Not This Time

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Not This Time by Vicki Hinze was not what I was expecting. When I ordered this book I didn’t realize it was number 3 in a series. The cover doesn’t really let you know that it is a series which was somewhat disappointing.

The small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. The town really wants to save itself from terrorists but it is unknown who is in the midst of the scandal and who can be trusted and who can’t. This book left me scratching my head. There were lots of characters that I had no idea who they were or how they tied in. Now this may not have been the author’s fault I read this book not realizing it was number 3. I would suggest reading the other books for this one to make sense. I really struggled to get through this book; it is definitely not a stand-alone book. I found it really strange that a terrorist group would be attacking a small town. I never figured out the purpose of that and it didn’t seem realistic to me. The story line was not believable to me but again maybe if I had read the first two it would make more sense.  I really never felt as though I connected with the book and had I not been reading it for a review I would have probably put it down. The last few chapters were probably the best in the entire book.

I’m not saying this book was horrible but I would suggest that you read the first two before reading this one. If you like a book with twists and turns and a lot of characters, with a little mystery and a tiny bit of romance you will like this one.  I’ve read other people’s reviews and some really love it but they are reading the entire series. I would like to go back and read the first two eventually. I definitely wouldn’t write Vicki Hinze off. I am almost sure that it was my fault that I couldn’t enjoy the book, but it would have been nice if the cover would have let you know it was a series. The inside title page does tell you it is book 3 but I didn’t pay attention to that. I just started reading the book.

I received this book at no charge from Blogging for Books for an honest review.

 

Farm Fresh Southern Cooking

I received Farm Fresh Southern Cooking by Tammy Algood as an Ebook. This is the first cookbook that I have gotten in this format. The cookbook is full of delicious looking recipes. Some I can’t wait to try out. At first glance I thought it wasn’t going to be recipes that my family and I were going to enjoy. The appetizer section just wasn’t stuff that we would normally eat. As I began to flip through the recipes became more and more appealing. We usually have a small garden and we live very near large farms so I’m always looking for great recipes for summer veggies. This cookbook is not a disappointment at all. I can’t wait to try the Cold Summer Peach Soup it sounds yummy.

The cookbook also includes instructions on home canning, an art that has been disappearing but seems to be making a comeback. It also, gives info on various farms in different areas that some may find helpful. There aren’t pictures with every recipe but there are some very nice pictures included. It is very well done. I still prefer a physical copy vs. the ebook format but I may be just a little old fashioned.

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

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

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

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