Simply Grilling

Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler is one of the best cookbooks that I have in my collection. This book is very well done (no pun intended). It is a beautiful hardcover book with over 100 recipes.  It is full of delicious looking recipes that I can’t wait to start trying out. There are pictures of what the finished food should look like with every recipe along with tips, variations, and suggested sides. The cookbook begins with grilling information, methods, and tips. It is full of information for the beginner or the more advanced. All recipes seem easy to follow with commonly found grocery items. The photography will make your mouth water. If you love to cook/grill this is the cookbook for you.

This book was provided to me at no charge by www.booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

Sweeter Than Birdsong

Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott the 2^nd book in the Saddler’s Legacy was an enjoyable read. I had not read the 1^st one in the series but that didn’t matter I was still able to connect with the characters easily. Sweeter than Birdsong is set in Westerville, Ohio in 1855. Kate Winter, the painfully shy, main character is scared of just about everything. She is very accomplished and is set to be the 1^st female to graduate from Otterbein College. Her mother is over bearing and has plans for her daughter that Kate isn’t happy with so she decides her only way out is to run away and join an upcoming musical performance.

Ben Hamby, who is an accomplished musician, sees something in Kate that no one else sees. He hears her sings and her voice moves him like nothing else. Ben is a forbidden love for Kate in Kate’s mother’s eyes. He has a secret that involves him in the Underground Railroad.

I’ve always found this era interesting and the author did a really good job of bringing the reality of slavery to life. It is apparent that she has done her research thoroughly and she pulls you into the story. Her characters are based on real people but the story is fictional. The characters are very believable. I found the book to have a very Victorian feel to the characters with old time charm. I felt sorry for Kate because she was so shy and such an introvert. It was so hard for her to function in life until she finally found her inner strength. Historical romance book lovers this is a must read for you.

This book was provided to me at no charge by booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

The Crossing

“On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus.” Claudia survived but her friend and teacher BJ didn’t. Years have passed, the killer never caught and the haunting memories are raging with Claudia. Her husband, an Assistant District Attorney, thinks that reopening the case and catching the killer will help his wife. Is he right or will it just drive her away.

The Crossing by Serita Jakes is a contemporary fictional mystery. I have to say that I enjoyed the book and it has lots of twists and turns. You learn a lot about the different characters and their struggles before and after the tragedy of that Friday evening. People are not always what they seem and all have their own faults and failures. The author does a good job on letting us know that God is a forgiving God and will heal our troubles if we will let Him. This a great story of true love and forgiveness. It also shows us that life doesn’t always have fairytale ending. There is tragedy and loss in real life.

If you enjoy a light mystery you will enjoy this book. This is my first read by Serita Jakes I will definitely read more. She truly did a wonderful job.

This book was provided to me at no charge from Waterbrook Press for an honest review

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This book was provided to me at no charge by Waterbrook Press for an honest review.

Please rank my review so that I can receive more books to review.

4 Romance Novels in 1

Smitten is a small town in Vermont on the verge of losing itself after the local mill shuts down.  The mill is the largest employer in the town and now the locals are worried that their town may be finished. Then the women of the town and the faith of a little girl come up with the idea to turn the town into a “honeymoon” destination. The” manly” men of the town believe this is going to be a very bad idea but reluctantly agree to join in.

The town is counting on the local country music singer turned star, Sawyer Smitten, and his wedding to help turn their town into a successful tourist town. Will the town succeed or not? How are lives changed?

Smitten is a collection of 4 stories written by 4 different authors:  Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter. Each story is written about 4 friends of the town who are trying to make a difference. Story #1 written by Colleen Coble is about Natalie, story #2 written by Kristin Billerbeck is about Julia, story #3 written by Diann Hunt is Shelby’s story, and #4 is about Reese and is written by Denise Hunter. Each section could easily be a stand-alone book. I loved the faith that the town shows and I wish this could be more of a reality in today’s society. If we could pull together like this town did and have the Christian faith our country could accomplish so much more. These authors have done an excellent job at writing each story and bringing the town to life. The book flows easily and is a fun read. You can tell that they have a special relationship with each other. It had to be a difficult feat to have 4 authors writing 1 book and have it turn out so well written and so cohesive.  I do have to say that they are predictable romance stories but still a good read none the less. If you love romance novels you will enjoy this one.  I live in a small town whose future was uncertain 30 or so years ago and the town come together and revamped  it and now is a pretty successful little area that stays busy so this book kind of reminded of me of home.

This book has been provided to me by www.booksneeze.com at no charge for my honest review.

The Christmas Singing

Enjoy an excerpt from Cindy Woodsmalls The Christmas Singing

Mercy Come Morning

Lisa Tawn Bergren’s book “Mercy Come Morning” is an emotional story about Krista Mueller and her relationships. Krista Mueller is in a good place in her life, she has a successful career and she has put miles between her and her mother. Years of hurt and disappointment has made her want to stay away. She pushed Dane McConnell out of her life and everything she had known. She started over and was glad, but then her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s is now dying, stirring emotions to the surface that Krista doesn’t understand. Krista discovers she really needs healing.
This book really touched me. I am blessed to have a wonderful relationship with my mother and it breaks my heart to know that others have missed out on such a blessing. It’s never too late to make amends even when all seems hopeless. This book will make you focus on the blessings you have now and teach you not to take for granted those things that matter. Make every minute of your life count and let God lead you in your journey in this life. It will teach you the importance of opening your heart and your mind to others around you. It will show you that some things aren’t always as they seem.
The only con that I could find is this book is at times the book was a little slow and a little wordy but not so much to make me not want to read it. I would gladly recommend this book to others, but remember there are parts that will make you cry.
I received this book at no charge from Waterbrook Press in exchange for an honest review.

Lonestar Angel

Lonestar Angel written by Colleen Coble is a story about Eden and Clay, a couple who married because of a pregnancy, then divorced when the baby died. To Eden’s surprise the divorce didn’t go as planned and five years later Clay gets a tip that their daughter is alive. Clay gives Eden a surprise visit and explains a plan to go undercover at a ranch for orphaned girls to find their child. Clay’s desire is to find his daughter and reconcile with Eden, but Eden just isn’t as sure.
This book is well written and I could hardly put it down. I finished it in just a couple of days. I loved the twist and turns. Although it was somewhat predictable it still kept me guessing. I really enjoyed the characters and fell in love with the little girls. Some things were just a little unbelievable (snake bite and I will leave it at that) but still I loved the book. I can’t wait to read other books by Colleen Coble.

Shadows on the Sand

Shadows on the Sand: A Seaside Mystery by Gayle Roper is a wonderful book. It is set in a seaside area of New Jersey. Carrie Carter is a small café owner in the small tourist town. Her life has been a difficult one. She had to run away as a young teenage girl taking her 10 year old sister with her just to protect them from more pain caused by their mother. They found themselves in New Jersey when they were taken in by a wonderful couple who owned the café at the time. Just when Carrie thought her life had returned to normalcy love, murder, and cults crept into her world. Will her life ever be normal? Will she be able to overcome her past? Will she ever find the life and love that she desires?
I really enjoyed reading this book and had a very hard time putting it down. I felt like the characters were realistic and the story had a great plot. The story could happen in any town in the world. If you are looking for an easy to read mystery with a little touch of love this is the book for you. I found myself drawn into the story and couldn’t wait to see what was next. I could envision myself on the coast of a small seaside town where everyone knows each other. I could almost feel the salty breeze and smell the smells of the ocean. It is really important for me to be able to get lost in a book and to be able to take a journey to another place and this one accomplished that. I know I will be looking for other books by Gayle Roper.
This book was provided to me at no charge by Waterbrook/Multnomah in exchange for an honest review

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo is one of my favorite books. I absolutely loved this book. Colton, a 4 year old boy has an experience when he goes under emergency surgery. He spends time in Heaven and sees people he didn’t otherwise know about and then relates what he has seen to is parents in pieces over time. His story amazes me. He gives us a real picture of Jesus and His plan for us. Jesus uses this little boy to tell us a vivid story of what Heaven is. Colton’s “visions” and experiences in Heaven are absolutely beautiful and thought provoking.
I read this book in a matter of hours. I just couldn’t put it down. It has given me a new outlook and a different vision of how I have always imagined Heaven. I can’t say enough good things about this book. I have read so many reviews of skeptics and I couldn’t disagree with them more. I believe Jesus uses the purity of children to help with His work here on earth. I believe this book will be life-changing to most all who read it. It is chocked full of biblical truths. I believe this family is a genuine family. I suggest reading it a passing it along to a friend. I can’t find any cons when reading this book other than I wish I had read it sooner.
This book was provided to me at no charge from www.booksneeze.com for an honest review.

Softly and Tenderly Review

Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck is the second book in the Songbird Novel series. “Jade longs to begin a family with her husband, Max’ but she discovers he has an illegitimate son. Her mother’s health is failing and her life is falling apart. She tries to run but in her pain God shows His mercy and love.
I have to say I was almost finished with this book before I found out it was second in a series which is a good thing for me. I don’t like to read books out of order but this one could be a stand alone for anyone who hasn’t read the first one. The character’s names were a little odd to me but the characters were easily identifiable and had lots of personality. I enjoyed this book. The only con I really have with it was the characters were all supposed to be “Christian” but none of them were really living a life representative of a Christian and even though they seemed to find their way back to Christ there is never a mention of a real repentance just that they were changed but no reason for their change. I found it somewhat bothersome and can’t put my finger on it. I would have like to have seen more of a biblical stance for their belief not just that they were going to do better and therapy.
I would probably read more books by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck. It is a good book to make you really think about your relationships and the importance of living your life building those relationships but lacks the biblical principles that I desire in a book of this genre. The ending also left off too abruptly as though it wasn't finished and I wasn't thrilled with that. I realize it is a series but I feel it should have a definite beginning and ending that makes sense not just a book with missing chapters.
This book was provided to me a not charge by www.booksneeze.com for an honest review.