A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev

Hello again!

Last weeks novel was A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev.

I haven’t reviewed a romance novel here before. I tend to shy away from them, since they can so frequently be glaringly formulaic and convoluted. I picked this up on a quick run through the library, pulled by the lovely cover. I didn’t realize from my quick peek at the blurb that it was a romance novel, but I don’t regret picking it up.

Mili married Virat when she was only 4 years old. 20 years later, she’s studying in American, trying to become the ideal wife so he’ll come for her. But Virat

Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteaks

Hello again!

A

I’m so excited to bring you an all new recipe this week! I’ve had cheesesteaks on my mind for months now, and finally I just decided I’d make my own. But then I was thinking about my love of buffalo chicken, and decided I had to combine the two!

Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbø

Hello again!

I jerked awake at 4 am this morning, heart pounding, I forgot to post Novel Monday! I was so busy working on a new recipe and this giveaway, I completely forgot to finish it.

So, a day late I’m here. Last weeks novel was Blood on Snow: A Novel by Jo Nesbø.

Olav, a successful “fixer” for Oslo’s greatest crime boss, knows his life is going to hell when his new job is to fix his boss’s wife.

Zoodle Recipes and GIVEAWAYS!

Hello again!

The other week I posted a recipe where I used zoodles, and talked about how much I enjoyed my new SpiraLife Vegetable Spiralizer by Lifestyle Dynamics. I love its compact design and ease of use. I love the zoodles it makes, and I love that I can get the hubs to make them for me. Well, I loved it so much, I contacted Lifestyle Dynamics, and the wonderful people there have offered me a free product code for 5 of their products to pass on to you guys! More on that in a bit, but let’s get to these fast, easy recipes first.

The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek

Hello again.

Last weeks novel was The Summer We Read Gatsby: A Novel by Danielle Ganek

After Cassie’s Aunt Lydia passes away, she has to move to her South Hampton home, and, with her half-sister Peckland, decide what to do with the house and contents.

Food Friday Meal Prep Edition!

Hey guys!

Last week I mentioned I was going to tell you about how I save time in the kitchen. I’ve since been told this doesn’t save time necessarily, but headache for sure. For the cost of an hour or two Saturday or Sunday, I can get dinners out at least twice as fast during the week. And the absolute best part for me? No excuses at dinner time.

Little Pretty Things by Lori Rader-Day

Hello again!

Last weeks novel was Little Pretty Things By Lori Rader-Day.

Juliet Townsend has always come in second place. In high school, she lost every track meet to her best friend Madeleine Bell, and 10 years later she’s still running behind. Working a dead-end job in a motel that caters to the cheap or the desperate, she’s spinning her wheels in her home town. Then Madeleine breezes back into town, back into her life, reminding Juliet of everything she doesn’t have. But the next morning, she finds Madeleine dead

Food Friday – Desserts! 08/07/2015

Hello again!

I’ve got a few sweet treats for you this week.

Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell

Hello again!

Last weeks novel was Vampires in the Lemon Grove: And Other Stories by Karen Russell.

I’ve read more short story collections  in the last year than probably the rest of my life combined.  Some were amazing, and some… not so much.

This collection of eight short stories is my first experience with Karen Russell and overall it was a good introduction. The characters are interesting and complex, while the stories are imaginative and surprising.

The stories are wonderfully weird, and Russell’s prose build the fascinating ideas into intriguing and wonderful worlds. They should be as satisfying as they are unique, but there’s one big problem – she doesn’t end the stories. Almost all of them fall into ambiguity, and it is eternally frustrating. It seems to be a problem of short stories collections of late. Ambiguity as intellect.

My favorite story of the collection was Reeling for the Empire, a creepy tale of young girls enslaved in a silk spinning factory where they begin to turn into human silkworms, spinning threads from their own bellies. The only story I really didn’t care for was The Seagull Army Descends on Strong Beach, 1979, I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the premise.

4 out of 5. Entertaining and well written, but a bit frustrating.

---

What short story collection should I read next? Comment below if you have a suggestion, and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram via the icons in the sidebar for updates!

That’s all for this Novel Monday! See you Friday for some sweets!