Tag: #bookblog

The Secret Life of a Book Blogger Tag

I saw The Secret Life of a Book Blogger tag on Adventures of a Bibliophile and knew I wanted to participate!  I love participating in tags and this was a fun one to fill out 🙂

How long have you been blogging?

10 Months

At what point do you think you’ll stop blogging?

I don’t ever want to stop!  It’s one of my most favorite hobbies I’ve ever had!  This is such a fun and creative outlet for me, I love it so much.  I’ve been reading other people’s blogs every single day since 2007 and I’ve always wanted to have one of my own.  Now is the time. 🙂

What is the best thing about blogging?

I’ve made some lovely new friends.  Blog readers, other bloggers, and authors!

What is the worst thing? What do you do to make it okay?

Absolutely nothing 🙂  This is my hobby….so absolutely zero pressure on me. I work on it when I want and create my content exactly how I want!

How long does it take you to make/find pictures to use?

It takes me a LONG time to do EVERYTHING for this blog, lol.  All of this is still so new to me therefore creating any type of content takes me quite a large amount of time.  I’m definitely getting better the more practice I get but I would NOT say that any of this has been (or currently is) easy for me, lol.  However, I’ve learned SO much along the way and am learning more each day which is definitely a bonus.  There is so much to learn when you create/maintain a blog!  I love learning new things and having this blog is such a great fit for me.

Who is your book crush?

Nobody!  My real life marriage is my own personal fairy tale…#cheesyandproud

What author would you like to have on your blog?

Liane Moriarty! I would ask her how she has the unique ability to write such amazing books and then be able to turn around and write such mediocre books, lol. (read more about my complicated thoughts on her HERE)

What do you wear when you write your blog posts?

I’m a stay at home mom…so 99% of the time I’m wearing the official stay at home mom uniform: black yoga pants. The best.

How long does it take you to prepare?

Oh jeez….see above.

How do you feel about the blogging community?

This was one of the unexpected surprises that I received when I started writing this blog.  I was (and continue to be) blown away by the kindness and generosity of the blogging community!  People have been so accepting, kind, and helpful to me.  I’m extraordinarily thankful!

What do you think one should do to create a successful blog?

Be willing to take risks, put yourself out there, and always be open to learning new things!

I nominate these wonderful bloggers to now participate in this tag:

Bookathon

Mrs. B’s Book Reviews

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

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4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

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7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

 

Let’s Chat: Read the Book First or Watch the Movie First?

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After I published my last post with my review of A Simple Favor and saying how I now have zero desire to watch the movie, it got me thinking about books I have read which also happen to have movie versions.

If I read a book that happens to have a movie version, I may or may not then decide to watch the film.  However, one thing that I will ALWAYS do after I finish reading the book is to immediately Google it and watch the movie trailer! Just seeing the casting choices and snippets 99 percent of the time is enough to fulfill my curiosity of how the movie was made (obviously I never do this before I finish reading the book as I avoid spoilers at all costs).

As I’ve mentioned in my list of 100 things that I love…I pretty much hate watching movies and will ALWAYS choose watching a tv show or reading a book for entertainment.  Books and tv trumps movies anytime 🙂

However, if I DO happen to watch the movie version first….there is NO WAY I will then go and read the book!  Never!  I would be much more inclined to watch the movie after reading the book than the other way around although truthfully I usually just do one or the other.

Not to mention (and this should be an obvious statement but I’ll make it anyway), 99 percent of the time the book is better (one of the only exceptions to this rule might be this book but I still haven’t actually seen the movie).  I do plan on doing an entire blog post on this topic soon 🙂

So how about you?  Do you typically read the book or watch the movie version first?  And if you do see the movie first…will you then go and read the book?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Book Review: A Simple Secret {Darcey Bell}

Do you remember a few weeks ago when I picked up 3 new (to me) books from a generous library donation?  Last week I decided to read one of them and it was AMAZING.  This book review was such an easy one to write because my feelings about this book were so clear cut.  I LOVED IT.  I was so impressed with this debut novel by Darcey Bell and I’m anxiously awaiting future works by this clearly gifted writer.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It starts with a simple favor—an ordinary kindness mothers do for one another. When her best friend, Emily, asks Stephanie to pick up her son Nicky after school, she happily says yes. Nicky and her son, Miles, are classmates and best friends, and the five-year-olds love being together—just like she and Emily. A widow and stay-at-home mommy blogger living in woodsy suburban Connecticut, Stephanie was lonely until she met Emily, a sophisticated PR executive whose job in Manhattan demands so much of her time.

But Emily doesn’t come back. She doesn’t answer calls or return texts. Stephanie knows something is terribly wrong—Emily would never leave Nicky, no matter what the police say. Terrified, she reaches out to her blog readers for help. She also reaches out to Emily’s husband, the handsome, reticent Sean, offering emotional support. It’s the least she can do for her best friend. Then, she and Sean receive shocking news. Emily is dead. The nightmare of her disappearance is over.

Or is it? Because soon, Stephanie will begin to see that nothing—not friendship, love, or even an ordinary favor—is as simple as it seems.

My Thoughts:

(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)

5 Stars

From page 1, I was hooked.  This book is AWESOME.  I read it in 3.5 days although if I had the time I could easily have knocked this one out all in one sitting.  There were twists and turns all throughout this story (some I saw coming, some I did not) that kept me interested until the very end.  I loved the writing style, I loved that there weren’t too many characters, I loved that the story wasn’t told from too many perspectives, I loved the twists,  I loved how utterly MESSED UP some of the parts were (I actually felt my eyes widen quite a few times while reading…the sign of an awesome book), I loved it all!

And obviously, I loved that Stephanie (one of the main characters) was a blogger 🙂

I posted about my love for this book on Instagram:

And in the true spirit of paying it forward, I held a giveaway on Facebook for my personal copy of this book to share with someone else in the community:

Congratulations Dianna!!!

As I was reading, I was told there was a movie version of this book starring Blake Lively (Love her, LOVED Gossip Girl) but I reused to watch the trailer as by now you know how I feel about spoilers 🙂  Within 5 minutes of finishing this book, I Googled the trailer…and was completely underwhelmed by what I saw.  Even from watching this 2 minute clip of the movie, I can already tell that there are WAY too many differences from the book!  I know people who loved the movie and people loved the book…but I’m curious as to how they compare.  Have any of you seen the movie AND read the book?  They look so completely different!  Based upon this trailer I have no desire to now watch the movie…

Here is the movie trailer:

Bottom Line:

LOVED.  THIS.  BOOK.  The movie looks to be waaaay too different (not in a good way) from the book!?!?  Why do movie studios do this?!?!  Don’t mess with a great thing!!!  Ugh.

Xo,

Jenny

Did you read this book?  Have you seen the movie?  What did you think?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

4 Books I Started But Didn’t Care To finish {Part 2}

**You can read 4 Books I Started But Didn’t Care to Finish HERE  and my requirements for deciding when not to finish reading a book I’ve started HERE.**

**This post contains affiliate links (both through the words as well as through the book cover pictures). I receive a small commission if you purchase through any of these links. I obviously wouldn’t recommend buying ANY of these books but if you do…I would be thankful if you could do it through my links, lol 😉**

The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Oh man did I HATE this book.  So many people love it, I was excited to read it, and I absolutely hated it.  Dark, awful, depressing, etc.  I got about 200 pages in before I officially called it quits.  WHY do people love this one so much?!?

Class Mom

Being that I’m the PTO President of my daughter’s school, I thought I would find this book hilarious.  Instead I just found it annoying.

Nineteen Minutes

I honestly don’t even remember details of this book.  I just remember starting it and putting it back down after only a few pages.  This is probably one of those books I should give a second chance, I’ve heard it’s actually really well written???

Pretty Ugly

I randomly stumbled upon this book on a bookshelf at my library and was so excited to read it!  The synopsis sounded great!  I immediately went to the “Quiet Reading Room” (aka my heaven), pulled a chair close to the fireplace, and started reading.  An hour later and a few chapters in, it was time for me to leave the library.  I took this book with me as I exited the room but instead of heading for the check out desk…I headed straight back and placed it on the shelf exactly where I had found it an hour prior.  Hated it.

Have you read any of these books?  Were you able to finish them?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!  What are other titles that you didn’t finish???

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

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2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

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4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

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7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

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#Givereading, What I’m Reading, Giveaway Winner

#Givereading Campaign

I love that I live in a town where promoting and encouraging reading is such a priority.  It was such a glorious surprise to walk past this beautiful display at our local park district building last week to promote the #givereading campaign:

I stood there forever and finally (happily) made my decision.  I walked away with this one…have any of you read it?  I think it sounds great!

I know nothing about it but it’s written by the same author who wrote Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows (affiliate) which has been on my to read list for months.

Thank you so much, Indian Trails Public Library!

What I’m Reading

I’m currently reading this book (affiliate) and I’m enjoying it!  I’m a huge fan of thrift shops, (as well as antique stores, flea markets, etc.)  so it’s fun for me to read about the inner workings of one!

Full review of this book and blog GIVEAWAY for it coming soon!  Stay tuned 🙂

Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All) Giveaway Winner:

Congratulations to Amy (I am 5’4. I would LOVE to add this book to my Social/Emotional curriculum in my first grade class. Perfect read aloud to use for differences and acceptance! I love it!!! Thanks for introducing me to it!!!)!  You won the giveaway!

Please email me (bookcoffeehappy@gmail.com) with your mailing address and the name(s) that you would written in the book’s dedication from the author.  Your copy of Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All)  (affiliate) will be mailed to you ASAP!

Thank you to everyone who entered!  If you didn’t win this one, I have some other fantastic giveaways coming to the blog SOON (see above picture for a spoiler of the next one)!

Happy Friday!  I hope you have a lovely weekend.  Anyone doing anything fun?  I will be spending today floating around in my most favorite pool with one of my most favorite friends.  I’ll post about it in my Instagram stories!

Xo,

Jenny

Book Review: How To Find Love In A Bookshop {Veronica Henry}

This book was sitting on a shelf at the library with the front cover facing outward. I walked past, saw the title, and that alone was enough to make me want to read more! A title which contains both the words love AND bookshop?!  Sign me up!  I’d never heard of this book or of this author…but I was intrigued enough to take it home with me and I’m so glad that I did.  I read it and now I have so many thoughts.  There were definitely parts of it that I LOVED…aaaaaaaand then there were parts of it that I didn’t.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The enchanting story of a bookshop, its grieving owner, a supportive literary community, and the extraordinary power of books to heal the heart

Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic little village, is a dream come true for book lovers–a cozy haven and welcoming getaway for the literary-minded locals. But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open after her beloved father’s death, and the temptation to sell is getting stronger. The property developers are circling, yet Emilia’s loyal customers have become like family, and she can’t imagine breaking the promise she made to her father to keep the store alive.

There’s Sarah, owner of the stately Peasebrook Manor, who has used the bookshop as an escape in the past few years, but it now seems there’s a very specific reason for all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who runs a pop-up restaurant for two in her tiny cottage–she has a crush on a man she met in the cookbook section, but can hardly dream of working up the courage to admit her true feelings.

Enter the world of Nightingale Books for a serving of romance, long-held secrets, and unexpected hopes for the future–and not just within the pages on the shelves. How to Find Love in a Bookshop is the delightful story of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has touched, and the books they all cherish.

My Thoughts:

(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)

3.5 Stars

I’m conflicted with my review of this book.  I loved it…truly!  I thought it was sweet, charming, heartwarming, and lovely.

But I just never felt like picking it up to read it.  Ever.

In all fairness, I started reading this book as soon as I finished this one.  Now THAT book was one that I couldn’t put down and I read it over the course of a few days.  The genres of these 2 books are so completely different but it’s hard to dive right into a book like this one after just finishing a book like that one.  I usually love switching genres before starting a new read but I think this might have just been too great of a switch.  Does that make sense?  Has this ever happened to you?

Of course this lovely book wasn’t suspenseful…it wasn’t supposed to be!  But after just finishing one which quite literally had me on the edge of my seat, this one just felt…a bit…too calm.

The sheer amount of characters in this book were insane.  There were WAY too many characters, WAY too many story lines, and WAY too much jumping around from one to the other!  Just as I was really starting to fall into a story line, the story lines would change and honestly many of them were predictable and unrealistic.  I also didn’t love the endings of more than 1 story line.

HOWEVER…

Despite my issues with this book, it truly is a gem. It’s sweet, touching, and overall just lovely. I teared up quite a few times while reading!

Nightingale Books sounds so charming! If that store were in my neighborhood I would be in there everyday. If you are a book lover like I am, hearing all about Nightingale Books will be your favorite part of this book.  In fact, the entire town of Peasebrook sounds just lovely!  I Googled it and learned that it’s not a real town.  I wish it were, I would so love to visit such a cute and special little corner of the world. 🙂

If you are looking for an easy, lighthearted book…this is a good one!

I truly wonder if my review would have been different had I not just finished such an intense psychological thriller right before I picked this one up?

Bottom Line:

It’s got some issues…but overall I truly did enjoy it!  Also, any book which focuses on an charming independent bookstore is absolutely a book worth reading.

Xo,

Jenny

Did you read this book?  What did you think?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

Printers Row Lit Fest 2019 Recap, Date Night With My Husband, and a VLOG!

I am an only child and have always loved spending time with myself.  I literally CRAVE alone time and savor it whenever I can carve even a tiny bit of time for myself.

This past weekend was the Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest (read more about this special event HERE) and obviously I had to attend.  Although it’s a very family friendly event, I had visions of myself aimlessly walking amongst the books, talking with authors and publishers, and just enjoying a day alone in the company of my fellow literary lovers.  I knew from the start that this was one event I was going to enjoy allllllll alone.

And that’s exactly what I did 🙂

I had posted live stories from the event throughout the day on Instagram but this one basically summed it all up in 15 seconds:

I had planned on attending the 2 day event on Sunday but a view of my weather app told me that the rain might make that a bit tricky.  So late Friday night I made the last minute snap decision to attend on Saturday and I’m so glad that I did.  The perfect weather made for a glorious day of walking around in the most beautiful city in the world.  I love you so much, Chicago.

My daughter had a birthday party, my son had a basketball class, and my husband took care of it all so that I could head downtown and enjoy some alone time.  I woke up bright and early on Saturday morning excited for my very own city adventure!  I packed myself a healthy lunch (I’m a healthy eater and usually end up packing my lunch ahead of time when I attend events like this where I know the food will most likely not be the healthiest of choices), grabbed my coffee, and drove straight to the city.

1 hour later (I can’t remember the last time I spent an hour in the car by myself and I sang at the top of my lungs the entire way.  Loved it.) and I was there!  I found a random parking lot, paid $25.00 to park my car, and immediately headed into the endless sea of literary heaven.  All alone.  So happy.

My favorite booth of the entire fair was the Open Books booth.  They had literally THOUSANDS of books on tables for sale for $2.00-$3.00!  There were SO many people walking and picking up books to buy and as books were picked up, they were immediately restocked with different titles by the nicest lady.  Her and I had the most lovely discussion about our favorite books!  She explained how she volunteers at the warehouse now that she is retired and I told her the thought of that is basically my version of heaven.  I didn’t catch her name but she promised to check out my blog…if you are reading this, a special hello to my new friend! I actually went back to that booth THREE separate times because the stock was literally changing every second!  THE.  BEST.

A highlight of the day was meeting Francie Arenson Dickman (read my review of her wonderful  book HERE).  She’s just as sweet and adorable as I imagined she would be.  I also loved stopping by the Midwest Writers Association/Windy City Historians tent and chatting with Cyndee Schaffer (read my review of her interesting book HERE).  Cyndee, it was so nice seeing you!  It was such fun for me to be at such a big event like this one and to personally know a few of the authors.

Throughout the day, I met such lovely authors, publishers, bookstore owners, and fellow book lovers like me.  Hello and welcome to all of my new blog readers!

There was a Marie Kondo consultant helping people tidy up their lives! Read my review of her life changing book HERE!

Everyone loves the Lit Fest. Apparently even dogs…in backpacks?!? I took this picture to show my kids and expected, they loved it 🙂

I’m a HUGE advocate of breastfeeding and this book made me smile. There really was something for everyone there on Saturday.

Here is a link to a news report from Saturday night which shows highlights from the day I attended. He said there were 100,000 people there!

https://cbsloc.al/2WmvTUM

After 3 hours of walking from booth to booth, eating my healthy turkey sandwich by a beautiful fountain, and reading the backs of more books that I would have thought humanly possible…I was on my way back to the suburbs.

My husband sent a text saying that my daughter was sleeping at her friend’s house, and I immediately texted him back suggesting he find someone to watch our son so him and I could have a date night!  A special thank you to my in-laws for the last minute babysitting so Jon and I could enjoy some time together.  A lovely ending to a lovely day. As I said on Instagram, “Last night’s dinner included 3 courses, high heels, and the only food I had to cut and 1 potty break I had to take were for myself.  Love date nights with my husband.”

And now that my glorious day is behind me, I have already been Googling trying to find the exact dates for next year’s Lit Fest.  Apparently they haven’t been announced yet but whenever that weekend in 2020 will be…you’ll know where to find me 🙂

Want to see what I came home with from the fest?  Here’s a quick VLOG:

What did you do this weekend?  I hope it was a fun one!  Any of you attend Lit Fest?

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

 

 

 

Weekend Plans: Printer’s Row Lit Fest

This weekend marks the 35th anniversary of the Printer’s Row Lit Fest and I can’t WAIT  to attend!

You can learn more about the Printer’s Row Lit Fest HERE.

The Printer’s Row Lit Fest prides itself on being the “largest free outdoor showcase in the Midwest” and it’s AWESOME.  On Sunday I will be taking myself on a special date downtown and will spend the day meeting authors, browsing books, listening to speakers, watching demonstrations, and so much more all in my very favorite city (Chicago).  I wonder what treasures I will come home with?!? As a bonus, the Midwest Writer’s Association and the Windy City Historians will have a tent and I’m excited to stop by and say hi (read about the first time I met these lovely groups of people HERE).

Check out this video to see Lit Fest highlights from 2 years ago:

The last time I attended the Printer’s Row Lit Fest was in 2004 and I absolutely loved it.  My best friend and I went specifically to listen to Julie Andrews speak about her new children’s book that had recently been released.  I am a HUGE Julie Andrews fan (The Sound of Music is hands down one of my all time favorite movies) and listening to her speak was pure magic.  I cried. 🙂 I’ll never forget the kids in the front row holding up a poster that read “Please be our nanny!”  So, so cute.

I will write a recap blog post all about the Printer’s Row Lit Fest once I’m back but if you would like to follow along on my adventure, I will be posting live to my Instagram stories throughout the day on Sunday!

I’m A Chef and My Kids Want Buttered Noodles Giveaway Winner:

Thank you to everyone who entered the I’m A Chef and My Kids Want Buttered Noodles Giveaway!

Congratulations Jana H (My absolute favorite meal is crab cakes! I’d love to check out some new recipes!)!  Please email me your mailing address to bookcoffeehappy@gmail.com!  Enjoy your new cookbook 🙂

If you didn’t win this one….fear not!  I have some wonderful giveaways scheduled throughout the summer.  Stay tuned 🙂

What are your plans this weekend?  Anything exciting?  Are any of you going to Lit Fest?  If you do and happen to see me there…please come say hi!  I’ll be the one aimlessly walking around with a gigantic smile on my face.  I’m so excited!

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

Cookbook Giveaway: I’m A Chef and my Kids Want Buttered Noodles {Heath Schecter}

I have such a fun book giveaway for you today…a cookbook!

This blog has awarded me with the unique opportunity to meet so many authors.  I’ve read such lovely books and have met such lovely people.  It has been an amazing experience, that’s for sure!

But today is a brand new experience for me.  Today, I get to review my FRIEND’S book!

I’ve known Heath for years.  His sister, Becca, has been a really close friend of mine since the day we met at overnight camp.  Her and I have been through it all…side ponytails, overalls, and our favorite show “My So-Called Life”…anyone else LOVE that show as much as her and I did?!?  Becca has the cutest family…check out and subscribe to their YouTube channel HERE!  Love you so much, Becca 🙂

Heath married Becca’s sister and we now live about 2 minutes from each other.  When he first wrote his cookbook back in 2017, my husband and I bought our copy immediately!  We love it!

Fun Fact: My husband is a HUGE fan of Heath’s cooking.  For Jon’s 40th birthday, I hired Heath to come to my house and cook a 5 course MEAT dinner for Jon and his best friend.  Both men declared that dinner that Heath cooked to be one of the best meals they have ever had.  A huge success!

You can see Heath in action in this link to an awesome news segment that he filmed a few months ago:

Midday Fix: Hangover Help Recipe from Chef Heath Schecter

I’m both honored and excited to share his awesome cookbook with all of you today!

The book itself is gorgeous.  It’s filled with beautiful, colorful pictures and has so many interesting and unique recipes.  It includes starters, soups & salads, main courses, sous vide cooking, desserts, sides, sauces, seasonings, and so much more!

This chef knows his stuff.  You should have smelled my kitchen when he came over to cook for Jon and his friend…DELICIOUS.

This book would make a perfect Father’s Day gift or any gift!  It’s a fantastic addition to any kitchen.  We love our copy and know that you will, too 🙂

A Conversation with Heath Schecter, in His Own Words:

How did you create the idea for your book?

When my photographer friend, Garry Rosenfeldt, asked to take chef pictures of me. When he did, one of the pictures looked like it would be a great photo for a book. Over the years, as a chef, I have created a lot of recipes. Over those years, my kids wouldn’t really eat most of the food I created. So, having this picture and all these recipes, I decided I’d write a cookbook. I needed a title and figured I’d create a title based off my experience of cooking all these dishes and my kids not wanting any of it, and just wanting buttered noodles, or chicken fingers, etc.

What audience would be most interested in your book?

I think the audience for my cookbook would be anyone that likes to cook. I tried to write the recipes so that anyone could reproduce them.

Where can your book be purchased?

You can find the book on Amazon

Any additional information that you would like to provide about you or your book:

This isn’t a cookbook filled with recipes for kids. These are a collection of recipes I have created over the years. It is filled with a bunch of different dishes that should satisfy all palates.

***GIVEAWAY DETAILS***

I have 1 autographed copy of I’m a Chef and My Kids Want Buttered Noodles to give away (US only for this giveaway)!

To be entered, please complete these 2 simple steps:

1. Make sure that you are following and/or subscribed to my blog

2. Leave a comment below describing your favorite meal!

**You must complete BOTH of these steps to be eligible for the giveaway and you must complete them here on my blog (not on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)**

Giveaway will close tomorrow (Thursday) at 4:00 pm CDT and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced in Friday’s blog post (6/7/19).

Make sure you check the blog on Friday to see if you’ve won (you will have 48 hours from the time I post the winner to email me your mailing address.  If I don’t hear from you within 48 hours, I will pick a new winner).

If you already follow and/or subscribe to my blog, you are still eligible…just leave a comment below to be entered 🙂

Good luck!  Can’t wait to read your comments!

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

My #1 Must Have Book Accessory

I am a true minimalist and hate owning unnecessary items (don’t even get me started on the baby industry and how many unnecessary things parents feel they need to own to care for their babies. So ridiculous).

When it comes to reading, I truly feel there are only 4 things one NEEDS to have to achieve the perfect reading experience.

1. A book (obvi)

2. A delicious cup of coffee

3. A delicious smelling candle

And….

4. A BOOKLIGHT.

Thank God for booklights.

At the end of a long day, relaxing in bed with a book is the perfect activity.  Reading calms me and helps to pave the way for a peaceful night of sleep.  Unfortunately, I am married to someone who cannot fall asleep with the light on (lame) and so booklights are an absolute necessity for me.

I am often the first person awake in my house long before the sun rises (yup…I’m often the last one to fall asleep and the first one to rise over here). Nothing better than waking up and reading a few chapters before the craziness of the day begins. Booklight to the rescue!

Whenever I go on vacation, my trusty booklight is high on my list of items to pack. I could never travel without it (apparently unless my destination is here where relaxing with a book is virtually impossible).  Late at night or first thing in the morning reading in the same hotel room as my sleeping family? Booklight for the win!

Here is my old, broken, and yet completely perfect and lovely booklight:

(Slooooowly still making my way through How to Find Love in a Bookshop.  My full review will be posted when I finally finish)!

The backing has long since broken off and the entire thing is currently being held together by painters tape. Adds to her charm 🙂

The one I have has led lights which are both a blessing and a curse. This baby is BRIGHT. As in, if it’s mistaking pointed at my sleeping husband he is immediately woken up (and momentarily blinded. Oops). It can truly light up our entire bedroom which is crazy…and yet amazing!

I bought mine on Amazon many years ago and it came in a pack of 4. I’m not sure why anybody would need 4 booklights and I gladly gave 2 of them away to 2 fellow bookloving friends of mine (Hi Julie and Beth!). I don’t believe the exact ones I bought are still available but here is one that looks awesome (AND you can apparently adjust the brightness level so you won’t momentarily blind your spouse!  Sorry Jon…)

Do you read with a booklight? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Be sure to check the blog on Wednesday…I’ve got a super fun (and different) giveaway for you!

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the image below to order this booklight through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo