The Book Tour Stops Here: A Partial Review of The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm, Served with Penne with Roasted Eggplant Puree

Last year I was on the TLC Book Tour for The Secrets of Ohnita Harbor by Patricia Crisafulli, the first book in the Ohnita Harbor Mystery Series and today, I am happy to be a stop on the tour for book two, The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm. This will be a partial review as I was having challenges with my e-book ARC and it's taking me longer than I expected to read it. So, I'll just post my initial thoughts along with a recipe inspired by my reading. 

Publisher's Blurb:

On a beautiful September afternoon, a hike through the pristine wild of Still Waters Chasm become a path of mystery and deadly danger for Gabriela Domenici and her boyfriend, Daniel Red Deer. First, they take a side trail to an inexplicable construction site in the middle of the woods, where every tree has been cut down and a huge truck bearing strange-looking equipment is parked in the middle. As they continue their hike to the lake, they find a man convulsing with his last breaths, not far from the lifeless body of a woman. After going for help, Gabriela and Daniel return to the scene—only to find the two people and their canoe and gear are gone. It seems impossible that two bodies could revive and leave on their own, but there is no other explanation. 

When she conducts a library outreach program in the rural Town of Livery, near Still Waters Chasm, Gabriela discovers a community that is both curious and suspicious. There, she meets Lucinda Nanz, an herbalist whose encyclopedic knowledge of plants for help and harm is both fascinating and troubling, and Wendy Haughton, a young woman who desperately wants to sell an old drawing of unknown origin so she can escape her abusive husband. Despite the state police's warnings to stay out of the investigation, and Daniel's urging to not get involved, Gabriela cannot stay away from Livery and Still Waters Chasm—which puts her on a collision course with yet another murder and people who will stop at nothing to prevent her from getting too close to the truth that could destroy chasm. 

Publisher: Woodhall Press (September 5, 2023)

Paperback: 220 pages

My Thoughts So Far:

I am at about 35% of the book and find myself caught up in the story. Gabriela is suffering from PTSD from the first book when she was nearly killed. (I won't say more due to spoilers and I do always recommend starting at the beginning of a series even if there is enough info given to catch you up on what happened in the second book.) Being a book lover, I like that Gabriela is a Director of Circulation and Head of Programing of the Ohnita Harbor Library (which is in a castle-like building in town). In this book she is trying too create can outreach program in a local community in nearby Still Waters Chasm but some mysterious goings on and a couple of murders are getting in the way. I will come back and give my full review soon as I think, even though it's a challenge with the ARC format, I really want to know what happens. 

Food Inspiration: 

Even at 35% in, there is plenty of food in this book. Gabriela and her Italian mother cook frequently so there is mention of eggplant parmigiana, pasta, salad, steak, meatballs, cookies, lemonade, fruit punch, tea, berries, maple syrup, salmon, eggs, bread, pies, preserves, potatoes, apples, honey, zucchini, chard, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, bananas, yogurt, milk, popcorn, fried perch, Cobb salad, fish sandwich and fries, beer and red wine so far. 

For my bookish dish, I decided on pasta with eggplant as Gabriela's mother, Agnese, says Gabriela's son eats too much pasta when she finds out she is serving leftover eggplant farm to her boyfriend for dinner and planning to feed Ben Can there be such a thing?

Giada's Penne with Roasted Eggplant Puree is an old favorite. I posted this recipe in 2011.

Penne with Roasted Eggplant Puree
Adapted from "Giada's Kitchen" by Giada De Laurentiis
(4 to 6 Servings)

1 medium eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pint cherry tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, whole (I used 5 cloves)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 pound penne pasta
1/4 cup torn fresh mint leaves
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan (I used feta cheese)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine the eggplant, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red

pepper flakes. Spread the vegetables out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the vegetables are tender and the eggplant is golden, about 35 minutes.

While the vegetables are roasting, place the pine nuts in a small baking dish. Place in the oven on the rack below the vegetables. Roast until golden, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and reserve.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta into a large bowl and reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid.

Transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor. Add the torn mint leaves and extra-virgin olive oil. Puree the vegetables.

Transfer the pureed vegetables to the bowl with the pasta and add the Parmesan. Stir to combine, adding the pasta cooking liquid 1/2 cup at a time until the pasta is saucy. Sprinkle the pine nuts over the top and serve.

My Notes/Results: This makes a nice chunky sauce with good flavor. I like the combination of the roasted veggies with the coolness of the mint and the slight kick from the red pepper. I used 5 large cloves of garlic in mine and liked the extra flavor--since it roasts along with the eggplant and tomato it doesn't overpower. I think the Parmesan called for in the recipe would have been good too, but I couldn't resist adding the feta--which I needed to use up anyway, and it went nicely with the mint and pine nuts. I used a multi-grain penne pasta to get a little more fiber in and the thick sauce held up well to it. This is a great hearty vegetarian dish, although adding a little sausage certainly would be delicious too. 

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Note: A review copy of "The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.  

You can see the stops for the rest of this TLC Book Tour and learn what other reviewers thought about the book below.

Thursday, September 28th: @donasbooks

Thursday, September 28th: @subakka.bookstuff and Subakka.bookstuff

Friday, September 29th: @strandedinchaos9438

Monday, October 2nd: @aimeedarsreads

Wednesday, October 4th: @paws.read.repeat 

Friday, October 6th: @fashionablyfifty

Monday, October 9th: Bookchickdi

Wednesday, October 11th:  Kahakai Kitchen

Thursday, October 12th: @kristens.reading.nook

Sunday, October 15th: @literally_lit_in_miami 

Monday, October 16th: What is That Book About

Wednesday, October 18th: Girl Who Reads

Thursday, October 19th: @always_reading1

Friday, October 20th: @chicagobooklover 

Monday, October 23rd: Books Cooks Looks

Friday, November 3rd: @welovebigbooksandwecannotlie

TBD: Friday, September 29th: Laura’s Reviews

 

Everything But The Bagel & Nova Salmon Cottage Cheese Bowl for Cook the Books June/July Pick: Food Americana

Time again for Cook the Books, our bi-monthly virtual foodie book club. For June/July, our pick is Food Americana: The Remarkable People and Incredible Stories behind America’s Favorite Dishes by David Page, hosted by Simona of Briciole.

Publisher's Blurb:

David Page changed the world of food television by creating, developing, and executive-producing the groundbreaking show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Now from this two-time Emmy winner comes Food Americana, an entertaining mix of food culture, pop culture, nostalgia, and everything new on the American plate.

The remarkable history of American food. What is American cuisine, what national menu do we share, what dishes have we chosen, how did they become “American,” and how are they likely to evolve from here? David Page answers all these questions and more.

Engaging, insightful, and often humorous. The inside story of how Americans have formed a national cuisine from a world of flavors. Sushi, pizza, tacos, bagels, barbecue, dim sum―even fried chicken, burgers, ice cream, and many more―were born elsewhere and transformed into a unique American cuisine.

Mango (May 4, 2021)

I like foodie non-fiction and food origin stories so that made Food Americana an enjoyable read. At 214 pages, it's a quick read too, making it optimal for summer and the for how busy life is lately. A lot of the information was not new to me but written in an engaging way that also managed to make me quite hungry as we tour through pizza, Mexican food, barbecue, fried chicken and chicken sandwiches, sushi, bagels, chicken wings, burgers, Chinese food, lobster rolls, oysters and other seafood, and ice cream. As a creator and producer of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Page knows how to keep it interesting and I'd recommend it to any foodie looking for a good read. 

There was plenty of food inspiration in the book and a recipe for a food mentioned followed each chapter. I considered making ice cream, sushi, or a lobster roll but decided, as usual, I was down to a time crunch also, it's been warm and humid, and I have been trying to eat better and lighter lately, so quick, easy, and no-cook was what I was craving. 

Although my new job has me working from home which lessens my commute, it also means that I need to come up with quick and easy, healthy home lunches. A new favorite way to get lots of protein is making cottage cheese bowls. Cottage cheese has had a big comeback this year and has become the cauliflower of the healthy eating world. I decided to take inspiration from the chapter on bagels and make a bowl with Nova salmon and everything but the bagel-spiced cottage cheese, along with some other toppings that might be found on a bagel and some Everything But the Bagel Chips. 

This isn't a recipe--it really just involves mixing some (in my case Trader Joe's) Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (about a tablespoon) into a cup of cottage cheese along with a squirt of lemon juice and (if desired) a bit of horseradish. I like to mix it in in the morning so the flavors get a chance to meld and it's less "crunchy." Everything else--smoked salmon (I used Acme Nova from Brooklyn), capers, sliced baby cucumber, baby tomatoes, dill, red onions (I made some quick pickled ones) and the chips, just need to be arranged in a large dinner bowl. Add anything you like and/or take away what you don't. If cottage cheese isn't your thing you could yogurt or even a scoop of rice. I think rye or pumpernickel toast would make a nice dipper too. 

Notes/Results: Quick, tasty and satisfying, this is the perfect lunch or dinner when you don't feel like cooking. I will happily make it again. 

As usual, I am right at the deadline for this Cook the Books round (July 31st) and Simona will be rounding things up on the CTB Club website soon, but if you like food, books, and foodie books, join us for August/September when I'll be hosting the epistolary novel, Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food and Love by Kim Fay.  

The Book Tour Stops Here: A Review of The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson, Served with a Recipe for Carrot-Pineapple Cupcakes

I am excited to be today's stop on the TLC Book Tour for the buzz-worthy new novel The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson. Accompanying my review is a recipe for Carrot Pineapple Cupcakes with Apricot Cream Frosting that fits the essence of the book. 

Publisher's Blurb:

From the award-winning author of Yellow Wife, a daring and redemptive novel set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his par­ents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.

                                                    Publisher: Simon & Schuster (February 7, 2023) 
                                                                            Hardcover: 384 pages

My Review: 

I had a feeling I was going to enjoy The House of Eve from the start--historical fiction is my jam. I had to keep reminding myself not to order it from my monthly book club subscription because I had signed up for the tour--especially hard when publishing got delayed for the very good reason that it was picked for Reese Witherspoon's book club and it started generating lots of buzz. It's great when a book gets a lot of hype, and ends up deserving it. Sadeqa Johnson has written a compelling story about strong young black women and the hardships and choices they faced in the 1950s. 

Teenage Ruby doesn't have an easy life, left to live with her aunt when her uncaring mother's boyfriend focuses his attention on her. She is studying hard to gain a scholarship and be the first one in her family to attend college when she meets a young Jewish boy and their hidden relationship results in pregnancy. Eleanor is attending Howard University when she meets William, studying to be a doctor and from one of the upper crust black families in Washington DC. They are in love, but his mother doesn't approve and isn't happy when pregnancy speeds up their marriage plans. Their stories are told in different ways, Ruby's in first person and Eleanor's in third person, which I wasn't sure was going to work, but it did. Both of their stories and how they dealt with their circumstances were engrossing and I found myself quickly caught up in their plights. 

The House of Eve is not a light read, but it's a good and ultimately hopeful one. I appreciated the author's afterword about how she came to write the novel and the lack of information compiled and published on unwed black women. She noted, "I'm drawn to writing historical fiction because I feel charged to tell the truth about American history, whether grim or happy." Sadeqa Johnson is a talent and her storytelling has me moving her novel, Yellow Wife, up to the top of my TBR pile.   

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Author Notes: Sadeqa Johnson is the award-winning author of four novels, including Yellow Wife. Her accolades include the National Book Club Award, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the USA Best Book Award for Best Fiction. She is a Kimbilio Fellow, former board member of the James River Writers, and a Tall Poppy Writer. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and three children. To learn more, visit SadeqaJohnson.net.

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There were food mentions throughout the book such as scrapple, okra, and fried fish, tuna salad, chocolate-covered pretzels, ice cream and candy, chicken soup with matzoh balls, pastrami sandwiches, spaghetti, seafood salad, wilted spinach, cocktail shrimp, cheese and Ritz crackers, stew, avocado with vegetables, sweet tea, biscuits, crab cakes and sunny-side-up eggs, and poundcake, pies and baked goods.

When William is seeking forgiveness from Eleanor, he brings her a big piece of carrot cake from the bakery. It made me crave a good carrot cake, and so I decided to showcase these carrot cupcakes I made back in 2009. They lean to the healthy as they are from a spa cookbook, but they are delicious--the pineapple and applesauce make them very moist. 

Carrot-Pineapple Cake with Apricot Cream Frosting

Adapted from Cooking With the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta

(Makes one 8-inch cakes or 12 cupcakes)

The book says, "Most carrot cakes deliver healthy ingredients with loads of fat. In this very simple, moist cake, applesauce is substituted for the usual oil, and crushed pineapple adds moistness and flavor. The cake is delicious even without the creamy frosting--try serving it lightly dusted with powdered sugar, alongside a citrus salad or fresh pineapple."  

2 eggs

zest of 1 orange

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup applesauce

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups grated carrots

1 1/4 cups drained crushed pineapple in juice

1/2 cup shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened

Apricot Cream Frosting:

6 dried apricots, cut into 1/4-inch dice

4 oz Neufchatel or low-fat cream cheese

1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted

1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly brush an 8-inch pan with oil. 

Beat the eggs with the orange zest and sugar until thick. Stir in the applesauce and the vanilla. Sift the flours, baking powder, and baking soda into a large bowl. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture, then fold in the carrots, pineapple, and coconut.

Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool completely.

To make the frosting, soak the apricots in hot water until they are very soft. Drain thoroughly. With a hand mixer, whip the Neufchatel until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar and the 1/4 tsp vanilla, fold in the apricots. Spread the frosting evenly over the top of the cooked cake, and cut into thin wedges to serve. 

Note: The cookbook suggests variations such as adding 1/2 cup golden raisins, soaked and drained to batter, sprinkling the chopped apricots over the cake instead of mixing them in the frosting, adding chopped pecans to the batter, or making it as a loaf cake or cupcakes.

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Note: A review copy of "The House of Eve" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.  

You can see the stops for the rest of this TLC Book Tour and learn what other reviewers thought about the book below.

Book Review Tour Stops:

Friday, March 3rd: @bookmom22
Friday, March 3rd: IG: @mamabookwormreads  and TT: @mamabookwormreads 
Friday, March 3rd: @addictedtobooks86
Saturday, March 4th: @stephreadsalot on TikTok 
Monday, March 6th: @notinjersey – REVIEW
Monday, March 6th: @storytimewithshelbs on TikTok 
Wednesday, March 8th: @subakka.bookstuff – REVIEW
Wednesday, March 8th: @lindahamiltonwriter on TikTok – REVIEW
Thursday, March 9th: Run Wright and @karen_runwrightreads – REVIEW
Thursday, March 9th: @bookdragon217 – REVIEW
Friday, March 10th: 5 Minutes for Books – REVIEW
Friday, March 10th: Kahakai Kitchen – REVIEW
Monday, March 13 th: Helen’s Book Blog – REVIEW
Tuesday, March 14th: Books Cooks Looks – REVIEW
Wednesday, March 15th: @rachellelovesbooks – REVIEW

 

The Book Tour Stops Here: A Review of Cinderella and the Duke by Lydia Drake, Served with Recipes for Two Sweet & Tart Lemon "Puddings"

I'm excited to be today's stop on the TLC Book Tour for Cinderella and the Duke by Lydia Drake. Accompanying my review of this Regency romance are links to two sweet and tart lemon desserts. 

Publisher's Blurb:

Miss Julia Beaumont has exactly one night to find herself a husband…

The Weatherford Ball is the last chance Julia Beaumont has to escape the clutches of her horrid stepmother. Any potential husband will do–rich, poor, even a reasonably well-groomed walrus. But all of Julia’s matrimonial chances are completely obliterated…thanks to the actions of an infuriating and utterly rakish duke.

Gregory Carter, Duke of Ashworth, would never risk his cherished bachelorhood by flirting with marriage-starved debutantes. But one look at the luscious and refreshingly clever Julia, and he simply can’t resist a stolen kiss–scandal be damned. Then just as things start getting deliciously interesting, the lady flees…leaving only a slipper behind.

And it must have been one dandy of a kiss. Because now Julia has proposed to him. After all, the lady needs a husband, and this roguish duke will certainly do. It’s simply a matter of making him the perfect scandalous offer…

Publisher: Entangled: Amara (December 27, 2022)

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages

My Review:

Cinderella and the Duke was a cute Regency romance and fairytale retelling but I feel slightly mislead. I signed up for the book tour after reading a description that said, "The clock strikes midnight with Lydia Drake's sparkling new Regency series that blends Pride and Prejudice and Cinderella in one romantic romp." So, as I am reading through the book, I can't figure out how this story has Pride and Prejudice in its blend components and I go back to Amazon, and there is NOTHING there that mentions P&P. I start thinking maybe I was crazy (always a possibility) and then I finally find the blurb on the book description on Litsy. Anyway, I might not have signed up if I had known it was only a Cinderella-ish story (there's an evil stepmother and a left-behind shoe), but the book was engaging enough and the heroine charming enough that I enjoyed it. It's a debut for author Lydia Drake and I liked the humor, especially the wit and banter back and forth between Julia and Gregory. As often in romance and historical romance, there are misunderstandings that could have easily been cleared up with some communication and a few plot points that seemed a bit forced but overall, if you like Regency romances with a fair about of spice and fairytale vibes, you should enjoy it. 

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Author Notes: Lydia Drake is a reader of all things romance and a drinker of all the tea. A New Jersey resident, her favorite activities include taking the train to New York City, scouring used bookstores, spending time with her family, and wrangling her hyperactive cockapoo puppy. She loves talking romance with her fans.

Connect with Lydia on Instagram: @the_lydia_drake

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For food inspiration, there's not a lot--mainly tea and pastries, picnics and pastries, and a bowl of stew and a beer at an inn. For an old-fashioned-ish English dessert, I would recommend either one of the lemon desserts below from Nigel Slater.  The combination of tart and sweet reminds me of the personality of the main character too!

A lemon posset for raspberries, mulberries, and the like From Ripe by Nigel Slater

Lemoncello Syllabub, also by Nigel Slater

Note: A review copy of "Cinderella and the Duke" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.  

You can see the stops for the rest of this TLC Book Tour and learn what other reviewers thought about the book below.

Book Tour Review Stops:

Monday, January 2nd: Laura’s Reviews  and @laurasreviews_1

Monday, January 2nd: Romantic Reads and Such

Wednesday, January 4th: @daniereads87

Thursday, January 5th: @ladywithaquill

Thursday, January 5th: Books, Cooks, Looks

Friday, January 6th: @sarahs.bookstack

Monday, January 9th: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, January 11th: @infinite.readlist

Wednesday, January 11th: @plottrysts

Wednesday, January 11th: Becky on Books

Thursday, January 12th: Kahakai Kitchen

Friday, January 13th: Stranded in Chaos

Tuesday, January 17th: @1bookmore and One Book More 

Tuesday, January 17th: Jathan & Heather

Wednesday, January 18th: @temmathomas

Thursday, January 19th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Friday, January 20th: @sarahs.bookish.reviews 

 

The Book Tour Stops Here: A Review of Imperfect Angel by Christi Barth, Served with Greek-Style Orzo Salad

Happy Aloha Friday! I am happy to be today's stop on the TLC Book Tour for a new paranormal romance, Imperfect Angel by Christi Barth. Accompanying my review is a link to a recipe for Greek-Style Orzo Salad inspired by the reading. 

Publisher's Blurb:

Three days ago, all Maisy Norgate had was a stack of bills, about a gazillion jobs, and her sunny-as-hell outlook. Now, thanks to an uncle she never knew about, she’s inherited an ornate skeleton key with absolutely no idea what it’s for–or why she has it. Which is exactly when a ridiculously handsome guy claiming to be an angel shows up at her door and all hell breaks loose…

Nephilim Rhys Boyce cannot believe that Maisy is the new Keeper of the Key. Why would anyone bequeath this warm, bubbly redhead the key to Hell? And to make matters worse, she’s given the key to the first person who asked for it. A demon. Yep, Maisy is determined to make his job–not to mention some seriously inconvenient temptation–as hard as possible.

First a half angel with a very human chip on his shoulder must find a way to convince Maisy that angels and demons do exist. Then Rhys will have to break the really bad news…that she might have accidentally ended the world.

My Review:

If you looked up peppy and optimistic in the dictionary, you would likely find Maisy Norgate's picture there. In spite of the fact she lost her parents at a young age and is currently doing multiple odd jobs when she really wants to be an artist doesn't get her down. When she gets an inheritance from an uncle she ever knew she had and it turns out to be an old ornate key, she promptly gives it away as she has no use for it and that's a mistake. Her uncle was the last "Keeper of the Key" and now that responsibility of keeping the gates of Hell locked and the demons inside has fallen to her. Rhys Boyce is Nephilim, a half human, half angel warrior and a grumpy, pessimistic one at that.  He and his friends and partners Gideon and Zavier are freelance warriors and tasked with protecting Maisy during her transition to Keeper with some pretty serious consequences if they can't get the key back and get her transitioned in two weeks. 

I was looking for something light and fun and Imperfect Angel was that--a paranormal romance with some snark thrown in was a great escape from some other reads I had going. It has some spice and steam, angels and demons and some definite steam and spice. Maisy and Rhys are a likable pair, complete opposites in personality and lots of snarky banter. Gideon and Zavier and Maisy's best friend and roommate Liss are entertaining too. There are no big surprises here but it is an engaging, endearing and quick read. This is my first book from the author and I hope that she returns with another story set in this world. 

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Author Notes: USA Today bestselling author Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes award-winning contemporary romance, including the Aisle Bound series.

Christi can always be found either whipping up gourmet meals (for fun, honest!) or with her nose in a book. She lives in Maryland with the best husband in the world. 

Connect with her at christibarth.com

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There was some food inspiration in the book. Maisy works a coffee shop and decorates the cupcakes, cookies and other pastries and there are beers and cocktails. Phish Food ice cream is Rhys's favorite and Maisy cooks him a dinner of Greek turkey meatballs with lemon orzo and tzatziki.  Since I love Greek food, I am linking up this Greek-Style Orzo Salad, adapted from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. You can find the link to the recipe here.

Note: A review copy of "Imperfect Angel" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.  

You can see the stops for the rest of this TLC Book Tour and learn what other reviewers thought about the book below.

Reviews:

Wednesday, November 2nd: Romantic Reads and Such

Wednesday, November 2nd: @books.with.courtney

Wednesday, November 2nd: @booksandcoffeemx

Thursday, November 3rd: From the TBR Pile

Friday, November 4th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers 

Friday, November 4th: temmathomas

Monday, November 7th: @readaholicdeb

Tuesday, November 8th: @transportedlfl

Wednesday, November 9th: @nerdy_book_lover_1987

Wednesday, November 9th: Stranded in Chaos

Saturday, November 12th: @thealissadecimalsystem

Monday, November 14th: @randi_reads 

Tuesday, November 15th: @beastreader and Cheryl’s Book Nook 

Wednesday, November 16th: @shopcoffeekids

Wednesday, November 16th: @books_n_yogapants

Thursday, November 17th: @biblio.jojo

Thursday, November 17th: @books_wine_and_sunshine

Friday, November 18th: @whatkarinareads

Friday, November 18th: Kahakai Kitchen