Shelley Reads and Writes

Author: bucknscout

  • Vet Techs: Earn CE on the Go with VETgirl’s Flexible Courses

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    Ever feel stuck hunting for RACE‑approved CE that fits around your shifts, family life, or study schedule? As a busy vet tech, the struggle of juggling hands‑on work and license requirements is all too real. That’s exactly why I’ve grown to love VETgirl CE—this platform delivers top-quality continuing education you can access anytime, anywhere.

    Why It Works for Vet Techs Like Us

    VETgirl offers a robust library of RACE-accredited courses, including live webinars, on-demand videos, podcasts, and blog-based quizzes—all tailored for vet techs and vets alike. Whether you’re commuting, grabbing a coffee, or sneaking in an educational break between patients, it fits seamlessly into your routine.

    From clinical deep-dives in anesthesia, dermatology, and critical care to leadership and practice management tracks, their content covers real challenges we face daily. There’s also a certificate program offering 12–60 hours of credit, included with membership, perfect for techs who want to dive deeper into specific areas.

    Insider Praise: Real Techs, Real Feedback

    People rave about how practical and engaging the courses are. Techs describe VETgirl as “clinical CE that actually works with our time constraints” and appreciate how each session offers tangible takeaways for better patient care. The mix of formats—podcasts, webinars, quick blog posts—makes earning credits feel doable, even on the toughest days.

    Fit It Into Your Learning Style

    • Prefer listening? Download a podcast while walking or commuting.
    • Want interaction? Join live webinars and earn CE in real time.
    • Short on time? On-demand videos and blog quizzes let you earn credits in minutes.

    Why I Recommend It

    It’s vet tech–focused, affordable, and clinically relevant—no fluff, just useful knowledge from experts in a format that respects your schedule. Whether your local hospital limits in-person CE or you simply want a flexible option you can access anytime, VETgirl keeps your learning going without burnout.

    Ready to earn CE that actually fits your life?
    Take a peek at VETgirl’s ELITE membership—choose the plan that suits your pace, start with a free or trial webinar if they offer one, and see how it strengthens your confidence and skills on the floor.

    Looking to join the community? Check out my affiliate link to help support my own journey of learning. Even better, you get ten percent off for your first year!  

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Til next time.

  • What A Great Read by Kate Hewitt!

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    Life has a way of changing, when you least expect it. When Daniel lies to his family and pretends to go to work after being fired, life only worsens when he loses the family house.

    So, what else can you do? Alex, Daniel, and their two daughters head to Alex’s parents’ hideaway, a cabin in the woods in Canada. They are going to use this time to reconnect and come up with a plan for their future. They decide to spend six weeks during the holiday season hiding out in a rustic cabin. There is little there, but Alex remembers summers happily bringing water in, cutting firewood, and acting like pioneers.

    Except, the entire world changes as the United States gets attached. Cities that once were so powerful are demolished to the ground. Millions lose their lives, and people have to learn to live off of the grid.

    Alex worries about her son in college and her mother in a rehab facility, yet she has to take care of the daughters living with her. The entire family has to become resilient and find out how they can go on from here.

    I couldn’t put this book down, much like all of the Hewitt books that I have read. You will not regret reading this one, especially if you like all of her other books. She makes you think and really care about the characters so that you are hoping for the best for all of them!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time! 

  • What Secrets Are They Hiding?

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    In Things We Never Say by Caitlin Weaver, three mothers, Anna, Maggie, and Rhea, have known each other for years, yet they have never been close.

    Anna is the headmaster’s wife. She has always been quiet, doing her best to keep her family secrets safe.

    Maggie is a relationship therapist who is struggling in her own marriage. Though she works hard with other couples, she can’t seem to get anywhere in her own marriage.

    Rhea is the perfect well put together one. She hasn’t told anyone about her past, not even her husband.

    The three women, all completely different, find themselves working together on a PTA project. Over wine and hard work, they find themselves with friends (maybe even for the first time in years).

    Then, they find out about a scandal that is going to rock their community and school. Anna is stuck in the middle. There is no way that her husband is not involved. The three women have to figure out what they are going to do. Do they expose the school and Anna’s husband? Will any of them survive the fallout? Will their friendship survive?

    I have been trying a bunch of new authors lately, and I am really glad that I have been! This is one book that I was glad that I picked up. I will have to follow the author so that I can get her other books as they go on sale!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time!  

  • Can You Really Trust Your In-Laws? (and Your Husband)?

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    Chelsea was having a rough go of it when she met the man that she would eventually call her husband. He helped her get better mentally. He was also there for her when her father was sick and eventually died. He even supported her love of painting, letting her dream of going to art school while he took care of her and provided for her.

    Then, it was time for her to meet her in-laws. They lived off-the-grid in a remote location. You couldn’t even get there by car. You had to hike for four hours to get to their cabin.

    They went for a weekend, but then it didn’t look like it was going to be very easy to leave. Chelsea didn’t feel any warmth from his mom, while she enjoyed getting to know his father. However, the family tension quickly became unbearable, and all Chelsea wanted to do was to get back home.

    As Chelsea learns more about her new family, she uncovers some truths which really change everything!

    Just like the other books that I read by Caine, this one had me trying to figure out what was going to happen and then completely go in another direction! If you enjoyed any of his books, you should give this one a try!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • What Happens When A Woman Disappears, and Many People Want Her Gone?

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    In The Perfect Affair by Angela Henry, we meet Paige Nichols. She is thrilled for her husband, Aaron, when he gets a promotion at work, even though she is really struggling with her own career path. However, when she meets her husband’s glamorous new colleague at a faculty mixer (which he didn’t tell her about), she realizes right away that he has been having an affair. She sees how he looks at her, the same way that he used to look at her.

    When Paige confronts him, he says that he will break it off. She will do anything to keep her family together.

    But when the breakup between Cara and her husband threatens to end his career, she isn’t sure what to think. Could her husband have done what Cara said he did? Did he really break it off when she asked? Will she ever be able to trust him again?

    Then, Cara Morton disappears without a trace, and Paige’s husband is the number one suspect. Until Cara’s past comes out, and we learn that everyone is hiding something, and many people would be happy if she weren’t around.

    So, where is Cara, and who did it? You will be utterly shocked when you find out!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time!  

  • Who Will Help a Child Who Really Needs It?

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    In The Teacher by Meg Gray, Emma Hewitt was starting over as a kindergarten teacher in Portland. She is completely happy to be with her group of kindergartners until she meets one father who hurriedly drops his son off mid-meltdown.

    After she learns more about the child, she just wants to help him, but his father is too busy to return her calls. Even after she gets his attention, the father doesn’t want to admit that his son needs her help.

    Once she learns about the trauma that the boy suffered, she is even more ready to support the two as much as she can. And then she sees the soft side of the father, and she wonders if she is really falling for the grumpy father of one of her students.

    As the family grows closer, you may wonder what is going to happen with the three of them. When I finished this book, I just had to grab the next one! Gray’s books are definitely worth picking up!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time!  

  • Cat Water Fountain Benefits (and Why I Won’t Go Back)

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    Worried your cat isn’t drinking enough water? You’re definitely not alone. A lot of cat parents deal with this—especially since many cats are surprisingly picky about how they hydrate. Still water in a regular bowl often doesn’t cut it. And when cats don’t get enough moisture, it can lead to dehydration, urinary tract issues, or even kidney problems over time. It’s one of those sneaky little health concerns that can go unnoticed—until it turns into a vet visit.

    That’s where a cat fountain can make a big difference. Instead of stagnant water sitting in a bowl all day, a fountain keeps it moving and fresh—just the way most cats prefer. The gentle stream mimics running water in nature, which cats are naturally drawn to. It’s like flipping a switch: suddenly your cat is way more interested in drinking regularly, and you can feel better knowing they’re staying hydrated.

    Fountains also come with built-in filters that help remove impurities, hair, and debris, so the water not only looks cleaner—it is cleaner. And if your cat is a bit of a water snob (most are), that fresh taste can be the thing that finally encourages them to drink more throughout the day.

    Another bonus? They’re surprisingly low-maintenance. Most models only need to be topped off every few days and cleaned weekly. Some even come with dishwasher-safe parts to make things easier. No more constant bowl refills or wondering when your cat last drank.

    Product Available on Pet Cube

    If your cat turns up their nose at their water bowl, or you’re simply looking for an easy upgrade to support their long-term health, a fountain might be the game-changer you’ve been looking for. It’s one of those small switches that can have a big impact—and your cat will thank you (probably by drinking more and knocking fewer cups off the table). Hydrated cat = happy cat.

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

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    Til next time.

  • Will A Play Boy Ever Settle Down?

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    In The Girl Next Door by Meg Gray, Jocelyn Banks hates change, but she was given a job in a big city that she couldn’t pass up. In a few months, she could return home to her beloved paper and take it over. She finds an apartment to sit while the occupant is out of the city. It seems perfect until she runs into her neighbor, a cocky blue-eyed charmer.

    Luke Lewis has a reputation as a flirt, though he is also good at his job as an attorney in the family business. When he finds himself dealing with a big project at work, he realizes that he can’t lose focus, even with his adorable neighbor.

    When Jocelyn publishes something about his latest project, it brings the two of them together. And they find themselves becoming friends as they work on discovering the truth.

    I have already started (and finished) the third book in this series. I highly recommend giving this series a read!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time!  

  • When Tragedy Strikes, Can You Really Move On?

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    Marcus couldn’t wait to welcome his new baby with his new wife in The Way We Are by Meg Gray. As the couple (and their son Braydon) prepare for the new arrival, tragedy strikes, and Marcus is forced to plan a funeral instead.

    . As the couple (and their son Braydon) prepare for the new arrival, tragedy strikes, and Marcus is forced to plan a funeral instead.

    Meanwhile, Luke finally has his dream girl, and he is carrying around an engagement ring to prove it! However, when his brother’s life unravels, he struggles with his own feelings and doesn’t always act the right way.

    As Marcus struggles to find the light at the end of the tunnel, Luke’s plan backfires, and he is worried that he will spend the rest of his life alone.

    The two brothers have to lean on each other in order to get through this terrible ordeal.

    Though loss can be hard to read about, this series really shows us how family and friends will rise to the occasion to help others out when they need it!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time!  

  • Jane Green Does It Again: Short and Sweet (and Just Great)!

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    Jane Green is a favorite of mine, so any time I see one of her books on sale, I just have to download it.

    Her short story, When We Were Friends, is meant to please. We meet Lucy, who is a divorced single mom trying to figure out where she fits in. She meets a bunch of other single divorcees out for a night out, and finds herself feeling way left out. She isn’t looking for another husband (or even someone to occupy her time). She is looking for a friend.

    When she meets Elle in the bathroom, the two find a friendship that Lucy never realized she needed. They talked and texted regularly, spending plenty of time with each other, until one party changed everything.

    Lucy invites Elle to a party with her friends (pre-divorce) and can’t believe what Elle has to say about them and their lifestyle. And it changes their friendship forever!

    I finished this short story in one sitting (without interruptions) and was ready for more. I think my next story will be a Jane Green read, and I can’t wait!

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    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

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    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.