Super Baby Food: Absolutely Everything You Should Know About Feeding Your Baby and Toddler From Starting Solid Foods to Age Three Years by Ruth Yaron | Book Review

My sister-in-law recommended this book, and I'm so glad she did!!  It's a fantastic resource!  I was quite nervous about introducing solid foods to my first-born kidlet because I had no clue what I was doing.  This book explains baby nutrition in easy-to-understand language.  When you first get your hands on a copy, you might feel a little intimidated- it's pretty thick.  But it's a resource.  You don't have to read it cover to cover.  (I did, but I'm a literary weirdo.)  There are easy-to-find sections on nutrition, what to feed your baby each month, and recipes.  There's also a section on food/feeding safety.  I definitely made a note of what foods to introduce each month, and followed that as a guide for many months.  Now, you will still want to check with your pediatrician- the book recommended introducing eggs at 8 months, but my pediatrician wanted me to wait till 1 year.  But I found the guide super helpful for brainstorming what fruits and veggies to introduce my kidlet to.  I never would've thought to puree asparagus for him, and he ended up loving that!  There are detailed instructions on how to cook and puree foods for your little one, and even some super simple "recipes" for toddler food.  Of course there's also the instructions for making Super Porridge.  I think a lot of people know about Super Porridge- I saw YouTube videos of various celeb moms talking about it and/or demonstrating how to make it.  I never got good at it, but I'm not the most patient cook!  I definitely recommend this helpful guide to feeding your baby solid foods.

*I checked out my copy of Super Baby Food from my local library.

By Hook or by Crook by Betty Hechtman | Audiobook Review

The third installment in the Crochet Mystery series, By Hook or by Crook, is just as good as the first two!  Yes, it's still a somewhat predictable cozy mystery, but that's ok.  I'm liking the main character, Molly Pink, more and more with each book.  She's just such a good person!  And relatable.  And real.  She's not perfect, but she does love her family and friends with an unequaled ferocity.

This book features filet crochet, which is a more obscure technique.  I happen to know the technique, but I don't hear a lot of people talking about it ever, so I don't think it's widely practiced.  I like doing it for bookmarks or table runners.  The mystery focuses on a woman who leaves a piece of filet crochet and a note filled with remorse/guilt at a table that the Tarzana Hookers are manning at a local craft fair.  Along the way, Molly will uncover a secret affecting multiple generations and the murderer of a famous crocheter.

This particular book was slightly more serious than your average cozy mystery.  There's a small subplot involving anorexia, and one of Molly's friends is going through some really trying relationship issues.  Everything is still kept just light enough to not be a "downer."

I listened to this as an audiobook.  Still not really connecting with the narrator, and I can't say why, so it's 100% just me.  You'll probably think it's just fine.

One thing with this series:  the hard copies include crochet patterns and recipes, and the audiobooks omit them.  Bummer.

*I checked out my copy of By Hook or by Crook from my local library.

Dead Men Don't Crochet by Betty Hechtman | Audiobook Review

Dead Men Don't Crochet is the second book in the Crochet Mystery cozy mystery series.  Y'all have heard of "cozy mysteries," right?  Murder mysteries minus any gore?  They're often lacking in sex and language, also, making these pretty safe books to hand to Grandma.  I enjoy them as little breaks in more intense reading.  Also, two of the first adult book series I ever read were cozy mysteries!  (Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries by Tamar Myers (and my first author meet-and-greet) and the "Cat Who" series by Lillian Jackson Braun.)

This cozy mystery series follows Molly Pink, an upper-middle-aged widow who manages events for a local bookstore, including leading the crochet group that meets there.  They make things to donate to local charities.  In her free time, she gets herself mixed up in murder mysteries around town.  

In this volume, there's been a murder in a local shop, and one of the Tarzana Hookers is suspected of the murder!  Molly jumps right in with investigating.  Hijinks ensue.  These cozy mysteries are a little predictable... but that's ok.  That's why they're cozy!

I can't resist this little teaser:  while dead men do not, in fact, crochet... some very unexpected men do!  You won't believe what man ends up crocheting in Dead Men Don't Crochet.  ;)

I listened to the audiobook version of Dead Men Don't Crochet.  I didn't really connect with the narrator... I can't put my finger on anything in particular that was wrong, but it just wasn't quite right, either.  Maybe it's just me.

*I checked out my copy of Dead Men Don't Crochet from my local library.

Stacking the Shelves

Today I'm over at Tynga's Reviews, Stacking the Shelves!  Click on the image above to find out more and to join in the fun yourself!

Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman | Book Review

Flashback Friday Review!

Hooked on Murder is the first book in a cozy mystery series, and I read it in September 2010.  I just now went to review the second book in the series and realized that I'd never reviewed the first book here on the blog.  Y'all know how thorough I like to be, so I wanted to pause for a moment to catch you up on the first book.

I gave the book four of five stars and didn't write a review.  So here's the official back-of-the-book synopsis!  Molly Pink is about to discover the joys of crochet.  It's a relaxing escape from her hectic life as a bookstore event manager... and from the stress of being Tarzana, California's latest murder suspect.  For Molly, the weekly crochet group at Shedd & Royal Books and More was just another event to manage.  Then she stumbled across the body of group leader Ellen Sheridan.  Her complicated past with Ellen has made her a prime suspect, and after being cuffed and questioned, she could use a little diversion.  Never mind that she doesn't know how to crochet.  Granny squares don't look that hard to make.  But while Molly's fending off a detective with a grudge and navigating crochet group politics, the real killer is at large.  And it's up to Molly to catch the culprit before she winds up in a tight knot.  Delicious recipe and crochet pattern included!

*I own my copy of Hooked on Murder.

The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore | Audiobook Review

Today I'm over at Tynga's Reviews, continuing to review this great YA alien series!  Click on the cover image above to find out more.

*I checked out my copy of The Revenge of Seven from my local library.

Splendor by Anna Godbersen | Audiobook Review

Splendor was splendiforous!  lol  It was really good, in all seriousness.  Probably the best one in the series!  In Splendor, there's more than just romantic intrigue- there's also maybe-murder intrigue!  

The main characters have all done quite a bit of growing up, and many are even parents now.  They have their own households.  Now, that's not to say that they're out of the society papers!  No, never!  They are definitely still making the papers with their balls and dinners.  But they also have more meaningful relationships and activities in their days.

Elizabeth and Diana undercover a few clues that indicate that their father's death may not have been as "natural" as they thought.  Through their investigation, they'll continue to grow into their adult selves and learn at what cost all the splendor comes.

I started this series very disillusioned with Luxe.  I was able to enjoy the frivolity of Rumors.  Envy was ok, because I was invested by that point.  Splendor lets this series end on a very high note.  I'm not sure that I can recommend the series (two out of four books being enjoyable isn't a great ratio) but I wouldn't discourage readers.  If you like historic fiction and some drama, this is the series for you!

I listened to Splendor as an audiobook and it was pretty good.  Nothing to write home about, but also nothing to complain about.  The story takes the forefront.

*I checked out my copy of Splendor from my local library.