Welcome back! Last time I talked about making tiramisu. This time, I’m talking about lasagna. My partner had a dinner request, which they so rarely have, so I had to oblige. I’ve never made lasagna, but I’ve made plenty of other involved pasta dishes like stuffed shells. However, I was not expecting to make a hearty sauce from scratch. I did, though, and it was amazing. I used this recipe and I really don’t think they’re … Continue reading Links: F1 Racing, Readathons, & More →
The first time I read Paladin’s Grace, I finished it, turned back to the beginning, and immediately read it again. This is partly because it’s very good, which I’ll get into later, and partly because for me, it was the right book at the right time. I’ve been having a hard time reading this year because of, you know … (*jazz hands*) everything. It’s hard to connect with Happily-Ever-After when we’re in the middle of … Continue reading Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher →
Solace Island is a book that isn’t entirely sure what it wants to be. It starts off reading very much like a romantic comedy and finishes up as romantic suspense. This didn’t greatly bother me since those are both things I enjoy, but I could see how another reader could feel like they started one novel only to finish an entirely different one. Maggie Harris is trying to figure out her future after her fiancé … Continue reading Solace Island by Meg Tilly →
Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North is a choose-your-own-adventure retelling of the Shakespearean classic. It’s all sorts of fun with adorable artwork in shades of white, red, pink, and gray. However, the novelty of the CYOA format wears off quickly and Juliet’s routes were much more fun than Romeo’s (not that I mind too terribly). A little disclaimer that this isn’t a book for kids. Teens, maybe. But the humor is bawdy and some of … Continue reading Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North →
The Gentleman is introduced on its title page as: “Being a Truthful Account Concerning the Hazards of Love, Marriage, Duels, Poetry, Inventors, Family, Anarchists, Airships, Intercourse With the Devil, Ladies’ Undergarments, Painting from Life, the History of Exploration, &c., Set Down by Mr. Lionel Lupus Savage & Edited With Objections by Mr. Hubert Lancaster, Esq., Containing Nothing Either Allegorical or Metaphorical and Never Deviating From The Truth.” It is a hilarious and affectionate send-up of … Continue reading The Gentleman by Forrest Leo →
D.E. Stevenson was a prolific and beloved writer who lived from 1892 – 1973, though her first book was published in 1923. She wrote character-centered books like the Mrs. Tim series – a series that I have read dozens of times in a state of hypnotized bliss despite the fact that nothing much happens in it. She also wrote more dramatic romances and mysteries, such as Smoldering Fire and The Young Clementina. If there’s one … Continue reading Miss Buncle’s Book by D.E. Stevenson →
Reading Mindy Kaling’s new book feels a lot like sitting down and talking to your best friend or rather, by the time you’re done, you wish Kaling was your best friend. She’s less neurotic than the character she plays on The Mindy Project but just as funny, and she’s wonderfully honest and self-deprecating. Want to know how to look like a Hollywood starlet? She recommends hiring a team of highly paid hair and makeup people, … Continue reading Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling →
I’ve been a fan of Jenny Lawson’s blog The Bloggess for a long time–she’s a truly funny writer who posts stories about her crazy childhood, her crazy adulthood, and balances them all with reflections on mental illness. Furiously Happy is the same way–it’s two parts humor and one part discussion of something that most people find hard to talk to about. It’s one of those rare books that makes you snort-laugh in public and also … Continue reading Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson →
In His Command by Rie Warren is $1.99! This is a M/M dystopian romance and is the first book in the Don’t Tell series. It also seems to have a bit of a bodyguard plot and I know that’s some heavy catnip! Some readers felt the post-apocalyptic setting was a little too dark and depressing at times, but many really enjoy the two heroes. In GoodReads reviews, the term “alpha males” is thrown around a lot. It has a 3.5-star rating on GR.
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Anything but Sweet by Candis Terry is $1.99! This contemporary romance features a cowboy hero and a city slicker heroine, plus a plot that revolves around a makeover reality TV show taking place in a small town. A few readers found the stubborn cowboy a little too stubborn for their liking, though many lovers of small town romances enjoyed the blend of setting and sweet romance. It’s the first in the Sweet, Texas series and it has a 3.9-star rating on GR. If you’re in the mood to stock up, book two – Sweetest Mistake ( A | K | AB | Au ) – and book three – Something Sweeter ( A | K | AB | Au ) – are also on sale for $1.99! That’s three books for less than $6!
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Just in time for the holiday season, here are some titles we’re most excited about. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself! Lonely Planet Instant Expert Author: Nigel Holmes Released: 12/1 by Lonely Planet Genre: Humor; Nonfiction Series: N/A Summary: The follow-up to Lonely Planet’s hit The Book of Everything, Instant Expert contains all that a world traveller needs to know. It’s witty and full of brilliant illustrations of all types by noted infographics illustrator Nigel Holmes. Want to know how … Continue reading Hide Your Wallet: December’s New Releases →
