The Sassy Bookworm
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover!
I thought this book was a thoroughly entertaining read! Well written and fast paced. The plot was intriguing, and kept me engaged throughout The characters varied and (mostly) likable. The setting interesting. I look forward to see what this author brings to the table in book two.
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐ – The cover on this is so cool!
I really wanted to give this one 4 stars. For a debut novel it was impressive. I also found it highly entertaining. However, I had some issues that brought my rating down.
One of them was the character Angus. His character was weirdly all over the place with no explanation. The case was “getting to him”, but WHY?! He acted like a complete lunatic at times and it gave me whiplash. Not to mention, you can't arrest people with no evidence! Bring them in for questioning, sure, but he literally arrests the wife for driving her husband's car the morning he disappears in the evening. Knowing the husband was seen later that night with friends and the wife was in another state. Then he does it again to someone else with the flimsiest of excuses.
⭐⭐ – Cute cover on this one!
I don't have a lot to say about this one. It was okay. The setting was cool, the characters were fine. The plot was okay. My main issues was the obsessive amount of repetitive details. I don't need to know every move a character makes. Nor do I need a description of every little thing the character sees. Unfortunately, I don't think this series is for me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Wonderful cover on this book!
A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge is the second book in the Phyllida Bright Mystery series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. The writing remains top notch. I loved the setting and the backdrop of a Murder Fête. It was well paced. The plot was full of twists and turns and red herrings that kept me guessing until the end. The characters remain likable. I love the cleverness of having Agatha Christie be a side character and have her maid be the main “detective”. Just a really enjoyable read and I look forward to see what these characters get up to in book 3!
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐ – Pretty cover on this one!
So this one was okay. I enjoyed the setting. The mystery kept me guessing. The characters were likable. Really my main issue with it was it was SO slow and drawn out. The murder doesn't even take place until 50% into the book. The first half is just a bunch of boring conversations about back pain, memory loss, and boyfriend issues.
⭐⭐⭐
This was a quick, funny, and heartfelt read. I even shed a tear or two near the end. That said, I kept waiting for a twist that never came. And because there was no twist to give the book more depth and maybe a stronger reason for all the events that take place, I was left feeling a little “meh”. I also think the plot could have been fleshed out more. I still have NO clue why they demoted Anna in the first place??
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Love the cover of this one!
I really enjoyed this book. It was strange, atmospheric, mysterious, and exquisitely written. Told in dual POVs and dual timelines, the mystery of what happened to cause two peoples deaths is slowly revealed. The characters are well written and multi layered. The plot is a slow burn that feels like you are taking a boat ride down a long and winding river in summertime. A truly beautiful read that I can't recommend highly enough!
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover on this one!
I love anything “Jane Austen” and this book had such a fun concept! Short essays about Jane Austen's works using an A-Z type layout. Each letter of the alphabet has a word that represents a place, actively, etc For example...B stands for Bath, J stands for Jane...this would make an excellent gift for an Jane Austen fan!
ARC Via NetGalley
I have seen this book all over #booktook and since I recently read “The Nine” and loved it, and this one had a similar plot, I thought I would give it a go. Sigh...for the majority of it, I was bored. It was basically just a group of magically inclined young adults sitting around, either lusting after each other or planning nefarious deeds to screw with each other.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Love the cover of this one!
This book was jam packed full of yummy sounding recipes!
The book is divided into the following chapters...
– Introduction– Soup, pasta , matzah and rice– Meat , poultry and fish– Vegetable dishes– Desserts, Sweets and Bakes
The intro is full family (and Jewish) history, culture, traditions, techniques, and much more. The photos are beautiful and plentiful making this a very visually pleasing book to flip through. The recipes as I said above are plentiful, well laid out, and easy to follow. Most include tips and a little history about the dish itself.
I have tried the Minestra di Pastae Patate (amazing), the Peperoni Ripienidi Carne (also yummy), the Carciofi
alla Giudia (to die for), and Torta di Miele, Caffè e Noci (out of this world). I cannot recommend this cookbook highly enough. It would be a fantastic addition to any foodies collection, and I can't wait to try many more of the dishes featured in it!
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really only cared about hitting my reading challenge goal of 2022 with was 150 books. I smashed that by reading almost 100 more. I am a bit bummed with myself for not sticking to the 52 Book Challenge. However, it's more difficult to complete a challenge like that when you read mostly ARCs from NetGalley.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – LOVE the cover on this one!
I have been putting off reading this one for some reason, but finally decided to dive into it. And I am glad I did because I ended up loving it! A secret society. Young adults with enhanced “abilities”. Some romance. Some murder. A lot of intrigue and who is to be trusted...I can't wait for the next book!
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐ – Most excellent cover on this one!
I previously read The Shadow People by this author and it was a 5 star read for me. So you can imagine how excited I was to dive into this book! Alas, this one just wasn't as much of a hit with me. While the setting was indeed spooky and atmospheric, the plot itself was slow and boring. Add in characters that were “meh” and unlikable and you have a book that just wasn't the greatest. It happens...
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover!
This was a quick and entertaining read. Well written and paced. The mystery had plenty of twists and red herrings and kept me guessing until the very end. The characters (most of them) were all quite likable. The ending was wrapped up in a satisfying way. What more can you ask for?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mamacita was just a wonderful and heartfelt cookbook. Broken down into the following chapters...
Salsas
Ensaladas y Verduras
Sopas
Arroz
Harinas
Where Are the Tacos?
Carnes
Mariscos
Postres
There is also a forward and short story about the author “embracing her roots” ❤️ The recipes themselves are well laid out and easy to follow. The Tortitas de Papa (potato pancakes) was especially yummy! As was the Tortas Guacamayas (Macaw Sandwiches). Most recipes have photos accompanying them. Which i was pleased to see. None of the recipes you'll find in this one are groundbreaking. They are a collection of simple and tasty comfort foods that are accessible to even the most novice of cooks.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a really interesting cookbook to read. Part memoir, part cookbook, and a whole lot of yumminess! Diasporican is broken down into the following chapters...
Poultry
Pork
Beef
Rice and Other Grains
Salads and Sides
Sweets and Drinks
There is also a “forward” and “introduction” full of personal anecdotes and history. Introductions to flavors, produce, equipment, etc. If you are like me and love plenty of photos in your cookbooks, then you will not be disappointed. The recipes themselves are easy to follow. Though some do contain ingredients that may be hard to find depending where you live. I also really loved the personal stories before most of the recipes.
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Gorgeous cover on this one!
This book is just so beautifully illustrated. I love the bold, bright colors used. The graphics are whimsical and eye catching. It's broken down into the following chapters...‘Forests', ‘Seas and Oceans', ‘Mountains', ‘Hills and Valleys', ‘Rivers and Lakes', and ‘Wetlands'. Each chapter has a folk story from different parts of the world, followed by other little snippets of information about the chapter title. The one thing I had a minor issue with was the font used for the text. I found it a bit too small and hard to read. That said, I am half blind, so it could be just a “me” issue.