Kelly Brakenhoff's Blog, page 4

September Book Club: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Who knew that stepping out of my mystery-loving comfort zone and diving into Brandon Sanderson’s Tress of the Emerald Sea would be such a memorable adventure? This fantasy book is an expedition to a distant planet where rain carries bizarre spores, lethal vines sprawl unchecked, and the seas are a mysterious shade of green.

Kelly’s Garden-Fresh Egg Scramble

When the garden gives you more veggies than you know what to do with, it's time to whip up my go-to breakfast: a hearty egg scramble that’ll keep you fueled until lunch.

August Book Club: A History of Murder by Brook Peterson

Ever had a corn dog that led to a police escort? Welcome to Chloe Martin's life in A History of Murder, where a rush to find a restroom turns into a full-blown mystery in Jericho Falls, Nevada. Chloe's unexpected return to the town after thirteen years is not a happy homecoming.

S’mores Bars

It's hot and steamy this summer, which brings back memories of camping. Our family had a knack for picking the rainiest weekends—seriously, it rained 85% of the time we camped! Friends would even check our plans to avoid the downpour. But you can skip the sauna-like tents and enjoy campfire treats at home with these S'mores Bars. No hot sticks required. Enjoy the taste of summer without the soggy sleeping bags!

July Book Club: The Missing Diamond by Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe

Dearest Gentle Reader, I must confess. Choosing a tale that boldly claims to be “Bridgerton meets historical mystery,” I half-expected The Missing Diamond to drown me in high society balls and tea-time gossip. Thankfully, Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe had a different plan.

Guest post: Make Them Laugh by Lois Winston

We live in interesting times. I hear that phrase quite often these days, and how apropos it is! Put bluntly, there’s a lot going on in the world that really, really sucks. Many people just want to make like an ostrich and bury their heads in the sand, and who could blame them?

June Book Club: Parlez Vous Murder by Susan Kiernon-Lewis

Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes you think, "Wait, what?" and Parlez-Vous Murder? did exactly that for me. Picture this: American tourist Jules Hooker escapes to idyllic Southern France near the Riviera when a dirty bomb—an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), no less—throws Europe and America back to the technological stone age.

May Book Club: Animal Climate Heroes by Alison Pearce Stevens

The first thing that struck me in Animal Climate Heroes was Jason Ford’s superhero-themed illustrations. They’re whimsical and fun, yet scientifically accurate, striking the perfect balance between entertainment and education.

May Book Club: Fields’ Guide to Abduction by Julie Mulhern

Julie Mulhern's Fields' Guide to Abduction is a genre-bending adventure where cozy mystery humor meets action-packed escapades. Center stage in this whirlwind is Poppy Fields, a social media influencer whose seemingly shallow life is filled with perfectly curated Instagram posts.

Introducing Cassandra Sato

As part of our five-year anniversary celebration, we are throwing it back to where everything started. The smart, sassy voice of Cassandra Sato, newly minted Vice-President for Student affairs at Morton College. If you are new to Cassandra and her friends, here's a peek behind the scenes from her point of view. Welcome to the series!