Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Coming to America

The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb

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CBR 14 Bingo: New I’d left my knowledge of Ellis Island behind in fourth grade; I’ve never read any book about it before this. Alma is a matron on Ellis Island; Francesca is a young woman hailing from Sicily. They become friends, but when as efforts to reduce corruption on the island come to the forefront, they must choose whether they will step forward or stay silent to protect themselves. Long ago in elementary school, our teacher decided that a good way for us to […]

Came For The Recipes, Stayed for the Memoir

Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora by Reem Assil

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CBR 14 Bingo: Star The author is a well-known, award-winning chef. I am on a cooking spree these days – what can I say? It relaxes me. And I especially enjoyed this cookbook, not the least because I love Middle Eastern cuisine. Arabiyaa is a mix of cookbook and memoir, telling us the stories of the recipes but also of Assil’s life and her path toward becoming a chef (hint: it’s not straightforward). The book is divided into five sections that cover all the basics of […]

The Story the Torn Gown Told

The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America by John Wood Sweet

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CBR 14 Bingo: Question Lanah Sawyer was questioned again and again in an effort to get at a truth she had already told. One evening, a teenage girl and a man who called himself a lawyer went for a walk on the Battery. But Lanah Sawyer refused to stay silent about what he had done to her – and charged Harry Bedlow with rape. I have heard of Lanah Sawyer before, briefly, though I cannot recall whether it was in history class or in Gail […]

Jenkins July in Augist

To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins

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I’ve been struggling with historical romance for a couple of years. For the most part it hasn’t appealed to me except for a few authors. Beverly Jenkins is one of those authors. With Jenkins, I know I’m going to get strong women, great characters who are supportive of each other, and an honest representation of history. Raven Moreau is a grifter from a family of grifters, con artists, forgers, and thieves. Braxton Steele’s father was an art forger a long time ago. Ruth Welch, a […]

Adventurous Eats for the Hungry Cook

Cook As You Are: Recipes for Real Life, Hungry Cooks and Messy Kitchens by Ruby Tandoh

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CBR 14 Bingo: Adapt (Camel) This book is chockfull of flexible recipes, easy to modify and adapt as you like. Ruby Tandoh introduces recipes from across the world with an eye to accessibility and ease of making. Before we go into this review, a caveat: I am a picky eater. A lot of foods don’t agree with me, whether due to taste or texture, and the only meat I eat is chicken. As such, I could not try out a lot of the recipes in […]

Brazen Desperation

The Only Honest Man in London by Lynne Connolly

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CBR 14 Bingo: Dough Money – specifically the lack of it – is a driving force in this book. After a rocky start, Viola and Gerald become close friends – and could perhaps become more. But the actions of their sister and best friend threatens to throw everything into complete disarray. Despite the Pride and Prejudice-esque elements of the plot, what really drew me to this story was Viola’s disability. I’m always on the lookout for differently-abled heroes and heroines in my romances, especially historical […]



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