Book Review - The Christmas Movie Cookbook by Julia Rutland

The Christmas Movie Cookbook: Recipes from Your Favorite Holiday Films by Julia Rutland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:  Do you ever yearn for roast turkey while watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Or, for the more cynical, do you wish you could taste the roast beast from How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Well, top up your mug of eggnog and don your coziest ugly sweater: ‘tis the season to recreate the dishes from all of your favorite holiday movies with the help of The Christmas Movie Cookbook.

This season you can indulge alongside your favorite Elf characters as they make special spaghetti and get tipsy with the Bad Moms crew while they imbibe their spiced cider. Just crack open The Christmas Movie Cookbook and discover sixty-five mouthwatering recipes to add joy to any holiday gathering. Recipes include:
-Old Fashioned Meatloaf from A Christmas Story
-Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheddar Cheese Soup from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
-Christmas Pudding from A Christmas Carol
-Breakfast Strata from The Family Stone
-Really Rich Hot Chocolate from Polar Express
-And much more!

 

My Thoughts: This has been one of the funnest and most entertaining cookbooks I have read up until now. Not only does it give you tasty recipes for your holiday season but also provides a holiday movie to read about for each one. A lot of them I had heard of and was taken down a memory lane trip but was interesting to find some I had never heard of and look forward to finding this coming seasons holidays and trying out the recipe to go along with them.

It also provides you with tips for throwing the best holiday get togethers you can like setting up your music list or how to arrange seating for any kind of party and lots more great tidbits you can mark off your checklist as you go.

Some of my favorites were... The Salted Caramel & Fudge Milkshake, The Orange Cinnamon Rolls, and The Burgermeister's Perfect Burger.

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Book Review - Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess

Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:  The summer of 1989 brought terror to the town of Shadows Creek, Florida in the form of a massacre at the local carnival, Cirque Berserk. One fateful night, a group of teens killed a dozen people then disappeared into thin air. No one knows why they did it, where they went, or even how many of them there were, but legend has it they still roam the abandoned carnival, looking for blood to spill.

Thirty years later, best friends, Sam and Rochelle, are in the midst of a boring senior trip when they learn about the infamous Cirque Berserk. Seeking one last adventure, they and their friends journey to the nearby Shadows Creek to see if the urban legends about Cirque Berserk are true. But waiting for them beyond the carnival gates is a night of brutality, bloodshed, and betrayal.

Will they make they make it out alive, or will the carnival’s past demons extinguish their futures?

Book 4 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.

 

My Thoughts: Loved the 80's vibe and oh my... the songs really took me back in time! I felt like I could connect to most of the characters fairly well even though I was surprised at the twist towards the end but it was fun especially when you realized why it must be the way it was. Read in one sitting!

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Book Review - The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis: Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better.

Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs, fur, and all.

After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. She finds her groom-to-be living in a town that celebrates Halloween every day. Weird. But not as weird as what she doesn’t know. Her groom-to-be is a 400-year-old vampire.

Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the arranged set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. In thirty days, whatever bridezilla shows up at his door will be escorted right back out. His past means love is no longer an option. Not if the woman’s going to have a future. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real.

Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets...

My Thoughts: This has been one of the cutest reads I think I have read this year! I ate it up in a few sittings and it was just the kind of story I needed after reading so much other heavier books. Just a nice, fluffy, and fun read.

I loved the idea of a town celebrating Halloween all year long as it is one of my favorite times of the year and every time Delaney called her chubby cats name "Captain Underpants" I would totally lose it! I enjoyed following along as Delaney and Hugh fell for each other even if it was a bit quick but then again everything had to move along quickly in their situation. Hugh was quite dreamy when he wasn't acting like a monkey's behind but he thought he had a good reason to act that way so anyhow one of my favorite quotes from the story was...

"I never knew I was the kind of girl who went in for the whole vampire thing until I had one of my very own."

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Book Review - The Science of Witchcraft by Meg Hafdahl

The Science of Witchcraft: The Truth Behind Sabrina, Maleficent, Glinda, and More of Your Favorite Fictional Witches by Meg Hafdahl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 Synopsis: Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl, authors of The Science of Women in Horror and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the history of witchcraft through the stories and characters we all know and love. Reveal the spellbinding science behind the legends and lore surrounding fiction’s most iconic witches, answering such questions as: 
What is the science behind divination and spellcraft?
When did witchcraft begin to show up in literature and media?
Has science made it possible to uncover the truth behind the powers of necromancy and employing familiars?
How has witchcraft been thought of throughout the world?
Through interviews, film and literary analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, join Kelly and Meg as they learn about the complicated and rich science of witchcraft throughout the centuries and discover why now is the season of the witch!

My Thoughts: Interesting! A great mix of media nostalgia and fun facts to treasure. It had so many of my favorite witches in it from days gone by. Some I had forgotten and it was so wonderful and refreshing traveling down memory lane and reminiscing over them again.

One of the many fact/interview sessions within the book was the one with the herbalist. I learned a good bit more than I expected to about plants and their powers in that section like which one was good for inflammation or which one would help with arthritis problems and more.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me this copy for my honest opinion.

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Book Review - A History of the World Through Body Parts by Kathryn Petras

A History of the World Through Body Parts: The Stories Behind the Organs, Appendages, Digits, and the Like Attached to (or Detached from) Famous Bodies by Kathryn Petras
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis: From famous craniums to prominent breasts, ancient spleens and bound feet, this book will bring history to life in a whole new way. With their inimitable wit and probing intelligence, authors Kathy and Ross Petras look at the role the human body has played throughout history as each individual part becomes a jumping-off point for a wider look at the times. In far-ranging, quirky-yet-interrelated stories, learn about Charles II of Spain's jaw and the repercussions of inbreeding, what Anne Boleyn's heart says about the Crusades and the trend of dispersed burials, and what can be learned about Lady Xoc's pierced tongue. A History of the World Through Body Parts is packed with fascinating little-known historical facts and anecdotes that will entertain, enlighten, and delight even the most well-read history buff. 

 

My Thoughts: Very quick and exciting read. It was interesting and simple to understand...not stuffy and long worded, and boring like most books of its character. I always enjoy learning something new and I loved the short chapters!

There are 27 chapters but as I said they are all fairly short. It has a cool numbered image (corresponding to the chapter that body part is discussed in) of the human body in the contents. So if you wanted to learn more about a certain body part it was totally possible but once you dive in and read some of these historical and fun facts you will want to read the entire book from cover to cover!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for my honest review.

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