HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN Review: North by Brontë Aurell

Title: North: How to Live Scandinavian
Author: Brontë Aurell
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: September 7th 2017
Source: Aurum Press


Book Description:

Why are Scandinavians constantly topping the happiness table? How do you get more Scandi-style in your life? Just how do you use lagom? Whether you want your apartment to look like it belongs in Copenhagen, to workout like a Norwegian or to make cinnamon buns like a Swede, this is the ultimate insider’s guide to the countries of the north.

Full of inspiration and ideas, how-tos and recipes to help you experience the very best of Scandinavian design, philosophy, cookery and culture, this honest behind-the-scenes look at the culture provides an invaluable insight into the wonderful and visually stunning world of Scandinavia. Like her viking ancestors before her, Brontë Aurell left Denmark to explore the world beyond home shores and in her travels has come to understand the fascination with her kinfolk, as well as seeing the idiosyncrasies of the Scandinavian lifestyle that locals take for granted.

With a signature wit and a keen eye for detail, she takes you on a journey through fjords and mountains, farmlands and cities to better understand these three nations and what makes each one so unique. So get outdoors, learn the life lesson that there's no such thing as bad weather (only bad clothing) and you may discover your inner Scandi sooner than you think.

Review:

★★★★

I really enjoy reading cultural books. I'd like to think that they help to make the world feel just a little bit smaller, and a little more connected. Surprisingly enough, I don't think I've ever read a book on Scandinavia. This is weird, because I have a strong love of Norway. Also, because growing up around the American Northern Midwest, you grow up with some familiar Scandinavian words and customs. (I'm looking at you, Minnesota and Wisconsin!)

This book is divided into smaller sections that include: What is Scandinavia?, Style, At the Table, Life Outside, Family Life, Culture, and Celebrations.

I love the tone of this book. It's very playful. There's a lot of information here, about a lot of different places and countries and customs, but it never, even for one page, feels like a text book or a bland travel guide. The author has a fantastic sense of story telling that makes you feel like you're at the table with them, listening about their experiences. It has strong dashes of humor and there's jokes made at all of the countries' expense in turn.

This is a good crash course for the region. There's information about values and aesthetics and the differences between regions and countries. Perhaps my favorite part, this also includes recipes.

This is a lovely, quick read that will make you want to visit the area soon for yourself. The photos are gorgeous, the tone is clever, and there is just so much charm.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Fire and Ice by Darra Goldstein

Title: Fire and Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking
Author: Darra Goldstein
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 13th 2015
Source: Ten Speed Press


Book Description:

A beautifully curated and approachable collection of 150 recipes from Scandinavia, from the founding editor of Gastronomica and the West's leading culinary authority on the cuisines of the European North.

In this evocative, fully illustrated cookbook, Darra Goldstein explores the cultural history and culinary traditions of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Lushly photographic and rich in cultural scope, Fire and Ice features 150 aspirational and achievable recipes that introduce home cooks to the glorious flavors of Nordic cooking.

Review:

★★★★★

This is yet another cookbook coming out in October that I cannot recommend enough. I wasn't sure at first how I was going to like this book, because like most people (even if they don't admit it) I tend to judge a book by its cover. And frankly, this cover doesn't do it for me. It looks boring, and not at all like it's about to talk about amazing cuisine. Oh but how wrong this assumption would be.

The recipes in Fire and Ice are sorted by course, with spotlights on each of the Nordic countries. This isn't a region, or a cuisine for that matter, that I know too much about, so I thought this was really helpful. There's also a guide to sources as well as help with conversions, which I appreciated as well.

There's lots of history included in this book, which I liked. As I mentioned, I'm not familiar, so the more information that I'm given, the better off that I am. There's also a lot of personal input, which added a nice personal touch from the author. If they felt one technique or one ingredient or something was better than another, they gave their own insight along with variations and substitutions. Because of the nature of the cuisine and this helpful list of variations, I'd say that this book is definitely vegetarian friendly. The steps are written short and concisely, so it's easy to follow along with the book as you get cooking.

Plus, there are plenty of photographs, and they are absolutely stunning.

Some of the dishes that I thought sounded the most delicious include Chanterelle Soup, Apple Soup with Juniper, Buttermilk Soup with Strawberries, Honey and Beer Braised Short Ribs with Root Vegetables, Red Berry Pudding, and Raspberry-Rose Petal Jam.

I really look forward to adding a physical copy of this book to my kitchen collection. The pictures are lovely, the food sounds even better, and it's full of useful information that I think both beginners and novices will find helpful. It's not a vegetarian cookbook, but I do think it's vegetarian friendly.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Nashville Eats by Jennifer Justus

Title: Nashville Eats: Hot Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuits, and 100 More Southern Recipes from Music City
Author: Jennifer Justus
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 6th 2015
Source: ABRAMS


Book Description:

If it seems like Nashville is everywhere these days—that’s because it is. GQ recently declared it “Nowville,” and it has become the music hotspot for both country and rock. But as hot as the music scene is, the food scene is even hotter.

In Nashville Eats, more than 100 mouthwatering recipes reveal why food lovers are headed South for Nashville’s hot chicken, buttermilk biscuits, pulled pork sandwiches, cornmeal-crusted catfish, chowchow, fried green tomatoes, and chess pie. Author Jennifer Justus whips up the classics—such as pimento cheese and fried chicken—but also includes dishes with a twist on traditional Southern fare—such as Curried Black Chickpeas or Catfish Tacos. And alongside the recipes, Jennifer shares her stories of Nashville—the people, music, history, and food that make it so special.

Review:

★★★★★

If you would have asked me a year ago about Nashville cooking, I wouldn't have known or cared much about it. But over this past summer, my family and I had a vacation in Nashville, and I absolutely fell in love with the place. From the music scene, to the bar scene, to the glorious food I shoved in my face, I hope to return many more times. I saw this book, and I had to have it. I wasn't disappointed.

The recipes in this book are divided by course: Scones Pones and Rolls, Starters and Salads, Birds, Meats, Fish, Veggies and Sides, Put-Ups, Sweets, and Drinks. What's really cool is that these sections include kitchen playlists. I have never seen a cookbook that came with music recommendations, and I love the Nashville touch it gives the collection. There's also a lot of personal connections and histories, giving the book a rustic, down-home charm.

The steps are written in paragraph format and are easy to follow. This book is FULL of pictures, and I absolutely love that. I hate cookbooks without pictures, so I really appreciated the volume of them in this book. It also made me more excited to cook, because good lord these dishes look amazing. I think this book is approachable to all skill levels. Some dishes are easier than others, but the steps are super clear and it's altogether not very intimidating for a beginner.

It's very hard for me to just pick a few recipes to highlight, because so much of this food sounds (and looks) amazing, but I must do what I must do. Some of the dishes that I'm most eager to try include Fried Hot Chicken on White Bread with Pickle*, Beef Brisket with Blue Cheese Grits, RC Cola Baked Ham, Watermelon Rind Pickles, Chess Pie, and a Float Named Sue.

*I will try very much in vain to make it as delicious as Prince's, but I know that I will hardcore fail.

This book is a must have for those who love southern comfort foods. I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Sugar and Spice by Samantha Seneviratne

Title: Sugar and Spice: Bold, Flavorful Recipes for Desserts with a Twist
Author: Samantha Seneviratne
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: September 8th 2015
Source: Ten Speed Press


Book Description:

A wonderfully unique and unexpected collection of desserts that showcase spice over sugar, with 80 recipes that both reinvent classic sweets and introduce more unusual spice-infused desserts.

In Sugar and Spice, veteran food editor and recipe developer Samantha Seneviratne invites readers to explore a bold new world of spice-centric desserts. Each chapter centers on a different spice--some familiar, like vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger; others less expected (especially in sweet preparations), such as peppercorns, chiles, and cardamom. With fascinating histories, origin stories, and innovative uses for each spice, this book will inspire readers to rediscover and re-stock their spice drawers, and raise their desserts up to a whole new level of flavor.

Review:

★★★★★

I'm a big fan of finding new twists on old classics, so I knew I had to read Sugar and Spice. I love the idea of incorporating different spices into desserts (even unexpected ones) in order to create new, bolder flavors. This book definitely didn't disappoint.

This is a good example of a book being a labor of love. There's a really sweet and personal introduction that expands on the author's reason for creating such a book. It makes the book that much better, because you can clearly see the recipes are really cared about. There's also a list of tips, ingredients you should have on hand, and helpful equipment to prepare you for baking.

The recipes are sorted by spice, which I think is smart because it makes it easy if you have one particular spice in your pantry, you can find a recipe in which to utilize it. Each chapter has an introduction, a history of the spice, descriptions of the spice, and how to store and buy them. This is really useful and informative information. The directions and descriptions are clear and concise, making this a book that will appeal to the more seasoned cooks as well as beginners.

There's a really great variety of desserts in Sugar and Spice, spanning from baked goods to candies and frozen treats. What I really liked about these recipes is that everything (like crusts, fillings and the like) are done from scratch, as opposed to using pre-made ingredients. I prefer to do everything myself, so I appreciated this. The pictures within this cookbook are nice, but I wish that there had been less of the pretty, artsy photographs and more pictures of the finished recipes so I could see how my dish should ideally look. There's also lots of nice, varied international flair in this book, which is a nice touch.

There are a lot of recipes in this cookbook that I'd like to try, but the ones that I'm most excited for include Black Lavender Clafloutis, Pavlova with Lime Custard and Basil Pineapple, Blackberry Cuatro Leches, and Sweet Fig and Black Pepper Scones.

I think this is a good cookbook for anyone who loves to bake, from beginners and beyond and to anyone who likes new twists on old favorites.

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Zing! by Gorji

Title: Zing! By Gorji - New Mediterranean Cuisine: Bold, Balanced, Simple & Savory

Author: Gorji

Format: Spiral-bound, 175 pages

Pub. Date: January 1st 2014

Source: Word Slinger Publicity



Book Description via Goodreads:

Hardcover with inside spiral binding that lays flat.

Engineer-Turned-Chef

Born in Iran, trained as an engineer in Scotland, and chef-owner of an intimate, 10-table restaurant in Texas, Chef Gorji spills the secrets behind his headline-making recipes.

Blending science and Old World "hot and cold" theories, he details unexpected ways to combine ingredients. He won the Texas Steak Cook-off Championship twice with his take on steak with pomegranates! Pure olive oil. Lots of limes. Few batters, coatings, or rubs. No tahini in that hummus. Instead, an imaginative, personal, and highly memorable take on enhancing natural flavors.

With reader-friendly, easy to follow recipes, this cookbook is a collection of his signature dishes that have garnered critical acclaim at his restaurant Canary By Gorji in Dallas, Texas. From Butter-Seared Lamb Brain to Award-Winning Steak, he shows you how to use ingredients like pomegranates and sumac to add flavor to your dishes. He pays homage to French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Middle Eastern and North African cuisines, but doesn't define his dishes by nationality. Going against the grain of traditional culinary practices, he uses pure olive oil, not extra virgin, likes shorter cooking times, uses few spices and very little or no sugar.

His gregarious nature and front-of-the house bonhomie are as well-known as his acclaimed menu featuring his innovative New Mediterranean cuisine. When he won the Texas Steak Cook-Off Championship in celebrated blind judgings, he was competing against some of the best chefs in Texas. He says he had a great time cooking and dancing in Hico,Texas at the events and was honored with Texas-sized belt buckles that are his prized possessions-and he learned the two-step! His food has been called "Mediterranean with Texas Twists," and in a state known for its independent streak, his original approach is right at home.

Review:

★★★★★

I love, love, love Mediterranean flavors, so I knew this book was a must-have. It's a small little book full of big flavors, and it's something I'll be happy to keep in my kitchen.

It starts with a nice introduction of the chef and his family, giving the book a more personal touch. There's also an intro to ingredients, and some tips for techniques that will come in handy throughout the book. One such tip is an illustrated step by step guide to how to segment citrus. This book is divided into chapters by course.

This book is really bright and colorful, from the recipes to the photographs. Which, speaking of photographs, there are a LOT of them. There is pretty much a picture for every recipe. This is a HUGE plus for me- admittedly, I don't often buy cookbooks if I can't see what I'm aiming for.

The steps are short, concise, and well-explained. There are also good tips sprinkled throughout the recipes, as well as ideas for variations or substitutions, making the recipes more easily adapted to your personal tastes. The measure to grams is in parenthesis on the same page, so you don't have to flip back and forth between a conversion chart. Some of the recipes are really basic (like Roasted Garlic and Feta) and others are more complex (like Butter-Seared Lamb Brain). This makes it good for both new cooks and those with a bit more experience. There's a recipe for any level of skill.

There are a lot of dishes in this book that I'll be making soon, but some stood out to me more than others. The ones I'm most excited to try include Barbeque Veal Ribs with Pomegranates, Braised Baby Octopus with Squid Ink, and Rainbow Trout with Lime and Barberry Sauce.

The only real complaint I have about this is the product placement and self-promotion, but I understand how business works and I can't really blame him for seizing the chance to advertise.

This is a great cookbook full of lots of interesting and flavorful dishes, and is good for any cook, whether a beginner or more advanced. There's lots of pictures, easy steps, and it comes in a neat little spiral-hardcover format.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: If You Were Me and Lived in China by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...China: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World
Author: Carole P. Roman
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: Paperback, 30 pages
Source: Word Slinger Publicity


Book Description:

I have always wanted to visit China and thanks to Ms. Roman's book she had made it more exciting and interesting to know what to look for and see


China which is officially known as the People's Republic of China which has a population of more the 135 billion people living there which is the most populated country in the world.

You might of learned about the Yangtze River which is in the South, or the Yellow River which is located in the North. Although the capital is Beijing many people called it Peking, China has major highways, trains and expressways and the second busiest airport in the world.

Children's names are picked because they have meanings so boys who are called An which means peace or Bao which is another word for treasure and Fu for happiness. Girls are called Hong because they like the color red, Yu which stands for Jade which is a gemstone or Zi which is the word for smart. What would you like to be called if you lived in China? I think I would like to be called Zi.

China has some amazing places to visit like the Great Wall of China. It is a stone barricaded which was built thousands of years ago to keep strangers out of China. Nobody is sure but they believe it is about 5,500 hundred miles. Another very famous tourist site is the giant clay army that was only recently discovered that had been buried underground for more then two thousand years. You will be told that there are over eight thousand individually sculpted soldiers and about 520 statues of horses and 130 of just chariots. You will love explore the many tourist sites as you will have an opportunity to learn so much.

The New year is a very fun holiday to be part of and begins at midnight with fireworks which hope that the noise will chase off the evil spirits. It is a very important day to honor your grandparents. You would receive red envelops filled with good luck money. Because the celebration last fifteen days you will get to enjoy many delicious meals but better learn how to use the chopsticks because if you drop them it could bring you bad luck. They are very superstitious people.

Review:

★★★


I think this book series is overall a great concept. It introduces a new culture to kids in an approachable way, and makes it more fun to learn something new. I think this book needs some more work, but overall it's a pretty solid way to teach kids about Chinese culture.

What I did like was the actual information that's in place. I'm an adult in my twenties, and even I learned some cool new stuff about Chinese culture. The illustrations are fun, and go well with the text that is placed alongside it on the page. I think kids will enjoy looking at the pictures. I also appreciated that the "foreign" words were given a pronunciation in parenthesis after the word, so you know how to properly say it. There's also a neat little glossary in the back, to define the aforementioned new words.

But there was some not-so-good stuff too. There are quite a few typos in the edition that I received. That's not really an ideal thing, when the goal of this book is to educate children. I also think there's way too much text on some of the pages. I think it'll overwhelm a child who is reading on their own, and make them fidgety if they are being read to. It flowed better when it was broken down into shorter ideas, instead of full paragraphs.

With another wave of editing, I think this could be a great series. They contain a lot of information in a simple way that makes it easy for kids to learn something new. There are other books in this line, that offer other insights to cultures, and I like that idea a lot. In the future, it'll make a great tool for teachers.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Haunted Plantations of the South by Richard Southall

Title: Haunted Plantations of the South

Author: Richard Southall

Format: egalley

Pub. Date: June 8th 2015

Source: Llewellyn Publications



Book Description via Goodreads:

When you hear the word "plantations," most people think of grand homes with pillars and sweeping staircases. These houses of grandeur were located all through the South in the days before the Civil War, and there are some that still resonate with the loveliness they had in their heyday. These majestic homes have a long history, and some of those who lived in these homes remain today. The ghosts of soldiers, slaves, and the elite family who lived in the plantation homes still wander the halls.

Richard Southall explores gorgeous plantation homes and those that are abandoned and in decay to present a colorful history of the ghosts that linger there.

Review:

★★★

The American South holds a special place in my heart. For too short of a time, I lived in Louisiana. I immersed myself in the history and the legends, and I visited a few different plantations (among other things) in order to get a better appreciation for the stories. It is for those reasons that I was really excited to get a copy of this book. It was super informative, but not quite what I was expecting.

The book is divided into 8 chapters: Intro, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia

This book read way more like a text book than a standard nonfiction narrative. It was chock full of information, that's true enough. But it was pretty tough to get through all of the information dumping and facts. I was expecting it to be facts, but wrapped in more of a story-telling type tone, so I was pretty disappointed that it felt like reading a school book. It was interesting, just dry. I had to read it in small bursts. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and I did learn quite a bit about the legends and histories of various southern plantations. While I knew a bit about the Louisiana chapter, I didn't know much about the other ones.

I was a bit surprised that this book had no pictures. When references specific historical places and scenes that still exist in modern day in a nonfiction guide, I had just assumed that there'd be at least a couple sprinkled in. Maybe there are pictures in the final copy, but I received a digital copy in advance, so there were none in my copy at the least.

In short, there's lots of information and it's rather interesting. However, there are no pictures and it can get a bit boring, which is not something that I expected when opening a book on ghosts and hauntings. I'd recommend it to those interested in the south, history, or paranormal activity, but be prepared for the factual tone.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The World on a Plate by Mina Holland

Title: The World on a Plate: 40 Cuisines, 100 Recipes, and the Stories Behind Them
Author: Mina Holland
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: May 26th 2015
Source: Penguin Books


Book Description:

Eat your way around the world without leaving your home in this mouthwatering cultural history of 100 classic dishes.

Best Culinary Travel Book (U.K.), Gourmand World Cookbook Awards

Finalist for the Fortnum & Mason Food Book Award

“When we eat, we travel.” So begins this irresistible tour of the cuisines of the world, revealing what people eat and why in forty cultures. What’s the origin of kimchi in Korea? Why do we associate Argentina with steak? Why do people in Marseille eat bouillabaisse? What spices make a dish taste North African versus North Indian? What is the story behind the curries of India? And how do you know whether to drink a wine from Bourdeaux or one from Burgundy?

Bubbling over with anecdotes, trivia, and lore—from the role of a priest in the genesis of Camembert to the Mayan origins of the word chocolate—The World on a Plate serves up a delicious mélange of recipes, history, and culinary wisdom to be savored by food lovers and armchair travelers alike.

Review:

★★

I'm sure it's absolutely no surprise by this point that I love food. Reading about it, cooking it, eating it, traveling to find it. I am constantly trying to learn new things about different ingredients and cuisines, which is why I thought this book would be perfect. Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. However, I was overall left disappointed with this book.

This collection of facts and recipes is divided first by continent, then by country, then by either the city or the region. I did appreciate the specificity, but I thought the layout was needlessly complicated. But I appreciate the organization factor, so I wasn't bothered too much by this.

Part of why I didn't enjoy reading this is the tone. Often times, when I read memoirs or food-travel books, the tone sucks me into the story, and makes me feel like I'm with them, or makes me want to be with them, enjoying the food alongside them. This wasn't the case for The World on a Plate. The overall tone was snobby and a bit condescending. This was heightened by the use of uncommon ingredients without much explanation, or without much information on how to substitute or work around those ingredient restrictions.

I also wasn't really a fan of the representation of regions by their dishes. I can only speak for America, since I have only lived in this country. But if you were to represent our nation's diverse set of cuisines, there is way more than just Louisiana and California- the only two states included in our section. Similarly, there's bias shown in the included recipes, where she states that she doesn't like ingredients of these traditional dishes, and offers HER take on it- which isn't always traditional at all, so I'm not too sure on the authenticity of some of the dishes that are in here. Plus, some of the representative dishes don't really need recipes at all- things like salad, baked cheese, and tapenade.

It's clear that this book is way more about the ingredients than the travel itself, but somehow it manages to still focus more on fact than the recipes themselves. Like I said, there are few advise pieces on how to adapt or substitute things, and there are also no pictures, which is something that I look for in each cookbook I purchase. It's true that there are 100 recipes in here, but I felt like they weren't very well thought out or appreciated to the extent that the text in between was.

That being said, there are recipes included in this collection that I would definitely love to make and try. Some of these include Upside Down Plum Cake (France), Borscht (Eastern Europe), and Coconut Fish Curry (India). Despite the lack of development and pictures, this book still includes a wide variety of recipes from different places, using different ingredients, and that require different levels of skill. Some are quite complex, while salads and the like are quite basic. I appreciate this amount of difference.
no pictures

There's lots of good ingredient facts and information as well, including a list of further reading which I will have to take a closer look at.

I think this is a nice gift for the well seasoned traveler or Eat, Pray, Love fan, but not so much for those wanting more of a standard cookbook. I feel new cooks will be put off by the tone and uncommon ingredients, while the more seasoned cooks will find new appreciations for different cuisines.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Fried Chicken by Rebecca Lang!

Title: Fried Chicken: 50 Recipes for the Crispy, Crunchy, Comfort-Food Classic
Author: Rebecca Lang
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: June 16th 2015
Source: Ten Speed Press

Description:

A fun and playful cookbook featuring more than 50 family-friendly fried chicken recipes--including classic Southern, globally influenced, and skillet- and deep-fried variations.

Fried chicken is comfort food at its finest. Served alongside a biscuit, atop waffles, or just on its own, fried chicken is one of the most universally loved foods around. In Fried Chicken, Southern chef Rebecca Lang collects 50 of the most tantalizing, crowd-pleasing variations on the classic. There are perennial favorites like Buttermilk-Soaked, Bacon-Fried Chicken Smothered in Gravy; Tennessee Hot Chicken; kid-friendly Chicken Fingers; and even Gluten-Free Southern Fried Chicken. Also featured are internationally inspired recipes, such as Saigon Street Wings, Chinese Lollipop Wings, Mexican-Lime Fried Chicken Tacos, and Korean Fried Chicken with Gochujang Sauce. All of these recipes are impeccably tested, foolproof, and will have the whole family singing the praises of perfectly fried poultry.

★★★★★

Review:

One of my absolute favorite things to eat is fried chicken. I grew up on it, since I'm not overtly fond of beef and it's something that I could pretty much eat every day without getting sick of it. When I found this book, a cookbook dedicated to just fried chicken, I knew I had to read it. I was definitely not disappointed!

This book is separated into chapters in order of cooking technique, which I think is a pretty effective way of doing so. It makes it easy to find the right recipe for your mood depending on what you want to cook at that moment. These pages are jam packed full of tips which I found extremely useful; as much as I love fried chicken, I very rarely make it for myself so I can use all the help and hints that I can get. The beginning of this cookbook has a really nice introduction that includes how to cook, clean, and cut chickens, complete with step by step pictures.

Speaking of pictures, the photography for Fried Chicken is simply awesome. I had to have chicken the day I got this, because the pictures definitely make you crave the salty, crunchy deliciousness that is fried chicken. There are a lot of pictures in this book, which is really helpful and important to me because I like knowing how my final product should look.

There's also a really wide variety included here. Initially, I did wonder how a book dedicated to one classic dish would be, variety wise. But rest assured, this book includes recipes from all over the United States, and all over the world too. There's something here for everyone (everyone who eats meat, that is), from those who want an untouched classic chicken, to those who want plenty of spice or bold flavors. Lang has got you covered! There are also recipes included for different flour blends, sauces, and breads so that your meal can be completely made from scratch, which I find pretty nifty.

Honestly, I would make all of the recipes in this book, but I will highlight a few of the best sounding ones. The ones that I'm most eager to try include West African Fried Chicken with Sautéed Onions and Peppers, Fried Chicken Skins with Lime Mustard Drizzle, and Chicken Kara-Age.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves fried chicken, be you a beginner or a master cook. This to me conjured up images of summer picnics and cookouts, so for me this is a must-buy before the 4th of July, no rhyme intended.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Chowderland by Brooke Dojny!

Title: Chowderland: Hearty Soups & Stews with Sides & Salads to Match
Author: Brooke Dojny
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: May 5th 2015
Source: Storey Publishing, LLC

Description:

Creamy Clam Chowder. Portuguese Caldo Verde Chowder. Northwest Salmon Chowder with Leeks and Peas. Double Corn Summer Chowder. Brooke Dojny offers 57 recipes for chowders of all kinds -- some made with seafood, some with meat, and some with just veggies -- plus side dishes, salads, and desserts to round out the menu. Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal on a cozy winter evening or a fresh gumbo perfect for a summer lunch, you’ll turn to this delicious collection again and again!

★★★★★

I was born and raised in the Midwest. Illinois, specifically, where even now in my adulthood is where I go to college and where I live. However, for a very brief time, I lived and vacationed in Massachusetts. This book made me homesick for the coast, even though I'm from the heartland. Each of the 57 recipes included in this book sounded absolutely fantastic, and had me wanting to book the next flight to Marblehead.

At the front of the book, there's a nice guide on how to best use and handle the ingredients listed throughout this cookbook. This is an especially nifty little note, considering there are a lot of seafood chowders with ingredients that the average home cook probably isn't using each and every night (at least in Illinois).

The recipes are very clear and concise, each one having numbered, step-by-step instructions. That makes this a really good book for beginners in the kitchen, because everything is laid out in a really helpful manner. There's also a lot of handy tips throughout this book, such as the 411 on mussels, and how to buy and clean clams. This is information that I wouldn't necessarily know off the bat, so I'm glad it was included. There's also lots of nice anecdotes and memories in this book, making it clear that the author is passionate about what she does. I also rather liked the "chowder wars" in this book, where different places claiming a better chowder were discussed.

Each recipe also offers salad, side, or dessert pairings that are also found in this book, so the book is kind of a one-stop-shop for all your soup eating needs. There is a surprising amount of variety found in this cookbook, from fish to chicken, from shellfish to beef. There's something in here for everyone, whichever ingredient you may happen to favor. The book is divided by type of meal, so it's fairly easy to navigate to find what you're looking for. There's a lot of yummy looking pictures too, which definitely helps.

As I mentioned before, everything in this book sounds awesome. That said, the dishes that I'm most excited to try include Dark and Sticky Candied Gingerbread, Day After Thanksgiving Chowder, and Northwest Salmon Chowder with Leeks and Peas.

This book is a great burst of Americana, and I recommend it to any one who loves to eat soups and chowders as much as I do. Because of the detailed steps, I think this book is suitable to both experienced and beginner cooks.

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Rose Water and Orange Blossoms by Maureen Abood

Title: Rose Water and Orange Blossoms: Fresh & Classic Recipes from my Lebanese Kitchen
Author: Maureen Abood
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: April 28th 2015
Source: Running Press

Description:

Publishers Weekly’s Top 10 Cookbooks for Spring 2015

Pomegranates and pistachios. Floral waters and cinnamon. Bulgur wheat, lentils, and succulent lamb. These lush flavors of Maureen Abood's childhood, growing up as a Lebanese-American in Michigan, inspired Maureen to launch her award-winning blog, Rose Water & Orange Blossoms. Here she revisits the recipes she was reared on, exploring her heritage through its most-beloved foods and chronicling her riffs on traditional cuisine. Her colorful culinary guides, from grandparents to parents, cousins, and aunts, come alive in her stories like the heady aromas of the dishes passed from their hands to hers.

Taking an ingredient-focused approach that makes the most of every season’s bounty, Maureen presents more than 100 irresistible recipes that will delight readers with their evocative flavors: Spiced Lamb Kofta Burgers, Avocado Tabbouleh in Little Gems, and Pomegranate Rose Sorbet. Weaved throughout are the stories of Maureen’s Lebanese-American upbringing, the path that led her to culinary school and to launch her blog, and life in Harbor Springs, her lakeside Michigan town.

★★★★

Review:

I'm always looking to add new cultures to my culinary repertoire. I don't know much about Lebanese cooking, so I was excited when I found Rose Water and Orange Blossoms. I think this is a great book for a bit more experienced home cook who is interested in adding some more flavor to their meals.

This book is sorted by course, which makes it easy to pick what you want to make. There's even chapters on things such as preserving and drinks. I love tea, so this made me happy. There's a really nice guide at the beginning that introduces the "new" ingredients and includes sources for where you can get a hold of them. I really liked this addition, because I've been irritated with cookbooks in the past when they just expect you to have a million new ingredients.

The cookbook is written in a more conversational style, which makes it seem that the author is talking you through each recipe, which is nice. The recipes' steps are in longer paragraphs, which makes it appear a bit more complex. There's lots of family stories within the book, and it is clear that this book is filled with love and passion for her cooking, heritage, and family. Nice tips are sprinkled throughout the book, like how to work with grape leaves and how to seed a pomegranate (something I definitely need instructions for- I'm awful at it). If a dish's name isn't in English, then it is translated directly underneath so you know exactly what you're preparing, and I like that. I wish there were more photographs included, but the ones that are included are lovely and vibrant.

The author had an upbringing in Michigan, and I practically lived there growing up, because we used to spend weeks and weekends up there all year long. I loved that I could see the Michigan influence in this Lebanese-American style cookbook. Whenever I saw a recipe showcasing ingredients such as whitefish or cherries, I got really happy. I love this appreciation and reflection.

In my personal opinion, the dessert chapter is the best part of the book, and is likely the recipes that I'll make the most in my own kitchen. There are helpful menus provided in this book to help you plan for special meals or events, which is a pretty cool touch.

There are a lot dishes in this book that I can't wait to try, but the ones I want to try the most include Stone Fruit with Flower Waters and Shaved Coconut, Roasted Leg of Lamb with Black Cherry Pomegranate Salsa, Pistachio Crusted Whitefish with Parsley Lemon Butter, and Sticky Date Cake with Warm Orange Blossom Caramel Sauce.

Overall, this book is a really approachable way to learn about Lebanese cooking. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for beginners, but I don't think it's overly complex. I'd also recommend it to those who love Michigan-centric ingredients, like myself.

I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Abandoned NYC by Will Ellis

Title: Abandoned NYC
Author: Will Ellis
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: February 28th 2015
Source: Schiffer Publishing


Book Description via Goodreads:

Every city has its ghosts. From Manhattan and Brooklyn s trendiest neighborhoods to the far-flung edges of the outer boroughs, Ellis captures the lost and lonely corners of the United States most populous city. Step inside the New York you never knew, with 200 eerie images of urban decay, through crumbling institutions, defunct military posts, abandoned factories, railroads, schools, and waterways. Uncover the forgotten history behind New York s most incredible abandoned spaces, and witness its seldom seen and rapidly disappearing landscape. Explore the ruins of the Harlem Renaissance, sift through the artifacts of massive squatter colonies, and find out how the past is literally washing up on the shores of a Brooklyn beach called Dead Horse Bay. This book is for anyone who s ever wondered what s behind the "No Trespassing" sign."

Review:

★★★★

This book is equal parts fascinating, informative, and chilling.

Abandoned NYC is a book that explores the urban decay of New York. From asylums to military buildings to so much more, the photography in this book highlights places that remain in the shadow of their glory days. The pictures are beautiful and sad at the same time. The photos show places that most people will never see, such as the inside of abandoned mental institutions. It's a shame to look at the wasted resources, and the graffiti that plagues a lot of these sights, but it's sad and beautiful to see how nature is trying to claim these places back. It gives a cool insight into the history of NYC.

In addition to being filled with gorgeous photography, there's also historical backgrounds for each of the places visited over the course of the book. It details what the buildings were used for, who stayed there, and why they became abandoned in the first place. I didn't know about any of these places, and it was really cool to learn about them.

The book starts with a disclaimer not to try visiting places like these, because they are extremely dangerous and often illegal. I completely agree, having done some exploring in my own region in the midwest.

This is a book that I think those interested in photography, anthropology, and history will enjoy flipping through. There's plenty of pictures showcasing the visited landmarks with matching text to further explain what is being seen in the photo, as well as the history behind it.

I recieved a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Joy of Ballpark Food by Bennett & Deborah L. Jacobstein

Title:The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine
Author: Bennett Jacobstein, Deborah L. Jacobstein
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 11th 2015
Source: Ballpark Food Publications


Book Description via Goodreads:

Baseball is a game that is identified with food. We even sing about it at every ballpark during the seventh inning stretch: "….buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack..." The famous song was written by Jack Norworth in 1908. From the early part of the twentieth century until the 1980s, classic baseball fare consisted mostly of hot dogs, ice cream, peanuts, and Cracker Jack. Then ballparks slowly began to sell new items. A proliferation of new food offerings during the 1990s was fueled by the opening of twelve new major league ballparks. Now, teams around the country sell a variety of exotic food as well as wide variety of hot dogs. The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine begins with the history of the first hot dog at a ball game and concludes with a culinary tour of all 30 major league ballparks. 100% of royalties from the sales of this book are donated directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties of California.

Review:

★★★★

People are often surprised to learn that I adore baseball. I grew up with my dad taking me to White Sox games in Chicago, so for me baseball is something that's nostalgic and synonymous with summer vacations. There's nothing like the smell of popcorn, the buzz of the crowd, and the fireworks in the night sky after a victory. On top of that, my dad is a chef, so food has always a prominent role in my life. When I found a book that combined the two- baseball and food, I had to have it. And I'm glad I gave it a go!

This book is chock full of information. The beginning of the book acts as a history of baseball food and hot dogs, including how they became important, how they changed, and who's who when it comes to baseball cuisine. There's a lot of cool pictures and scans of old timey programs and stuff that give the book a cool, retro, scrapbook type feeling to it. The second half of the book is dedicated to a culinary tour of all of the baseball parks in America.

The first half is full of fascinating facts that I didn't know, and that I've stored away for future reference in conversation. This book is good because though there's a lot of history and information, there's no "info dumping". It doesn't read like a text book, but more like a casual and entertaining story that happens to be informative. There's a resource guide at the end of the book, but I do wish that there were some citations or footnotes in the book. More than just hot dogs, this section also highlights a Kosher history and the evolution of healthy food too.

The second half, as mentioned earlier, is a food map of the parks in the USA. Each stadium is listed, and for each stadium there's a featured hot dog or sausage, and then there are informative little snippets and offerings from other stalls and vendors that can be found at each park. I appreciated these short backstories because it's cool to see people's stories, and I was surprised to learn how many stalls are owned or were started by baseball players themselves. What I learned most from this is where I need to see a game so that I can eat well! From the Jack Daniels Triple Crown Sandwich in Baltimore to beer ice creams in Atlanta to conch fritters and ceviche in Miama, please take me out to the ball game!

I couldn't help but to feel a bit of hometown pride when getting to the Chicago stadiums. I've been to both, though I'm definitely not a Cubs fan. That said, I have had a lot of the restaurants/foods mentioned in this book. Bobak's Polish sausages are the best. Beggar's Pizza is amazing, and comes with a deliciously unholy amount of cheese (I mean, their motto is "We lay it on thick). Wow Bao has some of the best steamed dumplings in Chicago. One thing I didn't know before reading this, though, is that the Cell (that is, US Cellular Field) is the only stadium in the states with a Hooters in it. The more you know.

I also got really excited because my girlfriend lives near Milwaukee, where they stuff their brats with hot dogs and then top it with beer and cheese curds. She's already promised to take me (thanks, authors!)

This back section got a bit more "yelp review"-ish, and started to have more of the author's personal opinions. This wasn't a bad thing, but it did shift the tone of the book. There were also a few times where it got snarky like "I'm sure it tastes better than it looks" that I thought were unnecessary. The pictures looked delicious, but unprofessional.

Despite that last remark, it's clear that this is a book of passion. The author obviously loves food and baseball, and it's awesome that he made a book that represents them both. On top of that, the proceeds of this book go to an organization that helps to feed the hungry, which is a really cool idea. I think this book is a fun read that acts as both a history book and a guide to where to eat and what to enjoy while you're at a baseball game. Foodies, sport lovers, and those interested in US history and Americana would all benefit from reading it, in my opinion. It's a book I'd definitely buy for when I'm traveling around in the summer.

I recieved a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Yogurt by Janet Fletcher!

Title: Yogurt: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Author: Janet Fletcher
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: April 14th 2015
Source: Ten Speed Press

Description:

A fresh, modern yogurt-centric cookbook that showcases the versatility of this dairy superstar in 50 recipes for appetizers, salads, soups, sauces, marinades, beverages, and desserts, and provides fail-proof directions for making your own yogurt at home.

Americans have fallen in love with yogurt, thanks to its creamy texture, tangy flavor, and health-promoting probiotic cultures. In Yogurt, a fresh and modern full-color cookbook, author Janet Fletcher demonstrates the versatility of this dairy superstar in more than fifty recipes for appetizers, salads, soups, beverages, and desserts. From roasted tomato bruschetta with yogurt cheese to meatballs in a warm yogurt sauce to a golden yogurt cake, these recipes showcase yogurt in dishes both rustic and sophisticated. Drawing inspiration from the culinary traditions of Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, India, and beyond, this useful handbook includes a guide to purchasing yogurt (all of the recipes work with quality store-bought brands), advice on choosing a yogurt maker, and easy methods for making yogurt, Greek yogurt, and yogurt cheese at home.

★★★★

Review:

Yogurt is one of my absolute favorite ingredients. Living in a dorm, it's a fast go-to food to always keep on hand, and it's something familiar to me as I grew up eating Greek yogurt and honey. When I saw that this book used yogurt in every recipe for both sweet and savory, I couldn't resist. And I'm glad I didn't; this is a really useful collection of dishes.

It starts off with a really interesting pre-recipe introduction section that includes how to pick (and separate) the different kinds of yogurt, a brief history of the ingredient, the science behind it, as well as the health benefits of consuming yogurt. There's also a really neat guide on how to make your own yogurt with clear, step-by-step instructions on how to do so. There's also a really handy list of what fruits are readily available in what month, so that you can easily pair fruit with your yogurt at anytime of the year. At the end of the book, there's also a list of references and bibliographies for those who are interested in finding out more.

The recipes in this book are sorted by course, complete with a chapter for beverages which is something that I hadn't even thought of. I thought that was a really nice addition to the collection. There's a really nice mix of sweet and savory recipes which is good, because even though I love yogurt based sauces and the like, I don't usually think of yogurt as a savory ingredient. This book is very vegetarian friendly, but there are also dishes for meat eaters, which was also a happy surprise. The author offers good tips for how to substitute and change recipes according to availability and tastes.

There's a lot of international dishes here which works well to show just how versatile of an ingredient yogurt is. The photographs that are included are very pretty and professional, but I wish there were more pictures of the finished dishes as opposed to aesthetically pleasing but mostly artsy photographs. I like being able to see how on par I am when I complete a recipe.

Some of the recipes that I'm most excited to cook in my own kitchen include Lamb Meatballs in Warm Yogurt Sauce with Sizzling Red Pepper Butter, Grilled Swordfish with Yogurt Tahini Sauce and Sumac, and Indian Yogurt Pudding with Saffron, Cardamom, and Toasted Nuts.

I recommend this to those who want international flair brought to their yogurt dining experience, as well as those in mixed vegetarian-meat eating house holds. This book is good for beginners and seasoned cooks alike.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Serbian Cooking by Danijela Kracun & Charles McFadden!

Title: Serbian Cooking: Popular Recipes from the Balkan Region
Author: Danijela Kracun & Charles McFadden
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 28th 2015
Source: Schiffer Publishing


Book Description via Goodreads:

Fifty-three recipes make up this Eastern European cookbook. Inside, find all types of traditional Serbian fare, including potato salad, lentil soup, and an assortment of pita dishes, as well as sauces and a multitude of delectable desserts, such as cr me puffs, baklava, and crepes. Most Serbian cooking traditions are intertwined with the cultures of its neighboring countries. So, don't be surprised if some of these dishes seem similar to some of your own family's traditional recipes. Also, be prepared for some differences. In Serbia, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, while dinner happens to be the lightest, typically focusing on merely cold cuts and bread. Throw in an afternoon snack of a baked pastry and coffee and consider yourself a convert!

★★★

Review:

I'm quite disappointed in this cookbook. I got it because I'm always looking for new recipes to try, plus I have a few Serbian relatives who always bring over really delicious dishes over the Christmas holidays. I was hoping to find some of those recipes in here, but unfortunately that was not the case.

A lot of the recipes are really simple, and I don't mean that in a good way. There are recipes in here for french toast (which gives no instructions as to what kind of bread), coffee (with no special steps), and a cold cut tray that actually says as the instructions just to add meats and the like, without offering any tips or recommendations as for what meats could be found in a traditional Serbian home. Some of the recipes that I was more interested in, such as peach pie and creme puffs, use pre-made brands/ingredients like pre-prepared pie crust. I was expecting more from-scratch recipes for things that I hadn't tried.

I didn't care for the way that the steps were presented. They somehow managed to be both simple and complicated. They were simple in that they were very blunt, like add all these things, serve. But that's not always a good thing. There's no step by step break down, it's written in paragraph form, with little advice on what the textures or techniques should be for each step of the process. This complication was added in the fact that the recipe titles that weren't in English, such as tulumbe had no explanation. I can tell you how to make it and what's in it, but just by looking at the title I have no idea what it is.

The pictures in this book weren't the best of quality (they didn't look professional), but they did give the book a family, home-cooking kind of vibe to the book that I can appreciate. What helps to round this book up (star wise) is the fact that there was a picture accompaniment for each and every recipe. Pictures are hugely important to me while picking a cookbook, and I really did appreciate having a reference for each recipe.

Another plus to this cookbook is that it appeals to both vegetarians and meat eaters. There are recipes that instruct on how to omit or add meat, depending on your personal preference. I'm a meat-eater myself, but I can appreciate the vegetarian options that were provided.

There are a few recipes from this collection that I would like to try, including Plum Dumplings, Chicken Paprikash, and Chestnut Cake.

All in all this is a very, very basic cookbook. The recipes are lacking a bit, but it makes up for it with its abundance of color pictures that pair with each and every recipe in this collection.

Thanks to Schiffer Publishing who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Pure Pork Awesomeness by Kevin Gillespie & David Joachim!

Title: Pure Pork Awesomeness: Totally Cookable Recipes from Around the World
Author: Kevin Gillespie & David Joachim
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 31st 2015
Source: Andrews McMeel Publishing


Book Description via Goodreads:

Highly respected Atlanta chef and season six Top Chef Fan Favorite Kevin Gillespie shares his unbounded passion for pork in 100 unique recipes with global flavors. Everything you need to know about selecting, cooking, and enoying pork is included within.

"Like Bubba Gump and his shrimp, I have a million ways to cook pork because I love it so much. If I had only one animal to eat forevermore, I would eat pigs. You could have a pork chop one day, pulled pork another, and cured bacon the next day, and they'd all taste completely different. You can't do that with chicken. Chicken tastes like chicken no matter what part of the animal you eat. And I love beef and lamb, but they don't have the amazing versatility of pork. Pork can be the star of the show or a background flavor. But no matter where it shows up, pork is always welcome on my table."
---from the introduction, Kiss a Pig

On Bravo TV's season six of Top Chef, Kevin Gillespie became known for his love of pork. He literally wears it on his sleeve with his forearm tatoo. His first book, Fire in My Belly, a James Beard Award finalist, included his famous Bacon Jam. Now he shares his passion and love of pork in a book devoted entirely to the subject. Pure Pork Awesomeness celebrates pork's delicious versatility with more than 100 easy-to-follow recipes. Dig into everything from Bacon Popcorn and Bourbon Street Pork Chops to Korean Barbecued Pork Bulgogi, Vietnamese Spareribs with Chile and Lemongrass, and Banoffee Trifle with Candied Bacon. Organized like the pig itself, recipes use every cut of pork from shoulder and tenderloin to pork belly and ham. Find out how to buy the best-tasting pork available, differences among heritage breeds of pigs, and what to do with new cuts like "ribeye of pork". . . all from a witty, talented chef who knows the ins and outs of cooking pork at home.

Review:

★★★★★

This cover drew me in from the title alone: Pure Pork Awesomeness. I love cooking with pork. Whether it's bacon, ham, chops, smoked, grilled, or fried, I have to agree with Gillespie: it's pretty awesome. This book pays homage to the wonderful animal that is the pig with 100 recipes that all incorporate pork in some form or another.

This book is divided by cut or style of meat, making it really easy to navigate if you already have pork to use in your fridge and you're looking for something delicious to do with it. The pictures that are included in this cookbook are amazing looking, but I wish there had been more of them. This book includes a lot of tips on how to best make and use the ingredients listed, and even includes recipes for basic starting items like stocks and rubs. There's also information about each cut of meat, and each recipe is paired with an anecdote from the chef about why the recipe is included in the book.

The tagline for this book says that this book has recipes from "around the world", and I was honestly surprised on how well this book delivered on that concept. There are so many different cultures and cooking styles represented here. Off the top of my head, just to name a few, are German, Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Korean, and American. There's a diverse mix of recipes here, so there's sure to be something for everyone (vegetarians obviously excluded).

Some of the dishes that I am most looking forward to trying (sampled from a long, long list of awesome sounding recipes) include: Lemon-Ricotta Tortellini in Ham Broth, Grilled Pork Belly with Pickled Apples and Smoked Peanut Butter, and Pork Minute Steaks with Potato Pancakes and Pumpkin Butter. On a personal note, I really appreciated that Sheboygan brats were referenced in this book. My girlfriend lives there and I spend a lot of time there, and I cannot stress enough how much everyone should just put them in their face, all the time.

In short, I think this book is a must have for anyone who loves pork as an ingredient. There are recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert that all incorporate this lovely meat candy into it in some fashion. It's a book that I'll certainly be getting for my kitchen.

Thanks so much to Andrews McMeel Publishing who provided me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Series Review: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency by Iain Reading!

A few months back, I reviewed the first book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency, Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold. I really enjoyed it, and you can read my review by clicking here. The author was awesome enough to send me the rest of the books in the series. I'll talk a little about what I liked about each book, but because I read them all in a row, I'm doing a series rating.

I give the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series:

★★★★

Four stars!


Title: Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #2
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 339 pages
Pub. Date: September 10th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is the exciting second installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This second book in the series continues the adventures of Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot who has decided to follow in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart and make an epic flight around the entire world. After flying across North America Kitty's journey takes her down south to Florida where she plans to get a bit of rest and relaxation before continuing on with the rest of her long and grueling flight. As Kitty explores the strange and magical water world of the Florida Keys her knack for getting herself into precarious situations sweeps her headlong into the adventure of a lifetime involving mysterious lights, ancient shipwrecks, razor-toothed barracudas and even a sighting of the great Ernest Hemingway himself. This exhilarating story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept across the landscape and history of the Florida Keys all the way from Key West to the strange and remarkable world of Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn about and experience as much of our amazing world as they can - just like Kitty Hawk herself.

Review:

★★★

In the second chapter of Kitty Hawk's series, we're taken away to the Florida Keys on an adventure. This one is probably my least favorite of the series so far, but it is still an enjoyable and educational read.

This book is encouraging of learning, that is, there is a ton of information in the story that is true. From the specific locations that Kitty visits or flies over, to some of the people she meets, to the animals that she encounters, there is a ton of real life knowledge threaded into the story that ensures that, whether you want to or not, you're going to learn a thing or two.

Kitty Hawk is a character that more kids should read about. She's independent and strong, and so very smart. She keeps her cool in the toughest of situations and uses her brain (mixed with skill and some luck, of course) to save herself and anyone else in trouble too. She's a good role model to have.

The setting of this one is really gorgeous. I'm sure that most people who read this book will enjoy the back drop of the Florida Keys and the waters around them. It's well described and vivid, and it definitely lured me in a bit since when I was reading it, I was in my own freezing back drop of Illinois.

Long story short, if you liked book one, you'll enjoy book two well enough. It's an adventure book that can be read by itself, but I recommend book one too, for a middle grade or young adult audience.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #3
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 306 pages
Pub. Date: April 19th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Following in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart, Kitty Hawk sets off on an epic flight around the world and arrives in Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik where she finds herself immersed in a beautiful alien world of volcanoes, Vikings, elves and trolls. Before she knows it Kitty is plunged head first into an amazing adventure that sweeps her across a rugged landscape where humans and nature exist side-by-side in an uneasy truce and magical realms seem to lie just out of sight beneath the surface.

Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue is the dazzling third installment of the Flying Detective Agency series featuring Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenaged seaplane pilot with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into - and out of - all kinds of precarious situations.

This is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages - armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike. From dangerous criminals and corrupt government officials to mystical beings and clashes with the elemental forces of nature, this book has it all. Come and join Kitty Hawk as she experiences the strange and extraordinary world of the Icelanders, and unravels the Icelandic Intrigue.

Review:

★★★★

This third book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency picks up the next chapter of Kitty's flying adventure. She finds herself in Iceland in a new story of action and this time, even fantasy.

I have a fascination with Icelandic custom as well as the country as a whole. It's so pretty looking, and is a place that I would love to go visit, so I was drawn in immediately by Reading's descriptions of the landscapes. I learned a lot, as can be expected from all of the books in this series. There is a cornucopia of information in this book that helps you learn more about what Kitty is going through as you move across the plot itself.

A plot which I really enjoyed. The first two books had fantasy elements, of course. Though this book series is an informative one they are still works of fiction. However, this book had my own personal preference of fantasy. That is, just below the surface, there is a land of magic. Kitty's new adventure involves plots involving Vikings and elves and trolls, all set in this gorgeous Iceland scenery. The plot was exciting and well paced, and kept my attention.

Kitty continues to be the tough heroine that she's proven herself to be throughout, with her head on her shoulders and her heart set and determined on her goals. I found that the character development was a bit weaker in this book than in the ones previous, but it didn't hinder me too much from reading it.

My one critique of this book is how it ended. I won't go into details, but it made the book end on a bit of a low note for me. The series doesn't end here, but it did put a bit of a damper on my reading.

I think this book will appeal to anyone who likes a young adult fantasy adventure, and those who liked the first two books are sure to enjoy this one as well.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #4
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 321 pages
Pub. Date: February 16th 2014
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is the thrillingly cryptic fourth installment of the exciting Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series featuring the intrepid teenage seaplane pilot Kitty Hawk and her various adventures of mystery and intrigue as she follows in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart on an epic flight around the world.

This fourth book in the series brings Kitty to the emerald hills of Ireland where she meets a handsome stranger and is quickly swept up in a perplexing hundred-year-old family treasure hunt involving secret codes and puzzling clues that lead her on a fast-paced adventure that carries her from Dublin to London - from the decks of the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic to the temples of ancient Egypt and the streets of Jack the Ripper - until she finally unlocks the mystery and discovers the long-hidden treasure.

Much like the earlier books in this series, Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of armchair detectives of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history the reader will find themselves immersed in brand new worlds that are brought to life before their very eyes as Kitty Hawk experiences the stories and history of a doomed ocean liner and unravels the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic.

Review:

★★★★

This is the fourth book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series by Iain Reading. These are adventure books that follow young pilot Kitty Hawk on a series of mysterious adventures that launch her all over the world in order to solve them all and learn along the way. The fourth book is an enjoyable addition to the rest of the Kitty Hawk lineup.

I was drawn in immediately by the cover and title. There are a few points in history by which I am fascinated. Somewhere near the top of that list, is the sinking of the Titanic. I was excited to see that this book deals with the ship. I knew a lot of the information already because of this fascination, but there was still things I didn't know previously and a lot of information to boot. This book weaved in stories of Jack the Ripper and the Titanic among other things, but did so in a way where it didn't seem encyclopedic. As usual, the book was descriptively written and made me want to travel, just as all the other books in the series have. From Ireland to England and even to Egypt, this adventure spans all over and I would love to travel with Kitty, despite all the strange mysteries she gets herself into.

For the first time in this series though, the characters fell short for me. I didn't connect or cheer for Kitty Hawk as much as I had in the first three books previous. She made a few decisions that set me aback a bit. She was still likable enough, but she wasn't quite as admirable in my eyes, and I hope this gets remedied in a future KHFDA book.

This will sure to be fun for young adult fans of mystery and adventure, or even just those who are as fascinated by the Titanic as I am.

Audiobook Review: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard!

Title: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard
Author: Lars Guignard
Format: Audible Audiobook
Narrator: Bailey Carlson
Pub. Date: February 26th 2013
Source: Mother Daughter Book Reviews & Fantastic Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

If you love fantasy books for middle schoolers like the Percy Jackson series or young adult adventure books like Harry Potter, you’ll love this!

Introducing book 1 of the new kids’ adventure books from best-selling author Lars Guignard:

Zoe and Zak are lost in exotic India, where gods and magic still exist. Before they can find their way home, they just have to do one little thing…

…Save a mythical creature from an ancient evil that wants to rule the world.

When Zoe Guire goes along on her mom’s business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. An elephant god speaks to her from the bottom of a swimming pool… She and her classmate Zak get locked in a trunk and shipped off to a strange city near the foothills of the Himalayas… and a crazy snake charmer tells them they’ve been chosen to protect a mythical creature called the Ghost Leopard from an ancient evil that wants to take over the world.

As they travel deeper into the majestic mountains known as the Realm of the Gods, things get even weirder. If she and Zak want to make it back to their parents, they’re going to have to tap into powers they never knew existed.

Because if they don’t, things will never be the same for any of us ever again.

Review:

★★★

I'm still getting used to listening to audiobooks, and I have to say this one was really pleasant to listen to. I really enjoyed the narrator, Bailey Carlson's, reading of this book and I think kids will love it too. She does different accents and inflections for the different characters, and it really helps the story come to life. It's never confusing to know who is speaking because each voice is distinct. I was really happily surprised by this!

And now for the book itself. I don't think that the "fans of Harry Potter" bit is true- I think this book is a bit younger than that. For example, one of the characters is referred to as "rhino butt" throughout the book. It was cute the first time, but as an adult it got old quickly. Similarly, there's a lot of language repetition like "Did I mention?" and "...or something". It makes it sound more like conversation and less like a book which isn't bad, but it did get a bit redundant.

I also really didn't care for the main character/narrator Zoe. I felt that she came off older than 6th grade, and a bit pretentious. At one point she references how she reads a lot about animals and there's no creatures that have never been photographed.... Which is weird because new creatures are discovered all the time. I grew to like her a bit more as time moved by, but at the beginning it was rough going. I did however like that she is adopted and is okay with it, it added a nice touch of diversity.

All that being said, the story itself is pretty cool. There is a lot of information in this book, and I think that's great in a book aimed for kids. No doubt readers will walk away having learned something. This book is set largely in India, and sometimes Zoe uses a different language like Hindi, and then the meaning is explained. I really appreciated this aspect. There's also a lot of mythology from the Indian philosophies, like the names of different gods and goddesses and what they represent or did. I wish I had a book growing up that focused on Indian tradition- I didn't learn about it until I got to college! Everything was well explained.

The writing was well detailed and easily to visualize. It didn't take much to imagine yourself on the streets of India or in the mountains or in the big fancy hotel right alongside Zoe and Zak. There's magic and powers and evil powers and a ghost leopard- what's not to like? It's written in a diary-esque type format which makes it seem like the story is being told directly to you, which was cool. There were also quite a few moments with humor in them that made me snicker aloud.

All in all, I thought that this was an enjoyable book. I think that kids in the late elementary/early middle school age will like this book the best. This book is like a mix of the Animorphs series, "The Wild Thornberries", and a pinch of "Percy Jackson" for good mythical measure. If you or your child is a fan of those things- I'd recommend it!

Thanks to MD Book Reviews & Fantastic Press for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Hidden Like Anne Frank by Marcel Prins & Peter Henk Steenhuis

Title: Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival
Author: Marcel Prins & Peter Henk Steenhuis
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 25th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Scholastic


Book Description via Goodreads:

Fourteen unforgettable true stories of children hidden away during World War II

Jaap Sitters was only eight years old when his mother cut the yellow stars off his clothes and sent him, alone, on a fifteen-mile walk to hide with relatives. It was a terrifying night, one he would never forget. Before the end of the war, Jaap would hide in secret rooms and behind walls. He would suffer from hunger, sickness, and the looming threat of Nazi raids. But he would live.

This is just one of the incredible stories told in HIDDEN LIKE ANNE FRANK, a collection of eye-opening first-person accounts that share what it was like to go into hiding during World War II. Some children were only three or four years old when they were hidden; some were teenagers. Some hid with neighbors or family, while many were with complete strangers. But all know the pain of losing their homes, their families, even their own names. They describe the secret network of brave people who kept them safe. And they share the coincidences and close escapes that made all the difference.

Review:

★★★★

This is one of those books that will stay with me long after I've read it. It's a combination of hopeful, sorrowful, and haunting that lingers on the mind, whether you'd like it to or not.

Hidden Like Anne Frank is a collection of fourteen stories of children who were forced to go into hiding in order to survive during World War II. Different ages, different genders, and different social classes are all represented. They're told in the first person: the survivors themselves are the ones telling you their stories. While they are all hopeful to a degree (after all, these are survival stories), these people went through so much devastation. It's heartbreaking to see that so many children needed to do this just to escape with their lives, losing so much more in the process.

This book is written at an easy-to-read level, making it a great book for young adults who are wanting to learn more about the war. Each foreign word (be it in German, Hebrew, Dutch, or otherwise) was italicized and explained so that there was no confusion about terminology. Each story is also paired with photographs of the children, the places they hid, and the areas where they came from. It was fascinating to see history through their eyes.

I also thought it was nice that at the end of the book, there's photographs of each of the survivors as they are today. The photographs make it seem all the more real.

I think this book is a good one to have as a middle school or high school teacher to offer students who were interested in Anne Frank's diary. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in reading about World War II or the Holocaust. It's emotional but well done, and leaves you a bit in awe of just what some people have to do in order to survive.

Thank you to Scholastic who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.