Archive for the ‘Book reviews’ Category

Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project is both a timeless benefit effort and a uniquely compelling multimedia experience. The project—which incorporates a 2-CD, 26-song set; a lavishly illustrated hardcover book of 17 songs from the album; a corresponding e-book encompassing the entire collection; and a documentary film and web series —gathers many of contemporary musical theatre’s greatest composers and vocalists, as well as illustrators, all of whom have donated their talent to deliver an emotionally affecting set of new lullabies, some written specifically for this project. Proceeds from sales of the book and 2-CD set will benefit breast cancer research, support and education.

Here, for your viewing and posting pleasure, is a behind-the-scenes look at the recording session for “Lucky” (Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, from the opera Seance on a Wet Afternoon). Schwartz, who was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Broadway Hall of Fame in 2009, is the composer of the smash Broadway musicals Wicked, Godspell and Pippin.

The song is performed by Tony Award-winning actress & singer Donna Murphy, with Gil Goldstein (piano), and Jody Redhage (cello), produced by Matt Pierson. Illustration by three-time Caldecott Medal winner Marc Simont.

My two children have enjoyed both mommy and daddy reading the Over The Moon book to them before bedtime. And my daughter whom always goes to sleep listening to music has insisted on the accompanying CD many times. I highly recommend the CD to help calm your children into a more restful sleep and in help to calming the business of each day far away.

The book itself is quite a work of art. I enjoyed reading the lullabies and getting lost in the beautifully expressive heartfelt lyrics and illustrations. The lullaby It’s Time Little Man brought a whirlwind of emotion to me making me realize how fast my 16 month old baby boy is growing up and that before I know it he’ll be big and grown. There are many other titles in this book that really touched me as well but that one just really stood out.

I would highly recommend the Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project. You can purchase Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project on Amazon.com for $12.89 right now! I promise it’ll be a special collection that you’ll enjoy just as much as your children ( maybe even more too!)

Disclaimer: I was sent the above mentioned product to review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Chicken Soup For The Soul: The Magic Of Mothers & Daughters

Mothers and daughters. They are, at the same time, very similar and completely unique. This relationship — through birth, childhood, teen years, adulthood, grandchildren, aging, and every step in between — can be the best, the hardest, and the sweetest. Moms and daughters will laugh, cry, and find inspiration in this collection of entertaining, poignant, and heartwarming stories that remind them of their shared love, appreciation and special bond. A great gift for Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is just this weekend and I’ve been enjoying  Chicken Soup For The Soul: The Magic Of Mothers & Daughters quite a bit. This book is filled with so many wonderfully inspirational stories that are heartfelt and encouraging.

I like how this title has been put together, for instance, there are 10 sections each with a little over ten true life stories from both mother’s and daughters. Some of the sections you’ll find are Rites of Passage, A Daughter’s Love, and Dreams Fulfilled just to name a few. I found myself deeply touched and many of the stories reminded me of my mother as well as being a mom myself and seeing already what an impact my daughter has had on my life.

I guarantee you’ll be touched and encouraged sharing in the stories found in Chicken Soup For The Soul: The Magic Of Mothers & Daughters. I highly recommend it. You can purchase these or any of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books at your local bookstore, online on their website and more!

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Chicken Soup for the Soul has generously offered 3 of my readers their own copy of this fantastic book! 

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The Farm Fresh Southern Cooking cookbook for me is a taste and reminder of home. My mother being raised in the deep south brought to the table food that was just as tasty as it was comforting. I grew up enjoying meals that included many fresh pickings from our own and family and friends gardens. And am thrilled to be reminded and challenged to bring to my own family’s table delicious meals that are healthy and encourage us to know where our produce is coming from, supporting our own local farmers thanks to this great cookbook by Tammy Algood.

As you open the book, you’ll find a table of content which includes; Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Sides, Breads, Entrees, Desserts, Breakfast and Brunch, and Canning Instructions followed by acknowledgments and a helpful index. Each food catagory has a list of all the recipes in that section followed by Spotlights. The Spotlights are of local farms sharing about various fruits, vegetables, etc. For example one of the first spotlights in the book is on “Honey” the farmer being interviewed talks about how they craved a simple life of making honey and how and why they chose to do that. Reading the Spotlights in the book whether on honey, figs, herbs, or pecans, has been a real treat. In my eyes, this a cookbook that keeps on giving in more than one way.

The photos of the food are warm, inviting, and real. I love real photos when it comes to food! No airbrushing, or photo tunning. Real because that’s the way it should be presented as that will be how it looks coming to our own tables.

There are many recipes in this book, I’m just dying to whip up! The ingredients are usually something that I have in my own home and easy enough to find in your local store or farmers market. Over Easter, I happened to make the “Orange Hugged Carrots” and it was a hit with my family. So glad that even my very picky three year old even gave them a thumbs up!

If you are looking for a taste of home or just inspired to bring to the table something different from down south, I highly recommend this book. And with Mother’s Day around the corner, I’d think about presenting her with this one for sure.

Buy it: You can purchase Farm Fresh Southern Cooking: Straight from the Garden to Your Dinner Table on Amazon.com for 11.99 (Kindle Version) or $16.49 (print version.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Book Sneeze, book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.