Category: books

Even though my daughter is a teenager, I still really enjoy looking through children’s picture books. We still have a number of classic ones that sit on our bookshelf, that maybe one day I’ll read to our grandchildren. If you and your family like to cuddle up on the couch and read together, Because Your Mommy Loves You is a book that everyone is going to like.

Identity is a drama/sci-fi book written by Sandra Glover, set in the future in the United Kingdom. Three very different girls, are brought together by one of them, because there is something she knows that they others don’t. Unaware of the fact that they are all intricately tied together, a journey to find out just who they are ensues.

When your entire life drives off in a moving van, it’s easy for doubts to flood your mind. Will I ever be organized again? Will I find good friends? Will my children like their new school? Carol Stratton has experienced twenty-two moves and counsels others seeking stability in a culture of change. In Changing Zip Codes, Carol helps readers explore the fun of new possibilities, the magic of new friendships, and the excitement of fresh starts. With humorous stories and biblical insights, Carol reminds us God is in the midst of every move, leading us to new beginnings.

Even though my family is picky when it comes to food, I like to try a new recipe every couple of weeks. I never really know whether it will go over well on the table, but every once in a while I’ll find a recipe that ends up being a keeper. That’s cause for excitement when I’m the only one that’s ‘free-spirited’ and willing to shake up the food routine!

Despite all the recipes I cook and create, I’m not really a good meal planner, I get in these moods where I try to, but that may last a few weeks and then I start forgetting to do it and before I know it…it’s shopping day again.

I read a lot of books. Some I like, some I don’t like. But then there are the few and far between that completely absorb me, the kind that I can’t put down, or I feel like I’m reading about my neighbors, friends or families…they’re that good. Dancing on Broken Glass, Ka Hancock’s first novel is a completely compelling story that touches all your emotions about birth, death and all the moments that happen amidst those two points.

The Secret Life of a Fool: One Man’s Raw Journey from Shame to Grace. Andrew Palau. 2011. 191 pages.

“People seem to want guys like me – son of a preacher man – to have some scandalous reason for all my ‘mistakes.’ But my scandal is less of what you might expect and more like something we all deal with…”

Spring is here and New Year resolutions have been broken. If you’re in that place, you may be interested in the a book from the Hilarious Collection of Living Life to the Fullest from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jill Conner Browne, Fat is the New 30: The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Coping with (the crappy parts) of Life.

Trust THE Sweet Potato Queen, Jill Conner Browne to come up with the solution to most of life’s problems. Leader of the Sweet Potato Queens movement that has more than 6,200 chapters in 37 countries around the world, Jill Conner Browne is know for her tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, and for spreading what she fondly refers to as “sparkle”.

I am so excited for next Tuesday.  Hubby and I are going on a date to see The Hunger Games. 

Who else is waiting impatiently like me for its release?!!

I do a lot of recipe and food reviews on my blog, and when I saw this ‘cookbook’ that I found on ThinkGeek.com, I knew I had to share it with you all.

I’ve always been intrigued by ‘magic’ shows, actually better described as illusion shows. A couple of cruises ago, we were treated to a show by a very talented illusionist, and I spent the better part of the evening just trying to figure out how he did his tricks. Alas, I just could not.

On a different note, but pertaining to this blog post/review, I’ve also always been intrigued by the writing of Frank Peretti. I have voraciously read all of his previous novels many times over, and our daughter grew up falling asleep to Mr. Henry for years. If you’re a fan of his, you know that he hasn’t published a book since 2005 and even his last co-authored book (House, with Ted Dekker) was in 2006.

In his groundbreaking anthology EXPLORER: The Mystery Boxes (Amulet Books; April 2012), Kibuishi challenged himself and seven highly sought-after graphic novelists and illustrators to create a story based around a single object:  A mysterious box…and the possible marvels and mayhem it contains.

Both my daughter, who is 15, and myself thought it was interesting to have different stories all with the same theme.  It was also neat to see the diversity in the different drawing and art styles of the contributors.