I'm participating in Bout of Books 18!

Hi all! This is super last-minute as I've been doing lots of holiday stuff this year, but this is just to say I'm participating in Bout of Books 18. If you've been around here for a bit, you probably know I love Bout of Books - and this round falls the week before school starts up again for me, so it's perfect timing to get some much-needed reading done! Here's the official blurb:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week-long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 18 information and updates, be sure ti visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books team

Let me know in the comments if you'll be participating! :)

"From Junk Food to Joy Food" by Joy Bauer | Cookbook Review

From Junk Food to Joy Food by Joy Bauer

Publishing Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Hay House, Inc.
Pages: 276
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

What if you could eat all the food you love - burgers, pasta, desserts - without the bloating and negative effects? In From Junk Food to Joy Food, Joy Bauer shows us how, with a few tweaks, we can turn our favourite comfort foods into healthy meals.

I'm always looking for healthier foods to make and eat, so when I read about this cookbook, I was so excited! Who doesn't want their favourite food to be healthier?

This book is full of a wide range of recipes, so there's sure to be something in it for everyone. It varies from starters and main courses to desserts and drinks. All the way through, we're met with helpful tips as well!

Now, let's see which recipes I made!

I was still having issues with my phone during the time when I made these recipes, so you'll once again have to endure my not-so-pretty Snapchat pictures - pictures should be back to normal for the next post!

There were so many recipes that I wanted to try, and I had a really hard time narrowing it down to three...so I did four. The first things I made were Chocolate Crunch Bars (p.196). These are basically chocolate-covered Rice Krispies and oh. my. god. I loved these. I like my chocolate to have a little texture and crunch to it, and this is the perfect treat for someone like me. Plus, they're incredibly easy to make!

Next up was a good ole classic - General Joy's Chicken (p.144), which is a variation of the more well-known General Tso's Chicken. This was a really tasty meal and it went quickly in my house. I had a hard time thickening the sauce so it was a bit runny, but throw it over some rice and problem solved.

After that, I ventured into hot territory - I made Jalapeno Poppers (p.36). These are well-loved at my house on special occasions - let's be real, if we were allowed to have these on any other occasions, they'd be well-loved then, too - so when I saw these in the cookbook, I knew I needed to try them. They were delicious and disappeared very quickly.

For my final recipe, I tried the Frozen Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cups (p.202). These were an interesting and heavenly alternative to regular peanut butter cups. Banana fans will surely agree with me on this one!

All in all, this cookbook is chock full of recipes of the foods you already love, tweaked so that they're healthier. There's a wide range of foods that are sure to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters. You can't go wrong with this one!

*I received a NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: "Darktown" by Thomas Mullen | Book Review

Hi everyone! Welcome to this stop on the Darktown blog tour! This is my first ever blog tour, so I'm super excited to be writing to you about a book I really loved. At the end of this post there'll be a 1940s playlist, put together by the lovely people over at Simon & Schuster Canada, which I highly recommend you give a listen while reading the book (I've been listening to it on loop - I love 40s music!). Also, be sure to check out the other stops on this tour - which are shown below - for some cool extras!

Darktown by Thomas Mullen

Publishing Date: September 13, 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 384
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

From Goodreads:

"Responding from pressure on high, the Atlanta police department is forced to hire its first black officers in 1948. The newly minted policemen are met with deep hostility by their white peers and their authority is limited: They can’t arrest white suspects; they can’t drive a squad car; they can’t even use the police headquarters and must instead operate out of the basement of a gym.

When a black woman who was last seen in a car driven by a white man turns up fatally beaten, no one seems to care except for Boggs and Smith, two black cops from vastly different backgrounds. Pressured from all sides, they will risk their jobs, the trust the community has put in them, and even their own safety to investigate her death. Their efforts bring them up against an old-school cop, Dunlow, who has long run the neighborhood like his own, and Dunlow’s young partner, Rakestraw, a young progressive who may or may not be willing to make allies across color lines."

This is a fantastic read. It's a compelling story about a murder and the racial tensions surrounding it in 1940s Atlanta. It's about what happens when the black officers try to do the job they were hired to do, without the constraints the white officers have put on them. It's incredible and eye-opening to read a story about cops who aren't publicly allowed to do their jobs - all because of the colour of their skin. They have the title of "Police Officer", but when they try to flag down a white officer to help them make an arrest, instead of help they nearly get run over as the white officers yell racial slurs and laugh. Not even the Records lady wants to help them when they request information.

The characters were fascinating. The main characters felt so well-rounded and full of life to me, and it was interesting to read their different perspectives. Boggs and Smith, both of whom have pride in their jobs and want to actually be able to help, go through and deal with so much over the course of this story. They're faced with the choice of obeying the rules black cops were bound by and not doing anything about the murder, or doing the right thing, the job they as human beings should be allowed to do. As I mentioned earlier, it was eye-opening to read about the horrible racism and injustice they faced every single day.

Rakestraw was also an interesting perspective because you can tell that he's uncomfortable with the way his partner, Dunlow, treats the African American people they encounter, and yet for a long time he cowers, not wanting to mess with his comfortable position among his fellow white officers. On one hand, seeing the awful ways in which the white cops treat black people, you can sort of understand being afraid to disrupt the status quo - but nonetheless, it was frustrating to read about Rake wanting to step in and stop the racism and brutality, and then doing nothing. It was a real relief when he decided to help Boggs and Smith with their investigation.

The city of Atlanta itself seems like a character - the way Mullen creates the atmosphere of 1940s Atlanta really brings the place to life, and the whole time, I felt like I was there. I could feel the thick, muggy heat - it, like the tension, was palpable.

This book is incredibly uncomfortable at times. It can be jarring to read or even think about how cruel humans can be to each other and how terribly prejudiced someone can be toward another simply because of the colour of their skin. The depth of injustice and of corruption in the police force back then is almost unimaginable, and Mullen does a great job of interweaving these tensions with a compelling murder mystery.

Now, while you go read this awesome book, be sure to check out this Darktown-inspired playlist:

*This book was kindly sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Easy. Whole. Vegan." by Melissa King | Cookbook Review

Easy. Whole. Vegan. by Melissa King

Publishing Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: The Experiment
Pages: 224
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Melissa King was vegetarian for a long time before she became vegan and gluten-free, and the lifestyle permeates much of her life. The writer, photographer, and recipe developer for the blog My Whole Food Life, who is also a wife and mother, decided to switch to a plant-based, whole-food diet when a nutritionist suggested it could help her daughter, who had a host of serious medical issues. The new diet transformed her daughter and her family and now they swear by whole foods.

I've heard so many stories like Melissa's, about how embracing a vegan or plant-based diet has cured people of their ailments. It seems that natural foods, sans added chemicals and hormones, are best for us! Who would've guessed. Although I'm not vegan myself, I like to eat mostly vegetarian and vegan foods, and I find that I feel best when I eat plant-based foods. So I'm always excited to try new vegan recipes and cookbooks!

After we learn Melissa's family's story, she walks us through some common ingredients in a vegan pantry. I always find these sections useful because a vegan kitchen by nature has different staples than a "regular" kitchen does. One important distinction is that vegans need egg substitutes when baking! And did you know there are several ways to substitute an egg, including with chia and flax seeds?

I made a few recipes from the cookbook and the first one I want to mention is the Blueberry Muffin Smoothie (p.198), because it is SO GOOD. *Ahem* So. Good. I'm definitely a smoothie lover, but this is by far one of the best smoothies I've ever had. It feels like a hearty breakfast smoothie with just the right amount of sweetness. And I can't get over the shade of purple it was - the picture doesn't even do it justice. This is going to be a staple in my diet from now on.

Clockwise from top left: Maple Vanilla Bakes Oatmeal
Squares (p.33); Avocado and Chickpea-Stuffed Cucumbers
 (p.66); Caramelized Onion Soup (p.89); Blueberry Muffin
Smoothie (p.198)

The Maple Vanilla Baked Oatmeal Squares (p.33) were up next. I was excited to try these because based on their appearance, I thought they'd be granola bars, but they actually weren't. That would've been fine, but I found the texture really strange - I'm not really sure how to describe it, but I guess I'd say it was kind of soft and kind of like hard foam. That said, I know some vegan recipes take some adjusting to because they don't always use common ingredients. And these squares do taste good and would be great for on-the-go snacking!

I made the Avocado and Chickpea-Stuffed Cucumbers (p.66) as an appetizer for a get-together, and let me tell you, they went fast! These little bites pack a refreshing punch and are perfect for the summer weather we've been having.

The final recipe I made was the Caramelized Onion Soup (p.89). It was incredibly easy to make, as you just chop up your onions and gather a few other ingredients and then stick everything in a crock pot for a few hours. I found it nice though a bit bland, however, so I recommend using some pepper if you feel the same way. Since I'm not vegan, my quick fix was to eat it the traditional way, with some bread and melted cheese on top, and I found that it was great that way.

Overall, this is a useful cookbook if you're interested in going vegan. It provides good information how to adjust your pantry's staples and you'll learn vegan alternatives to common animal products. I have mixed feelings about the recipes I tried, but there are plenty more delicious-sounding recipes in the book, and the recipes I did enjoy were ones I loved.

*I received a NetGalley copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"The Couple Next Door" by Shari Lapena | Book Review

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Publishing Date: August 23, 2016
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 320
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Anne and Marco Conti's seemingly perfect lives are turned upside down one night when their 6-month-old daughter, Cora, is abducted from their home while they're at a dinner party next door. They're immediately pegged as the prime suspects, but it's much more complicated than that.

What follows is a story of lies, deception, and breakneck twists. As it starts off, we as the readers have mixed feelings about the parents. Even though they checked on Cora frequently, Anne and Marco left their 6-month-old home alone while they were next door, which is really not advisable. That said, the onus is of course on the kidnapper.

What may at first seem like a cut and dry situation is actually a dark and twisted tale. Once the action of the story gets going, which is pretty much immediately, the suspicion begins. Can we really trust these people? Is everyone really telling the truth?

We get several different perspectives in this story, from the parents to the neighbours to the lead detective. It's hard to trust some of the characters because you get this deep sense that they're "off", or that they're not letting us (or the police!) in on everything they know. At first, with all the secrets that were being revealed, I was left wondering which couple the ominous title alludes to, but it's actually relatively obvious.

The sheer amount of twists and secrets that are revealed are nearly whiplash-inducing, and that makes for a pretty entertaining story. I really liked the way those things were revealed as well, because it was done in such a way that I couldn't guess what was happening or what people were hiding until I was specifically told.

Whether or not you see the ending coming, this is a great thriller and I definitely recommend it if you want a quick read that packs a punch.

*This book was kindly sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

I'm participating in Bout of Books 17!

Hi all! If you've been around here for a while, you know I love the Bout of Books read-a-thon. I'm happy to say that it's that time of year again - time for the next Bout of Books - and I'm participating! It's super low-pressure and all you need to do is set your intention to read - and then you do your best! I always love the challenges and discussions they host as well. Here's the official blurb:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week-long read-a-thon that begins at 12:01am Monday, August 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 28th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 17 information and updates, be sure ti visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books team

Let me know in the comments if you'll be participating! :)

"The House Between Tides" by Sarah Maine | Book Review

The House Between Tides
by Sarah Maine

Publishing Date: August 2, 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 400
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

After her last living relative dies, Hetty heads to her family's long-abandoned ancestral home, Muirlan, in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. When she arrives, she discovers that a century-old skeleton has been found under the floorboards. Her plans to renovate the place come to a grinding halt while she and some locals search for clues as to who the murder victim might be.

As it turns out, Theo Blake, a famous painter and naturalist (and a distant relative of Hetty's), came to Muirlan in 1910 with his new wife, Beatrice. The two were there for a short time, and their stories are shrouded in mystery - Theo seemed to be obsessed with a local boy, Beatrice disappeared suddenly from the island, and Theo eventually became a shut-in, his paintings reflecting his dark turn.

The first thing I want to say about this book is that the writing style is beautiful. In a book where art is so central to the story, it feels right to have the writing reflect that as well. Maine writes stunning descriptions, not only of the scenery, but of the characters' feelings. Her writing is poignant and so fitting for this story.

The story spans 100 years and we learn it through two different timelines - 1910, when Beatrice and Theo are living in the house, and 2010, when Hetty and the locals are searching for answers about the house's mysterious inhabitants. I was drawn mostly to Beatrice and her story in 1910, and always found myself wanting to read more of her story. She is an independent woman with such gumption, and I found her intriguing. She's brought to this place that, initially, she doesn't care for (she'd rather be vacationing in Europe), but that she tries to enjoy for her husband's sake. She ultimately gets wrapped up in what could be considered a scandal if people found out about it, but I was rooting for her all the way.

I felt a kind of disconnect with the love story in Hetty's timeline - I didn't really feel a spark between the two characters and so when something did happen between them, my reaction was something like, "Oh...ok". I wasn't opposed to that pairing, and in fact I think it was a good fit, but there wasn't much leading up to it that had made me root for them. When I was reading her timeline, I found myself mostly interested in finding out who the body belonged to.

The mystery unravels at a good pace and I must say, I very much enjoyed this book. If you like mysteries, love stories, and switching between timelines, I definitely recommend reading The House Between Tides.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Ruth Ware | Book Review

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Publishing Date (Paperback): July 12, 2016
Pages: 352
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Out of the blue, Nora is invited to a hen party for an old friend she hasn't seen for nearly a decade. What should be a fun weekend with a few people in the English countryside turns into a night of horror, betrayal, and revenge.

I love me some psychological thrillers, there's no two ways about it. I love that feeling of knowing something is off, but not quite being able to put my finger on what exactly it is. Maybe it's because I read this immediately after finishing another psychological thriller that blew me away, but this one didn't quite do it for me.

Now, don't get me wrong - this is a really well-written, intriguing story that I barely put down. But some points of the story dragged a little and I was left hoping the story would move along quicker, especially leading up to the action.

Once we got into the more intense part of the story, the clues kept coming, and along with those, the doubt about who we thought committed the crime. This story really makes you question the characters you feel like you've come to know, even though you've really only spent a weekend with them.

An interesting tidbit: Reese Witherspoon's production company has acquired the rights to make this story into a movie, and I'm definitely looking forward to that because I think this story will lend itself well to the big screen.

Overall, In a Dark, Dark Wood is an interesting, twisted thriller, even though it does drag in some places. Despite not being bowled over, I really enjoyed this book and I'd recommend it to anyone in the mood for a quick, dark read.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Valentina" by S. E. Lynes | Book Review

Valentina: A hauntingly intelligent
psychological thriller by S. E. Lynes

Publishing Date: July 1, 2016
Pages: 280
Publisher: Blackbird Digital Books
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

When Shona moves into a cottage with her partner, Mikey, and their daughter, Isla, in picturesque rural Scotland, they think all that's ahead of them is bliss. How very wrong they are. With Mikey working offshore and Shona left alone with their baby in the isolated countryside, Shona quickly becomes restless. But just when she needs her the most, Shona meets Valentina and they become best friends. But everything is not as it seems.

Valentina is an intense and, as the subtitle suggests, highly intelligent psychological thriller. The tension is palpable throughout as we feel the effects of cabin fever starting to show in Shona, and as little things keep cropping up that aren't quite right.

We know something is off before Shona does, and as such we start picking up on clues, trying to guess what exactly is going on. I was able to figure out most of what was at play fairly early on, but it was a hell of a ride anyway. I could barely put this book down because it was so intriguing. The story leaves you wondering: who can you really trust?

Initially, I found the switch in perspective we get about two thirds of the way through a little awkward, but I quickly became engrossed in the new information, the other side of everything leading up to that point. The story is so well written and you find yourself feeling empathy for and understanding points of view you wouldn't normally identify with.

I found the characters themselves really interesting and it was easy for me to become invested in their stories. Shona is a no-nonsense Scottish journalist, trusting and strong, a woman who wants to do what she thinks is best for her family. Mikey is a doting husband and father, the picture of the hard-working provider. And then there's Valentina, the mysterious, free-spirited best friend who seems to know more than she's letting on.

Valentina is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read to date, and it's definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far. It's a page-turner that will leave you second-guessing yourself. Psychological damage can make people do drastic things...

*This book was sent to me by Blackbird Digital Books in exchange for an honest review.

"You, Me and the Rest of Us: #NewYorkStories" by Alex Clermont | Book Review

You, Me and the Rest of Us:
 #NewYorkStories by Alex Clermont

Publishing Date: March 31, 2016
Pages: 123 (eBook)
Publisher: See The Sun
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon | Kobo

New York City: the Big Apple, the City that Never Sleeps...whatever you call it, chances are you know it by name, and even if you've never been there, you can probably picture the hustle and bustle in your head. You, Me and the Rest of Us: #NewYorkStories is a collection of short stories that brings the people of NYC to life.

Something I look for a lot in books is character diversity - and this book has it in spades. There are so many different people in this collection, and I really do mean different: there are a variety of races, genders, ages, sexualities...it really reflects the cultures present in the city.

This collection is very much about the "human experience". Everyone deals with different issues in their lives, and with these characters we see everyone from a young man from a small town moving to the big city, to a pair of immigrants envisioning their newborn's future, to a group of vigilantes tired of seeing their friends get killed by cops. We really get to know and feel for people from all walks of life.

The writing in this collection makes the characters so vivid, and it makes me care about them and become invested in their stories. Whether or not I could see myself in each character's situation, I was always able to empathize with them easily and understand why they felt the way they did or why they were reacting the way they were.

I've mentioned before that correct grammar is important to me, and there were quite a few errors in this book, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the stories. In fact, out of the 14 stories, there was only one I didn't really identify with. In a collection of stories, I'd say that's a pretty good ratio!

If you love New York City (or the idea of it), I definitely recommend giving this collection of short stories a read.

*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

"The Voodoo Killings" by Kristi Charish | Book Review

The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish

Publishing Date: May 10, 2016
Pages: 352
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

In a world where zombies and ghosts are publicly accepted as real, and where (before it was outlawed) zombies were raised to help solve their own murders, Kincaid Strange is a badass "practitioner" - essentially a necromancer, though she prefers not to be associated with dead people sex stuff - just trying to pay her rent. But things take a twisted turn when she gets a call about a new zombie - one unlike any she's seen before.

When I first heard the plot of this story, I was completely intrigued. I love books with supernatural elements and I don't know that I've ever read an urban fantasy novel before - certainly not like this one, anyway. It uses tropes we know well - zombies, ghosts, necromancy - and spins a page-turning tale of mystery, betrayal, and an underground city.

As I started the novel, I was instantly drawn to Kincaid Stange's (can we just take a moment to appreciate how cool that name is?) snark. I find snarky and sarcastic characters very entertaining, and Kincaid is all of these things. Also badass, she's a complete badass.

The story is set in Seattle, where the Otherside is stronger due to the city's proximity to water. Kincaid "pulls a globe" every time she needs to examine a zombie's bindings, a habit that's taking its toll on her health, and calls on her ghost roommate, Nate, by writing on mirrors. "Ghost" as in actual ghost, not as in rarely there. Nate, a now-deceased 90's grunge rock star, is one of my favourite characters as he provides a lot of comic relief.

I got a lot of iZombie vibes from this story which, for me, is a really great thing because it's one of my favourite TV shows (and the comics are great, too). We've got zombies, a Seattle setting, and there's even a brief mention of someone getting their brains from a morgue!

The Voodoo Killings is the first in a new series and personally, I cannot wait for the next novel. This is definitely one of my favourite books of the year, if not ever. The story will thrill you and the ending will leave you itching for the next one!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Day 2 Progress | Bout of Books 16

Number of books I'm reading: 1

Title: The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish

Pages read today: 21

How did you do on Day 2? Feel free to let me know in a comment below and remember to have fun during the read-a-thon! :)

Day 1 Progress | Bout of Books 16

I didn't read very much on day 1, but you know what? That's ok because I'm going to do better for the rest of Bout of Books!

Number of Books I'm Reading: 1

Title: The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish

Pages Read Today: 13

How did you do on Day 1? Feel free to let me know in a comment below and remember to have fun during the read-a-thon! :)

"Batch" by Joel MacCharles & Dana Harrison | Book Review

Batch by Joel MacCharles & Dana Harrison

Publishing Date: May 3, 2016
Pages: 352
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon

It all started with a blog. In 2008, the food blog "WellPreserved.ca" was created; it now holds more than 700 recipes and has inspired a food festival, pop-up events, and even a graphic design company.

The first part of the book gives you instructions on seven different styles of preserving, including fermenting, cellaring, and infusing, which are the methods I used in the recipes I'll talk about at the end of this post. For complete beginners like me, these chapters will basically be your preserving Bible because they give you the basic knowledge you need to get started.

The recipes are organized by ingredient, which makes grocery store trips a dream when you're making things from this book. In each chapter, you'll learn a few different ways to preserve an ingredient, such as peaches, peppers, and meat. At the end of each chapter, there are recipes that show you the delicious ways you can use the preserves you've just made.

Along with each recipe, you can see the level of difficulty which, as a complete newcomer to preserving, I really valued. I wanted to start off easy so I could learn along the way and work up to some harder recipes.

Clockwise from left: Penne a la Chili-Infused Vodka (p. 178);
Fermented Pancakes with Maple Syrup with Dried Blueberries
(pp. 140 & 132); Fridge Pickles (p. 194)

The first things I made were Fermented Pancakes with Maple Syrup with Dried Blueberries. The maple syrup was easy to make, but you need to be very careful not to burn the syrup because that can happen in an instant. The pancakes were time-consuming (as pancakes generally are) but completely worth it because in all honesty, they are the best pancakes I've ever had - and my whole family was in agreement! My only problem was that there seems to be a missing step in the recipe - it never tells you what to do with the egg yolk mixture. Basically though, you just have to combine everything.

The pickles were by far the easiest recipe I made, and they were such a yummy snack.

Being the pasta freak I am, the penne recipe was definitely my favourite out of all the things I made. The recipe calls for chilies, but I went a step down in heat and used jalapenos instead. This recipe is SO delicious, I can't recommend it enough. It was my first time eating and making penne a la vodka, but it certainly won't be the last time!

I'm really pleased with how all the recipes I tried turned out, and I'm looking forward to trying more of these recipes and methods this summer when there are more foods in season!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

My Goals and TBR List! | Bout of Books 16

Hey guys! A few days ago I announced that I'm once again participating in Bout of Books. I'm very excited to say that I'm a Bout of Books "expert" this time around, which means I'll be visiting lots of blogs and cheering people on (which I encourage everyone to do anyway)!

Over the course of the week, I'd like to read:

1. The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish

2. You, Me and the Rest of Us: #NewYorkStories by Alex Clermont

3. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Goals:

• Read 2 novels
• Read 1 short story collection
• Participate in at least 1 Twitter chat
• Participate in at least 3 challenges
• Make daily progress posts
• Read for at least 1 hour per day

What do you want to read during Bout of Books?

"Sirocco" by Sabrina Ghayour | Book Review

Sirocco by Sabrina Ghayour

Publishing Date: May 3, 2016
Pages: 240
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon

The word "sirocco" means "a hot, dry wind blowing from East to West, often carrying with it flavours of the Mediterranean". And this cookbook is exactly that.

Sabrina Ghayour is back with her second cookbook, full of delicious recipes from the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The recipes are inspired by the flavours of the East, but use the ingredients and cooking styles of the West. From snacks to main dishes to desserts, Ghayour uses simple, everyday ingredients to make wonderfully flavourful food.

As I flipped through this book looking for recipes I wanted to try, I found myself flagging practically everything - the recipes just sound (and the photography looks) that good!

As the introduction suggests, it's easy to find most of the ingredients required in this cookbook. For the recipes I decided to make, all the ingredients were either things I had at home, or things that we regularly buy for our household anyway. It was convenient to not have to look for "special" ingredients!

Clockwise from left: Dark Chocolate & Pistachio Cookies (p. 219);
Kofta Burgers (p. 181); Two-Cheese Melts with Thyme-Roasted
Onions (p. 30); Grape Leaf-Baked Feta (p. 81)

I ended up making two appetizer/snack recipes, one main dish, and a dessert. All of them were delicious. I think my personal favourite was either the Kofta Burgers or the Two-Cheese Melts with Thyme-Roasted Onions, but it's a tough competition.

Everything was pretty simple/easy to make and didn't require a whole lot of effort, which is a plus. I think people of most skill levels in the kitchen would be able to make these recipes with no problems.

To top it all off, these recipes are approved by everyone in my family who tried them, which means that in some cases, they're even picky-people-approved!

Sirocco is full of simple, delicious recipes and it has quickly become my favourite cookbook!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

May TBR Pile!

This month my aim is to read four books: the three pictured, plus an ebook.

1. The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish

2. The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

3. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

4. You, Me and the Rest of Us: #NewYorkStories by Alex Clermont

"Spark Joy" by Marie Kondo | Book Review

Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

Publishing Date: January 5, 2016
Pages: 291
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Spark Joy is the companion to Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. In this illustrated guide, Kondo explains her KonMari method in-depth to prepare you for clearing your life of all the "stuff" that doesn't add joy to your life.

The ultimate goal of the KonMari method is for you to find the things that spark joy in your life. All else can be discarded, with a few exceptions, such as essential tools and utensils.

Kondo encourages you to touch and hold every item as you're tidying, in order to feel that spark, or lack thereof, that it emits. She believes that if you pay close attention to an object and the way you react to or feel about it, you'll know whether it sparks joy in your life.

She also stresses the difference between tidying and cleaning, and this is something major that anyone interested in tidying needs to pay attention to. Moving things around and wiping the bookshelf they were on is not tidying - it's cleaning. Tidying is when you actually clear your space of things you no longer need or want.

The KonMari method is very much a way of life, and not one I can see myself completely dedicating myself to. There are, however, some great tips on tidying, regardless of whether or not you intend to immerse yourself in this way of life.

The most valuable section for me personally was the one where we learn that the order in which you tidy items is of the utmost importance. Like most people, I've always tidied by area, but this is inefficient because things in a certain category pop up in other places and when that happens, I'm practically back at square one. It makes so much sense when the information is presented, but it's something I'm not sure would have occurred to me on my own.

Spark Joy is a great book for you if you're ready to revolutionize the way you tidy. If you're not at that stage yet, there are definitely still some great tips to learn from this book.

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts" by Janet DeLee | Book Review

Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee

Publishing Date: May 1, 2015
Pages: 253
Publisher: CreateSpace
Links: Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

At the age of fifty eight, Ginny Lawther decides that she can still take a leap of faith in order to accomplish a dream. She just needs some support from others doing the same. Ginny starts the Ideal Life Club and meets three other people who need support following their dreams...and one who needs help with a ghost problem. They have their action plans in place, but will they be able to achieve their dreams with all the ghosts that keep popping up?

This book is absolutely delightful. It's a funny, hopeful story that makes you want to get up and take your own leap of faith and follow that dream that's been niggling at your mind.

The characters are so very different from one another and yet they come together to support each other and make sure each of them knows they can take steps to achieve their dreams. I felt like I was there in the Ideal Life Group with them, and am actually currently coming up with some steps I can take to put one of my own ideas into motion.

I really identified with the characters' desires to follow their dreams and admired their bravery and determination to take a leap of faith in order to do so. I especially related to Hilda and Jerry, who wanted to make crafts and be a musician for a living, respectively. They wanted to do something creative for a living but struggled to figure out precisely how to do that. In this day and age, it seems like almost everyone wants to do exactly that, and you have to have something really unique in order to be successful. And they certainly have that!

I love the way the characters' stories interweave, and in many ways, they show us how interconnected our lives are on this little planet of ours. The ghostly apparitions really brought everything and everyone together to get to the bottom of some mysterious happenings, and I love that the group could come together in such a way to try and help each other.

My one complaint in all this is that there are quite a few grammatical errors, but if you're not as particular about grammar as I am, then this really isn't an issue.

If you're looking for a little push to follow a dream, or if you're just looking for a sweet, optimistic read, this is the book for you.

*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

"Eligible" by Curtis Sittenfeld | Book Review

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Publishing Date: April 19, 2016
Pages: 656
Publisher: Random House Large Print
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Even if you've never read Pride and Prejudice (like me, I say ashamedly), you probably know the story: girl's family is pressuring her to marry, girl meets guy, girl thinks guy is a snob, girl and guy fall in love. This is of course an oversimplified summary of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's beautifully complicated relationship, which is retold in Eligible.

This is the story of Liz Bennet set in our modern era. Liz lives in New York City and writes feminist articles for a women's magazine, but heads home to Cincinnati after her dad has a heart attack. She quickly learns that her family needs her more than even she could have guessed. And along the way, she meets a tall, dark stranger...whom she finds repulsive.

Almost everything in this story has been adapted to modern times. Curtis Sittenfeld addresses a lot of the issues we deal with in modern-day life, including racism, trans- and homophobia, fat shaming, classism, and pressure to marry. Since the Bennets (particularly Mrs. Bennet) consider themselves part of the upper class, we see a lot of the wealthy and their prejudice toward minorities. Some of the aforementioned issues are much more prevalent in today's society, while others have been around for centuries and show just how little we've changed in some ways.

With regards to marriage, many of us are still under a lot of pressure from our parents to get married, although not quite as early on in our lives. Rather than the young age of 20 that she was in the original story, Liz is 38 in this retelling, while her older sister Jane is nearly 40. There's still a lot of pressure to marry, it's just that in modern times, you have longer before your parents start losing hope.

This story is very much written in the style of the original in terms of having old-timey words and cadence, yet it still feels like a modern style because of the story. It's a really cool juxtaposition!

I love the ways in which the author changed the sisters' relationships. The way Liz and Darcy's relationship gets started, for example, is perfectly adapted to how we do things now. I can absolutely see that whole scenario playing out in real life. And Jane and Chip Bingley's storyline - another fantastically strange relationship I can picture.

I'd go so far as to say that most of the Bennets are unlikable in this story because of their, well, pride and prejudice, and yet I'm compelled by their stories. Eligible is definitely a book I'm going to pass along to friends and family who love Pride and Prejudice.

If you're in the mood for a fun, long read, then cozy up with your favourite drink and enjoy this modern retelling of a wonderful classic.

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.