A Review of Healthy French Cuisine for less than $10 a day.

A Review of Healthy French Cuisine for less than $10 a day. By Chef Alain Braux C.E.P.C. C.M.B. B.S. Holistic Nutrition

Once again Chef Alain Braux has written a stunning book. More than just a cook book French Cuisine for less than $10 a day is a life style guide to help you save money, eat good tasty food but most of all to eat healthily. Alain accepts that in today´s busy world it is not always easy to purchase, prepare and cook the foods necessary to promote a healthy life style but he makes suggestions on how you can ease into a system to transform your eating habits. He gives hints and tips on buying food, what to look out for in the various food shops you’ll come across and suggests bulk buying when possible. He explains various methods of cooking to keep the food you’ve purchased at its best and most nutritional and why certain cooking methods, deep fat frying, grilling etc, etc is bad for the food and ultimately bad for you. Alain gives a lot of information about the food industry and the government´s part in that industry that will surprise and even shock you. He condemns all processed food because it reduces the nutritional value the processing causes. There are pages of other useful and interesting information surrounding every aspect of eating. Eat fresh and organic should be Alain’s motto. Finally there are of course pages of fine tasty recipes, simply explained so you can follow them with ease. We particularly enjoyed his Grilled Pork Chops in Mustard and Sage plus the Spicy Chicken with Basil, two fine recipes that tasted yummy and kept within the budget, you can’t say fairer than that. My rating 5 stars out of 5.

Click here to go to Alain Braux's website

Books and Novels to Read.com is back!!!!

After problems with my ISP here in Spain, BNR is back on line, hooray.

Whilst offline I've reviewed half a dozen books and those reviews will follow shortly. I´ve also finished the new search facility on the website so you can now search by title and author as well as by genre. I am adding books from Smashwords to the search facility as we speak, but it takes time.

One last thing, have a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year. Let us all hope that the politicians who run this world get some devine inspiration and sort out the mess they got us into in the first place.

All the very best - Terry

A Review of Roofman by John Pansini

A Review of Roofman By John Pansini

This is the true story of John Pansini a well qualified and professional librarian with a Masters Degree in Library Science, who happens to be working as a roof repairman nailing on shingles all day in New York. The language comes across very readily as that of a native New Yorker and adds to the story and enhances his description of this work. At times it is funny as the toils of a manual worker in the extremes of a New York summer and winter takes its toll. John also runs his own company Computerized Information Retrieval which does exactly what the name suggests. After placing an advert in the New York Times John is approached by a Russian, Mikhail Katkov, to get some information for him and there the whole story starts. A patriot I think, John approaches the FBI, this is the 1980s after all, the time of the cold war, and tells them about his Russian ´friend´. They apparently, reluctantly take an interest and the book covers the next four years of intrigue and mystery as the relationship between John, Mikhail and various Special Agents from the FBI develops. John has more than one motive for accepting the work from Mikhail, money, he´s a patriot, he really really enjoys the thought of being a spy and finally from the start he realises that there is a book and screenplay to be written from his experiences, hence this book, Roofman. The way things develop in the book have the air of authenticity about them. The relationship between the New Yorker and the Russian grows over time, at least that is what John believes. I gained the impression the author was being played from both sides, the Russian GRU officer and by the FBI, but he feels that he was in control. Near the end when John sees that his spying career is nearly over he makes a desperate attempt to prolong things by approaching the Customs Authorities, you just knew that wasn´t going to work. This was an enjoyable book to read and even though John Pansini claims it is a true story I am left with the tiny thought that he´s just playing me and the rest of his readers. It doesn´t matter if he is though, you´ll still relish reading the book with the air of reality running through it. Well done John a great read. BOOK DESCRIPTION The real world of espionage and counterespionage was not what I expected. An ordinary guy like me, a roofer with a Master's degree in Library Science and with no prior training in intelligence work, nothing in my imagination prepared me for what I faced during the sensitive time when the United States and the Soviet Union were at each others throats. This true story includes 63 minutes of taped conversations between me and my spy handlers. A reader will see and be part of the real world of spying: of talking to the Feds, the Russians, and always watching one's back. My rating 4 out of 5.

About Books and Novels to Read

Hello All

I´ve just completed a new search facility on the BNR website. You can now search by Author or Title as well as by genre. I´ve added all the print books and am about to start on the ebooks.

It is a long job so please be patient if your book doesn´t appear for a while, it will get there in the end.

By the way, I´ve had to purchase a new computer as my old one went bang during a thunder storm. I now have Windows 7, how posh is that? What a swizz though, as soon as I attached the machine to the internet it downloaded 89 updates from Microsoft about 550 Mbs of information. I did the uploads on my Grandson´s ADSL, at home on dial-up that would have taken about 48 hours solid.

Plus I had trouble uploading all my contacts into Windows Live Mail, something to do with my old Windows XP being in Spanish and Windows 7 is in English. I ended up doing this manually, so if I´ve lost anybody I´m sorry but I´m sure you will contact me eventually.

Have a really great day.

Best tregards - Terry

John Zunski

I've just added a blog John Zunski to my follow list. You can see his blog at John Zunski Blog it looks good, the content is different and you'll enjoy what John has to say. Have a look.

Here is what John had to say about the Big 6 publishing houses:-

Oct 19

Occupy The Big Six

6 Comments

For the past month, we’ve watched or participated in occupy movements across the United States. For those of us who are Indie Authors, I believe it’s time to take a page from the occupy movement’s playbook.  I’ll spare you the details of how the major publishing houses (The Big Six) have monopolized who reads what.
What I’m suggesting will not cost much time or money.  When  considering purchasing  your next read, I ask that you purchase from an Indie Author and spread the word using social media outlets.  Here’s an example:
(Tweet)
Occupy Big Six.  Discontents – @James Wallace Birch   #Occupy #OB6
Include Occupy Big Six, Title, and Author along with hash Tags #occupy and #OB6 and whatever tags you can fit.

If you believe in the democratization of publishing, I encourage you to participate. I believe this is a simple and effective  method to get the word out.  Let’s go viral.

GO FOR IT JOHN, I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

An interview with Lorhainne Eckhart author of The Choice

BNR - Hello Lorhainne it's great to talk to you today. I know our readers love to hear the views of different writers. LE: The Choice is the title of the latest novel. It is the first novel in a series titled Walk the Right Road. I struggled with the title for this novel. But it is about the making the right choice, whether to follow the path of destruction or walk the right road. My character in the novel struggles with her choices made. BNR - Have you tried getting your books published by the conventional route or did you go straight into self publishing? LE: My first novel is published through the Wild Rose Press. I chose to self-publish this novel due to changes in this industry. I worked with a Literary Agent and Editor prior to taking that step to self-publish. Because of the subject matter of the novel, I walked away from a publisher when they tried to change the context of the story. It has elements of romance and suspense, but it’s not a romance. BNR - How many books have you written, what are they and are they all in print or eBooks? LE: I have two published novels, both in eBook and print. The Captain’s Lady and The Choice. My third novel The Forgotten Child will be released November 1. BNR - Would you say your writing career has been successful, have you sold many books? LE: I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished in my writing career. Book sales have been better than what I expected.

BNR - How have you promoted your books, social media, advertising, book fairs? Which method of promotion would you say has been most successful? LE: Social Media has been my primary focus, although I did pursue print advertising, and features in the local newspaper. But as I was advised by other writers, print advertising and articles in the paper don’t hold a lot of weight in sales. Social Media and book blogs have been the most successful form of promotion. BNR - Do you have any new writing projects in the pipeline? LE: Actually I have two. The Forgotten Child, a contemporary romance, will be published November 1, 2011. And A Father’s Love, a young adult short story with illustrations by a local artist, will be published November 6, 2011.

BNR - What do you see in the future for the book industry? Will print books disappear as eBooks take over? LE: I don’t believe print books will disappear. But the numbers already reflect the steady rise in eBook sales. BNR - Which authors in particular are you influenced by and what genre do you enjoy reading? LE: There are a number of authors that have influenced me. Suzanne Brockmann, Karin Slaughter, and the talented authors at Orangeberry Book Collective. As far as genre, I read almost anything, but I gravitate toward crime fiction and romantic suspense. BNR - In a desert island disc scenario, which book would you want to have with you? LE: Gone with the Wind BNR - What age range are you in? LE: 40 - 50 BNR - Where were you born and where do you now call home, have you had much chance to travel? LE: I was born in Alberta, but home is now on Vancouver Island. No with children, travelling has taken a back burner. Maybe in the next few years, Ireland is at the top of my list to visit. BNR - Do you have any inspirational words for all your fellow self published authors? LE: Keep writing, and no matter what anyone says don’t give up. About Lorhainne Lorhainne Eckhart began her writing career in 2008, when she published her first novel, The Captain's Lady, a Contemporary Military Romance. Lorhainne Eckhart is a member of the RWA, Sisters in Crime and Victoria RWA. She makes her home on beautiful Vancouver Island, and lives in the country with her three children. The mother of a special needs child. And one of her greatest gifts was having to learn, organization, structure, and how to stay focused on what's really important in life. She lives by simple rules, the same she teaches her children. Stay honest, be impeccable with your word, never take advantage of anyone, and treat everyone with respect. She's an advocate for children with special needs. Passionate about preserving our environment, wildlife, and protecting what natural resources we have left, so there will be a future for our children. Lorhainne loves her garden, nature and all animals. When she isn't being a busy Mom, working on, and promoting her next novel, you'll find her horseback riding on the trails, working in the garden, or outside enjoying nature. Lorhainne is an avid reader and writer. She writes romantic suspense, but enjoys reading novels from all genres. Her latest novel, The Choice, Book One of Walk the Right Road Series, is a romantic, mystical suspense. And explores an issue most women have fallen victim to at one time in their life. The masterful predator who preys on vulnerable women, and clouds the invisible barrier between right and wrong. What would you do for someone you love? Reviews from Amazon "The first quality the reader will notice about this novel is the amount of events occurring and meshing together all at once. The reader will experience a drug bust, haughty and cruel drug lord, dirty cops, dark entities, etc... Marcie, the main character, is smack dab in the middle of all of this. Marcie is being utilized as a mule for her boyfriend, Dan, who turns out to have some magical persuasive powers of his own. Sam, an agent working to nab Dan and stop the operation, sees and instantly wants Marcie for himself. Marcie is one of those odd, but interesting characters who can see dead people. She is a sympathetic character while Sam is the strong, handsome hero. It doesn't take long for this story to get fairly steamy, there is a little bit of sex (for 18+ readers). The novel is predictable in many ways, but there are a few surprising twists thrown in. The ending is satisfying and expected. This novel is recommended for adult readers who enjoy contemporary romance." "I found this book to be a very interesting read. A bit of magic and romance as well as suspense thrown in. For people who are in to one, two or all three of these things, I would recommend this book. This is the first book I have read by Lorhainne Eckhart and I am hoping to read some more of hers." "I really enjoyed reading this book. The beginning really brought me in and I got attached to the characters easily. I thought the storyline was intriguing and it kept me guessing throughout the story. It was an overall good read, not one of my favorite books ever, but it was still worth the time to read and I would recommend reading it to anyone wanting a good read." "From the beginning, I was enthralled with the way the author wove the details of this story together. The incident where Marcie met Sam in New Orleans started a whole chain of events that kept the plot moving. Between witchcraft, police business, marijuana grow-ops and life on a small island, there was a lot going on all the time. The secondary characters were interesting and they added to the overall mystery and to the romance blooming between our hero and heroine. The villain was believable--sometimes slimy and mean-hearted and other times sweet like gooey candy that sticks to your teeth. He brought another level of interest to a complicated intrigue. This author has a wonderful talent of creating people with a depth of emotion, which makes them almost seem like friends rather than characters in a book. Her talent is revealed in lines such as - Her heart pounded when panic licked away her confidence, leaving her feeling shy and awkward. I enjoyed this tale very much and I'm looking forward to the next book from Ms. Eckhart." BNR: Thank you Lorainne that was an enjoyable and enlightening interview. BNR wishes you the best of luck for the future. Be sure to tell us about all your upcoming plans.

To buy a print copy of The Choice in U.S. Dollers click here.The Choice (Walk the Right Road, Book 1) To buy a print copy of The Choice in British Pounds click here.The Choice (Walk the Right Road Series, Book 1) To download an ebook copy of The Choice in U.S. Dollers click here.The Choice (Walk the Right Road, a romantic mystical suspense) To download an ebook copy of The Choice in British Pounds click here.The Choice (Walk the Right Road, a romantic mystical suspense) To go to Lorhainne's website at: CLICK HERE

An interview with Joseph Rinaldo author of Hazardous Choices

Hello Joseph and thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by Books and Novels to Read.com and taking the time to answer my questions. Are you ready, then we'll begin? BNR - What is the title of your latest books and where did the ideas for them spring from? JR: The title of my latest ebook is Hazardous Choices. The idea for it originally came to me simply because I live just outside Nashville, a city where gang violence is rampant and the "collateral damage" is monstrous. I wondered if a young man who was a member of such a gang could escape that life, and if so, how? BNR - Have you tried getting your books published by the conventional route or did you go straight into self publishing? JR: I tried for several years to get a book published going the traditional route. The only thing I accomplished by doing that was to make me think I would never be published and that I had wasted a lot of time writing books no one would ever read. Then, I discovered the wonderful world of self-publishing, and using Amazon's KDP program, I have begun releasing the books I've written. BNR - How many books have you written, what are they and are they all in print or eBooks? JR: I have written nine books so far, and I released one, A Spy At Home, last year. Sales have been slow but fairly steady. I am still promoting it as well as the new one, Hazardous Choices. These two are in ebook format only, and likely the others will be as well. I am addicted to my Kindle, and I see ereaders everywhere, so I am marketing my books that way, because I really feel that is the future of book-buying.

BNR - Would you say your writing career has been successful, have you sold many books? JR: That's a difficult question to answer, because I'm not sure what standard to measure the sale of my books by. I have sold books, I feel successful when I sell a book, but am I where I hope to be? No. My goal is to have one (or all) of my books turned into a blockbuster movie that earns millions and makes my name a household word!BNR - Wouldn't we all, although I just want to be rich not famous! BNR - How have you promoted your books, social media, advertising, book fairs? Which method of promotion would you say has been most successful? JR: I have promoted my books very heavily through social media, including soliciting reviews from bloggers and others to "get the word out there". I did try traditional advertising: print ads, FB ads, Google ads, and passing out bookmarks at book fairs and putting them in bookstores, but none of those methods brought me the recognition I've gotten by working social media. The important thing about using social media to promote a book is that it's practically a full-time job! You really have to devote time to it every day, and it's not easy to find that time. I am grateful for the many reviewers and bloggers who have read and reviewed my books, and for other authors who give support by encouraging me and by helping me promote my own work through such sites as Facebook and Twitter. Of course, I am happy to reciprocate.. BNR - Do you have any new writing projects in the pipeline? JR: Yes! I'm very excited about the next book I'm releasing (probably sometime early next year) called Mountain Meadows Aftermath. It's been re-read and revised by me and will very soon be in the hands of a professional editor. Because it is about the Mormon Church, I believe that the story will really resonate with readers in the period leading up to and including the presidential election. For a brief synopsis of the book pre-release, readers can go to my website, www.josephmrinaldo.com. BNR - What do you see in the future for the book industry? Will print books disappear as eBooks take over? JR: I wouldn't say that print books will disappear. There will, for at least the next several decades, be readers who prefer the feeling of holding an actual book in their hands. However, I do believe that as the number of younger, tech-savvy readers increases, ereaders will take over a huge portion of that market, and since I'm producing only ebooks, that suits me just fine! BNR - Which authors in particular are you influenced by and what genre do you enjoy reading? JR: I have read many books I enjoyed, but I wouldn't say that any other author has influenced me, other than the ones who have made millions off their books! That may sound mercenary, but I do want to be hugely successful with my books, and I do want to make enough money from them to offer my family the lifestyle they deserve. In saying that, I won't deny that I have truly enjoyed some books more than others. Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn is a perfect book, and I would recommend it to anyone. Likewise The Count of Monte Cristo, a classic by Alexandre Dumas. These are two print books I enjoyed very much. I read in a wide variety of genres, and I don't care about the label, only the product. It has been very difficult for me to classify my own books in a particular genre, and there is a tiny glimmer of hope in my heart that at some point, other than the broad division between fiction and nonfiction, the whole obsession with "genre" will disappear. BNR - In a desert island disc scenario, which book would you want to have with you? JR: Wow, that's a tough one. Probably The Count of Monte Cristo, because it would take me longer to read than many other books, and would keep my mind occupied. BNR - What age range are you in? JR: I am in my early forties. Interesting question. BNR - Where were you born and where do you now call home, have you had much chance to travel? JR: I was born in Danville, Illinois, lived most of my life in Kentucky, and now call Tennessee home. I attended The Ohio State University for undergraduate work and Western Kentucky University for graduate work. I traveled quite a bit when I was younger with my parents, but I haven't been outside the U.S. in many years. My family and I like to go south in the summer and enjoy the beach, and occasionally I'll travel out of state for a football or basketball game, but beyond that, I'm pretty happy just being home. BNR - Do you have any inspirational words for all your fellow self published authors? JR: I don't know how inspirational these words are, but I would tell all self-published authors that the most critical part of writing a book, in my opinion, is hiring a professional editor to "polish" the work you've done. Self-published books have gotten a bad rap because some authors think they can do all the revisions and editing themselves and get a clean manuscript. It just doesn't work that way. If you have written something, you are far too close to it to be objective, and it is almost impossible to see your own errors. Cost is always a factor, but if you expect people to pay you to read your books, you need to be sure they are as professionally prepared as possible. You don't like seeing mistakes in other people's books, so why would you think differently about your own? BNR: Joseph I've found your answers interesting.

To download an ebook copy of Hazardous Choices in U.S. Dollers click here.HAZARDOUS CHOICES To download an ebook copy of Hazardous Choices in British Pounds click here.HAZARDOUS CHOICES To go to Joseph's website: CLICK HERE