by Darlene Franklin; Cynthia Hickey; Elizabeth Ludwig; Dana Mentink; Candice Prentice; Janice Thompson
S The coffee shop on the corner of First and Main in Oak Grove, Kansas, seems to attract a series of mysterious events. Or perhaps it is the six women who frequent the shop for book club who are magnets for trouble. . . .
Morgan Butler, owner of the Coffee Perk, finds a project worker hanged at her shop.
Penny Parson finds a gun in one of her beehives.
Evelyn Kliff discovers a dead church meal organizer.
Jo Anderson shares hazelnut coffee creamer, sending a woman into anaphylactic shock.
Harper Daggett is being stalked for an antique jade owl she bought.
Join them as they unravel six unexplained events that have the potential to ruin business and spoil friendships if not handled with care.
Net Galley Book Review :
This book is a anthology of 6 authors short mystery books center around six women who attend a weekly coffee shop book club. At the Coffee perks a coffee shop in small town Oak Grove,Kansas which is the setting for the first mystery. As each authors weave amazing stories of friendship and mystery around the women . Each of these women have a story to tell and they do in this case in a mystery that involves them and there lives. A perfect set of cozy mystery A perfect afternoon read – all you need is a cup of Coffee – from Barbour Publishing, Inc., Lisa
As January ends today – I am thinking about the goals I made the first of the month. One was more exercise and eating more healthy – here something to help:
Since its publication over 15 years ago, 500 Low-Carb Recipes has become a classic in the low-carb community, earning author Dana Carpender the affectionate moniker “low-carb queen” from her fans. The book is now a bestseller, with over half a million copies sold.
Low-carb cooking has evolved. A decade ago, low-carb menus relied on ingredients like artificial sweeteners, unhealthy vegetable oils, protein additives, and processed foods from grocery store shelves, like low-carb branded snack bars and packaged meals. Today’s low-carb cooking is influenced by larger food movements, such as clean eating; farm-to-table ingredients; higher fat ratios, thanks to the popularity of ketogenic diets; and less stigmatization of foods that have substantial inclusion in a low-carb diet, namely animal foods and saturated fat due to the growth of the Paleo and traditional foods movements. The New 500 Low-Carb Recipes is the beloved cookbook updated for today’s low-carb movement.
About the Author
Dana Carpender (Bloomington, Indiana) is a pioneer of the low-carb movement and best-selling author of over 14 cookbooks, including The New 500 Low-Carb Recipes,1001 Low-Carb Recipes, 500 Paleo Recipes, 15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes, The Low-Carb Diabetes Solution Cookbook, 200 Low-Carb, High-Fat Recipes, The Low-Carb Diabetes Solution, The Insulin Resistance Solution, 500 Ketogenic Recipes, and many more. To date, her books have sold over a million copies worldwide. She writes about low-carb cooking and nutrition on her Facebook page, Dana Carpender’s Hold the Toast Press.
Net Galley Book Review :
As the New Year begins one of my goals was eating better and being healthy but in a tasty way. And this book has a great selection of recipes to try and accomplish my goal. The cookbook is filled with information ( gluten free or dairy free) and for anyone on the keto diet you can find some additional information and recipes here. Low Carb has come a long way and now it also taste good and good for you. Lisa
There’s something for everyone in this bright and inspiring collection of home sewing projects! Whether you’re moving into a new home, redecorating an old house, or just updating a room, you?ll find quick and easy projects here to make your living space simply beautiful. Designed to let you give your dwelling a speedy fabric makeover, this book offers inspirational ideas for every room. Transform the heart of your home with bright kitchen accessories, or create the perfect table linen setting. Create a bold boudoir with bright bedroom designs, make tactile toys for the nursery, or revamp your home office with a functional organizer. And don?t neglect the deck, with lovely al fresco accessories and more. 101 Home Sewing Projects is guaranteed to stir up your creativity with clear step-by-step instructions and gorgeous color photography. Inside 101 Home Sewing Projects Sew a new look now make over your home in minutes. Easy projects designed to give your home a speedy fabric makeover. Inspirational ideas for every room in the house?even the garden! Clear step-by-step instructions, beautiful project photography, and ready-to-use templates. Bedroom designs, first floor projects, nursery decorations, kitchen brights, table linen, fabric cover-ups, organizers, and more.
My book review :
I received this book from Net Galley for review. I am a sewer but I don’t have time right now to make large complicated projects but this book is filled with easy projects you can make for your hose or give as a gift. The author has great directions for many projects that are quick and easy and a joy to make. So get sewing and re make your house just in time for Spring. Lisa
The cast-iron renaissance is heating up, and Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook is here to show you how to make the most of these great pans, with recipes for a contemporary palate!
Today’s cooks are realizing that their mother had the method right when she cooked with the big cast iron skillet. Cast iron has the incredible ability to spread heat quickly and evenly to create a crispy, seared surface that locks in freshness and flavor.
In Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook, Author Lucy Vaserfirer brings cast iron cooking completely up to date. She shows you how to work magic on cast iron with more than 150 recipes that are definitely not the kind of fare your mother cooked up. You’ll learn how to cook up vegetables, which are especially flavorful when cooked on cast iron; see how cast iron is the perfect vessel for cooking all types of fish and shellfish; learn how to sear meats to perfection; and even learn how you can use your skillet for baking.
Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook is loaded with inventive and tested-to-perfection recipes, including: breakfasts; appetizers and small bites; steaks, roast, and chops; chicken and turkey; fish and seafood; veggie main courses and sides; bread and quickbreads; and cakes, pies, and other desserts.
And if you’re new to cast iron, don’t worry, because this cookbook includes all the details on how to choose, season, cook, and clean your skillet. You’ll even learn how to revive an older cast iron pan, and you’ll get useful ideas for using your skillet not just to cook on but also as a serving vessel.
Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook proves that just because your mother swore by her cast iron doesn’t mean the food you cook on it needs to be boring!
Net Galley Book Review :
Love the title of the book but I must confess that my Cast Iron skillet is from My Grandma -well seasoned with use and love. And yes I use it and all my other cast iron cooking vessels everyday. But I was thrilled to read and try new recipes in my well worn skillet. But if you have a new one (garage sales are great place to buy old ones) she has directions to Season your skillet and cook these recipes for the New generation. Lisa
Take a journey through Gina Lee Kim’s watercolor palette–with each chapter representing one of the standard colors found in the color wheel. Learn how to merge watercolor and mixed media together without the stress of having to draw out a composition before getting started. Each chapter will demonstrate a unique project and technique, along with a gallery of inspiring works. You will also learn about the emotional symbolism of each color.
An approachable, stress-free introduction to watercolor; fine drawing skills are not a requirement
Explore each color in the color wheel, while learning about their mixing qualities and the emotional symbolism of colors
Tips and advice on carving out time to create, sharing your work with others, and owning your own voice
12 step-by-step demonstrations show how to merge watercolor with a bit of mixed media
Net Galley Book Review :
Gina uses watercolor and mixed media with step-by-step directions for creating art that is personal and fum Gina uses her favorite quotes and words working them into her art. She starts with the tools explaining why she uses a specific product and then listing of mixed-media supplies are also given. She presents color theory, terminology, schemes, and temperature need for great results. She has a five-step painting method that involves no drawing. Perfect for any budding painter or artist this newest book is one you dont want to miss.
Big Embroidery is all about stitching beautiful designs up fast using yarn instead of embroidery thread. Designer and author of Modern Folk Embroidery, Nancy Nicholson, has created a collection of stunning designs based on traditional crewel work, and adapted them for a modern audience using everyday yarn.
Crewel embroidery is traditionally done using 2-ply wool and stitched onto linen. Nancy shows how to get beautiful results using different types of yarn and fabric, including upholstery fabrics, woollens and tweeds, to create a collection of stunning quick-to-stitch projects.
Choose from home decor items such as cushions, bags, wall hangings and table runners, as well as ideas for embellishing clothing. Nancy shows readers how to do all the key embroidery stitches with a stitch library featuring easy-to-follow diagrams of all the basic crewel embroidery stitches in detail.
Net Galley Book Review :
What a great book Nancy explains what cruel embroidery is and how to do it -with a easy to follow direction and stitch guide. I have never done cruel embroidery but I have a treasured Christmas stocking I got as a gift many years ago in cruel and always wanted to make a matching stocking, This book has inspired me to make one this year. Lisa
“I have loved this series from the first book . . . it’s like returning to a favorite nook for a cup of tea. It will delight, entice, and drive a reader to want to solve the murder.” —Goodreads on No Grater Danger
Now that Thanksgiving’s behind her, vintage cookware enthusiast Jaymie Leighton Müller is excitedly making plans for the upcoming Dickens Days festival—the town’s month-long celebration leading up to Christmas. With a hot cider booth on the village green to warm the hearts and bodies of the townsfolk and a diorama featuring a scene from A Christmas Carol, things are shaping up for a festive season—until the town’s local Scrooge is found murdered, a vintage pudding mould covering his cracked skull.
Nearly everyone had a reason to dislike Evan Nezer—either for his bullying ways or his obnoxious arrogance—but with his body being found in Jaymie’s diorama, she’ll have to figure out who hated him enough to see him dead. With many suspects and even more secrets coming to the surface as she investigates, Jaymie feels buried by a blizzard of clues. But with Dickens Days on hold until the police can nab the killer, she’s determined to catch the culprit so the ghost of Evan Nezer doesn’t cast a pall over the whole Christmas season.
Net galley Book Review :
Another great cozy mystery set in Queensville,Michigan at Christmas time. And Jaymie has another mystery to solve; this one the murder of a character right out of Dickens – Evan Nezer the town Scrooge . Join Jaymie as she unravels the clues left, and get ready for the holidays season In this holiday read that has a great cast of characters with lots of twist in turns perfect for a holiday break . This book is another great addition to this fun series- Lisa
Biography
Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym of nationally bestselling romance author Donna Lea Simpson. Victoria is the national bestselling author of two mystery series, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries, as well as the Teapot Collector Mysteries as Amanda Cooper. She is also the bestselling author of Regency and historical romance as Donna Lea Simpson.
Her latest adventure in writing is a Regency-set historical mystery series, starting with A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder! Don’t miss out on this bold, adventurous series featuring gentlewoman Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, a young lady intent on defying every expectation that she will be demure and retiring; she’s a lady with a dagger, and she knows how to use it.
Victoria loves to read, especially mystery novels, and enjoys good tea and cheap wine, the company of friends, and has a newfound appreciation for opera. She enjoys crocheting and beading, but a good book can tempt her away from almost anything… except writing!
She now happily writes about vintage kitchen collecting, muffin baking and dead bodies for publisher Beyond the Page for the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries (the first five books of the series were published by Berkley Prime Crime) and Merry Muffin Mystery series, moving also to Beyond the Page.
She’s exceptionally excited that her new Regency mystery series is being published by Midnight Ink.
Visit Victoria at: http://www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com for availability of her books, some of which have also been published in Large Print and Audio formats!
You can find out more about her and all of her series at her website, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest.
Modern Acrylic delivers the simple concepts and painting techniques you’ll need to create exciting and expressive works of art.
With Modern Acrylic, artists, illustrators, art students, and art hobbyists can learn how to use basic painting techniques and concepts to create expressive works of art. You’ll learn to paint flowers, animals, patterns, and even how to transfer your hand-lettering skills to paint. This guide offers a lively and creative approach to acrylic paint packed with inspiring exercises and whimsical projects.
Foremost a beginner’s guide, Modern Acrylic starts with a brief introduction to the tools you’ll need and continues with explanations of key painting concepts like color mixing and atmospheric perspective. Once you have a handle on the basics, it’s time to create dynamic color palettes, use basic shapes and techniques to render a range of subjects, and practice mark making and textures.
Modern Acrylic is an inspiring and accessible guide to painting everything from expressive landscapes to colorful architectural gems.
My Net Galley Review : This Sunday’s book is a great book exploring Acrylics . Rather you are a hobbyist or professional artist you will enjoy this book. As the author ex plains it all from basics skills to more difficult skills it has it all, Done with great illustrations and pictures it will get you painting. If you are like me and just dabble in acrylics ( a hold over from high school) but interested in knowing more . I highly recommend reading this book. You will be inspired to paint your next master piece Lisa
In The Art of Doodle Words, YouTube artist Sarah Alberto shows you how to combine hand lettering and carefree doodles into your own artwork.
If you love the look of hand lettering and calligraphy, but find it too intimidating or perhaps too ornate, then The Art of Doodle Words is the book for you. Now you can learn the basics of lettering just by doodling. Sarah Alberto, the artist behind the popular YouTube channel Doodles by Sarah, likes to start her doodle words with a simple letter or word.
Whether you’re drawing a word like cold or love or idea, Sarah will show you how to transform it into doodles using super-cute sketches and simple lines. A basic word becomes an adorable illustration. Sarah will also teach you how to work in reverse, starting with a doodle and turning it into a cute illustration of letters and words.
Pick up The Art of Doodle Words and begin learning stress-free, laid-back lettering styles now!
Net Galley Review : Was so excited to read this and try out all the amazing examples. I am a doodler and this inspired me to do more of them. Sarah book was easy to read and follow with cute examples. Read the book and start your journey into doodling- it starts with a simple letter.
Introduction •
Hi! My Name Is Sarah.
I’m a doodle artist and stay-at-home mum from Sydney, Australia. Art has always been a part of me. Ever since I was young, I loved to draw but I never took any classes or attended art school. I only considered drawing a hobby, but I dreamed of becoming an artist and creating my own comic book one day. One of my biggest art inspirations and influences came from watching Japanese anime. Growing up, I also enjoyed reading about superheroes and characters in fantasy novels. I loved looking at different artists’ styles and approaches, but that was where it stopped. I never thought of pursuing art as a career. It wasn’t until I had my first child that my interest in art was rekindled as a way to relax while being a new mum.
I finally found my calling when I started to make little doodles for the pages of my planners because I couldn’t afford to buy the stickers or stamps to decorate them. A surprising number of people seemed to like what I was doing and asked me to post more doodles. From there, I decided to create my YouTube channel, Doodles by Sarah, to share my ideas and creativity.
In this book, I’ll share with you my techniques for turning words into doodles. I’ll take you through the basics of lettering, creating different letting styles, and ways to decorate and add detail. You don’t need anything fancy to start working on your own doodle words. All you need is your favorite pen, some paper, and your imagination.
All of Cora Chevalier’s dreams are coming true. Since moving to Indigo Gap, North Carolina, the busy crafting maven has been blessed with a great boyfriend, a lovely home, and a booming craft retreat business. But on the eve of her first Crafty Mom’s Escape Weekend, tragedy strikes again in Indigo Gap. This time, it’s curtains for Stan Herald, the disagreeable director of the local theater group, who’s murdered on the opening night of their new production. Worse, Cora’s friend Zee is accused of the crime.
Cora is determined to prove her friend’s innocence, but Zee’s mysterious past is making that difficult. And with a list of suspects longer than a double spool of satin cording, getting a bead on the real culprit won’t be easy. With her friends Jane and Ruby at her side, Cora must string together the clues and solve Stan’s murder before the killer gives an encore performance. Includes crafting tips!
****Book Review from Net Galley – this is the 4th book of this crafty series. If you are like me and you love to do crafts this book is for you. When a group of crafters get together for a retreat something goes wrong. A body of the local theater director is found murdered and Zee is accused. But Cora and her friends dont believe that so they start to investigate and find clues to the real killer. Another great cozy mystery perfect for a rainy day reading like today. With a great cast of characters and easy crafting tips this book is a sure winner. Lisa
Praise for Mollie Cox Bryan’s mysteries
“A playful charmer!”
—Woman’s World on No Charm Intended
“Scrapbookers and hobby cozy fans will enjoy this delightful holiday escape.”
—Library Journal on A Crafty Christmas
“A font of ingenuity . . . superb entertainment.”
—Mystery Scene magazine on Scrapbook of Secrets
About the Author
Mollie Cox Bryan writes cozy mysteries with edge and romances with slow, sweet burn. The first book in her Cora Crafts Mystery series, Death Among the Doilies, was a “Fresh Fiction Not to Miss” selection and was a finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award. The second book, No Charm Intended, was named a “Summer 2017 Top 10 Beach Read” by Woman’s World. She also wrote the Agatha-award nominated Cumberland Creek Mysteries. She makes her home at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, where she works as a researcher and fact checker and writes in the early morning hours. Visit her and sign up for her newsletter at molliecoxbryan.com.
Julia's recipes and commentary, straight to you from Iowa City! Normally, they're based around what looks good at the local farmers market. And yes, they're all out of order since they were copied over from Philip's flower blog which you should also check out -- see the link at right...
Peripatetic philomaths...focusing on what's really important, eating ethically and cleanly, fermenting, foraging/wildcrafting, practicing herbalism, and being responsible stewards of our land. Sharing our photos, musings, and learnings. Still seeking our tribe.
