The Vegan Stoner Cookbook: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes to Munch

After a year of some medical mishaps, I was faced with a laundry list of life-style changes that literally frighten me. And there are so many, I didn't know where to start. I decided to start with nutritional changes, such as limiting my salt intake and cutting out red meat. Eating a different variation of the same salad or sandwich after a while just gets old. I was so excited to get a sneak at The Vegan Stoner Cookbook. It boasts 100 vegan recipes so easy a stoner prepare them. Sounds like my kind of cookbook and just what I was looking for in trying to navigate this bacon-less world.

Right away I had to chuckle at the illustrations. More than adorable little stoner vegetables grace each page and introduce each chapter. Each ingredient and tool is illustrated and easy to identify. Most of the recipes call for less than 6 ingredients, making each recipe more than affordable for the budget minded.

The Vegan Stoner Cookbook raves it's recipes are fool proof, so over the course of a month I decided to put that claim to the test. But where to start? There's everything from biscuits and gravy to Aspara-Guy Sushi to Shroom Ceviche. So far I've made 12 of the 100 recipes and nothing was too far out of my reach. I did have to go to the reference section a few times. The reference section is full of tips and directions on things like "How to Roll Sushi." My favorite recipe is the Fruit Tortilla Wraps. It is so simple, but so bloody brilliant and sooo yummy! It's in the dessert section if you want to check it out.

The Vegan Stoner Cookbook comes out September 3. I definitely recommend picking it up. Even if you're not vegan or a stoner, you'll find something to your liking.

Only The Thunder Knows/East End Girls

Only the Thunder Knows – East End Girls by Gord Rollo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I love the idea of packaging two connected novellas into one package. JournalStone publishing is doing just that by taking an established writer in the genre and pairing them up with an author new to horror. The two novellas are centered around real life events with some twists and turns.

I read the first novella Only The Thunder Knows in record time. I really enjoyed it and was engaged throughout. The twists always kept me on my feet.(If I reviewed this story alone, it would have gotten five stars.) The second story East End Girls, I kept putting down and forcing myself to pick it back up. It took me a bit to get through it. Looking back, it was a really solid story on it's own, but the bar was set to high for me after finishing the first story.

I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but for fans of horror it will make an interesting read.

I received a review copy of this title from LibraryThing



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Dark Discoveries: Issue #23

I keep asking myself how I didn't know Dark Discoveries existed. Now that I do, I know that I need it in my life. Dark Discoveries is a quarterly magazine published by Journal Stone Publishing and focuses on the Sci-Fi/Dark Fantasy/Horror genre.

Issue # 23 is dedicated to Dark Fantasy and guides bibliophiles through the genre including listings of Bram Stoker Award Winners and a recommended reading list. Along with the informational, the pages are packed with interviews, articles and short stories.

Being a Dark Horse fanatic I was excited to see Talking Shop: Dark Horse Comics' Scott Allie on Robert E. Howard, Hellboy, and Abe Sapian listed in the table of contents. I love seeing comic book writers and artists being recognized in the same publication that features the best artists, TV shows, and literary artists of the genre. The article was entertaining and informative. It was written as a Q&A so much of the article was straight from Scott Allie.

Another standout was a noir short story about a PI that promises to protect a damsel that is being threatened by her ex, with a twist. Like Part of the Family was written by Jonathan Mayberry. I definitely need to read more of his stories. I was hooked from the first page.

Dark Discoveries does an amazing job at showcasing the genre. I can't wait to see Dark Discoveries: Issue #24 featuring Forgotten Horror & SciFi TV on sale July 31. Both issues can be purchased at DarkDiscoveries.com

Fade to Black

Fade to Black by Jeffrey Wilson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received an early review copy of Fade to Black by Jeffery Wilson from LibraryThing. At first glance, this isn't a setting I would normally be interested in reading. I'm not an avid war novel reader, but the plot really piqued my interest. By day, Jack is a family man and teaches high school. By night, he is plagued by vivid, life-like dreams smack in the middle of combat in Fallujah, Iraq. Jack may be losing his mind, unsure if his nightmares are real.

This is an amazing book! I was absolutely immersed in the story and couldn't put it down. I ended up reading it in one setting. It's suspenseful, thought provoking, and at times heart breaking. Jeffrey Wilson crafts a reality that jumps off the page and scrambles you head. Amazing writing. I look forward to reading more from Jeffrey Wilson.

It's hard to say to much without giving away major plot details and I don't want to ruin it for you. Fade to Black was released on June 14th, so go grab a copy. It is worth the experience. I'm still reeling!



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Stupid By Choice

Stupid By Choice by Leighton Summers

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Melanie St. John perfectly fits the stereotype of a southern socialite. As the daughter of a wealthy oil lawyer, she travels all over the globe to hob nob with the snobs and snag a husband. After she leaves her abusive husband and embarks on single motherhood, Melanie looks back at her choices and the poisonous relationships that have brought her to this point.

This is definitely a chick lit book. While the story is interesting, I just didn't connect to the southern theme. With the writing style, I couldn't picture it as modern. I just kept picturing "Gone With The Wind" and I'm not sure that's a good thing. Also, I'm hoping that more proofreading was done when it was published. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the formatting was just a mess, so distracting.

Even though Melanie often displayed an aura of entitlement, she had some real deep, human moments that gave her character a depth that I wish I had seen more of through out the story. I don't want to give anything away, but I was happy to see her character grow and see that you don't have to just let things happen to you. You can take control of your life. Don't be Stupid by Choice.



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Stumptown, Vol. 2 by Greg Rucka

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ever since I’ve widened my scope of reading materials to include comics and graphic novels, I have stumbled across some pretty awesome stories to add to my library. I was initially worried that starting a series on Volume 2 would leave me lost and confused and not able to give an accurate opinion of the overall story. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could jump right in and enjoy the story.

Stumptown Volume 2 collects “The Case of the Baby in the Velvet Case”, a Dex Parrios mystery. Dex is a P.I. who has been hired to find a precious guitar. While on the case, Dex finds herself trying to dodge some skinheads and the D.E.A. Greg Rucka crafts a fast pace, intense mystery that takes you on a wild ride from beginning to end and leaves you wanting more.  The intense action made it hard to put down. Couple Rucka’s writing with the art of Matthew Southworth and you have a beautiful book to add to your collection. The colors perfectly set the mood for a great mystery story.

The hardcover edition of Stumptown Volume 2 will release on September 4, 2013. I read a digital ARC from Netgalley, but I still prefer print to digital. I don’t think my computer really does the art justice.  Until then, I think I’ll go pick up Volume 1.

The Arrival

The Arrival by Nicole MacDonald

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


When I requested an ARC copy of The Arrival by Nicole MacDonald, I was so excited to read it, a paranormal fantasy/ romance with not one, but four kick ass heroines, bring it on! Unfortunately, a clever story was not enough to pull a five star rating with me.

This story is about a group of four friends, with extensive martial arts training, that can’t seem to find love. So they do what any strong, independent woman would do, they cast a love spell. But, as they must, the spell goes awry.  They are transported into another world where they find themselves lower on the food chain then they are accustomed.

My highest praise for the book is the amazing world that MacDonald has crafted. She is able to allow the reader to fall into the world right along side the main characters and experience the new creatures and surroundings with the foursome. Also, MacDonald really conveys a strong girl-power message, even though the story revolves around the want/need for a partner. Every action scene further solidified the strength of the heroines.

To tell you the truth, I almost stopped reading the book a few different times out of boredom and an inability to connect to characters due to the constant, rapid changing points of view. Now, I think a shift in character perception can enhance the story on many different levels, but changing points of view multiple times per page can get confusing and leave the characters feeling a bit one dimensional. The characters personalities were lost among the shuffle. Eventually, the action would kick back up and pull me back into the story, but that is not enough to make me want to continue with the series.

Those that are fans of the genre, for the price the story is worth the read, despite my criticism, the writing is very well done, with just a few errors here and there. Just be prepared for the revolving points of view. Once you get used to that, it’s not a bad read.




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The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery by Justin Richards

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Melody Malone sets up a detective agency in 1930's Manhattan and is hired by an actor in his prime. She is tasked with uncovering the mastermind of a murder plot. Although the title is used in the Doctor Who episode The Angels Take Manhattan, there are very few similarities between the two. The Melody Malone character is spot on and a perfect setting for her sassy attitude. I thought this was a great story. But at 54 pages, it is way too short. For the low price, it's worth a read by Doctor Who and noir mystery fans.



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How Possession Can Help You Lose Weight by Chris Dolley

After a few crappy days, I really needed a laugh. So I picked up How Possession Can Help You Lose Weight. I have been reading a few short ebooks here and there. I never really gave them a shot before, but I'm growing quite fond of them. I can pick it up on my lunch hour and be done before I'm back to my desk. It's a nice little escape. How Possession Can Help You Lose Weight was no exception. At 53 pages, including recipes, calorie counter, testimonials, and a demon dating questionnaire, this is a very light read and great for a giggle.

How Possession Can Help You Lose Weight by Chris Dolley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


How Possession Can Help You Lose Weight is a hilarious parody of modern diets books. The chapters walk the reader through all the steps to making your thin dream come true! Sharing insight from Science and Clinical trials to Exorcism and Side Features (they aren't side effects, they are opportunities) all the while injecting humor and not a small amount of infomercial talk. They even include a helpful calorie counter, which you can access easily through the links in the Table of Contents.

This is a great pick for a quick chuckle and as I found out, a great little pick me up on a bad day.



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The Reluctant Messiah by Eric Guindon

My favorite book of all time is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I absolutely adore the mix of comedy, adventure, and quirkiness. The collection, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe, is the first leather-bound collector's edition I ever bought. Now it sits a long side many of my favorites in a book shelf I reserve only for collector's editions or my absolute favorites that I just can't seem to stomach giving away or donating.  I am very excited to add another book to the shelf, The Reluctant Messiah by Eric Guidon.

Occasionally when I'm on Goodreads, I will check out a section of the site where they have contests and giveaway books. I like to check out books coming out and authors I may not have heard of yet. The Reluctant Messiah caught my eye. I especially liked the tag line, "A Darkly Comedic Tale Of Prophecies." I entered the contest and actually won. I wasn't sure what to expect.The back of the book reads:
                                                                            Magic!

Prophecies!
Cults!
Demons
 ...and Oliver?

Oliver Kirkle had a normal life until prophecies got in the way. A multitude of cults, each with its own interpretation of the prophecies, think Oliver is their messiah.                                             Unfortunately for Oliver, that's the only thing they agree about...

I instantly fell in love with Guidon's writing. He reminds me of Douglas Adams or Neil Gaiman. Tackling  dark subjects like cults and doomsday prophecies and injecting it with witty banter and a lighthearted playfulness. Right away I noticed how well the book flowed from chapter to chapter, guiding the reader through the story with ease. During Oliver's introduction to the story, I actually visualized his budding romance with Bunny as a movie montage. I thought it was a brilliant way of covering  the formative years of Oliver's life, giving a glimpse into what makes him tick.

I loved the story and can't wait to see where it is going. I only wish it was a little longer, but happy to see book two is out already. I will definitely be following this series.

You can pick up The Reluctant Messiah here and the sequel An Unexpected Apocalypse here.

Serendipity

Serendipity is probably my favorite word in the English language and I so rarely get to use it.

I am always reading and always on the look out for good books. Occasionally, I just browse the shelves at Barnes and Noble, but usually I find my books by recommendations or newsletters. A Goodreads user in an online book club I joined suggested I pick up Fated. I have a horrible habit of not writing down enough information. Wasting time at the bookstore one day, the recommendation popped into my head, but I just couldn't remember the name of the book or the author, all I remembered was it was part of the Soul Seekers Series. One thing I love about bookstores, much like movie stores, is the ability to walk up to an employee and say, "Hey, do you know that book with that guy that does that one thing?" and their response is, "Oh, yeah, that one book. I love that book. It's right over here."

I allowed the sales associate to guide me to the Teen Paranormal section of Barnes and Noble, which I was not expecting. First of all, I didn't even know there was a whole section devoted to Teen Paranormal and it's about three times the size given to the Poetry section, which really makes me sad. Second, I didn't know the book was a Young Adult book when I went into the store. Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant YA books out there. Harry Potter and Pendragon were both amazing series'. But when it comes to YA, I am skeptical that I will enjoy it or be able to relate to characters. The sales associate handed me the book and felling a little deflated, I just threw the book onto my pile. There was no standing and reading the back or looking at the picture. I checked out and headed home and kind of just forgot about it. A couple of weeks ago, I found it again and realized I had bought the second book in the series. Being a bit OCD about reading books or watching movies in order, I decided I would rectify my mistake and go buy the first book.

The next day I went to Target on my lunch hour. I was a bit distracted and rushed. This time the book was in the Best Sellers row. I located the book and got a phone call. Totally immersed in conversation, I grabbed the book and headed to the check out lane. So, after many books and a few months after the recommendation was given, I finally set down to read Fated. I opened my red and white bulls eye Target bag and pulled out...

 Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Oops, for the second time in a row, I bought the wrong book and I am so glad I did.

The book follows Abby Abernathy as she arrives at Eastern University and reinvents herself into the good girl stereotype in order to escape the life she left behind and mold her future into her vision of normal. As soon as she arrives, she meets Travis Maddox, an underground fighter and campus man-whore.

Even though I rarely read chick lit, once in a while I'll indulge and take a break from Sci-fi and mysteries. This one has definitely moved into my favorites bookcase. I immediately related to Abby. I found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride. Quickly falling in love with Travis, but hating him at the same time. I found myself rooting for him and then a few chapters later, wishing I could jump in the book and tell Abby to run as fast as she could and don't look back. From the moment I read the first chapter, I was hooked and didn't put it down until I had read the whole book and the next day I went back to Target and bought...

The sequel, Walking Disaster, tells the exact same story as Beautiful Disaster, but it is told from Travis' point of view. Still a good story the second time around and dammit, Jamie McGuire made me like Travis. At the end of the first book, I wished it had ended differently. It didn't distract from my enjoyment of the first book, but the relationship was dysfunctional and poisonous. The second book had me looking at the relationship from a different perspective, understanding why actions were taken and conversations never heard from the other perspective.  I couldn't put this one down either and read it in one night. Two books in two nights does not make for restful nights. By accident, I stumbled upon two amazingly written books. It truly was serendipity.

I recently picked up Fated. I haven't read it yet, but I am absolutely sure I got the correct book when I got home. But so far the road to acquiring it has been well worth the effort.