Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Books read Jan 2017








Counterfeit by Lee Carver
Was interested in this book because of the art  and travel, knowing I will be learning new things in this book.
Starts out with a woman who's in Amsterdam and travels to the local art galleries and is able to take pictures. She is observed and followed at times.
When Kendra returns to her room she is able to paint what she had pictures of-not forgery but selling her work as her interpretation due to the brush strokes, etc. When she is leaving a prestigious gathering she realizes the painting she just passed was not the same as when she first saw it that night she tells others and she is now suspect to the forgery.
The men, Richard and Martin want her to work with them as they want to catch the thief. Enjoying not only the discussions of art but the places she travels to, the sights she is able to see. Love how the author describes them all in detail.
When everything she had was stolen she agrees to help Interpol with the information she knows-they will pay for her meals, room, etc for her expertise.  Many times others have tried to kidnap her-to use her painting talent to their benefit....
Like how prayer helps her to keep going and able to overcome fears she has and how others notice she prays before each meal. Love the connection of crochet. Other works by the author are highlighted and summarized at the end. Like writing style of this author, can't wait to read more.
I was given the book by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest review





The Magic Boots by Emerson_ Scott - Post_ Howard
Children's story about William and how his magic boots take him to where he wants to go-he has quite the imagination.
Problem is when he grows older and his feet grow they no longer fit....
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



B SmART 'n PLAY: Play, explore, connect, and have endless fun with games YOU create
Notes from the author with how to get your child to keep themselves busy. A lot of imagination and allowing them to do things they'd normally not do, let them make up a game, pieces used, rules, etc.
Tells you what to offer them to use and what they can stand for. Use the senses as they will really zone in on the game.
Use crafts and also not only for children.  Like movement, craft sections the best because I feel kids today do not play outside or exercise enough due to the digital toys they are playing with.
Sample game is included and how you can customize it for yourself. Charts are shown to help with what's going on.
Other suggestions and examples to get others involved, sounds so fun!
I felt the book has way too many pictures.
Each of the books concentrates on a holiday. Love how each is portrayed with events that take place. So much sex the story rather gets lost.



The Seals on the Bus by Hort_ Lenny - Karas_ G. Brian
Cute children's story about all kinds of animals and how their sounds and actions in the bus make them go all around the town.
Children will like learning what sounds the animals make.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



No man's land  by Baldacci, David
Story of a man, Paul Rogers who gets out of prison a day early and others try to rob him and he goes off by himself. He has one more assignment/mission he has to do...
Story also follows senior Poller and his stint in the 101-same as my son but different times.  He's now in a VA hospital/nursing home as he's got dementia.
Jr. had a call from his other brother and the recall of the last day his mother was alive-the boys, young then put the pieces together and think his father killed her?   He works at CID and has retained counsel for his father as he starts to investigate that case.
Loved learning of the history of the VA forts.  Interesting how they entwine with one another.
Fast paced action and love the thought process of how to solve their problems.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Your song changed my life, from Jimmy Page to St. Vincent,  Smokey Robinson to Hozier_ thirty-five beloved artists on their journey and the music by Boilen_ Bob
Enjoyed this story of how different musical artists changed his life as he moved around the world as a child, teen, adult.
Like hearing of the artists behind the scenes and little known information from the 60's to current days artists and how their music changed the world.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


The Season of Us by Holly Chamberlin
I've read many of the authors works and have enjoyed them.
This one is about Gincy (Virginia) who's married, editor at a publication and her husband Rick also works. They have a son who's in college in CT and a teen daughter. Gincy's brother Tommy alerts her to their mothers health when she's neglected to pay the electric bill.
Gincy and her daughter head up to NH from Boston to see what's going on and it's Christmas so she wants to help decorate. Her father had passed away several months prior and she had not returned to her home. She finds many troubling things and works them out with help from others.
Like the interventions her friends give her when she is a worrywort about everything and everybody. Things have deteriorated and she is able to talk to her husband often about the situation.
Like location and how the community surrounds her when she goes out with her daughters friend and her daughter and granddaughter.
Love memories that spark and bring them closer together.
I received this book from The Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review


Living Room Fitness: Equipment-free exercises and routines that will get you in the best shape of your life!
Like the idea of this book because gym equipment and memberships can drain your budget. We were contemplating that after my husband had his heart attack and decided I could benefit by having the equipment at home.
We got an elliptical and encumber bike for just a few hundred-on sale and it's keeping us fit and trim over the year since getting rid of the couch. 
Like how this book breaks up the different parts of your body to concentrate on.
Great diagrams of a person actually doing the exercise so you can make sure you get it right, along with the words they describe how to do them.
Gives you advice at the end on how to make the exercises into a routine that you can follow no matter what your level is.



Between you and me, a sensible and authoritative guide to the care and treatment of  by Parrish_ John A_ (John Albert) - Gilchrest_ Barbara A - Fitzpatrick_ Thomas B
Lots of useful information, not only about hair and skin but nails and all the problems you may experience with them and why and how to treat them.
Liked the solution that it could be your thyroid as it is involved with hormones that your body goes through over the years.
Interesting that they mention using sunscreen when out in the snow as it reflects the sun and it just snowed today. Good to know for our hiking trip in the morning.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Calendar girl. Volumes 1-4  by  Carlan_ Audrey
12 month books by the same author
Calendar girl: Mia wants to get in, make her money and get out problem is she has to keep her heart out of it.
She rides a bike and will explore the escort service after being a waitress on the Vegas strip.  Her aunt will help her as it's her brother that is hospitalized from not paying back the loan sharks.
Her job for the next month is with Wes, in CA and she has her own room and wardrobe and lots of events they will attend. She just has to keep her heart to herself...she takes on other jobs to make more money...
Like very descriptive details of dress, jewelry and places they go-ultra rich. Erotic steamy sex scenes and some vulgar language that goes along with the story line.
Each volume containing 3 books of months of the year is included.  Sex is all the same just with different men.
Baseball player, artist, swimsuit designer, locations: Boston, Seattle, CA, Hawaii, NY and all its locations.
Fire night dancing sounds so cool!   Meaningful part of this for me was 'Family'. Really liked 'where are they now'
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Silent Signals by Linda Carroll Bradd
Enjoyed this book a lot because i learned so many old time names for everyday items. Starts out with Anora and she's heading into town to the ladies shop where she's embarrassed to ask for help with undergarments. Her grandfather has made one of the hands accompany her.
Like that she is able to run the sheep farm and the herding dogs which she trains herself. The other ranches are cattle and she overhears one of them getting supplies to fix the fences. She knows his sister Gail and approaches him about her herding dogs.
He's not too thrilled about it but later down the road and with Anora visiting Gail she is able to come to an agreement and the bartering starts. Love how that still works today. especially liked when he shows up at church wearing all her scarves where a % of the proceeds went towards the church.
Story story wish it had gone longer. Includes recipes from the 1800's. Excerpt from another story by the author is included at the end.
Received this gift from the author, won in Connie Brete's give away. 



Unplanned by Alana Terry
Book starts out with Kennedy Stern and she's at Harvard in Boston now since returning from missionary work in Korea with her parents.
She's in pre-med with many courses and lives in the dorms and helps her parents friend, pastor Carl and his wife Sandy by volunteering at the pregnancy help crisis center by answering phones.
I enjoyed the book but didn't think so many details of the miscarriage had to included. Other details were enough to give you the idea of what was happening.
Liked the passages from the Bible as they are quoted often as at times praying was the only way to get through the turmoil surrounding them.
Received this on Amazon for free and this is my honest review.



Paralyzed by Alana Terry
This is the second book in the series about Kennedy who's returned from China and is attending Harvard in Boston. She has gone through a terrible kidnapping and is back at college now.
They have captured the last of the kidnappers but she has a panic attack when she sees him.  She tries to forget about all of it as her friend takes her to see a ballet and on the way back on the T, it catches on fire. she panics and runs off by herself knowing someone is following her, ready to kill her or kidnap her again.  A lot of backstory.
She prays a lot as that's all that soothes and calms her...as others are trying to silence her...
Lot of old events are revisited. Just when she thinks she is safe, is she really? Other works are highlighted at the end. Discussion questions at the end.
Was given this book by the author for attending a Facebook party about her first book, unplanned.


Crock Pot: 2,000 Crock Pot Recipes by Clean Eating
This cookbook not only has chapters for breakfast, lunch and dinners but meals for just one person, all made in the slow cooker.
Each section also has it's own table of contents-easy to move around from one recipe to another.
Each recipe has a title, time to make and list of ingredients and directions.
For the most part the ingredients are healthy and some will have to be substituted to meet your dietary needs. The recipes do not have nutritional information nor pictures.
Weird that 1/4 of the way through the format changes as do the measurements for the ingredients...
Lot of time things are made using a cake mix or Bisquick or canned rolls or soup from a can which all contain very high amounts of sodium and/or bad fat content.
Some of the ingredients tell you to use a can and don't tell you how many ounces that will be-so it's a guessing game as to what to buy/use.
Too much guessing and inconsistency for me to really like this book.


Common ground, a naturalist's Cape Cod by Finch_ Robert
We visit the area every 5 years or so and have enjoyed our stays.
Essays of interesting subjects: snowy white owls, beach erosion and things found on the seashores. It's about the same where we live in RI, down the coast a bit.
Loved hearing of the 1978 blizzard as we got married that weekend in RI and shut down our state for over a week so to hear the damage on the cape is meaningful to me.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Quick and Easy 20 Minute Meals (Delicious Mini Book Book 4)
Each recipe includes prep and cook time and list of ingredients, and directions on how to make.
No nutritional information and few pictures.  Most of the dishes are made in a wok and the ingredients are on the healthy side.
Great collection for quick breakfast and brunch dishes. Many works by the author are highlighted at the end.


Cook What You Have A Guide to the Lazy Garden and the Lazy Kitchen
Chapters of where the author lived and what food to serve. There are no exact proportions to use but the ingredients sound healthy.
There are few pictures of the food and sights around town. No nutritional information.
Chapters of what should be in a lazy kitchen, equipment, bread machines or from scratch, herbs grown year round.
A star gazing tale to wrap up winter and then it's onto spring.
Flowers and nature and more recipes and more... Summer, grilling and more recipes and more....
Fall brings canning and freezing the crops and more. Like how this is not only a cookbook but a book about so much more.






Adorable Baby Knits by  Jody Long
Takes a while for the book to load in due to high content of the photography but well worth it.
Talks about different aspects of making the outfits-if you can substitute yarns, needles needed, stitches explained and glossary of terms.
First project starts out with blocks and skill level shown and charts so you can work the rows. Not very complicated and easy to follow along.
Next project is booties and they look and are easy to make. Abbreviations and stitches used are described in detail and row by row instructions are given for many different sizes.
Every pattern has its own photograph, highly detailed and close up.
Such adorable color combinations and great garments to make for any child living in any climate.
Acknowledgements and sources for supplies is listed at the end.
Liked this book because of the variety of patterns and stitches used. My favorite to try would be the rosette blanket so I could make it larger or smaller sizes.
Love the cabled items as those are the ones that draw me to a book. Something for everybody, boys and girls alike, to start out with in this book.
Received a digital copy for review via Dover Publications via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
 





House on the Beach by Linda Barrett
Laura comes to the island to recuperate and the real estate agent has the perfect house for her. It's held by a trust and they coup some of the monthly costs so her cost is lower than normal.
Love the area of the island offshore of the mainland. Lots of time to walk on the beach and think. Her mother is now gone and she had given up so much of her life to tend to her needs. She's also a few years cancerfree.
Love her career of being in broadcast business and is going to make audio tapes of the classics.  She meets the plumber Matt who is constantly watching her, her moves and the house she is staying in.
Love who the Romeo's stand for and how caring and sharing the community is. She finds a cat and during a storm one night agrees to stay with Matt and his family. His son Casey has a speech impediment but she spends a lot of time and has a lot of patience to deal with him.
They've lost their mother and that's when his speech went. She had taken therpy classes and understands what he needs...
Matt is an old boyfriend from the island when she was a teen and the family summered on the island. After that year she never returned...
House has been known to cure ailments.....missing brother-the details come out over time....her cancer may be back....how can they even think of a relationship...
Excerpt from the next in the series is included. Like authors style of writing and locations.


The Absolute Best Pie Recipes Cookbook
Collection of what the author thinks are best possible pies of all kinds.
Each recipe starts out with ready made crust or cake mix, list of ingredients and how to make it.
No pictures and no nutritional information.



Murder on Martha's Vineyard  by Kelley Roos
Enjoyed this book because of the locations  that I am familiar with.
Lot of characters but they fall into place. Good story of a community that helps one another and pays attention to habits of their friends.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




The men's club by Leonard Michaels
Enjoyed this short story of what happens at a mens club meeting.
When they first arrive nobody has any idea as to what to talk about but they  are able to move right along.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



 Game Day Appetizers and Super Snacks (Delicious Recipes)
With the Super Bowl this weekend I thought I might find some more recipe ideas for a snack to make.
I thought there would be just a handful of traditional snacks for the big game. wow this book has 100+  of recipes.
There are very few pictures and no nutritional information but you would be able to substitute some for the diet you are on to make them healthy.
The book  also has many categories to choose from and you can make most of these ahead of time so you can spend time actually watching the game.



Weight Watchers: Weight Watchers Guide - Healthy & Delicious Weight Watchers Recipes For Easy Weight Loss (Weight Watchers Cookbook)  by Samantha Clare
Talks about diet and then gives you the recipes.
Each recipe has list of ingredients, how to prepare and some nutritional information-fat is not broken up into the good and bad.
Like very first soup recipe as it's one that will balance your system out and taste delicious.
Never tells you what a serving is...glazed mini donuts sound good and something we'd be able to eat. Might need to substitute some ingredients for your own dietary needs.
Some of the recipes call for 1/2 a can, how do you know if they mean the 16oz can or the club store size of 64 oz?
Daily meal plan includes a sample at the end...



.The Hard Times Kitchen: Homestyle Recipes for a Small Budget 
 Starts out with what should be in your pantry, how to shop, shopping lists and where to shop.
Grow a garden and can and preserve your harvest. Each recipe has serving sizes and ingredient list along with instruction on how to make the dish.
No photos and no nutritional information but it'd not be hard to use a healthier choice of an ingredient.
Saved cornbread and zucchini bread recipes as they will get eaten up quick in our house.




DSLR Photography : How To Take Professional Images From Your DSLR - Camera, Pictures, Posing, Composition & Portrait
Like this book from the start as it shows what the dial selector looks like. Wish it had shown the others as well but explains about them in detail.
Like diagrams that go along with aperture range, makes a lot more sense actually seeing it...
Lots of practical information about a ton of things that are important to a shot. Bonus chapter on tips and like the one about tripods as we've yet to invest in one.
Few pictures showing examples along the way.



Angel Island, gateway to Gold Mountain by Russel Freedman
Know of Ellis island and never thought of one on the west coast and we' stood at north end of Golden Gate Bridge and saw the island for ourselves without even knowing what it was.
Enjoyed all the history especially carvings on the walls that have been preserved.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Shenandoah National Park  by Ruth Radlauer
We have visited his park and enjoyed it much as we got out of the car to not only take pictures but watch parade of 1900 model cars drive by and hike down the valleys along waterfalls.
Thought maybe there would be other things to see and do and everything is described so you can locate them on your own. So much to do in this area.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Memory of a large Christmas by Lillian Smith
Enjoyed this read because of the details in years gone by when you had to make your own gifts.
Even when road crew is invited to dinner and you'd think it'd be a bit scary and it was the total opposite.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



January 2017 Book Fun
As always I find a bunch more books I want to read just by browsing through this fun magazine.
This time I really appreciated hearing about Coffee Talk as I was the winner last month and they special ordered the varieties I wanted. Such service and all for a good cause.
Loved the story and pictures to go along with the adventure.
More or Less also was a good read as we are decluttering ourselves...Love recipes included!
I love the beach especially since it's winter here now and loe all the different places in this section. Also got my interest was Why I love my GPS and photos-great one!
Change in Focus was another I read all the way through because I've read some of the authors works and enjoyed this one as she makes her own life experiences easy to understand as I find parts that are similar to my own life.
Liked the articles on the New Year, makes one reflect and what to look forward to.




Wheel on the chimney by Margaret Wise Brown
So happy to find yet another of Margarets book that her estate has released.
This one is about storks that make their nest on top of the wheel at a farmers house.
Interested how the wheel gets there and what happens to the stork over the course of the year...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Guacamole Recipes: The Ultimate Collection - Over 30 Delicious & Best Selling Recipes
Each recipe included prep, ready in, cook times, and servings. List of ingredients and how to make the dish but there is no nutritional information but as each recipe included avocados a large majority of the dish will be heart healthy.
Good combinations that I never would have thought of.


Christmas Stories : The Snowman: Christmas books for kids Bedtime stories for children (Children's Picture Book - Bedtime stories for children 2) by Balint, Beata Noemi.
Colorful children's book about a day the snow fell and how they played outside with the snow and the activities they were able to do.
The family chopped down a tree to use for their Christmas tree and the animals living underneath could only cuddle up to the snowman the kids had made.
Other animals were into hibernation and snowman was left alone again. He wanted to swim or dance or fly like the others-he had to believe one day he could.
Miracles do happen! Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.




Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook by Jonathan Arthur
We have one of these and love it. Starts out with features of the pressure cooker.
Starts out with making stocks and then soups. Each recipe includes fresh ingredients and how to make the dish.
There are no pictures and no nutritional information but there is low fat, low sodium ingredients.
Love the kale soup it's very similar to our recipe and instructions.
As we use the Mediterranean lifestyle the chapters included here are very useful info: vegetables, poultry and fish, soups, salads, beans and fruits.
A KEEPER!


Freezer Meals: 33 Quick and Easy Make Ahead Meals by Sara Elliott Price
I already do this type of cooking-make 2-6 meals on weekends so I can concentrate more on work during the week.
All kinds of information about what will work and what food don't freeze well.
Each recipe has list of ingredients along with how to prepare and how to freeze for later use and how to prepare from the freezer.
There are no pictures and no nutritional information but you might be able to substitute for your dietary needs.


25 Make Yourself Skinny Slow Cooker Recipe Meals: Eat Your Way to Fitness  by Angelina Dylon
Recipes start out with cooking time, servings, ingredient list in metric measurements and some list American.
Preparation directions but there are no pictures and no nutritional information. You may be able to substitute for your dietary needs as most of the ingredients are fresh.
Might want to try pumpkin oatmeal but it makes too much for just 2 of us.



Cutie Sue and the Darkness: An Adorable Bedtime Story, Ages 3-6
Very colorful children's story about Sue and how she likes to play in the sun. They tried different activities so she'd not be to afraid to go to sleep at night.
The darkness troubled her. Like how at the end the book tells you what and how this book will help with what fears.



Love Food Hate Diets: Delicious Mouthwatering Meals Less Than 500 Calories by Angelina Dylon
Cookbook recipes include servings, nutritional information but fat is not broken up into good and bad.
Ingredient list and directions but no pictures. I found most of the dishes were high in sodium and some high in bad fat so I wouldn't consider trying these. There's so much more available that we could eat, either that
or remove the items that we can't eat or substitute for something we can thus making the dish completely different. Wish it was more dietary friendly.
Tuna fish wraps without red wine vinegar would be something we'd eat.-not sure where they get 415 mg of sodium-think it's for the whole can.



Fried Rice Recipe Cookbook: 20 Easy Dishes (Jeen's favorite Rice Recipes)  By Jeen van der Meer
We love making spanish rice in our pressure cooker that takes 4 minutes and comes out perfect every time.
The recipes include a bit of summary then ingredients and how to make the dish.
Servings are included but no pictures and no nutritional information. You might be able to substitute for your dietary needs.



Walking for Health: How to use the Power of Walking to Improve Health and Achieve Weight Loss
Starts out with definition of walking and benefits.
Tells you how to prepare for longer walks, water, loose clothes, layering, sunscreen, etc. We do walk daily 1/4 mile to get the mail along with indoor bike activities. Weekends we head outdoors before we do errands at a local nature reserve.
Talks about different types of walking, snowshoeing, race walking, etc. 
Health benefits of walking to other parts of your body.
We use a fitness tracker and it measures our deep sleep, calories burned and how much we are walking, running, biking and swimming, etc.
Like warm up exercises, we just start out slow and increase speed and tempo. Other resources available and other works by the author are highlighted at the end.


The Snowman Paul Series: Vol. 1–4  By Yossi Lapid
Starts out with the snow falling, very colorful children's book. Hard to read the words and with two devices I'm not able to enlarge them. After Paul assembles the snowman he starts talkng to Paul and he just wants to play.
They run in the snow and play while others are watching...
Another book is about snowman Paul and he's reading about the Olympics and wants to compete...Like how he helps him exercise to build up his muscles...
Another book is about them saving Kate's birthday.  Such detailed colorful places and lots of special things to look at-reminds me of the green room in good night moon.
And at the concert hall This snowman can do just everything! Other works by the author are highlighted at the end, along with a gift.
Coloring page when you subscribe to the authors newsletter.




Breakfast Cookbook: Fast and Easy Breakfast Recipes by Alissa Noel Grey
Starts out with information about Mediterranean diet-it's a lifestyle with all that's included.
Each recipe starts out with servings, prep time and list of fresh ingredients along with preparation.
No pictures and no nutritional information but the ingredients are fresh.
Should be able to substitute things like Lite mayonnaise for your dietary needs.
Like combination of breakfast bars as we always need something on our weekend hikes as a go to snack.
So many categories and things to make for breakfast, even sandwiches.
Other books by the author are highlighted at the end.
A KEEPER!




150 Easy Classic Chicken Recipes by Bonnie Scott
Each recipe has a list of ingredients along with how to make the dish. Also has servings but no nutritional information and no pictures.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Low fat chicken Cordon Bleu sounds like a good one but not with swiss cheese. You might be able to substitute for your own dietary needs.








Margeau Blanc A New Perspective on Winter White Knits by Margeau Soboti
After watching the inaugural and all the women wearing white I had wanted to read this book.
Patterns are simple yet elegant. My favorite is a beannie type hat where crown is worked in special design.
Not all the pictures showed properly for me on my tablet but I was able to understand what was being shown.
Think I like the accessories more than the sweater but those are really nice also.
Each pattern starts out with color photo  and a summary of the item.
Skill level, yarn used, needles and notion along with measurements and gauge.
Stitch glossary is enclosed for each pattern and then the directions, row by row-not charted directions.
Easy to understand and I do not think anybody will have a problem making any of these as the details are so descriptive.
I did not care for the sweaters hanging on a tree branch as they didn't just hang right. It does show how the item will look but I'd rather see a model wearing them.
Like that there are so many different methods for neck and sleeves and even length of sweaters. So versatile.
Abbreviations are listed at the end. Something for everyone.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.








The dangerous summer  by Hemingway_ Ernest
Spain and the bull fights where he was commissioned to write an article but so much more got in his way...
A matador and his brother in law who returns to the bullfights after retiring where they pit one another and try to do more serious hand to hand fighting so the crowds will like them more...
Includes glossary of bull fighting terms. Described in detail all the events behind the scenes you'd not see as a tourist.
Like understandings the procedures that precede the bull fight and during and after and what significance different parts of the bulls parts are cut after the fight.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


The Book With No Pictures by B. J. Novak
Audio book is about how a book and one's imagination can make this the most interesting book you'll ever read.
Like the rules that dictate how the words will be read and how, wicked funny and silly.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


How to make love to the same person for the rest of your life_ and still love it!  by O'Connor_ Dagmar
Gives examples of trying new things and what will work for you and what won't work.  And what works one day might not work another day.
Changes in age do matter also. Lots of studies done.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Crochet Guide For Beginners by Kathy Long
Really liked this book because it not only tells you how to do the various stitches but shows you in diagrams.
Lots of advice for beginners about yarns, hooks, etc.  Needle charts included. No patterns but great resource book.
A KEEPER!


Backyard Organic Gardening by Prescott Marshall
Has good information about how to start, size, and what you will be planting and getting the dirt ready.
Found it just right for a beginner where we've had a garden for over 10 years now it's old and we have our routines even though we experiment with different plants every year.


The Barn Owls by Johnston_ Tony - Ray_ Deborah Kogan
Children's story which I listened to and the pages are colorful.
Owls have lived near barn for hundreds of years near wheat fields. Talks of what they eat for food as the day goes by and night comes.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Gus & Me, The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar by Richards_ Keith
cute interesting story of Keith Richards and his grandfather who introduced him to his first guitar.
Memories of their visits to the grandfather's house....
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 


A cookbook for the leisure years, with dividends for you of money, time, and energy by MacDonald_ Phyllis
Book from 1967 but has common sense and advice to save money, time and energy.
Tips on making bigger meals so they can be frozen and used at a later time. Tips on what can be frozen.
Lots of recipes that will appeal to you and most times you can substitute for a healthier choice.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Ellis Island, a novel by Stewart Fred Mustard
Enjoyed this book because it follows many who were forced to come to the USA because of what was occurring in their countries.
Liked following the career they carved out of necessity and where it led them towards their goals of living the American dream.
Appreciated hearing about Ellis Island and screening for glaucoma and how the diagnosis effected many.
interesting there is a connection to the cottages in Newport, RI.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Julian Lennon by D. L. Mabery
Story of his father and how he's tape Julian when he was young without him knowing it. They did get to jam just not often.
His career today with the Beatles.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Out of this furnace by Bell_ Thomas
Starts out  in 1880's and with the travel by foot George Kracha travels from NY to PA. He had other family members who could get him a job at the railroad...
His wife is sent over and she gets pregnant often and they live in a shanty.
Unions form so men can get paid what they are worth...interesting to hear of their struggles and how they overcome poverty and lack of work at times...
Generations of the family and how they lived and died.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Holiday magic by Michaels_ Fern
4 authors and their holiday magic novels.
Holiday Magic by Fern Michaels
Stephanie opens the ski shop where she works as she lights candles, has drinks ready and hot donuts for early shoppers the day after Thanksgiving.
She and her boss, Patrick have dated a few times and he's not ready to go further.  She has 2 daughters that she has struggled to raise after leaving her abusive spouse years ago .
Her daughters go missing during the blizzard and things come apart...
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A Very Merry Christmas by Cathy Lamb
Christmas show during production and after. She knows no man will ever want her from the accident when she was a teen.
Or will they?  One was witness to her accident and never held it against her...
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A very Maui Christmas by Mary Carter
She's lost her chef job at the restaurant and her family wants her to be the maid at their house at Christmas. She wins a trip to Maui but she's not sure why her whole family is there...
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A Cedar Key Christmas by Terri DuLong
The community want to stop an elder man from going to a nursing home. Some family show up and they are up in an uproar over the circumstances.
Lots of people, confusing at times if you've never read the series. People from all ages is a plus as they are all going through their own problems.
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Enjoyed all the books from different parts of the world with one theme-Christmas magic.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Herbs and Spices: Natural Health Benefits by Anil Jaya
Love this book because with the way we eat now-no salt we rely on spices at every meal.
What I liked about this book is it lists many aspects of the spice we hadn't realized.
Each spice is broken up into sections: summary of what the spice is, cultivating the spice, nutrient and medical value also with how to use it in foods and what it will go best with.
Easy to look up a spice as they are alphabetically arranged. Not sure why a different author name is listed.
A KEEPER!


Riddles: For Kids & Family (Riddles For Kids, Books For Kids
What I like about this book is the answers are also available at the click of your finger-you don't have to go to the very back of the book for them.
Broken up into easy, medium or hard riddles. Some of them are so obvious but they are not.
Great for kids and adults alike.



30 Delicious Dump Cake Recipes
Book starts out with why it's called a dump cake and what to expect. Also a lot of substitutions if you are on a healthier diet plan.
Found one recipe that I thought we might be able to make-gran apple cake.
Each recipe has servings, list of ingredients-that include a packaged cake mix and usually a fruit or berry in a can with its syrup along with a large amount of butter.
Directions are listed, numbered step by step. Gives suggestion how to serve it.
Also variations if possible are listed. No nutritional information and no pictures.






Hickory Road Ramblings, Essays and Photographs on Life and Gardening
Enjoyed this book because it's not only about her garden but photographs and other important seasonal things that occur over time.
Love how she is preparing the garden, planning what crops to grow during the winter months-we do the same thing, even have the seeds bought.
Good memories of the flowers and how she decided where they will grow.
Photographs are stunning!  Winter Lace is my favorite as I am relate to what she's knitting and seeing outside.
A master gardener that reminds me so much of my mother as she'd sleep with window open year round also and loved just tossing seeds outside and the wonder of what they'd produce one day.





Health and Nutrition December 2016
Lots of good nutritional information along with winter disorders and other signs to look out for about other diseases.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading De vice).


 Three Men in a Boat (Xist Classics) 
Story of three men and how they plan to camp out while traveling around in a boat.
So many things can go wrong and so do and how they deal with it.


 Tiny Homes: The Ultimate Guide To Small House Living Lifestyle
Lots of useful information about tiny houses. How to plan for one, would you enjoy living in one and where are all considerations.
Resources available.



Baking Methods: An Easy Baking Cookbook Filled With Simple Baking Methods for Quiches, Biscuits, and Muffins  by BookSumo Press
Free ebooks link at start of this book.
Starts out with recipes for muffins. Each recipe includes title, ingredients and instructions on how to make them.
Chart with prep and cooking time and total time.
Also a chart showing nutritional information but FAT is not broken up into good or bad.
Cookie and cake and quiches chapters are also enclosed. You should be able to substitute for your dietary needs.
A KEEPER!


Apple Recipes: The Ultimate Guide!  by Danielle Caples
Each recipe has prep, cook and ready in time and servings.
List of ingredients, and detailed directions. No pictures and no nutritional information.
Some of the breakfast items use prepared biscuits.  Desserts and pasta dishes are featured.
Soups and sandwiches also using apples. Found a few recipes I could use with my substitutions for our dietary needs.


Murder at Lambswool Farm
Back at Sea Harbor and they need to save the local farm.
Their town actually has a doctor who makes house visits. Dr. Allan has taken on a docter who buys half the business and he has no more heirs to continue on the family practice.
Glen comes to town and has a medical background but also wants to write a story about the town, especially the history surrounding the medical practice. He delivers two sheep one night and the doctor has been murdered.
Arsenic poisoning. Women of the knitting group try to solve who did it-they know Glen's car was fixed within a day but he stayed on many days after. Maybe it was the partner in the business, maybe the handicapped man Dr. Allan had fired...there is also no will....
Love talks of gardening, farm and sea shore.  Shrimp recipe and felted bowl knit pattern included from farm dinner table.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Seaside Knitters. Books 10-11  by Goldenbaum_ Sally
Have read the other books by this author and have enjoyed not only the knitting part but mysteries surrounding how they solve a death in their seaside community.
Like knitting tips along the way.  Like they have a family tree of characters at the very beginning.
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Trimmed with Murder
Christmas and Charlie has volunteered to help at the free clinic. He stopped to pick up Amber who has a relative in town. Neither has been back since they were young...
Story follows them and many others in the small community. Things with being small everybody knows everybody's business.
Love the pattern for the tree and also food recipe.


Stories to make you feel better by Bennett Cerf
Great stories especially liked the trucker having a meal in a diner and 3 bikers come in and mess with his food and drink. Trucker gets up, pays for his meal and leaves.
They tell the waiter he's not much of a fighter. Waiter says he's not much of a truck driver, he just ran over 3 motorcycles. Many subjects, i can see these in reader's digest. good chuckles.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



The Blizzard by Susan Teter
Story of a small community in England where they are due for a big storm. The snow hits and we learn of how others have prepared for it
and what they do during and after the snowfall. Love the parts about the Christmas get together and all the food that is brought.
Lots of drama about others personal secret life's.


Getting Dirty by Kat Latham
Was a bit disappointed to read the book and to find out it abruptly ends and there are excerpts from many others in the series.
Just thought it was going to be a complete book but as the title states it's only a sampler.



Photography: Complete Guide to Taking Stunning,Beautiful Digital Pictures (Photography Tutorials Book 1) by Nicole Woods
What I like about this book is it explains in English the parts of the camera even showing pictures-as not all cameras are the same.
Lot of components of the camera are discussed and shown in examples with pictures.
So many interesting chapters of things you don't normally think of: getting permission to photograph people, printing photos, and editing them.
Bonus video on how to take pictures with your iphone is included.

Photography: guide to taking stunning beautiful pictures DSLR photography and smart phones by jonathan cooper
Introduction and how to use your camera is explained.  Each component is described in detail.
Gives you examples to try when taking a picture and then tells you how to change it up.
Liked the sections about photographing outside and also the mistakes one makes.


Photoshop: Learn The Basics Of Photoshop And Start Creating Amazing Photos In No Time! (Step by Step Pictures, Adobe Photoshop, Digital Photography)
Useful information on how to use this program for your pc to edit your pictures taken from your camera. Lots of different advice depending on the effect you want to create.
I have used other editing programs and have never used this one-don't even have it but information should be able to be used for most editing programs.




Best Crock Pot: Over 50 Amazing Recipes To Eat Well If You’re Tight On Time by David Cook
Intro about crock pot starts off this book along with benefits you will get from using this cookbook.
Few pictures. Has nutritional information but FAT is not broken up into good and bad fat.
Each recipe includes title, prep, cooking time and servings.
List of ingredients and how to put the dish together. You might be able to substitute for healthier choice as per your dietary needs.
Some ingredients I am not familiar with so not sure if you can get them at a regular grocery store.
Halfway through the recipes no longer have nutritional information and format is a bit different, like they copied it from another source?



Children's Book of Magic: 30 Magic Tricks for Young Wizards (Educational series for kids 4-9 years)  by Konrad Modzelewski
Great ideas on how to get kids interested by showing them with pictures in slow motion along with written words what they are to do.
I found the pages a bit too cluttered to concentrate on what I was to do.
Comic type pages are very cluttered, hard to find the words.
Lots of encouragement and how to do the tricks so they are easier to do.


Protein Bars at Home: Healthy DIY Protein Bar Recipes - A Homemade Protein Diet Cookbook for Fitness, Weight Lifting, Building Muscles and Nutritious Personal Training
Always looking for things we can take with us on the go for our hiking trips.
Each recipe includes title name and ingredient list and how to assemble them into bars.
There are no pictures and no nutritional information but the ingredient list are on the healthy side.
Not a bunch to choose from and we will have to go to the store to buy special ingredients.


Bulletproof Diet Cookbook - Quick and Easy Bulletproof Diet Recipes to Lose Weight, Feel Energized and Gain Radiant Health and Optimal Focus
Glanced through this cookbook and found it was not for me. We rely on much more for our lifestyle so we don't have to take pills for food group we are not getting.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the beginning and end.
Intro talks about the bulletproof way of doing things.
Each recipe has a summary of what the dish will do for you. Has servings, prep and cook time. Ingredient list I'm not sure I'd be able to find the ingredients unless I raised the chicken eggs and fed them myself.
Directions are included.  Has smoothies to make also.