The Essential Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners 2024 by Kimberly N. Bains is a 2024 publication.
My DH and I have been on this diet for about
The Essential Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners 2024 by Kimberly N. Bains is a 2024 publication.
My DH and I have been on this diet for about 8 months, and we love it! I’m always looking for more recipe ideas, so when I noticed this cookbook in the KU program I couldn’t resist.
This book has thousands of recipes so surely there is something here for everyone who is interested in the Mediterranean way of eating. It also includes recipes that utilize the insta-pot or pressure cooker- which I’ve come to rely on more and more often- so that was a big help for me.
For beginners there’s a 30-day meal plan to help you get started. From there the book is sectioned off into categories as most other cookbooks- but there are a few hiccups.
The biggest one is the lack of photographs- which is sort of a big oops. Not every recipe, due to simplicity, needed a photo, but photos are necessary- at least a smattering of them per category- in my opinion.
The other issue was the sheer volume of recipes. It was just overwhelming, and some great recipes could get lost in the shuffle or overlooked. Honestly, the popularity of this diet would certainly allow for this volume to be broken down into at least two, maybe three or four even, segments. The inclusion of photos would help fill it out and encourage people to try the dishes and meal plans.
Other than that, this will give the beginner an idea of how many different ways one can incorporate fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fruits into their diet using their favorite cooking methods and without too much extra time in the kitchen.
If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe is a 2024 Bookouture publication.
In the vein of the 'If I go missing' TikTok thing- I don't have an account- so, untiIf I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe is a 2024 Bookouture publication.
In the vein of the 'If I go missing' TikTok thing- I don't have an account- so, until I came across this book I was unaware of it- this novel takes the hashtag and runs with it- but with some mixed results...
In this case, Alana comes up with the idea of creating a binder that holds all the deeply personal information that one might need in the ‘unlikely event’ that you go missing- details investigators would have to wade through a lot of red tape to acquire while the clock is ticking.
One should create, update, and keep this binder hidden in a place where only a person that knows you really well will be able to find it… Sounds like a practical idea considering an experience Alana once had. Her idea even gets a little press attention…
But after a televised interview, people in Alana’s life start to go missing…
I got into this one for a while. It was sort of original, it was twisty, and held my attention, but the ending just went off the rails- Once the plot was explained, and I put all the pieces together, it didn’t make much sense, and the last paragraph was… confusing?
It felt like being led on a wild goose chase- which obviously made me feel like I had just wasted a lot of my time for nothing…
I’m an outlier on this one- the book was mainly well-received- but unfortunately it fell flat for me.
The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson is a 2022 Delacorte publication.
When Alice’s boyfriend, Steve, dumps her and starts dating her best frThe Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson is a 2022 Delacorte publication.
When Alice’s boyfriend, Steve, dumps her and starts dating her best friend, Brooke, Alice pulls a disappearing act. Now that’s she is back home, she needs help getting caught up with her schoolwork and is assigned a tutor….
Enter Iris- a super smart girl with a secret troubled life who is desperate to scrape up enough cash so that she and her mother can leave town.
But when Brooke goes missing, and Steve becomes the prime suspect, Alice and Iris team up to find out what really happened to Brooke….
This book has been on my TBR list for two years. I honestly can’t remember what prompted me to add it- except maybe the ‘Agatha Christie’ theme- because everyone knows I usually avoid anything that reeks of teen/young adult material.
The story is indeed a homage in a way to Agatha Christie and I thought it was pretty cool that a book targeting a younger audience was featuring the great ‘Golden Age’ mystery writer. The mystery is solid and has some very nice, well-timed twists. The surprise ending was a nice touch, only deflated a bit by the rather thin motive.
Overall, this was a pleasant surprise for me-mystery-wise- and a nice diversion and change of pace as well.
3.5 stars rounded down because of the adult content in a YA book.
END OF REVIEW
Note:
*My understanding is that this book is recommended to ages 14 and up. I'll have to respectfully disagree and say sixteen-maybe even seventeen and up- due to language - ( A PG13 movie can only have one F-bomb- or else it gets an R rating- and if a movie is rated R- then one must be seventeen or older to see it and this book had multiple F-bombs),and very adult topics that might land a trigger warning even in adult novels- including domestic violence, and date violence, as well as talk of sex tapes and teenage drinking, and foul language- as mentioned before- these are not mild swear words.
Anyone following my reviews over the years can tell you, I have a running objection to adult content and language in books marketed to younger audiences. I no longer leave these rants in the body of the review- but I will always, on the rare occasion I read one of these books, include my thoughts on this topic.
Authors feel by including this material the story depicts teens in a more authentic way- but... just a thought... not all young people mature emotionally at the same pace. It would be nice if books geared to this audience were written with all people in mind. Pushing adult language and themes on teens before they are emotionally capable of handling it- though, they may seem more mature- is a missed opportunity to set a better example- giving them a bit of accountability instead of offering up disclaimers for their bad behavior - and give them a break from the flood of images and material thrown at them from all directions these days... a safe haven, if you will- as books were for me when I was this age....more
The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate is a 2013 Tyndale publication.
This is the first book in the Carolina Heirlooms series and is centered around Tandi Jo The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate is a 2013 Tyndale publication.
This is the first book in the Carolina Heirlooms series and is centered around Tandi Jo Reese, a woman with two children running from an abusive marriage.
Tandi is renting Anne Poole’s cottage which sits across from Anne’s large Victorian home. When Anne passes away suddenly, Tandi is invited to help get the house cleaned up for a little extra food and money. In desperate need of funds, she readily agrees, which leads her to the discovery of a prayer box belonging to Anne Poole. Realizing that Anne had been misunderstood and that her story needed to be explored, Tandi begins piecing together bits and pieces of Anne’s life, and the old woman gradually becomes a powerful inspiration.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a gentle story that addresses difficult family dynamics, overcoming one’s past, and realizing your self-worth. Tandi’s journey is gradual, and her old habits and self-image continues to haunt her- but Anne Poole’s prayer box, a friendship with her son’s teacher, and a new job working for some special ladies all help guide her to a much better place.
The only quibble I had was that the conclusion felt a little too open-ended or abrupt. Looking into the next installment I see there is a novella that is a continuation of this story- so maybe that will help me come to a firmer feeling about Tandi’s future.
Overall, a lovely story anyone and everyone can enjoy! There are still a few weeks left of summer and this would be the perfect book to pack in your beach bag! ...more
The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird is a 2022 Harlequin MIRA publication.
I have SO many Psychological Thrillers on my Kindle I need to weed thThe Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird is a 2022 Harlequin MIRA publication.
I have SO many Psychological Thrillers on my Kindle I need to weed through. I know some of them are… shall we say… ‘B movie’ caliber stories- but sometimes I’m in the mood for just that kind of quick, soapy PT that won’t require a lot of effort on my part and for entertainment purposes only- if you will. This one looked like it would probably fit the bill… so I plucked it off my ‘virtual’ shelf and dove in.
It pulled me in right off and held my attention for a good while… but then it just went completely off the rails. While my expectations were not especially high to begin with, I was a little disappointed that after the strong start, it fizzled out so spectacularly.
Unfortunately, the story got more ridiculous as it went and while I can overlook some of that for the sake of entertainment, this was more than even I could tolerate. Still, it is my understanding that this is the author’s debut effort and as such, one can see she shows promise and let’s be honest… there is a large audience for these books, and I think Bird can build on the momentum she gained with this effort.
Overall, while I wasn’t looking for greatness, this one was just a bit too over the top for me to give it a stronger rating.
The Sea Glass Sisters by Lisa Wingate is a 2013 Tyndale House publication.
I discovered I had a book in this series on my Kindle- but it was the seconThe Sea Glass Sisters by Lisa Wingate is a 2013 Tyndale House publication.
I discovered I had a book in this series on my Kindle- but it was the second book in the series- so I decided to go back and read the first book- which is when I discovered there was a prequel, if you will. Though this book was published in between full-length installments, I decided to start with this novella then read ‘The Prayer Box’ after that.
This story features a 911 operator, Elizabeth Gallagher, who is going through a rough patch. A trip with her mother to visit her aunt, finds the island preparing for a hurricane and her aunt dealing with a serious health condition.
Yet the time away from home gives Elizabeth a chance to reflect on her rapidly approaching ‘empty nest’, her marriage, and her future…
This novella gives me a feel for the kind of series this will be, and I can tell it’s right up my alley. I loved Elizabeth’s realistic issues, the reality of her job, her home life and her perspective on living on an island that is so prone to hurricanes and floods.
After reading Wingate’s ‘Before We Were Yours’, I promised to read more books by this author. I was surprised by how many books she had written before I discovered her. It’s taken me awhile to find my way back to her, but I’m glad I finally did! I’m very much looking forward to this series!!
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