November 2020 – Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree

Marked and Mated (Wayward Mates Book 2)

Love the book, but just don’t have the time to read it? Did you get started on it at home, but need to leave the house for a while? Wish that you could take it with you as you go through your daily routine? Grab the Audible version of this book! You can start reading it and continue to listen to it easily. I’ve done this many times!

She ran from her mate. Now she must be punished.

Darby Callan doesn’t want a mate, but it isn’t up to her. Her old pack has been disbanded, and when the powerful, handsome alpha of a well-established pack makes it clear that she belongs to him, her instincts reveal the truth of his words despite her furious protests and attempts to escape.

Jean-Michel Gautier knows that his new mate’s past makes her wary of him, but an alpha cannot tolerate disobedience, and when Darby defies him he strips her bare and spanks her until she is sore and sobbing. Her beautiful body’s response to his dominance is obvious, and his stern correction leaves her helplessly aroused, but before he claims her he plans to make her beg.

Naked and quivering with desperate, shameful need, Darby cannot help pleading with Jean-Michel for the climax she has been denied, and soon she is crying out with pleasure more intense than she would have ever thought possible as he makes her his. But when the vicious brute who once hurt her comes looking for Darby again, can she trust her new alpha to protect his mate?

There were so many times that I just wanted to laugh at Darby. I totally understand the need to make sure your mate is strong enough to stand up to and for you. But I still could see the humor.
The Reluctant Retiree

Dances With Cats 😼
4.0 out of 5 stars Good But ...
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
This 2nd book in the Wayward Mates series was a pretty good read. Except for the first 66% that was an almost word for word repeat of much of book 1. I only took off one point for this because I really like the characters and the rest of th book kind of makes up for it. I just hope book 3 doesn't do the same thing.
Save yourself some time and trouble by just paging through and checking the start of a paragraph here and there to find something new. Any material that's new involves Darby or Skylar.
That being said, the rest of the book is pretty darn good and moves at a good pace.
I still have a hard time dealing with the men and their attitudes in this story, but its not as pronounced which makes the story much more enjoyable.
As with the first book the sex is pretty tame so it shouldn't offend many readers. There is some, but relatively little cursing, so again, not offensive.
All in all it's a good read and I'm curious enough about the third book to take a chance and read Roz's story. Even if there is another repeat, if the read is as good as this one, it will be worth it.

Kindle Customer5.0 out of 5 stars Love this series
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2020Verified Purchase
I like that each book follows all the characters from different points of view. keeps me connected and my interest in the next book strong. Love all the strong and sexy alphas who are also very loving and not afraid to show that side


Gail Hodges
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020
It is a continuous story but not a cliff hanger. The books take different women and men to be leads in each story. Actually, very romantic stories. Strong alpha males and strong female characters. I have enjoyed reading each and every one

Canning Essentials: Jam-Packed with Essential Tools, Techniques, and Recipes for Fruits, Veggies, Jams, Pickles, Salsa, and More

Canning Essentials is a go-to beginner’s guide that will take you step-by-step through the different processes of canning fruit and produce. From canning vegetables, like tomatoes and squashes, to preparing homemade jam, salsas, relishes, and so much more, this book simplifies food preservation so that even today’s busiest people can find time to do it themselves. Emphasizing cost-saving and sustainable food safety, you’ll learn methods for both freezing, canning, pressure canning, and water-bath canning, then discover over 60 delicious recipes for homemade jelly, chutneys, pickles, and more. With helpful charts throughout to detail methods with specific timings, temperatures, and required equipment, this book will teach you everything you need to know about preserving and canning fruits and vegetables.

Full of useful information. The recipes are interesting and ones that I plan to try. I just wish that more of the recipes gave you some idea of the yield. It is very hard to make sure you have sufficient jars ready if you don’t know how much the recipe will yield. The Formatting in Kindle version was somewhat messy.

Having said that, I enjoyed the book enough to purchase a copy for my house.

T. Crane
5.0 out of 5 stars Healthy Food you preserve yourself
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2020
This book could not being coming out at a better time. As we learned while dealing with a pandemic, you can not always count on a grocery store to have what you need. This is a must have for every household.
Great book full of great information for someone who is new to canning, and some stuff you may not have known if you have been canning a long time.
Great recipes with mouth watering pictures! It has information for freezing, pressure canning and tons more.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion


cindy
4.0 out of 5 stars very very good
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2020
This is a good solid book for a home canner. Especially if you are new to preserving foods.
There is discussion about freezing foods ( what you can and cannot ) along with how to do it.
As for the canning. She covers the supplies needed, helpful tips, how to pick and clean/prepare the item you are canning. Talks about things that can well and those that don't. Covers pressure canning vs. hot water bath canning.. And supplies many recipes.
A very good all round book

Brought to Heel (Wayward Mates Book 1)

Love the book, but just don’t have the time to read it? Did you get started on it at home, but need to leave the house for a while? Wish that you could take it with you as you go through your daily routine? Grab the Audible version of this book! You can start reading it and continue to listen to it easily. I’ve done this many times!

Before he claims his mate, she must be brought to heel.

Skylar Owen is not used to taking orders from anyone and the last thing she wants in her life is an alpha who will demand her submission, but her world is turned upside down after a band of rogue wolves attacks her small, all-female pack. Ordered to disband her pack so that she can be matched with a mate, Skylar defies the Ruling Council, only to be hunted down and captured.

Though he can tell Skylar will be trouble the moment he sets eyes on her, Dylan Grainger knows how to tame a wayward woman, and it isn’t long before the beautiful, feisty redhead is tearfully promising obedience as her bare bottom is soundly spanked. But Dylan quickly realizes that Skylar is much more than just a headstrong female in need of an alpha’s firm-handed correction.

With each passing day, he grows more certain that she is his mate, and he knows that soon he must claim her, mark her, and take her hard and thoroughly. But will she resist her instincts, or will her body’s response to his bold dominance leave her in no doubt that she belongs to him?

Dances With Cats 😼
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Story
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
I'm not good at summarizing stories so I'll just offer my opinion.
This is not an easy book to read. Women (who are called girls, which eventually really pissed me off) are denied much if not all freedoms, are pushed into matings they do not want, and they spend much of the book over someone's knee and/or standing in a corner.
Words and phrases such as naughty and good girl are used to a nauseating degree.
So why did I give Brought to Heal four stars ? The characters. Simply put - I love the women and men in this story (although the men not so much [lol ?]) Skylar and the other women from Bae Diogel, or Safe Harbor, are smart, caring, and strong. They have cared for and protected each other for years to the point of fending off and attack of rogue shifters, killing many and sending the rest home licking their wounds (literally) with their tails between their legs.
The men in this story are not as easy to admire. They are controlling, highhanded, and take too much joy in punishing (spanking) women.
That being said they do have good hearts and truly want the best for all. I just had a hard time dealing with their attitudes and methods.
The sex in this story is pretty tame and there is only a little cursing. So nothing too offensive.
Brought to Heal is worth reading, but if you're anything like me you may spend a lot of time cursing in th notes.
Side note. I'm relatively new to reading erotic fiction (although this book is not very erotic). I'm also new to reading books in which women's freedoms are curtailed or taken completely away, they are spanked For Every Little Thing, and they are treated like children. The whole standing in the corner thing makes me crazy ( it's just too humiliating for the woman and too highhanded of the men ). As a result, to keep my blood pressure out of the red, I've taking to highlighting some passages and cursing the offenses and/or the offenders in my notes. This helps me finish and ultimately enjoy books I might have otherwise deleted from my phone or reader.
And I did enjoy (eventually) this book, enough to read book 2 - Marked and Mated

La-Shawn E. Price
4.0 out of 5 stars Conflicted At First
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
An all female wolf shifter pack is deemed unsuitable by the Council that governs the shifter packs of North America. It is decided that they must be disbanded and though Dylan, the alpha of the closest pack, is not all the way on board he decides he's the best man for the job of bringing these ladies in.

I read the novella, Claiming His Mate, that comes before this book. At first I was conflicted with all the discipline that was handed out. It made me uncomfortable to read that the lady shifters put up such a fight and then seemed forced to comply after receiving spankings.

I stuck with the series and began this book. With many more pairings I was able to see that even though the women initially put up a fight or were totally against being mated there was something else at work here, let's call it biology or even wolf shifter nature.

Each pairing was called to each other. Being that this book is a dom/sub book I expected some type of punishment. It just took for me to understand that this discipline was handed out in love and it was often explained before, during, and after.

Getting past my reservations, I was able to get into the story and actually enjoy it. That knot and tied process had me a little envious. When done right the amount of intimacy and the connecting formed is beautiful.

One of my favorite parts is when the New Orleans alpha Jean-Michel offers to kill his life mates abusive ex-mate and serve his head to her. I also love the way Dylan and Skylar handled the abusive alpha when he deigned to show up and try to reclaim his mate.

All around a good read and I'm excited to read the next story in the series.

For those who have an issue with this series I think they forget what a dom/sub relationship looks like

Let’s Fix Lunch!: Enjoy Delicious, Planet-Friendly Meals at Work, School, or On the Go

Let’s Fix Lunch! makes it easy (and fun!) to prepare meals that are good for you and good for the planet.

This eco-friendly cookbook features delicious, waste-free recipes for sandwiches, salads, soups, snacks, and more.

An inspiring guide for anyone who wants to do their small part to save the earth, Let’s Fix Lunch! makes it simple to create a sustainable, waste-free home.

• Easy-to-make recipes for all home cooks
• Includes more than 50 simple tips for reducing food waste and plastic use
• Features a handy guide to buying in bulk, meal prepping, and food storage

This eco-conscious cookbook is written by Kat Nouri, founder of the beloved, environmentally friendly kitchen brand Stasher.

Let’s Fix Lunch! is the perfect kitchen companion for eco-conscious parents and office workers.

• Brims with bright, vivid photographs of tasty dishes and beautifully packed lunches
• Perfect gift for anyone who tries to live a waste-free, low plastic, and environmentally friendly lifestyle
• Packed with inspired, accessible meal-prep ideas and techniques
• Add it to the shelf with books like The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook: Easy and Wholesome Meals to Cook, Prep, Grab, and Go by Toby Amidor; The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go by Makiko Itoh; and The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet: Make Lunches Your Kids Will Love with More Than 200 Deliciously Nutritious Meal Ideas by Laura Fuentes.

Three Quick Questions for Kat Nouri, Founder and CEO of Stasher

What’s wrong with lunch?

I think lunch is the most overlooked mealtime. Whether you’re working long days while at home, in an office, or just constantly on-the-go, balancing it all while trying to find inspiration for that mid-day meal can be draining and difficult. And that’s for a meal that should be our most important of the day! Most of us opt for uninspiring options or look to takeout for variety. What I love most about this book is that you can eat healthy, make it easy AND reduce your reliance on single-use plastic containers. I’m thrilled to share my ideas for easy, delicious and creative lunch ideas that are not only good for you, but good for the earth too!

What will readers learn from this cookbook?

I want people to be inspired again during lunch. This book provides options for easy prepping and tips that not only nourish your body but feed your imagination. We have easy-to-prep sandwich, salad, soup and snacks recipes that are super simple and make you look like a four-star chef. And it provides valuable and budget-friendly tips to make your meals (and kitchen) a little more planet-friendly.

What is your go-to favorite lunch?

I love a good salad with all the fixin’s. My absolute favorite go-to right now is the baked tofu salad with a miso-sesame vinaigrette. vIt’s a perfect warm-weather salad! I also love to pair the salad with the Kuku Sabzi. I make this ahead at the beginning of the week and then store it in my Stasher Stand-Up and it stays fresh for a few days in the fridge

Cushioning Your Fall After The Pandemic

Earlier this month, MSN ran an article call “5 Money Lessons the Pandemic Has Taught US (so far).” I found it to be a very interesting read. My husband and I are retired and living on Social Security. So we have had to adjust our lifestyle to fit on a fixed income. But number one on this list may just have you coming to a screeching halt.

Putting 6 months of expenses in a savings account actually a good thing. Especially given today’s world. But my question to you is, “How are you going to accomplish that?” I did a quick check of what that would amount to for us, and nearly choked! I would need over $15,000 in the bank!

An obvious way is to start with a budget. I found this article on a Disability Insurance company’s website. And it is a good way to start. However, there is a lot of little things that you can do to boost those savings.

Budget a set amount every month. This is the bare minimum to do. Just do a little math to determine how long it would take to save enough for 6 months.
If you didn’t spend all of a budgeted amount, save the difference. For example, I budget $200 for groceries. If I don’t spend all of it, I need to transfer the money leftover to the savings account.
Reduce bills where you can. For example, you may be paying for unlimited data on your cell phone. Do you really need it? Take a look, you may be able to lower your bill and save more money.
Are you taking advantage of all the discounts you’re eligible for? My husband and I are both Veterans. I switched our car insurance a few years ago to USAA and brought our insurance bill down to just over $100.
If you are leasing/renting your cellphone, check into buying it. We recently bit the bullet, paid off our phones and had a very frank discussion with our provider. By taking advantage of a program for Veterans, what had been a $325 bill became a a $100 bill, and we still have unlimited data.
Take a look at all the items you have subscribed to. You may need to search through your bank statement to find all of them. If you aren’t actually using them, cancel the subscription!
At the end of the month, if you still have money in the bank, transfer it to the savings account!

I have my doubts that any of us are going to be able to quickly save enough. The point is to start somewhere! Doing a little is always better than doing nothing.

Multicooker Perfection: Cook It Fast or Cook It Slow-You Decide

Multicookers such as the GoWISE USA and Instant Pot Duo are hugely popular; however, most recipes are unreliable or are designed to work in only one model of multicooker–and most often, they use only the pressure-cook setting. Enter Multicooker Perfection, a collection of foolproof recipes tested and developed to work in any multicooker and conform to your schedule. Make each recipe “fast” using the pressure-cook setting or let dinner cook while you’re out by preparing it “slow” on the slow-cook setting.

These crowd-pleasing recipes are perfectly suited for cooking at the touch of a button, from soups and stews like Easy Beef and Barley Soup and Chipotle Pork and Hominy Stew; to weeknight-friendly meals like Braised Chicken Breasts with Tomatoes and Capers, Ziti with Sausage Ragu, and Thai Braised Eggplant; to company-worthy dishes like Tamarind Braised Beef Short Ribs and Osso Buco with Sweet and Spicy Peperonata. Plus, you’ll find a chapter of unexpected recipes like Boston Brown Bread, Buffalo Chicken Wings, and even a perfectly creamy Cheesecake. Make cooking easier and better with this must-have cookbook for any multicooker owner.

I swear, my favorite new appliance in the kitchen is my Instant pot. I wasn’t sure just exactly what I could make in it other than soups and stews. Well this cookbook changed my opinion of that! The incredible range of recipes really surprised me. Cheesecake, really?

One of the reasons that I grab America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks is the way they explain everything. And I do mean everything! If there is something that you need to do different, they not only tell you “how” to do, they explain “why” you need to do. It makes following their recipes so much easier.

So if you’ve got an Instant Pot, grab this book. No, they didn’t rate the Instant Pot the highest, but every one of these recipes is doable if you follow the instructions. One of take away’s that I got from it is that anything you can do in a Slow Cooker, you can do in an Instant Pot!

Carrie 4.0 out of 5 stars America’s Test Kitchen’s Recipes Are Worth Trying

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018 Verified Purchase Having actually used a jiggle-top pressure cooker, and learning that early electric models were hardly reliable, I waited a long time before trusting the wave of acceptance as serious. It appeared to have a learning curve, so I reviewed several multicooker cookbooks. And then I saw America’s Test Kitchen MP handbook. I have ATK’s Food Processor Perfection and now use my machine regularly. When MP arrived I devoured it from cover-to-cover. It was a disappointment to learn that my machine didn’t even come in second in the rating tests, but affected recipes did recommend how to adapt for the shortcoming of the brand due to temperature issues. I’d only tried hard-boiled eggs in my new cooker, so now turned to serious cooking using the North Carolina-Styled Pulled Pork recipe and was delighted with the result. (I also realized why one should order additional silicone gaskets when the results remained so fragrantly evident, even after careful washing.) Yesterday I made Macaroni and Cheese – YUM!
I like the “why this recipe works” lead-in, the occasional suggestions for variations, adjustments for cooker size differences. and the photos that accompany nearly every recipe. This book makes clear that, as long as the user follows the basic multicooker user’s manual, it’s difficult to make a mistake in the kitchen so feel free to adjust seasonings, etc. (I often include Pimenton de la Vera DOP by El Rey in savory recipes because of its lovely smokey flavor.) I definitely recommend ATK’s Multicooker Perfection, even if its recipes are primarily based on a discontinued machine. They actually work on all multicookers.