A Wine Country cookbook that celebrates sustainable, garden-to-table dining

Some of the tastiest California cooking today comes from wineries with edible gardens, and now you can take a visual tour of these magical culinary green spaces, peek inside the winery kitchens that reap the harvest, and bring sun-ripened flavors into your own home kitchen. Casual Cooking from Wine Country Gardens showcases some of California’s most ambitious wineries’ culinary gardens and the fresh, wine-friendly dishes they inspire, all vividly captured by three-time James Beard Award–winner Janet Fletcher. Bring the garden to the plate California-style with Heirloom Tomato and Peach Salad with Burrata or Golden Beet Gazpacho. Enjoy a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside Crostini with Garden Carrots, Goat Cheese, and Dukkah; or savor a platter of crisp spring vegetables with Caramelized Spring Onion Dip. To show off a fine California red wine, try Spring Lamb Chops Scottadito with Charred Tomato and Black Olive Tapenade or Slow-Roasted Beef Short Ribs with Broccoli di Cicco and Farro. The book’s garden-inspired desserts include luscious finales such as Blood Orange Crème Brûlée, Cheesecake with Blueberry Gelée, and Lemon Verbena Apricots with Olive Oil–Sea Salt Ice Cream. In more than 60 delicious recipes, Gather delivers the finest of California’s wine country to your door, demonstrating the creative ways that wineries use their garden bounty to please their guests and complement their wines.

 

 

Review

 

This is a beautiful book, one that will delight the senses.

This book combines recipes, wines, and complete menus to create an atmosphere for your family or dinner guests. I enjoyed reading about the different wineries, drooled over the menus, and started planning my weekly dinners around several of these dishes.

I love that there are menus that incorporate fresh ingredients and wines to pair with the meals. It makes your next party planning a bit easier.

I wasn’t sure what I would make for dinner one night. I had chicken, but that was as far as my imagination went. Would I do my same ol’ same ol’, or go with something new? I picked up this cookbook and discovered the recipe for Maggie’s Ranch Chicken. Granted, I was using a different cut of chicken and less, but it was easy to cut down the recipe and adjust the cooking time. This was delicious! I can see making this again in the future.

I also saw a recipe for an Avocado Salsa Verde that looks delicious. I will have to try that one for our next taco night.

There are a variety of recipes that will delight even the pickiest eater. So check it out when looking for something a little different.

 

 

Recipe

 

Maggie’s Ranch Chicken

 

One Whole fresh chicken, 4-4 1/2 lbs, backbone removed, quartered
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 c honey
4T salted butter
1T Dijon mustard
4 six-inch sprigs fresh tarragon

 

Preheat an over to 350 degrees. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper.

In a small saucepan, combine the honey, butter, and mustard and stir over low heat until the butter melts.

Put the chicken quarters in a 9×13 baking dish and pour the honey mixture over them. Place a tarragon sprig on each quarter. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the dish from the oven, spoon the juices over the chicken, and return to the oven for 30 minutes more. The chicken will be fully cooked, with beautifully browned skin. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the juices to settle.

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

After Kenny’s wife dies suddenly, he is forced to deal with the tough challenge of raising his children alone. Adding to his struggles of being “Mr. Mom,” Kenny’s nine-year-old son now suffers from Traumatic Mutism, as brought on by the loss of his mother. It is a problem Kenny has no idea how to fix. But just when he thinks he might have the answer, he and his son cross the unlikely path of a violent drug addict.

All Vance wants to do is grow and smoke marijuana. In order for him to turn this lifestyle into his way of life, he decides to take up a partnership with a Prospect from a motorcycle club. It is a decision Vance soon regrets. And to break away from this unfortunate business arrangement, the only solution he can think of is the one thing he could never see himself doing.

Rob Boyle has a plan. He’s going to strike it rich from selling dope, and then buy his way into his motorcycle club. He’s tired of being a Prospect, and knows that with a few hundred thousand dollars in his pocket, not only will he get himself “patched in,” but will also have enough for a brand-new motorcycle. And if anyone should stand in his way, he has a plan for that as well. Murder.

 

 

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Review

 

This book weaves together two tales. One of a family that has suffered a major loss, and another of a man that has lost his way due to drugs and other negative influences.

While I read this book, I had no idea how these stories would intersect because they were so different. Kenny and his children are trying to figure out how to live without his wife/their mom. It may seem ok on the surface, but it goes deeper than that. His son is retreating within himself and doesn’t seem to know how to move forward. Vance and Rob are growing weed in the mountains. They both have different goals and objectives, which makes their working union a bit difficult. Can they trust one another in the end?

This story moves along at a good pace, and as I mentioned, I wasn’t sure how the stories would connect. I got my answer about 1/3 of the way into the story. I won’t ruin the surprise, but it was very obvious that things were not going to go well…or maybe that was all in my mind assuming that nothing good could come of the situation. I was right by the way, things do not end well for some of the parties.

I did feel for Kenny having to deal with everything on his own without his wife. Yet at the same time, he wasn’t stepping up to the plate to take care of his children. Yes, they were being fed and clothed and had a roof over their heads, but there was so much more that they needed. I think he just didn’t know where to start, but he also wasn’t asking for much help either.

Once the stories really started rolling is when I was drawn further into the plot. It did take a little time, probably that 1/3 of the book before I understood how it would play out. I did feel sorry for Vance, he was stuck in a situation that he didn’t want to be in with Rob. Not only did he have Rob to worry about, but there was also the biker gang that Rob was trying to join. These were not your friendly bikers either. There are some interesting situations that arise from his affiliation with the gang.

This book has some suspenseful parts that might have you looking over your shoulder. We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Chris Riley lives near Sacramento, California, vowing one day to move back to the Pacific Northwest. In the meantime, he teaches special education, writes awesome stories, and hides from the blasting heat for six months out of the year. He has had dozens of short stories published in various magazines and anthologies and across various genres.

 

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Synopsis

 

Eden Sands has been a star for twenty years, but it’s lonely at the top. Her mediocre marriage just ended, and her inner circle is smaller than ever. The stage is the only place she’s ever felt like she truly belonged, and yet, her last album flopped, and her upcoming tour hasn’t sold out. Eden’s desperate for her star to shine bright again, but when her team suggests a collaboration with an up-and-coming young star to give her a boost, she balks.

Anna Moss is pop music’s rising star. She’s idolized Eden Sands for most of her life―so it’s a dream come true when she’s invited to perform with her at the Grammys. Anna’s tired of being defined by her bubbly persona. She wants to be taken seriously as an artist, and a duet with Eden could be just what she needs.

As Anna and Eden rehearse, they soon realize they have more in common than their musical talents. Now they just have to decide if what is between them is a one-hit wonder or the making of a romance worthy of one of the greatest love songs of all time.

 

 

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Review

 

You never know where you will find love. It might even be in your crush.

Eden and Anna are two stars fated for each other, but it takes time to come to that realization. Eden is divorced and trying to get her career back on track. Anna is very confident in who she is and is a star on the rise. When these two come together, the stars explode.

This was a tale fraught with emotion, discovery, and learning how to be true to yourself. While Anna is pansexual, Eden doesn’t know how she fits into a relationship. I enjoyed watching her discover who she was and what she wanted from life. Many times, we have a different face for everyone else. This was true in Eden’s case, but with time and understanding, she comes into her own. There is no timeframe that anyone has to meet to discover their passion, love, and inner soul.

I liked that this romance was not rushed. It was slow while they worked things out. This is important because it was a change for Eden, but it was what helped her recognize and embrace her true self. While they have their ups and downs, they do come together with a happily ever after ending.

There are some tense moments, but I chalked that up to Anna’s insecurity and immaturity when it comes to relationships. But those moments helped move the story forward. You have to have some conflict to round out a story.

This was an enjoyable read, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

As the live broadcast went into a commercial break, Anna and Eden were rushed into position by members of the crew. Anna sat on the stool that had been placed for her behind the hill, hiding herself from view. Around her, the stage buzzed with activity. Briefly, she wished she could watch Eden deliver the first half of her performance, but at least she could watch the replay later.

“Ten seconds!” a voice called.

The activity around her briefly intensified, and then everything went quiet as the show returned from the commercial break. She listened as Eden was introduced, and then the opening bars of “Alone” began to play. Sitting with her back against the structure that housed the band, Anna felt the vibrations of the music all the way to her bones.

She closed her eyes, absorbing it, losing herself in the beauty of Eden’s voice and the electricity that filled the room. It was one of the most intense things Anna had ever experienced, being onstage yet hidden from the audience. As she listened to Eden sing, her nerves melted away. Anna was one with the music.

“I’m never alone, because I have myself to keep me company.” Eden delivered the final line, her voice heavy with emotion.

Anna’s heart clenched. Did Eden really feel that way? Was she alone when the spotlight didn’t shine her way? The music changed, and Anna leaned forward as the felt hilltop was stripped away, revealing the band. Eden stood overhead now, but Anna didn’t dare look up. She couldn’t let anything break her concentration this close to her entrance.

The opening beats of “After Midnight” pulsed around her, and Anna turned her microphone on. She pressed her hands against her thighs, ready to spring to her feet. Eden sang the opening verse, and Anna could hear the crowd clapping along to the beat. The energy in the room made the fine hairs on her arms stand at attention. With a hiss, stage smoke burst from the structure behind her.

“But after midnight . . .” Eden’s voice reached her.

Anna lurched to her feet, eyes on the red tape marking her way through the smoke now billowing thick around her. She stepped onto the main stage, where a spotlight engulfed her, and the crowd roared with surprise.

“I let my hair down. After midnight, I’m not afraid to be a clown.” Anna’s voice sounded clear and strong, and luckily for her, the stage lights were so blinding she couldn’t see the audience, even if she’d wanted to. She spun so that her skirt flared around her, then danced her way over to Eden as they alternated lines through the chorus.

Eden stood before her, looking like an actual celestial being, not merely a star. Her dress sparked beneath the stage lights, glinting and shimmering and dazzling Anna until she nearly did forget the words to the song. For a moment, she was lost, staring helplessly at Eden as an arena full of industry heavyweights looked on.

Eden gave her a reassuring smile, dipping her head in the smallest of nods. You’ve got this. Anna received the message loud and clear, and suddenly, she did.

“I’m a little bit more wild. I am my inner child. I haven’t taken off my rose-colored glasses,” Anna sang, tugging at imaginary glasses.

Eden held her gaze as the music swelled, her expression anguished. Then she turned her face toward the camera. “I don’t daydream anymore.”

Her voice was heavy with emotion, and damn, she had some acting chops. They’d tweaked the lyrics of the song to suit the theme of this performance, and Anna could hear the crowd buzzing in response.

Anna angled herself slightly toward the camera, which was on a boom that swung overhead, allowing the network to get its close-up for the people watching at home. Her gaze slid past it to the audience beyond. The stage lights had shifted, and now she saw so many faces she recognized, really intimidating faces.

She wrenched her gaze back to Eden. They circled each other as they sang, sparring back and forth as Eden wrestled with the demons of her younger self. Anna had never seen anything as mesmerizing as the way the stage lights glittered on Eden’s silver dress.

And then that rhinestone-studded dress was against Anna’s cheek as Eden embraced her inner child. When Anna straightened from the hug, her earring snagged on one of the crystals, yanking her back against Eden’s chest. She was stuck. Before she could panic, her earring broke, freeing her.

Anna spun to stand with her back against Eden’s, melting into the background as Eden delivered the final line of the song.

“After midnight, I’m free.”

The crowd began to whistle and applaud, the noise again making those hairs on Anna’s arms rise. Eden squeezed her hand, Anna’s cue to step beside her.

“Thank you so much!” Eden called to the crowd.

“Thank you,” Anna echoed, tears blurring her vision as she saw a few people in the audience get to their feet. It seemed to happen in slow motion: people in tuxedos and ball gowns, people Anna looked up to, industry legends, standing and clapping for her.

Well, for Eden, probably. For both of them, maybe. And then Eden pulled her in for a hug. Anna was grinning like an idiot, and Eden still smelled like rose petals, and she was definitely having an out-of-body experience right now.

Chapter 4 from STAR COLLIDE by Rachel Lacey, available May 2, 2023 from Montlake Publishing

 

 

About the Author

 

Rachel Lacey is an award-winning contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She’s been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in the mountains of Vermont with her family and a variety of rescue pets, and she’s a passionate fangirl: she has attended hundreds of concerts, sitting anywhere from the last row to the front, and even backstage. Rachel loves to keep in touch with her readers!

 

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Award-winning cookbook author Liana Krissoff presents an evocatively written ode to home cooking with all the guidance you need to perfect your own easy-to-master family recipes

Trusted cookbook author Liana Krissoff is back. Previously, she showed you fresh, clever canning recipes; modern slow-cooker recipes; and easy vegetarian crowd-pleasers. Now, Krissoff brings you In Praise of Home Cooking —fit for anyone looking to perfect the staples, parents who want to whip up something tasty, curious kids who want to learn grandma’s secret recipes, and ever yone who has gotten tired of those absurdly labor-intensive recipes.

To Krissoff, developing resourceful habits and perfecting uncomplicated dishes––a pot of fluffy rice and one of creamy beans, a seared steak and a colorful salad––are integral to living with great pleasure, and so she shows us the way. Krissoff explores these simple but vital subjects—ranging from how to start a fire in a clearing in the woods to making a simple but celebration-worthy layer cake, and even remembering to make a mug of hot cocoa just because it’s the first cold, gray day of fall—reminding us that appreciating these moments is key to a life well-lived.

In this cookbook infused with memoir, there are charming step-by-step illustrations that demystify key kitchen skills, vibrant food photographs, and short essays that reveal keen insights gleaned from a life as a recipe tester, cookbook author, and mom interspersed among the recipes. The more than 85 recipes in this book are Krissoff’s essentials, perfected for your ease. They represent a chronicle of how she learned to cook but also of ongoing efforts to help her daughter develop a level of competence with improvisatory home cooking. From kneading your own yeasted bread dough to refining your classic tahini dressing, Krissoff brings you all the foolproof recipes you always wished you had, while offering insight into the meaning and beauty behind these simple moments.

 

 

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About the Author

Liana Krissoff is the author of six cookbooks, including Abrams’ Slow Cook Modern, Canning for a New Generation, Whole Grains for a New Generation, and Secrets of Slow Cooking: Creating Extraordinary Food with Your Slow Cooker. She has been a freelance recipe tester, editor, and writer for over a decade. She lives with her husband and their daughter in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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Review

 

This book is great for newer cooks because it shares many tips and tricks to make one feel more comfortable in the kitchen. I think many that think that they cannot cook are primarily due to not having the confidence or skills to be proficient. This can be learned, and In Praise of Home Cooking will help someone increase their skill base.

The book starts with many basics, but even I learned a few things that I didn’t know before. I liked the list of supplies to have on hand, from knives to cookware and everything in between.

With each recipe, it shares what skills you will be practicing in creating that dish. This could be knife skills, cracking eggs, and more.

As I perused the cookbook, there were many simple dishes and then some that were a little more complex, but not so much that it would daunt any novice cook. I didn’t notice any crazy or unusual ingredients in the recipes. This makes it even easier for novice cooks because they aren’t searching for something they have never heard of or know how to use.

I have a taco spice blend that I like to use, but there is one in this book that I might need to give it a try. It is very similar to what I make now but includes corn starch that I don’t use.

One dish that I have made several times now is the Yogurt Marinated Spiced Chicken. This is so easy to mix together and works with white or dark meat. It might even work with pork. I might have to try that sometime.

I think this is a great book for someone just learning to cook. They will learn techniques and have a wealth of recipes under their belt to venture out into something more complex.

 

 

 

Become a faster, healthier cook with secrets from Weelicious founder and meal prep genius Catherine McCord

With celebrated cookbook author and Weelicious founder Catherine McCord’s step-by-step process, your kitchen will be beautifully organized and fast, healthy family meals will be at your fingertips—starting with 100 of her favorite recipes. McCord believes that success in the kitchen comes down to two things—organization and meal prep—and she’ll show you how to master both in Meal Prep Magic .

One step beyond the ideological approach of Marie Kondo and The Home Edit , McCord brings you a practical guide to organizing the most important space in your home and using it. If you’ve ever lost leftovers to the back of the fridge, failed to find a spice that you know you bought, or faced a cabinet full of mismatched Tupperware, her advice will forever change your relationship to your kitchen.

After showing how to maximize your space for efficiency, McCord offers up her favorite family recipes. Including tried-and-tested secrets for saving time, these recipes are easy to prep ahead, make entirely ahead, contain basic ingredients that are always in your pantry, and/or strategically employ your freezer, air-fryer, Instant Pot, slow cooker, and more. Think grab-and-go breakfasts like Raspberry Creamy Chia Puddings, creative packed lunches including easy-to-assemble Salad Jars, healthy snacks like air-fryer crispy artichokes, and irresistible dinners that are even better leftover, such as lemony chicken thighs with lots of herbs.

By following McCord’s simple strategies for meal prepping, you’ll always have food on-hand to enjoy throughout your busy week, limiting your trips to the grocery store and time spent in the kitchen. Eat healthy meals you love, while saving time, money, and your sanity. Never again stress out about what to make for dinner! Meal Prep Magic is a lifesaver for any and all home cooks, busy parents, and fans of Weelicious and McCord’s popular book Smoothie Project .

 

 

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Review

 

I love to cook, and discovering new authors, recipes, techniques, and other helpful hints really goes a long way to improving my skills.

This book is good for a beginner cook since it starts with organizing your kitchen, purging what you don’t need (perhaps those old spices from lord knows when), to what staples you need to keep on hand.

The recipes included are a wide variety and range from simple to a little more complex. The dishes also range from breakfast items to dinner, with dessert thrown in as well. I think that almost anyone could master these dishes with a little practice and utilizing the tips she shares.

I have to admit that one tip, clean as you go, is a wise one. This way, there isn’t a sink full of dishes at the end of the evening.

One recipe I would like to try soon is the Cheesy Brown Rice Cakes. There are a few ingredients and looks to be one of the simpler recipes in the book.

 

 

Cheesy Brown Rice Cakes

 

Ingredients

2 cups cooked brown rice (or any type of leftover rice)
2 large eggs, whisked
1/2 c grated mozzarella, cheddar, Gruyere or provolone cheese
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Olive, canola, avocado, or vegetable oil

 

Place the rice, eggs, cheese, and salt in a bowl and stir until thoroughly combined.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a thin layer of oil. Using an ice cream scoop or 1/4 c measuring cup, scoop four portions of the rice mixture and place them in the skillet with space between them. Use a spatula to gently press down into a 1-inch thick patty. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until golden and crispy on both sides.

*For sweet rice cakes, omit the cheese and add 2 tablespoons brown or coconut sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Cook as directed and top with maple syrup and fresh fruit to serve.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Little Sowerby, England, 1802

Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is determined to meet life’s challenges all on her own, just as her late father had taught her. So when her father’s pocket watch is stolen, she will do anything to get it back, especially when the local authorities prove incompetent.

Upon reading an advertisement in the paper, she takes a chance and contacts a thief-taker to find the watch. It’s a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He is frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome, and entirely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she’ll be able to resist such a man.

But after Ginny discovers that the missing watch is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her, she needs Jack’s help more than ever. To protect her home and her reputation, the two enter into a risky charade—pretending Jack is her cousin so he can begin his investigation, starting with the household staff. As they work together to unravel the mystery, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic thief-taker, leaving her heart in just as much danger as her life.

 

 

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Review

 

This was a fun mash-up of a proper romance and a mystery.

I had mixed feelings about Genevieve, aka Ginny. She is running an estate, but she makes bonehead decisions that endanger her life. I appreciate her dedication to her estate and wanting to protect it, but putting yourself in danger? Not smart, Ginny! But at the same time, I enjoyed watching her mature when it came to matters of the heart, mostly due to Jack Travers. She even managed to mend some fences with family members, which is another reflection of her maturity.

I enjoyed the mystery and watching it unfold. Was the thief someone we are introduced to in the book or someone unknown? You’ll have to read the book to find out, but I will say that the answer surprised me.

My only complaint about this book is that there are no chapters, or at least not in the copy I read. This made it very hard to find a good stopping place. This is only the 2nd book that I can remember reading without chapters, and I still don’t like it. I do not know if all of her books are like this, but if they are, I won’t read another.

Overall, this was a fun book to read (despite my comment above), and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Joanna Barker firmly believes that romance makes everything better, which is why she has fallen in love with writing Regency romances. When she’s not typing away on her next book, you’ll find her listening to podcasts, eating her secret stash of chocolate, or adding things to her Amazon cart. Joanna thinks being an author is the second-best job in the world—right after being a mom. She is just a little crazy about her husband and three wild-but-lovable kids.

 

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Synopsis

 

She’s determined to start a new chapter, so why is she still drawn to a man from her past?

When Jasmine Weaver, the chief of staff to a powerful D.C. congresswoman, chose integrity, she didn’t anticipate ringing in the New Year disgraced, unemployed, and sleeping in her childhood bedroom. Now back in River’s Edge, Indiana, identical triplet Jazz has her sisters’ support while she plans her next steps. She agrees to lead the committee for their high school’s fifteenth reunion, never dreaming that her co-chair is the man who broke her teenage heart.

As the new CEO of Walker Construction, Elias Walker has taken the family business to new levels of success. He’s buried himself in work to ease the grief of losing his fiancé several years earlier and wants nothing more than to be a carpenter again. Elias grudgingly agrees to co-chair the high school’s reunion committee, but when Jazz Weaver blows into town, suddenly anything seems possible.

These high school sweethearts have lived half their lives apart. Can they reinvent themselves back in the town where it all began?

 

 

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Review

 

I loved going back to River’s Edge. Many of the characters we met in The Lange Brothers and Four Irish Brothers series. I love revisiting some favorite characters and meeting new ones.

This series will center around the Weaver triplets. These sisters have had their ups and downs in life and love. While we meet all of them in this book, this one focuses on Jasmine aka Jazz. She couldn’t wait to get out of town and thrived in DC in the political scene. That is until she discovered how unethical the congresswoman was that she was working for and was essentially fired. However, there are some interesting revelations near the end of the book, and I hope that we will see a few other mentions of this situation in future books to see how it all shakes out.

Jazz and Elias were high school sweethearts until they weren’t. But coming back to town reenergizes their friendship and their love for one another. They help each other through some tough times while exploring their attraction to one another. It is definitely your HEA that you want in a book.

I can’t wait to read the next few books in this series about the other sisters. We get a peek at their life, and I can just tell that there is a story waiting to come out.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Nan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction for Tule Publishing. Her day job is working as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. However, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten and is still writing, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled woman in her prime. Nan lives in the Midwest with her husband of 49 years, where they split their time between a house in the city and a cottage on a lake.

 

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Bowled Over Americano (Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. (April 11, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 263 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Sara Cain isn’t your typical thirty-two-year-old woman. Murder detective by day, writer and… sleuth by night? Just as long as there’s enough coffee to keep her going…

When her first novel gives her trouble, Sara goes for a walk to clear her writer’s block and ends up stumbling right into a real-life murder mystery. Magnum, an adventurous beagle, comes running off leash toward her in the local park, and she returns him home only to find his master dead on the entry floor.

Cliff Cunningham was a championship bowler with a mean streak and a temper, and police are pegging his Golden Pin bowling trophy as the murder weapon. While any number of people could have clocked a strike by knocking him on the noggin, the prime suspect is a friend of Sara’s mother—and she expects Sara to prove the woman’s innocence. A tall order, as the case isn’t officially hers and belongs to a rival detective.

But a promise is a promise, and Sara soon finds herself sleuthing undercover—and off the clock—in a world of polyester shirts and rental shoes. It’s not all bad, though, as she’s taking her friend and partner Sean McKinley along for the ride. They are better together than they’ve ever been split, and they’re not amateurs at finding killers.

Despite being up against small-town hijinks and colorful characters who threaten to roll their efforts into the gutter, they are having fun. That is, until they get close to the killer and a dangerous twist puts their lives at risk.

A completely addictive caper full of twists that offers up a serving of murder, a dollop of romance, and a dash of humor. This perfect blend of robust and sweet is bound to hit the spot with readers who are fans of Verity Bright, Tonya Kappes, and Agatha Frost.

 

 

 

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Review

 

While reading this book, the story seemed very familiar. I wasn’t sure why until I realized that she took her short story, The Day Job is Murder, and added more details and extended the book.

I have always enjoyed Sara and Sean’s stories, so I was happy to see that she decided to take the series and rewrite them to extend them and share more of their lives.

Even though I had read this story previously, I certainly didn’t remember all of the details. It was like reading a new mystery! I sifted through the clues about who killed Cliff Cunningham and have to admit I was stumped. There are clues, but nothing that pointed me in the right direction…or I just missed them! I enjoyed Sear and Sara’s adventures while solving the crime and revisiting how they came together as a couple.

Malcolm, the beagle, grabs a piece of my heart. That always happens when there is a dog involved. I chuckled during the scenes where Sean admits that he is not an animal person. That will have to change if he wants to be with Sara.

I noted the nod to her Madison Knight series in this book by making it a TV series. I haven’t read this series yet, either, but I will one day!

This was still as good as the first time I read it, and I give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an internationally bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers readers police procedurals, hard-boiled and cozy mysteries, thrillers, and action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two beagles.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Whether you only have twenty minutes or an hour—or something in between—you can deliver a delicious entrée and side dish to the table with these quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing recipes. Organized by “available time” rather than by “kind of dish,” this unique cookbook is designed to help the time-conscious cook with dinner planning. Enjoy “Mac and Cheese with Candied Sausage and Green Peas” from the “20-Minutes or Less” section. You can create a hearty “Vegetable Stew with Blue Corn Chips and Poached Egg” in forty minutes. If you have sixty minutes in the morning to prep, you can make “Sweet and Spicy Turkey Taco Salad” in a slow cooker. And if you’ve got more time, plan ahead by making easy-to-freeze dinners on the weekend for a quick bake-and-serve weeknight meal.

As a busy mother of four, Kate Otterstrom also makes dinnertime fun with recipes you might not expect could work for dinner—including “Toothpick Appetizers for Dinner” and breakfast favorites like “Slow-Cooker Cheese, Sausage, and Mushroom Strata.” With the ingredients paired side-by-side with the instructions, it is easy to learn a new recipe or pick up where you left off after an interruption. Since Kate is gluten-intolerant herself, each recipe also includes instructions on how to adapt it for a gluten-free option, along with a dedicated space for you to jot down notes for additional variations. In today’s busy world, time is precious, and this cookbook can help you get dinner on the table with however much time you have.

 

 

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Review

 

I am always on the lookout for cookbooks with recipes that can be made in a short amount of time on the days when I need that quick meal. I discovered this cookbook and was intrigued that it had three different time frames to prepare a meal for the family.

The title is a little misleading since there is a section that does include time-consuming dinners with recipes for sushi, homemade noodle soup, and more.  However, the bulk of the book is comprised of recipes that require an hour or less to prepare and serve.

The book starts with a few pages of items to have in your kitchen – cookware, utensils, etc. There is also a page with what is called The Essential Pantry – items to have on hand to whip up one of these recipes. Because the pantry items are processed foods, most of the recipes will include these. I prefer to cook from scratch, but sometimes you just need something fast.

The recipes are grouped by the time frame needed to prepare them. It starts with College-Style Dinners that are 20-35 minutes, moves to Quick Prep Dinners that are 35-70 minutes, and so forth. I like that each section has a colored “tab” that is on the outside edge of the pages so you can quickly look up what is in that category. There is even a slow cooker section which is always nice because who doesn’t like to come home to a meal that is ready to go? Just add a salad.

Some of the recipes are very simple and reminiscent of my college and single days. Others are a little more robust. There are even gluten-free alternatives.

I enjoyed reading the author’s comments on each recipe. It provides a little background on why it is included or the memories it brings back.

I think this cookbook is geared toward someone with a busy life or just starting to experiment in the kitchen. I’m sure I’ll find a few recipes that will become family favorites.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kate Otterstrom earned her undergraduate degree in zoology before working for two years as a researcher. She returned to graduate school and obtained her law degree from Seattle University. She is married and the mother of four children. She lives in Spokane, Washington.

 

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Synopsis

 

Spanning over three generations, Incandescence is a book about a fallen aristocratic family set in 1970, Bangladesh. In a nuanced tale of love and betrayal, the protagonist is on an introspective journey of the self, space, and time. Mila Chowdhury, growing up in this somewhat odd and dysfunctional family, discovers life’s intrinsic value. That there is a huge gap between what is and what should be. How does one overcome such limitations and shortcomings? Paradoxically, the answer lay right here, within her own odd family.

 

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Long into the night, Prema had a dream. She dreamt of Waheed Murad. In strange classical Urdu, Waheed spoke to her—a reality juxtaposed against a surreal, ancient land of the dead. He came up to her. They looked at each other. He kissed her on the lips. Waheed’s handsome face was lost in the masses of her dark hair. He bent down and locked his lips onto hers until the lips moistened and looked glossy and dark. She pulled away from him. Each pair of lips was deadly dark, showing saliva of shining juices. Then, Waheed was gone. Just like that! A glass-screen fell between them. She saw him through it. Waheed danced in the luminous rainbow colors amongst the dead. He was cajoling her to give him her body—her vessel if she fancied him so much. Prema felt trepidation in the dream. That the dead actor wished to return to her body. She saw greed in those beautiful eyes of his—give it up for him. How astonishing that she should dream of him like that? Her favorite, she wished him well. She wished he lived forever but in own vessel.

The stuff of life; life rejuvenated, and reincarnated. Even the dead had life. Like love and other abstract elements, life lived on in some form or the other. A blade of grass or a sprightly butterfly, a complex morphological process took place before it changed into something new: the caterpillar into a butterfly—Waheed Murad, what did he transform into? She woke up in the darkness. She saw a face adrift through space. She opened her eyes and tried to see it for real. A bearded face of a stranger moved quickly across the space of the dim room, with his eyes cast downwards as it vanished completely. Oh! What was that? Her baby slept as peacefully as did her husband. Only, she saw, what she saw in wakefulness as well as in her dream—something ethereal…

 

 

 

Review

 

This novel looks at a multigenerational family, their expectations, and the reality of life.

The story starts with poetic descriptions of Mila and her love for Rahim. We watch her struggle with loving him but not being able to have him in her life due to his imposed relationship with Papri. This is a time of arranged marriages and family expectations that transcend love.

The story is set in Bangladesh, a part of the world I only know a little about, so I was engrossed in the family dynamics, politics of these towns, and the acceptance of situations that others might find immoral. I appreciated that not everyone in this one family agreed with the Matriarch’s decision to disown one of her children, supported him and his wife, and helped them along in life.

Times were not easy for anyone in this family, and they had to battle strife in their village and impending doom from the political side of their life.

It did take some time to get into the groove of the story, but once I did, it flowed seamlessly, and I enjoyed delving into the lives of these characters and the dilemmas that they faced.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Multiple contests winner for short fiction, Mehreen Ahmed is an award-winning Australian novelist born in Bangladesh. Her historical fiction, The Pacifist, is an audible bestseller. Included in The Best Asian Speculative Fiction Anthology, her works have also been acclaimed by Midwest Book Review and DD Magazine, to name a few. She is a featured writer on Flash Fiction North and Connotation Press, a reader for The Welkin Prize, Five Minutes, and a juror for KM Anthru International Prize. Her works have been translated into German, Greek, and Bangla, reprinted, anthologized, and have made it to the top 10 read on Impspired Magazine multiple times.

 

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