INGREDIENTS: 

DIRECTIONS: Lightly beat egg and egg whites with a fork in a small bowl. Add all the vegetables and season with salt and pepper and mix well. Heat a 9 or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. When hot spray with oil and add the eggs and let them sit to start cooking. Use a heatproof silicone or rubber spatula to gently lift the edges of the cooked eggs from the pan and allow the uncooked eggs to flow to the edges of the pan and cook. Once the eggs are set, add your cheese along the center of the eggs. Let it set for a few seconds, then use your spatula to fold the edges over the omelet on both sides to the center and serve immediately. 

NOTES:  Add chopped ham, turkey bacon, or bacon for more protein. 

NUTRITION INFO: 1 omelet, Calories: 262 kcal, Carbohydrates: 6 g, Protein: 30 g, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 5.5 g, Cholesterol: 212 mg, Sodium: 212 mg, Fiber: 0.5 g, Sugar: 2 g

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)

AUTHOR: Nita Prose

RATING: ★★★

RELEASE DATE: April 8th, 2025

REVIEW: First off, let me say that I love Nita Prose, and her Molly Gray books have always been near and dear to my heart. But while The Maid’s Secret was an enjoyable read, it wasn’t anything like I’ve come to expect from this series. If you’ve read the first three books then you already know there is a certain tone and…what’s the word…format? Well, that didn’t apply here. Even Molly’s voice and dialogue seemed different. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just felt “off”. The only parts I really enjoyed were Gran’s diary entries to Molly and being able to learn more about her life and past history. The actual present day mystery aspect of the story was lackluster and at times difficult to grasp. I would still recommend it if you’re just looking for something quick to read, but of all the Molly Gray books I have to say this one is my least favorite. 

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

Hello, dear readers! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl is New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024. Boy oh boy did I stumble across some great ones! Do any of these authors resonate with you? If you know of any historical fiction authors I might be interested in, please let me know! 

AUTHOR: Alison Espach

NARRATOR: Helen Laser

RATING: ★★★★

REVIEW: For the past year or so I’ve been hearing such great things about The Wedding People, so I decided to give it a listen, and I’m so glad I did. What a wonderful story! When I first started listening to it, I initially thought “Oh no. This is going to be very depressing”, but the more you get into it you realize it’s a finely layered story about a woman discovering who she’s truly meant to be. I adored the main character, Phoebe, and my heart ached so much for her through her struggles. But then I rejoiced with her once she started feeling stronger and more sure of herself. I cheered for her with each hurdle she overcame, and I knew in the end that she would truly be okay. The narrator, Helen Laser, is incredible! The way she read this book reminded me a lot of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. I don’t know how to describe it other than a deadpan dry sense of humor. It was PERFECT! I honestly don’t see how she didn’t read this book without laughing out loud. There was one scene in particular with a certain vintage car (if you know, you know), and I laughed SO hard I was literally in tears. I hope that Alison Espach and Helen Laser team up for many more books in the near future. I feel like I should forewarn my readers that there are some pretty heavy topics in this book, including suicide, infertility, death, adultery, and pet loss. But trust me when I say that if you just hang on through the tough parts you’ll find the rainbow at the end, and you’ll be SO glad you took a chance on this beautiful story of resilience and self-discovery. I know I am. 

DIRECTIONS: In a large deep skillet, sauté the pancetta on low heat until the fat melts, about 4-5 minutes. Add the butter, onions, celery and carrots and cook on medium-low heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high; add the meat, season with salt and pepper and sauté until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain the fat then add wine; cook until it reduces down, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker. Add tomatoes, bay leaves, salt and pepper; cover and set slow cooker to low 6 hours. After the 6 hours, adjust salt and pepper to taste, add half & half and parsley; stir and serve over your favorite pasta or spaghetti squash. 

NUTRITION INFO: 1/2 cup sauce, Calories: 146, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 8.5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 4g - WW Points: 3

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)

Hello, dear readers! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl is the Ten Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection or TBR Collection. I don’t have ten books to share with you, but here are a few I’ve added recently to my TBR list. Happy Tuesday! 

AUTHOR: Sarah Penner

NARRATOR: Helen Laser

RATING: ★★★

REVIEW: I went into this knowing it was a short story, but I had no idea just how short. By the time I really started getting into it, the story abruptly ended. If I'm not mistaken, it's a prequel to Sarah Penner's upcoming release, The Amalfi Curse, and if that's the case then the book should be very interesting. The narrator, Helen Laser, has an engaging voice and she kept my attention from beginning to end. If you're looking for something quick and entertaining then you'll probably love this little short story. 

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

DIRECTIONS: Add the sausage to a small non-stick skillet and cook over medium heat until the sausage is browned and crispy on the edges. When the sausage is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set aside. While the sausage is cooking, crack the eggs into a bowl and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Add the cottage cheese and scallions and whisk the eggs. Spray the skillet and add the eggs to the skillet and cook them over medium heat, folding them as the eggs set until the moisture is gone, 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Heat a clean large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat and spray with oil, add the tortilla. Place half of the cheese on the bottom half of the tortilla, spreading it out to cover half of the tortilla. Top with the egg, sausage and remaining cheese and cook until the bottom is browned and crispy about 2 to 3 minutes, then fold the tortilla closed and flip, cook until the cheese on the inside is melted. Slice the quesadilla into three pieces, then serve. 

NUTRITION INFO: 1 quesadilla, Calories: 345kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 35g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 245mg, Sodium: 981mg, Fiber: 18g, Sugar: 1g - WW Points: 8

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)

AUTHOR: Lucy Score

RATING: ★★★★

RELEASE DATE: March 13th, 2025

REVIEW: To say I was excited when I found out Lucy Score has a new book series is an understatement. Her Knockemout series will always be one of my all-time favorite book series E-V-E-R, and I can tell after reading Story of My Life that this series is going to be just as amazing. I've read a ton of romance novels, and no one delivers snarky comebacks and laugh-out-loud dialogue like Lucy Score. I lost count of the many times I caught myself snickering and literally laughing out loud, and I got so caught up in the story that I finished it in two days. I'm a huge sucker for small-town romance, and being a small-town country girl myself, I felt right at home in Story Lake, Pennsylvania. If you're a fan of Gilmore Girls. then you'll love this book because it gives off the same vibe, but I must warn you it's A LOT raunchier. The hero is true-to-form Lucy Score. He's hot, gorgeous, and sexy, with the whole "screw you" bad boy attitude and toughness oozing out of every pore in his body. But get to the heart of Campbell Bishop, and you'll find out he's just a misunderstood softie with a penchant for romance. I would highly recommend this book, and all of Lucy Score's books, to everyone I know. And now, for the unforeseeable future, I will be sitting here impatiently waiting on books two and three. 

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

1. Read more ebook and print books. My drive to work is 45 minutes, so I mostly listen to audiobooks, but I want to start reading more hands-on books this year. 

2. Less screen time and more reading. I don’t have any gaming apps on my phone or iPad because if I did I would be playing them constantly. (Been there done that already - almost to the point of it becoming an addiction). I’ll download the Scrabble app every once in a blue moon, but only if I’m extremely bored. This year I want to focus on reading more and surfing the internet less, especially at night after I get home from work. 

3. Monthly reading goal. This one is a big “maybe” because I don’t want to stress myself out trying to reach a reading goal and lose my joy of reading in the process. (Been there done that too). I would like to listen to two audiobooks and read two ebooks or print books each month, but I’m not setting that in stone. If I do it, that’s great, but if not that’s okay too. 

4. Be a better little free library steward. I’ve owned a little free library since December 2021. It was a year-long labor of love my husband designed and built for me, and I set out with such great intentions of rotating the books every week. Unfortunately, I've failed miserably, especially in the past year or so. My plan for 2025 is to be more active by adding new books regularly and offering other things, like coloring pages and seasonal goodies for the kids in the community. I might repaint it too. 

RATING: ★★★

RELEASE DATE: June 17th, 2025

REVIEW: I’ll admit right from the start that I struggled with this one. I normally love Kristin Harmel’s books, but this story was very hard to get into. It wasn’t Kristin’s writing because her writing style is incredible, as always. I believe what bothered me the most was the heroine supposedly descended from Robin Hood’s ancestral line, and she and her family members before her carried on the tradition of stealing from people who they believed deserved it. Now, I’m all for karma and horrible people getting what they deserve, but to spend your whole life as a thief and trying to justify it because you were told Robin Hood was your distant relative just seems odd to me. Also, the story lagged through the first 3/4 of the book, but then everything just magically fell into place in the last couple of chapters, making it feel far-fetched and rushed. Sadly, I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters in this book and that was very disheartening. 

DIRECTIONS: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and render bacon until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to the slow cooker and remove most of the fat (nearly all of it), reserving the rest. Toss beef in flour, onion powder, ¾ teaspoon salt and black pepper. Brown the beef on all sides in two batches. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker. Add 1 teaspoon of the reserved bacon fat, mushrooms and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt to the pan; cook until mushrooms begin to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic, cook until aromatic and soft; 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir to combine. Transfer to the slow cooker. Add red wine and beef stock. Stir to create a homogenous liquid. Lay fresh herbs on top followed by the carrots. Cook on low 8 hours of high for 4 to 6 hours. Remove herbs before serving. 

NOTES: A dry red wine like merlot, pinot noir or cabernet sauvignon (or even a standard cooking wine) works. Consider that the dish will have tasting notes of the wine when choosing. 

Makes 5 cups. No Slow Cooker, No Problem! Use a Dutch Oven or a heavy oven-safe pot and bake in a 375F preheated oven for 2 1/2 hours, (check to be sure it has enough liquid after 1 1/2 hours) until the meat and vegetables are tender. 

NUTRITION INFO: 1¼ cups, Calories: 371kcal, Carbohydrates: 21.5g, Protein: 42g, Fat: 11.5g, Saturated Fat: 3.5g, Cholesterol: 105.5mg, Sodium: 936mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 9g

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)

Hello, dear readers! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl is my ten most anticipated books releasing in the first half of this year. Are you looking forward to reading any of these too? Let me know! Happy Tuesday! 

AUTHOR: Alice Fenney

NARRATORS: Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton

RATING: ★★★

RELEASE DATE: January 14th, 2025

REVIEW: It's a rare occasion when I read a mystery/suspense book. (I can't even remember the last time I read one). So, to choose this audiobook from NetGalley was a big leap for me, but I wanted something different, and overall I'm glad I picked this one. The narrators were wonderful. Richard Armitage has a deep, sexy voice and Tuppence Middleton's British accent was very soothing. This was also the first time I listened to an audiobook with sound effects, and I really enjoyed it because it made the book feel even more creepy and mysterious. (Especially the bits with walkie-talkies. Not going to give away any spoilers, but if you know, you know). The story itself was okay, but there were some parts that were a little too far-fetched and at times it could be very confusing. I did enjoy the suspense though, and I caught myself gasping and talking out loud several times, trying to warn the characters like they could actually hear me. This genre might not be my cup of tea, but I would still recommend it. 

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

DIRECTIONS: To make on the stove: In a small pot, heat vanilla shake over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until warm but not boiling, about 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the white chocolate chips. Stir constantly until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth, 30 to 60 seconds more. To make this in the microwave, pour shake in a large microwave safe mug with the white chocolate chips and microwave 1 ½ minutes, stirring well halfway, until heated through and the chocolate is melted and smooth. Top with whipped cream, if using and sprinkle with nutmeg. Pour into a large mug and top with whipped cream, if using and sprinkle with nutmeg. 

NOTES: *The flavor of this drink will depend on the vanilla protein shake you choose, so pick one you love. I don’t recommend using powdered protein here, as it tends to be too gritty and won’t blend well. I’ve tested several liquid protein shakes and found that Fairlife Nutrition Plan Vanilla and Orgain Clean Protein Shake in Vanilla Bean work best. For a vegan option, Ripple Vanilla is a fantastic choice. 

NUTRITION INFO: 1 ¼ cup, Calories: 279.5 kcal, Carbohydrates: 38 g, Protein: 15.5 g, Fat: 10.5 g, Saturated Fat: 3.5 g, Cholesterol: 23 mg, Sodium: 243 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 12 g

(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)