The Worry Relief Workbook

Practical Strategies to Reduce Stress, Calm Fears, and Manage Negative Thoughts

by Jane Teixeira, LMFT

Are you a person who worries and/but would like to fret less? Would you welcome some help from a reliable source? If yes, this book by a licensed marriage and family therapist could be of great help. It may be especially helpful when used in conjunction with some form of mental health treatment.

The author utilizes what are called “evidence based” strategies/treatments to work on issues of worry and anxiety. EB means that the practices have been tested and found to be useful. Without worrying about jargon, these include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy for example. Don’t worry (!), everything you need to know will be explained.

The well trained author of this book hopes to help readers identify their goals, learn new ways of working with anxiety and leave with a better understanding of their emotional health. This sounds very helpful.

It is suggested that readers read and work on the chapters in order as they build on one another. It provides an interactive resource with exercise suggestions and is one that many will turn to frequently. Be honest with yourself and see what you might achieve in terms of better coping skills. This is a great way to give something to yourself.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Callisto Media for this title. All opinions are my own.

by Colleen Cambridge

#MasteringtheArtofFrenchMurder #NetGalley

Many readers will recognize that the title of this historical mystery refers to Julia Child and her classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. And indeed, most happily, Julia, her husband (Paul), and sister (nicknamed Dort) are all found in these pages. There is also a fictional character, Tabitha, who is nowhere near the cook that Julia is but who is a good friend to her.

The story takes place in the late 1940s in Paris so I was immediately inclined to like this book. The opening has Julia trying to figure out what is wrong with her mayonnaise. Soon, she will have much bigger problems. After a party at her apartment, a body is found in the basement area of Julia’s flat. The victim was a guest and the knife used to kill her came from Julia’s kitchen. Therese also was employed at the theater where Dort works.

Tabitha, the book’s amateur sleuth, has a father who was in the police. This makes her wanting to solve the case feel credible. She has come to Paris to spend time with her grandfather and his partner who becomes like an uncle to her. They add color and relationships to the story.

This book was entertaining and fun. I liked the setting, the characters, the food and the story. Kudos to the author. She has also written a series featuring Agatha Christie’s housekeeper showing how versatile she is. I have enjoyed her contributions to the historical mystery and recommend this title. I hope that this is the start of a series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 25 April 2023 Mark your calendar

My Life as a Rabbi on the Spectrum

by Tzemah Yoreh

#SoCompassionateitHurts #NetGalley

Anyone who is “on the spectrum” or knows someone who is,may want to read this title by Tzemah Yorah. He takes readers on a journey through his childhood, marriage, and life as a parent. He also gives an account of how he became a Rabbi and the unique perspective that he feels autism has given to him and the ways in which this has enhanced his approach to his profession.

At times, I found this title to be a bit “stream of consciousness” in its unfolding. Nonetheless, I valued getting to know this very honest author through this work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Modern Scripture for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 08 November 2022

I’ve reviewed this one.

I reviewed and enjoyed this one.

A Charming and Humorous Cozy Mystery

by Laurien Berenson

#PegandRoseSolveaMurder #NetGalley

I was drawn to this title by its cover. It looked exactly like the sort of cozy that I might enjoy. Plot lines are right there for the reader to discover. Plus, I have enjoyed books by this author for many years.

Peg, is Aunt Peg, from the long running series of dog mysteries that Ms. Berenson has penned. Here Peg teams up with Rose who is her sister-in-law. The two are very different; Rose is a former nun who always looks for the good in people while Peg is more blunt.

In this book, as can be seen from the cover, Peg and Rose have taken up bridge. It’s supposed to be a game that does not result in murder but…here we are. Enjoy solving the case with these gray haired sleuths. It is a fun read.

This book is part of what seems like a trend now. While senior sleuths have existed since Jane Marple, now we are seeing more of them. There are the title by Richard Osman and Deanna Raybourn’s latest to name just two. Peg and Rose will be welcomed by readers as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 30 August 2022

by Christopher Fowler

#BryantMayPeculiarLondon #NetGalley

The Bryant and May mysteries are uniquely entertaining. The Peculiar Crimes Unit has kept readers turning the pages ever since Full Dark House was published in 2003.

Here is a long book that is filled with 49 chapters about London. The book is set up as a series of entries that can be read in any order. There are sarcasm, humor and facts in these pages. A few of the chapter headings include A Big Lump of Rock, A Town Named After a Drain; A Sweet and Comfortable Recreation, and The Longest Running Play. Dip in and out in a leisurely fashion.

Readers may themselves need to be mildly eccentric to fully appreciate this title. For example, The Longest Running Play, is about Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. The detectives hardly give it an adoring review.

There is always something to consider in these pages which feature Bryant and May and many who know them. This book is recommended to open minded readers who are not looking for a typical guidebook.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 06 December 2022

496 pages

All of Us

by Gökçe İrten

This book celebrates how we, kids in this instance, are all alike in so many ways. The author acknowledges universal actions and feelings that connect people as humans. Interesting illustrations accompany the text. Along with the painted artwork, there are moments when photos come into play. Sometimes these are rather playful as, for example, when Einstein’s head is put on a drawn figure.

This book offers a nice way to encourage tolerance and acceptance without actually naming those terms. It is a “show” and not “tell” text which makes it feel more authentic.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Princeton Architectural Press. All opinions are my own.

A lovely old fashioned book for those age five or so and up.

For British cozy fans…it has been made into a series on Acorn TV.

Part of a good dual time line British series of mysteries

I am a big fan of this series.

FREE

One of the greatest honours a mystery writer can receive is to win the Gold Dagger award from the Crime Writer’s Association. Though they award a variety of
— Read on greatbritishbookclub.com/2022-crime-writers-association-gold-dagger-nominee-longlist/

by Samantha Vérant

#TheSpiceMasteratBistroExotique #NetGalley

I loved this book (and its cover) and always looked forward to having a few minutes to read the next chapter. This is the first title that I have read by Ms. Verant; I know that I will pick up the others.

This book has so much in it to enjoy. A list: Paris, foods and a special restaurant, good characters, friendship, romance, a plot that led to both my laughing and caring at different points, obstacles to overcome, pages that turn.

Kate has lived in Paris for a number of years. She moved there with her eccentric mother after her parents separated. Now, as the story opens, Kate is about to realize her dream of having her own restaurant with a menu that she has carefully curated. Just when everything should by rights be perfect, the challenges begin starting with a piano that lands on the bistro’s awning. This is just one of the potential pre-opening disasters and they keep coming. What about the mysterious neighbor whose access to certain spices seems pretty magical? Will she and Kate find common ground? Will Kate find romance with the maddening neighbor whom she has dubbed anti-Keanau? What will be the fate of the restaurant? Grab this title on its pub date to find out.

This book will be welcomed by those who gravitate to fiction that is simply enjoyable. Foodies also will find this one to be fun.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 06 December 2022