Looking for reviews on some of the latest books about home, gardens, cooking, and more? Here are my reviews on some books that arrived in my mailbox during the month of November.
November Book Reviews
If you are looking for something new to read, here are my quick reviews of some new release books related to home, gardening, cooking, simplifying, or anything else that I found interesting! Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the post to enter to win a giveaway for ALL of these titles!
Cooking with Nonna, Rossella Rago
They’re back! Rossella Rago and her adorable Nonna Romana have returned with Cooking with Nonna: A Year of Italian Holidays, a traditional cookbook no Italian kitchen should be without. This Italian cookbook is a culinary treasury, jam-packed with over 125 classic holiday recipes for Italian-food lovers, including classic holiday recipes like Struffoli, Christmas Fish, Manicotti, Cannelloni, Cannoli Cheesecake, and more.
With advice from nonnas all over the country, this unique book covers holiday classics from every region of Italy, from Milan to Sicily, and includes holiday memories from the nonnas themselves. The nonnas also give their personal tips on cooking for a crowd (and it’s always a crowd). And, of course, no new Cooking with Nonna cookbook would be complete without Rossella’s signature dishes and unique voice.
Merissa’s Thoughts — This book is filled with so many recipes that are perfect for everyday or special celebrations. I love to look at recipes for different cuisines because we tend to get stuck in the same rut with cooking and baking and this can help give us some inspiration. This large hardcover book would be a welcome addition to any kitchen, Italian or not.
Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook, Lucy Vaserfirer
Scrape off the rust (don’t worry, Lucy will show you how) from your mom’s cast iron skillet and get cast iron cooking!
It’s true, a cast iron renaissance is in full swing. In Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook, author Lucy Vaserfirer brings cast iron cooking completely up to date. She shows you how to work magic on cast iron with more than 150 recipes that are definitely not the kind of fare your mother cooked up. You’ll learn how to cook up vegetables, which are especially flavorful when cooked on cast iron; see how cast iron is the perfect vessel for cooking all types of fish and shellfish; learn how to sear meats to perfection, and even learn how you can use your skillet for baking.
Merissa’s Thoughts — If you love cast iron cooking, this book is for you! I love the simplicity of the recipes and the ingredients, I didn’t see much that was over the top or out of the ordinary. I also thought this book would make a great gift for someone that loves cast iron cooking!
Bigger Than Business, Jeff Holler
In a society where workforces—especially executives—are encouraged to keep their professional lives and spiritual lives separate, Jeff Holler’s Bigger Than Business: Real-World Stories of Business Owners Living Their Purpose is a thought-provoking testimonial to the power of a faith-driven existence—even in the boardroom.
Bigger Than Business shares transparent, true-life stories of Christian entrepreneurs living out their God-created purposes in their unique business settings. Between the covers of Bigger Than Business, readers will meet eight faithful business owners from six continents who share their remarkable stories.
Merissa’s thoughts — If you are a business owner or wanting to be, you will find this book inspirational. It’s a collection of real-life stories from many Christian business owners that are not only following their passions but their calling. I’m just getting started on this one but it’s great so far!
Learn to switch and ditch the nasties in each room of your home, for anyone who wants to make changes for the better, to create a healthier environment for their family and, in doing so, a healthier planet.
Packed with solid research and suggestions for making changes that are truly better for your health. Covering: hormone-disrupting chemicals in common household products; the antibacterial myth; going low plastic in a high plastic world; cleaning without the crazy chemicals; personal care; ‘there’s what in my food?’; decluttering your mental space. Low Tox Life includes how-tos and recipes for ‘clean’ cleaning, personal care products and favorite real-food recipes that replace processed store-bought nasties.
Merissa’s Thoughts — Wanting to detox your home? This book walks you through every area of your home and shares some ideas on how to choose less toxic products to have and to use. Although I think that sometimes books like this can be a stressor (creating a need to live better than how we are), it’s also informative for those that really need to ensure that their home is a less toxic place.
It doesn’t take a farm to have the heart of a farmer. Thanks to the burgeoning sustainable-living movement, you don’t have to own acreage to fulfill your dream of raising your own food.
Urban Farming (2nd Edition) walks every city and suburban dweller down the path of self-sustainability. It offers practical advice and inspiration for gardening and farming from a high-rise apartment, participating in a community garden, vertical farming, and converting terraces and other small city spaces into fruitful, vegetableful real estate.
Merissa’s Thoughts — Do you live in the city or an urban area but want to be a modern homesteader? This book will be perfect for you! It has tips for everything from raising bees, to rabbits, and lots of ideas for gardening in a small space. I can’t even begin to go into the detail that this book gets into but I found it to be a perfect guide for someone that isn’t able to have a large acreage.
Who hasn’t struggled with discontent, being overwhelmed, and the fight to be happy? You know that you have much to be grateful for, but sometimes the world feels so heavy and it’s hard to recognize the good stuff, let alone find and experience true, lasting joy.
Find the secret to happiness, satisfaction, joy, and more in Simple Joys, a beautiful, full-color book that walks you through Candace’s journey so that you can replicate it in your own life. Read about several simple ways you can reclaim joy in your day-to-day routine and start living more joyfully today.
Merissa’s Thoughts — This was a cute little read that was filled with everyday stories and examples on how we can find joy in the mundane. The size of this book wasn’t for me but I did think that it would make a great addition to a gift basket or a sweet gift for a friend that needed some encouragement.
Want to win all of these books? I’m giving them away! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be entered to win the entire set of books listed above to add to your personal collection. Good luck!
Have you read any of these books? Which one do you think interests you?
Are you an author or publishing house that wants me to review your book? Send an email with the information to [email protected]
I would read the Not your Mothers Cast Iron book first! I have really gotten into using my cast iron and Dutch oven lately and would love some new recipes to try!!
I would read Low Tox Life first. That one really interest me.
What a great stack of inspirational books… I especially like “Urban Farming”. I also enjoy your blog and get new ideas even though I’m a grandma! It’s never too late to change your direction or start something new.
all of the books look interesting
I want to read Cast Iron Skillet!
I would love to read Simple Joys. I could use a pick me up with winter in full force.
The Cast Iron Skillet cookbook looks amazing. I know I am not using mine to it’s full potential. What a great way to find out how.
I would read cooking with Nonna first or the not your mother’s iron skillet. I love cooking.
I would read Simple Joys first. Thanks for the chance!
I think I’m most interested in the cast iron cooking book and would like to share the urban farming book with my boss. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
The cast iron cookbook is the first one I’d read!
Low Tox Life would be my first pick.
Love this book review. Thank you! I would like to read Low Tox Life first. 🙂
Thanks for the chance to win, Have to be the Cast Iron book. Just love what you publish for all of us out in the internet land to learn about ..
I think I would like to try little Joy’s. I suffer from depression and so I volunteer for a natural pick me up 😉
cooking with nonna
Low Tox Life really interests me!
Wow, nice selection. I’d be really interested in the cast iron cooking especially but intrigued by all.
I would read Low Tox Life first, this book sounds very interesting.Thanks!?
I would enjoy to read the ” Urban Gardening ” book , thank you for the great selections
Love your blog, recipes, and would love to own these books. They all look like they would be a great read.
I would read either Simple Joys or the Cast Iron Skillet cook book!
They all look good! The business one would be helpful in my life right about now though.
I would read “Low Tox Life” first.
Great selection of books.
i have a weakness for books. I love them and love to read! This is a great giveaway! I always enjoy your blog as well.
Cooking with Nonna would be first on my list! Thanks, Merissa!
Oh, my, they all look like wonderful books.
When I’m undecided, I would spread them out, close my eyes and just pick one but for now, I think I will have to go with Urban Farming as my 1st. choice.
I thank you for this Fantastic giveaway opportunity
I would read the one about cast iron cooking. Thanks!
The cast iron book.
I would read the Cast Iron Cookbook first. Thanks for offering such a great giveaway!
OOOH, These look very good!
I would read Not your Mother’s Cast Iron first.
i think i would probably read them all at once lol going back and forth
Thank you for the chance to win the cast iron book
I would probably start with the book about simple joys. It always helps to look for the little everyday things in life that bring happiness and hope. Love your blog and newsletter!!
One of the things I love most is books. We live too far from the library (25 miles) to go often so having books on hand is one of my favorite things!
I would read the cookbooks first ?
I would love to read Simple Joys first then the Cast Iron book and Nonna’s Kitchen book.
Here’s hoping! I would love to read Low Tox Life first, but Urban Farming is a close second!!
I would read Simple Joys! Always love to read things that are inspiring. My husband would want me to read Cast Iron Cooking ?
Cast Iron Skillet is the one I’ll be looking for in the store if I don’t win
I would read Nonna & Cast Iron Skillet first. I love to cook ! And so does my husband !
Simple Joys
Can wait to check out some these books! I hadn’t heard of some these but they all look interesting.
Definitely interested in the cast iron cooking book.
I would read “Urban Farming” first.
Cast iron skillet would be great to start out with.
I think there’s a book topic in this stack for every person in my household! What a great mix!
Simple Joys looks interesting.
I am really getting into cast iron cooking, so I am glad to have this recommendation from you!
Looks like some great winter reads!
I love cast iron skillet cooking! My parents gifted my husband and I their entire collection a few years back of about a dozen piece a of cast iron. Everything from a Dutch oven to every size skillet and even a grill pan. It’s been great cooking with them. I would love to have an entire cookbook dedicated just to cast iron recipes. Thanks so much for doing this great giveaway.
It’s a tossup, I love my cast iron skillet I have even chosen who gets what skillets and pots when I pass! And I love Italian food! Lasagna is my favorite! But since I have to choose K will go with …Cooking with NANNA
All of these would be amazing! Thank you for the generous gifting!
I’d start with Low Tox Life!
I’d love them all but would especially love to have Cooking With Ninja!
Urban Farming ! I want to learn everything !
I would read “Not your Mother’s Cast Iron Cookbook” first. I love cooking with cast iron. I was raised with my Mom and Grandmother both cooking in them. I still have a piece that I cook with just for the memories. But all the books look so inviting. Like visiting an old friend and chatting with new ones.
Each one sounds intriguing but if I had to choose just one, it would be “Urban Farming” as I would love to get into that in the next year and need some direction!
I would love to win these books. I am staring a home based business and my daughter loves cooking with s cast iron skillet.
I would read the cast iron skillet cookbook first! I just recently realized that I can use my cast iron skillets on my flat-top electric stove, so I plan on cooking lots in them!
I would probably read the Low Tox LIfe first, and I’m also interested in the cast iron one. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would definitely read Nonnas Italian food cookbook! Sounds yummy!
Thanks for the giveaway. I would read the Cast Iron Cookbook first.
I would read the Cast Iron skillet cookbook first.
I would read Simple Joys first.
I LOVE Candace Payne AKA Chewbacca mom because… she is real. All these books like they would be cozy and entertaining reads on a cold wintry night!!!!I would benefit from all of these lovely books!