Friday, February 28, 2014

Books read Feb 28







The Cornbread Bible: A Recipe Storybook
What a treasure this book is. Not only is it a recipe book for the best loved cornbread recipes but it's also a story book about the origins and other tales about the food.
Love the differences between even the utensils used and the recipes are so easy to make.
Had just had 2 cornbread muffins at the hospital last week and know I need to make some for these cold winter days we are having.
The recipe with broccoli would be just perfect for a meal.
Some of the recipes use Jiffy as a starter.


10 Fun Things To Do With Your Microwave by Instructables.com. Kindle Edition.
Although there are notices posted everywhere these can do harm to you.
Everything from putting a grape in the oven to Ivory soap. There are chemical reactions that happen with the microwave radiation that occurs.
There are videos to click on to view what happens.
Shell candles looked ok but could go wrong in a quick hurry if you're not careful.
Chocolate cake or a brownie in a mug sounds like an idea for just two people, rather than making a whole big cake.


Pies: Quick & Easy Pie Recipes For Every Season 
Colorful photos of finished recipes. There is no nutritional information but the recipes are very quick and easy to make.
Rather than making the crusts you can buy the dough already made and then put it into the shapes for the item you are making.
My favorite would be the blueberry one because we always have the berries in the fridge or the freezer.



The Big Book of Green Smoothie Cravings for Cleanse, Detox and Weight Loss: Discover the Secrets of "Top 70" Green Vegetables and Fruits Smoothie Recipes for Quick Weight Loss & Fight Diseases
This book is good and healthy. It also explains what ailments you may have that could get better if you ate the right foods-or put them in your juicer.
SO much information.  Nutritional information is included for the smoothies making it easy to understand just how beneficial this all is.
Love the section towards the middle where it tells you about every fruit and vegetables and what they have in them to help your health. Also a section for diabetics!


Anti-Inflammatory Eating Plan [Kindle Edition]  by Sharon Graham
The author discusses what meals were eaten, how they were prepared and snacks. It's all in the idea of getting rid of inflammatory diseases, stabilizing blood sugar levels and hormonal imbalances.
Lots of fruit and vegetables and also wild meat and fish. Pictures of prepared food are included.
Enjoyed learning what other toppings they added to make them more appealing to eat.
Lots of resources are quoted along with actual videos.


All Girls Are Pretty - A Rhyming Children's Picture Book ( Fun Ebooks For Kids
Illustrated very colorful children's book about how others see girls and how really pretty they are. Some girls do not like their feet,
their hair or how tall they are. They must learn where the real beauty lies.



Some Owls Don't Give a Hoot: an early learning book about owls
Illustrated and colorful learning book for children and adults all about owls. Not only their species but what they can do.  Where they live, what they can do for special things, hearing, vision, etc.
My favorite of course is the snowy white owl and his habits of eating anything small, whole. We have local ones that we like to view from a distance.


Bruschetta! The Ultimate Recipe Guide - Over 30 Delicious & Best Selling Recipes
Very informative book all about bruschetta: how to pronounce it to the it's origins.
Then the recipes! No pictures and no nutritional information. The flavors would be worth the time to make the recipes.

With autumn's Return by Amanda Cabot
Wanted to read this book because of the timeframe-1800's and that it is about a part of the country I've yet to visit.
Learned so much reading this book, from the doctor standpoint to just useful information. Love the scenery and the storyline.
Didn't realize this was part of a series. I didn't feel like I was dropped into something I knew nothing about.
This story is about Dr. Elizabeth Harding  and she has started new practice in Wyoming. Her sister Charlotte is a dress designer and has set up the rooms and supplies for her and then traveled with her husband to return in the late fall.
Her other sister has lent a hand also but she's with her military husband. Elizabeth is staying with Gwen and her daughter Rose. Her office is right next door to the lawyer, Jason. He has just finished a trial where the man he represented was found not guilty but he confessed he had killed her wife after.
She finds it hard to get new clients and the old dr. puts her down but she proves to him that she knows what she's doing when she is summoned to help.
Over time she also takes on new clients that need help from her in other ways.  Lots of relationships in different levels but it's easy to keep track of everybody.
Enjoyed the book and would love to read the others in the series.
I received this book from The Book Club Network (www.bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.


Buzz Manning By Brett Hopson
Starts out with the guys and they are golfing trying to get into the game and win.
Then it's to college days and a lot of assumptions.  The story follows Kevin and Buzz as they move onto adulthood.
Various jobs that are interesting and how they attain better jobs. Love how they try to live off Buzz's girlfriend, and she has a car.
Crazy times for these men with no direction but to live it up everyday.
What a journey!
 I received this book from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review.





Incredibly Delicious Vegetarian Recipes from the Mediterranean Region (Healthy Cookbook Series)
Was interested in reading this book because our new diet is just like a Mediterranean one.
Healthy looking recipes but no pictures and no nutritional information.
Many categories of food to select from. Authors other books are highlighted at the end.


The Low Cholesterol Cookbook & Health Plan: Meal Plans and Low-Fat Recipes to Improve Heart Health
After visiting with a nutrtionalist we have changed our way of eating and the book concentrates on all the same factors as we have learned.
No pictures of the food prepared but the nutritional information is included for all the recipes. A 2 week plan is also included.
Excellent book on how to do it all to lower your cholesterol.


EATING OUT? Smart Diner Dining (Healthy & Tasty Series
This book explains what cuisine you might be having one night, and what foods to have and what foods to avoid so you have a healthy meal.
Other books by the author are highlighted at the end.



Country Baking Quick Breads and Muffins (Delicious Recipes)
Few pictures, no nutritional information and the recipes use a lot of butter and sugar that could be substituted for a healthier choice.
Lots of tips and help at the end of the book where there are other recipes and collection of books to also obtain.
Very large selection of breads and muffins


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Books read 2/27



Everyday Confetti by Karen Ehman and Glynnis Whitwer
First attracted to this book for the cover, then the story. Love baking around the holidays.
Surprised at all the ideas-easy to make them fit into your own special meals. Love what name acronym portion can be all about.
Really surprised that recipes are included and are quick and easy to make. I have done so much giving in my lifetime with my knitting and other things I was so glad to see prayer shawls got mentioned as they are so needed and treasured by those who do receive one.
Psalms and proverbs are quoted throughout the book and at the beginning of the chapters.
Love the Easter cookies that you bake with children and teach them about Jesus and the real meaning of Easter.
There  are a few things to celebrate every month along with ideas of how to implement the day to make ti special and with recipes. Love the old fashioned recipes with just basic ingredients.
I received this book from The Book Club Network (www.bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.



Love's Sweet Beginning by Ann Shore
I wanted to read this book because it is 1860's and about how a woman who is strong will survive, given the war and after where she knows she can do the job, and well. Now to convince others of that.
Cassie Huddon and her mother had arrived in Noble Springs and they are not able to locate Uncle Rand. They do find themselves at Cassie's friends house as her husband is the local doctor. They are able to stay there while Cassie gets a job setting tables and washing dishes at the local restaurant. After she is let go after the first day she knows she must return to plead for her job as her mother is not thankful of where they are.
Jacob West and his partner in Boston own the restaurant.  She fights for her job and then she moves her mother to a house of their own. Her mother finally hears from her brother and they take the railroad to his town. What a shock it is to learn of him, his job.
Cassie has plans to head back to Noble Springs except she sees for herself that her dead fiance's brother. The story also follows Jacob and his secret past life and you wonder if it will ever come to light. Mystery of the scriptural duty will surprise us all....
The struggles are many for each of them and others as the US expands to frontiers yet explored. They each must deal with their past before they can go forward.
Love the scenes and the career choices and descriptions of the places visited.  Handful of characters that are easy to keep straight as they each follow their hearts.
I received this book from The Book Club Network (www.bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.




summer pleasures by Nora Roberts
This book contains two of the author's works.
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Second Nature
Lee Radcliffe was determined to meet and question Hunter Brown and work was paying for her to go to the writers conference in Flagstaff, AZ. He's an award winning writer and she can't understand how others can read what he writes and keep going for more of his thrillers. She hopes to meet up with him there.
Hunter is there to pick her up and very attracted to her upon sight.  Love the talk of the area, the nature, mountains, dessert, canyons, sun/moon sets.
There are stipulations when she wants more questions answered. he agrees if she goes camping with him.... Hot steamy sex scenes as we learn all about how and why he writes what he does.
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One Summer
Two photographers are thrown together for several months. Problem is they are sexually attracted to one another.
Ryan Mitchell is a complication...Shaye is having a hard time ignoring her.
They need to be on the east coast by Labor Day and they've charted out their courses. Lots of travel and nature. Love the choices they are at
the end of their journey...

I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




 Crickets in the Pockets (Parents Library Collection, Early reading, Emotions and feelings for children, Bed time stories, Friendship books)  by Yuval Harpaz
Wanted to read this book to get the idea across to children in a different way than how I've been trying.
Colorful children's book. There is also a free parents guide to help your child make new friends.
Tommy and Jimmy when they got together would play and for hours. One day Jimmy walked away from them playing and Tommy thought it was something he had done.
He plans to ignore Jimmy when he asks him to play so he will know what it feels like to be alone.
Tommy finds a cricket in his room and puts it in a jar. The cricket tries to make a deal with him... Liked hearing of the presidents own experience with how to deal with things.
They go on an adventure so the cricket Robin can show him his grandfather and explain about what to do when your friends walk away from you.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.





 Favorite Soup Recipes: Easy Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul
No pictures and no nutritional information. Each recipe is for a slow cooker so by the time you are back home, your meal is done.
Love the combinations of the foods mixed in. Like to experiment more with the wild rice in my meals.






Taste of Happiness - Homemade Ice Cream
Colorful recipe book but no nutritional information. Never thought you could cook ice cream on the stove then pop it in the freezer to harden.
I am only familiar with the hand crank and rock salt. Blueberry frozen yogurt sounds about the healthiest and easy to make if you're in a hurry.




Pies and Mini Pies
Lots of tips are the beginning of the book for one who's not baked pies before, also a good refresher for those who have.
Not all recipes have pictures and there is no nutritional information although some are not made with sugar.
Some of the recipes also have directions on how to make the recipe for the mini pie sizes. Lots of categories to choose from.
Other works of the author are highlighted at the end.



Coffee Cakes and Pound Cakes (Delicious Recipes)
Few pictures and no nutritional information. Lots of helpful information about baking this type of cake.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end. Was let down when there were just a few pictures and the combinations of the food used sound good but would be nice to actually see the finished product.
With the ingredients you can tell this is not  a very healthy cake recipes. Even with modifications to the eggs and butter content it'd be hard to duplicate the flavor.





100 Easy Camping Recipes
Love how the book starts out with letting the children get used to the outdoors by sleeping outside in the backyard first.
Lots of other activities to do without electricity. Prepares you for what to bring on your adventures.
Few pictures but so much information to make the transition smoothly. The foods prepared bring back memories to when I was a Girl Scout and we camped and baked out on the fire.
Other works by the author are listed at the end.









Children's Book: Where Is My Home ? (Adventure & Education series for ages 2-6) (Animal Habitats & Environment children's books collection)
Illustrated very colorful children's book. A link to click on to get another free book.
It's summer and Terry loves to sit in his treehouse and daydream about the things he do this summer. He notices a butterfly.
He kept following the butterfly til he got tired then realized he was lost. He asked other animals to help him find his home.
He finds many other animals that share their home and food with him on his journey to find his home.
Other books by the author are highlighted at the end.



Terry Treetop and the Lost Egg (Adventure & Education series for ages 2-6) ( Animal habitats & Environment free children's book collection) [Kindle Edition]
More free things you can click on in the book from the author.
Illustrated very colorful children's book about Terry and his adventures.
This book is about Terry and how he will go camping with his family this summer.
He first finds an egg and puts it safely in a basket. He then tries to find out who it belong to as he asks other animals along his walk.
Each of the animals explain where their eggs are and show him how safe they are.
Very good learning tool to show a child how some animals raise their babies. He does find out who the egg belongs to...



Terry Treetop Finds New Friends" (Adventure & Education series for ages 2-6) (Animal Habitats & Environment children's books collection)
Illustrated very colorful children's book about Terry Treetop. His dad has made him a treehouse and he loves to spend time there. He wants his friends to come play also.
He walks around in the woods and talks to the animals. The animals he comes to are busy with their chores.  Love the sheep knitting sweaters the best because that is what I do.
Other free gifts from the author are clickable in the book.  A kitty gets stuck up a tree and the animals are afraid to climb it to rescue him...
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.




30 Delicious Family Favorite Cake Recipes
These recipes have no pictures and no nutritional information and they are for special occasions.
They are easy to make. Carrot tea cakes would be my favorite because they would taste like you did spend 3 hours making it as a traditional carrot cake but it's in individual sizes and the recipe is a quick one.
Lots of fun categories and flavors to explore.




Low Carb Diet for Beginners: Essential Low Carb Recipes to Start Losing Weight
Not on this type of a diet but wanted to learn what it's all about. The book is divided into two sections. The first talks all about the low carb plan and the second part about recipes.
The first part talks in detail about what might work for you, each person is different.
Lots of chemical reactions to the food we consume and how it breaks down in your body.  No pictures but lots of nutritional information is provided for the meals listed.
Very useful tips on what to order when you are dining out and what you can substitute.

Feb 15 books read




 Coming Home by Mariah Stewart
Like this  series and catching up on the older books.
St. Dennis, MD on the shores of the Chesapeake.  Vanesssa runs the Bling shop and her brother Beck is the local cop.
His wife to be is in Montana hoping to get her brother to walk her down the aisle to Beck.
The book also follows the life of Mia's brother,  Grady. he's left the FBI after the death of his wife and he's settled in over the years.
He agreed to the family week long event before Mia's wedding. I loved hearing of his travels hiking and his future plans of excursions.
Some in town are attempting to set Vanessa up with Grady and they appear to like one another and enjoy each others company. Love the hikes!
Grady opens up to her about his life but she doesn't tell him of her troubles....hot steamy sex scenes. Others relationships go forward as do their businesses in town. Love how they all step up to help one another out.
Tragic events the day of the wedding and it sends a message to Vanessa...Grady helps her figure out some of the clues and who is after her..
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Autumn, a  young teen girl leaves her mother and her followers from college to spend some time with her father and his new wife and their brand new baby.
After they have pawned the baby onto her quite a few times she's able to calm the child. A local boy likes her company and they are able to spend some time together.
Her father is a writer and is not contributing to the care of the child. Heidi tries to allow her husband to spend time with the new baby and his daughter but it's just not working out.
Her brother and mother also come into play during the book and it's weird how she reacts with them. Love the nightly jaunts Eli takes her on, so glad she does get to have a childhood, one very similar to the one I grew up with because we lived near our relatives.
Lessons she learns are hilarious as she does them.  Problems arise and she wonders how long she will remain there for the summer...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



The Christmas Quilt  
This story starts out with Sylvia and Sarah and they have uncovered the Christmas Quilt that a relative had started and never finished.
The story then goes back in time to when Sylvia was growing up and the economy got worse.  Not only did her father have problems selling their horses but they had loans from the bank as did all the neighbors.
When Eleanor, her mother finds out she made more strudel and passed it around to all the neighbors. She then went and cleaned out her closets to give the clothes to others who needed it more. The kids also collected toys to give to others-which is still done.
Love the story of their Christmas pickle. Sad to hear of her mother's passing but nice to hear how they name the horses after her favorite quilt block. Loved all the talks of quilt blocks.
The year Sylvia got her first ever sewing kit was precious.  Love how the pickle was discovered and hearing about the tradition of decorating a tree outside.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Midsummer Sweetheart (Heart of Montana) BY Katy Regency
Have read other works by the author and like the series very much.
Book starts out with Katrin Svenson, a nurse and her ex fiance is becoming madder and he's drunk. As the scene unfolds I can picture myself in this exact spot as if it was me there.
The cops do show up in time, this trip and lock Wade away for a few days. Since then her brother and sister in law have a plan for her escape. She will go to the other side of the national forest to a small town and be a nurse for a practice just starting.
She'd even have a place to stay and the towns small enough to walk around.  The translation of the lake sounds perfect-The Pearl of the Bay. She'd be leaving her family behind but it's only for a few months.
Her cousin's brother in law Erik Lindstrom would drive her to her destination and he would continue onto his new police enforcement training in another town.
Love the Norwegian dialog with translations and learning of their traditions especially the midsummer celebrations and legends.  He hates what Wade has done and tells Ingrid that he will look in on her once they all get settled with their new jobs.
He doesn't even want to get involved with Katrin because his parents breakup was so bad it left marks on his relationships.
Even though they spend a few hours together they each have thoughts of the other running through their minds and they just can't stop from thinking about..
Misunderstandings and medical problems will keep them apart, and can they make it back together....and just pray Wade leaves them all alone. Love how things from the past are dealt with..Love how this leads into the next book.
Received this as a contest in Facebook by the author

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Release His Hometown Girl by Karen Rock, Review and Giveaway

(https://sites.google.com/site/romanceaddictblogtours/his-hometown-girl-book-blitz)


Synopsis

He'd always managed to best her… 

Jodi Chapman will do whatever it takes to get top care for her autistic son. If that means going home and convincing local farmers to sell their land, so be it. Even if her biggest opponent, childhood rival Daniel Gleason, is equally determined to convince farmers to buy into his co-op plan. And he's not playing fair. 

Facing off against Daniel is the last thing Jodi wants. The attraction that's always fueled their competitiveness is as strong as ever and just as distracting. But with both their futures on the line, and years of distrust between them, how can they ever be on the same side?

 
 
 
 
 
Buy links
PREORDER
Harlequin - http://bit.ly/1fnxNvc


Karen Rock

Karen Rock has adored romance since receiving Harlequin Presents books from her grandmother each summer. She formed her Young Adult writing partnership, J.K. Rock- pseudonym for the CAMP BOYFRIEND series, with her sister-in-law and Blaze author, Joanne Rock in 2011. When Karen heard of a call for submissions to Heartwarming, Harlequin’s latest line, she was inspired by the possibilities of writing unforgettable, deeply romantic, tender love stories that mothers would feel comfortable sharing with their daughters. When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, hiking the ‘high peaks’, and redesigning her gardens. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels who have yet to understand the concept of “fetch” though they know a lot about love.

For more information about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website at http://www.karenrock.com, Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/karenrockwrites or follow her on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5 . She’d love to hear from you!


 

My Review:

 

His Hometown Girl by Karen Rock
I have read some of Karen's other works and enjoy the reads.
Jodi Chapman and her autistic son are on the track to get him enrolled into the specialized school. She has a few months to raise the money which is twice what she has saved.
She hears back from Tyler's father who is getting remarried and hopes to have a perfect child and he's reducing child support. Her boss then wants her to travel back to her hometown in VT and acquire farmland and he's promised her a hefty salary.
Love hearing all about the strategies the school can provide for her son and it's helpful being a grandmother of a child who is a  special class.
The story also follows Daniel Gleason who Jodie had  just up and walked away from 10 years prior. He hopes to make a co-op with other farmers so they all don't lose their farmland due to bad economy.
In their younger years they always competed against one another and that's not changed since she has returned. She needs the farmers to sell the land to Midland so she can get the bonus to send Tyler to his special classes.
Daniel needs the farmland and is willing to try some tactics from what he learned in college to help all the farmers out. They do meet and clash  ..... and sometimes even agree.
Daniels' sister Sue comes to Jodi and tells her of her plan to succeed at college and to help Tyler. Jodie and Daniel spend time together and the past does come up but can they move past it?
I received this book from Stephanie from www.romanceaddictbookblog.com in exchange for my honest review.
 
 
GIVEAWAY #1
GRAND PRIZE WINNER 
-$50 Amazon Gift Card 
-SIGNED copy of HIS HOMETOWN GIRL by Karen Rock

2nd & 3rd PRIZE WINNERS 
-SIGNED copies of HIS HOMETOWN GIRL by Karen Rock


 
GIVEAWAY #2
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
-$25 Gift Card (Amazon or B&N)
-Shadow's Curse by Alexa Egan
-A Cursed Embrace by Cecy Robson
-His Reluctant Rancher by Roxanne Snopek
-Free Fall by Karen Foley

To enter: Pre-order a copy of HIS HOMETOWN GIRL on Kindle http://amzn.to/1eveD3C or Nook http://bit.ly/1ktNqWq!
Email a copy or picture of your receipt to karenrock@live.com along with-
Your name:
Your email address:
Blog you found the contest on:
You'll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Nobles (your choice) as well as the four books in the prize picture. Last day to enter is February 28!





Schedule
February 24
Dancing Scene
Aimz Reviews
Andrea Heltsley
Aria Kane
Beautifully R.E.D
Book Blogger Mom
Book Worms and Couch Potatoes
Brenda's Book Beat
Cruising Susan Book Reviews
Dizneeee's World of Books
Here is some of what I read
I Would Rather Be Reading...
Lola's Reviews
Miscellaneous Thoughts of a Bookaholic
Notebook of Books
Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock
Reading Between the Wines
Romance Addict Book Blog
Scenes from a Chaotic Mind
Short and Sassy Book Blurbs
The book obsessed momma
Tressa's Wishful Endings

February 25
Airport Scene
Abigail Books Addiction
Becca Anne's Book Reviews
Becky's Book Blog
Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous
Bound 2 Escape
D&SBookblog
Debbie's Bookcase
EndlessReading
fictions our addiction
For The Love of Books
I Dare You To Read
I Feel the Need, the Need to Read
I Read Indie
In Shadows
inside the pages of a book
Jennifers Taking A Break
Live Laugh Romance
macs book blog
Mommy's Late Night Book-up
One More Chapter
Panty dropping Book Blog
Room With Books
Shhh, Mommy's in the Bathroom.,.Reading
Sizzling Hot Books
Smart & Savvy with Stephanie
Snarky Mom Reads...
Stephanie's Book Reports
StoreyBook Reviews
Sylv Jenkins Author
The Book List Reviews
The Smutty Kitty
trisha leaver
We Love Kink
You Gotta Read Reviews

February 26
Strawberry Patch Scene
AJ's Reading Nook
Always YA at Heart
First Class Books
jbarrett5
Mythical Books
Queen of All She Reads
Rockin' The Bookshelf
Rustys Reading
Scandalous Book Blog
sweets books

February 27
Fireworks Scene
A Dirty Book Affair
A Little Bit of R&R
Actin' Up with Books
Blackraven's Reviews
Book Worms
Crazy Cajun Book Addicts
Fiona's book reviews
Hardcover Therapy
Island lovelies
Renee Entress's Blog
Storm Goddess Book Reviews
Vampires, Werewolves, & Fairies, Oh My
Wanda Loves Books

February 28
First Kiss Scene
Andi's Book Reviews
Anny books
babbling about books and more
Blushing Divas Book Reviews
Book Addict Mumma
Book Gossip
Booked by Books
BookwormBridgette's World
come to the darkside we have books
CW Book Reviews
I Couldn't Put It Down
Just One More Romance
Loves All Things Books
MakeMyDayBookclub
Punya Reviews...
Ramblings From This Chick
Sinful Reviews
Smut and Bonbons