Book Review: Bring on The Heat

Katie August 29, 2014 0 Comments

Before I review this book, I feel like I need to say that I don’t understand why authors make up fake baseball teams and then put them in a world with real baseball teams. I feel like you should either be in reality (just use MLB teams and fake players) or an alternate reality (all your teams are made up.)  The baseball player in this book played for a team in New Jersey but there were references to the Mets pitcher Harvey and the Phillies pitcher Hamels.  I guess if I ever write my own baseball romance book I’ll stick to what I want and they’ll stick to theirs? Anyway…

The book begins with Darcy who is house sitting for socialite Lydia Logan while she jet sets off to Dubai.  Lydia knows that Darcy is a fan of the New Jersey Sonics and tells her that she can take her invitation and go to a benefit that they are hosting.  She tells her to borrow something from her closet but to make sure to get it cleaned once the event is done.  When she arrives, she forgot to bring her invitation to the invitation only event but when she mentions Lydia Logan, everyone assumes she is her and lets her in.  Star pitcher Chase Westbrook takes a liking to “Lydia” and the two begin flirting.  Darcy had had too much to drink and ends up back at his place once the night is through.

When Darcy wakes up and realizes what had happened – she sneaks out of his place and back home- only to realize that the earrings she had borrowed from Lydia were left at Chase’s!  She decides to meet up with him for another data as Lydia – in order to get these earrings back.  When Chase gives her fake earrings instead – she realizes that she’s going to have to keep this lie going – even though she might be falling for Chase and keeps wanting to tell the truth but is never able to find the right time.

Meanwhile, the tabloids start talking about Chase and Lydia’s relationship and since Lydia doesn’t want anyone to know where she really is – even her grandfather believes it and wants Chase to continue to date her. In return – maybe he’ll put in a good word with the Yankees since that is the team Chase most wants to play for.

Lydia ends up catching on to the fact that someone is impersonating her and comes back home to find out what is going on.  Will Lydia get to Chase before Darcy can tell the truth?  And then what happens?

Despite the fake ballclub, I did enjoy this book. I really couldn’t wait to finish it because I had to see what would happen once the truth came out.  Was Chase in love with Darcy or was he in love with the Lydia he thought he was dating and her lifestyle and trust fund? Would he ditch Darcy for Lydia once she came back to town or was it Darcy and her charm and girl next door vibe that he had fallen for?  The book is only about 200 pages so I had no problem reading it quickly in one sitting to find out what happened!  This is from the boys of summer series so I will certainly keep my eye out for future books from this series and Katie Rose.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

In Katie Rose’s irresistible battle of wits, a case of mistaken identity lands a female fan in bed with a sexy superstar—and in major-league trouble.

House-sitting for a rich and famous friend has its perks, and Darcy Hamel isn’t shy about enjoying them. Especially when it means scoring a ticket to an exclusive fashion show hosted by the New Jersey Sonics. An avid baseball fan, Darcy has always dreamed of meeting the team—especially the starting pitcher whose body is as hot as his fastball. But there’s a catch. The gala is by invitation only. To get behind the velvet rope, mild-mannered Darcy will have to pose as party girl Lydia Logan.

Schmoozing is one of the downsides of fame, but Chase Westbrook knows how to liven up even the dullest event. And nothing spices a night up more than a beautiful socialite with a naughty reputation. What Chase doesn’t expect is a hint of sweetness beneath her sultry façade. Flirtation turns to seduction and leaves him aching for more. Chase just doesn’t know who the real Lydia is: the spoiled tease crying foul over some missing diamonds or the alluring woman making a play for his heart.

Book Review: Superstars of History

Katie August 29, 2014 0 Comments

Superstars of History – the Good, the Bad and the Brainy is a children’s book by Jacob Field with illustrations by Simon Basher.  It is broken down in to 4 sections – The Ancient World, The Middle Ages, Revolution and the Enlightenment and The Modern Era.  I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy history books geared towards children because they are more fun and I otherwise can’t keep interested in History.  This book is great and has a time line for each of the areas with a brief mention of each of the superstars that have a bio to follow.  Then there is a page with an illustration of the superstar and a quote from them.  The next page has pretty much everything you’d like to know about the person broken down into a cool little flow chart of sorts.  Their legacy is in the middle, there is also a time line and other information that changes based on who it is you are reading about.

I absolutely love the layout of the book – the illustrations are wonderful as well.  It has all the information broken up in to smaller pieces which I think makes it more fun to read as it breaks things up a bit and you’re not just reading on and on and getting bored. (A problem I often have when reading history material!)  Great for a child who is wanting to know more about historical figures or for an adult who just doesn’t seem to “get” history and retain information. (That would be me. But I’m sure there’s others out there!)

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Discover fun facts about the greatest figures from history through Basher’s fresh and unique illustration style.

History doesn’t just happen; it was created by a crazy crew of characters from way back when. Find out why Archimedes said “Eureka!” in the bathtub, how Henry Ford changed the world, and whether or not Einstein’s brain was bigger than an ordinary guy’s. Discover what Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela did that made them famous for being so good, and what Attila the Hun, Hitler, and Stalin did that made them infamous for being so bad. Learn about great leaders like Charlemagne and George Washington and bold ones like Caesar and William the Conqueror. Superstars of History will feature fun text, loads of facts, and Basher’s cool illustrations to bring history’s greatest characters to life for 8 to12 year olds.

Book Review: The Messy Baker

Katie August 29, 2014 0 Comments

The Messy Baker book says “never trust someone with a clean kitchen”  The book also begins with the basics with different types of ingredients you can use as well as some “Can’t-do-without items” and “nice-to-have items”.  Just by reading this chapter on the basics I feel a lot more prepared to bake anything than I have after reading any other sort of cook book!

The book has some easy to follow instructions and everything is numbered out to make it super easy. (This is the type of stuff I need) and there are a lot of great photos to go along with all the recipes as well.  I also really need to learn to not look at cook books when hungry.  I kind of wanted to eat every page.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Since when did every cookie on the plate have to be just like the next? Or each layer of cake exactly the same height? Each piecrust an impeccable work of art and encircled by stunningly perfect pastry leaves? To the uninitiated, all that fastidious, spotless baking is intimidating, not to mention exhausting. The Messy Baker celebrates baking as it happens in the real world—sweet, messy, fun, not always gorgeous, but a way to show love. Which doesn’t make it any less delicious; to the contrary, Charmian Christie’s flavor combinations rise far above the ordinary. Why have a raspberry galette when you can enjoy a raspberry-rhubarb galette with drippy, unctuous walnut frangipane? Or how about a Brie and walnut whiskey tart? It’s all yours without the rigid perfectionism or complicated instructions of other gourmet cookbooks.

Christie’s warm, irreverent voice brings the fun back into baking at a time when home cooks—pulled from pillar to post by jobs and errands—need to have fun. The Messy Baker is a full-service book that not only guides the reader through simple, delicious recipes but is also there to help out when things go wrong. For anyone who gave in frustration when that cake collapsed or the frosting smeared, Christie’s practical advice is here to rescue even the worst disaster and inspire the baker to try the next recipe.