Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Review - The Mystery Guest
AUTHOR: Nita Prose
RATING: ★★★★
RELEASE DATE: November 28th, 2023
Summary (from Goodreads): When an acclaimed author dies at the Regency Grand Hotel, it's up to a fastidious maid to uncover the truth, no matter how dirty—in a standalone novel featuring Molly Gray, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick.
Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tea room floor.
When Detective Stark, Molly's old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know who killed J.D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?
As the case threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer's identity. But that key is buried deep in her past—because long ago, she knew J.D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery post-haste. If there's one thing Molly knows for sure, it's that dirty secrets don't stay buried forever...
REVIEW: The Maid is one of my favorite books, so I was thrilled to get my hands on The Mystery Guest. Molly Gray is such a wonderful character, and she will always remind me of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory in her mannerisms and the way she talks. Nita Prose is a genius with dialogue and description, and it's so easy to picture this wonderful world in my mind while I read her books. She brings every character to life - not just Molly - and I hope we get another glimpse inside the Regency Grand Hotel in the near future. Although The Maid is still my favorite of Nita's books, The Mystery Guest was enjoyable too. There were parts that felt a bit rushed, but in the end it's a great little whodunit, and I would gladly recommend it to everyone.
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Recipe - Greek Pasta Salad
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 16 oz pasta (rotini, cavatappi or bow ties), wheat or gluten-free
- 1/2 cup halved pitted kalamata olives, plus 2 tablespoons brine
- 1/3 cup red onion, diced
- 3 cups (from 1 large) English cucumber, diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, cubed
- fresh oregano, optional garnish
DIRECTIONS: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente, adding an extra minute.
Drain and rinse under cold water, drain.
Meanwhile, In a large bowl, combine the dressing ingredients.
Add the olives, red onion and brine from the olives and mix to combine.
Stir in the pasta with the cucumber, tomatoes and bell pepper and toss well. Add the cheese just before ready to serve.
(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Review - Hello Stranger
AUTHOR: Katherine Center
RATING: ★★★★
RELEASE DATE: July 11th, 2023
Summary (from Goodreads): Love isn’t blind, it’s just a little blurry.
Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality with every face she sees.
But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse.
If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.
REVIEW: Before reading this book, I had never heard of face blindness/prosopagnosia, so the plot really intrigued me. (Yes, it’s an actual medical condition). You can tell Katherine Center did a lot of research on the topic, and she explained it in a way that’s easy to understand. The heroine, Sadie, is a very likable character, and it was interesting seeing how her other senses came into play when her sight was altered. (For those who don’t know what face blindness/prosopagnosia is, Katherine described it as seeing disjointed puzzle pieces of someone’s face where their actual face should be). It’s hard for me to imagine not being able to know someone immediately just by seeing their face, but there are people out there who have to deal with this every day. I loved the dynamic between Sadie and her family, and the relationship between Sadie and the hero, Joe, was sweet and endearing. I’ve always been a fan of Katherine Center, and this book is another hit. I would gladly recommend it to everyone.
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)
Friday, July 7, 2023
Sullivan Book Nook July Update
Here is what’s available right now at my Little Free Library. If you see something you’d like to have, please come get it. You don’t have to leave a book to take one.
Monday, July 3, 2023
Recipe - American Macaroni Salad
- 2 cups dry elbow macaroni, cooked, rinsed, and drained
- 1/3 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup minced red onion, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, drained
- 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley
- 1/2 cup diced vine-ripened tomato (optional)
- 1/2 cup prepared mayonnaise
- 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, onion, parsley and tomato, if using. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sour cream and salt. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve. Store covered in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
(Recipe and photo courtesy of The Food Network)
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