Book reviews and a recipe

I've finished a couple of books lately that I wanted to mention while they are fresh in my mind.  First, The Lost Hours by Karen White.

I loved this book.  It touches on a number of poignant themes: lifelong friendships, first love, loss, grief, forgiveness, regret, and family secrets to name a few.  I really enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend it.

From the publisher (because I am the worst paraphraser ever):

When Piper Mills was twelve, she helped her grandfather bury a box that belonged to her grandmother in the backyard. For twelve years, it remained untouched.

Now a near fatal riding accident has shattered Piper’s dreams of Olympic glory. After her grandfather’s death, she inherits the house and all its secrets, including a key to a room that doesn’t exist—or does it? And after her grandmother is sent away to a nursing home, she remembers the box buried in the backyard. In it are torn pages from a scrapbook, a charm necklace—and a newspaper article from 1939 about the body of an infant found floating in the Savannah River. The necklace’s charms tell the story of three friends during the 1930s— each charm added during the three months each friend had the necklace and recorded her life in the scrapbook. Piper always dismissed her grandmother as not having had a story to tell. And now, too late, Piper finds she might have been wrong.

This was a wonderful book as well: The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf.

The subject matter for this one was difficult for me.  It's about 2 little girls who go missing (clearly a mother's worst nightmare), the search for them, and what is revealed along the way about their family members and daily lives.  It's not all pretty and it won't leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.  But, it is an intriguing story that I had to finish.  Also, the story is told from 6 different points of view, making it an interesting read.

It really is a great book, don't let me scare you away! I would still recommend reading it if you're done with silly romantic happy stuff.:)

Now.

I made chicken corn chowder for dinner last night and it was so easy and tasty.

via Pinterest

Also, my bff Jules just gave me the link to PUNCHFORK and it's a fun website for recipes.  Happy Tuesday!