Apple Chips Recipe

I have found my new favorite treat to snack on while reading!

Apple Chips!

They are crispy, sweet and slightly guilt free.

INGREDIENTS:

3 Small Apples (I would use red delicious)

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 teaspoon each, nutmeg and ground cloves

5-8 whole cloves (This depends on how much clove flavor you like)

Preheat your oven to 350.

Place a wire rack (cooling rack that is oven safe) in a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan lined with aluminum foil.

Cut your apples into 1/16 inch thick slices. Cut through the stem and the bottom.  (I used a knife, but it is easier if you use a mandoline.)

Bring your water, sugar and spices to a boil, over medium heat. Make sure you stir very frequently. 

Add the apple slices and cook them until they are slightly translucent, stirring occasionally. The syrup will start to thicken. 

One at a time, remove the apple slices with tongs and place them on the wire rack in the pan.

Bake the apples for 10-15 minutes or until golden. (this time will be longer if you choose to cut thicker slices. 

Transfer the apples to lightly greased wax paper.

Allow them to cool completely. (Times may vary.)

The apples will crisp as they cool. 

This recipe makes about 2 1/2 - 3 dozen.

ENJOY!

 *NOTE* 

If you want your apples a bit more caramelized, I suggest playing around with the addition of brown sugar. Also, I used both Granny Smith and Red Delicious. They have a slightly different flavor. These are super easy to make and you can change the recipe around to suit your taste!

Boiling apples smell good!

The Last Judges Review

I have an amazing book to share with you all today!

By Jedi Gong

"Teller of tales of superhumans"

Eight diverse Americans displaced by apocalyptic events struggle to discern their unique destinies: The Last Judges.

An inspirational action-adventure science-fiction / urban fantasy novel featuring over 30 full-page illustrations by 20 different artists!

The Last Judges comes in two different editions.

The Uncut Chronicles tells the events in chronological order. The Nonlinear Redux tells the tale through disjointed segments that flash through time and space in various ways. If you appreciate flashing back and sideways, buckle yourself into this ride.

The illustrations included in The Last Judges truly are exceptional!

Just to give you a sneak peak, these were my favorite!

All of the illustrations and more information about the author and his work is available on The Last Judges Website!

The Last Judges

~ MY REVIEW ~

What really caught and drew my attention to this novel was the unique and mesmerizing illustrations. They have such a captivating quality and add so much to the story. Each one coincides with the cataclysmic events that are taking place across the globe.  
This is a tale of the apocalypse or 'end of days' and is told from several different points of view. This constant change throughout the novel, coupled with the fantastic illustrations kept the book lively and moving at a great pace. Each character is unique and well developed. Jade, a personal favorite of mine, has a special gift that allows her to see events before they happen. It was interesting to see these characters grow and realize their own destines.
The Last Judges has a very distinct urban feel to it, from the setting to the diction. It is written about eight different people from all walks of life. While I enjoyed this about the novel, I do have my reservations about the usage of language throughout the story. I think that is something that could have been toned down without loosing the essence of what is being written. I would definitely not classify this book as a religious or Christian book. It deals with certain concepts contained in the Book of Revelations, but it in no way is an accurate retelling of them.
The imagery is something that I really liked about this book. It is done well and the reader is able to visualize, quite easily, the scenes that are unfolding. Many of them leave you with an eerie tingling on your back. 
Over all, The Last Judges packs quite a punch. It is an original telling of what people face as the world seems to be crumbling around them. This may not be a book quite to everyone's taste, but it is definitely worth a read. 
(I was a bit on the fence about my rating of this book, however, I am a sucker for original artwork and the illustrations really made this book stand out! The story too, is not one I will be forgetting easily.)

Monkey Bread!

I got up early today so I could make Monkey Bread!

For those that aren't familiar, Monkey Bread, aka. Bubble Loaf,

is a sweet,(very caloric) pastry often served for breakfast.

It consists of sweet yeast dough pieces rolled in sugar and slathered

in an ooey gooey sauce! It is then baked to a puffy, golden brown.

The best part about MB? It pulls apart into bite sized pieces! 

TRUST ME, you want to eat this.

INGREDIENTS:

3 cans of 16oz. (Non-flaky)  Buttermilk or Homestyle Biscuits
1 cup Sugar
3 teaspoons Cinnamon

1 tablespoon Nutmeg
2 sticks Butter
1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar

Preheat your oven to 350.

Open the cans of biscuits and cut each round into fourths. 

Put sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a 1 gallon ziploc bag. 

Drop the biscuit pieces in the bag 10 or so at a time and give it a shake. The pieces should

be thoroughly coated with the sugar mixture.

Drop the sugary pieces into the bundt cake pan, arranging them evenly around. (You do not need to coat the pan! The butter will take care of that during cooking!)

In a sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat.

When the butter and sugar has been combined, pour the mixture over the biscuits.

It will look like too much, but don't fret! The sauce will distribute while cooking.

Place in the middle of your oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.

The top should be an even brown when done.

Let cool in pan for at least 15 minutes before removing. 

Pull apart and ENJOY! 

The biscuit pieces covered in sauce prior to baking.

Right out of the oven!!

Obsidian & Onyx (Lux Series 1&2) Review

* Warning! Will contain a high concentration of gushing.*

OBSIDIAN (A Lux Novel, Book One)

"His voice was deep and firm. The kind of voice accustomed to people listening and obeying without question. His lashes lifted, revealing eyes so green and brilliant they couldn't be real. They were an intense emerald color that stood out in vibrant contrast with his tan skin."

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is.

~ My TOP 5 favorite moments/things from OBSIDIAN ~

• Katy's shirt that says, "My BLOG is better than your VLOG"
• "Hands clenching the edges of the plastic tray, I leaned over the table and turned my plate upside down over Daemon and Ash's heads. . ."
• The fact that Katy misses it when Daemon doesn't poke her in the back with his pen.
• "Oh so it ate itself?" Dee shrieked so loudly I thought I heard the rafters in the ceiling shake. "Did the spoon eat it? Oh, wait I know. The carton ate it."
• "His hands slid around my head, pulling me back to his mouth. There was a crackling sound in the house. A fissure of electricity shot through the room. Something smoked. But I didn't care..."

~ MY REVIEW ~

Okay, okay. So, it is hard for me to find the right words to describe how absolutely scrumptious this book is. I honestly could find no flaw in it, which doesn't happen often. Reading this book was like being carried off into another world. I loved the characters, the premise and the equally distributed moments of tension and passion. I can not believe I didn't read these books sooner! I completely devoured them. 

Obsidian is an outstanding start to this series. It is perfectly executed and really enraptures it's reader. I now have a new found love for aliens. Hell, I'd gladly become one, as long as I could fry bacon without the stove on! Jennifer L. Armentrout is an amazing writer and really knows what to give her readers. I really enjoyed the little things about this book. Like the fact that Katy is a book review blogger. I found that to be so awesome, and it really made her character relatable for me. Which, now that I think about it, might be why I am having trouble distinguishing between reality and this fantabulous world JLA has created. 

Daemon Black has got to be the #1 'swoon worthy' book character out there right now. Even when he is a jerk, you know he is still irresistible.  And, OH! The scenes between him and Katy... to die for. If you haven't read this book yet, stop what you are doing and READ IT. NOW. 

ONYX (A Lux Novel Book 2)

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.
But then everything changes…
I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

~ MY REVIEW ~

"OMG. . .
I just love that feeling when you finish an amazing book, and it's like you are still reading it for the rest of the day.
Can't get it out of your head."
*takes a breath*
No the DOD is not lurking outside my apartment,
and yes, I do actually have to get up to turn the TV on...**looks around**
"All though... I am not fully convinced my fiance isn't an alien."

Admittedly, I read these books back to back and was consumed by them for a good while. All I have to say is, TOTALLY WORTH IT. Onyx is, if anything, slightly better than the first but not so much that it overshadows Obsidian. This may be due to the fact that by the time readers get to Onyx, the story has really started to build on itself. So much begins to happen. Katy develops a power more diverse than even Daemon's. This book is filled with action, suspense, tension and of course, more tantalizing scenes between everyone's new favorite book couple. Things is this book heat up pretty fast and there is never a dull moment. I am truly in love with this world of aliens and government conspiracy that Jennifer Armentrout has created. The characters fit so well together, it's like they have always existed. Dee has become one of my favorites. Her bubbly personality and quirky alien-ness is just adorable. In Onyx, you get to experience such a roller coaster ride of emotion. Katy and Daemon are hot and cold, so many secrets are divulged and you are left with so many questions as you continue reading. The ending is, of course, superb! Honestly, my need for December to come quicker has nothing to do with the holidays, and everything to do with Opal! 

Six Weeks to Yehidah Blog Tour Stop

I would like to introduce author, Melissa Studdard and her 

award winning novel: Six Weeks To Yehidah!

Melissa Stud­dard is the author of the best­selling novel Six Weeks to Yehi­dah, and its companion journal, My Yehidah. Six Weeks to Yehidah has been named a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards and is a current finalist for the Readers Favorite Awards. Her poetry, fiction, essays, reviews, and arti­cles have appeared in numer­ous magazines, jour­nals, and antholo­gies. As you might have guessed already, she loves anything related to writing and reading, whether it's sitting alone with a book and a cup of hot tea, or attending a large poetry reading or literary festival. She currently resides in Texas with her wonderful daughter and their four sweet but mischievous cats.

Visit Melissa Studdard:

Goodreads / Website / Blog / Twitter

"The thing you would notice most was the rain, how the rain fell and fell and never seemed to stop. The sky was constantly swollen with it, then birthing it, swollen, then birthing again, and the hills, like greedy babies, suckled up all that rain. They shone and glistened green as the backs of frogs on bright green lily pads. Annalise was ten then, old enough that she’d begun thinking about grown up things, like picking her own clothes out for school, yet young enough, still, to indulge in fanciful imaginings of enchanted trees and talking hills. Her best friends were the clouds that canopied her village and the verdant hills that hosted her most precious and outrageous dreams."

Published: August 2, 2011

All Things That Matter Press

Paperback, 170 Pages

As spunky young Annalise travels from one adventure to another, she learns ancient wisdom traditions and gains deeper and deeper insight into herself and her world. Eventually she must make the most important decision she's ever faced -- whether or not to return to the self she has always known.

~ MY REVIEW ~

Six Weeks To Yehidah is a fantastical journey containing so much wisdom and insight. I can see why this is an award winning novel. This book has so many levels to it and you can read and enjoy it from any of them. At it's base it is a fun and spectacular fantasy story, containing lively worlds and creative characters. This book also has an immense amount of depth and if you choose to let it, it will really get your brain churning. 
The world building is wonderful and very enjoyable. You can easily picture the places Annalise visits. They are magical. The main character, Annalise, is so full of life and I easily fell in love with her character. Annalise begins to connect and grow in a way that allows her to see and experience things as they really are. She is no longer limited by how things seem to appear. She is taught many worldly lessons as her journey progresses and your heart will sing right along with her as she learns them. This story unfolds a little at a time, which is something I liked about it. It is not one you have to fully understand from the very beginning. You will be immersed in it regardless. When you do realize the reason for this girl's journey it does not hit you like an 'ah ha' moment. It is merely a growth in the story line that enables the reader to expand their perception of it. To me, the point of Six Weeks To Yehidah is the progression of the journey and what you can gain from it.

“Always remember, that the most 

beautiful and authentic worlds are inside your very own self, and

you can always find them.”

This is a story that should be shared with all. It will warm your heart and bring tears to your eyes. I highly recommend sitting down and taking this story in. 

Six Weeks To Yehidah is available in print and digital format:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

The Hands of Tarot, Review and Guest Blog!

I am beyond excited to have author, SM Blooding on my blog today!

She has recently released a riveting, steam punk novel titled:

The Hands of Tarot

She killed his father.
She imprisoned and beat him.
And now she thinks he’s her trophy.
Synn El’Asim will do almost anything to prove her wrong. But he’s only proving her right.
Queen Nix awakened his Mark of power and inducted him into the House of Wands. She knew what she was doing. The son of the two most powerful Families standing against her is the ultimate prize.
What she didn’t take into consideration was that maybe he was too strong for her. 

Maybe.
But the Families aren’t. They’ve been weakened and it’ll take a lot more than one young man with a powerful Mark to take on the Hands of Tarot.

Before I get into my gushing review, SM Blooding would like to share a very special post with us! If you don't already know, she is part of a paranormal investigation team: The Colorado Paranormal Rescue!

How awesome is that! 

And just what does that entail, you ask?

A Day in the Shoes of A Paranormal Investigator

By SM Blooding

If you’re reading this post, you’ve probably watched Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, Paranormal State, Most Haunted, among others. When you’re watching those shows, being a paranormal investigator sounds and looks AMAZING! You get to go to crazy locations, see and feel the creepiest things ever! Every day as a paranormal investigator has just got to be the best trip ever!

Not really.

I’m an electrician. I trace the man-made EMF (Electro Magnetic Frequency) so we can eliminate that.  There are a lot of people who are sensitive to the kind of energy that flows off of wires, or out of boxes, or off the TV, microwave, or water heater. EMF can make a person feel like there’s someone watching you, it can make a person feel sick, and if the EMF is high enough and the person is sensitive enough, you can see things that aren’t there. So when we know where all man-made EMF is, it’s much easier to trace EMF of potential ghosts or spirit energies.

The craziest experience I ever had was at the Colorado Prison Museum. We investigate during the day usually. Doing it at night makes things more “exciting”, but what it really does is eliminate the man-made EMF. I don’t need to eliminate it.

I’d done my initial EMF sweep. It was surprisingly high. Prisons are made of CMU blocks and cement. My initial thought was that the prison would be completely dead. However, it wasn’t. The windows all had a reading, as did some of the walls. There was a bed that had a reading, but only for a few minutes. After I came back, the EMF reading in the middle of the bed was gone. I was getting pretty excited.

We were in the middle of one of the cells. I had an EMF reading of 1.2, which was the base reading. We decided to try and EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) session because it was quiet. We were standing there, and asking questions of the air. A lot of time is spent talking to air, asking questions…of the air and waiting to get a reply that you’ll only hear after you’re playing back your audio.

I got a hit on my EMF. It jumped to a 15 in the middle of nowhere.  We asked a few questions. How old was this person? Was he guilty or innocent? And then the EMF dropped to zero. Zero! I tried to find it again, and followed the energy source out of the cell and down the hall. It moved around the other patrons that were in the hallway and disappeared down the stairs.

That. Was. AWESOME! My oober geek was on fire!

Evidence review is rather boring. You listen to events you already lived through and hope you find that EVP that you can’t explain away as someone’s noisy jacket - @_@ - noisy shoes, whispering investigators, dogs, or the house settling. If there’s any doubt, throw it out. Otherwise, you just look like someone trying too hard to be cool. Paranormal investigators are only “legit” if they’re exciting. *shakes head*

Well, we found an EVP. We’d asked the spirit in the cell I followed into the hall if he were guilty or innocent.

He was guilty!

OH! CHILLS! It. Was. AWESOME!!!!

Those are the moments that keep you going. Well, that and when you’re really helping someone feel safe in her house again. That keeps us trudging through the investigations where you’re literally just talking to air. LOL! You’ve got to have a group you enjoy hanging out with because you’re talking to them a LOT! 

SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and their new addition, Mr. Bird, who’s a real bird. She likes to hike the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and is learning to play the piano and guitar. Currently, she’s trying to MURDER them both. Friends call her Frankie.

She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

Visit her on:

Twitter / Facebook / Website/blog / Goodreads 

~ MY REVIEW ~

I have to start by saying, this book was one that I had a good feeling about. I knew I had to read it the first time I saw a blog post about it. Everything about The Hands of Tarot, caught my attention and gushed originality. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. Swept up by this story from the first, wonderfully written page, I could not put it down. 

The Hands of Tarot has some of the best world building I have read yet. You can picture the air ships and Sky City, even the land beasts the characters encounter. The most important thing to me about a book, is that it transports you into another world when you read it. This book certainly did that for me. Man, do I wish we had air ships! SM Blooding has done an impeccable job with the creation of this world. It is exciting and slightly terrifying all at the same time. Magic and science mingle together perfectly and each character leaps from the pages.  One of the most memorable characters, Nix, both disgusted and intrigued me. The terror she unleashes on Synn is unimaginable, yet I was somehow transfixed by her. Strange. My favorite character was Keeley. Her Mark was one of my favorites, giving her the ability to heal. Synn made a strong main character. Let's just say, Synn has quite a 'coming of age' so to speak. From the second he gains his Mark, he is thrust into a whirlwind of bad. But, he manages to come out fighting and transforms into a leader. His journey is as original as it is brilliant. It is one I would follow over and over again. 
The beginning, middle and end of this book were equally as amazing. The pace never slows and by the time you reach the end you realize you are sitting at the very edge of your chair, nose practically pressed to the screen. (Or book if you don't have an ereader...) You are left craving more. 

The Hands of Tarot is a mix of steampunk, fantasy and science fiction. I can not implore you enough to READ THIS BOOK. 

It is riveting and I have NO DOUBT you will love every page.

I look forward to reading more in this series and other titles by SM Blooding. She is an amazing writer and has a mind most of us only dream about having. 

The Hands of Tarot is available in print and digital format from:

Amazon – Kindle /  Amazon – Paperback  /  B&N – Paperback  / Autographed copy 

Looking forward to September!

Hey guys! I've missed a bunch of posts ... Silly life, getting in the way. 

So, I thought I'd start the week off with all the great bookish things

coming up for the month of September! 

To start the month off right I will be hosting my first BIG giveaway!

This giveaway will run from Sep. 3rd - Oct. 9th!
It ends on my birthday! Just in time to start my Bloggin' B-day Giveaway!

There are two AMAZING releases to look out for!

*Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout is a MUST READ!
Look for it on September 18th from Spencer Hill Press!

**Award winning children's author, Sharon Creech is releasing

her new book, The Great Unexpected!

Look for it on September 4th!

UPCOMING BLOG TOURS!

The Stitch Tour will be stopping by my blog Sep. 8th!

The Forsaken Tour will be stopping by my blog Sep. 7th!

 PT Michelle's tour will be stopping by Sep. 28th!

Haven 6 by Aubrie Dionne is going on tour! Stopping by my blog Sep. 21st!

The Mosswoods by Astrid Yrigollen will be on tour as well! 

Look for my post Sept. 6th!

Last but not least, I am putting together the cover reveal for:

This reveal will be happening on Sep. 26th!

Sign ups are still going on! If you would like to take part,

PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM!

I would love to have you as part of the team!