Keto Celebrations by Mary Alexander

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Whether you’re hosting a holiday feast or are simply craving classic comfort foods, you can have your cake and eat a ketogenic diet, too. Keto Celebrations is filled with 100 special-occasion recipes you know and love, but with a keto twist—from cocktails and appetizers to entrees, side dishes, and desserts.

Try sweet and savory recipes like Toast-less Blueberry French Toast, Pizza Pull-Apart Bread, Slow Cooker Brisket, and Apple Pie Bites that use easy, affordable ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Get cooking tips, prep pointers, and substitution suggestions for creating crowd-pleasing dishes that make the most out of each celebration.

My thoughts-

This is the best Ketogenic cookbook I have seen in a while. I already have a similar cookbook on my shelf, but it doesn't even tough this book in terms of the absolutely delicious recipes included. I just restarted my Keto journey because I have had a bad couple of years where I got of track and kind of went off the deep end and find myself at the heaviest I have ever been. I have not been happy, I don't feel comfortable and I am fed up with feeling that way so I am back on track and I wanted to to get a leg up on the holidays which is when I tend to spiral back into bad habits. There are so many delicious recipes here that I can bring to the family Thanksgiving and Christmas get togethers I won't have to feel like I am missing out on all of the good stuff! There are other celebrations covered as well, and some of these I would eat at any time during the year, celebration or not! I absolutely recommend this book to anyone on a Ketogenic or low carb diet.

A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. 

About the book-

The Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. After their mother died and their father was lost in grief, Willa had no choice but to raise her sister, Harper, and their brother, Lucas. Then, as an adult, she put her own life on hold to nurse Harper through a terrifying illness. Now that Harper is better and the sisters are living as roommates, Willa has realized her dream of running her own bakery and coffee shop, bringing her special brand of caretaking to the whole Oceanside community.

Harper, on the other hand, is always on the go. Overcoming a terrible illness has given her a new lease on life, and she does not intend to waste it. When Harper announces her plan to summit Mount Rainier, Willa fears she may be pushing herself too far. Harper, for her part, urges Willa to stop worrying and do something outside of her comfort zone—like taking a chance on love with a handsome new customer.  

Sean O’Malley is as charming as he is intriguing—a freelance photographer whose assignments take him to the ends of the earth. Soon Willa’s falling for him in a way that is both exciting and terrifying. But life has taught Willa to hedge her bets, and she wonders whether the potential heartache is worth the risk.  

Life has more challenges in store for them all. But both sisters will discover that even in the darkest moments, family is everything.

My thoughts-

A Walk Along the Beach was definitely a tug at the heartstrings. I was immediately pulled in to this little town, Willa's little coffee shop, her family life, and her love life. Sean O'Malley is an interesting character who I want to know even more about, but I enjoyed his persistance with Willa and the cuteness of the things he does to get her attention. The book got heavy towards the end so if you don't like a good cry, this one isn't for you, but if you like books that make you feel something you will want to pick this one up. 

200 Under 20g Net Carbs by Linsday Boyers

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Let’s face it, staying on track with the keto diet can be a challenge. But now your search for the perfect keto-friendly recipes to help you keep track of your daily macros and carbohydrate goals is over!

With 200 under 20g Net Carbs there is no guess work, no endless research, and no confusion. It includes all the delicious recipes you need to meet your goals—simply use the daily meal plans or mix-and-match your favorite recipes to keep track of your daily net carbs. These 200 tasty, keto-friendly recipes are all under 20 grams of net carbs so you know you’re never going above your daily limit again!

If you’re trying to stay strictly at 20 grams of net carbs, you can pick one of the daily meal plans to give you some guidance. If you need more variety, swap in your favorite recipes to create the perfect meal plan that works for you. And if you’re just looking for some low-carb recipes but aren’t limiting your diet to 20 grams of net carbs, this is a great place to start! With detailed nutrition stats, you’ll have all the information you need to make the keto diet work for you. Choose a recipe (or two) and get cooking!

My thoughts-

This may be one of the best Keto cookbooks I have come across, and I have seen (and owned) plenty of them. 200 under 20g takes the hard work of searching for recipes to keep your net carb count in check and provides you with all you need in one book to get on the right track with keto or give you the jump start you need (like me) to get back into it after having struggles fitting it into your busy life. Not only is the book a great way to make your Keto journey a little easier as far as carb counting, but pretty much all of the recipes sound appetizing so there are plenty of recipes to keep things from getting boring. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone trying to lose weight or follow a keto lifestyle.