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Showing posts with label #netgalley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #netgalley. Show all posts

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Some October in August! #MrsClausandtheHalloweenHomicide #NetGalley


Having enjoyed Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings, I was excited to request an ARC of the second book in the series from NetGalley.  I know it's only mid-August, but I'm ready to start getting excited for spooky season.  

Liz Ireland does a nice job of expanding the Mrs. Claus Universe I enjoyed learning about snow monsters as part of the newfound Halloween traditions of the town.  I love how April had embraced her sleuthing tendencies and is building lasting relationships in her adopted home. 

Unlike most cozy mysteries, there is no body in the first chapter.  In this story there is a different inciting incident and then you read on with bated breath wondering is someone about to get it?  Who is going to be the victim?  The only thing I would like to see in the book would be to have Nick be a more in-depth character. I feel he is not as fleshed out as his mother, sister, or sister-in-law, or even as much as elfman Jingles.

This seasonal cozy has a great mystery and is chock-full of the Halloween spirit. 4 stars!  Or should I  say 4 🎃🎃🎃🎃!!!
 Definitely add this to your fall reading list! 
 

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Second Book in a Witchy Cozy! #TwoWickedDesserts #NetGalley


 Two Wicked Desserts
 is the second book in Lynn Cahoon's Kitchen Witch Mystery series. I would say that this is a paranormal lite cozy.  I think if you are not interested in a cozy that really leans into the magic, you will probably enjoy this series as while there is some magic, the amateur sleuth still solves the murder using traditional questioning and observations.

I like Mia our main character, she is steadfast and remains calm even when bad people are after her.  There is a nice slow romance with Trent, who is a grocery store owner and not in law enforcement, which is nice.  Instead we have a competent sherrif in Mark Baldwin and Mark and Mia have an entertaining bit of bickering throughout the book. 

The food and catering talk in the book is mouth-watering and the pets and Mia's grandma give the story just right amount of magic.  This second book is a nice continuation of the first and I look forward to what happens next!

4.5 Stars for Two Wicked Desserts

***

Now that it is August is it time to start reading books about Autumn? What do you think?  I think anytime after my birthday (which is in August) is a fine time to start dreaming of the fall. 

Saturday, June 5, 2021

#TheSundayPost A Little This, A Little That

 


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday

This past week has been a busy week! Lots of driving youngest child and oldest child to their summer jobs. Youngest child is getting her license on Tuesday, if she passes the driving test.  Fingers crossed. I will say it has been nice to spend one on one time with her in the car, albeit very stressful for me as the passenger! 

I've finished week one of my Marathon Training and today I learned that I need to figure out a better  pre-run light breakfast because today my energy was sapped too early. Also it was H*O*T. I was really happy to enjoy a post run swim in my little pool. Should you have any interest you can check my fundraising page for Imerman Angels here. 

My garden is growing well (knock on wood) I am implementing less watering than I did last year because in The Beginner's Guide to Growing Great Vegetables the author talks about if you water your plants too much they can grow shallow roots, but if you water a little sparingly, then they will grow deep roots. So that's the plan!

I have also been doing a good job with working on my cozy mystery by participating in Jami Attenberg's #1000wordsofsummer each day and I am participating in a virtual writing group via Gilda's Club so I do not have my book reviews planned out very well at all for the upcoming week. 

I will be sharing my thoughts on this book that I picked up from Net Galley:




What have you been up to? How was your week? 

Saturday, May 29, 2021

#TheSundayPost May 30th: Are You Ready For The Summer?

 


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Yes! Yes, I am!  The weather here is more like early April, but I am ready for my summer!  My pool is open!  Marathon training starts tomorrow! #1000wordsofsummer starts tomorrow! 

This will be my third marathon and I'm running as a charity runner for Imerman Angels there are still spots available to join the team and run the Chicago Marathon for Team Imerman this fall! If I can run a marathon, you can run a marathon! Imerman Angels is a non-profit group that connects cancer patients and caregivers with peer support.  They call the peer's Mentor Angels.  Mentor Angels are that crucial listening ear, a person who knows exactly what you are going through and is on the other side--able to remind you that even if things are really tough now, there will be better days ahead. 

On the same day marathon training begins,  the two-week writing challenge invented by author Jami Attenberg.  As the name implies the challenge is to write 1,000 words every day for two weeks. It might actually be 15 days now that I think about it, I believe the end goal is 15,000 words which is a nice start to any writing endeavor. I am going to go back to writing the cozy mystery novel that has been lingering unfinished and ignored by me for months. I have a few changes I want to make to the outline and then get back to writing.  Or maybe I'll wind up writing something completely new.  Who knows! 

This week I have 3 books I'll be blogging about:


 A #NetGalley pick-up, New Series!

I'm trying to add some non-fiction to my audiobooks listening.  This book is really fascinating! 

I'm also trying to read down my physical TBR pile.  I like to read my books and pass them on so if you want this book when I'm done, comment and let me know! ( will send as media mail) 

So, what's on your agenda to start the summer? 









Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Starting A Garden This Year? #TheBeginnersGuidetoGrowingGreatVegetables #NetGalley

 


Off and on over the years, I've had gardens at our homes. Above is this year's situation, one raised bed of vegetables and then containers with flowers and herbs. My gardening style is winging it.  I really don't know what I'm doing.  With that in mind, I decided to check out this book via #NetGalley: (I received an ARC of this book, all the opinions are mine!) 

Doesn't this cover call to you? If you have Kindle Unlimited you can get this book as part of your subscription.  You will be inspired by the gorgeous photography throughout the book. The Beginners' Guide to Growing Great Vegetables i is packed with easy-to-access information to help anyone become a gardener.  It includes explanations of planting zones, microclimates, how to kill pests with beer, and a month-by-month guide to starting a garden.  It also includes instructions and tips for planting raised beds as well as containers and discusses using edibles as ornamentals.  Why not have some beautiful kale in your front yard?  It's pretty and tasty!   

The book is filled with wonderful graphics to show you everything from how to lay out a garden, to DIY soil testing, and how to build a hoop house. In the past, I have purchased gardening books that I have opened and thumbed through and put aside because I felt overwhelmed by the content. This book is different, it's very beginner-focused focusing on why you will want to do certain things and when you will want to do them in order to grow vegetables in your backyard, front yard, or even on a balcony.  

5 Stars- Comprehensive guide with a monthly planner! 

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Judging A Book By Its Cover #RubyRedHerring #NetGalley

 

Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner is the first book in her new Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series.  I chose to pick up this book from NetGalley because I loved the cover. The title is also a perfectly punny cozy title! 

Our Amateur sleuth is Avery Ayers. Avery and her sister live in the family home with their Aunt following the death of their parents in a car crash a year prior to the series beginning.  We quickly begin to wonder if the car crash was an accident or if foul play was involved.  Lilac Grove is a small suburb of New York City.  So we have the small-town setting where Avery and her family live, and then we also Manhattan where the family business is located.  The family business is an appraisal business that is focused on antiquities and artifacts, we find out the business has suffered since the deaths of William and Anne.  Things are now on the upswing due to a couple of contracts Avery's partner Sir Robert has acquired. 

My only exposure to the world of appraising antiques and artifacts has been through watching Antiques Roadshow on PBS. Tracy Gardner explains the appraisal process in an interesting and easy-to-understand way. I like the variety of character ages in this book.  Avery is 25, her sister is a senior in high school, Aunt Midge is sixty, and the people who work with Avery at the museum span the decades from the late 20s to late 50s.  A nice mix of points of view.  

Tracy Gardner does a very good job highlighting Avery's struggles with mental health after the deaths of her parents.  She is seeing a therapist and working on anger issues as well as grief, I appreciated that her pain and her struggle wasn't glossed over in pursue of the mystery plot.  

4 Stars to this new cozy series, this one takes some liberties with the standard cozy tropes, and I'm always open to reading new twists on cozy mysteries! 

I received an ARC of this book, it may change some when it is in final form.  All my opinions are mine!


Saturday, May 1, 2021

#TheSundayPost Time to Embrace Those May Flowers

 


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

This year, to me, is a time when I feel as though the days are often long but the months are short. And in retrospect, this can definitely be said about my life as a Mom. Next Sunday is Mother's Day and also my oldest's 21st birthday. How did that happen?  It seems like five minutes ago it was 1999. As Ferris Beuller says: 


So my wish for everyone reading this, whenever you read this, is that you have a chance to stop and smell the roses! I'm planing to spend some of the first Sunday of May reading outside!  

*** What I'm Reviewing This Week***
This week I'll be sharing reviews of the upcoming release Spotlight Scandal by Stella Bixby. 

An upcoming cozy I got from #NetGalley, Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner. 

And on Friday, I'll be sharing my thoughts on Branded By Fire for the Psy-Changeling Read-along Have you read this series?  It's so good! 


Hope you have a great week!  Any plans to stop and smell the roses or hop on a parade float? Comment Below! 






Friday, April 30, 2021

Have You Hugged A Tree Lately? #NationalArborDay ! Read #MenareFrogs Under a Shady Tree! #netgalley








 Happy Arbor Day! Go give a tree a hug! They do so much for us and they always look beautiful! 

If you have time go out and read a book under a shady tree, if you are looking for a book to add to your TBR pile, read on for my review of Men are Frogs  by Saranna DeWylde. This is the second book in her Fairy Godmothers, Inc. series. I received an ARC of the book from #NetGalley, all the opinions of the book are mine. 

It was great to return to the whimsical, fairytale town of Ever After, Missouri, and see the Fairy Godmothers (FGs) find new ways to meddle in the lives of mortals! 


Men Are Frogs has the level of humor and snark that I enjoyed in book one, and also some wonderful sweetness.  Zuri, our heroine, is a wedding planner, but she doesn't believe a HEA is in her future.  Phillip Charming has spent 300 years as a part-time frog.  You would think it would just be a kiss and poof all fixed, but that's not how it goes.  You don't get your HEA without putting in the work. 

In the book we learn more about the magic world and also met Zuri's twin Zena who is delightful and will be in future books--perhaps alongside Hunter in what will be a wonderfully twisted tale of Beauty and the Beast. We also spend time with Ravenna the "Evil" Queen. I can't wait to read her HEA.  Who is good enough for her? 

I'm not going to lie, maybe it was because I was tired or maybe it was just this book, but I got misty-eyed when our love interests made their leaps and had faith. *Sigh* The book's themes of what it means to truly be sorry, to having self-worth in the face of doubt, and forgiveness were a pleasure to read. 

Since it made me teary, I've got to give it 5 stars! 
#MenAreFrogs, #NetGalley

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, some of the wording may change when this book is out in the world. 


Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Cozy Review for Wednesday #ReservedforMurder from #NetGalley

 Before I share my review for Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert, I must show you a picture of the breakfast muffins I made.  These muffins were supposed to be Blackberry Breakfast Muffins, but I didn't have blackberries, so I used blueberries.  I also added about 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts to the mix, which was a very good call on my part! The recipe is from the back of the book Color Me Murder by Krista Davis.  The muffins are 5 stars and I do recommend them! 




Now on to today's book review.  Reserved for Murder is the second book in the Booklovers B&B 


Gosh, I really enjoyed this book! The murder mystery not only involves an author, but it also involved fan fiction, Goodreads reviewing, and the pressure of publishing.  It was the most bookish of book mysteries I've read to date!   I also really enjoy how Victoria Gilbert weaves the real-life history of Beaufort into her series, from Blackbeard's sunken ship to the Olde Burying grounds--the actual town of Beaufort is seamlessly a part of her series. 

The murder mystery of the book is one that will keep you guessing, there are a handful of suspects that all could be the killer. The overarching mystery continues as we learn more about Charlotte's great-aunt, international woman of mystery, Isabella. 

I was happy to read about Charlotte's growing relationships with Alicia and Damian. Charlotte is slowly growing roots in the community and I want her to be surrounded by good friends, she deserves it. I think she also deserved love, so we will see if that develops as the series moves along.  Mind you, I don't need any sort of love triangle, but Charlotte is still young and written in such a way that you want her to find a partner to share her life.

Because this is the most bookish of book mysteries and because Victoria Gilbert integrates Beaufort, NC so well in her fiction, I rate this book a full 5 stars.  If you like a cozy read, you've gotta read this series.  The book will be out June 8th!  Add it to your Goodreads shelf here or ask your local library to order a copy! 

I received an ARC of this book from #NetGalley all the opinions are my own.  The text of the book might change a little before publishing so I don't have any quotes to share.  

#ReservedforMurder #NetGalley


Sunday, April 11, 2021

Ready for some Coziness? #NetGalley #PintofNoReturn


 Trinidad is one of the three former wives of a white-collar criminal named Gabe.  She is now divorced from said con-man and has relocated to her ex-husband's hometown.  Why?  Well, the only good thing he seems to have done was leave her a building in Upper Sprocket, Oregon.  Trinidad Jones is opening an ice cream shop that will feature fantastical giant shakes with loads of toppings that she calls Freakshakes.  Just a few weeks before her July 4th opening, Trinidad stumbles across a dead body.  

Dana Mentink's book includes everything that makes a cozy a cozy.  We have a quirky small town, We have an amateur sleuth who is new to town. Trinidad has this wonderful dog named Noodles who flunked out of service-dog school and was rescued by her. Trinidad makes a friend and that draws her into the murder investigation.  Trinidad also meets Quinn the nut farmer who is a military veteran that is also the caretaker of his brother. I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not thinking Quinn is a great guy.  There is a real tender friendship, leading to affection and a future romance (?) between Trinidad and Quinn that is so lovely to read. 

The suspects all have good motives and the red herrings and clues make perfect sense in the story.  I appreciated that in this series the police chief is not a love interest, and she is portrayed as very competent at her job.  Additionally, as the story and the sleuthing goes on, Trinidad isn't out running around putting herself in danger and leaving the police investigation out of the loop. 

I think this is an excellent example of a cozy mystery and I would recommend it to anyone looking to start reading the genre.  I'm looking forward to reading more in the series!

5 stars, I don't really have any complaints! 

I received an ARC of this book from #NetGalley, #PintofNoReturn.  All of the opinions are mine! 

Thursday, April 1, 2021

New Release by Brittney Morris #TheCostofKnowing #NetGalley You Can't Put This Down!

 Brittney Morris writes the kind of book you can't put down.  Her YA characters are compelling and loveable and you just want all the good things for them.  If you have not yet read her novel Slay, I suggest you add Slay and The Cost of Knowing to your TBR pile and follow Brittney Morris so you don't miss any of her future books.   Reviewing this book is a little tricky because I want to be sure not to spoil anything and yet I want to tell you so much! 



On Goodreads, Brittney Morris wrote: "My love letter to all the Black men who had to grow up too early." This love letter is wrapped in an amazing tale about a teen, Alex, who in the aftermath of a car accident that killed his parents on election day, now sees visions of the future whenever he touches any person or object with his hands.  

Alex has been managing to be a functioning human for four years even as he is hit with a vision every time he touches anything and the longer the touch continues the further into the future of the object or person's life he sees. Worst of all Alex can't change the future.  He tried a few times and it didn't change anything, all the bad things happen. What a nightmare! I could not function.  

Brittney Morris gives us an excellent depiction of crippling anxiety and how it affects Alex due to his power.  Additionally,  she shows how anxiety permeates Alex's life because he is a Black teenager.  He has to navigate a world of never-ending minefields.   He has to use code-switching not only to hide his power but also to make his existence more palatable to white people.

This is a five-star read for me.  It is beautifully descriptive as it deals with hard subjects, you can feel the love Brittney Morris has for the characters on each page you read, and I don't think it would be possible to read this and not love these kids.  I stayed up late to finish it and my heart is filled with both joy and deep sadness. 

The Cost of Knowing is the sort of book that will stick with me for a very long time; it's a book that makes me want to send a thank-you note to Brittney Morris for putting it out into the world. 

New spring growth from one of my most recent runs. 


Saturday, March 20, 2021

#TheSundayPost #ShamrockShuffle Who's Ready for Spring?

 


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Books I'll be posting about this week:





Spring has Sprung!  Happy Spring! This weekend was the virtual running of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.   Usually the shuffle is the unofficial start of the running season in Chicago and involved about 40,000 runners in green stomping through the streets of downtown Chicago. It's an 8K so just under 5 miles long and usually, the crowd really gets you running.  

This year it was virtual.  On the plus side, this meant I could sleep in and not have to downtown to run by 8:00AM. This also meant I could walk straight from the finish line back into my house and take a shower; unlike the time a few years ago where I was changing very carefully in a Port-A-Potty and a guy opened the door (which I had apparently not fully locked) while I was putting on my shirt --causing me to accidentally flash him! 

The weather was in the low 50s, with sunny skies and just a little breeze from the South.  A perfect day for running!  I hope this is a harbinger of a wonderful spring.  We all deserve it! 
How was your first day of Spring? Share Below!
Me right before I went out to run 

Epsom & Pink Himalayan Salt w/ Essential Oils for my post-run relaxation! (A DIY craft from my local library!) 


Saturday, March 13, 2021

#TheSundayPost Goal This Week: Mason Bee Open House

 


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Happy Daylight Savings Time to everyone who lost an hour!  On the plus side it will be daylight longer today!  We here in Chicagoland had glorious weather on Saturday but it has now taken a turn for the worse --but still not too bad. I mean we have had some very wintery Marches around these parts.  Once it warms up later this week, I've tasked the Hubs with hanging up our new Mason Bee House!  
Keep your fingers crossed that there are some Mason bees in our area looking for new digs. Mason bees are excellent pollinators so it would be great to have some nearby that can pollinate my garden plants this year.  Over the last few years, I've had bad luck getting my pepper plants pollinated! 

How was your week?  The most interesting thing I did was canvassing for a couple local candidates.  An election for many local offices- ie Township Clerk, Mayor, School Board, etc. is coming up on April 6th so there is less than a month to go. I'm glad I am able to volunteer to help candidates I support and it's a great way to get those steps in! 

Did you do anything interesting this week? 

You can see my reviews from last week here: 
(exciting news- I've scored the NetGalley ARC of book 2 in the Fairy Godmothers, Inc. series! 

Upcoming this week I'll be sharing my thoughts on these books:



Thanks for stopping by! 




Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Can You Guess How Much Snow We've Had This Winter? (so far) & #TheSignofDeath #NetGalley

 As you may know, I live in the Chicagoland Area, the heart of the Midwest, USA.  We get snow every winter.  In November and December and into January we were really lucking out in the snow department; as in, we had very little snow.  It's not that I am a passionate hater of snow, it's just that snow makes running more difficult, because not enough sidewalks are cleared for people who need sidewalks. 

If I were to run to be the Queen of Illinois, I would run on a platform that would involve municipalities paying people to shovel the snow so that all sidewalks were cleared within 24 hours of any snow event of over two inches.  I would also love to have heated streets, but mostly I dream of a world where sidewalks are not buried under mountains of snow each winter.  This is on my mind because over the last few weeks it has snowed almost every day and now we have over two feet of snow on the ground!  Bah! 

(https://www.weather.gov/lot/202021_winterevents) 

Over three feet of snow has fallen at Midway Airport!  It was too cold for any of it to melt, but now the forecast is looking up and it hit 45F!   The snow is melting! Maybe we will have a nice St. Patrick's Day this year? 

Cozy Mystery Book Review Time! The Sign of Death by Callie Hutton 

The Sign of Death is a historical cozy mystery and is the second book in the Victoria Book Club Mystery.  There is enough context in this book that you won't feel lost at all if you jump into this book. The story is told from two points of view, Lady Amy who writes mysteries under a pen name, and Lord William her good friend and--maybe more!  This book takes place in Bath, England in 1891. This is the first cozy I have read taking place in this time period, but I have read romance taking place during the late 1800s.  

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and so the exact wording of the book can change between the ARC and the published book so this might be slightly different but I have to share a sentence. I knew I would enjoy this book from the first sentence:

"William, Viscount Wethington starred in horror at the missive in his hand, the blood draining from his head. He read it a second and then a third time, but the words never changed. My dearest son, After much consideration, I have decided to retire from our townhouse in London and take up residence with you in Bath...affectionately, Mother."

My kind of humor right from the start!  Lord William's mom is moving in and she wants him to get married. But he has bigger problems because in the next chapter we find out that Willam's man of business was found drowned in the river, and later we find out he was quite unscrupulous!  

Recently, I attended a webinar for mystery writing and the author who was presenting talked about how important it is for amateur sleuths to be actively searching for clues instead of writers having clues just conveniently plop into their laps.  Callie Hutton does a great job having active sleuths.  Lady Amy and Lord William are like Sherlock Holmes and Watson, they are on the case!

This book a fun historical mystery Lady Amy and Lord William make a great duo and I am looking forward to their future adventures! 

4.5 stars!  




Saturday, February 20, 2021

One Month from Now = Spring! #TheSundayPost


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Upcoming this week on the blog:
I'll be reviewing:
I am also listening to 

If I finish this one I'll review it too! 

Quick reminder tomorrow is release day for A Pocket In Time! You can read my review here



Happy Sunday!  One more week left in February and then March will be here, and you know what March means?  Yep, Springtime!!! The time of year for renewing and refreshing.  Speaking refreshing, how do you like my updated blog design?   I love my new header!  Thank you Michelle of Limabean Designs! Michelle does great work and you can click here to visit her website for info on her services! 

What's going on in your neck of the woods this week?  Any fun plans? 

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

#Recipe and #ChickLit #BookReview & Spicy Chicken with Polenta

 


So my polenta was not as creamy as it should have been. I think I should have added more broth? All in all the meal was enjoyed by the family.  I will definitely make it again. I did have to change the cooking times on the chicken because I didn't have any chicken thighs when I decided to make this and I substituted a giant split chicken breast and chicken legs.  I also couldn't find berbere seasoning so I used a chili powder blend with cinnamon in it and added some ginger powder to that.   As you can see I found this recipe in my physical copy of Real Simple Magazine.  Paging through an actual magazine is a nice relaxing way to unplug in my estimation. 

Another way to relax is with a light-hearted book.  Yoga Pant Nation by Laurie Gelman is one such book.  This is the third book in her Class Mom series.  You can read this book as a stand-alone, but it is more fun to read it knowing the previous adventures of Jen and her family and friends. 

In the first book "Class Mom"  we met our protagonist  Jen Dixon when her son started kindergarten and her older daughters were first venturing out into the world as young adults.  Jen is an 'old' mom who's been around the grade school block. Each of the books takes place over the school year. In this book, Jen's now a 5th-grade Class Mom *and* in charge of the PTA fundraising committee.  If you have been a parent involved in raising funds, you know what a tough job she has ahead of her. 

In addition to trying to raise $10,000 for tablets for the school, Jen is beginning a new career as a spin instructor, spending several days a week providing childcare to her new grandchild and also helping her parents by going with them to run errands, cooking for them, etc.  Jen is an avatar for many women who find themselves trying to raise their own children while also helping their parents.  She's a sandwich mom in the middle of life in the middle of America--literally, as she lives in Kansas.  

If I knew Jen Dixon in real life, I would probably think she was fun but also kind of obnoxious, but in the books we know her internal monologue which shows her kindness and empathy. If you are looking for a book that will feel like you are spending time catching up with a friend over coffee, this is your book. 

This book comes out July 13, 2021, you can preorder it now or put it on your Goodreads shelf. 
4 Stars! 

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley, all the options are mine. 

In the end, Jen's youngest child Max is headed off to Junior High, and that means the class mom days are over. I hope that this isn't the end of the stories from Jen Dixon's life--her granddaughter will be going into kindergarten in just three years, maybe Jen will be pulled out of retirement to be a class parent again! 

#YogaPantNation #NetGalley 

Thursday, February 11, 2021

An Actually Easy Bread Recipe! And #APocketInTime #NetGalley Review!

 We were out of potatoes and I didn't feel like making brown rice again, and I thought it was a good day to try and make fresh bread. I did a search for easy bread recipes and I found one to try that lives up to the description of the World's Easiest Homemade Bread.  This is a real five-star recipe and I am here to recommend it to you.  You don't even knead this dough! 



I recommend eating the bread slathered with butter. Life is short! 



And speaking of recommendations, let me share a review for a new time-traveling romance by Lexi Post.  I received a copy of this book from Net Galley, as always the opinions are mine.  Do you like Bridgerton or Outlander?  If so, give this book a read, A Pocket in Time is the second book in the Time Weavers, Inc. series.  So you can read the first book and then this one or just read the second one, whatever works for you. 

In the Author's Note, Lexi Post writes "A Pocket in Time was inspired by Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist."  I thought that was a unique place to start this book and as a fan of time-travel and romance, I knew this was a book I would have real fun reading.  Katz Almira is the heroine of this story, she is going back to Regency England to steal something that can change the course of history. Among her skill set is pickpocketing so she is perfect for this assignment.  She only has two weeks to complete this task or it will be too late to fix the timeline in the present day.  

The construct of Katz Almira being in a time and place she doesn't belong in and can't stay in without putting the entire world in peril really raises the stakes on the HEA. How are Jack and Katz going to overcome the literal obstacle of time and space?  That is the central mystery of this book and I applaud Lexi Post for making it so hard for these two to get together.  

If you like me enjoy characters with hard cynical outsides and gooey marshmallow insides, you'll love Katz and Jack.  It's nice to read a story where the male lead is more willing to dive off the deep end and profess his love without the certainty that the female protagonist will return his affections. 

4.5 stars to this book.  Really great read! 

#APocketInTime #NetGalley 


Friday, February 5, 2021

#TheSundayPost Love is in the Air? Or is that Football?

 


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Will you be watching the football game today?  I'm a commercials person. My husband likes the game. I'm sure he'll be watching and I'll be reading a book!  
Today 2/7/2021 is the one-year anniversary of my last radiation treatment.  I sure do hope I live a nice long rest of my life into my 80s and beyond and never need any sort of cancer treatment again. For what it's worth, radiation is a walk in the park compared to surgery and chemo, but it is still rough.  My skin will never be the same, but the trade-off was hopefully very worth it. 
I plan to spend some time today in the kitchen with the microwave reminiscing about the good old radiation days. Ha!

Coming up on 2/9 a book I reviewed The Rakehell of Roth is being released. If you liked Bridgerton on Netflix, I think you'll like this book even more than that!

So how about you?  Do you have plans for the big game?

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Breakfast For Dinner Vegetarian Edition and A #Romance Review

 


This is a meal I came up with because I wanted to hold off grocery shopping for one more day.  Slim pickings welcomed me when I opened the refrigerator.  Here is what I came up with- I sliced four potatoes into circles, seasoned them, and threw them in the oven to bake.  Then in a medium-sized iron skillet, I sauteed sliced red bell pepper, a shallot, and the last of a package of mushrooms.   
While that was cooking I minced four cloves of garlic in a large iron skillet with a tbsp of oil.  Then I added a jar of salsa and once that was simmering I cracked six eggs on top of the salsa and then I covered the eggs to cook. When they were poached I turned off the eggs. Then I mixed the potatoes with the vegetables, scooped out eggs and salsa, and topped everything with green onions. It was delicious; a nice meal you could have any time of day.  
After finishing his plate the Hubs said, "That was good, now what's for dinner?" 
I said, "That was dinner."
 He said, "I don't eat eggs for dinner."  
So I said: "You do now."

And now on to a Romance Review!


I got an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from Netgalley and as always the opinions are all mine.  This was my first time reading Amalie Howard and it won't be my last!  In fact, I just found out this is actually the second book in a series.  This does make sense as when you read this book Isobel has a sister named Astrid who is deliriously happy with her beloved husband. The series is called Everleigh Sisters and I am not sure who might be written about in book three but it's a must-read series for me! 

Now on to "The Rakehell of Roth," the book is named in reference to Winter Vance, Marquess of Roth and this is a dual POV book so we do spend plenty of time in his head, but make no mistake this book is Isobel's story. 

I completely enjoyed this book, Isobel is a strong character who doesn't give up even though her Husband has built up some very high walls around his emotions and is really good at self-sabotage.  Even though this is the Regency Period this book is filled with consent and the women are not ashamed about the pleasure sex gives. 

Each chapter of the book begins with a quote from Lady Darcy which is an advice column written for women and read throughout London during the book.  To give you a taste of what those columns are like here is a quote: "Sometimes, Dearest Friend, white knights are overrated. Be the storm in the night and stage your own rescue." *   Wow right?  That's what this book delivers- empowerment and great sex!  

This book is a very satisfying read.  If you like romance, but don't read much Historical Romance, I say give this one a go, I think you'll really enjoy it. 

* The quote I used was from the Advanced Reader Copy so the text might change again before the final publication- but I wanted to share an example of Lady Darcy's advice because it was so delightful. 

#TheRakehellofRoth #NetGalley