{ Cookbooks by Addie Gundry }

Hey everyone, I wanted to sit with you all for a bit, and talk about cookbooks.

If you've followed me at any time throughout my blogging journey, over the past 12 years, you'll know that I am obsessed with cookbooks.

I have a huge collection and just can't seem to get enough.

I especially love collections, or series from the same author, and so I've been extremely blessed and lucky, to have received pretty much all of Addie Gundry's cookbooks.

In a previous post, I shared the first two cookbooks that I had received, but since then, I've had another 6 come in, and even though I am only now talking about them, trust me, I've cooked many recipes from the books, and I've even shared them with my sister in law.  They are amazing, easy, filled with beautiful photography, and full of recipes that are made using ingredients from your pantry.

As a busy mom, I love cooking and often find myself in a rut, so I'm constantly looking for new recipes to try, but I want something that is not only delicious, cheap to make and uses easily available ingredients.

Addie Gundry has yet to disappoint me. 

The First Signs of April by Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe

Wounds fester and spread in the darkness of silence. The swirling reds, oranges, and yellows of fall’s foliage dance alongside Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe like flames as she tears through the winding back roads of the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. Desperate to outrun memories that flood her mind, no matter how hard she rolls her motorcycle’s throttle, she cannot escape them.

Shut down and disconnected, Briscoe has lived her life in silence in order to stay alive. Her grief is buried, and shame is the skin that wraps around her bones—but then, following the brutal murder of a local teacher, she is forced as a grief counselor to face her lifetime of unresolved sorrow. Will she finally be able to crack the hard edges of her heart and allow in the light of truth so real healing can occur?

About the Author:




Mary-Elizabeth Briscoe is a licensed mental health counselor currently on sabbatical from her private psychotherapy practice in northeastern Vermont. She currently spends her time between Cape Cod, Vermont, and Ireland. She has a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling from Lesley University and is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and a Certified Trauma Professional. She has been a lecturer for Springfield College School of Professional and Continuing Studies St. Johnsbury, Vermont campus. She has contributed to Cape Woman Online and Sweatpants and Coffee magazine. This is her first book.  

Visit her website, her Facebook, and on Twitter.


My thoughts:

I wouldn't say that this book was easy to read, but I think it's due to the fact that it focuses, or rather, brings to light, something that our family has been going through this year.

Grief.

The death of a loved one, and the pain and confusion, anger and everything that comes with grieving, and at times NOT grieving that person.

Mary-Elizabeth takes us on an emotional roller coaster of a ride, as she herself goes through life trying to hide the pain of losing someone near and dear.  This pain itself catapults her into becoming a grief counselor, but as she comes face to face with the grief of a client she is trying to help, she must look within her own heart and allow some very sad, heartbreaking and difficult moments in her past, to rear their ugly head.

Through it all we are able to see who she really is, and gain some insight into how we can deal with our own grief. 

Quite an interesting book and I think it would be helpful for anyone going through the loss of a loved one.

{ Hannah, Delivered - Book Review }

Late one night in a busy St. Paul hospital, a nurse midwife drags Hannah Larson out from behind her reception desk to assist with a birth. When Hannah witnesses that baby tumble into the world, her secure, conventional life is upended by a fierce desire to deliver babies. So begins Hannah’s journey away from her comfort zone. In a midwifery apprenticeship in New Mexico, she befriends a male midwife, defends a teenage mom, and learns to trust women’s bodies, then moves back to Minnesota to start her own illicit birth practice.

Hannah’s need to stay safe proves both an asset and a liability: homebirth isn’t legal in Minnesota in the 1990’s. To deliver healthy babies, Hannah risks jail time, her community’s respect, and her career. The key to unlocking her fear rests in one birth---her own.

Hannah, Delivered tells the story of how inexplicable passion, buried strength, and professional skill deliver one woman from fear into a rich and risk-filled life.

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Birth!!!  The beautiful process of bringing into this world those that most bring us joy, our little children. 

It isn't always something easy, we have all heard of horrible stories, but in general, birth is beautiful, and I have always been fascinated with the world of midwifery.  I have so much respect for these women, from old fashioned to the more modern midwives.

When I agreed to review Hannah, Delivered by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, I knew it was a book that peeked my interest, but I had no idea just how much I would love this book.

The minute I started reading, it became all I wanted to do, I didn't want to put it down and I carried it with me everywhere I went.

The story follows Hannah, who works at a desk office in a hospital, and one night has to help the midwife on call.  She is thrown into a situation that she never expected and had no idea how to deal with, but one experience that dramatically changes her life and impacts her tremendously.

From that moment on, Hannah decides to become a midwife and heads off to Midwife school in New Mexico.  When she returns home, she is faced with having to practice midwifery in a State that considers home birth midwifery illegal.

When I say that I couldn't put this down, I mean it, truly.  I was so caught up in the book that I read through to the very last page before even realizing that was it, that there was no more. 

This book touches on all the aspects of birth, the joyful, the good and sometimes the political and not so good side.  Either way, you can't read it and come away unchanged.

Check out Elizabeth Jarrett Andrews website for more info.  And if you wish to read Hannah, Delivered for yourself, be sure to get your own copy on Amazon.

I was sent the book for review, but all opinions and views are my own.

Dewey's Nine Lives now available in Paperback

 
DEWEY’S NINE LIVES: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter

The author (and caregiver) of Dewey, the Library Cat has compiled another book of nine stories. Two are new Dewey stories and the other seven are from other people about their cats.

I loved Dewey and so was excited to read this. Having read the previous hardcover edition, I will tell you that I didn't read the whole book again because that's just a personal preference, there are very few books I've ever read more than once LOL

But I was thrilled to see two new stories about Dewey and what sweet stories they were.  As usual, my daughter Jasmine who adores cats, wanted to get in on the action too so she asked if she could read them and she ended up re-reading the whole book and enjoying it just as much as the first time.

Do you remember when I reviewed this adorable book last year?  If you don't, you can go back and read a little more about Dewey, who he is and what he does and how he got to be so popular. 

With Christmas just around the corner, I think books are one of the best gifts anyone can receive, and I think this one would make a Cat Lover pretty happy :)

Where to buy

About the author

Dewey Stuff (puzzles, pictures, posters, t-shirts)

Thank you to Jessica and Penguin Books for providing me a copy of the book for review.  

Island of Lost Girls Book Review

Rhonda Farr pulls into her local Mini Mart for gas before a job interview. She is struck speechless by the sight of a giant bunny rabbit coaxing a young girl out of her car and into the rabbit's car. It happens in the blink of an eye and as they drive away, Rhonda realizes that she has just witnessed an abduction and is horrified that she did nothing to stop it.

The little town is galvanized into action. A small command post is set up by Pat, the owner of the Mini Mart. We get to know Rhonda and her childhood friends, Lizzy and Peter. Their families were inseparable as children. The present day story is just as much about the hunt for missing Ernestine as it is about the relationships and lives of the now grown children.

The story flips from present to past, about 15 years ago. The childhood days of Lizzy, Peter and Rhonda are exposed in alternate chapters. Although their childhood appeared idyllic, there were unsettling undercurrents.

I read this book while I was sick last week, hence why my review is late.

I have to start by saying that I'm not a mystery genre fan, I just prefer Historical Romance and such but there have been a few good mysteries here and there that I thoroughly enjoyed and this one has to go into that category.

It deals with something that definitely touches all of our hearts, it's not easy to hear about a child being abducted and especially when you throw in a huge bunny costume which just makes it that much more scary. 

I think the author did a good job of going back and forth between past and present, it did get a little confusing at times, again this back and forth is important for storytelling purposes but I'm not a huge fan of it and that may be why I didn't enjoy those parts that much.

All in all, if you like a good mystery thriller suspense, I think this book will do it for you.

Monday, April 18th: Sara’s Organized Chaos (Promise Not to Tell)
Tuesday, April 19th: Jenn’s Bookshelves (Promise Not to Tell)
Tuesday, April 19th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom (Island of Lost Girls)
Wednesday, April 20th: Life In Review (Promise Not to Tell)
Tuesday, May 3rd: Book Journey (Promise Not to Tell)
Wednesday, May 4th: Rundpinne (Promise Not to Tell)
Friday, May 6th: In the Next Room (Promise Not to Tell)
Monday, May 9th: Reading Through Life (Promise Not to Tell)
Tuesday, May 10th: Tina’s Book Reviews (Promise Not to Tell)
Wednesday, May 11th: In the Next Room (Island of Lost Girls)
Thursday, May 12th: Book Journey (Island of Lost Girls)
Monday, May 16th: Sara’s Organized Chaos (Island of Lost Girls)
Monday, May 16th: Stephanie’s Written Word (Promise Not to Tell)
Wednesday, May 18th: Rundpinne (Island of Lost Girls)
Thursday, May 19th: Iwriteinbooks’s blog (Promise Not to Tell)
Friday, May 20th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books (Island of Lost Girls)
Monday, May 23rd: Stephanie’s Written Word (Island of Lost Girls)

 TLC Book Tours provided a proof copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are mine alone.

Body Confidence Book Review

Weight Loss.  How to do it, how to achieve it the right way and how to maintain it.  It's something that I have struggled with my whole life and for the most part I try to eat right and watch my calories, but let's face it, it's not easy, I LOVE food.  Plain and Simple!

When I was asked if I wanted to participate in the Body Confidence TLC Book Tour, I immediately said yes, I could use all the help I can and not just that but my hubby is once again training for his PT test next month so he's trying to lose weight and eat right and this was the perfect time.

Body Confidence is a revolutionary approach based on three key nutrition factors that stabilize your blood sugar and keep your body in balance:
• Eating at consistent meal intervals
• Absolute certainty in essential nutrient ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates
• Identifying and consuming the right amount of calories per meal 

 I don't like diets, I loathe diets, my body REJECTS diets.  The minute I say I can't have this or that, is the minute that I'm inhaling ludicrous amounts of said forbidden food.  I have to be extremely careful how I approach weight loss.

What I enjoyed about the book is that it teaches you to eat right, when to eat, how to eat and even better, it gives you recipes, it even gives you sample meals for 250 calories or 400 calories depending on whether you're male or female and how much you want to eat worth of calories.

It explains blood sugar stabilization, he gives you a progress checklist, he explains how lack of sleep and stress all play into weight gain and how to minimize it.

Overall I enjoyed the book, some things I already knew about so I found a little boring but I have yet to learn a lot about weight loss, like I said in the beginning it's all a learning process for me and something with which I've struggled for many years, I don't think I'll find the magic cure of what works for me overnight....and frankly, I've never had the energy or patience to really look into it and research it either.  I think this book is a good first step for me, I'll take it slow and see how that goes.

 TLC Book Tours provided a proof copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are mine alone.

Anya's War by Andrea Alban - Book Review

Anya Rosen and her family have left their home in Odessa for Shanghai, believing that China will be a safe haven from Hitler's forces. At first, Anya's life in the Jewish Quarter of Shanghai is privileged and relatively carefree: she has crushes on boys, fights with her mother, and longs to defy expectations just like her hero, Amelia Earhart.

Then Anya finds a baby--a newborn abandoned on the street. Amelia Earhart goes missing. And it becomes dangerously clear that no place is safe--not for Jewish families like the Rosens, not for Shanghai's poor, not for adventurous women pilots.

Based on a true story, here is a rich, transcendent novel about a little-known time in Holocaust history.

 My thoughts:

Oh how I love a good book that not only is written well but teaches me something.   One of the things that most captivates me about books, is the ability to be transported all over the world and all throughout different eras, making it seem like I'm right there with the characters, seeing what they're seeing and feeling what they're feeling.

The book focuses on Anya and her daily life in Shanghai....portraying a horrific time and place but seeing through the eyes of a child.

You get a real good look into a Jewish refugee community in China, the ups and downs, the daily going ons from a simple trip to the Kosher butcher, to Sabbath.

The fact that the author based the book on her own family historical events, is a huge plus for me.  I felt like I got a bit of everything, definitely historical fiction but mixed in with a bit of biography and romance.  

I loved the book.  Thumbs up!!!

Thank you to Nina Lesowitz, author of The Courage Companion for the review copy of Anya's War.

Born Under a Lucky Moon Book Tour

Born under a Lucky Moon is the debut novel from Dana Precious and is based on the author's true story.

About the book:

Born Under a Lucky Moon is the tale of two very important (but distant) years in the lives of Jeannie Thompson and her (embarrassing, crazy) colorful family members to whom "things" just seem to happen. From the Great Lakes of Michigan to Los Angeles and back again, it is a story of surprise marriages, a renegade granny, a sprinkler system cursed by the gods, and myriad other factors Jeannie blames for her full-tilt, out-of-control existence. But it's also about good surprises—like an unexpected proposal that might just open Jeannie's eyes to her real place among the people she loves most in the world . . . the same ones she ran far away from to begin with.

My thoughts:

I think the biggest thing for me in this book, is that it was hilarious, I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics surrounding the main character's family.  It made me think of my own big family and how things get so crazy and whacked out when everyone is together.

The story is about Jeannie who is a movie advertising executive and her boyfriend has just proposed to her.  The events that follow is what truly made the book for me, because she chooses to tell him or rather, try to convince of why marrying her is a really bad idea.  So she decides to tell him about when she was 19 years old and the events that unfolded, beginning with the tale of the wedding preparations for her oldest sibling Evan.

I laughed and I mean LAUGHED at some parts and I think the best visual for me which had me in stitches was the Fourth of July celebrations when Jeannie's grandma decided to run naked through the town.  HA!

It was like sitting on the edge of your seat during a suspense movie, never really knowing what was coming but you just knew that you couldn't tear away from the screen, or in this case, the pages of the book.

Such a good read and I think if you're looking for a good, quick, feel good book, this is it.

Get a taste of Burn Under A Lucky Moon and the characters in the book through the PDFs of the Prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.



If you want to follow the book tour, be sure to check out these reviews:

Monday, February 21st:  Booksie’s Blog
Wednesday, February 23rd:  Kelly’s Lucky You!
Thursday, February 24th:   Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Once again, thank you to TLC for providing me with a copy for review.

The Courage Companion by Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons

In The Courage Companion, the co-authors of the bestselling Living Life as a Thank You present stories of extraordinary fortitude. These true tales not only invite the reader to "tap into--and hold onto--our inner strength when times get tough and when we're feeling all alone," but also act as guides to inspire anyone to just do it, whatever that "it" may be.

I love that this book is broken down into different chapters about courage and filled with amazing stories about people who have been faced with obstacles in their lives ranging from abuse, natural disasters, and political oppression to physical illness, mental deterioration, and job loss. Each story is prefaced by a quote from a well-known historical figure and followed by a mantra exercise which addresses a particular type of courage.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it honesty gave me the courage and the strength that I needed to get through some tough times.  It helps you see the light when you're feeling lost or discouraged about something.

I read the book in between daily life, housework, taking care of kids and cooking etc.  I found it helpful that it was broken into chapters that I could easily read through and then set aside when needing to take a break to deal with something else.

Thank you to Jennie from Viva Editions for supplying me with a copy of the book for this review.  All opinions are mine.

The Christmas Gift by William Bennett - Review

Every school has its legend; Ben Jackson was Maple Grove Elementary's. He has been held back five years in a row; he was exposed to nuclear radiation as a child; he was raised in the woods by bears. So went the many assessments of Ben Jackson by his sixth-grade peers. Over-sized and under-niced , Ben was the school bully. As the school year begins, new student Scott stands up to Ben, and as a result, becomes Ben s new daily target. From the annoying comments to the humiliating pranks, Ben assures a day doesn't pass without making Scott's life miserable. But in this story of forgiveness, tolerance, and unconditional love, both Scott and Ben make a remarkable transformation that will leave you with a fresh understanding of the meaning of Christmas in your life. 

My thoughts:

To say that this book touched my heart would definitely be an understatement. Yes I know that I often say that about a particularly good book but I'm not putting it lightly when I say that this book was one which will forever leave a mark on my heart, might be because it came at the perfect time when I can actually relate to some of the things in the story.  Not directly but through my daughter who is in sixth grade, the same grade that the two boys in the book are in. 

It also deals with something she's been having to endure and which I've talked about at length here on my blog.....bullying.

It's a quick read and I found myself enthralled with the story, page after page this book warmed my heart but it also taught me a lot, it made me stop to question myself, my choices and actions towards others.  It touches on the lessons of forgiveness and understanding, and the biggest for me was the reminder that doing the right thing isn't always about doing the easy thing, matter of fact, the right thing often means going out of your comfort zone and putting yourself in a vulnerable position.  But in the end, it's the relief that comes with it that matters, guilt can become such a heavy burden on your heart.

I highly recommend this book, I think it should be read by all in the family and especially teens who may be in the same grade, I'm definitely passing it on to my daughter.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a copy for this review.  The opinions and thoughts are solely mine.

Faithful by Kim Cash Tate - Book Review

Faithful

Trade Paper

By Kim Cash Tate

Three life-long friends experience life-altering struggles. Will they find the strength to be faithful to the covenants they've made with God...and each other?

Cydney Sanders thought she knew God’s plan for her life. She’d marry, have kids, and then snap her body back into shape with Tae Bo. But she’s celebrating her fortieth birthday as the maid of honor at her little sister's wedding . . . and still single. Why would God give her this desire to marry, but no husband? And why is her life suddenly complicated by the best man—who’s the opposite of what she wants in a husband?

Cydney's best friend Dana has the perfect marriage. But when Dana discovers her husband’s affair, her world goes into a tailspin. And Phyllis is out of hope after six years of unanswered prayers for her husband to find faith. When she runs into an old friend who is the Christian man she longs for, she's faced with an overwhelming choice.

With life falling apart around them, can they trust God like never before?

My thoughts:

Let me start by saying that the minute I received this book, I was captivated by the cover, I just loved it and I couldn't wait to get into the pages and start reading.

I'm a very visual person and usually with books the covers tend to factor into my thoughts about the story overall. But I have had times where the cover didn't do much for me but I enjoyed the story nonetheless.

This one is a winner though, from cover to page after page of amazing writing by Kim Cash Tate, to the wonderful lessons and reminders about God's love.

One of the things I most struggle with, and which I've been extremely vocal about here on my blog, is the acceptance of things as they are, of learning to trust that God knows what is best for me and in what time I should have it. This book again reminds me to accept things as they are instead of fighting it and trying to change it to how I want them to be.

The author touches on extremely important things, such as honoring your vows and opening yourself to the Lord's love.

It's such a good book, it's a good chick lit but also a Christian fiction and the resounding message through it all is Faith. I loved it.

This book was provided for review by Booksneeze! Thank you!

Whisper on the Wind Book Review

Whisper on the Wind by Maureen Lang

World War I is raging all around German conquered Belgium in 1916 but the Belgians refuse to be defeated. Hope is found in an underground newspaper, “La Libre Belgique”; it keeps “patriotism alive and bring[s] hope and real news of the war to the occupied country.” Edward Kirkland is determined to keep the press rolling and risks his life to do so. Socialite, Isa Lassone, escaped Belgium with her family at the beginning of the war. She has returned to rescue the man she has loved from afar since she was a child, Edward. He refuses to leave but encourages his family to escape with Isa. They refuse.

Soon, Isa is drawn into the world of the free press and hopes Edward will finally see her as a woman. When the Germans close in on the illegal paper the duo is forced to make sacrifices.

I love reading, I love books and I love history, so when I find a book that seems to have all of those in one, I find myself unable to put it down. So it is with Maureen Lang's newest book which is set for release September 1st.

Isa Lassone is the main character and I loved her throughout the story, it doesn't hurt that it all takes place in Belgium during World War I. I found myself rooting for Isa and for Edward who we are introduced to right off the bat. Edward is the man Isa loves and both have chosen to risk their lives to bring information to the public, to let the people know what is really going on and what the Germans are doing.

The story is so well written, it keeps you glued to the pages and you find yourself going through a roller coaster of emotions, you laugh and you cry and you just keep wanting more and more.

A definite must read.


Thank you to the wonderful folks at Tyndale House Publishers for sending me an Arc.

The Little Blue Doggy & Swing Cafe Book Reviews

I was recently contacted by the wonderful publishing folks at The Secret Mountain and asked if I would be interested in reviewing two children's books, of course I had to say yes seeing that we're a family who absolutely adores books.

The Swing Cafe by Carl Norac

With narration by Grammy-nominated and world-renowned Brazilian artist Bebel Gilberto. The narration is interspersed with classic recordings from jazz and swing legends including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton and more. Swing Café is written by Carl Norac, award-winning author of more than 40 children’s books, including the Publisher’s Weekly bestseller, I Love You So Much.

In September Secret Mountain will release Swing Café, originally produced by French Publishing House Didier Jeunesse. Stringer had the original text translated by Montrealer Jacob Homel, then created an English version with author Carl Norac, illustrator Rebecca Dautremer, and narrators David Frances and Brazillian-American world music artist Bebel Gilberto, a longtime resident of New York.

Swing Café tells the story of Zaz, a wee Brazilian cricket that dreams of singing live in the big apple. After hopping a ride to Manhattan, Zaz eventually makes her way to the Swing Café, where she takes to the stage thereby fulfilling her dream.

I honestly didn't know what to think of the book at first, I wasn't sure that my kids would enjoy it, but I was glad that I set those thoughts aside and took a chance on it. We all enjoyed the book and the Storybook and Music CD, one of the things that I really enjoyed personally, was the Brazilian music, being that I'm portuguese, well you know.....connect the dots LOL

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The Little Blue Doggy by Lionel Daunais

In the title song and story of this musical collection, a stuffed, woolen puppy falls victim to famished mites after having been left at home alone while his parents go to see an exhibit of humans at a local park. Upon their return, they discover his red, soggy, cotton tail on the floor and are faced with the challenge of putting him back together. Lionel Daunais’s lighthearted rendition of this song was a popular radio favorite in French-speaking Canada in the 1950s. The additional 12 songs in this storybook-music CD are off-the-wall fun for the whole family, full of clever word play and many strange creatures, including a bird who is part kangaroo and part rooster, a tortoise named Sue who goes around town without a shell, and a hard-headed hammer who has gone bonkers.

I have to be honest, when I first saw the book I thought, this is adorable, and I flipped to the first page. Nicholas sat at my side and he had a huge smile on his face, I mean, this was such an adorable little knitted blue doggy with a tail made out of red rags.

Seems great at first, but as the book progresses, the little blue doggy gets locked in a broom closet while his parents go off to the park to watch Humans on display. That wasn't so bad, I mean I can understand, it's reversed, like when we go to the zoo.

But the poor little doggy ends up being eaten by mites in the closet and at this point Nicholas had this disgusted and shocked look on his face. I admit that I thought "eewwww".....but it only lasted about 2 seconds because then we started laughing as the doggies mom begins to knit him again.

We did enjoy the CD which comes with thirteen songs and I think that was what he enjoyed the most, funny, silly little songs that will have the kids clapping along.

All in all it turned out to be quite a cute book and Nicholas favorite line was “And so they snuffed his lovely tufts, they feasted down on every crumb. They shaved his head, ate all the thread, and, lastly, they nibbled his bum.” He got a good chuckle out of that one.

The wonderful folks at The Secret Mountain were kind enough to provide me with a free review copy of books as well as press releases and other information, but all opinions and thoughts are 100% mine.

{ Shades of Morning Book Review }

The book:

Marnie Wittier has life just where she wants it. Quiet. Peaceful. No drama. A long way away from her past. In the privacy of her home, she fills a box with slips of paper, scribbled with her regrets, sins, and sorrows. But that’s nobody else’s business. Her bookstore/coffee shop patrons, her employees, her friends from church—they all think she’s the very model of compassion and kindness.

Then Marnie’s past creeps into her present when her estranged sister dies and makes Marnie guardian of her fifteen-year-old son—a boy Marnie never knew existed. And when Emmit arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome—and that she’s woefully unprepared to care for him. What’s worse, she has to deal with Taylor Cole, her sister’s attorney, a man Marnie once loved—and abandoned.

As Emmit (and Taylor) work their way into her heart, Marnie begins to heal. But when pieces of her dismal past surface again, she must at last face the scripts of paper in her box, all the regrets and sorrows. Can she do it? Or will she run again?

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My thoughts:

This was a really good book though I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of stories where they have you go back and forth, between the past and the present.

It can get a little irritating at times.

But the general story in the book was good until the end. I am not going to say what happened, I obviously don't want to ruin it for others, but I just feel that the ending should have been different, I didn't like it.

All in all it was a good read!



To purchase a copy of Shades of Morning click here

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Review: Organically Raised by Anni Daulter

Organically Raised, Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers

A cookbook with a conscience, Organically Raised shows parents how to replace bland processed shelf staples with flavorful, pesticide-free meals that babies will love, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of good nutrition and enthusiastic eating.

Organically Raised shows families how easy it is to make safe, wholesome food at home and create lasting family mealtime rituals. The simple, seasonal purées for new babies and inventive recipes from around the world for toddlers and young children provide parents with all of the tools they need to raise adventurous eaters.

The cookbook also includes important information about nutrition for children, common food allergies, a handy feeding journal, and inspiring “Mama Mantras” to help parents prepare meals that nurture their children’s bodies, minds, and spirits. With photographs featuring delicious, healthy baby food and recipes that focus on a few basic fresh ingredients, Organically Raised makes cooking for babies and young toddlers easy and appealing to even the most inexperienced cook.

One of the things that most captivates me about a book is the cover and this one definitely peeked my interest. It's bright and colorful and makes me want to dive right into it's pages.

Now the book is geared to babies and toddler food, both of which I no longer have in my household, unless I decide to have another baby just so I can cook all this marvelous food, and don't think it didn't cross my mind, even if for just a second before I reminded myself that my baby making days are over LOL

Author Anni, is a mom and professional cook, and in this cookbook she talks about her journey from being a new mom to becoming the owner of a baby food company -Bohemian Baby Fresh Organic Food.

The book is filled with recipes and resources, along with an autobiography, which I truly loved. It felt like everytime I turned the page there was some new little tidbit for me to enjoy. What's even greater and may make it even more appealing to some is that Anni Daulter managed to get Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani and Christy Turlington to endorse her book.

I have wanted to move towards organic food for a long time now, but truthfully the whole process of change scares me a bit, but Anni does a great job of giving a reference guide and almost like an instruction manual on Organic Food, which I found very insightful.

Another great thing in the book are the "Mama Wisdom" and "Papa Wisdom" tidbits on the sidebar, from other parents who share their experiences of feeding their children.

Overall, this is such a good book to have if you have children, and though it is geared to babies and toddlers, I have seen a few recipes that I could easily adapt to my own children who are now 11 and 7 years old.

Here's a recipe from the cookbook, you can find more by visiting Anni's site at Organically Raised.

zac’s mac ’n’ cheese twist

Makes 10 servings

• 1⁄2 cup + 2 tablespoons butter
• 8 slices whole grain bread (crusts removed),
• cut into 1⁄2-inch squares
• 51⁄2 cups whole milk or rice milk
• 1⁄2 cup unbleached or all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons wheat germ
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 4 cups grated Cheddar cheese
• 11⁄2 cups grated Romano cheese
• pound elbow macaroni
• 1⁄2 cup soft tofu, drained and cubed very small

1. Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Butter a 9 °— 11-inch glass baking dish.
2. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter and toss with the bread. Set aside.
3. Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently.
4. Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. When the butter starts to bubble, add the flour and whisk the mixture for about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the hot milk. Continue cooking the mixture, stirring continuously, until the liquid
5. bread cubes on top.
6. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese mixture bubbles and the bread cubes brown.

Thank you Anni Daulter for providing me with a copy of this amazing book for review.

{ The Hot Mom to Be Handbook Review }

About the Book
Are you simply “pregnant” . . . or a Hot Mom to Be?

A Hot Mom to Be is confident and empowered. She’s a woman who meets the needs of her family but refuses to get lost in the madness of motherhood. And she will never sacrifice her sense of style or self.

Founder of the Hot Moms Club, and monthly “Mommywood” columnist for Pregnancy magazine, Jessica Denay is on the pulse of Hollywood mom trends and baby products. The Hot Moms Club has coordinated nurseries and hosted star-studded baby showers for dozens of celebrities including Brooke and Charlie Sheen, Trista Sutter, Alison Sweeney, Ana Ortiz, and Angie Everhart to name a few. And now Jessica Denay offers the very best advice, products, and stories for moms-to-be everywhere. Wise and funny, helpful and hip, The Hot Mom to Be Handbook contains a wealth of information on:

• Avoiding McSteamy or McDreamy ob-gyns
• Working the perks of pregnancy—and playing the “I’ve Gotta Pee” card to your best advantage
• Bump on a Budget—money saving tips that won’t cramp your style
• Creating decoy baby names and coping with Dad’s “Post-Party” Depression
• Earth-friendly tips for the Eco-Minded Mama . . . and more!

Chock-full of Hot Mom bare necessities—as well as $tuff to Drool Over sections—here’s how to do it, how to strut it, and where to buy it.

Plus thousands of dollars’ worth of discounts inside!

My Thoughts:

I recently was chosen to review a book for Mom Central on behalf of Harper Collins. It is called "The Hot Mom to be Handbook".

Now while I am not a mom to be at the moment, I have been and I do love all the pregnancy books out there getting you ready for your new baby, and giving you information on what to expect.

The book is set up pretty much like all the others, every chapter taking you through a different stage of your 9 months of pregnancy.

I have to say though, I truly wish it had been available when I was pregnant with my kids, I could have used a book like this telling me not just what to expect with baby but how to feel good about myself during these months.

I love that the Chapters are not too long but they are long enough to be filled with great ideas and resources, but it's also pretty funny. The author is hilarious and she keeps things fun which makes for a breeze to read, I didn't want to put it down.

You can find this book on Amazon and you can also read more about other Hot Moms at the Hot Moms Club Online.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of HarperCollins and received a copy of The Hot Mom to Be Handbook to facilitate my review. Mom Central also sent me a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

{ The Last Christian Review }

The Last Christian by David Gregory
Genre: Speculative Christian Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 407
Date Published: May 4, 2010
Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publisher's book description:

A.D. 2088. Missionary daughter Abigail Caldwell emerges from the jungle for the first time in her thirty-four years, the sole survivor of a mysterious disease that killed her village. Abby goes to America, only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. A curious message from her grandfather assigns her a surprising mission: re-introduce the Christian faith in America, no matter how insurmountable the odds.But a larger threat looms. The world's leading artificial intelligence industrialist has perfected a technique for downloading the human brain into a silicon form. Brain transplants have begun, and with them comes the potential of eliminating physical death altogether—but at what expense?As Abby navigates a society grown more addicted to stimulating the body than nurturing the soul, she and Creighton Daniels, a historian troubled by his father's unexpected death, become unwitting targets of powerful men who will stop at nothing to further their nefarious goals. Hanging in the balance—the spiritual future of all humanity.In this fast-paced thriller, startling near-future science collides with thought-provoking religious themes to create a spell-binding "what-if?" novel.



Before I even begin, I'm going to let you watch this trailer for the book:



I know I often say that this book is one of the best I've read, but in this case. It absolutely is one of the BEST books I have EVER read. PERIOD!

And I have read thousands of books over the years, but this one has left something in my heart.

The Last Christian is so well written, and I think as a Christian it leaves a lot in your mind, a lot of food for thought, it certainly makes you think and ponder and wonder and I love that about a book.

I wish I had the words to describe what an amazing book this was, let's just say that I didn't have to wait until the middle of the book to find it interesting, it pretty much caught my attention from the get go and then it was like a fast paced train, I kept turning the pages, wanting to read more, wanting to know more and by the time it ended, not only did I love it but I was also left with a little to think about.

I'm love endings where everything is sort of set straight and put in it's place, but I also enjoy those where you are left to wonder, left with a few what if's. That's what this one did for me.

I encourage you to pick it up at your local library or bookstore and read it, then come back and tell me what you thought. I'm sure it will touch you like it did me.

For more info, you can check out Random House.




This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

{ Here Burns my Candle Book Review }

Here Burns my Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

Summary:
A mother who cannot face her future.
A daughter who cannot escape her past.

Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.
Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.
His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.
One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.
A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.


My thoughts:

Liz Curtis Higgs is one of my favorite authors and though she hadn't published a book for a while, she came back with a bang.

What better way to retell the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi than to put it in a completely different setting, different time, different country.

I can not tell how much I enjoyed this book, I picked it up and literally couldn't put it down, I was completely immersed into the Scottish culture right down to the language, which for some may be a little confusing at first, but I love languages and find it riveting.

It was a story well told, I couldn't help but fall in love with each character though my favorites were definitely Lord Donald Kerr and Lady Elisabeth Kerr, it was very interesting seeing these two in love but also holding back secrets from one another.

The relationship between Lady Marjory and her sons was also interesting to see, as a mother I could totally relate to the love she had for her children, even though grown men she still wants to protect them and take care of them.....and then there's the intricate relationship between her and her two daughter's in law, mainly Lady Elisabeth as she's a Highlander by birth but now a Lowlander to her marriage to Lord Donald.

All in all, this book was amazingly well written, the characters are were likeable and I enjoyed the history behind Scotland of 1745. If you're a Liz Curtis Higgs fan, you won't be disappointed.

To read the first Chapter you can go here.

Here's a trailer of the book:






These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Spring Value Fiction Blog Tour!

Title: Yesterday's Promise
Author: Linda Lee Chaikin
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Publication Date: February 16, 2010
ISBN: 9780307458759
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance





From the Publisher:

He fought to seek his fortune.
Would he lose a greater treasure: the love he left behind?

As the son of the squire of Grimston Way, aristocrat Rogan Chantry has fought hard to win his independence from Sir Julien Bley and the British South Africa Company. Now, his pursuit of a mysterious deposit of gold, marked on a map willed to him by his murdered uncle, Henry Chantry, is challenged by a new complication: the impending British colonization of South Africa. Can Sir Rogan find the gold in the midst of escalating tensions among the native tribesmen, the missionaries sent to win them, and the new colonists?

Meanwhile, Evy Varley, the woman Rogan loves back in England, is headed for a brave yet dangerous confrontation with Henry’s killer–but at what price? With so much against Rogan and Evy, a reunion seems improbable, if not impossible. Can yesterday’s promise hold them faithful to the hope of future freedom and a victorious love?

**********************************

My Review:

I absolutely loved this book, now it may also have to do with the fact that some of it takes place in South Africa, BUT, overall it was such a sweet historical novel.

I think the writer did a wonderful job portraying the main characters of Evy Varley and Rowan Chantry and even though this is book two in the East of the Sun Series, I didn't feel like I was lost or had no idea who the characters were or what they were doing. It was easy to follow along and to enjoy.

I would recommend this book to anyone and as a matter of fact, I'm going to look for the first book in the series, that is how much I enjoyed it.

Title: The Golden Cross
Author: Angela Elwell Hunt
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Publication Date: February 16, 2010
ISBN: 9780307458773
Genre: Fiction - Christian - Historical







From the publisher:

“It is said that as Cahira, daughter of the great Irish king Rory O’Connor, lay dying of a wound from a Norman blade, she lifted her hand toward heaven and beseeched God that others would follow after her, bright stars who would break forth from the courses to which they are bound and restore right in this murderous world…”

To Kathleen O’Connor, Cahira’s story is nothing more than a charming legend—until her research divulges that several of Cahira’s heirs did, indeed, leave the traditional roles of womanhood to fight for right. Stunned, Kathleen realizes she herself bears Cahira’s mark. Is Kathleen destined to continue the legacy in the twenty-first century?

To discover how the histories of these women relate to her own future, Kathleen must delve deep into the past to learn the truth about The Heirs of Cahira O’Connor…

Aidan O’Connor

Aidan O’Connor was raised among pickpockets and prostitutes in a Dutch colony on Java, Indonesia. But when a world-famous cartographer discovers her natural artistic talent, she is given a chance to leave her troubled life behind. Disguised as a boy, Aidan joins her benefactor at sea and begins the work of drawing the flora and fauna of the new world. This fresh beginning leads her into adventure--and to a great love. But can this love survive the force of Aidan’s past…and her ambitions for her future?

**********************************

My Review:

This is the second book in the Heirs of Cahira O'Connor trilogy and unfortunately I haven't had a chance to finish it, but I've been enjoying it too.

It's my first time reading anything by Angela Elwell Hunt but it certainly won't be my last.




These books were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah

Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge

ABOUT THIS BOOK

What the Eldredge bestsellers Wild at Heart did for men, and Captivating did for women, LOVE & WAR will do for married couples everywhere. John and Stasi Eldredge have contributed the quintessential works on Christian spirituality through the experience of men and the experience of women and now they turn their focus to the incredible dynamic between those two forces.

With refreshing openness that will grab readers from the first page, the Eldredges candidly discuss their own marriage and the insights they’ve gained from the challenges they faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they’ve learned, giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous books on this topic. They begin LOVE & WAR with an obvious but necessary acknowledgement: Marriage is fabulously hard. They advise that the sooner we get the shame and confusion off our backs, the sooner we’ll find our way through.

LOVE & WAR shows couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling men and women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can discover how their individual journeys are growing into a story of meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own.

********************************

I haven't completely finished the book but what I HAVE read so far is wonderful.

We all know what it's like when you first get married, you have all those romantic moments and you get butterflies when you see them. But years down the line, kids on the hip, bills and responsibilities later, it's not really all that glamorous anymore is it?

Something the author Stasi says, really struck a note with me. She mentions how the title means that "every person's marriage is a love story, and it's set in the midst of war. Sometimes it's our spouse that we're warring with."

That whole book is about getting back to the heart of the marriage and I don't know about you but it's definitely something that I'm interested in.

My husband and I have a wonderful relationship and a pretty good marriage but it's a learning experience and even after almost 12 years of marriage, it's still a work in process. I'm just glad I got a chance to get this book, I know it's going to help me a lot.

If you want to purchase a copy of this book, you can visit Random House or click here.




This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah