The Right Way to Buy and Store Fish

New Bedford Working Waterfront
Fresh fish is readily available in New Bedford, Mass., the top producing fishing port in America. (Photo by Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, Flickr)

Having lived on the coast, we are picky when it comes to seafood. In Massachusetts, we got really spoiled because New Bedford is still the top producing port in the U.S. when it comes to commercial fishing revenue, according to NOAA, so there was never a shortage of fresh-off-the-boat scallops, monkfish, lobster, summer flounder, black sea bass, and more. Now that we are back in Texas, finding quality seafood is a chore. However, that doesn’t mean it is impossible! So here’s the 4-1-1 on what you should know no matter where you buy your fish, and a few tricks on how best to store it when you do. Continue reading “The Right Way to Buy and Store Fish”

Meet ‘The Other Alcott’ of Orchard House in Revealing Debut Novel [REVIEW]

Orchard House
Within the walls of Orchard House, May Alcott dreams of life beyond Concord, Massachusetts. (Photo by Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, Flickr)

We’ve all heard of Louisa May Alcott, the author of the classic novel, Little Women, a story she based on her own family. As beloved as that book is, have you ever stopped to think what it might have been like to actually be one of Louisa’s sisters? In Elise Hooper’s exquisite new novel, The Other Alcott, she takes us inside Orchard House, shows us that fame has a price, and reveals just how complicated sibling rivalry can be.  Continue reading “Meet ‘The Other Alcott’ of Orchard House in Revealing Debut Novel [REVIEW]”

Margot Livesey’s ‘Mercury’ is the Story of Us [REVIEW]

Woman connecting with horse
When Viv meets a horse named Mercury, all her old dreams suddenly seem tangible. (Photo by Anne Worner, Flickr)

Two people, one horse, and a decision that changes their lives forever. In Margot Livesey’s Mercury, a married couple realizes that perception is everything and sometimes life changes seemingly overnight simply because we failed to listen. Continue reading “Margot Livesey’s ‘Mercury’ is the Story of Us [REVIEW]”

Evil Lurks In A Sleepy Seaside Town In Preston and Child’s ‘Crimson Shore’ [REVIEW]

Lighthouse Twilight
Evil lurks in a sleepy seaside town in Preston & Child’s CRIMSON SHORE. (Photo by _Imaji_, Flickr)

Dark lore and sinister secrets become much more than mere legend in Preston and Child’s latest novel, Crimson Shore. The story opens as Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast and his companion Constance Greene travel to Exmouth, Mass. to unravel the mystery behind the theft of a priceless wine collection. But is there more to this case than an empty wine cellar? Continue reading “Evil Lurks In A Sleepy Seaside Town In Preston and Child’s ‘Crimson Shore’ [REVIEW]”