Healing Stone

jacqui_monet
August 22, 2017

Title: Healing Stone

Author: Brock Booher

Series: N/A

Genre: YA/ Coming of Age/ Paranormal

Pages: 336

Check out my Two Minute Review of Healing Stone on my ‘booktube’ channel:

Join me on BookTube!

jacqui_monet
January 10, 2017

As you know, started my very own YouTube channel a couple of months ago and I now have several videos up for viewing! If you haven’t visited my channel, please do. It’s a great way to let me know what you’re reading and give me book suggestions as well! I am also open to topic suggestions. So, if you want to know my opinion on a particular book/author/literary topic be sure to send me a message or comment on a video.

 

See you on Book Tube!

cartoon

 

Author Q&A ~ Paige Parsons

jacqui_monet
December 28, 2016

qanda

Hey, Paige, thanks for joining me for today’s Author Q and A. Okay, Let’s jump right into it!

Hi Jacqui! Thank you so much for inviting me.

I read your first book Taking the Stage and as a theatre geek myself I loved reading about the backstage drama. What inspired you to write in this setting?

Well, I’ve been involved in and working in theatre since I was 2 years old. The last 20 years have been spent as a stage manager and I can tell you the stories I’ve collected could keep me in material for years??‼

And what about the spanking? I’ve never read a book that included an element like that. Where did that come from?

I honestly read my first discipline novel at about 13, but didn’t know it was a “thing”. I never heard of the term Spanko. I just knew I liked it. Years later I discovered something called fan fiction and read a bunch of spanking stories. I fell in love with the genre all over again.

What was the first book, that you can remember, that dealt those little love taps?

I can’t remember the name, but it was a Victorian story I found on my Nana’s bookshelf. She probably never realized it was on her open shelf and when I started reading I just knew I shouldn’t mention it???‼

This is your first novel. Can you share briefly what was that process like?

I got hit with an idea years ago and started working on it in bits and pieces. While I worked full time and stage managed I plowed away at the story page by page. I finally marshaled my courage and decided to submit my work to Blushing Books. I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Do you have any advice for fellow first time novelists?

Sit down and do it! Write, write, write. Study your craft and practice by writing. When you get it all out, take a deep breath and share it.

Ok, ok enough of all the serious stuff. What’s your favorite color?

Purple

Outside of romance, what is your favorite genre to read?

Mystery

If Taking the Stage was an ice cream flavor which would it be?

Jamoca Almond Fudge

What was your proudest moment when you were 5 years old?

Reading a 2nd grade book to my class

If you had a super power, what would it be?

Orbing… Just popping in and out of places.

I know that you are well traveled but, where would you visit that you haven’t already gone?

South Africa

What pizza topping do you hate?

Pineapple! Just why???

Alright now, one last question before we wrap it up. Are you working on anything that my friends and I can look forward to?

Yes, I have a new novella coming out in a Blushing anthology, for Valentines Day and another full length that’s almost done.

 

Thanks so much, Paige, for taking the time to answer a few of my questions! And to all of my friends out there, be sure to check back for more Author Q and A sessions in the coming months!

November Book Haul!!

jacqui_monet
November 18, 2016

 

So, I absolutely love to read as you all know. This has lead to some interesting opportunities for me lately. I have been asked by up and coming authors to beta read their manuscripts, sent ARCs to read and I’ve been asked to make videos reviewing books by the authors who wrote them. What?! Starting this blog and actually starting to do what I love has been amazing. So amazing, that I’ve decided to start a Booktube channel!

For some people I’m sure that could have seen it coming, but I didn’t. I had no idea that I would end up here! Anyway, I want to say thank you for supporting my blog and interacting with me on social media. You all are amazing.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do for my first video and after doing some brainstorming I decided on a book haul video! I went to Barnes and Noble and accidentally spent more that I planned and didn’t even buy what I went in for. Ah, such is the life of a bookaholic.

Check out my first video below:

Around-the-Table Lasagna

jacqui_monet
November 17, 2016

In The Porcupine of Truth Carson Smith’s family has never been close. His grandfather ran out on his grandmother, his dad drank himself right out of a relationship with his mother and his mother has always been, well, an ice queen. Family dinners were never really a thing that Carson got to experience growing up, but it’s something that he and his friend Aisha  find themselves desperately needing. Living most of his life in New York I thought, what would more fitting than one of the most amazing dishes you can snag in the Big Apple? With all of the Italian restaurants (and all of the Italian Nonnas in every neighborhood), lasagna is a staple! Below is a recipe so easy, even Carson could make it.

You will need:

Box of lasagna noodles (I mean, you could make it fresh but that requires a lot of work appliances that most folks don’t have.)

Water for boiling

Ricotta Cheese 1 tub

Shredded Cheese

Ground Turkey 1 lb

Spinach (washed)

Salt

Garlic Powder

Optional: olive oil

Cooking spray

Bottle of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I like Ragu’s Chunky Sun-dried Tomato and Sweet Basil. Or, you could be fancy and make your own.)

13×9 baking pan or casserole dish, large pot, large frying pan, strainer

Oven, stove

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 350.

In the large pot boil water and cook the lasagna noodles per the box’s instructions.

Meanwhile, brown the ground turkey in the frying pan season with garlic powder and the optional olive oil. Strain and return to the pan and mix in the spaghetti sauce. Let it simmer.

 

Let’s talk layering: this part can be a little tricky if you have over cooked you noodles. The order that I think is the best/easiest is as follows:

Noodles. Spread ricotta cheese evenly. Meat sauce. spinach. Repeat and then, if you have anything left over, add meet sauce and a couple of spoonfuls of ricotta.

 

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 mins. Remove foil and sprinkle on a layer of the shredded cheese. Bake for another 10 mins.

Alternative: If you want to assemble one day and then bake on the next you will have to refrigerate it and then bake for 40 mins covered, sprinkle the shredded cheese and then bake for 10 mins uncovered.

This lasagna recipe is so easy! Pair this with a simple salad and some garlic bread and your family won’t know what hit ’em!

img_0227

The Porcupine of Truth

jacqui_monet
November 7, 2016

img_4461

Title: The Porcupine of Truth

Author: Bill Konigsberg

Series: N/A

Genre: YA/ Coming of Age

Pages: 336

Review:

Okay, I’m just going to start this off by saying that I absolutely loved The Porcupine of Truth. I like, jump-up-and-down-cried-in-the-middle-recommend-it-to-everyone loved this book! I connected to this book in a way that I haven’t experienced in a really long time. Seriously, I haven’t sobbed while reading since Shadows in Flight, the final book in the ‘Bean Saga’ of the Enders Game series.

So what’s the book about in a nutshell? The Porcupine of Truth follows teenagers Carson and Aisha and they search for his grandfather. See, Carson’s dad is dying and he wants to reconnect the two before it’s too late. What starts out as an hours long trip ends up being and epic journey across the western United States. During their trek, the friends learn a lot about each other and even more about themselves. This book is about growing up and coming into your own; discovering what makes you you.

I don’t want to say anything about the plot. So much happens that I feel the slightest  detail will give something away. I will say that I think everyone should read it. I gave it to my brother to read and if they made a movie I’d watch it. Heck, if they made a miniseries I’d watch it. This book made me laugh out loud one moment and cry the next. Mr. Konigsberg wrote an incredible and I found myself very deeply moved. That’s it, that’s all I can say.

 

Check out the links below to get the book yourself:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Witches of East End Book Review

jacqui_monet
October 25, 2016

witches

Title: Witches of East End

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Series: Witches of East End (book 1)

Genre: SciFi, Fantasy,

Pages: 288

Ok, so my favorite writer for the past few years has been Melissa de la Cruz of the Blue Bloods and the Ashleys series. I have loved almost every book that she has written. I mean, there was one that I got less than a chapter into and pitched it. But this book was great! In keeping with the Halloween theme I read The Witches of East End.

The Witches of East End is the first in her series about a pair of sisters and their mother who try to live quiet lives without magic in a simple cottage in the Hamptons. Now, I feel that I must add that this is not a “pretty, rich, white girls with problems they created” type of book. In fact, not all the problems that come their way are their fault. Trouble tends to come to them because they are a little too generous. You see, they have been banned from using their powers but then one of them does so to help a friend who’s been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant. Then they all start helping people. THEN they get accused of being witches. So much for laying low. The story is really interesting and has since become a series on Lifetime which is also pretty good.

Speaking of series: if you have read the Blue Bloods series of the same author (which you should in order to be able to laugh at certain jokes) you will recognize characters that have cameos. I’m not saying that you should read all of those to be able to understand this book, but I am saying that you should read this between Blue Blood books 7 and 8. Mimi talks about some of the action that takes place in this book, therefore it’s crucial for BB fans to read this.

 

Check out the links below to get the book yourself:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Cleo’s Pumpkin Spice Pound Cake

jacqui_monet
October 16, 2016

The girls of Monster High are definitely of the “pumpkin spice latte” persuasion. Concerned with friends, fashion, boys and trying to pass their classes the ghouls are basically your average teen aged girls. That being said, grab your apron ‘cuz it’s time to get baking!

You will need:

Flour 1 ½ cup

Ground Cinnamon ½ tsp

Salt ½ Tbsp

Egg White 3

Baking Soda ½ Tbsp

Baking Powder ½ Tbsp

Ground Cloves ¼ tsp

Ground Nutmeg ¼ tsp

Sugar 1 ½ cup

Fat free Vanilla Yogurt ½ cup

Canned Pumpkin 1 cup

2 bowls, 1 oven, sifter, whisk, greased loaf pan

img_5588

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.

Sift flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cloves and nutmeg into a bowl.

In a larger bowl, whisk together sugar, yogurt and egg whites.

Stir in the pumpkin.

Stir the dry ingredients from earlier.

Transfer the mixture into the loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes.

fullsizerender

 

Once completely cooled I like to top it with a powdered sugar glaze. It’s just about equal parts of water and powdered sugar. It should be smooth and slightly runny.

Alternative:

Instead of a loaf pan, you could use mini Bundt cake pans.

You can also sub the powdered sugar glaze for store bought cream cheese frosting. YUM!

Monster High Book Review

jacqui_monet
October 8, 2016

MH

Title: Monster High

Author: Lisi Harrison

Series: Monster High (book 1)

Genre: YA/ SciFi

Pages: 246

Review:

So I started reading Monster High by Lisi Harrison, and when I say “started” I mean that I’ve inhaled all four of the original books. Ms. Harrison is the woman who brought us The Clique and Alphas. That being said, although I initially loved the idea of famous monsters’ children (or grandchildren) attending a normal high school while reluctantly “hiding with pride” I was afraid that the story would be well, shallow.

Ms. Harrison’s characters in her previous stories have tended to be incredibly one dimensional. I am glad to share that this series has been great. Heck, she even has a mean girl learn her lesson. Unlike Sharpay from High School Musical who has to relearn her lesson over and over and… Done with the rant. Anyway…

I love her decision to use nearly all of the different characters that Universal Studios explored in the 1930s. The books have everything from swamp monsters to mummies and Hyde to the son of Medusa. All of the characters are very different from each other and even though some of them are popular kids at the school, Lisi Harrison does a great job at making sure that they all have different goals and anxieties. Not all of them are popular by the way, some of them are practically invisible to those around them especially Billy (but he actual is invisible).

There is also a good mix of “normies” or normal kids like Melody and her sister Candace who move to Oregon from Beverly Hills at the beginning of the first book.

I say read the books or buy them for a teen girl you know. It’s a great way to introduce SciFi to younger people without being too out there. Another plus is that it’s a series and introducing a series to a young reader is the best way to ensure that they continue reading. Simply put: if they love the characters, they will want to know what happens to them.

Remember, if this book interests you, check out the links below to experience Monster High for yourself.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Audio Books

*Side note: my brother Josh and I plan to be dressing up as Clawd and Clawdeen Wolf, the werewolf siblings at the high school, for Phoenix ComiCon next year. There is also a cartoon for Monster High on youtube, but be aware that it doesn’t follow the story line of the books AT ALL. Think of cartoon as more of an extended epilogue. I still think it’s kinda cute though. They have also released some full length animated features and a live action film is in the works (supposedly).

MIA: A Sad Story and Other Things

jacqui_monet
October 2, 2016

So it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted. I know, I suck.

As you know by day I’m an actress and I’ve started another school tour run which will transfer to a big playhouse in the middle of this month. The  three person show I’m in only rehearsed for 2 week before opening.  We perform anywhere from 10 to 15 times a week at 5 to 10 schools. My day goes a little like this: wake up early, meet the van, drive to the school, unload, build the set, perform, Q and A, tear down the set and drive to the next school. Blah, blah, blah. It’s tough on the body and the brain, but it’s totally worth it.

Last week The Husband and I had our own craziness at home. We got the keys to our new apartment (YAY!), started to move our stuff in (ugh) and last Sunday The Husband and I suffered a miscarriage.

It was scary, and painful and I spent time in the hospital. But, like they say, “the show mus go on”, and it did. Last week I performed 9 shows. It was really hard to be around children, but I did it. I only cried a few times while at the schools, but I made it through. His mom sent me beautiful flowers and gave me her medical wisdom the whole way through and my mother spent the weekend with us to help us during these transitions.

So, that my friends, is what I’ve been up to  these past couple of weeks.

awareness