Audiobook Review: The Ark of Taste: Delicious and Distinctive Foods That Define the United States by David S Shields and Giselle Kennedy Lord

About the Book

Explore and enjoy the heritage foods that give the United States its culinary identity, from heirloom tomatoes to Tupelo honey, in this visual volume for curious eaters, gardeners and home cooks.

The Ark of Taste is a living catalog of our nation's food heritage preserving treasures passed down for generations—some rare, some endangered, all delicious.

Created by Slow Food USA, the Ark shines light on history, identity, and taste through these unique food products, featuring recipes and the stories of how they reach our tables In these pages you'll learn about: 

• Carolina Gold rice

• Wellfleet oysters

• Cherokee Purple tomatoes

• The Moon and Stars watermelon

• Black Republican cherries

• Candy Roaster squash, and more

These foods reflect our country's diversity. By championing them, we keep them in production and on our plates, while promoting a more equitable alternative to industrial agriculture.

The Ark of Taste is a vital resource for all of us who spend the summer searching for that perfectly ripe peach or heirloom tomato—or who are simply looking for the next good thing to eat. 

Review

If you love food or just want to be more active in promoting and preserving farm to table, then this is an amazing book to look into. As an audiobook, I found this so interesting. The narrator had my interest from beginning to end. She was so wonderful to listen to. Her narration gave a voice to the past and present that brought these foods alive. Learning their origin, cultures, recipes and history of foods that were new to me truly inspired me to want to get the book.

In a time where food cost is on the rise, there’s no better time to invest in local farmers. With big corporations monopolizing the market and bioengineered foods replacing traditional ones, eating foods that grow in their intended natural habitat is something we should look more into exploring. There clearly is a wide world of food out there that many of us don’t know about that not only sounds delicious but has amazing stories and histories that need to be preserved. This book sounds like the perfect place to start.

Overall, I thought this was a wonderful audiobook that was not only interesting but informative and encouraging. This would be perfect for listeners who are visually impaired. I thought it was such a great touch to separate by regions. It allows those in those areas a great starting point to explore. This book hopefully will promote more interest in local farmers. For the food enthusiasts or if you love food from the farms to your tables, this will definitely inspire conversation and explorative interest the next time you go to the farmers market. 

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Review: Beneath the Stands by Emily McIntire

About the Book

From USA TODAY bestselling author Emily McIntire comes an angsty, best friend's brother, second chance romance.

Elliot Carson left Sugarlake and has never looked back. Revered as the next big thing in basketball, Eli’s a star until an injury ends his career, sending him spiraling with no direction.

But he won’t go home.

He can’t.

Instead, he accepts a coaching gig at Florida Coast University, determined to leave his past behind. But fate has other plans when Becca, his sister’s best friend, shows up as a student and, even worse, becomes the new team manager.

Rebecca Sanger is the preacher’s daughter and the town's disappointment. When she ignores her family’s demands to come home, she’s cut off and needs a job so she can stay enrolled at FCU. She thought she had everything figured out until Eli Carson—the person she hates more than anything in the world—ends up being her new boss.

Forced together, Becca and Eli’s hatred turns to heat, and they start an affair. But disaster quickly strikes, ripping them apart.

Years pass, and Becca’s back home, under her parent’s thumb, and living a mundane life. When Eli shows up out of the blue with a fiancée in tow, Becca is tasked with planning their wedding.

There’s only one problem.

Becca still loves Eli.

And he hates her.

For the second time in their lives, they’re forced together, and they’ll find out just how thin the line is between hate... and a love that lasts a lifetime.

Review

My overall satisfaction with Beneath the Stands was going to depend on the treatment of Eli’s fiancé. Often authors have gotten into a habit of introducing another female love interest and making her seem “obsessive” and “awful” as a way to push the MMC back to the FMC. 

I enjoyed the early years of Eli and Becca. I felt they worked well together, and I think their transition from dislike to like felt natural. I felt Becca’s departure to be lacking; however, I was still rooting for them. I did not want my enjoyment of them to be taunted because of the introduction of Sarah (Eli’s fiancé) in the flashforward. Fortunately, the author didn’t portray Sarah in a negative light. Therefore, Eli and Becca were able to keep their spark and embark on an angsty journey. 

One of the things that I loved most about them was that they were almost similar. They both had family issues and for a time avoided their hometown. For me, Eli’s family drama packed a bigger punch, and it was heartbreaking to see him and his sister at all. I’m happy they reconnected. Becca’s family drama gave me whiplash. It’s great that she went to therapy because her parents were terrible people. 

Final Thoughts

Beneath the Stands was a solid second-chance romance. I found myself enjoying Eli and Becca and how similar they were. There were a few things that I was concerned about regarding their reunion; however, the author silenced those fears. 

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Review: Will They or Won't They by Ava Wilder

About the Book

Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are madly in love—at least, their characters are. As the stars of the hit paranormal TV show Intangible, Lilah and Shane spent years pining for each other onscreen . . . until Lilah ditched the show at the end of season five in hopes of becoming a movie star. With no such luck, she’s back to film the much-hyped ninth and final season, in which Lilah and Shane’s characters will get together at last.

But coming back means facing one of the biggest reasons she left: Shane. Ever since their secret behind-the-scenes fling imploded at the end of season one, the two of them have despised each other.

Now reunited on set for the first time in years—with the world’s eyes on them and their post-show careers on the line—they’ll have to grit their teeth and play nice. But under pressure to give Intangible’s fans the happy ending they’ve been waiting for, Lilah and Shane are forced to get closer than ever. And if they’re not careful, they might just get blindsided by one final twist: a real-life happy ending of their own.

Review

Will They or Won’t They was an addicting read. It felt like I was getting a behind-the-scenes scoop on some real-life television actors' drama. I was glued to my iPad as I read. The book follows Lilah and Shane, two actors who land a starring role on a popular paranormal TV show. During the first season, something happens between Lilah and Shane, and it leads to a messy break-up. Lilah remains on the show until season five before leaving. After a struggling movie career, she’s back for the final season and forced to work with her now enemy – Shane. It’s a challenging and emotional experience for both of them. They try to ignore the chemistry and natural pull towards each other. It's juicy material with two leads who have stellar chemistry and an angsty romance. The author did extremely well with blending the past and present in a way that never disrupted the story. It helped build the story and provided insight into what happened between the two of them and how miscommunication and fears got in the way of their prior relationship.

As much as I loved this book, there was one thing that I disliked. This book started extremely strong. And my complaints arise in a scene that is a big moment. It’s Lilah and Shane fully introducing themselves as a couple. However, the leadup wasn’t as good as the execution. Fortunately, the book was able to redeem itself and I thought the ending was perfect.

Final Thoughts

Will They or Won’t They is a great story Hollywood second romance chance story. Lilah and Shane have so much tension that will leave readers screaming at them to just kiss already. One thing genuine about Lilah and Shane is that the author knew her characters and wrote a hilarious back-and-front dialogue between the two of them.

Review: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

About the Book

A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match from "a true talent" (Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

Review

Yours Truly has two mentions of my all-time favorite television show; that makes this book an automatic five stars from me. In all seriousness, this book was excellent for other reasons as well. This was an incredible follow-up to Part of Your World. Abby Jimenez really knows how to write a captivating, beautiful romance. There’s so much love, great friendship, and character moments in this story.

Briana and Jacob are well fleshed-out characters. Their fears felt real, and they felt written with care. It felt clear the author really understood her characters and understood their romance because they were just perfect. Both main characters worked hard to make each other feel comfortable and show them the love they deserved. They really deserved each other, and it was a beautiful romance.

Final Thoughts

I’m starting to learn that Abby Jimenez knows how to write real and raw characters who come together and have a beautiful romance. Yours Truly is no exception. It’s an excellent book.

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Review: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

About the Book

A refreshingly modern fairy tale and instant New York Times bestseller that Love Hypothesis author Ali Hazelwood hails as "an uplifting, feel-good, romantic read." 

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

Review

This was easily one of the best books that I’ve read all year. It had to have been laced with magic. It was so good and so entertaining.

Alexis is a workaholic, responsible ER doctor who feels like she’s not good enough to live up to the family name. She left an abusive ex, and her family and most of her friends still prefer him and invite him around. After attending a funeral, she crosses paths with a small-town mayor/ carpenter who is ten years younger than her, but the attraction is real.

Daniel was so sweet, honest, and caring. Literally a walking perfection. He owns a B&B, babysits baby goats. And the most important part, he sees Alexis for who she is and wants nothing more for her to be happy and comfortable.

Their relationship starts as purely physical; however, she has to drive four hours to see him, so he makes it worth her while. He takes her to special places in the town; tells her the history. They meet other special people that can only be found in a small town. And as that happens, they start to develop feelings towards each other. Now enter the emotional heavy stuff of the plot. Obviously, Alexis has family issues, and then there’s the toxic ex. All of those play a part in her being hesitant at letting Daniel see her world.

It's hard not to get emotional while reading those scenes. There were a few moments where I did tear up. Alexis was a great character, and I wanted what was best for her. And she was in a difficult position, and it was so rewarding to see her personal growth and her choose happiness in the end.

Final Thoughts

Part of Your World has lovable main characters, a magical small town, and an emotional journey that warrants tissues nearby. 

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Review: Get Your Book Seen and Sold: The Essential Book Marketing and Publishing Guide by Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette

About the Book

It is easier than ever to publish a book, but many authors find out too late about the actual work-the book marketing-that needs to be done to achieve sizable book sales. Instead of embracing the opportunities to promote their books, authors are intimidated and shut down. Those days are over. This is the book authors MUST HAVE to give their books the best chance to be seen and sold. In this essential, easy-to-understand guide, authors will work through the graphs, examples and exercises to learn:

• The fundamentals of book marketing: Message, Audience, and Hook

• The breadth of book marketing options and how they work, with examples

• How to create a list of media contacts and develop a pitch that will reach them

• How to develop a doable book marketing plan

• How to develop media kit items for their book publicity efforts: Press Release, Author Bio, Sell Sheet, etc.

• The types of book reviews and how to get them

• The best social media channels for promoting books

• The best places to spend book promotion dollars

• Why book distribution IS a crucial part of book marketing . . . and so much more!

Authors CAN get their books seen and sold!

Review

There are many books out there that give you insight on becoming an author and selling your book. Few are written from the perspective of someone that actually can relate to the process and can give insight from the trials and tribulations of the experiences lost and gained. Get Your Book Seen and Sold packs some great resourceful information and experiences in a small package that will give you a great foundation to begin your journey.

Written by two women through their own experiences and acquired knowledge, they share some fantastic information for those who want to write a book or have one but just don’t know what to do next. The book shares information that includes advice and examples on types of publishing, marketing, developing media and social contacts, publicity and so much more.

Overall, I think this is a really good book that lays down the foundation to help you begin and succeed on your book journey. For those out there who want to get your book seen and sold, this is one that you should consider adding to your reading list.

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