An Intimate Tour of the Private Gardens of Europe

by Carolyn Mullet

#AdventuresinEden #NetGalley

These Edens are in eleven European countries. Enjoy the most gorgeous and lush visits that one could have without being there. This lavishly illustrated title would make a perfect holiday gift!

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

From the Publisher

Pettifers Garden Lower Wardington, Oxfordshire	Whitburgh House Walled Garden Pathhead, Midlothian	Le Jardin Plume Auzouville-sur-Ry, Seine-Maritime

Les Jardins d’Étretat Les Jardins d’Étretat	HORTVS Hilden, North Rhine-Westphalia	Broughton Grange Banbury, Oxfordshire

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Homebound gardeners will be dazzled.” —Publishers Weekly

“A sumptuous, utterly escapist hardback featuring all the most beautiful gardens in the UK and Europe we could possibly dream of visiting… This book makes a wonderful substitute for travel in these difficult times.” —The English Garden

“Adventures in Eden offers a way to get a glimpse of far-off garden perfection from the comfort and safety of home… readers will find much inspiration in both the words and images, as well as plenty of planting and design ideas to adapt at home.” —Horticulture

“This image-rich peek at 50 gardens in Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain… leaves me longing to visit many of the gardens.” —The Washington Post

“A richly illustrated tour of 50 private contemporary gardens across Europe, chosen and led by landscape designer Carolyn Mullet.” —Gardens Illustrated

Anna Pavlova

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

In this entry in the informative series, readers learn about Anna Pavlova. She dreamed of being a ballerina from a very young age. Find out how she achieved her dream and what she also gave to others in this delightfully illustrated title..

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

Romance Stories for the Holidays

by Robyn Carr

#HolidaysinVirginRiver #NetGalley

This book would make a perfect seasonal gift for a Virgin River fan who either has read some of the series or who has seen the Netflix show. Included are two novellas; they may have been published before so hard core fans might want to check before making a purchase. That said, this book is a treat. Included is a note from the author who talks about how Virgin River came to life as a place and home to its residents. Virtual Virgin River visitors will especially enjoy this I think.

Here is a book to relax with. Get a cup of tea or cocoa and indulge!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 October 2022

368 pages

I reviewed this title.

www.nytimes.com/2022/11/04/books/review/we-all-want-impossible-things-catherine-newman.html

www.nytimes.com/2022/11/03/books/review/bono-books-interview.html

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/04/books/review/sherlock-holmes-london-quiz.html

From the nyt

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