STITCH IT SIMPLE by Beth Sheard

Beth Sheard shares projects that are simple to construct and given away as gifts to family, friends, and co-workers. She includes preparation techniques such as arranging basic kit tools to use and stitching illustrations showing what your final work should look like.

Projects include pillows for the bed or couch, fabric letters used in a teenager’s room or family room, and a greeting card for any occasion. In addition is a beginner quilt for anyone wanting to acquaint oneself with learning beginning quilting to move on to more advanced quilts. The easy follow instructions are easily shared to teach children or young adults the joy of creating do-it-yourself projects alone or in a group setting.

The project that stood out for me was the beginner quilt, as I love to crochet throws and have interest in quilting to add to my list hobbies. I recommend this book to people who indulge in and love do-it-yourself projects as it has many great projects to create and a great gifting opportunity.

I received this book free from the publisher Taunton Press through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an unbiased opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

HANDBAG WORKSHOP by Anna Mazur

What is a baguette or a chanel? Well, for the longest time I believed a baguette to be bread and chanel to be a designer label. Reading Handbag Workshop I learned a baguette is a n elongated rectangle body shaped with bottom, corner darts, and a short east-west strap and a chanel is a flap-style bag with a topstitch quilt pattern. This book has the information and definitions of purse styles to create your own fabulous handbag with pride with simple tools such as needle, thread, scissors, adhesives, decorative hardware to be on your way to design heaven.

The sections separate into easy, intermediate, and advanced patterns according to sewing skills and difficulty of patterns. The patterns shared will satisfy even the majority of hard critics of fashion accessories. It contains easy to follow directions and good illustrations showing various stitch designs along with the necessary cutting procedures and use of many hand tools. After reading this book, you will realize with a little effort designing the perfect handbag is achievable and cost effective. I recommend this handbag design book to any person who wishes to cut money costs on purchasing designer bags and create a handbag with their own specific needs.

I received this book free from the publisher Taunton Press through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an unbiased opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

THE DEATH WE SHARE by Sharon Short

Carlotta Moses a retired operatic diva and movie star is opening a museum in Lebanon, Ohio soon and a tabloid television program is planning to air an unfavorable story about her beforehand. Private Investigator Patricia Delaney accepts the employment offer to find the contact source to the tabloid report Wayne Hackman has for his story. As the investigation begins, Patricia’s father arrives looking for a place to stay after leaving his wife and her mother who eventually aids Patricia in the mysterious case.

Carlotta’s immediate family is very protective in guarding her reputation and declining state of mind but she is not as fragile as everyone believes and is not forthcoming about the situation she is in by keeping detrimental secrets that are deadly in nature.

Sharon Short keeps it coming in the third and final installment of The Patricia Delaney eGumshoe Mystery Series. Another good crime drama with twists, turns, and plenty of mystery set in the 1990’s. Amateur sleuths will enjoy this quick and easy read any day of the week or weekend.

I received this book free from the Story Cartel reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

CLP BLOG TOURS presents CRISIS OF SERENITY by Denise Moncrief

Tess Copeland lives a quiet life in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Thanks to the government’s witness protection program, she enjoys the freedom of never having to glance over her shoulder to see if someone is following her. Life has become safe, serene...and boring. Her heart longs for something more than just existing...until a ghost from her past shatters her serenity. 

Once upon a time, Tess was caught between the FBI and the men the feds were trying to take down. Jake Coleman is the U.S. Marshal who extracted her from the jam she was in with the FBI, a man she could have fallen for...hard...if she had let herself. It’s been a year since she last saw Jake, and in all the months that have passed, he’s never tried to find her. The longer he keeps his distance, the more she wonders why his absence hurts so much. 

When a stranger comes to town searching for her, all of Tess’ old fears are resurrected. Asking Jake for help with her current crisis might lure him into a dangerous trap involving murder, kidnapping, and revenge. When Jake and Tess come face-to-face with the past, they will have to use all their wits to survive. 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Want to know a little bit more about Denise? She's a Southern girl who has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. 

Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking. 

Accounting is a skill she has learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. 

She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She's been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

You can connect with Denise at

http://www.denisemoncrief.com

http://www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor

http://www.twitter.com/dmoncrief0131

http://www.amazon.com/author/denisemoncrief

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TOUR SCHEDULE

October 13 – Chick Lit Plus – Review

October 14 – A Blue Million Books – Q&A & Excerpt

October 15 – What Shall We Blog About Today – Excerpt

October 15 – Chick Lit Club Connect – Guest Post

October 16 – Doorflower – Guest Post

October 17 – Ai Love Books – Review

October 20 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt

October 22 – A Cup of Tea and a Big Book – Review, Guest Post, Q&A & Excerpt

October 23 – Reading in Black and White – Guest Post & Excerpt

October 23 – What’s Beyond Forks – Review, Guest Post Q&A & Excerpt

October 24 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

October 27 – The Book Obsessed Mama – Review & Excerpt

October 27 – Ski-Wee’s Book Corner – Review

THE RING MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE by Glenn T. Stanton

“Cohabiting men are less interested in marriage, and if they marry, they become different kinds of husbands.”

Did you know that cohabiting couples pay higher insurance rates? Did you know that children in homes with a non-biological related parent is eight times more likely to die of maltreatment? The majority of statistics in this book is from 2009 and according to the newscasts I watch probably has risen significantly since then.

Two of many points covered are,

(1) “…living together has seen explosive growth as boys fail or refuse to become men---while still getting what they want from their female peers who desire husbands: companionship, regular sex, and someone to cook and clean for them. We will look in chapter 7 at how women fare in the cohabitation deal compared to their boyfriends.”

(2) …marriage establishes the relationship on the woman’s terms, while cohabitation establishes the relationship on the man’s terms. This is important for women to know for themselves, for their girlfriends, and also for their daughters. Let’s look at why scientists are confirming what our grandmas took as common sense all along.”

  

Even though this is a Christian guide on the subject and differences between cohabitation and marriage, scripture and God’s view does not appear until chapter eight of this nine-chapter book. Glenn Stanton discusses the statistics, case studies, and scientific research around the world pertaining to cohabitation versus marriage. These interesting case studies approach from couples living together outside of a committed marriage and those who are in committed marriages reflect their feelings on the subject matter at hand.  

Each chapter has Questions for Couples, Recommended Resources (for further reading), Notes (citations), and blank pages for your own notes. I truly enjoyed reading this book and learned that cohabitating may not be the best path leading to the altar of marriage for some and without God in the mix or having true commitment of marriage, your living arrangements will not live up to the hype. I recommend both women and men read this informative book on what is true commitment whether you are Christian or not.

I received this book free from MP Newsroom reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines. 

'I LOVE BOOKS' presents TARA QUAN, Author of OPERATION OWL

TODAY!

TARA QUAN

FERMENTED VEGETABLES by Kristen K. Shockey and Christopher Shockey

Vegetables are a mainstay in the majority of all recipes and many items at restaurants and cafes. There are many vegetarians and vegans who incorporate vegetables into their daily eating and diets for nutritional value and mainly because vegetables taste good and are good for you.

Fermented Vegetables teaches you the basics in preparing vegetables for brining, pickling, storage and the reason for fermenting. Part 1: Dipping into the Brine explains the fundamentals of fermentation for preservation of vegetables. Some of the perks of fermenting are enhancing the nutrients of Vitamins B and C aiding digestion and supporting the immune system. Chapter 2: The Inner Life of Pickling includes a section on lactose fermentation and using slat, no salt, and butter. Chapter 3: Crokcs and Rocks covers tools of the trade such as coverings, jars, onggi pots, and food processors.

Part 2: Mastering the Basics lists a safety checklist, and also include Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 : Mastering Sauerkraut, Mastering Condiments, Mastering Brine Pickling, Mastering Kimchi Basics, and Practical Matters respectively. Part 3: In the Crock, Fermenting Vegetables A-Z lists vegetables with instructions for pickling, brining, how to create your own recipes with sharing suggestions for serving. Part 4: On the Plate offers recipes for breakfast, snacks, lunch, happy hour, dinner and dessert. There is an Appendix: Scum, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and a Resource Guide for any further research you deem necessary.

Fermenting Vegetables is a good addiction to any kitchen cookbook shelf filled with very useful information and great recipes for all amateur chefs and everyday cooks. I plan to try pickling and brining my favorite vegetables adding to my cooking skills.

I received this book free from Storey Publishing through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Commission Guidelines.

PIE GIRLS by Lauren Clark

Searcy Roberts and husband Alton are divorcing against Searcy’s will and adding to the tension is a mother-in-law who blames Searcy for the surprise separation. Searcy accepts an invitation to help her mother at Pie Girls in Mobile, Alabama to escape from Atlanta and her devastating breakup.

Returning to Mobile, Searcy finds her mom ill, the pie shop in dire straits facing an eviction, and the rough neighboring bicycle shop owner Luke. Searcy conjures up a brilliant plan to save her mom’s pie shop, face the inevitable divorce from her husband, and discovers her mother has a long time secret.

Pie Girls is a fun and fast read for chick-lit book lovers with humor, wit, and good pie recipes at the end. Critically, the novel has more narrative than necessary that could have made this book receive a higher rating from me but is still enjoyable nonetheless. I recommend to chick-lit and humorous fiction fans for an easy relaxing read.

I received this book free from CLP Blog Tours in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

PULLED WITHIN by Marni Mann

Rae is upset with Drew because she is with Rae’s ex-boyfriend and ex-employer Saint who wants nothing to do with her ever again. With no job, her best friend Brady gone missing for two months, and an eviction hanging over her head, Rae has one day left to pay rent or quit. In the next town of Bangor, Rae finds employment at a casino being hired the same day and runs into an old friend named Hart. Rae is having trouble forgiving Hart after he left her years ago without any explanation or saying goodbye.

Rae has nightmares regarding the scar on her face and needs to face her demons to find peace in her life. Without her friend Brady around, Rae has no on to lean on or confide in pertaining to her horrid dreams. How long will Rae be able to hold up without breaking, and will she ever forgive Hart who broke her heart into a million pieces long ago?

Pulled Within is a character study of Rae from the previous novel, Pulled Beneath who has personal past events in her life keeping her from inner peace. The story is noteworthy and in parts touches the heart in a human nature point of view. This novel is an enjoyable and fast read that holds the readers attention until the last page. Recommended to romance, chick-lit, and drama book lovers alike.

I received this book free from CLP Blog Tours in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

HOW TO UN-MARRY A MILLIONAIRE by Billie Morton

“It was time to channel her inner Jackie Onassis.” –Ricky

“You can’t steal something that’s sitting there waiting to be grabbed.” –Suzanne

“It’s Phillipa, your mother-in-law. Whose face have you been sitting on this morning?” -Phillippa

Ricky dreams of becoming a ‘star’ in the production of her own life when her sister teases, “…you could go to Los Angeles and get paid to be a big fat drama queen.” Ricky constantly reads articles of the rich and famous and vows to find her a millionaire husband with carefully laid plans. Ricky’s plans are very calculated and she gets more than she bargained for when agreeing to marry Sandy for whom she is caregiver during his rehabilitation.

Suzanne is two husbands later seeking a third when she realizes being thirty-seven with varicose veins might be a little too old to snare another rich man to take care of her. As she works her way into an arranged marriage Suzanne falls for an exotic looking man who is not what he seems on the outside.

Phillipa is the a widowed mother-in-law who detests her daughter-in-law every way possible since marrying her son JD “Boy” Carmel and time has not put her at ease. Phillipa wants only one thing from her and that is the grandchild she has longed for quite a while. If Boy and his wife cannot conceive she will to any length to make her wish come true.

These women began to wonder whether the life of the rich and famous is worth the pains of keeping the lavish lifestyle they are now living. With personalities clashing all over the place, Ricky, Suzanne, and Phillipa are connected in ways unbeknownst to them and will realize it sooner than later once they spend a ‘girls’ day at the spa.

How to Un-Marry a Millionaire is an enjoyable read until the eco-terrorist plot that did not align with the rest of the of the book. The semi-plot felt out of place and without it I would give a higher rating of a definite four. I recommend to readers who love chick-lit and drama novels over a lazy weekend.

I received this book free from CLP Blog Tours in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.