Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Homemade Decadence by Joy the Baker (Joy Wilson)



Yummmmmmmmmm!!!!! That's my review of this book! :)

Oh, you wanted a little more information? Okay! This cookbook, entitled "Homemade Decadence" by Joy the Baker (aka Joy Wilson) is a gorgeous book to inspire you to satisfy your sweet tooth!

This book is a cookbook, and more. It's a cookbook that you'll want to read also. Interesting little snippets of information or entertainment by each recipe keep you reading!

Some cookbooks annoy me, this does not! :) One thing this book has is GORGEOUS photographs of each of the recipes. Not just the item, but beautiful plates and a pretty picture of the whole thing. Does that mean that your cake (or whatever) will look just like that? Probably not, but it's beautiful to look through!

The Recipes: here's where my pet peeves do not apply to this cookbook! The recipes are actual recipes, not made with cake mixes and canned fillings, etc. They're recipes made with ingredients. AND they are mostly regular ingredients that you would probably already have in your cupboards--not exotic ingredients which you will have to seek out and purchase particularly for only one recipe (some are more exotic than I have in my cupboard, but not most!)

Ohhhh--and the end products--I will easily admit that I have a big sweet tooth. We like to have dessert for every dinner. I never realized till I was an adult that not every family does have dessert every day, but we surely do in our family! The recipes in this book are mouth-watering, and better yet -- very do-able. Listen to some of these: peanut butter cream pie, apple pie with cheddar-bacon crust (!!!!), lemon poppyseed pancakes, maple-apple upside down cake, brown sugar cream cheese ice cream. and on and on!!

It's a great book. Obviously I like this cookbook. My children like it as well! :) Lots of tasty treats will be inspired by this book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Monday, November 10, 2014

To Everything a Season by Lauraine Snelling



This book, "To Everything a Season" by Lauraine Snelling, is a sweet book about a picture-perfect town and its residents. The town is Blessing, North Dakota, and this is one of a series of books about this town. The town is full of strong characters who are very helpful and growing the town. There are a few female doctors and they run a training center for nursing students. There are some strong families who tie the town together.

The book follows several events, one of which is a bank robbery and one of the perpetrators. Part of the story focuses on one of the nursing students and her family responsibilities and heartaches. There is a little bit of a love story here as well.

Basically -- it's a sweet story about family and a town you might wish you were a part of. It was an easy story to read, though I think if I had been more familiar with the characters (from earlier books in the series) certain things might have made more sense. However, I wouldn't that you won't enjoy this book even if it's the first you've read in this series.

This was a nice, light, easy-to-read, entertaining book. I would definitely recommend it.

I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Crap Taxidermy by Kat Su



Silly silly book :) Although the title "Crap Taxidermy" is a bit ummmm. . .crass. . .(not a word that is allowed to be used in my home!!) this book is hilarious. I am married to a hunter/fisherman whose family are also avid sportsmen, so taxidermy is commonplace to see--on people's walls, etc. I don't think I've seen any specimens as odd as those featured in this book!

I'm not sure if these examples were a part of someone's learning curve or products that they were proud to complete, but you'll be laughing as you go through the book. The titles only enhance the pages.

This is a small book and will make a great gift for certain people. For instance, my bachelor brother-in-law will be receiving a copy of this for Christmas -- and I'm sure he'll enjoy it. It's kind of a coffee-table book, again, for certain audiences. Some people may be uncomfortable with it -- don't give them a copy!! There's even a section at the back to learn to do-it-yourself-- making a taxidermy mouse, if you are so inspired. At any rate, this will fit the bill for some of those hard-to-shop-for folks!

I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review from Blogging for Books; I was not required to write a positive review.