Friday, December 7, 2012

Festive Reading With Book Blogger Hop

In keeping with my aim to get back into blog hop participation I am hopping along with the Book Blogger Hop created by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books.com. Book Blogger Hop is currently on the road and this week's hop is hosted by Julie at Angler's Rest.

I picked a good week to hop back into the Book Blogger Hop for this week's question is appropriate for the winter season. You will want to link up, hop along, and enjoy the festive reading!

This week's Book Blogger Hop Question:


We are well into the Festive season,
so what is your favourite festive reading?


My Festive Reading Recommendation:


This time last year I had the pleasure of reading Tumbleweed Christmas by Beverly Stowe McClure and immediately added it to my seasonal storytime favorites. I highly recommend you read my review of the book, then buy the book, and add it to your seasonal fare of festive reading. Tumbleweed Christmas is storytelling which exemplifies the true Spirit of Christmas for children young and old.



Saturday, November 24, 2012

Give Thanks for Book Bloggers #FF

Finding the Feature & Follow blog hop today seemed so appropriate for this following Thanksgiving weekend! I have been giving thanks for many blessings the past few days and now this new blog hop gives me reason to share a bit of that thankfulness.


I give thanks for the hosts of this book blogger hop:
 
 
 
This weeks Feature & Follow Question:
 
Are you thankful for a fellow blogger? Tell us about him or her.


 

I Follow and Feature: Sheila Deeth


I have been following Sheila Deeth's blog and writings for a few years now. I first ran across Sheila on the Gather.com community. Naturally, we are now hooked up via our blogs, Facebook, email, and best of all - via snailmail.

Best of all for me as I am fortunate enough to have recently received the latest book publication by Sheila Deeth: Divide by Zero. My review of this book will be coming soon!

Sheila accomplished something no other author has been able to do in that she managed to get me to read and review an eBook! Don't miss my review of Flower Child!

Hook up with this author, read her writings, and read her many beautifully written book reviews. I promise you will not be disappointed by this book blogger.


Are you hooked up with Feature & Follow?
Have you read Sheila Deeth's books?
Are you following Ruthi Reads?

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Toddler Time for Reading

My grandson is now two years old and when he comes to visit he always heads to my bookshelves looking for books I have designated he is allowed to "touch". Liam is so good about not messing with books on the shelf I have told him No to. (A good little boy just like his daddy was as a toddler.)

Liam really likes animal books with lots of pictures of critters in them. We have two that we read each time he is here, one with dogs and one of whales.



I have started collecting books for Liam. In fact, last week with a portion of earnings from my articles at Squidoo, I purchased a few books for Christmas gifts, including the book "Find My Friends" for Liam. I must have purchased the last one as the book is currently unavailable at Amazon.

Not to worry! I have plenty more books for infants, toddlers, and children to share with you. I have two collections of board books so far, with more to come. Take a look and see what books you can find to add to toddler time for reading in your home.



Fall Board Books for Children

A selection of board books filled with colorful autumn fare sure to delight even the youngest of readers.

What fabulous beginning books for wee bookworms!


Winter Board Books for Children

Continuing with the seasons, this is a collection of winter-themed board books.

What a wonderful way to warm the spirits of young and old with stories of the joy of the season - even playtime in the cold.


A young child's attention span is short, naturally, so we turn the pages quite quickly. Soon, Liam runs off to play with his trucks or insists on a game of chase with Grandma. Not to worry, he will return to the books in a little bit!

Do you have toddler time for reading at your house? What books can you recommend I share with my grandson?


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Your Vote Counts

Your VOTE counts! Not a thing political about this vote!

NOTE: You do not have to be a member of Squidoo to cast your vote today!

Here you will be voting on articles about gifts for book lovers! Visit them all and go shopping for your book lovin' friends, too!

Click to Vote Here: Squidoo Book Club
 

And, Yes! One of my articles is among the merry mix! My article is titled, Reading Chairs for Book Lovers and you can visit it and leave me a comment here:

 



Do you have a favorite reading chair?

 
UPDATE: I did not win the contest, but I wish to say Thank you! to all who cast a vote my way. And the good news is... although my Reading Chairs for Book Lovers page did not win the contest, it did receive the coveted Squidoo Purple Star! Come join us at Squidoo and join the Squidoo Book Club too!

Friday, October 19, 2012

MESH of Short Storytellers

MESH is a book of short stories by author Ken Coffman and Adina Pelle - a collaborative effort you will not want to miss reading.

Get an inside view of MESH and its authors on my article: MESH by Coffman and Pelle Book Review






Have you read publications by either or both of the MESH authors?

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Eat to Live so we can Live to Eat


Actually, it was my newfound friend and boss wanting to lose weight NOW that caused me to purchase the book EAT TO LIVE by author Joel Fuhrman, M.D. I, too, want to lose the weight I have gained the last few years and I want to feel healthier overall.

I have also shared EAT TO LIVE with a friend who recently suffered a stroke and has serious heart health issues. I do this in hopes that his future may be longer and some health issues may be reversed.




Shall we eat to live so we can live to eat?

 
 


When you read the guidelines for WoW Weekly 100 Words book blog hop, you will see that generally it is to share a 100-word excerpt from a book. This week I am doing something a little different. I am sharing 100 words about why I am reading a specific book. I invite you to blog 100 words from or about a book.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Veggie Rap and Roll Legend a Review of Revenge of the Vegetarian


Jim Tilberry and his sidekick, Patricia Van Winkle, are an up-and-coming legend—not of Rock and Roll—but of Veggie Rap and Roll. Before reading their collaborative effort, "Revenge of the Vegetarian," Led Zeppelin would be proud to be found doing the boogie woogie to the tune of the twelve-bar blues at an all-you-can-eat meat-lover’s feast.


"Revenge of the Vegetarian: A Humorous Spin on the World of Vegetarianism" is written on a comedic par with the self-deprecating gigs of the Carrot Top comedian. The comedy begins early on when Tilberry explains why he enlisted a psychic to co-author the book. In reality, he did not. He just wanted a “sidekick” not a “psychic” but being hard of hearing, he responded to a friend suggesting Van Winkle to fill the role and so he ended up with a psychic for a sidekick.


Van Winkle adds a whole lot of spice to “Revenge of the Vegetarian” with her ability to converse with dead vegetarians of legendary status—Ghandi, Hitler, and Socrates—to name a few. Sauce that up with Tilberry’s full-flavored writing style and you will find yourself ready to shake, rattle, and roll with laughter through the entire book.


Food For Thought: the insanity is occasionally topped with a taste of profanity, so you may not wish to leave this book of veggie hilarity lying around within the reach of wee vegan appetites.


Jim Tilberry and Patricia Van Winkle successfully poke fun at vegetarians, vegans, and at meat eaters. By now you should be feeling like a pig in a poke chomping at the bit to get yourself a copy of "Revenge of the Vegetarian -- A Humorous Spin on the World of Vegetarianism." To allay your carnivorous appetite for reading this vegetarian morsel just head to Amazon.com. 


After reading the Tilsberry and Van Winkle collaborative effort, "Revenge of the Vegetarian," no doubt you and Led Zeppelin would be proud to be found doing the boogie woogie—not to the twelve-bar blues—but to the tune of the salad bar blues.

----------

Don't miss the Revenge of the Vegetarian Review by .



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Book Blogger in the Spotlight

Head on over to my other blog today, as in my recent post I have a great book blogger in the spotlight. You will not be disappointed with his blog posts and articles at Squidoo, I promise you!

Meet Paul in Shares Short and Sweet for Mom.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Dirty Job But Somebody Has To Do It!

Although this week I finished the reading of "Horses Who Eat Potatoes: And Other Truer-than-life Stories of "The Other Family Doctor," I just have to share one more excerpt of the book with you before posting my full review this weekend.

Sharing 100 words from the chapter "When All Else Fails" page 53...






     He asked why he couldn't go with us in the back. I stuttered, not knowing how to explain a vaginal unltrasound to an eight-year-old.
     "She has to get an untrasound, " Justin said simply.
     "Oh." His face fell. "I'm sorry."
     "Why are you sorry?" I asked.
     "I'm sorry you have to get an arm stuck up your butt."
     Justin and I burst out laughing. Of course, the only ultrasounds he had ever seen done were on my patients, horses, who are always ultra sounded rectally. A dirty job, but a necessary one.
     My fertility doctor, when we told her, was thankful...

---------

Now, that is a kids say the darndest things moment!



Previously shared WoW 100 Words from this same book:
Horses Who Eat Potatoes


Read the guidelines for WoW Weekly 100 Words and hop along!



Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Firecracker Special for Authors!


In the top left sidebar you will notice I am now accepting book-related ad placement, which you can read about in my PR Policy. In honor of the fireworks of 4th of July, I am launching my advertising campaign here at Ruthi Reads with a...


Firecracker Special for Authors!
(July 2012 only)
Place your published book(s) in the left sidebar here at Ruthi Reads for $1.00 USD per book title!

You will need to email me the cover photo(s) and the purchase link to which you would like your ad linked. I will then reply to your email with the PayPal address to which you must send me payment. Once payment is received, your book cover will be resized to fit the sidebar and will be linked up for the month of July.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Baby Boomer Author and Review

Sometimes a book comes along that deserves more than just a review. When that happens I will generally head to my profile on the Squidoo platform to create and publish a lens (web page) for the book in hand.

Growing Up In Boom Times warranted more than a book review from me. That said, you can read all I have to say about this baby boomer gem of an author and book by visiting Growing Up In Boom Times by Author Chris Brockman.

I will, of course, be updating this lens frequently. In the meantime, I would appreciate your thoughts in the comment section here and/or on the lens itself.



Have you read the book



This being my newest Squidoo lens, I will be linking this post up with HOP and SQUIDOO over at Marsha's Spot. If you Squidoo, blog hop along with us!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Horse in Heat

I am almost finished with the reading of "Horses Who Eat Potatoes: And Other Truer-than-life Stories of "The Other Family Doctor" but thought I would share another excerpt with you before writing my book review. (Which should be posted over the weekend.)

Sharing 100 words from page 154 of the chapter "Beyond the Book":


"...There is an injection in horses that will bring them into "heat" so that they can be bred. It will also cause an early loss of a baby, if given in the first few weeks of a pregnancy.
     A "friend" of mine called and said her stallion had gotten loose with the neighbor's mare and she wanted me to come give this injection. As the story unfolded, I began to get the uneasy feeling that she was going to want me to come out "on the sly", without the mare owner's knowledge, to give the medication.
     I told her I..."




WHAT DO YOU THINK THE VET DID?
  • Did the mare receive the injection?
  • What would you do in this situation?
  • Did you know there was an injection to bring a horse into heat?
  • How do you feel about the use of this medication for horses?

Previously shared WoW 100 Words from this same book:
Horses Who Eat Potatoes



Do you have an interesting book to share?

Check out the guidelines for WoW Weekly 100 Words and hop along!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Pearl of Wisdom

Today I wish to share a pearl of wisdom with you, found amid the re-reading of my favorite of the classics. There are ever so many gems penned within the covers of this book!

I share exactly 100 words from page 37 of my faded and worn copy of The Pearl by author John Steinbeck.





"...But now, by saying what his future was going to be like, he had created it. A plan is a real thing, and things projected are experienced. A plan once made and visualized becomes a reality along with other realities—never to be destroyed but easily to be attacked. Thus Kino's future was real, but having set it up, other forces were set up to destroy it, and this he knew, so that he had to prepare to meet the attack. And this Kino knew also—that the gods do not love men's plans, and the gods do not love success unless..."



Published in 1947; still, Steinbeck's words of wisdom ring timeless and true.

What is your favorite book title of the classics?


Take a few minutes and write up your blog post and share 100 words of your favorite classic, or of any book you wish to share. Then, return here and link your post up with the WoW Weekly 100 Words blog hop!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Horses Who Eat Potatoes

Horses who eat what? Yes, I said potatoes! Well, I did not say it per se, Corry Key, D.V.M., said it. Key is the author of Horses Who Eat Potatoes: And Other Truer-than-life Stories of "The Other Family Doctor".

It is with great pleasure that I share with you a few words from this treasure of a book. I will be sharing 100 words from page 22, midway through the book's title story of veterinarian Key's collection of stories...



     "Oh, she don't kick," I heard her owner say.
     (Now, if I had a dollar for all the times I heard that lie over the years, I'd be a rich woman today.)
     I reached for the tail again, slower this time, and both hind feet came up, not in warning, missing my right knee by a fraction of an inch. I managed to see that the mare had a tear in her perineal area (the area just under her tail) from the birth of her foal. Well, I thought, there is no way I can work on this horse in these conditions!




Sounds like the same old "My dog doesn't bite." tale many of us have heard a time or two!

As a registered book reviewer for Reviews4Reviews.com, I received a free copy of Horses Who Eat Potatoes from the author in exchange for my honest review and while the full book review will be forthcoming, I did want to share a bit of my reading of the book with you.



Do you have a great read to share? Check out the guidelines for WoW Weekly 100 Words and hop along!






Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Books Make Great Tips

Previously a server I often received some great tips; some monetary and some worth more than mere money. A few months ago one of my guests was reading while eating his breakfast. Of course, I inquired about the book he was reading and friendly conversation ensued. When the guest left and I was clearing the table I was delighted to see he had left me the book with a couple of dollars tucked inside like a bookmarker. Books make great tips! (Especially when the bookmarker is cash!)

Sharing 100 words from Another Valley, Another Victory, Another Love by Valetta Steel Crumley, page 151 of chapter 8, "Reasons of the Heart":

Another Valley, Another Victory, Another Love
"As I share my testimony in churces, homes, and at women's retreats, the question I am most often asked is: "After all you've been through--losing a child to leukemia, a husband to Hodgkin's disease, the sudden death of your two remaining children in an automobile accident--after all that, how can you retain your faith in a loving God? How can you go on smiling, praising the Lord, talking about his goodness? It doesn't make sense."
I answer that nowhere in Scripture are we told that because we are God's children we will be spared the harsh realities of human life."

-----

What are your thoughts on belief or non-belief of God as pertains specifically to the topic of the suffering of humanity? Do life happenings test your faith in a god?

-----

Do you think books make great tips? Have you ever given or received a book as a tip for sevice?

-----



WoW Weekly 100 Words is a blog hop for book lovers; readers and authors. Blog hop along--share 100 words from a good book each week.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Sixty-Six Days with my Uncle the Author

Today it is an honor for me to share a book with you authored by my Uncle Lloyd. First, let me tell you a bit about Uncle Lloyd, the man. We will get to the book a little later.

Uncle Lloyd was married to my mother's sister, Mary, until she died from cancer. He has since remarried to a lovely lady. Lloyd and Mary had two sons, my cousins Johnny and Bobby.

When I was a young girl, I recall my Uncle Lloyd being sick, tuberculosis I think, but do not quote me on that being fact. I do recall when we would visit that my uncle never hugged or touched us and my aunt was a "germ freak."

Thus, my favorite memory of my Uncle Lloyd was one from a family reunion in 1999. This reunion was held on my Aunt Helen's 5-acre piece of land and 76 members of the clan were present, many of us camping out on the property for more than a week. We are pretty much a rowdy bunch of hillbillies, so we were drinking, smoking, really partying it up. I will never forget someone yelling, "Here comes Uncle Lloyd!" It was as though an alarm had been sounded! Everyone dashed to hide their beer cans and cigarettes and put on their shirts, ha! Not me! I may be a "heathen" but you can take me or leave me, just the way that I am!

Back to that special moment ... I walked right up to my Uncle Lloyd and hugged him ... And HE hugged ME right back! I think that is the only time my Uncle Lloyd ever hugged me and I will never forget that he did. And I will never forget that he stayed all day and late into the night out there in the country with his family, right down to the earth with the rest of us!

My Uncle Lloyd is a retired pastor in the Church of the Nazarene here in Ohio. He has authored several books.

Today I share from my signed copy of Sixty-Six Days Sixty-Six Books: A Brief Message From Each Book of the Bible, by author Lloyd D, Grimm, JR.

100 words from The Proof of Our Love, page 89. Background Scripture: St. Mark 5:1-20:


"We are prone to take for granted that most men know the basics of our Christian faith, but it is not so, even here in America. Years ago in one of my pastorates, I contacted a young boy on the street and invited him to our church. After talking awhile, he asked me, "What time does the show start?" But there are many adults groping in darkness, who are just as ignorant of the soul saving message we have to offer.

Again I say the greatest proof of our love for Jesus is to obey Him by heeding His..."



Purchase Sixty-Six Days Sixty-Six Books used via Amazon or direct from the publisher at Schmul Publishing Co.

I trust you have enjoyed this week's segment of WoW Weekly 100 Words. I invite you to blog hop along and share 100 words from a book on your reading list too!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Top Dove Hunting Trips and Tips

Is dove hunting out-of-season or banned in your neck of the woods? I suggest dove hunting in Argentina as an alternative--where shooting doves in flight is a year round adventure. No limit to season and no bag limit, for doves are in abundance in Cordoba, Argentina.







Whet your wing-shooting appetite on this dove in its winged beauty.







Tips for your Dove Hunting Trip
  • Know the flight patterns from roost to feeding fields to watering holes. Your Argentina dove hunting guides will already know and share this information with you.
  • Aim is important; follow-through is essential. Swing to follow the flight direction of the bird.
  • Dress the part! Wear proper dove hunting clothing and you will be dressed for a successful hunt. (Do not forget your camera to get a shot of you as well as your birds.)

Top Tip: Visit the dove hunting blog for more tips to make your dove hunting trip to Argentina a unique experience, one you will never forget.




After a successful day of dove hunting you will have bagged enough dove for a feast for your hunting party. Here is a favorite recipe of mine to be served with grilled corn-on-the-cob or your favorite side dish.




Grilled Dove Breast Shish Kabobs

  • Required: 4 - 8 dove breasts per person. (How hungry are you?)
  • Marinate dove meat for 1 hour in red wine vinegar + olive oil + chipotle powder. Save the marinade to brush the kabobs with during cooking.
  • Alternate on kabob skewers: dove breast, pear quarters, onion quarters, cherry tomatoes. Of course, if you have favorite fruits and vegetables, you may substitute.
  • Place on grill, baste with marinade. Grill for 5 minutes; turn, baste; grill another 5 minutes; turn and baste again and grill for another 5 minutes or until done.


Tip: Do not overcook. Dove is a dark meat and tends to dry when overcooked. Vegetables should have a tender but crisp texture. For more even and indirect cooking, use wood grill planks.




Top TipTake a trip to the Cordoba province for an unforgettable experience in dove hunting in Argentina. Stay at the Casa Rosada Lodge and your hosts will prepare a feast for you and serve it to you in style!





Wednesday, May 23, 2012

100 Words from the Rocking Chair Reader

I am long overdue sharing with you from The Rocking Chair Reader - Memories from the Attic: True Stories of Family Treasures Lost and Found.

I received this book in a giveaway via Gather.com ages ago during a live chat with author Trish Ayers.

Naturally, I wanted to win the book because it contained a short story written by author Trish Ayers, fellow writer friend.

Sharing from "Angela's Hidden Treasure" by Trish Ayers, page 132:



WE PASSED THE HOUSE before we saw the sign tacked to the cedar tree. We were house hunting, and pickings in our little town were mighty slim. Some months earlier, the area had been hit by a tornado which damaged more than 200 residences.

Seeing the words FOR SALE handwritten on that cardboard sign renewed our hope. We raced to our apartment to dial the phone number and within minutes were inside the white clapboard farmhouse.

The owner had been in the hospital for the past year and the house smelled of being closed up, but I saw past the smell...

----------

Let your imagination wander through the old farmhouse with the author in search of the hidden treasures. Better yet, purchase a copy of The Rocking Chair Reader: Memories from the Attic for yourself to read the rest of the story and many more gems hidden in the book's collection.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

100 Words: Mother, Wife, Myself

Spending a lot of my online time at Squidoo, I often run across authors new to me and new books to add to the collection on one of my many bookshelves. I really get excited when that new author is a writer of poetry.

That said, today I would like to introduce you to author Mimi Koay and her newly published book of poetry and prose "Mother, Wife, Myself: Poems about finding yourself after becoming a mother and wife."

I share with you now from my copy of the softback book, pages 14 and 15:

Time Waits For No Mom

"Why do you give up your career?"
"Don't you feel bored staying at home?"
To those nay Sayers, I can only say....

With kids, time lost can never be regained. Play, read and talk to your children TODAY while they still want you to!

MUMMY PLAY WITH ME

3 years old

Mummy, mummy, play with me
Not now hon, mummy's busy
Mummy, mummy, play with me
Mummy's sleeping, can't you see
Mummy, mummy, play with me!
Not again! Please let me be!

7 years old

Mummy, mummy, read with me
Not now hon, mummy's busy
Mummy's cooking...


Ah! In rhyme play the years stroll along! In a hurry to read the rest of this poem? Download the Kindle version of Mother, Wife, Myself.


You are invited to hop along in this WoW WEEKLY 100 WORDS blog hop. Share 100 words from a book on your bookshelf in a blog post and link up with us below!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Book Reviews for Swagbucks Book Club

Have you read a good book lately?
Would you like to share your review of the book?
Are you a member of the Swagbucks community?
Do you know about the Swagbucks Book Club?

Yes, I am full of questions for you. Ah, but I have some answers to the questions for you, too!

I am guessing (note I did not say assuming) you have read a book recently and would also guess that you would like to share your opinion of the book: good, bad, or indifferent. How about writing a book review for others as a preview to their next book selection?

If you are a member of the Swagbucks rewards program you can submit your book review to the Swagbucks Book Club. If your book review is posted in the official Swagbucks blog you will receive 250 swag bucks! Swag bucks can be accumulated and exchanged for paypal cash, gift cards, or for purchasing items from the Swag Store.

Not yet a member of Swagbucks?
Sign up now via my referral link.

Now that you're a member of Swagbucks, here's a couple of links of interest about the Swagbucks Book Club and how it works:
Do keep in mind that your book reviews must be original content that is not to be found anywhere else on the web.

Happy Reading and Reviewing!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Reading Is Fundamental Charity Drive

Each month, Swagbucks designates a charitable organization to which members of the Swag Nation (as we call ourselves) can donate their swag bucks. For example: last month's charity was the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with a total of 258,210 swag bucks donated by members of the community. That is approximately $2,000!

Swagbucks has chosen Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) as the charity for January 2012. I couldn't be happier about this choice for my swagbucks and have made my first donation for the month, to be followed by another each week throughout January.

You can read more about the Swagbucks gift of literacy and decide for yourself if you would like to make a donation that may instill a love of reading in a child.



If you are not yet a member of Swagbucks, I invite you to sign up now via my referral link.

Simply put--I Search and Earn with the Swagbucks toolbar. And, since I believe in tithing ten percent of my earnings, I donate a portion thereof.