Review: Dogs n Dracula: A Road Trip Through Romania

Dogs n Dracula: A Road Trip Through Romania by Jacqueline Lambert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first caravanning travel book I have read. Actually other “travel” type books I read were walking trips on mountain trails. I haven’t been to Europe and certainly not to Romania. This book made me want to go. I love the writing style Ms Lambert has. It is almost as if you are sitting, enjoying coffee, while you listen to her vacation stories. It was interesting and fun. She didn’t just tell the fun parts though. She told everything. The scary roads. The trouble finding a place to stay. Even the issue of getting decent sandals in a foreign country. You could imagine it all unfolding while you read. I would definitely recommend this book if you are planning a road trip to Romania. There are plenty of tips in it. I would also recommend it to armchair travelers like me. I think I would actually enjoy this more on audio.
*I received an ecopy of this book, through BookSprout, for review consideration. I voluntarily reviewed it.*

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Review: Sweet Treats: Recipes from the Moonglow Christmas Series

Sweet Treats: Recipes from the Moonglow Christmas Series by Deborah Garner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This dessert cookbook if taken from the Moonglow Christmas Series. I love this series so much. I make it a part of my Christmas traditions to read this series every December. I have made some of the recipes in it. I’m not heavy on sweets but my guy is. The recipes range from easy to complicated but doable. I love that the other chose to group them with the book that they appear in. Each section opens with excepts from the books. I make the glazed cinnamon nuts often. I did make them without the cinnamon and they were very tasty glazed nuts. The Lemon Bars are a favorite. Potato chip cookies were a surprise and a hit when I made them, (super easy, too). The Dutch Sour Cream Cookies are tasty and have found there way to being Easter cookies as well. I have made many others but these stick out in my mind as being tasty and easy. There is a wide variety of cookies here. Enough to host your own cookie exchange. There are a few recipes for gluten free, a vegan recipe, fudge recipes, homemade eggnog, (so delicious!), brownies, butter rolls and candy. Disclaimer: I do have a cookie recipe included in here. I did not review it though I make them every year. All opinions expressed are based on my experience with the recipes. The review is voluntary.

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Review: The Callie's Kitchen Mysteries Cookbook

The Callie's Kitchen Mysteries Cookbook by Jenny Kales
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This cookbook is from the cozy mystery series Callie’s Kitchen Mysteries. Each book contains recipes. Those recipes and new ones are compiled in this cookbook.
I love Callie’s Kitchen Mysteries. I was hooked on it from the first book. I tried recipes from each book as I read them. I found them delicious and easy. Many have become family favorites. When the author announced this cookbook I could not contain my excitement. I had been dying for it. Now I am dying for a print version.
For the ebook there is a content list that will take you directly to the recipe. I note that because I have come across cookbooks that do not do this. I love that the author has the recipes marked with “new” or the book title. While there are a number of Greek recipes Midwest comfort food is included. The cookbook isn’t intended to be one type of food. It is food that a character in the authors series cooks, eats and serves. Callie is of Greek heritage and lives in Wisconsin. The recipes reflect that. There are excerpts from the books and some new bonus scenes that fans of the series will not want to miss.
Now on to the recipes. Most are easy. All that I have tried have been delicious. I am not Greek and had limited exposure to Greek food, (mainly from a restaurant in downtown Chicago close to DePaul University). I now live in Alaska and sorely missed spanakopita. I really got into Greek food through this series. So I’m no authority on Greek food. I am with tasty food and comfort food though. This book meets those expectations. The recipes I tried that are now made frequently are Avgolemono, (if anyone is ill, please make them this soup. They will love you for it), Lazy Spanakopita, Kota Kapama, Stifado and Rizogalo.
New recipes I made and loved are Feta Cheese Bites, (so good while reading), Tzatziki, (not going to lie, I will eat this like sandwich filling. I love this), Skordalia, (another thing to make when someone is ill. The first time I made this my other half thought I had made soup and added broth because it was thick. I had to explain to him, as I started over, insert eye roll. The extra broth just turned it into a tasty soup but it wasn’t what I was going for, haha), Spring Spanaorizo, (rice!), and Pastitsio. There are a number of dessert recipes, too. My favorite remains Melopita, it’s easy peasey and holy moley tasty.
My recommendations on this cookbook is a big, “order it now.” I’m planning on getting a print copy too. If you are new to Callie’s Kitchen Mysteries, give the series a whirl. They are cozy mysteries, meaning anyone from your teen to your granny can enjoy it.

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Review: Hounds, Harvest, and Homicide : A Pooch Party Cozy Mystery

Hounds, Harvest, and Homicide : A Pooch Party Cozy Mystery by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really like this new cozy mystery series from Carolyn Ridder Aspenson. In my opinion, it’s more than a cozy mystery. It has the things you associate with cozy mysteries, the good people, small town feeling, animals, (a lovely mix), and of a good mystery. But then the author goes further. The animals come from the shelter that is a huge part of the main character’s life. It’s not just background noise. You learn a lot about shelter life and the pets up for adoption. You may think it’s a distraction in a mystery. You would be mistaken. Ms. Aspenson handles well the tricky balance. It’s not the only thing the author expertly handles in this series. Missy, the main character, is grieving the loss of her husband, Sam. It has been awhile since his death, (if there is one truth in life, it is grief has no time limit and no easy path), and some feel Missy should start dating. This isn’t something Missy can move fast on. I’m happy it isn’t. The reason for it? The author is real about grief. Using Missy she tells us the things no one really talks about, which makes it feel like we are doing grief wrong. The loneliness after the “acceptable“ grief time. The shattered dreams, the pain, the bittersweet memories. The way the world keeps going when your heart stops. It might sound depressing but Ms Aspenson has a magic touch with it. She keeps it real yet she doesn’t drown us in it. Death and grief are a big part of life. She acknowledges that and allows us to see that whatever we are feeling, how ever long it takes, it is normal. We are normal. I really appreciate this message. I appreciate this honest approach to grief. It truly isn’t depressing. Missy is a functioning person. She is intelligent, funny, caring, kind, animal lover, good mother and good friend. There is even someone who may, or may not, turn into a love interest. Ms Aspenson’s willingness to bring out and deal with realistic parts of life makes this cozy mystery a unique and don’t miss series. You could read this book on its own.The mystery is complete. But I recommend starting with the first book, Pooches, Pumpkins and Poison. You are going to get attached to Missy, Hayden, (her daughter), and the shelter. Do yourself the favor and get both books. You won’t be sorry, I promise.

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Review: Holiday Roast Mortem

Holiday Roast Mortem by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been reading A Killer Coffee Mystery Series from the start. I highly recommend reading it in order.
In this book Christmas has come to Honey Springs, Kentucky. The town is decorated and Roxy has been busy with making holiday blend coffee, making special treats and planning the Christmas Day supper. That’s right. Roxy is hosting a big Christmas supper at the Bean Hive Coffee Shop. She has been busy as a bee with little time to just enjoy her husband of one year. So Roxy and Patrick go out for dinner hoping for a nice romantic night out. Unfortunately they are seated next to a couple who are loudly arguing. Driving home, they notice they are behind the arguing couple when they witness the truck cross the line, go through the trees and into the lake! Patrick dives in to rescue the couple. Unfortunately the man is dead. The sheriff is suspicious and, when his suspicions are confirmed, the wife is the number one suspect. Did she do it?
I love the town, the people and the pets in this series. I feel at home in it. One thing I especially adore about it, is the author has woven pet adoption into the series. Each book has a little background story going about it. I love that the author cares about animals enough to keep that reminder that pets need a home. I look forward to reading about the pet up for adoption in each book. Roxy, Patrick and the supporting characters are realistically written. I feel like I know them and could just step into the Bean Hive for some coffee and gossip with them. The mystery in this book wasn’t an easy one. There are a few suspects. With people not being completely honest, finding the killer could prove fatal.
*I received an ecopy of this book for review consideration. I voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts are my opinion of the book and series.*

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Review: An Amish Christmas Promise

An Amish Christmas Promise by Jo Ann Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this story. Carolyn is a woman trying to protect children she loves. They lost their home and belongings in a flood. Michael comes to help rebuild the community. Carolyn was Amish but is pretending to be Mennonite for safety. Michael is an Amish man, not yet baptized, who is questioning his faith. Neither is looking for love.
I loved Carolyn and the way she cares for Kevin and Rose Anne. It touched me how she was doing the best she could to raise the children as her own. I like that the author brought out how Carolyn rationalized things in her mind and heart. I like Michael a lot. I enjoyed watching him develop a relationship with the children as well as with Carolyn. They both though are hiding parts of their background that affect their lives. Will they be able to move forward? It was a very touching story.
I received an ebook copy of this title through NetGalley for review consideration. I voluntarily chose to review it. All thoughts are mine.

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Review: Cupid Claus

Cupid Claus by Sarah Fischer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this story about Santa’s family. I have, since a child, wondered about Santa, Mrs Claus, the elves...were there children? Did elves marry? Have families? What did the North Pole really look like? Did Santa know the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy, St Valentine? Were the shoemaker’s elves kin to Santa’s elves? I thought about it all, dreaming about it. Am I still curious? Yes. I’m not even going to try lying. I clap for fairies and believe in Santa.
This book was perfect for me. When Mrs Claus, Carol, called on her friends..you have no idea how delighted I was! Reading about the North Pole and how Nicolas was changing it with technology fascinated me. Yes, it also saddened me. I like the elves working. But the best was in reading about Nick, Heather and Carol. I’m not going into that because it would take away the reason to read. Make no mistake, I want you to read it. I want you to feel the wonder, delight, anxiety and worry. I want you to crave chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate made special. Stop reading the review and go read the book.
I received an ecopy of this book from BookSprout for review consideration. All thoughts are based on my feelings while reading the book. My review is voluntary.

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