Tag / food

by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Spotlight: Eat Happy Too

I’m thrilled to share this gorgeous cook book, Eat Happy Too, by Anna Vocino! Check out all 160+ of her delicious recipes!

High Res EH2 front coverEat Happy Too: 160+ New Gluten Free, Grain Free, Low Carb Recipes for a Joyful Life

Publication Date: September 17th. 2019

Genre: Cook Book/ Healthy Eating/ Recipes

Anna Vocino is back with Eat Happy Too: 160+ NEW delicious grain-free, gluten-free, low carb recipes that are also free of processed sugars. Get back to cooking and retrain your taste buds to love food again. You’ll be shocked at how good food can taste!

Eat Happy Too has 160 more starters, mains, sides, soups, casseroles, slow cooker AND Instant Pot recipes, plus breakfast and a chapter to learn how to make sauces and dressings from scratch and not be stuck buying chemical laden versions from the grocery store. There is also a desserts chapter which has some SPLURGE recipes made from the finest ingredients, so that when you have something to celebrate, you can do it with minimal metabolic effect on your body.

Half of the recipes have dairy, half are dairy free, and most of the recipes with dairy can be made dairy free for those who want to limit their dairy intake. The book ends with a few lower carb cocktail recipes for those who want to play mixologist.

Diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002, Anna Vocino struggled to manage the effects of autoimmune disease and middle age weight gain while still being able to eat delicious and satisfying foods. In 2012, she started podcasting with Vinnie Tortorich and changed her way of eating to not only be gluten free, but also grain and sugar free. Her first cookbook, Eat Happy, is an Amazon best seller, and her audience made it very clear MORE RECIPES, PLEASE!

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About the Author

Anna Vocino

Anna is the author of Eat Happy and Eat Happy Too. Her cookbooks are filled with gluten and grain free recipes that celebrate her half Southern, half Italian-girl heritage. She hopes you enjoy every tasty recipe from cover to cover.

Anna Vocino | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest| Tumblr| IMDb

Stay tuned, because Eat Happy Too will be going on tour this February!

Book Blitz Organized By:

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R&R Book Tours

I did my first ever reading vlog! It was a lot of fun to make and it was kind of like a review as I read the book. It was also my first ever Brandon Sanderson book!

One of my authors that I follow regularly, Lucia Mann, has put out another book called Endless Incarceration Sorrows. It will be releasing in January 2020 so keep an eye out for it!

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Review: Sculpt Yourself

I read a book by a YouTuber! Yes, my friend Savy Leiser wrote a book called Sculpt Yourself and it was the last book I read to complete my NEWTS during the magical readathon! Man oh man can this girl write!

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Synopsis: LIPAMORPH is the drug that lets you sculpt yourself. It’s how so many female celebrities in the mid-2010s remained so thin while having such large butts. It loosens up the fat in your body, allowing you to choose your own proportions. And it’s just been legalized for sale in Chicago.

AMBER is a 24-year-old tech support worker by day, gay feminist blogger (and bad-sitcom aficionado) by night. She’s been vocal about her disapproval of Lipamorph from the beginning, seeing it as another tool to reinforce patriarchal beauty standards; but as Lipamorph becomes more common, Amber’s dissenting voice starts to matter less and less.

JUDIE is Amber’s younger sister, and seemingly her complete opposite; she loves pop music, pretty latte art, and dating men. After struggling with hating her body for most of her life, Judie has become borderline reliant on Lipamorph for self-confidence, much to Amber’s dismay.

KELLY is an artist currently working for the marketing firm on the floor above Amber’s office. She’s whip-smart, proudly bisexual, and strikingly beautiful…and she’s the woman Amber’s fallen in love with.

I liked this book quite a bit. Savy has this way of writing dialogue that just flows so well. She can carry a story on dialogue alone because all of her characters interacted in fun and exciting ways. They all had different ways of dealing with their personal issues and that is why it was nice that she split the story into different perspectives so you got to understand where everyone was coming from when they had their opinions.

The Lipamorph drug was cool. Who would have thought up a drug that lets you mold your body ft around your body to wherever you want it. I can definitely see this being a dangerous thing if it were real. All the characters had very different opinions on it and it was very enlightening to see some fight against it while others embraced it.

I love that there is so much LBGTQ+ rep in this book. It is seen in a positive light too because it shows some unhealthy relationships and talks about certain expectations that people in the community sometimes have to deal with that can get overlooked very easily.

I love the whole “Fight the system” vibe Amber brings to the table. She really fights for what she believes in and cares about people.

Plus, there are so many fun foods that the characters eat that I have never tried before but am curious to now (like BBQ nachos).

Overall, it was an entertaining book with what I believe was a positive message and you should give it a try!

Book Rating: 3.5/5

You can buy this book on Amazon and find it on Goodreads!

Disclaimer: I was given a free ebook from the author to read and give my honest review.

I finally finished the NEWTS and did my wrap up where I discussed all the books I read over the month of August (spoiler: I read 9 books).

ACTUAL NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS PRODUCTS, INC.

by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Top 5 Book Box Subscriptions

Hey bookworms, it has been a while since I have just sat down and taken the time to appreciate books and all they have to offer. Most of my posts involve a review or a highlight of some sort but today I wanted to talk about Book Subscription Boxes and where to find them. I believe they are becoming a huge part of the bookish community as they give us (the readers) a monthly dose of some good (or bad, depending on how you feel about it) literature with some fun/exciting book themed goodies.

I personally have collaborated with one and I have observed many others through my Instagram page and Twitter feed so I will list the ones that appeal to me and include links to their websites so you can check them out for yourself!

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Book Box Love was created to enjoy, celebrate and support incredible Canadian talent. I personally acquired a sponsored box from this company and only had good things to say about it. Each box includes:

  • The best new books by Canadian authors!
  • Hand-made, exclusive bookish gifts by local artists.
  • Treats.  Because you deserve it.

A monthly box goes for about $60 which I realize is a little expensive but it is because all the products come hand made from local Canadian vendors. We are giving back to Canada by supporting this box. *Insert Canadian Mountie chant for more maple syrup and poutine*.

2. LitJoy Crate

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LitJoy Crate is a simple, creative, and easy way to read more and more often! They offer products that create lifelong readers and foster a love of literature! Each box includes:

  • Receive a new release YA novel and 2-3 items directly related to the book every month
  • Perfect for any reader age 14 and up
  • Ships on the 20th of each month (except in December it ships on the 10th)

They have 2 options for this. One is the full bundle which costs $29.99 and then there is the box with just the YA book in it and this one is $18.99.

3. SweetReads Box

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Pour yourself a cup of tea, cozy up into your favorite chair and get ready for some well deserved ME time. This is another Canadian book box subscription. Each box includes:

  • Bestselling Fiction Novel
  • Beautifully Crafted Items
  • Artisan Drinks
  • Gourmet Goodies

Each of these boxes has quite a bit in them which is why this one goes for $58.99 + shipping. It is a little more expensive but well worth the cost for the value of items in it each month.

4. Unplugged Book Box

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Unplugged Book Box is a seasonally inspired monthly subscription box featuring one hardcover NEW RELEASE Young Adult or New Adult book (published within 2 months of shipment) + 4 to 6 bookish self-care goodies that help you focus on you.

Each of these boxes goes for $34.99 if you choose month to month. They have other options for 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month payments.

5. Totally Booked Crate

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They are always seeking to create the BEST box every month and are committed to offering you a great read. Their team will do all the necessary research or even read the book, to carefully select the one special book they know you, their reader, will enjoy and love. And they are dedicated to providing you with the perfect crate made with high-quality materials. Each box contains:

  • A new release book
  • 3-5 curated items
  • Book swag

This box goes for $29.99 a month. It also has the option for longer commitments.

And that wraps up my list! Let me know in the comments below if you agree and what you think! If you have any other recommendations, let me know!

There is a new book on the block that I am promoting. This one is called Justice Gone by Nick Lombardi. Justice Gone is the first in a series of psychological thrillers involving Dr Tessa Thorpe, wrapped in the divisive issues of modern American society including police brutality and disenfranchised returning war veterans. You can get it here: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1785358766/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_ca-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=330641

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Review: A Vegan’s Guide to Plant Homicide

Where my vegans at? *insert Happy and you know it tune* If you love eating veggies and want new recipes, clap your hands! CLAP CLAP.

A friend of mine published a book called A Vegans Guide to Plant Homicide. Her name is Brett and she is also a blogger. Her blog is called Wine and Misadventures. I believe she also runs a podcast which you can find on her website.

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Her book was published in August and has an assortment of vegan recipes that look delicious. I am not vegan myself but I love tofu and find I don’t eat that much meat as is. Trying new recipes is fun for me and this cookbook gives you recipes with an entertainment aspect to it. You feel like she is there with you, cooking and having a great time when you follow the recipes in this book.

My personal favorite recipe in this book is the Mixed Berry Bliss Smoothie. Whenever I open a recipe book, I always flip through to the smoothies and milkshakes page. Sweet liquid treats are a true desire of mine. If you don’t believe me, just wait outside of a Booster Juice and I’m sure we will run into each other.

And there are are fun quotes to inspire you as you go through the book trying out all the healthy, flavourful recipes. I would strongly recommend buying this book if you are vegan and want some help planning some delicious meals. Even if you aren’t vegan, give it a whirl. You will not be disappointed.

Book Rating: 5/5

You can buy the book at this link: Www.blurb.ca/user/brettlarabie.

Disclaimer: This book was sent to us in e-book format to read, try the recipes, and give an honest review.


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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s the holiday season in Canada where we eat our fill of turkey and drink our fill of wine, spirits or in my case … beer :). I love this weekend in October because I get to see my family and enjoy some nice rest and relaxation in the home that I grew up in. Usually, we go for a small hike or walk through the woods but the weather has been pretty drizzly so far this weekend so it has been spent inside with board games and the smells of delicious food filling the house.

I have been marking papers and reading a little bit but mainly catching up with old friends. I hope everyone out there is having a good Thanksgiving and are thankful for the important people they have in their lives. This applies to you too my American friends but in November 😛

I am thankful for my family and the friends that are pretty much family to me. For the people that just bring a smile to my face. And for all those books out there still waiting to be read 🙂

So with that, Happy Thanksgiving! Tell me about your Thanksgiving traditions if you have any in the comments below.


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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Review: Easy Recipe Cookbooks

Thanks to Callisto Media Inc. for sending me copies of The Easy 5-Ingredient Ketogenic Diet Cookbook by Jen Fisch of ketointhecity.com and The Complete Convection Oven Cookbook by Robin Donovan for review.

These cookbooks are fantastic! I made so many of the recipes from them and they were all delicious and really easy to make. My favorite is the Almond Butter Smoothie. I tried it because I had never even heard of almond butter and it was sooo good. The best part is that is is very healthy for you too!

My second favorite recipe would have to be the Garlic Parmesan Salmon. I cooked dinner for my friend Elizabeth (she is a pescatarian) and we had this with garlic bread. It was so tasty!

All the recipes are very straightforward. No difficult tasks, they speak to you in human terms that everyone will understand and they are quick preparation meals. These cookbooks are perfect for anyone on a busy schedule that has little time to cook. You get the best of both worlds because you don’t spend that much time cooking and you still get a delicious dinner.

You can find these books on Amazon!

Book Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I was sent these books by Callisto Media Inc. to read, use and give an honest review.

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Bookworms!! Happy Holidays or whatever you prefer 🙂 I have been catching up on all my favourite Christmas traditions like watching White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life, reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and even going to a Christmas Eve service with Mom and Dad. Our tree looks really nice (Mom decorated it, I am at my parents for the holidays).

Tomorrow morning I will be on my way to Fort Frances to bring some Christmas Cheer to my good friend Jordan who had to work on Christmas. He is a paramedic so he has to make sure everyone else is being safe over the holidays and give up his own to do so. My flight is at 7am tomorrow but I have a new book to keep me entertained for the journey there and back on New Years Eve.

Also Max says Merry Christmas too. As you can see we both just got out of bed 😛

Well have a great Christmas Day everyone! Eat lots of turkey and drink lots of spirits and keep the good cheer a flowing.

Talk to you soon bookworms.