Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion Book Review

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R is having a no-life crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.

And then he meets a girl.

First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn’t want to eat this girl—although she looks delicious—he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.

Head over to Simon & Schuster to get more information and where to buy. 

On February 1st, 2013 Warm Bodies is coming to the big screen! Watch the trailer after my review.

My thoughts: I rate this book 5 out 5 stars! 

I absolutely loved this book! I don't read many Zombie books but have seen my share of movies. This is my favorite Zombie in the world! Isaac Marion writes the book from the mind of R, a different kind of Zombie. He actually cares, feels, and talks more than 2 words. I feel in love with R and Julie's characters and love how they interact and learn to care for each other. The story line ropes you in from the beginning with quirky Zombie humor and keeps you hanging on to find out what with happen to Julie and following R's transformation. 

A couple quotes I love from the beginning of the book are "My friend 'M' says the irony of being a zombie is that everything is funny, but you can't smile, because your lips have rotted off. " and "None of us are particularly attractive, but death has been kinder to me than some. I'm still in the early stages of decay." This is a different kind of Zombie book where the zombies are not all bad, giving a different take on brain eating zombies.

This is a great romance with lots of Zombie action. If you are looking for a date night movie this weekend I would highly suggest Warm Bodies after reading the book. I can't wait to see the movie!



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Simon & Schuster. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Tips & Tricks from Tommalier David Rocco + Recipe

Do you love tomatoes? Here is a quick, easy and tasty recipe from David Rooco from the Food Network.  Tomatoes form the base of David Rocco’s warming soup, a deliciously simple one-pot meal ready to serve in a little over 20 minutes.

David Rocco’s Tomato and Lentil Soup 
Serves: 2-4 people

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tbsp (56 ml) extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 bunch of fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 2 fresh chili peppers, chopped
• 2 cans (14 oz/398 ml) tomatoes, such as Hunt’s Original Diced Tomatoes
• 1 can (19 oz/540 ml) lentils, drained and rinsed
• Salt, QB
• Pepper, QB
• 2 tbsp of tomato paste, such as Hunt’s Original Tomato Paste
• Water

DIRECTIONS 

• In a saucepan, heat olive oil. Add garlic, parsley and chili peppers and sauté for a few minutes until the garlic has started to turn golden.
• Pour in the diced tomatoes with the juice right from the tin. With the back of a wooden spoon, break up the tomatoes into little chunks. You can decide the consistency. Then add in the rinsed lentils, salt and pepper. Add tomato paste, and then add water about 1/2 an inch above the lentils.  Bring to a boil, then lower to medium heat and cook for 20 minutes until the soup has thickened. 

Hunt’s Tommalier Tip: It's a tradition to make tomato lentil soup with sausage on New Year’s Day as it is supposed to bring good luck for the year ahead.  For a heartier version that does not betray the soup’s cucina povera roots, break up some sausage and let it slightly brown, just before you add in the tomatoes.

~*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post from Hunts. We received Hunts products in exchange for posting. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Winter Pet Care Tips from IAMS

IAMS recently sent me some great tips that I wanted to share with you for caring for our pets during the winter months.  IAMS and the Ontario SPCA have put these tips together to help families keep their pets healthy, safe and warm during the winter. 

Check ups – Take your animals for a winter checkup before the cold kicks in. Your veterinarian can check to make sure they don't have any medical problems that will make them more vulnerable to the cold. 

Winter fashion isn’t just for humans – Just like we get dressed up to stay warm in the winter, some pets do, too! Try dressing your pet in a winter sweater, jacket or booties to keep them warm on winter walks. The outfits may not be fitting for every pet’s playful personality, but they certainly help keep them warm!

Take pet paw precautions - After taking your pet for a walk in the winter, be sure to wipe their paws and underside after being outside. Salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice on the roads and sidewalks can irritate and burn your pet’s sensitive paws. Soaking your pet’s paws in warm water before drying them off also helps remove chunks of snow and is soothing for their pads

Cars in the winter are like freezers – Never leave your cat or dog unattended in the car during the cold weather months. Cars act like refrigerators and freezers in the winter and could cause your pet to suffer from severe hypothermia.

Consider their coat in the cold – When the temperature drops below zero, pets should not be left outside for long periods of time, especially cats and short-coated dogs and puppies as they are particularly vulnerable to cold temperatures. If you have a cat or short-coated dog, only take them out for short walks and consider dressing them in sweaters to keep the heat in.

Hydration – Keep an eye on your pet's water bowl. It’s easy not to realize that a water bowl has frozen and your furry friend might be unable to drink. Animals that don't have access to clean, unfrozen water are more likely to drink out of puddles or gutters, which can be polluted with oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other chemicals.

Home heating – We know there is nothing better than lighting a fire to keep warm.  If you plan to light a fire or plug in a space heater, remember that the heat will be as attractive to your pets as to you. As your dog or cat snuggles up to the warmth, keep an eye out to make sure that no tails or paws come in contact with flames, heating coils, or hot surfaces. Pets are clumsy and also unable to undo a small mistake so remember that they can either burn themselves or knock a heat source over and put the entire household in danger.

For more information on health and nutrition tips for cats and dogs of all life stages, visit IAMS.

~*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by IAMS. ll opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Better Than Catnip by Ruth J. Hartman Book Review

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Roxy Williams adores cats. Always has. That’s why she devotes her life to running her stray cat shelter. But is that enough? Isn’t there a man out there who will love her for who she is? A special man who won’t try to change her or ask her to choose between him and her cats?

Max Weller has a problem. His son, Derek, must complete community service for fighting at school. The only available place is the stray cat shelter. But Derek is terrified of cats from a frightening childhood experience. How will they get through this traumatic experience?

Roxy and Max feel the strong attraction pulling them together as Max volunteers at the shelter, too. Will they be able to keep the spark alive? Or will Derek’s fears come between them?

Purchase a copy at Astraea Press for $2.99

I took part for the first time in a Book Club on Facebook with Astraea Press. You receive the book of the month for free if you are interested in taking part that month. You are not obligated to post a review but it does help the author if you leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.  

My thoughts:  I gave this book 4 out of 5 Meows. 

This is a definite book for cat lovers, if you don't like cats you wont want to read this book as it takes place at a cat shelter. The owner is Roxy and most of the story is around the cats or involving cats in the shelter with some romance.  One day a boy and his father come to the shelter just before opening and tell Roxy that the boy, Derek is there for community service. Derek's dad, Max is a hunk in Roxy's eyes and she is interested in him sticking around to help at the shelter with his son. Max and Roxy start to fall for each other but with all romances there ups and downs and sometimes obstacles. 

This is a great romance comes with one big obstacle, Derek has a huge fear of cats. Cats are Roxy's whole world and she doesn't really want to live without them but she really likes Max. Roxy is trying to help Derek overcome his huge fear of cats.  This novel moves at a great pace, not too rushed but not slow moving either. I love how Derek is put in a place to have to either run or overcome his cat fears. Roxy and Max both need to learn to have a relationship when a kid is involved and Max is just really becoming a father as he didn't have custody to his son until now. 

This is a cat lovers romance that is a clean read, very enjoyable and I look forward to reading more of Ruth J. Hartman's books. 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book as part of a Book Club with Astraea Press. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Pinkie Pie Party DVD Release

MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC - PINKIE PIE PARTY

Do you have a My Little Pony fan? Tomorrow (January 29th, 2013) is the official release of the newest My Little Pony DVD exclusively at Walmart! It will be available for $14.99. 

Come join the fun! It’s the biggest collection of parties in Ponyville and you’re invited! Get your Pinkie Pie party outfit ready to enjoy five outrageously awesome parties with everypony’s favorite friends — Twilight Sparkle, Apple Jack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Spike and the ultimate party planner herself, Pinkie Pie!

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Keep Your Feet Warm this Winter with BEARPAW

We just hit another cold snap here in Ontario and are getting very frigid weather for the last week. How do you keep your feet warm while out running errands, getting the kids off to school and being outdoors? 

Have you tried BEARPAW boots? These are made from sheepskin and lined with wool. Sheepskin naturally regulates body temperature so your feet stay warmer in the cold and in the warmer month they stay cooler and drier.

BEARPAW offers a wide style of footwear from slippers to boots and casual footwear. There is something for everyone to keep warm this winter season. If you are not looking for new boots, you can check out their slippers! 

Recently BEARPAW sent me a pair of short black boots called Tessa. These boots are filled with the softest and warmest wool. They are the most comfortable boots I have had where you feel like you are a pair of cozy slippers. They fit snug and cozy and are great for walking with the kids or the dog. Be sure to treat your boots with the proper spray to keep them from getting stained and ruined from the wet and salt/sand over the winter. 

These boots have kept my feet very warm this winter and will keep them cozy in the Spring and next Fall. They are a great pair of boots. They can be worn casually or can be also added to your winter outfit when you need to dress up. I did find when I first got them that they were really snug to put on, around the ankle part. This has stretched enough to get my feet in comfortably and still snug enough so they do not fall off or slip up and down when I walk like other boots I have had in a similar style.

I have been keeping my feet warm this winter with BEARPAW and I am also already for the summer with my BEARPAW Sandals.

Head over to BEARPAW Canada on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter @BEARPAW_CANADA


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of BEARPAW. I received a pair of boots for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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5 Tips on Getting Your Creative Juices Flowing

As a blogger we are indeed writer's even if we don't think we are. I for one have felt this way for a while now. I keep telling myself "I'm not a writer, never was, never will be". This is the year I will change my thinking and think of my self as a writer, a writer of my blog Genuine Jenn.

I recently shared some of my tips to stay organized and keeping my creative juices flowing as a blogger with a fellow blogger and decided I would post about it for others to read also. I will split these into two posts. Watch for a post on tips to stay organized when blogging coming soon. 

5 Tips on getting your creative juices flowing:

Go for a long walk - grab your dog or just your iPod and go for a nice long walk. I find if I go on a nature walk this is a great way to clear my head.

Grab your camera and start snapping - charge up your camera or cell phone and take a walk. This walk could be around your house, or out in nature or just through your town or city. Take photos of anything and everything. When you get home load them up and see what comes to mind. Start writing about what these photos are of or mean to you.

Take some "Me" time - take a nice long warm bath, snuggle up and read a book, go grab a coffee with a friend. These things are great for clearing your mind and once you have a clear mind it is so much easier to write.

Disconnect - I know this one is a hard one for most people these days. I used to find this so hard to do. I have come to learn to take time off from social media sites, email and even my blog. I find taking some time off even a few hours each night or time off during the day keeps me more focused when I go back online and it clears my mind.

Writing Prompts - I have also found writing prompts to be a good way to get my brain thinking again. There are many different sites and blogs that offer tips/prompts. There are also blog sites that offer daily writing prompts like Blog Dare @ Bloggy Moms.



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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The Big Book of Babycakes Cookbook Review

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I have always loved to bake and I will admit I love cupcakes! I am thinking my daughter inherited that from myself as she is obsessed with cupcakes and making them. I swear she dreams about cupcakes!

This past Christmas Santa brought A one of those mini cupcake makers, The Babycake cupcake maker because A loves cupcakes so much. Robert Rose offered myself the Big Book of Babycakes cupcake maker recipe book for review and we have been having a blast baking up a storm with this book and A's new cupcake maker. We also have a list a mile long of recipes that we want to try. 

Book summary: 
"It's impossible not to have fun when you bake a batch of treats in the Babycakes cupcake maker. In addition to cupcakes, you'll enjoy preparing delightful two-bite pies, muffins, appetizers, and more - prefect for any occasion. Most of these tantalizing bundles bake in less than 10 minutes. And when you see the results, you just have to smile: they look so cute, taste so good and are so easy to make." 

My thoughts: This is a great cookbook if you have the Babycakes cupcake maker, even if you just want to make cute mini's in your oven. The recipes are quick, easy and fun to make. In the beginning of the book there is a great chapter (Babycakes 101) of photos and how-to to help you learn how to use the Babycake maker, decorate and make your basics. The cookbook includes so many recipes not just cupcakes. You can make pies, brownies, cheesecakes, appetizers, quiche and more!

Looking for something to take to your next bake sale, or family event? So many great ideas in this book. Some are made from scratch and some use cake mixes and other helpers.

Pick up your copy today on Robert Rose.   

Over the holidays the kids accumulated a ton of candy canes. What do you do with all those candy cakes? One of the great recipes in this cookbook is just what we were looking for. Candy Cane cupcakes out of the Christmas chapter. 

Candy Cane Cupcakes
Makes 16 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups devil's food cake mix
• 4 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 vegetable oil 
• 1/4 water 
• White Chocolate Peppermint Frosting (variation on page 109)
• 2/3 crushed peppermint-flavored candy canes

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on low speed, beat cake mix, cocoa, eggs, oil and water for 30 seconds or until moistened. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
2. If desired, place paper liners in wells. Fill each well with about 1 1/2 tbsp batter. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining batter. 
3. Frost generously with White Chocolate Peppermint Frosting (or white or chocolate frosting). Immediately sprinkle each cupcake with about 2 tsp crushed candy canes. 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Robert Rose. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Writer's Block or Lack of Writing Mojo

To be totally honest with my readers I can be EXTREMELY hard on myself. I have always been this way. I can easily put myself down and usually it is for nothing or something small but to me it can be big. 

Over the last two and a half years, almost three in May I have had times where I have wanted to throw in the blogging towel. Not because I don't like blogging anymore but because I was just overwhelmed or had the winter blues. 

I started to realize I am not the only once that gets writer's block or as some bloggers put it losing the blogging mojo. I have sometimes been just overwhelmed in life and sometimes with the things I have taken on for my blog. Usually when this happens I step back and think do I still love blogging? The answer is always Yes.  

I think with all things we sometimes just need to take a breather or a short break. Sometimes for me it is just scheduling "me" time to read, take a walk or get away from the computer. I started my blog for a way to have something for me. I work a sometimes high stress job, I commute an hour each way. The time I could sit down and blog was just what I needed. Plus on the bright side I didn't have to pull out tons of equipment to blog, just my netbook. 

I always tell myself I am not a writer but in all reality I am. I write this blog. Yes, sometimes I have spelling mistakes or grammar errors. Sometimes run on sentences but if you know me I can have run on sentences when talking :) I want to become a better writer and have decided I will look for a course to take in creative writing. 

This year I do plan to put more of me out in my blog. Something I have been hiding from since the beginning I guess. I think this is where my shyness comes in on my blog. I have a hard time opening up to people and well who really reads my blog? Some days there are tons of strangers stopping by.  If you stop by lets get to know each other, leave me a comment.

Watch for a post later this week (or weekend) for my tips I use to regain my mojo and stay organized when blogging. 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Need to Breathe by Tara Staley Book Review

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Summary from Goodreads: Claire Harper baffles doctors when she comes into the world 14 weeks early and covered with burns. Saddled with respiratory distress and misguided parents, Baby Claire needs more than incubators, oxygen tanks and Little Golden Books—she needs miracles.

She needs a very special woman named Millie Rose.

Millie died from childbirth in 1922, but she’s given a second chance at motherhood when she’s assigned to be a “spiritual foster parent” to Claire. Millie mentors her through NICU nightmares and toddler tirades. Residual illnesses, sassy peers—and a dark secret behind the burns on her skin. Over the years, Millie assuages Claire’s poor health, mentors a family steeped in dysfunction, helps Claire find real love and, in the end, guides her toward facing the abominable truth behind her birth. But when Millie pursues her own forbidden desire to somehow see the child she died delivering, she wagers not only Claire’s well-being and her years of hard work, but risks losing her own final peace in the hereafter.

Purchase Need to Breathe on Amazon for $1. 

My thoughts: I loved this book! I had a hard time putting this book down when I had to. It was one of those books that brings you right into the story and you just need to know what is going to happen. This story was told my Millie Rose who is like a spirit, she is referred to as a pixie, a voice in Claire's mind. The whole book is told by Millie. This is the first book I have read like this and loved it. Millie tried to help Claire from birth, telling her to breathe and she will make it. Claire was born with burns all over her body. She is told they are birth marks. This book was not a happy go lucky kind of book. It was a total emotional roller coaster. There are many dark moments in Claire and Millie's lives that are told and we follow the journey through everything. The author came up with a fabulous story line and had me feeling so many emotions through the book, some where I wanted to cry and other parts where I want to yell at Claire. 

I give Need to Breathe by Tara Staley a 5 star rating as this pulled at heart strings, made you happy and sad. The story held me throughout and stayed with me long after reading it. I have also recommended this book to many friends and family members.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn, I received the above e-book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Edge from the Past by Jennifer Comeaux Book Review & Giveaway

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Edge of the Past (Book #2)

Emily's skating career and personal life have never been more golden. She and her partner Chris have won every competition they've entered this season, and she's found the man of her dreams in her coach Sergei. But when one of the biggest competitions of the year takes Emily and Sergei to Russia, Sergei's past explodes into the present and makes Emily doubt everything in their future.

This is the second book in the series. Find out how Emily and Sergei began their relationship in Life on the Edge which I reviewed in November 2012.

Purchase Edge of the Past (Book #2) on Amazon or Astraea Press

My thoughts: In this book we follow Chris, Emily and Sergei to Russia for a skating competition. While in Russia Emily is faced with more of Sergei's past. Sergei and Emily run into Sergei's ex and he finally meets his child. Sergei will do just about anything to get to know his daughter even inviting her and her mom back to the United States. Sergei's daughter has been living in the United States all this time and just recently moved to Russia. She is also a skater and misses her friend in the United States.

This is a tough, emotional journey for Emily, who is still learning more about Sergei's past. She needs to also learn to be a mother figure for Sergei's child and also be able to accept and get along with Sergei's ex. There is less figure skating in this book and more about Emily and Sergei relationship. The author makes you feel like part of the story while you get to know each character. I look forward to continuing the journey with Emily and Sergei in Book #3 out later this year!

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~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Laura Meets Jeffrey: Both Sides of an Erotic Memoir Review

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18 + Years of age past this point

LAURA MEETS JEFFREY while she’s working in an upscale New York City brothel in 1980 and they share an apocalyptic moment. It’s love at first orgasm. And so begins their double lives in a real life version of Fifty Shades Of Grey. .

LAURA MEETS JEFFREY is a love story, a name-dropping, hilarious, shameless erotic cyclone, a documentary of the excesses, dangers and extreme edges of sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and a close-up personal history of sexual liberation’s primetime.

At dinner parties she’s known as a witty lingerie model and jewelry artisan, and a famous film director’s ex-lover. He’s her media wizard boyfriend, a designer discovered by John Lennon who worked for John & Yoko, Apple Records and the Rolling Stones, and then created Puritan, the world’s largest-selling explicit sex magazine. On weekends he boxes with Ryan O’Neal and Jose Torres.

And at night, in the erotic demimondes of New York, Miami and LA, Laura and Jeffrey romp through waves of drugs and lascivious exploration and dive into S&M, porn star threesomes, orgies, glory holes and sex clubs as our unquenchable libidomaniacs fulfill their wildest fantasies.

The late Norman Mailer wrote the Foreword to LAURA MEETS JEFFREY and considered his famous interview with Jeffrey and Laura on “Ethics and Pornography,” excerpted as a bonus chapter in this book, one of the best of the more than 600 he gave in his lifetime. Besides bequeathing the Foreword, Mailer gave guidance to this account of two lovers, who missed none of the wild era just before the door slammed shut on sexual freedom and aren’t afraid to reveal all of it.

Buy on Amazon Kindle

My Thoughts: This is a really different type of book. I have heard about the Fifty Shades series and I have it on my shelf to be read. This from a conversation with a friend will blow Fifty Shades out of the water. This is real life.

I finished it a couple weeks ago but thought I needed some time to form my thoughts for this review. Still as I sit here and write this review I think WOW! Someone actually lived this! Crazy stuff. This is a memoir wrote from mostly Jeffrey but Laura adds her thoughts also though out the book. Having Laura confirming the events makes it more validated I guess from a women's perspective. Jeffrey shares his life in the orgy, swingers, hookers life. He also shares about boxing and his work. This memoir would be either for ladies and gentlemen interested in learning more about the sex,drugs and rock n roll phase. I felt while reading this book I was sitting with Jeffrey having coffee as he is telling me about what happened the night before. It really feels like a conversation that just reading a book. 

If you are willing to keep an open mind and learn what went on through Jeffrey and Laura's life you will enjoy this book. Be prepared for humor, lots of hard core sex and just to be really perplexed. Many times I thought WOW this is crazy, this actually happened. People actually did this. It was an eye opener for sure. Nothing is left out of this book, the good, the bad and the ugly. You will get it all. Be prepared to not read this one out in public or you may have explaining to do with some of the chapter headings. Lived that when my husband looked over and saw Anal Sex in bold!

I do give this book a 4 out of 5. It is a very different book for myself to read. 
 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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300 Sensational Soups Cookbook Review + Recipe

300 Sensational Soups by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds

Synopsis from Robert Rose: "A good soup nourishes the heart as well the stomach, spreading a feeling of satisfaction and contentment. Hot soup is warming on a winter day, while cold soup is just as welcome in the heat of summer.

From comforting creamy chicken and rice soup to refreshing gazpacho, 300 Sensational Soups offers something for every season, mood and occasion. There are 50 international soups, including Vietnamese pho, Italian wedding soup, and Middle Eastern harira. Soups from the sea include such favorites as snapper in Asian broth with habaero and shrimp, and shrimp and pea soup with lemongrass. Each recipe also includes tips and techniques along with garnishing ideas. As well, there are many creative variations and serving suggestions.

There is also the Just (Soup) Desserts chapter, which features 20 dessert soups, including coconut soup with mango fritters, chocolate soup with brownie croutons, and chilled cherry soup with creme anglaise swirl.

With 300 recipes to choose from, ranging from everyday fare to elegant dishes for entertaining, 300 Sensational Soups offers home chefs a perfect bowl of soup every time."

ISBN-10: 0778801969 ISBN-EAN: 9780778801962 

Price (CAD): $27.95 Format: Paperback Number of Pages: 384 Published Date: Oct 2012

Buy a copy on Robert Rose today!

My Thoughts: I give this book 5 stars for a great go-to soup cookbook. If you are looking for more ideas for soups or starting out with soups like myself, you will love this book. With 300 recipes there is a guarantee that there will be tons your family will enjoy making this a great addition to your cookbook shelf.

We have tried a bunch of the recipes and each and every one has turned out tasty, and a list growing each time I look at the book. I love the set up of this cookbook as each recipe is on one or two pages max, most are one page! For ease of reading it is clear on how many it serves, which I love this way you know if you will have left overs or can serve it to a crowd, or even freeze some for another meal later on. The page is divided into 2 sections with tips and a description and tips on the left of the page with the ingredients and recipe on the right. The recipes are clear and easy to follow even for beginners.

There is a whole section on toppings and garnishes if you would like to had croutons, creams, meatballs etc. I also love the first chapter of Stocks, it gives you tons of information on the basics of stocks and 14 different recipes.

Texas Cowboy Soup - serves 8-10

6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 1/2 lbs of lean ground beef (I used only 1 lb and it was plenty for us)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp chili powder (can change if you like it not spicy)
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 freshly ground black pepper
2 baking potatoes, peeled and diced
2 cans (each 14-19oz/398 to 540 ml) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14 oz/398 ml) diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (14oz/398ml) diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, with juice
4 cups beef stock
1 can (14oz/398ml) corn kernels, drained
Cornbread croutons (recipe in book page 369)

1. In a large pot, saute bacon over medium heat until starting to brown. Add ground beef and saute, breaking up with the back of a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper; saute until onion starts to soften, about 3 minutes. 
2. Add potatoes, beans, both cans of tomatoes and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 20 minutes. Add corn and simmer for 10 minutes. 
3. Ladle into heated bowls and garnish with croutons.

Don't forget to head over and "Like" Robert Rose on Facebook This week until Friday they have a giveaway for a Juicing Cookbook.  

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn on behalf of Robert Rose. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Wordless Wednesday - Marty

Meet our fur baby Marty. He is our big tom cat who loves to just laze around whenever he can. Doesn't matter to him where is drops expect when someone trips or steps on him.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Honeysuckle Love by S. Walden Review & Guest Post

Honeysuckle Love by S. Walden

Upper YA Romance - New Adult

Title: Honeysuckle Love

Author: S. Walden

Date Published: 11/19/12

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Clara Greenwich is too young to take on the sole responsibility of caring for herself and her younger sister. She’s just sixteen. She should be focused on school, hanging out with friends, falling in love. Instead, she’s working to pay off the mound of bills her mother left behind then she vanished at the start of the school year. Left alone with her ten-year-old sister, Beatrice, Clara discovers that she is now the parent, the provider, and the responsibilities grow to be more than she can handle.

Buy e-book on Amazon or Smashwords. 

My thoughts: This was a very emotional book. Clara and her sister Beatrice are left all alone. Their mom walked out one day leaving Clara with all the bills and to care for her 10 year old sister. We learn that Clara's mom suffers from depression and this could be the reason for leaving the girls. Clara is in highschool and meets a nice boy Evan who is head over heels for Clara. He will do anything to spend time with Clara. Evan is popular and Clara isn't but that doesn't stop Evan from wanting Clara as his girlfriend. 

Clara starts to get overwhelmed with the responsibilities of running the house and caring for her sister. She also starts to hear voices in her head. Clara is heading in the same path as her mother but she has Evan by her side wanting to help her through the rough times. This book is about hardships, love, highschool drama and growing up. The book was well written by a teacher and faces many challenges that take the reader through an emotional journey with her characters. 

I have given this book 4 out of 5 stars.  

I also have a guest post today by S. Walden herself. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with my readers.  

Write However, Whenever. Just Write.

I’ve had people ask me how I write. Well, there’s no correct writing process. Sure, you learn
about the Writing Process in school, but it’s a bunch of hooey. Every person (who writes) writes differently, and all forms are acceptable. Now what’s not acceptable is never revising and editing your work. Ugh. Find some critique partners. Find an editor. It doesn’t matter if you’re going it alone as I am or signed with a big publishing house. Make sure you have an editor. And a good one.

My process is usually all over the place. I get an idea for a story, mull it over in my brain, take notes or make a loose (and I mean very loose) outline, and begin. Do I begin at the beginning? Never. I’ve never started a story from the beginning. I always start with whatever scene pops into my head first. But I write fiction. It may prove harder to write this way if I wrote nonfiction. Some might argue that this can mess up the whole character development thing, but I’ve never had that be the case. Sure, I end up changing scenes, sometimes a little, and sometimes altogether. Sometimes I cut them completely. But I always write whatever feels right in that moment. I don’t ever try to go Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and so on.

I’ve run into several dilemmas writing this way. You see, the good thing about writing linearly is that you seldom make mistakes in your plot progression with times, dates, information characters know or don’t know. But when you write all over the place—I like to call it the Chaotic Method—then you tend to run a higher risk of having conflicting information in your story. Take this morning, for instance. I’m in the process of writing my third novel, Going Under. I was writing a scene where a character makes reference to information she hasn’t yet discovered! And that’s because I’ve already written the scene where she discovers it, but the one I worked on this morning comes way earlier in the draft. Whoops. So yeah, that can be an issue. But that’s what your editor is for, right? (She’d love hearing that.)

Here’s the thing about it: I would never again (because I have in the past) give someone
instructions on the appropriate way to write. The correct process, if you will. I did that for a few years as a writing teacher, and felt like one huge fraud. It was frustrating for me and frustrating for my students. They thought they had to write a certain way, and I knew better. But my hands were tied—I had to adhere to the curriculum—though that’s no excuse. I should have been subversive in my teaching. It always makes you a better teacher when you’re subversive.

Remember that. In any case, I carry a bit of guilt for passing off the five-paragraph essay and Writing Process as the appropriate methods. I’m trying to atone for it now.

So write however you want. Find the process that works best for you. Maybe you are more
organized and enjoy writing linearly. It keeps you sane. It keeps your story sensible. It helps you write better. Go for it. Maybe you’re like me and ideas just explode in your brain at random. Before you know it, you’ve got an entire Word document filled with a bunch of unorganized scenes. Then it’s like a puzzle: move this around, that around, until it fits. Whatever works for you, do it. But however you do it, just do it. Keep writing.  

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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