Candy Is Magic: Real Ingredients, Modern Recipes by Jami Curl

  Candy Is Magic: Real Ingredients, Modern Recipes by Jami Curl

Blurb:

This game-changing candy cookbook from the owner of Quin, a popular
Portland-based candy company, offers more than 200 achievable recipes
using real, natural ingredients for everything from flavor-packed fruit
lollipops to light-as-air marshmallows.

Jami Curl, candy-maker extraordinaire and owner of the candy company Quin
has been called the "new Willy Wonka" by Bon Appetit. Her debut book, This is
Candy, includes the recipes that have made Quin a favorite with local and national
media, foodies, chefs, and bloggers. But This is Candy is not just a candy book.
Instead, Jami's approach to candy forms the foundation for a world of other
confections--from bacon glazed with maple and black pepper caramel to a clever
Chocolate Magic Dust that can be turned into chocolate pudding, chocolate sauce,
and even a chocolate lollipop. Packed with more than 200 recipes for totally
original confections like Whole Roasted Strawberry Lollipops, Bergamot Caramels,
Fig & Coffee Gumdrops, and Pinot Noir cotton candy, as well as serious tips and
advice for making amazing candy at home.

 
Wow, this book is really amazing! If, like us, you have to be careful what you eat due to food intolerances and such annoying things, you might also tend to cook and prepare a lot of things at home. Or perhaps - you just like to cook and try new things. Any of those reasons is a wonderful reason to buy this book!

"Candy is Magic" is a great ressource for all sugar-junkies because you can find recipes for almost everything in here with detailed and easy-to-follow explanations. Oh, and if everything should not be enough you'll also find quite a nbumber of unusual recipes in here for any kind of cookies, lollipops, caramels, ice-creams, magic dusts and in the end you'll find that this book will also help you to make "dreams come chew".

This book enables you to make a lot of wonderfuland delicious candy and you don't need special machines or something like that just a couple of regular pots and pans and a whisk, the most unusual tools are a candy thermometer and perhaps a candy funnel or a candy mold. You don't have to rebuild your kitchen or spend a lot of money in order to make candy, you just have to start - and you need the right recipes!
I really really like this book and can definitely recommend it!

★★★★★

Resisting Miss Merryweather (Baleful Godmother #2) by Emily Larkin

  Resisting Miss Merryweather by Emily Larkin

Blurb:

She sees things no one else does...

Sir Barnaby Ware made a mistake two and a half years ago. A massive mistake. The sort of mistake that can never be atoned for.

He knows himself to be irredeemable, but the captivating and unconventional Miss Merryweather is determined to prove him wrong…

The daughter of a dancing master and a noblewoman, Miss Merryweather had an unusual upbringing. She sees things no one else sees—and she says things no one else says.

Sir Barnaby knows he’s the villain in this piece, but Miss Merryweather thinks he’s the hero—and she is damnably hard to resist…


Resisting Miss Merrywheather?
Who could resist her?

Merry is the one you want to have around when you feel low, the one you want to have around when you are upset and when you lost hope.
And Merry is the one who is around when Sir Barnaby needs someone who helps him to forgive himself when he comes to the christening of the son of his childhood friend Marcus who some readers might remember from the wonderful "Unmasking Miss Appleby". Those who remember will also remember that Barnaby made indeed a big mistake. Big - yes. Unforgivable - maybe. It all depends on his ability to forgive himself.
With someone like Merry around, well, it might be possible at last!
Oh, and guess what - Merry and Marcus' wife Charlotte have also something in common: A very frightening and irritating godmother.

Remember?
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Faerie godmothers do not exist."
Don't they?
Well, we are about to find out about that - again and let's just say that right then time is of the essence and, well, this godmother can't come too soon to grant her goddaughter her wish!

Once more Emily Larkin has done it: "Resisting Miss Merrywheather" is another wonderful book in the "Baleful Godmother"-Series! I loved Miss Appleby and her story, I loved Miss Trentham and Miss Merrywheather is irresistible as well. Just the right amount of magic to spice it up, a wonderful story with amazing, complex characters and a heroine and a hero that are just loveable and who simply belong together.

★★★★★

 

 

Trusting Miss Trentham (Baleful Godmother #3) by Emily Larkin

 Trusting Miss Trentham by Emily Larkin

Blurb:


Five macaroons and a piece of plum cake....

...or how to bully someone back to life - and (perhaps) to love!
When Letty, or rather - Miss Letitia Trentham, heiress and a faerie's goddaughter with her own special kind of magic, meets Icarus Reid at the Hammond's ball, she doesn't know that his quest for the truth, his quest for justice will change her life forever.

And Icarus? Well, let's just say that he definitely underestimated the power of a woman bent on saving someone despite himself. Not just any woman but Letty Trentham, strong, generous, compassionate  - and extraordinarily stubborn. And macaroon per macaroon, nightmare per nightmare, Letty, a vial of valerian and of course Herodotus bully Icarus back to life.
Always at their side - Houghton, Green and Eliza.

I loved that even the minor characters are well developed and very very likeable.
I felt with Icarus and Letty, I loved to see how they found their way to each other, I loved their big hearts, their compassionate nature and their loyalty.

The whole story is unique and romantic and emotional and simply amazing. I loved "Unmasking Miss Appleby" by Emily Larkin and I loved every other of her books of the Baleful Godmother Series as well. It's just the right mix of Regency paired with the little bit of magic that makes them special. The gripping story and the wonderful characters just topped it off and kept me glued to my reader.

★★★★★

For The Love Of A Widow - Christina McKnight

  For The Love Of A Widow by Christina McKnight

 Blurb:

 A widow scarred by love and loss…

After years spent following her husband as he fought against Napoleon’s troops, Lady Lettie Hughes returns to London a widow to take her rightful place among the ton as the daughter of an earl. Her parents and friends expect her to enter the marriage market and secure the match she should have pursued in her debut Season. But Lettie is not the same innocent girl she was before Waterloo. Nightmares of the battlefield plague her, and she doesn’t see a place for herself in society anymore.

A lord determined to save the woman he loves…

Daniel Greaves, the Duke of Linwood, is a man who knows rejection and loss. He’s lived the last six years alone after the woman he was betrothed to cast him aside for another man. Instead of taking control of his title and lands, Daniel fell into a life a debauchery—gaming, women, and spirits. But now the woman who stole his future and left him hollow is back in London.


When Lettie and Daniel are reunited, their connection burns as bright as it once did. But neither of them are the same people they were in their youth—they must trust one another to heal the wounds of their past to find a love that lasts forever.



Two broken people, one broken betrothal and shattered dreams - will Lettie and Daniel be able to find their way back to each other?
When Lettie returns to London as a widow after having followed the drum for six long years, she doesn't expect to find Daniel, the Duke of Linwood still unwed. And she definitely didn't expect her parents to push her into another marriage so soon after having lost her husband and while still being in mourning.
Her family expects her to forget but how can she forget everything that she has seen? Everything she has lived through?
It took something even worse than losing his betrothed to make Daniel realize that his life has to change. He failed more than one person but this one....what happened there is nothing he will ever forget. Never ever. That was the day his life changed. Irrevocably and for the better. Will this be enough to win Lettie back?

I' ve read many books about these times where women followed the drum but I've never "met" any heroine who was as touched by this experience as Lettie. Her life hadn't prepared her for this and having returned, it is hard, no, it is impossible for her to slip back into her former life. 
I really loved those amazing and complex characters with their struggles and their passion. I loved their flawed characters and how they slowly find their way to each other despite all her parents' machinations. Oh, her parents, well, let's just say - they didn't win many brownie points with me with the way they pushed Lettie, especially so soon after her loss.
And of course there's also Lord Gable. The less we talk about him the better. Shock and rage are all I feel when I think of him and it's even worse because he is fictional and I can't even do anything about it.

Well written, (mostly) wonderful characters, a gripping story - and much heartbreak, I really enjoyed reading this book and was happy to see our hero and our heroine get their long HEA.

★★★★

Blogtour - A Lady's Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran

Remember the blogtour?

Meredith Duran, whose book Sweetest Regret , a Christmas story, I really enjoyed, has
also written ten other novels, including The Duke of Shadows (winner of the Gather.com First Chapters Romance Writing Competition); Wicked Becomes You (included on the Woman’s World List of Best Beach Reads for Summer 2010), and the USA TODAY bestseller and RITA Award Winner Fool Me Twice. 

She blames Anne Boleyn for sparking her lifelong obsession with British history, and for convincing her that princely love is no prize if it doesn’t come with a happily-ever-after. She enjoys collecting old etiquette manuals, guidebooks to nineteenth-century London, and travelogues by intrepid Victorian women.

 And now it is here:

*A Lady's Code of Misconduct*

What did others think about it?

Praise for A Lady’s Code of Misconduct:

“Political intrigue and conspiracies abound in Duran’s engrossing fifth Rules for the Reckless Victorian romance (after Luck Be a Lady), which boasts plot twists galore…Duran is at the pinnacle of her craft as she weaves together humor, forgiveness, and love in a flawlessly executed plot. Jane, Crispin, and the rest of the characters are all well drawn, and the love scenes strike the perfect balance of steamy and sweet. Each layer in the story is suspenseful and delightful, making this the best installment so far.”

—Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

“A sham marriage, political intrigue, and a case of amnesia provide a backdrop for this absorbing Victorian romance. Although Duran (Luck Be a Lady, 2015, etc.) has written a novel as layered as an onion, the characters are well-drawn and the plot flawlessly executed. Add in some very steamy sex, and the fifth installment of Duran's Rules for the Reckless series can't help but delight. This book weaves its spell so thoroughly that the most fortunate reader will be the one who has time to read the entire thing in one sitting. A masterful tale of suspense, forgiveness, and love.”

—Kirkus STARRED REVIEW

“Political intrigue drives a captivating historical romance…This Regency romance, part of the Rules for the Reckless series, is a smart love story, peopled with complex and absorbing characters.”

—BookPage, TOP PICK IN ROMANCE

“A riveting story.”

—Heroes and Heartbreakers

“A masterful author of historical romances…A Lady’s Code of Misconduct takes worn threads of old tropes, like amnesia and the tortured hero, and weaves them into a lush tapestry with sophisticated, beautiful writing. Crispin seems power-mad and Jane seems saintly, but as Duran slowly unravels their characters amidst a plot of intrigue, betrayal, and dark secrets, we discover they’re more alike than they (or we) realize. The hero is swoonworthy, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Jane as his flaws shine a light on her own. The tale and characters so captivated me, that I literally couldn’t put it down.”

—Omnivoracious Amazon Book Review by Sabrina Jeffries

“Thoughtfully written and the story creates not just a simple story of two people but an entire world for them to inhabit. If you like your historicals to have some meat to them, I highly recommend this one.”

—All About Romance

“Extremely relevant to our current political state…I could have easily sat and devoured this in one evening as each of the chapters seemed to end on a cliffhanger that just won't let you put the book down. Quill says: A Lady’s Code of Misconduct is the perfect book to sit in your favorite chair with and let the world pass by for a little while you get lost in the past.”

—Feathered Quill

“I absolutely love this series… Meredith writes intelligent characters with a fast paced plot.  Her writing is sensual, witty and totally captivating.  This book has everything you would want in a Historical Romance.   It is witty, sensual with a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end. Crispin and Jane are extraordinary characters in a riveting story that will leave you wanting more.  The journey of Crispin and Jane to their HAE is fabulous.  I will read anything that Meredith writes.” 

—The Reading Wench

“A fun read. I enjoyed Duran’s characters and plot…there’s a villain who made me think of a Regency era James Bond villain.”

—Bookfan

And what did I think about it? 

I really enjoyed reading this book with its unusual, gripping story and its amazing and interesting characters. 

Crispin, our hero - is definitely not a hero, at least not a first sight. Oh, well, our heroine Jane isn't just sweet and  demure all the time either and, unfortunately, she loathes all he stands for. Well, everything he stood for, strictly speaking. Due to some unfortunate encounter with some blunt object or another, he is not the same man that he was before everything went down. Considering the fact that the two of them found themselves married, let's say, things aren't easy. Especially when Crispin tries to win back his life and to understand what drove him all the time. But maybe, maybe the thing that made him almost lose everything, including his life, will turn out to be his salvation. 
Can a tragedy result in happiness? 

Definition of amnesia (as found in the Merriam-Webster)

1. 1 :  loss of memory due usually to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression, or illness
   
2. 2 :  a gap in one's memory
   
   
3. 3 :  the selective overlooking or ignoring of events or acts that are not favorable or useful to one's purpose or position … 

Suffering from amnesia, Crispin has to face some very uncomfortable truths about himself and his life when he tries to get his memory back. And somehow this tragedy will turn his life for good. 
Will there be a place at his side for Jane, the wife he never knew he had?  

 Well written and fast - paced, this story is interesting, unusual and - it made me furious. Thinking of girls and women like Jane, who were kept like prisoners due to their inheritance and thier relatives' fear of losing their money - ugh, just another one of those things that make me question why I end up with historical romacnes so often. I really love these stories but the lack of rights and the lack of choices those women had, make me appreciate  so much more the rights and the possibilites we have now. Still far from perfect, in constrast to the time of Jane and Crispin - well, absolutely no comparison there. 

Back to our book in question - I really enjoyed reading it and I can definitely recommend it!
  
 

★★★★

  

 

Botanical Beauty: 80 Essential Recipes for Natural Spa Products by Aubre Andrus

  

  Botanical Beauty: 80 Essential Recipes for Natural Spa Products by Aubre Andrus

Blurb:

Soak, scrub, and soothe your way to relaxation with simple homemade spa recipes from award-winning author Aubre Andrus. Using some of nature’s best ingredients, such as beeswax, sugar, coconut oil, shea butter, avocado, sea salt, essential oils, and more, craft everything from a Cooling Peppermint Hand Cream to a Vanilla Honey Body Scrub. Make practical products, like your own all-natural Bugs-Be-Gone Insect Repellent, Minty Homemade Toothpaste, and Natural Shaving Cream. Or pamper yourself after a long day with a Re-energizing Tub Tea, Lovely Lavender Bath Salts, and a Deep Conditioning Treatment. Nourish your body from head to toe with these organic, handmade recipes and crafts, or package them as a gift to share a fresh, fun spa experience


This is a wonderful book for all those who love to prepare beautiful and practical things for themselves or their friends.
In the "Botanical Beauty" you can find nice and easy-to-follow recipes for almost every spa product imaginable. From head to toe you can treat yourself with home-made prducts like face washs, scrubs, shampoo, lotions, balms and many many more. The first thing my daughter said when she saw the recipes was "Yummy!" and she was right - most of them sound like a recipe for some cake or some confection.

The recipes are well explained and looking at those wonderful photos you just want to try all of them - at once. The beautiful photos make the "Botanical Beauty" a book that you don't just use but that I also love to browse and enjoy for the fresh and cheerful feeling it provokes.
Apart from that, you can also find a number of products that might be nice as gifts for some friends or even to make with some friends to pass a special spa day with home-made products. 
A beautiful books for all those who want to pamper themselves and want to make their own beauty products for it with natural and available ingredients that you can easily find at a local store!

★★★★★

Perfect Strangers - Rebecca Sinclair

 Perfect Strangers by Rebecca Sinclair

Blurb:

In 16th century England, Gabrielle Carelton is one of Queen Elizabeth's most devoted ladies-in-waiting. Then that loyalty is put to the test when Her Majesty commands her to marry Scotsman Collin Douglas.
But when Gabrielle is kidnapped by Collin's twin brother, not even Good Queen Bess can save her.
Dubbed the Black Douglas, devilishly handsome Connor is known throughout the land for his magnificent feats of strength and cunning. But now he is in need of an heir. An English bride will bring peace to the warring nations-and give him the son he craves.
What the Black Douglas doesn't expect is an Englishwoman as passionate as she is proud... and in possession of a desire that knows no boundaries.
Set against the pageantry and savage splendor of 16th-century England and Scotland, here is the story of a man and a woman who begin as enemies and strangers-and find a love that will triumph against all odds.

 
I was really looking forward to this book and started right away .... and I can't even say that it wasn't good. The characters were very loveable and I really liked Gabrielle and Connor and they had some very very sweet (and very long) romantic scenes but - the story itself was somewhat flat.
Oh, sure all the ingredients for a good book were there but somehow I felt as if there should be a bit more then just Gabrielle getting kidnapped over and over again and when ...well, let's just say that I wouldn't have made myself THAT vulnerable again especially right THEN. 

I know, I know, that's a bit cryptic but I don't want to spoil the story for other readers, so cryptic it is.
A bit more intense, a bit more real action that feels like action and all bits and parts a bit more linked ( I still don't know why Marghereid reacted in that very peculiar way, for example) and the story a bit more ...flowing... I liked the book well enough but I won't read it again and I won't run off to read another one by the author. So I'm not convinced but nontheless it's weak three stars...

 ★★★