Book 30

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book.  The author was very clever about how he added the vampires to history and it is easy to see how these events could have actually transpired.  And what a surprise ending!



View all my reviews

books 25,26 and 27

I have finished books 25,26 and 27 but haven't had a chance to post about them.

I originally wasn't going to count Classic Household Hits in my book challenge but since I did end up reading it cover to cover (and picked up some useful tips) I am going to count it as book #25.

Book # 26 was

Shakespeare's Christmas (Lily Bard Series #3) by Charlaine Harris

 

I enjoyed it just like I have all of Charlaine Harris' books.  

 

Book #27 was 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

 And I have to say that I don't see what all they hype is about.  Books often affect my mood and this one left me feeling grumpy and pissed.  In some ways it had a happy ending but it also had a somewhat sad ending that just I really wish had ended differently

   I have already started on book #28 so stay tuned!

Awesome Library Find

I ran to the library today to drop off books and grab another one. They hadnt pulled the book I placed on hold yet so I went back to grab it and while I was there my eye was drawn in by the cover art of this book.  Inside is full of wonderful old adds and some handy tips.

Classic Household Hints: Over 500 Old and New Tips for a Happier Home by Susan Waggoner

 

Book 24

Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen Series #2)

 

 I just finished book 24.  It was a good book.  There were times when it felt a little long and I knew who the killer was and just wanted to main character to figure it out all ready but still a good book.  I am really looking forward to trying a few of the recipes that are in this book.  Below is the Barns & Noble description. 

 

 A New York Times best-seller, Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke is a scrumptious concoction of fresh-whipped mystery and culinary intrigue. Publishers Weekly calls it "a superior cozy sure to leave readers satisfied … but hungry for more." Hannah Swensen, amateur sleuth and boutique bake store proprietor extraordinaire, is judging a dessert contest when fellow judge Coach Boyd Watson is found dead, face down in a delicate confection no less.

On to book 25.

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

I have finally found the perfect chocolate chip recipe.  It is a Bobby Flay recipe that I have tweaked to make it just right.

2cups +3tbs All-purpose flour
3/4 tsp kosher salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temp
1cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
5oz semi sweet chocolate chips
5oz milk chocolate chips

-Pre heat oven to 375 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (do not use wax paper as it can catch on fire) or silicon pads

-In a large bowl wisk together flour, salt and baking soda and set aside

-Cream the butter then add the sugars and continue mixing, scraping the side and bottom until light and fluffy

-Add the eggs one at a time then add the vanilla and beat until incorporated

-Add 1/2 of the flour and mix until just incorporated then add the rest and mix until just incorporated

-Remove bowl from mixer and fold in chocolate chips

-Spoon dough onto baking sheet leaving 2inches between drops

-Bake with rack in the middle of oven.  11minutes for soft gooey insides and 13 min for a fully cooked cookie

-let the cookies cool on the sheet for a minute or two then transfer to a cooling rack and let them cool. 


I personally thing these are best served warm but they are good when cold as well.

52 books in 52 weeks

So back at the beginning of January I joined a challenge on a military significant others forum to read 52 books in 52 weeks.  We are about 11 weeks into the challenge and I am already on book 23. At first I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep up because of the move and I have never really counted how many books I read in a given amount of time.

Here is the list of what I have read so far and what I am working on.

1. My, Myself and Why (MaryJanice Davidson) finished
2. Deadly Sanctuary (Sylvia Nobel) finished
3. Odd Mom Out (Jane Porter) finished
4. A Girl's Guide to Vampires, Dark Ones series book 1 (Katie MacAlister) finished
5. Night's Edge I only read the short story by Charlaine Harris, Dancers in the Dark. Finished
6. Life on the Refrigerator Door, Notes Between a Mother and Daughter (Alice Kuipers) Finished
7. Sex and the Single Vampire, Dark Ones series book 2 (Katie MacAlister) Finished
8. The Missing (Tim Gautreaux) Finished
9. Cupid Cats I only read the short story by Katie MacAlister that is part of the Dark Ones world Finished
10. Sex, Lies and Vampires, Dark Ones series Book 3 (Katie MacAlister)Finished
11. Colder than Ice (Maggie Shayne) Finished
12.Shakespeare's Landlord, Lily Bard Mystery Series, Book 1 (Charlaine Harris) Finished
13. Even Vampires get the Blues, Dark Ones series book 4 (Katie MacAlister) Finished
14. The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #1 (Rick Riordan) Finished
15. The Last of the Red Hot Vampires, Dark Ones series book 5 (Katie MacAlister) Finished
17. My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, Dark Ones short story (Katie MacAlister) Finished
18. Zen and the Art of Vampires, Dark Ones series book 6 (Katie MacAlister) Finished
19. Crouching Vampires Hidden Fang, Dark Ones series book 7 (Katie MacAlister) Finished
20. In the Company of Vampires, Dark Ones series book 8 (Katie MacAlister) Finished
21. Shakespeare's Champion, Lily Bard Mystery series book 2 (Charlaine Harris) Finished
22. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Joanne Fluke) Finished
23. Sizzling Sixteen, Stephanie Plum book 16 (Janet Evanovich)

So now I just want to see how many I can read in a year because I am sure I will make 52 books in 52 weeks.  I will try to keep the list updated.

Moving In

So we have finally moved.  It was a long hard move with all of us being sick and living out of a hotel for a while but we left Beaufort,Sc on Feb 21st and stayed in a small hotel room until we found a house and moved into on March 1st.  Three adults, two kids, one cat and one dog in a small hotel room with two double beds and no mini fridge or microwave and you had to pay for internet.  Yup it was a long hard move.

But so far we are loving Virginia Beach and working hard to get settled into the new house.  Still have stacks of boxes everywhere but we are slowly getting unpacked and settled in.  Having two small kids really slows down the process.