The 30-Minute Cooking from Frozen Cookbook

 

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book 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-

If you’re not someone who plans out their weekly menu days in advance, then this cookbook is for you. Thanks to your freezer, you can create more than 100 different recipes for fresh, delicious meals that you can devour in less than 30 minutes. No need to wait hours for the ingredients to thaw and defrost, simply grab your ingredients and start cooking.

Filled with simple solutions to your dinner dilemmas, The 30-Minute Cooking from Frozen Cookbook allows you to spend less time shopping, prepping, and planning your meals and spend more time doing the things you actually enjoy! Save money and eliminate food waste by storing the ingredients you buy in the freezer, keeping them fresher for longer. Cooking from frozen ingredients is a quick, cost-effective way to feed your family and with this cookbook to guide you, it is now easier—and tastier—than ever.

My thoughts-

I recently started working again after not working for over a decade of dedicating my life solely to taking care of my 3 kids. The last time I was working full time I was pregnant with my twin boys who just turned 11 a few weeks ago. I am finding it difficult to balance mom and wife life with work life, even though I am working from home. We are also renovating our house, which throws an extra challenge into me fitting in all that needs to be fit in to a 24 hour day. The 30-Minute Cooking from Frozen Cookbook makes meal planning even easier than regular meal planning cookbooks by including many recipes that are cooked from frozen foods which takes an extra step or two out of cooking and condensing time for people like me who really don't have any to spare. This will be a go to cookbook for the modern day busy person. 

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

 

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book 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-

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

My thoughts-

I love books that have elements of time hopping/time travel/any kind of time distortion type things. In a Holidaze takes a page from Groundhog Day and the same day is repeated several different times. I am also obessesed with books set during Christmas and this one is the week of Christmas on repeat (hello movie adaptation, PLEASE happen!). I enjoyed the unraveling of Maelyn's crush on her childhood best friend's brother. There is tons of great juicy tension and tons of wonderful romantic comedy holiday vibes. If you enjoy cute romantic comedies you will love In a Holidaze! 

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

 

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book 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-

She never dreamed her holiday would include her hometown, a dog, or a firefighter. But a mysterious charm bracelet predicted it all…

Ashley’s supposed to be having the Christmas of her dreams. After four years of working at an upscale jewelry store in Manhattan, she’s finally going to get a little velvet box of her own—from her boyfriend Jeremy, who’s taking her on a romantic trip to Paris. What could go wrong?

Well, everything.

Ashley heads home to Owl Lake instead, falling asleep on the train ride there…and waking up with a beautiful antique charm bracelet on her wrist. Soon, she realizes that each silver charm predicts an event that happens in real life. What does this mean for her and Jeremy…or her and Aidan, her former high school boyfriend, who’s now a local firefighter? Is there still a chance that she could have the perfect Christmas?

My thoughts-

If you love Hallmark movies and you are already aching for the holiday tradition of watching them, Christmas Charms is definitely a great book to read to get yourself into the holiday spirit. I am going to have to read it again when it comes out in October, and maybe again in December. It was such a charming novel! It was full of Christmas magic and romance. I absolutely could see this story in my mind as a live action Hallmark movie so I hope they do turn it into one! I loved the small town charm and the rekindling first love story, and well anything involving firemen is up my alley! This was a sweet and pure romance great for people who love sweet love stories. I will definitely be re-reading it again soon! 

Christmas on Reindeer Road by Debbie Mason

 *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-

Mallory Maitland knows all too well what it's like to feel abandoned, which is why she's sworn never to give up on her two stepsons - her late husband's children. But when the teens land in hot water, she's got a whole new problem: how to resist the caring and incredibly hot Chief of Police Gabriel Buchanan. All Mallory wants is to give the boys a magical holiday. She doesn't need the distraction of wondering what it would be like to kiss Gabriel under the mistletoe.

After his wife died, Gabriel left his job as an adrenaline-chasing New York City homicide detective to focus on raising his three sons. But back in Highland Falls, he doesn't have to go looking for trouble. It finds him - in the form of a beautiful neighbor and her troublemaking stepchildren. With Gabriel's mother-in-law looking for any excuse to gain custody of his sons, Gabriel can't risk getting involved with Mallory, even though she's the only woman capable of making this Christmas - and all the rest to come - his best ever.

My thoughts-

This was pretty much the cutest romance novel I have read in a long time! I absolutely loved the first book in the Highland Falls series (Summer on Honeysuckle Ridge) and I was so excited to get to see a focus on Mallory and Gabe. Christmas on Reindeer Road was equal parts endearing, heartwarming, and hiliarous. I particulary enjoyed the always adorable and incredibly precocious Teddy, who I think stole the show a lot of the times and added a new level of heart to the story. This is the perfect book to usher in the fall holidays and get in the Christms spirit early. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center (Audio Version)

*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-

Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living.
But she wasn’t always that way.

Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen.
But he wasn’t always that way.

And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before—at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him—but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school—and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it.

As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love—which is the riskiest move of all.

With Katherine Center’s sparkling dialogue, unforgettable characters, heart, hope, and humanity, What You Wish For is the author at her most compelling best.

My thoughts-

What You Wish For was engaging right out of the gate. Sometimes I have difficulty getting into audio books when they are fiction because they can be very long and I am usually a fast reader and get inpatient. However, when there is an excellent narrator and the story is fast paced I can get behind them and this narrarator was great at keeping me interested! I also liked that it was set in Galveston, TX where I was born. There are not a lot of books I have come across set in Galveston, and it's a cool place so it's nice to see it featured in a book. I absolutely loved the story. It was funny, emotional, and an overall great contemporary book. 

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.