The Big Book of Bourbon Cocktails: 100 Timeless, Creative & Tempting Recipes

The Big Book of Bourbon Cocktails is a tutorial mixology guide and recipe collection by Amy Zavatto. Released 24th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 170 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

I really liked the format and layout of this book. A well written and interesting background bio from the author is followed by a no-nonsense intro with an emphasis on the history, story, mechanics, and a solid coverage of the necessary tools involved in bourbon mixology. The second part of the book contains the recipes. I really liked the way the cocktail recipes were arranged: savory, tart, fruity, decadent, hot, frosty, and punches. Each of the recipes has a description, yields, ingredients in a bullet list (with US standard measurements only), and step by step directions. Alternative ingredients and twists are provided in sidebars and footers.

There are very few pictures included in the collection, but the ones which are included are clear and well done.  This would definitely be a good choice for folks who enjoy cocktails and the hospitality and history of bourbon.

Five stars.

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

Lady of Perdition

Lady of Perdition is the 17th (!!) Benjamin January novel by Barbara Hambly. Due out 7th Jan 2020 from Severn House, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats (ebook available now).

These books are superbly well written. The author manages to convey the very real peril of living as a person of color in the southern USA in the 1840s. Despite being a European trained physician and gifted musician, Dr. January is continually at risk of being kidnapped and forced into slavery. In this installment, January, along with his loyal friends Abishag Shaw and Hannibal Sefton venture deep into Texas to try to rescue a young kidnapped girl, a student of his wife's girls' school.

This book works well as a standalone, the mystery (less of a murder mystery and more of a 'how will they get out of this alive') and parallel plots work very well without previous familiarity with the series. I do recommend reading the series, however, for the consistently high quality of the plotting and characterizations as well as the meticulous historical research. The books are full of the casual racist violence which was endemic to that part of the world, and they could have been relentlessly depressing. The author manages to imbue the characters with nobility, grit, purpose, honesty, and even a touch of humor and whimsy (especially Hannibal and Rose, whom I adore).

I love these books and truly look forward to every installment with anticipation.

Five stars for this one, and five stars for the series.

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

Insulin Resistance Diet for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Reverse Insulin Resistance & Manage Weight

Insulin Resistance Diet for Beginners is a tutorial guide with recipes for controlling (and hopefully reversing) insulin resistance. Released 24th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 156 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The introductory material and first section define the concepts used throughout the book, explaining metabolic disease in a manner which is non-threatening, layman accessible, and not too technical.  The second section includes two weekly meal plans and recipes. The third section is split into chapters with breakfasts, vegetarian and vegan mains,  poultry and seafood mains, beef and pork mains, sides and staples and desserts. The recipes are fairly appealing, simple, and made with easily sourced ingredients.  The end sections include some metric conversions, ingredient information, resource links and more.

This is a no-nonsense 'do-able' plan with included sample menus and recipes. I am very much a blind follower when it comes to recipes and diet plans and this one feels reasonable and achievable. For people with a diagnosis of insulin resistance, this would be a good and positive plan of action. The recipes follow the same format throughout. A short description with a header containing extra info labels such as 'dairy free', 'super quick',  'gluten free', 'vegetarian', etc is followed by a sidebar which contains info about the prep method and yields. Recipe ingredients are listed in a sidebar bullet point list with measurements in US standard measures. (There is a measurement conversion table included at the back of the book, but it's a hassle not to have them included). The cooking instructions (listed in sequential order) are easy to follow and efficiently written. Nutritional info is provided in the page footer under the cooking instructions  with calories, carbs, glycemic load, protein, fibre, fats, and sodium listed.

My only quibbles with the book (and it's almost universal with the newer crop of cookery and lifestyle books the last year) is that there are very few photos of finished dishes and none of recipe preparation. None of the recipes are extremely complex, so the omission isn't crippling. The photos which are included are clear and appealing and are in color (see cover photo for an example). The other potential issue is that this book is aimed at readers who have no complicating factors, such as inflammatory or auto-immune disorders in addition to a diagnosis of pre-diabetes.

Four stars.

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

Awen Rising An Urban Fantasy (Awen Trilogy Book 1)

Awen Rising is the first book in a trilogy by O.J. Barré. Released 26th July 2019, it's 353 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a well written and engaging near-future urban fantasy written in parallel timelines and third person pov.  The author draws very heavily on druidic lore and archetypes and good vs. evil in the form of protagonist Emily who is heir to the heritage of Awen and an unwitting force in a coming war for the survival of humanity.

The book doesn't read like a debut effort, it's quite a long book full of grand conflict and well drawn characters both human, animal, dragon, etc. The world building is detailed and complex and immersive. That being said there are some issues with dialogue and I found myself yanked out of the story by continuity problems occasionally as well as unnecessary inter-character drama. For readers who are offended by sexual content or language, the book contains both. I didn't find it egregious in either case, but it's something of which to be aware if that's an issue.

This is a diverting read and would be a good choice for lovers of the genre. Four stars.

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

Upon the Flight of the Queen (The Ring-Sworn Trilogy #2)

Upon the Flight of the Queen is the second book in the high fantasy Ring-Sworn trilogy by Howard Andrew Jones. Released 19th Nov 2019 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 432 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

I love high fantasy epic quest doorstop books like this. The world building is superlative and the characters and plotting are engaging. Reading this book was actually so immersive for me that I lost track of passing time several times.  It's taken me a while to actually review this installment because I picked it up without having read the previous book and couldn't keep track of what was going on and had to go back and pick up book one before getting through this one. The good news is that the author is darned gifted at plotting, tension, dialogue, characterization and the other technical details of immersive storytelling. The downside is that this book probably won't work well as a standalone.

Full of action, grand themes, honor, fighting, dragons, more fighting, magic, fighting, battles, impossible odds, and a bit of mystery, it's a ripping yarn in true high octane high fantasy. I really enjoyed this one (just don't try to read it as a standalone).

Five stars.

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

Chasing Eden: Design Inspiration from the Gardens at Hortulus Farm

Chasing Eden is an impressive survey of the gardens of Hortulus Farm. Due out 7th Jan 2020 from Timber Press, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a beautiful tribute and inspiring survey look at the different gardens, both formal and informal, of the iconic Hortulus farm. For myself, I read gardening tutorials and pictorial guides with at least half an eye toward what I can adapt or use in my own gardens. I look for species and varieties which I can use, arrangements and plantings, especially woodland and shady areas (of which I am overly blessed in my own garden). This lovely book really delivers. The authors explain very well the different aspects and planning which came together in the different garden rooms.

The chapters develop each of the themes, open spaces, hardscaping and land shaping, water features, woodlands, specifics on planting and spacing, themed gardens, and more. In short, the book provides a lot more information and nitty-gritty on varieties and culture information than 'just' inspiring (breathtaking) photography which it also provides in abundance.

The authors have an accessible and friendly style in the prose, but oh, the photographs. This book was just what I needed on the very dreary gray and rainy days of midwinter. I -highly- recommend the book for inspiration and classic varieties of the species and placements. The book also includes an index.

Well written garden philosophy enriched by beautiful photography and layout. Five stars, superlative.

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

Hems and Homicide (Apron Shop #1)

Hems and Homicide is the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Penney. Due out 31st Dec 2019 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a fun and engaging 'shopfront' cozy set in a small town in Maine. I enjoyed the interplay between main character Iris and her grammie, as well as the genuine BFF Madison. There's a light romance element, a sleazy landlord, a hidden skeleton from long ago in the basement of Iris' shop location, and lots of hidden motives seething under the surface of the otherwise peaceful small town.

The book's admittedly formulaic, but it is quite well written and fun and full of the whimsical amateur cozy vibe which keeps readers of the genre ticking over the pages. I liked Iris' dedication to her cat, Quincy, her honesty, and her loyalty to her friends. There were a few twists on the way to the denouement, and I liked the ending.

The book also includes a sneak peek at the next book in the series, Thread and Dead.

Four stars, entertaining and fun.

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

Dark Hollows

Dark Hollows is a contemporary standalone mystery thriller by Steve Frech. Released 6th Dec 2019, it's 384 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

I found the premise engaging, a young single guy with a (self inflicted) rough past living alone in a small New England town running a coffee shop and living on the proceeds of his rental cottage. Weird things start happening, like seeing a ringer for his ex-girlfriend (who's dead) all over the place. The first person point of view was a little wearying for me in places, and some of the dialogue and character motivations seemed a little over the top to me, but otherwise this was a very exciting and immersive read. The mystery wasn't terribly twisty, but I liked Jacob and really loved his canine sidekick, Murphy. 

Four stars. Definitely a good wintertime read for modern American mystery fans. This is an author I look forward to following in future.

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

The Mountain Master of Sha Tin (Ava Lee #12)

The Mountain Master of Sha Tin is the 12th book in the Ava Lee thriller series by Ian Hamilton. Released 2nd July 2019 from House of Anansi, it's 360 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a tightly written and thoroughly readable thriller series with a strong female protagonist who is a savvy intelligent and fearless badass. She's got a bit of a superwoman thing going on (readers are never afraid she's going to ultimately fail), but it's still a lot of fun to read. These books may be ever so slightly formulaic, but they're solid escapist fun and intelligently written and engaging.

This is the 12th book in the series and there's a strong serial development for the characters and their interrelations and back-stories. I would recommend that they be read in order. It's certainly possible to read this one as a standalone, the author is adept at providing the necessary background without info dumping, but especially getting a good feel for the relationships between the various triad gangs and secondary characters is easier when reading at least a few of the prior books in the series.

The setting is exotic and written with a palpable sense of place. After a bit of benign online author stalking, I can't see that he has lived or spent a significant amount of time in Asia, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me. It felt very believable during reading.

I enjoyed this action filled thriller and the characters and dialogue. Well worth a read for lovers of the genre.

Four stars.

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

Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1)

Nine Elms is the first book in a new procedural series by Robert Bryndza. Released 1st Dec 2019 by Amazon on their Thomas & Mercer crime imprint, it's 385 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a well written procedural with an engaging but flawed protagonist. The story arc develops slowly at first but the tension ratchets up and careens toward the inevitable denouement. There are some rough spots in the dialogue and main character Kate's interactions with others didn't quite ring true for me in some places. That being said, it -is- very well written and the plotting and narrative  are very well done.

For readers who enjoy modern procedurals, this is a promising start to a new series written by a proven author. I tend to read more classic golden age type mysteries and admit that some of the descriptions and material in this book were a bit over the top for my taste personally (sexual psychopathology, murder and torture of young girls, body horror, discussion of cannibalism, etc). The language is not egregious and there's no direct sexual content. I would definitely call this more of a thriller than a classic murder mystery.

Four stars. I enjoyed it, but it's worth knowing what's in store to at least a general degree before committing.

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

The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Orchids The Art and Science to Grow Your Own Orchids

The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing Orchids is a new tutorial guide to growing and enjoying orchids by Philip Seaton.  Due out 21st Jan 2020 by Quarto on their White Lion imprint, it's 144 pages and available in paperback format.

Whenever gardeners think about inspiration and knowledge on a worldwide scale, the Kew gardens are at the very top of a very short list. They've been going strong for almost 260 years at this point. This book includes an herbal compendium for the culture and care info of more than 70 individual orchids along with several attractive plantings arranged as projects. This is also one of a series of books from Kew with culture advice and troubleshooting tips for different types of plants (herbs, houseplants, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables).

The introduction includes general info for growing orchids of different types followed by a good collection of specific species and their culture requirements. Each of the entries includes a beautiful hand-drawn botanical illustration, taxonomic names, type of plant (terrestrial, sympodial, epiphytic, monopodial, etc) as well as size, temperature and other requirements. The projects in the tutorial chapters include things like repotting, binding orchids to a bark substrate, making a corsage and others.
 
Much of the photography is from stock photos, but all of the project photos are purpose made for this edition. The culture information is straightforward and peppered with good tips and tricks for encouraging the best performance from all of your plants.

Four stars. Well written and full of attractive photography and gorgeous botanical illustrations.

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

Jeep: The History of America's Greatest Vehicle, Updated Edition

Jeep: The History of America's Greatest Vehicle is an updated edition of the history and models of the iconic brand. Originally released in 2014, this reformat and re-release due out 14th Jan 2020 from Quarto on their Motorbooks imprint is 192 pages and will be available in paperback format.

Author Pat Foster is an automotive journalist and one of the foremost authorities on Jeep, AMC, and related brands. In other words, he knows what he's talking about. His engagement with the subject shines through in the prose. The story begins with a number of exciting tales from WW2 and continues through the next 80 years of developmental history.

The chapters are arranged chronologically from WW2 to 2019. There's a cross referenced index and the book is peppered throughout with sidebar info and annotations for further reading. I was maybe most impressed with the scope of this book. This is a comprehensive history and retrospective full of information and trivia and lavishly illustrated.

Five stars. This would make a superlative gift for car enthusiasts and especially for fans of the brand.

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

The Button Book

The Button Book is a fun and engaging activity book for the youngest readers. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Penguin Random House on their Tundra imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is an interactive story activity book with a group of animal friends pushing a different colored button on each 2-page spread. There's a hugging button, a tickle button, a singing button, a *thbbbpppt* raspberry button, etc. I can see this becoming a perennial favorite activity book. I don't imagine it would make a good bedtime book with all the raspberrying and tickling and bouncing, but it definitely would make a fun activity at other reading times.

The art is colorful, simple, energetic, and whimsical. The text is very easy to follow and fun. There are fun 'hidden' buttons in the book also, inviting a closer look for readers. The typesetting in Sassoon infant font is bouncy and easy to read.

This is a fun book. Not a bedtime read, but a fun book nonetheless. Four stars.

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

Gone, Kitty, Gone (A Cat Groomer Mystery #4)

Gone, Kitty, Gone is the 4th book in the Cat Groomer cozy series by Eileen Watkins. Due out 31st Dec 2019 from Kensington, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a fun and engaging cat cozy with cat-napping, murder, and protagonist Cassie taking her grooming services mobile to a big cat show in the area. The language is clean, the 'violence' is bloodless and off-scene. Cassie and her boyfriend, veterinarian Mark, have a sweet and slowly developing relationship over the course of the series. Despite being the 4th book in the series it works perfectly well as a standalone.

The plotting and story arc are well done and entertaining. I enjoyed the discussion of the different breeds in the book and especially loved the inclusion of Scottish fold Gordie and sphynx Looli (2 of my favorite breeds).

Entertaining and fun. Four stars.

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

100 Days to a Younger Brain: Maximize Your Memory, Boost Your Brain Health, and Defy Dementia

100 Days to a Younger Brain is a lifestyle guide on brain and whole-body health by neuroscientist Dr. Sabina Brennan. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Hachette on their Da Capo Lifelong imprint, it's 304 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I liked the logical format and layout here.  The introductory chapters include a lot of interesting, scientifically accurate information about brain health and neurology and how lifestyle choices can affect overall health and brain health specifically. The how-to-chapter has a program (chapters 3-8) with timelines for making specific changes along with guides and explanations about what, when, how, and why changes are advantageous and not least, how to reasonably make those changes.

This book isn't a passive read at all. Changes will require the direct active participation of the reader to make changes and also to document in a journal what's being done and how it's affecting sleep, diet, energy levels, cognition, etc. The book is full of lots of charts and example logs for the reader to fill out and follow to track progress.

This is a positively written and encouraging DIY for brain health. Instead of feeling overwhelmed when reading, I felt like I could honestly follow much of the advice the author gives.

Four stars.

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

Fate of the Fallen (The Shroud of Prophecy #1)

 Fate of the Fallen is the first book in a new series by Kel Kade. Released 5th Nov 2019 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

I thought this was going to be a standard epic quest 'chosen' one series. It's emphatically not that. I loved that the author basically took a large axe to the standard narrative trope within the first few chapters and the rest of the book was in interesting exploration of what happens when the 'one true prophecy' is lost?

The author has a strong and readable voice in her narrative. The plotting and tension arc are impressive. The characters are well drawn and the technical aspects of the writing are very well controlled. The author can certainly write. This book has been difficult to review because I don't write spoilers into my reviews (even with spoiler warnings) which means even a general precis is out of the question. I'll just say that I enjoyed the heck out of this one, I fully intend to search out the following book(s), and in fact, I intend to search out some of the author's other books.

Four stars. Strong story and engaging characters, creepy antagonists and monsters, and even a touch of humor.

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

The Complete Book of Ferns: Indoors - Outdoors - Growing - Crafting - History & Lore

The Complete Book of Ferns is a culture and tutorial guide for plants in the fern family by Mobee Weinstein. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Quarto on their Cool Springs imprint, it's a comprehensive 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The first chapters introduce the botanic and biological diversity and history of ferns (some species have been around since over 100 million years -before- T. rex showed up). The author has a solid understanding of the botany and a deft ability to provide the scientific information in a digestible and understandable form for laypeople. The introduction and botany cover about 20% of the page content.

The rest of the book is given over to comprehensive chapters on growing ferns indoors, outdoors, and DIY projects utilizing ferns for decor and more. The different culture chapters include good information on growing and (more importantly) troubleshooting. The book also includes a cross referenced index.  Throughout, the book is spectacularly illustrated and photographed. It's no exaggeration to say it would make a lovely coffee table book for flipping through to admire the beautiful photos.

Five stars.

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

Watercolor the Easy Way: Step-By-Step Tutorials for 50 Beautiful Motifs Including Plants, Flowers, Animals & More

Watercolor the Easy Way is a tutorial and technique guide by Sara Berrenson. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Schiffer on their Better Day imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The format is easy to follow and the tutorial projects are very attractive and useful. The introduction and technique tutorials (~20% of the content) cover tools, materials, and techniques such as wet on wet and wet on dry painting. The intro chapters are followed by 50 step by step tutorials for various motifs (mostly botanical/natural - all of them are simple and lovely).

All of the tutorials contain a full size line-drawn template, tools and supplies and a color palette. Step by step tutorial instructions are provided in color as well as written instructions. Special tips, alternative methods, and other info is provided in sidebars throughout the book.

There is no index, however, there is a full color gallery listing of the projects in the table of contents.

Well made, very high quality, this book got my fingers itching to get my supplies out and have a go. This would make a superlative gift for anyone who wants to do watercolor; many (most) of the projects are accessible for anyone. These would make lovely cards, placecards, framed pieces, etc. Lovely. Five stars.

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

The Glass Forest (Cara Walden Mystery, #3)

The Glass Forest is the third mystery in the Cara Walden series by Lisa Lieberman. Released 24th Dec 2019 it's 216 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a stylish and superbly written fictional mystery written around a real historical framework. The characterization is intricately woven with the characters 'in character' and obeying their internal motivations. The beginning of the story was somewhat confusing for me, with a plethora of primary and secondary characters, an exotic setting, and changing scenes. There were a couple of parts which I had to go back and re-read to get the plot (and characters) straight in my mind. Once the story gelled in my mind though, it was a tense and well written noir plot with lots of dodgy characters and plot twists to sort out.

The story arc and pacing are variable (it dragged in a few places for me), but the dialogue and characterization are top shelf. The language is PG, used in context. Protagonist Cara is intelligent, likeable, and independent. I found no glaring historical errors whilst reading; it has verisimilitude.

Very well written and readable. Five stars for this entry and for the series as a whole. Despite this being the third book in the series, I think it would work quite well as a standalone.

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

Creative Journaling A Guide to Over 100 Techniques and Ideas for Amazing Dot Grid, Junk, Mixed Media, and Travel Pages

Creative Journaling by Renee Day is a tutorial guide with illustrations for bullet journaling. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Quarto on their Rock Point imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The instruction and tutorials here are easy to follow and the book is accessible and appealing. The introductory chapters (~8% of the content) cover general ideas, materials, and techniques. The following chapters give overviews over specific types of journals (dot grid, junk journaling aka altered book multi-media, mixed media, travel journaling, and more). The book also includes a fairly comprehensive resources list for further reading and learning.

The author's writing style is encouraging and positive. One thing she said really stuck with me:

 As a kid, I’d collect journals but would never use them in fear of ruining them. After my collection started to grow, I would use my least favorite journal from the bunch first while keeping my favorites in mint condition.

 This is 100% me. This book has so many nice short 1-2 page suggestions and tutorials to vary the look and use of the pages with inks, washi tape, different layouts and more. I found a lot of inspiration here to use in my own journals with which I'm becoming braver and more confident. Mostly, I'm having a blast actually learning and *using* my journals.

Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for a journaling friend, especially bundled with some gorgeous washi tape and pens/markers.

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

The Secret Garden Cookbook, Newly Revised Edition: Inspiring Recipes from the Magical World of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden Cookbook is a recipe collection and cookbook tie-in to Burnett's classic story. Originally published in 1999 this reformat and re-release, due out 14 Jan 2020 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a beautifully illustrated homage to good food and the settings and characters from the book.

The recipes are grouped by category: Yorkshire breakfasts, manor lunches, English tea, kitchen garden, Dickon's cottage food, taste of India, and garden picnics. The book is lavishly and appealingly illustrated with large clear recipe and serving photographs.  Each of the recipes includes yields, prep and cooking time, ingredients (including metric measurements, yay!), a short description, and step by step instructions.

There's a comprehensive index at the end with cross-linked recipes. The author's writing style is homey and friendly and for readers who like some culture with their cookbooks, this one has a very classic and nostalgic feeling. There's a lot of comfort and hospitality as well as quotes from The Secret Garden in hand illustrated whimsical sidebars scattered throughout.

Five stars for lovers of Victorian English cooking and for lovers of the original book. The recipes are not overly fancy or difficult, they're heirloom recipes.

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

The Memory Keeper: A Science Fiction Mystery (The Memory Thief Series Book 6)

The Memory Keeper is the 6th book in the world of the memory thief by Sarina Dorie. Released 26th Nov 2019, it's 178 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book (along with most of the author's oeuvre) is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a short and drama filled young adult steampunk SF novel with extensive world building and fantasy elements. The narrative explores themes of belonging, family, honor, racism, and culture. The author ratchets the dramatic tension up from literally the first page, mostly without relief, which I found wearying at times. The framing of protagonist Sean for theft within the first couple of pages was clumsy and the fact that it seemed to have worked on everyone around him (under -entirely- circumstantial conditions) doesn't speak very well of the intelligence of the other characters. In short, it felt absolutely contrived and clunky to me. Much of the dialogue was stilted and cringe-worthy (did the author really need to use "begorra" so many times to convince her readers that the main characters were Irish? Incidentally, begorra and top'o'th'mornin' and such are preeeeetty certain indications that the speaker isn't and never was Irish in any manner).

That being said, this is a young adult novel and will probably appeal to fans of the genre much more than to my cynical old heart. I did really enjoy the world building and flora and fauna and back stories for the different characters and cultures and parallel development on different colonies.

Three and a half stars for me rounded up for the interesting and intricate world building.

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

Haunting the Haunted: Marie Jenner Mystery #6

Haunting the Haunted is the 6th Marie Jenner mystery by E. C. Bell. Released 29th Oct 2019 by Tyche, it's 336 pages and available paperback and ebook formats.

This is a nice paranormal mystery with a likable heroine who is trying to move beyond her traumatic past and find a more comfortable 'normal'. She can see and communicate with ghosts and has a load of drama dumped in her life by a zealous 'psychic debunker' . The plotting and story arc are well done and there's a deft and creeping sense of dread in the narrative.

Despite being the 6th book in the series, it works well as a standalone and the author is gifted at providing the necessary back-story without spoon feeding or info dumping on the reader. The plot arc is well done and engaging and the denouement is exciting (and a little bit terrifying).

Readable and entertaining. Four stars.

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

A Fatal Assignation (The Rutherford Trilogy #2)

A Fatal Assignation is the second book in the Rutherford Trilogy by Alice Chetwynd Ley. Originally released in 1987, this reformat and re-release from Sapere on 3rd Nov 2019 is 231 pages and available in ebook format (other editions available in other formats). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is an easy to read Regency historical mystery with a very light and subtle romance subplot. I would not call it a romance. The mystery is engaging and develops apace with murder and blackmail and a fair bit of skullduggery. One particular thing which struck me positively throughout was the author's attention to period detail. The dialogue sounds right and I found no glaring anachronisms when I was reading. I wasn't yanked out of the story by problems with continuity, plotting, or character. I confess that I read this one in one sitting and mostly as a pleasure read-through instead of with an eye mainly toward reviewing, so my notes are not copious.

I hadn't read the first book in the series, but this one works perfectly well as a standalone. I do intend to pick up the other two for a quick read soon. For KU subscribers, most of the author's oeuvre is available in the KU library.

Four stars. Piquant, true to period, and well written.

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

Keto: A Woman's Guide and Cookbook: The Groundbreaking Program for Effective Fat-Burning, Weight Loss & Hormonal Balance

Keto: A Woman's Guide and Cookbook is a tutorial aimed especially at women who want to utilize  a low/no carbohydrate diet for health and weight loss by Tasha Metcalf. Due out 14th Jan 2020 from Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint, it's 272 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This book is certainly very well organized. The first  15% of the page content covers the introduction, definitions and concepts involved in a keto. The author covers macronutrients, different metabolic pathways and some layman accessible biochemistry, along with advantages and disadvantages of various diets. The author discusses some of the side effects of ketosis and benefits of getting through the initial adjustment period.

The second section covers some of the differences of female metabolism and hormonal cycles as they relate to diet and exercise. These chapters (and indeed the whole book) are layman accessible, scientifically accurate, free of outrageous claims, and reasonable. I must admit though, when reading, this book is so theory dense that I often felt overwhelmed. I think that most readers will get probably get more from the book by 'buffet' style reading (finding specific information and taking careful notes) than by 'novel' style reading from cover to cover and trying to compile and assimilate all the information in one read-through.

The last 60% of the content is given over to implementation of a low carb diet, realistic expectations, the phases of ketosis, fat-adaptation, etc along with a bank of well curated recipes which are keto-friendly. The book is very well photographed and the composition is pleasant and easy to read. The recipes themselves are clear and easy to follow. Each recipe has a header with cooking times and a short description of the recipe. The ingredients (given in American and metric measures) are listed in a sidebar, along with yields and serving sizes. Step by step directions are followed by nutrient information. Most of the ingredients will be easy to source at any well stocked grocery, but some of the more specialized 'keto-specific' nut butters and low carb flours, milks, etc might be more difficult to find and necessitate specialty grocers or health food stores. Some, but by no means all, of the recipes are vegan friendly. The photography is exceptional and very nearly every recipe is attractively presented.

This is a comprehensive book, and it's very information dense.  Four stars.

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

The Magick of Food: Rituals, Offerings & Why We Eat Together

The Magick of Food is a collection of musings and philosophy based on the history and cultural significance of food and the spiritual aspects of making and sharing food.  Originally published in 2017, this reformatted edition is due out 8th Jan. 2020 from Llewellyn publications, it's 288 pages and will be available in ebook and paperback formats.

Author Gwion Raven is an author, teacher, musician, and cook, pagan, and more. Llewellyn (the publisher) has a long history printing new age and alternative titles. If that sounds like this book is full of new age 'woo' (and ancient wisdom), well, it is, honestly. That being said, I (firmly 'school of western medicine' and about as non-'woo' as it's possible to be) found quite a lot of interesting food for thought here. This is a well structured and well written book. The author has a sure voice and a deft touch with the written word. He's never strident or preachy and I found a lot to like. I especially appreciated the wonderfully entertaining annotated history of food and cuisine from ancient times through the middle ages.

The second section of the book includes essays on food and rituals in modern life. We all have these rituals from the family favorites we all enjoy (it's not the holidays without aunt's cake, cousin's cranberry sauce, grandmother's stuffing etc), and the author does a good job exploring the concepts of food in specific settings, food and magic, sex, healing, grief, community, etc.

The third section (~30% of the content) includes the recipes. The author has provided in-depth commentary for most of them with suggestions for use and preparation.  The book also includes a fairly comprehensive bibliography for further reading.

The book has uses well beyond the spiritual. The recipes and practices are mostly appetizing and sensible. There maybe isn't a great deal of really groundbreaking info here, but it is an unquestionably enlightening and entertaining read as well as providing information for further exploration.  The author has a whimsical and wry sense of humor that is also very appealing.

All in all, interesting especially for practitioners or would-be seekers.

Four stars.

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

A Deathly Silence (DCI Helen Lavery #3)

A Deathly Silence is the third book in the DCI Helen Lavery series by Jane Isaac. Released 15th Oct 2019 by Legend Press, it's 288 pages and available in ebook format.  This is a well written modern procedural and although the third in the series, I read it as a standalone and had no problems following the characters or keeping the plot straight in my mind. I fully intend to go and pick up the previous 2 books in the series as soon as I can.

The author is an adept writer. The pacing, dialogue, plotting, and entire story arc are precisely controlled and well paced and presented. I found the plot engaging and twisty with a surprising and satisfying denouement. This is a solidly entertaining and enjoyable read especially for fans of modern British procedurals. The language is PG rated, nothing too graphic or over the top. The slang and spelling are British (torch, lift, flat, etc), but nothing out of the ordinary or unintelligible in context. There is a fair bit of brutal description of previously occurring torture, including a murder of a police officer, used in context and having happened previous to the narrative. 

The plot revolves around a single main plot thread with a very few supporting subplot elements, so it's a satisfying book to sit and read without being distracted by a story which is all over the place.I was impressed with how realistic the investigation seemed, and how believable the internal politics were, with different departments making the process of murder investigation more difficult than it needed to be because of bureaucracy.

Well written and satisfying. Four stars.

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

Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object

Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object is a tutorial art & technique guide by Mariko Higaki. Originally released in Japanese in 2019, this English translation from Quarto on their Rockport imprint is due out 7th Jan 2020. It's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The style is technical, almost isometric (see cover). The author includes a number of short essays from other technical artists and engineers on various aspects of observational sketching such as product design and packaging design. I found the design process very interesting and enlightening. These include a Q&A format on the artistic process, the artists development and careers, and other information about how to actually get what one sees onto the paper in a recognizable form.

The chapters are arranged thematically: What observational sketching is (and what's the appeal), basic tutorials and techniques which anyone can use right away, how to observe and render different surfaces (such as metals, plastics, etc), and the step by step specific tutorials.

I find the style very appealing (then again, I'm an engineer and pretty much anything I need to draw on a daily basis -needs- to be pared down and technical). I found a number of really good tips for rendering drawings which actually look like what I'm aiming for.

Lots of worthwhile tutorial information here.

Four stars.

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

The Keeper (Suri Series, #1)

The Keeper is the first book in a new series by indie author Nikki Moyes. Released 10th Oct 2019, it's 366 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a potentially interesting mash-up of a dystopian YA/NA novel (echoes of the Maze Runner and Hunger Games) with some odd romance tropes (a novelized version of reality/bachelorette show) tacked on. The author has a good start with solid world building, ecology, alien life forms, shapeshifters, dragons, and more, but I felt that the grafted on reality TV show subplot felt like filler.

The pacing was off to me as well. There were a number of places which really dragged for me, despite the fact that people were killing one another or being killed left right and centre. I never felt the tension which suggested that any of the main characters were -really- in danger. There's quite a bit of deus-ex-machina going on. The dialogue felt seriously stilted and unnatural in some places and there were a lot of places where otherwise supposedly mature adults just made me want to bang my head on my desk.

Despite that, the author can write engaging fantasy and has a clear and adept voice as a storyteller. The book felt unfinished and in need of unflinching editing.

Three stars.

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

Drew And Jot: Dueling Doodles

Drew And Jot: Dueling Doodles is the first volume of a new series by Art Baltazar. Due out 7th Jan 2020 from Kaboom!, it's 208 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The author / artist has a number of long running comics series and although comparisons with Dav Pilkey's work are inevitable, I submit that Drew and Jot are bring their own energy to the game and are worthy on their own merits.

I really enjoyed the story-within-the-story trope and it works very well here. I love the spontaneity of the story line. Protagonist 5th grader new kid Andrew meets a friend his first day at school who is also into drawing and making up superhero stories and they trade sketch books to create crossovers featuring each other's superhero/supervillain. The fast moving action and appealing art will certainly prompt readers to pick up their own pencils and paper and start creating (and that's a wonderful thing).

This would make a great selection for school or classroom libraries, as inspiration for a maker group, or a superlative gift for a young artist or reader, possibly bundled with some drawing materials to do their own stories.

Beautifully written and full of energy, this is a great read. I enjoyed it loads. Five stars.

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

The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening; Attract and Support Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, Bats, and Other Pollinators

The Pollinator Victory Garden is a new tutorial guide for attracting and protecting pollinators (bees, beetles, butterflies, bats, and others) in the home garden. Written by Kim Eierman and due out 7th Jan 2020, it's 160 pages and will be available in ebook and paperback formats.

This is a very well written and accessible book full of good general advice for doing what we can to support natural pollinators on our own as homeowners and gardeners. I appreciated that the author didn't primarily concentrate on the plight of domestic honeybees (which honestly are not native to most places outside of southern Europe and are thus more 'honey cows' than wild pollinators).

The book has a logical and easy to follow format. The chapters proceed logically and thematically: what pollinators are and what they do, habitat, forage/food, specific pollinators, and specific garden planning and execution. Additionally, the book includes comprehensive appendices covering plant lists, checklists, troubleshooting tips, resource and informational links, and a cross-referenced index.

There are so many books about every single facet of beekeeping and gardening (and beekeeping WITH gardening), but there aren't very many in my experience with a strong emphasis on attracting and supporting indigenous pollinators for diversity and biome health. This is a good one.

Five stars.

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

Children's Picturebooks: The Art of Visual Storytelling

Children's Picturebooks: The Art of Visual Storytelling is a survey text covering the history and development of juvenile graphic literature from the 15th century onward. Originally published in 2012, this second edition is due out 7th Jan from Laurence King. It's 200 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a comprehensive overview, lushly illustrated and well written. The layout is logical and appealing. It's slanted toward the educator/historian, but the language is not overly academic and it's perfectly accessible to layman readers. The chapters are arranged thematically: history, illustration, children's books and children, iconography (an unusually well written coverage of the subject with a lot of good information about the interplay of words and images to tell a story), age-appropriate themes in children's literature (death, sex, violence, etc), print and process, non-fiction, and the juvenile publishing industry. Scattered throughout the book are also short case studies and references along with essays by industry professionals, educators, and artists.

There are numerous references and annotations as well as abundant illustrations from children's literature both historical and modern. This would be a valuable reference for academics, authors, and educators learning what is effective in terms of story and illustration and why they work. The annotations (with internet links, books, and periodicals) and index are comprehensive and full of sources for further reading. This would be a superlative textbook for a classroom setting for teacher training as well as a valuable resource for working teachers and librarians to mine for book recommendations for their young students and patrons.

Building a lifelong love of reading is such an important responsibility for teachers and parents and being able to make an informed decision about books is vital. I found the 5th chapter on the suitability of certain subjects as they relate to children's books very enlightening for me especially (since I was never forbidden any books that caught my fancy at the public library as a child - including a huge library copy of Gray's Anatomy which led to months of questions from me to my sainted parents and teachers), but the entire book is full of good information.

I don't have the first edition for comparison purposes, so I can't speak to the differences between the 1st and 2nd, but the 2nd edition is attractively and well formatted. I received an electronic ARC for review purposes, so considerations about the physical volume are beyond the scope of this review. I can say that my experience of the publisher's other books' quality has been consistently positive.

Five stars

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

The Hierophant Card

The Hierophant Card is the 6th book in the Tarot Mysteries by Bevan Atkinson. Released 3rd Nov 2019, it's 222 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

The plot really gallops along, it's a short and satisfying read, and the technical aspects of the writing are seamless and enjoyable. This is an author who can really write. The secondary characters are well and sensitively drawn. The language is R-rated, mostly used in context, and it's an enjoyable and humorous ride from start to finish.

The sense of place is palpable and the author has a gift for descriptive prose. I love the main characters in the story. Thorne, Xana, and DeLeon are appealing and they're such great characters and very easy to like. The stories are so entertaining that I'm perfectly willing to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the ride, and I appreciate that the author never abuses my trust. I also love it that Xana is preternaturally perceptive and intuitive but not infallible. I find her a thoroughly appealing character.

The plot here is relatively straightforward and linear. I found it well written, although not my favorite in the series thus far. The denouement was a little rushed and scattered, but it's still a solid read.

Possibly worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, the first book in this highly entertaining series (The Fool Card) is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. It's always fun to find a new to me author and series to read. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of modern American mysteries. I'm admittedly a bit sad that currently this is the most recent book in the series. I'm looking forward to finding out what comes next for Xana and co.

Four stars.

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

Ultimate Trivia, Volume 2: 840 MORE Fun and Challenging Trivia Questions

Ultimate Trivia, Volume 2 is the second volume in the trivia compendium series by Donna Hoke. Due out 24th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 213 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats (ebook available now). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a straight collection of 840 questions in 4 categories (pop culture, geography, sports, and science) with several formats: Q&A, multiple choice, and sequences. Additionally, the author has provided a how-to-use-this-book and intro chapter for structured play alone, as pairs, or groups. The questions run the gamut from super easy to quite challenging. The questions aren't arranged into searchable subcategories, nor could I find any source references included.  Even so, it's an entertaining collection.

Three and a half stars. I could see this being quite useful on long trips.

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