Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

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I have always enjoyed Ina Garten. Her cookbooks and television shows, her soft-spoken funny approach to cooking and her obvious love for her husband Jeffrey have fueled me on at times to try recipes I probably would not or more realistically should not have tried. So when she came out with her memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, I hesitated at first to reading it. What on earth after following her for years could I possibly learn about her that I don’t already know? Well, everything actually!

In this fascinating, very open and honest book, she really delves into what her life was like as a child, and that was sad to read, how when she met Jeffrey when she was in high school and he college, her life truly began and since that meeting their lives which have had ups and downs has been what I would call a magical cooking ride. What a life this woman has lived!

Her childhood was not happy. Her mother did not mother and her father was a strict disciplinarian who abused both her and her brother. Structure and order was how the house was run. Her mother, a nutritionist, never allowed a carb in the house. It would be years into her life when Ina would eat her first bowl of pasta. Her parents kept her under their strict rules and when she would explain what she wanted to do with her life they would always tell her no. You are getting married and running a household. Sadly, Ina thought everyone’s parents were like this.

But, that all changed when she met her husband Jeffrey, accidentally at the college her brother was attending. That meeting would change the trajectory of not only Ina’s life but of Jeffrey. And the question Ina is grateful she never has to answer is what if she had not met Jeffrey?

Her parents were hesitant to allow her to date him, but Jeffrey in his calming intellectual way was able to make them love him. But when it came time to ask for Ina’s hand, well that was tough. And for the first time in her life, Ina put her foot down and made the decision to marry and told her parents whether they liked it or not it was going to happen.

And then they married and that’s when the magic truly set in. They decided to take the summer and go camping in Europe. And by camping it was on the ground in a little green tent with one pan. They lived on five dollars a day. But for Ina this was when she truly discovered her love for cooking as they would go each day to the farmer’s markets and gather ingredients for their meals for the day and sightsee and meet new people. As they continued the adventure that summer, Ina told Jeffrey someday she wanted to go to Paris and live there. Again, a dream which came to fruition years and years later.

But reality set in and they moved to Washington D.C. where Ina worked writing bills which were never passed, and she was bored out of her mind. What she would spend most of her time doing during the day would be creating menus for their dinner parties which they would have every weekend. And some of them were pretty epic and hysterical!

Then one day while at work she saw an advertisement for a specialty store in the Hamptons which was for sale called The Barefoot Contessa, mentioned it to Jeffrey and of course, that would once again change the trajectory of their lives forever.

But buying the store and working up to 16 hours a day, and with Jeffrey still working in Washington, put pressure on their marriage and at one point she told Jeffrey she felt they needed to separate for a while. And once again, Jeffery with his wisdom told her if that’s what she really wanted then they would. But as we all know they did resolve their differences.

Ina had complete control of the menu at Barefoot and created delicious concoctions the tourists during the summer would line up for. During this time she had been approached by Martha Stewart to do a cooking show but that did not go very well.

When Ina felt she had completed her task of creating what she wanted at Barefoot, someone suggested she write a cookbook of all the recipes from the store. And with that the real Barefoot Contessa was born. And over time there was television which she very reluctantly stepped into.

Ina has worked hard all her life, but to her it’s playtime. When another offer comes in, she analyzes it and sees how she feels. Childless by choice, her baby is her love of food and her love of making people happy by eating and of course, Jeffrey. She and Jeffrey who is a dean at a college comes home on weekends and oh yes, she built her own apartment in Paris where they travel to constantly.

Be Ready When the Luck Happens is a rollercoaster ride of the life, love and stories of a woman who was determined to do what she wanted not to matter what the outcome with the love of her life by her side. To add to this amazing story, she has included her most popular recipes for all of us to try. How good is that?

Published by Crown Publishing

The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir

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The Night Guest is eerie, creepy and delicious! A can’t put down nightmare of a story where nothing makes sense until everything makes sense. The intensity of the book makes for a heart-palpitating quick read which will continue to give you goosebumps for hours after.

Iounn lives in Iceland. She has a great job, good friends (sort of), but unfortunately many horrible health problems which no doctor seems to be able to resolve.

She is tired all the time, her body achy and she has constant unexplained bruising sometimes almost every day. Finally, she sees a female doctor and Iounn feels more comfortable with the results of her blood tests which all come back fine, she feels as if she is now able to relax. Until the next time she wakes up tired, bruised and with what looks like rust under her fingernails.

Her friends believe it is her diet. They tell her to eat more. They tell her to exercise more. They tell her to take sleeping pills to help her sleep. Reluctantly, her doctor does prescribe the sleeping pills and at first they are a miracle! Until one night when she goes to take them and there are none left in the bottle. What happened to the pills?

Her weekly dinner with her parents is another added stress in her life. She’s vegetarian and her mother refuses to change the dinner menu for her. The table talk is always tense and irritating which adds to her anxiety.

Then someone suggests she buy a watch which tracks your daily steps to make sure she’s getting enough exercise to tire herself out. But one morning she discovers she forgot to take the watch off before going to bed and is horrified to see an added 40,000 steps! This can’t be right.

What is happening to her? Now she must try and figure out what is going on at night. She refuses to tell anybody her secret. What could she be doing at night and why?

Well reader, that’s all you are going to get from me. But read The Night Guest you must! It’s a spine-chilling story and the ending? Well, see for yourself!

Thank you #NetGalley #TorNightlife #HildurKnutsdottir #TheNightGuest for the advanced copy.

I Need You To Read This by Jessa Maxwell

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I NEED you to read I Need You To Read This! It’s a flawless example of a perfect thriller! With an outstanding plot, mysterious characters and clues, you will be kept on your toes by this all-consuming story. It truly checkmarks all the ways which make for an amazing read…murder, mystery, secrets, thrill and a gasping ending!

Advice columnist extraordinaire Francis Keen has been murdered. Alex Marks who is a copywriter by day and a hermit by night in New York City is devastated. Alex grew up with Dear Constance and feels like she survived her childhood through reading her column.

Alex tries to stay under the radar. She goes to the same coffee shop every morning, then to her job and then home. Her only friends…the waitress and a customer at the diner and she only sees them for five minutes a day.

But something happens to Alex when she sees the job announcement for a replacement for Keen’s Dear Constance column. She feels something she has never felt before. And so, without thinking she applies for the job. Surprisingly she actually gets it! Ah, but always be careful what you wish for!

After meeting with the editor in chief Howard Dimitri she begins what she considers a new life, with a new purpose…to help those in need. But, unfortunately, someone does not feel the same way as Alex. She begins to get threatening notes. She believes it’s just a reader who is angry that they have replaced Keen and she is now Dear Contance.

As she settles into the office, she discovers the editor in chief has a few secrets and then discovers there are some shady goings on in the office. Her mind starts to wander and she begins to think perhaps someone who worked with Keen could possibly have killer her. But, why?

As Alex tries to discover what exactly is going on in the office, her past which she left behind suddenly begins to collide with her present! Now Alex is frightened! Just as she believes she knows what happened to Dear Constance, well, let’s just say she’s wrong! And now she could be the next dead Dear Constance!

I Need You To Read This is an absolutely enjoyable read with so many layers and hidden secrets it will make your head spin! The twists and turns are impeccable, but scattered within the story are new friendships and trusts and trying to create a new life. But mostly it’s a downright great murder mystery!

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #JessaMaxwell #INeedYouToReadThis for the advanced copy.

A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley

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In the second book of the Sugar Blitz series, we discover another romance in the making , although in this story we have two lovebirds who have known each other since childhood and know each other’s deep dark secrets…or so they think! They secretly have had crushes on each other forever but are afraid to say it as they don’t want to ruin their relationship. But, now at Sugar Blitz Cupcake there is an explosion happening…and not from the oven!

What on earth will it take for these two shy paramours to finally realize they are soul mates? Well, a great deal! Both are stubborn and hurt and did I say stubborn? And in this enjoyable, funny and well-crafted story it will all eventually mix together like a well beaten cupcake with plenty of icing on top!

Sloane Dell, whose brother Donovan is a football player and part owner of a cupcake bakery called Sugar Blitz Cupcakes along with two other football players has just been passed over for a job she knows she is ready for at the social media company she works at and spontaneously quits leaving her with no job and no money.

As she goes to the bakery to tell her brother what’s happened she finds August, one of the other owners and her life-long crush baking. And he sees her. And of course, the sparks fly. As Sloane tries to find a job, her brother decides he could use a social media genius to assist them as they have decided to branch out. And unfortunately, that is not going so well. So, as Sloane spends more time at the bakery and August seems much more nervous, they both must try and figure out what to do with each other.

Having to work this closely together makes them look back at their past relationship and although they deny the chemistry, it’s clearly there. But they must somehow learn to work with each other and try to deny the alchemy. But unfortunately, this is difficult as they encounter jealousy, embarrassment and mistakes.

A Legend in the Baking is adorable, witty, sexy and will have you smiling from start to finish as if you were in the store helping make the cupcakes and figure out how to get these two together!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sGriffin #JamieWesley #ALegendintheBaking for the advanced copy.

Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

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Till Death Do Us Part is an amazingly shocking thriller you never thought you needed and won’t be able to put down. Each chapter draws you deeper into the riveting mystery and every revelation gives you tingles until finally, finally! the crescendo of the jaw dropping ending you do not see coming, slaps you in the face!

June is ready to take the leap and get married again. You see, ten years ago June met and married the love of her life Josh, only to have him taken away a week later when he disappears after going for a swim on their honeymoon. After an intense search he is presumed drowned making June a widow.

Now, after all these years, and with much therapy, she has met someone and is ready to marry again. Owning her own wine bar in New York City now, and having some success at it, June is taking the leap although still to this day she has never fully believed Josh died. Not after reading his final text to her. But she is finally excited for her future.

Until one day when she is in Central Park and turns to see a man who is Josh staring at her. She immediately returns back to the days just after he went missing when she would turn and see him, even though he was not there. But, for some reason this is very different. She absolutely knows what she saw was real!

So, she quietly begins to do a bit of research on where his family ended up, his family owned a winery in Napa Valley, and when she pulls the website up, there before her eyes is a picture of Josh, a woman and two young children. In shock, she decides to lie to her fiancé and go out to the winery to confront Josh.

But what June will discover is that nothing makes sense and the deeper she opens the Pandora’s box, the more confused she becomes. And then, she discovers her fiancé has been hiding a secret from her. Something she is not sure she can forgive him for.

June must begin to wade through Josh, his family and her own past to discover some terrible truths that were hidden from her all those years ago.

The lesson in Till Death Do Us Part is… love can be the death of not only a life, of their love of their trust but open the flood gates to more questions than answers and horrible secrets and perhaps even more unknown tragedy…until it all becomes exposed.

Thank you #NetGalley #Simon&Schuster #LaurieElizabethFlynn #TillDeathDoUsPart for the advanced copy.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

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House of Glass is another thriller by Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Golden Couple. It will grab the reader from the very first page and take them on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and just when you think you know where the story is going, you realize you had absolutely no idea where the story was going! The main plot is about a little girl who witnesses a terrible accident at her family home and the psychologist who is assigned to her case to determine which parent she should live with. You may ask, why can’t the little girl tell her? Well…since the accident she has not spoken. And our psychologist can not only sympathize with our little girl but empathize as she too was mute after her own mother was discovered dead at their home many years ago. The story, complex in nature, is fascinating and the ending extraordinary!

Rose Barclay is a mute nine-year-old child who witnessed her nanny plunging from a bedroom window and falling to her death at their home. Now, the parents are in the middle of a terrible divorce as it was discovered that Rose’s father, Ian was having an affair with the nanny. The Barclays, Ian and Beth live in a beautiful house with Ian’s mother who had surgery and has not been able to live on her own.

Now Stella Hudson is approached to figure out who Rose would be better suited to live with as she cannot speak for herself. Stella understands. When Stella was a young girl, her own mother was found dead in their house and Stella fearful, stayed in her closet until help arrived. She too became mute after the trauma, and it took years of therapy to help her understand what had happened. Or so she thought. Because this case has brought up Stella’s horrible memories of year’s past.

Stella begins to try and win Rose over, but Rose seems to not be able to make any kind of connection, no matter how hard she tries. Then Rose discovers all the glass has been removed from the house and replaced with plastic. Why? And Rose seems to have unhealthy fascinations, which disturb Stella. She begins to believe Rose may have a hidden side to her. Could this tragedy have actually been a murder? It seems Rose is keeping many secrets.

Stella soon begins to believe Rose’s parent and grandmother may be covering up for her. And Rose seems to not be so happy with Stella. As Stella delves deeper into Rose’s psyche, she can’t help but remember her own pain. And she takes an unhealthy walk down her own memory lane. But when strange things begin to happen to Stella, she can’t help but feel something else is going on. Something evil. Stella discovers the nanny had been afraid of Rose and wanted to leave.

She understands she must get to the bottom of what really happened in that house the day the nanny died, and she will use any trick she knows to find out. But unfortunately for Stella, that may be her undoing.

House of Glass has so many layers to it and is so fascinating you won’t be able to put the book down. The story is certainly suspenseful, but it’s also a gripping story of a lost child, and an adult who realizes she is still lost.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #HouseofGlass #SarahPekkanen for the advanced copy.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

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In only the inventive style of horror icon, Rachel Harrison could this imaginative, creepy, chilling story be created. It’s dark, but it’s fascinatingly good! This book is not for the faint of heart, but those who know Harrison’s work or those who decide to venture into her world…you will not be disappointed. Having met her I can sort of understand where her macabre fascination stems from, but…she is as super kind as she is super gory! If you have not read anything by her well…welcome! And let me assure you, you will be back!

Sloan Parker’s husband has given her a birthday present she certainly should be grateful for…a weekend away at an inn with her best friend Naomi. But Sloan has her suspicions as to why this choice in gift, but that’s for you to figure out as you read!

Sloan is definitely in the middle of an existential crisis. Her age as well as her life in general. She works from home, has the same routine, only has to see her co-workers once a month and well her marriage is just about the same, routine. Wake, work, cook, go to bed. When she looks in the mirror, she sees someone she certainly doesn’t know…those wrinkles…where did they come from?

But when she is with her best friend Naomi, all is forgotten. Naomi is a free spirit who does what she wants when she wants. Even in her long-term relationship, she has a fling or two without any guilt. So, Sloan is hoping Naomi will bring some of her magic along and help her.

Unfortunately, immediately there are problems. There is a blizzard, and they are pretty much stuck near the inn. But they do go for drinks where Naomi meets someone (of course) and they are invited to a party the next night. Now depending on who you ask both will blame the other for what happens next. They are turned into women who will live forever.

Join Sloan and Naomi as they try to adjust to their new lifestyle, having to leave their lives behind and adjust to new shall we say, feelings and thirsts. With a new band of friends, who will attempt to help them, their adventures will become shocking, even to them!

So Thirsty is perhaps a much scarier Thelma and Louise in a very different community. Naiveté and innocence may actually be their new enemy. But there are some enjoyably funny moments as they adjust to their lives of being thirsty.

Berkley Publishing

The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell

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The In Crowd checked all the right boxes for an exciting, funny mystery. Filled with dead bodies, shocking twists and surprises, and even romance, this second book in the series is as good if not better than the first called The Other Half. But don’t worry if you did not read the first, this book could be stand-alone.

When Detective Inspector Caius Beauchamp goes to the theatre, not only does someone die, but he meets a mysteriously adorable milliner (hat maker). But unfortunately, it’s what occurs AFTER finding the dead body that the amazing cat and mouse game begins among the wealthy, egotistical upper elite suspects. Was this a murder or a heart attack? Also, the person who dead seems to be connected with another mystery from years ago.

As the clues start to come in, Beauchamp and his band of adept funny detectives notice the possibility that some of the cast of characters could have been involved with a 16-year-old girl who went missing from the boarding school she attended years ago and was never again seen, and foul play was certainly suspected. To add to the intrigue, they are also investigating a possible drowning by suicide which unbelievably coincides with the mysterious disappearance of man who allegedly stole all the pension money from a corporation never to be seen again!

Are you exhausted yet? Well don’t be because as the team searches for answers from some of the wealthiest and important people in English politics, it seems that not only is no one talking, but they have enough power to perhaps shut down the whole investigation.

But, as the team begins to dissect all the information and put the pieces of this puzzle together and as Beauchamp begins to totally fall for the milliner, which in itself is another story…even the wealthiest men and women who try to stop the investigation will be shocked and in awe as to the outcomes of the investigations. It shows, even if you have money and power, sometime the in crowd can humiliatingly fall just as quickly as a regular bloke. And honestly, it’s as good as it gets to read!

The In Crowd will not disappoint! The plot is innovative, the characters are droll and amusing as is our heroic group of police who amazingly walk the reader through the first-class ending! When your brain finishes digesting this read, don’t be afraid to pick up the first. It too will not disappoint.

Thank you #NetGalley #Doubleday #TheInCrowd #CharlotteVassell for the advanced copy.

The Paris Cooking School by Sophie Beaumont

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The Paris Cooking School is a wonderful unexpected romantic story with wounded characters who meet at an exclusive cooking school in hopes of taking their minds off of their problems by learning to cook. Never expecting anything other than trying to make sense of their problems, what happens is a bit of romance, fun and also a mystery to try and solve. The theme of the story…love…which happens in so many different ways.

Sylvie is the owner of The Paris Cooking School. She has a partner and a son who assist. The school itself has been a favorite for years with people traveling from all over the world to be taught by Sylvie. But suddenly, Sylvie discovers she has a problem. Someone is trying to shut her down. They have left bad reviews and put in a complaint with the food police. How and why can this be? This school is her life!

Kate is just coming out of a terrible marriage, although she had no idea how terrible until she found out her husband/business partner had been cheating on her. Heartbroken, she comes to the school to take her mind off of her problems, try something different and hope perhaps some of that Paris magic would come her way, never imagining what would become a life changing experience.

Gabi is an artist who created what everybody (but herself) calls a masterpiece! But Gabi has a terrible secret. She has been unable to paint or create for quite a while, always giving one excuse or another. As she tries to digest the inevitable loss of her career, she comes to The Paris Cooking School in the hopes of finding some sort of creativeness in order to move through this artistic block. But what Gabi discovers about herself will change her perspective on everything.

These three women will have extraordinary experiences during this session of The Paris Cooking School. They will learn valuable lessons which will change them as they move on in their lives but most importantly will discover in themselves the strengths and friendships which they will take with them forever.

The Paris Cooking School is a lovely story with characters who are strong and resilient but will discover who they really are and what they really want out of life through a remarkable change of events.

Thank you #NetGalley #AlcovePress #SophieBeaumont #TheParisCookingSchool for the advanced copy.

Emily Dickinson Is Dead by Jane Langton

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Emily Dickinson Is Dead is a murder mystery in the Homer Kelly Series. Published in 1984 (I found the book in an antique store, signed by the author with a few doodles she did on the signed page as well). She also had illustrated the book. Langton was known for her immense knowledge of Emily Dickinson and this book is a tribute to the grand dame of poetry. The story exudes wit, mystery and more importantly incorporates lines of Dickinson’s poetry into each chapter. Being published in the 1980’s it also has a throwback sense of what was happening at the time, and what could be said (and written).

But there is one true life mystery incorporated into the story. There is a mystery involving a photo which was discovered of Emily Dickinson. It has been debated for years as to if this is really her or not. To this day, no one knows for sure.

As the 100th anniversary of Emily Dickinson’s death approaches, an English professor at Amherst College in Amherst, MA has a brilliant idea to celebrate her life with a combination conference with discussions and a festival. Dickinson enthusiasts are invited from all over.

But from the start, the event seems to be cursed. Two students are killed in a dormitory fire, the women of Amherst rebel against the creators of the event because no women were included to lead any of the discussion groups, and then of course there are a few townspeople who have their own issues, some psychological and some devious.

That’s when scholar Homer Kelly accidently gets involved. As more bodies begin to pile up, and some go missing, it’s up to him to figure out what exactly is going on in this town. He cannot fathom what the real Emily Dickinson would think…especially when one of the bodies shows up in her own bedroom!

The twist to the story is that although nobody in the town knows who is doing the killings, the reader not only has a seat at the table to it all, but also knows the killer’s reasoning for why it’s being done.

Emily Dickinson Is Dead is an entertaining, enjoyable look back in time with a good murder/mystery and enough poetry incorporated that you wonder if the words she actually wrote were meant to be used as fodder for a who done it.

Published by St. Martin’s Press