The Map Challenge by Tracy Packiam Alloway

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

About the book-

When Sammy's group loses their map on a camping trip, can he use his SEN Superpowers to save the day and lead them safely back to the campsite? SEN Superpowers: The Map Challenge explores the topic of dyslexia with an empowering story and adorable illustrations.

The SEN Superpowers series celebrates the positive traits associated with a range of common SEN (Special Education Needs) conditions, boosting the confidence and strength-awareness of children with those conditions, while also allowing for better understanding and positivity among their peers. Each book includes a page of discussion points about the story, a page of tips for how to boost abilities (inclusive for children with and without special educational needs), and, finally, a further page of notes for parents and teachers. The books feature a dyslexic-friendly font to encourage accessibility and inclusivity for all readers. 

My thoughts-

I don't have any kids with dyslexia, but I am pretty sure my daughter has dysgraphia (since it isn't a recognized diagnosis in our school district, we haven't pursued it, but I am pretty sure she does) I thought this would be an interesting read. Whether my kids had special needs or not, I would find this book interesting and it is definitely something I would read to them to help them better understand their peers that struggle with dyslexia. It is always good to learn about challenges others might face to help be more accepting and understanding. I thought it was a cute book with beautiful illustrations. I know it's a children's book and the point was to illustrate some of the positives of dyslexia, but when a scout is lost they are supposed to blow their whistle not try to get back without a map so that part wasn't my favorite. I understand why they used a scout camping trip to illustrate their point but I don't want my scout trying to find her way back without a map. Overall, I thought this book was a great introduction to dyslexia for kids who don't have it and it may be of comfort to those who do. 

Everyday Keto Baking by Erica Kerwien

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher from Netgalley 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-

Have your cake—and stay keto too! With Everyday Keto Baking, there's no need to deprive yourself of the breads, muffins, and other treats you love. Instead, learn to make keto-friendly (low-carb, high-fat) versions of your favorite baked goods using real-food ingredients. This is the only keto baking book you'll ever need.

Inside you'll find more than 80 recipes specifically geared to the keto diet. Most recipes rely on coconut flour and almond flour, two of the most popular alternative flours on the market. Coconut flour is an all-natural flour made only from coconut; contains no gluten and no grain; and is low in digestible carbs and high in fiber, making it a favorite among keto, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, and low-glycemic lifestyles. Its pure, slightly sweet taste is subtle enough that even coconut haters won't be able to detect it, and it lends itself perfectly to baked goods, creating results far superior to many other “healthy” treats. Alongside other healthy ingredients like eggs and low-carbsweeteners, the recipes in this book have been carefully created to not only taste delicious, but also help you meet your macros (your target ratio of protein, fat, and carbs on keto).

My thoughts-

I love everything about this cookbook. It is not difficult to live a Ketogenic lifestyle in general because you can eat meat and cheese, and lots of veggies. However, when it comes to baked goods, including both sweet and savory indulgences, it can be difficult to find good recipes. This cookbook is full of them! My mouth was literally watering at all of the fantastic breads, and desserts! One of the tough things about eating Ketogenically is missing sweets at parties. There is every option here to make sweets that aren't fat bombs or cheesecake fluff, but real downhome comfort food desserts like brownies, cobblers, cookies, and cake. I also thought the savory main dishes in the last section of the book sounded delicious. I recommend this book to anyone who eats a ketogenic or low carb diet. Everyday Keto Baking is a must have for your low carb/keto cookbook collection!

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

*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-

From the award-winning author of Together Tea—a debut novel hailed as “compassionate, funny, and wise” by Jill Davis, bestselling author of Girls’ Poker Night—comes a powerful love story exploring loss, reconciliation, and the quirks of fate.

Roya is a dreamy, idealistic teenager living in 1953 Tehran who, amidst the political upheaval of the time, finds a literary oasis in kindly Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood book and stationery shop. She always feels safe in his dusty store, overflowing with fountain pens, shiny ink bottles, and thick pads of soft writing paper.

When Mr. Fakhri, with a keen instinct for a budding romance, introduces Roya to his other favorite customer—handsome Bahman, who has a burning passion for justice and a love for Rumi’s poetry—she loses her heart at once. And, as their romance blossoms, the modest little stationery shop remains their favorite place in all of Tehran.

A few short months later, on the eve of their marriage, Roya agrees to meet Bahman at the town square, but suddenly, violence erupts—a result of the coup d’etat that forever changes their country’s future. In the chaos, Bahman never shows. For weeks, Roya tries desperately to contact him, but her efforts are fruitless. With a sorrowful heart, she resigns herself to never seeing him again.

Until, more than sixty years later, an accident of fate leads her back to Bahman and offers her a chance to ask him the questions that have haunted her for more than half a century: Why did he leave? Where did he go? How was he able to forget her?

The Stationery Shop is a beautiful and timely exploration of devastating loss, unbreakable family bonds, and the overwhelming power of love. 

My thoughts-

I love when I get a book in my hands that compels me from the first sentence. It doesn't happen often but when it does, I am moved throughout the book and there is a bit of sadness at finishing it. I loved The Stationery Shop. I think part of what drew me to it is my in laws grew up in Iran and in my mind since this book jumps to several different time periods, I imagine that these are lives that my husband's family could have lived. It is interesting to me to learn about other places and cultures, but especially ones that pertain to the family I moved into. I also just love a good romance, no matter how heartbreaking it is, and this one is definitely one for the books. I found myself devouring page after page to see where life would take Roya and if she would ever get any closure from her past. The ending wrapped it all up beautifully. I would love to see this book come to life in the movies in the same vein as Crazy Rich Asians, with an Iranian cast! I would be amazing and such a good movie! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoy contemporary fiction. 

The Ultimate Gluten Free, Dairy Free Collection by Grace Cheetham

*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-
Whether you're following a gluten-free or dairy-free diet, then this is the only book you will ever need to eat well and feel great!

With over 200 recipes for everything from breakfasts and light lunches to weeknight dinners and show-stopping mains, plus delicious desserts and a whole section on gluten free baking, this book is the perfect guide to free from cookery.

Start your day with Buckwheat and Blueberry Pancakes or Muesli with Summer Fruit Compote, and discover dinnertime recipes that the whole family will enjoy, such as like Chicken Sesame Nuggets, Courgette and Sage Spaghetti Carbonara, or the best gluten free, dairy free lasagne. For special occasions, there are dinner-party dishes such as Beef Wellington, and to finish, why not try a classic Sticky Toffee Pudding?

From celebration cakes to cookies, sourdough loaves to salads, these are tried-and-tested recipes from one of the most respected names in gluten free cookery. Grace Cheetham has spent the last 10 years educating readers on the best way to cook without allergens. This collection is the ultimate celebration of her best-loved recipes.

My thoughts-

I liked that this book was gluten free and dairy free because my daughter can't have gluten and her best friend (that happens to be my best friend's daughter so we are together a lot) has an allergy to dairy so it is handy to have a book that addresses both of their special food needs. Beyond that, the recipes all sound delicious. I especially love the section at the end of the book with the different bread and pastry recipes. The desserts also are notable for the different flavor options, particularly the raspberry and rosewater cupcakes. There are lots of great options to be found here whether you are gluten free, dairy free or both.

The Boy From Tomorrow by Camille DeAngelis

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

About the book- 

Discover the middle-grade debut Kirkus Reviews calls “spellbinding” by an award-winning author Booklist says “has crafted a definite winner.”

Josie and Alec both live at 444 Sparrow Street. They sleep in the same room, but they’ve never laid eyes on each other. They are twelve years old and a hundred years apart.

The children meet through a hand-painted talking board―Josie in 1915, Alec in 2015―and form a friendship across the century that separates them. But a chain of events leave Josie and her little sister Cass trapped in the house and afraid for their safety, and Alec must find out what’s going to happen to them.

Can he help them change their future when it’s already past?

My thoughts-

This is exactly the kind of book that can hold the attention of a kid, but also has them learning about history without cramming it down their throats. I also love the kind of time travel-ey element, although it isn't exactly time travel, the concept of how they come to communicate with each other is a fresh spin on the time travel element. The characters were relatable and interesting and I found myself wanting to know what happened to Josie and Cass as much as Alex did. I absolutely loved this from start to finish and I know all three of my kids, ages 9-11, will as well. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good book with a little bit of suspense and enjoy the element of having a book set in two different time periods.  

Curry & Kimchi by Unmi Abkin; Roger Taylor

*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-

In their western Massachusetts-based restaurant Coco and The Cellar Bar, chefs Unmi Abkin and Roger Taylor create well-balanced, boldly flavored signature dishes shaped by Abkin’s Korean and Mexican-American upbringing. In Curry & Kimchi, they open their kitchen secrets up to the home cook, sharing their foundational dressings, salsas, broths, and infused oils and the dishes that feature them, through recipes that are delightfully simple to execute and beautifully complex in flavor. Honey Miso Dressing lends full-bodied taste to Honey Miso Noodle Salad, while Shoyu Ramen Broth (made in an Instant Pot) is the key ingredient in Coco Shoyu Ramen. Other favorites include a Korean-inspired take on Bolognese sauce for Korean Spaghetti and Korean Sloppy Joes, Chow Fun Sauce (for Coriander Shrimp Chow Fun), Scallion Ginger Jam (for Clay Pot Miso Chicken), and Ponzu Sauce (for Miso-Glazed Cod Rice Bowl). Together with vivid restaurant photography that shows elegant plating suggestions, Abkin and Taylor’s recipes will inspire readers to prepare home-cooked meals with remarkable clarity of flavor. 

My thoughts-

Everyone in my house loves Korean food, especially my husband and me. 9 times out of 10 when we go out with our close friends we choose to go to our favorite Korean BBQ restaurant, but I haven't tried to cook it at home. I haven't come across a cookbook yet that I thought would be feasible for me to attempt the recipes from. Curry & Kimchi caught my attention because I thought the title was cute and I immediately thought of Korean food. I also loved the beautiful cover. As I explored the book, my mouth watered at the delicious recipes. I especially can't wait to make the ramen broth in my Instant Pot! I was also pretty interested in one of the American inspired recipes- the mac & cheese- it sounded so delicious. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Asian food of any kind. I also recommend this as a gift book, since it's gorgeous and would look great no a coffee table or set out on a cookbook stand. 

When Drag Racing met Country Music by Terri Lynn Schmidt

*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 stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Terri Lynn Schmidt, a country music singer, found the love of her life in NHRA Drag Racer Harry Schmidt. hey were married for 21 years when Harry lost his battle with cancer. In When Drag Racing met Country Music Terri shares words to help others through similar losses and through her own journey of grief, rediscovered herself outside of her husband, and renewed her love for writing.

My thoughts- 

I was interested in reading this book because the author is from the same area as me. I haven't actually heard of her or her husband prior to reading this book, but it sounded like an intriguing story to me. I enjoyed reading the brief histories of both Terri and Harry, and kind of wish we could have heard more about that and definitely wish there was more about their love story, but that is not what this book was about. This book was about tackling grief after a long and loving partnership due to a terrible illness and I think it definitely did that. Terri Lynn Schmidt does that with short chapters dealing with different topics with short, but effective essays. It is beyond evident that besides God, there is nothing more important to Ms. Schmidt than her daughters and her husband and that the only way she got through her grief was because of God and her love of her family. I love that she is trying to guide others who are going through the same process with words of wisdom.