is not your typical action or thriller novel. This is timely, intense, and very realistic. The novel itself is very well written, and the characters are well developed although sometimes a bit stereotypical based on their roles. If you enjoy novels based on military ops, action, thrillers, adventures, or just a good story, this is definitely a book you want to add to your must-read list.



* Thank you to the publisher of Sniper Elite: One Way Trip, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Francis Man of Prayer by Mario Escobar

Francis Man of Prayer by Mario Escobar is a good introduction to the new Pope. His journey may not be an easy one, but Pope Francis is a welcome change within the Catholic Church that the faithful have been waiting for.


Book Description
First Jesuit. First Latin American. And a new pope who chose as his first act a simple request: please pray for me.
The recent resignation of Pope Benedict XVI took the world by surprise and for good reason. More than 600 years had passed since a pope last left his post.
 Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is a man of prayer, a man of action, and a humble man who has always promoted others over himself. In fact, it was Bergoglio who bowed out of the running in the papal election of 2005 to facilitate the rise of Benedict XVI.
 However, the new pope faces a Catholic Church in crisis—a church that has lost the media pull of John Paul II and is still hounded by pedophile scandals and the filtration of documents from former papal administrations. His first year may not be an easy one, but neither this man nor the church itself has ever shied away from the challenges thrust upon them.
 Pope Francis is austere and simple but has vast theological training. He is a man of his time but one who also travels by subway and bus just like any other citizen. Tirelessly fighting poverty and marginalization, he is a beacon of hope for the poor, persecuted sectors of the church. Has a Catholic spring finally arrived after a very long winter?
 Francis is the complete biography of a humble man who has suddenly become one of the most powerful and influential men on the planet.” – Francis Man of Prayer


My Thoughts
Francis Man of Prayer is a biography of Pope Francis. It isn’t quite as detailed as I would have liked, but I did learn a lot more about him, and grew to respect him even more than I did before reading this about him. I was raised Catholic, and although I consider myself more “spiritual” than “religious” I do still consider myself Catholic when it comes to religion. Just like any religion, it helps to have a priest and church that is a good fit with you. I think Pope Francis is the perfect fit for Pope in this day and time.

To say that he will have a hard road ahead of him is an understatement. He realizes this, but has the faith to help bring in changes for the better. He is also genuine, humble and shows deep care and concern for the people in the world. I highly respect him, and am glad I learned more about him from this book.



* Thank you to the publisher of Francis Man of Prayer, Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy of this book for review as part of their Booksneeze program. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 17, 2013

Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehmann

Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehmann blends New York City and vintage fashion into a marvelous book that transports you to NYC 100 years ago, as well as modern day NYC, and keeps it current with memorable characters in both eras.


Book Description
Amanda Rosenbloom, proprietor of Astor Place Vintage, thinks she’son just another call to appraise and possibly purchase clothing from a wealthy, elderly woman. But after discovering a journal sewn into a fur muff, Amanda gets much more than she anticipated. The pages of the journal reveal the life of Olive Westcott, a young woman who had moved to Manhattan in 1907. Olive was set on pursuing a career as a department store buyer in an era when Victorian ideas, limiting a woman’s sphere to marriage and motherhood, were only beginning to give way to modern ways of thinking. As Amanda reads the journal, her life begins to unravel until she can no longer ignore this voice from the past. Despite being separated by one hundred years, Amanda finds she’s connected to Olive in ways neither could ever have imagined.” – Astor Place Vintage


My Thoughts
Astor Place Vintage is the type of book that you can get lost in. The author is able to artfully weave the story around 1907 and 2007 NYC without making it feel like two very different stories within the same book.

Amanda finds an old journal written by a woman who moved to Manhattan 100 years ago. As a store owner of a vintage clothing boutique, you never know what gems you’ll uncover when out buying clothes, but this find becomes much more than she could ever expect.

On the surface, reading this book and thinking back about what life was like 100 years ago, it is very different. However, much remains the same and will probably be similar even 100 years from now. This is what makes the book so heartfelt and relatable. Sure, the scenes in NYC, and reading about fabulous clothes is fun, but the people and their relationships is the real story.

If you love reading about fashion or New York City, this is definitely a book you will want to read! I highly recommend it.



* Thank you to the publisher of Astor Place Vintage, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

June 16, 2013

True Blood – Season 6


One of my favorite TV shows is HBO’s True Blood. I have watched all of the seasons and own all of the current ones that are out on DVD or Blu-Ray. I’ve read all of the books that the TV series are based on, and I can actually appreciate that the show has taken a very different storyline. I have a poster of Eric in my bedroom, and I am not ashamed about that one bit. I also wear quite a few different True Blood shirts as part of my normal attire. I’m a True Blood addict.

The premiere of True Blood Season 6 starts in about an hour on HBO. Are you watching it? Drinking True Blood, wine, or some other tasty beverage? Is this your favorite time of year because the show has returned, too?

Share in the comments how much you love it too, and what you think of the show and/or this season’s premiere episode after it airs.