The Cozy Christmas Cookbook

50 Recipes to Rediscover the Magic of the Season

by Taylor Vance

For anyone who thinks about the holiday season well in advance, here is a book for you. Instead of the blazing sunshine that I have today, I will think of fireplace warmth as I peruse these recipes.

The chapters are a bit whimsically named. For example, one is title Yummy Stocking Stuffer Sides, while another is Deck the Halls with Sips & Sugar.

The recipes seem easy to follow. The illustrations are inspiring. See for example the Ho, Ho Holiday Appetizer Wreath. For another appetizer, consider Santa Suit Button Mushrooms. Keeping with adorable recipe/illustration, see the one for Rudolph’s Reindeer Burgers. A nice looking dessert is the Joyeux Dark Cherry Clafoutis.

All in all, this cookbook teams up the cute and the tasty. It seems perfect for its audience.

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

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In my opinion, Marie Benedict is among the best of the current writers of historical fiction. Here, once again, the author has succeeded in writing an absorbing story that is based upon historical fact. Unlike in her earlier novels, this time she tells the story of six important characters (rather than one) who were sisters. They were so different from each other that it is hard to believe that they had the same parents.

The family included one son, Tom and many daughters. There was Nancy, the novelist. Diana was beautiful, married to one of (those) Guinnesses but she left

Bryan to be with the Fascist Oswald Mosley. Unity was somewhat of a fanatic who was deeply enamored of Hitler while Jessica was a Communist. There were also younger sisters Debo and Pamela.

Benedict tells her chapters from different characters points of view. She often has characters detailing their experiences in the same time frame.

There is a very rich history in this family. Readers will enjoy learning more about the Mitfords in this well written story.

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

From the Publisher

365 Hopeful Meditations for Peaceful and Reflective Evenings All Year Long

by Emily Silva

This title is part of a series by the author. I will look for the others. I find this to be a book that I would look forward to picking up each evening. It provides a quick time to reflect on life and to find that, sometimes elusive, sense of gratitude. Looking for a moment of calm? If so, buy this book.

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

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sandie Docker has quickly become a favorite author for me. I recently read The Wattle Island Book Club and, after finishing it, went ahead and bought every one of her novels.

The Redgum River Retreat tells the story of Rosalie, her granddaughter Sarah, great-granddaughter Melody, their relative Ryan and many of the people who surround(ed) them. There are two timelines, one in the present and another starting during WWII.

To set the scene: In the present, musician Sarah and her daughter Melody were in a car accident. (Not a spoiler as this happens early in the novel). One way in which Melody responds is through elective mutism. Will the retreat be able to help her? Sarah and Rosalie have their wounds as well; may they find some peace?

In the past Rosalie was a photographer. She became involved in a project that involved sending photos to servicemen as per their requests. As a result, Rosalie meets Penelope and comes to know her sons Albert and Edward. Her life will be deeply influenced by them and also by the more conventional Henry.

These are just some of the people who come so richly to life in this well plotted story. I was sad to say good-bye to everyone at the novel’s end. I think that many readers will feel exactly the same.

I highly recommend this one!

The Wattle Island Book Club by Sandie Docker

by Nancy Campbell

#NatureTalesforWinterNights #NetGalley

Imagine that is four o’clock on a late fall or winter afternoon. A cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate is on the table and this book is in your hands.

Take the time to read an entry any day that you have the opportunity. It will see you through many a cold, dark night.

Some of the entries in this book are very short as is the first one by Anne Frank. At most the others are still less than ten pages.

There are authors whose names I recognized including Virginia Woolf, Tove Jansson, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Vincent Van Gogh. Interspersed with their writings were many minutes of getting new perspectives on the time of year.

Start with the author’s introduction and then read this one in any order. It is a title that I will be pulling out again and again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 October 2024

This novel has all of the things that a reader of women’s fiction could want. There are engaging characters, an appealing setting that includes gardens, a, second chance romance and (my favorite) lots about books. There is also a bit of seriousness as protagonist Savannah has been diagnosed with lupus.

As the story opens Savannah is a bit at loose ends. She has come to visit the relative with whom she spent many childhood summers. This aunt introduced Savannah and her summer friend Evan to many good reads. Evan and Savannah subsequently fell out of touch but meet up again during Savannah’s visit. Both have had some complex life experiences-for Savannah this includes her diagnosis and a broken engagement while, for Evan, he now has sole custody of his daughter following the death of his child’s mother.

As the story unfolds, one plot, not surprisingly, has to do with this relationship. Another storyline centers on the library in Eleanor’s garden. What happened to it and how will it survive? Readers will root for these characters (pun a bit intended due to gardens and the town being called Bloom) as the pages turn.

I loved that each chapter heading came with a quote from a book. I also enjoyed the many book titles that were scattered throughout the story. Readers could come up with a great TBR pile from these.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable read. Just right for a spring or summer escape.

Many thanks to Forever/Grand Central and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 16 April 2024

 #DeathataShetlandFestival #NetGalley

The story begins at a music festival that is enjoyed by most Shetlanders including Cass and Gavin. Cass is a sailor who is in port for a bit. Gavin is a DI and the person with whom Cass is in a relationship. Together they have a murder to solve…and one with links to the past.

This book moves back and forth between the present and the 80s when oil was being explored and there was a big camp at Sutton Voe. Cass has come into the possession of an old diary from that time and wants to return it to its owner. However, this may not be easy and may also reawaken old tragedy.

In the present, a well-known folk musician has been murdered during the festival. Readers can be pretty certain that this event links with things that happened in the past. Pages will be turned to find out.

Some of the things that I very much enjoyed in this book were the setting, the sailing, the characters, the Scottish words, the evocation of the early 80s and the story itself.

Anyone who has enjoyed crime fiction by Ann Cleeves (Jimmy Perez) and/or Val McDermid (Karen Pirie) should absolutely take a look at this series. I plan to go back to read all of the earlier novels. So glad there are so many of them!

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

Pub date: 09 May 2024