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Monday, November 30, 2015

Best Compact Sewing Kit by Sewing Gear

I have tried a few kits over the last three months and I have to say that overall I prefer Sewing Gear's kit. First of all they give you extra pins and safety pins. the biggest plus for me is how it is put together.There are only two spools of thread per elastic holder which keeps them firmly in place, other brands put at many as ten under one elastic and you'll find that they quickly fall out. This kit also has a much better needle holder with far more needles than other kits I have received and it is much easier to use. The scissors have a nice point that is slightly curved for getting into tight spaces and accomplishing precision work.

Pros
Larger, easier to use needle holder
Extra safety pins
Items stay in place better
Pointed scissors
Two needle threaders
Sleeker case than most kits.

Cons
Scissor handles are kinds small for me and not as comfortable as ones from another kit.
Only one spool of white and black thread; some kits come with two of these colors.
No pin cushion but for me that really doesn't matter.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Home Design - 14 Inch Super Bright LED Desk Lamp - Adjustable - Flexible - Gooseneck Desk Light - Reading Light - Dorm Room Light - Energy Efficient (White


I got this to place on my shelf next to my couch for crafting and reading. It is sturdy and stays in place even while manipulating the adjustable neck, a problem I have had with other such lamps is movement while adjusting. The light is nice and bright but not so much as to cause eye irritation. The cord is long enough that I have no problems placing it where I want. This has been really helpful for my nighttime crocheting as I can easily see what I am doing and not only adjust the neck but also turn the light itself!! *** I received this item free in exchange for my honest review

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

The Secrets of Blood and Bone by Rebecca Alexander

The Secrets of Blood and Bone is the follow-up to The Secrets of Life and Death which I also had the pleasure of reading and is available on Amazon in ebook form for just $9.99. I really enjoyed the first novel so I was very excited to received The Secrets of Blood and Bone for free to review.
   Jackdaw Hammond has defeated Elizabeth Bathory the villainous monster responsible for an untold number of murders of young children in her pursuit of ever-lasting life. Jackdaw is no ordinary woman, no far from it, she herself has a secret for she was once dead or nearly so anyway. Now, she spends her days helping those like her and trying desperately to keep her secret.
  Unfortunately, the episode with Bathory has taken its toll and Jack retreats to a new home for a little rest only to find it is not to be. She instead encounters a family with secrets of its own- dark secrets. She will find herself in an epic battle for her soul that will test not only her resolve but that of her dear friend Felix.

 The Secrets of Blood and Bone as well as its prequel The Secrets of Life and Death will make excellent editions to your urban fantasy collection! It is full of adrenaline pumping action as well as emotional heartstrings pulling.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

The Library at Mount Char is a delightfully twisted tale that will pull you in to a world of epic oddities. It is without a doubt the most original and entertaining work of fantasy that I have had the pleasure of reading in quite sometime. I suggest setting aside a few hours before diving into this novel as you won't be able to put it down! 
It is a world of strange and often macabre gods who not only turn on each other but ultimately their creator. Carolyn is a strangely likeable and complex heroine whose path is challenged by her friendship with a human who was originally just a pawn in her game.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

The Sweatapolita Bakebook

This is an amazing book that teaches you to bake all kinds of amazing goodies. From edible chalk to making your own sprinkles there is something for everyone. The recipes are thorough and easy to understand.

Friday, May 15, 2015

The Mapmaker's Children

This is a beautifully written book that takes you into the past for a mystery full heartache and triumph! Eden needs  change of scenery after trying so hard for years to have a baby so she and her husband move to a quaint town,rich in Cival War history. As Eden shuts down her husband in a desperate bid to reach her brings home a puppy which she resents. He hires the neighbor girl to feed and walk the dog and slowly Eden comes back to the world. With young Cleo's help she discovers the haunted history of her home which was once apart of the underground railroad. 
This is a great read that will hold your interest.  

Monday, May 11, 2015

The Undying Legion by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

The follow-up to The Shadow Revolution truly delivers! The Undying Legion is a pulse-pounding ride through yet another supernatural mystery with our favorite heroes;Kate, Simon and Malcolm. Kate is still trying to save her sister from the horrible experiment that was performed upon her by a twisted doctor. When Charlotte, a young werewolf, shows up asking for help to control her wolfie ways she  ends up being the medicine that Imogene needs to start to live life again. Meanwhile, our heroes must continue to destroy the evil that threatens all of London! Don't miss this awesome second book in the Crown and Key series.

Monday, April 27, 2015

The Shadow Revolution , Crown and Key by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

The first in the Crown and Key series is a blockbuster of non stop action and mayhem. London is besieged with evil and Simon, a scribe who is still learning, is the only one who can stop the growing darkness. When a young lady he once loved is murdered by a werewolf Simon vows to avenge her death and by doing so uncovers a frightening truth - its not the only one. In fact there are several dens of werewolves coming together with the goal of obtaining something from a local heiress, but what? Why would they want this simple girl, Imogen? When she goes missing her sister, Kate, a alchemist, goes on the hunt eventually teaming up with Simon and his mentor Nick.
Their discoveries will lead them to more surprising and horrifying discoveries as well as new allies in their fight against a rising darkness that is so powerful it has caused Nick to flee.
I really enjoyed this novel immensely and will be posting a review in a few days for the next book in the series, The Undying Legion.

The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold by Peter V. Brett

So everyone knows how much a love the Demon Cycle series by Peter V. Brett so I was thrilled when Netgalley gave me a review copy of The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold. This is a companion novella of stories that Peter couldn't fit (for various reasons) into the novels.
-The Great Bazaar is a story about Arlen and Abban that I think should have been worked into The Desert Spear as it has information that I think is valuable to the story or at least fills in a missing bit of info. Arlen returns with pottery from a desolated city for Abban to sell but while negotiating Arlen discovers that Abban might be able to procure a map to an ancient Krasian city that is holy and may contain more of the lost wards. Abban reluctantly agrees to this because he owes Arlen for not giving him vital information on a previous excursion.
-Brayan's Gold is about Arlen's first mission as a messenger but also to me it is his 'becoming a man' story as he defends his cargo from bandits even though he is sorely outnumbered and his companion has fled. It is also our first look at snow demons.
If your a serious fan of The Demon Cycle I highly recommend picking it up.

Friday, March 13, 2015

The Girl in the Road by Monica Byrne

At first I had a hard time getting into this book. The writing style is great but I would kind of get lost a bit as it meandered between the two stories. This may have, in part, been do to the fact that I wasn't feeling well at the time. Later, I went to my bookshelf, saw The Girl in the Road and felt guilty that I hadn't finished it. I thought "Neil German liked this novel,what is wrong with you?" So I gave it another try.
I'm glad I did. Once you get going its an amazingly imagined journey of two girls from different cultures and times. It is a dizzying, emotional roller coaster that will leave you astonished.   

Monday, March 9, 2015

The Last Quarrel, Episode 1 by Duncan Lay

The Last Quarrel tells the tale of Fallon, Sergeant of Baltimore, who has taken this quiet position to appease his over-anxious wife Bridget; who , after suffering multiple miscarriages is terrified of what might happen to her husband and their only child Kerrin. While the town is preparing for the arrival of the Duke something ominous is on the horizon. Fallon and his trusted companions Devlin, Gallagher and Brendan rush to the waterfront to see what is amiss. To their astonishment the Duke's ship is coming in fast without a crew member in site. It runs aground at the dock and when the group embarks to see what has occurred the find nothing! Not a single crew member or the Duke himself nor are there any signs of a struggle. He enlists the aid of Sister Rosaleen to see if any blood magic was used and she says not so he asks a local wizard if natural magic is the culprit, again he receives a negative reply.
  When Fallon leaves to relay the mystery to the good Duchess in Lunster he discovers that they have their own mysteries to solve as well. Many farming families and crews of fishing vessels have gone missing as well without a sign of struggle. Fallon is determined to get to the bottom of the disappearances and hopefully move himself up in the ranks much to his wife's chagrin.
 Meanwhile Prince Cavan must keep the realm under control when witch hysteria breaks out after several children are reported missing. His father, King Aidan, could care less and orders the first woman accused to be burned at the stake without any proof. Prince Cavan feels great remorse for this and sets out to find who is really taking the children which leads him to a very astonishing suspect.
  I absolutely loved this engrossing novel that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. I read the entire novel in one sitting! I am eagerly awaiting the next two installments as I have no clue as to how it will turn out which is always a big plus in my book. Fallon is a nonsense, get it down now, hero that everyone will love and Prince Cavan is the type of ruler everyone would like to have even if his father seems determined to undermine him.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The Soup Club Cookbook

The Soup Club Cookbook is a compilation of recipes, both soup and breads, that friends Courtney, Tina, Caroline and Julie have used for years to help their families eat healthy even on hectic days. The idea is to make large quantities to share with other people in your group so that you can have a healthy meal everyday of the week without the work of cooking everyday.
This is a great idea even if you don't want to start a group you can use the recipes for fundraisers, helping your local elderly or just sharing with friends. There are also recipes for salads, croutons and other sides.
The recipes are easy to understand and contain ingredients that anyone can find. Each recipe also gives tips on the best way to reheat the meal and what other goodies should be sent along with it. We tried the Jewish Chicken Noodle soup and it was excellent.
I recommend this book, especially to beginning cooks but really for everyone.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Inside the Test Kitchen by Tyler Florence

The book is chocked full of terrific recipes that even a novice cook can follow. It even comes with a handy built-in book mark to keep the page from turning on you while you cook. We tried the macaroni and cheese recipe and it was to die for, even my picky teens gobbled it up. A must for everyone's kitchen. Tyler has something for everyone from home-made hamburger buns to easy omelettes you will find recipes that will quickly become your go-to favorites.

The Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett

The Skull Throne is the highly anticipated fourth installment of The Demon Cycle series by Peter V. Brett. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of reading the first three I highly recommend picking them up!
This novel picks up right where The Daylight War left off, with our intrepid heroes battling it out and subsequently going over a cliff. Now some might question "heroes" but hey, I like Jardir just as much as Arlen. I really think he believes he is doing what is best for all of humanity and I think you'll come to like him as well.
Anyway, both sides of the battle are searching in vain for our fallen warriors with both sides eventually going home and trying to move on. The void created by the absence of Jardir is massive as his sons vie for control much to their mother's dismay. In an attempt to quell the problem she arranges for Jayan to conquer a Green land dock town in order to keep him from attempting to assume the Skull Throne as she holds out hope for her husband's safe return.The results are not what she expected to say the least!
Meanwhile Leesha's house of cards is falling down around her as Thamos finds out the true nature of how their relationship began. Rojer is faced with a dangerous dilemma when his arch nemesis Jasin, the man who murdered Rojer's mentor, appears in the Hollow to summon Leesha and her friends to Angiers. Everyone feels they are in danger as the turmoil of politics threatens to undo them with every decision they make.
The Skull Throne is exploding with action that will leave you breathless and wanting more! Leesha is finally becoming a heroine I can rally behind as events force her to become the kick-ass woman she was born to be. The amount of back-stabbing, murdering, and mayhem will have you shouting "NO" and sitting back, whispering "WOW"
Forget True Blood. Forget Game of Thrones. The Demon Cycle should be a television series!!
The Skull Throne is available for Pre-order only at this time and is scheduled for release on March 31st. To learn more about The Demon Cycle and Peter V. Brett you can check out the link to Peter's blog at he top right-hand side of my blog.
I received my ARC copy of The Skull Throne from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Resurrection Maker by Glenn Cooper

Another heart-stopping thriller from Glenn Cooper!! Mr. Cooper gives Dan Brown a run for his money yet again in The Resurrection Maker. This tale focuses on the famed Holy Grail. Arthur Malory has always had an interest in hunting for the grail an interest he inherited from his late father. When a colleague thinks he has found new evidence of its whereabouts he and his wife are murdered before he can tell Arthur his findings.
Who is after the grail and why? Arthur must find out before the people that killed his friends can get their hands on it.
The Resurrection Maker is an ambitious and holey unique thriller that will leave you breathless.

A Love Most Dangerous by Martin Lake

A harrowing tale of court politics, power and maybe even a little bit of love. Young Alice Petherton was a Maid of Honor to King Henry's current queen until she passed away from supposedly complications of childbirth. Without the protection of the queen and her growing beauty she becomes the object of Richard Rich's attention. unfortunately Richard is a lord of ill repute who tries to rape Alice when she rebuffs his attentions.
Desperately and pretty much alone she sets out to befriend King Henry in the hopes that he will intercede on her behalf but what innocent Alice soon realizes is that being one of the King's Favorites isn't just about reading him poetry. Somewhat reluctantly she becomes his mistress and soon enjoys new appartments, fine clothing and all that goes with being Henry's favorite until she makes the fatal error of disagreeing with the overly proud king. He sends he back to her original apartment and makes it clear she is no longer in good standing with him.
Unfortunately for Alice, Richard is back and when she again refuses him he doctors an order banishing her from court with nothing but the clothes on her back. Sent to London she lives with a family and (against the mother's advice) strikes up an affair with the son. To pay a gambling debt the scoundrel sells her to the highest bidder. When she manages to escape her abusive situation a man she once helped comes to her rescue.
Will young Alice ever find happiness?
A Love Most Dangerous is an enjoyable, breathtaking journey through the ups and downs of the dangerous life of anyone involved in the court of King Henry. Alice is a a delightful every-woman that will charm the reader and keep them wanting more. I would love to see another installment featuring the further misadventures of
Alice Petherton.

Monday, January 12, 2015

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian is the inspirational story of one man's struggle to survive after being accidentals left behind on Mars. Faced with dwindeling rations and no communications he must improvise to stay alive until the next mission - four years ! 
Mark is one of the best characters I've encountered in quite sometime not only is he intelligent but he's damn funny. You'll immediately be sucked in by his charm and humanizing story of courage against insurmountable odds. A wonderfully written story that even a diehard pessimist will love.