NKJV Study Bible by Thomas Nelson

The NKJV Study Bible in full color is absolutely wonderful!!!!! I have to say I love picking up a bible and reading it. This Bible is full of beautiful colored pictures, maps, charts and illustrations. It starts by giving suggestions on studying the bible as well as instructions on how to use this bible and its study guide. There are several pages of “Word Studies”  listed under the book of the bible in which it is found.

At the beginning of each book there is study information as well as author and background information. Then there is an outline of each book. I love the way every commentary or study info has scripture listed to back up the statements. The end includes a pretty good sized concordance and beautiful maps.

I recently reviewed the Nelson’s Illustrated Dictionary which makes a wonderful companion to this study bible. The only negative that I could say about this particular bible is it is hard back and I prefer leather bound. The hard cover along with the massive amount of information makes it very heavy and it will serve well as a bible used to study at home. It would probably be too cumbersome to carry on a daily basis. Other than that I can’t say enough good about it. My husband has been using it to help with is Sunday school lessons and he too loves it. We have numerous study bibles but this one is by far my favorite so far.

I received this bible at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com  in exchange for an honest review.

Blue Ribbon BAking from a Redneck Kitchen

Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson is full of recipes that look delicious. Being from the south many of the recipes in this book are familiar to me but I haven’t thought about them in years. Recipes like the Whoopie Pie, Orange Cream Cake, a lot of different cheesecakes fill the pages of this book. There are recipes for several different pie crusts that are broken down and easy to understand and look easy to follow. The majority of the cookbook focuses on deserts but there are also a variety of bread recipes. One recipe stuck out to me that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a written recipe for (although, I’m sure they are out there). It was a recipe for Johnny Cakes. I’ve not had these since I was a kid. I think I may just have to try these.

Every few pages are colorfully and beautifully illustrated with pictures of several of the final products. If you are looking for a healthy, non-fat cookbook you may want to steer clear of this cookbook. But if you are like me and like an occasional divulgence of a wonderful dessert you may want to pick this cookbook up. I don’t believe you can go wrong with this one. Each and every dessert looks wonderful and mouth watering. There is a Death by Chocolate that is calling my name.

I received this book from www.bloggingforbooks.com at no charge in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase a copy of this book here.

The Kitchn Cookbook

TheKitchn Cookbook (and no kitchn isn’t spelled wrong haha) would be a very good choice for a newlywed or someone who is going out on their own for the very first time as well as for a person who is an experienced cook. It is set up to walk a person through many processes from how to set up a kitchen no matter the size, stocking your pantry, preparing to cook, and recipes. It even explains how to boil water.

I really liked this cookbook. There were many tips on the most efficient way to set up a kitchen to optimize the space you have. It gives ideas on what types of cookware, kitchen supplies, and appliances etc. that a new homeowner or renter might need. Some things are very basic but good advice to someone who just doesn’t really know where to start. There is even a section on cleaning and sanitizing your kitchen along with some “recipes” for cleaners to help with the chore. It proceeds to tell you how to cut meat, cream butter, knead bread, boil water among other things that an inexperienced cook would need to know.

After giving you a good amount of advice to get you started then it is full of delicious recipes that look easy enough to complete successfully. It seems the instructions are easy to follow even for the more intricate recipes. There are some colored pictures of foods included but not every dish is represented with a photograph.

I believe this would make a lovely gift for a bride or a person going off to college and leaving home for the first time. I even love it for myself and I have been cooking for years but I still found it very useful.  I received this book at no charge from www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase this book from here.

 

October Bride

 

October Bride by Katie Ganshert is another one of my favorites in this series. I managed to read it in less than two hours. It is much like the others in that it is predictable and a light read. It is great for vacation or an evening of relaxing reading.

Emma Tate has just moved on from one fiancé when she found out her father was sick. She knows her father doesn’t have long left and is heartbroken when she finds his bucket list and she is the only one who can fulfill his final item on his list. Her lifelong friend Jake Sawyer steps in to help her out in fulfilling his dream of walking down the aisle with his daughter.

This story made me laugh and it made me cry. I am so going to miss this series when it is finished. If you are loving this series include this one in your reads. If you haven’t started this series and are looking for light easy reads pick one and start reading. There is only one month left: November Bride.

I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary

What can I say about Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary? It is awesome!!!! It is a huge book filled full of great information and beautifully illustrated. It starts out by giving you a 5 step way to start studying your bible more thoroughly. Then it gives you charts, diagrams and history of the bible.

There is such a comprehensive list of definitions and descriptions of words and phrases from the bible that you would be hard pressed to not find information that you need. I also love that it gives outlines of each book of the bible as a study guide or lesson guide. I can’t say enough good things about this dictionary/reference book.

The only con I could think of is it is heavy but with the information it contains it is well worth it. I wouldn’t think it would be a book that would travel well because of its size and weight.

If you are looking for a good study tool to go along with your bible I would highly recommend this one!  I love flipping through the pages and seeing the beautiful photography and illustrations if nothing else. But the amount of information is so helpful and really helps study verse by verse through the bible.

I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

The New American Herbal

The New American Herbal book by Stephen Orr is a comprehensive guide to herbs. It is very well done with beautiful photography throughout. The book starts out with Herb Basics it explains different terms associated with the herbs, different families, harvesting, preserving, and propagating them. The information is pretty basic but enough to get a newbie started. The herbs are listed in alphabetical order and each herb has information as to whether it is safe or not, where it is hardy, along with other information about it. Some herbs even include recipes.

I really like this book the only thing I could think of to make it better would for it to give more complete information on healing herbs or maybe indexed some way so that healing herbs could be found easily and quickly.  This probably wouldn’t be possible because of the vast amount of herbs listed but still would be something I would like. One other thing I would have like to have seen would be more gardening ideas and container growing ideas. There were a few ideas in it.

If you have ever had an interest in herbs I would recommend this book. I received this book at no charge from www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase this book on amazon.

The New Colored Pencil

 

The New Colored Pencil by Kristy Ann Kutch is a beautifully done book. I must confess I am not an artist nor do I aspire to be one but my daughter loves art and this is why I chose this book. She is a beginner and I believe this book will help her learn even more. Ms. Kutch does a wonderful job in describing and explaining different colored pencil media. She also explains different supplies that a beginning art student would need. The book is beautifully illustrated and is even easy for me to understand. There are so many techniques in this book too many in fact for me to list. I do believe this book is a useful tool for both the novice beginner all the way to an experienced artist. I didn’t realize there are so many different types of colored pencils (my experience isn’t much more than Crayola haha). She touches on the color wheel and how to create line drawings using the grid method. She gives tips and instruction on blending and using negative space. There is just too much for me to go into detail.

If you are looking for a book to learn more about using colored pencils I would recommend this book. It amazes me that a colored pencil and an artist can create such beautiful art work. I received this book at no charge from www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review.

September Bride

 

A September Bride by Kathryn Springer was an enjoyable read. I would have to say it is probably one of my favorites so far in the series of novellas.

Anne Price has recently moved to Red Leaf and taken a position as manager of Second Story Books. She is hoping that she will fit into this small community and finally have a place where she belongs. Her boss and landlord, Lorna Kent, met Anne through her online book group and decided to give Anne a chance. Anne has become involved in the community and in the historical society. The historical society has decided that they will have a reenactment of the founders wedding at the grand opening of the museum. When the bride’s wedding dress arrives, the only person who can wear it is Anne then a groom must be chosen

Jesse Kent, Lorna’s son, is a police officer in Red Leaf and has just returned from training in Arizona. After returning from his training he pulls Anne over due to some vehicle problems. Jesse has a hard time trusting newcomers to town after things that have happened in his past and is surprised his other has hired a woman that she met online. His mother invites him to diner and there is Anne. Sparks fly between Anne and Jesse then he gets volunteered to be the groom in the reenactment of the wedding.

This book is a sweet romance and quick read just as the others have been. I have so enjoyed this entire series with only two books left I’m going to be sad to see it end hopefully there will be another series to fall in love with.

II received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

The Southern Foodies Guide to the Pig

If you ever have wanted to know anything about cooking a pig you will want this book. The Southern Foodie’s Guide to the Pig by Chris Chamberlain probably tells you more than you could ever want to  know. I’m from the “south” and growing up I can remember my grandparents saying they ate every part of the pig except for the grunt. Mr. Chamberlain does a really good job at telling the anatomy of the pig and which parts are good for cooking.

Part one is all about the pig and getting you ready for the ultimate barbeque. It is full of information on each part of the pig and is dotted with recipes for rubs and marinades along with a few other recipes. Part two is filled with lists and descriptions of restaurants that serve pork. This part I have to admit didn’t hold my interest but if you love finding and trying new restaurants and you travel a lot it will be a good resource for you. Now the good part, part 3 is filled with some wonderful looking pork recipes. There are a few pages with colored photos of prepared food. They are very well done and look mouth watering. These recipes appear to be recipes from the restaurants that are in part 2. Bacon makes everything better right? Well there are a couple of desert recipes that have left me scratching my head one being Bacon Peanut Butter Cookies the other is Bacon Ice Cream Coke Float. Well I’m not sure about those but hey there must be something to it. Maybe I’ll give them a try.

This is not a cookbook for vegetarians and I think I may have clogged a few arteries just reading it but if you are a pork lover pick this book up. I tend to cook more beef and chicken but I love pork I just had limited knowledge on preparing it. I can’t wait to fix some of these recipes it’s a perfect resource for cooking pork.

If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

Randy Alcorn’s book If God is Good isn’t a book that is read quickly. It will take time to go through it and study it. With all of the sufferings in the world many people are asking the question if God is good then why does he not stop the bad things from happening? I chose this book because I have heard this question over and over again in a world that is increasing leaving the Word of God and choosing to not believe in His existence. I wanted a better answer, a biblical answer.  I have not yet finished this book but have read enough of it to review it. I want to be able to spend time in it and really ponder on what Randy Alcorn is trying to get across.

First, Mr. Alcorn wants us to understand the problems of evil and suffering and how the two are different. He has broken the book up into 11 sections. I will not list all of those here because you can easily find them.

Second, and to me very important, he backs up what he is telling us with scripture. This is what I’m looking for. When reading these types of books I want to know what God says not what man thinks.

Mr. Alcorn gives us a lot to think about. He explains what open theists and agnostics believe and what they say about God, and then he backs up God’s plan with God’s word.

If you have questions about how God could be good or if you are just wanting to learn why there is such suffering and evil in the world I would suggest grabbing this book and dig in. Grab our bible and plan on spending time learning. If you just want a quick read and a quick answer you might want to pass on this book as this book will require much time and studying in order to get the fullness of it.

I received this book from www.bloggingforbooks.com at no charge in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase a copy of it here.

Seagrass PIer

I love Colleen Coble’s books and I couldn’t put Seagrass Pier down. Although this is the third book in the series it could be a stand-alone much like the rest of her series books.

Elin Summerall, a widow, is recovering from a heart transplant when she starts to get vivid details about her donor’s murder. The details come to her in dreams, and it feels to Elin as if she is being murdered herself.  The police are skeptical of the “cell memory” that she is having. But when she it gets out the killer of her donor comes after her.  Agent Marc Everton, an off duty FBI agent and had a one night stand with Elin in a moment of weakness five years earlier. One look at Elin’s daughter and Marc knows that he’s her father.

True to Ms Coble’s writing style this book is filled with twists and turns, lots of action, and some romance to boot. It may be a little farfetched with the whole cell memory concept and the reality of whether or not it’s possible or real but if you can get passed that and take it for what is the book is wonderful.

I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

The Healing Quilt

 

The Healing Quilt by Wanda E Brunstetter is the 3^rd book in this series. The main characters of the book are newlyweds Emma and Lamar Yoder Miller. They decide to spend the winter in Florida because of Lamar’s arthritis. Emma is a little homesick for Indiana when Lamar suggests she start her quilting classes while they are in Florida. Several people needing guidance are lead to sign up for the class each person bringing their own issues to the class. Emma wonders if she will ever reach these people but she knows God has a plan for them and for her.

Although this book was the third in the series I didn’t feel as though I had missed anything at all. I was able to pick right up with what was going on. I do believe I may try to go back and read the other two as I really enjoyed this one. The characters were well developed and fun to get to know. Sometimes they were annoying others were funny and some were just heartbreaking.

The only thing I could think of that could make this book any better would be if the author would maybe include a quilt pattern in the book to go along with the story. I just think that would be a fun addition but she does include a recipe for molasses cookies.

I enjoyed every minute of this book and if you like a little romance and heartwarming stories you will like this book.

I received this book at no charge from handlebar publishing in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

An August Bride

August Bride by Debra Clopton is much like the rest of the novellas in this series. Kelsey Wilcox, a jilted bride, now living in Corpus Christi has sworn off cowboys. She meets up with her aunts who are known as the “matchmaking posse” on the beach before the reception. All dressed in a sequined dress she ends up trying to save her aunt’s dog in the water and ends up in trouble herself. Brent quickly reacts to save the “mermaid”. Kelsey learns he is a cowboy who runs a ranch and doesn’t want anything to do with him.

I loved the “posse” they were such colorful characters and fun to get to know. The story is a quick read and quite predictable but if you have been enjoying this series the too is one you will want to read. It probably is one of my favorites so far.

I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

Winner announced

Congratulations to Heather you won the BTC Cookbook! Check your email you should have one from bloggingforbooks . Once you give them your address they will send your book to you.  Thank you to all who participated. 

The Little Book of Book Making

I received the Little Book of Book Making. I have to say I was looking forward to this book but I was somewhat disappointed. I thought that it was going to be a book full of great instructions and ideas. I love to scrapbook and thought that I could get ideas for mini albums.

First, the book is about 6x6 it is beautifully illustrated and about 181 pages. The first 3/4’s of the book is very nice pictures and descriptions of various artists’ books. The last ¼  of the book gives instructions on how to make some of the books that are illustrated. The instructions are step by step and have pictures to go along with the steps.

I’m not sure I would pay the $23.00 price for this book. I was disappointed that there weren’t more instructions and ideas. Although the artists’ books are beautiful and I suppose gives the reader a good idea what can be done with the created books I don’t think the price constitutes the instructions for 6 books and a few stitching and paper techniques.

I received this book at no charge from www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review.

Woman of Courage

I couldn’t put down Wanda Brunstetter’s book Woman of Courage. I really enjoyed every minute of the story. Set in 1837 Amanda Pearson has been jilted by her fiancé on the day of her wedding. Her father and she decide to embark on a journey across the country to be missionaries to the Nez Perce Indians. Along the way she is faced with many tragedies and trials. Amanda’s courage must prevail. Amanda makes new friends along her journey including Mary who also proves to be very courageous.

I love genealogy and I think that is why I love historical novels set in the 1800s and early 1900s. I often imagine what it must have been like for those early settlers as they crossed over the mountains. How it must have been a treacherous journey. Mrs. Brunstetter brought this journey to life and I could imagine my early ancestors embarking on such trips as some of them were Quakers. I loved the characters in her novel they were so colorful. I found myself riding along through the trails along with the sights and smells. Some parts made me sad others made me laugh. I loved the Christian message and love that was portrayed throughout.

If you love historical novels with a Christian theme you will love this novel. I received this book at no charge from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

A July Bride

 

 

July Bride by Beth Wiseman is a novella that introduces us to Alyssa Pennington who just got left at the altar by Brenden. Alyssa is devastated but she starts dating long time friend Dalton. The question is can Dalton make Alyssa forget Brenden even though Brenden knows he made a terrible mistake and wants to win her back.

I enjoyed reading this novella I think it could have been turned into a full novel with a little work. It seemed there was a lot that could have been done with it and it was a little rushed but it was still fun to read. It is much like the other novellas in this series as it is predictable and cutesy. Also, it is a quick read if you are looking for something light.

If you liked the other books in this series I think you will enjoy this one too. I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

 

The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting

 

Josie Jeffery’s book “The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting has some really good information on gardening in an organic way. There is info on composting, collecting rain water, sowing seeds, transplanting and thinning just to name a few topics. The main focus is the flip, tab pages that is a Directory of companion plants. You can pick your main crop and then line up plants that will grow well and become natural pest control and natural minerals to help with growth.

I found the book full of a lot of useful information and I think it is a good starting point for growing food organically with no harmful pesticides or fertilizers but I feel like it is lacking in depth of information. There weren’t a lot of crops listed that I would plant but there were some that I would.

I would say this is an easy book to grasp and a good start to gardening organically but I wouldn’t say it is comprehensive. It is beautifully laid out.

I received this book at no charge from www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase this book here

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A Deadly Business

Lis Weihl is one of my favorite authors and with “A Deadly Business” once again she didn’t disappoint. A Deadly Business is the second book in the Mia Quinn Mystery series. Mia is a prosecutor whose husband has recently died. She pairs up with Detective Charlie Carlson to work on a case together when he suggests maybe her husband’s death may have not been an accident.

It would probably be best if you read the first book in the series, A Matter of Trust, before this one but even if you didn’t there is background information included to catch you up to speed. The characters were developed in the first book but Ms. Weihl has introduced new characters in this book. The story is full of twists and turns. The characters seem real and the story line believable. There are a couple of different cases going on at the same time but they are easily followed.

In this book I did feel like the secondary story of the case she was working on kind of got left out a little and maybe wasn’t a real important part of the book. It made good points and showed how we could and probably should look at things differently. I think the secondary story could have made a good storyline on its own if it had been the focus. And I suppose it is how she introduced some new characters.

Over all if you like a good, clean mystery you will like this series. Again I recommend reading A Matter of Trust first but it isn’t completely necessary. I’ve really enjoyed both of these books and am looking forward to more books in this series.

I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this wonderful cookbook? All you have to do is fill out the information below. It is a very nice hard covered cookbook with many wonderful recipes.

The contest starts on July 31, 2014 at 6:00am EST and ends on August 20th, 2014 at 11:59pm. One winner will be chosen at random on August 21st, 2014 and will be alerted by email. For a complete listing of the rules, please see below.

The BTC Old-Fashioned Grocery Cookbook

The B.T.C. Old Fashioned Grocery Cookbook is absolutely beautiful. I haven’t had the opportunity to prepare any of the recipes in the book yet but there are a lot that I really want to try. This cookbook is beautifully laid out with a lot of different recipes. It is also chocked full of stories. I especially like the chicken story at the end it made me giggle. I’m from the south so the recipes were familiar to me with some twists. I will say that the recipes use a lot of spices but all are relatively easy to find at the grocery store.

The book is also full of small town photographs that are done very well. I’m a little bit of a photography nut so I really loved looking at them.  The section on soups is divided in subsections based on seasons of the year when the vegetables will be fresh and available. I can’t wait to try the fried pies that aren’t really fried but oven baked. We always fry them in oil so this recipe looks a tad bit healthier if you can call a fired pie healthy, haha. I wouldn’t say this book is a “healthy” cookbook if that is what you are looking for but I believe if you love good southern cooking you will love this cookbook. It would also make a nice gift for a new cook going out on their own. The recipes are clear and easy to follow and many include photos of what the final product should look like.

I received this book at no charge from bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase this book here.

June Bride

 

I wish there were a little more to June Bride. I’m afraid Marybeth Whalen’s idea “It was good to wonder” may leave something a little flat in the ending. I enjoyed the storyline. Wynne the main character had been rejected by her high school sweetheart and fiancé. Her friend convinced her to send in a tape to “The Rejection Connection” and she got on the show. She chose to marry Andy but is she really in love with him and is she over Callum?

I believe the author was trying to make this novella a little less predictable but in the end I’m not sure it works. When one is reading this novella they expect a happy ending. Not that there is or isn’t a happy ending in this book. It is all in the way it is perceived. It just feels unfinished. I would also have liked to have gotten to know Wynne’s family and friend a little better. The characters were there but I just didn’t feel like I learned much about them and that maybe they were just a filler in the story.

I wouldn’t say this novella was awful by no means but it wasn’t my favorite. If you are looking for a story like previous ones in this series you may be a little disappointed but overall I think you can still enjoy it.

I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

A Table by the Window

I enjoyed A table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge. I’m not particularly a person who absolutely loves food. I do enjoy eating but usually only eat because I need to.  This book has several recipes peppered throughout the chapters and they do look very good. It’s a story about a family who have been in the restaurant business all of their lives. With several story lines you really don’t get bored at all. The family has been really fun to get to know. There is a little romance, family health issues, and family mystery.  I love the family being close with one another even though they can get on each other’s nerves.

The story is centered around food writer Juliette D’Alisa who is dealing with her job, her mother’s illness, her siblings, her guilt from a love gone wrong, and her grandmothers death. And now she is trying to decide if an online relationship that is also a long distance one is worth it.

This book is obviously going to be a series and ends with a “cliffhanger” I don’t really like the way it ended leaving so many loose ends but for the most part I really liked reading. If you are a person who really loves food this book is for you. Even if you aren’t there is enough going on that it will hold your interest. I’m looking forward to the next book just to see what happens next. Be warned it will make you hungry Juliette’s life is centered around food and food is mentioned a lot.

I received this book from bloggingforbooks.com at no charge in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase a copy of it here.

May Bride

I’ve read the other Bride series and was really looking forward to reading May Bride by Meg Moseley. I have loved everything I have read by her and was not disappointed by this one. Once again as I have stated in my earlier reviews of these series of books I enjoyed this one also. If you are looking for a quick, short read you’ll like this one. There isn’t much that isn’t predictable in this book just like the others.

Ellie, a real estate broker, who enjoys gardening at a local church even though no one knows she is there doing it. It is her way of relaxing. Then one early morning while on her secret gardening mission she accidently gets mixed up in a “guerrilla wedding” on the church grounds. She tries to hide to keep from being notice but in the end she is noticed by Graham Witby better known as Gray. Their story proceeds from there.

This is a short romantic novella that is great for an afternoon or evening read and only takes a few hours to complete. If you have read and enjoyed other novellas in this series you will love this one. The characters are believable and Ms. Moseley does a great job introducing them to us.

I received this book at no charge from Booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Modern Pioneering

Modern Pioneering by Georgia Pellegrini will make a wonderful addition to those who are seeking information on starting a homesteading/pioneering lifestyle. This book is full of beautiful illustrations, recipes, tips, and information on several different topics. It gives wonderful information on how to start a small backyard, raised garden. It also gives ideas on container gardening. This is wonderful for people who have limited space but still want to grow their own food. She also includes a section on which crops are easy to grow. Then she includes some wonderful recipes using some of the things you grow.

This book would also be great for a younger person who may be going out on their own. There are tips on changing tires, picking locks, survival in emergency situations. Basically there are all kinds of information to help life a self-sufficient lifestyle. The top it off she even includes some crafting projects.

It is very well put together, beautiful illustrations and pictures, fun ideas and very easy to understand. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get started in growing their own food. I received this book at no charge from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase this book here.

Bluebonnet Bride

 

Colleen Coble’s Bluebonnet Bride novella is a great little read very true to her style of writing only in a small package. Although this is a novella and not a full novel I found the story satisfying and not rushed. The novella is set in Austin, Texas in the early 1900’s and is a romantic story about Elli Korpela who is a mail order bride of sorts. She comes to Texas to marry Nathan White but soon finds out he wants someone to help raise his niece. His sister is deceased and agreed to raise Hannah. Elli immediately fell in love with little Hannah but she fears she will put her and Nathan in danger. Her secrets will have to be shared to keep them safe.

If you are looking for a quick summer read and love historical romance once again Colleen Coble doesn’t disappoint. I do wish it had been a full novel because I love everything she writes and love to get lost in her stories. This again is a predictable novella but even being so short she is able to complete the story and give you a great storyline.

I received this book from BookLook.com at no charge for an honest review.

Echoes of Mercy

Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a historical novel set in the early 1900s. When suspicious activities happen at the Dinsmore’s World-Famous Chocolate Factory Caroline Lang goes undercover to investigate. She had a difficult childhood and some of the practices at the factory really bother her. She is thrown into several different situations that is making her investigation difficult.

If you really like historical novels you will like this one. There are many characters in this book that are fun to get to know. Many different lives that become entwined with one another to spin this story into an enjoyable read. I find it very difficult to find books that don’t have predictable endings and this one wasn’t much different as far as that goes but it still had a wonderful story line and I found myself going back in time and really getting into the book. There are a few little surprises but overall still predictable. It’s a good light read with some romance stuck in there. I would still recommend it because I really did enjoy it.

I received this book from Blogging for Books at no charge in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase this book here.

Please rank my review:

An April Bride

An April Bride novella by Lenora Worth is from the A Year of Wedding Series. It is a short novella that is read quickly just like the others in this series. It is about high school sweethearts, Marshal and Stella, who are planning on getting married in April but Marshal gets deployed to the Middle East. Marshal is wounded and will be coming home soon. The storyline is around Marshal’s injuries and whether or not he can overcome the obstacles in his life in time to marry Stella. The couple faces problems their future may hold.

This book just like the others is pretty predictable and not deep but it is a fun little read for a relaxing day in the sun. If you love romance novels you will like this one. And if you have read any of the other Novellas in this series this one is similar to all of the others. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It deals with real issues that people must face when they have a soldier in their life who has sacrificed for our country. This would be a good vacation read.

I received this book at no charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Distortion

Terri Blackstock’s book Distortion is the second book in the Moonlighters series. It is a continuation of Truth Stained Lies.  Juliet Cole’s husband is murdered before her eyes. Secrets begin to emerge and she realizes that she and her children are in danger.

True to Mrs. Blackstock’s writing this book is full of action and mysteries, twists and turns. I have yet to read a book by her that I haven’t liked and this one is no different. I would suggest reading Truth Stained Lies first so that you can get to know the characters but I believe one could pick this one up and easily follow the story line with no problem without reading the other one. The characters are fun and easy to get to know. I feel like I can walk right into her story.

I can’t think of any cons in this book other than it is her typical writing style so nothing new in the way of depth but still so enjoyable to read. It is somewhat predictable for people who have read a lot of her books.

If you love a little mystery, a little crime fighting, and a little romance you will enjoy this book. If you love Terri Blackstock’s books this one will not disappoint you.

I received this book at no charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Cloak of the Light

As I read reviews of Cloak of the Light: Wars of the Realm, Book 1 by Chuck Black I was concerned about ordering it. Many people said it was slow in getting started but I disagree. I think the author did a good job introducing his characters and their backgrounds. I’m glad I went with my gut feeling and went ahead and ordered this book.

The main character, Drew, is a teenager getting ready to enter college. He and his mother have faced  many struggles after the death of his father. Drew befriends Ben in high school, a boy who believes aliens are going to invade the world. They eventually move on to college together and a horrible accident leaves Drew blinded. As the story goes on Ben becomes more “paranoid” and disappears. Drew begins to heal but he is seeing things that he doesn’t understand and is on a mission to figure it out.

Cloak of the Light is probably geared more toward young adult or older teenagers. I enjoyed reading the book but I found it a little unbelievable with the “aliens” and what is starting to unfold. I think I would have preferred a more realistic or believable account of the beings that Drew is seeing. I’m not sure the time machine is believable enough to make him see what he is seeing although I do understand where the author is going. I like series books but I also like for each book to have an ending that leaves me feeling like the book is complete. I’m not familiar with Chuck Black’s style of writing, this is the first book of his that I have read, but the book left me feeling as if the story wasn’t complete. I realize that he left it as a “cliffhanger” but that isn’t my preference when reading a book. I do look forward to reading more of this series.  The author did a good job of drawing me into his story and kept my attention. His characters were interesting and fun to get to know. If you enjoy Sci-fi mixed with some spiritual indications you will enjoy this book. Keep in mind it is geared toward a younger reader you won’t find deep spiritual characters, but more juvenile characters.

I received this book from Waterbrook-Multnomah at no charge in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase this book from here.

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A March Bride

This is the fourth book in the series of A year of Wedding Novellas. So far this one has been my least favorite. It is just like the others in the fact that it will only take a couple of hours to read. Although, Rachel Hauck has done a good job with her characters and letting us into their world it still fell a little flat for me. I found a few mistakes that an editor should have caught but it wasn't a huge issue. It seemed more of a fairytale than reality in my opinion and I had issue with the whole citizenship subject. I will not get into because I don't want to have a review with a spoiler in it. I will say I do see what she point she is trying to make and it does make sense to me in the end.

If you have been enjoying these novellas you will like this one too, I'm just glad it wasn't the first one that I read.

I recieved this book from BookLook Bloggers at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

 

A Stillness of Chimes

“When teacher Laura Gantt comes home to Prospect, Georgia, to settle the household of her recently deceased mother, the last thing she expects to encounter is a swirl of rumors about the father she lost to the lake twelve years ago---that he has reportedly been seen around town. Elliott Gantt’s body was never found and he was presumed dead.”

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Mosely is a contemporary, Christian, fiction. I really enjoyed this novel by Mosely. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it for some reason but once I did I was sucked in. I love books set in the south because I can identify with them being from the south myself. I love novels by Mosely because I feel like I can walk right into them. She does a wonderful job introducing her characters and making them come alive. She includes so many sights and sounds into her novels and if you have read any of my past reviews this is something I look for. I want to be able to be transported to wherever the story is taking place. I want to be able to imagine myself there. I can do this with her book.

A Stillness of Chimes is set in Georgia and has an air of mystery to it. Although,  if you are an avid reader I’m not sure there are any great surprises (but there are a couple of things that happened that I didn’t see coming). I still found myself wanting to see what was going to happen next. Mosely throws a little bit of romance in there for all of us romantics out there. Her book is all about friendship, love, trusting, forgiveness and following one’s heart.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and mystery. If you love Meg Mosely’s books this one will not disappoint you she comes through with another great one.

I received this book from Multnomah at no charge in exchange for an honest review. I also received a copy from www.booklookbloggers.com for review . (It had been a while since I read it and had forgotten but as I started reading it again I remembered it) I really like her books. 

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A December Bride

December Bride is the first book in the bride novellas. I actually read it third after reading January Bride and February Bride. It is of course a story of a Christmas love story. Just as the last two novellas it is a very quick read, maybe about 2 hours or so to read the entire story. Don’t expect a deep novel but the characters are fun. The novellas so far are very predictable so if you are looking for more these are not for you. But if you need a small break from your day with a quirky love story you will enjoy these.

These novellas are short and sweet. They aren’t very thought provoking in a deep sense but they do contain a Christian message and have applications that could be applied in life.

I received this book from booksneeze at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

January Bride and February Bride

 

 

This review will be a review for 2 novellas: January Bride by Deborah Raney  and February Bride by Betsy St. Amant.

These novellas are part of the collection of the Year of Weddings Novellas.

January Bride is about writer Madeleine Houser who has moved into her sister’s home so that she can be close to her ailing mother since her sister and bother-in-law were transferred out of town. Their home is being remodeled so that they can sell it and Madeleine is having a hard time meeting her deadlines with all of the chaos. Madeleine’s neighbor makes a suggestion that she use a friend’s bed and breakfast to help try to break the block. Then the misunderstandings and assumptions begin.

I loved this novella. It is a very quick read it probably took me about an hour two to finish it. I loved the plot and the characters it was so much fun to read. The author did a great job drawing me in especially in such a short book. It is a feel-good book.

February Bride is about Allie Andrews, a runaway bride. Again another quick read taking only a couple of hours to read. Allie left her groom at the altar. Then just a few months later her best friend, her ex fiancé’s sister, announces her engagement and wants Allie to be in her wedding. Allie can’t tell her no, but she doesn’t have any idea how she will deal with Marcus and what she had done to him.

The author of this novella did a wonderful job in such a short book introducing her characters along with their lifelong struggles.  Many people struggle with the shortcomings of their parents and grandparents and fear those generational curses will fall on them. I loved the way this was addressed by the author.

I would recommend these books to those who love quick read romances.

I received both of these books from Booksneeze at no charge in exchange for an honest review

Butterfly Palace

 

 

Colleen Coble’s Butterfly Palace is set in the early 1900’s. “Austin, Texas, 1904: Abandoned by the love of her life and still mourning the loss of her mother. Lily Donaldson has turned her back on the pain and come to Austin for a fresh start.” After the death of her father and then her mother Lily needs to survive and finds employment in Austin.  She faces life head on because she must. There are several twist and turns in this historical, mystery, and romantic novel.

Although I  wouldn’t say I was left wondering what was going to happen I really enjoyed reading Butterfly Palace. The characters were fun and colorful. I really want a house like the Butterfly Palace with all of its corridors and rooms. One thing that I look for when reading this type of book is how well the imagery is. I want to be able to feel like I’m there and that I can hear and see the people and the location. Ms. Coble did a good job pulling me into the story. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves historical romances with a little action and mystery thrown in. It’s a fast and easy read because it is so much fun.

The only con I could think about this book is that it is pretty predictable but that’s okay with me when I’m looking for something to read so I can sit back and relax. This is a good vacation book.

I received this book from Booksneeze at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

 

The Power of a Half Hour

The Power of a Half Hour by Tommy Barnett tells us that in only takes a half hour to make a difference at times. Tommy Barnet is a pastor who is trying to help “people connect with God and find better ways to live.”  In this book he gives us examples and advice on how to take our life in 30 minute increments. He tells stories of 30 minute events that have changed lives.

The book is broken into 7 parts with approximately 5 chapters in each part. Part 1 tells us how the power of a half hour can impact our lives. Part 2 tells how to chart your life in half hour increments. Part 3 teaches how to strengthen faith, part 4 how to build character. Part 5 is about advancing your dreams. Part 6 how to improve relationships and finally part 7 how to change the world. Each idea is that you can accomplish these things in 30 minute sessions.

Pros: There were some really good points made that sometimes it only takes 30 minutes to get things done and to make changes in our lives for the good. It doesn’t always take a lot of effort on our parts just the willingness to follow through. Any of us can take 30 minutes at a time to do something productive. He’s not saying that everything can be done in 30 minutes but if we take small bits of time it isn’t as overwhelming. He spoke of meetings not lasting more than 30 minutes because if preparations had been made before the meeting that would be all of the time it should take. I like this concept because sometimes meetings get off track. If we know we have 30 minutes maybe there wouldn’t be anyone getting off on another rabbit trail. He made some really good points on communication and taking criticism and turning it into a growing experience

Cons: It was exhausting to me to read the number of 30 minute activities that Mr. Barnett does in one day. It felt to me as if it is an all consuming concept. Maybe it would be best to implement a few ideas at a time until it becomes common place. The book seemed to become redundant after a while with all of the 30 minute examples but I do have to say about the time I would get bored I would come across a point that applied to me.

Overall I enjoyed the book but there were times I felt like I just wanted to get through it and it seems as though this pastor came from a very legalistic denomination although he doesn’t push those beliefs in his book.

I received this book from Waterbrook/Multnomah at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

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