The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices by Cal Orey

 

This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I would much prefer to heal my body with herbs and spices than other medicines. This book is very informative and the photographs are beautiful.

I recommend it.

This book was given to me by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Death Comes to Dogwood Manor

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This cozy mystery by Sandra Bretting is great fun. Missy, on her way to her shop, Crowning Glory, has a car accident in front of Dogwood Manor. This once beautiful mansion is being changed into a hotel by Herbert Solomon. His is the car that Missy runs into. A Rolls Royce, no less. This is not a big concern to Herbert as he is too busy dealing with the remodel.
Missy returns to the mansion to check out the chapel where one of her clients is getting married. While there she finds Herbert Solomon dead, by poison. Missy just seems to run into one misfortune after another in this enjoyable book.
I have enjoyed Sandra Bretting's books in the past and I have a feeling I will be reading more of her works int he future.
Highly recommended.

Book Review: Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop

Claudia Lombardo is a food writer who has traveled the world to try the wares of great chefs. Then she hears about a convent in Santa Lucia del Mela which creates wonderful desserts. She travels there to find out about Sorella Agata who was the originator of these desserts, including a cassata which has never found its like anywhere.

Claudia decides to find out the secret behind these desserts, even though  Sorella Agata says there is not one. Through the tastings, Sorella Agata tells her the history of the shop and Rosalia, her inspiration. Rosalia was the daughter of a tailor. She is kidnapped, raped and beaten by a man she rejected. He then hid her in a cave where nuns found her and nursed her.

The story is rich in traditions, friendships, stories of saints and then the recipes.

The style was one of beauty. I loved this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Shards of Murder

I love this type of book. I've seen them referred to as cozy mysteries and I feel that describes them exactly.

In Shards of Murder, Savannah Webb comes across a murder at a glass-making competition. She runs her late-father's shop, Webb's Glass Shop and she has been asked to be a judge at the Spinnaker Arts Festival. She chose the winner but the winner didn't claim her prize, $25,000. Her body is soon discovered by Savannah and then the adventure begins.

I enjoyed the characters. Cheryl Hollon made them fun yet believable. The story itself was well-developed and kept me wanting to read. She also included a little on the processing of glass. Overall, I found this book a nice one to pick up when I wanted to settle in and read for a little while.

I was given this book by Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Fogged Inn

I love mysteries like this one. I picked it up as part of a challenge for Good Reads but could not put it down. It did not matter that this is the fourth in a series, I was able to figure out things as I read.

Julie Snowden owns an inn where there was a murder during the off season. Julie was able to use her skills to solve the murder mystery in her own charming way. I loved how the author was able to help me connect to her in this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Too Many Cooks

Kelly helps to narrate cookbooks. One day a famous star asks her to fly to a new world and work her wonders. Kelly jumps at the chance and takes off to work on a cookbook. The star and her assistant is less than kind. 

I love the writing in this book, plus the setting is one of my favorite places in the world. I could put myself in Kelly's shoes and I would catch myself thinking the same things at time. What a fun book. 

I am so appreciative to Kensington Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book in exchange for them giving it to me. 

Book Review: The Christmas Cradle

Ben and Miriam Hooley are due to have their first baby. But at this time they are to receive so much more. Lena and Josiah, a meat master, need a place to stay on a snowy night. The Hooleys open their arms and home to them. The second couple are also expecting but they are not married. They are not sure if they love they have is strong enough.

Lena welcomes Josiah to help in her restaurant, as the community does likewise.

At the Christmas season, a story of love and babies just seems natural.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Julia's Daughters

This is such a strong book. Julia has three daughter, that is until her middle daughter died in a car accident which was the result of her eldest daughter's actions. The chapters alternate from points of view of the events. The event caused Julia to go into a depression and her husband to begin drifting away. The eldest daughter is also beginning to act out at school. To help overcome all of this they go on a car trip from California to Maine, where Julia's best friend lives.

I had times when I could not help tearing up while reading but still I had to keep going. This is such a well-written book it kept me coming back.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my review.

Book Review: Wishes For Christmas by Fern Michaels

Fern Michaels, the author of Wishes for Christmas, writes very enjoyable romance novels. When I saw this book at NetGalley, I wanted to read it. This book consists of short stories and the characters in each one came from her other works. Because they were short stories they were not filled with the details that are usually a part of her novels. However, these books are still very enjoyable. This makes a nice book to read to find, or feel, that Christmas feeling, no matter what time of the year.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Dangerously Dark

Dangerously Dark, by Colette London, is a cute chocolate mystery. Hayden is in Portland, Oregon, in this second installment of this series. Here she finds and trips over a dead body. From here I felt like the plot became very predictable.

I had some difficulty staying involved with this story, however, those that enjoy light mysteries, this may be a good choice of a read.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review.