Winter Reading 2017 Eat Beautiful

Rowe has compiled information about the benefits from various foods, herbs, and spices for inner health and also clearer and healthier skin. She begins with a brief discussion of the connection between beauty and food, touching on topics like detoxification, digestion and stress. Then she goes through the year, season by season, and gives the rundown on foods that are fresh during that time and what nutrients or other healthy effects they have. At the end of each section, she shares some of her favorite seasonal recipes that feature those foods.

Whether you are looking for a beauty treatment from the inside out, or just looking for guidance on some healthy recipes that might feature foods you hadn't considered before, this is a helpful volume. The photos are beautiful (the foods and the models). The seasonal arrangement helps those who are trying to eat fresh as much as possible throughout the year. And there were even a couple of foods that I had not heard of before, which may not be the case for other readers, but they may learn some interesting facts about familiar foods.

Recommended for readers interested in eating in a more healthy way and for those who want to support their own health and healthy appearance. Check the publisher's website for more information about the book.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Winter Reading 2017 Asp of Ascension (Nefertari Hughes Mystery, #1)

If you enjoy present day mysteries that tangle with ancient artifacts, then you should the Nefertari Hughes books. "Terry" as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of archaeologists. When her mother dies in an accident on a dig and Terry is severely injured, her father decides to move somewhere safer to start over. That is how they end up in the cold of New England, with her father working at a museum that is run by an old school friend. Nothing feels right to Terry. She misses the warmth of Egypt, the food, her friend Awad, her mother... High school is a nightmare. The limp from her injury makes her feel awkward, she has managed to incur the wrath of the reigning cheer leading captain, and their history assignment on Cleopatra brings up too many painful memories. How will she navigate the world of ball games, dates, and school projects without her mother's guidance? And when it seems things can't get any worse, they do.

Join Terry and her friends (Maude, Fraser, and Zach), as they try to survive high school, solve a 50-year-old mystery, save Terry's dad from a deadly threat, and maybe even manage to complete their class project and find time for a date. Plenty of suspense, murky motives, personal and ancient history, drama, romantic tension, and bad guys/gals. Recommended for ages 12+ who enjoy mystery, a smidgen of romance, and stories where the protagonist rises above challenges.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Winter Reading 2017 Scooby Apocalypse, Volume 1

This isn't the Scooby-Doo that you grew up with. This is the end of the world as we know it.

The characters have the same appearance, names, and similar personalities, but they are in a different setting. Daphne has a cable show investigating mysteries and Freddy is her cameraman. Shaggy is a dog trainer and works in a military "smart dog" experiment, and Scooby is one of the project's dogs. Velma is a PhD researcher with the project. And the Mystery Machine is a pet project of one of the researchers and is more like the APC from the movie "Aliens" than the groovy van from the Saturday morning cartoons. 

When all the characters come together, they discover that a plague of sorts has been released and is mutating people around the world. And the sad part is, the cause of the plague was supposed to "better" humanity (shades of "Serenity"), but instead folks have different reactions, becoming strange creatures. Between the mutants roaming around, the breakdown of civilization, and the pack of other "smart dogs" that escape from the military complex, the gang will have a hard time staying alive - much less finding a cause and a cure.

Revamped for a new generation of fans with a level of violence and gore best suited to ages 12+. Those readers will also be mature enough to understand the concepts of conspiracy, suspicion, pursuing ideals, and the sarcastic humor. A favorite example: Velma, "Please! This isn't a comic book!" Shaggy, "It's sure starting to feel like one."

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Winter Reading 2017 DC Universe Rebirth Volume 1 Samplers

This sampler gives readers a taste of the story-lines within the DC Universe Rebirth. Son of Superman shows the "Smith" family living quietly on their farm as young Jonathan tries to control his burgeoning powers. I Am Gotham has Batman flying into the air to rescue a passenger jet hit by a missile. As he works on guiding the plane toward a safer landing Alfred jokes with him, "Yes, sir. Awaiting your stability. As always." The Lies finds Wonder Woman searching for a way back to Themyscira, looking for answers in the Okarango Region of Bwunda. And, by amazing coincidence, Steve and his team happen to be in the same country on an op. Lightning Strikes Twice has Barry Allen as the Flash trying to be everywhere at once, which is impossible even with his speed. He is still working forensics for the police department and keeping his secret identity under wraps. The Extinction Machines finds the entire Justice League battling an ELE with major earthquakes and tsunamis striking simultaneously across the world. And each of them is confronted by people saying they are part of the Kindred and they want their stolen powers back. Better than Batman has Dick Grayson swinging back into action as Batwing, but having to work with a sinister organization who have gained his compliance by threatening the life of Damian, a.k.a. Robin. And, in The Death and Life of Oliver Queen, Oliver seems to be facing trouble on multiple fronts - his possible relationship with the Black Canary, his half-sister Emi wanting to leave school, and the discovery of corruption at Queen Enterprises. What's a poor little rich boy to do?

Each story is just a chapter, a quick taste to whet your appetite and let you see the artwork, the characterization, and the plot lines that are being developed. If you have any interest in the characters, you will want to read the entire story arc for each one after these appetizers.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Winter Reading 2017 Elementary, She Read (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery)

Welcome to 222 Baker Street, West London, New England, home of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. Proprietor Gemma Doyle's uncle purchased the building, after failing to convince the owner of 221 Baker Street to sell. Then he began his bookshop, which Gemma now runs and co-owns, as well as Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room next door. Just that might be enough to lure into reading, but in case it isn't...  Gemma shares many characteristics with the Great Detective. She sees and observes. She notices patterns and occurrences that others overlook. She also has problems with personal relationships due to her hyper-attentiveness and a lack of some social skills. But when there is a mysterious murder in the quiet town of West London with Gemma and her bet friend Jayne finding the body, Gemma uses the skills she does have to assist in the investigation. Well, she tries to assist but the police rather firmly tell her to leave it to them. Typical.

Everything about this book will pull you in if you are the least bit interested in Sherlock, whatever the incarnation. The bookshop sells books and movies from all the various writers and actors that have added to his legend. There is the shop's cat, Moriarty. And the fact that the murder victim seems to have possessed a rare copy of the first ever appearance of Sherlock in print just adds to the  layers surrounding the motive and perpetrator of the crime. I haven't read any of the authors other mysteries, but I plan to grab Bookshop Mystery #2 as soon as I see it.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.