Weekly Menu #614 And The Book Of The Week

 


This week, we’re heading to Boston for a menu inspired by the flavors and comfort food of one of America’s oldest cities. Without the seafood, of course. From baked beans and brown bread to hearty roast dinners and Irish-American classics, this week’s meals are full of warmth, history, and just the right amount of New England charm.

Fittingly, my current read is The Gray Man by Mark Greaney, a fast-paced thriller that, like Boston itself, doesn’t let up. It’s sharp, intense, and full of strategic moves that would make even Paul Revere break a sweat. Between bites of Boston brown bread and chapters of covert chaos, I’d say this week is shaping up to be one of bold flavors and even bolder fiction.

Let's get to this week's menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

New England Corn Chowder

Kids - Veggie Plate with Soft Bread

 

Tuesday

Fenway Franks and Boston Baked Beans

Kids - Plane Hotdogs and Applesauce

 

Wednesday

Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits

Kids - Deconstructed Chicken Pot Pie Plate

 

Thursday

Yankee Pot Roast

Kids - Yogurt and Mashed Potatoes

 

Friday

Cornmeal Crusted Chicken and Salad

Kids - Chicken Nuggets and Carrots

 

Saturday

Baked Mac and Cheese with Apple Cider Salad

Kids - Mac and Cheese

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

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Sunday Confessions #311

 


Welcome to Sunday Book Confessions, where I spill the bookish tea and share all the highs, lows, and guilty pleasures from my reading week. Whether I stayed up too late chasing plot twists, finally admitted I’m not finishing that book, or fell head over heels for a fictional villain, this is the space for all my unfiltered reader moments. Grab a cozy drink and let’s dive into this week’s literary confessions.


Sunday Confessions #310
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Weekly Menu #613 And The Book Of The Week
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Trope Tuesday: Historical Whodunit with Kelli Gardiner
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Binge-Worthy Wednesday: Specials by Scott Westerfield
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Throwback Thursday: An Ember in Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
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5 Star Friday: Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
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Saturday Sips: Recent Fantasy Reads


Weekly Menu #614 And The Book Of The Week
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June 2024 Wrap Up
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Book Review: The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
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Thriller Thursday: The Tenant by Freida McFadden
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ARC Review: Forever Gone by R.S. Hampton
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Saturday Sips: 3 Star Disappointments
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Sunday Confessions #312









The Last Question by Isaac Asimov is a fascinating short story that explores profound questions about technology and the future of humanity. While the pacing felt a bit slow and the style definitely leans toward classic, old-school sci-fi, the ideas presented are thought-provoking and timeless. A compelling read for anyone interested in speculative fiction, even if the narrative style isn’t quite my usual preference.








201/100 2025 Reading Challenge



Thanks for stopping by and indulging in my Sunday confessions. Whether it’s books, life, or the little quirks that make us who we are, I love sharing these moments with you. Here’s to another week of honest thoughts, unexpected insights, and maybe a few more confessions along the way. See you next Sunday!

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Saturday Sips: Recent Fantasy Reads

 


Welcome to Saturday Sips, where we pair a cozy cup of something warm with the books that have recently filled my fantasy-loving heart. This week, I’ve been diving into magical realms, dark curses, and epic journeys. Stories that are perfect for savoring slowly or devouring in a single sitting. Whether you’re in the mood for brooding anti-heroes, enchanted forests, or courtly intrigue, these recent fantasy reads have a little something for every reader looking to escape into the extraordinary.

Book of Night

Holly Black

★★★★☆

On this second read of Book of Night, I found myself appreciating Holly Black’s dark, gritty world even more. The magic system rooted in shadow manipulation is still one of the most intriguing elements, and Charlie Hall remains a complex, rough-around-the-edges protagonist worth following. Some pacing issues and dense world-building moments still held me back from a full five stars, but overall, it’s a haunting and imaginative story that holds up well on reread. A solid four stars—again.


★★★☆☆

Extras takes a bold turn from the original trilogy, introducing a new protagonist and a fame-obsessed society that mirrors our own social media culture. While the concept is interesting, the execution didn’t quite land for me. I struggled to connect with the new characters, and even more disappointing was how Westerfeld brought back some of my favorites from earlier books, only to make them sound like jerks. The sharp commentary on popularity and influence was clever, but overall, it felt like a step down from the emotionally rich and thrilling earlier installments.


★★★★☆

Confessor is a wild ride of a finale, ambitious, emotional, and occasionally a little bizarre. The first 70% reads like an unexpected detour into sports fiction, with Richard leading a strange football-style tournament. He even convinces the team to paint their faces and pull a move reminiscent of the "Flying V" from The Mighty Ducks. It’s quirky and oddly compelling, though definitely long-winded. Meanwhile, Kahlan, still without her memories, spends most of the book unsure of who she is, but very sure that Richard is attractive. It’s all a bit chaotic, but the payoff comes in Richard’s powerful end monologue, which echoes loudly in light of current events. A strange but memorable conclusion to the Sword of Truth series.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands

Heather Fawcett

★★★☆☆

I picked up this sequel as part of my 2024 Goodreads Fantasy Nominees challenge, despite not loving the first book, and unfortunately, the second didn’t change my mind. The world remains whimsical and full of faerie lore, but the pacing felt slow and the characters never fully pulled me in. While Fawcett’s writing has charm, I found it hard to stay invested in the plot or emotionally connect with the story. It’s not a bad book by any means, just not the right fit for me.

The Mercy Makers

Tessa Gratton

★★★★★

The Mercy Makers is a breathtaking tapestry of magic, power, and sacrifice that gripped me from the first page. Tessa Gratton’s prose is lyrical and razor-sharp, weaving a story that feels both mythic and deeply human. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, filled with gods, queens, and rebels, but it’s the emotional depth of the characters that truly stands out. Every choice carries weight, and the tension between vengeance and compassion pulses through every chapter. Bold, haunting, and beautifully told, this is the kind of fantasy that lingers long after the final page.

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5 Star Friday: Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

 


Welcome to 5 Star Friday, where I share the books that absolutely swept me off my feet, and this week’s pick is Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig. This dark and lyrical sequel is everything I want in a fantasy: lush prose, haunting atmosphere, and characters who unravel you as much as they unravel themselves. Gillig takes everything that worked in One Dark Window and elevates it, delivering a story that is both achingly romantic and deliciously eerie.

Title: Two Twisted Crowns

By: Rachel Gillig

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 437

Release Date: October 17th, 2023

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

In the luscious, dark sequel to One Dark Window, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought - perfect for readers of Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and Alexis Henderson's The Year of the Witching.

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth's head. The Nightmare. And he's not eager to share any longer.

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig is a stunning sequel that delivers on every level. The prose is lyrical, the worldbuilding is immersive, and the tension between the characters crackles with intensity. This story dives deeper into the dark, enchanted world of Blunder while unraveling complex themes of power, memory, and love. The character development is rich and satisfying, with emotional arcs that hit just right. I was completely swept away from the first page to the last. A beautifully written and unforgettable fantasy that earns every bit of its 5 stars.
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Throwback Thursday: An Ember in Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

 


Welcome to Throwback Thursday, where we revisit books that may have slipped off your radar but are still worth a read! This week, we're turning the clock back to 2015 to review a standout title that captured readers’ imaginations a decade ago. Whether you're rediscovering an old favorite or picking it up for the first time, this throwback is a reminder that some stories never lose their spark.

Title: An Ember in the Ashes

By: Sabaa Tahir

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 480

Release Date: April 28th, 2015

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

 

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Review:

An Ember in the Ashes is a gripping and emotionally intense start to Sabaa Tahir’s dark and richly imagined fantasy series. With dual perspectives from Laia, a scholar fighting for her family, and Elias, a soldier questioning his brutal training, the novel explores themes of oppression, resistance, and identity. Tahir’s world-building is vivid and haunting, and the plot moves at a breathless pace. While some elements felt familiar within the dystopian fantasy genre, the depth of the characters and the moral complexity of their choices elevate the story. A powerful beginning that promises even more to come.
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Binge-Worthy Wednesday: Specials by Scott Westerfield

 


Welcome to Binge-Worthy Wednesday, where we spotlight books that are impossible to put down! This week, we're diving back into the thrilling world of Scott Westerfeld’s Specials, the intense and action-packed finale of the original Uglies trilogy. With its high-stakes rebellion, haunting beauty enhancements, and a heroine caught between loyalty and transformation, Specials delivers a fast-paced ride that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.


Title: Specials

By: Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Dystopian

Pages: 374

Release Date: May 9th, 2006

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

"Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor -- frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary.
 
And now, in the third book in the series, Tally's been turned into a Special: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.

Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:

Specials brings the original Uglies trilogy to a sharp and thrilling close, ramping up both the action and emotional stakes. Tally’s transformation into a Special adds a chilling layer to her character as she grapples with her identity, loyalty, and the cost of perfection. Westerfeld’s world remains vividly imaginative and unsettling, with enough twists to keep readers hooked. While some character development felt rushed and the pacing occasionally faltered, the novel’s strong themes of autonomy, rebellion, and self-discovery make it a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion to the series.
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