Fixer By Gene Doucette

This was a great book! I received it from Netgalley! It started out really interesting and held my attention straight through to the end with ease! I think I have found a new author to add to my 'go to' list! I rate this read a 4/5 and a definite book to buy for my reading friends! Also, I do believe I may have a crush on the main character Corrigan Bain- a rescuer, future savvy problem fixer. Hope there's a sequel!

Rosina, The Midwife - by Jessica Kluthe

      This is a great book! I won this ARC copy from Goodreads! Grab yourself  a tea and find your favorite chair because this book is taking you on a wonderful journey. Occasionally I find a well written book and enjoy it so much that I read it slower during the last chapter just to savor the ending---- this book had me reading to savor after the very first chapter! It is a journey from America to Italy and back again with love, tears, and the richness of family history. This book was written by Jessica Kluthe and published by Brindle & Glass. The cover of this book is gorgeous- an old photo with floral motif and the chapter headings are marked with map definitions. Reading this book made me feel like a guest invited to join the characters on their historical journey. I felt like I was sharing the experience in its entirety. Run now to get this book and start reading it right away!!!

A review of -Scent of a Woman by Jan Moran

I really enjoyed this historical romance! The story had me travelling across the ocean during WWII with Danielle the main character. She is a strong minded and multi-layered character that one can't help but cheer her on through all of her obstacles. This woman is ahead of her time and is forced to endure many difficulties in her life and her career. This was a book that had me hoping for a sequel long before I turned the last page! This is a four star read and requires a comfy spot and a cuppa tea ;) I recommend this book to all my independent friends!! I will be waiting to read more of Jan Moran's work!

Review of --Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Wow! What an original Zombie tale! I have to admit that after  reading the synopsis of this book I was a real skeptic! Like seriously--a zombie named R that falls in love with a human named Julie?! As if this plot could even try to entice me!! Well from page one this crazy R guy just grabs ahold of you and leads you through his journey! I ate my own words and totally got swept up into this book! It was thought provoking- seriously I know right?! It was an adventure that had a let's all change the world right now feel to it! I give this book a 4 out of five star rating and am recommending that you and all of your friends should read this quick awesome book! Crazy idea of a story but Isaac Marion you made it REAL- and for that you rock!!!

Stitch by Samantha Durante

Great book! The ground is definitely set for this trilogy, the characters drag you in right away. I was way off base thinking I knew exactly where the story was taking me and was totally surprised with the twists in this book! I was lured in by the cool cover and now I am hooked-I will be reading the whole trilogy and everything else written by this author! You will be too!!
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/15354866-kari">View all my reviews</a>

Review of I Love My Slow Cooker

I Love My Slow Cooker
by Beverly leBlanc
Published by Duncan Baird Publishers
2012
received to me from netgalley in ebook form


           This cookbook has a great base of recipes. I felt that many of the recipes were easily brought together with ingredients that are stocked in most pantries. The pictures were fantastic and showed the finished product in a mouth watering light. Most interesting to me beyond the great number of entree choices was the back to basics approach of the cookbook. The introduction included a wealth of information regarding best choice of slow cooker models, even providing the serving amounts for the different capacity crockpots. A section explaining how to use your crockpot to enhance flavors or to cook legumes, poultry or vegetables was also included. Cooking times and even the best meat cuts are explored in this great cookbook. The recipes are well presented with great photos and easy to understand step by step instructions promising super results. Several types of dishes are highlighted from soups and sauces to Thai fish with coconut curry. This cookbook is a must for your crockpot enjoyment, it is the perfect gift for those new to the crockpot and the crockpot pros. This recipe book gets a solid 4 of 5 star rating .

Profile of a Bookie

            It has circled through my mind a few times while walking around in bookstores and office supply outlets that Bookies have a special commonality. I have noticed in myself and certainly in others that many avid readers have little quirks. They all seem to begin their reading journey long before they pick up the actual book. They scour book reviews, library shelves, websites, bookstore windows and earmark their future reads on a long and ever evolving mental list. The look of the cover is a key factor- it is the first peek at the portrait of the story and it pulls the potential reader in, enough at least to read the back cover or to open the book to the front page.  The quality and cut of the paper and its pages are a deciding factor as well. Uneven page cuts are unacceptable as they are difficult to turn the  pages individually. They feel rough and distract the reader from the jewel that lies within.  Any reader will tell you that if they are unfamiliar with the author or the book they will check out the back cover first and if this peeks their interest they will perhaps take note of the publisher. Then they will move on to the dedication or even to the front page. This is the last chance to pull the person in to the story, this is where the voice begins. I always read the first few paragraphs to get a feel of the book's rhythm. These quirks lead readers to their next novel and author discovery.
     I have also noticed that many readers have a love for paper-they love a good colour, quality and texture of paper. The matching of envelopes to the paper is also a special find. Pens by their style,design and writing flow are also very appealing to most readers. It is interesting to note that the cost of the pen does not affect the choice. I have hunted through my purse, scoured the desk and junk drawers in search of the famous favourite pen just to jot down a quick note and have refused the offer of other pens from other people simply because it is not my pen. I have loved the two dollar  pens as much as the ten dollar pens and I am usually a blue ink kind of girl but have lately been using a black ink pen and have enjoyed that as well.
      Finally I should comment on the bookmark---some people need  to have their special bookmark to start their new book . While others just use the same type each time. I have used all different kinds from a piece of embroidery floss, to a scrap of paper. I have fancy ones with a magnet attached to the inner flap that looks so nice against the page. I also have tried the kind that slide onto the corner of the page and look quite respectable. I have even been guilty of  dare I say it.....folding down the corner of the page...yikes! I have even memorized the page number - but now that I have hit my 40's I know better than to rely on such a silly thing as my own memory.
       Bookies are indeed a special breed of people that share numerous traits with one another. A true bookie can be spotted quite easily in any book store for they are the people that are so absorbed in their hunt for the next book that they are oblivious to all others in the store.
        Happy reading fellow bookies!