30-Minute Renal Diet Cookbook

30-Minute Renal Diet Cookbook by Aisling Whelan is a recipe collection and cookbook for improving renal health and coping with chronic kidney disease. Released 17th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 182 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes appendices with charts showing phosphorous contents of various foods, food lists for the renal diet, metric conversions, etc. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The book is well formatted and has a logical and easy to follow layout. The introductory chapters (~18% of the page content) cover some of the phsyiology behind the diet, what chronic kidney disease is, what to expect, ingredients and foods lists, and other general info. The following chapters contain the recipes grouped roughly thematically: breakfast, vegetables sides & snacks, vegetarian & vegan mains, seafood mains, poultry & meat mains, sweet treats & snacks, and sauces broths condiments and partial ingredients.

Each recipe includes an introduction with other info such as portion control and yields followed by bullet list ingredients in sidebars with prep-time estimates. The recipes' ingredients lists are provided with English/American measurements only. Nutritional info including sodium, potassium, and phosphorous content is provided in the footer under the recipe instructions. Most of the recipes are not photographed. There are some photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent a fraction of the recipes. I also felt some of the portions were fairly minuscule, even for side dishes. The baby carrot fries for example split a 16 ounce bag between 6 people. I've literally seen my (admittedly perfectly healthy) 20 year old kid eat a 16 ounce bag of baby carrots in one sitting (alone).

There are quite a number of interesting, appetizing, and relatively easy to cook foods contained here. I would recommend it to people who are interested in making a solid plan to comply to a healthy diet and mitigate or possibly reverse chronic kidney disease.

Four stars.

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

The Quick & Easy Healthy Cookbook: 125 Delicious Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

The Quick & Easy Healthy Cookbook by Carrie Forrest is a recipe collection and cookbook for healthy nutritious meals based on whole, unprocessed, organic ingredients. Released 17th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 186 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Each recipe has a header with special symbols such as nut-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, with a short description of the recipe and approximate prep-times. The ingredients are listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. (There's a metric conversion chart in the appendices). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Alternative preparation ideas and tips are listed in sidebars. Nutritional information is also given in a footer at the end of the recipe instructions. 

The included recipes are made with easily sourced ingredients and the instructions are crystal clear and easy to follow. The photography is not abundant; most 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.

Most all of the recipes are sensible and family friendly. They're arranged thematically: breakfast, soups & salads, vegetarian mains, seafood, poultry, meat, snacks & sides, desserts, and basics/partial ingredients/staples.

This is a traditional time of year to consider making healthful choices and this book will provide some good starting points for whole food eating and nutrition.

Four stars.

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

Everyday Bread Baking: From Simple Sandwich Loaves to Celebratory Holiday Breads

Everyday Bread Baking is a tutorial and cookbook by Jenny Prior aimed at would be bread bakers. Released 17th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 203 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a technical baking manual with in-depth discussion of nearly all the aspects of creating bread. The ingredient measures are given in grams because of the differing densities of different flours. A kitchen scale is a useful and inexpensive piece of kitchen equipment. Before getting into a review of the actual content and layout of this book, I'd like to say that out of a *large* collection of cookery and baking books, this one contains one of the best discussions of pre-ferments and starters I've ever seen. I've seen terms like poolish and biga tossed around and never had the slightest clue what the difference might be, and now I do.

The book has a logical format. The introductory chapter (Bread Baking at Home) includes an overview of the scope and practicalities as well as some of the limits on the home baker. The author does a great job explaining the ingredients, covering the techniques involved and necessary equipment. The following chapters contain master recipes along with a plethora of variations linked directly from each of the master recipes.  Chapters 3 - 5 contain specific recipes utilizing doughs and ingredients and techniques from earlier chapters, arranged thematically: everyday breads, entertaining & special occasions, and finally holidays.

Each recipe contains  yields, prep and baking time, tools and other ingredients, and step by step instructions. Some, but not nearly all, of the recipes have accompanying photos. The tutorials for things like braiding challah bread and 'knotted' rolls are accompanied by clear photos which are small but easy to follow.

This is a very well made guide which, followed stringently, will give remarkably professional results. It -requires- some effort on the reader's part, but there are recipes here for breads which will otherwise be unobtainable unless one lives in a large city with a specialist/artisan bakery. The starters/pre-ferments and specific flours and commercial yeasts will also require some planning and effort on the baker's part. This is not a recipe book for tossing any flour + water + packaged yeast in the food processor to be slung into the oven and creating a passable loaf in an hour from start to finish.

Five stars.

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

Awesome Robotics Projects for Kids: 20 Original STEAM Robots and Circuits to Design and Build

Awesome Robotics Projects for Kids is a tutorial guide aimed at young readers with projects for exploring robotics. Released 17th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 154 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes a short glossary and author bio. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The book has a logical and accessible layout. The introductory chapters (~25% of the content) cover some basic concept definitions, parts and supplies, sourcing items, a little history and background. The following chapters contain projects grouped roughly thematically: robots at home, for entertainment, robots in space, and working robots. Each of the project tutorials contains an introduction, time estimate, a supplies list, safety precautions highlighted with an exclamation mark, and step by step tutorials with photos. Sidebars and framed footers contain information about how the robots do what they do and further information and connections to STEAM subjects.

Throughout the book the vocabulary words which might be unfamiliar to readers are written in bold text and defined immediately negating the necessity of flipping back and forth to the glossary. The book also has pictures of young student creators. I liked that they seemed engaged in the projects that they were doing and looked like they were having fun. I also liked that the creative team made the effort to include a diverse group of kids in the tutorial photos (STEAM projects are for -everyone- and representation is important).

I've been banging on for years on my blog (and real life) about STEAM subjects and how vital they are for our future. This book would make a great choice for a classroom library, gift for a young creator, library activity project, or similar use.

Five stars, there's a lot to like here.

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

Super Arduino: Step-by-step Instructions to Build Cool Gadgets

Super Arduino is a beginner accessible guide to coding projects in Arduino, an open source platform for creators. Released 17th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 174 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes a short author bio, and a metric conversion chart.  There is no index. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This book is appealing and kid/adult friendly; full of projects (a flag waver, disco shoes, animatronic baby shark (do do do do do do) and more) and clear step by step tutorials. Although ostensibly aimed at younger readers (and their facilitators/adults), I found it interesting and full of info. I think the projects would be great for weekend family activities as well as a superlative choice for a library activity makers' group, classroom unit on programming or appropriate in a similar group setting.

The book starts with a good explanation of Arduino boards, what they are, how they came to be, what they do, and how to acquire one which will do what you want it to do for the later projects in the book. The projects themselves are arranged in roughly ascending order of intricacy. All the project tutorials contain a materials list in a colored header bar at the beginning, an introduction with explanations (and sometimes links to materials and other info), as well as step-by-step illustrated tutorials with clearly illustrated photos, necessary screenshots, and additional information to complete each project. Accompanying each tutorial are the author's pithy, often entertaining instructions and background. His explanations are upbeat, funny, encouraging, patient, and crystal clear. It's obvious that he's a gifted and enthusiastic teacher. There are 2 introductory chapters designed to get the reader comfortable with handling and using Arduino basics. The next 9 chapters contain projects with alternative suggestions included which are designed to get readers creating their own unique items from their imagination.

This is a useful guide for kids to adults. Five stars.

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

The Migraine Diet: A Ketogenic Meal Plan for Headache Relief

The Migraine Diet is a specialty cookbook and keto based meal plan by Denise Potter. Released 17th Dec 2019 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 225 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes a short author bio, and a metric conversion chart.  There is no index. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Chronic migraine can be debilitating. The etiology (causes) are myriad, but like all things, what we put into our bodies and our lifestyle choices have a fundamental effect on how well our bodies work. The author makes a compelling argument for adopting a low carbohydrate diet to ameliorate the severity and occurrence of migraine attacks. The high-fat, low-carb, moderate protein diet was originally developed to treat difficult cases of epilepsy which is comorbid with migraine (people with one are more than twice as likely to have the other, or other neurological issues). The author includes a number of peer-reviewed sources in the links and annotations in the book for further reading.

The books is well formatted and has a logical and easy to follow layout. The introductory chapters (~32% of the page content) cover some of the phsyiology behind the diet, migraines, what to expect, realistic expectations, and other general info. The following chapters contain the recipes, grouped roughly thematically: breakfast, salads & soups, snacks & sides, stews & chilis, meatless mains, seafood mains, meaty mains, desserts, and staples and partial ingredients.

Each recipe includes an introduction with other info such as portion control and yields followed by bullet list ingredients in sidebars with prep-time estimates. The recipes' ingredients lists are provided with English/American measurements only. Nutritional info including macronutrient content is provided in the footer under the recipe instructions. Most of the recipes are not photographed. There are some photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent a fraction of the recipes.

There are quite a number of interesting, appetizing, and relatively easy to cook foods contained here. I would recommend it to people who are interested in adapting a ketogenic diet who are also suffering from chronic migraine.

Five stars.

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

Pizza School: A Kids Cookbook for Aspiring Pizza Makers

Pizza School is a tutorial cookbook for youngsters and adult helpers written by Charity Curley Mathews. Released 17th Dec 2019 by Rockridge Press, it's 130 pages and available in paperback and ebook format. 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. The book also includes a short author bio, and a metric conversion chart.  There is no index. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The book has a logical and easy to follow format. The introduction covers the basics, with notes for adult facilitators/parents, and how to utilize the cookbook. The following chapters cover food safety and basic techniques, dough, sauce, and toppings (one chapter each). The recipe chapters contain classic recipes, new classics, international/fusion recipes, and non-pizza-pizzas (breakfast, dessert, etc). The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. The ingredients are all easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store.

This is an accessible guide with recipes aimed at kids. The writing style is fun and easy to read with instructions including good tips for safe food handling and cooking without mishaps. My quibble with the book is that the recipes are mostly not photographed. There are some photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent a fraction of the recipes.

Pizza School is also peppered with cute quips and kid-friendly jokes. Overall, a nice cookbook with appealing and family friendly recipes.  Four stars.

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

Unnatural Magic

Unnatural Magic is a standalone fantasy by C. M. Waggoner. Released 5th Nov 2019 by Penguin on their Ace imprint, it's 400 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a deliciously robust standalone fantasy in contrapuntal themes and, delightfully, with two unapologetically strong, intelligent, and appealing female leads.The disparate plot threads intertwine more closely as the book progresses until they merge about 3/4ths of the way through. The beginning of the book was slow for me because of the necessary framework-building and setup. It more than repaid my diligence for sticking with it and has been one of my best reads for 2019. The world building and magical system along with the racial interactions and societal background (troll vs. human, town vs. rural, magic class vs. mundane, etc.) are all on point and well rendered. One of the biggest standouts for me with this book was the expert way the author managed to explore perception. Motivation from one character's perspective which seems perfectly logical to -them- may not appear so to characters from other classes or backgrounds and the author's ability to highlight both viewpoints was exemplary.

This is a BIG book in terms of themes and narrative reach. There's a lot to unpack and process, and I don't doubt it will stick with me a long time. It's also a very very well written book and an enjoyable read.

Strong language warnings apply. There's a fair bit of no-nonsense non-smutty sex in the book along with themes of gender identity, androgyny, some body horror (in context), non-sexual violence, gender roles, and more. This is a very comprehensive book. I sincerely hope there's more. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this author in future.

Five stars. Superlative.

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

Keto Simple: Delicious Low-Carb Meals That Are Easy on Time, Budget, and Effort

Keto Simple is the newest cookbook from author and keto-lifestyle advocate Martina Slajerova, published by Quarto - Fair Winds Press and available 7th Jan 2020. It's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The main focus of this cookbook is making recipes more streamlined and simple. There aren't very many evenings I come home from work and feel like spending 2 hours+ of my evening cooking complex recipes. Anything that simplifies the process and requires fewer difficult ingredients or very expensive specialty items is a huge bonus for me. This book contains quite a number of recipes which are made with fewer ingredients, less time, and fewer difficult to find items.

Each recipe includes an intro with recipe special features such as nut-free, gluten-free, etc. There is an introduction with other info such as portion control and yields followed by bullet list ingredients in sidebars with prep-time estimates. The recipes' ingredients lists are provided with English/American measurements with metric/SI measures in parentheses. Nutritional info is provided in the footer under the recipe instructions.

The book is very well illustrated with most pages having full color photographs which support and fill out the text. The content is presented in plain and understandable language blessedly free from mumbo-jumbo. It includes a good layman accessible introduction, how to use a ketogenic diet, and what to expect from a lifestyle change which includes replacing some (or most) dietary carbohydrates with fats as a source of energy.

 The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: pantry basics, breakfasts, snacks, sides, soups & salads, lunch box, dinners, and desserts. There is a reference/resource guide along with links, and a cross referenced index including single ingredients for looking up related recipes.

I really liked that many of the recipes come with built-in alternatives which make it very easy to switch things up and add even more variation to menu planning without a lot of extra effort. Most of my reluctance to adopt a keto diet has been resistance to how difficult and time consuming it seems. This time of year inspires most of us to make lifestyle changes and I intend to try to incorporate some of them in my own family.

Four stars.

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

Vegan Yack Attack's Plant-Based Meal Prep: Weekly Meal Plans and Recipes to Streamline Your Vegan Lifestyle

Vegan Yack Attack's Plant-Based Meal Prep is a tutorial and recipe guide for meal-prep based on a vegan diet. Due out 7th Jan 2020 from Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

There have been a lot of times when I've come home from work and literally had no plan for dinner and a not-inspiring collection of ingredients and no idea what to cook for my family (we usually wind up with takeout food in those cases).  I've been familiar for ages with the concept of once-a-month-cooking and meal planning and prep, but it always seemed to take a lot more organizational skills than I honestly have. I'm sort of an extreme case of course, but I wanted to read this book and see if I could get some tips I could use to be more food prep organized.

This book is certainly organized. The first  ~7% of the page content covers the introduction, definitions and concepts involved in meal prep, along with lists of very basic kitchen utensils and storage items. There are also lists of staples with quantities to have on hand for maximum efficiency.

My main interest personally in food prep is to take care of my 5 day work-week lunchtimes. I work in a hospital lab and it's just so convenient to eat at the cafeteria which is generally full of high fat, calorie dense, carbohydrate laden food with almost zero plant based options.  This book contains 6 sample lunchtime meal prep menus for one which are -perfect- for my lunch-box problem.

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

This is a beautifully presented very well organized book. I would definitely recommend it to any of my friends who are looking to make their food prep even more efficient and vegan friendly. Once a week cooking can be made family friendly, and the authors have included mix-and-match recipes so that these meals can be incorporated into a family style meal environment. These would also work very well for singles or for one person (or whole family) following a plant based diet.

Five stars.

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

The Long Farewell (Sir John Appleby #17)

The Long Farewell is the 17th Inspector Appleby mystery by Michael Innes. First published in 1958, this reformat and re-release from Agora Books, out 12th Dec 2019, is 184 pages and available in ebook format (other editions in most other formats). Worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book, along with most of the rest of the series, are included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

I have been a fan of the Inspector Appleby mysteries as long as I can remember and I revisit them regularly. They're a lighthearted brand of classic British mystery with intricate plots and well defined (if archetypal) characters and the dialogue is often witty and stylish. They're self aware and not above poking good-hearted fun at everything from the class system to academia to police procedurals. They never devolve into mean-ness or ad hominem attacks and the good guys generally get their man (or woman) in the end. This one is true to form and I am not quite sure how it happened, but I don't remember having read it before. 

The book has aged well, despite its 60+ years. The prose is crisp and nuanced. The language is possibly slightly more academic than modern cozies. Due diligence in reading is richly rewarded with many subtly humorous exchanges. There's a scene between Inspector Appleby and Professor Prodger which was perfect and surprised a chuckle out of me. It's lovely to read a classic, very well written, good humored, solidly British mystery.

This edition includes a very short informative author bio. The ebook format also has handy interactive links to some of Michael Innes' works. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Four stars. A fun light read and very well written.

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

The Emperor Card (The Tarot Mysteries Book 5)

The Emperor Card is the 5th book in the Tarot Mysteries by Bevan Atkinson. Originally released in 2017, this reformat is 183 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

The plot gallops along, it's a short and satisfying read, and the technical aspects of the writing are seamless and enjoyable. This is an author who can really write. The secondary characters are well and sensitively drawn. The language is G-rated, there's no on page sexual content, and it's an enjoyable and humorous ride from start to finish.

The sense of place is palpable and the author has a gift for descriptive prose. I love the white hats in the story. The decency and honesty of Thorne, Xana, and DeLeon are so appealing and they're such great characters and so easy to like. The stories are wonderfully entertaining that I'm perfectly willing to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the ride. I also love it that Xana is preternaturally perceptive and intuitive . I find her a thoroughly appealing character.

The plot here is relatively straightforward and linear. I found it well written, quite probably my favorite in the series thus far. Even Xana's mother's friends are starting to grow on me. The denouement in this installment was so satisfying, and I adored the epilogue.

Possibly worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, the first book in this highly entertaining series (The Fool Card) is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. It's always fun to find a new to me author and series to read. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of modern American mysteries. I'm looking forward to binge reading the rest of the series.

Four stars.

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

Brina the Cat #1: The Gang of the Feline Sun

Brina the Cat #1 is a fun graphic novel written by Giorgio Salati and illustrated by Christian Cornia featuring Brina the Cat's adventures in the countryside on holiday with her humans. Originally released in 2017 in Italy, this English translation, due out 14th Jan 2020 from Papercutz has 88 pages and will be available in hardcover and paperback formats.

This is a short and very sweet story about indoor cats and outdoor cats. Brina meets a gang of cats on vacation including a feral cat with a missing eye and bad attitude. Vespucci wants Brina to give up her pampered home life and run away from her humans and live wild. Her conflict and her interactions with the other cats of the gang of the feline sun makes for a fun adventure.

I'm looking forward to more from this series.  Four stars.

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

999: The Extraordinary Young Women of the First Official Jewish Transport to Auschwitz

999 is the meticulously researched story of the first official Jewish transport to Auschwitz from Slovakia in 1942. Due out 31st Dec 2019 from Kensington Books, it's 417 pages and will be available in hardcover, audiobook, and ebook formats.

The writing was riveting and emotionally difficult to read in some places. Especially in light of the trends in modern politics, and the fact that it's all too believable that it could happen again, I felt an undercurrent of urgency reading this book.  It was compelling and the third person narrative put an accessible human face on the history.

Most of the books I've read about the Holocaust seem to have been a lot more focused on the male dominated parts of the war, the Holocaust, and the history. This book seemed a lot more personal to me.

Really well written, full of annotations and a bibliography for further reading. This would make a superlative resource in an academic setting as well as an important personal read.

Four stars.

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

Last Request

Last Request is the first book in a new series by Liz  Mistry. Released 16th Oct 2019, it's 352 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats.

This is a gritty police procedural set in West Yorkshire, featuring an ensemble cast and a multi-thread plot which is taut and well written. The main protagonist, Nikki, is fearless, female, intelligent, and irascible after growing up as multiracial in a lower income area full of crime, factions, and gangs. She's a DS after having fought her way up through the ranks, promoted after she'd cleared a high-profile previous case. 

There are a number of recurring themes here including racism, domestic violence, drugs and gangs, and a long time serial killer who is watching everything the police do. The book is written in the third person, with occasional interludes from the serial killer separated from the main text by being written in first person PoV, in italics.

This is a very well crafted mystery and after the introductory backstory for Nikki and co., moves along at an accelerating tempo toward a dramatic (but not unexpected) denouement. I am looking forward to the next book(s) in the series. Readers of gritty procedurals won't be shocked or dismayed by the language or violence (or drugs, etc), but readers who are unhappy with strong language or content might want to be aware that this book contains both.

Four strong stars. I love the ensemble cast.

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

Restorative Yoga for Beginners: Gentle Poses for Relaxation and Healing

Restorative Yoga for Beginners is an illustrated tutorial guide for restorative and relaxation yoga. Due out 17th Dec 2019 from Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 180 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook format (ebook available now). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes a short author bio, and a metric conversion chart, as well as interactive resources, supplies, and references lists.  There is no index. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Relaxation and stress management are important themes for virtually everyone. The toll that chronic stress takes on our bodies is insidious and serious. Restorative yoga is a tool which is accessible and safe and effective and can be practiced by almost everyone no matter what their level of fitness or previous yoga experience are.

The book follows a logical progression: an introduction and tips for using the book are followed by what restorative yoga is and other basic info, followed by a section of poses for different purposes such as relaxation, stress relief, pain relief, healing, followed by sequences, and a final chapter on breathing and meditation.

The author has a positive and calm manner of writing. It's encouraging but not strident or preachy at all. The equipment used in the book is minimal and easily sourced (she provides alternatives which most readers already have around the house).

I have been having a lot of physical therapy for a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. The progress has been positive but slow and painful. I've experienced positive benefits from the information in this book, less pain and more mobility.

Five stars, definitely worth a look for anyone interested in pain and stress relief in conjunction with yoga practice.

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

Vegan in an Instant: 103 Plant-Based Recipes for Your Instant Pot

Vegan in an Instant is a cookbook and tutorial guide for plant based meals prepared in conjunction with the instant pot. Due out 7th Jan 2020 from DK on their Alpha Books imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback format. Author Marina Delio is a food and lifestyle blogger and recipe developer with an upbeat and non-judgemental style of writing.

There are a lot of reasons to incorporate more plant based food in our diets; guarding our resources for future generations, living more simply, health and well-being, as well as philosophical reasons, not to mention taste. Using a pressure cooker can be a time-saving device but even better, it's generally a much less 'hands on' process. You can set the ingredients on the proper cooking program and walk away.  I'm -not- a gifted cook and it really is that simple.

The included recipes are made with easily sourced ingredients and the instructions are crystal clear and easy to follow. The photography is not abundant; most of the recipes are not illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and well done.

The book has a logical easy to follow format. The introduction covers instant pot cooking as well as some general food safety and instant pot info followed by a staple ingredient list for the vegan pantry to have on hand. The following chapters are arranged thematically: breakfast, entrees soups & stews, salads & sides, snacks & appetizers, desserts, and staples/sub ingredients used in other recipes.

Each recipe includes an intro with recipe special features such as nut-free, gluten-free, etc. There is an introduction with other info such as portion control and yields followed by highlighted sidebars with prep-time estimates, cooking settings, and other info. The recipes' ingredients lists are provided with English/American measurements with metric/SI measures in parentheses. Nutritional info is provided in the footer under the recipe instructions.

The links and recipe ingredients are slanted toward the North American reader, but can be sourced relatively easily in other areas of the world with an internet search.

Three and a half stars because I really felt the lack of sufficient photography very keenly, rounded up to 4 for the completeness of the instructions and cooking settings and the author's overall supportive and encouraging writing style.

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

Tapestries

Tapestries is a historical look at tapestries and the supporting industries from ancient to modern times. Due out 24th Dec 2019 from Osprey, it's 64 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats (ebook available now).

This is a compact, well illustrated, well researched book on tapestries through history to the modern ages. The introduction covers definitions, materials and process, looms, dyeing, and other basics. The following chapters follow tapestry development roughly chronologically from ancient and medieval tapestries, through the socioeconomic background of patrons and merchants, trade fairs and commission of bespoke pieces of work. The renaissance and the decline of historical tapestry weaving leads on into the modern resurgence of tapestry work by modern artists. The book is lavishly illustrated throughout with woodcuts, photographs of historical tapestry, workshop illustrations, and photographs of more modern work through to gallery representation and working process photos. The book also includes a glossary of terms, links to further reading and information as well as links to exhibits and museum collections which can be seen by the public, and a cross referenced index.

This would make a superlative library book, fibrearts guild library selection, gift for a lover of fibre-arts, or reference for many fibre-crafters including knitters, weavers, embroiderers, etc.

Four stars. Very well done.

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

A Pretty Folly: A traditional British murder mystery (Inspector James Given Investigations Book 2)

A Pretty Folly is the second mystery featuring Inspector Given written by Charlie Garratt. Released 7th Oct 2019 by Sapere books, it's 286 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book and the first in the series are included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a beautifully written and nuanced book, with believable three dimensional characters who behave in accordance with their motivations in all their varied settings. The secondary characters cover a broad spectrum of the human condition, from brutal and racist murdering thugs to the most rarefied and isolated ivory tower academics. There is a plethora of suspects from which to choose and as the plot progresses, figuring out 'whodunnit' is an entertaining challenge.

In some ways these books remind me of Barbara Nadel's Francis Hancock series which are set around the same time period. They're very carefully and intricately plotted with meticulously researched and realistic historical settings. 

I would heartily recommend this one to lovers of classic British golden age mysteries. Readers should however be aware of some potentially troubling content (all used in context): murder, suicide, antisemitism, domestic violence, and a fairly graphic torture scene. The language is quite clean and there is no direct sexual content. The denouement is satisfying and leaves the potential for more volumes to follow. I'm looking forward to see what's next for Inspector Given and co.

Five stars. Really enjoyable read, an author to look out for.

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

This Book Will Make You Fall Asleep

This Book Will Make You Fall Asleep is a cute gift book full of short puzzles, quotes, and pages full of little sheep in nightcaps to count. Due out 7th Jan 2020 from Andrews McMeel, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This book is, quite simply, pages and pages of cute sheep (see cover), interspersed with about 30% of the content given over to puzzles (guide Kip the sheep through the maze to his pillow) or 1 page quotes pertaining to sleep. There are a few simple tips for getting to sleep which won't be a surprise for anyone who has ever Googled 'insomnia'.

This might make a cute gift for a coworker or friend. Two and a half stars. I rounded up because Kip was a very cute name choice in this context.

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