10-DAY BELLY SLIMDOWN

"Are you fed up losing weight but not the waist?  Are you sick of your belly fat?"  These are two of the questions on the inside of the dust cover of this book that claims that following the plan will enable you to lose up to 10 pounds in 10 days and possibly several inches off your belly.  I followed the plan exactly for 10 days.  I did lose 5 pounds and 1 inch off my belly.  If I continue to drink bone broth until noon, a bone broth protein shake (with greens) for lunch and one very healthy dinner, no doubt I'll lose more and keep it off.  That is not a realistic lifestyle for me.  It did curb all sugar cravings for me and I did feel like I had more energy by about day eight.  The book is easy to follow, however I spent a LOT on the bone broth (you can make it if you boil a lot of chickens, have huge pots and lots of storage room, and I felt like the diet was pretty expensive.  I ordered all of the broth and protein from Amazon.  Had I ordered the ingredients from the authors website it would have been far more expensive.  Definitely not for everybody, but I did feel better for having stuck with the ten-day program.

You're Saying It Wrong

Absolutely love this pronunciation guide to the 150 most commonly mispronounced words!  This wonderful book of words begins with the word "acai" and ends with "zydeco."  It includes such words as "Ku Klux Klan" that you many have heard all of your life and never realized that it's always been mispronounced along with simple words like "theater" (the correct way to say it is "THEE-uh-ter").  It also contains harder words like "gnocchi" that don't sound right even with the pronunciation provided.

It's a fun book to read and keep handy...you'll want to go back to it over and over.  Five stars!

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

I loved this binge worthy, juicy, fun thriller!Summer reading at it's finest.  It starts with five teens in detention and within the first few pages they are down to four.  I really didn't know who did it till the very end.  It's one of those books that you just love to say "READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW" to everybody about!
Definitely a Goodread!

The Dry by Jane Harper

Excellent thriller!

 I really enjoyed this debut novel!  Fast paced thriller that really grabs the reader from the first page.  A small farming town in Australia that is loaded with secrets.  A family brutally murdered is the basis for Aaron Falk to return to the town that accused him of a heinous crime and the town has not forgotten Falk.

Falk is a likeable character and this novel is listed as #1 in a series so I'm excited that we're in for more!

I love how the author gradually revealed the truth at interludes throughout.

I recommend this Goodread!

Helpful & Fun book on bicycling!

"Hello Bicycle" by Anna Brones does not set out to reinvent the bike wheel. It does provide an entertaining approach to why we should and do ride bicycles. It is a relatively small book, a quick read and a lovely little book to leave lying around for others to flip through. It's a fun book that covers many aspects of the cycling world such as: why you should ride, when riding was invented, taking care of your bicycle, how to plan riding routes, what to take along on a picnic via your bicycle and how to encourage others to ride a bicycle. There is an interesting section of the book devoted to customizing a bicycle that will be very helpful when I get a new bike.

Love the cover of this book and the fun perspective that the book utilizes to encourage and motivate people to get up and ride!

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Ready Player One FUN FUN FUN!

Ready Player One is one of the most entertaining books that I've read this year.  The story is involves a dystopian future where human bodies spend their waking hours in a virtual reality calling "The Oasis."  The main characters are teenagers, real life is awful and the book hones in on all things from the 1980's (this was the favored decade by the Oasis creator).  The author weaves these idea's in to a total riot of a story.

I highly recommend this book even if the premise of the story doesn't appeal.  Give it a try.  It gets good fast, real good.

Dark Matter is a great read!

This was such an interesting read. Admittedly at times it was over my head, it deals with quantum mechanics, however when you are able to wrap the ideas presented around your brain it really makes sense. A man (Jason) who really 'likes' his life and family is abducted by a stranger who asks "Are you happy with your life?" From this moment on, this story is pure adrenaline as we learn what has actually happened to Jason and find out the lengths that he will go to to have his life and family back. 

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Fantastic variety of Fried Chicken recipes!

Not only is FRIED CHICKEN a treasure inside, the outside is just as appealing.  This cookbook could set on display in any kitchen!  
The highlight of the book is the gorgeous pictures with each recipe.  Based on this alone, the book was getting a stellar rating from me. The cookbook is divided in to three categories:  Skillet Fried, Deep Fried and Combination Fried.   There is a tremendous amount of variety within the recipes.  I certainly had no idea that Fried Chicken could be prepared so many ways.
Absolutely fantastic cookbook!

My New Roots by Sarah Britton

It is hard to stand out as a cookbook nowadays. Hasn't everything been written? There are only so many ways you can incorporate roasted pumpkin and garlic scapes into a recipe, right? Well the thing you can do is make your cookbook look better than the rest. With My New Roots, Sarah Britton has done that. It could just as easily be a coffee table book, with its short stories and beautiful photographs. The images look to be a lifestyle photo session out of the pages of an Anthropologie catalog. This seems to be the trend with cookbooks at the moment. They are more focused on aesthetics that the substance of their recipes. 

With this book though, I have found many things I enjoy. First off, I like that the recipes are separated by seasons. When trying to eat locally, it is important to know how to use a fig, or a new way to prepare parsnips. Brtitton makes sure that the reader is branching out with their cooking. These recipes will get you familiar with fruits and vegetables that you have no doubt seen at the market, but, you couldn't pronounce them, much less make a delicious dinner with them. Another item that interested me was the focus on preparing certain types of foods. Near the beginning of the book. there are detailed charts explaining soaking and cooking time, and yield of dry beans and grains. She also teaches the reader how to make different seed and nut milks and butters. Finally, like one of her delicious recipes, the prep work is over and it is time to start cooking. For each season, she gives you a breakfast, snack, dinner, and dessert. After flipping through this book, you will be headed to your local farmers market because everything sounds so good. The meals are as enjoyable as browsing the pages of this book are. Enjoy.

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

I am crazy for anything Liane Moriarty writes!  I've kind of read her books in reverse order....her newest one first.  Three Wishes was her debut novel.  So, she's been an amazing writer from the start!
This hilarious novel is the story of one family of triplet girls relationships.  The Kettle family is SO entertaining!

Such a GREAT read!

The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Outstanding story of life and death and one family's decisions and their impact on each other.  The novel starts with a sad, tragic accident that render's a woman brain dead, but it is determined that she is pregnant shortly after.  Due to her experience with her mother's lingering deathbed, she never wanted to be kept alive if she had no chance of recovery.  Her husband seemingly goes against her wishes hoping that she will stay alive long enough to deliver the baby that she is carrying and has to go against his own mother in court as they fight for Elle's life or death.

Tragedy is in every aspect of this book, but so are faith & hope.  Beautifully written, this novel is one I'll be thinking of long after finishing it.  Definitely a Goodread!

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Excellent thriller!  This novel is non-stop from the first page.  Strangers at a bar start talking and next thing you know the man is confiding that his wife is having an affair and the woman throws out "why don't you just kill her?"  From then on, the novel is a fast paced thriller as the man put the plan in motion, but, his wife has the same idea.

A thrilling Goodread....I recommend!

Delicious Foods by James Hannaham

I enjoyed this book, however, it is a very sad, disturbing tale told from the viewpoint of crack, known as "Scotty" in the novel.  It opens with a young black 17 year old, driving for his life, with both of his hands having just been cut off.  Throughout the book, the reader discovers what happened to the young man's mother, driving her to a crack addition, and ultimately involving her son in her life with her employer, Delicious Foods. 

A very well written, thought provoking novel.

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

I'm probably going to give every book that Liane Moriarty writes 5 stars just because I enjoy her style of writing SO much.  In this novel, two women are in love with the same man.  One is his current girlfriend, one is his ex.  He also happens to be in love with his dead wife.  A complicated look at a modern relationship.

I did not like this one as much as What Alice Forgot or Big Little Lies, but it was still a very entertaining read and like all of her other novels, I highly recommend!

Finders Keepers by Stephen King

This is the 2nd book of a trilogy.  The first book in the series, Mr. Mercedes was a thriller about a serial killer known as the Mercedes killer after plowing down a crowd of people at an early morning job fair.  I honestly wasn't too impressed with Mr. Mercedes and was surprised to learn that it was part of a trilogy.

#2 is Uncle Stevie at his finest.  A real thriller that I didn't want to put down.  Now I can't wait to reread Mr.  Mercedes and find out where I went wrong in not loving the start of this trio.

Finders Keepers does share characters from Mercedes but brings in a new killer that has ties to the young man introduced early on, and much of the story revolves around the relationship that these two share with
an author who was murdered many years before.

A 5*** Stephen King book!  Read it!

My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh

I liked the story; liked the writing, but for some reason this was a really hard book to push through. I had to force myself to finish it. If you're looking for a book that is a real page turner, this is not the book for you. It starts off brisk with the rape of a young girl and the story progresses by listing the potential rapists. Along with that story is the coming of age story of one of the potential rapists. The story just moved so slowly. The author does a great job of creating a visual of South Louisiana.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Good book!  It started out slow and I was hesitant to carry on with it, but I am very glad that I did.  When it picked up midway, it really picked up.  It's a story about a girl, in NYC, good job, expensive lifestyle, forever dieting, engaged. But once you get past her seemingly dream lifestyle,  nothing about TifAni FaNelli's (this is actually how she spells her name) life is as it seems.  This girl's past is full of horrific secrets.

 Definitely recommend this Goodread!

American Heart Association Grill It, Braise It, Broil It: And 9 Other Easy Techniques for Making Healthy Meals Paperback – June 2, 2015

This new paperback book of cooking techniques is a practical addition to any kitchen.  It includes 175 very enticing recipes, but even better than that are the "Cook's Tips" with each recipe.  From
"Ovenproofing a Skillet" to "Freezing pesto in ice cube tray's", all of the tips are extremely helpful and are worth owning the book if for only these tips.

One downfall to the book is the lack of illustrations.  There are only 8 recipes illustrated.  Working in a public library, I often hear how desirable pictures are to cookbooks.  I heartily agree, however, I can see where this book had to choose but a few pages for pictures, being paperback and having so many recipes in it.

I rate this cooking companion a 4 (I can't give it a 5 with only 8 recipes pictured!) and think it has many practical uses!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Mosquitoland: A Novel by David Arnold

First of all, this book is designated a Young Adult book.  I'm not really sure why except that it revolves around a teenager.  YA books are not my normal reads (with a few exceptions) but Entertainment Weekly reviewed this book and said not to let the YA classification deter you from reading it, as it reads like an adult novel.  I think it reads like an everyone novel.  The author has brilliantly written a story that is quirky, sad, hilarious and very true to life.

As Mary Ivy Malone (Mim!) makes her way from Mississippi (Mosquitoland!) to Cleveland, she meets a hosts of eclectic characters.  She is only sixteen, but this girl is street smart, yet still a kid.  Most of the chapters require a minute or two of thinking and dwelling on, just to appreciate the writing and spot on emotions and thoughts of this kick ass girl.

Definitely five stars. Definitely a Goodread.  Read it and tell your friends!

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Another winner by Liane Moriarty!  I am addicted to her novels!  This one started out a little slower than Big Little Lies but really picked up in the end.  Like Lies, this story is actually three different stories that intersect.  Moriarty does such a great job of keeping the reader guessing as to how their stories will connect.  I can't brag on Moriarty to patrons at the library enough.

Definitely a 5 star Goodread!