The Mrs. & the Minister

Anne Thoumieux's Hairstyled:  75 Ways to Braid, Pin & Accessorize Your Hair is a guide to creating beauty with our hair.  I had no idea there were so many hair style possibilities, and with 75 possibilities, I was excited to read through this book. There are so many varieties here -- for different occasions and with various levels of difficulty (though, to be honest, some of them are certainly more difficult than others).  And with the chapters broken down for specific hair lengths and styles, Hairstyled is sure to offer something for every reader. The directions in each hairstyle is clear and straightforward coupling with pictures step by step which is a huge help. I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.

Jason Gurley's Eleanor:  A Novel is a real page-turner, a treat for those who love mysteries and are suckers for stories about the power of love and loyalty in families. Eleanor felt drawn to the sea.  When she was a girl, she swam competitively.  But then she fell in love, got married, and had a baby -- and that was enough for a while.  Until she started feeling like she was only alive when she swam in the sea.  Her husband would take her.  He was very understanding.  Then one day she went to the sea and never came back. Eleanor , though, is more about her name-sake -- her granddaughter, also a twin whose sister is ripped from her through death at a young age, and subsequently grows up in a family of sorrow and rage. So the twinless twin continues on through the years, with a now alcoholic mother who blames her, and a sporadically absent father.  Her only solace is her friend Jack, a kindred spirit.  Then strange things starts to happen.  Doorways pull Eleanor to

Parla and Gill's Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavors and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City contains more than 85 recipes that bring some of Rome's characteristic cuisines to the home cook in our own kitchens. These recipes reflect some of the "spirit of Roman flavors" that have been part of historical dishes and community-specific recipes that make this collection a real treat itself. I particularly love the section on traditional Roman pasta dishes -- which gives us cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and two methods for preparing pasta alla carbonara. There are multiple twists on bread and pizza, and the vegetable section champions local favorites such as artichokes, fava beans, and greens. This is a solid introduction to Roman cooking that every kitchen needs. I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.