Category: Reviews-Hachette

Review: A Paper Bag Christmas

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: A Paper Bag Christmas
AUTHOR: Kevin Alan Milne
PUB DATE: Oct 2008
ISBN:978-1-59995-073-0

I have to send a big Thank You to Miriam from Hachette for sending me this really great book. This is the newest book that I have been telling friends and family they need to read.

For the past several years I have been thinking that the TRUE meaning of Christmas is lost and that today its all about what I want and how much can I get. I have always been giving gifts to friends and family for no reason but just to give and not expecting anything in return.

I think this is a great book to read and give to your friends and family. This is the year I think we need to discover the true meaning of Christmas. With so much that is going on in the world and the situation of whats happening we need to open our hearts and helpout.

The book starts with two boys: Molar and Aaron. They have just finished Thanksgiving when their father announces they should go to the mall to see Santa Claus. They go to the mall as see the long line up. When an Elf comes by to hand a sheets of paper they boys ask what they are to do with it and how long will it be. The paper is to write out the Christmas list and the wait is almost 2 hours. So while in line the boys write down every single toy they can think of and when they run out of ideas they look around them in line.

When they finally get to see Santa he declares it break time. The boys are annoyed that they have to come back. So they start to look around and see Santa in the room behind the chair. He sees the boys looking at him and he motions them in. They come in and takes their list. Santa declares it unsuitable and offers the boys “the best gift they never wanted.”

It turns out that the mall Santa is no other then Dr Ringle a pediatric oncologist at the local hospital. He gives the boys and address and tells them to show up. He is playing Santa at the hosptial and wants the boys to dress up as elves and hand out red sheets of paper for the kids to fill out. They have to return to the hospital several times to collect the papers. During the next visit they discover that the DR is away. He tells them about the pagent and that on Dec 5th roles will be handed out and that Aaron and Mo must get to know Katrina and Madhu.

There is so much more to the story that I am afraid to continue for fear of giving it all away. Its a beatiful story and a great quick read to read this holiday season.
It will make you think about the True meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas in advance.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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Review: The American Journey of Barack Obama

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: The Journey of Barack Obama
AUTHOR: Life Magazine Editors
Pub. Date: October 2008
ISBN-13: 9780316045605

Thank You to Anna from Hachette for sending me this book. I really enjoyed reading it. This is a a beautiful book. The pictures that are in the book are great. There is a mixture of old and new in the book. From baby pictures, to growing up, to the wedding pics and to the family pictures. All of what has made Barack Obama.

It was nice to read and to learn about Barack, his life and family. I learned a few things about him that I didn’t know. I never realized how big of a family he had such as 5 half brothers and two half sisters. That his interest in politics was early on in his life and that he values and treasures his roots and where he comes from.

Barack made history when he was chosen as the 44th President Elected in the US and I think this book is a great addition to have on ones shelf. A piece of history.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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Review: Christmas Around the World Pop Up Book

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Christmas Around The World: A pop up Book
AUTHOR: Chuck Fisher
PUB DATE: Oct 2007
ISBN:9780316117951

Thank You to Valerie for sending me this book for my son. We loved looking through the book. I have to say that this is the first time that my son has wanted to started decorating for Christmas in November. It started shortly after Halloween with wanting to look at the decorations etc. Thanks to all that advertising that was on tv and in the flyers. I have managed to tell him that we don’t start to decorate until the first weekend in December. (after my birthday)

This book is so beautifully done. Every page is a different pop up scene from around the world. On each page is the story about how they celebrate Christmas. The traditions etc. Words can’t describe the book. You can see alot of workmanship went into the making of this book. It was nice to learn all about Christmas and how its celebrated in other parts of the world.

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.

Review: Confetti Cakes

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Confetti Cakes
AUTHOR: Elisa Strauss
PUB DATE: Nov 2008
ISBN:0-316-11829-x

Thanks to Anna from Hachette for sending me this cookbook to read and review. This will a treasured book in my house. Having a 5 year old son I am always looking for birthday ideas. Of course looking at this book with him sitting beside me wasn’t a smart move on my part I tell you because he would say I want that cake, no wait I want that one and it went like that with every page I turned. It was fun though.

The book has many recipes for cakes, cookies, cupcakes and icing. Along with the recipes there is so much I learned in the techniques, to the equipment I should have, and to the hot tips she offers on each page.

With the Christmas holidays approaching I plan on making star cookies and ornament cupcakes to give out to family and friends who stop by to visit us this holiday season.

Look for my pictures in the next few weeks to appear here.

Don’t forget the contest for a chance to win 1 copy of the book can be found HERE ends November 19th at 7pm.

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.

Review: Katie Brown Celebrates

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Katie Brown Celebrates Simple & Spectacular Parties All Year Round
AUTHOR: Katie Brown
PUB DATE: Nov 2008
ISBN: 978-0-316-11818-7

I have to say Thank You to Anna from Hachette for sending me this book to read and review. I loved reading this cookbook. The pictures and the recipes are all great. The book covers twelve months of simple and elegant party ideas. She offers us the reader with ideas to have our own casual parties.

I am always looking to try new recipes for our family or even when we are entertaining friends. I want it to be simple and not be stuck in the kitchen cooking. This book offers it all.

This book comes just in time for the holiday season. I already have my eye on making wild rice stuffing with our turkey, and perhaps a chocolate spice cake for dessert. My son spotted some decorations he wants us to make. Happy Holidays!

I have already made the Deep Dish Country Quiche that was in the book. I ended up cutting the recipe in half as the original recipe make 2 quiches. It was really good. We all enjoyed it one night for supper when I had nothing else to make.

Don’t forget the contest for a chance to win a copy of this book is HERE ends at 7 PM on November 17th 2008.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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Review: Heretics Daughter

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Heretics Daughter
AUTHOR: Kathleen Kent
PUB DATE: September 2008

Thank you to Miriam for sending me this book to read. I heard alot of great things about this book so I was really anxious to read it. I loved the book. I can’t wait to listen to the interview today with both of them.

This is Kathleen’s debut novel. She is the 10th generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She was hung in 1692 in the Salem Witch Trials.

The Heretics Daughter is about one family’s lives during the Salem Witch Trials. Its is told through the eyes of a 10 year old girl named Sarah Carrier. She is Martha’s daughter and one of the accused.

Its several months before the Salem Witch Trials that the story begins. The Carrier family has just moved to Massachusettes from Billerica. They are hoping to escape the small pox epidemic. They don’t realize that their son, Andrew is already infected. As Andrew becomes ill, Sarah and her younger sister, Hannah are sent to live with family. The family is hoping that the girls will be spared from the disease.

Sarah has never been alone before and she bonds with her cousin Margaret. They become inseperable. Sarah realizes that there is a difference between the families. Sarah’s is cold and distant and Margarets is open and warm. While Sarah is there she begins to wonder about her cousin wondering if her cousin is a witch. Is she? So many things lead you to believe she is.

When Sarah and Hannah return home they learn that Andrew has died as well as other family members. Sarah and her mother are not getting along. When Martha throws out her sons girlfriend for lies the girl starts to talk and it spreads. The community is suspicious of the Carrier family. Shortly after that Martha is arrested for witch craft. She refuses to confess saying that its all lies. She was hung in 1692. She was one of 19 to die that day.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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Review: When Will There Be Good News

Posted on by Cindy

TITLE: When Will There be Good News?
AUTHOR: Kate Atkinson
PUB DATE: September 2008

A huge THANK YOU to Miriam for sending me this book to read. This is my first introduction to Kate Atkinson. This is Kate’s 7th book. I really enjoyed reading the book. I will be buying the other books.

The book begins when Joanna’s family is brutally murdered. She manages to excape by running into the fields. She was 6 years old when it happened. The murder is Andrew Decker. She survived and went on to become a successful doctor.

Thirty years later Joanna is married and has a one year old son. She has a 16 year old girl named Reggie working for her as a nanny. Reggie lives in a rundown apartment on her own with her brother. No one knows that her mother died tramatically in a drowning.

A train derailment one night brings together Jackson Brodie and Louise Munroe in a chance meeting. Jackson took the wrong train and ends up in Edinburgh. The train derailment happens near the house Reggie is staying. Louise is in Edinburgh to let Joanna know that Andrew Decker is released from jail.

Reggie goes into work and discovers that Joanna and the baby are missing. Reggie knows that Joanna is missing and alerts Louise Munroe. It is speculated that Andrew is some how involved in the disappearence of Joanna.

There is relationship tension between Jackson who has been married three times and Louise. Its noticed in the book. Both have jumped into marriages quickly because they each think that each other chose someone else? Will these two get together?

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.