Book Review: Lisa Scottoline's After Anna

Local author Lisa Scottoline has once again brought thrills and chills to me while I read her latest book, After Anna. Suburban blended family, sweet son Caleb, super-helpful and loving mom Maggie, caring and quiet dad Dr. Noah.

Enter the long-lost bratty and mysterious long-lost daughter? Yep- Maggie gets to fawn over the daughter she never got to enjoy, and boy does the family dynamic go wrong- it’s shattered, and somehow dad Noah is blamed for it.

What is portrayed as a tragic, horrifying murder becomes a skillfully crafted mystery reaching far beyond the comforts of home in Southeastern PA. Who is Anna really? Who was she? How will her mom cope with her death as her family gets torn apart?

After Anna follows the mystery genre formula, yet shocks you with a few surprises that gives you serious anxiety, cringe-worthy situations, happy feel-good moments, and at the end, a masterful climax that leaves you feeling intense, whew…I need to read that again! But first I need some rose’ to take it all in.

The format of the book starts in the future by chapter and goes back and forth in time until the two halves make the whole. I feel like with each chapter the book was revealing itself to me…and then I’d turn the page and was slapped with another anxiety-ridden scene.

Some books go out of the way to pepper the chapters with red herrings, with After Anna, Scottoline so skillfully intertwines the details you don't see the ending until you're on top of it.

As always, reading about local places is fun, and knowing the security of home yet with a masterful mystery surrounding you with each page, yes, After Anna brings the apprehension, the heartache, and a host of other emotions. Settle in with a good cup of coffee or glass of Sav Blanc, and get ready for this ride.

Find After Anna at your local book store.

NOURISHED Feeds Us in Many Forms

Hunger comes to us in many forms, and in NOURISHED, Huber serves readers sumptuous meals for body and soul.

  

Nourished is a powerful story that chronicles Huber’s world-roaming search—from Greece, Costa Rica, Mexico, New York, France, San Francisco, and all of the culinary adventures in between—for sustenance that healed her body, shaped her faith, and defined her life’s calling. Lia’s quest begins with an unforgettable “Anthony Bourdain” moment in a Guatemalan village—a story that surprisingly shifts gears with a bowl of soup.

Throughout this thought-provoking and delicious tome, Huber treats us to scrumptious meals through both the narrative and recipes paired with each chapter while sharing the vulnerable, tender roller coaster of emotions and self-exploration that define true love and deep faith. 

Her story spans twenty years as Huber takes us along to pasta lessons in Bologna with Francesca; the “right place, right time” moment at the farmers’ market that helped her break into food writing; and the harrowing lengths she went to obtain a yucca flower for dinner!

Using the growth of a tomato plant as a metaphor for her personal growth, NOURISHED is divided into four parts: Seeds, Roots, Starts, and Fruit. In her early years, Huber was a self-confessed “meat and potatoes girl,” fighting with her body and on a perpetual low-fat diet. But as she pushed the limits of life and was thrown challenging curveballs with regards to her health, she eventually found an ally in wholesome, real food.

In the course of her story, Huber realizes that when she’s deliberate about what she eats, it nurtures all parts of her being—body, soul, and spirit. “Food is so much more than just something we put in our mouths or use to fuel our bodies,” Huber writes. It’s a blend of memories, emotions, feelings, needs. There’s a soul to food, isn’t there? Fragrances and flavors intermingle with our life experiences to become wondrously satisfying in ways that stretch far beyond the plate.” Wholesome, real food is what ultimately saved Lia, and why she’s made the choice to nourish others with her story.

At the close of each chapter, Huber provides mouthwatering recipes :

·         Frijoles de Lia (Costa Rica)

·         Pastel Impossible (Mexico)

·         Frisée Salad with Persimmons and Walnut-Crusted Goat Cheese (California)

·         Crab Ravioli in Saffron Lemon-Butter Sauce (Connecticut)

·         Beijing Peanut Noodles (Antigua Guatemala)

·         Zucchini Frittata (Italy)

·         Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Stuffed Figs (California)

·         Mama’s Salt Cod Fritters (Greece)

Huber is the founder and CEO of NOURISH Evolution, for which she was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and of Cook the Seasons, a subscription-based real food community and online menu planner. Over the last twenty years, she has been widely published as a writer and recipe developer for Cooking Light, Better Homes and Gardens, Eating Well, Prevention, and more.

Book Review Friday: Peter Engel Was 'Saved By the Bell'

The legendary Peter Engel (you know him as executive producer and creator of Saved by the Bell, Last Comic Standing, and much more), now in his eighties, has recently released his memoir titled I Was Saved by the Bell filled with energy, candor, wisdom and positivity.

His decades of experience in the television industry inspires those chasing their own dreams, and the grace with which he has overcome personal challenges resonates with us all. 

And who doesn’t remember watching this show every Saturday morning- goofy, funny, silly, happy, sad, heart-breaking.

I got to meet Mark-Paul Gosselaar a few years ago for a new show, and the first thing I said to him was: “I loved you on Saved by the Bell.” He laughed and hugged me, he was a total sweetie.

Read about Engel’s favorite moments of his life – from showbiz to personal accomplishments, fun behind the scenes glimpses into his popular work, including Saved by the Bell, entertaining stories of his most memorable encounters with famous figures throughout the times.

Peter Engel, one of the most prolific producers in television with more than 1,000 episodes produced under his banner, single handedly created the teen sitcom with Saved By The Bell, which he executive produced through all of its many incarnations, and which led to his many other teen series, including California Dreams, Hang Time, City Guys, and USA High. As if defining and conquering the teen arena wasn't enough, Engel produced the iconic Last Comic Standing, enabling the discovery of an entirely new, fresh generation of comedians.

All of this would be more of a career than any producer could ever dream of having, and with more than 50 years in the television industry, Engel has forgotten more than most will ever know. Engel’s life and work touched and inspired an entire “Bell” generation, whose values and views of a diverse world were shaped by the stories and plain old fun of Peter’s shows.

Website: www.iwassavedbythebell.com

I Was Saved by the Bell can be purchased from Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, and through all major booksellers.