Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Books read Mar 2018







Beach Bliss by Joanne DeMaio
What I like about this book is they bring you up to date but not give away all the previous books secrets.
Everybody is going in different directions but they do come together. Men are having competitions to find out who would be the best godfather for Aria now that Celia has moved back to the point near the Inn.
Excited to learn about what dishes others like that Elsa will serve once the Inn is open.
Maris is busy working on Neil's novel and feels she's failing misersably but others are putting their two cents in.
Jason is busy at all kinds of things design wise and now a tv show.
Kyle and Lauren have moved to the point while still working at the diner.
So much fun the group does have by themselves or together. Love the ocean and I love hearing the Italian phrases Sal would use. Said out loud to my spouse the other day when at the ocean that we need to bring a glass jar and bottle up the air.
Like this book also because there are all different ages and you learn their current problems and how they are fixed.
Always find treasures in this author's books, so informative on so many subjects.


Received a review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.




Inspired Shawls 15 Creative Patterns for Year-Round Knitting by Laura Zukaite
#InspiredShawls #NetGalley
Starts with a contents page showing each of the designs, names and small scaled images and the pages they are on.
Each pattern starts with a title, finished measurements, materials needed and guage.
Special abbreviations and stitches are explained in detail. Special patterns are also explained in easy word instructions.
Diagram of the finished item is shown along with size in US/Metric dimentsions.
Charted pattterns are in color and easy to follow with key included.
Lot of variety is just the shapes, something for everyone.
One thing I did not see what a level of expertise needed as some of these are going to take a bit of time to make.
List of abbrevaitiosn are included at the end along with how to make them.
Needle conversions are also included.
A section on the author is highlighted at the end.
High end photos of the designs and the contrast is good to see the patterns.
Also did not see an introduction nor list of places to get the yarns.


Received this review copy from Dover Publications via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.







Take a Chance on Me by Jane Porter
This book starts out with Ty James and he has Amanda Wright styling his hair at her salon.
She falls in love with his masculine looks (she and her sister Charity are romance novel addicts).
Later Bette stops in with lunch before her weekly visit and she learns now who Tyler really is-Bette's grandson.
She is able to track him down at The Graff Hotel and lets him know she doesn't like the deception of arriving early and not letting his grandmother know he's in town.
He's a game developer and he learns his grandmother wanted Amanda to show him around town to show how much she loved this area and she's busy in the community.
Love catching up with other characters in the town of Marietta, MT as I've read all the books and other author's works from this area.
Ty is really there because his grandmother wants to change her will to leave everything to Amanda and he just wants to check her out-make sure she's not being taken advantage of.
Ty has to leave due to the tech giant talks but his mind is still on Amanda and Marietta.
Love the idea of the birthday club and what's all involved-prescious!
Like how this book brings it all together full circle with other books and families in the series.
Other works and excerpts from the series are included.


Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.




DRIVEN TO KILL (JASON #17) by John Dalglish
Like this book from the very start because the events and details are so descriptive I feel like I am there.
Starts out with Jason Strong being paired with Vanessa Lane for the investigation of the murder victim. Thing that struck me was that locally we had some of the same things happen to ladies of the night many decades ago.
Multiple murders as this story goes along with similarities among the other murder scenes involving other police agencies that compare what evidence they've collected and all the leads..
Love all the technical things that go on with the investigation and how up to date the technology is. To think this is book 17 already and I've yet to read any of the other works by this author or the series.
Don't feel as if I'm missing out on any information about prior investigations
Handful of characters and easy to keep track of them.
What I really like is that the whole case is solved in one book-that does not go on for 600 pages. With that being said I can't wait to read more of the authors works.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.










Lakewood: Reggie and Anita's CamelotListened to this as an audiobook and wonder if each chapter also shows the animal being discussed.
What I like about this book is there is so much nature that is treasured. Daily events and sightings bring joy to those who are able to see it unfold in front of them.
Like hearing of the animals and some are not common in our area although we do have others who are also troublesome at times.
Time when kids played outside, no digital distractions. a time when we (my siblings) and I grew up.
Very detailed descriptions as they watch life in front of their eyes. Lakewood sounds like such an awesome place to live, grow up.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.



Seaworthy, a swordboat captain returns to the sea by Greenlaw_ Linda
Love hearing more escapades of the captain, no matter what type of fish she is going for.
Interesting to hear about how she was caught in the Canadian waters, by accident. Love how she accumulated the crew. Sounds so terrifying and the loss of all the line, argh.
Love action on the sea and the outcome of it all. Hope to read more from this author as I feel I am there fishing with them. What a CREW!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw
Have read other books in this series and appreciate every word.
After 17 years away at sea swordfishing she needs to return home to her homeland that has 70 in the winter months.
She wants the rest of it now: husband, house, kids, etc.
Love hearing all about small island living as I grew up such an island off the coast of RI. Many had to go off island to work daily til they retired.
Like how the meetings go and especially the woman sitting knitting.
Hard life I've seen it myself, good times and tragic things occur.
Very informative and real life.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Companion Planting Guide: A Companion Gardening Book for Growing Organic Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit in Your Backyard! (Beginners Guide to Companion Planting)  by Jamie Steven
This book starts out with a table of contents where different aspects of gardening are highlighted in detail.
An introduction about what companion gardening is and the benefits.
This book contains a lot of information that is good for a beginner and a refresher for others who garden yearly. Everything you need to know about, structure, dirt, pests, etc.
Few color photos along the way.
Chart showing which plants go with each and which are enemies of one another. I did go over the compost section and thought it was a bit lacking as the rest of the book. I felt it could've stated exactly what you can compost and the two different types: brown and green compost components.



Essex Shipbuilding Museum - Mystic Seaport Museum Growing up in a shipyard _ reminiscences of a shipbuilding life in Essex_ Massachusetts by Dana Story
Live closeby and never visited the museum but like learning new things and this book has a lot of things to learn about. All the word useage is well explained using ship words and the making of the ships.
Starts out as a young boy and his daily life not only his but his parents who help run the shipyard also. Summer he went to camp and how he learns about the shipbuilding business from the ground up til he runs and owns it.
His father dies suddenly and his step brother takes over and his mother wants to move to a smaller house that easier and cheaper to run. Book goes over the different ages of the man as he not only got older but was educated more about the shipbuilding business.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




The Christmas note by Donna VanLiere
This story narrated by the author herself is about a woman who relocates nearer to her mother with her two kids. Her husband is going through surgeries in Germany due to the war and the bomb blast.
She delivers a message to the woman next door, from the landlord that she needs to clean out her mothers room as she's passd away. Over the next few days the kids and her deliver flowers and a card that they made.
Gretchen also will accompany her and help clean out ther room where she finds a note about Melissas's other siblings that she knew nothing about. Love how the community help out in many different ways.
Lots of surprises!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook: Top 25 Easy Recipes for Fast & Healthy Meals by Mindy Clark
This book starts out with a table of contents where dishes are broken up by meals and food categories.
Intro talks about how unhealth fast foods are and how you can make the change now.
Lots of benefits from using a pressure cooker are highlighted in the introduction.
Each category starts out with one photo. Each recipe has a title, servings, total time, prep and cook time.
List of ingredients which you should be able to substittue for your healither dietary needs: low sugar, low sodium and low sugar products.
Directions are included.
There is some nutrition information: calories, Total fat, NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, dietary fiber, sugars, protein, cholesterol and sodium, as per serving.
There are no recipe photos.
Not sure why some recipes spell out teaspoon and others use tsp. why not have them all the same?
Some recipe use a ton of items to make the dish.
A shopping list table in enclosed, 30 day meal plan, cookin coversion table (not sure why you need this as you are using a pressure cooker-not an oven?)
and US/ NZ measurements chart, Weight converstion talbe also.
Dirty dozen and clean 15, there is no explanation about the foods listed.


Santa's angels by Janet Kaderli
Nick is working at his uncles department store as the Santa as his probation.
The elf, Jennie helps him a lot by taking pictures and coralling the children.
Her life also centers around her daughter as she works a night shift at the bar to make ends meet.
Problem is a guy at the bar steps in to help a scuffle and now she's out of that job... she realizes who he is, the guy on TV.
Predictable story, happy ending. Liked learning about Christmas ornaments and how she makes ends meet.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



In the midst of winter by nick Castor, Isabel Allende, Amanda Hopkinson
NY in 1970's and a blizzard hits. Richard owns the building and rents out basement to a woman, Luciana from S. America.
While Richard is bringing his cat to the vet during the blizzard he hits a woman in her car. Later she shows up in his apartment and is not able to say what she wants. He gets Luciana and after some laced brownies they can understand one another better.
She ends up staying as it's not safe to be outside due to the storm. Chapters go back in time to their lives as to how they were raised, where and under what circumstances.
Abaleen is undocumented and has a body in the trunk. Luciana understands and wants to help her out of the mess.
They each have their tragic starts as the story alternates with the present day...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Snowman Amuck by Cindy Samul
Colorful children's story about Jack and how he wakes up and prepares to go play in the snow.
What I like about this book is that on the tablet you can swipe easier and also double tap to enlarge the section of the page you want to see more clearly.
Each step of the way has many scenes in them showing how he is preparing with clothes, his sled going to visit with his friend before the sun is even up.
Things get out of hand when he notices there is a snowman in her house!
Cute story, told in comic book format where you can see what is happening and also there are words if you want to understand in more detail.



Slow Cooker Bowls: Top 25 Mouthwatering Recipes To Get Tender Melt-In-The-Mouth Meals by Diane Phillips
Name of this book interested me because I know at the store they have edible bowls you can buy so not sure if this is about all that or not.
Starts out with a table of contents where each dish gets it's own chapter that includes a section on ingredients, one on directions and how to make it faster.
Intro talks about delicious and nutrittious meals and saving time and easy cleanup among other features.
Each recipe includes a title, prep and cook time and servings.
List of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products.
Directions are included along with how to make it faster.
There are NO pictures.  There is NO nutritional information.


30 Day Whole Food Slow Cooker Challenge by Dana Summers
This book, 5 ingredient or less starts out with  a table of contents where chapters are broken up into food groups.
Introduction starts out with how easy and fast it is to use your slow cooker.
Each section has a color photo and each recipe has a title, servings, prep and cook time.
List of ingredients and many are pre packaged or frozen, along with directions on how to make.
There is NO nutritional information.
I would still substitute for healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, and low sugar products.
Table of contents also included at the end







The Life of a Snowflake by Kurt Zimmerman 
Cute children's story  about a snowflake and how they are in December vs. later in the winter.
Colorful pictures along the way depict what's going on. Other works by the authors are highlighted at the end. 



Sri Lanka recipes and traditional Indian cuisine. : Cookbook: 50 recipes for perfect home cooking by Tim Allen  
This book starts out with a free gift offer. Table of contents includes chapters broken up by meals.
Introduction talks about India's rich cultures, traditions, etc and how they bring out the flavors in food.
Each recipe starts with a title, color photo, cook time, servings.
List of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healtiehr dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, and low fat products.
Directions are included.
There is NO nutritional information.
Not sure if you can find the ingredients, make sure you have them all before starting the dish.
What I do like about this book is it has the SirLanka name and then US name.


Got Fruit?: a guide to family devotions by Ron Brooks 
Introduction talks about his mission about inspiring kids to imitate God.
Sections on prayer, why this book is important and how to use it. Quotes throughout the book from the Bible with links to them.
Good exaplantion about the quote and use for your family and things you can dicuss together with your family.
Like the words: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Next step is also the author's bio section and his works.



Sister Soups: Recipes, Hopes and Prayers for Times of Illness by Joanne Kaattari
This book starts out with monthly soups along with a blessing.
Blessing has a message along with pictures and then the soup recipe. Each recipe has a title, list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions on how to make the dish and servings.
Also a prayer is included that goes along with the dish that are often quotes from the Bible.
Thought I could just pick my favorite but I want to keep them all as favorites.
Especially like December no veggie left behind as the whole soup is made up of fresh items that we grow ourselves.
Other works by the author are included at the end.
I recall reading about the Christmas sauna traditions and found it fascinating to learn about.








It's Easter Once Again: Short Story Picture Book for Beginning Readers by Uncle Amon
Story of Easter and it's a colorful children's book. Each page has a photo and words to explain the picture.
There are a lot of things they must do to get ready for Easter.
Especially like the colorful decorated eggs.  Bunny is ready to deliver everything and you may wonder how it all fits in their baskets.





Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
Recall a band by this name and love their music. This book starts out with a few men who tend to Jane Withersteen's horses that she's raising and selling after training them.
In Utal the Mormoms rule the land and they want her land and round up men to steal her horses. Before she knows it a little come Fay comes to stay with her because the woman taking care of her has died.
There are many trouble and upheavals during this book involving many different sets of people. Liked the scenery because it is so descriptive from the daybreak to the full sun and at dusk-the purple sage is always being described.
Love how they band together and make a run for it. Learned so much about this area-even gold!  Great Book.


Instant Pot pressure cooker cookbook by Adam cook
 Table of contents where dishes are not in any order.
Introduction talsk about the instant one pot pressure cooker and how it's different than others.
Recipe start with a title also noted what diet they'd be good for. List of ingredeints are listed and you should be able to substitute for your healtier dietary needs: low sugar, low fat and low sodium products.
Directions are included but there are NO pictures.  THere is no nutritional information.
Details and directions are really spelled out so you don't mess up. Lots of notes along the way.






Fairytale by Danielle Steel
Starts out with Joy who's met Cristo, he with his family in the vineyard and she in school.
With his expertise in vineyard she with business they move to Napa Valley, CA and buy up land and start their own vineyard. Have a daughter and a nearby family who are the largest vineyard in the state who they are friends with. Love hearing of the harvest festival.
Breast cancer takes a bit of time for Joy to recover, Camille is there to help with the paperwork. She goes to college and is just finishing her schooling to return to their home to help with the vineyard. Joy has again come down with breast cancer and this time somethings not quite right.
She's not strong enough to fight it and dies. Cristo marries another-from France a countess, that he met at vinttner's annual dinner.
He never wanted to marry again but Maxine has other plans.
Camille tells her dad she's after him and his money-her step children had taken all of her assets after their fathers death. Cristo feels sorry for her.
Simone the mother of Maxine is now a friend/grandmother to Camille. They are on the same wave lengths and share many threats that Maxine has brought to them all.
Airplane crash with her father is tragic and the will is even worse than possible making Maxine the manager til Camille reaches 25. 
She relies on friends of her father to help her get through til she's old enough but can she not get killed by the step mother and her boys in the meantime.
There are so many stipulations to the will... 
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).


Will You Love Me Still? by Valya Boutenko 
Children's story told in comic book sequences. You can enlarge the photos and sometimes and words get distorted.




Harry's Lovely Spring Day: Teaching Children the Value of Kindness by N G K, Janelle Dimmett (Illustrations)
Colorful children's book about spring
Harry the happy mouse starts us out in spring and shows us his home.
 He meets others in the country and they help him because of the rian and wind blew his ouse away.
Shows a lot of different modes of transsportation that also help shim out.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.



Harry the Christmas Mouse by N G K, Janelle Dimmett (Illustrations)
Children's very colorful story about Happy the mouse and it's Christmas.
Hard to read some of the words as they are not uniform in size. Also some are using dark fonts on a dark background.
Love how he and his friends are able to save Christmas for others.
Other works by th author is hihglighteda t the end.




The 30 Day Whole Food Weight Loss Challenge by Katie Banks 
Book starts out with offer of a free Ketogenic diet cookbook. Table of contents that are broken up into day of meals for 30 days and also warm up exercises.
Introduction talks about not only food but exercise as well.
Each days meals are summarized at the start of the day so you know what to expect. One color photo showing one of the meals is included.
Each recipe starts with a title, directions and list of ingredients that are confusing as some are in American and some in Metric measurements.
You should be able to substitute for your healtiher dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, low sugar products.
There is NO nutritional information. Does include prep time and servings and calories.
Each exercise comes with prep explanations and how to do the exercise and tips so you will succeed along with a diagram of a person doing it.



When I Imagine by Sophie Carmen 
Are forced to read this book on tablet sideways.
Colorful rhyming children's stories about Andie and she imagines a lot of different things and thinks she can make them happen. She talks to a lot of others that are close to her about her dreams.



Grill It!   by Bonnie Scott 
Book starts with a table of contents broken up by food categories. Free gift and other works by the author.
Short intro about grilling. Each section starts with a color photo.
Each recipe starts with a title, list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products.
Directions are included and servings. There is NO nutritional information and there are NO pictures.





Little Cuties: Let's Pretend! animals by Susan McCulley
Cute colorful children's rhyming book about not only animals but I'd use this book as an educational tool.
It's a fun one because it has the animals name, colors of the animal and a little paragraph about them. You can learn about the animals all while the children's face is in place of the animals face.
24 differenat anaimls and also one page showing them all togehter. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.





Books for Kids: My Mommy is a Superhero: (Children's book about a Cute Girl and his Superhero Mom, Picture Books, Preschool Books, Ages 3-5, Baby Books, Kids Book, Bedtime Story by Michael Gordon
Colorful children's rhyming book about how much Mommy does for her child. Every page has a new activity that they share together.
On the tablet you are forced to turn it sideways to read it where the picture is on the left and the words on the right. Like that the letters are dark on light background so you can actually see them clearly.



The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook: 25 Super Simple Recipes for Everything You'll Ever Want to Make by Emily Larsen
This book starts out with a table of contents where chapters are broken up into meals and food categories.
Intro about the basics and how you can make the regular 4 servings meal and freeze 2 portions for another day.
Each recipe starts out with a title, servings, total time: prep and cook time.
List of ingredients which you should  be able to substittue for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat products.
Directions for the slow cooker are included.
There are NO pictures. There is NO nutritional information.
Some recipes mix measurements: kg and tsp in same recipe. not sure why the kg couldn't be converted to american measurement.
Book also includes shopping list and 3 day meal plan including snacks.
Converstion table for oven temperature and US and metric tables.



The exotic collection of dumplings recipes. Cookbook: top 25 international recipes of homemade cooking. by David Hill
Book starts with a table of contents where dishes are broken up by food category.
Introduction talks about how easy they are to make at home and a lot of perferences.
Each recipe starts with a title, summary of the item, prep time and servings.
List of ingredients and directions on how to make.  Color photo at the end.
There is no nutritonal information and you should be able to substitute for your healtiehr dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, and low sugar products.
Did notice some recipes call for a tbsp-I assume a tablespoon and other times in the same recipe tbs.  And tsp is teaspoon.
Not sure why the confusing measurments.
Although most of the recipes are written for American measurements there are some recipes that have metric and American. I don't really know what  a piece of egg is or if it's either part of the egg and how much, teaspoon size?
Piece is also used for some spices as well.
No nutritional information and very confusing measruements.
Free gift is included.









Slow Cooker Soup Cookbook: Easy Crock Pot Soup Meal Recipes by Louise Davidson
Table of contents where meals are broken up into food categories: beef, chicken, pork, fish, vegetarian.
Feee offer of other books. Introduction about hwo nutritions a slow cooker can help with our busy lifes.
Why the slow cooker is good for you and how to clean it.
Each recipe starts with a title, servings, prep and cook time.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthiery dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat products.
Details on how to make it and some nutrition info: calories, fat (NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, protein and sodium.
There are NO pictures.
Lot of canned products are used, should be using more fresh ones.


The music shop by Joyce_ Rachel
Story starts out with Frank in England and he runs the vinyl record shop where he has the right answer for all who walk in after talking to them, via a song.
He picks out the exact song that will motivate the person into looking into their troubles and coming up with the right answers.
He meets Elsa from Germany who has disfigured hands as a violinist but she can do miracles in his shop with certain procedures.  She becomes pregnant and has to leave to go back to Germany and she tends to her relatives who are ill.
Many years later she returns back to London to find Frank and the only way she can think to do that is awesome. Love how it comes down to help from many others she doesn't know.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).




The Christmas journey by Donna VanLiere
Story of the night Christ was born and what obstacles they had to overcome to even get a spot in the manger.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).






Beautiful mistake by Vi Keeland
Rachel, teacher's assistant not only works at the bar every hour she can get but anything else that comes up. She's always late though and with the new professor that will be a problem-Caine West.
15 years prior he's also pretending to be a priest and hears confessions of others and some things that are divluged at disheartening to hear about. Social worker is notified and things happen.
See a different side of their relationship when she helps him tend to the little nieces while their mother goes through biopsy and Caine is beside himself.
They got off on the wrong foot and many other times they met one another, you wonder if they will ever get together...
Alternating chapters so you are able to hear both sides of the same story, cool.
Steamy sex scenes.  Liked hearing how scars healed and why.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).



Deadlock by DiAnn Mills
Bethany Sanchez is assigned with the dectective Thatcher who put her brother away in prison. They are on an assignment and need to find the murderer soon.
Thare are many facts that are consistent with one another but some things don't add up that it's the same persion.
Wife killed had just inherited 8 million so that's a good reason for her husband to have done it.
She thinks and tracks down more leads that lead in many different directions.
Even when they are shot up because they are solving the murders they keep going: she has to get through to her parents to stop harboring her brother because he had shot at her and her partnet.
Lots of quotes from the scriptures when she really needs to get her head about things.


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



Factor Man by Matt Ginsberg
Enjoyed this book because of all the up to date knowledge of technology.
Wondreed what 256 bit encryption was all about as we choose new passwords and some are lower bits then others. Lots of math and science and an all around good read.
Mix that controversy with the Chinese government-retaliaiton for what they think is a US citizen shutting down their internet for 11 seconds and you have a story.
So much travel as FBI agent and newspaper reporter is on the trail to linking clues and to who comitted murder. Love all the hints and clues and especially the encyption used.
Well thought out in the present and future days. Learned so much about net private conversations and which agency is allowed to ask for what in solving crimes. Alternating chapters so you hear the story from multiple views.
Can really see something like this happening in our lifetime.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.




The Italian Party by Christina Lynch
Starts out with Scottie and her new husband Michael as they are traveling through Italy towards their new house.
They have relocated to Italy and Michael will sell tractors. He works at Ford but we also learn other hidden screts about him.
Story also follows Scottie and her past life and her hidden secrets.
Love descriptions of the landscape and people and history as they drive along. To arrive and have nothing there I don't know what I'd do myself.
When the characters are talking in Italian there are Englsih translations so you are not lost.
Robertino is employed by Michael to help him spy on his wife and others. He also takes Scottie around the town aclimating her to the locale.
Lots of action, horses, adventure and mysteries. Just when you think the secrets are out there are more hidden. Sexual scenes and some swearing.
Lots of different plots in this book, easy to keep track of them and I found it interesting to learn of things from so long ago. Resources quoted at the end.
Recieved this review copy via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.



The Consequences of Loving Colton
Story starts out when Milo and Colton are friends because of her brother is his best friend. She has a crush on him and he does kiss her one time in the pool.
Years later she's graduating from college and they are attending her brother Jason's wedding-in their back yard so everybody has jobs to do to make this a happy occasion.
Milo has a boyfirned that is gay but he doesn't come acorss that way.  There's always been a big competition between Colton and Milo.
Like all the chaos with everybody and how things happen from events in the past. Love how they ousted the bride.
Alternating chapters from the main characters so you get to hear each of their side at the same time.
Anything that could go wrong did and then a whole bunch more-so comical at times.
free from IHG membership



Chocolate for Breakfast (The Swiss Chocolate Series Book 1) by Martha Reynolds 
Bernadette is heading to Switzerland with some others she knows to study for a year there.
Bernie ends up with a very tiny apartment and has to take a shower in the landlords apartment downstairs.
Lisa her friend gets to have a whole floor to herself and a  lot of other perks.
Timmy ends up with another male and they get along great. All attend college and enjoy seeing the countries nearby.
Bernie has friended the bank clerk and ends up at his apartment one night and months later she finds her self pegnant. 
Back home and things have hcanged. Story advances a few years later. Surprises and so many more secrets are revealed.
She also finds out more about the clerk from others and her OB doctor. She has options and Lisa's landlord helps her out.
Love hearing of the other countries as I will probably not get to visit in my lifetime and it's fun to hear what the food is like, never mind the land and travel.
Story is good.  Excerpt from the next book in the series is included at the end.



Ann Can't Sleep by April Peter
Colorful children's rhyming book about Ann and she is having a hard time sleeping at night.
She tries many different things, even sleeping with one of her friend stuffed animals.
It's cool to see who helps her get to sleep. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.




AMANDA'S DREAM (Winning and Success Skills Children's Books Collection Book 1) 
Free book offer. This book starts out with Amanda and she never laugs or giggles or smiles.
Colorful pictures on just about every page helps tell the story of how sad she is.
A fairy comes and helps her to understand what a wish is and what a dream is.
She knows what she wants and she gets her dad to help start it all off. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
Quotes from famous people is included at the end.
Free gift offer.  Author bio at the end.



Maisie McDonald's Diary (Book for Children Age 7+) by Shelley Macbryde
Like how this book starts off with the beginning of summer and the teacher has asked them all to keep track of what they do for the summer because they will need it for when they return in the fall.
Maisie decides on a journal of sorts, like a diary. She's good at writing lists of things to do, for money and her true wish. She does a lot more things around the house and hopes others notice.
Her best friend leaves for a while but she was having the dog boarded while away. She helps a boy who lost his bike and she announces to her dad what she wants to do and he signs her up for the competition.
Didn't see the ending so was happy about the surprise that she deserves to get.



The Happy Holisters at Snowflake Camp by Jerry West.
What I like about this book is that it's for middle age children. Love hearing about the family as this is the first book I've read. Love hearing of their adventures and how they help solve mysteries.Liked hearing of the dogs and how they live, train, etc.
Such a fun loving book to alternate reading with your child. Fun for all.


Mediterranean Cookbook: 16 Mediterranean Diet Recipes to Improve Your Health and Stay Fit by Ralph Foster 
This book starts out with a table of contents and an introduction that talks about the lifestyle of the Mediterraneans. 
Each recipe starts with a title, color photo and a summary of the dish.
List of ingredients are included along with how to make it.
There is NO nutritional information but all the ingredients are fresh-not from cans or packages.
My favorite would be the salmon dish. Although there are only 16 recipes this book is a great resource to get you on track.
Lots of spcies and herbs are used.  There are no servings mentioned either.





Diet: The Quick & Easy Guide to Healthy Eating So You Lose Weight  by Sarah Talene
This book starts out with a table of contents where chapters are broken up into different categories, not meals.
Introduction  talks about how this book can help you and about healthy eating.
Each week is devoted to certain food groups and gives you a selection of foods to eat.
Free book is offered among the pages.
Shopping list is also included.  How to eat healthy when you eat out is another good chapter.
Seven day meal plan is also included for 3 meals each day.
Eat power food and examples are given, different spcies and herbs also.
Smoothie recipes are included that have a summary, title, list of ingredients - no directions if you need to do something special to them, other than run through the blender.
Soup recipes are included and they do come with directions.
No pictures and no nutritional information.
Reasons why you don't lose weight and what to change.
Free gift offer at the end and table of contents.



Crock Pot Cookbook: 50 Crock Pot Recipes for Healthy Families(healthy crock-pot recipes,slow cooking all year round,slow cooking methods,vegetarian crock-pot recipes,slow cooker vegan, cooking pot) by Patrice Clark
Starts with a table of contents where each is devoted to a meal. Free gift offer and intro about why use the pot.
Each recipe starts with a title, small color photo, prep and cook time and servings. Level is easy, medium or hard.
List of ingredients-some parts of the recipe are using metric, some american.
You should be able to substitute for your healhtier dietary needs: low fat, low sugar, low sodium products.
Directions are included.  No nutritional information.
Recipes do not start at the beginning of a page.
Free gift offer at the end.


Sous Vide Cookbook: 180 Modern Sous Vide Recipes - The Art and Science of Precision Cooking at Home (Plus Cocktails)  by Tina B.Baker 
This book starts with a table of contents where each one specializes in one item: how to cook sous vide, equipment, egg recipes, vegetable and fruit recipes, poultry, beef and lamb,  pork, fish, cocktails and sauces and desserts.
Free gift is offered. Intro tells you how to cook sous vide.
Quick reference guide for meats and what temperature they need to cook thoroughly, shellfish, fish, veggies, etges, etc.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook time and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to use healthier options for your dietary needs: low fat, low sugar, low sodium products.
Directions are given along with some nutiriton facts: calories, total fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, total carb, fiber, protein.
Each recipe does not start at the top of a new page.
No sodium levels nor pictures.
As you go through the recipes the format and information all changes-it's from a total different source.
Each recipe in this section starts with a title, prep and cook time, servings. Nutritional information-not sure of portion size: calories, fat - NOT broken up into good or bad, sodium, carbs, fiber, protein and list of ingredients.
Directions are included.
Different formats alternate. 



Mexican: Easy Recipes 2 (Mrs. Goodfood's Around The World in 20 Recipe Books): Beginner´s Guide by Neyda Goodfood 
This cookbook starts out with a table of contents where chapters are broken up into meals.
Intro talks about culture and traditions of the area.
Each section has a summary and history of that particular item.
Each recipe includes a title, color photo, summary of the dish and where it originated from.
List of ingredients and how to make the dish.
There is no nutritional information but comes with other servings suggestions.
Uses mixed measurements, metric and american in same recipe.
Comes with a glossary of a few terms used.


Instant Pot for Two Cookbook: The Very Best Instant Pot Recipes for Two People by Nicola Waters 
Book starts out with free gift.  Explanation of abbrevaitions of terms used: sf, wa, v, and f. Table of contents where chapters are broken up into different products: chicekn,beef, etc.
Intro about the pot itself, covers everything and then some, how healthy it is, how safe, how easy to clean, etc.
Each recipe starts with a title, servings, prep and cook time. List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, low sugar products. Also I'd substitute for canned and prepackaged items by using fresh.
Directions are given and there is some nutrutiohal information per serving: calories, total fat, sat. fat, protein, carbs, fiber and sugarNO sodium levels.
There are NO pictures.
Read the directions all the way through because some use other equipment that you may not have.




Stylish bites – appetizers. Cookbook: 25 fast recipes for any occasion by Daniel Hall
Book starts out with an offer of a free gift, Table of contents where everything is a appetizer: starters, small plates, stylish bites, and sips recipes.
Introduction has many ways of preparing the dishes and notes each one.
Each recipe starts with a title, color photo, prep and cook time and servings.
List of ingredients and some you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, and low sugar products.
I would also swap out canned items for fresh ones. Directions are included..
There is no nutritional information.
Barley granola bites would be our choice for our healthier lifestyle.
Each recipe does NOT start at the beginning of a new page so you might miss some.


Al E. Gator: Short Stories, Games, Jokes, and More! (Fun Time Reader Book 34) by Uncle Amon 
Have read many other works from this author and they contain a lot of fun things.
This one starts out with a talb eof contents, free gift,  and a story about al e. gator and how he comes to the rescue.
Fun activity is included.
 Other stories with colorful pictures are included.  Funny jokes for kids are also included at the end.
Maze puzzles-so fun, along with the solutions, about the author is included at the end.



15-Minute Body Fix (3rd Edition): Resize Your Thighs, Blast Belly Fat & Sculpt Lean Arms! (Exercise) by Linda Westwood, 
This book starts out with a table of contents where workouts get their own chapters for different body parts.
Section on who will benefit from this book. An intro about physical fitness and some guidelines.
Love that it mentions you have to start eating healthier to make the workouts all beneficial.
Free book offer.
Each cahpter starts out with good descriptions and explains it in simple terms.
There are no diagrams or phtoos. Sneak peak at other books. 

Doctor Kangaroo: A Silly Rhyming Children's Picture Book by Gerald Hawksley
Colorful silly rhyming children's storay about a zebra and a crocodile.  Other animals and birds are also mentioned.
Every one has a problem and they send for the doctor-kangaroo.
He fixes them up real quick.  love that there are so many different animals in this book.
Jokes at the end. And a maze puzzle. Memory test. Bonus of five little monkeys is included.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Secrets in summer by Nancy Thayer
Starts out with Darcy and she's inherited her grandmothers house on the island. She had married young after college where she waitressed to make ends meet. She met Bose and they date and get married to divorce years later.
She's the librarian for children's section on the island and it's summer where the island blossoms to tens of thousands of visitors. She figures out who's renting the house behind her hedge-her ex and his new family. She listens to many of the conversations from the other side and is able to stop the island 20 year old try to persaude the 14 year old girl of taking drugs.
She also becomes friends with the older woman who has visitors for the summer also. Love hearing of the confrontations along with steamy scenes with her boyfriend Nash, an island contractor.
Growing up on an island reminds me of this where everybody knows everybody business and then some. Love the dream of the yarn shop by Susan, a friend.
Everybody has a secret and Darcy seems to hear them all and then some...
Fascinating to learn of all the drama but it's real life also.
From NLS for my BARD player.


 The Family We're Born With (Finding Family Book 1) 
 Had read another book by this author and enjoyed this one because it is about finding your true family.
Love how some spend a lot of money to track down their brother. It's Christmas and the mother is meeting her son that she gave away.
Like how others are around to help celebrate and how they are able to open up to one another.
Didn't care for the homosexual sex scenes at all-jumped over them, was only reading because of all the other content.


The Healthiest Shopping List (2nd Edition): 43 Healthiest Supermarket Finds Revealed! by Olivia Rogers
Starts with a table of contents where chapters are broken up into food categories.
Introduction is about food and what is healthy and what is not.
First Chapter starts with Healthy veggies and fruits. A brief summary of this section and then each food is broken up into paragraphs where it tells you what specific parts are the most nutritious.
Offer of a free book is placed among the chapters-several times.
Other chapters include healthy proteins, drinks, whole grains, healthy dairy, .
Good listings is great as a reference.






Instant Pot Cookbook For Vegetarians: Easy Meatless Recipes You Can Enjoy In An Instant by Diana Wiliams 
We eat meatless meals so thought I'd take a look at this cookbook.
Starts out with a table of ocntents where chapters are broken up into meals.
Intro talks about vegetarian meals, the instant pot and how to use it, clean it etc, how nutritious meals are.
Recipe start with a title, servings, prep and cook time, list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sugar, and low sodium products.
Directions are included and some nutritional info: calories, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, and protein. No sodium is mentioned.
I'd also substitute for canned or prepackaged products by using fresh.
There are no pictures.
Good ideas and lots of variety to choose from.
Not sure why drinks are mixed with other foods. Some also use other equipment in the kitchen along with the instant pot.
One item I found used 19 products to make the soup. Bit time consuming just collecting all the ingredients, never mind dicing them.
Appendix shows how long to cook some fruits and one for vegetables and other foods.
Thought broth would be great but the recipe calls for same ingredients with different directions for it.




Easy Mushroom Cookbook (Mushroom Cookbook, Mushroom Recipes, Mushroom, Cooking with Mushrooms 1) by Chef Maggie Chow
Cookbook starts with a free gift and author bio along with listings of books.
Introdcution is a short section about mushrooms. Table of contents and the dishes are broken up into different types of mushrooms.
Abbrviation table is enclosed. 
each recipe starts with a title and a list of ingredients which includes some canned items. 
Should have no problem substituting for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions are included.
There are NO pictures.
In table form are servings, prep and cook/total time.
Nutiritonal information has calories, fat-NOT broekn up into good or bad, carbs, protein, cholesterol and sodium.
Wasn't what I thought it would be about.



Courting Calla by Hallee Bridgeman
This book starts out with Calla and her car on the way to work has stopped working at the gate to the parking lot.
Others help her move the car and she really appreciates it. While filing-her job at The Dixon Brother Designs Company she calls and wins a flower arrangement so she sends it to her friend Sammy who helped her get it towed away.
Problem is the flowers are delivered to Ian Sam Dixon instead and the note states he has to show up Saturday night for dinner and he does. She doesn't divluge the mixup til later. He loves her culinary skills as he enter her apartment where herbs are growing.
Thanksgiving plans are changed and she ends up at his grandmother's and she brings some food that they love. Their meal starts out with prayer and she's more inspired to like him even more.
She had dropped out of culinary school due to identity theft.
Story follows as Ian and Calla have made the yearly mission trip to Haiti and all that occurs there.
Upon their return she is handcuffed and taken away-her stepmom is the problem again because of all the bad debt. Probably the best thing for her but Ian is slighted and thinks she only wants him to spend money to bail her out.
With the lawyers help she can get a second chance but she's broken inside and she asks God for guidance. He sends her a verse from the Bible and she has to go with it and make it right.
Excerpts and summaries of the other works in this series is included.
Love charity work they are able to perform and praying at meals-something that is not openly done any longer is so many instinces.
Readers guide at the end and also a bonus in this book are the recipes at the end.
More books by the author are highlighted at the end along with a personal note from the author..


Received this review copy from the author via The Book Club Network at BookFun.ORG and this is my honest opinion.




The Flower-Powered Garden Supercharge Your Borders and Containers with Bold, Colourful Plant Combinations by Andy Vernon
This book is all about color and the combinations you can put into your garden.
Starts out with how the author acquired his love of the plants from his grandfather. There are color collections shown and summaries of each of them. What I really liked was the authors own special
collection and he tells about how to grow each from various methods, how to tend to them and keep them through the cold months.
So much to learn from this book, excellent resource book to keep on hand.
Received this review copy via Timber Press via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.





Hungry for Love by Maya Sacher
Starts out with Elizabeth Evans and she's watching the flags and knows they symbolize hope and faith.
Her husband Jessie Klein she's visiting at the intensive brain facility. Was such a nonesense accident that left him this way.
She continues to perform dental procedures at her dad's dental practice.
She lost her husband but his body was still living...helped her when she baked cookies.
They had met at a book signing and she noticed his tat on his neck.  He knew his fashion and designers.
Story goes back even further to their upbringings, their meeting and their dating.
Loved hearing of the snow leopards and the things the zoo did for their comfort.
Aiden takes her out of her comfort zone and she likes that he pays attention to her. Her sister finds out and is happy she has moved on because Jessie is not there. He wants her to bond with his daughter.
The living mess starts when Jessie wakes up and as she sublet their place he will go live with her and Aiden and the daughter
What struck me at this point is the men aren't having an argument about who gets her for sex and what nights but it riles her as they can't show affection in any form towards one another while the other is in the room.
She's at a crossroads also in her job and wants something different and confronts her father. Her sister is also mixed up in everything....
Lots of twists and turns and unpredictable situations.
Didn't see the ending at all the way it comes out, whoa!


I received this review book from Net Galley and this is my honest opinion.

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