Books read Apr 29

Francesca's Kitchen by Peter Pezzelli
What appealed to me about this book was the fact the woman had raised her Italian family in RI-where I live and now that all the kids have grown and moved away.
She keeps busy by learning new things from books at the library. She's got her act together-she travels to visit all the kids two times a year and they visit her. Some days it's still not enough-too much silence.
The story is depicted in January and it's described exactly how it feels in RI at that time of the year when the big snow storm hits. Love memories myself of the 78 blizzard-the weekend of our marriage, marooned for a whole week with no travel on roads possible.
Story also follows Loretta Simmons, the mother of children who want her to actually get out of bed to take them to school....
Francesca needs to find something new to do-to feel useful again. She loves cooking and searches through the local ads for a job. A babysitting job just a few hours til the mother returns from her work at the lawyer's firm for her 2 kids...
Loretta dates and Francesca babysits more hours for them. She's got them eating real food and picking up after themselves which makes Loretta feel like she's not a good mother....
Fran's kids have no idea she's been working as she talks to each of the girls weekly with the same stories of shopping at the local grocery and going to get books from the library...when Loretta becomes sick for a week Francesca takes over and even meets one of Loretta's bosses.
They get to chat while doing house chores and having tea and Loretta takes an interest in cooking as they clear the skeletons from their closets.
They become better friends as time goes on til the kids have a week off and Francesca isn't needed....or is she?  Like the religious interventions along the way-really fits in with the whole story.
Author Q&A and recipes at the end. Will be looking for more from this author. Like how he describes things, makes you feel like you are there experiencing it for yourself.   
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

Sea Glass by Anita Shreeve
Starts out in 1929 and Sexton and her have gotten married, bought a house in NH.
Anorah tries to make the house a home. She preserves and labels the foods they've harvested at her mother's house.
Other chapters named McDermott (runs some depts. in the mill) and Alfonso, Vivian, Alice and Harold-her parents write letters and  tell their stories.
Love hearing of all the colors of the glass she finds while walking on the beach.
When the banks and Wall Street fail and the textile factories are on the verge of closing, cutting wages, going on strike, what is the solution.
Loved hearing of the textile factory tasks.  She finds lipstick on his collar and he shrugs it off due to all the stress he's under but she knows...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Winds of Summer by Arlene Hale
Gold Dust City: A family who works at the 1860's town. Fleur's boyfriend heads to CA to head up the new town there like an amusement park with themes for their times along with rides.
One runs the doll shop and one is  a deputy and puts on a show of arresting one person per day, for the tourists.
There are improvements and new attractions being worked on in town also. The boat ride mishap has them all on edge, who is sabotaging the attraction?
They follow where the clues lead them.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Godpretty in the Tobacco Field by Kim Michele Richardson
Thought the story in this book sounded good to me. We have traveled through the tobacco fileds of KY on our way from RI, OH, to TN to visit relatives and have often seen the smoke coming out of the houses, drying the leaves.
Mother in law was going to stop and call for help thinking it was somebody's house that was on fire til the drying of the leaves was explained to her. Interesting to know what will events are in this book, for us to experience ourselves.
Enjoyed this book because I learned so much about the tobacco leaves and fields. State fair was an added bonus for me-all the sights, sounds, and I can imagine the smells of food. Was so happy to learn that knitting was also a talent that would be granted ribbons or the best work.
Ruby is able to get away to go with Rose and they each set up their booths. Terrifying neighbors and others selling babies-some things just don't sit well with me but it's the mountain life.
Many tragedies occur and so many blame certain people til they find out the truth, then all the other truths shed light. For some it's a blessing for others it's the end as they know it...
Especially liked the fortune teller notes and learning about the sketching.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

Incredibly Delicious Beef Recipes from the Mediterranean Region: Mediterranean Diet for Beginners, Mediterranean Cookbook, Mediterranean Slow Cooker (Healthy Cookbook Series
Starts out with what a Mediterranean meal would consist of.
Each recipe has lift of mostly healthy ingredients-you should be able to substitute for healthier choices, instructions on how to make the dish. There is no nutritional information but they should be on the healthy side.
Lots of recipes using meats.

The umbrella-maker's daughter by Janet Caird
1832 and they've moved to another area hoping her past would be left behind also.
The sickness, cholera has come to the town and others have found out from the pastor that she has written poetry and has many books.
There is talk of witch burning also... Daniel the pastor takes up with Meg and also with Mary...
Hoped the book would talk more of her father's trade-using his hands to make umbrellas.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Orange Animals On The Planet: Animal Encyclopedia for Kids (Colorful Animals on the Planet Book 3
This children's colorful book starts out with the importance of color for camouflage to help protect them from other animals.
This is the orange book and there are many different animals and birds that are shown. Very colorful vibrant colors and facts about the animal or bird.
Julia Butterfly would be my favorite.

How to make braided rugs by Sally Clarke Carty
I have braided rugs using old jeans that I cut into strips. I even had the metal holders to keep the fabric folded.
Lots of information is provided here as to the materials and how to braid, sew and care for the rugs.
Resources for everything relating to braided is listed at the end. Very descriptive details on how to do braiding the right way.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Summerlong by Dean Bakopoulos
This book starts out with a married couple, two kids and they are nearing 40 and some changes are coming to each of them.
One night he gets up and walks out to find a woman lying in the grass and ends up waking up next to her in the morning. She has taken a run she knows he's home in the basement watching TV, he'd be there for the kids if they should waken.
She ends up having a few beers with a younger man. Iowa is where they live. Don works at a real estate agency.  The cops find them both and deliver them home along with a foreclosure notice and their kids with a cop on the lawn wrapped in blankets.
Neither of them explain where they had been and doing-it's just a fantasy, now back to real life. Claire is an author but only has one book under her belt.
We learn of their other relationships and what is going through their minds...
Stories go back in time before they met, during their dating years and up to date present time spent with others.
Lives of all involved intertwine and loved hearing of the northern woods vacation...but will they have a chance at forever love?
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Blue Heron by Avi
Have read other author's works and have enjoyed them all. This one is about Maggie and they are spending time at the shore and she has a new sister.
Magic and her father, she believes in all. Her mother gave her a crystal that is pure magic in her pocket. She travels to visit her father and step mother from Seattle all the way to MA. The shore will have much magic.
Very familiar to the area as we live nearby. It's interesting how the descriptions are so detailed-we tend to take things like the countryside for granted at times.
The heron has a magic all it's own and she wants to save her father....he spends much time on the phone doing work. She entertains herself as the stepmother is always busy with the new baby.
She studies the heron and discovers lots of things about how the bird lives and survives in the marsh.
She discovers many treasures and she also finds out her ailing father has not been taking his medicines!  Someone has also been shooting arrows at the heron! Magic happens!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The lives of Danielle Steel, the unauthorized biography of America's by Bane_ Vickie L - Benet_ Lorenzo T
Have enjoyed many of the author's works and it's going to be interesting to read about custody battles, divorces and life for her.
Some of her earlier recollections of life are in her books. Can't imagine the life she's led but you can see where she gets the story lines for some of her books-from her own life.
So extravagant with her gifts.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Mediterranean Diet: AUTHENTIC Recipes for Healthy Weight Loss (The Beginners Guide to the Mediterranean CookBook)
This starts out with some history of the foods of the area.  Recipes come with ingredient list along with cooking instructions. There is very detailed nutritional information broken down into categories and serving size.
Has sections for breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes along with snacks and dessert recipes.
A KEEPER!