Book Review: Beat Bobby Flay: Conquer the Kitchen with 100+ Battle-Tested Recipes: A Cookbook by Bobby Flay

Beat Bobby Flay: Conquer the Kitchen with 100+ Battle-Tested Recipes: A Cookbook by Bobby Flay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a long-time fan of the Beat Bobby Flay TV show, it was fun to re-live the episodes by reading the recipes. It's always amazing to me that these chefs can make these dishes in under 45 minutes. Obviously they have time management skills that this home chef just doesn't! Impressive!

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Book Review: Past Tense by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #23)

Past Tense by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#23 in the Jack Reacher series, and I'm working my way through them in order. This book has dual story lines - Reacher stopping in a small New Hampshire town to find out more about where his father grew up, and a young Canadian couple with car trouble who take refuge at a remote motel. The chapters alternate between the two story lines, eventually converging when Reacher comes to the rescue. It's a real page-turner, but I turned the pages quickly yet cautiously -- I didn't want to find out what the young couple was facing, but I couldn't wait to find out! Of course, Reacher ran into a few characters along the way who needed a lesson, as usual. All in all, another Reacher tale which doesn't disappoint.

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Book Review: The Tucci Cookbook by Stanley Tucci

The Tucci Cookbook by Stanley Tucci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the cookbook that every family wishes that they compiled...all of the recipes from every relative! Stanley Tucci has recipes from his parents, who immigrated to the U.S. from Italy. In addition, he worked with Chef Gianni Scappin in preparation for the film he wrote/director/starred in, "The Big Night" and it contains many of his recipes. This book has more classic Italian family recipes than his later cookbook, "The Tucci Table." It includes memoirs from each of his parents, Stanley Tucci and Joan Tropiano Tucci. Overall, an excellent cookbook and tribute to an Italian family!

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Book Review: A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes #1)

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book in the Sherlock Holmes / John Watson series! It was fascinating to find out how they initially met and started living / working together. The story jumps from London in the 1880s to the western United States several decades earlier in order to give the reader the necessary backstory. That portion of the novella was a little too detailed and dusty for me, and I was anxious to get back to the real mystery and action with Holmes and Watson. Overall, a fun read especially since I loved the British Sherlock TV series. Looking forward to reading more of their escapades.

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Book Review: The Trespasser by Tana French (Dublin Murder Squad #5)

The Trespasser by Tana French
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fantastic Tana French / Dublin Murder Squad book! I was immediately drawn into the characters -- detectives Antoinette Conway and Stephen Moran. They are partners on the midnight shift, and have a sixth sense about each other. We follow them as they investigate a murder, all while being pressured by the other detectives on the squad. French has a lovely way of setting a scene and making the reader feel like they are right there with the detectives. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she will continue to write Dublin Murder Squad books.

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Book Review: The Quick Fix Kitchen: Easy Recipes and Time-Saving Tips for a Healthier, Stress-Free Life: A Cookbook by Tia Mowry

The Quick Fix Kitchen: Easy Recipes and Time-Saving Tips for a Healthier, Stress-Free Life: A Cookbook by Tia Mowry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a great book for someone starting out cooking. LOTS of background information -- what tools/equipment to have, pantry basics to have on hand, meal planning techniques, how to store staples, etc. However, I wanted to see the recipes and they didn't kick in until page 128! Not as many recipes as I expected.

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Book Review: Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson

Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This books conveys a lot of fantastic information but needs to be presented in a much better, more useful format. I did not enjoy all of the memoir style vignettes and stories about all of his relatives.

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Book Review: Bobby at Home: Fearless Flavors from My Kitchen: A Cookbook by Bobby Flay

Bobby at Home: Fearless Flavors from My Kitchen: A Cookbook by Bobby Flay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A sneak peek at what Bobby Flay cooks at home. He often mentions dishes that are on the menus at his restaurants and re-makes the recipes to make at home. Everything is very approachable for the home cook. Lots of mouth-watering photos of the food.

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Book Review: The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A historical novel focusing on The Barbizon Hotel for Women in New York City. The story is told in two different times and by two different protagonists. Darby is a young woman from Ohio who moves to NYC in 1952 to attend the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. Rose is a mid-career journalist in 2016 who is writing an investigative article on the history of the Barbizon and the women who lived there over the years. The reader gets a real feel for the 1950's in NYC: jazz clubs, heroin use, the role of women in society, dress codes, the Barbizon house mother, and most of all how the Barbizon provided a safe place to live for young single women who were new to the big city. The alternating chapters and storytellers (1952 and 2016) weave together very nicely and move toward a suspenseful conclusion.

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Book Review: Old-School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned to Cook by Alex Guaranschelli

Old-School Comfort Food: The Way I Learned to Cook by Alex Guarnaschelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great recipes of the classics, with classic tips and tricks. Part memoir, part cookbook, this is a tribute to her parents and chef mentors. I always enjoy reading her writing; she has a wonderful way of describing food and taste.

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Book Review: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An incredibly compelling novel set in the late 1970's in small town Ohio and focusing on a Chinese American family of five. In the first paragraph, we find out that Lydia, the ‘favorite’ middle child, is dead. As the story progresses, we learn about each family member and their role / relationship to Lydia. Secrets are concealed but also revealed. Conversations and behaviors are filtered, hidden, and uncovered. The truth slowly unfolds.

Many social issues are covered in this book: the role of women in the society of the 1970s, stereotyping of immigrants, how race impacts each of the Lee family members, and how each of the three Lee children have been raised vastly differently.

The story is non-linear, jumping around in time from when the parents first meet to the present day (1977). Typically I don’t like non-linear storytelling, but this novel had me riveted. I finished this book three weeks ago and I’m still thinking about the story and the characters – a true sign that a book has touched me.


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Book Review: The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A delightful historical novel which details the lives of four women in rural England during World War II. They are in the midst of food rationing, trying their best to make tasty food for their families with the limited resources they are allowed. The four women enter a contest on BBC radio to see who can create the tastiest appetizer, main dish and dessert. The winner will be the next presenter on the Kitchen Front radio show. The book encompasses laughter, heartbreak, love, disappointment, personal struggles, friendship, and every emotion in between. Recipes are also included after each chapter, and the author has done extensive research to make the story and recipes historically accurate. All-in-all, a feel-good novel.

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Book Review: With Love from London by Sarah Jio

With Love from London by Sarah Jio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With Love from London included many of my favorite things in a book: a librarian, a charming bookshop, the story set in London, and mother/daughter relationships. I love how the alternating chapters slowly unfold the individual stories of Eloise (the mother) and Valentina (the daughter). We gradually understand the events and rationale behind the choices that Eloise made. Even though Primrose Hill is a section of London, it has a delightful small-town, neighborhood feel to it. The book evokes a wide range of emotions, and is beautifully written. This is my first book by Sarah Jio, but you can be sure that I will be reading many more!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley -- thank you so much!!

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Book Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A charming, "meet-cute" story about two best friends (female/male) who take an annual vacation together. The book follows them over 12 years and 12 vacations. I'm usually not a fan of non-linear novels but I can see how it works in this case, interspersing the back story vacations with present day. Incredibly smart, witty dialogue. It should be made into a movie. Where is Nora Ephron when we need her?!?

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