#BookReview: Teatime at Grosvenor Square: An Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Bridgerton—75 Sinfully Delectable Recipes by Dahlia Clearwater

Synopsis: Delightful food and drink recipes inspired by Netflix's hit show Bridgerton and Julia Quinn's bestselling novels. Finger sandwiches, pastries, roasts, desserts, cocktails, and more!

You are cordially invited to dine with society’s finest! From the magnificent macaron towers to the heavenly fruit-topped trifles, the food of Bridgerton steals the show. Teatime at Grosvenor Square brings you 75 tempting recipes inspired by those candy-colored treats and opulent feasts.

Now you can create a spread of delicate finger sandwiches, captivating canapés, and bite-sized sweets scrumptious enough to impress Queen Charlotte herself! Plus, you’ll find a few recipes worthy of a Bridgerton family supper.

This delightful book includes recipes for:
English Scones and Pastries
Jams, Spreads, and Marmalades
Cakes
Pies
Meringues
Macarons
Cookies
Ice Cream
Drinking Chocolate
Soup
Meat Pies
Roasts
Cocktails
And more!

Whether you choose to enjoy a delicious confection with Daphne or a strong cocktail with the Duke, Teatime at Grosvenor Squarewill make binge-watching Bridgerton even better!

#BookReview: Divine (Divine, #1) by M.J. Woodman

Synopsis: The captivating debut novel by M.J. Woodman.

What if Rome never fell?

In an alternative reality, the Roman Empire never fell, and the world was never the same. Present-day Appia, real-world North America, fractured by a mythical war in recent history has been divided into five Imperial fortress states. These states, shielded by an invisible forcefield and known as Havens, are designed to protect inhabitants from the world beyond. What lies beyond? Electa Steel wants to know.

Electa, on the cusp of womanhood, faces an uncertain future in Latia, the capital state in Appia. While sun-drenched Latia may be a paradise for some, it is a prison for others. Feeling suppressed by her society’s rules, expectations, and religion, she rebels quietly in the only ways she knows how – drinking, smoking, fighting, and partying. Her youthful but futile resistance cannot last for long. Her seventeenth birthday looms and with it, the Choosing. This rite of passage promises wealth and happiness for a chosen few but Electa, as a plebeian faces an almost certain fate – expulsion from her Haven and homeland.

Electa’s fate takes an unexpected turn when, against all the odds, she is Chosen to remain in her society for the rest of her life and to compete in Imperial Panore, a once in a generation event to find a wife for the future Emperor. A mysterious terror organization, Spartaca, from outside her Haven, recruits her, to bring down the Empire from the inside. Spartaca uses Electa as a pawn, and in the process, she must learn to adapt to the politics and power her new life brings. To win the competition, she must first seduce the Prince, and future Emperor, Asher Ovicula. Then she must defeat the other competitors in a series of brutal gladiatorial games. Why did Spartaca choose her? The truth will change Electa’s world forever.

For fans of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series, the Hunger Games, and The Man in the High Castle. 

#BookReview: The Smurfs Tales #1: The Smurfs and The Bratty Kid by Peyo @Papercutz

Synopsis: On the occasion of the all-new animated TV series starting on Nick this September, an all-new series of Smurfs graphic novels! The Smurfs are back in new stories in English for the first time! First, when Papa Smurf’s stork gets wounded in a storm, he must rely on the kindness of a local farmer to nurse the stork back to flying condition. A different kind of storm arrives in the shape of Johnny, the nephew of the farmer. The boy is as aggressive as his uncle is friendly. Making his way to the Smurfs Village, Johnny leaves a path of destruction in his wake, putting the whole village in jeopardy. Plus, tales of the Smurfs on vacation! Plus, there’s plenty of medieval action and adventure from the king’s page (and loyal ally to the Smurfs) Johan his silly sidekick, the mischievous jester Peewit, go off on an adventure featuring Papa Smurf. Plus, even more smurfs comicstrips to add some blue and brighten any day.

#BookReview: The Sound of Violet by Allen Wolf

Synopsis: Desperate to find his soulmate, Shawn goes on one awkward date after another until he encounters the alluring Violet. He starts dating her, but his autism keeps him from realizing that she’s actually a prostitute. 

Shawn thinks he’s found a possible wife while Violet thinks she’s discovered her ticket to a brand new life. This hilarious and dramatic award-winning story takes all kinds of twists and turns and has been adapted into a major motion picture.

This book will be released September 21, 2021.

#BookReview: I Am Not Starfire by Mariko Tamaki, Yoshi Yoshitani (Illustrator)

Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Mariko Tamaki (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass) and artist Yoshi Yoshitani (Zatanna and the House of Secrets) comes a story about Mandy, the daughter of super-famous superhero Starfire, and her desperate attempts to get out from under her shadow.

Seventeen-year-old Mandy Koriand’r is not her mother. Daughter of Starfire and high school outcast, Mandy is constantly trying to get out from under the shadow of her bright, bubbly, scantily clad, and famous mother. Dyeing her bright orange hair black and sticking close to her best friend, Lincoln, Mandy spends her days at school avoiding Teen Titans superfans and trying to hide her feelings for the gorgeous, popular, and perfect Claire. And while Mandy usually avoids spending too much time with her alien mother, she’s been particularly quiet as she’s keeping one major secret from her: Mandy walked out of her S.A.T.

While Mandy continues to tell Lincoln her plans of moving to France to escape the family spotlight and not go to college, she secretly hides a fear of not knowing her identity outside of just being the daughter of a superhero and who she will become. But when she is partnered with Claire to work on a school project, their friendship develops into something more and a self-confidence unknown to Mandy begins to bloom. Claire seems to like Mandy for being Mandy, not the daughter of Starfire.

But when someone from Starfire’s past comes to disrupt Mandy’s future, Mandy must finally make a choice: give up before the battle has even begun, or step into the unknown and risk everything. I Am Not Starfire is a story about mother-daughter relationships, embracing where you come from while finding your own identity, and learning to be unafraid of failing, if it was even failing in the first place.

#BookReview: History Is Inventive by Brooke Knight

Synopsis: A children’s book by Honest History exploring inventions (and their inventors) that changed the world. 

Discover the true stories behind amazing creations, from the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient analogue computer, to the Baghdad Battery. Learn about each invention through well-researched content accompanied by beautiful illustrations and design. Not only will kids learn about these amazing inventions, they will participate in the original creative process themselves, like building a telescope using the same rudimentary methods used by the inventors. From ancient to modern inventions, kids will learn about the revolutionary ideas and processes used to create the foundation for our modern lives. Featured sections of the book include including the Baghdad Battery, Inventions from the Classic Period & Middle Ages including the telescope, Inventions from the Modern Era including Bluetooth technology, Famous Inventors like Charles Drew, Experiments/Activities, and more.

History for kids has never contained more adventure than in the new series by Honest History, History Is ________. Each book in the series presents a topic in a fun, engaging way that inspires kids to make a positive impact on history themselves. Dive into the world of Honest History with the first two books, History Is Inventive and History Is Delicious.