Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Remedy by Supa Nova Slom

I read this book for my Foodie Challenge and I'm glad I did.  This book is well-written, motivational and enticing.

Written by hip-hops 'Medicine Man', Supa Nova Slom shares a lifestyle diet which cleanses, revitalizes and restores the body.  He offers a Five Week Power Plan that tells you day by day a food and exercise guide through a green food diet.

With the eyes of youth and teens on him, making healthy eating and exercise a lifestyle goal is a great foundation for them.  Our younger generation is more likely to listen to him than their own parents.

The Plan is a great one, building on greens and vegetables which I am focusing on MORE and MORE.  It's not that hard to follow if your ready to move to healthier eating.

One of my favorite excerpts in this book is:
"You are either exerting a will and desire to neglect yourself, to remain helpless and unconscious, or you are exerting a will and desire to get better, do well and grow powerful and strong.  There is no such thing as an absense of will and desire.  Everything you do is by your choice."

Like I said, great motivation to move to a healthier path.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Knitting Bones (Needlecraft Mystery) by Monica Ferris

This is a great cozy mystery.  It continues in the series with Betsy Devonshire, proprietor of the Crewel World needlework shop in Excelsior, Minn. 

The stitchers of the Embroiderers Guild raised over twenty thousand dollars for charity—but the representative who accepted the check at the annual convention disappeared with it. It turns out that he’s the husband of the local chapter president, Allie Germaine, who insists on his innocence. 

So where is the check and where is Allie's husband ?

Betsy tries to solve the mystery from home while recovering from a horseback riding accident.  Her assistant and store manager Godwin Goddy Dulac offers to do her legwork while Betsy stays home on the mend and ends up illegally babysitting a wild crow with a broken wing.

This is a page turner book, there are no slow spots.
It's a fun read with interesting characters.  I enjoy this series.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Three Weissmann's of Westport

This book is very well written, BUT a little too depressing for me. It will be a great book for someone who is in a bad mood or just sad and wants company.

It's not only filled with sad, depressed characters, but there are others who are narcissistic, hateful or just plain mean.

It's about 3 women, a mother who at 75, has been asked for a divorce by her husband and her two adult daughters around 50 with their own troubles to deal with.

I prefer happy, romance, comedy, fun, uplifting books so this was not my style.   If the prose had not been as exceptional as it was, I would not have finished it.  If you like books about people that have to work through a LOT of depressing issues you will love this.


Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Red Pyramid , Kane Chronicles, Book 1 by Rick Riordan

This is a great YA book.

It has non-stop adventure with plenty of magic, animals and legends.
Two teens find they are descendants of Egyptian gods. 

When their father is taken from them in a museum the adventure starts.  They have to deal with magicians, Egyptian gods and their own growing knowledge of magic tricks.

This book has a lot of Egyptian lore and history which may be too much like studying for a YA reader but the action and adventure keep the pages turning.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Book Review: Tails from the Yoga Studio by Rain Mitchell

This is a wonderful tail of friendship and growth.. 

I expected something totally different from this book.  It started out scratchy and raw with characters I didn't particularly care for, but as the story grew, the characters developed.  Each woman has issues to deal with, but while working out with yoga and working out together, friendships develop and the women grow stronger. 

By the time I finished the book, I felt closer to each woman and had a stronger belief in myself.  When I turned the last page, I was ready to go to the next yoga class at my gym and to read the book again.

The book follows five women who have quite different lives from each other but manages to intermingle them while dealing with daily lives and struggles.  If you already enjoy yoga, this book will be truly enjoyable.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Maybe This Tiime by Jennifer Crusie

There is lots of mystery and mayhem in this book.  Crusie has a talent to get you smiling even while walking you through a scary adventure with death and ghosts.  The characters are well rounded and interesting.  There's no time for a dull moment in this book.

Andie Miller thinks she is ready for marriage again but her ex-husband, North Archer, asks her for one final favor before she says I-do.

A distant cousin of his has died and left North, an attorney, as the guardian of two orphans and the nannies he's tried don't stay around for long.  He asks Andie to care for them for 'just one month'.

The orphans, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old haunted house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers.   Once Andie settles into the old house a great cast of characters start arriving - and not all through the front door. 

If Andie can just get rid of all the guests and ghosts, she’s pretty sure she can save the kids and get on with her wedding.  Then North shows up on the doorstep and things get complicated.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Another fun book - Evanovich style. 
If you like Janet's style, you will enjoy reading this book too.   It has a crazy - fun cast of characters, including animals - even the well known Carl the monkey.  There is a bit of mystery, a bit of romance and a bit of magic - who could ask for more.

In a race against time, Lizzie - the main character who works in a bakery and makes the best cupcakes in town - must track down a collection of priceless ancient relics representing the Seven Deadly Sins.  She get a lot of help from Diesel who is handsome, very strong, and possibly not entirely human.  Lizzie also finds out she has some magical powers of her own.

I gave this one 5 stars - I love the Evanovich style.  I can't wait for the next one.