Monday, January 16, 2017

Books read Jan 16



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.

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