Book Review- Get Yourself Organized for Christmas by Kathi Lipp

Discription of book from Amazon.com-

Have you lost your Christmas joy? Does the thought of jam-packed malls, maxed-out credit cards, overcrowded supermarkets, and endless to-do lists give you the feeling that maybe Scrooge was on to something?

In Get Yourself Organized for Christmas, Kathi Lipp provides easy-to-follow steps to reduce the stress of the holiday season, including tactics for how to

• put together a holiday binder you'll use year after year
• determine a budget that won't break the bank
• gather your elf supplies
• get your gift list together (including ideas for various ages and relationships)
• collect your recipes and prep your kitchen

By putting into practice Kathi's tricks and tips, you'll finally be able to fully enjoy this most wonderful time of the year.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book.  There is some great tips to help with planning for Christmas and the whole holiday season.   The binder idea with the recipes is definitely a knew idea for me and one I will include in my planning and preparing for the holiday. This is definitely a book I will keep and refer to many times.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for a copy of the book for my honest opinion.

N.

Book Review- Valerie's Home Cooking

Amazon's description of the book:
As the current star of her Food Network show, Valerie's Home Cooking, and co-host of the network's Kids Baking Championship, as well as having spent years acting on television, Valerie Bertinelli has made a name for herself in households across America. But to really know Valerie, is to spend time in her kitchen.

Inspired by her family's cooking legacy, Valerie specializes in showing fans how to make dishes their own families will love that are for the heart and soul. As she often says, there's a story behind every recipe and Valerie shares them in this gorgeous cookbook, where home cooks will find more than 100 recipes that are easy to make and innovative--they're just as fresh, vibrant and down to earth as Valerie herself. Many of these classic comforting recipes have an original twist like Bloody Mary Tea Sandwiches, Lobster BLTs, Quick Rotisserie Chicken Gumbo, and S'mores Popcorn. These mouthwatering dishes will become your go-tos, whether you're having breakfast or lunch on your own, friends are joining for last-minute cocktails and small bites, or the whole family is coming together for a hearty dinner and dessert.

My Review:

I was so happy to receive this book to read and review.  I have been a fan of Valerie Bertinelli's since she was on the show "One Day at a Time".  I have watched Valerie's cooking show on the Food Network and new her cookbook would be very good.  
   This cookbook does not disappoint!! So far I have tried 3 recipes-- Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons, Holiday Applesauce Cake and Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice. The recipes were delicious and easy to make.  I will definitely be making them again and adding them to my recipe file. 
   Even if you try a couple of the recipes you will very happy with this cookbook.  Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this cookbook for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest review.
N.

Book Review: The Girl Before by JP Delaney

Here is Amazon's description of the book:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the tradition of The Girl on the Train, The Silent Wife, and Gone Girl comes an enthralling psychological thriller that spins one woman’s seemingly good fortune, and another woman’s mysterious fate, through a kaleidoscope of duplicity, death, and deception.

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY RON HOWARD

Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.

EMMA
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant—and it does.

JANE
After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street she is instantly drawn to the space—and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror, as the girl before.

My review:

I am so glad to see that this book is going to be made into a movie!!  I cannot wait to watch it.  This book had me intrigued from the beginning. The thought of an architect building a home then renting it out with so many strict rules to follow and how both of the girls handled it differently  was a story in itself.  Add in the suspense and the captivating yet totally spooky architect and it's a book I did not want to put down. The ending was a total surprise, LOVED it!! It will be interesting to see how the book is portrayed in the movie.
  I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review. I look forward to reading future books from JP Delaney.
N.