Book Review: Ghost of A Promise (Phantoms) by Kelly Moran

Ghost of A Promise is the first book in the Phantoms series by Kelly Moran. The haunting lore of her family's estate on the coast of Maine never bothered Ava Trumble. Truly, the big ole house seems less lonely with a ghost or two. However, when it finally becomes her time to inherit the elaborate mansion on the bluffs, the deed comes with a shocking ultimatum. She has exactly one year to solve the two-hundred-year-old mystery of the disappearance of a girl that has always plagued their town, or her dreams and the property will wind up in the hands of the Historical Society. As the lead investigator for the hit paranormal TV show Phantoms, Jackson Granger is prepared for any metaphysical encounter. Until now. It's not just the uncanny sense of "coming home" since getting his team inside Trumble Mansion or even his reaction to the fiery redhead owner who seems to consume his every waking thought. No, it's that, as the investigation unfolds, the ghosts are using Jackson and Ava's attraction to play out a centuries-old tragedy. Now, Jackson and Ava must determine if they're sharing something real...or if they've merely been possessed by a love that never died.

Ghost of A Promise strikes a good balance of mystery, ghosts, and romance. The house's history is just as important to the story as Ava and Jackson. It was engaging to get to know the two characters, the story of the house, and the ghost hunting crew as they worked together to capture evidence and figure out what happened to Sarah. I think the interactions between Ava and Jackson were so interesting because of the equal level of trust and defensiveness that they both displayed. It made for a get push and pull between them, and I think resulted in a stronger connection in the long run. I really enjoyed the ghostly and mystery aspects as well. I thought the book hit some very tense moments, but never hit on truly scary moments, which is just about the level of fear I can handle reading right now. I also love that the romance was not in vacuum, friends and family played the part- highlighting the issues each had and getting readers to care about the entire cast of characters, not just the two main players. I am very much looking forward to reading the second book in the series- in fact I already have it downloaded on my kindle. 

Ghost of A Promise is a wonderful start to a series that promises romance and ghostly mysteries. 

Early Book Review: The Flexible Baker: 75 Delicious Recipes with Adaptable Options for Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free, and Vegan Bakes by Jo Pratt

The Flexible Baker: 75 Delicious Recipes with Adaptable Options for Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free, and Vegan Bakes by Jo Pratt is currently scheduled for release on April 12 2022. Covering a wide-range of bakes including sweet & savory, cakes & tray bakes, biscuits & cookies, pastries, puddings & deserts, each recipe also includes flexible adaptations that can help cater for a variety of allergies, intolerances and lifestyle choices. The recipes include delights such as: Smoky bacon scones with salted maple butter, Sweet onion and blue cheese swirls, Chicken & chorizo sausage rolls, 'Sourdough' for the impatient, Multi-millionaire's shortbread, Pecan pumpkin pie, and Salted honey & pistachio puddings. Each page also includes a clear dietary index covering everything from gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free cooking and veganism, so the reader can see at a glance which recipe suits their requirements, without compromising flavor or appeal.

The Flexible Baker is a well written and organized cookbook. I liked that both common forms of measurement were included for all recipes, so those clinging to imperial measurements and those use to or switching to metric have equal access to these recipes without having to convert. I loved the variety of bakes included in this cook book, and the amount of information included about the dietary options for substitutions and what will (or wont) work to fit the needs of those you may be cooking for. I like how easy it is to find which recipes are gluten, dairy, nut, or animal product free- and which can easy be adapted further to fit the needed restrictions. I thought the page design, photograph choices, and organization were all very well done. This is the perfect cookbook for those that love to bake while keeping in mind the dietary restrictions of those around you. The instructions, including possible substitutions, are all easy to understand and follow for novice and frequent bakers alike. If you have room on your cookbook self and love to bake then this is a great addition to a personal collection. I think it would be a great addition to library shelves so that everyone can have access to this inclusive cookbook. 

Early Book Review: Dig, Dance, Dive: How Birds Move to Survive by Etta Kaner, June Steube

Dig, Dance, Dive: How Birds Move to Survive is a children's nonfiction book written by Etta Kaner and illustrated by June Steube. It is currently Scheduled for release on April 15 2022. Birds can do a lot more than just fly! Did you know some of them can dig, dance, dive, and dabble? Readers will learn about flightless birds like the Adélie penguin (which toboggans down hills on its belly) and the kakapo (which climbs up trees to escape danger). Even birds that fly have quirky survival behaviors—like the barred owl, which can turn its head almost all the way around, or the blue-footed booby, which dives from great heights to catch fish.

Dig, Dance, Dive: How Birds Move to Survive is a beautifully illustrated book. The watercolor artwork is very well done and the book is worth a look even before getting into the text of the book. I never thought too much about how birds moved, aside that most flew and some swam. This book gives a nice look at some of the more unusual movements of birds and how they impact the survival and lives of the birds. This is a great book for the elementary and younger set- to read alone or share with an adult or older child.

Early Book Review: Weed-Free Gardening: A Comprehensive and Organic Approach to Weed Management by Tasha Greer

Weed-Free Gardening: A Comprehensive and Organic Approach to Weed Management by Tasha Greer is currently scheduled for release on April 12 2022. It offers readers clear and easy-to-undertake methods to get weeds under control without the need for potentially harmful synthetic herbicides. The book helps readers control annual weeds by disrupting their natural lifecycle, learn the whys, hows, and whens of weed-inhibiting mulching techniques, eliminate deep-rooted perennial weeds by eradicating them at their source, meet the best and most effective weeding tools available to homeowners, discover many ways to keep weeds out of the vegetable garden while ensuring healthy and productive soil, and Implement a practical plan to gain long-term control over weeds. There are also resources for weed identification, tips for getting rid of invasive plants, useful ideas for handling areas completely overtaken by weeds, and dozens of “weed hacks” to make life in the garden so much more beautiful.

Weed-Free Gardening is a well written and organized book. I found that it could stand up well to reading cover to cover or by reading the sections you need most or want to study up on. I like that the suggestions and explanations are realistic and understandable. I liked that the author acknowledged that no solution is perfect, because nature is amazing and every yard, region, and gardener is a little different. However, I loved that the history, science, and personal stories are woven in together to give readers the best foundation of information to figure out what they want to try, what is most likely to suit their needs, and how to adjust as they try things. I thought the information was clearly worded, easy to follow and understand, and paired with images that brought it all together. I was just planning this year's garden, and this book has given me some great ideas and helped to shift some of my gardening notions that just might have been part of my weed issues. I look forward to trying out some of the new tips and tricks that are now part of my knowledge base.  I wish I had more room on my gardening bookshelf so I could add it to my collection. I just might splurge on a copy even though I am out of room. 

Early Book Review: This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum is currently scheduled for release on April 12 2022. Pranking mastermind Doe and her motley band of Weston girls are determined to win the century-long war against Winfield Academy before the clock ticks down on their senior year. But when their headmistress announces that The Weston School will merge with its rival the following year, their longtime feud spirals into chaos. To protect the school that has been her safe haven since her parents’ divorce, Doe puts together a plan to prove once and for all that Winfield boys and Weston girls just don’t mix, starting with a direct hit at Three, Winfield’s boy king and her nemesis. In a desperate move to win, Doe strikes a bargain with Three’s cousin, Wells: If he fake dates her to get under Three’s skin, she’ll help him get back his rightful family heirloom from Three. As the pranks escalate, so do her feelings for her fake boyfriend, and Doe spins lie after lie to keep up her end of the deal. But when a teacher long suspected of inappropriate behavior messes with a younger Weston girl, Doe has to decide what’s more important: winning a rivalry, or joining forces to protect something far more critical than a prank war legacy. This May End Badly is a story about friendship, falling in love, and crossing pretty much every line presented to you—and how to atone when you do.

This May End Badly is an emotional read that covers much more than I expected. I was expecting a lighter read, but quickly found myself engaged in the story and worried about how everything would play out. Doe is not always an easy character to like, but at the same time her struggles to deal with her anger and figure out exactly who she is and what she wants is very understandable. I liked that all characters have their own things going on, even when Doe doesn't notice, because that is how life goes so it made everything more realistic. The amount of things happening and the layers to the story felt like it was almost too much in the moment, but when it all come together it was exactly like what could really happen. I had almost forgotten how vivid and intense everything is when you are a teen, and this was a good reminder as I now have two in my house. I really enjoyed the focus on friendship and how important honesty (especially with yourself) is is the book. The book very much makes the point about sticking to convictions but considering other points of view or options as situations and ideas when you become aware of them. This is not an easy read, while there are definitely some very fun moments. It is emotional and took me on the roller-coaster ride with all the  feels and failures Doe suffered and the epiphanies and successes she fought for. I think this is a great read for young adults and older.  

This May End Badly is an emotional and engaging read. 

Early Book Review: The Modern Proper: Simple Dinners for Every Day by Holly Erickson; Natalie Mortimer

The Modern Proper: Simple Dinners for Every Day by Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer is currently scheduled for release on April 5 2022. For pretty much everyone, life gets busy—but you still want to cook up a good meal. Ideally a meal  that is accessible, efficient, and doesn’t sacrifice any of the delicious flavors you love. This book can expand your “go-to” list and help you become a more intuitive, creative cook. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, a busy parent or a workaholic, this book will arm you with tools, tricks, and shortcuts to get dinner on the table. Every ingredient is easy to find, plus you’ll find plenty of swaps and options throughout. Each of the 100 recipes (some all-time fan favorites and many brand-new) includes prep time, cook time, and quick-reference tags. Recipes include: Stuffed Chicken Breast with Mozzarella and Creamy Kale, Stir-Fried Pork Cutlets with Buttermilk Ranch, Sweet Cider Scallops with Wilted Spinach, Tofu Enchiladas with Red Sauce, and more. 

The Modern Proper is a well organized and comprehensive cookbook. I found that the descriptions, instructions, and suggestions were all well thought out and written. I like that the recipes leave plenty of room for home cooks to use the vegetables and ingredients that work best for their family. The recipes are pretty varied and do use mostly common, or at least readily available, ingredients for those that have good supermarkets accessible to them.  There were several recipes that I would love to try for an adult only meal. However, I have to admit that I found most of the meals a little to involved and fussy for my house, aside from special occasions. For those that love cooking and entertaining, or have the family interest in trying new foods, this would be a great cookbook. I enjoyed looking at the photographs, and gleaned a few tips and inspirations, but this is not a book that would be added to my personal library. I think there are people that love to cook like this, and I think they will love this book and have the time and resources to put the recipes inside to good use. 

Early Book Review: Into the Forest: The Secret Language of Trees by Susan Tyler Hitchcock

I received a sample of Into the Forest: The Secret Language of Trees by Susan Tyler Hitchcock, which is currently scheduled for release on April 5 2022. This review is based on the sample rather than the complete book. 

For millennia, trees have offered renewal and inspiration. They have provided for humanity on every level, from spiritual sanctuary to the raw material for our homes, books, and food. In this beautiful and revealing book, National Geographic combines photography with  science to illuminate how trees influence the life of planet Earth; from our personal lives to the weather cycle. Illustrated essays tell the stories of the world’s most remarkable trees; from Tane Mahura in New Zealand, the ancient Maori "lord of the forest," to Pando, a single aspen spreading over 100 acres: Earth’s largest living thing. You’ll also discover how an astronaut carried tree seeds to the moon and back; the reason "microdosing" on tree gas is a sure way to boost your immune system; and why playing in the dirt boosts serotonin, happiness hormone.

Into the Forest: The Secret Language of Trees grabbed my attention first because of the photography. I found the chosen photographs to be stunning in their own right. When combined with the information about the trees themselves, and how amazing they are in the grand scheme of things the images took on even more beauty and importance.  I really enjoyed the sample I received of this book, and I anticipate enjoying the final product as well, both visually and intellectually. I look forward to getting my hands on a print copy, and would recommend it for library collections and those that are interested in the subject matter and photography.  

Book Review: Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age by Dennis Duncan

Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age by Dennis Duncan is a playful history of the humble index and its outsized effect on our reading lives. Most of us give little thought to the back of the book—it’s just where you go to look things up. But here is the secret world of the index: an unsung but extraordinary everyday tool, with an illustrious but little-known history. Charting its curious path from the monasteries and universities of thirteenth-century Europe to Silicon Valley in the twenty-first, Dennis Duncan reveals how the index has saved heretics from the stake, kept politicians from high office, and made us all into the readers we are today. We follow it through German print shops and Enlightenment coffee houses, novelists’ living rooms and university laboratories, encountering emperors and popes, philosophers and prime ministers, poets, librarians, and—of course—indexers along the way. Duncan reveals the vast role of the index in our evolving literary and intellectual culture, and he shows that in the Age of Search we are all index-rakers at heart.

Index, A History of the: covers a topic that I had given little thought to, aside from how useful a good index can be when I need it. Like all parts of human history, personality, politic, and power all had a role to play in any steps forward made in indexing. I really like that the author made an effort to give a well balanced look at how indexes came about and evolved over the years while including a look at the rivalries, drama, and humor that can be found along the way. I also like that he acknowledged the hard work that goes into creating a proper subject index, in the past and still today, and how many of the people that do the work get little to no credit for the labor intensive process.  I greatly enjoyed the read and learned a great deal. I think those that value indexes, and are interested in bookish history of any kind, will greatly enjoy this book. For those that are interested, there is a very well done audiobook version of this title as well. 

Early Book Review: Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish by David Liittschwager

I received a sample of Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish by David Liittschwager, which is scheduled for release on April 5 2022. My review is based on that sample, not the full book.  

This is a book of photography that reveals the unnerving beauty of three notoriously mysterious sea creatures--the jellyfish, octopus, and seahorse--and how they perceive the world. The jellyfish, the octopus, and the seahorse are among the most wondrous species on Earth--as well as some of the most difficult to document using traditional photography methods. This collection showcases 200 of Liittschwager’s most revealing photographs, paired with penetrating essays that explain how a creature without a brain or without bones perceives the world. Bestselling science writers Elizabeth Kolbert, Jennifer Holland, and Olivia Judson explain the biology and advanced cognitive abilities of these spineless denizens of the deep, exquisitely evoking their unnerving yet undeniable charisma. In these pages, you’ll glimpse a seahorse only half an inch tall, a moon jelly spinning off a snowflake-shaped clone, and the blinking comb jelly, which may be the most ancient living animal on Earth. Both enlightening and profound, this book documents the expanding frontiers of marine science, creating a powerful testament to the value and beauty of these little-seen--and endangered--species.

Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish is a book that captured and kept my attention with the stunning photography. I was amazed by the images on the page, and then glad to see the information about each of the creatures on the page. While jellyfish might not be my favorite swimming partner, I have always been fascinated by their movements and grace in the water. The brilliance of the octopus and the fragility and size of the seahorse have always captured my attention as well. Getting to see them all in such stunning photographs with some information about their nature that I have not known before made this book a must read for me. I am eager to see it in bookstores and libraries. I think this will be a great book for anyone interested in the subject matter and the photography.  

Early Book Review: Shadow Fallen (Dream-Hunter) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Shadow Fallen is the newest addition to the Dream-Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It is currently scheduled for release on April 12 2022. The book does have cameos from characters from previous books from the author and her various series, however this can be read on its own as well.

For centuries, Ariel has fought the forces of evil. Her task was to protect the souls of innocent mortals when they die. Captured by a powerful sorceress, she is transformed into a human who has no memory of her real life or calling. And is plunked into the middle of the Norman invasion of England. Cursed the moment he was born with a "demonic deformity," Valteri wants nothing of this earth except to depart it and will do his duty to his king until then. When a strange noblewoman is brought before him, Valteri realizes he has met her before…in his dreams. When others come for her, bringing with them preternatural predators, he is faced with a destiny he had no idea was waiting. One he wants no part of. The truth is that Valteri isn’t just a knight of William the Conqueror. He is the son of one of the deadliest powers in existence, and if he doesn’t restore Ariel to her place, she is not the only one who will be in peril. The world itself hangs in the balance, and he is the necessary key to hold back the powers of evil. But only if he can find a way to work with the woman who stands for everything in the universe he hates.

Shadow Fallen is a return to the worlds if gods, betrayal, and love created by the author. I have been a fan for years and was glad to get a new book in my hands. The book held true to the things I expect- love that overcomes betrayal and even death. There are characters that have been tormented and some who still are, there are big conflicts and feelings and strange familial ties that complicate things. There are good souls struggling to hold true to their values despite everything around them and how others treat them, and others that give into the despair and hatred that it can cause. I loved being back in the thick of it and watching Val and Ariel find their way to each other and a future. I will admit that I did not get as lost in this story as I normally do. I am not sure if it was the stress and family that were circling around as I tried to read the book, or my mood at the time, but I just did not get as heavily involved as I normally do. The characters and conflicts were just as intense as I expected, the drama and stakes high and involved. I enjoyed getting to see some characters I knew from other books play their part, and interact with those I was just getting to know. The only issue I had with the read that I could actually identify could be fixed before final printing. I found that in the galley there were moments when the book changed point of view with no warning or break, but I doubt that will be an issue in the final version. 

Shadow Fallen holds to the love conquering trauma and death idea that threads through all of the author's work. It did not capture me quite as much as some of her earlier works, but it was still a good read and I am glad to have gotten my hands on it.