Author: Cindy

Books Bought # 29

Posted on by Cindy

Books Bought is a meme that I have been hosting for several months here on Cindy’s Love of Books. The purpose of this meme is to share with you the books I buy and for you to do the same.

If you want to take part please feel free to do so. I love seeing what everyone buys. Yes I am curious. I am the kind of person who is always looking around to see that others are buying when I am in a store.


This is what I bought this week they are all birthday presents.

-The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan. This was released August 2009 (I bought this one myself.)

-Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. PUB DATE: March 2009

-Deadly Little Secret by Laurie F. Stolarz. PUB DATE: Nov 17th 2009 (this is the paper back edition)

Have you read these yet?

What did you pick up this week or lately?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Snow Ball Cookies

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Here is another one of my favorite holiday cookies I like to make. Whenever I make them they never seem to last too long. I think I have a cookie monster hiding in my house.

This is a simple and easy recipe to make and another added bonus is that this is a no bake cookie recipe.

Snow Ball Recipe

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup milk
2 cups coconuts
4 tablespoons cocoa
4 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
-Mix together butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa in a sausepan over med heat and bring to a boil.
-Boil for about 2-3 minutes.
-Remove from heat and add one cup coconut, vanilla and oats. Stir together.
-Refrigerate for about an hour or until fully cooled.
-Form into small balls and roll into the remaining coconut.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Easy Fudge

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This is one of those recipes that I always make at Christmas time. I have to admit I use to make fudge in the past and for some reason it never came out right and I almost given up on making it until I discovered this recipe.
Its super easy and quick. I hope you Enjoy it.
The 5 minute Fudge Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 2/3 cup of sugar
2/3 cup of evaporated milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups of mini marshmallows
1 1/2 – 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
(You can omit the walnuts if you don’t want them in your fudge. I have made them both ways and they have turned out fine.)
Directions:
-Combine sugar, milk, butter, and salt in a saucepan.
-Stir over med heat until a full boil and then boil for 5 minutes after it comes to full boil.
-Stir constantly.
-Remove from heat
-Stir in marshmallows, vanilla and chocolate chips and walnut if you are using them.
-Stir until marshmallows are melted and blended.
-Pour into a foiled line pan and chill until set.
(I use a the regular square pan)

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Virtual Cookie Swap without the calories

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I meant to write up this post earlier but as you can see I took a mini blog vacation. I have to admit that it felt good to be away for a few days but sadly I am still no further ahead.

By now you might have seen the recipes from Kathy at Bermudaonion and Julie at Booking Mama blog that they shared with their readers. It was a Virtual Cookie Swap. They both shared some great cookie recipes. I have tried two of them and looking forward to trying a few others this holiday season.

Today is the last day to post recipes for a chance to win some great prizes. Its to late just go to each of their blogs to find out how to do it.

I will be posting two of my favorite recipes today. Hope you enjoy them.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

The Christmas Dog Review

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TITLE: The Christmas Dog
AUTHOR: Melody Carlson
PUB DATE: September 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In The Christmas Dog, Betty Kowalski is not looking forward to Christmas at all. Disgruntled over her neighbor’s home “improvements” which involve an old pink toilet parked in his yard, Betty is sadly lacking in the good cheer department. And when a scruffy mutt keeps coming to her door, Betty gets fed up. Add to this a runaway granddaughter, and Betty feels like she’s up to her ears in troubles. But sometimes it’s the difficulties that bring the biggest rewards.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am a huge Melody Carlson fan and I am slowly starting to read her previous books and I always devour her books when I read them. I always jump for joy whenever I am asked to review her books. You don’t have to ask me twice.

The Christmas Dog was a sweet and fun book to read. I also have to say at 170 pages it was a quick and light read. The right book to get you into the holiday spirit.

I felt like I could relate to Betty Kowalski because she is having a hard time getting in the mood for Christmas. (That has been me lately). Betty is an elderly lady (her husband died a few years ago and she is lonely) and she is spending Christmas by herself. She is afraid to go away for the holidays and leaver her house alone because of her new crazy neighbor Jack.

But its not what it looks like because she thinks that Jack is just the worst neighbor you could have. When one day a puppy appears in her back yard she presumes its Jack’s dog. Only because the puppy is between both houses. She thinks its Jacks and Jack thinks its hers.

Suddenly Betty’s grand daughter turns up at her house. Betty knows she has run away. (although you really can’t say she ran away because she is an adult) Betty allows her granddaughter to stay with her while she figures things out.

Avery sees the dog and instantly falls in love with it and decides that she will take care of the dog because neither Betty or Jack is. She even names the dog Ralph. Ralph is like a free spirit that likes to wonder off and one day he does just that. Betty has had enough of the dog and brings him to the shelter. When Avery finds out she isn’t happy and suddenly Betty realizes what she has done and tries to correct it but its too late.

Is it possible for Betty and Jack to get along? Is it possible for Ralph to make everyone see whats going on? Can Avery ever forgive Betty for what she has done?

If you are looking for a great holiday book then I have to say that this will make the great gift for that special someone on your list.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melody Carlson is the prolific author of more than 200 books, including The Christmas Bus and All I Have to Give. She recently was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books. She lives with her husband in Oregon

This book was provided for review by Baker Publishing Group/Revell.
“Available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

The Unfinished Gift Tour

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TITLE: The Unfinished Gift
AUTHOR: Dan Walsh
PUB DATE: September 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Unfinished Gift is set in 1943, a week before Christmas. Patrick’s mother has recently died in a car accident and he is being sent across town to stay with a grandfather he’s never met while the Army tries to locate his father, a bomber pilot in England. Patrick’s father and grandfather haven’t spoken since before Patrick was born. The book explores the surprising things God uses to affect powerful changes in our hearts; like a little boy’s prayers, a shoebox full of love letters, and an old wooden soldier collecting dust in a grandfather’s attic.

*I didn’t get this book finished in time for posting of this tour but I will have a few for it next week.

“Available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

This book was provided for review by Revell.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Book Blogger Holiday Swap 2009 Gift Recieved

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Earlier this month I signed up for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap. This is the first year I decided to take part in any book blogger holiday exchange.

I was pleasantly surprised to have already received my Secret Santa present. I am not sure of the protocol but I already opened it my present. I hope that is okay. I always will have mine in the mail this week that I have to send out.

My Secret Santa sent me the following goodies:
-The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari
-several bookmarks
-several postcards
-this book belongs to sticker
-a book sticker
-and a xmas card

My Secret Santa is Diana. She is a Canadian blogger and I can’t wait to check out her blog. You can see her blog http://www.orientaldesires.blogspot.com/.

Thank you to Diana for my Secret Santa present and to everyone who organized the Book Blogger Holiday Swap 2009.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.