The 15-minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners: 150 Fast, Fresh, and Flavorful Recipes with 4-week Meal Plan and Easy Shopping Lists

 

 

The 15-minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners by Yolanda Blake is a cookbook and recipe collection slanted toward the Mediterranean Diet with pantry lists, meal plans, and shopping guides included for preparation and time-saving.  Released 16th Jan 2025, it's 105 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The layout is logical and easy to follow. The introduction covers the basics of the Mediterranean Diet, tools, supplies, & how-to. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks & sides, soups & salads, and desserts.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American measurements only. The nutritional information:  fat, carbs, protein content are listed for the recipes as well as serving sizes.  Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in sidebars with the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex.

The photography is not abundant, however most of the recipes do contain a small color photo of the finished dish.

This is a nice collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep cooks going for ages.  

Four stars. Worth a look for readers thinking about giving the diet a try, especially since it's currently included in the kindle unlimited subscription.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes 
 

The Essential Bonsai Book: Techniques for Creating Beautiful Trees

 

The Essential Bonsai Book is a well written and beautifully photographed course on creating and curating a bonsai collection written by Jonas Dupuich. Released 15th April 2025 by Penguin Random House on their Clarkson Potter imprint. It's 224 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

The book is a more in-depth monograph on bonsai aimed at keen intermediate level to expert gardeners. There is an abbreviated introduction followed by training, pruning, care, and maintenance with emphasis on carrying out the correct procedure at the right time. The photography is standout, with "action" photos which are clear and without obscuring tools or hands in the way. In fact the entire book is beautifully photographed with an accessible and understandable graphic layout.

Gorgeous gorgeous bonsai in all their glory, showing a wide variety of species trained into both traditional and modern silhouettes. Worthwhile and inspirational.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts Volume 2 is an absolutely gorgeous collection of no-bake desserts collected and curated by Bobbie Lloyd. Due out 22nd April 2025 from HarperCollins on their Wm. Morrow Harvest imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The entire collection is stylish, elegant, and impressive. The recipes themselves contain abundant clear photos in color. Many (not all, but most) are surprisingly "do-able" and really just *look* super impressive. The majority don't require a ton of specialist equipment or esoteric ingredients and will be well within the scope of the average home cook with an adequately equipped kitchen space. 

Recipes are grouped thematically: cakes, pies, cheesecakes, bars, banana pudding, other puddings, and base recipes. Recipe ingredients are provided in a bullet list sidebar, followed by step-by-step instructions. Ingredient measures are written in imperial (American) units with metric in parentheses (yay!). Nutritional information is not provided. Most ingredients will be readily available at any well stocked grocery store in North America.

Everything about this collection is generous... the photography is abundant, clear, and in color... the recipes themselves are graciously proportioned, a bit old fashioned, and beautiful. They're not overly fancy or fussy... 

Five stars. It does a perfect job at what it sets out to do. This would be an excellent choice for public or home library acquisition, as well as for gift giving.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Dr. Fun Guy's Passport to Kingdom Fungi: A Scientist's Guide to the Wild and Wonderful World of Mushrooms, Molds, and More

 

Dr. Fun Guy's Passport to Kingdom Fungi is a scientifically correct and layman accessible guide to fungi by Dr. Gordon Walker. Due out 22nd April 2025 from Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The layout is logical and easy to follow. Beginning by defining the characteristics of fungi (not just mushrooms!) the author carefully builds up to larger interconnections and the roles fungi and fungal systems carry out in their respective ecosystems. It's surprisingly easy to follow, and felt at times like an engaging narrative as the very best nature/science writing does. It's not rigorously annotated, but the author has included a glossary, an abbreviated bibliography/resources, and many QR code links for online content. There is also a charming amount of poetic whimsy and philosophy encapsulated in the author's prose. It's a pleasant mix. The photography and illustrations are clear and well rendered throughout the book.

Educational and edifying without being stodgy or tedious, readers will likely learn a lot and come away from the book with a much deeper appreciation of the finely tuned and wondrously interconnected web of life encompassing all of us. Absolutely recommended for fans of science/nature writing, and especially to fans of Stephen Jay Gould and similar.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Zee Zee The Humble Bee

 

 Zee Zee The Humble Bee is a picture book for young readers written and illustrated by Michael Obiora. Released 28th March 2025, it's 28 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Accompanied by a simple story in very loosely rhyming verse, this illustrated young reader book introduces Zee Zee, an athletically gifted but arrogant young bee who -always- wins the weekly bee race. She's alienated her friends and is sad and lonely. The Queen of the hive gives her some unsolicited advice and she learns to be more humble without dimming her own talent to fit in.

It's a good message which is somewhat obscured by the art which can be charitably described as rendered in a naive style (see the cover art). The bees are anthropomorphic, with little running shoes and humanoid faces, and a crown on the queen bee. I respect the author's decision to do everything himself, but am not at all sure the story is best served by doing that, but at the end of the day, it's a fun and effective story with a good message, and will undoubtedly find a solid welcome with babies to early primary school kids.

Prose, spelling, and vernacular are UK spelling, but won't pose any problems in context for readers from the USA. 

Three and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Simply Beautiful Beading

 

Simply Beautiful Beading is a tutorial and style guide for simple beaded projects by Heidi Boyd. Released 19th Aug 2004 by Penguin Random House on their North Lights imprint, it's 128 pages and is available in softcover and ebook formats. 

This is a nice collection of beginner friendly tutorials with lots of simple beaded jewelry, soft furnishings, and decorative objects. Many of them are simple and unfussy, a few are distinctly odd, but even given that stylistically not everything is going to appeal to every reader, there are lots of good ideas for further experimentation. The instructions and materials are general enough that even if the exact materials are not widely available, some substitutes will be easy to source from any good crafts store or online. 

Tutorials include tools and materials in a bullet list sidebar, tips and suggestions, and a step by step guide. Each tutorial is accompanied by multiple color photos which are clear and easy to understand. 

Four stars. The designs are mostly really simple, but many (most) are appealing and it would be a good choice for readers who are interested in getting started with beading, or general crafting and don't really know where to start. It would also be a good choice for maker's groups, scouts, home studio, etc.

 

Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life

Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life is a well written, frank, and overall balanced biography of R. Crumb written and curated by Dan Nadel. Released 15th April 2025 by Simon & Schuster on their Scribner imprint, it's 480 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

Crumb, apart from his iconic contributions to fundamentally change the landscape of comic/narrative art, is an interesting oddball and this is an unflinching biography. It's not a soft sell at all, the author relates his difficult childhood, violent/distraught home life, nerdy (bordering on creepy) personality, and sexual kinks. (As such, although factual in recitation and not prurient or sensationalist, it might not be appropriate for children or sensitive readers). 

The biography format is chronological, setting the subject's early life, growing up in a home prone to instability and violence, depression, mental health, and leaving home. It's very often poignant, and every success comes with intense struggle and setbacks. The author has a knack of remaining academically rigorous and factual, whilst conveying the pathos and frustration of Crumb's life. 

Although it's very well annotated and supported throughout, the language is layman accessible and the whole is readable and easily understandable by non-academics. The links and resources are comprehensive and will provide many hours of further reading. About 25% of the book's page count are facsimiles of Crumb's art.

Four and a half stars. Recommended unreservedly to readers of biography, comics, graphic arts, nonfiction, etc. It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home readers, and potentially as a support text for related instruction (comics history, graphic literature, modern American lit, etc).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Ideological Brain: The Radical Science of Flexible Thinkinghttps://www.leorzmigrod.com/

 

The Ideological Brain is an interesting and layman accessible monograph by Dr. Leor Zmigrod on the complex interconnectedness of neurology and how it shapes and informs ideology. Released 25th March 2025 by Henry Holt & co., it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

Political beliefs and conditioning have profound effects on the brain. Dr. Zmigrod carefully explores the ramifications between political ideology and belief, and neurology at a very fundamental level. She winds up setting up the equation backwards from what most people would formulate... instead of saying how does a particular belief system *affect* the brain.. she posits that certain world views are more likely rooted in cognition and actual physical biology. (Which is both profound and troubling). 

It's an interesting book, and shows how ideology has profound effects on behavior, and how some people are more likely to become radicalized and susceptible to extremism. 

It's not an easy read, there's some amount of technical jargon involved, but overall, it's layman accessible, and the author writes in plain non-academically rigorous language. It's meticulously annotated throughout, and the chapter notes will provide keen readers with lots of scope for further in-depth learning.

There aren't a lot of *conclusions* included, but it's certainly food for thought. Dr. Zmigrod is unquestionably a very intelligent, but the text is light on the actual complex science (which is probably understandable given the difficulty of translating for laypeople reading).

Three and a half stars. It would potentially be a good choice for public or post-secondary school library acquisition, for science interested non-fiction readers, and for home reading. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief - Skandar #1

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief is the first book in a middle grade fantasy series by A.F. Steadman. Released 3rd May 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Young Readers imprint, it's 448 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is an engaging and well written series starter for middle grade readers (Lexile measure 830L). The characters are well rendered, and there's plenty of action to move things along. Young Skandar has always wanted to see wild unicorns, but events conspire against him becoming a unicorn rider until he's recruited by a mysterious stranger to save their world. 

It's a "chosen one" trope, but well done and an exciting top notch adventure story. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 11 hours 57 minutes and is capably read by David Dawson. He has a well modulated professionally trained voice and does a good job of seamlessly hopping through a number of disparate accents of both sexes and a wide range of ages. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or school library, home use, or, with 4 books extant in the series (and a 5th coming out), a good binge/buddy read or book club project.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Using Gravestones to Trace Your Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians

Using Gravestones to Trace Your Ancestors is a well written and accessible guide for family historians with emphasis on graveyards and attendant records and with a focus on the British Isles. Due out 30th May 2025 from Pen & Sword, it's 152 pages and will be available in paperback formats. 

This book, by Amanda Leedham, is one of a group of books published by Pen & Sword aimed at laymen genealogists researching their family background. The information is arranged logically and finding the relevant info the reader is seeking is straightforward. The themes cover a wide variety of topics and include winnowing sources and just getting started, accessing (and understanding) records, additional resources, symbology, different types of gravestones, official records and resources, and more. The author has included many black and white photographs, facsimile and historical records to help.

This is a very well done and practical treatise on how to get started doing family research and how to carry on; which resources are likely to reward the effort and how to make use of uncovered information. The writing is layman accessible, but it's also well annotated and the bibliography and chapter notes will provide readers with a number of further options to explore.

Four stars. This would make a superlative selection for library acquisition, home use, or as a gift to a history interested friend or relative.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

 

Tchotchkes and their F*cked-Up Thoughts: The Messed-Up Minds of Your Trinkets and Treasures

Tchotchkes and their F*cked-Up Thoughts is a niche collection delivering precisely as advertised on the title, collected and curated by Elisabeth Saake. Released 15th April 2025 by lifestyle publisher Collective Book Studio, it's 120 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a collection of simply drawn, single page entries with lots of odd tchotchkes (household items, more or less), and what they might think about where they find themselves, and how they're silently judging us. 

It's not a book to be read, per se, there's no cohesive narrative at all. The vibe is sarcastic and a little edgy (hula girl reminds everyone to keep their hands off her coconuts). There are some which are clever; the arts is appealing, and overall it would maybe be a good choice for that oddball friend who enjoys finding "odd stuff". 

Three stars. Strangely appealing. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

High Yield, Small Space Organic Gardening: Practical Tips for Growing Your Own Food

High Yield, Small Space Organic Gardening is a new well illustrated gardening guides by Christy Wilhelmi covering a range of gardening topics. Released 8th April 2025 by Fox Chapel, it's 256 pages and is available in paperback format. 

This is a well written garden tutorial and inspiration book aimed specifically at readers who want to employ organic methods to garden more effectively and productively within a limited space. The author does a really good job of highlighting specific potential problem areas and providing creative solutions. The information is written in clear and concise blocks with photo illustrations.

The chapters are arranged thematically around specific design elements: creating pollinator friendly spaces, planning, soil building, planting, irrigation, trellises and hardscaping, problemshooting, etc. There are some resource lists and bibliography and index which will give some further planning ideas for readers to explore. The photography is clear and in color throughout.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public and school libraries, gardening groups, community/allotment gardens, suburban gardeners, homeowners, etc.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

CNC Woodworking for the Absolute Beginner: Winning Tips, Techniques & 5 Skill-Building Projects

CNC Woodworking for the Absolute Beginner is a well written introduction to CNC (computer numerical control) routers for woodworking with several project tutorials by Ralph Bagnall. Released 16th April 2025 by Fox Chapel, it's 88 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The author has a popular online social media presence and writes with a very easygoing and encouraging voice. The tutorials are well curated and useful, including games, shop help tools, and decor. The book is full of color photography throughout and illustrations are clear and easy to understand. There are also QR links throughout which lead readers to fully filmed tutorial and related technique videos. 

This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, makers' groups, home use, or gift giving. For readers who also enjoy thrifting and upcycling, this book has some good ideas for upcycling and recycling otherwise undecorated wooden surfaces.

Four and a half stars. Dinged a bit for the extreme brevity, but thematically it works and the QR links are a nice addition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre

 

Cabinet of Curiosities is a fascinating and well curated collection of weird/odd/macabre history tidbits presented by Aaron Mahnke. Released 12th Nov 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Although a bit chaotic in organization (intentional, on the part of the curator, as it happens), this book is absolutely *packed* with the sort of interesting (sometimes *odd*) party trivia which will boost readers' performance at pub trivia nights as well as potentially enhance their allure at cocktail parties.  

The entries run the gamut from American history to war to true crime. Each entry is a few pages at most and contains lots of minutiae and background info. Some will be familiar to most readers, much of it will likely be new. This is emphatically not an in-depth book. There are few annotations, and the author presents information sourced heavily from Wikipedia (which is *fine* but generally can't be regarded as rigorous). Still, it's a fun ride.

The sound-effects enhanced unabridged audiobook runs 12 hours 58 minutes and is read by the author (and guest). He reads engagingly and well and has a chatty mid-America folksy accent. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read, and the soundtrack does a lot to enhance the experience. 

Four stars. It would make an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gifting purposes. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Front-Page Murder - Poppy Denby Investigates #1

 

A Front-Page Murder is the first Poppy Denby historical cozy mystery by Fiona Veitch Smith. Originally released in 2015 (as The Jazz Files), this reformat and re-release by Bonnier on their Embla imprint, it's 257 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

Historical mystery styled on the golden age, set in the interwar period in London. It features an intelligent young female investigative journalist determined to make a name for herself. The tempo is solid and the author excels at likeable relatable characters; it's easy to form a rapport with Poppy. The ending is rushed and a bit too info-dumpish to be entirely successful, however it -is- satisfying and complete in this volume. There are 6 books extant in the series at this point and it would make a good choice for a long binge/buddy read. 

Four stars. Especially recommended for fans of interwar golden age cozy mysteries. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Mysterious Ways

Mysterious Ways is a YA/coming-of-age novel by Wendy Wunder (yes, that is apparently her real name). Released 27th Aug 2024 by Macmillan on their Wednesday Books imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is aimed at the younger end of YA (circa 13-18 years), although there's some relatively explicit (consensual) sexual content, frank discussion on mental health and healthcare, and suicide and self harm ideation which might not be appropriate for some readers. There's also a strong element of magical realism (MC Maya is more or less perfectly telepathic and has other supernatural abilities (thought control, healing, etc)). It seemed to be along the lines of "whatever the author needed to advance the scene at the time". 

The pacing is quite choppy and hops around a lot and the secondary characters are mostly sketched in and then dropped. Ostensibly set in Pennsylvania, the scenery is 100% generic "American" and could have just as easily been set in Colorado, Maine, or Maryland. 

Three stars. Oddly written, with glimmers of charm/whimsy which never fully materialize. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Liar's Point - The Texas Murder Files #5

 

Liar's Point is the fifth Texas murder file procedural mystery by Laura Griffin. Released 21st May 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a well written mystery thriller procedural in a long running popular series by an established prolific genre writer backed by a traditional publishing house and the necessary machinery for producing a polished enjoyable read. Although the mystery, denouement, and resolution (also well written) are complete and self-contained in this volume, the series revolves around a returning ensemble cast whose interrelationships have developed over the course of several books, and as such, there will be minor spoilers if read out of order.

There's some graphic violence, as well as some "spicy" romance scenes (consensual, explicit), and a HFN ending. Trigger warning for language, stalking, and partner abuse.  

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 26 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Teri Clark Linden. She has a well modulated alto voice and does a pretty good job with the regional (Texas) accents, as well as a variety of characters of both sexes and a range of ages. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition (with the understanding that there's some explicit content), as well as a binge/buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Wild Watercolor: Weekly Lessons and Techniques for Stunning Creations

 

Wild Watercolor is a tutorial and style guide for watercolor by Karen Elaine. Due out 16th Sept 2025 from Penguin Random House on their Zeitgeist imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The author has an inviting, calm, and encouraging style of writing. She explains a bit of her own background with a short artist's statement. The brief introduction includes illustrated lists of tools and supplies and some basic techniques for getting paint onto paper, for sketching, for selecting subjects and other useful information for beginning painters. Especially salient tips and info are written into highlighted text boxes which are easy to find and remember. The book itself is set up as a weekly tutorial course with guided techniques grouped by level: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Each of the tutorials includes specific step by step color photos and process illustrations with instructions for color choice, brushes, and special techniques used. Most of the tutorials cover several pages and are simple enough to give beginning watercolorists confidence by rendering them as illustrated. 

This is a very pretty book with a lot of useful information and tips for rendering natural subjects with watercolor. It would make an excellent choice for self-study or for public or school library acquisition.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

The Crystalline Crucible

 

The Crystalline Crucible is an oddly chaotic YA adventure mystery by Adam Rowan featuring a neurodivergent protagonist named Maxwell, who is a gamer and devoted to puzzle mysteries and treasure hunting games. Released 14th May 2024, it's 260 pages and is available in ebook format.

The bones of a good story are here but the author never really seems to land on whether it should be sarcastic or silly or semi-serious. It careens from scene to scene without much coherence. The writing itself is competent, and written in UK English vernacular. The characterizations are more outlined than solid and due to the disparate natures of the characters (most of his circle of acquaintances seem to tolerate or actively loathe Max), it's choppy and unsettling. 

One of the first scenes in the book sees Max breaking into a museum to "borrow" (steal) a mammoth tusk to find a clue, getting arrested, and subsequently bailed out reluctantly by his friend. His boss dislikes him, his friends seem to only tolerate him, and he mostly remains blissfully ignorant of the fact or doesn't care. His backstory is just *bizarre*.

Three stars. The language is rough for a middle grade - YA novel, and it's not clear for whom this novel is really intended. It would have benefited from a thorough professional editing process. It's unpolished, but there are definitely glimmers of a solid story.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Gardener's Plot

The Gardener's Plot is a well written, engaging debut cozy mystery by Deborah J. Benoit. Released 5th Nov 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out in early 4th quarter 2025). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. 

Garden themed small town cozy. It's full of the quirky characters, gardening trivia, and small-town drama that readers expect. The murder mystery is self contained in this volume, and there are overarching character development threads which suggest this will be the first of a series. 

It's a debut effort, and as such, it's not as polished and doesn't feel as complete as a series standing on its own merits with 5+ books extant. Worth a look for readers who enjoy garden themed cozy mysteries with female amateur sleuths. (MC Maggie is bloody lucky she will be *around* for book two, but it's not too farfetched for the genre average overall). The characterization is not highly developed, but hopefully the author will revisit the background in future volumes. 

The denoument and resolution are, again, quite outlandish but not -way- too much for the genre. Readers should come equipped with a robust suspension of disbelief.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 38 minutes and is capably read by Patricia Santomasso. She has a professionally trained neutral Middle-Atlantic accent reading voice without intrusive quirks. Warm, but unobtrusive. She does characters of both sexes and a range of ages seamlessly.  Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

This would be a good choice for public library acquisition, or for fans of garden themed cozies.

Three and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.