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87 reviews
The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails: 50 Creative Recipes for Combining Beer and Booze by Jon Yeager, Lindsay Yeager
5.0
***It only gave me the option of choosing that I read the Kindle edition when, in reality, I read the print version.***
Let me start by saying I am not a fan of beer. Until I found this book, I had found a single vanilla Porter that I could stand. However, after playing with the recipes featured in this book? Sign me up to play some more! The Gilded Trophy has been a game changer. No longer do I immediately frown at beer. Now, I start thinking - ‘what else could I do with this to make other non-beer drinkers enjoy it?’.
The photography is absolutely gorgeous in this book! My favorite type of cocktail book is unique & hardcover. Hahaha. Not to mention, I truly appreciated the extra notes found throughout the recipes of how to tweak the recipes with great product recommendations!
This a book that should be in every bartenders’ library whether they’re a professional or simply having fun at home!
Let me start by saying I am not a fan of beer. Until I found this book, I had found a single vanilla Porter that I could stand. However, after playing with the recipes featured in this book? Sign me up to play some more! The Gilded Trophy has been a game changer. No longer do I immediately frown at beer. Now, I start thinking - ‘what else could I do with this to make other non-beer drinkers enjoy it?’.
The photography is absolutely gorgeous in this book! My favorite type of cocktail book is unique & hardcover. Hahaha. Not to mention, I truly appreciated the extra notes found throughout the recipes of how to tweak the recipes with great product recommendations!
This a book that should be in every bartenders’ library whether they’re a professional or simply having fun at home!
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
4.0
Holy geez at the dystopian world this gives us a look into! Frida is simply an exhausted single mother who makes a wrong choice with her daughter, Harriet. It was a huge one, sure, but not a capital crime. However, after the court awards what should have been temporary custody to her ex husband, Gust, everything takes a turn for chaos to ensue.
Frida & other “bad moms” are sent to ‘The School for Good Mothers’. This is not a vocational program or a day school. This is rehab on steroids ran by a militant group of officials. There is no option to quit or fail as that means losing your biological child(ren) forever. The women in charge all wear pink lab coats as if they’re going to cheer you on in the dreaded decommission university in which they are placed. Instead, this is used as a distraction of hopeful comfort. The professors are strict, cold, downright cruel, & honestly, seem like that have a penchant for torture. The mothers are stripped of all their belongings as if they’re in prison. Some committed heinous crimes like neglect & abuse. Meanwhile, others simply let their child walk home from school by themselves.
Each of the mothers is given what is, essentially, an incredibly sophisticated AI child that is similar to their biological child. They are told to name them so as to start building that maternal bond. This is where we meet Frida’s “child”, Emmanuelle. (Beautiful name). For the year the mothers are there, they will spend every day with their “child” to relearn how to be a proper parent by going through units about everything from basics to conflict resolution to discipline - everything you would teach any child. Every unit of study is followed by an exam but every exam can have dire consequences.
Once they’ve been there about six months, they learn the ‘School for Good Fathers’ is going to be collaborating on efforts of the children’s socialization skills. This is where we meet Tucker who gives us an insight into the comparison of the schools & what they require. Turns out, the fathers’ school doesn’t nearly require as much as they expect out of the mothers.
I won’t spoil the ending or even the last few chapters but this read was mind blowing in several ways! It gives an intriguing insight into what society expects of mothers vs fathers, parents in general, & how every thing you do is being judged. It put a spin on the perspective of how I feel about my own mothering skills. Frida was written so relatable that I sometimes felt like I was reading about myself. I never would have expected to get attached to Emmanuelle but, by the end of the school year - I was DEVASTATED for her. The ONLY reason I gave this four stars is the book slightly drags on until we get to the school which made it difficult to push through to get there. Once there, I was hooked through the end!
Frida & other “bad moms” are sent to ‘The School for Good Mothers’. This is not a vocational program or a day school. This is rehab on steroids ran by a militant group of officials. There is no option to quit or fail as that means losing your biological child(ren) forever. The women in charge all wear pink lab coats as if they’re going to cheer you on in the dreaded decommission university in which they are placed. Instead, this is used as a distraction of hopeful comfort. The professors are strict, cold, downright cruel, & honestly, seem like that have a penchant for torture. The mothers are stripped of all their belongings as if they’re in prison. Some committed heinous crimes like neglect & abuse. Meanwhile, others simply let their child walk home from school by themselves.
Each of the mothers is given what is, essentially, an incredibly sophisticated AI child that is similar to their biological child. They are told to name them so as to start building that maternal bond. This is where we meet Frida’s “child”, Emmanuelle. (Beautiful name). For the year the mothers are there, they will spend every day with their “child” to relearn how to be a proper parent by going through units about everything from basics to conflict resolution to discipline - everything you would teach any child. Every unit of study is followed by an exam but every exam can have dire consequences.
Once they’ve been there about six months, they learn the ‘School for Good Fathers’ is going to be collaborating on efforts of the children’s socialization skills. This is where we meet Tucker who gives us an insight into the comparison of the schools & what they require. Turns out, the fathers’ school doesn’t nearly require as much as they expect out of the mothers.
I won’t spoil the ending or even the last few chapters but this read was mind blowing in several ways! It gives an intriguing insight into what society expects of mothers vs fathers, parents in general, & how every thing you do is being judged. It put a spin on the perspective of how I feel about my own mothering skills. Frida was written so relatable that I sometimes felt like I was reading about myself. I never would have expected to get attached to Emmanuelle but, by the end of the school year - I was DEVASTATED for her. The ONLY reason I gave this four stars is the book slightly drags on until we get to the school which made it difficult to push through to get there. Once there, I was hooked through the end!
From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from Tha Boss Dogg's Kitchen by Chronicle Books, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart
5.0
This book….I cannot say enough about how much I recommend this cookbook. It’s silly, relatable, fun, & THOROUGH. I’ve had several friends buy it because of how much I’ve raved about this new addition to my kitchen collection.
What is there to not love? It’s written as though you can truly hear Snoop talking. He shows us his home pantry. He gives you perfect beats to go with every meal of the day! Hahaha. The Lobster Thermidor is decadent & more mouthwatering than I could have possibly imagined! It was the first time I learned how to break down lobster properly! The jerk chicken recipe is another favorite &, again, thanks to the manageable challenges in this cookbook - I finally learned how to properly break down a whole chicken! The recipes all consist of ingredients that, other than a few things, almost all decently stocked kitchens already have which is refreshing.
I think Snoop & Martha Stewart (who lovingly writes the foreword) would be proud. Frankly, I would take as many cookbooks as Snoop wants to produce after how awesome the recipes in this one were!
What is there to not love? It’s written as though you can truly hear Snoop talking. He shows us his home pantry. He gives you perfect beats to go with every meal of the day! Hahaha. The Lobster Thermidor is decadent & more mouthwatering than I could have possibly imagined! It was the first time I learned how to break down lobster properly! The jerk chicken recipe is another favorite &, again, thanks to the manageable challenges in this cookbook - I finally learned how to properly break down a whole chicken! The recipes all consist of ingredients that, other than a few things, almost all decently stocked kitchens already have which is refreshing.
I think Snoop & Martha Stewart (who lovingly writes the foreword) would be proud. Frankly, I would take as many cookbooks as Snoop wants to produce after how awesome the recipes in this one were!
His Hostage by Willow Winters
5.0
What can I say? Becca from Dirty Dom is my favorite heroine in the series so far. However, when it comes to the men - VINCE has my heart!
His caretaking mixed with his primal claiming of Elle is a perfect balance. Every single moment of the book had me enthralled in the developing story between these two being added to the story of the Valetti’s. I felt horrible for the way Elle’s mom treated her because I think most of us have at least one family member like that. A bad parent is upsetting in a whole different way. The way Vince helped Elle draw the boundaries that she struggled to because it was what she needed is something I can only dream of in a partner.
The extra scenes with Dante were much appreciated because learning more about the parents is what I’ve been yearning for. I was not ready for this story to end. I RAN to download the extended epilogue! I’m truly happy I did because I was sobbing tears of joy at the love these two have for each other. Ya know, now that they’ve made it past the whole “gotta kidnap you & make you forget what you saw” thing. Hahaha.
His caretaking mixed with his primal claiming of Elle is a perfect balance. Every single moment of the book had me enthralled in the developing story between these two being added to the story of the Valetti’s. I felt horrible for the way Elle’s mom treated her because I think most of us have at least one family member like that. A bad parent is upsetting in a whole different way. The way Vince helped Elle draw the boundaries that she struggled to because it was what she needed is something I can only dream of in a partner.
The extra scenes with Dante were much appreciated because learning more about the parents is what I’ve been yearning for. I was not ready for this story to end. I RAN to download the extended epilogue! I’m truly happy I did because I was sobbing tears of joy at the love these two have for each other. Ya know, now that they’ve made it past the whole “gotta kidnap you & make you forget what you saw” thing. Hahaha.
This Is How Your Marriage Ends: A Hopeful Approach to Saving Relationships by Matthew Fray
5.0
***Firstly, thank you so very much to HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers for an advanced galley copy in exchange for an honest review!***
I’ve been following Matthew Fray’s writing since 2018, if I remember correctly. I found him when I was a newlywed. So, when I found out he was writing a book to be published while I was/am going through a divorce - I knew I would own it no matter what to see what was inside!
If/when you read this book, be ready for tears to flow & to be ready to throw the book at the same time. Hahaha. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. The dedication was enough to make me start tearing up & breaking me down. I was called out & finally felt seen for the first time as a roller coaster constantly while reading. “Hundreds, maybe thousands of times, my wife tried to communicate that something was wrong. That something hurt. But that doesn’t make sense. I’m not trying to hurt her; therefore, she shouldn’t feel hurt. We didn’t go down in a fiery explosion. We bled out from 10,000 paper cuts. Quietly. Slowly.” I felt winded immediately. Though it may have come late, finally, someone was hearing what me & so many others cry.
The chapter breakdowns felt like I was listening to a speech from marriages of decades of experience. The fact that Fray was able to give us this in book form due to all his work is astonishing. One thing I struggled with, guilt wise, was even pointed out in the book: “Good people can be bad spouses. Good people unwittingly destroy their marriages.” My husband is a great man & has always been a great father but, a good husband? Not when it’s all added up. The ‘Invalidation Triple Threat’ was truly eye opening because, again, it called me out because I never fully realized how I could sometimes be a steam roller.
I never understood I wasn’t asking the wrong questions. Neither of us were. “The right questions challenge our assumptions & beliefs & force us to consider an alternative.” We never stop & think about how simply taking a beat, rephrasing, & asking the questions that NEED to be asked will effectively solve more problems than the ones hand.
The “monster under the bed theory” BLEW ME AWAY! It’s such a basic approach that has a broad result. By not even trying to address the details of the issue, we eliminate trust. Knowing the ‘Key Relationship Skills’ to effectively master for your relationship made me feel like someone paid attention yet stabbed me in the heart because I know I wrestle with some of those skills myself, more than I’d like to admit.
‘Marriage & the Man Card’ made me feel like I was fully seeing deeper into what I had been dying to understand. Not to mention, hearing an outside perspective will let men feel heard & be acknowledged! However, this chapter plus ‘She Feels Like Your Mom But Doesn’t Want To’ & ‘Sex, Lies, & Internet Porn’ will also make them confront their own struggles just as the book has made me confront my own. These chapters, if made into a mini booklet, should be passed out on the street corners so everyone can examine the uncomfortable parts that tend to be ignored.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I will cherish this book & it will, no doubt, be reread multiple times over the years. I’m sure something new will pop out at me each time I open it.
I’ve been following Matthew Fray’s writing since 2018, if I remember correctly. I found him when I was a newlywed. So, when I found out he was writing a book to be published while I was/am going through a divorce - I knew I would own it no matter what to see what was inside!
If/when you read this book, be ready for tears to flow & to be ready to throw the book at the same time. Hahaha. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. The dedication was enough to make me start tearing up & breaking me down. I was called out & finally felt seen for the first time as a roller coaster constantly while reading. “Hundreds, maybe thousands of times, my wife tried to communicate that something was wrong. That something hurt. But that doesn’t make sense. I’m not trying to hurt her; therefore, she shouldn’t feel hurt. We didn’t go down in a fiery explosion. We bled out from 10,000 paper cuts. Quietly. Slowly.” I felt winded immediately. Though it may have come late, finally, someone was hearing what me & so many others cry.
The chapter breakdowns felt like I was listening to a speech from marriages of decades of experience. The fact that Fray was able to give us this in book form due to all his work is astonishing. One thing I struggled with, guilt wise, was even pointed out in the book: “Good people can be bad spouses. Good people unwittingly destroy their marriages.” My husband is a great man & has always been a great father but, a good husband? Not when it’s all added up. The ‘Invalidation Triple Threat’ was truly eye opening because, again, it called me out because I never fully realized how I could sometimes be a steam roller.
I never understood I wasn’t asking the wrong questions. Neither of us were. “The right questions challenge our assumptions & beliefs & force us to consider an alternative.” We never stop & think about how simply taking a beat, rephrasing, & asking the questions that NEED to be asked will effectively solve more problems than the ones hand.
The “monster under the bed theory” BLEW ME AWAY! It’s such a basic approach that has a broad result. By not even trying to address the details of the issue, we eliminate trust. Knowing the ‘Key Relationship Skills’ to effectively master for your relationship made me feel like someone paid attention yet stabbed me in the heart because I know I wrestle with some of those skills myself, more than I’d like to admit.
‘Marriage & the Man Card’ made me feel like I was fully seeing deeper into what I had been dying to understand. Not to mention, hearing an outside perspective will let men feel heard & be acknowledged! However, this chapter plus ‘She Feels Like Your Mom But Doesn’t Want To’ & ‘Sex, Lies, & Internet Porn’ will also make them confront their own struggles just as the book has made me confront my own. These chapters, if made into a mini booklet, should be passed out on the street corners so everyone can examine the uncomfortable parts that tend to be ignored.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I will cherish this book & it will, no doubt, be reread multiple times over the years. I’m sure something new will pop out at me each time I open it.
Say Her Name by Dreda Say Mitchell, Ryan Carter
5.0
This book…WHEW! It was a ROLLER COASTER of emotions. I felt absolutely everything from sadness, triumph, hopelessness, joyful, & whatever else you can really think of.
Eva, who is biracial, decides to find out about her biological family & that is when the ride is clicking up before the drop. It’s told from two points of view - Eva & (until later on) “No Name”. This extra perspective really pulls you in to understand the depths of what you’re about to get into. There’s mystery, intrigue, a con artist, families trying to come together, psychological twists, unsolved crimes, & so much more! It’s written in such a way that you feel like you’re standing next to Eva & “No Name” at every turn. You’re constantly on the edge of your seat.
Once I got started, I didn’t want to put it down. I lost some sleep dying to find out what happened next. This was my first Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter novel. I cannot wait to choose my next read coming from either of them!
Eva, who is biracial, decides to find out about her biological family & that is when the ride is clicking up before the drop. It’s told from two points of view - Eva & (until later on) “No Name”. This extra perspective really pulls you in to understand the depths of what you’re about to get into. There’s mystery, intrigue, a con artist, families trying to come together, psychological twists, unsolved crimes, & so much more! It’s written in such a way that you feel like you’re standing next to Eva & “No Name” at every turn. You’re constantly on the edge of your seat.
Once I got started, I didn’t want to put it down. I lost some sleep dying to find out what happened next. This was my first Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter novel. I cannot wait to choose my next read coming from either of them!
Stone Heart by Katee Robert
4.0
Overall - definitely a 4 star read. Simply because it had so much unfulfilled potential. I understand it is a novella/prequel. I do. However, I would have loved a little more setup & world building.
This was a beautiful take on Greek Mythology. This story follows Medusa who is hidden hitman for Athena. Without giving too much away, we dive into the story of Odysseus & Calypso. For once - we finally get to see the women of these classic stories from outside the male gaze that we all grew up reading. By the end, you’re rooting for Calypso & you definitely want to know more about Charon’s sassiness. Hahaha.
This was my first Katee Robert experience & I’m her writing definitely lives up to what booktok talks about. I already bought Neon Gods & started looking into her other writings. Grab this one (FREE on her site) if you want to dip your toes into the pond & see if you’ll enjoy her work.
This was a beautiful take on Greek Mythology. This story follows Medusa who is hidden hitman for Athena. Without giving too much away, we dive into the story of Odysseus & Calypso. For once - we finally get to see the women of these classic stories from outside the male gaze that we all grew up reading. By the end, you’re rooting for Calypso & you definitely want to know more about Charon’s sassiness. Hahaha.
This was my first Katee Robert experience & I’m her writing definitely lives up to what booktok talks about. I already bought Neon Gods & started looking into her other writings. Grab this one (FREE on her site) if you want to dip your toes into the pond & see if you’ll enjoy her work.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
5.0
Dangggggg! From page one - it was a non stop blast. No matter what I did or said, I never saw what was coming around each corner. It held my attention to the point that I swallowed this book in less than 3 days!
I wholeheartedly felt for Lowen from the moment we first meet her. Crew reminded me of my own child to some degree which reeled me in even more. Jeremy is the kind of man that is the damaged heartthrob that a lot of us have a slight kryptonite for. The twisted ideals in ‘So Be It’ (you’ll see) had me ready to go toe to toe in a physical fight with Verity. The budding kinship & even more between Lowen & Jeremy is not only understandable but weirdly sweet. The ending was….I was SPEECHLESS!
I’m not kidding when I say that I was so filled with emotion that I called my best friend & yelled all my feelings out. Most of those feelings were: “I’m sorry…WTF?!” This was my first CoHo novel & I could definitely see myself reading more.
I wholeheartedly felt for Lowen from the moment we first meet her. Crew reminded me of my own child to some degree which reeled me in even more. Jeremy is the kind of man that is the damaged heartthrob that a lot of us have a slight kryptonite for. The twisted ideals in ‘So Be It’ (you’ll see) had me ready to go toe to toe in a physical fight with Verity. The budding kinship & even more between Lowen & Jeremy is not only understandable but weirdly sweet. The ending was….I was SPEECHLESS!
I’m not kidding when I say that I was so filled with emotion that I called my best friend & yelled all my feelings out. Most of those feelings were: “I’m sorry…WTF?!” This was my first CoHo novel & I could definitely see myself reading more.
A Little Bit Dirty by Willow Winters
5.0
I’ll be honest - I never expected to like this book. I’ve always been nervous about small town romance books because I’ve assumed they’d be too Hallmark channel-ish or way too sappy.
This book flipped that script! Brianna & Asher are a dream come true. As someone who comes from a small town, this story was spot on! Brianna went off to college & Asher stayed behind because he had his own things to deal with. High school sweethearts who simply need a second chance to fix things. Asher broke Bri’s heart back then & he needs explain to her what happened when they were younger. She’s finally back in his life & he’s determined for THEM to be back together as well. Everything about Asher’s life made me just want to give him a giant hug but, thankfully, Bri could do that for me. Brianna is truly relatable, down to earth, & even reminds you of the way all women have that terrified teenage girl deep down inside of them.
The chemistry between these two is fiery hot yet so wholesome that it makes you want to immerse yourself in their world. This world is beautifully built to the point that I felt Willow lived in my own hometown. Hahaha.
This book flipped that script! Brianna & Asher are a dream come true. As someone who comes from a small town, this story was spot on! Brianna went off to college & Asher stayed behind because he had his own things to deal with. High school sweethearts who simply need a second chance to fix things. Asher broke Bri’s heart back then & he needs explain to her what happened when they were younger. She’s finally back in his life & he’s determined for THEM to be back together as well. Everything about Asher’s life made me just want to give him a giant hug but, thankfully, Bri could do that for me. Brianna is truly relatable, down to earth, & even reminds you of the way all women have that terrified teenage girl deep down inside of them.
The chemistry between these two is fiery hot yet so wholesome that it makes you want to immerse yourself in their world. This world is beautifully built to the point that I felt Willow lived in my own hometown. Hahaha.
Woom by Duncan Ralston
5.0
This book…I honestly don’t know how much I can say without spoilers. I will say that it is WELL WORTH the hype! The mini stories throughout will cause you to scratch your head, feel grossed out, make your skin crawl, & everything in between. Before you read - be warned - IT IS GRAPHIC!
Room Six at the Lonely Motel is our central location but we all know this kind of motel. The sketchy places that are still advertising color tv as an amenity. The kind of creepy sideshow motel that rents by the hour, day, & week. Angel, our narrator, & Shyla, the prostitute he’s hired, are the two characters we keep coming back to but there are many others involved throughout the smaller tales being woven & intertwined. Once you read it, you’ll understand why I say it feels weird to say I have a favorite chapter but mine was ‘Cram(ps)’.
I truly believe this book will stay with me for a LONG while. I read it in less than 36hrs. This is one of those books that all fans of horror should at least try. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately signed up for Ralston’s email list because the way his writing blew me away & engulfed me so quickly was truly unexpected yet loved!
Room Six at the Lonely Motel is our central location but we all know this kind of motel. The sketchy places that are still advertising color tv as an amenity. The kind of creepy sideshow motel that rents by the hour, day, & week. Angel, our narrator, & Shyla, the prostitute he’s hired, are the two characters we keep coming back to but there are many others involved throughout the smaller tales being woven & intertwined. Once you read it, you’ll understand why I say it feels weird to say I have a favorite chapter but mine was ‘Cram(ps)’.
I truly believe this book will stay with me for a LONG while. I read it in less than 36hrs. This is one of those books that all fans of horror should at least try. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately signed up for Ralston’s email list because the way his writing blew me away & engulfed me so quickly was truly unexpected yet loved!