The Wicked Hour (Natalie Lockhart #2)

The Wicked Hour is the second Detective Natalie Lockhart procedural thriller by Alice Blanchard. Released 1st Dec 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and 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 character driven procedural thriller. The plot and character motivations are heavily dependent on the fallout from the first book, and as such it didn't work as well as a standalone. The mystery revolves around the abduction and murder of violinists in and around a prestigious music academy. Detective Lockhart (who is still suffering psychological aftershocks from the occurrences in the first book) pulls a homicide case when the nude body of a young violinist is found in a dumpster after the town's annual Hallowe'en festivities. 

There's a lot to unpack here. As stated, the heavy dependence on previous unresolved plot threads from the first book left me feeling somewhat confused and wrong-footed for much of the book. I also got whiplash from how quickly main character Natalie switched emotional gears. She's still suffering brutal emotional trauma and alternately pushing away and trying to repair her relationships, but it was just awkward for me in several places, especially her interactions with her friend/maybe love interest Luke. 

The writing is competent throughout and there are glimmers of compelling style and prose to be found. They're not a majority of the book, but they are there. I liked that Natalie is strong, flawed, and actively trying to work through her trauma and grief. I found it somewhat difficult to really invest myself in the characters apart from Natalie. 

There is a fair bit of graphic description of violence and some (more minor) mentions of self-harm, suicide, sexual assault (GHB, rohypnol), and rough language.

I plan to continue with the series, but I would strongly recommend readers come into this book having read the first book. 

Three and a half stars. 

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

The A to Z of Mindfulness: Simple Ways to Be More Present Every Day

 

The A to Z of Mindfulness is a philosophical and practical treatise on incorporating more mental presence in our daily existence. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Andrews McMeel, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

Arranged as an alphabet primer, each of the letters A to Z contains a concept or observation (A is for Acceptance, B is for breathing and so on), along with some guided exercises to improve learning and integration. The exercises are gently written and presented, such as writing down words which describe how the reader is feeling and focusing on breathing and visualizing thoughts as clouds passing overhead and moving along and drifting away. 

The accompanying art is beautifully relaxing and appealing. Much of it is nature inspired (see cover) and relaxingly simple pastels. In a world which feels increasingly anxiety inducing and out of control, these small exercises and gentle concepts can have a remarkably large positive impact on our daily lives. 

I loved the coloring mandala and a lot of the visualization and breathing exercises. This would make a superlative and thoughtful gift choice or present for oneself. 

Four stars. 

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

Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates: Plants for a Lush, Water-Conscious Landscapes

 

Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates is a tutorial and gardening style guide by Nora Harlow and photographed by Saxon Holt. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint, it's 308 pages (print version) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a comprehensive, layman accessible guide to designing and cultivating a garden in summer-dry and winter-wet areas (specifically the Pacific NW and coastal areas). The author expends effort to cover both the climate, topography, the special challenges and benefits of the area as well as taking climate trends (wildfires, etc) into consideration when building a garden plan.

The book also contains a comprehensive compendium of suitable plants with each entry containing the botanical (Latin) name, common name (where applicable), size and spread, where the plants come from, USDA zone info, as well as many cultivars with photos.  The photographs are clear, lush, plentiful, and really well done. Leafing through the book in midwinter is guaranteed to get any gardener's fingers itching to dig in the dirt. It's bursting with colorful plants in rude good health in beautiful display. Individual plant profiles also include information about lesser known cultivars along with good tips for culture, harvest, and use. There's quite a lot of good information here for gardeners from beginner to expert.

There's a chapter with troubleshooting ideas for special needs: small gardens, hot spots, hedges/shrubs, dry shade, etc. Each of the locations contains an alphabetical list of potential plants for each task. Plants are listed with Latin name, common name, and some include cultivars which are particularly suitable. 

This would be a nice addition to the gardener's library. Worth noting for readers, this is mostly slanted toward gardeners in  North America. It will translate perfectly well to the areas of the rest of the world which have similar conditions but adjustments might need to be made for readers outside these areas.

Four stars. 

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

The Runner's Kitchen - 100 Stamina-Building, Energy-Boosting Recipes, with Meal Plans to Maximize Your Training

 

The Runner's Kitchen is a tutorial guide and recipe collection for runners by Emma Coburn. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is an interesting specialized niche training and nutrition book for runners (by an olympic medalist and world champion runner). The layout and language are logical and easy to understand and the recipes are varied and appealing. It also contains a number of meal plan guides which will help readers be more efficient in their food intake and training. An introductory chapter contains a very brief easy to understand overview over the types of nutrients and where to find them, specialized needs for training efficiency and just as importantly, rest and recovery, as well as optimizing condition for race days. This chapter also contains the meal plans for peak training weeks, off/recovery weeks, and race weeks. 

The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: morning fuel, brunch favorites, soups salads & sandwiches, main dishes, sides & condiments, and desserts. Recipes contain an introduction, serving size and yields, prep and cooking times. Ingredients are listed bullet style in a sidebar followed by step-by-step instructions. Ingredient measurements are given in American standard only. Nutritional information provided in a footer at the end of the recipes includes calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, fiber, sugar, and protein. The author does note special characteristics of ingredients and dishes which have anti-inflammatory properties, complex carbs, etc. 

The photography is abundant and beautifully done showing the author in the kitchen, running, and the prepared food. The food styling is professional looking, attractive and appetizing. 

Four stars. 

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

Cute Chibi Animals: Learn How to Draw 75 Cuddly Creatures

 

Cute Chibi Animals is a tutorial drawing guide for cute chibi animals by Phoebe Im. Due out 26th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Rock Point imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This guide has an all-ages accessible format. A short introduction is followed by tools and supplies, very basic techniques, tips and tricks, suggestions for how to use the book, and then the individual drawing tutorials. The tutorials are arranged thematically: land mammals, aquatic & semi-aquatic mammals, birds, and amphibians fish reptiles & more. The tutorials are divided into panels on each page (4, 6, 9, etc) with each box showing the steps culminating in a finished colored animal. The animals are simple and stylistically cartoonish (see the cover) and all are appealing and whimsical. The steps shown in the tutorials are easy to follow and give good results. All of them are beginner accessible and suitable for all ages.

Great selection for a gift for a young artist, perhaps with some added sketch pads and pencils. This would also make a superlative classroom or library book.I would also recommend this book to babysitters, grandparents, parents, and basically anyone who spends a fair bit of time with small kids in order to improve their 'draw with me' game. I really enjoyed this.  I will use these to decorate journals and notes for friends.

Five stars. Fun collection.

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

The Bride Wore Black

The Bride Wore Black is a seminal addition to the American mystery noir genre, and the first crime novel written by Cornell Woolrich. Originally published in 1940, this re-formatting and re-release as part of the American Mystery Classics series is due out 5th Jan 2021. It's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover format (other editions available in other formats). 

The American Mystery Classics series has unerringly plucked important but potentially lesser known crime gems and presented them (with expert introductory content and commentary) to new generations of crime fiction readers. Although I had read much of Cornell Woolrich's oeuvre previously and was familiar with his work from the pulps (he was incredibly prolific), I had never read The Bride Wore Black. 

The writing is top notch, tense and powerful. Other reviewers have done a much better job than I providing precis, so I'll just say that the entire book was an evocative and diverting read. My only disappointment with the book was with the ending which I felt was flawed and "gotcha" (and very pulp-ish in my opinion). It didn't ruin the book for me, but it did feel somewhat tacked together and outside the bounds of fair play. 

That being said, however, the writing and plotting are classic early noir and very well done. I would recommend it for lovers of noir, American crime, as well as a support text for allied scholastic examination (modern American literature, etc). The erudite and informative introduction by Eddie Muller was a highlight for me. Four stars.

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

Death Drops the Pilot (Chief Inspector Littlejohn #25)

 

Death Drops the Pilot is the 25th Inspector Littlejohn mystery by George Bellairs. Originally published in 1956, this reformat and re-release from Agora Books is 280 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 (and the other Agora editions) are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The Inspector Littlejohn books are silver age classics and always deliver a diverting and engaging read. George Bellairs was a master of intricate plot construction and this entry wears its age (nearly 65 years) surprisingly well although this entry is darker than the average for the series. This volume sees DI Littlejohn and his bagman Sgt Cromwell trying to get to the bottom of the disappearance and murder of a ferry captain (mid-trip) whilst sorting out skullduggery and leftover wartime secrets. The plotting is twisty and readers will need to pay attention to have any hope of figuring out whodunnit before Littlejohn & co. This one works fine as a standalone, and readers don't need to have read the previous books in the series to keep up with the plot.

It's really lovely to see these gems being dusted off and re-released to new generations of readers. Bellairs (Harold Blundell) was a gifted writer and a technical master of construction.

Four stars.

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

Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food: Deliciously Doable Ways to Cook Greens, Tofu, and Other Plant-Based Ingredients

 

Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food is a plant based tutorial and recipe guide for vegetarian Chinese dishes curated and developed by Hsiao-Ching Chou. Due out 19th Jan 2021 from Sasquatch Books, it's 272 pages (print edition) and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a graphically appealing, well written, and accessible cookbook with an array of vegetarian recipes to appeal to most tastes. I really liked the layout and formatting of this cookbook. The introduction covers the basics, with a good overview of tools, ingredients, techniques, and supplies (which might not be familiar to many western cooks). The recipes which follow are arranged roughly thematically: dumplings (the author is a -virtuoso-), dim sum & small bites, soups & braises, stir-fry, steamed dishes, rice and noodles, tofu, eggs, and salads and pickles. There are a number of gluten-free recipes included (including pot sticker dough!), and these are clearly delineated. As the "egg" recipe section implies, not all the recipes are vegan-compliant. There are some lacto-ovo vegetarian recipes, but they too are clearly labeled. Many of them could be adjusted to become vegan friendly. 

Each recipe has its ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. (There's a metric conversion chart in the back of the book). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are mostly easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery or international foods store. Nutritional information is not provided.

The recipes and tutorials are well photographed in color. The serving suggestions are very well styled and give visual cooks information about presentation and serving (especially important for cooks who are not familiar with Asian dishes). Essential info, alerts, facts, tips & answers are highlighted in text boxes. The final release version of the book will include an index.

The author's gentle encouragement and wit shine through in the tutorial texts. I am convinced she'd be a really gifted teacher and it would be a lot of fun (and enriching) to be able to take a cooking workshop from her. 

Five stars. There are a large number of really tasty recipes here. We've tried a number of them at home and they've all been tasty and error free. 

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

Bryant & May: Oranges and Lemons: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery (Bryant & May: Peculiar Crimes Unit #17)

 

Bryant & May: Oranges and Lemons is the 17th outing for the Peculiar Crime Unit's own odd couple Arthur Bryant and John May written by Christopher Fowler. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 464 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This series as a whole has been and continues to be my favorite humorous police procedural.  The humor is pervasive and the plots are always intelligent and wonky at the same time - so outlandish the solutions of the mysteries seemingly must have a paranormal bent, but they resolve with cleverly mundane skullduggery and "mystery fair play". They're delightful. 

I'm a healthcare worker and my days the last year have been filled with stress and sadness. Reading is my escape and a lifeline for myself and many of my colleagues. This was a welcome break in an otherwise hectic time. It's an ensemble cast, so it was great to get a look-in on the returning characters. The author is undeniably talented with character driven plots and really witty repartee and the book flowed along at such a good pace and was so intricately put together that it was a joy to read.

Each of the books works well as a self contained unit, so while I do recommend reading the entire series as a whole, it's not necessary to have done so to enjoy this volume. This would make a superlative choice for readers of crime fiction, police procedurals, and British crime. Wonderful book. Five enthusiastic stars.  

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

Daughter of the Serpentine (Dragoneer Academy #2)

 

Daughter of the Serpentine is the second Dragoneer Academy novel by E.E. Knight. Released 17th Nov 2020 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Ace imprint, it's 512 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

I've always loved epic character driven fantasy. This is an excellent and very well written addition to the genre. Despite being the second in a series, it worked very well as a standalone novel. The author is adept at providing the necessary backstory without info dumping or spoon feeding his audience. Protagonist Ileth is loyal, intelligent, and brave and despite being patronless, previously uneducated, and from a poor background, she shows she's willing to work for advancement without sacrificing her moral code to achieve her goals. 

Although ostensibly written mostly for the YA/NA audience, I found the narrative enjoyable and very readable and engaging (despite being neither young nor new myself). The technical detail of the writing itself is well controlled and exactingly constructed - the plot moves along at a very good pace and the plot never dragged or lost my interest. The author is clearly adept at his craft. 

This is a wide ranging novel with a large cast of characters. The author has included a list of dramatis personae at the end of the book (though I didn't find myself needing to consult it). 

I read this in the middle of a pandemic. As a healthcare worker, I have faced many long and unpleasant days trying to perform a challenging job under trying circumstances. Reading has been a sanity saver for me (and many of my colleagues). Epic fantasy in my particular case has been a lifeline and a relaxation from a very demanding daily routine. I devoured this book. It could partially be "right book at the right time" but I truly enjoyed this one and fully intend to go back and read the first book in the series as soon as possible. 

Five stars. This would make a superlative selection for lovers of fantasy, dragons, strong female character driven coming-of-age fiction, etc. Looking forward to more from this very accomplished author.

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

Epic Air Fryer Plant-Powered Cookbook: 100 Incredibly Good Vegetarian Recipes That Take Plant-Based Air Frying in Amazing New Directions

 

Epic Air Fryer Plant-Powered Cookbook is a tutorial and recipe collection written and developed by Michelle Anderson. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is a beautifully styled and formatted book full of tasty plant based recipes developed to utilize the air fryer. The introduction covers the basics of cooking with the air-fryer and essential accessories as well as tips, tools, supplies, and how-to. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, soups & sandwiches, lunch, snacks & appetizers, sides, mains, and desserts and baked things.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements with metric measures in parentheses (yay!). The nutritional information is not included. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients (not all though, some of the recipe ingredients are vegan substitutions for other products (butter, cheese, chorizo, etc)). Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex and they represent a refreshingly wide variety of world cuisines.

The photography is not abundant; most of the recipes are not illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and beautifully well done.  I wish there had been more photographs and serving suggestions, but I do understand that extra photography increases the price of book projects very quickly and the lack is not crippling.

This is an interesting collection of recipes. It struck me however, that many of the recipes were really things which could more easily be made (and in larger volume) *without* the air-fryer. The recipes also rely very much on store-bought ingredients. Cooks who prefer to cook completely from scratch will have to do some pre-cooking to make the necessary ingredients.

Four stars.

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

The Well of Ice (Inishowen Mysteries #3)

 

The Well of Ice is the third Inishowen mystery by Andrea Carter. Originally released in 2017 in the UK, this reformat and re-release in the USA by Oceanview Publishing is 352 pages and available in hardcover format (other editions available in other formats). 

I was impressed how much the isolated setting played in the entire flavor of the novel. The characters are well rendered, three dimensional, and believable. I liked the way main character Ben is compassionate, intelligent, and loyal to her friends. Although this is the third novel in the series, it worked well enough as a standalone for me to not have any trouble following the story or keeping the characters straight. 

The language is relatively clean (there are some assorted "f-bombs", but they're used in context and don't overpower the story). There is implied consensual sexual content but it's -very- lightly written and there's no NSFW content. I did figure out "whodunit" before the end, but it was more a case of reverse-engineering the denouement (which was well written and exciting). 

The spellings and slang are UK standard. There's a fair bit of Irish idiom and dialogue sprinkled throughout, but it shouldn't present any problems in context, especially for fans of UK/Scots/Irish crime fiction. 

Beautifully written, well plotted, an enjoyable and diverting read. I read a *lot* of books for review in the course of a year, and I fully intend to read the first two books in this series asap. 

Four stars. Recommended for fans of Irish crime fiction, legal mysteries, small-town mysteries (though I wouldn't call this one a cozy). 

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

Northern Wrath (The Hanged God Trilogy #1)

 

 Northern Wrath is the first book in a historical fantasy trilogy by author Thilde Kold Holdt. Released 27th Oct 2020 by Rebellion, it's 616 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is epic campaign historical fantasy realism at its best. The plotting is so well crafted and seamless - bound and true to its roots of Scandinavian and Viking history and belief systems that it's difficult to tell where realism ends and shades into fantasy. The characters are wonderfully rendered and believable. It's compellingly written and exactingly put together. I'm frankly astounded and truly impressed that it's a debut novel.

I won't give a precís, other reviewers have done that. I will say that despite being a hefty doorstop fantasy, the action and characters move the plot along at a good pace - I never found the story dragging or overly convoluted. There's a fair amount of graphic violence and some body horror, along with frank descriptions of violence done to animals. 

There will be inevitable comparisons between this book (and presumably the rest of the series) and Harry Harrison, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Brandon Sanderson. I submit that this book compares very favorably and I'm excited to see what's in store in future from this author. Definitely one to watch.

Five stars. Highly recommended to fans of campaign fiction, scandi-fantasy, and immersive doorstop books.  

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

The Everything Easy Vegan Cookbook: 200 Quick and Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Plant-Based Diet

 

The Everything Easy Vegan Cookbook is a compilation, reformat, and re-release of content from several "Everything" Vegan cookbooks from 2010-2019 with included new material. Due out 9th Feb 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 272 pages (print edition) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

I like the layout and formatting of the "Everything" cookbooks. They're easy to understand, generally easy to follow, and full of tasty, relevant, and do-able recipes. This one follows the same format and will be familiar to readers who have used the other books in the series. The introduction gives the basics about veganism, what vegans eat (and why), health advantages, and some nutrition info.

The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: appetizers, breakfasts, salads & salad dressings, soups, vegetables stir-fries & sides, rice & grains, classic pastas, miscellaneous mains, tofu, seitan TVP & tempe, and desserts.  Each recipe has its ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. (There's a metric conversion chart in the back of the book). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are mostly easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Nutritional information is provided for each of the recipes and includes calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, and protein.

Essential info, alerts, facts, and questions & answers are highlighted in text boxes. These will be familiar to readers of other books in the Everything series from this publisher. Few of the recipes include photographs. The photos and serving suggestions which are included are full color, appetizing, and appropriate, but the general lack of photos might be a drawback for some readers.

Four stars (mostly for the lack of photos - so if you don't need them, it would be five stars). This is a general cookbook with a huge variety of appealing vegan friendly dishes. It would make a superlative gift or purchase for readers trying out a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. Many of the recipes do rely on pre-processed ingredients (vegan beef, vegan sausage crumbles, etc) - so some planning and adjustment will be needed for cooks who strongly prefer to cook from scratch. All of the recipes I tried on my family were tasty and well received, though I did notice the lack of finish/serving photos.

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

Sketching Techniques for Artists: In-Studio and Plein-Air Methods for Drawing and Painting Still Lifes, Landscapes, Architecture, Faces and Figures, and More

 

In-Studio and Plein-Air Methods for Drawing and Painting is a new volume written by Alex Hillkurtz. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Rockport imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

The author is a skilled and well known storyboard artist who uses cinematic visuals to convey story and context. There is a useful amount of philosophy and technique contained in the instructions here to help artists not only render what they *see* but to tell the story of what they're seeing at the same time. Guided directions help the student convey who, what, where, when, and why in their renderings. 

The layout is straightforward and easy to understand. The introduction includes a survey of the tools, materials, and basic techniques. The following chapters progress through exercise lessons in composition and perspective to give the reader a basic understanding and facility with visual storytelling, contrast, thumbnails, and different perspective views (and which to choose for specific situations). 

The rest of the book provides specialized tutorial lessons grouped roughly thematically: still life, landscape, architecture, figures, and a final chapter showing several watercolor techniques. The book wraps up with an afterword from the author, abbreviated resources and influences lists for further reading, and a short author biography. 

The overall feel of the book is technically rich, useful, and varied and I saw many things which got my fingers itching to jump in and start drawing. I'm not a professional artist by any stretch of the imagination, but there were a number of takeaways here which I will certainly incorporate in my drawing practice going forward.

Five stars. This would make a superlative selection (possibly bundled with drawing supplies?) for gift giving, as well as as a good support text for more formal drawing instruction/learning. The perspective tutorials were especially apt and well written. 

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

The Home And Happiness Botanical Handbook: Plant-Based Recipes for a Clean and Healthy Home

 

The Home And Happiness Botanical Handbook is a technique and recipe collection for plant based cleaning and health products by Pip Waller. Due out 12th Jan 2021 from Quarto on their Leaping Hare imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format.

There's (rightly) been a lot of focus on limiting consumption and exposure to harsh household chemicals. This book has a lot of good gentle advice and ideas. It's logically formatted and written in an accessible and understandable style. I was also glad to see useful recipes with zero pseudoscientific emphasis. The book is full of safe and natural suggestions for everyone, no matter what lifestyle they're in. (Not all of us are Martha Stewart, thank goodness). Some of the techniques are more involved and require acquiring/borrowing/bartering some more advanced equipment, but a lot of the tutorials will be achievable by anyone.

The recipes include ingredients which are relatively easy to source and should be easy to find in most places. Recipe ingredients are listed with both metric and American standard measures. The recipes are arranged thematically: household products, room sprays, potpourri, eco-laundry, garden & houseplant helpers, on the road, pet items, inks paints & dyes (spiffy oak gall ink recipe can be found here), and oddities.

The author has also included an herbal, a resource/bibliography list for further reading,and a cross referenced index. The book throughout, including the recipe sections is well illustrated with clear and attractive tutorial and recipe graphics which add a lot of nostalgic retro vibes.

All in all it's a good beginner to intermediate handbook for natural DIY products (including some wood stains which I haven't had the time to try out yet).

Five stars. I would highly recommend this one to SCAdians, re-enactors, calligraphers, maker's groups, library acquisition, homesteaders/smallholders, self-sufficiency fans, and the like.

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

Fearless Gardening: Be Bold, Break the Rules, and Grow What You Love

 

Fearless Gardening is a really useful and somewhat profound book on gardening philosophy and design by Loree Bohl. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

All gardeners are familiar with the feelings of "but I can't (plant that there, grow that in this climate, plant those together, use this plant in this soil, etc)". The author presents a number of expository essays arranged thematically that, more or less, "yes you can and yes you should" (and here's how to do it). The technical/theory parts of the book are interwoven with profiles of unconventional gardeners gardening to the beats of their own drummers. The stories are inspiring and filled me with a desire to get into my garden and start digging (not really an option in late December). 

There are a number of useful appendices included: plant lists, resources for further reading, gardens to visit (with private gardens delineated with a "P"), suppliers lists (aimed at North American readers), and a cross-referenced index.

The photography throughout is superlative - clear and easy to understand. This is an inspiring book with humor, wit, style, and useful relevant technical expertise. It would make a superlative gift, library acquisition, or for a garden club or school library.

Five stars. 

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

Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook: 100 Delicious Low-Carb and Fat-Burning Recipes

 

Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook is a new tutorial and recipe collection for  keto cooks by Aaron Day. Due out 8th Dec 2020 from Penguin Random House on their DK Alpha imprint, it's 160 pages (print version) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The introduction covers the basics of cooking with the air-fryer and essential accessories as well as an intro to the keto lifestyle/diet, including a basic primer on ketosis, macronutrients, tips, ingredients, tools, supplies, how-to. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, mains, sides, snacks, and desserts.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements with metric equivalents in parentheses (yay!).  The nutritional information:  fat, carbs, protein, fiber content, etc are listed for the recipes as well as serving sizes.  Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients (not all though, sweeteners for example, will likely need to be sourced from specialists). The sweeteners used often include erythritol, so people who have IBS or other inflammatory issues might need to proceed with caution.

The photography is not abundant; about 2/3rds of the recipes are not illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and well done.  I wish there had been more photographs and serving suggestions, but I do understand that extra photography increases the price of book projects very quickly and I didn't find the lack crippling.

This is a large collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep keto-cooks going for ages. Many of these can also easily be adapted to non-keto cooking. 

Four stars.

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

The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners

 

The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners is a tutorial and recipe guide with recipes developed by Elena Paravantes. Due out 29th Dec 2020 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The Mediterranean diet has gotten a lot of attention because of its association with a wide variety of health benefits including a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and early death. This book provides a good introduction to the diet and lifestyle for beginners wanting to make changes to their eating habits for health benefits and a healthier lifestyle. 

The layout is logical and easy to follow. The introduction covers the basics of the Mediterranean Diet, tools, supplies, and the how-to and why of choosing ingredients (the subchapter tutorial on choosing and storing olive oil is one of the best I've ever seen). The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, vegetables & beans, pasta rice & savory pies, seafood meat & poultry, salads, snacks & appetizers, and desserts.

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

The photography is not abundant; roughly 25% of the recipes are illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and well done.  I wish there had been more photographs and serving suggestions, but I do understand that extra photography increases the price of book projects very quickly.

This is a nice collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep cooks going for ages. Many of these can also easily be adapted to other styles of cooking and meal planning. 

Four stars.

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

The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO No Time to Cook Cookbook: 100 Easy Recipes Ready in under 30 Minutes

 

The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO No Time to Cook Cookbook is is a new tutorial and recipe collection for  keto cooks in a hurry. Due out 5th Jan 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. The authors have several other "Dirty Lazy Keto" cookbooks in the same series and with similar formats. This one has an emphasis on quick preparation and simple presentation.

The introduction covers the basics of the keto lifestyle/diet, including a basic primer on ketosis, macronutrients, tips, ingredients, tools, supplies, how-to, pantry lists and shopping tips, along with an inspiring author background bio. She emphasizes that it's not necessary to spend a ton of money and track every mouthful to be successful at weight loss and maintenance. I found her encouraging and you-can-do-it style of writing engaging and fun. There's also a short, concise subchapter on food handling and safety, which was welcome.

The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, soups & salads, snacks, pizza, side dishes, main dishes, and desserts & drinks. The table of contents lists each recipe along with symbols giving a visual guide to different real-life situations (recipes for "hangry" moments, for picky eaters, lacto-ovo vegetarian-ish dishes, superstar keto dishes etc - quite humorous but also *true*).

Ingredient measurements are supplied in 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 taco powder (the recipes rely heavily on premade (often precooked) ingredients - this is *not* slow cooking from scratch). Allied recipes (included) are referenced in the recipes to save time by using leftovers from one recipe in another recipe. 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 his ONLY patient who had actually gone DOWN in weight since lockdown. That made me feel good.

Five stars. I really like (and use) this entire series of cookbooks. One codicil, there are very few pictures included in the book. The dishes and serving suggestions which are included are attractive and appropriate, however.

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