Little Thoughts About Books and Stuff

Title: Why We March Author: Artisan Press Publication Date: March 7, 2017 Rating: 4 stars Synopsis: Celebrate the Women’s March with this inspiring collection of 500 images of the most powerful, uplifting, clever, and creative protest signs carried by marchers across the United States and around the world. Organized thematically, the photographs in Why We March--featuring messages about reproductive rights and immigration, cabinet picks and police violence, climate change, and feminism--together paint a striking portrait of the hope, defiance, anger, and passion that sent more than 5 million people into the streets to protest. “Women’s Rights = Human Rights.” “Love Trumps Hate.” “Nasty Women Unite.” “Build Bridges, Not Walls.” These messages are a rallying cry for this burgeoning movement, and this collection will serve as both a valuable encapsulation of this unprecedented moment in political history and a powerful reminder of why we march. All royalties from the sal...

Leave Me by Gayle Forman My rating: 4 of 5 stars From the outside Maribeth would seem to have it all. She lives in NYC with her husband and two kids and has a job working with her best friend in their chosen field. Inside her life, Maribeth is busy, so busy she mistakes her heart attack as just bad Chinese food.  Maribeth has a hard time recuperating at home after her surgery because everyone still needs everything from her. They don't know how to function with out Maribeth guiding them. Knowing that she needs to focus on her recovering Maribeth hastily packs a bag, leaves a note for her husband and then runs away. Maribeth needs to heal from more than just her heart attack. She needs to heal her soul. She needs to uncover part of his past and reevaluate her current life if she's going to be happy in the future. I was torn about even picking up this book. I love Gayle Forman and was excited to read her first adult novel, but I dislike the 'run away from your life ...

Weekend Cooking is hosted by  Beth Fish Reads Book Tite:  Sara Moulton's Home Cooking 101  Author:  Sara Moulton Publication Date:  March 8, 2016 Description:  (From Goodreads) In Sara Moulton's Home Cooking 101, Sara helps answer that eternal question, "What's for dinner?" This must-have resource combines 150-plus all-new recipes with time-tested methods that elevate meals from everyday to extraordinary. Sara guides readers every step of the way, from including detailed instructions in every recipe to ensure the dish comes out perfectly every time to tips about selecting ingredients and balancing flavors. Bright color photographs and straightforward techniques show how easy it is to build flavors in a pan for a one-dish dinner, bake seafood in parchment for a quick healthy meal, and turn fresh seasonal produce into scene-stealing side dishes. Readers will find recipes to please every palate, including a whole chapter of vegetarian and ve...

Sous Chef by Michael Gibney My rating: 4 of 5 stars I consider myself a mini-foodie.  I love to try new things, but I put a limit to what new things I would consider. I love watching cooking shows and I try to experiment in the kitchen.  I've read a number of memoirs by celebrity chefs and I'm fascinated with their journeys but they never talk much about what goes on inside a kitchen on a normal day.  That aspect alone really excited me about this book. Michael Gibney takes the reader through a typical day in the life of a sous chef. It's a crazy, hectic experience, one I never see myself surviving. He does in it by writing this book in second person singular, or using 'you' to describe the action; you do this, you know that, Chef says to you. I both enjoyed this style and was annoyed at parts. I watch a lot of the cooking competition shows and most if not all of the contestants smoke.  I never understood why, to my knowledge smoking destroys your palate. ...

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed My rating: 4 of 5 stars I requested to review Diamonds and Deceit  not fully realizing that it was the sequel to this novel.  I don't know how I missed this book when it came out earlier this year, but I'm happy that it came to my attention.  I waited patently while I wound my way down the holds list on the book and then promptly read both books as quickly as I could manage around work and other social obligations. Lela Rasheed, tells a wonderful story about the lives of the Averley family and those closely associated with them.  There was drama galore and while a lot of it was over the top, I think it just added the my enjoyment. The main story lines revolve around Rose Cliffe, a maid at the Averley's home, Somerton, and the oldest Averley daughter Ada. There is also a cast of characters who do not fade into the background and only add to the over-the-top-ness of the novel. I recently reviewed a novel that I compared ...

Fighting Love by Abby Niles My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an ebook ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review. This is the second book in Abby Niles' Love to the Extreme series.  You can find my review of the first book here . I have really enjoyed both books in the series and I'm looking forward to the next book due out in 2014. One of the things I like about this story is that Julie is the one in the friend zone, or as Tommy sees it, the sister zone. Tommy and Julie have been best friends forever. Julie has been in love with Tommy since she was a child.  She's been pretty okay with this but things are changing between the two friends.  Their lives are so different, Tommy has been focused on his fighting and the lifestyle that surrounds the sports. Julie is fine with the quite life at home and doesn't much care for the lifestyle. Julie's quite life is about to get a change when Tommy moves in with her.  Things have been rough for him, he lose ...

Matzoh and Mistletoe by Jodie Griffin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an eBook copy from Netgalley for an honest review. I have not always been a fan of BDSM stories, I feel that sometimes they are just too focused on sex, and I do enjoy a good story along with my hot and steamy. That wasn't a case with this novella. There was a great story and it balanced nicely with the hot and steamy. Also, I liked that the BDSM aspect wasn't so intense that I got turned off by the hot and steamy. Rebeccah has been volunteering for years on Christmas and Easter so those who celebrate the holidays can be at home with their families. For the last five years, she's been partnered up with a police officer named Jeremy. They have both felt attracted towards the other, but because Rebeccah was married neither one acted on the feelings. This Christmas, however, Rebeccah is single. Rebeccah left her husband because he was abusive, both mentally and physically. This sets up so...

Bellman & Black: A Ghost Story by Diane Setterfield My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received an ebook ARC from Netgalley. This is not my typical book, but I loved it! Book Description from Goodreads: As a boy, William Bellman commits one small, cruel act: killing a bird with his slingshot. Little does he know the unforeseen and terrible consequences of the deed, which is soon forgotten amidst the riot of boyhood games. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to be a man blessed by fortune—until tragedy strikes and the stranger in black comes. Then he starts to wonder if all his happiness is about to be eclipsed. Desperate to save the one precious thing he has left, William enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner, to found a decidedly macabre business. And Bellman & Black is born! Review: Like I said above, I loved this novel! It took me a few chapters to get into this book.  The writing style was diff...

I've been reading...but I haven't been reviewing. I'm going to be honest, between school work and a new relationship I just haven't had time to sit down and review. I've read some really good things the last few weeks so I've been itching for a chance to sit down and write about them. I Stopped Time by Jane Davis My rating: 3 of 5 stars I reviewed this book for Central New Jersey - JASNA .  You can read my full review there, but I just wanted to share a few thoughts.  I really enjoyed the split perspectives of the story and the fact that they were from two different eras.  I loved the idea behind the title and the way it was used in the novel. What the Bride Didn't Know by Kelly Hunter My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars I received an ebook ARC from Netgalley. I enjoyed the story, but felt there was too much going on for such a short novel. There was the back story of their childhood and how they grew up friends and all went into the same job field w...

I received ebook copies of both books from Netgalley. I felt that both of these books had the potential to be great books to kick off their perspective series. Both authors have created an interesting world that as a reader I would love to explore through their books.  However, the books were a let down.   Dead Sexy Dragon by Lolita Lopez My rating: 2 of 5 stars This world of dragons is intriguing. I haven't come across a dragon shifter outside of a novel in the Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter series.  The author has this great world to play with and she just hits at it's existence. I would have loved to have some more background into the life of the dragons. The pace moved too quickly.  Things that felt as if the characters should have more resistance or adjustment period too, where easily accepted. I think if the pace had been slowed the story could have been flushed out a little bit more. Another thing that I would have liked to seen, is a lead into the ...

Description The pleasure of going to the local pub or craft brewery for a pint and a delicious meal can now be recreated at home with John Holl's collection of 175 recipes that all taste amazingly great with beer. From pub grub and barbecue to regional specialties and even breakfast fare, many of these dishes use beer as an ingredient, and all of them can be paired with your favorite brews. The recipes were contributed by brew pubs, craft brewers, and other beer lovers across the United States, and you'll love the new twists on traditional favorites, such asSlow-Cooked Dopple Bock BBQ Meatballs and American Wheat Beer Steamed Clams, as well as unexpected recipes like Crawfish Bordelaise, Chopped Reuben Salad, Beermosas, Beer Ice Cream Floats, and Chocolate Jefferson Stout Cupcakes. Why I'm recommending it: I recieved an e-book copy from Netgalley. I've find it weird to be reviewing a cookbook, but this one drew my attention. I have a friend who is ...

Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It by David M. Ewalt My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an ebook copy from Netgalley. Description HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS. Ancient red dragons with 527 hit points, +44 to attack, and a 20d10 breath weapon, to be specific. In the world of fantasy role-playing, those numbers describe a winged serpent with immense strength and the ability to spit fire. There are few beasts more powerful—just like there are few games more important than Dungeons & Dragons. Even if you’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has: the game has had a profound influence on our culture. Released in 1974—decades before the Internet and social media—Dungeons & Dragons inspired one of the original nerd subcultures, and is still revered by millions of fans around the world. Now the authoritative history and magic of the game are revealed by an award-winning journalist and lifelong D&D ...

Once Upon A Wallflower by Wendy Lyn Watson My rating: 3 of 5 stars I received an ebook copy for review from Netgalley. Mira Fitzhenry is the poor relation.  She lives with her uncle and his family and is made to feel sub par in every way.  She doesn't fit in with society's standards and has grown to accept how everyone views her.  She has the misfortune of sharing a name with her cousin and therefore becomes a pawn in her uncle's plan to get out of debt and save his own daughter.  Her uncle has promised that Miss Mirabelle Fitzhenry will marry the Viscount Ashfield in exchange for his gambling debts to be cleared by the Viscount's father the Earl of Blackwell.  The Earl is a scoundrel and the Viscount is rumored to be a murderer, to dabble in the black arts and a number of other unsavory things. Nicholas, the Viscount Ashfield, reminded me of a romantic version of Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights .  They are both dark, brooding men who spend their ...

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock  by  Matthew Quick My rating:   4 of 5 stars I received an ebook copy from Netgalley. This book is so many things and all of them add a different element that makes it hard to put down. This story is a glimpse into the life of a troubled teen who has figured out how to slip through the cracks and play the system.  He is alone in the world, dealing with some major issues and feeling as if no one cares.  He uses the fact that his birthday has arrived and no one seems to know or remember as an excuse for what he feels must be done.  He must end his life and the life of his former best friend. We are on the journey with him as he goes through his day saying goodbye to the four people who he has connected with in the past few years. There's Walt, his elderly next-door neighbor, who has introduced Leonard to Humphrey Bogart movies. The two will spend full days watching the movies and quoting lines back and forth. Walt is th...

The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three: Discovering the Radical Truth at the Heart of Christianity by Cynthia Bourgeault My rating: 1 of 5 stars I received an ebook ARC from Netgalley. I dislike writing negative reviews.  Normally if I don't like a book, I won't review it, but I wanted to share some thoughts on this book, because while I didn't like it, I think it's a book that people will enjoy reading and gain a lot of information from the information Cynthia Bourgeault has collected and shared in the book. What drew me to the book first was the title and the cover.  I personally wear a triquetra instead of a cross as a symbol of my faith.  I'm always open to reading different views of Christianity so I read the description of the book: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit .  In this formula that Christians recite as though on autopilot lie the secrets for healing our world, rekindling our visionary imagination, and manifesting the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. ...

Beckman by Grace Burrowes My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an ebook copy from Netgalley. There are three things I love about Grace Burrowes books: 1. The presence of Jane Austen 2. Strong female characters 3. The fact that the female character doesn't NEED the hero, but it sure does help that he's around. Points 2 and 3 are the key reasons I love to read her books and  Beckman is no different.  Beckman is book four in her Lonely Lords series.  I have not read the three previous books in the series (but I will now!) and I didn't feel like I was missing out on any connections to other books.  Sara Hunt is not your typical housekeeper, something Beckman discovers quickly once he arrives at Three Springs.  Beckman is here at the bidding of his father, he is charged with fixing what's wrong with the house and the grounds.  Beckman finds that there is a lot of work to be done and not everyone is what they appear to be at this estate. ...

Extreme Love by Abby Niles My rating: 4 of 5 stars Let me start off by being honest.  I requested a copy of this through Netgalley and completely forgot to sent it to my Kindle.  When I finally did remember, I promptly forgot to read it. Then I was cleaning in Kindle of all the free ebooks I had downloaded but will probably never read, and I noticed it and was like hmmm where did this come from.  That's when I finally read it... I really liked this book. First, it's about an MMA fighter, which is a topic I haven't really seen a lot of (let me know if I'm missing out on other books in this area).  Second, Caitlyn's story was honest and again one I'm not used to reading. Dante is an MMA fighting getting ready to train for the biggest fight of his career and he can't afford to get distracted.  Caitlyn is that distraction, but she's not so sure she wants to be the center of Dante's focus. While Dante fights in the cage, Caitlyn has been fighting fo...

Time Flies: A Novel by Claire Cook My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received an ARC ebook through Netgalley. This delightful book starts off with Melanie cutting up the mattress that was on the bed she had shared with her husband.  Not only is she in the middle of a divorce, but her best friend B.J. is on her case about going to their high school reunion, she has a horrible fear of driving on the highway, and she's contemplating dating again. This added to her normal worries of being a mother to two grown sons and a sculpture artist. Melanie is a bit bitter about her divorce.  She didn't want to leave Massachusetts, but she made the best out of it and found her passion for metal sculpture.  From the descriptions she makes some really great pieces ... if only they had picture books for adults!  Anyway, she spends a good portion of the book trying her best to avoid her nearly-ex-husband, Kurt.  She's also trying to avoid going to her high school reunion because a...

Hooch: Simplified Brewing, Winemaking, and Infusing at Home by Scott Meyer My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Publisher Description: For anyone who has considered brewing a batch of beer or mead at home, or making a custom barrel of wine with local fruit, this thorough guide will clear a path to the bottle. It demystifies the process: from planting hops and fruits to pruning, harvesting, fermenting, flavoring, and bottling one-of-a-kind drinks from your own backyard. It serves as a starting point not only for wines and beers, but also hard ciders, meads, and infusions, and even touches on at-home distilling Perfect for the city-dweller, urban gardener, or anyone with limited space and a desire to make custom concoctions,  Hooch  offers projects to suit any lifestyle. With recipes for brews made from grapes, hops, and herbs, DIY boozers will find everything they need to begin a brewing journey. My Review: I have never consider...

How to Deliver a TED Talk by Jeremy Donovan My rating: 4 of 5 stars Description "How To Deliver A TED Talk" is a complete public speaking guide for creating presentations that inspire others through your story. Based on intensive study of the most popular TEDTalks, this step-by-step playbook shows you how to select your topic, craft your narrative, master your delivery, and refine your design. Review I will probably never give a TEDTalk but that doesn't mean that I won't have to give presentations in my profession.  Just because I'm not delivering one of these inspirational talks doesn't mean that my presentations can't be creative and unique. This book is a great public speaking handbook. There are chapters that won't be applicable to everyone. For example How to Craft Your Catchphrase or How to be Introduced.  The majority of these chapters can be used to create even the most basic presentation.  The book focuses on telling a story ins...