TSS: Moving Week

Welcome to The Sunday Salon, a place for readers and book lovers to come together to escape into our books for a bit.  Each Sunday, we set aside some time to read and to discuss that reading, our reading throughout the past week, and other events in our lives.  Please join in the discussion here and take some time to visit some of the over 500 bloggers who participate.

The big news here is that it is moving week!  If you've read some of my recent Sunday Salon posts you might remember that we recently closed on our new house.  All of the work was finished up by Wednesday afternoon so now we can start moving our stuff in.  This weekend has been spent packing boxes, installing appliances, and cleaning up the new house.  Our apartment is full of boxes, both full and empty.  Every trip to the new house means another load moved from one place into the other.  Next weekend we plan to have movers come to take all the large furniture and any of the other boxes that are left.

All of our books are packed so the only reading I'll be doing this week is reading stories with my daughter.  I finally gave up on getting my book from the library because it had been on hold (and in transit) for probably three weeks with no sign of showing up in time for me to read it before moving.  At this point, I don't know when we will have out Internet turned off here or turned on at the new house.  All of this means the blog will be very quiet for a while - probably two weeks or more.  It will take us a bit of time to get everything settled in at the new house and get back into our routines.

I will be choosing the winner for my April giveaway this week but since those books got packed as well, it may take me some time to get the book mailed out.  I'm hoping to still do a May giveaway but it may go up a bit later in the month than usual.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser

Title:  The Lumby Lines
Author:  Gail Fraser
Publisher:  New American Library
Publication Date:  May 2007
Format:  Paperback, 336 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  Lumby (Book 1)

When Mark and Pam Walker discover burned out Montis Abbey while on vacation, they realize their dream of completely changing their lives could become reality if they restored Montis and turn it into an inn.  Little does the couple know what they are in for however as some of Lumby's residents are reluctant to welcome outsiders into the small town.  Mark and Pam forge ahead and bring their friend Brooke along to help research the original structure of the monastery so it can be restored with as much historical accuracy as possible.  The majority of the town slowly warms up to the couple with the main holdout being William Beezer.  Beezer seems to have ties to the monastery that no one fully realizes and he is also the owner of the town's only newspaper, The Lumby Lines.

I found The Lumby Lines to be an incredibly enjoyable story.  The characters were interesting and often quirky.  Although I only learned bits and pieces of some of their stories in this book, I can tell there is much more to discover.  I really enjoyed how Fraser wove in the description of the town, the sections of the newspaper, and the background on the characters right along with the main plot of restoring Montis Abbey.  Although it took me a little time to get used to the jumps between these ideas at the beginning of the book, once the story really took off things smoothed out.  The newspaper sections often added a bit of humor when the main characters were having a rough go of it.  The Lumby Lines was a quick, light read for me and I am really looking forward to continuing with the other books in the series and learning more about the residents and history of Lumby.

Here is a complete list of the books in the series in order:

1.  The Lumby Lines
2.  Stealing Lumby
3.  Lumby's Bounty
4.  The Promise of Lumby
5.  Lumby on the Air (coming later this year)

Thank you to Caitlin at FSB Associates for sending me a copy of The Lumby Lines for the purpose of providing my honest review.


Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb

Title:  The Tale of Halcyon Crane
Author:  Wendy Webb
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date:  March 30, 2010
Format:  Paperback, 352 pages
Age Group:  Adult

The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb is a modern ghost story filled with family secrets.  Hallie James receives a mysterious letter which turns her life upside down as it reveals that her mother, who she believed died when she was a child, was actually alive and only recently passed away.  Hallie discovers that her mother had believed that she and her father had died years before.  Now with the loss of her father, Hallie travels to Grand Manitou Island to learn about her childhood and family history.  The isolated islanders are not happy to see her and Hallie soon learns about a tragedy that occurred just before she and her father disappeared.  Strange things also begin happening in the house left to her by her mother.  With the help of Iris, the housekeeper, Hallie begins to lean about her family history and the strange secrets it contains.

Wendy Webb immediately captured my attention with her amazingly descriptive language.  I could envision exactly what Hallie was seeing, experiencing, and even feeling.  The description of the fog and the affect it had on Hallie was simply chilling and set the tone for the whole story to come.  I found myself paying attention to the specific words that Webb used while at the same time being completely caught up in the story.  It is a rare book that can impact me like that - generally if I'm entranced in the story I am not paying attention to the language or if I am noticing the language it means I am not fully engaged with the story.

The family history that Iris tells Hallie is certainly an unusual tale but it seems to fit the setting and time period.  One decision made in a time of desperation impacts all the generations to come.  It made me wonder how the story might continue if Hallie has children in the future or if her actions break the cycle for good.  I loved how the modern actions of the islanders and the family history are woven together even without people understanding how the past has changed their present.

I would love to give this book a five star rating but there were a couple of odd things that didn't quite fit to me.  The first even Hallie recognizes - Why are the islanders so hostile toward her?  She was very young when her father faked their deaths and, although the event that her reappearance brings back into the collective mind of the residents is horrible, she should not be blamed for that event.  While Hallie actually wonders about this at one point in the book I don't think the question is ever really resolved.  One particular character seems to me to almost be an afterthought or just kind of extra.  Although Jonah's story is explained, I think that side story was unnecessary and he probably could have been left out entirely.  There was also one section of the book which gave a big buildup and then I felt the actual event didn't warrant that much drama beforehand.

In spite of these small inconsistencies, I enjoyed The Tale of Halcyon Crane tremendously.  It was very different from the other books I have been reading lately.  I think it only took me about two days to read and most of the books I've read lately have taken a full week or more.  I really didn't want to put this one down because I wanted to know what was going on at Hallie's island house but then I was sad when the story ended because it had captured all of my attention.

I received an Advance Reader's Edition of The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb from the Early Reviewer Program at LibraryThing for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox

Title:  Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker
Author:  Emma Hox
Publisher:  Rhemalda Inc.
Publication Date:  April 15, 2010
Format:  Paperback, 326 pages
Age Group:  Adult

Emma Hox takes a new look at Jane Austen's classic, Pride & Prejudice, in her adaptation, Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker.  What if Colonel Fitzwilliam had been at Netherfield with Bingley and Darcy?  What if Mr. Bennet had a larger role in the story?  And what if Miss Elizabeth Bennet had not seen Pemberley until after she became Mrs. Darcy?

I read Pride & Prejudice for the first time in anticipation of reading this adaptation.  To be honest, it was a bit of a struggle to get through.  It took me some time to get used to the language of the period and it really didn't help that the edition I was reading had quite small print.  I found I was only able to read a chapter or so at a time before taking a break.  So when I discovered Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker was written in the language of Austen's time, I had to suppress a groan.  Thankfully, I had either read enough Austen to familiarize myself with the language or Hox updated it just enough to make it a lot easier for me to read than the original.

I greatly enjoyed Hox's take on Pride & Prejudice.  While the characters are familiar and the book starts out following the events of Pride & Prejudice quite closely, Hox definitely provides her own take on the classic.  It is when events begin to veer from the original story, that Hox really comes into her own as a writer.  In Pride & Prejudice, the characters are so tied up in the conventions and rules of their time that I didn't really feel I got to know them as individuals.  I honestly didn't see the appeal of Mr. Darcy when I finished reading the story.  While reading Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker, I was able to see the spirit of Elizabeth as she was released from some of the conventions of society.  I got to know Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet much more intimately and found them both very likable characters.  The family of characters expands as we meet more of the London relatives but also shrinks as we hear less of Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, and the three younger sisters.  While Wickham and Lady Catherine appear in the story, they have different roles and are even more intent upon bringing ruin to the Darcys.  I also felt there was more activity and conversation in Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker while Pride & Prejudice seemed to be filled with long descriptive passages.

I am certainly no expert on Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice, or Austen adaptations but I thoroughly enjoyed Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker.

Don't forget today is the last day to enter the giveaway for your own copy of Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker.

Thank you to Marissa at JKS Communications for providing me with a copy of the book to review and the other content that has appeared this week as part of the blog tour for Emma Hox.


Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Emma Hox Biography

This week I am celebrating the release of Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox.  For a complete description of the book, along with a chance to win your own copy, please visit my giveaway post.  I also have a post with some interesting facts about Jane Austen.  Yesterday, I posted a Q & A with Emma and today I have a bit more of a biography for you.  Don't forget to check back for my review tomorrow and on Friday to find out who won a copy of the book.

Emma Hox, author of Longbourn’s Unexpected Matchmaker

Emma Hox has always been an avid fan of Jane Austen’s novels. Although her favorite novel, she has been disappointed in Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Bennet. Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker gives the witty father of Elizabeth Bennet the personality Emma always envisioned he should truly have.

Emma is a member of the Jane Austen Society and a Jane Austen writer’s guild. She speaks to youth groups about becoming the women they dream of being, using the Jane Austen Heroines as examples. Emma explains each of the characters have personalities and flaws any female can relate to, admitting her own character match would coincidentally be Jane Austen’s Emma. She teaches the young women that each one of them has strengths and weaknesses and shows them how to learn and grow with confidence.

Emma was born and raised in the farmlands of Eastern Washington and is a graduate of Central Washington University in Ellensburg.

Married with two boys ages 5 and 2, Emma and her family love to sail and spend time on the lake on weekends. The author mostly enjoys sitting on the bow of the boat in the shade of the jib to write.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Q & A with Emma Hox

This week I am celebrating the release of Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox.  For a complete description of the book, along with a chance to win your own copy, please visit my giveaway post.  I also have a post with some interesting facts about Jane Austen.  Now that you know a bit about the book and the author of the book that inspired it, I'd like to introduce you to the author, Emma Hox.  Thank you to Marissa from JKS Communications for providing this Q & A.

When did you realize you wanted to be an author?

For close to 5 years I had heard about this book called “Confessions of Fitzwilliam Darcy” by Mary Street. It was out of print and IMPOSSIBLE to find. I searched high and low for the book absolutely everywhere in the world. I even found it in Scotland and Switzerland; however they said that they could not ship the book to the USA no matter how much I begged and pleaded.

One day I came across a little shop in the basement of a Chicago building that had the book. I could never be happier than the day the package arrived. I opened it up and instantly sat down to read (that was before I had kids). I devoured that book in one sitting and have since read it multiple times. Then the reprint came out and I was one of the first in line to purchase it.

Reading that book gave me the idea that I would enjoy writing my own “Pride and Prejudice” story. It took me a few years to get the confidence to begin, but once I did, I could not stop.

What do you love most about Jane Austen and her style of writing?

The wholesome love story that is believable. The things that happen in her novels can truly happen, therefore they give readers confidence that good triumphs over evil and true love conquers all.
You can still feel the love and passion of the characters, yet it is readable without making a grown, married woman blush.

Most of all, there is a character everyone can relate to. If you are lively and witty Elizabeth Bennet is your girl. If you always want your friends around you, want all of the gossip and occasionally offend, Emma is your girl. If you are shy, steadfast, stalwart, but rely too much on the opinions of others, you might be an Anne Elliot. I could take any woman and show them the strengths and weakness of each and every Jane Austen Character and help them see how they themselves can be as lovely as any character.

Each and every one of us have faults, and Jane Austen gives her characters faults, just like real people, making them someone we can emulate and strive to be worth of our own prideful Mr. Darcy even if we are prejudice at first.

What is it about Mr. Bennet that inspired you to write Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker?

The first time I read “Pride and Prejudice” in 8th grade, I wondered how the witty and lovely Elizabeth Bennet could have such an indolent mother and father.

The second time I read the book, I just stopped reading Mr. Bennet as he was and made him who I always thought he should be.

After talking with other women who had the same view I had about Mr. Bennet, I decided to create him. I always figured he would be more engaging and take an active interest in the suitors for his daughters. He would want to question them and know that they would provide for his daughters. He would want them to be safe, protected and not demeaned in any way.

I also considered that he would have known from the beginning that the estate was entailed. As all the daughters came in succession, what father would ignore that and not try to provide for them. Certainly not one who was thought to be witty and educated. Why not make the estate prosper under his management and after 20 plus years have a little nest egg set aside. Even the poorest person can save something if they truly want to, and I have always imagined that he would want to.

You have captured the voice of the period. How did you do that?

Because I love it. If I could get away with it, I would speak as they speak in my everyday conversations. But to be honest, most people think I am weird when I slip into the speech of the era.

As they say with everything, “practice makes perfect.” I am by no means perfect, but I sure try to make it authentic, because that is what I like to read.

What advice could you give to other authors wanting to start out?

Make the decision that you want to do it and then no matter what, just do it. Nothing can stop you except your own self-doubt.

What is your life like outside the literary world? Hobbies and other passions?

I am an extremely happy working mother of two very energetic sons, ages 2 and 5. My passion, and that of my husband and sons, is sailing. We spend every available weekend in the summer at the lake on one of our two sailboats. We have a goal of living on a boat, instead of a traditional house. My favorite place to write is sitting on the bow of the boat in the shade of the jib while my kids nap and husband swims. There is nothing more relaxing than that.

I enjoy learning new things, and once I get it in my head to learn something, I do not stop until I am a master. I recently learned how to can, dehydrate and freeze food for year-round use. This past summer I spent tons of time storing fruits and vegetables, and in the cold months our family ate great.

Lastly, I love to read. I read everything I can get my hands on, although I prefer regency and Victorian era books. Especially those by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre and Georgette Hyer. I really enjoy a few of the authors that write Jane Austen adaptations, especially Mary Street and Pamela Aiden.


Are you working on a sequel or any other books?

Yes. I prefer to focus on not only the hero and heroine of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, but also on the minor characters, specifically the parents. I am currently writing a story called “The Truth About Mrs. Bennet.”

This story will center on the eccentric, but loving Bennet mother. Why is it that her nerves bother her as they do? What is it about the entail that Mrs. Bennet will not allow herself to understand? Why is it such a passion for her to marry off her daughters? Does she truly believe her daughters should only marry for wealth and consequence or does she have a sensitivity for love, perhaps a love that has been missing in her own insensitive marriage?

Mrs. Bennet has a unique talent, although only mentioned and not dwelled upon extensively.

I am also writing a novel entitled “Third Life’s A Charm.” It is a coming-of-age-and-into-love novel based in Washington State, where I live, using an entirely fictional storyline and characters.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Jane Austen Facts

To continue the blog tour for Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox, here are a few facts about Jane Austen...

Obtained from the Jane Austen Society:

• Jane Austen was born in 1775 as the seventh of eight children.

• Her works mark the transition in English literature from 18th century neo-classicism to 19th century romanticism.

• Jane Austen wrote her first novel at 14, Love and Friendship (sic).

• In her twenties, Jane Austen wrote the novels that would later be re-worked and published as Sense and Sensibility (published in 1811), Pride and Prejudice (published in 1813) and Northanger Abbey (published in 1818, the year after her death)

• The books published in Jane Austen’s lifetime did not carry her name. Instead, they were written “By a Lady.”

• Jane Austen died of Addison’s Disease in 1817 at 41 years old. Her body is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox

Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker and author Emma Hox will be the focus on the blog this week. Look for interesting facts about Jane Austen, Emma's biography, a Q &A with Emma, and, of course, my review of the book.

Longbourn’s Unexpected Matchmaker
Author: Emma Hox
Publishing Date: April 15, 2010
Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: Rhemalda Inc.
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615328857
ISBN-13: 978-0615328850

Would Pride and Prejudice have been different if Colonel Fitzwilliam had accompanied Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy to Netherfield?

What would happen if Mr. Darcy made friends with a mysterious member of the Meryton neighborhood who refuses an introduction but who has a close relationship with the Bennet household?

Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five daughters to Mr. Thomas Bennet has caught the attention of the rich and handsome Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy almost from the moment he laid eyes on her, but when he purposefully misinterprets her families expectation of her marrying well and slights her in a way unknown to those who have always loved Jane Austen's acclaimed Pride and Prejudice, he must leave forever or make amends. Sulking in the library he determines to leave the place and give her up, but is waylaid by a member of the Meryton neighborhood who claims an intimate acquaintance with the Bennet family and offers up advice on how to win Elizabeth's heart.

Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker puts a spin on Pride and Prejudice that no one would ever expect as Colonel Fitzwilliam attends Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy to Netherfield, Elizabeth Bennet is witty enough to detect the motives of Mr. Darcy's long time enemy Lieutenant Wickham and Georgiana Darcy is bold enough to defy her brother and cousin and comes to Meryton in the midst of a storm. Not to mention Caroline Bingley, Lieutenant Wickham and Lady Catherine are all working against our hero and heroine ever finding their own happily ever after.

The Giveaway:  Thanks to Marissa at JKSCommunications for offering one of my readers a copy of the book.  This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada.  The deadline for entries is Thursday April 15, 2010 which is the book's official release date.  I will announce the winner on Friday April 16, 2010.

To enter - leave me a comment telling me why this book interests you or which movie version of Pride & Prejudice you like best or which of Jane Austen's books is your favorite.  Basically, make it relate to the book or Jane Austen in some way!  Please, please, please leave me your email address if I can't get it from your blogger profile!!  I would hate to have to choose another winner because I was unable to contact you.  No extra entries for this one but since it is a short giveaway I'd love it if you would promote it somewhere.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

The Sunday Salon April 11, 2010

Welcome to The Sunday Salon, a place for readers and book lovers to come together to escape into our books for a bit.  Each Sunday, we set aside some time to read and to discuss that reading, our reading throughout the past week, and other events in our lives.  Please join in the discussion here and take some time to visit some of the over 500 bloggers who participate.  I admit to not being as regular in my participation as I would like to be but that is one of my goals for improving on my blog this year.

The biggest news for me right now is that we are closing on the new house tomorrow! I am really excited about this but nervous at the same time.  We've crunched all the numbers but I still wonder if we can really afford this without me having to go back to work.  I'm a worrier though so I'm pretty sure I would feel that way no matter what the loan amount.  It will still be a few weeks before we can move in because we are having a bit of work done first.  The house will have almost all new flooring and the inside will be completely painted before we move in.  We also needed to get all new appliances since the former owners (the house was a foreclosure) took them when they moved out.  We will be really close to the schools and the library is right down the road.  It isn't a big library but it is part of a larger library system so I'm hoping we will be able to request the materials we want from other branches.  It also looks like they have a great childrens' area and maybe even a play group that my daughter and I can participate in.  We've heard really good things about the neighborhood and it has seemed very nice every time we have gone down to see the house.  I am really looking forward to having more space!

I don't generally do an In My Mailbox or What are you Reading type post each week because they would be pretty boring.  I don't get books too often in the mail and at most it is one or two in a week - not really enough to bother with a whole post about it.  Same with the What are you Reading posts - I'm generally only reading one book at a time or at the most one fiction and one non-fiction.  This past week though we finally got our Barnes & Noble order from January.  My husband and I had received several gift cards for Christmas and decided to do just one big order to use them.  The result was that we pre-ordered a bunch of books in our favorite series and Barnes & Noble held the entire order until they were all released.  I can't promise that I'll get around to reviewing any of these books in the very near future with the move coming up but the majority of them will probably be reviewed on here at some point.

Books Received this Week:

Changes by Jim Butcher (Book 12 of The Dresden Files)

Captain's Fury by Jim Butcher (Book 4 of The Codex Alera)

Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher (Book 5 of The Codex Alera)

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson Book 5)

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison (The Hollows/Rachel Morgan Book 8)

Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton (Meredith Gentry Book 8)

Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake Book 18)

At The Gates of Darkness by Raymond E. Fiest (Book 2 of The Demonwar Saga)

The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (Book 12 of The Wheel of Time)

This week, I'm going to be focusing on Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker by Emma Hox.  The book officially comes out on Thursday so look for my review then.  I'm about halfway through right now and I'm really enjoying the book so far!  Tomorrow will start a giveaway with a chance to win your own copy.  I'll also have some information about Jane Austen and a Q & A with Emma Hox this week.

Last week I read and reviewed The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen.  I admit to being skeptical as I started the book but it ended up being a very inspiring read for me and got me thinking about some issues in new ways.  Also my April Giveaway is up and running for US residents.  Deadline is April 28, 2010.

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday.  What are you up to this week?

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

New Harvest Vegetarian EPA

Recently, I told you about BzzAgent, a word of mouth company, and mentioned that from time to time I might have a product review on the blog.  Yep, this is one of those times.

A couple of weeks ago I received my kit for the New Harvest Vegetarian EPA campaign.  The kit contained a sample bottle with a week's worth of the product, some product information, and a few coupons to hand out.  First, I'll give you a bit of the product information and then I'll give you my experience with the samples.

The Info:  First off, what is EPA?  EPA is actually one of the family of fatty acids commonly referred to as Omega-3's.  The other two are DHA and ALA.  All of the Omega-3's are important for our bodies but most of us don't get enough of them from food.  The usual supplement for Omega-3's is fish oil.  Fish oil supplements can have side effects for many people including a fishy taste and fishy burps.  Also, how are vegetarians supposed to get their EPA when the most recommended food source is fish and the supplement is fish oil?  New Harvest has developed an entirely vegetarian source of EPA using fermented yeast and enclosing it in a vegetarian softgel.

So what are the health benefits of EPA?  (The following statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.)  According to New Harvest, studies have shown that EPA is important for heart health, supports positive mood and emotional well-being, and may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

My Experience:  I have taken fish oil supplements in the past with none of the fishy side effects that some people experience.  I'm also not a vegetarian so I have no vested interest in whether my EPA comes from fish or yeast.  The seven day supply of New Harvest Vegetarian EPA was enough to determine that I had no side effects from the supplement but it was certainly not long enough to notice any health benefits.  I think I would have needed a minimum of a month's supply to notice anything significant.  New Harvest focuses solely on EPA while fish oil supplements provide both EPA and DHA.  The New Harvest capsule provides 600mg of EPA in one pill while my fish oil simply states that it is 1000mg without providing a breakdown.  So I can't compare the levels of just EPA between the two pills.  Both pills are large and similar in size.  I cannot remember how much the fish oil cost so I can't compare the price of the two products but the suggested retail for 30 New Harvest vegetarian gelcaps is $19.99.  For my needs, I think the fish oil is sufficient because I can purchase it pretty much anywhere instead of making a special trip to get the New Harvest product.

More Info:  New Harvest Vegetarian EPA is available at select GNC stores and online at www.whyepa.com.  For additional product information, visit www.newharvest.com

Do you take any kind of supplements?  Do you think that they benefit you?  What are your thoughts on a vegetarian source for EPA?

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.