So I have to admit.  I caved.  I’ve almost finished reading the first novel in the Twilight series.  And I actually plan to read all four books.  I watched the first movie when it came out and thought it was way too “teeny-boppy” for my taste and even at that pretty awful.  But then . . . I saw the second movie.  And while the second movie was only slightly better (because there was a bit more action!), it did make me want to find out what happens next and so here I am reading the novels.

What do you all think of these books?  I think the the vampire mythology is interesting and the story is somewhat creative, but the relationship between Edward and Bella is pretty dreadful.  As soon as they meet, life is not worth living if they are not together.  She is miserable when she is not with him.  I want to shout, “Get a life!”   These books will not be read by my daughters (when they are older of course!) without some serious discussion about what makes a healthy relationship.   Plus, how can she get so worked up about a guy who is so cold every time he touches her?  Brrr!

I’m not giving a real review here, because I haven’t finished the book.  I almost feel like I’m going to need to finish all four before I really know what I think about this series.  I’ve heard that the books are better than the movies, and the fourth book is the best.  Care to voice your opinion?

On the anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him. In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request. An impossible request. I want you to marry again. She tells him he shouldn’t spend the years he has left grieving her. And to that end she’s chosen three women she asks him to consider. During the months that follow, he spends time with Winter, Leanne, and Macy, learning more about each of them…and about himself. Learning what Hannah already knew. He’s a man who needs the completeness only love can offer. And Hannah’s list leads him to the woman who can help him find it.

Macomber2010Bookmark

This book is slated to be published in May of 2010 – be watching for it!

My Review: This was a great read!  I cried and I laughed.  If you have read any of the Blossom Street books, you will recognize many of the characters.  What a different concept.  A husband receives a letter from his dead wife which listed  three women she wanted him to consider for remarriage. He thought it impossible because he was still deeply grieving her death.  The characters are colorful and probably resemble some of your friends.  I know they reminded me of people I know.   Three couples are highlighted so I would call this book a romance and slice of life read.  The link above will take you to a Debbie Maccomber bookmark that lists all of her books being published in 2010.  I’m also looking forward to the new Cedar Cove book.  If you enjoy easy, enjoyable reading with happy endings you will love this book!

I haven’t spent a lot of time talking about ebooks despite the fact that it’s a hot topic in publishing circles at the moment. Sally, my mother and writer on this blog, got a Barnes and Noble Nook and I know she has enjoyed reading some ebooks on it.

But with the recent news that several publishers are moving to an agency model for pricing (this basically means different prices for different ebooks), I’ve been thinking more about it.

In the past, I considered that the advantage of an ereader would be the ability to store several books without having to worry about actual physical storage space. Additionally, I must admit the idea that ebooks themselves would be cheaper made the idea of paying a lot of money for an ereading device more attractive.

But with the reality that publishers can’t actually afford to make ebooks much cheaper, I’m reconsidering the advantage. I can’t help but wonder how often I would rather just spend that money on a physical book to hold in my hands. I think I would still find advantages to it, but I wonder if old habits die hard?

Do you have ereader? If so what kind? Do you find you use it more and more often? How much are you willing to spend on ebooks?

The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond is one of my favorite valentine’s day books for small children.   It is a simple story about a little girl named Cornelia Augusta who catches hearts as they fall from the sky and makes them into valentines for her friends.  Each valentine is made in a special way for each of her unique friends.  The endearing illustrations that accompany the story give the book an overall cozy feel.

Everyone loves a good Clifford story, and Clifford’s First Valentine is no exception.  In this story, Emily Elizabeth and Clifford make some valentine’s day cards together (Clifford tries to taste the glue and very quickly finds out that it is not so tasty!) and then have quite an adventure getting the cards delivered.  A sweet story, and the love between Emily and Clifford is always satisfying.

My mom got this book, ABC Valentine by Pamela Jane, for my girls a few years back.  I have always enjoyed reading it to them at this time of year.  ABC Valentine uses the alphabet to talk about all the different ways Valentine’s Day is celebrated- from cards to sweets to decorations.  The illustrations use lots of red and pink and show wintery weather outside.

Some other great choices would include The Berenstain Bears’ Funny Valentine by Stan and Jan Berenstain – always a good moral to be learned with Brother and Sister!  And also Franklin’s Valentines by Paulette Bourgeois.  Franklin learns that any day is a great day to show his friends how much he cares for them.

What are you reading with your kiddos this Valentine’s Day?

More than 4 million Top Secret Recipes books sold!

The kitchen clone recipe king is back with a new Top bestselling Top Secret Restaurant Recipes collection-the first book since his bestselling Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2. Wilbur takes readers behind the scenes, revealing the key ingredients in some of our favorite foods such as Starbucks’ Peppermint Brownie, Krispy Kreme’s original glazed donuts, Panera Bread’s cranberry walnut bagel and Wendy’s Garden Sensations Manadarin Chicken Salad. The book will feature 115 new recipes, including 40 previously unpublished recipes such as:

•Panera Bread French Onion Soup

•Burger King Onion Rings

•Chick-Fil-A Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce

•McDonald’s Cinnamon Melts

•Stouffer’s Macaroni & Cheese

•Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette

•Popeye’s Buttermilk Biscuits.

Forget takeout-with these fun recipes and blueprints, all using ingredients you can buy at your local supermarket, you can re-create your favorite restaurant signature dishes right in your own kitchen for a lot less!

My Review: This is such a fun book.  I have tried two recipes and one my daughters made once and I made once that is Panera’s broccoli and cheese soup.  It is yum and is really really close to the original.  I also like it because it doesn’t take long too make, and with my new food processor it’s a real snap!  The ingredients are easy to come by as well.  I’m very thankful to have this recipe because we no longer live close to a Panera (St. Louis Bread Company) and this is my husband’s favorite soup from there!  I can’t wait to try some of the other recipes!  Also included is Panera’s French Onion which I love!  I would have to also say that I haven’t heard of some of these places and/or recipes, but they all look user friendly and Todd Wilbur has made them as easy as possible as well as including pictures to help you assemble the finished product.  Also included are many Starbucks’ recipes.  I want to try my personal favorite which is gingerbread latte.  I wish it included the white chocolate peppermint mocha, but I’m happy with the gingerbread to begin with.  I’m looking forward to many hours of  happy cooking from this cookbook!

Mystery shopper Josie Marcus’s report about Danessa Celedine’s exclusive store is less than stellar, and it may cost the fashion diva fifty million dollars. But Danessa’s financial future becomes moot when she’s found murdered, strangled with one of her own thousand-dollar snakeskin belts-and Josie is accused of the crime.

My Review: I have really gotten into a cozy mystery mode.  I found this series of books at Christmas time when I read Murder With All the Trimmings.  The St. Louis setting makes it especially cozy to me because we lived there for 13 years and I love that city!  I’m learning shopping tips from these books which also makes it appealing to me.  Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved mysteries – it all began with Nancy Drew.  I also love series.  In fact I’m usually fairly type A about reading series in order.  This particular series, however, I’ve been reading out of sequence and it still works for me.  In fact I read Murder with all the Trimmings first, then because I received a Nook for Christmas I downloaded the Fashion Hound Murders which I believe is 5th in the series.  Unfortunately, those are the only two I could download on the Nook.  However, I’ve since ordered Dying in Style (first) and High Heels are Murder (second) in paperback form.

If you enjoy Janet Evanovich, Joanne Fluke, and Leslie Meier; you will also enjoy these books.  They are humorous, informative, and very entertaining reads!

My girls received For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco for Christmas this year.  It is a story about a school teacher, Danielle, who adopts a kitten, Autumn, and moves to Washington to accept a teaching job.  She lives in a little cottage by the sea.  Danielle loves her job and she and her kitten settle into life and routine in their little cottage.  But one day Danielle comes home from school in a raging storm.   Autumn is no where to be found.  Finally, Danielle hears a scratching at the door.  Autumn is on the back porch, badly hurt.  But as Danielle goes to bring her in, Autumn runs off into the dark night.  Days go by and Danielle cannot find Autumn.  But then one day Autumn returns.    Over the next couple of weeks, Autumn runs away a few times, but always comes back.  Where is she going to?  Read to find out this perfectly charming ending!

There are some children’s books that I don’t mind reading again and again.  This is one of them.  It is sweet and warm and I have to admit the story surprised me.  Highly recommended.

Calamity Jack is written by the husband and wife team of Dean and Shannon Hale. It’s a graphic novel that combines all sorts of fantastical elements with super heroes and ends up being just plain fun.

I’m a relative newbie to graphic novels, and I’m always a bit hesitant to read them. Sometimes I’m afraid I’ll misinterpret the pictures and misunderstand the story or miss something critical. But I had nothing to fear with that here, the pictures are absolutely lovely and I was even looking at them in black and white in the ARC, the finished copy includes full pictures. Also, I fell in love with the concept of the book almost immediately, I loved the clever retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk and the many interesting creatures that populate his world. I also really enjoyed the humor and found myself chuckling several times throughout.

It is a graphic novel so it takes substantially less time time to read but it’s completely enjoyable. The only small struggle in the plotline for me was not having read the first graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge. So when Rapunzel comes onto the scene there’s not much introduction. But knowing the other story exists helps to understand why that’s the case and has made me all the more eager to find it to read sometime in the future.

This review is part of a blog tour organized by Kidz Book Buzz. You can visit other participants and get their perspectives by following the links included below.
Sally Apokedak, Reading is my Superpower, firesidemusings.blogspot.com, Through the Looking Glass Book Review , Booking Mama, Cafe of Dreams, Becky’s Book Reviews, The Hungry Readers, The Friendly Book Book, My Own Little Corner of the World, Book Blather, GreenBeanTeenQueen, Book Crumbs , Abby (the) Librarian, Dolce Bellezza, Homeschoolbuzz.com, The Book Cellar, Carrie’s YA Bookshelf, Bookshelf Monstrosity, Everyday Reading, Frenetic Reader, KidzBookBuzz.com, Maw Books

(we are Amazon affiliates. If you click on the link and make a purchase through Amazon, we receive a tiny percentage of the sale)

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

My Review: This book surprised me.  I wasn’t sure I would enjoy an Amish book about Christmas, but I did.  A secret which I couldn’t quite solve kept me reading. Of course it wasn’t exposed until near the end of the book.  The characters were not exactly your “typical” characters in Amish books; and I like that the characters were flawed – not perfect physically or otherwise.   I loved the fact that the two main characters were business women, and Beth seemed to have depth and real talent at what she did.  I read that Cindy Woodsmall had some best selling books, but I hadn’t read any of Cindy Woodsmall’s other books.  Now I plan to add them to my TBR list.