Sunday Salon

 Sunday Salon
Feb 282015
 

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Family News…
As most of you know, my husband passed away January 22. I knew losing a spouse was hard, but never imagined it would be this hard. I was his sole caregiver for almost 30 years. We spent so many years being together 24/7, and it’s hard adjusting to him not being here. My husband had a few health problems for a month or so, but none of us ever imagined that it would cause him to be taken from us. If there’s one thing I would want to tell anyone, it would be to love each other every minute of every day. Be kind, generous, attentive, loving and considerate of each other. Don’t take the people you love for granted. You never know when they will be taken from you.

Reviews Coming Up On The Blog…
I read a lot when my husband was first in the hospital, before things took a turn for the worse. So I have seven reviews to catch up on. All were read or listened to on my Kindle. They are (links are to Goodreads):
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim, The Ladies Room by Carolyn Brown, Number The Stars by Lois Lowry, Kelly’s Koffee Shop by Dianne Harman, Drowned By Corn by Erika Hayasaki, Super Herbs: 25 Ultimate Ayurvedic Herbs with Magical Healing Powers and How To Use Them by Advait.

I’m Reading…
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking by Michael Ruhlman

Listening To…
Animal Farm by George Orwell

Watching…
The Odd Couple, The Mysteries of Laura (both are really funny, even though Laura is about a homicide detective, Amazing Race, Survivor.

Exercise…
I haven’t been exercising much, but need to start. My son and daughter in law invited me to go to NYC with them in November. My granddaughter is going back for the second year to be a part of the The Macy’s Great American Marching Band. So proud of her! Last year my son, daughter in law and grandson walked an average of 10 miles a day just sight seeing while GD practiced.

I’m Looking Forward To:
Going to the beach with family in a few weeks.

I’m Thankful For…
My children. Jeremy & Susie, Anthony, and Kilah & Harley have been what’s keeping me going. They have been such a blessing to me, especially over the last 2 months.

In the kitchen…
Not really sure. I’m going in a little bit to buy groceries etc. But I plan on fish for one night, a few meatless, a few nights meat and veggies, and a night or two of eating out.

A favorite quote…
“Family is the most important thing in the world.”
– Princess Diana

In Her Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World by Gabriele Galimberti

 recipes
Feb 282015
 

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In Her Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World 
by Gabriele Galimberti

Hardcover: 248 pages
Publisher: Clarkson Potter (November 11, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0804185557
ISBN-13: 978-0804185554

On the eve of a photography trip around the world, Gabriele Galimberti sat down to dinner with his grandmother Marisa. As she had done so many times before, she prepared his favorite ravioli—a gesture of love and an expression of the traditions by which he had come to know her as a child. The care with which she prepared this meal, and the evident pride she took in her dish, led Gabriele to seek out grandmothers and their signature dishes in the sixty countries he visited. The kitchens he photographed illustrate both the diversity of world cuisine and the universal nature of a dish served up with generosity and love. At each woman’s table, Gabriele became a curious and hungry grandson, exploring new ingredients and gathering stories. These vibrant and intimate profiles and photographs pay homage to grandmothers and their cooking everywhere. From a Swedish housewife and her homemade lox and vegetables to a Zambian villager and her Roasted Spiced Chicken, this collection features a global palate: included are hand-stuffed empanadas from Argentina, twice-fried pork and vegetables from China, slow-roasted ratatouille from France, and a decadent toffee trifle from the United States. Taken together or bite by bite, In Her Kitchen taps into our collective affection for these cherished family members and the ways they return that affection.

In Her Kitchen is an evocative, loving portrait of the power of food and family, no matter where in the world you sit down for dinner..

Thoughts
I absolutely love this book. The first thing that I noticed was how beautiful the cover is. It shows what a great photographer the author is. I love all the things he added to the book that makes it so special. At the beginning of the book there is a world map that shows where each grandma lives. There is also a photo of the author and his grandmother when he was a toddler. The first recipe is from the authors own grandma. Each grandma has a small bio with their age and where they live, a photo of them with the ingredients they use for the recipe, and a photo of the finished recipe.

I can’t imagine how much fun it must have been for the author to not only travel the world, but to meet such a diverse group of grandma’s and recipes. It is something that I would definitely love to do.

There are so many recipes that look and sound so good that I had a hard time picking a few favorites. Then, there are a few that I can’t imagine making, much less eating, like goat and caterpillars. I haven’t had time to make any of the recipes yet, but plan on posting them when I do.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review

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Hosted @ Beth Fish Reads. Share anything book related whether it’s a Book, cookbook, movie, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

 

Danza’s Message by Karen Kilpatrick

 books read in 2015
Feb 262015
 

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Danza’s Message by Karen Kilpatrick

Series: Pumpkinheads
Paperback: 22 pages
Publisher: Nina Charles LLC (September 18, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1938447026
ISBN-13: 978-1938447020

Playing and dancing, you’re a star! Listen to Danza: Beautiful is what you are!
Danza and her friends are silly and sweet. Playing before the mirror, they are reminded of just how special they are. Parents and children alike can relate to this valuable book about self-esteem and love of self.

Thoughts
This is the second book I’ve read from this series and I loved it as much as the first one. In this story, Danza and her friends look in the mirror and each one find something that they love about themselves. The book teaches self esteem and that you are beautiful. It may be you have beautiful eyes, or nose, or smile, but you special and beautiful.

The girls are from diverse ethnic backgrounds and I loved that aspect. The illustrations are colorful and bold and the story flows easily. I think this is a great book for children.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Pumpkinheat Youtube site (animated stories and videos)
For more info go to the Pumpkinghead site

Ella’s Toys by Karen Kilpatrick

 books read in 2015
Feb 262015
 

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Ella’s Toys by Karen Kilpatrick

Series: Pumpkinheads
Paperback: 20 pages
Publisher: Nina Charles (May 18, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193844700X
ISBN-13: 978-1938447006

 
Ella’s toys are beyond compare, but playtime’s more fun when she learns to share! Flaunting her toys but keeping them to herself is not much fun after the other kids lose interest. Left alone, Ella decides to make it up to her friends. Children will learn an important lesson in this endearing book about sharing, friendship, and generosity.

Thoughts
This is a cute book that helps children learn that sharing is not only the right thing to do but that it will also help you meet new friends. The cover is adoarable as are all the illustrations. The story is told in rhyme and is fun to read.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Pumpkinheat Youtube site (animated stories and videos)
For more info go to the Pumpkinghead site

Love Monster Lulu by Karen Kilpatrick

 books read in 2015
Feb 262015
 

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Love Monster Lulu by Karen Kilpatrick

Series: Pumpkinheads
Paperback: 22 pages
Publisher: Pumpkinheads (December 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1938447034
ISBN-13: 978-1938447037

 
Love Monster Lulu is scaring up snuggles! But with no one around, who’s left to cuddle? Lulu is sad when she can’t find anyone to share her love with, but her mother and sister give the comfort she needs in this sweet story showcasing the importance of family.

“Bright and sunny characters, expressive faces, and attractive art catches the young child’s eye. Awareness building about themselves and others is really key in these toddler and preschool aged books. Common themes of sharing, self-esteem, reverence for the natural world, feeling alone or loved, and making the world a better place are great topics for young children and beyond. Reading, reviewing, and reflecting with preschoolers about these topics is a great start for these themes to be introduced to them. Using these rhyming books for discussion and pointing out real world examples will further deepen the understanding of these lessons in life. Great books!” – Academics’ Choice

Winner of Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal of Approval and Academics’ Choice Smart Book Award

Thoughts
This was a cute book about a little girl named Lulu who loves to hug and kiss her family and pets. When she can’t find any of her family, she gets upset and starts crying. But soon she’s surprised when “something special” shows up and for a minute or two she’s happy again. Sadly, the surprise soon leaves and she’s sad again. When a few of her family members hear her crying, they rush to her and give her lots of love.

This is a cute story that like the others is told in rhyme and has great illustrations. While I enjoyed the book, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the other two I’ve read.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Pumpkinheat Youtube site (animated stories and videos)
For more info go to the Pumpkinghead site

An Explanation Of Why I’ve Not Been Posting

 family
Feb 042015
 

I’ve had some people email me to see if I was doing ok, so thought I needed to let everyone know why I haven’t been posting.

My husband was sick (the last week of last year and it continued through the new year) with a cough and a bit of congestion. The dr. told him to buy an over the counter med and it seemed to be getting better, and then would get worse again. I took him to the hospital on January 8th and he was admitted. The next morning they sent him to the ICU and put him on a ventilator, but he just kept getting worse. Then on January 22nd he passed away.

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. Since I quit working many years ago, we’ve been together 24/7 and  it’s so hard not having him with me. I loved him very much and miss him every second of every day. My kids have been amazing and without them I don’t know what I’d do.

Because of this, I haven’t been on the computer for about a month, and I don’t know when I’ll feel like posting again.

I’d like to thank everyone who has known about this and have been praying for him and my family. I appreciate it very much.

Joy Street by Laura Davies Foley

 books read in 2015
Jan 052015
 

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Joy Street by Laura Davies Foley

Paperback: 46 pages
Publisher: Headmistress Press (July 8, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692237550
ISBN-13: 978-0692237557

“Joy Street” pays lyrical homage to the truth of living as a lesbian in the second half of life. Each poem in this radiantly plainspoken collection offers subtle and penetrating observations that swell to a rich tapestry of ordinary life, beheld from a stance of grace and buoyancy. Starting with intimations of desire in childhood, these poems travel through ordinary domestic scenes to the blessing of a maturity in which the narrator, still embracing desire and wild promise, thrives in the midst of life’s darker gifts. This collection is truly a joy to read. It puts to shame those of us who walk through our days with “the din of loneliness,” ignoring life’s many invitations for bliss.

Thoughts
Each of these poems are short reflections of the authors life. They are about relationships, love, nature, an online conference call, prisoners of war, a few about being at the beach which were of course among my favorites, and more.

This is a short book and will only take a few minutes to read, but it’s packed full of emotion.

If you’re a fan of poems about life, this would be a good book to read.

The Big Book of Parenting Tweets:
Featuring the Most Hilarious Parents on Twitter

 books read in 2015
Jan 032015
 
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by Jessica Ziegler, Norine Dworkin-McDaniel, Kate Hall, Bunmi Laditan, Paige Kellerman, Bethany Thies, Andrea

 

“The perfect book for parents who want — NEED — to laugh, but don’t have time to sit down and read a daunting book. Grab it, head to the bathroom and lock the door until they find you!”
— Jill Smokler, author ofConfessions of a Scary Mommy”The Big Book of Parenting Tweets dishes up bite-size nuggets of funny. Impossible to read just one.” — Jen Mann, author ofPeople I Want to Punch in the Throat: Competitive Crafters, Drop-Off Despots, and Other Suburban ScourgesThis book is HILARIOUS. Being a parent is a frustrating, hilarious, weird, wild experience. This book captures some of the best of our snark. You need it. You do. — Nikki Knepper, author ofMoms Who Drink and Swear

A terrific read, featuring some of the funniest (and most honest) parents in the Twitterverse… my go-to gift for new parents! — Johanna Stein, author of How Not To Calm A Child On A Plane and Other Parenting Advice from a Questionable Source

Twitter isn’t just for breaking news and celebrity stalking—it’s also a goldmine of the funniest comedy online. Jokes? People tell jokes on Twitter? YES, they do. And they are hilarious … but who wants to sift through the hashtags, RTs and FFs to get to the good stuff?

WE GET IT! Parents don’t have time for all that. That’s why the duo behind the illustrated humor blog Science of Parenthood teamed up with Twitter maven Kate Hall of Hall of Tweets to create The Big Book of Parenting Tweets —a laugh-riot collection of more three-hundred tweetable moments straight from the parenting trenches from the most hysterical comedians on Twitter, who just happen to be parents.

Here is just a peek at some of what you’ll find inside:

My 4yo is trying to sell my own M&M’s back to me. This guy’s going places.
— @FatherWithTwins

With my wife away, my children keep asking me for things like meals and bandaids and sympathy, but I don’t know where we keep any of that.
— @KalvinMacleod

She took 4 y/o to the park & texted “Can I get her ice-cream?”
Get her a Heineken for all I care. Free babysitters get to call the shots.
— @BunmiLaditan

I wish bottles of ibuprofen came with a little prize inside, like maybe a babysitter.
— @SuburbanSnaps

To anyone out there thinking about having kids, today my 2yo threw a temper tantrum because she couldn’t get rid of her shadow.
— @XplodingUnicorn

Peppered with cartoons by Science of Parenthood, The Big Book of Parenting Tweets is the perfect gift for every over-worked, under-showered, sleep-deprived parent who could use a quick laugh, because who has time for more?

Thoughts
This book is seriously funny! I can’t remember ever laughing out loud so much while reading a book! You don’t have to know what Twitter or a Tweet is to enjoy this book. All you need is a teeny tiny sense of humor and this book will have you laughing your head off while everyone near you looks at you like you’ve lost your mind. I kept repeating what I read to my husband and probably told him more than half of what’s in the book.

If you have kids or grandkids or neices or nephews or any small child in your life, more than likely you’ll be able to relate to this book.

Whether you like Twitter or not, if you like funny or just need a laugh, go grab a copy of this book!! As fast as you can!

I received an advanced copy for review

#FitReaders 2015: January Goals

 readers workout & #FitReaders: 2015
Jan 012015
 

FitReaders2015

Hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  and That’s What I’m Talking About

How it will work:
Jan, Feb, March hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
April, May, June hosted by That’s What I’m Talking About
July, August, September hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
October, November, December hosted by That’s What I’m Talking About

There will be weekly check-in posts and monthly “are you in” posts!

 

My Goals For January 2015:
Drink 10 glasses of water or more per day
Walk 1-3 miles a day
Strength train 3 times per week
Eat meatless 2-3 times a week

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Goals for 2015:
Lose 30 lbs.
Increase endurance and strength
Daily deep breathing, stretching & meditation/prayer

Review: Book & Movie~ Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King (Book 2~ Big Driver)

 books read in 2014, movie review
Dec 312014
 

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Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

Big Driver is the first of four short stories in this book

Tess Thorne, a famous mystery writer, faces a long drive home following a book signing engagement. Advised to take a shortcut at the suggestion of the event’s planner, Tess sets out for home, well after dark. On a lonely stretch of New England road, her tire blows out, and when a man in a pick up stops, it is not to help her, but to repeatedly assault her and leave her for dead. Tess survives, and she plots a revenge that will bring her face-to-face with another stranger: the one inside herself, capable of gruesome violence.

Thoughts
Book:
LOVED IT! The book took me on a trip that was not only full of raw emotions and horrific, but also made me grateful that I very rarely ever drive alone at night.

The story starts a bit slow for the first few pages. Or maybe that was just my take on the book since I love how scary King’s books are and I was excited for it to begin. But when it starts, it starts big and doesn’t slow until the end.

The story was every woman’s nighmare. And every woman who has gone through something like that has wanted the revenge that Tess sought and got.

There was a bit of potty mouth in this book, but King writes amazing books, so I’ve learned to deal with it. The way Tess got her revenge was so great to read! I would never be able to do that.

Each character was superbly written. They were all so believable and I loved each one for the part their character played in the book.

This was my last read of 2014 and I’m so glad I ended on such a great book!

If you like King, get this book. If you don’t like King, get this book.

Movie:
Big Driver was made into a Lifetime movie and while I enjoyed watching it, the book was so much better. I know they have to cut stuff out for the sake of time, but as far as King’s books are concerend, less is more, most of the time. The rape scene was definitely a part they should have toned down some. It was far too explicit. I know that stuff doesn’t bother some people, but it does me. My thoughts are that if a child shouldn’t see it, it shouldn’t be on tv.

The biggest difference I saw in the book and movie was the way the revenge played out. I loved that part way better in the book. The movie felt like a cheap immitation while getting the facts wrong. The smallest change that bothered me was that they changed what the sign said on the abandoned store. I couldn’t, and still can’t, figure out why that would have been changed! Something as small as what a sign says is not something I would think the writers of the movie would have felt the need to change. Did they really think they could make it better or catchier than King? Nope, they couldn’t and didn’t. I liked it the way King wrote it. Well of course I did! Like I said, everything he writes is amazing. Just the way it is.

To be fair, I’ve yet to watch a movie based on a book where I thought the movie was better. It goes back to having to cut stuff. But I wish they wouldn’t change things so much. Still, the movie was good and I’m glad I watched it.

Review: Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
(Book 1~ 1922)

 books read in 2014
Dec 302014
 

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Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

1922 is the first of four short stories in this book

This is a first-person account by Wilfred James, the story’s unreliable narrator. He writes a lengthy confession for the murder of his wife, Arlette, in Hemingford Home, Nebraska, in 1922.

Wilfred owns eighty acres of farmland that have been in his family for generations. His wife owns an adjoining one-hundred acres willed to her by her father. Wilfred scorns the thought of living in a city, but Arlette is discontented with farm life and wants to move to Omaha. She seeks to sell her land to a livestock company for use as a pig farm and slaughterhouse. Wilfred, who strongly opposes Arlette’s plans, resorts to manipulating his teenaged son, Henry, into helping him murder his own mother.

Thoughts
Wow! This was a great story! I loved it.

It was scary, creepy, gross and full of horror. There’s Wilfred wanting to kill his wife over some land, of asking his son Henry to help him kill his mom, of Henry saying he’d help, and of the rats eating away at her. There’s the visions of Arlette’s ghost that wouldn’t leave him alone. Plus so many other things that I can’t write about without lots of spoilers.

It was sad too. There’s the sad fact that Wilfred would kill his wife, whom he loved, over her wanting to sell the land and move to town. It was sad that Henry agreed to help. It was sad that there was so much lost because of that act. Dreams were shattered, hearts were broken, marriages, friendships and minds were lost. And more than just the life of Arlette was cut short…so sad!

In the end, it wasn’t the murder of his wife that did Wilfred in. It was seeing her in the well with the rats, and her ghost visiting him that did it. That would do it to anyone, don’t you think?

You know when you start a King book you will “see” the story in your head for a while. You can’t get rid of the images. At least I can’t. For a while. But the story never leaves you. I’ll be remembering this book for years and years.

If you like scary, read this book!

#FitReaders For 2015

 readers workout & #FitReaders: 2015
Dec 302014
 

FitReaders2015

Hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  and That’s What I’m Talking About

How it will work:
Jan, Feb, March hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
April, May, June hosted by That’s What I’m Talking About
July, August, September hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
October, November, December hosted by That’s What I’m Talking About

There will be weekly check-in posts and monthly “are you in” posts!

Goals for 2015:
Lose 30 lbs.
Increase endurance and strength

 

I’ll be doing this along with Readers Workout

Healthy Lifestyle Books Reading Challenge 2015

 2015 Challenges
Dec 302014
 

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Hosted @ Joy’s Book Blog

The Challenge: Read any book that supports your healthy lifestyle. Define “health” as broadly as you need to improve your life — physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

The Dates: This challenge runs for the whole year, January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Sign up any time during the year.

Fun Run: 1 to 4 books
5K: 5-9 books
10K: 10-14 books
Marathon: 15 books or more

I’m going for: First Run: 1-4
1.

2.

3.

4.

Readers Workout: Goals for 2015

 readers workout & #FitReaders: 2015
Dec 302014
 

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There are only a few days left of 2014, and I want to make a good start going into 2015. I didn’t do as well as I should have in 2014, but hopefully this new year will bring new consistency.

Goals for 2015:
Lose 30 lbs.
Increase endurance and strength
Daily deep breathing, stretching & meditation/prayer

Here is a SparkPeople group challenges I’m doing:
The challenge started on the 28th, but I’m just too wiped out to get going yet. The last 3 weeks have been full of sickness, lots of sleepless nights and stress, so I plan on starting the 1st. Hopefully by then I’ll be back to normal. I am working on drinking water and my daily goals, but won’t start tracking anything until the 1st of the year.

Back To Basics Bi-Monthly Challenge: 12/28 – 1/10.
Choose AT LEAST TWO of the following actions to focus on for the next 14 days

1. Tracking your Food and Fitness Daily
2. Drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water or more per day 
3. Exercise between 15 and 30 minutes or more per day
4. Strength train 3 times per week
5. Get between 6 and 8 hours of sleep per night
6. Eat 5 or more Fruits and Veggies per day
7. Stay within your calorie range each day

Mailbox Monday

 reviews
Dec 282014
 

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Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Every Wednesday for Books That Caught Our Eye, Serena, Leslie and I will each share 2 books that grabbed our attention from today’s Mailbox Monday post. We hope you’ll join us by posting a comment letting us know the books that caught your eye.

 

I only received one book last week:

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Almost Perfect by Diane Daniels Manning

An old woman who has given up hope and a boy who believes the impossible wonder if life would be perfect at the Westminster Dog Show.

Seventy-year old Bess Rutledge has dreamed of winning the Westminster Dog Show all her life. Despite her decades-long career as one of America’s top Standard Poodle breeders, she has decided she’s too old to hold on to her foolish dream. She sells off all the dogs in her once famous kennel except for the aging champion McCreery and his mischievous, handsome son Breaker. Part of her senses they might have been the ones to take her to Westminster, if only she’d dared to try.

Bess meets Benny, a teenager with mild autism who attends a therapeutic special school, and learns he has a dream of his own: to impress his self-absorbed mother. Benny is drawn into the world of dog shows and becomes convinced he has found the perfect way to win his mother’s attention. If he can win Westminster with either McCreery or Breaker, he just knows she will finally be proud of him. Getting Bess to go along with his plan, however, is not going to be so easy. . .

Up to 100% of the author’s profits will be donated to charities serving animals and children. Visit www.dianedanielsmanning.com.

 

Isn’t that dog on the cover adorable? This sounds like such a good book and I can’t wait to start it! And, I love that all the profits go to charities for animals and children!

Review: Billy and Monster’s Golden Christmas by David Chuka

 books read in 2014
Dec 272014
 

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Billy and Monster’s Golden Christmas by David Chuka

Series: The Fartastic Adventures of Billy and Monster
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 25, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1505219523
ISBN-13: 978-1505219524

They’re back!
Discover what new adventures Billy and Monster get up to in the latest episode in this exciting series.

It’s almost Christmas and Billy’s looking forward to his present from Uncle Leland from England. On Christmas day, Billy isn’t too excited when Uncle Leland gives him a golden pen but gives Cousin Bob a big monster truck. How could Uncle Leland do this to him? Billy’s not a happy bunny and his ingratitude makes Uncle Leland sad and his Dad mad. A game of hide and seeks plunges Billy into a world filled with snow, happy monsters, and houses made of chocolate.

You will love reading this story to your loved ones as they get to learn the most important thing about this special holiday season. Expect funny illustrations, laugh out loud moments and touching moments in this funny book for kids.

Thoughts
This is book five in the series and is a very cute story that teaches kids that it’s not about the presents you get for Christmas. What matters is being grateful for what you have and spending time with the people you love.

This is a short story, but it’s a fun book with cute colorful illustrations and a positive message. I think any child would love this book as well as the others in the series:

Book 1: Billy and the Monster Who Loved to Fart
Book 2: Billy and Monster – The Superhero with Fart Powers
Book 3: Billy and the Monster Who Ate all the Easter Eggs
Book 4: Billy and Monster’s New Neighbor Has a Secret

 

Meet The Author
David-Chuka-Author-Pic-1-224x300David Chuka lives in London with his lovely wife and two adorable children. His family are usually the first people to hear his funny and quirky tales. He was inspired to write his first book, ‘If You See a Doctor’ after he struggled to find a book for his daughter who was a beginner reader.

He’s gone on to write more books including the popular ‘Billy and Monster’ series, a funny set of books about a little boy and his Monster who get into all sorts of funny situations and learn about moderation, friendship, self control, bravery etc. Young children can relate to Billy and you’ll love sharing his adventures with your children, grandchildren and loved ones.

As a father himself, he has parents at heart when he writes. He recognizes that bedtime has to be one of the best parts of the day for parents and grandparents as it gives them the opportunity to bond with their little ones. He believes you’ll enjoy sharing his stories with your loved ones at bedtime.

In David Chuka’s books, you can stay rest assured that quality and captivating images will always complement the story to ensure your loved ones are spell-bound as you read to them. Beginner readers will also enjoy discovering new words as they read his books.

He would like to keep you updated on what he’s working on and any giveaways he currenty has on offer. Please subscribe to his newsletter at www.davidchuka.com and you’ll get a FREE Coloring and Activity book for your loved ones.

You can also connect with him on twitter @davidchuka and Facebook.

Make sure to watch the video trailers for his most popular books on this Amazon Page and you’ll get a little taste of why his books have garnered more than 300 glowing reviews.

He has so many stories to tell and can’t wait to share them with you and your loved ones.

Links
Goodreads, Amazon, Amazon author page, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Website

Review: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

 books read in 2014
Dec 262014
 

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Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books (September 23, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594745269
ISBN-13: 978-1594745263
 

Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves,
shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.

To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor,
investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.
A traditional haunted house story in a thoroughly contemporary setting, “Horrorstor “comes packaged in the form of a glossy mail order catalog, complete
with product illustrations, a home delivery order form, and a map of Orsk’s labyrinthine showroom

Thoughts
I’m a cover snob and this book grabbed my attention right away. It looks like a catalog, similar to Ikea. There is a “Home Delivery Order Form”, coupons, store info and more. I loved that it was so much like a real catalog! Each chapter starts with an item from Orsk, and gives details about the item, the price, and the item number. I thought that was a great way to start each chapter!

I loved all the characters. They were all unique and well written, but Amy and Basil were my favorites. Sometimes I wanted to yell at them and ask them “what the heck are you doing that for”, but everything they did only added to an already fantastic story.

The story was amazing. I loved everything going on, especially once things started happening. I love scary and this book was very scary. Espcially when I only read it at night, in bed, with only a tiny light to read by.

While reading the book I kept thinking about shopping in Ikea, which I love. I bet I’ll probably not be able to get this book out of my head the next time I go though, and that kinda creeps me out. In a good way…

The book ended in a way that the road is open for a Horrorstör 2. I hope the author decides to write one. I for one will be definitely reading it.

I think this is the best book I read in 2014, which surprises me since I’m a huge King fan and read Full Dark, No Stars which has four stories in it it which are also really good. But, all in all, this book just stood out. I loved every word, paragraph, chapter and character.

LOVED IT!! If you haven’t read this yet, get a copy Now!

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