Catastrophes and Heroes by Jerry Borrowman

 

I found this book to be filled with events that I had never knew or knew little about. I admit I do like to read historical books and this one was well-written and kept me reading to the end. The author introduces the catastrophe and then builds up the anticipation to the event itself. Then, if there is help, it comes just as history tells it. 

I was given this book by NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are my own.

To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins

 

I love cozy mysteries. This one is set in the small English town of Trevena. Being set in England just makes it dearer to me.

This is the first in the Chatty Corgi series. Emma Reed has plans to open a tea shop, however, this woman has the rare talent of being able to understand what Oliver, her Corgi, says.

Trevena has the usual stories however, there is one about the disappearance of a resident who was not liked by many. Nicholas Penhallow owned the building that Emma would like to make her tea shop. Now it seems the rumor mill believes that his wife may have killed him and burned his body in their bakery oven.

This isn't the only mystery in this small town. Emma no sooner arrived in town, than she found the dead body of the woman who was interfering with her purchasing the tea shop, Victoria Roberts. Oliver decides to aid his senses to help find out the truth behind this murder

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries, stories set in England or those that include a dog.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are my own. 

A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell

This first book in the series A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery combines two things that I love crafting and cozy mysteries. Emmie Caldwell, the author, has places Lia in Crandalsburgh after living in York. As she is getting acquainted with her new town she decides to have a booth displaying her knitting projects along with the Ninth Street Knitters at a historic barn. One of Lia's friends runs the craft fair, however there are problems when the barn has been bought by the friend's ex-husband. His plans do not include a craft fair, in fact, he wants to tear it down after the craft fair. When the friend, Belinda, arrives at the barn, she discovers her ex's dead body. Of course she is suspect number one.

I loved this book and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. 

I was given this book by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own. 

Confessions of a Curious Bookseller by Elizabeth Green

 

I enjoyed this book. Confessions of a Curious Bookseller tells the story of a daughter who tries to live up to her father's expectations for her. Fern is a nerdy by engaging bookstore owner who is facing changes all around herself. She considers her store to be a part of her home and her employees are more friends and family than workers. So when a bigger store comes not only to her town but to her block Fern has to find a way to survive. 

The story is told in a series of emails between Fern and her employees, family, the owner of the new store and all she deals with. You find out about her through these emails, her pen pal and diary entries. 

Elizabeth Green wrote a cute, easy-to-read story.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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.

The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook by Ashley Craft

I loved reading this book. YES, I said reading. This is more than a cookbook. I has recipes but it also has maps of the parks with the locations of the different food items marked.

Each of the recipes are easy to follow and some of them do use ingredients like cake mix but none of them are difficult. But what I loved was the history of the parks and the background information on each of the recipes.

If you have someone that enjoys Disney Parks, or enjoys cooking with few ingredients this would make a great gift.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church

 

This beautifully written book is one that I almost didn't read. After requesting it, I had a hard time taking it off of my TBR shelf. I am very glad that it finally made it into my hands.

The father of the author helped create the bomb, plus the family joined him. A woman in that setting was expected to live for her husband and children so this story came to show a different world. One that spans a life that has come about because of the matriarchs, college and the women's movement.

This book is so well-written that once I picked it up, I had a difficult time putting it back down.

I give this the highest recommendation.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.