Teach Me by Olivia Dade

5*

What a refreshing change from the typical romance! Not only has Olivia Dade given us a fabulous couple of middle-aged protagonists in Rose and Martin, but Rose is also a plus-sized woman who Martin describes with positive, affirming words like gorgeous, statuesque, curvaceous, “regally tall”. Both of them are carrying a lot of baggage that makes getting to know each other challenging, but, despite their difficult childhoods and divorces, they become friends. A big reason is their respect for each other as dedicated teachers. Rose is determined to be cordial but cold to the new hire who has been assigned her favorite classes and is invading her classroom during her two planning periods to teach them. However, she hadn’t expected him to be so kind, sensitive, and respectful. In fact, Martin is nearly the perfect man: a loving father, champion of women and LGBTQ youth, a sexy nerd, and a phenomenal, caring teacher. His lesson on female Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut, taught while Rose was there to observe, encapsulates his qualities. “She just watched Martin – who knew full well she was observing him that particular period – walk his high school class through a well-considered discussion of gender, power, and the historical erasure of women and the marginalized. Heard him declare with quiet passion that their stories mattered. That, by inference, her story mattered. That she mattered.” It’s no wonder that he makes her feel safe and protected even if she is perfectly capable of fighting her own battles. But will she be able to let go of the past to have a future with Martin? An excellent contemporary romance that focuses on issues very pertinent today in a way that doesn’t seem patronizing or tokenish and which pays homage to hard-working, devoted teachers. Book one of Dade’s new There's Something About Marysburg series. Highly recommended!


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Hussies & Harpies Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Save Me the Plums from Ruth Reichl

5*

In her latest memoir, Reichl shares her journey from hippie foodie in San Francisco where she hung out with Alice Waters and others to New York Times food critic to final editor of Gourmet Magazine in a casual and humorous voice readers have come to know and love. After having had the pleasure of sitting in on a cookbook author panel in Los Angeles recently, I can confirm that the voice is authentically hers. It’s fascinating to read about her battle to stay true to herself, her family and her ideals when taking the helm of an unapologetically high-brow magazine where perks such as a full-time driver were the norm. In the ten years she was editor of Gourmet, she totally remade it into a publication that was more relatable to household cooks without sacrificing quality. Yes, she lost some long-time readers, but with the help of people like revered LA Times food critic Jonathan Gold, she vastly increased readership until the internet spelled its demise. Aren’t we lucky that, as unfortunate as this is, it freed up Reichl’s time to share her story and some delicious recipes as well?

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Never Deny a Duke by Madeline Hunter

4*

Davina McCallum claims that she is the heir to a Scottish estate ceded to the Crown when her great-grandfather, Baron of Teyhill, died at the Battle of Culloden at the end of the Jacobite Rebellion. The Crown requires more proof, so her goal is to find it by tracking down information on her grandfather, the rightful heir, who was sent away to avoid harm after Culloden. Eric Marshall, Duke of Brentworth, hasn’t visited his Scottish estate since a tragic fire years before and struggles with both guilt and remorse. However, he has no intention of giving it up to Davina. When asked by the Crown to marry her so he can retain control of his family’s estate, he initially refuses but then decides to accompany her in her quest. Will Davina find the proof she needs or will she lose her heart and her inheritance to the Duke?

Hunter has woven a double mystery in with the romance: Davina’s claim to the title and estate and Eric’s discomfort with going to Scotland because of the fire and probable cause of it. Otherwise, the story employs the usual historical romance tropes: strong-willed woman (usually orphaned) down on her luck; handsome, aloof aristocrat with a shadowy, painful past who avoids love and passion and is usually cool under pressure; situation that forces them together where they are initially antagonistic towards each other, but, as they work together, the passion and love grow; and love triangle including another man who usually has some ulterior motive to wanting to marry the heroine. This is a standalone, but the protagonists from the first two books are very instrumental in bringing Davina and Brentworth together. A fun, engaging romance that is a satisfying end to the series.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Books/Zebra through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.