What the Clouds Say

"The moon is like a mystery novel, the sun like a motivational self-help book, and the stars a coffee table book of photography. The sky is the whole library, and God the librarian." ~ Pepper Giardino

Digital photograph by Virginia Hill taken with a BlackBerry Style 9670 on 03/27/2011. Some Rights Reserved (please see Creative Commons License in the sidebar.)

Book Review: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: Garden Spells 

Series: Waverly Family #1

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Rating: Four out of five stars

Published: 08/28/2007

Publisher: Bantam

Genre(s): Contemporary Fantasy

Description

In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it. . . .

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants—from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys—except for Claire’s rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire’s quiet life is turned upside down—along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy—if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom—or with each other.

Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own...

---

MY THOUGHTS

Reading Garden Spells felt rather like the author was telling me a story. It is a fanciful and romantic story filled with quirky and (mostly) likable characters. The sisters, Claire and Sydney; the cousin, Evanelle (my favorite character); the daughter, Bay; the neighbor, Tyler; and the farmer, Henry. One of the main characters in this story isn't even a person, it's the Waverley's apple tree. I have to admit the apple tree is the one thing I had an issue with in this lovely tale. Realizing, of course, the book is fantasy, I personally connect better with the reality in books. People have personalities and some personalities are more fanciful than others. But, a tree? The apple tree made the story a little too fairy-tale like for me and I've never cared for fairy tales. I do feel the book is evenly paced with no lulls or unexpected turns, which made it a steady read and easily continued when returned to. Overall, it is quite charming!

---

Recipe: No Chicken, Pot or Pie Casserole

Description

This is a low-fat vegan dish using Seitan instead of chicken and potatoes in lieu of a crust.  If you have a stovetop to oven-safe skillet use that otherwise transfer from skillet to an 8" x 11" baking dish.

Ingredients

2 large potatoes, peeled, boiled, cooled, and sliced
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup + 1 Tbs. flour
4 cups vegetable broth
1-1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped or sliced
1-1/2 cup celery, chopped or sliced
1-1/2 cup carrots, chopped or sliced
1/2 cup peas, frozen
1- 8 oz. pkg Seitan cubes, cut into 1/2" pieces
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 - 2 dashes Tabasco sauce
to taste salt (optional)
to taste black pepper
Parmesan (vegan) Cheese (topping, after baking)
Paprika (topping, after baking)

Instructions

1.  Peel potatoes, slice in half crosswise and boil until tender.  Let cool.  Slice crosswise about 1/2 inch thick.

2.  Heat oil in skillet; add onions and sauté until translucent.

3.  Add flour and blend well.  Gradually add broth, stirring over low heat until thick and smooth.

4.  Add mushrooms, celery, and carrots;  cook about 8 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.

5.  Add peas, seitan, lemon juice, tabasco, salt, and pepper.  Heat through on low heat.

6.  If the skillet is oven safe cover with a single layer of the sliced potatoes.  If not, transfer to an oven-safe baking dish before topping with the potatoes.  Bake in a preheated 450° oven for about 20 minutes.

7.  Sprinkle with Parmesan and Paprika before serving.

Servings:  6

*thanks to my Facebook Friends for their recipe name suggestions!

The Miracle of Nature

"The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man."  ~ Author Unknown

Digital photograph by Virginia Hill taken with a BlackBerry Style 9670 on 03/22/2011. Some Rights Reserved (please see Creative Commons License in the sidebar.)

Book Review: Birthright by Nora Roberts

Title: Birthright
Series: Standalone
Author: Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Published: 03/30/2004
Publisher: Jove
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense

DESCRIPTION

When five-thousand-year-old human bones are found at a construction site in the small town of Woodsboro, the news draws archaeologist Callie Dunbrook out of her sabbatical and into a whirlwind of adventure, danger, and romance.

While overseeing the dig, she must try to make sense of a cloud of death and misfortune that hangs over the project-fueling rumors that the site is cursed. And she must cope with the presence of her irritating—but irresistible—ex-husband, Jake. Furthermore, when a stranger claims to know a secret about her privileged Boston childhood, she is forced to question her own past as well.

---

MY THOUGHTS

I read Birthright when it was first published in March 2003. I rated it 4 stars then, and because it's by Nora Roberts (my favorite author) I was looking forward to reading it again. I treated myself to the Kindle edition, which is now my preference. Nora writes in such a way that I pretty much always want to read something of hers.

** spoiler alert ** Birthright is well paced with just the right amount of archaeology and anthropology mixed in to let the reader know what drives the characters and to set it apart from Nora's other books. There is a rather complicated storyline, but straightforward writing kept me on track. The relationships of several couples are covered; all at different developmental stages—new (Lana and Douglas), revisited (Callie and Jacob), rekindled (Suzanne and Jay), and long-lasting (Elliot and Vivian). The cleverly written banter is a joy to read whether it was of the friendly or playfully adult variety. There is all matter of suspenseful and dangerous goings-on—murder, poisoning, explosions, fires, and then good old sleuthing. All of this makes for a first-rate romantic suspense. I am thrilled that I revisited it!

---