Artsy with Mya

 This was a pretty interesting biography of a women that strived so hard to be remembered and commemorated by the world, but she never full achieved that feeling and got that fame and prestige that she so desperately wanted.  Miriam Leslie was a woman who came from a hard background and she seized every opportunity in sight to better herself and her circumstances in the eyes of the world. She went through several men, quite a few different scandals and pulled out some truly stunning business deals throughout her life.  This is an extremely well-written and put-together biography, but overall I had a hard time reading just based on the formatting of the story. The author puts Miriam Leslie's story together very well and does not shy away from the different stages of her life that she went through. However, I did not enjoy it as a whole book and would not reach for this again.  I received this book free from NetGalley and Abrams Press to review and this is my honest re...

 I requested this book because the description made it sound like an actual cookbook sprinkled with some anecdotes or stories from the authors but that is not what this book is. There is really only about 5 or so recipes sprinkled throughout the book.  This is a book about the food and culture of North Carolina and how they intertwine and connect with each other throughout history. It is a really good look at different parts of North Carolina and how certain types of food are related to certain areas of North Carolina and the history of why.  However, this is not a cookbook which is what I was thinking this book was when I requested it. This is a good book, but it is not a cookbook so the reader should be aware of that before reading,  I received this book free from NetGalley and the Universtiy of North Carolina Press to review and this is my honest review.  4 out of 5 stars

 I honestly was not sure about this book when I first requested it, but I decided to try it out because I needed a new fiction book to read. The cover really drew me in and the synopsis sealed the deal.  The first chapter absolutely drew me in and convinced me to finish the book. The main character is fantastic. She is strong and smart but needs a little more work on her tact and discreetness in undercover work.  There is a through-line of potential romance and the reader is never quite sure if that will be followed through in this book until the last few chapters. The plotline was really well-written and believable between the female and male main characters.  I honestly would love more stories from this author and with these characters at the investigation agency. The supporting characters offer just a little bit of themselves and leave the reader wanting more and the main characters story leaves the reader ready for the next chapter.  I received this book fre...