Yum, croissants and other wonderful ways to start the day!

Yes, this post will have almost nothing to do with books (unless you count the crumbs that I am spilling in the one I am trying to read while eating aforementioned bakery item!).  One of my favorite things to eat are croissants, particularly chocolate-filled croissants (I didn't say it was healthy, I said it was my favorite thing to eat!), followed by crepes (hence my strong desire to visit Paris one of these days).  I have dragged my poor husband to many an odd location in my search for a particular city's offerings.  My latest find that I thought I would share with you is the line of frozen croissants available at the Trader Joe's© stores.

Yum!!!  I started off trying their chocolate-filled version and then discovered they have plain ones which are ALMOST as tasty...who can beat freshly baked buttery croissants?  Flaky and warm...a fantastic treat.  Now they have added almond croissants to their repertoire and I must confess...I am now torn between the chocolate and the almond for which is my favorite.  The only drawbacks are that you have to be organized enough to take the frozen dough out the night before so that it can proof (rise) overnight or at least 8 hours and...we are having slight trouble with the cooked croissant sticking to the aluminum foil we used but that can be alleviated by a little oil or butter (careful, it can burn) or a non-stick pan (for those who don't mind washing the extra pan).   My husband is always looking for a way to keep me away from my favorite bakery restaurant, lol...and these just might do the trick--provided he finds a way to bake asiago bread as well!

Ok...back to the books...I have had the great fortune to win several books over the past few days as well as have been promised an interesting book for review by a new to me author, Clifford Dunbar.  That book is titled, Silver's Treason, and it caught my eye because it is about a dog with paranormal abilities, combining two things I really like!  Unfortunately, it will be a few weeks before I will be able to get it read but I am definitely looking forward to it.  The author is having a contest on his Facebook page (see the comment section below, thank you Mr. Dunbar!) so you can win your very own copy as well!

Blade Song

Blade Song  

by J.C. Daniels (Shiloh Walker) is the start of a new urban fantasy series with another of those kick-butt heroines who is determined to rise above the horrors of her past and stand for those who are weaker and oppressed.  I like characters who are able to use the 'that which does not kill us makes us stronger' mentality and hone themselves into a well-tempered weapon and Kit Colbana fits that description perfectly.  Thanks to another reader's review, I discovered that there is a short story on Tor.com which sets the stage for Kit's world and is actually referred to in this book.  It is titled Stroke of Dumb Luck and available at this link. The action never stops and the strong characters make these both wonderful reads.

My Goodreads review is at this link.

I was provided with a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Beware of posting pictures that aren't your own! (updated)

I was pretty disturbed to read about the experiences of an author who is new to me and saddened by what it will mean to everyone who reads her post.  She has a cautionary tale for all who post pictures that they obtain from surfing the net.  I didn't include a link to the original post just because it is on her adults only blog but I myself read it originally at this link.  I am not trying to be a doomsayer, I just believe that knowledge is power and the more people who know this...the less that unsuspecting people will be blindsided.  I guess I will have to try harder to find a card reader for my camera that will talk to this laptop so that I can post some of my own pictures but, unlike that person that this poor author inadvertently offended...I am willing to share mine (-:

July 22, 2012 update:  Another of the myriad of loops that I belong to had this post on it that may provide resources for those looking for free photos to use but please use at your own risk and make sure you look at the rules!

"If you want access to royalty-free AND cost-free photos, I have a few
resources that will help you. The terms of service are clearly stated on
each website:

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp
http://www.freephotosbank.com/
http://www.fontplay.com/freephotos/
http://www.cgtextures.com/index.php

(Thank you to Karen Duvall)



One thing that I wondered was how we could support Roni Loren who took the time to share her experiences with all of us so that we don't all end up with the same horrible problem...and, it would be nice if those who can buy one of her books...but be warned...they look somewhat spicy (-:

 

Invincible

Invincible  
by Jack Campbell (John G. Henry) is one of the entertaining space opera tales that is part of his sequel series to the popular Lost Fleet stories, 'The Lost Fleet:  Beyond the Frontier'.  The premise is the resurrection of a man (John Geary aka Black Jack) who has been in stasis for a century while war has raged for so long that nobody knows how to live in a time of peace.  The second series starts after Black Jack has accomplished the impossible just as he has been given another virtually impossible task.  The Fleet which has learned perform miracles is asked for yet another one as they are sent to determine information about an inimical alien race. The combination of new worlds and races cause the so-called experts to reevaluate all that that is considered to be standard for first contact.  The question is whether the humans will be able to adapt to the new concepts they are being inundated with.  This is one of those tales for those who enjoy adventures in space with a nice dash of the study of human nature and an exploration of the challenges that will face anyone who interacts with entirely alien cultures. I particularly enjoyed the repartee that resulted in the formation of all of the different acronyms (some a bit more irreverent than others) that seem to appear spontaneously anytime long cumbersome descriptions become to onerous.


My Amazon review is at this link under ELF2060.  As always, a 'yes, this was helpful' vote is appreciated.

A copy of this title was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in Silence review

Murder in Silence 
is a mystery tale by Gary Kassay and is part of his Duke Becker series.  The gruesome murders of two different police officers conjure up rumors of vampires when it is discovered that both had their throats torn out.   Inspector Duke Becker forms a squad made of dedicated members who are definitely individuals and they are being pressured to achieve a quick solve but the clues are contradictory.  The investigation intensifies as Duke interrogates various experts in their fields, only to discover that one of those he consults will become of far more significance than he ever dreamed of.  What will it take to find the killer?  A lot of legwork and a little bit of intuition.  The problem is that he may have to overcome pain and death to solve his case.

An intriguing mystery that starts a little slowly but soon begins to gather speed as some of the background is dealt with.  Duke Becker is an engaging character and is surrounded by intriguing individuals (including his apparently color-blind partner who is constantly fighting the suspicion of nepotism) and his methodical investigation soon begins to shed light on the case.  I had to stop and wonder whether this was actually going to be a paranormal tale given the condition of the victims but that added to the mystery.  The author provides interesting glimpses of several fields that add realism to the investigation and makes this an entertaining read.

8/5/12
Giveaway is over, sorry.

I was provided with a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Spellcrossed

Spellcrossed 
by Barbara Ashford returns the reader to the Crossroads Theater where magic can be a literal occurrence as well as the result of an excellently presented musical performance.  This book picks up a couple of years after the poignant tale depicted in Spellcast and instantly conjures up the hard work and excitement of putting on a musical using both amateurs and professionals and the natural conflicts that result.  I was a little disappointed with the end of the first book even though I knew it was inevitable so I was thrilled with the sequel and its mixture of sweet and sad.  Be forewarned, this is a gently whimsical tale that provides plenty of emotional moments so have a tissue handy and your libation of choice and settle in for a lovely read.  I was so enchanted with the first book that I continually asked my site moderator if the sequel had arrived yet and I was thrilled to read it when it was offered up for review.

My Amazon review for Spellcrossed is at this link under ELF2060.
My Amazon review for Spellcast is at this link under ELF2060.  (For those who are curious, I am slowly transferring my Night Owl Reviews written over the past couple of years to Amazon as I read the sequels to certain volumes so this review was actually written last year).

I always am appreciative of a 'yes, this was helpful' vote.

Sorry, offer expired... updated 7/17/12

Updated 7/19/12

No longer available for free.  Sorry!
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