Library Loot XIII

Did you play my Truth Game yet? Today's the last day to take a guess which two statements about me in my list of ten are true for a chance to win some fun prizes. You can find the game two posts down from this one and to play, just leave a guess. As long as you make a guess you're automatically entered for a chance to win a homemade book mark made by me. If you guess the correct two truths, you can win books or a gift card for coffee or tea. Go on, take a guess! But not before you check out my library loot this week.

Library Loot is a weekly blog event that encourages bloggers to share what books they borrowed from the library that week. To participate, simply make your Library Loot post on your blog and link it using the Mr. Linky link at Marg's blog Reading Adventures or Eva's blog A Striped Armchair. This week's link up is at Eva's.

Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder

This novel is a contemporary urban fantasy story about two sisters who betray the Fey Queen and are consequently cursed and exiled to live among humans. The sisters are separated, forbidden to see each other or face dire consequences, and communicate via letters. Each sister befriends a trouble mortal and through these mortals, they discover the fate of their kingdom lies in their hands.

After reading Thea's review at The Book Smugglers, my curiosity was piqued. When I saw the book come in on my library's new book list, I put myself on the hold list. KMont at Lurv a la Mode also recently reviewed the novel and the day after I read her review, the library called to tell me the book was ready for me at the front desk. I love when that happens. :)



The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison-Allen

I read and loved this author's first novel, Garden Spells last fall, so I knew I'd eventually pick up her second novel, The Sugar Queen. I'm looking forward to reading this book as I'm sure it's going to be equally charming, comforting and romantic as Garden Spells is.

My Soul To Save by Rachel Vincent
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

I grabbed this armful of young adult novels that I've been wanting to read for a while now, plus one 'impulse' choice. My Soul to Save and Ballad--both contemporary urban fantasy reads, are sequels to novels I read last year, and I'm looking forward to reading more from both of these worlds again. Jellicoe Road has been on my radar for quite some time now because of all of the stellar reviews it garnered. I'm looking forward to discovering its excellence for myself. Finally, Nothing But Ghosts is my 'impulse' YA choice. I haven't heard anything about this book, and while I think I have heard of the author before, I couldn't quite pinpoint from where. I read the inside flap and thought the story sounded promising, so I added it to my loot.

It seems my visits to the new non fiction shelves at my library are going to be a regular occurrence now. I admit that I very reluctantly returned The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook by Jaden Hair. I tried about a half dozen recipes with great results and wanted to make at least a dozen more. I did copy down several of the dessert and drink recipes that I plan to try before I borrow the cookbook again. This week, I borrowed two more cookbooks. Both are visually stimulating as well as appetite stimulating! I have to remember not to read through these two books when I'm hungry, because the recipes sound phenomenal! Not to mention the photos in Rustic Fruit Desserts. I want to try everything!

Clean Food by Terry Walters

Clean Food is an educational resource as much as it is a cookbook. The author writes about choosing foods that are seasonal and grown as close to you as possible, foods that are minimally or not processed at all, organic when possible, and how to prepare these foods for optimal nutrition. There are over 200 recipes in the book for dishes that use whole grains, legumes, vegetables, soy, nuts, seeds, fruit and sea vegetables and are organized by season. I'm fairly sure all recipes are vegan and dairy free.

Rustic Fruit Desserts by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson

The recipe collection within Rustic Fruit Desserts is pretty self explanatory based on the title. Lots of mouth watering recipes for pies, tarts, crumbles, buckles, cobblers, pandowdies and more--even a recipe or two for jam and ice cream. Just like in Clean Food, the recipes in this cookbook are also organized by season, which makes it easy to find a fruit dessert to make with whatever fruit you have available at home at the moment. I have several pears ready to be baked into a cobbler, I think. But as soon as rhubarb comes into season, which is perhaps barely two months from now where I live, I plan to bake either the Rhubarb Cream Cheese Pie with Fresh Strawberries or the Rhubarb Buckle with Ginger Crumb. Mmm. Or maybe the Rhubarb, Oat and Pecan Crumble. That's going to be a difficult decision. Good thing I have time to think about it. ;o)

Do you ever borrow cookbooks from your library?

Have you read any of the books from my fiction loot this week?