Practical Paleo

I love this book. The Paleo diet has received a lot of attention in recent years but much of the available information on how to implement the diet is limited. The previous book that I reviewed, The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf, contained a few recipes, a list of do's and don'ts, and only one photograph of Robb Wolf. On the other hand Practical Paleo does a fantastic presentation on the subject with lots of photographs, charts, and infographics.

The book is written by Diane Sanfilippo, a certified nutrition consultant. She breaks the Paleo diet down into easy to understand sections with clear graphic representations. There is a discussion on why someone may choose the Paleo diet and what health benefits might be obtained by following it. There are several 30 day meal plans specific to individuals with certain health conditions. In other words, a person who wants to lose weight or improve a thyroid condition can find a 30 day paleo meal plan to help them achieve that goal. There is additional support with a large collection of paleo recipes and resource list. And for a bonus, each recipe has a large, clear, color photograph. A big win for any kind of diet recipe book.

The food in the book looks delicious. I did try out a few but because I lacked certain ingredients in my pantry, they didn't work out as well as they could have. The recipes are mostly based on whole, fresh foods that can be acquired at just about any grocery store. Some ingredients are expensive and may be difficult to find like coconut or almond flour (though they can be ordered online). The book is large and heavy, so it might be difficult to lay on your kitchen counter open to a specific recipe. Even so, that is a minor complaint.

This is the first book I recommend to patrons at the library who want to know more about the paleo diet.

Book rating: 5 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Stuck in the Middle

Every now and then one needs a light, fluffy read with a bit of romance. At least I do. I tend to select non-fiction books with heavy subjects that you have to slog through over a long time. This book by Virginia Smith showed up as free for Kindle (at the time of writing, it still is) and snatched it up. The free price is to hook you on the Sister-to-Sister series of which there are two more volumes.

Middle sister Joan is stuck. Recently broken up with her boyfriend and in a dead-end job, Joan lives at home with her mother and takes care of her aging grandmother. Meanwhile her younger and older sisters seem to accomplish so much more than she has. Then a handsome, young doctor moves in next door. Throw in a crisis/transformation/affirmation of faith and Joan can't seem to catch a break. That is until.......

The story sounds cheesy and predictable for a Christian romance. And maybe it is. Still, I finished it and enjoyed it. Call it a guilty pleasure.

Book Rating: 4 stars.



The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Time Riders

Imagine facing death and then being snatched out of time at the last second. This is exactly what happens to 16 year old Liam who is on board the sinking Titanic. Foster is a mysterious time traveller who snatches teens before dying and brings them into the Time Rider team. Maddy and Sal are also recruited. Their jobs are to help maintain the time line against those who wish to alter time for their own purposes. Their base of operations is in New York City protected by a time bubble that acts as a barrier against possible time incursions.

It is not long before the team is hurled into Nazi Germany to only find later that the present has been seriously altered. A group seeks a different outcome of World War II with devastating consequences. The team works both in the present and the past to restore the true timeline.

This book by Alex Scarrow is an exciting and fun read for young adults. For me, there were a few eye-rolling moments only because there were a number of time paradoxes that would make the story impossible. If you can ignore that, then it is fun. I have not read anymore of the series only because I have had other things to read. The series is on my radar to pick up again. It has been well received by teens at the library.

Book rating: 4 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.