Just published:Zingerman’s Celebrate Every Day

Four stars ****

I have a friend who has sung the praises of Zingerman’s but I have never made it to Ann Arbor to have the first hand experience. This is certainly as close as it gets with Zingerman’s collection of celebratory recipes.

This is a fabulous cookbook. The recipes are organized by season, beginning with spring and are organized by holidays. For example, summer has two recipes for the first day of school; these are raspberry Patti pockets and local spoonful creamy baked oatmeal. Both look delicious. Find recipes for everything from Passover to Father’s day, and from Halloween to Christmas, and so much more.

The recipes vary in difficulty. An easy one is “The Works Grilled Cheese Sandwich” while some of the bakes are I think beyond my level.

The book is filled with photos and they are sure to make cooks and bakers hungry. This will definitely inspire them to get into the kitchen!

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

Now out: A Traitor in Whitehall

Four stars ****

Julia Kelly has written a number of historical fiction titles that I have enjoyed. With A Traitor in Whitehall, she adds a murder mystery into the mix. The result was an absorbing read.
Readers learn early on that protagonist, Evelyne, has a backstory through her parents’ relationship . She moves forward from this into managing her own life. When she is tapped by a friend of her father’s to work in Whitehall, both in a position there, and also with an eye to reporting to an outside source, little does she anticipate all that will happen.
One of the women who works in the typing pool has been found murdered. Why? Who did it? Readers will try to figure this out even as Evelyne works with David, supposedly a Minister’s aide, on the case. There are many suspects.
In addition to the well conceived plot, I also enjoyed the setting in Churchill’s War Rooms. Readers are given a genuine feel for what it would have been like to work in this deep underground setting during the war years.
One thing that I struggled with a bit, however, was keeping all of the women who worked with Evelyne straight. I went back a number of times to remember something about each of them.
This minor quibble aside, this was a book that I very much liked. I hope that Ms. Kelly will add another and make this a series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

A Traitor in Whitehall Julia Kelly
A Traitor in Whitehall Julia Kelly Madeline Martin quote
A Traitor in Whitehall Julia Kelly Susan Elia MacNeal quote

A treasury of letters: Dear Rebel

#DearRebel #NetGalley

It is very easy to recommend this collection from Rebel Girls. In these pages many women offer some perspective/advice to the young reader. The letters are thoughtful and inspiring, and feature women from many walks of life.

With more than 100 entries, it is hard to pick a few to highlight. I note that some of the contributors are people whose names I know while many others were new to me. Among those I recognized are Melinda French Gates, Nadiya Hussain, Drew Barrymore, and Laurene Powell Jobs. That said, each of these communications has meaning and value. Spend time with the writers’ words and also take a look at the photos. Suggest to a girl that you know that she browse in this book. It will be worth her time.

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

Pub date: 03 October 2023

You are most: welcome, little one

#WelcomeLittleOne #NetGalley

I always wished that my mom had made a baby book for me so that I could have read it when I was an adult but, sadly, she didn’t. This made me very motivated to make books for each of my children. So, if you are motivated…

I think that this no tech, book that can be held, is a perfect place to record memories about a child. There are many sections here; for example, one can make family tree or put in info about a baby’s parents, the president at the time, etc. There is ample room to record monthly changes over the first year, a whole variety of first can be filled in and much more.

This book is nicely laid out with lots of room to include photos. I highly recommend it to parents as a keepsake for themselves and their child.

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

Pub date: 31 October 2023