Read with me (+ a giveaway)

I haven't done a read with me post in ages, but I have a perfect excuse for one today!

Who want's a new book!

Yup - Sadie Hoffmiller #10 is out!  This time, Sadie travels to Southern Utah and gets sucked into another mystery.  She kind of goes kicking and screaming into it, and then somehow actually gets asked by the police to help out this time!  It's a new experience

for sure.

It's another winner for Josi Kilpack.  A couple of plot points I saw coming, but by and large I was surprised over and over - especially at the "who-done-it" moment.  I loved it.

Now, let's talk recipes.  First off:

these are by my dad!  And  it's honestly some of the best dutch oven I've ever had. When we were testing these, a couple of the other bakers were surprised at them.  They felt that dutch oven should be more of just throw some stuff in and leave it alone.  And there's nothing wrong with doing that!  But with the extra steps that my dad always put in, it goes from "ho-hum" meal (which is what I usually think about dutch oven) to some of the BEST cooking I've ever eaten.

Oh, and the fudge is AWESOME.  And don't forget Cafe Rio's sweet pork with lime rice hmmmmm, I'm getting hungry just typing these up!

. . . . .Where was I? Oh yah - the give away!  I've got an autographed copy of Rocky Road to give away.  If you'd like to win, just leave a comment here with your favorite dessert (bonus points if you give me the recipe!). I'll take submissions until Thursday, September 5 at oh 8:00 pm, and then I'll announce the winner after that!

Read with me: 39 Clues

Many years ago I learned a very important lesson when it comes to reading: I’m MUCH happier finding a series after all the books have been published!

With that in mind, I held of reading 39 clues for a long time.  I knew I wanted to, but just put it in the back of my mind. Then Buddy received the first book as a prize.  And now the whole family wanted to read them.

I read all 10 books in less than 2 weeks. (ok, it was only 2 weeks because it took me  a week to check out the other 5. I could have had them done in one!)

I LOVED these books. Simple reading, to be sure, but I so enjoyed the crazy (true!) facts you learn along the way. I loved how the two kids stick together. I loved figuring out Nellie, finding good in strange places, rooting for them all. I'm excited to read the next ones!