Book Review - Ready Or Not the next Nom Nom Paleo book.

Ready or Not!: 150+ Make-Ahead, Make-Over, and Make-Now Recipes by Nom Nom Paleo by Michelle Tam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not a Paleo dieter but I do love many of the Paleo recipes and the Nom Nom crew have done it again with this book.
They are always creative and usually quite easy to make, although there are a few harder ones.
I love the background behind it all that she puts into the book.
All I can say is even if you aren't a strict paleo eater then you can still enjoy the Nom Nom books, this one is my new fav.
I received an e-copy of this book in return for an honest review but I know I need a proper copy for my kitchen now.


View all my reviews

Book Review - Balanced & Barefoot by Angla Hanscom

Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am 100% in favour of children spending as much time outdoors, climbing trees and running barefoot in the grass.
Therefore I did enjoy this book.
Some of the theories she presents on how this lack of play is affecting children takes things a little too far.
overall a good read.
I do notice with my own children that when they are cooped up inside too long they go crazy.
I think this is an issue that many primary schools need to address more also, there are some children that need more outside time than others.
I also agree that children need to be left alone outside to their own devices for periods of time as they get older. So many parents don't let their children learn to think, fall, scrape their knees and problem solve by themselves, especially in an outside environment.
Overall my children are a little big now for this book to make too much difference but I am pleased that without even knowing I have followed many advices this book gives and my children are happy and healthy because of this.
I received this book for free in e-book format in return for an honest review.


View all my reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Dead Level by Damien Boyd

Dead Level

The DI Nick Dixon Crime Series, Book 5

by Damien Boyd

Thomas & Mercer

Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult)

Description

In the early hours of Christmas Eve, the wife of parliamentary candidate Tom Perry is brutally murdered in an apparent burglary gone wrong.

With the by-election campaign about to start in earnest, and the festive season in full swing, torrential rain brings with it flood warnings on the Somerset Levels.

Suspended on full pay and transferred to the cold case unit, Detective Inspector Nick Dixon is languishing on the sidelines as the investigation into Elizabeth Perry’s murder unravels and the floodwaters rise.

Returning to duty, Dixon is convinced that the answer lies hidden in Tom Perry’s political life, but why was Elizabeth the target and not her husband? The more Dixon uncovers, the further he is from finding the truth.…

Dead Level is the fifth novel in Damien Boyd’s addictive DI Nick Dixon Crime Series.

REVIEW

I love this series of books. Each book can be read stand alone if you haven't read the precious ones but if you are like me and like to read all of a series from the beginning you will love all of these.
Damien Boyd writes an awesome crime novel, his characters are real, they have opinions, they have flaws and DI Nick Dixon is such a great character. He has flaws but his moral and ethical code are so strong. His instincts speak to him but they don't give him too much information, he has to work his way through the evidence and suspects.  With the help of his girfriend/colleague DC Winter and the other members of the team he works his way through another murder crime that is relevant and current to the world around us today and keeps you guessing right to the end.
I love that he is a real man, with a real health issue that he also has to battle, he has real demons from his past and also a future that he is trying to build.
Again I will say, I love all these books and can't wait for the next one

BOOK REVIEW: Buttercream Dreams by Jeff Martin

"Buttercream Dreams"

Small Cakes, Big Scoops, and Sweet Treats

By Jeff Martin & Andrews McMeel Publishing

5 Stars.

Chock full of such delicious recipes I really didn't know where to start.
As a total bonus there was a section on Ice Cream and another with some cookies and other baked treats.
I was very impressed with the range of different cupcake recipes and also the way they had their own matching icing recipes.
They are all very simple to make with their wonderful differences in flavour and looks.
I have now made 3 of the different varieties and they have all been very easy and so delicious once cooked.
I have also had a go at one of the ice-creams and it worked out very well even though it was my first time making ice-cream.
This book has made my family very happy and increased my dessert inventory substantially.

I received no
payment in any form for this review.....

It was an Advance
Reader Copy book for review.

Book Review: Herbal Goddess by Amy Jirsa

Feedback for "Herbal Goddess"

Discover the Amazing Spirit of 12 Healing Herbs with Teas, Potions, Salves, Food, Yoga, and More

By Amy Jirsa & Storey Publishing

5 Stars

So much goodness from only 12 herbs.

I loved this book and here are my reasons.

1. The look, it's just beautiful to look at, from the second you open it you are presented with gorgeous photo's, that fill the page and also create the background. The different font styles used, the colours, the setting out of chapters and sections. It's all just a gorgeous book to look at.

2. The information. Now if you are just not interested in herbs at all, you may be one of those that think it's all hippy mumbo-jumbo, then this book is not for you.  BUT...

If you have even just a teeny bit of interest in herbs and what they can do then I recommend this book highly.

She has taken just 12 herbs, many of which you could find in the yard, the park, the side of the road or a nearby farm.  You could grow them all yourself if you wish, most would grow easily.

These 12 herbs can do so much, I thought I knew a little about herbs but I hardly knew anything.

The amount of information packed into this book on those 12 herbs is amazing.

There is a variety of sections for each herb with all the ways you can use them in cooking, beauty, for the mind, even yoga poses chosen to compliment the individual herb.

There is even more but then this review would get too long.

Have I mentioned how much I loved it, well I do and I will be using it a lot.

I received no
payment in any form for this review.....

It was an Advance
Reader Copy book for review.

BOOK REVIEW: Hand Stitched Home by Susan Beal

"Hand-Stitched Home"

Projects to Sew with Pendleton® & Other Wools  by Susan Beal

 

I rate it 4 Stars

Review

This is a beautiful book, to look at.

When I requested to read this book I didn't realise that it was all about using wool and fabric from Pendleton Wool Mill for the projects.

The Author obviously has a deep love and respect for the fabrics and products produced by Pendleton, just reading her words makes me want to own a few pieces and get myself some fabric to use for myself too..

There is a wonderful piece on the history of the company, their production methods and designs that is very interesting, she then goes onto give information about wool, weights and uses.

There are some basics on sewing implements, stitching and piecing then you get right into the projects of which there are 25, they range from quite simple to more difficult applique and piecing.  None of them are extremely difficult but all are very well outlined, explained with some great diagrams and photos.

They all give you the type and weight of pendleton wool that is used which is helpful if you need to substitute, and some give you substitution ideas too..

This book made me want to get some wool and make a cushion or a blanket or a scarf and I am looking forward to the cooler weather when I will do just that.

BOOK REVIEW: Stitch it Simple by Beth Sheard

"Stitch It Simple" by Beth Sheard

I rate it 4 stars

A gorgeous book.

A lovely book to look through and many lovely projects.

The projects are exactly as the title suggests, simple but I found them very effective. and not to be thought bland.

A simple introduction to a few hand stitches, a couple of basic sewing tips and you get straight into the projects.

Lots of cute designs, applique, stuffed items, hanging items, bags, bunting, cushions and so much more..

this book would suit a beginner and intermediate, or just someone looking for a cute whimsical project.

I don't think any of the projects would take weeks to complete either which is appealing., there are 25 projects included and you could quite easily chop and change them using one template or another for the different finished products.

Overall a lovely book, I may even do some hand stitching for a change this year.

I received no payment in any form for this review.....

It was an Advance Reader Copy book for review

BOOK REVIEW: Lucky Spools Essential Guide to Modern Quiltmaking

BOOK REVIEW

"Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making"

I rate it 5 Stars

A gorgeous quilting book.

Yes there are lots of quilting books out there and these days there are lots of books on Modern Quilting but this one just made sense to me.

It has a wonderful section on colour, all the hues, variations, saturations and so on, this is not my strong point but I read this section thoroughly and it was written really well with some excellent photo's and diagrams to help along.

Sections on working with solids, prints, structure, improvisation and just about anything you could want to try in a quilt can be found in this book.

As I said there are many books on quilting on the market and some will suit, some won't. This one is thorough, well written, diagramed and photographed..

There are troubleshooting guides all the way through so you don't have to find them in the back of the book, other little tidbits and "Geek" tips.

Patterns galore in many styles and then to my absolute pleasure there is 

"A Study of 50 Modern Quilts" right towards the end, full of pictures and descripitions of 50 different "Modern" quilts.  It's heaven in a book for quilters, I just loved it and now I can't wait for the kids to go back to school so I can get the fabric and the sewing machine out....

I received no payment in any form for this review.....
It was an Advance Reader Copy book for review.