Book Review: A Girl Like You

by: Maria Geraci

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
What if you found out you were the ugly friend?

Emma Frazier is smart, hardworking, and loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s pretty certain she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben at work by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.

Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her tiny hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that maybe the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.

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Well written, well edited, and even the cover looks professional. It pops and catches your eye. I had a real hard time not picking this up as soon as it arrived. Once I did, I couldn't put it down. I have lost sleep, and ignored the breakfast dishes...well all my housekeeping really. lol

All the characters are intriguing. You want to know more about all of them. But this is from Emma's perspective so you really only know a lot about her. The author does a good job keeping that consistent.

It's an awkward story, Emma is not the normal female lead. She was raised by 2 moms and no dad. Add to that it was in a small town, and she's not a size 0. In the beginning she overhears an acquaintance tell her best friend that Emma is "the ugly friend" which really triggers all her low self-esteem issues. I can relate to that.

Also Emma likes to go to the beach and read, she enjoys going out but also savors her nights in. I feel like Emma is like me only she got her poop together and got that journalism degree.

It's also not a normal romance book. She's in love with her boss, but he leaves with that skank who made the "ugly friend" comment. She dates a guy from her home town. She's kind of here and there and you really don't know who she is going to end up with. There are hints, but they are deliciously subtle. And that's where my review ends, because you will have to find out for yourself what happens to Emma.

Book Review: Classic Lebanese Cuisine

by: Kamal Al-Faqih

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Savory, heart-healthy Lebanese recipes from a renowned chef

The cuisine of Lebanon epitomizes the best of the Mediterranean diet, which is highly regarded for its positive health benefits. Abounding in vegetables, grains, fresh herbs and spices, poultry, and lamb, it yields meals replete with robust, earthy flavors. In Classic Lebanese Cuisine, Chef Kamal Al-Faqih presents 170 dazzling recipes that reflect the full breadth of authentic Lebanese cuisine. Featuring favorites such as baba ghannouj, tabbouli, and kibbi, this book also presents Al-Faqih’s signature classics, like London broil layered with pita and garlic yogurt, and heart-healthy fire-roasted wheat with lamb.

With step-by-step instructions accompanied by full-color photographs throughout, this book makes Lebanese cuisine accessible to everyone who seeks to reproduce their favorite flavors and dishes—from the merely curious to more experienced cooks.

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I fell in love with Lebanese cooking back when I was first dating Chris. The Andersons took us to Family Heritage Night at the Embers, and apparently they are from Lebanon. Oh the food was so good. Hummus, meat pies, lamb dishes, and a whole table full of different baklava. The best part of the night was the Turkish coffee they served at the end of your meal.

I've been making hummus and naan on my own for awhile now. But I wanted more. So I found this cookbook and tracked down the author. You wouldn't believe how gracious they were about it, Chef Kamal autographed it for me!!!

So here it is, does it live up to my expectations? Yes! It's not just a cookbook, it's an entertainment book. Chef Kamal gives ideas on meal plans for a party, and "helpful techniques." There is actually a lot of just straight reading in this book, and being that it's a culture that is different from my own, I ate it up. He even gives tips on preparing for a party so everything goes smoothly.

Then the recipes...oh dear they look delicious. Everything has a picture, and he includes a breakdown of special ingredients and equipment you might need. I don't think there's anything in here I don't want to make. My favorites in this book are the hummus - he tells how to do with with dry garbanzo beans, which is something I've been meaning to try. And I will once I get a food processor again. The other recipe I loved was the Tabbouli Bites. I've made Tabbouli, but his unique change-up has you skip adding tomatoes and put the salad into hallowed out cherry tomatoes. It's for a party, turns the salad into a finger food, isn't that brilliant?

I literally want to try every recipe in this book. The only thing that makes it hard is so many of the ingredients or equipment are unique so if you are broke, it's a little more challenging. Plus we live in the middle of no where, so even finding those ingredients is a challenge.

If you are vegetarian or even vegan, you can find recipes in this book. Granted there are a fair number of recipes that use lamb and other meats, but he breaks down a lot of them into vegetarian choices first.

Product Review - Babydoll and Coat Intimate Apparel

I was going to try getting something from the costume supercenter website for the boys to play dress up in, but when they sent me this link, PlusSizeLingerieBoutique.com, I decided to get something just for me.

I've been married for 8 years and I've been with Chris for nearly 10 years. Sometimes it's nice to put on something to feel sexy. I even considered a picture for this review...but I chickened out. lol

I will say that it worked. Chris was playing his guitar and I walked in wearing only this and it's the fastest he's ever put that thing down!

This is a 3 piece item, with a babydoll...I want to say dress but that's a stretch - lol. There are a pair of panties and a sheer robe as well. The top has a little support but not as much as appears in the picture.

Either way, it was comfortable, well stitched and super sexy! And to be honest, it's hard to find sexy lingerie when you are plus size girl. And shipping is super fast. Granted I went through a different outlet than the website, but all she did was forward what I wanted to the warehouse, and it arrived in just a few days!

The quality, sexiness and size all come together at a very affordable price. This outfit is only $34.95 and the website offers free shipping on orders over $75.

Book Review: The Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook

by: Lindsay Landis

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Food blogger Lindsay Landis has invented the perfect cookie dough. It tastes great. It’s egg free (and thus safe to eat raw). You can whip it up in minutes. And, best of all, you can use it to make dozens of delicious cookie dough creations, from cakes, custards, and pies to candies, brownies, and even granola bars. Included are recipes for indulgent breakfasts (cookie dough doughnuts!), frozen treats (cookie dough popsicles!), outrageous snacks (cookie dough wontons! cookie dough fudge! cookie dough pizza!), and more.

The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook features clear instructions and dozens of decadent full-color photographs. If you’ve ever been caught with a finger in the mixing bowl, then this is the book for you!

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This is me. I probably eat about 2 cookies worth of dough before it's all said and done. And then I don't want the cookies. lol So when Quirk sent me this cookbook, I was over the moon!

So you know I got busy...well once I remembered to pick up the stuff. I didn't want just chocolate chips, I wanted something that was just for me. I bought toffee bits and mini chocolate chips (these are what Lindsay recommends for the chocolate chip cookie dough). At the beginning of the book she has the recipe for the chocolate chip cookie dough and after that she has all the cool things you can do with it.

I thought it was going to be a huge batch, but really it probably would have made about a dozen of these little balls. I used my trusty ice cream scoop that I use when I bake cookies. The boys enjoyed it as much as I did, although we all thought it was too sweet. So next time I will use less sugar.

I also want to try the edible peanut butter cookie dough. And yes, with the peanut butter dough she has a recipe for Peanut Butter cups. YUM! Now the minute I find chocolate worth melting, I will be trying these! And there are candies that I would describe as a kind of truffle...just balling up the dough and pouring chocolate over it.

On the cover there are conversion charts. She offers suggestions on equipment and ingredients. Her introduction is well written, so you get to know the author before you jump into her recipes. And her recipes are pleasing to the eye and easy to follow. On the page with the chocolate chip cookie dough she has some variations including how to go vegan and gluten-free. Oh wow - Oatmeal Raisin...wonder if CW would eat it.

Do I recommend this cookbook? Yes, it's fun for grownups like me who enjoy cookie dough. It would also easily be something you can do with your kids, the recipes are simple and relatively little cooking is involved.

Book Review: India's Summer

by: Thérèse

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
India Butler, single and about to turn forty, travels to LA in an attempt to reinvent her life. In a world rarely illuminated by the flashbulbs of the paparazzi, she discovers the true meaning of "having it all."

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This book is a chick lit novel all the way. I have seen complaints about the product dropping, but I thought it fit. After all, her sister is a movie star AND a rock star's wife. And out there, when you are that wealthy, that stuff is important. And I think Thérèse does a good job making the point about why that's a problem.

India is a high school teacher from England. She comes to LA to visit her sister and figure out what she wants from her life. At first she just wants to see her sister, but then she can't stomach going home to her same dreary job. She wants to help troubled teens, not fill out paperwork.

I like India and her sister, she takes these people that we would only know through the tabloid and makes them human. Granted they are completely out of touch with reality, but they are still people.

I will say there were far too many errors in this book. When I find that many, I think maybe I should just start up my freelance editor business. Can't possibly do any worse than that person did. But it's not the worst I've ever seen and you can get around it.

My final criticism. She would have Annabelle say something and then India would say "we call it" insert phrase "in England." But it would be a phrase I use in my own daily life. I'm from Michigan...born from people who are from Michigan. We are not English, I don't even know any English people. So I would get stuck on those points because either Michigan and England have the exact same phrases, or the author didn't do her homework. It was distracting from the novel.

That being said, I really did enjoy the story and I was rooting for India through the whole book.