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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday #97

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. 



1. Preacher Volume One; Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis Illustrated by Steve Dillon
Preacher, Volume 1: Gone to TexasOne of the most celebrated comics titles of the late 1990s, PREACHER is a modern American epic of life, death, love and redemption also packed with sex, booze, blood and bullets - not to mention angels, demons, God, vampires and deviants of all stripes. At first glance, the Reverend Jesse Custer doesn't look like anyone special-just another small-town minister slowly losing his flock and his faith. But he's about to come face-to-face with proof that God does indeed exist. Merging with a bizarre spiritual force called Genesis, Jesse now possesses the power of "the Word," an ability to make people do whatever he utters. He begins a violent and riotous journey across the country in search of answers from the elusive deity.
Reason For Choosing: This was the first graphic novel that I read, and it was our very own Mr. Turning the Pages that introduced me to the genre many moons ago at the beginning of our relationship (8 years ago!). My love for the genre and this series keeps growing but this is by far my favourite series and now I've read more graphic novels than Mr. Turning the Pages!

2. The Boys, Volume One: The Name of The Game by Garth Ennis Illustrated by Darick Robertson
The Boys, Volume 1: The Name of the GameTHIS IS GOING TO HURT! In a world where costumed heroes soar through the sky and masked vigilantes prowl the night, someone's got to make sure the "supes" don't get out of line. And someone will. Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie, Mother's Milk, The Frenchman and The Female are The Boys: A CIA backed team of very dangerous people, each one dedicated to the struggle against the most dangerous force on Earth-superpower. Some superheores have to be watched. Some have to be controlled. And some of them-sometimes-need to be taken out of the picture That's when you call in THE BOYS.

Reason For Choosing: I'm a big Garth Ennis fan and The Boys is a phenomenal series. There's sex, drugs, violence and a lot of dark humour. Plus the artwork is badass.

3. Back To Brooklyn by Garth Ennis, Jimmy Palmiotti Illustrated by Mihailo Vukelic
Back To BrooklynThe controversial, over-the-top crime-thriller, Back to Brooklyn, is finally collected! Big Bob Saetta made the biggest mistake of his life by pissing off his brother, one of the biggest and most brutal crime bosses in New York City. This is the story of two brothers at war, wrapped in a special package of extreme language and hardcore violence. Join award-winning writer Garth Ennis (PreacherThe Punisher), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah HexPainkiller Jane), and artist Mihailo Vukelic on an adrenaline ride that rips the roof off Brooklyn's criminal underworld! 

Reason For Choosing: Sensing a theme? Yeah, I know another ENNIS book Kimberly? What can I say, the man is a genius and I love his work. This one was very dark, disturbing and gritty and an AMAZING standalone.

4. Rat Queens Volume One: Sass & Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe Illustrated by Roc Upchurch
Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & SorceryWho are the Rat Queens? A pack of booze-guzzling, death-dealing battle maidens-for-hire, and they're in the business of killing all god's creatures for profit. It's also a darkly comedic sass-and-sorcery series starring Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief. This modern spin on an old school genre is a violent monster-killing epic that is like Buffy meets Tank Girl in a Lord of the Rings world on crack! 

Collecting Rat Queens #1-5!


Reason For Choosing:  An ALL female cast? LGBTQ characters? Monsters? Magic? VIOLENCE? Kick-ass women breaking all the gender defining roles? Rat Queens is all those things. The artwork is some of the best I've ever seen and the story is original and funny.

5. Revival Volume One: You're Among Friends by Tim Seeley Illustrated by Mike Norton 
Subtitle to the book is "A rural noir by Tim Seeley + Mike Norton"
Revival, Vol. 1: You're Among FriendsFor one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it's up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. The sell-out hit series created by NYT Bestselling author TIM SEELEY and Eisner winning artist MIKE NORTON is collected with bonus material!

Reason for Choosing: This one blew me away when I read it and I COMPLETELY obsess over it when new volumes come out but I have a secret shame. I've let myself become two volumes behind. 
*Sharp intake of breath*
I know. 
HOW COULD I?
In my defense, my library can be slow in getting the new volumes and I like to binge them when possible so I let a couple volumes go by before I borrow them. The story is amazing and the characters are wonderfully written and the artwork is beautiful.

6. Chew Volume One: Taster's Choice by John Layman Illustrated by Rob Guillory
Chew, Vol. 1: Taster's ChoiceTony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is Cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he's a hell of a detective, as long as he doesn't mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit, and why. He's been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest, and most bizarre cases.

Reason For Choosing: I picked this one up on a whim a few years back to read and I went into it with such low expectations and boy did it ever surprise me. It's such a unique story, with a lot of laugh out loud moments and the artwork is so bright and colourful that I truly enjoy this outlandish series. 

7. The Strain Volume One by David Lapham Illustrated by Mike Huddleston
The Strain, Volume 1When a Boeing 777 lands at JFK International Airport and goes dark on the runway, the Center for Disease Control, fearing a terrorist attack, calls in Dr. Ephraim Goodweather and his team of expert biological-threat first responders. Only an elderly pawnbroker from Spanish Harlem suspects a darker purpose behind the event--an ancient threat intent on covering mankind in darkness. In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country. In two months--the world.

Reason For Choosing: I started this series in preparation for the FX television show and I love it! The artwork is perfect. It suits the story so well and the story is so detailed it's a nice surprise to see that the amazing attention to detail was not one sided in terms of quality. This series is everything I want a vampire series to be.

8. Saga Volume One by Brian K. Vaughn Illustrated by Fiona Staples
Saga, Vol. 1When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. 

From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults. 

Reason For Choosing: It IS sexy and subversive. It's more on the adult side of the graphic novel genre in terms of content and while there is a lot of intergalactic politics, war and space travel there's a beautiful love story at the heart of it. Wonderfully illustrated and delightfully written I recommend this one to everyone. 

9. Letter 44 Volume One: Escape Velocity by Charles Soule Illustrated by Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque
Letter 44, Volume 1: Escape VelocityOn Inauguration Day, newly elected President Stephen Blades hoped to tackle the most critical issues facing the nation: war, the economy, and a failing health care system. But in a letter penned by the outgoing President, Blades learns the truth that redefines "critical": seven years ago, NASA discovered alien presence in the asteroid belt, and kept it a secret from the world. A stealth mission crewed by nine astronauts was sent to make contact, and they’re getting close - assuming they survive the long journey to reach their destination. 


Today, President-elect Blades has become the most powerful man on the planet. This planet.

Reason For Choosing: I love a good read set in space and this one didn't disappoint. The author didn't scrimp on the story and the artwork is outstanding. There's a lot going on in this one, and I love how action packed the story is. This series always has me on the edge of my Seat. 

10. The Sixth Gun Volume One: Cold Dead Fingers by Cullen Bunn Illustrated by Brian Hurtt
The Sixth Gun, Vol. 1: Cold Dead FingersTHIS IS NOT THE OLD WEST AS WE KNOW IT. 
In the passing shadow of the Civil War, defiant Confederate General Oleander Hume waits to be let loose, too evil and warped to die, too mad with bloodlust to let go of his black magic.
He hungers for his lost and most precious possession, an ancient weapon of foreboding doom. Having fallen into the hands of an innocent girl, this last and most powerful of six revolvers is the key to unlocking unstoppable power.
But before General Hume, with his wicked bride and four twisted horsemen, can summon an army of undead to claim what is his, in his path stands Drake Sinclair--a gunslinger playing with cards close to his chest.
However, Sinclair is no white knight and is himself on the hunt for the six guns...
 

Reason For Choosing:  This is the first graphic novel series that I picked up on my own without a recommendation from Mr. Turning the Pages. I've been reading the series since 2011 and I love the mixture of the old west with the supernatural. This is an amazing series that I highly recommend!

Click on the images to be taken to the Goodreads pages for full descriptions



The Walking Dead, Vol. 01: Days Gone ByeV-Wars Volume 1: Crimson QueenPretty Deadly, Vol. 1: The ShrikeHarrow County, Vol. 1: Countless HaintsOutcast, Vol. 1: A Darkness Surrounds HimVelvet, Vol. 1: Before the Living EndBad BloodDaredevil: Guardian DevilThe Woods, Vol. 2: The SwarmLazarus, Vol. 1: Family

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Monday, January 30, 2017

[Blog Tour Review&Giveaway]* The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall by Shannon Kirk




                Summary:

The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne MarshallWhat if you could choose your heaven now? Go on a celestial shopping trip of sorts? Thirty-five-year-old Vivienne does just that, as she lies in the ICU; a fatal walk into the path of a truck. In her final week of life, Vivienne treks through the Heavens of a priest, a best friend, a homeless child, and a lover who never was. Vivienne's guardian angel, Noah, who may just be her soul mate, escorts her through selections of Heavens and through the confusion Vivienne experiences as she flounders between a doubt of life and the certainty of death. Although her visits to varied afterlives provide peace and beauty, choosing proves not so easy: Vivienne's love for her young son and his earthly father pull her from her colorful journey—and from the divine love of Noah.

The nature of love, the variety and magic of life, unending hope, and the importance of saying goodbye are central to this uplifting tale. 

As a novel-in-progress under the title Heavens, The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall was a finalist in the William Faulkner William Wisdom writing competition.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 293 (Paperback)
Source: Blog Tour Review Copy
Genre: Literary Fiction
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: September 6, 2016 by Reputation Books
Buy Links:   Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble 

How many of you text and drive? Be honest. I know some of you do. I don't drive, but I do see the results of texting and driving every day I turn on the news. The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall is a fiction but like many books reads as a cautionary tale. The days of impaired driving being the main concern of pedestrians and drivers a like is now being replaced by a new killer, texting while driving or in Vivienne's case texting while walking. If you take anything away from reading The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall than that is to make good decisions. Don't be stupid and don't text and drive and don't text and walk either. 

That being said, I hope you take more away from the book than just a Public Service Announcement. I know I did. I found Shannon Kirk's novel to be a very emotional read. It was akin to being on a rollercoaster for me. There were feelings of highs and lows, laughter, anger, relief and understanding that washed over me while I read this book. I knew, from reading the book's synopsis that it might make me feel things but as I'm not one who is easily moved but I found myself to be feeling everything that Vivienne felt as though I were her and we couldn't be more different which to me is the mark of a great character. Vivienne, and I may be different, and  I might not agree with her in many things but I did think she was extremely well written as was her story. I'd rather not give any of the plot away, because I'm hoping you awesome people will give this a read. The writing is beautiful. It is not soft and flowery, but strong and thoughtful. I felt a lot of strength behind the authors words.

This was definitely a book that surprised me. I thought I knew how it was going to turn out but I was pleasantly surprised. It serves as a reminder that it's wise to give books outside of your comfort zone a try. This book was beautifully written and was full of good characters. Vivienne Marshall is a character that I think will stay with me for a long time as well as her story after death.

I'd recommend this novel to all those just looking for something different. It's amazingly detailed, has a strong character and will make you think more than your average piece of literary fiction. Sit back, curl up and prepare for a truly unique journey in the afterlife.


Rating:  

Author Bio:


Shannon Kirk
Shannon Kirk is the awarding-winning author of the international bestselling Method 15/33 (psychological thriller--bestseller in Colombia and Spain, will be lead title in Italy, 2017) and Heavens (Literary Fiction). Method 15/33 has received multiple accolades: 2015 Foreword Review Book of the Year (Suspense); Winner of 2015 National Indie Excellence Award, Best Suspense; 2015 USA Best Book Finalist; School Library Journal's Best Adult Books for Teens (2015); and Finalist in 2013 William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition (when a Novella). Method 15/33 is optioned for a major motion film and has sold to nineteen foreign rights.

When not writing, she is a practicing lawyer, residing on Massachusett's Cape Ann with her husband and son and two cat writing accomplices, Marvin Marquez (in honor of Gabriel Garcia Marquez) and Stewie Poe (Edgar Allen Poe).
Shannon enjoys writing in several genres: literary fiction, psychological thriller, young adult, and poetry. She has been honored three times by the William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. 


Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook

Book Trailer:


TOUR SCHEDULE:
Jan 16 - #redhead.with.book - book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 17 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
Jan 17 - A Soccer Mom's Book Blog - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 19 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
Jan 20 - Olio by Marilyn - review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 23 - 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy + Sissy Too! - review / giveaway
Jan 24 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
Jan 25 - Thoughts on Books - review / giveaway
Jan 25 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
Jan 26 - Books for Books - review
Jan 27 - The Autistic Gamer - review 
Jan 30 - Turning the Pages - review
Jan 31 - Turning the Pages - author interview / giveaway
Jan 31 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 1   -  Shoshi Reads - review / giveaway 
Feb 1   -  Jorie Loves A Story - review 
Feb 2   -  Svetlana's Reads and Views - review
Feb 3   - Jessica Cassidy - review / author interview / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway!


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It's Monday! What Are You Reading #134

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!


 Read Last Week:

Sweet PursuitsColor Me Dead (Henry Park, #1)

Currently Reading: 

The French Orphan (The French Orphan, #1)

Up Next:

The Secrets of Montrésor (The French Orphan, #2)Under the Spell of The Serenissima (The French Orphan, #3)The Queen's Maid of Honour (The French Orphan, # 4)

What Are You Reading?


Sunday, January 29, 2017

Saturday Snapshot (On Sunday) #22

West Metro Mommy Reads

To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Reads' Blog. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

I'm late posting, but this was my favourite photo that I took this week. 

Image may contain: sky, tree, outdoor and nature

Red sun at night, sailors' delight. Red sun at morning, sailors take warning.


Friday, January 27, 2017

[Blog Tour Review]* Color Me Dead (Henry Park #1) by Teresa Trent



Summary:

Color Me Dead (Henry Park, #1)Artist Gabby Wolfe has the ability to see not only the beauty of the living, but the despair of the dead. When she returns to her childhood home in Henry Park Colorado, she is forced to bring along her younger brother Mitch. He is on a “break” from college where he was majoring in wine, women and song. If that isn’t enough they also have Mitch’s rambunctious beagle Luigi along who prefers to spend his days wallowing in junk food. When Gabby draws the death of a young woman before it happens, she knows she must tell someone and risk a new job and her professional credibility. Will she reveal her secret in time to save the woman in the water or will it be too late? Teresa Trent's latest cozy mystery captures the world of the paranormal along with a little humor and a feeling of coming home again.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 207 pages (E-book)
Source: Review Copy
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Henry Park
Available Formats: E-book
Publication Date: January 5th 2017
Buy Links:
NOTE: THE E-BOOK IS FREE FOR THE DURATION OF THE BOOK TOUR ON THESE AMAZON WEBSITES! GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!


Color Me Dead is the first book in the Henry Park series by Theresa Trent and while it isn't Trent's first series it is the first series by her that I have read. I thought that the book was a great start to a delightfully cozy american mystery with just a hint, smidgen if you will of the paranormal because the story revolves around her using her psychic gift to solve the mystery.

I really enjoyed the way that the mystery and the book over all was presented. It was cute and cozy but not so much so that I was left with a sickly sweet feeling after reading it. Gabby had a bit of an edge and I found that her being closer to my own age to be quite refreshing. I also really liked that she was an artist who wanted to illustrate children's books and that she returned to her old home town in order to do so. I felt that she did a lot of growing as a character in this first book in the Henry Park series and I can't wait to see where she goes from here. 

I thought the other characters in the book were also very well written and I do have to say that I really liked Gigi, a young woman who shares Gabby's gift of visions. She's just as spunky as Gabby is and even wittier and she's pretty awesome because she's in a wheelchair and doesn't let that stop her at all. I liked that Trent added her in and added some good character diversity with her and was relieved that too me it didn't come off gimicky plus she was a hoot!

Overall, I thought this was a nice start to a quick new cozy series. The setting in a small mountain town in America was charming and relaxing to read about and was filled with a good mystery (the killer might really surprise you like it did me) and enjoyable characters. This is a series that I'd recommend to all who love the cozy genre and I think it's the perfect read for those looking for a quick read or for those cold winter days.

Rating:  
Author Bio:

Teresa Trent
Teresa Trent writes hilarious cozy mysteries that take place in the small town of Pecan Bayou, Texas. She was first inspired to create Pecan Bayou after visiting the Texas Hill Country to view the millions of springtime flowers alongside the roads and highways. The town of Pecan Bayou does not exist in Texas, but there is a body of water in the state with the name. Pecan Bayou does exist in Teresa's imagination and heart. 
Teresa is excited to be introducing a new series in January 2017. We are leaving Texas and heading to the mountains of Colorado where Gabby Wolfe, part artist/part psychic moves back to Henry Park, her childhood home. She sees a murder and it translates to her sketchpad. Now if she can figure out what to do about it., Color Me Dead is on preorder at Amazon until it comes out January 5, 2017. Stay tuned for days the book will be free in January and Teresa's blog tour. 
If you would like to know more about upcoming books, free days on Kindle, Goodreads Giveaways and coupons--Click here to sign up for her mailing list and get a free Pecan Bayou novella! 

Author Links:


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Thursday, January 26, 2017

[Release Day Review]* Sweet Pursuits (Saffron Sweeting #3) by Pauline Wiles






Sweet PursuitsWhat’s the recipe for a second chance at love?

After six blissful years with scientist boyfriend Owen, Bella Beecham was convinced he was about to pop the question she’d been longing to hear. Instead, he accepted a prestigious job in California and left England without a backwards glance. Now, Owen’s back in the village of Saffron Sweeting, and appears to be more eligible than ever. Bella’s determined that the man of her dreams won’t slip through her fingers again.
But her plans to tone up, trim down, and tempt Owen back into her life prove bittersweet. Although Bella’s talent for baking wins her new friends, her tasty treats have a disconcerting tendency to sabotage her own intentions. And as her increasingly bold attempts to recapture Owen’s heart stumble, Bella must question whether she’s chasing a guy who wants to be caught.

A British romantic comedy featuring both familiar characters and fresh faces, Sweet Pursuits explores how a young woman seeking her soulmate must first learn to love herself.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 303 pages (Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Genre: British Chick Lit
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date:  January 26th 2017
 ADD TO GOODREADS
Buy Links: 
AMAZON USA AMAZON UK AMAZON CAN AMAZON AUS/NZ


This was such a good read. I don't read a lot of chick lit or romance these days (I'm a mood reader) but it was nice to delve into some good old (new actually!) British Chick Lit and I am not, I repeat not exaggerating when I say that I love Pauline Wiles little village of Saffron Sweeting.

Bella was one of those characters that I had to learn to love. I liked her just fine in the beginning of the book but it wasn't until nearer the end that I really grew to love her and I think that's because the story started going the way I wanted to. Now, when I say that I don't mean it in a bad way. I just thought that being the experienced reader I am that I could use The Force™ to force her to do give Owen up (I wanted to kick him in the "shins").  

I get where Bella is coming from though, when a relationship especially a long term one ends it is hard to get over and I know she wanted him back because she loved him but I'm very glad to report that in the end Bella ended up choosing herself and what truly made her happy. I enjoyed seeing her character grow and I really do think she's one of my favourite characters to come across in the last little while. She's basically someone I wouldn't mind being friends with and despite some of her weaker moments she was great. 

While this isn't the first book in the Saffron Sweeting series it's actually, it was the first one in the series that I've read and I'll let you know that it's one that I'm going to continue reading. The characters, setting and atmosphere was quaint, adorable and delicious. If you love baking/eating check out this charming bit of chick lit! It's perfect for rainy days or to battle the winter blues. If you want a book that will brighten your day I highly suggest giving this one a try especially if you have a sweet tooth! 

Rating:  

Author Bio:



Pauline WilesBritish by birth, Pauline is now a contented resident of California, although she admits to occasional yearnings for afternoon tea and historic homes.
Her debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, reached the quarter final of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and was a number one Kindle Best Seller. The stand-alone prequel, Secrets in the Sky, is now available, with the third book in the series coming in early 2017. Her work has been published by House of Fifty, Smitten by Britain and Alfie Dog Fiction.
When not writing, Pauline can be found getting the steps wrong in a Zumba class or calculating how many miles she has to run to justify an extra piece of cake. Her ambition is to sell enough books to cover the cost of flying herself and a reader to London for tea.



Author Links:

WEBSITE GOODREADS TWITTER FACEBOOK PINTEREST


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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday #153

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and is where we can talk about books we are looking forward to being released.



Cutting Back: My Apprenticeship in the Gardens of KyotoWhat do you discover when you cut back?

At thirty-five, Leslie Buck made an impulsive decision to put her personal life on hold to pursue her passion. Leaving behind a full life of friends, love, and professional security, she became the first American woman to learn pruning from one of the most storied landscaping companies in Kyoto. Cutting Back recounts Buck’s bold journey and the revelations she has along the way. During her apprenticeship in Japan, she learns that the best Kyoto gardens look so natural they appear untouched by human hands, even though her crew spends hours meticulously cleaning every pebble in the streams. She is taught how to bring nature’s essence into a garden scene, how to design with native plants, and how to subtly direct a visitor through a landscape. But she learns the most important lessons from her fellow gardeners: how to balance strength with grace, seriousness with humor, and technique with heart. Cutting Back is an insightful debut memoir and story of personal growth that will appeal to gardeners and non-gardeners alike.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 280 pages (Hardcover)
Genre: Memoir/Gardening
Expected Publication Date: May 3rd 2017 by Timber Press



Why I'm Waiting:

I love a good memoir and I love reading about gardens so this one is a must read for me.


Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden PlantsA beautifully photographed, gift-worthy guide to growing, harvesting, and utilizing 47unexpected backyard garden plants to make organic pantry staples, fragrances, floral arrangements, beverages, cocktails, beauty products, bridal gifts, and more. 
Every garden--not just vegetable plots--can produce a bountiful harvest! Thispractical, inspirational, and seasonal guide will help make any garden moreproductive and enjoyable with a variety of projects using unexpected and oftencommon garden plants, some of which may already be growing inyour backyard. 
Discover the surprising usefulness of petals and leaves, roots, seeds, and fruit: turn tumeric root into a natural dye and calamintha into lip balm. Make anise hyssopinto a refreshingiced teaand turn apricots into a facial mask. Crabapplebranches can be used to create stunning floral arrangements, oregano flowers toinfuse vinegar, and edible chrysanthemum to liven up a salad. With theremarkable, multi-purpose plants in Harvest, there is always something for gardeners to harvest from one growing season to the next."
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 224 pages (Hardcover)
Genre: Gardening/Cooking
Expected Publication Date: February 7th 2017 by Ten Speed Press


Why I'm Waiting:

Well we're in the middle of winter here in Canada so can you blame me for wanting to escape in books that will carry me through until spring?  I love gardening and cooking and making things so this one sounds perfect.

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