The Entire Kingdom | No Country for Old Gnomes by Delilah S Dawson



Title: No Country for Old Gnomes
By: Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 352
Release Date: April 16th, 2019
Publisher: Del Rey

Summary from Goodreads: Go big or go gnome. The New York Times bestselling authors of Kill the Farm Boy return to the world of Pell, the irreverent fantasy universe that recalls Monty Python and Terry Pratchett.

The Skyr is a rich, verdant land claimed by both halflings and gnomes. For centuries, the halflings have worked to undermine gnomish power structures and seize total control--through legal means, certainly, but more insidiously through their extensive organized crime network. Now, threatened with being pushed out entirely, the gnomes are desperate and ready to fight back. Gustave the Goat King faces his first test as a leader: Can he bring peace to a fraught region or will a civil war consume the entire kingdom?



Review: This is a wonderful tale like none other. There is so much humor and cliches in this book, it is just that wonderful. How could you not want to read this awesome piece of creativity. I laughed and laughed with this one.

If you are tired of the dark thrillers and depressing teen dramas, then you really need to pick up this book and just have a good laugh. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



What I'm Reading This Week | #WeeklyMenu Week #289


MONDAY!!!! Again... I feel like there has been a lot going on and its making me tired. My middle boy is having trouble in school again. His spectrum disorder is hard for him to control at times and he has troubles controlling his emotions. This manifests in violent outbursts at times. Its been a hard week for him and for me. 

On a good note, I just hit my weight goal of 8.2 lost. It only took me 34 days. I managed to gain 25 lbs during 2018 when we had a lot of stress at home. I wasn't sleeping. I was angry. I was on several different meds for sleep, anxiety and depression. The whole thing just escalated until I finally stood up to the problem. Now, I'm off all my meds and my anger has subsided. I feel like myself again. My next goal is 5 more lbs. Lets see how long that will take me to lose.

This weeks book is going to be The Stiehl Assassin by Terry Brooks. Its the newest book in the Fall of Shannara and I'm super excited to dive into this one. Who is with me?

Lets get to the goods. Enjoy!

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Tuesday

Wednesday

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Sunday
Leftovers Night

Their Children Prospered | The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls



Title: The Glass Castle
By: Jeannette Walls
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 320
Release Date: July 11th, 2017
Publisher:  Scribner

Summary from Goodreads: The perennially bestselling, “nothing short of spectacular” (Entertainment Weekly) memoir from one of the world’s most gifted storytellers—soon to be a major motion picture starring Oscar winner Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts.

The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette’s brilliant and charismatic father captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn’t want the responsibility of raising a family.

The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

The Glass Castle is truly astonishing—a beloved memoir that has lived on the bestseller list for more than six years.



Review: I loved this book. It has been a while since a story has made me feel so inspired and heartbroken at the same time. The crazy part is that this is a true story. Jeanette Walls went through a crazy childhood with her eccentric parents and the outrageous conditions their parents allowed them to live in. It is amazing that the children all survived and went on to be productive and normal members of society. 

I've already procured the movie from the library and I'm excited to watch it. If you want a story of overcoming the odds, then you will need to read this book.





What I'm Reading This Week | #WeeklyMenu Week #288


MONDAY! I felt like screaming that for some reason. It might have to do with the fact that its presidents day and the kids don't have school. There goes my alone time... 

I did manage to finish some of my books from last week, you should see the reviews for them soon. I also read The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. It was pretty funny and weird. I ordered the movie from the library and I'm excited to watch it to see how they did a take on the book.

This weeks read is going to be The Girl With The Lower Back Tatoo by Amy Schumer. I've been on a huge memoir kick and this one was on the list of the best memoirs on Goodreads and I already had a copy so I thought I would try it.

Lets get on to the food. Enjoy!



Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

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Sunday
Leftovers Night

Blackest Hat in the Weird West | The Devil's Revolver by V.S. McGrath



Title: The Devil's Revolver
By: V.S. McGrath
Genre: Western Fantasy
Pages: 323
Release Date: September 5th, 2017
Publisher: Brain Mill Press LLC

Summary from Goodreads: She is Hettie Alabama — unlikely, scarred, single-minded, and blood bound to a revolver forged by a demon.

The first book in an epic, magic-clad series featuring the Wild West reimagined as a crosscultural stereoscope of interdimensional magic and hardship, The Devil’s Revolver opens with a shooting competition and takes off across the landscape after a brutal double murder and kidnapping — to which revenge is the only answer. Hettie Alabama, only seventeen years old, leads her crew of underdogs with her father’s cursed revolver, magicked to take a year off her life each time she fires it. It’s no way for a ranch girl to grow up, but grow up she does, her scars and determination to rescue her vulnerable younger sister deepening with every year of life she loses. 

A sweeping and high-stakes saga that gilds familiar Western adventure with powerful magic and panoramic fantasy, The Devil’s Revolver is the last word and the blackest hat in the Weird West.



Review: Did you ever think that a story would come out where a western would meet a fantasy? I sure as heck didn't. You get everything that comes with a normal western, the normal issues, and then add a dollop of magic to warm the fingers, and bang, you have this wonderful story. You would think it didn't work, but it does. If you want something new and exciting, you have to pick up this book.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



What I'm Reading This Week | #WeeklyMenu Week #287


Its Monday! What a cold week it has been. We've been covered in snow and ice, and the temperature has been below freezing. My toes won't warm up. More snow is on the way and I'm worried that its going to shut everything down and trap us in the house again. I can't do any more time in the house, not after the boys have been sick for two weeks. I'll go crazy.

I've got to finish up some of the books that I've started. Reading has been rough lately because work has been intermittent with the weather and sickness. I need to get back on it. I'm going to work on finishing the following books. 


Hopefully, I will finish at least one of these books this week and I can move on to another wonderful story. What have you been reading? Leave me a comment bellow.

Lets get on to the weekly menu!


Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday
Leftovers Night

The Power of Laughter | The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish


I finally finished another book on the Best Books of 2018 Goodreads list. As some of you know, I've made it my mission this year to read all the books on the list. Some of them are going to be hard for me because I'm not a big fan of some of the genres, but I want to see why these books were voted by the readers as the best books in their categories.


Title: The Last Black Unicorn
By: Tiffany Haddish
Genre: Autobiography
Pages: 288
Release Date: December 5th, 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books

Summary from Goodreads: From stand-up comedian, actress, and breakout star of Girls Trip, Tiffany Haddish, comes The Last Black Unicorn, a sidesplitting, hysterical, edgy, and unflinching collection of (extremely) personal essays, as fearless as the author herself.

Growing up in one of the poorest neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles, Tiffany learned to survive by making people laugh. If she could do that, then her classmates would let her copy their homework, the other foster kids she lived with wouldn’t beat her up, and she might even get a boyfriend. Or at least she could make enough money—as the paid school mascot and in-demand Bar Mitzvah hype woman—to get her hair and nails done, so then she might get a boyfriend.

None of that worked (and she’s still single), but it allowed Tiffany to imagine a place for herself where she could do something she loved for a living: comedy.

Tiffany can’t avoid being funny—it’s just who she is, whether she’s plotting shocking, jaw-dropping revenge on an ex-boyfriend or learning how to handle her newfound fame despite still having a broke person’s mind-set. Finally poised to become a household name, she recounts with heart and humor how she came from nothing and nowhere to achieve her dreams by owning, sharing, and using her pain to heal others.

By turns hilarious, filthy, and brutally honest, The Last Black Unicorn shows the world who Tiffany Haddish really is—humble, grateful, down-to-earth, and funny as hell. And now, she’s ready to inspire others through the power of laughter.



Review: Warning: This book is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of deep issues that are talked about in this book. They are sometimes graphic and are not for everyone. However, I can see why this book was voted best in the Humor category. Tiffany Haddish had a rough childhood, but looking back on it now, she can see it through a filter of humor. Her story shows people, that you can come from the wort of situations and still push through and live your dreams. I really loved reading this book. There were so many funny moments and also heart touching stories that really kept you engaged with the writer. I can only imagine what Haddish went through, but now I can understand her journey a little more.

I gave this book four stars. A well worth it read.


The Masked Singer Predictions #2

Guys, I've been so wrong on my predictions for the masked singer. This is so hard. How are all of you doing? Every time I think I have it down, someone says something, or I take something else from the clues that changes my mind. Lets take a look at my new predictions for those who are left.


It was pointed out to me last week by a friend that my pick of Tina Turner had a stroke and the Bee couldn't possibly be her, so I'm not sure who this is, but some people are saying Gladys Knight. This could quite possibly be, but I'm not 100% sure yet.


Someone said that the bunny might be JC Chaze from NSYNC, but I don't hear it in the voice. I was a huge fan of NSYNC when I was a teen and I would like to think that I could recognize their voices anywhere, but I could be wrong. I would think it would sound like Joey Fatone more, but one of the judges said that Joey is a little on the tubby side. Maybe he lost some weight for this. They do have the same kind of legs... I'm going to Say Joey Fatone.


I'm still sticking with McCauley Culkin... Until I think otherwise. I know Donny Osmond is being thrown out there, which is another good candidate, but I'm going with my gut.


The Lion has literally blown my mind. I can't even think about who this might be. If you think you know who it is, please, leave me a comment so I know. I'm totally stumped. 


I'm going with Latoya Jackson on this one. She is small, with a tiny sweet voice just like the Alien's. All the clues seem to point in this direction, but then again, I've been wrong on every guess except for Cheech Marin, so who knows.


I've been thinking Ricky Lake on this one for a while now and every time the clues are shown, I still think Ricky Lake. This is my pick for the Raven and I'm sticking with it. 

These are my picks this week. The show airs tonight so we shall see how wrong I am. Leave me a comment bellow on who you think the masked singers are and who you think will go home.

What I'm Reading This Week | #WeeklyMenu Week #286


Monday! What a week. It was so crazy around here and not in a good way. The boys were still sick and they stayed home from school all week. I love my kids, but go to school. Mommy needs a break.

I think this weeks book is going to be No Country For Old Gnomes by Delilah S. Dawson. I absolutely loved the first book and can't wait to dive into this new installment. Its as hilarious as it looks so make sure you follow along on this epic adventure. 

Lets get on to the menu this week. I know that's what you all came here for. Enjoy!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday
Pineapple Beef Tacos

Sunday
Leftovers Night

January 2019 Wrap Up


Another month down and the first month of the year. I can't believe that January is already over. It seems like we just started this year. There were some great books in January and I'm excited to share them with you. Read on to find out what I liked and what I didn't like. Enjoy!

A Christmas Carol by Charles DickensIn October 1843, Charles Dickens ― heavily in debt and obligated to his publisher ― began work on a book to help supplement his family's meager income. That volume, A Christmas Carol, has long since become one of the most beloved stories in the English language. As much a part of the holiday season as holly, mistletoe, and evergreen wreaths, this perennial favorite continues to delight new readers and rekindle thoughts of charity and goodwill.

With its characters exhibiting many qualities ― as well as failures ― often ascribed to Dickens himself, the imaginative and entertaining tale relates Ebenezer Scrooge's eerie encounters with a series of spectral visitors. Journeying with them through Christmases past, present, and future, he is ultimately transformed from an arrogant, obstinate, and insensitive miser to a generous, warmhearted, and caring human being. Written by one of England's greatest and most popular novelists, A Christmas Carol has come to epitomize the true meaning of Christmas.