Bread of the Dead (Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #1) by Ann Myers

 

Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers
My Rating: ★★★

Rita is starting her life over as a single parent and chef working at the Tres Amigas Café under her friend and snoopy boss, Flori. Life is good when the main mystery in her sight is Flori’s obsession with a potential cheater in the Day of the Dead bread-baking contest when her daughter discovers her landlord dead. Shaken to the core, Rita becomes convinced that her landlord was murdered while her bitter ex complains about the imaginary crime and her amateur investigating.

I decided to pick up this series opener because it seemed like a good cozy to read given Halloween is coming up. The more I read it, the more I was glad that I picked it up because it was so funny. Between Rita’s shenanigans and Flori’s fun personality in addition to her own shenanigans, I was having a good time laughing while reading. Myers brings such a great cast of characters to the table that it is the real selling point of the book. There are very few unlikable characters, and trust me, you’ll know who they are when you see them. I could honestly follow this entire series for however long it goes on for just for the characters and their hilarious antics. It’s truly what we all need, especially right now when we’re all having such a bleak year.

Plus, the food descriptions had me ready to eat. I was surprised that there wasn’t a recipe at the back of the book like there usually is with books following bakers and chefs, but it’s not a dealbreaker. I can make much of the food that was described, and I love to bake on top of that. However, if you look forward to making a recipe the characters in these types of cozies were making, be aware that there isn’t one featured in the book.

That said, I do think the mystery itself was lacking. All suspects were obviously red herrings, but the buildup on the actual killer was lacking so they seemed like a red herring as well. I wish there was some foreshadowing or a lead that pointed in this character’s direction earlier on. By the time the character seems like they might be suspicious, everything is revealed and then we’re suddenly at the final chapter wrapping up the book.

As much as it hurts me to give a book I loved three stars, this is a cozy mystery and mystery is something that this book lacked. I will be checking out the next book, but I hope the mystery aspect is something that improves over time because I think that Myers has something good going here.

Wayward Witch (Brooklyn Brujas #3) by Zoraida Córdova

 
Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova
My Rating: ★★

Rose’s life has been turned upside down. First, she was accidentally trapped in a tree by Alex. Then she had to deal with zombies and everything that came with it thanks to her other sister, Lula. On top of that, she found out that her magic is much different than what she thought it was. Now that her death day has creeped up, she’s convinced her family’s happiness is a band-aid that’s about to be ripped off. Her father’s return is not what her family imagined it would be, and she’s convinced everyone is just pretending to be happy instead of enjoying the lull before the next big crisis. Then she finds out her father has been lying about not remembering his time in the fairy realm, and it opens a whole new can of worms.

I absolutely loved the first two books in the series, so I was excited to read the third and final book in the trilogy. I wish I could say I loved this as much as the previous books. Sadly, I have mixed feelings about this one. Something seems to be missing and I can’t put my finger on what that is other than it felt unfinished when I got to the end. I got to the final chapter and said, “That’s it?” I watched Rose go through so much before finally getting back to her family only to find the closing very rushed and lacking in heart and substance. Unless I’m mistaken and this isn’t the end of the series, this was a pretty lackluster and rushed way to tie up the story in the final chapters.

That said, there is a lot of good here. Rose narrates the final book, and it was so much fun to see the world through her eyes. On top of this, we get a whole new cast of characters when she finds herself abducted and taken to a fairy realm called Adas. The descriptions are so beautiful, and the characters are so complex, that I had a lot of fun watching her journey progress. I loved the new characters so much. I wish that more of them were developed more than they were, but not enough to make me feel that any of them were lacking.

However, I do think that the fast pace and sheer number of new characters was confusing at times, especially early on. It took me a hot minute to get the characters down because it seemed like someone new was popping up everywhere I turned. It’s also fast paced, but it still somehow left me feeling like a lot and nothing happened at the same time. I came out of the book feeling like I got dropped out of a crazy whirlwind where too much and not enough happened. It’s entirely possible that we’re meant to feel this way, but it’s still a strange feeling.

All in all, while the characters and setting is great, I find that this is the weakest link in the series. I hope it turns out that this is not a trilogy because there are a lot of loose ends that have been left open, and I think that there is a lot more story that can be told especially since it feels so unfinished. I’ve got my fingers crossed that a novella or fourth book in the series is something that occurs somewhere down the line.

WitchCraft Cocktails: From Aphrodite's Love Potion to Mercurial Grounding Elixir, 75 Seasonal Drinks Infused with Magic and Ritual by Julia Halina Hadas

 

WitchCraft Cocktails by Julia Halina Hadas

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Adams Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this book, I knew I had to check it out because it seemed like an interesting take on cocktails. I knew it was inspired by witchcraft, but I was still pleasantly surprised by how the author combined cocktails and witchcraft. I could tell that she is a practicing witch as well as a well-versed bartender right away.

The book starts out with a bit of history on alcohol, witchcraft, and general herb preservation. She also goes through the basics of bartending, which includes tools and techniques, as well as getting into the ingredients and how to combine witchcraft with drink making. It was a very interesting read and I rather enjoyed the opening.

Once I got to the drinks, I was amazed by the wide range of drinks and the information she includes with each one. Other than the delightful pictures, there is a bit of information on what inspired each drink and what properties the drinks have. While majority of the drinks are alcoholic beverages, there are some non-alcoholic drinks mixed in. I also like that the end of the book includes a list of classic cocktails and an herbal intentions list to encourage readers to try their hand at creating their own drinks based on tastes and what they hope to invoke.

Whether or not witchcraft or general herbal properties and what they can do for you is something you’re interested in, I think this is a great book. There’s a wide variety of delicious looking and sounding drinks along with detailed bartending tips and recipes on how to make some ingredients from scratch. I think that it’s a great book for anyone interested in expanding their cocktail recipes.

Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth by Kate Greene

 

Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth by Kate Greene
My Rating: ★★★

I received a copy from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this collection of essays, we follow Kate Greene through a period of her life, which takes some interesting turns. One of the most interesting events in her life is when she becomes a member of a life on Mars simulation to study the eating habits of the faux astronauts. Outside of this simulation, she also reflects on her life, which includes her parents, brother, friendships, marriage and eventual divorce.

I’ve always been fascinated with space, so when I got the opportunity to read this book, I took it. I find the studies on space travel very interesting, and Greene was a member of a simulation that involved pretending to live on Mars while living in an artificial environment built in Hawaii. I never knew how many space studies that take place outside of space until later life, but it makes sense. Even something as simple as food can become a big deal due to the limitations of what and how one can eat while in space.

While the subject matter was interesting, it took me a while to read because the book itself felt disjointed. It is a collection of essays reflecting on various parts of Greene’s life, but because it is a collection of essays from one person, the book bounces around quite a bit. I discovered that I would’ve liked it better if it was in chronological order, but that’s just my preference. The way it bounces around would’ve worked if this was a collection of essays from different people instead of one author.

All in all, I did enjoy the book as well as Greene’s perspective on anything from space to general life experiences. If space related experiments to general life reflections is something you’re interested in, I would highly recommend this. Just be aware that Greene does bounce around subject matter since this is a collection of essays. 

Chasing American Monsters: Over 250 Creatures, Cryptids & Hairy Beasts by Jason Offutt

Chasing American Monsters: Over 250 Creatures, Cryptids & Hairy Beasts by Jason Offutt
My Rating: ★★★★

Cataloging the monster sightings across America, Jason Offutt provides a comprehensive list of monsters organized by state. In this book, you will find anything from the many Bigfoot sightings to mysterious lake monsters and human sized talking cockroaches. Not one to skip over hoaxes, Offutt also includes monster sightings that are known hoaxes and notes which monsters are confirmed hoaxes. This book is sure to make a fascinating read whether or not you are a believer.

I picked up this book because I’ve always been fascinated by the different monsters and creatures that have been sighted over the years. When I started reading, I didn’t realize how many different monsters that are allegedly all over the states! While some creatures, such as Bigfoot, are well known, there are others that I have never heard of. I know I have never heard of the human sized talking cockroaches. Are those real? Who knows, but I certainly hope not!

I loved reading about all the various beings, like the Menehune in Hawaii and the Batsquatch in Washington. It was interesting to learn about the different sightings reported all over the states that include vampires and mysterious lake monsters. I also liked that Offutt noted when a monster sighting was a confirmed hoax while the others are up in the air, so people can choose to decide how real or fake the sightings are.

The book is organized very well. The states are listed alphabetically, and the monsters are listed on a state by state basis. The Bigfoot sightings did get a bit redundant after a while since they’ve been reported in most states. I was more surprised when a Bigfoot wasn’t listed among a state’s monsters. While the layout of the book worked very well, its only downfall was the sheer amount of Bigfoot sections.

Otherwise, I think it was a great book that gives a little information on each monster. I don’t think this was meant to be an extremely detailed list of monsters, but more of a monster encyclopedia, so don’t expect lengthy descriptions on each creature mentioned.

Kawaii Doodle Cuties: Sketching Super-Cute Stuff from Around the World by Pic Candle; Zainab Khan

 

Kawaii Doodle Cuties: Sketching Super-Cute Stuff from Around the World by Pic Candle; Zainab Khan
My Rating: ★★★★★

Are you ready to level up your doodling skills? With this book, you can learn new drawing foundations that will not only level up your doodles, but also increase your general drawing skills. 

This book is absolutely adorable. I decided to check out more books from Pic Candle and Zainab Khan after reading Kawaii Doodle World, so I picked up this book and was not disappointed. Not only is it cute, but it also includes basic drawing skills that are presented in a simple and relaxing environment. I actually learned something that I didn’t even pick up in my college level drawing classes. I don’t know what that says about those classes, but hey. There is always something new to learn so I can’t complain.

As I noted in my review for Kawaii Doodle World, I think this is a great book for kids who like to draw. Each doodle has step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow, but I would say this book is better for kids close to middle school age. I can see younger kids getting frustrated with the more complex doodles included in the book, so I wouldn’t recommend it for younger kids who like to draw.

At the back of the book, there’s more search-and-find puzzles that double as coloring pages. I love these little search-and-find puzzles because they’re such a fun way to end the book.

There Are Things I Can't Tell You by Edako Mofumofu

 
There Are Things I Can't Tell You by Edako Mofumofu
My Rating: ★★★

I received a copy from Diamond Book Distributors through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kyousuke and Kasumi have been close friends since they met in elementary school. Complete opposites, the pair were drawn to one another and quickly became friends. Now out of college, their friendship teeters on the edge of becoming something more as they struggle to define their feelings for one another. The only problem is that they are both too self-conscious to put their feelings on the table and clear the air.

I thought this was a realistic plot about best friends who have feelings for each other struggling to figure out what that means on top of talking about them. It was quite realistic to see them struggling with their sexuality, especially during a flashback sequence where Kyousuke overhears a conversation between his parents where homosexuality is described as disgusting. Starting to realize that you are attracted to the same gender and beginning to learn that people are against it is an unforgettable memory.

I think that the story does a great job at bringing depth and realism to the story in many ways. It’s quite heartbreaking to watch these two characters struggle with their sexuality, grappling with how society views same sex couples, and remembering their own hardships from their upbringing. Kyousuke is a well-developed character and majority of the story is told through him and his experiences, so I understood him well.

At the same time, I think the story is lacking in other areas. I think that there are parts of this story that are not very memorable and will easily be forgotten as time goes on. Kasumi is not developed well, and I feel like I only got to know him on a superficial level. In fact, Kyousuke is the only fully developed character in the story. I wish that we got to learn more about Kasumi outside of what we did learn. He was a little too glossed over, which made him a little hard to follow at times.

I also think that the flashbacks and the overall timeline could have been handled better. There were a couple flashbacks that threw me through a loop because I couldn’t tell if they were a flashback or taking place in the present at first. Because of this, I honestly thought the story was going to reveal that Kasumi was dead at some point because of the way the timeline was handled.

While I do have a few complaints, I think that the overall story itself is good and I’d like to read more from Edako Mofumofu in the future.