I hope you all enjoyed my post about Jennifer Perillo’s new cookbook, Homemade with Love. I’m back today, sharing a cookbook by another friend: Steamy Kitchen’s Healthy Asian Favorites by Jaden Hair.

I’m sure you all know Jaden from her blog, Steamy Kitchen, and if you follow blogs at all you’ve probably seen mentions of her newest cookbook, Healthy Asian Favorites, around the internet. This is Jaden’s second book, which follows on the tails of her successful first book, The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook.  

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An interesting thing has been happening in the world of blogging over the past couple of years. You may have noticed the surge in “from blogger to book deals” happening. It seems like every time I open my browser, I see an announcement of a blogger who is now writing a cookbook.

There are some incredibly talented bloggers out there who have taken their success from their blog to the publishing world and have created some beautiful works of art. Over this next week, I’m going to highlight recipes from some of the cookbooks that have come across my desk recently from bloggers I am happy to call friends. I receive a lot of cookbooks in the mail…and I get to smile big when I see it is the cookbook of a friend. I know a lot of talented people and know how much heart and soul goes into putting a cookbook together. The books I’m sharing this week are some of my newest favorites. I hope you enjoy the peek into the books and order a copy or two of your own.

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When I set out at the beginning of 2012 with the goal to read more, even if it was just a few pages each day, I never knew that I would re-ignite my passion for reading and good books in such a fervent way. I have fallen head over heels in love with books again and have been incredibly inspired by an amazing lot of authors this past year. I’ve recapped my thoughts on each of these books in previous Connect Through Reading posts, but thought I’d share a brief post on my top favorites from 2012.

My new favorite way to read these books is with my Kindle Paperwhite. I have an old Kindle, a nook, plus an iPad with the reading apps on it but this new Kindle Paperwhite blows reading with the other devices out of the water. I love how it’s compact, backlit, easy on my eyes, and convenient to use. It’s a simple e-reader, without the distractions of email, facebook, twitter, etc. If you are looking for a fairly inexpensive (currently $119 on Amazon), yet wonderful e-reader, I have to recommend giving the Kindle Paperwhite a try.

Now, for my top six reads of 2012…starting with my favorite and in order from there (although it was hard to stop at 6!)…

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Since I took some time off at the end of 2012, I’m a little bit behind in sharing some of my most recently read books. This Connect Through Reading post contains so many good ones… I hope you find some books that will peak your interest!

I’m starting with a book that pushed to the top of my favorite books of 2012 list (which I’ll share soon!). Heft, by Liz Moore is a read you’ll connect with and you won’t want to let go when the book is over. Heft is about a 550 pound man, an alcoholic single mom and her son, a young house cleaner and a cast of additional characters that all weave together in a story of overcoming fear and obstacles, finding family and learning to love life. I closed the book on the final page and then immediately began scouring the internet wanting to know more about the author and not wanting to say goodbye to these characters. They had quickly become people I cared deeply about. Heft by Liz Moore is definitely a 5 star read!

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I’ve been on a bit of a lull with reading lately… still reading but not reading as often or getting through books as quickly as I like. The 4 book reviews I’m sharing today are for a selection of books that are as different as can be, but all good in their own way.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn is a book I normally wouldn’t probably pick up, except it was by the same author as Gone Girl, which I really liked. Sharp Objects was shocking and dark, like Gone Girl, but took on a subject that I still haven’t quite figured out if I want to read about as the mom of 3 girls… young teenage girls spiraling down the path of drug use, hatefulness and sex. The relationships in this book are so twisted and beyond unhealthy, but Flynn crafts a story that despite all the reasons it made me uncomfortable, kept me wanting to turn the page and read more. I gave Sharp Objects 3 stars on Goodreads.

Once I finished Sharp Objects, I knew I needed something less dark, so I turned to a memoir by Theresa Weir titled The Orchard. I picked this book up on a whim at Target. Memoirs are one of my favorite genres, and I can happily say The Orchard did not disappoint.

Friends, this book will change the way you look at farming and the food you eat. Not in a shocking “Supersize Me” kind of way, but in a real, eye opening, kind of light. The Orchard is an honest and open look at how farms (particularly, orchards) were run in the 60′s and 70′s, and at what price there was to pay to get the “perfect” piece of fruit. You’ll think about organic farming in a whole new light and shudder at the glimpse of coverups and lengths farmers have gone through over the years to give us the food we eat today. This is a touching, raw and sometimes sad memoir of family life on the farm and the growing dangers surrounding what we feed to our families. I gave The Orchard by Theresa Weir, 4 stars on Goodreads.

I really enjoyed this next book… Shelter Me by Juliette Fay. This was a debut by this author and I’m anxious to read more as she does a great job with storytelling.

Shelter Me is about a young woman (Janie) with two children who became suddenly widowed when her husband was killed in a bike accident. Fay takes readers along the journey of how Janie endures her first year without her husband. The cast of characters seem so real, with tormented family dynamics, complicated relationships and all. Shelter Me made me laugh, ache, long, and cry… there were times when my heart actually hurt for the main character. I gave Shelter Me, by Juliette Fay, 4 stars on Goodreads.

How Lucky You Are, by Kristyn Kusek Lewis, was a “fluff read” compared to the other books I read this go around. Don’t get me wrong, it had depth and interesting characters, but the storyline was a fairly typical “chick lit” one surrounding three best friends and their various, completely diverse lives. You know how many times you’ve said to someone “You don’t know how lucky you are!”? Well, How Lucky You Are is about just that… three best friends who perceive each others lives to be easier and less complicated when in reality, they each have their own drama going on behind the scenes. I would recommend How Lucky You Are by Kristyn Kusek Lewis to anyone looking for a quick, easy and entertaining read. I gave How Lucky You Are 3 stars on Goodreads.

Up next for me is…

Carry the One by Carol Anshaw. I am actually almost half way through with this one and am finding it to be very interesting!

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

And, at the glowing recommendation of my trusted friend Kate, I’ve moved The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman up in my To Be Read pile.

Now it’s your turn! What are you reading these days? Make sure to tell me and remember, you can always keep up with what’s on my bookshelf over on Goodreads as well as see what my latest read is in my sidebar. For past Connect Through Reading Posts, check out my Book Review category. Can’t wait to hear your current recommendations!

I’ve been reading up a storm lately but have unfortunately had a few misses since we last chatted about books. I struggle with even sharing some of the bombs as I know a few of these books many of you loved. Make sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments section and definitley please share what you are reading now or might recommend. Here we go…

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss was a big surprise to me because I really did not love it. I feel like maybe I lost something important I should have caught in this book, as so many people have raved about it.  I think the premise of the book is a beautiful one, and the writing was lovely, but I was lost the whole time and had to force myself to keep reading so I could try and figure out why this book was so loved. Maybe I’m not deep enough… or maybe I have too many distractions going on in my life to be able to focus solely on the plot of the book, but at this time I did not love it. I will say this reminds me of The Time Traveler’s Wife and The Ordinary Sadness of Lemon Cake because those were two books everyone loved and I really didn’t.

If you want a book that will make you laugh your head off, Bossypants by Tina Fey is the book for you. I actually listened to Bossypants via audio book instead of reading and highly recommend that experience as Tina Fey is the narrator, which makes the book even more fun. I’m not typically a “laugh out loud” person, but I found myself laughing uncontrollably at parts. If you are a mom, a woman, a human being… any or all of those… you will love listening to Tina tell her stories of rising to the top, impersonating Sarah Palin, being a mom, growing up, and more. I gave this one 4 Stars out of 5 on Goodreads.

I have read a few of Elin Hilderbrand’s other books and know I can always turn to her for some good “chick lit”, complex love and relationships kind of reads. The Island fits her style perfectly. The Island is a story about a mom, 2 sisters, and aunt, the men they’ve loved and lost, their support of each other, and their journey to move on with their lives – all while spending some time on a remote island off of Nantucket. I gave this one 3 stars on Goodreads. It wasn’t knock your socks off great, but it was a good, solid book definitley worth reading if you like Hilderbrand’s style.

As the mom of three girls, Dare Me by Megan Abbott, terrifies me. Dare Me is a haunting book about a group of high school cheerleaders and their twisted, tormented, crazy, messed up relationships with each other and their own bodies. Once you start reading it, you hope that the types of relationships these girls are having with their teachers as well as each other is not even close to accurate for how teens are today. Of course, it’s a fiction book, but even with that the story could not be saved for me. I gave this one 2 stars out of 5 on Goodreads.

I’ll start off by saying I love books by Diane Chamberlain. Her cover images always pull me in and her writing style just fits with what I love. Her book, The Midwife’s Confession, is no exception. When midwife, Noelle, suddenly commits suicide, her two best friends set out to uncover what they might have missed in Noelle’s life that could have indicated she was suffering. As they begin digging, they discover that Noelle has a surprising past she kept to herself, full of shocking secrets she’s held onto for many years. Little by little, the two friends discover that Noelle was not the person they knew. She was haunted deep down by a secret she was too afraid to confess. I gave The Midwife’s Confession 4 stars out of 5 on Goodreads.

That’s it for now. Up next on my list to be read are:

By the same author as Gone Girl, I’ve heard Gillian Flynn’s earlier novel Sharp Objects is even better! Since I really enjoyed Gone Girl, I can’t wait to read this book.

The Orchard: a Memoir by Theresa Weir is a book I picked up on a whim at Target. I haven’t heard anything about it, but I always love reading memoir’s so I’m excited to see what this one is all about.

That’s it for now. Make sure to tell me what books you’ve read lately as well as your opinions on any of the ones I shared above. For some of my prior Connect Through Reading posts including more recommendations, click here.

Remember, let’s follow each other on Goodreads so we can continue to share book recommendations with each other! Happy reading!

OK friends, I usually wait until I have a few books to review when I do my Connect Through Reading posts, but I had to share this one with you now. I know summer is winding down and many of you are looking for a good book to read as you travel or are sitting by the pool.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I was up until 2am finishing this book. Even though I was incredibly tired, I couldn’t put it down until I figured out how it ended. In fact, I started reading it the night before we left for our Estes Park vacation and had to force myself to keep it shut until on the way home so I wouldn’t ignore my family the whole time we were away. Once it was open again, I was completely absorbed in the twists and turns of this story.

Updated to add – one of the things I think really appealed to me about this story is that it was set in Carthage, MO area, which is close to where I grew up. I was very familiar with the setting and the characters being referred to throughout the book.

I don’t want to give anything away, but Gone Girl is a story about marriage, relationships and revenge with a whole lot of crazy thrown in. It’s a thrilling, twisted, insanely good read. I felt like the ending could have given a bit more closure, but other than that, loved it. I gave it 5 Stars on Goodreads.

I’m dying to talk about it with someone, so if you’ve read it, let me know! Thank you Lesley and Ryan for the recommendation!

My friend Julianne gave me Gone Girl and it happened to jump ahead of the next to books on my list. So now, like last time, up next really is:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

and

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Remember to connect with me on Goodreads and check out my past Connect Through Reading posts for reviews of other books I’ve read! What’s next in your book pile?

Reading hasn’t happened as much as I had hoped this summer (in fact, my last Connect Through Reading post was in May! I’ve read three more since that post, and thought I’d take a moment to share my thoughts with you.

Up first is the legal thriller, Defending Jacob by William Landay. I’ll start off by telling you I’m giving this book 5 stars, which is something I didn’t think I’d do for a legal thriller. Defending Jacob is about a family struggling to hold things together when their teenage son is accused and charged with murder. The question at the core of this novel is… “How far would you go to protect your child?” It’s a heart wrenching, edge of your seat, can’t put down kind of book with twists and turns all along the way that keep you intrigued. I’ve never really been into the legal thriller genre, but Landay’s incredible way with the written word has made me an instant fan. He’s a really great storyteller. I can’t wait to see what other books he has that I can delve into. If there anything close to Defending Jacob, I know I won’t be disappointed!

The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March is one of those perfect, summer read kind of books. In the same tradition of books like The Friday Night Knitting Club, The Meryl Streep Movie Club is about friends and family bonding and delving into some of lives most difficult situations, all the while meeting weekly for Meryl Streep movie. This book started out slow for me but before I knew it I was pulled in, attached to the characters and anxious to find out how their lives ended up. If Goodreads had a half rating system, I’d give it 3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed the book and also have a desire to start a similar movie club of my own.

I own The Meryl Streep Movie Club and would be happy to pass it on via mail to anyone interested. First one to comment with interest gets it!

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld received 3 generous stars from me (closer to 2 1/2). I had really high hopes for this book as I’ve heard from several friends that they enjoyed it, but it didn’t do much for me. In general, Prep is about a high school student who goes to prep school on a financial aid scholarship. The story follows her through the years as she struggles to find her place and fit in. I had a very hard time liking the main character and never really felt pulled in enough to honestly care much about what happened with them. As I said before though, I know several people who have read this book and really enjoyed it… it just didn’t do a whole lot for me.

Up next on my To Be Read list:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

If you love to read, remember to connect with me on Goodreads so we can share book recommendations and reviews with each other!

What great books have you read this summer?

It’s been awhile since I’ve done one of my Connect Through Reading posts. I have three different books to share with you today! To keep up with what’s on my To Be Read list and to share book recommendations, make sure to follow me on Goodreads!

I listened to the audiobook of The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin while driving home from Spring Break. I can’t believe it has taken me this long to share this book with you, as I truly enjoyed it. This is a fiction book based on an actual person (Lavinia Bump), written as an autobiography.

Lavinia was a dwarf born in the 1800′s and she eventually was employed by P.T. Barnum (yes – the Barnum of the circus). This book is hard to summarize as the story is deep and takes the reader on quite the journey through her life, but it is fascinating to learn about what life might have been like for a circus sideshow performer back then. I found myself angry at Lavinia at times (she is a hard character to love during parts of the book) as well as laughing and crying as the story unfolded. It’s a great summer read, earning 5 Stars from me.

Grab your tissues for this one… Bloom by Kelle Hampton is a wonderful memoir about finding joy in whatever cards you are dealt. Kelle and her husband were surprised to find out upon the birth of their 2nd daughter, Nella, that she had Down Syndrome. If you follow Kelle’s blog, Enjoying the Small Things, you’ve become accustomed to Kelle’s raw honesty. In Bloom, Kelle takes us through her thoughts and emotions after Nella was born and allows us a glimpse into the life changing transformation of her family as they come to terms with what a future with a special needs child might be like.

Kelle’s writing flows deeply from the heart and grips you with such emotion, you can’t help but be drawn in to the special gift their family has been given. Full of stunning photography (again, exactly what you would expect from Kelle), Bloom is a must read for anyone struggling to count the blessings God has handed them. This is another 5 star favorite.

The Kingdom of Childhood, a debut novel by Rebecca Coleman, is a gripping story about a 16 year old high school student, a middle aged teacher and their journey to an extra marital affair that will change their lives forever. As disturbing as the premise of the book was, Rebecca Coleman has a gift of telling a complex story that would be very difficult to share in a way that keeps the reader riveted. I found myself completely disgusted as well as empathetic with both of the main characters and was anxious to see how the story ended. The Kingdom of Childhood would have received a 4 star rating from me, however I felt like we were lead along a very complex tale only to have the book end somewhat abruptly. For that, I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads. I would still recommend this book as a good summer read and I can’t wait to see what Rebecca Coleman writes next. I think she is a very talented author and I hope we will be seeing more great things from her.

I am currently finishing up Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and I’m looking forward to starting Defending Jacob by William Landay immediately afterwards.

I have plans to do a lot of reading this summer! Please share any books you’ve read lately that you’ve enjoyed in the comments section. I enjoy getting recommendations from  you all. Thanks and happy reading!

As part of my commitment in 2012 to “connect through reading” this is a review of the most recent book I have read. Be sure to check out previous reviews HERE and to connect with me on Goodreads. 

Prayers and Lies by Sherri Wood Emmons was a book I picked up while on vacation in Texas. I was pulled in by the cover image and that little girls piercing eyes, and then pulled the trigger on buying the book by reading the back cover description. I love discovering new authors and since this is a first book for Sherri Wood Emmons I was anxious to see how it was.

I found myself completely engrossed in Prayers and Lies from the very beginning. Bethanny and Renna Mae are cousins who have a very close relationship. As life unfolds, Bethanny discovers that Renna Mae is changing before her eyes… growing up far too fast and dealing with things a young girl her age shouldn’t be dealing with. As the two navigate changes in their family and secrets that are revealed, their relationship is strained but their family bond holds strong.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, but would have probably done a 3 1/2 if that was an option. I felt like this book started really strong but lagged a little bit of substance in the final chapters. I would definitely recommend reading it, especially if you are looking for a quick summer read with some interesting twists and turns. Overall this is an excellent debut for a new author. I am excited to read more by Sherri Wood Emmons.

(I will add that a 3 stars and above is a good rating by my standards. One of these days I’ll outline my rating system. 5′s are saved for my absolute favorite books. 4′s are really great reads and 3′s are good books but not ones that I would say are my favorite.)

I also finished reading The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb and can’t wait to share my thoughts on this book with you. It is up there with my favorites! Review coming soon.

Up next for me is the book Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected, a memoir by one of my all time favorite bloggers and photographers, Kelly Hampton.

I’d love to connect with you on Goodreads where we can share what’s on our bookshelves. What book are you currently reading?