Half Yard™ Winter Collection - Review

Half Yard™ Winter Collection: Debbie’s Top 40 Half Yard Projects for Winter Sewing

Author: Debbie Shore

Publisher: Search Press

Release Date: September 13, 2022

ISBN: 9781782219293

Pages: 176

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A collection of Half Yard™ sewing projects for wintertime style, designed by the award-winning and best-selling author Debbie Shore.

Sew your own winter wonderland with just half a yard of fabric! Debbie has chosen her favorite winter designs from her much-loved Half Yard™ series, including five brand-new projects for you to sink your needles into.
 
Whether you're decorating the house for the holidays, looking for crafts to keep the little ones occupied or searching for gift inspiration, you'll find a gorgeous collection of items to make: from classics such as stockings, advent calendars and fabric baubles to snugly slippers,gorgeous gift bags and cheeky Christmas gnomes!
 
Each item requires no more than half a yard of outer fabric, plus all the necessary hardware, trimmings and lining. As always, every project features Debbie's friendly, easy-to-follow instructions and a beautiful photograph of the finished make.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love Debbie Shore! When I want some inspiration, I will go to her YouTube Channel and binge watch to get my creative mojo going. Imagine my elation when I found a copy of her book "Half Yard Winter Collection" available for review! If you are anything like me, you have a lot of fabric in your sewing/craft collection that needs used, but you haven't found what you want to use it for. This book helps you use up your half yard cuts and make some lovely projects out of.

Half Yard Winter Collection is written for all sewers/crafters. It starts with the basics and then moves into the projects. What I love about Debbie's project is most don't need a pattern, but only measurements. There is one project, Winter Gnomes, that uses the supplied  templates, but outside of that, there's no need to trace or copy. With LOTS of beautiful photos for each project, one is certain to have a successful completed project, as these photos take the guesswork out of how to put things together and questioning if one has done it correctly. Much nicer than just written instructions!  

The projects lean towards a shabby chic, however they will fit into any decor - just change out some of the fabrics, etc. if you prefer.  I love so many of the projects included in this book. Some of my favorites are Winter Gnomes (they are ADORABLE!!),  Draught Excluder, Snowman Wreath, Slippers (easily adjustable for any size) and a variety of bags/totes for gift giving or using yourself. There are so many lovely projects in this book that can be made for other times of the year by just changing the fabrics or embellishments.

I cannot say enough about Debbie Shore's Half Yard Winter Collection. It is definitely being added to my sewing and craft library in hard copy. I'll be ordering it the next time I place a book order. Yes, it's that good! 

Highly recommended!

I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss+. I was not required to post a positive review - but one of my honest opinion. 

Cozy Knits - Review

Cozy Knits: 30 Hat, Mitten, Scarf and Sock Projects from Around the World 

Authors: Sue Flanders, Janine Kosel

Edited By: Kari Cornell

Publisher: Voyageur Press

Release Date: March 15, 2022

ISBN: 9780760373538

Pages: 453

Genre: Knitting, Crafts, Hobbies

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Cozy Knits presents 30 of the coziest, globally-inspired patterns for hats, mittens, and gloves—including stylish traditional projects from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the British Isles, the Americas, and Asia.

What is everyone’s favorite thing about hand knits? The coziness! This book offers 30 knitted patterns inspired by international knitting traditions for socks, sweaters, scarves, and hats.

If you are a fan of cozy fair isle—it’s in here. If you are looking for a cozy Norwegian knit pattern—it’s in here—the cozier the better. These stylish projects are inspired by knitting traditions from around the world, such as Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the British Isles, the Americas, and Asia.

Each project is partnered with complete illustrated patterns, beautiful four-color photography, schematics and diagrams, and alternatives for yarns and needle weights and sizes to help you get the results you want. The patterns range from simple to more complicated, making this a great book to grow your craft.

With Cozy Knits, create beautiful and gift-able cozy knits for friends and family—or even maybe just for yourself!

MY THOUGHTS:

Cozy Knits is a treat for any knitter who loves to try something new. These smaller projects will be done in no time and one will enjoy learning something new as well as having a lovely finished item at the end.

The book is filled with patterns from some of my favorite designers: Nancy Bush, Dawn Brocco, Donna Druchunas, Lily M. Chin, Anna Zilboorg plus many others. The patterns are not only beautiful and well written, but there are also charts included for colorwork, etc. I cannot comment on the charts as my review copy did not included them, however, the instructions are clear and easy to understand. 

Cozy Knits is a gorgeous book filled with beautiful photographs and lovely patterns that will be demanding calling out to you to make them. It would be perfect for any knitter's library!!!

I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss+. I was not required to post a positive review - but one of my honest opinion. 

Halloween Party Ideas - Free Kindle Book

Kindle Book - Free at the time of posting this short review. Please check price before downloading, as Amazon changes their pricing frequently.

Halloween Party Ideas - FREE

MY THOUGHTS

A very short and to the point guide for hosting a Halloween party. To me, this book had a feel more for young adults and teens that want to host a part for their friends. There are ideas for invitations, themes, decorating, games and foods. Sadly, there are no pictures included and the link at the end of the book for the pumpkin cookbook is a dead link. Overall, the book has lots of ideas and a few interesting recipes.

This book is part of my own library and is a verified purchase through Amazon.

Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex - Book Spotlight

 

Join Grady and Aarush as they test the limits of their physical and emotional endurance…

By Carole P. Roman

Templeton Academy- the superhero high school is finally open!

The prestigious academy is recruiting the best of the best to enroll in its student body.

The school is as mysterious as it is exclusive.

Grady Whill thinks there is nothing special about him to make the grade.

However, his best friend, Aarush Patel has been selected and thinks Grady has the right stuff.

Even school bully, Elwood Bledsoe is attending.

If Grady is fortunate enough to be picked, his guardian has forbidden him to attend.

Will a family secret prevent Grady from becoming the superhero he was destined to be?

“Roman’s writing is excellent: portraying wonderful, complex characters. Narrated by Grady, the story reveals his kindness and humor. (“Aarush lived in a smart home as opposed to my stupid home,” he tells readers). It also illustrates the lovely symbiotic friendship between Grady and Aarush, who protect each other from trouble and ridicule…With the book’s many touching, funny, and edge-of-your-seat moments, readers will be cheering to hear more from Grady.” Blue Ink Review

“With a page-turning plot and exciting twists and turns, this book is sure to become a treasured favorite.”- Review by Book Excellence

“If I were to give a book to every young adult in this world, I would give them Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman without blinking. I absolutely loved every moment of this uplifting and fascinating story. It’s filled with valuable life lessons, adventure, peril, and highly relatable and lovable characters.” Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers’ Favorite

“Harry Potter meets Sky High. If you’re a fan of young adult stories where protagonists go to mysterious schools to train their superhuman abilities, don’t miss out on Grady Whill and The Templeton Codex.” Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Reader’s Favorite

“With a detailed descriptive narrative, great character development, and compelling dialogue, the author has created a story that will have young readers engaged to the very end.” Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Reader’s Favorite

Book Information

Release Date: July 18, 2022

Publisher:  Chelshire, Inc.

Soft Cover: ISBN:  978-1950080434; 286 pages; $10.99; eBook $8.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Qvn3kv

PROLOGUE 

Scarface Mountain – Present Day 

A ^{BARELY COOLED LUMP of lava hardened under my}  feet. One of my sneakers was stuck between two small  rocks in the solidifying mess. I stared at my foot in disbelief.  Instinct told me I should be a human torch, my legs nothing  more than toasted stumps. I glanced up, my heart beating  wildly. We were trapped on the side of the mountain facing our  school, separated by a burning sea of molten rocks.  

The world around me steamed, the lava staining the sky  burnt orange. Trees swallowed by molten rock looked like  skeletal hands emerging from a grave that glowed beneath the  blackened crust. I saw heat waves shimmering from the earth  but felt none of its intensity. I pulled fiercely, feeling my ankle  twist. Aarush steadied me as I nearly toppled over. He was 

shirtless, his back slick with sweat and covered with scrapes.  His fingers worked feverishly to free my foot. 

Overhead two helicopter-sized pterodactyls circled the  craggy summit. The wind from their leathery wings buffeted  the two of us. I think the air they circulated stopped the  patches of lava from cooking us alive, but what do I know? 

“We better get moving, Grady. Leave your sneaker. We are  risking getting burned by staying too long in one spot.” The  ever-practical Aarush reasoned as he pulled the velcro releas ing my foot. I wobbled, then fell to one knee. 

“Do you think they’re real?” I hollered to my friend over  the noise, pointing upward.  

“I’m not sure,” Aarush responded with a shake of his head.  “Right now I can’t tell the difference between fantasy and real ity.” The answer to that question was resolved when one of the  predatory birds spiraled downward in a dive. “We have to go  that way!” He waved to the lee side of the mountain, where  small brush fires dotted the hillside. “The lava appears to be  traveling in the other direction.” His hands moved to push  glasses up on his nose, only to realize they were long gone, lost  in our escape. 

“Look out!” Aarush hunched down as the wind from the  pterdactal’s wings fanned the area around us. “Oh yes, I’d say  they’re real!”

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children’s books. Whether it’s pirates, princesses, spies, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children of all ages.

Her best-selling book, The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes! has reached number one on Amazon in March of 2020 and has remained in the top 200 books since then.

She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren.

Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman.

Roman is the CEO of a global transportation company, as well as a practicing medium.

She also writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and has created an anthology of the mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors.

Writing is her passion and one of her favorite pastimes. Roman reinvents herself frequently, and her family calls her the ‘mother of reinvention.’ She resides on Long Island, near her children and grandchildren.

Her series includes:

Captain No Beard

If You Were Me and Lived in- Cultural

If You Were Me and Lived in- Historical

Nursery series

Oh Susannah- Early Reader and coloring book

Grady Whilland the Templeton Codex

Giggles Galore- Coming in December 2022

Mindfulness for Kids with co-author J. Robin Albertson-Wren

The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids; 800 plus Jokes! 1 and 2

Spies, Code Talkers, and Secret Agents A World War 2 Book for Kids

Navigating Indieworld- with co-author Julie A. Gerber

Marketing Indieworld- with co-authors Angela Hausman and Julie A. Gerber

Adult Fiction under the pen name Brit Lunden

Bulwark

The Knowing- Book 1- A Bulwark Anthology

The Devil and Dayna Dalton- Book 9-A Bulwark Anthology

Her latest book is the YA Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex.

Visit Carole’s website at www.CarolePRoman.com or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Sponsored By:

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends No Waste Cookbook

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends No Waste Cookbook

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter

Publisher: Barbour Pub Inc

Release Date: September 30, 2022

ISBN: 9781636093857

Pages: 224

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When times are hard, the family budget gets tighter.
Do you struggle with feeding your family as the cost of everything rises? This cookbook is designed to help.
 
New, from New York Times bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter, is a valuable cookbook for when times are hard and costs are on the rise. Amish and Mennonite cooks offer recipes and advice for saving money, stretching a meal, and eliminating waste in the kitchen. Over 270 recipes are divided into traditional categories from main dishes and sides to desserts and snacks. Encased in a lay-flat binding and presented in full color, home cooks of all ages will find this cookbook to be a wonderful addition to their collections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda's ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

MY THOUGHTS:

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends No Waste Cookbook is a treasure chest full of amazing recipes, Bible quotes, hints, sayings, and miscellaneous how-to's. The recipes are exactly what you'd expect from the Amish - down home comfort food that are not only delicious, but can be made with ingredients you probably have on hand. 

I was very pleased to find that not only are there the "normal" food recipes, but also included are one for making items like deodorant, bleach alternative, laundry soap, baby wipes, and other very useful miscellaneous recipes. I have tried a few and they work!

There is a wonderful canning/preserving section, but I will say that one must be aware that many of the Amish use the "old" ways of water bath canning meats and other low acid foods that is not recommended by the USDA. Meats that are water bathed in this book should now be processed in a pressure canner. Please do your research before canning any of these recipes. There is a free guide online that the USDA has put out called The Complete Guide to Home Canning. Am I saying not to use the canning recipes? Absolutely not. But do look up how to safely can the items. 

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends No Waste Cookbook is a wonderful cookbook that should be a part of any kitchen. It is filled with some of the most mouthwatering recipes that many people associate with the Amish community. You'll find yourself pulling it off your shelf again and again. Yes, the recipes are that delicious!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review - but one of my honest opinion. 

Mornings with God by Emily Biggers - Review

Mornings with God

Prayers and Devotions for Women

Author: Emily Biggers

Publisher: Barbour Publishing Inc.

Release Date: February 1, 2018

ISBN: 9781683222545

Pages: 192

BLURB:

Good mornings are guaranteed when you start the day off in prayer.
Dozens of faith-building prayers are accompanied by inspiring devotional thoughts and scripture selections—just for you. Featuring just-right-sized readings to fit into your busy morning routine and scripture selections from the beloved King James Version of the Bible, you’ll start your days off right with Mornings with God!

MY THOUGHTS:

Anyone that has followed my reviews knows that I'm a KJV only gal. Imagine my delight when I found that this devotional uses the King James Version!! A big YAY! on my part.

Mornings with God is a lovely devotional for women that has an easy format -  The title of the day's focus, a prayer, then a small devotion, and then to finish it all off, a Scripture verse. This is a devotional that you can spend just a few minutes on, or use it to focus on as a morning reading/study. It's a great starting point to continue with for studies. Have a notebook and pen handy and you can write down your thoughts about the devotion for the day, or maybe you were led to search deeper and you can record your findings.

I love the simple format. It's concise and has a ton of potential. Sometimes the short devotional is something to think on throughout the day, sometimes there's questions and sometimes there's a reading "assignment". There are many times I'd start with the devotion and end up reading and getting into a more in-depth study. 

Mornings with God is written specifically for women. It's a lovely devotional that will start your day of right. Keep a notebook or paper and a pen handy and take notes when you want to remember something or if you had a thought or idea. You'll be surprised to find how much you get from this little book of devotions!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review - but one of my honest opinion. 

Star of Wonder by K. Lynn Smith - Review

Star of Wonder

A Sweet Victorian Holiday Novella

Author: K. Lyn Smith

Release Date: October 27, 2022

Kindle Format

Pages: 108

BLURB:

Will merry hearths and mistletoe thaw this pair before it’s too late for a second chance at love?

A soldier returns to claim the lady of his heart before she marries another in this frosty Victorian Christmas romance.

---

The captain

Andrew Grey has long wished to make Aster Corbyn his, but a lady who’s always been surrounded by brilliance, from her astronomer father to her artist mother, doesn’t deserve mediocrity. So Andrew sets out to achieve, if not brilliance, at least a proper shine, and he asks her to wait for his return. Aaand wait. Then he receives the unwelcome news that Aster has gone and betrothed herself to another.

---

And his lady

At six and twenty, Aster Corbyn thought she’d have married Andrew Grey long before now. But his letters have grown less frequent and she’s grown more impatient. After years of watching their star across an ocean of disappointment, she’s given up on him just as he’s apparently given up on their dreams.

When a St. Nicholas Eve snowstorm thwarts her travels, Aster finds herself stranded with her old friend, who is recently—and quite unexpectedly—returned from India. And to her irritation, Andrew is just as carefree and irreverent as she recalls.

Will merry hearths and mistletoe thaw this pair before it’s too late for a second chance at love?

---

Star of Wonder is a complete story featuring a new generation from the Something Wonderful series. Fans of the series will enjoy this peek into the families of Harry & Celeste (The Astronomer’s Obsession) and Julian & Charlie (The Physician’s Dilemma) while new readers will love this stand-alone tale featuring an independent heroine and flawed-but-lovable hero.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-nominated author K. Lyn Smith writes sweet historical romance with swoony heroes. Sometimes a pig or two. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her own swoony hero, and when she’s not reading or writing, you can find her cooking with family, traveling or watching period dramas. And space documentaries. Weird, right?

Author's WEBSITE

https://www.klynsmithauthor.com

Author's MAILING LIST

https://www.klynsmithauthor.com/readers-circle

MY THOUGHTS:

Romances are usually not my thing, but there are times I just want to curl up with a nice cozy story that takes place around the holidays. Now that the days are becoming cooler, I am getting in that mood again. 

Star of Wonder is a sweet novella that takes place in Victorian England with the likeable characters, Aster and Andrew. Childhood friends, they both grew up and chose different careers, Aster, a teacher and Andrew, a voluntary member of the military. 

The book starts out with letters and sets the stage for what is to come. A lost letter, a tragedy and a snowstorm all fit together to make a sweet holiday story that was both easy to read and clean but still had a few adult type innuendos that were humorous. 

Star of Wonder is a quick read that rivals any Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. That's a good thing - because it was exactly what I wanted!! If you are in the mood for a nice clean holiday romance, then this is the read for you!!

I received a copy of this book through BookSirens. I was not required to post a positive review - but one of my honest opinion.