Tag: Book Review

Book Review, NetGalley

My First Cookbook Review! The Pesto Cookbook by Olwen Woodier

Abby

The Pesto Cookboo

Publish Date: April 17, 2018

This is my first cookbook review! I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storey Publishing, and Olwen Woodier for a preview of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Look at that beautiful cover. So many bright, vivid colors. Fresh herbs. This cover is definitely eye catching. It makes you want to pick up that spoon and have a taste of that pesto. Yum!

Pesto 2

This book is a comprehensive guide to pestos. It begins with the basic pesto recipe and then that’s where it gets interesting. Continue reading “My First Cookbook Review! The Pesto Cookbook by Olwen Woodier” →

Book Review, Edelweiss

Book Review: Other People’s Houses by Abbi Waxman

Abby

Houses 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publish Date:  April 3, 2018

I laughed, I cried, and I laughed a lot more about this poignant story on carpools, coffee, and secrets.

This book has the humor, friendships, and families that remind me of Big Little Lies.

I received an advance copy of this book from Berkley Publishing through Edelweiss.

Synopsis:

At any given moment in other people’s houses, you can find…repressed hopes and dreams…moments of unexpected joy…someone making love on the floor to a man who is most definitely not her husband…

*record scratch*

As the longtime local carpool mom, Frances Bloom is sometimes an unwilling witness to her neighbors’ private lives. She knows her cousin is hiding her desire for another baby from her spouse, Bill Horton’s wife is mysteriously missing, and now this…

After the shock of seeing Anne Porter in all her extramarital glory, Frances vows to stay in her own lane. But that’s a notion easier said than done when Anne’s husband throws her out a couple of days later. The repercussions of the affair reverberate through the four carpool families–and Frances finds herself navigating a moral minefield that could make or break a marriage. Continue reading “Book Review: Other People’s Houses by Abbi Waxman” →

Book Review, NetGalley

Book Review: Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

Abby

Not That I Could Tell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars 3 Stars

Publication Date: March 27, 2018

I received an advance copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.

We’ve all experienced this: an evening of wine, friends, a fire pit, honest conversation, laughter, and bonding. Then – waking up the next morning slightly (or majorly) regretting that last glass and sharing too much.

It happens everywhere, including the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs. Except that this time, one of the women, Kristin, disappears suddenly without a trace, presumably with her young twins who are also missing.

Tell 2

Continue reading “Book Review: Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser” →

Book Review, NetGalley

Book Review: Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Abby

Sometimes I Lie

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars 4 Stars

Publish Date: March 13, 2018

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Alice Feeney for the opportunity.

Sometimes 3

Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it.

Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, the reader slowly uncovers what happened, and why. It makes you wonder: Is something really a lie if you believe it’s the truth? Continue reading “Book Review: Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney” →

Book Review, Edelweiss, NetGalley

Book Review: Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

Abby

Hearts 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars 5 Stars

Publish Date: February 13, 2018

This book has the medical drama, excitement, and steamy work romance of Gray’s Anatomy, and the female bonds, motherhood struggles, secrets, heartbreak, and wit of Big Little Lies tied up in one delectable package. I LOVED it, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Edelweiss, NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Kimmery Martin for the opportunity.

Hearts 3

This book is about friendships.

The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous, and immediately caught my eye.

Hearts 2

This is the story of Zadie Anson and Emma Colley, who have been best friends since they met in medical school when they were in their early twenties.

Now they’re happily married wives and mothers with successful careers — Zadie as a pediatric cardiologist and Emma as a trauma surgeon. Their lives in Charlotte, North Carolina are busy but fulfilling, until the return of a former colleague upends their stable routines.

As chief resident and primary handsome hunk, Nick Xenokostas AKA Dr. X, was the center of Zadie’s life–both in and out of work– until he breaks her heart. Zadie has moved on, but Nick’s unexpected reappearance shocks both Zadie and Emma for different reasons that are slowly uncovered as the book progresses. Emma has been keeping a secret that will rip Zadie’s heart into pieces.

I think this quote from Buddha sums up the basis for this story: Three things cannot be long hidden – the sun, the moon, and the truth. Continue reading “Book Review: Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin” →

Book Review

Book Review: Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Abby

Behind Her Eyes

My Rating: 3 of 5 stars3 Stars

Publish Date: January 31, 2017

Eyes 1

Synopsis

Louise is a single mom, a secretary, and on a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.

When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar. David makes work very interesting for Louise.

Then Louise meets Adele, who’s new to town and happens to be married to David. Louise and Adele become fast friends and Louise is torn between her new friend and her attraction to her new boss.

David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife, but there is so much more than meets the eye…

Continue reading “Book Review: Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough” →

Book Review, Musings

Book Review: Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

Abby

class moms 3

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 4 Stars

Publish Date: August 1, 2017

Class Moms gets an A in my grade book!

Laurie Gelman takes your average class mom’s experiences and kicks it up 1,000% with laugh-out-loud hilarious insights. You will be entertained by the wide range of characters in her world, inside and outside of the classroom.

class moms 3

This book is about a year in the life of a kindergarten class mom, Jennifer Dixon – and the unexpectedly cutthroat terrain of classroom and parent politics.

Jen Dixon is not your typical Kansas City kindergarten class mom.  She has (mostly) raised two college-age daughters by herself, and she’s a grizzled veteran class mom. She has a five year old son Max and a loving and supportive husband and father, Ron, by her side.  This year, she is serving as the primary parent coordinator for Max’s kinder class.

This colorful funny story involves a lot of emails, an old flame from high school, a quirky personal trainer, a hyper-sensitive-allergy mom, a hot kindergarten teacher, chick fights, and hi-may class parents causing problems at every turn. The job quickly becomes much more than she signed up for. Continue reading “Book Review: Class Mom by Laurie Gelman” →