Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

The Secret Garden is truly a childhood classic. It is a great read aloud for an adult and child. Now, Secret Garden lovers can expand and enhance their experience with the book through this cookbook.

Following an introduction the cookbook is divided into seven sections; these are Yorkshire Breakfasts, A Manor Lunch, An English Tea, From the Kitchen Garden, Dickon’s Cottage Food, A Taste of India and finally, Garden Picnics. The introduction includes information on the reign of Queen Victoria, ruler at the time that the book is set, and the kinds of food that were available to different social classes at that time.

The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs, starting with a statue of Mary and Dickon that is in Central Park in New York City and appealing drawings. There are also many quotes from the book. There are additional interesting facts throughout as well.

Each of the sections begins with an introduction that gives context to the recipes. Some of these are Savory Muffins Spiked with Cheddar Cheese, Roast Chicken with Bread Sauce, Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce, A Proper Pot of Tea, Lemon Curd Tartlets, Spring Peas with Fresh Mint, Pease Pudding, Cottage Loaf with a Topknot, Sooji with Fresh Fruit and English Crumpets. It is very tempting to list each recipe as they all look so good, but this is just a sample.

The recipes come with clear and easy to follow directions. Some have as few as three steps so cooks can choose the recipes that they feel most ready to tackle.

All in all, this is a lovely and appealing book. I recommend it highly!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

This title is geared towards third to fifth graders but I think that many adults will also appreciate its clean, concise description of the role of the electoral college. Included is information on the college’s historical origins and the rationale for its formation. Readers will learn why the number 538 is an important one for elections and will understand where the number comes from. There is also a section discussing some of the feelings for and against the electoral college as compared to a system based on the popular vote.

This title includes a number of photographs. It is very readable and the author does his job well. It is important to engage kids in the political process. Hopefully, this book will help them to do so.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

And please, register to vote so that you and your electors can have their say!

From the publisher:

Diane Mott Davidson has written a series of culinary mysteries.  I loved Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse series.  It was also a wonderful tv series starring John Thaw.  The Lockridges are Manhattan detectives, kind of like Nick and Nora Charles. Nanreath is historical fiction while Robert Goddard has written some pretty twisty titles, though I have not read this one.

The Vegetarian Cookbook is described as being for young cooks but I think that cooks of all ages will enjoy the recipes it contains. I also think that young cooks may need a bit of adult help as they follow some of these recipes.

The book is divided into sections including Brilliant Breakfasts, Super Snacks, Lovely Lunches, Delicious Drinks, Moreish Main Meals and Sweet Stuff. Some of the recipes are avocado mash on sourdough bread, poached eggs with greens and Hollandaise sauce, Chinese rolls, Watermelon and Feta summer salad, Pasta and homemade pesto, Oat milk Hot chocolate, Sweet potato lasagna, Cauliflower steaks and Zingy lime pie.

This book is an appealing, well illustrated title. There are sections at the beginning of the book on the different food groups, equipment, kitchen safety, etc. These add to the usefulness of this one as a reference.
I recommend this title. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this delicious book ine exchange for an honest review.

#TheVegetarianCookbook #NetGalley

From the publisher:

Yet again, a wealth of choices, many of which I have read or would like to read.  I have reviewed The Stranger Diaries which is by one of my favorite authors. I also reviewed Transcription. (see archives).  Becoming Mrs. Lewis is about Joy Davidson and C. S. Lewis.  Heaven My Home has gotten excellent reviews as has Something in the Water.  Hope you see something that you will enjoy.

Robyn Carr is a prolific writer of women’s fiction. Her Virgin River novels are now a series on Netflix. The Country Guesthouse is one of the author’s Sullivan’s Crossing books. These stories take part in Colorado and are interconnected although they do not have to be read in order.

This title is primarily about Owen, Hannah and Noah. They face challenges although readers of this author know that usually things end well. Owen is a world traveler and a photographer who had a significant tragedy in his life. Hannah was a close friend to Noah’s mother, who died and named Hannah to be his guardian. Noah, who is five years old, has mild CP and is grieving the loss of his mom. Over the course of this story, the three come together, heal and find love while also connecting with the characters from previous books.

I recommend Robyn Carr’s novels to those who enjoy women’s fiction. This one is an easy read that takes the reader to a beautiful place and the kind of caring community we dream about.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Other titles in the series:

#TheCountryGuesthouse #NetGalley

David Attenborough is a well known advocate for environmental causes. He has produced a number of spectacular television series about the world we live in. Yet, he was once a little boy who was just beginning to explore his interests in the natural world. In this charming entry in a wonderful biographical series, readers watch a curious David become educated, spend time with all kinds of animals in all kinds of places and find his calling. He is eventually honored by Queen Elizabeth.

Charmingly illustrated, this is another appealing entry in the Little People series that children should read to learn more about their world and the many things that people do in it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and blogged on The Masterpiece (see archive).  Fantastic Crimes is a set of biblio mysteries that are published by the Mysterious Bookshop.  Having read Middlemarch, I am curious about My Life in Middlemarch and just bought it.  Barbara Vine is the author known as Ruth Rendell.  I like the Ruth Rendell traditional mysteries but know that lots of people enjoy the Barbara Vine books which are darker.

Christmas Pudding and Pigeon Pie by Nancy Mitford. Two early novels. I recently blogged on a mystery series which features the Mitford Sisters.

Sheer Abandon by Penny Vincenzo. An enjoyable, long women’s fiction title.

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher. I enjoyed and blogged on this one.

The Grass Harp by Truman Capote. Classic.

The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper. Historical fiction.

The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis. Women’s fiction.

Fans of Anne of Green Gables will rejoice when they see this title. As described, it is a transcription of the novel with its amendments, corrections and more. There are facsimile pages of the manuscript in Montgomery’s handwriting at the beginning of the chapters. I loved seeing these because they make the writing feel so very real.

The beginning of this book is packed with interesting things to read. There is biographical information about Lucy Maud (who wanted to be called Maud), whose mother died when she was a toddler, leaving her to be raised by her maternal grandparents. Her later reunion with her father and his new family is described as was Maud’s wish to make him proud of her. Readers learn about Maud’s efforts to get her education, her work as a teacher and also as a reporter which culminated in her becoming a novelist.

There is material from Maud herself included; for example, her efforts in sending out her manuscript and the rejections it received. Learn why one publisher finally took a chance on her. Readers share the author’s evident delight when her manuscript is accepted.There is also information on how the characters in her stories are or are not based on real people and how the geography of her community found its place in the book. Readers will learn why Montgomery made Matthew quiet and SPOILER why he died. One anecdote that I found especially touching had to do with the author being asked if Anne was a real person; she was fictional but so very real to the author.

I highly recommend this book for those who are fond of Green Gables and also for those who may be coming to Anne for the first time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#NimBooks #NetGalley