Review of The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

Nutshell: Carrington Hale is growing up in the year 2257 and is about to be chosen as a bride. She has been trained her whole life for this one moment. When that moment passes and she is not chosen, her whole life changes in a blink and she is plummeted to the lowest class in society as a Lint. Her journey in finding who she is ultimately chosen by leads her to many choices of listening to that still small voice. From having a second chance in being chosen again by one of the most elite in society, she is faced with what true love is in human form and in the spiritual form.

Pro's: I absolutely loved this book. The plot, the characters, the journey the main character is taken on, the style of writing and the emotions this book evokes is top notch. The history flashbacks helped immensely as did the list of characters in the front.

Con's: It was a bit hard to get in to, but once you have a grasp of who is who and what is going on, the story flies.

Recommendation: As her debut novel, Rachelle Dekker does a phenomenal job in creating a story that sucks you in and keeps you up until the wee hours of the morning just to finish the book. It's like a book I haven't read before. A little sci-fi, a little romance, a little mystery, a little suspense all rolled in to one. A definite for your bookshelf! Available June 3rd.

Q & A with the author:

1. One of the story’s most significant lines is, “Life is a journey of remembering and forgetting.” What do you mean by this?
It means exactly what you probably think. We have these flashes of clarity where we see so clearly who we are—and our connection to the Father—but then, in a single moment, something pulls our attention away and we forget who we are. This is the journey of life, remembering and forgetting. But I believe the more we remember, the more we set our gaze on the Father, the less often we forget. 

2. You based your main character, Carrington, off of your younger sister. In what ways is Carrington like her?
It’s more the beliefs that Carrington struggles with that remind me of my sister. The idea of worth, of not feeling like you’re enough, or questioning whether anyone would choose you. Carrington came about as I spent time with my sister and her college-age friends and saw that a large majority of them were searching for significance, searching for worth—none more than my sister at the time. 

3. How did you come up with the story for The Choosing?

This is a hard question because it has many answers. I wanted to write a theme-based novel about identity. I wanted to write a dystopian novel. I wanted to write in a world that was familiar, but in a setting where I could change the way the world worked. It actually is several ideas I’d been toying with pulled into one story. Once I landed on Carrington’s core revelation and story arc, I simply fell in love with her as a character and drew the rest of the story around her. That’s usually how it works for me. I come up with a character, good or bad, and create the story from there. 

Rachelle Dekker is the eldest daughter of author Ted Dekker. This is her debut novel and more information about her can be found at the following sites:

      Twitter: @RachelleDekker

      Facebook: facebook.com/RachelleDekkerAuthor

      Instagram: @rachelle_dekker

 Website: http://rachelledekker.com






Tyndale Publishers sent me a complimentary copy of this book to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Buried Secrets by Irene Hannon

Nutshell: A dead body unearthed. Two law enforcement officers caught up in a deadly case. A splash of romance thrown in. Suspense and mystery throughout. Book 1 of the Men of Valor Series is introduced with a great story! Irene Hannon does it again with another suspense book that keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Pro's: A great story line that keeps you glued to the pages of what is going to happen next.

Con's: A bit heavy on the romance side.

Recommendation: If you enjoy suspense novels, you will enjoy the first book in this new series!

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Better All the Time by Carre Armstrong Gardner

Nutshell: This is book 2 in The Darlings Series which focuses on a different Darling sibling, Sephy, with snippits along the way about the other Darling siblings. Speedy is on a journey of finding her inner self and how hard change can be. Outwardly and inwardly. The secondary Darling sibling during this book is Amy and her experience with a full time job that demands a lot to the point of her learning that it is ok to let things go.

Pro's: It was easy to pick up where the 1st book left off and the flow between the two books was flawless. The story line kept the reader engaged up until the end.

Con's: It would have been nice if there was more focus on Sephy and Amy rather than jumping around to everyone in the family. It felt choppy in places going from one person to another, to another, to another within a chapter. It seemed more of several smaller story lines throughout rather than one to two major story lines. One sibling seemed to have dropped out of the story all together in the later 1/3 of the book.

Recommendation: I would recommend reading the 1st book before reading this one to better understand the characters. Picking up the 2nd book on its own may be a bit confusing to figure out the back story of what is happening with this family.

Tyndale House Publishers sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Where Rivers Part by Kellie Coates Gilbert

Nutshell: Dr. Juliet Ryan is a well known scientist and has quite the lucrative, yet weighty job, at a bottled water company where she makes sure the water is safe. Her biggest thorn in her side in the scientific community is none other than her own father. When her life begins to unravel both in her family and in her job, she seeks out her father to help her through the murky waters.

Pro's: A very well written story in Gilbert's Texas Gold Collection. A story about finding oneself, finding God, and finding out family runs thicker than water. I was anticipating this to be a more fluff book, but was greatly surprised that the romance aspect was low, the fluff was not present, and it was not so overly spiritual where you wanted to skip the "churchy" parts. An excellent story with deep roots running through it to keep you reading. You also do not need to read the 1st book in this collection as this is truly a stand alone novel.

Con's: None other than having to wait until her next book comes out!

Recommendation: If you are looking for a story with a bit more depth and meat to it, this one is for you!

Reveal Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris

Nutshell: Undercover cop, Michael Hunt is alive!! In book 3 of the Southern Crime Series, follow Michael as he narrowly escapes death by the least expected rescuer. Through twists and turns, the final book in the series wraps up the story of the Hunt family. Bombs, guns, fires and car chases are just a few of the encounters Michael and his rescuers face in the race for truth and justice.

Pro's: A fast read! Not because it's easy, but because you want to know what happens next! A thrilling mysterious suspense that keeps you turning the pages.

Con's: I was a little disappointed at the ending as it seemed anti-climatic compared to the rest of the book.

Recommendation: If you didn't read the first two books, no need to worry! You can easily pick up this book and read it without knowing any back story. If you like thrilling suspense, this is the book, and series for you!

Revell Books sent me a complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh

Nutshell: Meet Abigail, great-great granddaughter of the founders of the town Loves Park. Loves Park celebrates everything love. And this story revolves around Abigail and how she does not want to have anything to do with love. With her past deeply rooted in heart break and her future about to be shattered to pieces with her new business landlord, Abigail is confronted with where her heart may take her or stay in the same place she's always been stuck. A very sweet love story of two very unsuspecting people who need each other.

Pro's: I loved this book. Such a tender hearted, sweet story, with characters who were easy to love. The weaving of God's love intertwined with how love can happen to imperfect people.

Con's: None. It was a perfect Valentines Day story!

Recommendation: If you enjoy sweet stories filled with tender emotions, this one is for you!

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Price of Privilege by Jessica Dotta

The nutshell: Having finally discovered the truth of her birthright, Julia Elliston is determined to outwit Chance Macy at his own game. Holding a secret he'd kill to keep, however, is proving more difficult than she imagined.Just when Julia thinks she's managed to untangle herself from Macy's clutches, he changes tactics with a risky ploy. As the scandal of the century breaks loose, drawing rooms all over London whisper what so far newspapers have not dared to print: Macy's lost bride is none other than Lord Pierson's daughter--and one of the most controversial cases of marital law ever seen comes before Victorian courts.Though Julia knows Macy's version of events is another masterful manipulation, public opinion is swaying in his favor. Caught in a web of deceit and lies, armed only with a fledgling faith, Julia must face her fiercest trial yet. 

Pro's: The author does a fine job in her writing style and uses many descriptive words that transport you to the time of Julia Elliston.

Con's: I should have researched this before reviewing it as I was not aware that it was book 3 in a trilogy series. I have a very hard time figuring out what was happening. The book picks up where I'm guessing book two left off so I was coming into the middle of a developed story and felt like, as a new reader, it was all over the place. But for someone who has read the previous two books, it would make complete sense.

Recommendation: I would strongly encourage anyone to read the first two books before picking up this one. It would serve you well in understanding the story line.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with this complimentary book to review for them. All opinions are my own.

Review of The Skinnytaste Cookbook by Gina Homolka

The nutshell: Gina Homolka puts together a cookbook that has you cooking more healthy. The subtitle is: light on calories, big on flavor. An assortment of recipes ranging from appetizers to sandwiches to meat, poultry and fish dishes to veggies. Her introduction helps you learn how to navigate through her cookbook and gives you tips as to what to look for. Some recipes are dairy free, some gluten free, some veggie only. With freezer friendly and slow cooker recipes included, this cookbook covers everything you can think of.

Pro's: I love the pictures. I'm a lover of cookbooks and I love pictures. Being a visual learner, it's what my eye goes to first. I find I skip over recipes that don't have pictures and am drawn to the recipes that do have the pictures. The pictures in this cookbook are vibrant and eye catching.

Con's: As in any cookbook, there are recipes I wouldn't necessarily make. Some I am turned away from as I am cooking for a teenager and a pre-teen and I know they wouldn't eat muscles or seafood stew.

Recommendation: I'm enjoying this cookbook now that my husband and I are counting calories and with it being a low-cal book, it's fitting perfectly in my recipe planning. The recipes are fairly easy and some do call for unusual items (but that depends on your personal cupboard).

The recipe I made out of this cookbook:

Chicken Marsala on the Lighter Side
Serves 4

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (8 ounces each)
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour (I substituted gluten free flour)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots (I substituted a white onion)
• 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms (I substituted regular sliced mushrooms for the cremini and shiitake mushrooms)
• 3 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms
• 1/3 cup Marsala wine (I substituted sherry cooking wine)
• 1/2 cup Swanson 88% fat-free chicken broth (I used natural chicken stock)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preheat the oven to 200°F.

Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 cutlets. Put each cutlet between two sheets of plastic wrap and lightly pound them until they are about 1/4 inch thick. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper.

Place an 18-inch-long length of wax paper on the counter. Put the flour in a shallow bowl and lightly dredge the chicken pieces in the flour, shaking off any excess. Put the chicken on the wax paper; reserve the 1 teaspoon remaining flour to use later.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon of the butter and 1 teaspoon of the olive oil to the pan and swirl the pan until the butter has melted. Add the chicken and cook until slightly golden on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking dish and place in the oven to keep warm.

Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon olive oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and shallots and cook until soft and golden, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the reserved 1 teaspoon of flour and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add the Marsala wine, chicken broth, and parsley.

Cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, until thickened, about 2 minutes.

Return the chicken to the skillet with the mushrooms, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer in the sauce to let the flavors blend, about 4 to 5 minutes.

To serve, put a piece of chicken on each of 4 serving plates. Spoon the mushrooms and sauce evenly over the top, and serve hot.

Per serving (1 breast + mushrooms and sauce): calories 241; fat 8 g; saturated fat 2.5 g; cholesterol 80 mg; carbohydrate 10 g; fiber 1 g; protein 26 g; sugars 2 g; sodium 428 mg.

Adapted from The Skinnytaste Cookbook by Gina Homolka, Clarkson Potter 2014.

Waterbrook Multnomah sent me this complimentary book to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of A Promise to Protect by Patricia Bradley

Nutshell: A dead brother, a missing mysterious flash drive, a sheriff haunted by his past, and a sister whose life is at stake. This sums up the main characters in this fast paced story of danger and thrills. Mix in a little romance and you have book 2 in the Logan Point Series. Old memories come to the surface for Sheriff Ben Logan as he fights to save his long-ago girlfriend and her son from being killed. Someone is after the flash drive that his old girlfriend's dead brother had and the killer won't be stopped.

Pro's: A good, quick read that will keep you in suspense until the end. This can be a stand-alone book easily with not requiring a lot of back story to understand what is going on.

Con's: The romance got a bit mushy at times.

Recommendation: If you enjoy romance suspense novels, this is the one for you. Enjoy suspense novels? You'll more than likely like this. Don't enjoy suspense novels? You may yet still like this book.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions are my own.

Review of The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

Nutshell: A southern girl transplants herself to the big city of New York to make her way in the publishing business. She lands a job at a prominent book publisher and within a week finds a manuscript mysteriously placed on her desk. The only place it could have come from was the oversized "slush pile" in the board room that no one was allowed to touch. She is gripped by the story  before her and it leads her on a journey back to her home city where she has to deal with the family she left and a very abrasive, popular author who wants nothing to do with this story she says he wrote.

Pro's: I loved, loved, loved this book. Two stories in one. I literally could not put this one down. Not a suspense novel by any means, but the way Lisa writes, it grabs you and you feel like you can smell the mountains as the main character drives through them. Lisa has a way of storytelling that is like no other.

Con's: The first page threw me for a loop, but in a way that I felt like I needed to figure out what in the world was going on. Otherwise, a fantastic book.

Recommendation: A great story. Forgiveness, family messes, understanding others, God's love and just a great story line. This book will have you hooked too.

Tyndale House Publishing sent me this complimentary book to review for them.

Review of Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Nutshell: A new lady in town with her daughter stirs up a lot of conversation of her past life. A wood working mandolin player man who's interest is peaked by this newcomer. A drought reveals the newcomers gift of the biblical story of five fish and two loaves that keep multiplying. She is blessed with the gift of making food stretch and keeps the town alive through the drought. A story of forgiveness of the past, understanding of God's love and a sweet love that brings the entire town together.

Pro's: A quick read. A sweet filled story of love that makes you feel good after reading it.

Con's: Not a deep story and seemed a bit choppy in parts of the story that took a bit to figure out what was going on.

Recommendation: If you'd like an easy read, then you'll like this. Not a lot of depth, but a good story for the heart.

Bethany House Publishers sent me this complimentary book to review for them.

Review of Deceived by Irene Hannon

Nutshell: Kate Marshall's husband and four year old son disappear on a summer fishing trip. Her husband's body was found, but her son's body was never recovered. Fast forward three years, a move to a new city and a new life. But one moment, one voice, of her thought-to-be-dead son changed the trajectory of her life forever. Ride along side Kate, and her hired PI, as she seeks to find her son.

Pro's: Even though this is book three in the Private Justice Series, this is easily a stand-alone novel that will suck you in. Irene does a fantastic job weaving suspense and softness into this story.

Con's: None. I love Irene's books!

Recommendation: If you like suspense and a good page-flipping book, this is the one for you!!!

Revell Books sent me a complimentary copy of this book to review for them.

Review of Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering

Nutshell: This is book 3 in the Drew Farthering Mystery Series. Super sleuth Drew and his new fiancé Madeline are on the hunt for a murderer who keeps eliminating people at the local theater. Narrowing down the suspects list becomes quite the challenge until the killer is caught.

Pro's: You really don't know the killer until the end and it's a twist!

Con's: I had a very hard time getting into this book. Without having read the previous two books, I had no backstory to rely upon and not much was given. It took awhile to piece together why people knew each other and who went with who. Maybe if I had read the first two, I would have a different outlook on this book. 

Recommendation: If you enjoy mysteries, you may enjoy this series, but I would suggest starting with the first book and not the 3rd like I did.

Bethany House Publishers sent me this complimentary book to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

The Nutshell: A mom and son running from the shadows of her husband's grave. A rescuer comes along side as protection. Twists and turns take them on a dangerous adventure where they come face to face with life and death. All because of one dead man's decisions.

Pro's: This book moved fast! An easy one day read that keeps you searching for one more clue to solve the mysterious puzzle. This is book two in the Hidden Identity Series but can very easily read as a stand-alone. And I honestly think it's better than the first book.

Con's: It moved so fast! I just wanted it to keep going and not stop, but unfortunately, it did.

Recommendation: Read this book! Read this series for that matter! There is a bit of violence and semi-graphic scenes. If you're looking for light and fluffy, this is not that book. Suspenseful and faced-paced? This is it!

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of The Chopped Cookbook by Food Network

Nutshell: Have you ever seen Chopped on the Food Network? This book revolves around the show, pairing items together to make a meal. Items that you will most likely find in your pantry. But think of your pantry like the baskets the chef's open on the tv show. Sometimes quirky items, like on the show, but mostly normal, every day items.

Pro's: I loved this cookbook. Many pages are ear-marked of recipes I would like to try. Each chapter also has pages of suggestions of quick put-together's, based on the subject of the chapter. Like different pan sauces, playing with pasta, and different types of grains and how to cook them, just to give a few examples. I also really liked the bright, colorful pictures and easy to follow steps.

Con's: Some recipes were a bit "out there" and I wouldn't necessarily make for my family. Some items I can't find here in Michigan (like flat iron steak), so learning what to substitute made it a bit challenging, but a good learning experience.

Here are two recipes I tried from this book:

Shrimp Ramen 

8 ounces bacon, chopped
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 cups slices stemmed shiitake mushrooms (about 6 ounces)
7 cups chicken broth
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 (3 ounce) packages ramen noodles, flavor packets discarded
12 ounces peeled and deveined medium shrimp halved lengthwise (about 20)
2 Tbs 1-inch-long pieces chives

Cook the aromatics: Put the bacon in a cold medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes. Remove all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pan. Stir in the garlic and cook until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in the shiitakes and cook until well browned, about 6 minutes more.

Make the broth: Stir in the chicken broth, soy sauce, and Worcestershire and bring to a boil. Stir in the ramen noodles and boil until tender, about 2 minutes.

Add the shrimp and serve: Remove the broth from the heat and stir in the shrimp. Let stand until the shrimp are cooked, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve topped with chives.

Serves 4

What I did different: I halved the recipe and it made one bowl for each of us, which turned out to be enough (as the kids were not huge fans of this). I also used white mushrooms as the store didn't have shiitake mushrooms. Still tasted pretty good.

Butter Basted Flat Iron Steak with 

Tomato Butter Sauce and Parsley Noodles

Kosher salt

2 Tbs vegetable oil

4 (1/2 inch thick) top blade chuck steaks (flat iron steaks), 1 1/2 pounds total *

Freshly ground black pepper

6 Tbs (3/4 stick) unsalted butter

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

6 ounces egg noodles

2 Tbs chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

2 tsp balsamic vinegar

Start the water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Sear the steaks: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, pour in the oil. Sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper and sear 2 steaks until browned on one side, about 4 minutes. Remove the steaks from the skillet. Add the other 2 steaks and sear until browned on one side, about 4 minutes. Flip these steaks and return the first 2 steaks to the skillet, raw-side down. Add 2 Tbs of the butter and the thyme. Once the butter melts, tilt the skillet slightly to pool the liquid, then constantly spoon the butter over the steaks until the meat is medium-rare, about 4 minutes more. Transfer the steaks to a rimmed plate to rest. Keep the skillet handy.

Cook the noodles: Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water and drain. Return the noodles to the pot and toss with 2 Tbs of the butter and parsley.

Blister the tomatoes (I did this while the noodles were cooking): Put the tomatoes in the same skillet and blister over medium heat until blackened in spots and softened, about 4 minutes. When the tomatoes are very soft, remove the thyme sprigs and carefully mash the tomatoes with a slotted spoon or potato masher. Stir in the remaining 2 Tbs of butter and the vinegar until incorporated, thinning out with the reserved cooking water if necessary to make a smooth sauce. Season with 1/2 tsp salt.

Serve: Slice the steaks thinly against the grain and add any juices that accumulate to the tomato sauce. Divide the noodles among 4 plates, set the sliced steak on top, and finish with the tomato butter sauce.

Serves 4

Vegify It: Instead of egg noodles, use strips of raw zucchini (shave them with a vegetable peeler) to get a double dose of veggies in.

*I could not find flat iron steak, but the butcher suggester sizzler steaks. I used 2 thicker ones and they turned out amazing.

All of us were huge fans of this recipe (my kids love steak), so I will definitely be making this one again! The sauce was delish and this was a fast meal to make!

Waterbrook Multnomah sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions are my own, as are the food pictures used in this post.

Review of Blind Trust by Sandra Orchard

Nutshell: Kate Adams is back in the spotlight as her trouble continues. Someone seems to be out to still keep her silent with new accusations and behind the scenes secrecy to take her down. Another who-dun-it in the Port Aster Secrets Series.

Pro's: This book keeps you guessing! With every turn of the page you still don't know who's out to get the main character.

Con's: If you pick this up without reading the first book, it may be a bit more difficult to understand what is going on. It can be a stand-alone fiction, but better to go in reading book #1. The "what-ifs" got a bit weary to keep reading throughout the book. The characters coming up with different scenarios as to why someone said one thing, or why another person came from the basement, or why another's wallet was empty at one time of day and bulging later in the day. I understand it goes along with the detective work, but it seemed to be in abundance in this book.

Recommendation: Read book #1 first. If you like mystery, you may like this book. It wasn't my favorite, but also, that's my opinion.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary book to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of All Right Here by Carre Armstrong Gardner

The Nutshell: Family. Ivy Darling is the main character. This book is centered around her. Her struggling relationship with her husband, her foster kids, her family, her in-laws and finding her voice amidst all of them.

The pro's: I loved this book. It wasn't suspenseful in the least, but you wanted everything to turn out for the best by the end. And it doesn't wrap up with a nice bow. The word that kept floating through my head while reading this was: messy. Messy relationships with family. Messy results of choices made that weren't the best. But very real messiness. This book exposed, I think, how the majority of families and marriages are. Messy. It was very down to earth and real.

The con's: None.

Recommendation: This book would be great for anyone who enjoys reading. A light read for more in-depth readers. A book full of emotions and real-world scenarios for the realistic reader and for the reader who likes a good story.

Tyndale Publishers sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

The nutshell: A famous model reluctantly returns home after her fast-paced, soul-sucking career runs dry. A photographer who wants to forget his past mistakes. An aunt/step-mom who brings them together which starts the healing process for the two wandering souls. 

The pro's: What a great story! Full of redemption, whole acceptance of God's love, and understanding true friendship and forgiveness. 

The con's: It took a bit to figure out who all the characters were and how they fit into the story. Some relationships took a good chunk of time to figure out, and how specific people fit with others. 

Recommendation: I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that is chalk full of redemption and how God cleans up some very messy lives.


Click here for the synopsis of the book.
Interested in reading chapter one? Click here.
Want to learn more about the author? Go here.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Review of Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris

The nutshell: Meet Mason, an undercover cop, who is on limited time in trying to find Emily Hunt's niece who was kidnapped by the drug cartel which has dirty cop's working for them. Join their journey in relying on God during a stand-off, a kidnapping and just trying to stay alive long enough to rescue a family member.

The pro's: Quick paced, action packed and keeps you flipping the pages. Not graphic by any means.

The con's: A bit heavy on the romance, of which I can leave behind. It may be a bit harder reading as a stand-alone as this is the 2nd book in the series.

Suggestion: Like suspense and action packed pages? Then you'll like this book.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon

The nutshell: A single mom with an 11 year old daughter, a neighbor diagnosed with cancer, and a letter that changed the trajectory of their lives forever. A die-hard, workaholic single guy with a boss whose life became more clear after the passing of his wife and the same letter that intercepted into their lives and collided these four people together.

The pro's: What a sweet story of forgiveness, choosing to move forward and living life to its fullest no matter the past. This is a feel-good story that leaves you wanting to live life better, to not miss the little things that God has placed in your path and to love others despite their flaws.

The con's: Not much to say against this book. It felt like the relationships moved pretty quick-like, but overall, a great read.

Suggestion: If you like books with more depth and meat on them, this is not for you. If you like books with a light, sweet storyline...then this is your gig.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary book to review for them. The opinions expressed above are my own.

Review of A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge

The nutshell: Juliette is the youngest in her Italian/French crazy family and is in love with food. She is a food critic, which she loves, but she feels like there is more out there for her to conquer. Her life begins to turn upside down when her close-knit family enters a tumultuous time, she is offered a position at her brother's new restaurant and is also trying to keep up a long-distant relationship that is going much faster than she expected. Journey along with Juliette as she navigates through life's ups and downs.

Pro's: The center of this book is around family. I love this. It all comes back to family, no matter how quirky, dysfunctional, stress-laden and messy. This family is always there for each other, and in the Italian way, honest and very open with each other. It was a light read laced with a rich love woven through the storyline. You felt a part of the family, sitting at their table, conversing and eating with them. And the recipes! I'm a sucker for them! A bonus at the end of most chapters was a recipe that correlated with the chapter. A cookbook AND great novel in one? It's a win - win!

Con's: The ending. It came up so fast and ended so abruptly that it left me a bit perplexed as to what to think. Seeing that there is a 2nd book coming helped, but if this was a stand alone novel, I would leave feeling disappointed.

Suggestion: If you enjoy recipes and good light read, this a book worth picking up!

Would you like to learn more about Hillary Manton Lodge? Check out her website here.
Interested in reading the first chapter in this book? Click here.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of The One Year: Did You Know Devotional 2

The Nutshell: A devotional with lots of trivia and stories to make each day's devotional come a bit more to life.

Pro's: Easy for kids to read and understand. Geared more for elementary age kids.

Con's: There didn't seem to be much guided discussion for each day. Also, I think more delving into scripture would be beneficial, like offering more verses to look up after each devotional. Of course, parents can guide this and take it much further than what is on the page.

Tyndale House Publishers sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions are my own.

Review of A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley

Meg Moseley is a new author to me and she did not disappoint.

The Nutshell: Laura Gantt heads back to her hometown to settle the household of her recently deceased mother. Memories swirl around her as well as rumors that her father, who drowned years before, has been seen around town. With the help of her high school sweetheart, Sean and her best friend Cassie, her heart and life intertwine her past and present in the town she just can't shake. Filled with heartache, compassion and a melodic lilt, Meg Moseley weaves a sweet story of friendship, forgiveness and moving forward in life.

Pro's: When I think of the South, I think of warm, cricket sounding, hazy days. Swinging slowly on a porch swing with a cold glass of ice tea that has condensation dripping down it. And I think, now, of this book. While reading it, it was the South. Just the right amount of pace, not too fast, not too slow. It had a lilt to it of crickets that keep you going. Page after page after page. Meg Moseley not only wrote a sweet filled story of friendship and forgiveness, but a story that came to life and took you along side the characters. Their heart aches. Their deeply rooted history in a little town that was dredged in tradition.

Con's: None.

Suggestion: If you like light hearted, but yet full of sweetness and southern charm books, this one is for you!

Want to learn more about Meg Mosesly? Visit her website.
Want to get a little taste of A Stillness of Chimes? Go here to read the first chapter.

WaterBrook Multnomah sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions are my own.

Review of Shadows of the Past by Patricia Bradley

This is a new author that I took the chance of reading and was not disappointed. Shadows of the Past is a criminal suspense book, the first in the series by Patricia Bradley.

The Nutshell: The main character, Taylor, a professor and criminal profiler, is fighting to find the person who is trying to kill her, while also working on solving her fathers disappearance and ends up with the help from a famous writer whom she falls for along the way.

Pro's: Good story line and development of characters. The pace kicked in to high gear towards the end and I just had to see how it concluded. It provided an interesting look into profiling and the minds of criminals.

Con's: I pegged the killer half way through the book, but I was still interested in how he was caught. It was slow in parts, but the interest was still there to find how everything connected. A bit mushy, which I could do without. A bit gory and graphic in spots.

If you like suspense books, you may be interested in picking this one up. I look forward to reading book 2 in Patricia Bradley's series!

Revell Books sent me this complimentary book to review for them. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman

This book was different than ones I usually read. Going in with an open mind, it turned out that I liked this style of writing. It was a slower, more reflective story based around the subject of running. One runner who had to quit her dream, and one who didn't have any dreams, but could run. The story revolved around these two characters who were put together and how each grew because of the other person. I liked the flavor of the story, the underlying plot of forgiveness of one self and learning about the forgiveness of God.

Bethany House sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of No One to Trust by Lynette Eason

This is book one in a new series by Lynette Eason called Hidden Identity. This first book had a different flavor than her past books. The romance element was taken out and it was purely suspense. I loved it! It was super fast paced, character twists that you didn't see coming and full of redemption. Ms. Eason did a great job keeping the reader captivated, kept the plot plugging along at a fast clip and did it all without a love-blossoming sub-plot.

If you enjoy clean suspenseful books, you will enjoy this one. The one part I don't like is that the next book in the series doesn't come out until the fall of 2014!

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

I remember reading this book years ago and being impacted by it. In a 20th Edition re-release, the book still grips my heart. Francine Rivers transforms the Old Testament book of Hosea into a story set in the 1800's. You can read the story for what it is: Hosea never giving up on the bride God chose for him, Angel - a prostitute. Or you can take it a lever deeper and parallel the story to God's unconditional love for us. No matter how many times we leave, turn our back, or run, God is always there when we come back. He doesn't give up on us. Francine does an amazing job telling the story of God's deep love of his people.

WaterBrook Multnomah sent me a complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions are my own.

Review of Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris

When two Jane Does are killed on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, detective and behavioral specialist Avery North discovers they share something in common--a magnolia tattoo on their shoulders. Suspecting a serial killer, Avery joins forces with medical examiner Jackson Bryant to solve the crimes and prevent another murder. As they venture deep into a sinister criminal world, Avery and Jackson are taken to the very edge of their abilities--and their hearts.

This is my first time reading a book by Lisa Harris. I was not disappointed. Of course, I like the mystery suspense type books and this one was right up there. This is the first book in the Southern Crimes Series. It seemed to have slowed down in the middle some, but the story line still kept me hooked, up until the end.

I did feel like I was jumping into the middle of a book series in how the characters were developed, but I think it's just the way she writes. The characters' back stories do come out and the pieces start to make more sense the further along one reads.

I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book in this series!

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

To learn more about Lisa Harris and her books, head over to her website.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions are my own.

Review of A Surprise for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher

Change is in the air!
Eleven-year-old Lily Lapp wants her life to stay just the way it is. Instead, it's constantly changing. New jobs, new schoolmates, and new challenges sure keep life interesting. It seems like the only thing Lily really wants to change--Effie Kauffman's mischief making--is the one thing that never does. Effie is up to her old tricks, and Lily is her favorite target.

This is the fourth book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp. This is one of the best books I have read. I like it because Lily has lots of surprises in life like her cousin moving far away. I feel bad for Lily when Effie and Aaron get her in trouble and tease her. I like reading about how different the Amish live and how school is different in a school house.

I would recommend this book because it's very interesting because there are always surprises.

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

This post is brought to you by Alina who read and reviewed this complimentary book for Revell Books. Her opinion is hers alone.

review of Stranded by Dani Pettrey

When Her Friend Goes Missing,Every Minute Counts
Darcy St. James returns to Alaska to join a journalist friend undercover on the trail of a big story. But when Darcy arrives, she finds her friend has disappeared. Troubled by the cruise ship's vague explanation, Darcy uses her cover as a travel reporter to investigate further. 
The last person Gage McKenna expects to see during his summer aboard a cruise ship leading adventure excursions is Darcy. And in typical Darcy fashion, she's digging up more trouble. 
He'd love to just forget her--but something won't let him. And he can't help but worry about her as they are heading into more remote regions of Alaska and eventually into foreign waters. Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they push, the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

This is book three in the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey. She picks up the the story line with another brother in the McKenna family, Gage. This could be read as a stand alone book, but it may be a bit difficult to follow the siblings story-lines if the reader hasn't read the first two books.

Pettrey does a great job creating a thrilling story line that keeps the reader engaged and riveted to the book. The quick pace and suspense makes this book hard to put down and keeps one guessing up until the end.

I'm looking forward to reading book four and how Pettrey continues this family story.

Bethany House Publishing sent this complimentary book to me to review. Opinions are my own.

Review of Trapped by Irene Hannon

When librarian Laura Griffith's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James "Dev" Devlin to help. But the deeper he digs, the more he begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the clearer it becomes that the situation isn't just dangerous--it's deadly.

Irene did it again. Another fantastic book. Much less of the romance and much more of the tense suspense that she does so well writing. I was actually standing and reading this in my house as it sucks you in and you can't put it down.

This is book 2 in the Guardian of Justice Series, but can easily be read as a stand alone novel. The main character was in the first novel as well, but only as a secondary character. The second book shines his character and his story with his co-workers as secondary characters.

I think Irene gets better with each book and each series. I'm already looking forward to the last book in the series (but will have to wait until next summer). If you enjoy suspense, being sucked in and even being a little disturbed, this book and series is for you.

Would you like to learn more about Irene Hannon? Head on over to her website. http://www.irenehannon.com

Want to see how fast you can be sucked in to this book? 

Read an excerpt here: http://www.irenehannon.com/trapped.html#excerpt

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

RevellBooks sent me this complimentary book to review for them. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Review of Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh

Once upon a time, I was a rebel. And I have the tattoo to prove it. 

Then there was the spiked hair–the shade of which changed monthly–“colorful” language that can’t be found in your everyday sixteen-count crayon box, a pack-a-day habit, less-than-modest wardrobe, and an obsession with guitar-trashing, drum-bashing music. 

Did I mention I’m also a preacher’s kid? That’s right. And like the prodigal son after whom I modeled myself, I finally saw the error of my ways and returned to the fold.
Today my life is all about “lead me not into temptation.” When I’m not serving as Women’s Ministry Director at my father’s church, I’m working at Gloria’s Morning Café. I even have worthy goals, like saving enough money to buy the café, keep my Jelly Belly habit under control, and to never again hurt the people I love. No more parties. No more unsavory activities. And no more motorcycles! You’d think I was finally on the right track.

This is an older book, but still super cute. Light and full of laughs, but with an undertone of learning how to forgive one's self and move on. This was a great example of pendulum living. Going from one extreme to another, of which neither are one's true self. Tamara kept the reader moving along with wit and a spunky story line.  She did a great job balancing the characters, keeping the charm throughout the book and not filling it with fluffy gooey romance.

Interested to read more about Tamara and her books (she even has a cooking website!)? Visit her website: http://www.tamaraleigh.com

Would you like to read an excerpt from the first chapter of Splitting Harriet? Click here

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.