Crazy About Cakes by Krystina Castella

Reading Level: Adult Non-Fiction
(5 out of 5)

Oh yum, does this book have some delicious looking cake recipes in it!  I wish they had smelly things on the page so you could take a big whiff.  When I first saw this book I knew I had to try and make those incredible looking German chocolate bars on the front.  I did the semi homemade way but they turned out super delish.  I can't wait to try out some of her other yummy treats.  Like root beer float cake in a mug.  Yes, please I love anything made cute in a glass or a jar and I love me some root beer floats.  Irish cream cakes in chocolate cups.  The little chocolate cups are just darling.  There are so many other fun cakes in here, like chocolate truffle cakes.  Perfect for Valentines Day that is just a few days away.  You have to see her precious little bunny cakes.  Too cute for words.  Almost too cute to eat, almost!

If you love cake as much as do, check out this book today.

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Katie McGarry is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA authors.  Her writing is fresh, in your face, and the romance is smoking hot.  The characters she creates stick with you long after you read the last page.  I am still just so thrilled I got to see her speak at an ALA conference and bummed that I didn't get to meet her at the book signing (she ran out of books). :(  Ms. McGarry is from Kentucky which isn't too far away so hopefully she will do a book signing not too far away.  One can only hope.  With three books to be published in the near future she doesn't seem to be slowing down.  Which I am so happy about!

This is technically the third book which will be coming out in May, May 28 to be exact.  The second book, Crossing the Line, about Echo's best friend Lila, from Pushing the Limits will be published in e-book format in April.  For those who are fans of Ms. McGarry never fear because Isaiah's story, Crash Into You, is coming soon probably next year.

Now that we have that out of the way Dare You To is about Beth.  Beth has been hiding what her home life is really like and when she can't hide it anymore she gets shipped off to live with her uncle who has been MIA for most of her life.  Ryan is the baseball star golden boy, but looks can be deceiving.  When these two come together it is explosive.  My only complaint is that they were away from each other to long on the page.  Ms. McGarry deals with very real, heavy topics.  Topics that teenagers shouldn't have to deal with but in reality many do.  I think that she does a good job with it.  She has them work through it and not just sweep it under or say okay my life is fine now without dealing.  I can't wait to read Lila's story and then Isaiah's.  I hope Isaiah's cover has him on the front showing off his tattoos.  A girl can only dream!

Keep an eye out for Dare You To coming to the library in May!

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

 
 
 

Reading Level: (Young Adult)
(4 out of 5)

I was so excited to find out that the library finally purchased this awesome series by Jennifer Estep.  The Mythos Academy series is full of Greek myth, romance, danger, action and humor.  Book one is Touch of Frost, book two is Kiss of Frost, book three is Dark Frost, and book four is Crimson Frost.  Book five Midnight Frost will be out in August.  I can't wait.  Just so you know all four books are only available at LCPL through e-book.  If you are a die hard print fan put in a purchase request!

Gwen Frost is a gypsy and she has the gift of being able to touch an object or a person and feel their emotions and see things.  After her mother dies she is enrolled in Mythos Academy a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. 

By book four Gwen has been in many battles, made many friends (Daphne, Carson, Kenzie, Oliver), and has finally snagged Logan the hottie Spartan.  I don't want to talk much about what happens because it will give away a lot of what goes on in the previous books and I want you to read them.  I think these books are great and I think you will too.  So check them out today!

Eat More of What you Love by Marlene Koch

Don't you wish you could just pull the food right off the page?  Some of this stuff just looks so good!  What makes this cookbook a plus is that all Ms. Koch's recipes are healthy.  She has trimmed off the calories and the fat on all our favorite recipes without sacrificing the taste.  How great is that? 

I can't wait to try: Strawberry Cheesecake Pancake Stacks (pg. 90), coconut coconut shrimp (pg. 107), Knife & Fork Chicken Caesar "Salad" Sandwich (pg. 133), Chicken Enchilada Bake (pg. 254), and Impossible Cheesecake Pie (pg. 289).

What will you try first?

Ten Dollar Dinners by Melissa d'Arabian

I'm not sure if I have an unhealthy obsession with cookbooks or a healthy one!  I love cookbooks.  I probably have over 100 at home.  In order to curb my obsession and be nice to be wallet I try and preview the cookbooks first by checking them out at the library. 

I didn't watch the season that Ms. d'Abrian was on The Next Food Network star but I can see why she won.  Her food all looks really yummy and it isn't that complicated to make.  I hate when a recipe sounds really good and then you have have 20 ingrediants to buy and you don't know what half of them are.

I tried her chicken meatball recipe (pg. 161) and they were really good.  I can't wait to try her creamy any veggie soup (pg. 74) and chicken taquitos (pg.165), and shrimp pad Thai (pg. 118).  Let's not forget about dessert!  Her buttery shortbread (pg. 309) and the double chocolate pound cake (pg. 304) are calling my name.  This is one cookbook I may just have to add to my personal collection!

Learn to Knit Cables on Looms

Knitting has always been a craft that I was not good at.  For some reason my hands and brain would never connect to make the stitch correctly and I always have to count and count and count to make sure I wasn't skipping a stitch.  About a month ago I discovered knitting looms which makes knitting so easy!

Learn to Knit Cables and Looms by Isela Phelps contains 9 patterns that can be made on a knitting loom.  Patterns range from a baby sweater to a backpack and a throw.  My two favorite are the slipper socks and the hand warmers.

Each pattern comes with a color picture and easy to follow instructions.  There is also a skill level gauge for each pattern, although each pattern seemed to be at a more advanced level.  If you are just a beginner other books might be able to help you more. I also watched videos on YouTube which was helpful.

If you are curious about knitting but don't know where to start check out the loom knitting books at the library.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Four minutes does not seem like much time-but it was just four minutes that changed Hadley Sullivan's life.

In the book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith Hadley is four minutes late for her plane.  A plane she wasn't to excited to get on in first place since it is taking her to London to her dad's wedding to the woman he left  her mother for. 

As she waits for the next flight she meets Oliver, whose British and perfect of course.  They connect instantly after a long night on the plane next to each other.  After loosing each other at arrival will there be a chance for them to meet again?

This is a great teen read.  Although it just seems like a harmless romance, Hadley has to deal with her feeling toward her dad who she hasn't seen in over a year.  The scenes with Hadley and her father are heartbreaking and I think he is really selfish man.  On the other hand her and Oliver definitely have some swoon-worthy scenes. 

Definitely check out The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight if you are a fan of teen romances.