Friday Foodie Affair: Fair Food

 ...where we profess our love for food and food related things.

 

For my first post, I want to talk about fair food...glorious fair food!

Fairs are one of the best places to try new things (or very bad for you fried things) that you might not otherwise eat. After all most fairs only come around once a year so why not spoil yourself a little, right?

Last week my husband and I went to the E-town fair (Elizabethtown, PA). We have little to no desire to ride the rides, look at farm equipment, or pet the animals so our sole purpose for the hour round trip was, yep you guessed it, food! Ok that’s not quite true; we also go to see some friends that live close to the fair :)

Something New:

Although I don't have a wide range of food likes I do love to try new things. Something I tried this year was a pizza stuffed pretzel. Pretzel AND pizza? Sign me up! Cheese, pepperoni, and sauce all cozied up inside of a nice, salty pretzel. It's very tasty and oh so messy but nothing a few napkins can't fix! I'm drooling just thinking about it. Next year I think I will try either the ham & cheese stuffed pretzel or the Philly cheesesteak stuffed pretzel. Mmmmm.

 

The E-town fair is also known for their homemade milkshakes. If you catch that line with less than 20 people then you should keep an eye on the sky because pigs will be flying! Maybe next year will be the year that I brave the line. Maybe. Or I could just buy ice cream at the store and make my own, either way.

Something Old:

One of our yearly must-haves is the walking taco. How something so simple tastes so dang good is beyond me.  Basically you open a small bag of Fritos or Doritos and add taco ingredients. Easy peasy. It’s also something simple to make at home. We've made our own versions of it but it's still fun to get the one that put the spark in our taco loving hearts.

Something Else:

A couple of years ago I decided to try a fried Oreo. Really, how could I NOT try that?! I had dreams about what that sweet Oreo goodness would taste like. Ok not really, but I was curious. I ended up a little disappointed. It mostly just tasted like a donut. If something is that bad for me I think it should taste absolutely sinful. But alas it was good but not great.

What’s YOUR favorite fair food? Do you go for starches, sweets, or meats?

 

Boycotts & Barflies by Victoria Michaels

Boycotts & Barflies
by Victoria Michaels

Stand Alone Novel

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
I received this book at BEA, from Omnific Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.

After an endless string of bad dates and a generally pathetic love life, Grace park and her friends decide to boycott men for six weeks. With a fantastic pair of shoes on the line for the woman who makes it to the end without breaking any rules, the competition gets fierce. Sparks fly a few days into the bet when Grace and her friends cross paths with a sexy bartender named Michael Andris who happens to have a little bet of  his own going with his friends…In this hilarious debut novel, Victoria Michaels brings us a colorful and relatable cast of characters. She sends them on a sweet and sexy escapade as they sidestop one booby trap after another, manage the best of misguided intentions, and exert a whole lot of willpower and self control as they race down the path to true love. Winning isn’t everything…or is it?

Boycotts & Barflies on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Victoria Michaels’ Website

My Thoughts:

Boycotts & Barflies is such a fun read. It’s one of those books that I wish I could read for the first time again because I know that it made me laugh many times and it was overall a good book.

The story follows two groups of friends, 3 guys and 3 gals. The even number is just a bit convenient but that’s very easy to overlook because all of the characters are great…although it does take a little longer to fall for certain ones. I loved seeing them all interact and their banter is one of things I enjoyed most about the book. I also really liked seeing Grace grow and become a more confident person.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Cover Reveal: Through Glass by Rebecca Ethington

COMING SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2013

About THROUGH GLASS

Everyone remembers the day the sky went black. They remember the screams as the blackness ate those who were out in the open, those who surrounded themselves by light, and those who made noise.

Everyone remembers the voice from the sky, the way food disappeared.

Everyone remembers the day the sky went black, and the sun was wiped from the sky.

At least that’s what I hope. I hope that there is an ‘everyone’ that will remember.

I hope that I am not alone.

Because I remember.

I remember, because it was the day I became alone.

It was the day the house went silent, and the birds stopped singing. It was the day when everyone disappeared, everyone except the boy, the only person I have seen in two years.

The boy I talk to through the glass.

GOODREADS

And if you can’t wait until September 20th for the release of THROUGH GLASS, the first book in her Imdalind series, KISS OF FIRE, is now available in eBook format for free at AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE and for the KOBO.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Ethington has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then on stage with years of theatrical performances. The Imdalind Series is her first stint into the world of literary writing.


TWITTER | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | GOODREADS | PINTEREST | TUMBLR

Movie Review - Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Image from IMDB.com

This weekend Krista (Krista’s Dust Jacket) and I went to see the Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie. I have NOT read any of the books in the Mortal Instrument series and really all I knew about the book/movie is that the main character is a demon hunter.

 

Movie Genre

This movie covers a few different genres. You, of course, have the fantasy element but at the same time there’s action, mystery/suspense, and even some romance elements.

 

Special Effects – Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

The special effects get a very enthusiastic two thumbs up!!  Some of the demons especially rocked!

 

My Thoughts

 

As much as I love seeing books come to life on the big screen, I’m very glad I haven’t read the books in this series. Without having read them I was able to go into the movie blind and get the full experience without comparing it to something else.

The action scenes were suspenseful, the romancey parts were sweet, and again the special effects were top notch. I loved it all! This is a movie that I plan to buy and watch it on the day the DVD is released! And I will force convince my hubby to watch it also. Who am I kidding; I’ll tie him to a chair if needed ;-)

 

Some of the random things I said during the movie

 

What the hell is THAT?!?!

Run!!!

That’s so AWESOME!!

Ooo, he’s cute!

No! Don’t do that <Sorry, I can’t tell you what ‘that’ is>! Put it back! What are you doing?!

 

Other Recommendations

I haven’t seen many movies with this type of a fantasy element but I will recommend World War Z (my review) because of the action.

Rot & Ruin (Benny Imura #1) by Jonathan Maberry

Rot & Ruin
By Jonathan Maberry

Series: Benny Imura #1

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Zombies
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn’t want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

Rot & Ruin on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Jonathan Maberry's Website

My Thoughts:

I’m an admitted prereading fangirl of Jonathan Maberry and proud of it, haha. What the heck is a prereading fangirl you ask? Well do you ever have that moment where you know you’ll love a book before you’ve even gotten your hands on it? That’s how it was with me, I knew I would love Maberry’s work. So what happens when a prereading fangirl finally reads one of the books?! I read Rot & Ruin during the Books, Brains ‘n Blood Read-a-thon so I can happily answer that question for you.

From the beginning I could definitely see that there was a lot of room for Benny, the main character, to grow. A lot! Honestly, I wanted to get to know Tom, Benny’s brother, more than Benny. The two have a rocky relationship at best and it was interesting to see what happened with them both throughout the book.

 

This isn’t your typical zombie apocalypse survival book. The apocalypse is a thing of the past and what’s left is Rot & Ruin. Zombies still exist and are still feared and this book is about how that fear can change us and our humanity. I will definitely continue to read this series!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

 

 

Warm Up by V.E. Schwab

Warm Up
By V.E. Schwab

Series: This is a 15 page short story prequel to Vicious which releases September 24^th.

Genre: Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books

It’s been 297 days since David died – and came back.

He may have survived the avalanche, but the aftermath has been far worse. His wife moved out, taking his son with her, and a devastated David hasn’t left his house since, terrified of the mysterious new power that followed him home from the ill-fated expedition.

After months in seclusion, David’s ready for a fresh start, and ventures out, determined to keep his power in check. But David’s power isn’t the one he needs to worry about.

Warm Up on Goodreads

Warm Up is free to read on Tor.com or .99 on Amazon.

My Thoughts:

This is actually the first I’ve read by Victoria Schwab and I really enjoyed her writing style so I know it won’t be the last.

 

Warm Up is a very short glimpse into the world that the author has created for her upcoming book, Vicious. It kept my attention and left me very curious where the story will head next.  I have a feeling that David will not be a part of it. I’m guessing here but I’m thinking that Vicious will partially be about people like David (maybe?) which would be a good thing because I want to know more about him, his power, and the why’s and how’s of that power.

 

Just a side note: I love the cover for Warm Up! It's perfect for the story.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

 

Blog Tour: Caged (Holloway Pack #3) by J.A. Belfield

Caged

By J.A. Belfield

Series: Holloway Pack #3

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Werewolves

Publisher: J. Taylor Publishing

I received this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

If the meek can become deadly, the strongest can be weak.

For Ethan Holloway, his mission to find a missing werewolf should be simple. Crack a few heads, bust a few chops and the solution always reveals itself. Always.

Not this time.

Ethan’s reputation precedes him, and because it does, someone is ready. Waiting. Unbeknownst to Ethan, he’s about to go down. Hard. Against a foe he never suspected and in a world he never imagined could be real.

What awaits Ethan is a fight not only for his reputation, but also his pack, his female, and his life. If he survives, damage control will become priority number one.

If he survives.

Because even Ethan’s not sure he’s strong enough to take on an entire race all by himself.

Especially one hell bent on exposing who and what he is in the name of sport.

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Author Info

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination, as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …?

Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.

One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.

J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, four cats and a dog. She writes paranormal romance, with a second love for urban fantasy.

She also book blogs over at Bookaroo-Ju.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

My Review for Caged

Caged is yet another great installment in the Holloway Pack series. 

J.A. Belfield is so good at making you fall for her characters. Ethan was loveable in previous books in the series, but in Caged you are really able to get in his head. You feel his confusion over a potential relationship, his termoil and desperation in a very bad situation, and his love and loyalty towards his packmates.

If you're looking for a wolfy series with mystery, action, romance, hot werewolves (of course), and so much more then definitely check out the Holloway Pack books.

My reviews for Darkness & Light (Holloway Pack #1) and Blue Moon (Holloway Pack #2)

Overall Rating

4.75 out of 5

Bookmark Giveaway

Comment on this post to enter to win the below bookmark from J.A. Belfield.

The giveaway will end August 28th at 11:59pm (EST)

Tour Giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maria V. Snyder gets a facelift...

Well not Maria herself but some of her books. The books in her Glass series are getting new covers in the US/Canada. The new covers will be in mass market format. 

Check out these beauties! 

Storm Glass - July 30th
Sea Glass - August 27th
Spy Glass - September 24th

I preordered these new editions and so far I've received Storm Glass...and let me tell you that it's even more gorgeous in person!

AND...

Maria's Glass books in the UK are also getting new covers...

These will be released in September

Maria's blog post on the new covers

The Reading Frenzy interviewed Maria about the covers

Author Links:

Blog

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

The Shade of the Moon (The Last Survivors #4) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Shade of the Moon

By Susan Beth Pfeffer

Series: The Last Survivors #4

Genre: Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers

I received this book at BEA (Book Expo America ’13) in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been two years since Jon Evans and his family left Pennsylvania, hoping to find a safe place to live, yet Jon remains haunted by the deaths of those he loved. His prowess on a soccer field has guaranteed him a home in a well-protected enclave. But Jon is painfully aware that a missed goal, a careless word, even falling in love, can put his life and the lives of his mother, his sister Miranda, and her husband, Alex, in jeopardy. Can Jon risk doing what is right in a world gone so terribly wrong?

The Shade of the Moon on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Blog

My Thoughts:

Agh, so many feels are wrapped up in this book! No, don’t click away, it’s a good thing! This novel is…well, it’s horribly good. It’s so horrible that it’s good and it’s so good that you feel horrible for liking it.

I know, I know, I’m still not making it sound loveable right?! Truthfully it’s not really ‘loveable’. For most of the book I didn’t like the main character, Jon. He frustrated me, he made dumb choices, and I wasn’t even sure if he deserved everything that his family gave up for him….BUT I don’t know that I would have been able to handle some of the things any better. It is rough, tough, and very dismal post-apocalyptic world after all.

This entire series is dark, it doesn’t romance the apocalypse, doesn’t glorify it, and it sure doesn’t sugar coat it. People will struggle and fight for survival and yes some will die...

Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5

Books, Brians 'n Blood Read-a-thon wrap up

My Shelf Confessions hosted a Books, Blood, & Brains Read-a-thon this weekend (Aug 2^nd- 6^th) 

<= Click the image to check out their website.

Books Completed: 

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

I really enjoyed both of these books! They're SO different and both SO good!! <3

The Last Bastion of the Living by Rhiannon Frater

Book(s) in progress:

Double Dead by Chuck Wendig

 

Pages Read: (????)

Rot & Ruin - 458

The Last Bastion of the Living - 273 (I don't have the book with me so this is a guess)

Double Dead - this is one bad thing about reading kindle books, no page numbers! I didn't have much time to read the last two days of the thon so I've only read the first 5 chapters of this one.
 
Book Quotes:

Rot & Ruin - ""Move slowly. Follow me, do what I do, move when I move, stop when I stop." They were Tom's words on his lips, and it hurt him to say them..."

I doesn't mean quite as much out of context but man, what a great quote!

The Last Bastion of the Living - "Blood, brains, and bits of bone littered the table and chairs." 

Oh yeah, now it's getting good!!

Books, Brains 'n Blood Read-a-thon - Another Update

My Shelf Confessions is hosting a Books, Blood, & Brains Read-a-thon this weekend (Aug 2^nd- 6^th) 

<= Click the image to check out their website.

 

Today and tomorrow are the last 'thon days so I'll hold off on another update post until Wednesday when I do a wrap up.

 

Books Completed: 

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

I really enjoyed both of these books! They're SO different and both SO good!! <3

The Last Bastion of the Living by Rhiannon Frater

 

Book(s) in progress:

None at the moment.

Next up:

You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay

 

Pages Read: (731)

Rot & Ruin - 458

The Last Bastion of the Living - 273 (I don't have the book with me so this is a guess)

 
Book Quotes:

Rot & Ruin - ""Move slowly. Follow me, do what I do, move when I move, stop when I stop." They were Tom's words on his lips, and it hurt him to say them..."

I doesn't mean quite as much out of context but man, what a great quote!

The Last Bastion of the Living - "Blood, brains, and bits of bone littered the table and chairs." 

Oh yeah, now it's getting good!!

Books, Brains 'n Blood Read-a-Thon Update

My Shelf Confessions is hosting a Books, Blood, & Brains Read-a-thon this weekend (Aug 2^nd- 6^th) 

<= Click the image to check out their website. 

Books Completed: 

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

I really enjoyed R&R and I'm glad this read-a-thon gave me the push I needed to finally read it. 

Book(s) in progress:

The Last Bastion of the Living by Rhiannon Frater

I'm reading this one much slower so it may take me a while BUT I think I'm getting to some really good parts and I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes me. 

Next up:

You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay

I think I'm going to need a quick, easy read after The Last Bastion of the Living. Whether or not I'll get to this one is still up in the air. The hubby is home today and wants to go clothes shopping...how much of a switch up is that?! Hubby wants to go shopping and I'm all like

Ooohhhh, ok, if we must...LOL

Pages Read: (552)

Rot & Ruin - 458

The Last Bastion of the Living - 64 and counting


Book Quotes:

Rot & Ruin - ""Move slowly. Follow me, do what I do, move when I move, stop when I stop." They were Tom's words on his lips, and it hurt him to say them..."

I doesn't mean quite as much out of context but man, what a great quote!

The Last Bastion of the Living - "Blood, brains, and bits of bone littered the table and chairs." 

Oh yeah, now it's getting good!! *eyes glued to page*