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Queso!: Regional Recipes for the World's Favorite Chile-Cheese Dip
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
QUESO!: Regional Recipes for the World's Favorite Chile-Cheese Dip by Lisa Fain a cookbook dedicated queso. This book has a wide variety of different versions of one of our favorite game-time dips. Most do rely on processed cheese, but several use natural cheeses. 

The book explains the modern origin of Chile Con Queso, and tracks the history and regional differences of the dish. The recipes provided range from early appearances in magazines and Woman's clubs cooking publications, to restaurant versions that popularized the dish, and ending with modern vegan varieties.

It is a fun cookbook. Queso is incredibly comforting, delicious, and easy to make. Each recipe is presented with an explanation of the geographical origin of the version, and / or some tips on how to incorporate it into a meal. The recipes are straightforward, and easy to follow. The delicious entrees included prove that Queso is not merely a side or dip. I did not know that I needed a book completely about Chile Con Queso until I read this book.

I received this ARC from Ten Speed Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
  
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Book, Social Networking
9
8.8 (453 Ratings)
App Rating
Easy to find books (7 more)
Great for organizing books
Great way to get reading recommendations
Has a yearly reading challenge to motivate readers
Great place to read and write book reviews
Great place to keep up with what your friends are reading
Awesome reading community!
Has reading clubs/groups you can join.
Must have app
This is definitely my most used app on my phone right behind my kindle app. It’s definitely a must have for any avid reader.

This app makes it so easy to find books. I love that I can organize all the books that I’ve read and want to reading onto “book shelves.” Getting reading recommendations based on the books I’m reading and books that my friends are reading is great. I absolutely love that goodreads has a yearly reading challenge! There is just so much about this app that I love. Goodreads is really a fantastic community for readers! Highly recommend!
  
Bent (Destinations #1)
Bent (Destinations #1)
S.H. Timmins | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
of 250
Kindle
Bent (Destinations book 1)
By S.H. Timmins

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Alex Bradley has the life of a self-made Playboy. He owns one of the hottest clubs around with his two best friends. The women are plentiful and easily seduced by his good-looks and charm.One night he meets the woman of his most erotic fantasies. While high on lust over this vision of beauty, he makes a most painful mistake which alters his life.Join him as he shares his hilarious story by recounting the events that took him from an elusive playboy, to the perfect mate.



This was not what I expected at all!! Omg I couldn’t stop laughing all the way through it was so funny and witty as well as being romantic too. I genuinely enjoyed it and will be reading more!! I couldn’t put it down! A huge example of don’t judge a book by its cover.
  
Sarong Party Girls
Sarong Party Girls
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<a href="https://diaryofdifference.com/">Blog</a>; | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diaryofdifference/">Facebook</a>; | <a href="https://twitter.com/DiaryDifference">Twitter</a>; | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diaryofdifference/">Instagram</a>; | <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/diaryofdifference/pins/">Pinterest</a>;

<img src="https://diaryofdifference.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Book-Review-Banner-1.png"/>;

<b>A quick Chick-Lit, written in Singlish, an English-based patois that Singaporeans speak to each other. It was interesting and unique, and given the fact that I haven’t read anything like this before, I genuinely enjoyed the writing. This is my first book from Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan.
Our main heroine in this book is Jazzy, a 27-year-old, born and living in Singapore. In her mind, she is getting old and her time to get married is running out. </b>

But Jazzy doesn’t want to just marry anyone, especially not the Asian boys she keeps seeing in the clubs, or the ones that are so traditional and bring her mum soup in the mornings. She wants to marry an English Man, become rich, move abroad and have his babies.

To achieve this, Jazzy and her friends make a deal to start going into clubs and places and meet their perfect English men. They become Sarong Party Girls, and from chapter to chapter we read about new adventures and troubles that Jazzy gets herself into.

This book is unique in many ways, there are a lot of immoral scenes that teach us moral lessons. There is so much culture in this book and it’s nice to see how people tolerate moral levels differently in another part of the world.

I didn’t like Jazzy, and I didn’t agree with almost anything she was doing. From chapter to chapter she kept making stupid decisions, and even though she learnt a little bit in the end, she was still clueless at so many things, which I find annoying.

As much as I loved the refreshing taste of culture this book gave me, I also didn’t enjoy the main character at all, and am struggling to give it anything more than three stars.

<b><i>It is an amazing book, with quality writing that I am sure represents Singaporeans well, culture a plenty and many scenes that trigger discussions. But if you are looking for your perfect character, you won’t find this is Jazzy. You won’t find it in Sarong Party Girls. </i></b>

Thank you to ReadersFirst and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

<a href="https://diaryofdifference.com/">Blog</a>; | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diaryofdifference/">Facebook</a>; | <a href="https://twitter.com/DiaryDifference">Twitter</a>; | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diaryofdifference/">Instagram</a>; | <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/diaryofdifference/pins/">Pinterest</a>;
  
A Book Club to Die For
A Book Club to Die For
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Exclusive Book Clubs Lead to Murder
Tru Becket has been invited to speak at the exclusive Arete Society, a book club that has waiting lists to join. In fact, her friend Flossie is one of those waiting to get in, and she has come with Tru in order to plead her case. The meeting winds up being canceled, however, when Tru finds the group’s president dead in the kitchen. The police think that Hazel, this month’s hostess, snapped and killed the victim, but Tru doesn’t think so. Can she come up with an alternative suspect?

This book is a variation on the locked room mystery, and I have come to realize how much I enjoyed those added twists to the story. A couple of things were obvious early on, but overall, this was still a compelling mystery with suspects strong enough to keep you engaged. The series regulars are all here and are fantastic as well. There are some regulars who can get annoying, but they were kept in the background and added to the fun. And this book is fun. I laughed more than I had at the first two. One sub-plot in particular made me laugh every time it popped up. If you are looking for a light mystery, this is one you’ll enjoy.
  
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Book, Social Networking
9
8.8 (453 Ratings)
App Rating
Great way to keep track of everything you’re reading (4 more)
Motivational and keeps you on track of your goals
SUPER ORGANISED (for nerds like me who like to categorise everything)
Great way to make friends with similar interests and meet new people
Book clubs and groups for every genre - a home for everyone
App doesn’t allow you to access all content from the website (0 more)
Goodreads - Great App
I could go on and on about Goodreads and how great it is. I have yet to find any kind of book related app/website that is as superior and easy to navigate. It’s an incredible app to use for anyone who likes to keep their reading organised and likes to set reading goals. My only qualm is that the app doesn’t have full access to all of the amazing things on Goodreads, some have to be accessed by the website - however that being said, you have access to the important parts which enable you to keep on top of your reading on the move!
  
Emerald Flame (Flame #6)
Emerald Flame (Flame #6)
Caris Roane | 2017 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Emerald Flame (Flame #6) by Caris Roane
Emerald Flame is the sixth book in the Flame series by Caris Roane. We focus on Warren, Alpha of the Cordion pack, and Kiara, a witch who has worked closely with wolves in the past. In fact, she has set up a refuge centre for those that rescued from the various sex clubs. They spend time there, dealing with what has happened to them, and learning to fit in with pack life again. She likes Warren, Warren likes her, neither of them want anything long term. They are also working against Julio, who has taken over too many packs for their liking. When he attacks Ralph, a friend of both Warren and Kiara, things step up and the action kicks into gear.

This is a hot story, full of action and steaminess. With an alter wife thrown into the mix too, I wasn't sure where it would go, but I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It is smoothly written, with one scene flowing nicely into the next. There were no editing or grammatical errors that jumped out at me whilst I was reading it. The characters are all fully believable and behave in a realistic way. This is a full-length novel, and it was nice to be able to sink my teeth into it properly. I would highly recommend this book, and this series, to all lovers of the paranormal genre.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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AT (1676 KP) rated A Simple Favor in Books

Jan 3, 2019 (Updated Jan 3, 2019)  
A Simple Favor
A Simple Favor
Darcey Bell | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
6
5.3 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book from one of the Smashbomb giveaways in exchange for my review. I didn't think I'd like it very much because the movie trailer looked kind of stupid, but it was still exciting to see the package in the mail! (I haven't seen the movie yet, and don't know if I will.) I began the book not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. It read very smoothly, and had just enough tension at the beginning to keep me coming back. I enjoyed the story for quite awhile. Then the plot found its way into a weird twist. Not that I didn't expect some sort of twist. I just didn't expect the one character to be...like she was. For the rest of the novel, I wasn't sure how strange the plot was going to get. The story was tolerable for the most part and I was going to give it a higher rating, but I am not a fan of the ending. While I wasn't surprised by it, I wished that it would have ended in a different manner. Therefore, I'm a bit torn over my review. I didn't hate the story, itself, for a fictional escape, but the ending sunk the whole thing for me. I'd say that it's a decent beach read, if you're looking for something with a little suspense and mystery. I wouldn't recommend it to any deep-thinking book clubs, though.
  
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Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) Jan 4, 2019

By the third chapter, I have a feeling how this book is going to go and I'll be very surprised if it turns out otherwise. I, too, won it from Smashbomb and was looking forward to reading it, but the reviews seem lackluster so I'm not expecting much. The author is a preschool teacher and I have found that teachers, whether preschool, college, or anywhere in between don't make the best authors. They tend to find themselves too clever and make bad decisions with their plotlines.

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AT (1676 KP) Jan 4, 2019

It may or may not end the way you think it will, but since you're already not jumping for joy, no. You probably won't be wowed. Lol I definitely know the feeling!

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ClareR (5603 KP) rated Pity in Books

May 6, 2024  
Pity
Pity
Andrew McMillan | 2024 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, LGBTQ+
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Pity by Andrew McMillan is a compassionate book that’s as much about the town it’s set in (Barnsley) as it is about the people in it.

I can’t honestly tell you which parts I liked best: the thoughts of the miners as they trudged to the mine and worked there; the sociologists researching the history and decline of the town; and Simon, who works in a call centre by day and has a drag act in local clubs and bars at night. Each part blended with and gave explanations for every other component of this book, and explained the impact on the next generation.

Simon’s sections and the preparation for his show, where he would dress as Margaret Thatcher were particularly engaging. Her impact on ex-mining towns are clearly still apparent, and Simons alter ego, Puttana Short Dress, appears dressed as the Iron Lady with the slogan “This turn is not a lady!” - it’s a genius act!

I was left wondering where Simon and Ryan’s relationship would go, as Ryan seemed unhappy about Simon wearing his makeup on the journey home after his act had finished. Could he accept Simon - ALL of Simon?

This was a short read, that I would happily have read if it was twice (or more!) the length - it was all over too soon!

Recommended.
  
Shrines of Gaiety
Shrines of Gaiety
Kate Atkinson | 2022 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What can I write to do this book justice, other than say “just read it?” I have to admit to not having read much Kate Atkinson before - only the first Jackson Brodie novel, which I loved - but I really feel I should read more of her books!

Shrines of Gaiety is set in the 1920’s, post First World War, and encompasses post war life with all of its excesses, poverty, grief and debauchery.

Nellie Coker is a self made woman who owns a series of nightclubs in London. She’s a single mother, and five of her six children help her to run her empire (the sixth is too young). How she came to own these clubs is a mystery. But the chances are that it wasn’t legal money!

Then there are the 14 year old runaways, Freda and Florence, who want to take to the stage to find fame and fortune.

Detective Chief Inspector Frobisher is determined to bring Nellie Coker and her corrupt empire down, as well as the corrupt police officers that support her. He also becomes involved in the search for the two runaways, thanks to Gwendoline Kelling, a librarian who has inherited a considerable amount of money. She’s a friend of one of the runaways sister, and vows to find her.

I won’t just regurgitate the story, that’s no fun, and you need to read this book for yourself! Needless to say, I loved these characters - the whole novel in fact! It’s a gripping, entertaining story, and it was a joy to read.

Very highly recommended.

Oh, and for the book cover fans, it’s a gorgeous one!