The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts by Bobbie Lloyd REVIEW

The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts by Bobbie Lloyd

 

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review  

 

A Note: I am not a professional chef or baker. I am just the average Plain Jane everyday sort of gal in the kitchen.

Readability

Right out of the gate, I'm going to say that I love how they put into the recipes in both grams and ounces (and cups) for measurements. It makes conversions a non-issue, meaning that anyone anywhere can pick up this book and be able to easily use the recipes according to what they are used to.

 

Unfortunately, there is one thing about this book that I did not like at all. For these recipes (in most, if not all), you have a "base recipe" that is referred to as part of the recipe which is located at the back of the book. Meaning you have to flip to the back of the book to then return to the recipe you actually want. Now, this isn't something that's a disaster in the making. The base recipes are made as the first step of the process, so for the most part you are just reading one recipe from the back, and then the one recipe you're actually hoping to end up with. But if you're doing something like making a base cake, it could be annoying to have to flip the pages back and forth if you need to remember how long you need to leave that in the oven while you prep the rest of the dish. 

 

That being said, I don't have a better solution as to how to make this readable, because if you had every base recipe on every page, it would (1) be an annoyingly busy page, and (2) get tiresome after awhile. But... I don't know... maybe at least place the base recipes at the beginning of each section so it's less likely the baker is scrambling through pages of other sections' base recipes?

 

Favorite Recipe

I'm a sucker for anything chocolatey and peanut-buttery, so I'm totally biased and am going to say that my favorite recipe is the Deep-Dish Peanut Butter Cup Icebox Pie.

 

However, if you're not a chocolate or peanut butter lover, there are also so many fruit-centered recipes, you have plenty to choose from!

 

Aesthetic 

10/10 gorgeous. The colors are fresh, the type is easy to read, the recipe layouts are divided with cute light blue/teal lines. I really like the interior layout of the book. And oh my God, the images. Sometimes, I feel like cookbook images are a bit dark or dreary, but these are stunning!! And they're also all consistent in tone and vibe. I would buy this book just to eat the desserts with my eyes.

 

As for the outside of the book, I stopped by my local Barnes and Noble to check it out because I wanted to give some feedback on that, but only had an ARC. Love love love the book in physical form.

 

Thanks for reading, and happy eating!

Xo

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan SPOILER FREE Review

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

3.93 out of 5 Stars

 

Spoiler-Free Review

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review   

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is a beautifully written and emotionally resonating take on the life of Joy Davidman, the woman who eventually married C.S. Lewis. The book does a great job capturing Joy’s voice and perspective, giving readers a window into her struggles with identity, faith, and love. Her transformation from a disillusioned wife and writer in America to a woman pursuing intellectual and emotional freedom in England was surprising to me in how easy it was to connect with her. The writing is lyrical without being overdone, and there’s a strong sense of time and place that adds a special richness to the story. This is definitely a sleeper -- it's not one I would have expected to enjoy, but it was great!!

 

Joy Davidman

One of my favorite parts is when Joy finally arrives in England and steps into the world of Lewis for the first time. It was just such a moment, you know? You can feel the atmosphere shift as she walks into this place she’s only known through letters and imagination, and suddenly everything becomes real. There’s a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and awe as these two brilliant minds begin to connect in person, and it’s written with so much emotional nuance that you can’t help but get swept up in the magic of it all. Across the whole book really, what really stands out is the emotional and intellectual connection between Joy and Lewis. 

 

While some sections slow down a bit and lean a bit too heavily into introspection, the payoff is worth it if you're in the mood for a thoughtful, character-driven read. Callahan clearly did her homework, and it shows in the little historical and literary details woven throughout. It’s not a light read, but it’s a rewarding one. Especially if you're a fan of biographical fiction, this is one to add to your TBR.

 

Thanks for reading!

Xo

Twisted Love by Ana Huang REVIEW

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

4.24 out of 5 Stars

*May contain spoilers*

I by no means am the first to review this book, but here's another take on it in case anyone is curious. :) 

I thoroughly enjoyed Twisted Love, to the point where I did a reread on it recently. It is entertaining, a bit dramatic, and there is a good hint of angst in it as well. Overall, it's a delightful little combo of those things that make it captivating and, for me, easily re-readable.

Plot

Set in D.C., Twisted Love is a steamy contemporary romance featuring a kind and young photographer and her brother's uber-rich best friend who is an ice-cold, ruthless, and grumpy real estate businessman. Alex has been asked to watch over Ava while her brother is off on an international medical trip. However, they quickly enter into a relationship that is intense and layered. For Ava, she is simultaneously dealing with childhood trauma of being shoved into a lake and almost drowning, now as an adult dealing with a crippling fear of water. For Alex, he is navigating a revenge plot against Ava's father, who is partially responsible for his family's deaths. A combination of Alex helping Ava heal with Alex's deceit against his initial involvement in the Chen's lives leads to an explosive development in their relationship. 

The pacing of the plot details is great. It's a little on the quick side, but it is easily grasped so the somewhat quicker development is okay. The relationship between Ava and Alex jumps into place. Definitely a rougher development there in regard to how their characters grow as the relationship begins. However, once the intimacy begins, the rest of their individual and relationship developments is wonderful. It is smooth and the evolution from no emotional attachment to intense romance to heartbreak to redemption is fantastic and I was here for it. What's really good is that there was no instalove, in case anyone is worried about that. There's lust, for sure, but that's very normal and a regular everyday thing in real life, so it works.

Characters

Ava Chen -- I haven't read a character like this in awhile... Ava is artistic and a delicate balance of strong and vulnerable. She doesn't really lean one way or the other in that regard, and I really really really appreciated that. It makes her a complex character that seems much more real than other single-dimension characters found in other books. I also just really liked her! I loved how she stood up to Alex and I love her humor and her goals in life.

Alex Volkov -- Too hot for words. Does he fit a fictional stereotype? Yes. Do I care? No. Am I still obsessed with that stereotype? Hell yes, I am. I probably will be for the rest of my life. Alex is the absolute best kind of tortured broody grumpy-pants that falls in love with a girl that is one of the nicest people on the planet.

Jules, Stella, Bridget -- I love these girls. This friend group is GOALS. I don't even mean professionally or status or whatever (because they are all kick-ass in their respective fields). I mean they are there for each other. They show up and check in and share their lives with each other even though they are full adults. As any adult can tell you, adult friendships take a surprising amount of effort to be effortless. Those people are with you forever, but life gets busier as you get older and it sadly means you don't have as much automatic time with your friends. You have to seek it out, and these girls do. I love to see it and I love that they all blend together so well despite being so different from each other. 

Writing

Ana Huang has got the it factor when it comes to writing. There's no doubt about it. I can't say there's any profound literary quality to it, so if you're a snob, please be quiet. But she is a damn good storyteller. Like, really damn good to the point where it's suddenly 2 a.m. and you're cursing yourself because you have to be awake in four hours. 

I have DEVOURED these books, both from this series and the Kings of Sin series. I love Ana Huang's writing. Plain and simple. They are perfect escapes and made for enjoyment. 

Thanks for reading!

Xo

Thoughts on Blood and Ash Series (Books 1-5)

Thoughts on the Blood and Ash Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fangirling? A Defense of? Anticipation? 

~ Yes - All of the Above ~

Ah!!! Okay, so within the past couple of weeks, I have reread/completely caught up on Jennifer L. Armentrout's Blood and Ash series. To be clear, by this I mean books 1 through 5, listed below, without including the Flesh and Fire series. For that one, I've still only read book 1. I know there's a recommended reading order, but I just ~accidentally~ would start the next B&A one and then suddenly that book would be over and I'd end up doing the same with the next. Don't worry -- the rest of F&F will be read soon. :) 

Book 1 - From Blood and Ash

Book 2 - A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

Book 3 - The Crown of Gilded Bones

Book 4 - The War of Two Queens

Book 5 - A Soul of Ash and Blood

I love love love this series and, as always, I love JLA's writing. This post is pretty much just going to be a combination of gushing and a defense of the series because I've heard a lot of nay-saying that I don't think is very objective. Or kind. Some of it is honestly straight-up ridiculous and can be used as evidence as to why Goodreads review numbers are partially bull****. Granted, all opinions are clearly that -- opinions. And so there is no real thing as an "objective" review. But I can see the pluses and the minuses for this series, and for her writing style, and so I want to just put some things out there because I think she and this series deserves that. 

First things first... Poppyhawke. Love them. Adore them. Flawed? Yes. Slightly messed up meeting? Yes. Do I care? Mmm... the world is nothing but a bunch of shades of grey and I think given their specific circumstances and story, no -- I don't care. Throughout the rest of the series? They are one of my favorite ships of all time. I can say that absolutely without a doubt. I love reading the genuine dynamic of support they have with each other, both in asking for it and giving it. That is really part of their core as a couple: loving support and balancing each other out. The sexual tension between them is also off the charts, of course, but I really love them because they are so much more than that and they are able to care about and love each other deeply. 

And then you add in Kieran. I remember being neutral about Kieran for the longest time. It's not that he didn't have a personality, but it was just a bit flat in book 2 I think? But he becomes more of an individual in book 3 and he takes on a lot more individuality in book 4 to the point where I am greatly intrigued by his relationship with and devotion to Poppy and Cas. The point is made several times that there is love between him and the two that is similar to what Poppy and Cas have, but is also different. And that's just such an interesting description to me because it 1000% is more than just friendship and it also seems more intimate than that of family/brother vibes. There's definitely more there that we haven't seen yet, but I know that as a person, I love Kieran. 

Also, I forgot how much I love Delano! Dear Lord, I love that little snowball marshmallow. There's not even too much that can be said about him because he's such a minor character, but there's something about him that makes me so happy. He's like the Poppy/Cas/Kieran kid they babysit. Or their child. Whatever it is, it's amazing and I love how he interacts with Poppy especially. 

Moving on to some more critical things... one of the biggest flaws with the series is that, I think, the rollout of the high fantasy elements are difficult to follow. Not as an excuse, but just for context, this is JLA's first high fantasy series. She is a pro (imo) at the urban fantasy genre, particularly for the YA readers. Literally amazing. So with this background, she knows how to build a world other than that of reality, but I wonder if that skill wasn't perfectly translated, especially early in the series. I feel like there's a unique fine line writers of high fantasy need to balance where they simultaneously explain the world and how it operates while also doing so in a way that is organic and doesn't interrupt the reader's experience or break their suspension of disbelief.  For me, I could have used more description on the rules of the world. Or maybe even a reduction in the number of rules of the world because it was overwhelming at times and I felt like I was missing details or that some details were just assumed instead of provided for. 

Speaking of how this is high fantasy, one of the things that really annoys me with other people's reviews is that they complain about how there aren't enough romance scenes in the later books. There is admittedly a switch away from focus on the romance aspect to focus on the fantasy aspect, but this is a romantasy series. That incorporates the term "fantasy," so I don't think it's a very fair review of the book for someone to mark it a low rating simply because they wanted something more romance-heavy. It's still a valid review (not one of the "ridiculous" ones that I mentioned earlier), but it is based solely on personal preference and not an objective review of the book as a member of the genre. It's just irritating when I see those. 

Now, to address a love-hate tug of war between different types of readers... some people love JLA's writing style and sense of humor, and other people hate it. Personally,  I love it. And I don't think there's anything to say about her writing style other than it makes the story fly by when you love it and, from what I've heard and read, makes you cringe hard when you don't like it. I just wanted to point this out in case someone reading this is considering picking up the books because there are a lot of reviews out there that are rooted in her writing style. *shrugs* Pick up a copy and test out a page. Download the sample and check it out. You'll be able to tell right away if it's a style that you vibe with or not. 

Lastly, one of the things that I have loved so far about the series is that it is connected to another one that takes place in this world. And I love love that the characters are directly connected to each other and that their storylines are intertwined in history. 

However, the big drawback because of this... it makes a complicated history and rules-of-the-world even harder to follow. There's just so many things to know or that can happen. You would think it makes things simpler, and JLA certainly does a great job of making sure that you don't need to read both series to understand them individually, but it really just makes for a giant cast of characters to follow at some points and it feels like there are a dozens of ways for people to become gods, or demis, or primals, versus a true primal, or an Atlantian, etc., etc. I'm exaggerating a LOT with that statement -- I know the differences now and have kept them straight in my head now. But there really are a lot of rules and loopholes and one-offs regarding what happens to person with X status ascending another person with Y status versus Z status and all of that is different again if it is done by a person with A status instead of X status. See what I mean? I don't even know if I'm explaining it correctly, but there are so many combinations of species and ascension results that my head was spinning and there were points when it was simply more confusing than it was entertaining. 

But I think we've finally stilled the world-building waters enough to be prepped for and fully enjoy the ride of book 6, The Primal of Blood and Bone, which comes out this upcoming summer! I'm so pumped for this release. It's one of the few books of 2025 that I have saved on my calendar to make sure that I don't miss the release and I am dying to see what goes down with Kolis back in the picture and we've now gotten to the core of what has been driving the plot this whole series. Plus the characters. I live for their interactions and am so excited to see how they keep interacting and growing with each other. And the snark and sarcasm. Eeeee! Yayyy!!! :)

Hopefully this all made sense and was at least slightly helpful for those looking to read the books or if they are feeling unsure about whether or not they should pick them up. Personally, unless you really don't like the writing style, I would highly recommend it. It sucks you in and can be the best kind of investment of your time. 

Thanks for reading!

2025 Books I'm Looking Forward To

2025 Books

I'm Looking Forward To

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone has had a great start to the year, whether it has been hardcore straight out of the gate or you are still easing into it. :) 

With every new year, there is guaranteed a great flooding of new book titles that flows into everyone's headspaces and TBRs. You can look at Goodreads, Popsugar, Book Riot, various news outlets, TikTok, etc., etc... everyone has books they are anticipating for the year and are telling everyone else to anticipate this year. 

For me, I honestly only have a small few that I'm going to share. I feel like the online conversations around books have exploded and there are simply too many things to keep track of at the moment, and far too many opportunities to be led astray. So I'm going into this new year of books mostly curious, and simply open to whatever may fall onto my lap. What's "popular" or "outrageous" or anything else...? I find it hard to take some of these collective judgements at face value anymore so I'm blocking out a lot of that noise. These are the small few that I have read the descriptions of (or in the JLA case, simply love her) and I am looking forward to reading when they come out.  

~~~

How GORGEOUS is this??

*Descriptions from Goodreads*

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

January 14, 2025

The million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists Alice Feeney returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage. . . 

. . . and revenge.

The Forest King's Daughter by Elly Blake

February 11, 2025

Once upon a time, among the bloodred trees of Thirstwood, a young forest princess became friends with a lonely demon boy. He gifted her an amber ring, a worthless trinket... or so he thought... because no sooner did he slide it onto her finger than the demon queen and forest king declared war. 

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

February 27, 2025

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue meets This is How You Lose The Time War in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries. 

The Primal of Blood and Bone by Jennifer L. Armentrout

June 10, 2025

In the thrilling penultimate chapter of the viral BLOOD AND ASH series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, Poppy and Casteel face their most perilous challenges yet as old enemies rise and ancient powers stir from their slumber.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

July 1, 2025

Perfect for fans of Saltburn, For the Wolf, and House of Hollow,  Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a moody, monstrously Gothic romantasy in which a young woman must bind herself to a dangerous chthonic demon with the help of a son of a rival family to save her family's legacy -- and herself -- from ruin. 

~~~

I'm sure there will be more as I still have a lot of fantasy books from last year I need to read and whose sequels/next installments come out this year, but I don't want to put them on this list prematurely. 

I'm excited for this upcoming year and can't wait to see what books surprise me and that I fall in love with!

Thanks for reading!