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Hello, my name is Kelly and I welcome you to the Bookend Diaries book blog. I created this blog to share my own reviews of existing and new books, to discuss with other readers what we’re currently reading, update you on my book club picks, and of course, to ultimately support the work of the authors we all enjoy. I am addicted to reading and I thought this would be a great way to reach out to other readers who are as obsessed with books as I am.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas Break


Faith makes all things possible,
Hope makes all things work,
Love makes all things beautiful,
May you have all the three for this Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Simply Divine A Guide to Easy, Elegant and Affordable Entertainment by Lisa Vanderpump



*** courtesy of Running Press Books

Synopsis

Lisa Vanderpump has become the breakout star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Her unique mix of sparkling glamour and down-to-earth style has appealed to thousands of fans. On the show, viewers can see her hosting dinner parties and running her popular Beverly Hills restaurant Villa Blanca with what can best be termed “easy elegance.” Now Lisa shares her tips and tricks for creating the perfect gathering: whether you’re hosting a cozy winter dinner for six, throwing a poolside BBQ, or just hanging out with your closest friends, Lisa has just the menu and entertaining hints that will make it both simple AND divine.
Lisa Vanderpump is the witty and charming Brit on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She was born and raised in London, and lived in the South of France for a number of years before moving to California. She owns two restaurants: Villa Blanca, which has been called “the sexiest restaurant” in Beverly Hills and Sur in West Hollywood. She is known for her passion for style and entertaining, and writes a monthly column in Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine. Married to her husband Ken for almost 30 years, she has two grown children. The most famous member of her family is her pup Gigolo (Giggy), who has his own agent at Creative Arts Agency.

My Review Comments:

I received this book as a courtesy from the Publisher to review and it was my pleasure. I have to admit that I really didn’t know much about Lisa Vanderpump except, what I have seen of her in the reality tv show, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” After reading it I felt like she became like a close friend to me with all of her wit and tips and great advice that was sprinkled throughout this book. It was like taking a stroll along an English countryside with an old friend, I had no idea that she writes a column for, “The Beverly Hills Lifestyle Magazine”, and that she owned 26 restaurants. This is not just a book of how to entertain but, more like a lifestyle book which includes some wonderful recipes as well. I for one can’t wait to try, “Roast Turkey with Lattice Bacon and Pork and Walnut Stuffing.” The image of it is breathtaking and will be very impressive to serve to your guests. The only thing that I can say, as a negative is that I wish she would have included more images/pictures which is what would have taken this book over the top for me. The images/pictures that she did include are amazing. My hope is that she comes out with follow up books to this one in the near future. They will be treasured for years to come to her readers.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Canvas 4 Life - Product Review and Discount Code



When I was first contacted by Canvas 4 Life to do a review of one of their canvases, I pretty much jumped out of my seat with excitement! An opportunity to have a gorgeous print made out of one of my pictures that I have taken of a wonderful memory. Of course!

The only difficult part of the ordering process was trying to figure out which picture to choose! The website walks you through each step carefully, so at the end, the canvas print is *exactly* what you want. Each canvas is made from 100% cotton, has corner wedges and real artist stretcher bars. You have the ability to choose the depth of the frame as well as between three different coating choices. And not only do they have great prices, they also include FREE shipping, choice of coating, frame depth, image enhancing, gallery wrapping, red eye removal, instant online image quality detection checker, and a money back guarantee if you are unhappy.

The turn around time was really fast and I was notified as soon as it shipped! I was expecting to receive a pretty good product, but I was honestly blown away by the quality. Now I'm sure you're wondering where you can get your own beautiful canvas? Canvas 4 Life has been very generous and is offering my readers a 10% off coupon! All you have to do is go to Canvas 4 Life and enter the coupon code "bookend10" at checkout!

Link: http://www.canvas4life.com

This would make the *perfect* gift for anyone this upcoming holiday season!