Posted Thursday, 28 May, 2015 by jorielov Ally's Kitchen: A Passport for Adventurous Palates, Cedar Fort Inc, Dr. Alice D' Antoni Phillips, Front Table Books 4 Comments
Acquired Book By: I am a regular tour hostess for blog tours via Cedar Fort whereupon I am thankful to have such a diverse amount of novels and non-fiction titles to choose amongst to host. I received a complimentary copy of “Ally’s Kitchen” direct from the publisher Front Table Books (imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Why travelling by a sensory experience through food encourages our spirit:
Any traveller will lament the same as I have recently, the best part of experiencing a culture is through their food. When you travel to a different country (or even a different city, province, or region of your own) you have the chance to spend a particular amount of time experiencing the spice, the flavour, and the essence of what makes that particular place in time a riveting adventure of the senses by trying foods which might take you outside your comfort zones! Food has a language and courtesy of insight in of itself – food by definition is a living spirit of communication by giving us an editable road map into traditions and culture where the ingredients speak the words of historical artifacts of a person’s life.
I love seeking out foods from other places – both as a visitor on a holiday journey or as a foodie who wants to try a new method of cookery delight by walking into a restaurant serving dishes made with ingredients and spices not as well-known to my palate until I become introduced to them on the plate! I love the excitement of eating something that not only has smelt delish as it arrives on the table but visually it is a curiosity of origin and of taste. Seeking out new ways to put ingredients together inasmuch as how complimentary veg and other components in a meal can come together to create a wicked new experience is part of the joy of exploring culturally enriched foods and the traditions of how food can become transformed simply by using a different approach to placing them inside a meal.
Dr. Phillips wasn’t kidding when she said you’ll take a culinary adventure with her cookbook – by the first moment I stole a glimpse inside this beautiful hardback collection of journal entries and recipes, I knew I was in for a lifetime of wanderment to seek out the ingredients I would need to re-create the meals within! She tantalises your curiosity by selecting stories to share which are co-dependent on the dishes themselves to reveal a piece of who they are and who you are as you consume them.
Experiencing food in this way encourages my own spirit to soar because I love being able to step outside something my own family might consider traditional (although technically speaking, I have a melting pot heritage so what is deemed ‘traditional’ by our standards isn’t quite akin to someone else’s family!) and find a new vitality in embracing the foods of the world! If you missed my journalling about Mexico, be sure to read about my memories of the country and the cuisine before you leave today! As you will understand a bit about what I am referencing as I share my thoughts on Ally’s Kitchen!
Ally's Kitchen: A Passport for Adventurous Palates!
by Dr. Alice D' Antoni Phillips
Source: Direct from Publisher
Great flavour knows no boundaries!
After years travelling the globe, popular food blogger Ally Phillips has tasted almost everything. Now she's bringing you the best eats the world can offer in a one-of-a-kind cookbook that shares recipes, meal ideas, and entire cultures.
Whether you're in the mood for something tantalizingly unique, like Jerusalem Eggs with Forbidden Rice & Quinoa, or comfortingly familiar, like Picasso Belgian Waffles, this book lets you wander the world without ever leaving your kitchen.
Take your taste buds travelling through the exotic flavours and textures of:
Lemon & Almond Basbousa
Avocado Radicchio Wasabi Salsa
Jamaican Jerk Caramelized Onion Burgers
Makai Paka
With ingredients you can find anywhere and easy-to-follow instructions, these recipes will bring the world's favourite foods to your dining table so you can impress all your friends and family. Fresh, vibrant, and full of life, this inspiring collection of global recipes is guaranteed to turn your ordinary meals into memorable masterpieces.
Genres: Cookery Places to find the book:
Borrow from a Public Library
Add to LibraryThing
Published by Front Table Books
on 12th May, 2015
Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
Published By: Front Table Books (@FrontTableBooks),
an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc (@CedarFortBooks)
Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook
Converse on Twitter via: #AllysKitchen & #travelfoods
About Dr. Alice D' Antoni Phillips
Dr. Alice D' Antoni Phillips, fondly known as Ally, grew up in "the hollers" in West Virginia dreaming of faraway places. Now she visits exotic locales both personally and virtually on her well-travelled magic carpet.
Whether she's on stage, on location, or in the kitchen, Ally captures the essence of each experience - new foods, spices, and lifestyle tips - to bring them into her home and yours. Ally delights in dreaming up recipes on her yoga mat and transforming everyday objects into treasures.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr
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Posted Thursday, 28 May, 2015 by jorielov in Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Book Trailer, Bookish Films, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Cookbook, Cookery, Indie Author, Non-Fiction, The Bookish Foodie
Posted Friday, 22 May, 2015 by jorielov Alaina Claiborne, British Agent Series, MK McClintock, Trappers Peak Publishing 4 Comments
Originally I had fully intended to interview Ms McClintock when our paths had crossed last Autumn, as I was quite stirred by her Western sensibility to bring the culture of the West to such vivid reality inside her short stories contained within the collection of A Home for Christmas. Time swept me away into it’s folds, and when I caught sight of her next blog tour hosted by Amy Bruno, I was eagerly excited to sign-on, as I had already developed a healthy curiosity about her serial fiction!
I used to love riding horses and read Westerns hand-in-hand during my youth, where the days spent in the saddle were wickedly extended a bit as I drank in the novels I’d hungrily seek out! I appreciated serial horse dramas such as: The Saddle Club, Thoroughbred (it is my favourite breed!), The Black Stallion, and a lovely stand-alone Fiddler & McCann. I have never lost my appreciation for horse dramas (either in novels or on the silver screen) and I credit the writers like McClintock for enveloping us in worlds where the wilds of the forest lay the foundation for a mountain country spin on a traditional historical wherein small townes and the wits of man to survive both elements and hardships thrive.
It is a true pleasure and joy for me to welcome Ms McClintock to Jorie Loves A Story, today! I am revealling the conversation we shared ahead of my review on behalf of Alaina Clairborne, in order to give both posts a chance to catch an audience! I will release the review lateron ahead of the early evening hours, thereby allowing my readers and visitors off the blog tour to leave a comment or question for Ms McClintock in the threads below!
Alaina Claiborne by MK McClintock
{ Book No.1 of the British Agent series }
Published By: Trappers Peak Publishing
Available Formats: Paperback & Ebook
Converse via: #MKMcClintock, #BritishAgentSeriesBlogTour, #AlainaClaiborne
#Western + #CosyHistoricalMystery
Thank you for welcoming me to spend some time with your readers at Jorie Loves A Story. To your readers, thank you for the valuable time you’ve spent to visit; I hope you enjoy your time with us today.
As you’ve declared in the Author’s Note about this series, it was not originally planned to be extensive but rather a stand-alone story. Do you envision the series branching forward past the trilogy or do you have a preference for writing story arcs over trilogies rather than quads or serial fiction into the teens? What was the clarifying moment you realised this story had the scope to carry forward?
McClintock responds: Devon and Charles appealed to me so much during the course of writing Alaina Claiborne, book one, that I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. It was then I knew they’d have their own stories. While writing book two, I foresaw the potential for books beyond a trilogy, but I always received emails from readers who said how much they loved a character and hoped they would get their own story. At this point there is a fourth book planned with the potential for two more after that. The characters would carry over, but each book will remain a stand-alone.
As for having a preference about carrying over story arcs, well, that depends upon the story. I’ve written both, and it all comes down to what’s right for the characters and the stories they have to tell. Read More
Posted Friday, 22 May, 2015 by jorielov in 19th Century, Blog Tour Host, Book Trailer, Bookish Films, Britian, British Literature, Castles & Estates, Cosy Historical Mystery, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, Grief & Anguish of Guilt, Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Indie Author, Life Shift, Modern British Literature, Reader Submitted Author Interview
Posted Thursday, 21 May, 2015 by jorielov Anaiah Press, Angela Schroeder, Love Overcomes 2 Comments
Acquired Samplers By:
Chapter Samplers for her Contemporary Romance “Love Overcomes” was provided for free download by the author, Angela Schroeder via her Smashwords Author’s Page. The samplers are complimentary of the author, Ms Schroeder to encourage readers to become familiar with her writing style for Contemporary Romance ahead of purchase. I was not obligated to post a review nor share my opinions of the chapter samplers I downloaded; as I elected to do this for my own edification. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Love Overcomes” book blitz through Lola’s Blog Tours. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Inspired to Read:
If you spend a bit of time with me on Jorie Loves A Story, you’ll find a heap of commentary on my bookish blog reflecting my hybrid readings and adventures taking me across literary divides whilst enveloping me inside both mainstream and INSPY markets. It is quite the happy day when you can discover not only a ‘new-to-me’ author but one who knits together a sweeter side of a genre I personally have loved for absolute ages!
I love relationship-based Romances (irregardless of which section of the genre they take up a niche inside) and when I first read the synopsis for this one, I felt as if it was a bit unique in it’s conception and a read that would interest me if it were available in print. I have started to become a bit more organised with how I present the Digital First book releases of whom I showcase time after time as a measure of joy ahead of being able to devour the books in their physical formats! It took a bit for me to realise how to navigate this changing tide of the pub world, as I originally felt that perhaps a traditional reader like me might be left behind but happily I was mistaken!
Instead, I am finding a lot of readerly love from Digital First publishers, as I regularly host releases by ChocLitUK and Month9Books where I split the bookjoy between reading print editions of the Romance novels via ChocLit whilst focusing on guest author features by Month9. I do host a weekly Romance chat on Saturdays @ChocLitSaturday (all writers and readers of Romance are welcome to drop-in!) which was directly inspired by ChocLitUK inasmuch as I try to host their authors for special events and guest features as often as I can. In this unique world of publishing even traditional readers can navigate the changing tides and find a heap of joy in the stories they gravitate towards reading regularly.
I am grateful Lola started to feature authors by Anaiah Press as I might not have found them otherwise, and this to me is one of the benefits of hosting blog tours, author guest features, and even Book Blitzes! For me hosting a Book Blitz is more about an ‘introductory announcement’ of a book I am seeking to read whilst giving my readers an impression of how the novel interested me at first sight. With Chapter Samplers, I am finding myself quite wicked happy authors are giving readers a snippet of a glimpse into their stories — not only to help us decide to pick up the novels themselves but to be allowed to blog about the beginnings as we elect to reach out to those who follow us about a new story we’re happy to have found.
You’ll notice this isn’t my first Chapter Sampler impression I’ve blogged as I am only just getting started to bringing to my readers attention the samplers I am finding (both in ePub or audio formats)! I do list these posts in my Story Vault, because to be truthful they are my first encounter with the stories ahead of further reading.
Love Overcomes
by Angela Schroeder
Source: Author via Lola's Blog Tours
Going to Hollywood was supposed to be something that would change Clara Mackenzie’s life forever.
Her younger sister, single mother Arabella, never imagined that going to California with her sister would have such a huge impact on her life. Now, she needs to try to overcome her past and try to trust again or be doomed to be single forever.
Arabella Mackenzie and her son Liam have never wanted or needed anyone other than their family. When Arabella meets Jeremy Fowlis she begins to have feelings for a man for the first time since before her son was born. Shy, Clara begins to fall for an actor of her own when she meets dashing Jake.
Jeremy is not use to women who do not want to date him because he is an in-demand actor let alone a woman who does not even recognize him. He finds he wants to know more about her but is not sure if he can handle the fact that she is a single mother and has a past that seems to be shrouded in mystery.
Can Arabella and Jeremy both overcome their doubts, fears and past in order to find love?
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, INSPY Realistic Fiction, Romance Fiction, Sweet Romance Places to find the book:
Add to LibraryThing
Published by Anaiah Press
on 14th November, 2014
Format: eBook
Published By: Anaiah Romance {an imprint of} Anaiah Press (@anaiahpress)
{ a Digital First Christian Indie Publisher }
Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook
Converse on Twitter via: #LoveOvercomes, #AngelaSchroeder,
#INSPY or #ChristFic & #AnaiahPress
About Angela Schroeder
Angela was born and raised in Iowa, in a river town known for its pearl buttons. Having four siblings, she never lacked for someone to play with. As she grew older, she found herself pulled into books and writing more and more. Her parents are her heroes, her siblings her confidants and tormentors, and her children her wonderful blessings.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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Posted Thursday, 21 May, 2015 by jorielov in 21st Century, Balance of Faith whilst Living, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Book | Novel Extract, Book Trailer, Bookish Films, Contemporary Romance, Dating & Humour Therein, Family Life, Fathers and Daughters, Indie Author, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, INSPY Realistic Fiction | Non-Fiction, Lola's Blog Tours, Modern Day, Romance Fiction, Single Mothers, Singletons & Commitment, Small Towne USA, Sweet Romance
Posted Saturday, 16 May, 2015 by jorielov Donna Galanti, Joshua and the Lightning Road, Joshua and the Lightning Road series, Month9Books 0 Comments
Last Autumn, I had the happenstance to stumble across an Indie Pub of Children’s Lit focused on #MGLit and #YALit respectively, as well as an emerging new market for Romances set within YA and NA categories of interest (i.e. Swoon Romance). It was always my intention to participate more often in their Friday Reveals inasmuch as their blog tours, however, it is the latter I’ve been able to maintain with a bit more frequency than the Reveals!
Unfortunately for me, the hours dart off too quickly for the half dozen reveals I wanted to participate on, as the others I take a pass if the story itself isn’t one that I would read. I like to feature emerging new authors and the stories that re-invent genres and/or take established areas of literature to new heights of where fiction can enchant as much as educate the reader whose imagination is hungry for thought-provoking stories.
As it were, a lightning storm caused a few tech issues today, and this post is coming a bit later than planned – but as it was in-progress I decided late is better than never! I’m on the blog tour for this novel, and smiled when I saw the materials come in yesterday for today’s *big!* Reveal. Now, without further adieu, let’s get the bookish delights of joy hoppin’! Whilst acknowledging the ‘irony’ of how lightning played a role in my post being published!
Published By: Month9Books (@Month9Books)
on 5th of May, 2015
Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook | Public Library | Add to Riffle
Converse on Twitter via:
#JoshuaAndTheLightningRoad,#MGLit or #JuvenileFiction
#M9BFridayReveals, & #Month9Books
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Posted Saturday, 16 May, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Book Spotlight of E-Book (ahead of POD/print edition), Book Trailer, Bookish Films, Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours, Coming-Of Age, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore and Mythology, Good vs. Evil, Illustrations for Stories, Indie Author, Indie Book Trade, Month9Books, Science Fantasy, Stories on the Rise
Posted Sunday, 10 May, 2015 by jorielov Cedar Fort Inc, Julie K. Nelson, Keep it Real and Grab a Plunger, Plain Sight Publishing 0 Comments
Acquired Book By: I am a regular tour hostess for blog tours via Cedar Fort whereupon I am thankful to have such a diverse amount of novels and non-fiction titles to choose amongst to host. I received a complimentary copy of “Keep It Real & Grab a Plunger” direct from the publisher Plain Sight Publishing (imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Inspired to Read:
I’ve been a bit vocal over the past year as I’ve explored topical fiction and non-fiction which open the door of insight into motherhood and adoption about my own path I’m walking towards becoming a Mum through foster care adoption. I’m a Prospective Adoptive Mum as I’m gathering resources that will be beneficial to myself to read ahead of proceeding into the journey to become a mother as much as I am happily finding inspiring fiction to introduce to my future children. Not only on the merits of giving them healthy choices for adoptive literature but for Children’s Literature as a whole, as that is why I maintain an active and evolving Children’s Literature page on my bookish blog. Most of the titles originate inside my Story Vault and are then archived inside this secondary page.
I am planning to adopt multiples, as I feel led to adopt a sibling group of boys – siblings here is a bit loose and broad, as it can infer a biological connection between the boys or a friendship developed into a close-knit bond all brothers share as sometimes un-related boys grow close due to being placed in the same foster home or group home. To me, siblings is a general term and can apply both ways, especially in unconventional families where family is stitched together by heart and faith, moreso than traditionally being placed and raised in the home in which you were bourne.
What intrigued me about this particular book is how the author herself has raised five children, and I felt this might be a wicked good book to read as a future Mum of siblings!
Keep it Real and Grab a Plunger: 25 Tips for Surviving Parenthood
by Julie K. Nelson
Source: Direct from Publisher
You might suspect that a college professor, frequent parenting guest expert on tv and radio, and popular blogger like Julie K. Nelson would be immune to the realities of actual parenting. But in fact, she's been there -- through all the late nights, huge messes, and tough moments.
Now she combines her expertise with her own experiences to reach you how to
* overcome any manipulative and authoritarian parenting tendencies
* foster your child's self-discipline, respect, and emotional maturity
* and get through the sticky stuff with grace
Humourous, insightful, and authentic, this is an entertaining and pragmatic book all parents will enjoy.
Genres: Motherhood | Parenthood, Non-Fiction Places to find the book:
Borrow from a Public Library
Add to LibraryThing
Published by Plain Sight Publishing
on 10th March, 2015
Format: Paperback
Pages: 176
Published By: Plain Sight Publishing (@PlainSightBooks), an imprint of Cedar Fort Inc.
Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook
Converse via: #KeepItRealAndGrabAPlunger
About Julie K. Nelson
Popular radio personality, university professor, author, and TV expert Julie K. Nelson combines her professional expertise with her personal experience as a mom of five in this book. Humorous, insightful, and authentic, this must-read will help you enforce rules without manipulation or coercion and addresses a wide variety of essential parenting topics.
Website | Twitter
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Posted Sunday, 10 May, 2015 by jorielov in Adoption, Balance of Faith whilst Living, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Book Trailer, Bookish Films, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Chronicles of a Prospective Adoptive Mum, Content Note, Education & Learning, Fly in the Ointment, Indie Author, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Journal, Memoir, Mother-Son Relationships, Motherhood | Parenthood, Non-Fiction, Siblings, Sociology, Vignettes of Real Life, Wisdom of Life Threaded in Devotions
