Review of "Whatever is Lovely" Adult Coloring Book

This is an absolutely beautiful coloring book for adults. Both covers are well-done and are reflective of the images that colorists can choose from.  It really drives home coloring, creativity, and art as a spiritual practice. I would color in this book while listening to hymns or contemplating God, life, and all creation. It can easily become part of a meditative practice, spiritual discipline, such as daily devotion, or as a simple treat that serves as a reminder of the beauty of all creation.

 The book is also very practical. The creators were cognizant of the pages are easy to tear out,  a picture to color on one side and the full verse or quote on the other. The designs are large, easy to color, and beautiful, with the quote as the centerpiece to each picture, yet wonderfully woven into the overall image.

Overall, I would give this coloring book a 5 out of 5.

**I received this copy for free from Blogging for Books for an unbiased review.***

Every Little Thing Coloring Book by Payton Cosell Turner

This is a beautiful  coloring book. It is full of whimsy and fun. I do wish that the pictures where a little larger and not nearly as much white space. I also had hoped that the pages would be perforated for me to easily tear out and only one-sided, so has to not have to sacrifice any other picture. The paper is a nice weight though, and the cover is quite sturdy.  I really look forward to spending hours coloring and relaxing.

**I received a free copy of this book courtesy of Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.**

"The Grown Up" by Gillian Flynn

I have never read Flynn's Gone Girl,  but I have read Sharp Objects. I was well-prepared for this wonderful and terrifying little book. It was just creepy enough to make me have to keep the light on. It tells the story of a  scam artist who is currently a fake fortune teller. She is visited by the wives of one of her clients. She is told that the house the woman lives in is haunted. 

The story is short enough at 62 pages to be read in an hour, the cover is beautiful. I really only picked up this book because the cover was so incredibly eye catching.  And, the ending, while not neat, is satisfying and leaves you wondering what really happens and who you can trust. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read, who loves stories that get under their skin, or anyone who just ants a good book. 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.*

Aside from the review, I was disappointed with Penguin's packaging of this book. I received it in a large box with plastic bubble wrap, when the book itself is only 5x7 or so. I would love to see them move to more environmentally friendly packaging. 

UnFair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice by Ben Forado

This book was a tough read. I had never really considered the intricacies of the criminal justice system before and was astonished has to how it has gotten so corrupt. I feel like I can never trust the criminal justice system again. The stories were shocking, especially the anecdote on still being condemned after DNA evidence exonerates a person. And, all because they were coerced into admission of guilt when first interrogated. 

That being said, the book was an easy read, in the sense that it was set out in a logical manner. The topic was interesting and engaging. This is a must read for anyone and everyone. I can see myself rereading this book in the future, and I have definitely recommended it to friends. For this reason, I give it 4 out of 5 stars. 
**I received a free copy through Blogging for Books for an unbiased review.***

Armada by Ernest Cline

Eighteen year old Zack Lightman has never known his father who was killed when he was just an infant. He spends his days playing a video game with his two best friends and millions of people around the world. He is one of the top ranked players of all time. He wonders how this skill really help him when he gets older. Little does he know, his skills will determine that fate of all humanity. 

I really enjoyed Ernest Cline’s most recent book, Armada. I have not yet read Ready Player One, so this was my first introduction to his work. This book had me reading whenever I possibly could. I am not a gamer, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story line, most of the characters were well drawn out. The underlying message of humanity was brilliant.

The whole book really read like a young adult novel, which I think will appeal to both younger and older fans. The main character is 18 years old, so it really is a coming of age story.  Zack has to come with terms in regards to his relationship with his mother, his future, and a surprise that will rock his world. Zack goes from an unsure adolescent to a well-rounded, mature adult in this novel. Even if circumstances are farfetched (or not?) readers will see resemblances of themselves in Zack.

I am not a huge sci-fi fan, though I am slowly being converted, so I was not getting all the references, but so much of it is popular culture, that I at least recognize it. It makes me never want to watch another alien move in my entire life.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun and entertaining summer read. I really look forward to reading Ready Player One. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

**I was given a free copy by Blogging for Books in exchange for an unbiased review.**

(http://blogs-images.forbes.com/insertcoin/files/2015/07/armada.jpg)

"A Bone to Pick: The good and bad news about food, with wisdom and advice ondiets, food safety, GMOs, farming, and more." by Mark Bittman

I found this collection of articles, editorials, and essays by Mark Bittman (author of Vegan Before 6) to be a nice introduction to his philosophy about food. Bittman extensively covers just about every topic you could possibly want to learn more about with the modern food industry is addressed.

 I was aware of who he is before I received this book, but had never ready any of his other stuff. I enjoyed that the articles were well-researched, timely, and organized effectively by category. This is not a book that can, or should be, read from cover to cover. Instead, I find it best to read whatever essay(s) spark your interest.

While I would not recommend this book to anyone who is familiar with his work already, it is a nice introduction. It covers topics from Big Ag, Meat Consumption, GMOs, Diets, the Food Chain, and Legislation. Being someone who watches what I eat, I was aware of most of these topics, but managed to learn something new from each essay.

Overall, I would give this book a 3.5/5.

**I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for an unbiased review.**

Street Vegan by Adam Sobel

I absolutely LOVED this cookbook. As a vegan, I am always looking for cookbooks that appeal both to other vegans and non-vegans alike. This is a beautiful cookbook with lots of great recipes. I love that all the recipes are fairly easy, despite the long list of ingredients.
The first recipe I made was "Mint Matlock Takes All His Clothes Off." I did have to substitute pecans for the caocoa nibs, since those could not be found at any of my local grocery stores. They were delicious cookies. They were like a mix between a Thin Mint and a brownie. They were a little rich for my taste, but I enjoyed them with a glass of almond milk.
The next recipe I plan on trying is the Spinach Pie. I am really looking forward to trying this for breakfast. Sobel suggests it as an appetizer, but I love having vegetables for breakfast. The recipe seems straightforward, with suggestions for advance preparation, alternative seasonings, and suggestions for reheating.
Overall, this cookbook is great. The one downside is that there is not a picture for every recipe, but it does not in any way harm this book. I look forward to spending a lot of time in the kitchen with family and friends making delicious food from Street Vegan.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Mint Matlock Takes All His Clothes Off cookies.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books for 100% unbiased review.**

This is What You Just Put into Your Mouth by Patrick Di Justo.

In This is What you Just Put into Your Mouth by Patrick Di Justo, the author gives an overview of what is in our food and everyday items that we use, such as laundry detergent. As a vegan,  I am somewhat aware of what goes into what I eat and use. However, I feel like this book would be eye opening for anyone who has never paid any attention to what is  in their food and household items. 

I appreciated the easy layout divided into sections, which make items easy to find. The information was very readable and easily accessible to those unfamiliar with the scientific terms. One thing I was hoping was that there would be more color and the paper could have been better quality, especially if it is to be used a reference guide. However, it does not take away from the contents of the book, it is merely personal preference.

Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5 stars. It does what it needs to do, and I just hope more people take into consideration what they are consuming after encountering this book.

***I was provided a free copy of this book for an honest review by www.bloggingforbooks.com.

Q&A: 365 Questions*Five Years*1,825 Answers

I love the idea behind this book. I am currently on a personal makeover binge, and I love that I will be asked a question and can answers it every day for 5 years to see how I change and grow. The questions range from "When was the last time you were sick?" to "What do you miss the most right now?" It helps you to reflect on who you are as a person and who you will be, which may be a totally different you.
 This book was a lot smaller than what I was hoping, although I think it will be great to carry with me when I travel. I wish it had a built in bookmark to keep my place, but I can use a post-it just as well. The book doesn't stay open by itself, so it can be hard to write in it.

I definitely recommend this book for someone who is looking to get into journal writing and has no idea where to begin. This would make a great gift as well.

**This books provided for free from Blogging for Books for an unbiased review.**