Book Review of Heaven Adjacent

A novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde

What if you have been living a high-powered life, where work is everything and your time is totally organized? Then, something drastic happens that makes you realize that there may be more to living than what you have been doing. This is what happens to Roseanna Chaldecott the day her best friend and law partner suddenly dies.

Heaven Adjacent

Synopsis of Heaven Adjacent

Something snaps in Roseanna’s life one morning when she takes a step back and realizes that all she and her law partner had worked for now has no real meaning anymore. Instead of dutifully going off to the office as usual, and feeling unsure of her future, Roseanna leaves her home in New York City and begins to drive upstate on one tank of gas with no plans to return. Nothing seems to matter anymore; she lives alone and is estranged from her grown son, and work no longer seems important. 

Hours later, Roseanna’s need for gas occurs in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains where she discovers a ramshackle farm located on seventy-six acres that is for sale. Deciding this is the perfect hideout, she purchases the property and arranges to have her Manhattan apartment closed up and her belongings shipped to the farm. She also notifies her secretary that she won't be back.

The farm appears to be full of possibilities, but also includes a few surprises. It seems there is a young mother and her small daughter who have been squatting on the property. Having company is the last thing Roseanna wants, but she reluctantly allows them to stay. 

As time goes by, it is discovered that there is a lot of old farm equipment and other metal things stored in and around the farm and its many buildings. Roseanna and the young girl begin sculpting zoo animals using this ‘junk’. As a result, others are drawn to the farm; some of whom stay on, camping on the many acres. Eventually, a newspaperman writes a story about the sculptures and even her estranged son, Lance, shows up. Lance pleads with her to return to the city, but Roseanna has finally discovered where she belongs. And, soon Lance also discovers a simple truth. 

Summary

Roseanna thought she needed space and solitude when her new adventure began, but, although her new life does not provide the solitude she first sought, her heart has found room for much more.

This is a wonderful, yet bittersweet, story about slowing down and discovering what can be gained when leaving everything behind! 

People come into our lives and it’s not always a forever kind of thing, and not always meant to be. Not every deal is for keeps.

~from Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde

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*Book Review of ‘Heaven Adjacent’ was written by Wednesday Elf

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Invisible and Unsolved ~ the Invisible Series by James Patterson

Book Reviews of the Two-Book ‘Invisible’ series of novels by James Patterson and David Ellis

Synopses of the Invisible Series

Invisible

Emmy Dockery is an FBI researcher in Washington, DC who often finds patterns to crimes that seem to point her toward cases she believes the FBI needs to investigate.  She comes across a great many unsolved cases all across the country which Emmy is convinced are connected. She becomes obsessed with finding a link between these cases, to the point where she even takes a leave from her job to continue gathering information on hundreds of kidnappings, rapes, and murders. 

Everyone, including her ex-boyfriend, field agent Harrison “Books” Bookman, think she is crazy. No one believes her until Emmy finds a piece of evidence which cannot be ignored. 

Could one person be responsible for all these crimes, even though no motives or murder weapons or suspects have ever been proved? 

James Patterson takes you on a chilling and scary thriller in Invisible!

Unsolved

In this follow-up to Invisible, we find a series of perfect murders, each of which look like an accident. But as the bodies begin to pile up, Emmy Dockery realizes that something horrible is happening. She also begins to believe that her twin sister’s death in a house fire several months ago, believed to be accidental, is anything but! 

Emmy has a unique skill at seeing connections others miss. As a result this has brought her an impressive string of arrests. But these cases where the victims all appear to have died by accident, seemingly with nothing in common, have not only baffled Emmy, but have left her findings so unbelievable that she cannot get anyone to investigate. 

The FBI Director talks to former special agent Harrison (Books) Bookman, now running a book store called “The Book Man”, into returning to look into these cases because one of the suspects is Books’ ex-fiancee Emmy Dockery. Books accepts because he wants to prove the agency is wrong about Emmy.

But, someone else is also watching Emmy and waiting until the perfect time to strike! 

Summary

In each book in this series, the villain is someone you would never suspect. I was fooled right to the end. Surprising endings indeed, typical of James Patterson. This was definitely a series well worth reading. 

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*Book Reviews of James Patterson's The Invisible Series was written by Wednesday Elf

The Invisible Series by James Patterson and David Ellis:

Invisible

Unsolved (Invisible Book 2)

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The Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde - A Book Review

Among the many interests and activities which author Catherine Ryan Hyde enjoys, is that of horses. She is an avid equestrian and often posts pictures online of her horses. In addition, Catherine has featured horses in several of her books. The Language of Hoofbeats is one such book. This is my review of this fascinating and interesting novel. 

Synopsis

Two of the main characters, Clementine and Jackie, each narrate the story, taking alternating chapters to tell their side of the events.

The Language of Hoofbeats

The story begins when Jackie and her wife, Paula, looking for a quiet life for their kids - a young adopted son and two teenage foster children - move in across the street from Clementine. Paula is a veterinarian and this move has brought her to a remote country area in need of another vet. Jackie is a stay-at-home mom for the kids. 

Clementine is a terribly unhappy person who is so damaged by her daughter’s suicide that she cannot be civil to most people, including her husband. The husband finally cannot take her negativity any longer and he moves out about the time Paula & Jackie and the kids move in next door.

Clem has a horse named Comet who used to belong to the now-dead daughter. Comet is quite high-strung and has not been receiving very good care because Clementine is rather scared of the horse and the husband has moved out. When the foster teen Star, a quite unhappy girl herself, is drawn to and bonds with Comet and attempts to begin a friendship with the horse. Clementine, in her usual horrid fashion, resents the friendship developing between Star and the horse and chases her away from her property several times. Clem is extremely nasty to Star and also to her foster mothers, Jackie and Paula. Finally, not being able to stand the way the horse is neglected, Star steals Comet and they become lost. The real action in the story begins as Jackie and Clementine join forces to search for both Star and Comet. 

Throughout the story, we also become acquainted with the other foster child, Mando, and the younger adopted son, and learn what happened to Clementine’s daughter. 

Summary

From the book jacket: 

When a troubled girl steals a horse, her foster moms are thrown together with their reluctant neighbor 

The Language of Hoofbeats shows us the complexity of human relationships and points out how very relatable characters can sometimes be intensely flawed. But, by facing the scars they carry and the choices they have made, along with forgiving the regrets, a diverse group of people often can be transformed into a family. An extremely good read! 

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Catherine Ryan Hyde

*Book Review of “The Language of Hoofbeats” is written by Wednesday Elf

 

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Holiday Review of National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

On August 2nd we celebrate the fun food holiday, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. It is the perfect cool treat for a hot summer day. It is a delicious summertime follow-up to July’s National Ice Cream Month. 

Some Fun Tasty History of National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

On National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, we celebrate a delicious delight that is over a century old. We know this to be true because of an article published in the New York Mail and Express (a daily New York City newspaper) in 1899 to verify that there were ice cream sandwiches for sale by street vendors in New York at that time. For one penny! 

The article said the following:

There are ham sandwiches and salmon sandwiches and cheese sandwiches and several other kinds of sandwiches, but the latest is the ice-cream sandwich.

How to Celebrate National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

In my day, the ice cream sandwich I remember (and enjoyed) the most as a child was the traditional brick of vanilla ice cream placed between two soft chocolate wafers. Ice cream and cookies - always a child-favorite!

Over time, many variations of the ice cream sandwich have come about and many can even be created in your own kitchen.

• There is the creation invented by an ice cream vendor in 1928 in San Francisco who used two oatmeal cookies instead of chocolate wafers.  He even had a version of this that he dipped into chocolate before he served it.

• Maybe you could add some chocolate chips around the edges of the ice cream. Or use chocolate chip cookies with chocolate chip cookie ice cream! :) 

• How about chocolate ice cream between vanilla wafers?  

• Making ice cream sandwiches can be as simple or as difficult as you choose them to be. Just select your favorite flavor of ice cream and the cookies/biscuits/wafers you like best and come up with your favorite version.

If you want a challenge and enjoy ‘fun in the kitchen’, try making your own cookies and your own ice cream for a tasty homemade impressive creation!

Summary

This wonderfully simple frozen dessert is an extremely tasty and delicious ice cream treat. So be sure to be ready with your favorites on National Ice Cream Sandwich Day on August 2.

More Holiday Reviews

Review This Reviews: Holidays

More Ice Cream Reviews

Review This Reviews: Ice Cream

*Holiday Review of National Ice Cream Sandwich Day is written by Wednesday Elf

 

HOME NEATLY Ice Cream Sandwich Scoop, Easy Release Sandwich Cookie Scoops for Evenly Sized Gelato Scoops, Ice Cream Scoop with Trigger for Effortless Serving, Stainless Steel Food Scoopers for Kitchen

Chef'n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Sandwich Maker - Set of 2, Brown | Craft Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches with Ease | Gift for Family Fun and Parties

Jellybean Foods Ice Cream Sandwich Wafers - Crispy Chocolate Wafers For Ice Cream Sandwiches - Rectangular Sandwich Wafers - Chocolate Cookies - Rectangular Wafers Without Cream or Ice Cream(1 lb)

Nestle, Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches, 6 Count (Frozen)

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Dead Heat Book Review

A horseracing mystery by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

After a successful eleven-year career as a jockey in England (during which he became one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and a champion steeplechaser, riding as jockey to the Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth), Dick Francis wrote his first book, an autobiography (The Sports of Queens), which led to a job on a London newspaper as a racing correspondent. In 1982, he published his first mystery book that dealt with crime in the horse-racing world. Through a publishing career of nearly 40 books, Francis’ wife, Mary, was his researcher, proofreader and biggest fan. 

Mary died in 2000 and Dick, heartbroken, virtually gave up writing. Six years later, their son Felix talked his dad into writing again and they collaborated on Dead Heat. Herein, is my review of this book.

Synopsis of Dead Heat

Dead Heat

The main character in Dead Heat is Max Moreton. Max is locally known as a celebrity chef, enjoying success in his horse-racing themed restaurant in Newmarket called The Hay Net. Max also frequently caters special meals at nearby racetracks. His troubles begin when he caters a dinner at Newmarket races where dozens of guests end up with food poisoning. Max cannot figure out what went wrong.

But, that incident was just the beginning of Max’s problems. The very next day, he caters a VIP lunch in one of the special boxes at Newmarket races, and he is nearly killed in an explosion. It suddenly becomes time for Max to start trying to figure out what is going on and why it seems as though someone is trying to kill him. 

Summary

The clever plot of Dead Heat has some interesting and some quirky characters (there is the laughing lawyer for one) and a romantic interest between Max and a beautiful viola player from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London who originally starts out to sue him! In addition, the reader gets to enjoy the ambience of the world of haute cuisine. 

I enjoyed this first collaboration of Dick Francis with his son Felix. The team went on to publish 3 more books together. Since Dick’s death at age 89 in 2010, Felix Francis has continued on in the same vein, writing horse-racing mysteries. 

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*Book Review of ‘Dead Heat by Dick & Felix Francis was written by Wednesday Elf

 

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Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room - Restaurant Review

In days gone by, many Southern towns had boarding houses, places where you could find a simple quiet room and enjoy, usually, two meals a day in a communal dining room.

The Wilkes House, built in 1870, began operation as a  boardinghouse in 1943, run by Sema Wilkes. 

History

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is a lunch only restaurant in Savannah, Georgia located in what was originally the dining hall of the boardinghouse begun by Sema Wilkes in the historic Wilkes House. She owned and managed the restaurant for 59 years, and today her family continues the tradition.

Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room is only open for lunch Monday through Friday, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. It is closed on weekends and holidays.  It offers popular Southern US home cooking. There is no menu; instead, there are specific offerings each day. These usually include their famous southern fried chicken, along with a variety of vegetables such as black-eyed peas or okra gumbo, plus bowls of fluffy mashed potatoes and the absolutely delicious Wilkes’ macaroni and cheese* dish, along with corn muffins and biscuits. Other days you might find meatloaf or stew as the main dishes. 

Seating is family-style at large tables for ten shared by whoever you were in line with when the doors open. The popularity of this restaurant is such that long lines begin to form long before the 11:00 a.m. opening. In its homestyle tradition, guests are escorted in shifts of ten into the dining room where tables are already set with steaming bowls and platters of yummy Southern food. Guests sit together and pass the food around like family. 

Location

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is located at 107 West Jones Street in Savannah, Georgia, which is close to Chatham Square, one of the 22 famous squares of Savannah.  Jones Street is a cobblestone street in the Historic District that's lined with trees and near the Design District's shops. 

*Favorite Food

My favorites served at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room the day I took my mom was the delicious fried chicken and the outstanding macaroni & cheese. I am not much of a cheese fan, and my idea of mac & cheese is with butter and milk (without cheese). So ordering macaroni and cheese in a restaurant is not something I would normally do. The exception is the dish served at Mrs. Wilkes. It has cheese (cheddar), but the cheese takes second place (taste-wise) to the milk & butter ingredients, along with the 4 eggs. 

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of macaroni and cheese recipes out there, but the best by far (in my opinion) is the version served at Mrs. Wilkes. 

After a trip south a few years ago, Laurie of Northern Minnesota, posted on her Cookin’ Up North recipe blog her adapted version of the Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room she got from the cookbook she bought at the restaurant. 

………………..

Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House Cookbook

Mrs. Wilkes' Boardinghouse Cookbook: Recipes and Recollections from Her Savannah Table

In addition to running Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room for many years (from 1943 until her death at the age of 95) Sema Wilkes wrote several cookbooks filled with the traditional Southern recipes she served at her restaurant.

Along with the recipes, the cookbooks delightfully include remembrances of Mrs. Wilkes, her family and friends, and include some fascinating tales of her most unusual regular customers over the years. The cookbooks are extremely entertaining and read rather like a memoir. This Boarding House Cookbook is one you will enjoy.

Summary

In a brochure about Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, this line is found:

"Stop by and enjoy the special pleasure of a meal shared with neighbors and strangers."

Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room

107 West Jones Street
Savannah, Georgia
912-232-5997
http://www.mrswilkes.com/

No Reservations
Dine In Service Only
They Do Not Offer Takeout
Hours: Monday - Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
No Holidays! - Lunch Only!

View a Sample Menu of daily specials here.

Related Reviews: 

• For More Restaurant Reviews, Check out ReviewThisReviews - Restaurant Reviews: US

• National Macaroni Day

*Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room Restaurant Review was written by Wednesday Elf

+Images courtesy of:

1. Laurie of the Cookin’ Up North blog
2. Wikipedia

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A Different Kind of Gone - Book Review

A Catherine Ryan Hyde novel about justice, involving lies and impossible choices.

Synopsis of ‘A Different Kind of Gone’

A Different Kind of Gone: A Novel

What if ‘missing’ doesn’t mean ‘never found’. What if a search and rescue volunteer searching for the missing teenager in the mountains near the Utah-Arizona border finds her and discovers she is actually in hiding, as she fears her abusive boyfriend will kill her for trying to leave him.

The search and rescue volunteer, Norma Gallagher, finds Jill huddled in a cave, terrified that Jake will kill her if he ever sees her again. Norma has to make a difficult decision. Does she try to help this girl by secretly returning her to her grateful parents and keeping silent about it, or returning with her so law enforcement and the rescue personnel can stop looking.

Eventually, to protect Jill from a dangerous man, Norma secretly takes her home to California. Keeping her safe and hidden from Jake, the press and the public, this act will remain a secret between Jill, her parents, and Norma. But, secrets cannot last forever.

Five years go by, when Jake is arrested for severely beating his wife, a girl he met during the time of the search for Jill. Because Jill Moss has been declared legally dead after five years, in addition to a trial for the attempted murder of his wife, Jake will also be tried for the murder of Jill Moss. 

Jill’s family, who has successfully hidden her away all these years, refuses to come forward. This leaves Norma with a life-changing decision.

Summary

Jake’s jail term for the beating will no doubt be short-term. What happens when Jake is released from prison? On one hand, there is the danger to Jill if Jake finds out she is still alive. Then there is also the possible danger down the road to his wife, who we discover is pregnant, for turning him in. But, should a man be put on trial for a murder that never happened?

Norma Gallagher has to weigh the consequences if she keeps quiet, and the risks if she dares to finally tell the truth. 

A Different Kind of Gone is an interesting exploration of domestic violence with a compelling look at women married to abusers. The author explores the situation of domestic violence in sensitive and gentle ways, making the story one that is very readable.

If you were Norma, how would you decide?

*Book Review of “A Different Kind of Gone”, written by Wednesday Elf

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National Macaroni Day - A July Food Holiday

This is a review of National Macaroni Day, which is celebrated each year on July 7th.

What is Macaroni?

Macaroni is a variety of pasta which gets its name, not from its shape, but from the type of dough used to make the noodles. Made with durum wheat, the flour is made from a type of ground semolina, resulting in a softer dough that works best for use with a pasta maker. 

After the noodles are made, they are then formed into shells, spirals, straights, and other shapes. The elbow macaroni is the  most common form found in the United States. 

Macaroni Uses

Macaroni is used in a wide variety of dishes, including casseroles, soups and salads.  It is used in both hot dishes and cold dishes.  It works equally as well in cheese dishes and meat dishes, perfect for both meat lovers and vegetarians.  

Macaroni’s usefulness works especially well for dishes for a large group of people, or simply as a dish to make ahead, making mealtimes easier. A general favorite is the simple Macaroni and Cheese, as there are so many delicious recipes for this family favorite. 

My personal very favorite macaroni and cheese dish is one I have had several times at and from Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, a delightful and delicious restaurant found in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia.

 

*Personal Story about macaroni involves the kid-favorite Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. I have never been very fond of cheese and ever since my teens I have eaten this Mac & Cheese prepared with simply milk and butter ~ no cheese. My family thinks this is very weird, but it is what I prefer. For homemade macaroni & cheese, I like the way Mrs. Wilkes makes their tasty dish seem less ‘cheesy’ then most. It is truly delicious and the only one that really appeals to me ~ cheese-wise! 

My very favorite cold macaroni salad is my family’s favorite ‘Shrimp Macaroni Salad’.  It is basically made with cooked (and chilled) elbow macaroni, shrimp, diced onions, and a sauce made with mayonnaise, mustard, spices and sour cream. There are several recipe variations, but it is really quite simple to make and very delicious to eat. Traditionally, our family always requests it for several summer holidays, such as Memorial Day and the 4th of July!  

Outside the Kitchen!

Macaroni has more uses than just food. It can also be used for fun craft projects for kids. Let the kids play with a box of dry uncooked macaroni for arts and crafts projects. Create such things as necklaces and bracelets, suncatchers, and DIY art projects. Here’s a list of ideas online to get you started. Some call these arts & crafts projects “Pasta Art”. 

A Delicious List of Pasta-Related Celebrations

• National Spaghetti Day: January 4
• National Fettuccine Alfredo Day: February 7
• National Tortellini Day: February 13
• National Ravioli Day: March 20
• National Carbonara Day: April 6
• National Macaroni Day: July 7
• National Mac & Cheese Day: July 14
• National Lasagna Day: July 29
• National Noodle Day | October 6
• National Pasta Day: October 17
• World Pasta Day: October 25
• National Parmigiano Reggiano Day: October 27
• National Noodle Ring Day: December 11
• National Pasta Month | October

To Sum Up this Fun Food Holiday..... 

So, on July 7th, choose your favorite macaroni dish and enjoy a delicious meal on this pasta holiday. As you can see by the list above, there are many pasta days throughout the year to enjoy each dish you like best. 

+All images in this review are compliments of Pixabay

*National Macaroni Day Review is written by Wednesday Elf

Macaroni Cookbooks: 

 

Melt: The Art of Macaroni and Cheese

Mac & Cheese Cookbook: 100+ Simple Recipes from Homeroom, America's Favorite Mac and Cheese Restaurant

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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