Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Review - The Astral Library
AUTHOR: Kate Quinn
RATING: ★★★
RELEASE DATE: February 17th, 2026
Summary (from Goodreads): Alexandria “Alix” Watson has learned one lesson from her barren childhood in the foster-care system: unlike people, books will never let you down. Working three dead-end jobs to make ends meet and knowing college is a pipe dream, Alix takes nightly refuge in the high-vaulted reading room at the Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels and dreaming of far-off lands. Until the day she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives...inside their favorite books.
The Librarian takes a dazzled Alix under her wing, but before she can escape into the pages of her new life, a shadowy enemy emerges to threaten everyone the Astral Library has ever helped protect. Aided by a dashing costume-shop owner, Alix and the Librarian flee through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen to the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes and the champagne-soaked parties of The Great Gatsby as danger draws inexorably closer. But who does their enemy really wish to destroy—Alix, the Librarian, or the Library itself?
REVIEW: First off, let me say that I’m a huge Kate Quinn fan, and I’m SO thankful she wrote a story that pays homage to books, libraries, and librarians. As a librarian myself, this really made my heart smile and made me even more proud of my profession. I love how Kate highlighted the infinite value of libraries and librarians and the numerous trials we are, unfortunately, dealing with right now, like budget cuts and censorship. Now, with that being said, I was honestly a bit disheartened with other aspects of The Astral Library. Namely, the political correctness that felt forced and out of place throughout the whole story, like it was put there just to reach a certain market or audience. It left a bad taste in my mouth, and that’s all I’m going to say about it. Every reader is different and will have their own opinion, as it should be. Overall, I would recommend this book, and it was nice seeing Kate branch out to a different genre, but I hope this won’t become the norm from here on out with her books. I would choose her historical work over and over again, but from now on I’ll be more picky with her other genres.
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own).
Top Ten Tuesday - Book Covers with Fall Vibes
1. Autumn Getaway by Jennifer Gracen
2. The False Flat by Melissa R. Collings
3. In Italy for Love by Leonie Mack
4. The Make Up by Hailey Gardiner
5. November 9 by Colleen Hoover
6. Pumpkin Spice and Not So Nice by Becky Monson
7. All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain
8. Coming Home to Starr’s Fall by Kate Hewitt
9. Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
10. If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Recipe - Chicken Corn Chowder
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or dairy-free butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour or gluten-free flour
- 2 ½ cups corn, fresh or frozen kernels, divided (1 cup for blending and 1 1/2 cup left whole)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 lb chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 8 oz each Yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoes, peeled (one diced and one cut in quarters for mashing later)
- 4 cups chicken broth or chicken bone broth
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- Chopped scallions or chives, for garnish
- Optional: If you want it creamier you can stir in some half and half or drizzle with cream at the end.
DIRECTIONS: Add the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large heavy pot or Dutch oven. When melted, add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic to the skillet and sauté until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and sauté about 2 minutes, to cook out.
Meanwhile, blend 1 cup corn with 1 cup of the broth until mostly smooth. Add to the pot along with paprika, chicken, potatoes and remaining corn kernels. Pour in the chicken broth just enough to cover ingredients and bring to a boil.
Cover and simmer on low, 22 to 25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
Remove the quartered potato, mash until smooth, and stir it back into the chowder. Shred the chicken with two forks. Taste the soup, adjust salt and pepper to taste, pour into 6 bowls, and garnish with fresh herbs.
NUTRITION INFO: 1 1/2 cups, Calories: 378 kcal, Carbohydrates: 41 g, Protein: 16 g, Fat: 15 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 36 mg, Sodium: 643 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 7 g
(Recipe and photo courtesy of Skinnytaste)
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Review - The Secret Book Society
AUTHOR: Madeline Martin
NARRATOR: Saskia Maarleveld
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society…
London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club—a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.
Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands’ untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.
As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything.
REVIEW: Another wonderful book by Madeline Martin! If you love stories about female empowerment and sisterhood, then The Secret Book Society is definitely one you should add to your to-be-read list. I truly loved the friendship and camaraderie between Lady Duxbury, Eleanor, Lavinia, and Rose. Each of them have their own individual struggles and heartaches, and the way they stand up for each other and cheer each other on is so endearing. I found myself rooting for them also, and I lost count of the many times I clapped loudly and yelled "You go, girl!" while driving and listening to this audiobook. LOL. Madeline Martin is such an amazing storyteller, and her words flow effortlessly and beautifully. Also, I feel like I'm always learning something new (historically) when I read her work, and this time was no different. I didn't realize during this time period how many women were sent to mental institutions just for not bending to the "rules" of this era, when it was looked down upon for women to read and - heaven forbid - have their own thoughts and opinions. And what can I say about my favorite narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, that I haven't already said countless times before? She is simply incredible. I would happily listen to her recite the alphabet over and over again. When she and Madeline Martin join forces on a story, it's pure magic.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Review: Twelve Children’s Books I’ve Adored Recently
It's not often I read children’s books, but now that I have grandchildren I find myself sampling more of them on NetGalley. I don’t order many at work because, unfortunately, there are very few children in the tiny community where my library is located. Luckily, though, three other libraries in our system reside next door to schools, and they have plenty of little patrons, so I enjoy sharing children’s book recommendations with those librarians. Below are some I’ve loved and recommended recently:
1. Just Enough Room for Christmas by Robin Currie
2. The Pumpkin Who Stayed for Christmas by Kelley M. Likes
3. The Heart that Found You by Anna Schocket
4. 12 Little Elves Save Christmas by Stephanie Campisi
5. Sploot by SaDonna Heathman
6. Waiting for Max: A NICU Story by Emily Rosen
7. Never Let a Unicorn Wear a Tutu by Diane Alber
8. Never Let a Unicorn Meet a Reindeer by Diane Alber
9. Never Let a Unicorn Get Spots by Diane Alber
10. You are Beloved by Jenny and Rev. Chris Lee
11. When Santa Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher
12. The Bumpy Pumpkin by Natalie Horseman
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