BACK TO SCHOOL BOOK WEEK

It's Tuesday day 2 of Back To School Book Week. You can find all the info over at This Vintage Chica.

In honor of going back to school,

Join me in a Back-to-School Book Week!
(Aug 30-Sept 3)

Monday: Your favorite craft book(s)
Tuesday: Your favorite cookbook(s)
Wednesday: Your favorite fiction book
Thursday: Your favorite non-fiction book
Friday: Free Day! Any book you think deserves mentioning!

Today is favorite cookbooks. I have a couple I really use a lot. My old reliable Betty Crocker cook book. I bought this cook book way back in 1969/1970. I had just been married 2 years. I actually didn't buy it, I got it with Green Stamps from our local store. Anyone remember those? I still use it today. It's pretty beaten up and used. This is a picture I found on the internet. Mine is way tooooooo grungy looking to post here.


My new cookbook I use a lot is Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics. She has some really great recipes in her book. Some old favorites and some new ones I've not tried yet. One of the recipes I've tried from her book is Banana Nut Bread. It's really easy to make and yummy.

BANANA NUT BREAD

1/2 C. Shortening 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 C. Sugar 2 Eggs
2 C. Flour 3 Bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon Salt 1/3 C. Buttermilk
2 teaspoon Baking Powder 1/2 C. Chopped Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream shortening and sugar. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda and add to creamed mixture. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into a well-greased loaf pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

And of course I have my own cookbook. I have been gathering recipes that are family favorites for years. My mom's recipes, my sisters, and lots of other family members. It is used all the time around here. My son is a great cook and he used my recipe book quite a bit.


Don't forget to head over This Vintage Chica to see all the cook books everyone is sharing.

REVIEW - THE DEVIL'S NECKLACE

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
52 Books in 52 Weeks(Wk.35)
The Year of the Historical

"The Devil's Necklace" by Kat Martin
Product Description(Amazon.com)
The necklace promised great happiness or great tragedy -- and nobody could elude its power . . .
To British privateer Ethan Sharpe, Grace Chastain was nothing but a pawn for vengeance against Harmon Jeffries, the traitor responsible for his brutal years in prison. Believing Grace to be Jeffries' mistress, he plans to humiliate his enemy by seducing her.
Grace fears her priceless heirloom necklace has begun to live up to its curse when Captain Sharpe makes her his prisoner aboard his schooner. Defiantly she resists his coarse advances, and suspects there is more to this complex sea captain than his brooding anger and silent accusations.
But Ethan quickly realizes that she is not the wicked woman he imagined her to be. Grace is as headstrong as she is lovely, and the battle of wills that ensues weakens his resolve. Now Ethan must decide: can he settle the demons of his past and follow the destiny his heart commands?
# Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
# Publisher: Mira (September 28, 2010)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0778328694
# ISBN-13: 978-0778328698

MY THOUGHTS: This is book 2 of 3. I started this series by Kat Martin last year. I wanted to finish it up. Grace is born on the wrong side of the bed and being raised by her mother and stepfather. Her real father is Marquises of the realm and has been tried and sentenced to hang for treason. Grace helps him break out of prison. The man who is hunting her father is Ethan is the man trying to hunt him down. Ethan kidnaps Grace from her ship and thinks she is the Marquises mistress. As Grace and Ethan are sailing they have a passionate night. Grace becomes pregnant and Ethan marries her. But can Ethan forgive Grace for being the daughter of a traitor? Does Grace's father get caught and hanged? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

REVIEW - GERRY TALES

"Gerry Tales" by Gerry Boylan
Product Description(Amazon.com)
In this collection of personal essays, Gerry Boylan recounts a lifetime of adventures and misadventures. His stories are sweet, loopy, and hilarious, ranging from hitchhiking experiences gone awry to the birth of his first child (sans painkillers or doctors, but with pinochle-playing buddies and malted milkshakes). Whether he's fleeing in terror from a marauding bat or causing a thousand-bicycle pileup in Beijing, he'll have you laughing at his unique mixture of lunacy and heart.
# Paperback
# Publisher: Synergy Books (September 21, 2010)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0984387935
# ISBN-13: 978-0984387939

MY THOUGHTS: Have you ever wanted to write down all the things that happened to you? At the time they happened it seemed really painful or unpleasant, but as you look back on it, as time passes, it's really funny. This book is about those things and Gerry Boylan has written them into a book. One of those times is the story of how he stabbed his self in the back. He was about 10 years old at the time and a fascination with Jim Bowie. His parents bought him a Bowie Knife. He took to bed one night after his father had taken it away from him. During the night he somehow got it stuck in his back. At the time this happened I'm sure it wasn't funny, but the way he tells the story it's really funny. Gerry Boylan is a great story teller. If you get a chance to pick this book up...... do, it's a great book.

MY RATING: 5

[This is a free review book.]

BACK TO SCHOOL BOOK WEEK

I was over at Jan's place visiting and found this great post about Back To School Book Week. So I went to check it out. It's over at This Vintage Chica's place. Here is what she has to say:

Have a list of trashy novels you read this summer? Or how about a cookbook that is just rocking your world lately? A craft book that you can't wait to dive into?
In honor of going back to school,
Join me in a Back-to-School Book Week!
(Aug 30-Sept 3)
Monday: Your favorite craft book(s)
Tuesday: Your favorite cookbook(s)
Wednesday: Your favorite fiction book
Thursday: Your favorite non-fiction book
Friday: Free Day! Any book you think deserves mentioning!

Feel free to play along all week or just one day.

So I'm going to play along. I have lots of craft books laying around the house. I'm always buying them but never doing anything with them. But I do have a couple that I use on a regular basis. One is quilting and the other altered books.
Applique Quilts


Altered Books - Holly Harrison


I have had these two books for some time. I am always referencing them when I am working on a quilt or altering a book. Loaded with lots of info and the quilt book has patterns in the book. The Altered Books book has lots of ideas for altering books. Which I got into a few years ago. Lots of fun to do.

If you want to play along, head over to The Vintage Chica's place and check it out.

REVIEW - THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Monthly Mixer Melee(Wrap Up)

"The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks" by E. Lockhart
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:
Debate Club.
Her father's "bunny rabbit."
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Landau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take "no" for an answer.
Especially when "no" means she's excluded from her boyfriend's all-male secret society.
Not when her ex-boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she's smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew's lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.
# Reading level: Young Adult
# Paperback: 352 pages
# Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; Reprint edition (August 25, 2009)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0786838191
# ISBN-13: 978-0786838196

MY THOUGHTS: Have you ever been in love? Have you ever wanted someone to notice you? Have you ever wanted to be in club? These are all the things Frankie wants. She wants to boys of Basset Hound Club to notice her for who she is, not that she's just a pretty girl. So Frankie starts putting all the pranks together that gets the club noticed. But the club members don't know it's her. Until one of them gets caught for the misdeeds. Then Frankie fesses up so that boy won't get kicked out of school. Then they all know she's the mastermind behind all the pranks. But do they care? Does Frankie get the recognition she wants? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

MONTHLY MIXER MELEE WRAP UP


This is the list of books I read for this challenge. The challenge was to read a book with the letter of the month in it, author or title. Jen over at Jens Book Talk is the host for this challenge.
N - Notes Left Behind - Brooke and Keith Desserich
O - One Thousand White Women - Jim Fergus
V - Wench - Dolen Perkins-Valdez
E - Two for the Dough - Janet Evanovich
M - March - Geraldine Brooks
B - The Blue Notebook - James A. Levine
E - Three To Get Deadly - Janet Evanovich
R - Rough Country - John Sandford
[DONE]

D - The Cost of Dreams - Gary Stelzer
E - Evidence - Jonathan Kellerman
C - A Country Called Home - Kim Barnes
E - The London Eye Mystery - Siobhan Dowd
M - Mercury Falls - Robert Kroese
B - The Bone Garden - Tess Gerritsen
E - Four to Score - Janet Evanovich
R - The Recipe Club - Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel
[DONE]

J - 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
A - Aesop's Fables
N - Never Let You Go - Erin Healy
U - Ugly Sea Creatures - Kerri O'Donnell
A - The Adventures of Songha - Linda Caterine
R - The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin
Y - Life of Pie - Yann Martel
[DONE]

F - Feasting on Asphalt - Alton Brown
E - Eight Day in Darkness - Angela Roegner
B - Burn - Ted Dekker
U - Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper
R - Ladies of Liberty - Cokie Roberts
A - Kit's Wilderness - David Almond
R - The Rook - Steven James
Y - Y' All Come Eat - The Deen Brothers
[DONE]

M - The Manufactured Identity - Heath Sommer
A - Little Men - Louisa May Alcott
R - Sarah's Key - Tatiana De Rosnay
C - The Camel Bookmobile - Masha Hamilton
H - House of Reckoning - John Saul
[DONE]

A - Jane Austen-Christen Encounters - Peter Leithart
P - A Day No Pigs Would Die - Robert Newton Peck
R - She-Rain - Michael Cogdill
I - By Reason of Insanity - Randy Singer
L - The Last Oracle - James Rollins
[DONE]

M - Mistress of the Art of Death - Ariana Franklin
A - Winnie-the-Pooh - A. A. Milne
Y - A Year Down Yonder - Richard Peck
[DONE]

J - My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
U - How to Zest a Lemon - Kim Upton
N - Nibble & Kuhn - David Schmahmann
E - Harvey's Horrible Snake Disaster - Eth Clifford
[DONE]

J - Jacob Have I Loved - Katherine Paterson
U - U2 - Kenneth McIntosh
L - Life After 187 - Wade J. Halverson
Y - The Disruputable History of Frankie Landau - E. Lockhart
[DONE]

A - Saving Max - Antoinette Van Heugten
U - Cam Jansen And The Mystery of the U.F.O. - David A. Adler
G - Good Dog. Stay. - Anna Quindlen
U - Weird U.S: The Odyssey Continues - Mark Sceurman
S - The Star Cloak - Emily Rodda
T - Thirsty - Kristin Bair O’Keeffe
[DONE]

S - A Season of Gifts - Richard Peck
E - Half Moon Investigations - Eoin Colfer
P - The Last Surgeon - Michael Palmer
T - Trial - James Patterson
E - And the Heart Says Whatever - Emily Gould
M - The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart
B - Betrayal in Death - J. D. Robb
E - And The Heart Says Whatever - Emily Gould
R - The Breath of Allah - Tempest O'Rourke
[DONE]

O - Only in New York Darling! - Virginie Sommet
C - College Girl - Patricia Weitz
T - Thrill Killers - Raymond Pingitore
O - Our Hart - Lloyd Lofthouse
B - Bubble Gum and Hula Hoops - Harry Oliver
E - The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place - E.L. Konigsburg
R - Rainbow's End - Martha Grimes
[DONE]

REVIEW - TOO RICH & TOO THIN

"Too Rich & Too Thin" by Barbara DeShong
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Pack your bags for Texas and prepare to meet the strangest family since that little Chainsaw Massacre incident.
Psychologist Jessica LeFave will be your guide, but be forewarned, Dr. LeFave isn t your average shrink, and though her wisecracking lawyer buddy, will try to keep Jessica out of trouble, he might not be able to save you, or himself.
Your journey opens when Jessica is summoned to profile the killer who drove a spike through the heart of the notorious Bernice Jackson. Jessica is more than a little excited. Not because Bernice Jackson is dead, but because Bernice who'd soared to fame and wealth by shamelessly re-writing treasured historical events into wildly successful soft-porn novels and movies was a psychiatry patient of her husband's at the time of his death.
You see, Jessica is convinced her husband was murdered to bury a secret revealed in therapy. Since watching him dragged from the bottom of Lake Austin a Hilton receipt and another woman s wedding rings in his pocket Jessica has been a little crazy, obsessing over his files, even stalking patients with dodgy reputations.
The police dismiss her claims, leaving Jessica on her own to land your Texas tour smack in the middle of the bizarre movie-making family starring a doped up basket case son, a daughter on a death wish eating binge, and the ghost of Bernice Jackson who'd pushed her obsession with seeing herself as young and beautiful beyond any psychotic dream.
# Paperback: 376 pages
# Publisher: Echelon Press; 1ST edition (September 1, 2009)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1590806417
# ISBN-13: 978-1590806418

MY THOUGHTS: I really liked this book, it is kind of quirky, but very good. Jessica is trying so hard to get people to believe her story that her husband was murdered, not committed suicide. She thinks the murder is somehow connected to one of his patients. As she digs through his files trying to find a connection she runs across lots of possibilities. Which gets her into trouble for falsely accusing people of being involved. Which makes people not believe her about David being murdered. But she thinks she's on the right track with this one. The whole family is messed up some way or another. So Jessica keeps digging. Does she find out if David was murdered? Does anyone believe her story? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

[This is a free review book.]

How Far Is Your Body from Perfect?

And Why You Don’t Need to Know



Barbara DeShong

Mysteryshrink.com

The Story Behind the Story: TOO RICH and TOO THIN, Not an Autobiography.

On a Saturday afternoon when I was fourteen, my older sister invited me along on a guest pass to the fancy spa where she was a member. The idea appealed to me as a kid who spent fifteen to twenty hours a week riding horses, but had no experience with the more glamorous side of exercise. I donned my shorts and T-Shirt, excited and ready for my introduction to the world of women’s fitness.

On arrival, my sister greeted her spiffy pony-tailed trainer and I tagged along, spasmodically trying out a variety of machines that looked suspiciously like some I’d seen pictured as favorites of bitter European queens during the Dark Ages. But, I was having a good time, all and all. With my outdoor schedule, I wasn’t likely going to end up a regular at the spa, but I was enjoying the heck out of my guest pass.

At least I was having fun until a spandexed trainer roaming the spa with a clipboard spotted me floundering naively amongst the equipment and offered me a free body appraisal. Free being in my price range, I jumped on the opportunity to add value to my guest pass. The pretty lady led me into an office and whipped out a tape measure. As a fourteen year old with the above mentioned lack of spa sophistication, I sat, stood, turned, held out my arms, and offered up my sunburned neck. She was at least twenty-five and had instruments. Thus, I obeyed. Also, remember, at fourteen free was still a big draw.

Then the woman took the page off her clipboard and made entries into a calculator on her desk. After a few minutes of electronic humming, she swiveled her chair to match up her knees to mine. She knitted her forehead with great importance and proceeded to inform me that: my upper arms were 1.4 inches too big, my forearms and wrists were slightly out-of-sync, but perhaps, acceptable given my overly large hands. My waist-to-hip ratio was off by 2.4 inches, my neck was .4 inches under-sized which could be my age, and my ribcage was too large for my breast size. I lost conscious attention before she got to my thigh and lower leg deformities.

Amazingly, after informing me of the specifics of what was wrong with my body, with an absolute straight face the woman looked me straight in the eyes and asked if I would like a copy of the information. A free copy. I declined. Talk about some information a fourteen-year- old doesn’t need. Something no woman needs.

We have mirrors. We have clothes that fit and those that don’t. I couldn’t possibly think why any woman could possibly benefit from to the decimal records on how her body differs from the “ideal.”

When I chose the cover and the title for the humorous mystery, TOO RICH and TOO THIN, Not an Autobiography, I reflected on my teenage spa experience. The women who come into my psychology office, like the one who peers at me out of my mirror, tend to see a face and body worse than the reality. The cover for the book shows a regular-sized, normally saggy, middle-aged woman with un-fussed-over hairdo painting a self-portrait using a mirror. On her easel she has painted a slender woman with great hair. Studies show that people who over-estimate their physical and social desirability have more fun in life. Knowing those studies, I’ve often thought, “What if, as a psychologist, I could help people see themselves as better-looking than they are?

To approach the body image issue a bit differently through fiction, one of the lead characters is so obsessed with the way she sees herself that she has her bedroom walled in distortion mirrors reflecting a younger and slimmer woman.

Behind the mystery in TOO RICH and TOO THIN, Not an Autobiography is the story of women’s struggle with self image in an image conscious world.

Barbara DeShong is an award-winning speaker, practicing psychologist, and the author of “Too Rich and Too Thin: Not an Autobiography,” a humorous mystery novel. For more information, please visit www.mysteryshrink.com or www.toorichandtoothin.com

REVIEW - CAM JANSEN AND THE MYSTERY OF THE U.F.O.

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Monthly Mixer Melee

"Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O." by David A. Adler
Product Description(Amazon.com)
The Cam Jansen books are perfect for young readers who are making the transition to chapter books, and Cam is a spunky young heroine whom readers have loved for over two decades. Now the first ten books in the series have updated covers that bring new life to these perennial best-sellers. Old fans and new readers will love Cam's cool, modern look!
# Reading level: Ages 4-8
# Paperback: 64 pages
# Publisher: Puffin (July 22, 2004)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0142400114
# ISBN-13: 978-0142400111

MY THOUGHTS: This is the first book of Cam Jansen series I've read. I'm going to have to read more of them. Very good book. Even though it's for 4 to 8 year olds, there is still a mystery to solve. Cam and Eric try to find out what the mysterious lights are in the sky. Everyone seems to think they U.F.O.'s. But Cam and Eric track down the real story. Just in case a child is reading this I won't give away the mystery of the U.F.O's. But Cam does solve the mystery. If children who are just getting into chapter books they will love this book. The chapters are short and I think it would hold their attention.

MY RATING: 5

IT'S MONDAY, WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Sheila over at Book Journey is the host for It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

This past week was a pretty good week for me as far as reading went. I read several books for a book challenge I'm working on. I also got a review book read, it's part of a book give-a-way I'm having. My list I read last week.

Black Cats & Four-Leaf Clovers - Harry Olive(this is the book give-a-way.)
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place - E.L. Konigsburg(a little girls tries to save her uncles artistic towers.)
Weird U.S. The Oddyssey Continues - Mark Sceurman(a kinds of info about strange and weird things in the U.S.)
U2 - Kenneth McIntosh(lots of info on the band U2)
A Year Down Yonder - Richard Peck(a young girl goes "down yonder" to stay with her grandmother, set in the 1930's. Really good book.)
In The Kitchen - Monica Ali(my book clubs book for August, it's a murder mystery/life changing story of a guy trying to get his own kitchen, he's a chief.)
Visions of Sugar Plums - Janet Evanovich(a Stephanie Plum book, it read really fast and Stephanie Plum is in all kinds of trouble at Christmas time.)

My Plans this week:

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O. - David A. Adler(this one will be a fast one.)
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart(recommended by the librarian, she's said it's really good.)
Review book to finish - Too Rich & Too Thin - Barbara DeShong(it's a murder mystery and is pretty good so far.)
Hopefully will finish up a reading challenge this week.

Well, that's it for now, don't forget to go over to Sheila's place to check out everyone's books. You might find your next read there.

IN MY MAILBOX

The Story Siren is the host for In My Mailbox.

In My Mailbox this week..............

The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear


Reunion at Carmel by Tom Comstock


Cooking With Healthy Girl by Mandy Potter


Running Around (and such) by Linda Byler


Don't forget to head over to The Story Siren's place. You could find your next book there.

REVIEW - BLACK CATS & FOUR- LEAF CLOVERS - BOOK GIVE-A-WAY

I got this book from Penguin Books as a review book. I've bumped it up on my list because the publishers are graciously giving away 2 books to my readers. So I will give my review of this book early so I can get the give-a-way started.

"Black Cats & Four-Leaf Clovers" by Harry Oliver
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Cross your fingers, knock on wood, and clutch your rabbit's foot a little tighter.

In this charming and endlessly diverting book, Harry Oliver delves into the stories behind the traditions and superstitions that permeate our everyday lives, unearthing the fascinating histories of these weird and wonderful notions. So before you search for any more four-leaf clovers, worry about the next Friday the 13th, or avoid walking under any ladders, dip into this amazing tome and discover:
* Why breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck.
* The best day of the week to ask for a favor.
* Why you should never jump over a child in Turkey.
# Paperback: 272 pages
# Publisher: Perigee Trade (September 7, 2010)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0399536094
# ISBN-13: 978-0399536090

MY THOUGHTS: I read and reviewed(see my review here) Harry Oliver's book Bubble Gum and Hula Hoops last year. It was a great book about fascinating and funny origins of everyday objects in our lives. I really enjoyed reading it. Well, now Harry has taken on wives tales, myths and superstitions. Where all those wives tales, myths and superstitions come from and how they got started. Ever wonder about a kiss from a dark man? It means there's a wedding in the future. Ever wonder about the saying "God Bless You" after a sneeze? Harry has the dibs on that too. Very interesting book to read. I really enjoyed reading about all these superstitions. Their origins and how they got started.

MY RATING: 5
********************************************
Now for the..................



Just leave me a comment with your email so I can get in touch if you are the lucky winner of this book. You have until August 31 to get in the drawing, so hurry. That's all there is to it. Good Luck!!

[This is a free review book.]

REVIEW - THE OUTCAST OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE

This book is for 2 of my reading challenges.
Monthly Mixer Melee
52 Books in 52 Weeks(Wk.34)

"The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place" by E.L. Konigsburg
Product Description(Amazon.com)
I Prefer Not To....
That's Margaret Rose Kane's response to every activity she's asked to participate in at the summer camp to which she's been exiled while her parents are in Peru. So Margaret Rose is delighted when her beloved uncles rescue her from Camp Talequa, with its uptight camp director and cruel cabinmates, and bring her to stay with them at their wonderful house at 19 Schuyler Place.
But Margaret Rose soon discovers that something is terribly wrong at 19 Schuyler Place. People in their newly gentrified neighborhood want to get rid of the three magnificent towers the uncles have spent forty-five years lovingly constructing of scrap metal and shards of glass and porcelain. Margaret Rose is outraged, and determined to strike a blow for art, for history, and for individuality...and no one is more surprised than Margaret Rose at the allies she finds for her mission.
# Reading level: Ages 9-12
# Paperback: 304 pages
# Publisher: Aladdin (December 20, 2005)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0689866372
# ISBN-13: 978-0689866371

MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed reading about Margaret Rose and her Uncles. Her Uncles are from the old country. Margaret Rose loves going to spend time with them. When she finds out the town is planning on tearing down the towers she gets a plan and finds the people to help her. Two of them are neighborhood kids that grew up with her mother. They have the muscle and connections to get something done. And Margaret Rose recruits one more, Jacob. He is the camp director's son. He falls in love with the towers and wants to help. To the rescue is............you'll never believe who helps Margaret Rose. Does she save the towers? You'll have to read the book to find out.

MY RATING: 5

REVIEW - WEIRD U.S. THE ODDYSSEY CONTINUES

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Monthly Mixer Melee

"Weird U.S. The Oddyssey Continues" by Mark Moran, Mark Sceurman, Matt Lake
Product Description(Amazon.com)
What's WEIRD around here?
That’s a question Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman have enjoyed asking for years—and their offbeat sense of curiosity led them to create the bestselling phenomenon, Weird N.J. Now the weirdness has spread throughout the U.S.! Each fun and intriguing volume offers more than 250 illustrated pages of places where tourists usually don’t venture: it’s chock-full of oddball curiosities, ghostly places, local legends, crazy characters, cursed roads, and peculiar roadside attractions. What’s NOT shockingly odd here: that every previously published Weird book has become a bestseller in its region.
# Hardcover: 352 pages
# Publisher: Sterling (November 4, 2008)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1402745443
# ISBN-13: 978-1402745447

MY THOUGHTS: This book reminded me of Ripley's Believe or Not. Or one of those books that comes out every year with all the information. I can't remember the names of them, but the kids really like them. If you like reading about weird things, this is the book for you. Actually I wouldn't mind visiting some of these places. Like Carhenge, yea that's like Stone Henge, but it's made of cars. It's in Alliance, Nebraska. Another one is the Concretion Museum. It's in Iowa County, Wisconsin. What is Concretion? There rocks, they were gradually formed 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, as water deposited minerals onto the outside of lumps of clay. This museum has art creations made for these rocks. Another interesting place is the Art Car Weekend in Houston, Texas. Regular cars converted into moving artistic pieces with bizarre bolt-ons and creative paint jobs and sculptures firmly fixed on. Another place is the Elvis Death Celebration. It's in Cornelia, Georgia. They host a celebration every August 16 and they host Elvis Tribute Artists. There's lots of fascinating things in this book.

MY RATING: 5

REVIEW - U2

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Monthly Mixer Melee

"U2" by Kenneth McIntosh
Product Description(Amazon.com)
For three decades, U2 has achieved unbelievable success - and yet they are far from finished. Bono and the other members are at the forefront of the world's attention. From prayer breakfasts with the president of the United States to international relief efforts to some of the best rock music ever, U2 and Bono are making their voices heard.
# Reading level: Young Adult
# Paperback: 64 pages
# Publisher: Mason Crest Publishers (September 15, 2007)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1422203220
# ISBN-13: 978-1422203224

MY THOUGHTS: I have been a fan of U2 for years. But I never knew about all their work with organizations for helping so many people. I of course knew about Live Aid. This book is jam packed with so much info on the band and the individuals that make up the band of U2. It is also geared toward the young adult. So if you kids want to know more about the group, you should pick this book up for them. It's full of stories all about how U2 got started and the hard work they have done.

RATING: 5

REVIEW - A YEAR DOWN YONDER

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Monthly Mixer Melee

"A Year Down Yonder" by Richard Peck
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Mary Alice's childhood summers in Grandma Dowdel's sleepy Illinois town were packed with enough drama to fill the double bill of any picture show. But now she is fifteen, and faces a whole long year with Grandma, a woman well known for shaking up her neighbors-and everyone else! All Mary Alice can know for certain is this: when trying to predict how life with Grandma might turn out . . . better not.
# Reading level: Ages 9-12
# Paperback: 144 pages
# Publisher: Puffin (December 30, 2002)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0142300705
# ISBN-13: 978-0142300701

MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book I've read from this author. His writing is so easy to follow. With lots of info about the way life is on the farm with Grandma. It feels like your there with Mary Alice. Grandma Dowdel is a great character. She does things the old fashioned way. "Borrowing" from the neighbors, worming her way into the DNR meeting, collecting money for a poor family. She does it with style. And where she gets her money, when none is to found, is a big mystery to Mary Alice. Until one snowy night Grandma takes her out in the dead of night. They are checking traps for foxes. Grandma traps them, skins them and sells them. Mary Alice gets a new pair of shoes from the catalog. If you get a chance to pick this book up, do, it's really good.

MY RATING: 5

REVIEW - IN THE KITCHEN

"In The Kitchen" by Monica Ali
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Gabriel Lightfoot, an enterprising man from a northern English mill town, is making good in London. As executive chef at the once-splendid Imperial Hotel, he aims to run a tight kitchen. Though he’s under constant challenge from the competing demands of an exuberantly multinational staff, a gimlet-eyed hotel management, and business partners with whom he is secretly planning a move to a restaurant of his own, all Gabe’s hard work looks set to pay off.
Until, that is, a worker is found dead in the kitchen’s basement. It is a small death, a lonely death—but it is enough to disturb the tenuous balance of Gabe’s life.
Enter Lena, an eerily attractive young woman with mysterious ties to the dead man. Under her spell, Gabe makes a decision, the consequences of which strip him naked and change the course of the life he knows—and the future he thought he wanted.
# Paperback: 448 pages
# Publisher: Scribner; Reprint edition (May 11, 2010)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1416571698
# ISBN-13: 978-1416571698

MY THOUGHTS: This is my book clubs pick for August. It's a pretty good book. It starts out pretty slow and then picks up about half way through the book. The dead body in the basement throws everything and everyone off. Gabe already has a regular girlfriend. Her name is Charlie and she's a singer in a night club. Then comes Lena, who had a thing going with the dead guy in the basement. Whether for a place to live or sex, Gabe doesn't know. And he doesn't really care does he? Well, things get a little spicy. Then Gabe makes a big decision that will change his life forever. What is this life changing decision? You'll have to read the book to find out about it. Don't let the slow beginning change your mine, it's a really good book.

MY RATING: 5

REVIEW - VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
Stephanie Plum Challenge

"Visions of Sugar Plums" by Janet Evanovich
Product Description(Amazon.com)
It's five days before Christmas and things are not looking merry for Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum. She hasn't got a tree. She hasn't bought any presents. The malls are jam-packed with staggering shoppers. There's not a twinkle light anywhere to be seen in her apartment.
And there's a strange man in her kitchen.
Sure, this has happened to Stephanie Plum before. Strangers, weirdos, felons, creeps, and lunatics are always finding their way to her front door. But this guy is different. This guy is mysterious, sexy-and he has his own agenda. His name is Diesel and he is a man on a mission. And Diesel is unlike anyone Stephanie has ever met before in her life. The question is, what does he want with her? Can he help her find a little old toy maker who has skipped out on his bail right before Christmas? Can he survive the Plum family holiday dinner? Can he get Stephanie a tree that doesn't look like it was grown next to a nuclear power plant? These questions and more are keeping Stephanie awake at night. Not to mention the fact that she needs to find a bunch of nasty elves, her sister Valerie has a Christmas "surprise" for the Plums, her niece Mary Alice doesn't believe in Santa anymore, and Grandma Mazur has a new stud muffin. So bring out the plastic reindeer, strap on your jingle bells, and get ready to celebrate the holidays-Jersey style. Visions of Sugar Plums-the world of Plum has never been merrier!
# Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
# Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (November 4, 2008)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0312947046
# ISBN-13: 978-0312947040

MY THOUGHTS: This was a really good book. But you would expect that of the Stephanie Plum books. And Janet Evanovich doesn't disappoint you. You have the whole cast of Plum characters, Stephanie, Grandma Mazur, Lula and Morelli. Only this time there's a new man in Stephanie's life. He just pops into her kitchen 4 days before Christmas. Stephanie thinks he's an alien or ghost. His name is Diesel. Of course Stephanie is out to catch someone that has jumped bail. The guy she's after is Sandy Claws. And Diesel is after someone too, his name is Ring, and he generates electricity. So the whole gang is out to help Stephanie catch this guy. Stephanie's car is toasted, the Santa Claus on the neighbors house is melted and the house catches on fire. So does Stephanie catch Sandy Claws? Does Stephanie get her perfect Christmas? You'll have to read the book.

MY RATING: 5

IN MY MAILBOX

The Story Siren is the host for In My Mailbox.

In my mailbox this week were 2 review books.

Season of Water and Ice - Dondald Lystra



SEASON OF WATER AND ICE is the unforgettable story of two young people confronting life during a tumultuous few months of 1957. Set in rural northern Michigan, it chronicles the unlikely friendship between a fourteen-year-old boy, Danny DeWitt, and a pregnant teenage girl, abandoned by her boyfriend and rejected by her family. The friendship is tested when the girl's abusive boyfriend returns, and Danny's family begins to break apart, leading to a crisis which threatens the unborn child, as well as Danny's conception of love and manhood. Reflecting the politics and culture of the 1950's, Season of Water and Ice is a realistic work that will appeal to both adult land young adult readers.

A Little Death In Dixie - Lisa Turner



The Blues were born out of need, anger and pride. Murder comes from those same dark places. Memphis has both. One of Memphis' most seductive and notorious socialites has vanished. Either she's off on another drunken escapade or the disappearance is something much more frightening. What begins as an ordinary day's work for Detective Billy Able quickly grows into a complex spider's web of tragedy, mystery, suspicion, and sordid secrets including a few of Billy's own. With the help of Mercy Snow, the estranged sister of the missing socialite, Billy follows a twisted trail of human frailty and corruption to disturbing truths that undermine everything he thought he knew about himself and the people he loves. "Memphis, the Mississippi River, and the underbelly of human nature they're all exposed in the dark brew of this fast-paced Southern Gothic suspense. Page-turning and atmospheric, this tightly-plotted novel turns the screws and sends readers racing to its surprise conclusion.

REVIEW - SHOULDER BAGS AND SHOOTINGS

This book is for 1 of my reading challenges.
52 Books in 52 Weeks(Wk.33)

"Shoulder Bags and Shootings" by Dorothy Howell
Product Description(Amazon.com)
Fashionista and amateur sleuth Haley Randolph is in hot pursuit of the season's newest must-have handbag. But soon she's also in hot pursuit of a killer--when she discovers the corpse of none other than her designer purse party rival. . .
Life is beyond fabulous at the moment for Haley Randolph. She just spent two amazing weeks in Europe with her boyfriend Ty Cameron, owner of Holt's Department Store where Haley works. And now Ty's grandmother, Ada, is letting Haley drive her way-cool Mercedes. Things would be perfect if she could just get her hands on her latest fashion obsession: the new Sinful handbag.
Every store in town is out of stock, and Haley would rather die than buy a knockoff. But when she finds the body of her nemesis, Tiffany Markham, in the trunk of Ada's Mercedes, she's not so sure she wants to trade places after all. . .
# Hardcover: 304 pages
# Publisher: Kensington (July 1, 2010)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0758223781
# ISBN-13: 978-0758223784

MY THOUGHTS: Have you ever been so obsessed with something it gets in the way of your everyday thoughts? This is Haley's problem, the Sinful Handbag. She wants one so bad!! But she has to find out who killed Tiffany, her rival in the Purse Party business, she has a problem that she has to solve. As Haley starts getting clues, she finds out Tiffany wasn't who she thought she was. And Tiffany's death could be linked to a drug smuggling operation by her Brother-in-law Ed. Is this why Tiffany was murdered? In the mean time Haley's new official boyfriend, he's the head of the Holt's department stores, is in London on business, and can't help her. Does Haley get her Sinful Bag and does she solve the murder of Tiffany? You'll have to read the book to find out. This was a really good book. Full of suspense and mystery.

MY RATING: 5

[This is a free review book.]

THE FRIDAY 56

Tonya over at Storytime With Tonya is the host for The Friday 56. Here are the rules.

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Shoulder Bags and Shootings - Dorothy Howell


Page 56 5th sentence+

"I don't know--yet. But that guy does. He's the one hanging out with terrorists and selling our secrets."

Don't forget to head over to Tonya's place. You could find your next book.

LOST BOOK

I did a post the other day about joining an on-line book club over at Sheila's place, One Persons Journey. It's called Word Shakers. The book is Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart.

So off to the library I went to get the book. You'll never guess what happened when I got there! Went to the stacks to get the book, as the database for my library said it was in. Well, it wasn't there. So went to ask the ladies at the desk about the book. They also went to the stacks to check it out. No book!! It apparently is lost somewhere in the library. That was Monday and they still haven't called me to let me know they found it.

The one book I want and it's "lost". So now I'll never get the book read in time.

REVIEW - THE PRICE OF REVENGE

"The Price of Revenge" by Dennis Vaughn
Product Description(Amazon.com)
David Fox has a life anyone would envy-a flourishing career as a lawyer, a condo in Denver, and a beautiful girlfriend, Ellen-until he begins investigating a lawsuit against the Denver City Ballet. It seems like a commonplace allegation of misspent funds at first, but soon David finds himself caught in a web of blackmail, betrayal, and dark secrets. To escape, he'll have to answer some uncomfortable questions: Who was responsible for the embezzlement, and how far will they go to cover it up? What precisely is Ellen discussing in those sessions with her psychiatrist? And is telling the truth worth losing everything? The Price of Revenge follows David across boundaries both professional and personal as he tries to find his way out of the maze of intrigue into which he has stumbled.
# Paperback: 304 pages
# Publisher: Synergy Books (April 27, 2010)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 0984235817
# ISBN-13: 978-0984235810

MY THOUGHTS: This is a very suspenseful book. The clues are laid out and follows David through this web of intrigue. It all starts with a new client for David. Trying to find out if the money is actually missing from a retirement fund at the ballet. Once it's found, David has to make the decision to either tell all or keep it quiet. His law firm is asking him to cover it up or they will show pictures of him and Ellen in a sexual encounter in the elevator to Ellen's grandfather. So what would you do? Tell or cover up? What does David do? I'll leave that for you to find out if you read the book.

MY RATING: 5

[This is a free review book.]

IT'S TUESDAY, WHERE ARE YOU?

Raidergirl over at An Adventure in Reading is the host for It's Tuesday, Where Are You?



I am in England, working at a hotel. I'm the head Chef and one of my workers is dead and my only wish is to have my own kitchen. (In The Kitchen by Monica Ali)

IT'S MONDAY, WHAT ARE YOU READING

Sheila over at One persons Journey is the host for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? Here is a little info:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Last week was pretty busy with books. I was reading several books and finished them up so I am going to list them as well.

Whale Rider - Witi Ihimaera
Finding Marco - Kenneth C. Cancellara
Movie for Dogs - Lois Duncan
The Field of the Dogs - Katherine Paterson
The Secret of Happiness - Demosthenes Armeniades
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt - Beth Hoffman

My plans this week

Book Club
In The Kitchen - Monica Ali
The Price of Revenge - Dennis Vaughn

I am also heading to the library to get the book for this months Word Shakers on-line book club at Sheila's place. What are they reading? Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart. It has to be read and posted by August 22. Don't know if I can get it read, but I'm going to give it my best shot. If you want to join the on-line book club or participate in this meme head over to Sheila's place to check it out.



P.S. How do you like the new look. I was playing around today with the blogger design thing. I like it. I'm still tweaking the colors so if you see something that needs worked on, let me know.