Literary Map of UK

In case you get lost the next time you are in England...

we have a winner

Congratulations to Emily F.

You are the winner of the Cupcake Chowder Valentines Giveaway! Please email me and let me know which romance novel you would like, and then check the mail next week for your prize.

Thank you again to everyone for your wonderful comments. I hope you all have a romantic February!

Sincerely,

Miss Megan

Valentines Romance Giveaway!

As everyone knows, February is the month for lovers, and what better way to get you in a romantic mood than doing a GIVEAWAY with some of my all-time favorite saucy romance novels! Please leave me a message in the comment section, and you will automatically be entered to win one of the following books of your choice:

Beauty and the Spy by Julie Anne LongJulie is my very favorite romance author, and while I have read all of her books, Beauty and the Spy is the best. I love her descriptive, quirky style, as well as her strong voice and unique character development. This is a sweet story about a young girl who loses everything, and in the process finds herself.

This Duchess of Mine by Eloisa James
Let's be honest - Eloisa James is probably the best romance author writing today. Not only are her books wonderful (I love her entire Duchess series) but she also moonlights as a Shakespeare professor and romance book reviewer. I love this poignant story about a married couple who don't fall in love until much later in their relationship.

Beauty Like the Night by Liz CarlyleLiz Carlyle is my go-to author when I'm in the mood for something a little darker and richer. Like James, her books are also very well written, yet have an effortless feel to them. Beauty Like the Night tells the story of two lovers who are reunited many years later after fate has separated them. I love this modern day Romeo & Juliet story, but this time the couple gets a happy ending!

The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth HoytHoyt is a fairly new writer to the romance genre, but her books are wonderfully descriptive, romantic, and sensual. I stumbled across The Serpent Prince by chance, and was pleasantly surprised by the story and main characters. This is one of my favorite books to read curled up with a blanket on a rainy day. A chance encounter in the woods brings the two main characters together in this sweet romantic mystery.

Someone To Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas
Lisa Kleypas is probably the most mainstream romance author I read, and its no surprise why. Her books are simple and straightforward, yet there is always an undeniable chemistry between the men and women in her stories. I have loved all of her books about the Bow Street Runners, but Someone To Watch Over Me is the best; it combines romance, mystery, and even a little suspense. I think I've read this book five or six times. Love!

*I will randomly select a winner in a few days. In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and happy reading!

*book reviews*

It's no secret that I love a good book, and I realized it's been a while since I posted a review on Cupcake Chowder! Part of the reason for this is because I post all of my book summaries on Goodreads.com. However, for all of my friends out there in blogger world who don't follow me on the Goodreads website, here are a few books I have enjoyed reading recently:

These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner I loved this story about a pioneer woman with spunk, grit, and determination, who carves a life for herself in the harsh Arizona Territories. Her relationship with a young cavalry officer is one of my favorite romances in recent memory. Definitely the best book I read in 2010!

Matched by Ally Condie I really liked this YA novel about a young girl named Cassia who is coming-of-age in a harsh dystopian society. Her story of intellectual awakening and first love is one that has been told before, but for some reason really resonated with me. A great read for teens and adults alike.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett Set in 1960's Mississippi, The Help follows the lives of three unique women, two of which are servants or "help" and the other is a young lady on the cusp of womanhood. I loved the themes of friendship, adversity, and personal triumph set against the backdrop of the civil rights era. I'm excited to see the movie version of The Help later this year!

What are some of your current favorite reads?

2010 reading list

2010 was the year that I decided to cut back a bit on my reading. Our family had a really full year - lots of traveling, busier weekly schedules, and more activities together, meant that I had to give up some of my precious reading time. However, I still read a lot of really great books! Here are a few of my favorites (to see my complete list, please join me at Goodreads.com).
Happy reading!

Nonfiction

3. Flower Fairies of the Autumn by Cicely Mary Barker
2. West From Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder
1. Walt Disney: Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler

Children's Lit
3. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
2. I Can't Said the Ant by Polly Cameron
1. Peter Pan by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

Teen Fiction
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
1. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Best Re-reads
4. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
3. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
2. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
1. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Favorite Fiction
3. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
1. These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Total pages read: 15,931
Total books read: 53

What were some of your favorite books from 2010?
Do you have any recommendations for my 2011 reading list?

Farm Chicks Christmas

Dear Santa-

This year I have been a very good girl.At the top of my wish list is a new Christmas book from the creators of one of my favorite websites, The Farm Chicks. It's chock full of crafts, recipes, stories and ideas to make your holidays special. This hostess with the mostess would be most grateful to find her very own copy of The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays under the tree. Thank you for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Miss Megan

2009 reading list

My faithful blog readers will know by now that most of the books on this list were not written in 2009, but are merely books that I read in 2009. Here are some of my absolute favorites. (To see my complete 2009 reading list, please join me at www.Goodreads.com). Happy reading!

Nonfiction

5. Men and Angels by James C. Christensen
4. Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez
3. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
1. The Sense & Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries by Emma Thompson
Children's Literature
4. Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant
3. Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness
2. Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming
1. When Royals Wore Ruffles by Chelsea McLarenTeen Fiction
3. Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsBest re-reads
4. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
3. Pagoo by Holling Clancy Holling
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Favorite Fiction
4. The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
3. Abram's Daughters series by Beverly Lewis
2. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
1. Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Total pages read: 19,310
Total books read: 68

What were some of your favorite books from 2009?
Do you have any recommendations for my 2010 reading list?

Twilight: Director's Notebook

Catherine Hardwicke is nothing, if not passionate about her movie Twilight. This behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world she helped to visually create was fascinating and informative. Hardwicke graciously shares with us her journey through the creative process, and all the complicated details that go into making a film.Filled with lots of gorgeous photos (Edward!), clever notes, storyboard sketches, and enough movie magic information and trivia to please even the most rabid Stephenie Meyer fan. This is one of the best companions to the Twilight series I have ever read!

2008 reading list

As a point of clarification, most of these books were not published in 2008, I merely read them during this year. Here is a list of some of my absolute favorites. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did! (To see my complete 2008 reading list, please join me at www.Goodreads.com).
Non-Fiction
3. Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama
2. Home by Julie Andrews
1. Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Children's Literature
3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin & Eric Carle
2. Who Will Comfort Toffle? by Tove Jansson
1. Forever Young by Bob Dylan & Paul RogersTeen Fiction
5. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
4. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
3. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
2. The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
1. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Adult Literature
5. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
4. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
3. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
2. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
1. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Total pages read: 19,373.

*What were some of your favorite books from 2008? Any recommendations for my 2009 reading list?

Simple Abundance

One of my all-time favorite books, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy isn't something you can pick up and read straight through. It's a collection of thoughts and insights for each day of the year (think of Gordon B. Hinckley's Stand A Little Taller).

I first heard of Irish author Sarah Ban Breathnach, when she promoted her self-help book Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self on the Oprah show. Intrigued, I bought myself a copy of Something More and read it in one day (which is another post for another time). However, Simple Abundance is a perfect gift, even for your friends who are self-proclaimed "non-readers". Each month begins with a theme, and ends with creative ideas to pass the time away. The daily thoughts are short and sweet, and I love that she uses lots of interesting quotes.

Ban Breathnach really gears her insights towards women, with a large emphasis on spirituality and homemaking. I keep my copy on the night table, and while I don't get to it all the time, it is a nice way to either start or end the day. (I also keep a stockpile in my gift drawer for girlfriends and family members). So, if you haven't received Simple Abundance from me yet, your copy is forthcoming... Happy reading!

The Ordinary Princess

I first read The Ordinary Princess many moons ago when I was just a small cupcake, and thought it was a very cute story. Now that I'm older and somewhat wiser, I have re-discovered this charming little fairy tale, and found that it is anything but ordinary...The Ordinary Princess tells the story of Princess Amy, who, at her christening, is given the gift of being "ordinary" by a cranky old fairy. Much to the chagrin of her parents the king and queen, Amy's gift comes to pass. Unlike her blond, beautiful sisters, Amy has mousy brown hair and *gasp* freckles! Heaven forbid! Instead of conforming to society, Amy runs away from home and has her own adventure in the forest. It is there that she finds true friends, true happiness, and a young man who appreciates her for exactly who she is...extra-ordinary. I love that Amy makes her own kind of happily ever after!With gorgeous illustrations by the author M.M. Kaye (The Far Pavillions), and a wonderful message about being yourself, The Ordinary Princess is sure to delight readers both young and old. "Lavender's blue, Rosemary's green, When you are King, I shall be Queen." Happy reading!

The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide

Attention Cupcake Chowder fans! Just when you think you can't handle any more Stephenie Meyer this year, she surprises us with yet another vampire book to obsess over. Mark your calendars girls, the encyclopedia is scheduled for release on December 30th, 2008. Merry Christmas and happy reading!

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The latest creation from magical muggle author J.K. Rowling is this stunning collectors edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Offered exclusively through Amazon.com, this leather-bound collector's copy is a costly $100, but is seemingly worth the price. With re-creations of Rowling's original hand-written introduction, as well as drawings and extensive notes taken by Professor Albus Dumbledore himself, the book looks to be a rare treat. Along with 5 short stories by the Bard himself, this handsome volume also includes background information on wizarding society and history; from the early muggle "witch hunts" to present-day dark arts and beyond. Beedle the Bard (to be released December 4, 2008) has jumped to the top of my "wish list", and would make a wonderful gift for your imaginative would-be-wizard or collector of rare and unique treasures. Happy reading!

Breaking Dawn

***Warning! This review contains spoilers!***

To say that I was conflicted about Stephenie Meyer's final installment in her vampire series (Breaking Dawn), is putting it mildly. Perhaps it is the fact that I feel I have been waiting for centuries to read the final chapter on Edward and Bella, and my expectations were a little high. Or maybe, I'm just willing to say what no one else who has read the novel is willing to say, that parts of this book were absolutely terrible.

If you need evidence, look no further than the first 350 pages (roughly). I felt that I was reading a cross between a bad episode of the Twilight Zone and Days of Our Lives. It was slow, trite, frustrating, and worse of all I felt that Ms. Meyer strayed too far from her original characters. This was not the Edward and Bella that I knew and loved! I cringed, I cried out, I even threw my book down several times in absolute horror. I honestly wondered what was going on in the author's head (ie: Edward loaning out Bella to Jacob on the weekends?). Ugh. But somewhere in the middle, something happened...The story picked up. The characters came back to life for me. Things got exciting again. It was like Stephenie Meyer came back from the dead, and reminded me of why I fell in love with this series in the first place. In fact the last 400 + pages seemed like a breeze, a Hawaiian vacation if you will, compared to the rest of the book. I was very pleased with the turn of events, and I felt that Ms. Meyer did a wonderful job tying together all the loose ends (ie: Jacob, Charlie, the Volturi, etc.). I loved Bella's transformation and early days as a vampire. I loved to see her relationship change with Jacob, and mature with Edward. I was thrilled to see the entire Cullen family come together to fight for what they believed in, and was happy that Bella finally felt that she belonged somewhere.

So, the bottom line? Taken as a whole, I would say this book is not my favorite. However, there were chapters and snippets that I absolutely loved, and will never forget. Breaking Dawn (the 2nd half) was a wonderful and satisfying end, to an already fantastic series. Happy reading!

P.S. I would love to hear all of your thoughts, opinions, likes, dislikes, rants, raves, and critiques. Feel free to disagree, agree and comment up a storm! -Miss Megan

temporarily closed

Dearest cupcakes-

This blog has been temporarily closed. (The owner has sequestered herself in her room to read Breaking Dawn.) Please check back in a few days. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Sincerely,

Miss Megan

Entertainment Weekly: The Twilight Saga

It seems I can't go very long between posts about the fabulous Stephenie Meyer or her vampire book, Twilight. Perhaps I'm more obsessed than I thought? Oh well. Yesterday I came home to find my husband holding aloft our latest copy of Entertainment Weekly. "Guess who is on the cover?" he smirked.

"Edward and Bella!" I shrieked. (You would think I was a 15 year old girl.) I grabbed the magazine from his hot little hands, and began to pour over every page, picture and anecdote. *sigh* I wasn't sure I could wait until August when the final book Breaking Dawn is released (let alone December for the Twilight movie premiere), but the Entertainment Weekly articles just might see me through. Grab a copy if you get the chance, or feel free to come to my house and read one of mine...I have two after all!

P.S. My favorite picture (above) from the EW article. What are your thoughts on the new Breaking Dawn book cover? I just read a romance novel about chess players, and now I'm pretty intrigued.

P.S.S. Don't forget to check out my newest feature on Cupcake Chowder; a countdown ticker to Breaking Dawn.

Betty Crocker's Boys & Girls Cookbook 1965

At last! I have been hunting and searching and digging for this sweet little book for many years now, and this weekend all of my patience and hard work were rewarded when I spotted it on a kitchen hutch at a local antique store. Imagine the sheer joy of looking up and seeing it sitting there, just waiting for Miss Megan to take it home to use and treasure and love! This particular cookbook is very special to me because my mom had one just like it when she was a little girl. She allowed us to use her copy as my sisters and I grew up, and unfortunately we "loved" it a little too much. Most of the pages tore out, and eventually the spine came apart. I did purchase a new copy for my mother several years ago, but until now hadn't been able to find one for myself (and I didn't want to pay $40 on e-Bay). I'm so happy to now have a copy of my own!This cookbook is a great way to get kids interested in helping in the kitchen. It features lots of prep ideas, as well as pictures to show children how to identify kitchen basics. However, my favorite feature are the quotes from "real kids" about their special recipes and handy cooking tips. For example: "I made one [cupcake] for Dad's birthday. It was spice cake with golden caramel frosting and Dad said it was keen." -Peter. "Frosting the sides is tricky, so I just frost the top. When I get more practice, I'll do the sides, too." -Ricky. "Kneading dough is just like playing with clay - only you can bake dough into something that's good to eat." -Michael.
Darling! I love the vintage illustrations and photos, easy-to-follow recipes, and simple ingredients that are comprehensible for children and parents alike. I'm always on the lookout for great cookbooks and recipes, so please feel free to leave me your favorites too. I can't wait to share this special cookbook with my little cupcake, and watch him discover all the joys to be found in the kitchen. "After all the recipes were tested, we had a wonderful party." -Becky.

Stephenie Meyer in Utah: Part II

A Cupcake Chowder exclusive!

Have you ever wondered what Stephenie Meyer is like?
The following footage is from Stephenie Meyer's book signing at Highland High, Utah. Spoiler alert: plot details are revealed from her latest publication, The Host, so please proceed with caution.
Happy viewing!

The Host

In Stephenie Meyer's latest romantic drama, we meet Wanderer, an alien who has just taken over the body of a human host. Although the human spirit inside the body is supposed to disappear, she persistently hounds Wanderer day and night with her thoughts. Frustrated and alone, Wanderer and Melanie (her human host) form an unlikely friendship and decide to strike out together in search of possible human survivors. Two of the humans who have gone into hiding are Melanie's brother Jamie, and her boyfriend Jared. Torn between love and life, Wanderer comes to understand what it means to be "human" and all the sorrow and sweetness that living on planet earth has to offer.

Stephenie Meyer once again proves herself the master of interpersonal relationships in this unique book. I love that she plays with our emotions as we alternately hate and love Wanderer. I am not especially a fan of the sci-fi genre, but I do love a good story, and on that count this book does not disappoint (I was up all hours of the night reading). If you liked her popular Twilight series, then I think you should give The Host a try. It was full of all the suspense, mystery, intrigue and of course romance that has made Stephenie Meyer an international bestseller. Happy reading!

Stephenie Meyer in Utah: Part I

A Cupcake Chowder exclusive!

Footage from Stephenie Meyer's book signing at Thanksgiving Point, Utah. Spoiler alert: plot details are revealed from her recent publication, The Host, as well as her popular Twilight series, so please proceed with caution.
Happy viewing!