DIRECTIONS: Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large 5-quart non-stick pan. Add the onion and cook for 6-7 minutes until the onions are softened. Add the meat and use your spatula to break it up into pieces. Cook the meat until it's no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, and salsa. Mix well. Add the uncooked brown rice noodles and chicken broth. Mix well and then bring the mixture to a boil before turning down the heat to medium heat (rolling boil). Cover and cook until the noodles are cooked through, mixing every 5 minutes. The noodles will be softened in about 10-15 minutes. Turn off the heat and uncover the mixture once the noodles are soft. There will be some liquid left in the pan, which will thicken as the mixture cools. Add a portion of the mixture into a bowl and top it with fresh cilantro and slices of avocado slices. 

NUTRITION INFO: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1227mg | Potassium: 908mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1019IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Good For You Gluten Free)

(Book summaries provided by The Booklist Queen)

NARRATORS: Stacy Gonzalez, Mary Carillo, Patrick McEnroe, Rob Simmelkjaer, Brendan Wayne, Max Meyers, Reynaldo Piniella, Vidish Athavale, Tom Bromhead, and Heath Miller

RATING: ★★★★

REVIEW: I wish there were half-star ratings because I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars. Carrie Soto was really hard to like, but listening to the audiobook version could've been the reason for this. Let’s just say the narrator did a very good job making Carrie sound like a true “Battle Axe”. Her determination to succeed was equal parts admirable and annoying. I did enjoy the range of characters on the audiobook, though, especially the sports commentators. By far, my favorite character was Javier Soto. What a great man! If you’re a fan of tennis, then chances are you will love this book. The tennis talk didn’t bother me because my mother played tennis throughout most of my childhood, so it wasn’t difficult for me to understand. What did bother me was the Spanish. Now, if you’re fluent in Spanish this of course won’t be a problem for you, but most of us aren’t, so that was irritating, especially listening to the audiobook, since there’s no way to translate the text like you can with an ebook. I couldn’t help but wonder, “What am I missing? I hope it isn’t something important”. Other than that, it was a good story. It’s definitely not my favorite of Reid’s, but I would still recommend it.

DIRECTIONS: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Prepare a large baking sheet with a light coating of oil or nonstick spray. Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and slice each one in half lengthwise. Place the Brussels sprouts, bacon, and minced garlic on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Toss everything together to coat and spread out in an even layer. Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, turning the sprouts halfway through, until they are tender and the edges are caramelized. The bacon should be crispy. Remove from the oven and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Toss to coat evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately. 

NUTRITION INFO: Calories: 218kcal (11%) Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) Protein: 6g (12%) Fat: 17g (26%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 0.02g Cholesterol: 12mg (4%) Sodium: 735mg (32%) Potassium: 487mg (14%) Fiber: 4g (17%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 862IU (17%) Vitamin C: 97mg (118%) Calcium: 53mg (5%) Iron: 2mg (11%)

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Food Faith Fitness)

AUTHOR: Sadeqa Johnson

NARRATOR: Robin Miles

RATING: ★★★★

REVIEW: Such a great book! I chose the audiobook version, and I’m SO glad I did because the narrator, Robin Miles, is absolutely incredible. Without a doubt, she brought this book to life. This was my first time reading Sadeqa Johnson’s work, and it certainly won’t be my last. One thing that always stands out to me with historical fiction is the amount of research the author went through while writing his/her book, and it was easy to see just how much research this author endured. In her author’s notes she even describes the real life historical events that inspired the story, and it fascinated me because it was a part of history I’d never heard of before. The story itself is heartbreaking, but the main character, Pheby Delores Brown, is resilient, courageous, and someone I truly admired. She went through more heartache in her young life than most people experience in a lifetime, but she faced it with a tenacity that had me cheering her on throughout the entire story. As a mother, I understood her fierce determination to protect her children, and I was so thankful for the happy ending. It was the closure I hoped for and needed, especially after becoming so invested and immersed in these characters lives. I would highly recommend The Yellow Wife to everyone.

🏖️ The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson - I have a long 45-minute drive to work, so I’ve been able to listen to several books over the past few months. This audiobook is what I’m currently listening to, and it’s wonderful! The narrator, Robin Miles, is incredible. Highly recommended.

🏖️ The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin - I’ve had this ARC from NetGalley for a couple of months now, and I can’t wait to get started on it. 

🏖️ Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid - What can I say? I just love Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book has been on my radar ever since I was introduced to Carrie in Malibu Rising. 

🏖️ Shark Heart by Emily Habeck - I’ve been curious about this one since I first saw it on NetGalley. Reviews seem to be mixed. Have you read it? 

🏖️ Weyward by Emilia Hart - I love historical fiction, and this one has great reviews on Goodreads, so we’ll see how it goes. 

🏖️ The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden - I’ve never been a big mystery/suspense reader, but I want to give them a chance, so I thought about starting with this one, but if you have a recommendation please share it. No horror books! 

Have a great Tuesday!   

  
  

Saturday shelfies from the Little Free Library. Stop by if you see something you’d like to have, but please don’t take more than three books at a time. Leave some for others to enjoy. Thank you! 

AUTHOR: Ann Napolitano

NARRATORS: Cassandra Campbell, Kimberly Farr, Marin Ireland, Gilli Messer, Ray Porter, and Brittany Pressley

RATING: ★★★ 

REVIEW: I’ll admit right from the start that I really struggled with this one. Normally, I love Ann Napolitano’s work, but this book is my least favorite. I had a hard time connecting with the characters because they were all very annoying, and I couldn’t find one with any redeeming qualities. But the worst part for me was the ending because it felt rushed, and it ended in kind of a cliffhanger. We never find out what happened to any of the characters and there’s no definite conclusion. No explanation. No epilogue. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Did any of the relationships survive? Did Gracie have a boy or girl? Did Katherine die? These were just some of the questions left bouncing around my brain after such an abrupt ending. I rarely give books three star ratings because I normally don’t finish a book I can’t get interested in after the first few chapters, but I love Ann Napolitano so I hung in there to the very end. If you love stories about dysfunctional families then you might enjoy this one, but I can’t in good conscience recommend it.

(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)

📙 1. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover - I was in an abusive relationship for three years before I met my husband 31 years ago, and this story had me literally sobbing. 

📗 2, 3, and 4 - The Great Alone, The Nightingale, and The Women by Kristin Hannah - You know those books that leave you in a state of disbelief because you've finished them and you don't know quite how to move on? Well, these books did that to me, and this is why Kristin Hannah will always be my favorite author. 

📘 5. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult - I threw this book across my living room, and that's all I'm going to say about it. Grrrrrrr.

📕 6 and 7 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and Educated by Tara Westover - These two books kept me on the edge of my seat and wondering what in the world could possibly happen next. The fact that Educated is a true story made it that more shocking. 

📙 8 and 9 - Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry and I'm Glad My Mom Died by  Jennette McCurdy - I love biographies, and these are two of the best ones I've read recently. Matthew's made me very sad just knowing that he's no longer here, and I was stunned over what Jennette went through with her mom. Crazy stuff. 

📗 10. Verity by Colleen Hoover - I loved this book because I never knew what to expect next, and I lost count of the times I had to pick my jaw off the floor. One of my favorites by Colleen.