by Angela Zontek Rea Frey’s latest novel hits the ground running so fast, it almost launched out of my hands. The first page doesn’t just hook you, it reaches out, grabs you by the collar, and pulls you into a desperate woman’s trek up a perilous mountainside in the dark. Because You're Mine made my … Continue reading Because You’re Mine by Rea Frey
by Angela Garrison Zontek If you aren’t familiar with Sean of the South, then you’re not living your best life. Sean Dietrich’s take on the American South is warm, tender, and above all other things – hilarious. His latest novel, Stars of Alabama, does not disappoint. It’s the kind of book where you build relationships … Continue reading We’re Reading Stars of Alabama by Sean Dietrich
by Angela Garrison Zontek In their first cookbook, Jessica and Stephen Rose ask readers to consider what peaches mean to them. For me, peaches mean all the wonders of a hot Georgia summer—bare feet, lightning bugs in mason jars, and lazy afternoons at the farmer’s market. I grew up eating peaches off the tree, whole … Continue reading We’re Reading The Peach Truck Cookbook by Jessica Rose and Stephen Rose
by Angela Garrison Zontek “One thing she knows about lies - once they start to stack up, they can topple over, crushing you under the weight of them.” There’s nothing like small-town drama, no? I grew up in one -- a place where it feels like everyone knows everyone -- but despite the sharing … Continue reading We’re Reading Only Ever Her by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
by Angela Garrison Zontek The value of a book should be measured by the amount of sleep you’re willing to sacrifice for the ending. In sleep currency, Dear Wife is a two-pots-of-coffee-the-next-morning kind of story. Despite having small children that wake up before dawn, I was up well past midnight—not one, but two nights … Continue reading We’re Reading Dear Wife By Kimberly Belle
by Chika Gujarathi One of life’s simplest joys, I think, is the feeling you get when walking into a bakery and finding a display case filled to the brim with beautifully baked pastries. In that moment, it rarely matters how old we are, rather, we’re transformed into kids in a candy store - we … Continue reading We’re Reading Botanical Baking by Juliet Sear
by Chika Gujarathi Set in the tiny fictional community of Waves, North Carolina in the Outer Banks, is Jenny Hale’s newest romantic novel, The Summer House. As someone who loves to align her reading with the current season, I was so excited to pick up this book which is filled with new beginnings, friendships, and … Continue reading We’re Reading The Summer House by Jenny Hale
by Chika Gujarathi Gardening and I have never been friends, and, thanks to my husband and his enviable green thumb, it’s a skill I’ve never really needed to master. In fact, so brown is my thumb that pulling weeds - in essence, killing plants - is the primary role I play in any gardening-related activity … Continue reading We’re Reading Field Guide to Urban Gardening by Kevin Espiritu
by Rea Frey Helen Ellis is the type of woman you immediately want as your friend. A sweet, well-mannered southerner who lives in New York, her thick drawl doesn’t hide how smart and sassy she really is. Case in point? When asked about her southern accent, she said it’s her best accessory. “It’s … Continue reading An Interview with Helen Ellis, Author of Southern Lady Code
by Chika Gujarthi It wasn’t long ago when cookbooks started layering personal essays with recipes as a way to evoke our interest beyond just the ingredients and methods. Using a similar spin is Kerry Bogert’s expertly curated Coffeehouse Knits - Knitting Patterns and Essays with Robust Flavor, which provides a perfect combination of know-how and … Continue reading We’re Reading Coffeehouse Knits by Kerry Bogert
by Chika Gujarathi When I recently came across the chance to review Geoffrey Fisher’s Slingshots & Key Hooks: 15 Everyday Objects Made from Foraged and Gathered Wood, it was nearly impossible to say no. This is quite a strange decision because I am not, nor have I ever been, a carpenter, a woodworker, or even a … Continue reading We’re Reading 15 Everyday Objects Made From Foraged and Gathered Wood
by Angela Garrison Zontek Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis is a literary cocktail of hilarious insights, snark, and shockingly good advice—best consumed with a vodka lemonade (and a shortbread cookie). Helen Ellis is the beloved author of Eating the Cheshire Cat and American Housewife. In her latest book, Southern Lady Code, she speaks to her readers … Continue reading We’re Reading Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis
by Anika Williams Don't marry into murder. No Good Tea Goes Unpunished is the second book in the Seaside Café Mysteries series by Bree Baker. Set in a coastal community, it’s a fabulous breezy mystery for anyone looking for a little fun with a side of danger. Tea shop owner, Everly Swan is back home in Charm, North … Continue reading We’re Reading No Good Tea Goes Unpunished by Bree Baker