How to Draw a Happy Cat

How to Draw a Happy Cat is a cute picture book for the youngest readers by Ethan Berlin with illustrations by Jimbo Matison. Released 4th Oct 2022, it's 40 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is such a whimsically appealing little book. It's ostensibly a drawing book, but cat just won't be satisfied. First it's a cool t-shirt and a stuffed bear, and soon it's a pizza catapult which cat needs to be happy! 

All of the drawings can be used as fun copyable drawings as a fun activity with the smalls - as well as a nice bedtime reading book (and handy escape for the 5 millionth reading of Goodnight Moon). 

Four stars. Very simple but very fun. 

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

Five Marys Family Style: Recipes and Traditions from the Ranch

Five Marys Family Style is a lovely and well photographed style/inspiration guide with recipes by Mary Heffernan. Released 27th Sept 2022 by Sasquatch Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a lovely book, lavishly illustrated and full of good food, well prepared and presented. There are lots of photos from the Heffernan family's celebrations along with their ranch and surroundings. The book is arranged around seasonal celebrations which are further divided into 13 menus with all the trimmings. There are traditional holiday celebrations and recipes (Christmas, Easter, etc) as well as more informal entertaining and fun gatherings (Fiesta Friday, and a rodeo picnic). 

Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) measurements only. Descriptions are contained in the header for each recipe. The nutritional information is not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in headers with the recipe descriptions. The recipes themselves are beautifully finished with lots of nice unexpected juxtapositions of flavor and texture, for example sheet-pan pork tenderloin served with delicata squash, kale and Brussels sprouts (!?)  - amazing and delicious. Many of the recipes are meat heavy, it's a ranch cookbook. There are a significant number of meat-free recipes however, and the overall quality of the writing and neat and hearty fusion style of the foods will allow vegetarians a surprising amount of use for the recipes in the book - notably all of the sauces, condiments, dressings, marinades, and other flavor enhancers (and there are a pile of them) can be adapted to meat-free uses. 

The production values are top notch, and yes, the book features their "instagram perfect" family (which few of us can possibly achieve), however, it's honestly written with such warmth and candor that I found myself admiring them going for their dreams and raising their lovely family in a gorgeous rural setting. Serving suggestions for the dishes are beautifully presented and appropriate.

Five stars. Definitely an inspirational book full of useful unfussy full menus and good food to share with loved ones and friends.

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

Seriously Good Chili Cookbook: 177 of the Best Recipes in the World

Seriously Good Chili Cookbook is a fun and comprehensive collection of chili recipes curated by Brian Baumgartner. Released 13th Sept 2022 by Fox Chapel, it's 252 pages and is available in spiral hardcover and ebook formats.

Practically everyone loves chili and there are as many family recipes handed down as there are families (especially if you are from the USA). This book is a collection of 177 classic recipes in an array of styles (including vegetarian) to suit all tastes.

The recipes are arranged thematically by chapter: chili con carne, chili verde, white chicken chili, Texas chili, Cincinnati chili, turkey, vegetarian, black bean, homestyle, chili as extra (dogs, nachos, cornbread and more), and a serious look at chili cookoffs. Each recipe includes an introduction, cook times, yields. Recipe ingredients are given in a bullet list with measurements in imperial (US) units only. Recipe ingredients will be easily accessible at almost any well stocked grocery store. Some specialty fresh peppers might require a trip to a well stocked international grocery store, depending on the reader's location.

The standout with this collection is the photography. There are many many full color photos for the recipes showing finished serving suggestions, sides, alternate toppings, and cooking progress photos. It's a really good collection for cooks who might need an extra help with serving suggestions and presentation ideas.

There's a lot of behind-the-scenes stories from the filming of The Office which also makes this collection fun to read.

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving to a fan of The Office -or- chili fans.

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

How to Write a Song that Matters

How to Write a Song that Matters is part memoir, part notes from Williams' songwriting retreats for artists. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Hachette, it's 288 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I've been a fan of the author's music for ages, and it's interesting (and a little gratifying) to know that the persona which comes through in a lot of her music really does reflect in her written work as well. This is a well written and realistic guide to facilitate readers tapping into their *own* creative processes and get the stuff that's inside to the outside in the form of a song/poetry/art.

There was a surprising (to me) amount of practical advice included from "what if I don't have facility with an instrument other than my voice" to "where can I find inspiration and know what it looks like when I find it". There's quite a lot of substantial pondering going on between the covers here. 

The overarching chapters are possibly more straightforward than a lot of songs' genesis and are laid out more or less from beginning inspiration through writing and refining and finally to getting the song out into the world. It's a meandering process and Ms. Williams recognizes that in the text with humor and wit (and a stiff dose of practicality). 

Four stars. I can imagine that the sonwriter retreats are a positive influence on the participants and well worth experiencing. Now a much wider audience has the same benefits. 

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

Memories and Life Lessons from the Magic Tree House

Memories and Life Lessons from the Magic Tree House is a beautifully written and well presented memoir with recollections and ruminations by Mary Pope Osborne, drawn from her lifelong love of travel and exploration and her experiences writing The Magic Tree House. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Random House, it's 144 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

The book is written in thematic chapters which each provide an important philosophical lesson on gratefulness, compassion, bravery (but not foolhardiness), finding helpers along the way, finding & sharing your gifts with the world, and more. They're drawn both from Ms. Osborne's own experiences as well as the 30 years of life lessons that characters Jack and Annie lived in the episodes of the Magic Tree House. 

Four stars. Accessibly and gently written, its readable and positive focus will give readers a boost. The book is also beautifully illustrated by Sal Murdocca throughout. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home library, and gift-giving. Lots of very well thought out and kindly presented ideas here. 

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

A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #11 Death Down the Aisle

 

Death Down the Aisle is the 11th Lady Eleanor Swift cozy mystery by pseudonymous writing duo Verity Bright. Released 31st Aug 2022, it's 266 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book (and the rest of the series) are currently included in the KU library to borrow and read for free.

This is such a lightly humorous and refreshing read. The entire series is just perfect for lifting the spirits and is wonderfully entertaining throughout. The style is reminiscent of earlier golden age inter-war mysteries. It's irreverent, with an appealing ensemble cast of amateur society sleuth Lady Eleanor and her butler/dogsbody Clifford whom she inherited along with her title from her late uncle as well as assorted society friends and servants. Gladstone the elderly bulldog also makes an appearance in this installment, bow tie and all, as Lady Eleanor's "plus one" at the society wedding of the century. Even more scandal ensues when the bridegroom is arrested before the nuptials when he's found crouched over the body of the other woman to whom he was engaged. (Egads!). Eleanor is soon on the case and woe betide the criminals.

It's a fast and undemanding cozy; the language is clean, the crimes are not written violently or explicitly and the denouement is satisfying and well written. For readers looking for verisimilitude in dialogue and action, be warned, this series is full of modern vernacular and sensibilities. Eleanor fraternizes with the servants and runs a shockingly lax estate.

Four and a half  stars, a truly fun romp. There are now 11 extant books in the series, with the 12th due out in late Nov 2022. This is a prime candidate for binge reading. Although each of the books is self contained, I recommend reading them in order (though it's not absolutely necessary). Not a troublesome exercise since they're all currently available to borrow on kindle unlimited, if one is a subscriber.

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

Elinor Wonders Why: Forest Giants

 

Elinor Wonders Why: Forest Giants is a fun and engaging story for primary school readers with lots of science information in an accessible and easy to understand form. Released 6th Sept. 2022 by Kids Can Press, it's 40 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a new series of books based on, and featuring characters from the animated PBS kids series Elinor Wonders Why produced by SHOE ink. The books are colorful and fully illustrated. Science concepts and vocabulary are explained in context and also in well written and understandable sidebars. In this volume, Elinor and her classmates learn about and visit a giant sequoia forest and learn about the giant trees they find there.

The language and art are appealing. The concepts are presented well and cover some surprisingly diverse and complex concepts in an age appropriate manner. 

Five stars. This would be a great selection for public or school library acquisition as well as for home use. 

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

Vera Stanhope #10 The Rising Tide

 

The Rising Tide is the 10th Vera Stanhope procedural mystery by Ann Cleeves. Released 6th Sep 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 384 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a strong entry in a very strong and well written series. The characters are so well rendered and filled out that at this point they live and breathe. (Helped, no doubt, by the capable casting and direction of Brenda Blethyn and the cast and crew of the long running ITV series). This installment sees them investigating a hanging death at an isolated island retreat involving a group of friends and former schoolmates on the anniversary of their gathering there decades ago.

It's not long before Vera & co. discover entanglements and secrets. The isolation and undependable tides make the island more or less a "locked room" setting and render the investigation logistically difficult and somewhat dangerous. 

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of  11 hours, 28 minutes and is expertly narrated by Janine Birkett. She has a well modulated and warm voice and does a perfect job with the disparate and difficult dialects and intonations of the large cast of characters. Her voice wasn't intrusive at all, which allows readers to concentrate on the intricate plot and various characters. I wasn't previously familiar with the narrator, but she did an excellent job in this instance.

Five stars. The series is superlatively well written, and this installment fits well with the others. There are 10 books in the series as it stands now, making it a good candidate for a long binge read. One of the best modern procedurals available.

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

Killers of a Certain Age

 

Killers of a Certain Age is a well written cat-and-mouse mystery thriller by Deanna Raybourn. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 353 pages and is available in hardcover 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 definitely (emphatically) not your grandmother's cozy mystery. These four competent former assassings resemble 007 way more than The Golden Girls. Recruited to the shadowy "Museum" in the 1970s, they're ready to retire now and taking a celebratory cruise together when they figure out that it's a lot easier to get into the hired killer business than it is to get out. 

This has aspects of a buddy mystery thriller, as well as deft touches of espionage and all-around good storytelling. There are some graphic descriptions of murder and violence. The characterizations really shine here and all four of the main characters are completely distinct and well rendered - impossible to blend them together. It's razor-wire sharp but I was surprised how wryly humorous and warm it was at the same time.  

Four stars. Very well done. Ms. Raybourn is a gifted writer who is clearly willing to put in the work necessary to write about difficult/unappealing crimes in a way that renders the protagonists relatable. Dual timeline flashbacks and current time narrative are used to good effect and make the story readable as well as moving the plot along.

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

The Vegetable Gardening Book: Your complete guide to growing an edible organic garden from seed to harvest

 

The Vegetable Gardening Book is an encyclopedic no-nonsense guide for getting an edible harvest from the garden written by Joe Lamp'l. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 256 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a well written, accessible, guide to fruit and vegetable gardening. It's beautifully and clearly photographed throughout. The specific crop guides are useful and not exaggerated or overly complex. The text is clear and specific with good info on troubleshooting and pest control. The author covers seed starting pretty well and gives practical usable advice for getting seeds started, hardening off, transplanting, caring for the plants in the garden, through to harvesting.

Five stars. One of the best gardening books I've reviewed in 2022, maybe the best, definitely top 5. This would be a great pick for public or school library acquisition, gardening group libraries, activity groups, and home use. 

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

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

 

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking is an adorable YA fantasy adventure for all ages by T. Kingfisher. Released 21st July 2020, it's 320 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

There are books which readers who have a lifetime reading habit can point to and say "this is one of the books that really hooked me". I am 100% sure this book will be "that book" for a lot of kids (and heck, maybe some adults). The protagonist is a kind, responsible, likeable teenager who works for her aunt in their family bakery and who can, on occasion, make gingerbread men dance with some minor magic. She doesn't think of herself as special... in fact nobody seems to think of her as particularly special, but she just might have to save her city from an invasion with her unremarkable magic. 

The story is simple and direct and engaging throughout. The writing is superb. There isn't one clunky scene or bit of dialogue which yanked me out of the story.  It came across my radar as a casual mention on one of my FB reader groups, and I picked it up on a whim. The author's name didn't ring a bell, but on closer inspection, she also wrote the Hamster Princess and Dragonbreath series, some of which I've reviewed on the blog. Delightful stuff and really one of the rare things - truly an all ages read. 

This would be a great selection for public or school library acquisition (codicil: there's a description of a girl who's discovered in the beginning scenes of the book and a fairly creepy antagonist (the murderer) throughout - not graphic, but creepy). It would also make a superlative choice for bedtime read with young(ish) kids. The writing and plotting are consistently better than HP, to give a comparison. 

Five stars. The mystery, resolution and denouement are self contained in this volume, but I sincerely hope there's more to come from Mona and her family.

Sewing Love: Handmade Clothes for Any Body

Sewing Love: Handmade Clothes for Any Body is is a tutorial sewing guide with instructions for drafting patterns for clothing which really fits the reader's style and body written by Sanae Ishida. Released 23rd June 2022 by Sasquatch Books, it's 288 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. The book also includes a wonderful message of kindness and body positivity and meets readers where they *are* honestly and respectfully.

The fabrics pictured are gorgeous. Pure cotton, linen, and blends. It's full of photos with models of different shapes and sizes showing the designs in the book which helps to visualize the drape and silhouette of the finished garments. The author has included resource links and lists for sourcing fabrics and further info and instruction.

I did not finish any of the garments, but a close read-through of the construction notes didn't turn up any glaring mistakes. The included tutorial diagrams are good, and on a par with those included with commercial patterns.

I really liked a lot of the designs here and there are numerous subtle details which are not immediately apparent. The style is absolutely not fussy or overly fitted. For me it's five strong stars especially given the reasonable and gentle positivity for meeting readers where they *are*. So much of commercial fashion is so very toxic that I've heard 5 year olds (girls) saying they want to be on a diet.

This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, maker's groups, classroom instruction, and home studio. 

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

Farm to Table Mysteries #2 Put Out to Pasture

 

Put Out to Pasture is the second book in the Farm To Table mysteries by Amanda Flower. Released 22nd Feb 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 288 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Library binding available in Dec 2022. 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'm a huge sucker for cozies. Bonus points for pets (cats or dogs, I'm not picky), baked goods, knitting, book clubs, and I don't mind the occasional obligatory hunky sheriff/detective love interest. This book ticked a lot of boxes for me. Underdog heroine/amateur sleuth lead character moves back to her small-town home from "the big city", complicated history with the local hunky lawman, an adorable pug sidekick named Huckleberry (awww), and a few other appealing plot features which might be a little standard, but that's why we devour cozy mysteries.

This series is developing well, with good characterizations and pacing. The book's written in first person point of view which could have been a little distracting, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment - the author is quite adept at her craft.

The language is clean, the crimes are (mostly) bloodless, and there's a romance subplot but nothing sexually graphic. It's a safe and fun read.

Four stars. Recommended for cozy mystery lovers.

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

Bob Ross Cross Stitch: 12 Happy Little Cross Stitch Patterns - Includes: Embroidery Hoop, Floss, Fabric and Instruction Book with 12 Patterns!

Bob Ross Cross Stitch is a sweet collection of 12 small patterns by Haley Pierson-Cox for cross stitch bundled with enough fabric and floss to complete two projects from the book. Released 30th Aug 2022 by Quarto on their becker&mayer! imprint, it's 48 pages and is available in kit form. The ebook format is also available without supplies included for a reduced price. 

It's nice to see cross stitch getting some attention and this is an attractive, albeit short, collection of Bob Ross' perennial encouraging advice. The designs are very simple and graphically bold. There are no partial stitches, very little shading, and no backstitching or outlining. The designs are all square, and about 70x70 stitches, so they can be completed in a weekend or a few short stitching sessions. They would make great encouragement gifts for a friend, or as a positive reminder in our own home/studio. 

The arc provided for review was in electronic format, so this review lacks any evaluation of the included kit materials. The fabric as pictured looks like 14ct white aida cloth (good for even new beginners), embroidery floss, a wooden circular tension hoop, and a needle. 

The included designs are -not- landscapes; they're simple and encouraging sayings from Mr. Ross such as "Sometimes you learn more from your mistakes than from your masterpieces", "Anything we don't like, we'll turn into a happy little tree", and "We don't make mistakes, just happy accidents". 

Four stars, with the codicil that this isn't a book of landscapes at all. 

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

Murder in First Class Miss Underhay #8

 

Murder in First Class is the 8th Miss Underhay cozy by Helena Dixon. Released 16th Feb 2022, it's 258 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free along with the rest of the series.

This installment sees Kitty investigating a locked room murder (in a moving train) and trying to figure out how the victim ties in to a cold case from her past. She's also trying to move on with her life and plan a future with her fiance. There are several disparate subplot threads which entwine to a satisfying denouement and resolution.

It's a consistently well written and entertaining modern classic English mystery series with well wrought characters and clever plots. The dialogue flows smoothly and isn't clunky or overwrought. With ten books out now, and an 11th due out in 2023, it would be a nice candidate for a series binge read. Although the mystery is self contained in this volume, the characters' relationships have developed over the length of the series, so I recommend reading them in order to avoid spoilers. There's also a multi-book overarching subplot which turns on the long ago murder of Kitty's mother.

Well worth a look for mystery lovers and fans of the golden age. I love interwar British mysteries and this is a good light series.

Four stars.

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

 

Caught and Collared

Caught and Collared is the fourth book in a small town cozy series by Jackie Layton. Released 15th Feb 2022, it's 224 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.

This is a very light murder cozy with a female protagonist who finds herself in the middle of murder despite her best intentions. She just wants to plan her wedding, and instead she keeps tripping over murder victims. This time it's the body of a local true-crime podcaster and influencer who teased a bombshell revelation on an unsolved cold case.  It's full of southern slang and clean language with a sweet romance subplot.

There are four books in the series to date, making it a potential candidate for a series binge read for cozy readers who enjoy clean mysteries with an extra helping of dogs and Southern settings.  

Four stars. 

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

Inspector Chen Cao #11.5 The Shadow of the Empire: A Judge Dee Investigation

The Shadow of the Empire is a Judge Dee mystery and tie-in to Qiu Xiaolong's long running Inspector Chen series. First released in 2020, this reformat and re-release from Severn House 1st Feb 2022 is 192 pages and is available in trade paperback in this edition as well as most other 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.

 This is beautifully lyrical and well written story. Most western readers who are familiar with Judge Dee, first came into contact with the character via Robert van Gulik's wonderful stories. The style (and mystery), though semi-fictional is in no way derivative of van Gulik's work. The plotting is intricate and the book is filled with poetry (the main suspect is poet). The settings and character names are exotic and although set in the Tang dynasty, it reads well for modern audiences. I had no trouble immersing myself in the story. 

I found the secondary character names confusing and occasionally a little difficult to keep straight in my own mind, so the electronic version of the book was great to be able to easily search back to keep them straight. 

This was an engaging and beautifully written book. I'm intrigued enough to search out the tie-in series (Inspector Chen) by the same author. Kudos, also, to the translator/s' work (I can't easily find translation info in the eARC provided for review). The English language version doesn't read as if it's been translated at all, and the story flows quite easily and naturally. 

Four and a half stars. Beautifully rendered. 

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

Easy Dirty Keto Cookbook: Meet Your Macros with Less Effort

Easy Dirty Keto Cookbook is an accessible guide to keto by Emilie Bailey. Released 23rd August 2022 from Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 242 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 currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The introduction covers the basics of the keto lifestyle/diet, including a basic primer on ketosis, macronutrients, tips, ingredients, pantry lists and shopping/planning tips.

The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, snacks & appetizers, vegetarian sides & mains, fish & seafood, poultry, beef pork & lamb, and desserts. The table of contents lists each recipe in its chapter subheading. The layout and typeface is no frills, high contrast, and easy to read.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American standard) measurements only.  There's a conversion chart for metric measures in the appendices. The prep times, net carbs, servings, and tips and options are listed in well laid out sidebars. The ingredients are listed in a bullet list followed by step by step directions. The author does recommend real-world timesavers like using premade jarred pasta sauce (the recipes rely heavily on premade (often precooked) ingredients - this is *not* slow cooking from scratch). The recipes are drawn from a surprisingly broad number of world cuisines - Asian, southwestern, Tex-Mex, Cajun, European, etc.

Inspiring real life quotes and thoughts are highlighted in yellow in the text, giving readers an extra little boost. Some readers might find the cheerleading over the top, but I found the author's voice very encouraging and friendly. I found myself thinking "wow, she really gets it".

This really felt like a keto-friendly cookbook for me: short on time/money, impatient with impossible-to-source "weird" ingredients, and cooking for myself and a family of non-keto eaters. I found it impressive and pretty easy to follow. A small real-life occurrence - my endocrinologist said at my last visit I was one of the few patients who had actually gone DOWN in weight since covid began. That made me feel good.

Four stars. One codicil, there are very few pictures included in the book. The dishes and serving suggestions which are included (though few) are attractive and appropriate.

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

Conspiracy of Magic #1 The Raven Spell

The Raven Spell is the first book in a lush and engaging historical fantasy mystery series by Luanne G. Smith. Released 1st Feb 2022 by Amazon on their 47 North imprint, it's 267 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, The Raven Song, is also currently available on KU. 

This is a non-linear story, full of side trips and some impressive world building. Despite having a murder/serial killer subplot, there's not a huge amount of dramatic tension, and I found it a relaxing and enjoyable read. The author is adept at storytelling and there's a significant romance subplot. The book is a fantasy mystery, so there's also a shifter/witch/supernatural element. 

There are two books available in the series now (and it's currently available on KU), making it a good bet for a short weekend mini-binge read. Some of the word choices were a bit iffy, and the book would have benefited from being worked over by a ruthless editor, but it's eminently readable and enjoyable in its current form. 

Three and a half stars. Readers who enjoy Deanna Raybourn, Anna Lee Huber, Tasha Alexander, et. al., will likely enjoy this book. It's got more fantasy/magical elements, but largely within the same subgenre. 

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

Gramps and The Shield Bugs

Gramps and The Shield Bugs is a charming and well written coming-of-age story for middle grade readers written by Louise Peregrina. Released 26th July 2022, it's 166 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a sensitively written story. When families break apart, and when parents are suffering and depressed, it inevitably affects the younger members of the family, often with more impact, given that they have fewer coping mechanisms and less power to make improvements. This story revolves around a family in crisis, and young protagonist Caz is sent to visit her paternal grandfather for a while. 

It's written in first person point of view, through Caz's observations and feelings in an honest and age appropriate manner. I found Caz sympathetically written and compassionate. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, gifting, and home use. 

Four and a half stars. 

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

Eat Plants, B*tch: 91 Vegan Recipes That Will Blow Your Meat-Loving Mind

Eat Plants, B*tch is an engaging up-to-the-minute collection of vegan recipes developed and curated by Pinky Cole. Due out 15th Nov 2022 from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery Books imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

There are so many reasons to eat more plant based foods and incorporate veg*n foods in our daily lives: environmental impect, health benefits, economics (macro and micro), etc. Up til now, I wouldn't have said that comfort food was really an overwhelming possibility in a plant based diet. I was wrong. This is an accessible, chatty, and *fun* collection of vegan recipes which includes wall-to-wall tasty food. The author herself says it in her foreword: "What makes Slutty Vegan beautiful is that we make good
food. Vegan or not, we make good food and people can appreciate good food."

The introduction includes pantry lists of ingredients and tools. The recipes are eclectic and wide ranging, and are arranged thematically: breakfast, weekend recipes, party/entertaining "good times" dishes, comfort food with a southern (USA) slant, sauces butters & dips, and desserts. Recipes are written with an introduction, serving yields, ingredients in bullet lists, and followed by step by step cooking / assembly instructions. The ingredients are given in imperial (American) measurements only. Ingredients used with mostly be available from any well stocked grocery store, but some will require a specialist grocer or health food store. Nutritional information is not included.

It's worth mentioning that the book isn't just full of tasty vegan recipes (which it is, of course). There is a surprising amount of wisdom and observation about being a female black entrepreneur, about making plans and putting in the work to succeed, especially in the food and service industries post-covid. I found those parts where the author talks about her life and upbringing almost as enjoyable as the food. She has a frank and honest voice and I enjoyed reading the non-recipe parts of the book very much.

The photography throughout is superlative. The food pictures especially are beautifully styled and appetizing. 

Five stars.  

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

The Sunken City (The Sunken City #1)

 

The Sunken City is the first book in a new YA fantasy adventure series by Emma V. R. Noyes. Released 29th Dec 2021, it's 376 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an exciting young adult fantasy novel with generous helpings of pirates, treasure, magic, and an extensive and intricate world bursting with danger and adventure. I really enjoyed the settings and flora and fauna and back stories for the different characters.

There is a strong subplot with an enemies-to-lovers trope which I didn't need, but the novel also has quite a lot of substantial story otherwise, and I never found my interest waning. Readers who enjoy that sort of thing will be in raptures, because it is quite well written and it is admittedly integral to the story.

Four and a half stars for me rounded up for the interesting and intricate world building. There are now three books extant in the series, making it a good candidate for a long weekend binge read.

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

Four Thousand Days

Four Thousand Days is the first Margaret Murray mystery by M J Trow. Released 1st Feb 2022 by Severn House, it's 224 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a skillfully written and well researched historical mystery set in late Victorian England. The mystery is very well constructed and engineered. I generally have a good idea by midway through a mystery who did what and to whom (and why) and this one managed to surprise me on several levels. The author does a great job interweaving an engaging mystery around real historical events and characters and it's so skillfully rendered that I wasn't always sure where verifiable fact veered off into fiction.

There's a subtle warm humor and intellectual vibe here. I adore mysteries with sleuths who are academics and this is a promising start to a new series. Although it's not at all derivative, it reminds me in a lot of good ways of PD James' Dalgleish, and Amanda Cross' (Dr. Carolyn Heilbrun's) Kate Fansler novels. Fans of mysteries in academia will find a lot to enjoy here. There's also a very slight hint of Miss Marple, although Dr. Murray's not fluffy or harmless in the slightest, she is unflappable and wise to the ways of the world.

Four and a half stars. My (very slight) ding comes from the fact that the secondary characters are legion and so lightly sketched in that I had trouble keeping them straight in my own mind. I look forward eagerly to reading more in this series and from this author. 

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

A Deadly Mistake: A gripping WWII cozy mystery

A Deadly Mistake is the third Lipton St. Faith historical cozy mystery by Keith Finney. Released 20th Jan 2022 by Lume Books, it's 306 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book (and the other extant book in the series) are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a light WW2 cozy historical adventure set in Norfolk. The main protagonists, the local vicar's daughter and a US volunteer pilot "doing his bit" before the USA officially entered the war, are a fun light amateur duo investigating crimes. This installment starts with the death of an unidentified man in a car crash and soon encompasses espionage and the official secrets act. The author has taken some pains with historical and geographic research. He does quite a good job of evoking the time period through quaint dialogue and background descriptions (flyovers, ration coupons, the Women's Land Army, child evacuees, etc). There is one stylistic element which often dragged me out of the story where the main protagonist Anna has a nearly continuous monologue in the text in italics. She has something to say or think a couple times per page and I found it both distracting and annoying and never got used to the literary device.

The narrative is well written but slow-paced and readers used to hastier writing might find their attention wandering. All in all, I found it charmingly nostalgic if possibly a bit unrealistically saccharine. The spelling and vernacular are true to the area and location. The author has included a handy short glossary of terms for readers who might be unfamiliar with the vernacular. 

Three and a half stars. Worth a look for fans of the time period. It's squeaky clean and there's nothing in the writing or language which would startle anyone's maiden aunt. There are now three book extant in the series. For fans of WW2 village cozies, it could be a good choice for a weekend binge read.

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

Pacific Burn Jim Brodie #3

Pacific Burn is the third Jim Brodie thriller by Barry Lancet. Released in 2016 by Simon & Schuster, it's 368 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written series by a competent and intelligent author who has decades of immersion in the settings, culture, and realities of living in Japan. Protagonist Jim Brodie is an expert in Japanese antiques, art, and culture as well as a second generation private investigator. The intersection of money and power often attracts the worst elements of humanity and Jim's a righter-of-wrongs and a slightly tarnished white hat with an infallable sense of justice. 

This book starts with a (literal) bang as a sniper attack sees Jim escape with his life, but leaves his friend in a coma. The plotting is taut and spare and the action non-stop. The story is peppered throughout with transliterated Japanese words and phrases. The words are italicized in the text and translate easily in context (the author is quite adept). It adds verisimilitude without adding difficulty.

Although it's the third book in the series, the mystery and denouement are self contained here, and readers who jump in with this book won't have difficulties following the story. There are now four books extant in the series and they're all well constructed and exciting, so the series as a whole would be a good candidate for a weekend binge read.

Four stars. An exciting and transportive read. Some light swearing and a fair bit of gunplay and violence. 

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

Tokyo Kill Jim Brodie #2

Tokyo Kill is the second Jim Brodie thriller by Barry Lancet. Released in 2014 by Simon & Schuster, it's 336 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written modern thriller with an imperfect but morally responsible protagonist and a lot of gritty realism. It's set in Asia, and it's clear the author is intimately familiar with the setting and culture and does a good and believable job taking the reader along. Jim Brodie is compelling, meticulous and morally unambiguous, which gets him into difficulties more often than not. He's an expert in Japanese art, as well as partner and heir to his father's PI agency. 

Although it's the second book in the series, the mystery and denouement are self contained here, and readers who jump in with this book won't have difficulties following the story. There are now four books extant in the series and they're all well constructed and exciting, so the series as a whole would be a good candidate for a weekend binge read. 

The story is peppered throughout with transliterated Japanese words and phrases. The words are italicized in the text and translate easily in context (the author is quite adept). It adds verisimilitude without adding difficulty. 

The plotting is taut and the complex story is interwoven skillfully. There are several disparate subplot threads throughout and they are wound together seamlessly.

Four stars. An exciting and transportive read. Some light swearing and a fair bit of gunplay and violence. 

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

The Blue Zones American Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100

The Blue Zones American Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100 is an eclectic collection of plant based indigenous and traditional recipes collected and curated by Dan Buettner. Due out 6th Dec 2022 from National Geographic, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

There's an abundance of research showing that healthy eating and lifestyle habits have a profound impact on overall health and longevity. This book is a collection of plant based recipes for supporting a healthy lifestyle with a specific emphasis on living a longer life.The author has researched the traditional dishes and ingredients of the areas of the world whose citizens have the longest lifespans, and has curated recipes enjoyed by those traditional societies. 

The recipes are arranged thematically: Indigenous, African American, Latin American, and Regional & Contemporary. Recipes are written with an introduction and background, ingredients in a bullet list, and followed by step by step prep instructions. Ingredients are listed with imperial (American) measurements only. The publisher has included a metric conversion table in the back of the book. 

The recipes are varied and quite unusual. Some of the ingredients will definitely require a well stocked healthfood store or co-op, or a large international food store (chlorophyll, benne seeds, jicama). The place where this book really excels is the incredible photography. Each of the recipes is accompanied by one or more color photos. Dishes are beautifully styled and presentations are appealing and attractive. Nutritional info is not calculated for the dishes (which I thought was a little odd). 

Four and a half stars.Not sure if it'll make anyone live longer, but good food is a joy and its own reward. 

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

A Fatal Fumble

A Fatal Fumble is the second River Sutton cozy mystery by Nancy Basile. Released 16th Jan 2022, it's 211 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series, Roadside Homicide, is also currently available on KU. There's a novella with the same main character which is available on the author's website as well. 

This is a fun and engaging small town cozy set in West Virginia. Web traffic analyst Robin is back home visiting her family in Sutton River for the weekend festivities surrounding her high school's 100th anniversary homecoming game and parade. She runs into lots of familiar faces from her past and not all of them stir up happy memories. Despite her promises after her last amateur sleuthing escapades, she's soon up to her neck in a new murder investigation. 

There's a very central romance element with the local handsome law enforcement officer, naturally. I liked that Robin wasn't helpless or prone to swooning helplessly. She does make a few questionable decisions, but overall, not as bad as many (most?) cozies. Ms. Basile is an adept author and I never found my interest waning, although there were a few eye-rollingly silly moments. The denouement and resolution weren't overly surprising, but they were satisfying. Although it's the second book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone.

Writers are always told to write what they know, and it's abundantly clear that the author is intimately familiar with small town West Virginia life. The various homecoming parades, main-street decorations, and all the food (and gossip) are true to life and add a lot of verisimilitude. It's a cozy, so there's not a lot of on page violence or graphic descriptions, and no overt sexual content. The MC's sister is in a stable marriage with a woman, but the author doesn't make a huge production over it. The language is squeaky clean. Definitely safe for reading on a commute or at work.

Four stars. Well done, and I look forward to more from this series. Cozy mystery comfort food.

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

A History and Guide to Scottish Castles

 

A History and Guide to Scottish Castles is a beautiful coffee table book lavishly illustrated with breathtaking photos of Scottish castles and associated landscapes by Jenna Maxwell. Due out 30th Oct 2022 from Pen & Sword, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The book is arranged geographically, so the entries can be read in any order (there's a good table of contents, but no index), and "armchair" travelers can read about the history of the locations they aspire to visit. The author's writing style is warm and friendly and she does a grand job of including interesting tidbits about each castle's history and special characteristics. The author has also included a smattering of ghost stories about many of the castles which were interesting and entertaining to read.

The photos are clear, and some are quite breathtaking. There are many interior shots along with furnishings alongside the historical photos. 

Five stars. This would make an excellent choice for public or home library acquisition as well as for fans of travel and history.

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

Bo and the Community Garden

 

Bo and the Community Garden is a charming and engaging story for middle grade readers by Elliott Smith in a series of books about Bo and his friends. Due out 1st Jan 2023 from Lerner Publications, it's 32 pages and will be available in library binding and paperback formats. 

Representation is so important for everyone, but especially kids. This series of books, about a boy and his friends, shows the everyday life of Bo, who lives with his grandfather (Pop-Pop). Pop-Pop owns a barber shop and he and Bo live above the shop.  As Bo goes about his daily business, readers see a kind, intelligent, and enthusiastic kid. In this installment, Bo's class is allowed to decide what they want to plant in the class areas of the school community garden. They have to decide amongst themselves, resolve their differences, and make plans what to do with their vegetable harvest. 

Despite being only 32 pages, there are really good takeaway lessons about friendship, planning, gardening (obviously), kindness, and empathy. The art, by Subi Bosa is colorful and full of small details which invite readers to take a closer look. 

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for activity/scouting groups, as well as for school and community gardens. 

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

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 5: New Books to Make Your Heart Race

 

The Minotaur Sampler 5: New Books to Make Your Heart Race includes chapter samples from eight new Minotaur books from spring and summer 2022. Released on 8th March 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 291 pages and available as a free download in ebook format from most retailers.

These eight books from Minotaur are all top shelf fiction. For anyone (and let's face it, that's almost all of us) who has ever wandered around and browsed in a book store or library to read a few pages of random books and see if we are drawn in, this sampler provides the same experience without being breaking social distancing rules, and can be done from the convenience of our own computer. The books all have release dates from May - Aug 2022, and it's nice to get a long sample to read and try out. 

All of the books are very well written - thriller, suspense, and mystery. They are all either standalones (4) or series starters (4).

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

Grow Great Vegetables Michigan

Grow Great Vegetables in Michigan is a regionally tailored home gardening guide for producing vegetables for taste and nutrition and to increase self-reliance and food security. This is one of a series of regionally/state specific guides released & reformatted by Timber press. Edited by Bevin Cohen, it's due out in May 2023, runs 212 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's based on an earlier release Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest by Michael VanderBrug, reformatted and edited for MI gardeners. All of the guides in this series follow the same format.

This guide is arranged by seasons with a chapter for each month. The introductory chapter (~13% of the page content) covers garden planning, climates and subzones in MN & WI, as well as very general gardening advice. Worth noting that a majority of the content of the books in this series based on/edited from the same volume (in this case Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest) contain overlapping information and there are only slight differences in content and recommendations.

The monthly sections include tasks for each month, potential problems and troubleshooting, planning and placement of the garden plot, harvesting and more.

The third section of the book is a regional guide to choosing vegetables and specific varieties which will thrive in the area.

There's a resource list (slanted to readers in the Midwest), a bibliography and further reading list, USDA based hardiness zonal map, and an index.  The photography is crisp, clear, and abundant.  This is a well crafted book which will provide gardeners with hours of blissful dreaming as well as serving as a valuable troubleshooting guide. For readers who have the aforementioned Gardening in the Midwest, much of the content is verbatim here. For readers unfamiliar with the earlier title, there's a lot of worthwhile info here.

Four stars. Very well done.

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

 

Cozy Case Files 15

 

Cozy Case Files 15 is a sneak-preview collection of 8 new cozy mystery novels. Released 24th May 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 267 pages and can be accessed on most ebook retailers (Amazon, Rakuten/Kobo etc) to download and read for free. This is the 15th cozy mystery sampler from St. Martin's.  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.

The collection includes a few sample chapters from each of 8 upcoming (or recently released) cozy mysteries by Ellie Alexander, Meri Allen, Donna Andrews, Cate Conte, Jess Dylan, Leonard Goldberg, Carolyn Haines, and Ashley Weaver.  All of the previews are for series books which is always exciting, and there are several veteran authors with new books in very well established series. All of these will be excellent for binge reading over a long weekend.

All of them are appealing, and all of the included mysteries are reviewed (or scheduled) on my blog.  The full mysteries themselves are all in the 4-5 star range, all are entertaining and well crafted. There are some good series releases closing out 2022 to keep cozy mystery lovers entertained, and I for one think the world deserves some nice cozies for the last few years of upheaval.

Definitely worth downloading the collection to test sample the upcoming books. Four stars for the collection as a whole.

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

Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest

Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest is a well illustrated field guide to the mushrooms of the PNW written by Dr. Steve Trudell. Originally published in 2009, this revised and updated edition is due out 25th Oct 2022 from Timber Press. It's 416 pages and will be available in flexibound format in this edition. 

Amateur mycologists, wanderers, forages, and lovers of nature will enjoy this well photographed and scientifically correct field guide specifically aimed at the Pacific northwest. Graphically the book is full of clear color photos which will help with ID and location. The field guide sections contain many color photos of each species including closeups and at different stages of development. The author also does a good job of explaining the *differences* between look-alike species to help with positive ID. Each entry includes the name, the binomial (Latin) name (including an English translation of the Latin), common name(s), identifying descriptions, look-alikes, and some taste/smell descriptors. 

The entries are arranged logically and thematically: Gilled mushrooms are further divided into light and dark spored species (with a good general guide on spore printing and the life cycle of various fungi), club/coral/fan fungi, polypores & crust fungi, morels false morels & elfin saddles, cup fungi, pink & brown spored gilled mushrooms, boletes, spine fungi, puffballs, jelly like fungi, and truffles and false truffles. There are useful appendices, including a glossary and a solid resource/links list for further reading as well as additional comments to the first edition, and a cross referenced index.

Five stars. Useful, with clear and specific directions. This would be a good selection for library acquisition, smallholders, self-sufficiency folks, gardening and foraging readers, nature lovers, and similar. 

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