Category: book review

October 2, 2014

The @IdiotsGuide to Slow Cooker Cooking #review

With fall on our doorstep (I am teary as we say goodbye to our beautiful summer months!) out comes my slow cooker and my determination to master the art of slow cooking. When I first bought my slow cooker (I had to have one because my Dad has one) it literally sat in the cupboards for a year and a half without being used and just collecting dust. Why? I had no idea what to do with it! Sounds silly right but it seemed like a lot of work when I could cook it all on the stove one time. I can now say 100% that I was wrong – it is God sent!

The Idiot’s Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking arrived on my door step last week and I was super stoked to hop right in and take advantage of all the delicious recipes. The Idiot’s Guide has been revamped and now in full colour, beautiful photography and a gorgeous cover page while still staying true to it’s roots and allowing readers to learn new things in an easy way. I love how much work went into revamping the guides – they are beautiful!

The Idiot’s Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking contains over 120 recipes ranging from breakfast, dessert, meals broken down by protein source to breads (yes breads!). Start off with the basics on a slow cooker (trust me this is a must if you are still learning how to use your machine properly!) and then dive into the amazing recipes . My favourite ones? The top one has to be a Philly cheese steak sandwich as I would never have even thought to prepare something like this in my slow cooker. I have only ever really used it for chilli’s and soup before! This is followed closely by a creamy broccoli cheese soup, sloppy joes and tri tip beef stroganoff – aren’t these names making you hungry right now?!

Each recipe comes with details on how many servings it will yield, serving size along with the length of time to cook the meal in your slow cooker. Each page also has helpful tips on making variations or how to perfect that recipe. The pictures are large and mouth watering with easy to follow instructions (a must have in a recipe book for me!). With it’s smaller size and soft cover format it is the perfect book to hide away in the kitchen and whip out when you need to make that perfect meal. A slow cooker is the perfect solution for busy families with limited time to still prepare a healthy meal at home!

Check out the Idiot’s Guide – As Easy As It Gets boutique and receive a 30% discount for a limited time!

Do you have a special go to slow cooker recipe that you love?

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 2, 2014

Eye Wonder Sharks from DK Canada #review

Do you have a little one in your home who loves sharks? We have two huge shark fans – so big we aren’t allowed to plan vacations during Shark Week otherwise they may miss an episode which just can not happen. I have to admit that these beautiful creatures hold a special place in my heart as well for many reasons. We love to discover new facts, learn about new sharks and their habits.

The Eye Wonder series is a precursor to the Eyewitness series and is specially designed for the 5+ crowd. The book comes in hardcover format (perfect for young kids who are not always as gentle as they could be) with large, beautiful photographs. The photographs and accompanying easy to read vocabulary made it the perfect book for us to read together as a family. We could easily open the book, pick out a photo and learn all about that shark in easy to use terms. I fell in love with the big, bold and bright photographs that truly showcase the beauty of sharks.

We were able to learn about a great variety of sharks from big to small as well as some odd looking ones we never knew about before. We looked at their teeth, eating habits, gills and so much more. I even learned some new stuff (Mom even sat down with the book after the kids went to bed so that I could read more too – love books like that!). As if Eye Wonder Sharks couldn’t get any better -at the end of the book they include eight pages of activities for your child to really dive in and enhance the complete learning experience. A win-win for us!

This book was such a hit that our eldest took the book to school and has kept it there for his friends and him to read during their breaks! That is when you know a book has done it’s job – it has engaged and sparked their curiosity to learn!

Check out the DK Canada Back to School boutique for more exciting Eye Wonder series as well as great workbooks to get your child back in the swing of things. The boutique is also offering a 30% off discount for a limited time so make sure to get in on that discount before it is gone!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

September 29, 2014

Mommy, Am I Pretty? #review & #giveaway

Young children are flooded with images of how they should look and behave every day. Society has placed a strong emphasis on our physical appearance that it is almost impossible to escape. I still remember looking in the mirror growing up and hating my nose – it was wide and big and I was teased relentlessly for it (this was even before media encouraged the perfect skinny body type!). I would come home every night and take a wooden clothespin and clip my nose in an effort to make my nose smaller (remember the saying don’t do that to your face it will freeze like that – yup that was my hope at the time). I have come a long way since then but I still have so many insecurities about my appearance that go back to my young days. I have an unhealthy relationship with food that stems from my high school years and not allowing myself to eat during school hours in the hope of looking pretty. As a Mother and an Aunt it is now important to me more than ever to encourage the children in my life that they have value that extends well beyond their physical appearance. That it is the good inside of us that makes us beautiful people.

About Mommy, Am I Pretty?

Mommy, am I pretty? is the story of Molly a young girl in elementary school. One day while walking home from school with her Mother, Molly asks what it means to be pretty. Molly’s Mother helps her look at her day at school, at home and in her neighbourhood to discover moments of kindness and beauty. Molly learns that it is the small gestures of generosity and friendship that makes us loving and beautiful on the inside which shines through to our outer beauty. Molly realizes that being pretty on the inside is what matters most in life.

My Thoughts

The powerful message that Margot L Denommé writes is showcased in a wonderful way that will reach out to all young children. The story is written as if it is you having this conversation with your child. She examines every day experiences that children will go through and how our actions in these moments defines us and makes us a better and beautiful person. Children are bombarded with images in media leaving them with the feeling that beauty can only be seen on the outside. It is so important for children to know that our actions make us good people and it is a good heart that shines out and makes a person beautiful.

Mommy, am I pretty? is a book that I hope ends up in every classroom – it teaches a lesson that not only starts at home but extends into a child’s school life where they can be exposed to negative comments about their appearance and bullying.

About Margot L.Denommé

Margot practices law in Toronto where she lives with her husband and two young girls. Margot wrote this book to encourage dialogue between parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers and young girls as a way to empower and teach them that true beauty lies within. Her message has resonated with many Canadian groups and organizers including, The Pediatric Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery division of the Hospital for Sick Children and the Dove Self-Esteem Fund Real Beauty Campaign. A portion of proceeds from book sales will go to Meagan’s Walk, a Toronto based charity that has since 2001 raised more than $2.7 million for cancer research. Margot has presented to several organizations as well as spoken to many students at various schools. To arrange for a public speaking opportunity at your own school you can contact her here.

A Special Mention

Margot’s two daughters, Madison and Brooke, are the illustrators of her book! Their lovely drawings complete the book and make it perfect! It was wonderful to see all of their drawings bringing the book to life.

Mommy, am I pretty? is avaiable in both hardcover and kindle format.

Enter to Win!

Margot has two books ready to give away to two of my Canadian readers to help encourage a daily dialogue between parents and their young girls! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

September 14, 2014

All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant #review

All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes

Kat dreams of more than just plain old chocolate and vanilla. She wants a more exotic flair to her life but is sitting in the shadows of her family. At twenty six years old she is living in the background of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Kat still works shifts at her Aunt Maggie’s bakery – still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.

When Lucas Brannen, her best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake off on Cupcake Combat everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary AND a job at a famous bakery in New York.

As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself is her and this is in danger of slipping away from him.

The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat’s senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams or sabotage her chances in order to keep her in Louisiana for himself.

My Thoughts

All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes is a sweet journey of finding one’s calling. Kat is young and so unsure of herself like so many of us are. She has a wealth of education and passion for baking but is scared to make that leap of faith and reach for her dreams. I have felt this way many times – it is terrifying to do something out of our comfort zone and the normal routine we have built. But sometimes it is completely worth it.

The slow romance between Kat and Lucas is wonderful to watch grow. They are both so unsure of taking their friendship to that next level even though they complement each other perfectly. Lucas is always there for Kat and supporting in her dreams. Even when those dreams conflict with the life he has built for them in his mind. He falls victim to human nature and almost damages Kat’s chances but realizes how selfish this is and works hard to fix his mistakes.

A lovely and fun read that will have you laughing and smiling as you turn every page.

Check out more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page here. If you want to order your own copy of the book you can do so here.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter and has a heart for sharing the amazing news of God’s grace through her novels. A freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

September 5, 2014

The Lady and the Officer by Mary Ellis #review

I am a history nut (all of my undergrad electives were in history and anthropology!). So when I saw The Lady and the Officer by Mary Ellis I knew I wanted to read this one!

The Lady and The Officer

The Lady and the Officer is the second book in her Civil war historical romance series that focuses on the stories of the brave women and the men who love them.

Madeline Howard is our main character in this novel who was serving as a nurse for a brief period after the battle of Gettysburg. While serving as a nurse she saves the life of Elliot Haywood, a colonel in the Confederate Home Guard. Even though Maddy makes her home in the South, her heart and political sympathies belong to General James Downing, a soldier from the North.

Colonel Haywood has never forgotten the beautiful nurse who saved him and when he unexpectedly meets her again in Richmond, he is determined to win her heart. While rubbing elbows with army officers and cavalry generals and war department officials in her aunt’s home, Maddy overhears plans for a Confederate attack in Northern Virginia. She knows passing along this information may save the life of her beloved James but at what cost? Can she really betray the trust of her family and friends?

Maddy’s heart is torn between wanting to be loyal to those who care for her and wanting to help the man she believes is on the right side of the conflict. Two men love her. Will her faith in God show her the way to a bright future or will her choices bring a devastation of their own?

My Thoughts

Maddy is an incredibly strong woman and I love how the novel focuses on this aspect of her personality. She knows what is in her heart, trusts in her faith and what she feels is right. She has also seen a lot of suffering and devastation which has changed her as a person as well.

The struggles she deals with watching families separated by beliefs is something I can imagine happened a lot during these times. Maddy is placed in a difficult situation that challenges her morals and beliefs. She has to choose between her family and her love. A choice that eats her up inside.

The novel gives you a great insight into the lives of those living during the Civil War and how they had to survive. The Lady and The Officer is an excellent historical romance – perfect for weekend reading!

Check it out on Amazon here.

Rating: 4/5

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.