Books that Came My Way in September 2016

I can’t believe it’s October. It’s my favorite month of the year! I just turned 44 this week and my husband’s birthday is at the end of the month. I love fall and the changing of the seasons. I love the crispness in the air and watching the leaves change before my eyes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t slow down at all during the fall season around here. Our home remodeling (took 4 months!) is complete except for a few things that need to be tidied up. So, I’m slowly getting things unpacked and rearranged. I’m excited for all the upcoming activities our children are participating in this fall. It definitely makes the days and weeks fly by!

I read 11 books last month, but 7 were children’s books. But that still leaves 4 books written for adults! I listened to my first audiobook ever and loved the experience. I will be doing that again! Two of the books I read were by authors that had grown up in Cedar Rapids which I’m excited to tell you about this month. Both of the books, though very different from each other, were great reads! 

I am still turning away a lot of books which you will notice by my stack this month. Of course, some books just find their way to me anyway, some book deals are too good to pass up, and others I had already agreed to review. So, I still have plenty of books to share with you this month. Especially, LOTS of great children’s books. I may have to start reviewing children’s books more than once/week. I case you haven’t noticed a pattern, I have been reviewing children’s book every Friday here on the blog. Then I link up with other bloggers to share our reviews on Booking Mama’s Kid Konnection on Saturdays. But, my pile of children’s books is getting bigger by the day. I guess my reviews are getting noticed. So, if you are looking for awesome children’s book, be sure to check out my blog on Fridays.


I’m only going to read books that I am interested in. If it isn’t working for me, I’m going to put it aside and move on to something else. I can’t read every book that comes my way, but I can at least share them with you here and I hope to review them just as soon as I can.

To see her Stack of Books 

as well as other bloggers’ Book Stacks, click HERE.

BOOKS FOR REVIEW

GOOD TASTE

Simple, Delicious, Recipes for Family and Friends

By: Jane Green

Published: October 4, 2016

Publisher: NAL

Format: Hardcover

Best-Selling author, Jane Green (author of recent book, FALLING) loves food and the idea of gathering friends and family together to share the enjoyment of food. Her book is full of dishes that are made with love and pleasure. The photos make your mouth water. I can’t wait to try her recipes and share them with you soon!

Jane Green’s life has always revolved around her kitchen…
 … from inviting over friends for an impromptu brunch; to wowing guests with delicious new recipes; to making sure her ever-on-the-move family makes time to sit down together. For Jane, food is enjoyable because of the people surrounding it and the pleasures of hosting and nourishing those she cares about, body and soul. 
Now, Jane opens wide the doors of her stunning home to share tips on entertaining, ideas for making any gathering a cozy yet classy affair, and some of her favorite dishes, ranging from tempting hors d’oeuvres like Sweet Corn and Chili Soup to mouth-watering one-pot mains like Slow-Braised Onion Chicken, to sinfully satisfying desserts like Warm Chocolate and Banana Cake.
 This book is Jane’s perfect recipe for making a wonderful life complete with friends, loving family, and moments filled with good food, good times, and, of course, GOOD TASTE.

THE BIRTHDAY BOYS

By: Beryl Bainbridge

Published: October 4, 2016 (originally 1994)

Publisher: Open Road Media

Format: eBook

This book must be getting a resurgence as an eBook since it is over 20 years old. The synopsis intrigued me and is the type of book I like to read. At just 128 pages, you can easily read this in a day or two.

In this stunning novel, award-winning author Beryl Bainbridge offers a fictionalized account of the doomed Antarctic expedition led by Captain Scott in 1912. At once hair-raising and beautiful, here is an astonishing tale of misguided courage and human endurance. The Birthday Boys of the title are Scott and four members of his team, each of whom narrates a section of the book. As the story progresses the reader discovers that these men may not be reliable reporters. Their cocky optimism is both ghastly and dangerous. Brought up to despise professional expertise, their enterprise is lunatic, amateur and gentlemanly. Beryl Bainbridge makes it hauntingly clear: the men are fatally doomed in their bravery, the very stuff of heroes. Captain Scott’s poignant trek becomes, in this remarkable novel, a historical event which prefigures the terrible new world dawning in Europe. It was an inept rehearsal for the carnage of the first world war, the ultimate challenge for the arrogant generals who shared Scott’s skewed notion of courage that led men qualmlessly into harm’s way. Subtle, poetic and unforgettable, THE BIRTHDAY BOYS is impossible to read without experiencing that magical shiver up the spine which is caused when great writing touches the soul.

MY FIRST BOOK OF HOCKEY

A Rookie Book

Published: September 20, 2016

Publisher: Sports Illustrated Kids

Format: Hardcover

Much like MY FIRST BOOK OF BASEBALL that I reviewed this summer, this book teaches the youngest children about the basics of hockey in a fun and simple way. I’m anxious to learn from it because I’ve watched my cousin play and I never know what is going on.

The puck drops, skates flash, and sticks fly-a hockey game is underway! With a fun mix of Sports Illustrated action photography, simple text, a full glossary of terms, and cool graphics, MMY FIRST BOOK OF HOCKEY introduces readers to the basics. Kids (and maybe a few adults, too!) will learn how power plays work, how the three-period game flows, what a hat trick is, what’s up with the referee’s crease, and more.

An illustrated “rookie” character appears on every page, guiding the reader moment by moment, and helping to make MY FIRST BOOK OF HOCKEY an ideal shared reading experience between parents and their young rookies before, during, and after the game. 

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN…POLAND

A Child’s Introduction to Culture Around the World

By: Carole P. Roman

Published: August 27, 2016

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Format: Paperback

I know very little about the country of Poland, so I’m sure there will be plenty for me to learn in this new addition to Roman’s series. 

Join Carole P. Roman when she visits Poland in the newest book of her informative series. Learn about the varied customs and cultures. Travel to Eastern Euope to discover what you would eat and do for fun. See the land through the eyes of a youngster like you and understand what life is like in this exciting place. Don’t forget to look at the other books in the series so that you can be an armchair world traveler. 

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN ….VIKING EUROPE

By: Carole P. Roman

Published: August 27, 2016

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Format: Paperback

Another fascinating time in our history to teach children and parents about.

Hop in our time travel machine and join Carole P. Roman as she visits a Viking settlement in the year 890 AD. 

Learn what your name could be and the kind of food you might eat. Read about the different levels of society, how they affect where you would live, and the type of clothing you might wear. 

Mateya Arkova’s beautiful illustrations illustrate what Vikings ate and their children did for fun. 

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN…VIKING EUROPE is an exciting trip that shows a colorful culture through the eyes of a child.

HOW THE GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS SAVE CHRISTMAS AGAIN

Book II

By: Richard J. Gausselin

Published: November 14, 2015

Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc

Format: Paperback

I reviewed the first book in the series HOW THE GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS SAVE CHRISTMAS last December. 

At the North Pole, Santa is quickly realizing that children’s toy preferences are changing to electronic gadgets and gizmos—and the days of traditional wooden toys “made with hands and hearts” may be over. Kids want toys that talk, walk, play games, and do their homework, and Santa does not want any disappointed children on Christmas morning. 

In order to keep up with the demand, Santa must purchase “THEM”—thoughtless, heartless, emotionless machines—to help build the electronic gadgets. The problem? The machines are well beyond the elves’ technology and capabilities, and they’ll need help from the grandmas and grandpas. With only seventeen weeks to Christmas Eve, there is much work to do, and it’ll take a team of grandmas, grandpas, and elves working at a feverish pace to get things running as smoothly as a spinning top. But such a toy-changing decision does not come without challenges and problems, and “problem” is one word Santa does not want to hear. 

Hang on to your hat—it’s going to be a wild ride in elfdom.

HOW THE GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS SAVE CHRISTMAS YET AGAIN

Book III

By: Richard J. Gausselin

Published: June 2, 2016

Publisher: XLIBRIS

Format: Paperback

Year after year, Christmas happens as predicted, but not this year. This spring, the weather was very warm at the North Pole, causing unusual climate conditions. While Santa was away on a robot buying trip, disaster strikes Crystal Valley. The inventory of manufactured toys, gadgets, and gizmos is totally destroyed, and the elves were lucky to save themselves and the reindeer. With six months to Christmas, Santa needs help and sends out an SOS. 

EXTREME WILDFIRE

Smoke Jumpers, High-Tech Gear, Survival Tactics, and the Extraordinary Science of Fire

By: Mark Thiessen with Glen Phelan

Published: August 30, 2016

Publisher: National Geographic Kids

Format: Paperback

My cousin’s husband is a National Forest Firefighter. He has been on many fires across our country and been in many dangerous situations. Leaving his family for days/weeks at a time, he lives in tents surrounded by fires in the middle of a forest. I’m anxious to learn even more about his job.

In one moment, there’s a simple spark, and then roaring flames surge 200 feet into the air, devouring forests. Trees, from root to canopy, are burned to the ground. Airtankers and helicopters hover above, executing an air attack. Brave firefighters, equipped with flame resistant suits, leap from helicopters onto the treetops and descend to the blazing forest floor.

In this book, young readers will learn about the ecological impacts of wildfires, the ins and outs of fire science including tactics for prevention and containment, cutting-edge technology used to track wildfires and predict fire behavior, and about the impressive skill, survival tactics, and bravery required to control a wildfire. Also included are expert tips, fun facts, and breathtaking photos taken by the author.

DINING WITH DINOSAURS

A Tasty Guide to Mesozoic Munching

By: Hannah Bonner

Published: September 20, 2016

Publisher: National Geographic Kids

Format: Hardcover

If you have a child who is crazy about dinosaurs, this book is for them! 

Sure you know that T-Rex was the meat-eating king and that brontosaurus muched on leaves, but what else was on the dino dining menu during the Mesozoic era? In this hilarious book, paleontologists reveal all! Meet the ‘vores: carnivores, piscivores, herbivores, insectivores, “trashivores,” “sunivores,” and omnivores like us. Readers will be surprised and inspired to learn about all the crazy stuff dinos ate and they’ll get insights into how scientists can tell which dinosaurs ate what just from looking at fossils! Journey through artist and author Hannah Bonner’s whimsical world to learn how the dinosaurs and their contemporaries bit, chewed, and soaked up their food. 

RISE OF THE LIONESS

Restoring a Habitat and its Pride on the Liuwa Plains

By: Bradley Hague

Published: September 13, 2016

Publisher: National Geographic Kids

Format: Hardcover

I grew up watching these types of informative shows on TV with my parents. I love learning about animals and their habitats.  I love that this focuses on one animal and tells her story.

Poaching and war damaged an isolated wilderness in West Zambia, reducing its lion population to just one: Lady, the last lioness. Witness Lady’s fight for survival in this evocative narrative on the decline, fall, and rebirth of the Liuwa Plains. Follow Lady as she grapples with a landscape altered by human hands and discover how both Lady and humankind restore balance to the environment.

More than a story about one brave lion, The Lioness offers a great introduction to life science by looking at the workings of an ecosystem, the methods of scientists and environmentalists, and explaining the interconnection between the plant, animal, and human systems. 

TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal

By: Donna Jo Napoli

Published: October 25, 2016

Publisher: National Geographic

Format: Hardcover

This book is huge. It is jam-packed with classic Arabian stories and would be perfect for bedtime.

A retelling of classic Arabian folk tales such as “One Thousand and One Nights,” “Aladdin,” “Sinbad the Sailor,” and “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”

STRANGE, UNUSUAL, GROSS, AND COOL ANIMALS

By: Charles Ghigna

Published: October 11, 2016

Publisher: Animal Planet

Format: Hardcover

What kid doesn’t want to hear about strange or gross things? I’m even intrigued by this book and can’t wait to hear about all the strange animals in our world.

Animal Planet presents the ickiest, stickiest, blobbiest, and oddest animals in the world!Did you know that an archerfish can spit water up to 16 feet? Or that the giant weta is the world’s largest and heaviest insect? Animal Planet’s fascinating exploration of animal oddities introduces young animal lovers to some of the most astonishing, gorgeous, and obscure animals in the world-including some brand new discoveries! Packed with more than 200 vibrant photographs and fun facts about animals with unusual behaviors, strange appearances, and remarkable stats, this deluxe gift book is perfect for reluctant readers or anyone who loves totally gross and amazing animals. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of books in the Animal Bites series benefits the principal partners of R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.), Animal Planet’s initiative dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our communities and in the wild. 

BOOKS I PURCHASED

THE RESTAURANT CRITICS WIFE

By: Elizabeth LaBan

Published: January 5, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Format: eBook

This was (still is) a Kindle deal and Audible deal. I’ve heard good things, so I snagged it for my next listen. 

Lila Soto has a master’s degree that’s gathering dust, a work-obsessed husband, two kids, and lots of questions about how exactly she ended up here.

In their new city of Philadelphia, Lila’s husband, Sam, takes his job as a restaurant critic a little too seriously. To protect his professional credibility, he’s determined to remain anonymous. Soon his preoccupation with anonymity takes over their lives as he tries to limit the family’s contact with anyone who might have ties to the foodie world. Meanwhile, Lila craves adult conversation and some relief from the constraints of her homemaker role. With her patience wearing thin, she begins to question everything: her decision to get pregnant again, her break from her career, her marriage—even if leaving her ex-boyfriend was the right thing to do. As Sam becomes more and more fixated on keeping his identity secret, Lila begins to wonder if her own identity has completely disappeared—and what it will take to get it back.

SHINE

A Short Story

By: Jodi Picoult

Published: September 13, 2016

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Format: eBook

This book and SMALL GREAT THINGS are next up for me. I can’t wait to dig in.

Jodi Picoult tackles issues of race and privilege in this ebook original short story, a prequel to her upcoming novel SMALL GREAT THINGS. In SHINE, the master storyteller and #1 New York Times bestselling author of LEAVING TIME and MY SISTERS KEEPER introduces readers to the unforgettable Ruth Brooks.

Today is Ruth’s first day of third grade at Dalton. The prestigious institution on New York’s Upper East Side couldn’t be more different from her old school in Harlem. Despite being the smartest girl in her grade, Ruth suspects that her classmates and teachers only see her dark skin. She also notices that Christina, the daughter of her mother’s employer, treats Ruth very differently when they’re hanging out with the popular girls rather than playing together. Ruth must navigate between two worlds, never losing sight of the dreams she has for herself—in hopes that someday, someone will see her for who she really is.

NAVIGATING INDIEWORLD

A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing Your Book

By: Julie A Gerber, Carole P. Roman

Published: August 31, 2016

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Format: eBook

Even though I am not an author, nor do I plan to be, I am helping to promote authors all the time. Plus, I am mentioned in this book so I had to check it out!

Social media guru, Julie A. Gerber and award-winning author of forty-three best-selling books, Carole P. Roman, team up to travel the winding road of self-publishing, promoting, and marketing a book. Join these two experts as they share their vast store of experience in an easy to read book.
Learn why you need a beta reader and the importance of a good editor. Make a list of what you need to do when choosing an illustrator. Compare the many ways to promote your book.
Navigating Indieworld will end up being your travel guide as you journey from writer to published author. 

I hope that you can find time this month to cuddle up with a blanket and a cup of cider and read a great book! Be sure to let me know if you read any of the books I shared here!

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