Book Reviews - Romance

Next of Kin …by Sharon Sala

Book description from the publisher:

Trouble for One, Trouble for All.
Beth Venable has seen too much. Witness to a major mob hit, she’s placed in protective custody until the trial. But after her third safe house is riddled with bullets, she goes off-grid to save herself. What the FBI can’t do, her kinfolk will.
The beautiful but forbidding Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky welcome Beth back, dirt roads and rustic shacks a world apart from L.A. But her homecoming—even her blissful reunion with strong, silent Ryal Walker—is made bittersweet by the fight she’s brought to the clan’s doorstep. Hidden in a remote cabin with the man she’s always wanted, Beth begins to dream of a new life: her old one. But after so long, with such
dangers stalking her…impossible.
But love can distill life down to its essence: an elixir of pure hope, nerve—and the will to survive.


My review:

I absolutely loved this book!! From the very beginning I was hooked ... and couldn't put it down!! “Next of Kin” had everything I love - action/suspense/drama/romance - all combined into one great book!! It was very well-written, easy to read, and it wasn’t predictable (except for the “happy ending” part).
In L.A., Beth witnessed the head of the organized crime mob murder his ex -wife. Now he's after Beth...and she's trying to stay alive. Her extended family (who she hasn't seen or had contact with in 10 years) is protecting her. They welcomed her back with open arms, and will stop at nothing to keep her safe.
Upon her return home, Beth was met by Ryal, her true love (from 10 years ago.) They both still have strong feelings for each other, but are both still dealing with the pain of a broken heart.
I can’t give you any more information in my book “summary” – because I don’t want to ruin in for you when you read “Next of Kin”!! Trust me, I'm sure you'll love this book as much as I did!! I highly recommend that you read this book!! 5 out of 5 stars!!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
**Links are Amazon Affiliate links**







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Highland Crossings …by Laurie Alice Eakes, Pamela Griffin, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, and Gina Welborn

Book description from the publisher:


An heirloom brooch unites the lives and loves of four women in historic North Carolina. Seona flees Scotland with the brooch in tow hoping to find peace before her past is revealed. Fiona tries to recover the heirloom but ends up on the whipping block—with her rescuer a man she’s not sure she can trust. Seren sells the brooch but soon regrets giving up something so precious for what could be a hopeless dream. Brynna seeks to reclaim the stolen brooch but risks losing something even more valuable in the process. Will God’s path become clear in a new world?

My review:

“Highland Crossings” is another sweet historical, Christian romance book…actually it was a 4-in-1 type book – which I liked! All four books are set in the 1700's in North Carolina and are “intertwined” with each other by the family heirloom brooch, although each book focuses on a different person within the family – in fact, most are different generations. I really liked each of the 4 “mini-books”, they were all cute in their own right. They were all Christian books, but none of them were “in-your-face” with their Christian beliefs, etc. The main theme for the majority of the books is following God’s will instead of your own…other themes are learning to trust others, and sacrificing for those you love.
I really liked this book, it was a cute, sweet book…very easy-to-read {although the first 2 “mini-books” had a lot of “authentic” dialect written in…it took a little bit to get used to reading that}. I LOVE this type of book – with the 4 related mini-books made into one book. I would recommend “Highland Crossings” to you…it’s a very enjoyable book! 4 out of 5 stars!!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
**Links are Amazon Affiliate links**







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Last Chance Beauty Queen…by Hope Ramsay

Book description from the publisher:

Dear Reader,
Gracious me, my beautiful daughter Rocky sure could use my help. I always knew she wasn't much interested in the local boys - but who'd have thought she'd come home with English royalty?
Trouble is, Hugh wants to buy some of our folks' land. We don't want to sell, but Rocky's job depends on her closing the deal. And though Hugh's obviously smitten, I'm not sure he's right for my Rocky. Oh, he's classy and handsome - and you should've seen the way he judged pies and fixed stock cars at our Watermelon Festival! - but what do we know about him, really? I know I sound like a nervous mother hen, but after forty happy years with my Elbert, all I want is to see my little girl find the same.
Well, time for me to quit chattering and get back to Miss Bray's wet set. Always nice talking to you, and remember: the Cut 'n Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town.
See you real soon,
Ruby Rhodes

My review:

“Last Chance Beauty Queen” is a cute, quirky book…filled with quirky characters. Caroline “Rocky” Rhodes is sent on an assignment by her boss, the Senator, back to her small (yet quaint) hometown. Hugh (Lord Woolham) wants to buy the land that Golfing For God – the town’s mini-golf course, that is currently in disrepair – sits on to build a factory. However, the owner of Golfing For God happens to be Rocky’s dad…and he doesn’t want to sell. So Rocky tries to come up with a plan, because Last Chance really needs the jobs that the factory would bring! In the process, Rocky “rediscovers” her hometown, and acknowledges that she loves the small town as well as the people (no matter how eccentric and nosy they may be) of Last Chance.
I thought this book was a cute book…and easy to read. The plot was well-thought out…and it was an overall enjoyable book to read. I liked that there was some Southern terms/dialect, along with British ones – they really made the characters seem authentic and “real”. The only part (or theme, actually) that I didn’t really care for was the Sorrowful Angel (and the seeing/talking to angels/ghosts/spirits)…to me, that was a little weird. And although it was an “on-going” part of the book, and it did make some of the characters “extra-quirky” because of it…I personally feel that whole theme could’ve been left out, or toned down at least, and it wouldn’t have affected the book, or the overall “quirkiness” of the characters.
The one “extra” that I really liked – there was a list of discussion questions at the end of the book to use if you would read this as part of a book group. My rating: 4 out of 5 stars!!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
**Links are Amazon Affiliate links**







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Secrets of the Lost Summer …by Carla Neggers

Book description from the publisher:

Beneath the surface lie the greatest treasures
A wave of hope carries Olivia Frost back to her small New England hometown nestled in the beautiful Swift River Valley. She’s transforming a historic home into an idyllic getaway. Picturesque and perfect, if only the
absentee owner will fix up the eyesore next door.…
Dylan McCaffrey’s ramshackle house is an inheritance he never counted on. It also holds the key to a generations-old lost treasure he can’t resist…any more than he can resist his new neighbor. Against this breathtaking landscape, Dylan and Olivia pursue long-buried secrets and discover a mystery wrapped in a love story…past and present.


My review:

Secrets of the Lost Summer is a cute romance book (with a little mystery and adventure mixed in) set in a picturesque small town of Knights Bridge, in the Quabbin Reservoir/Swift River Valley of Massachusetts. The book starts out with Olivia quitting her full-time job in Boston as a graphic designer and moving back “home” to Knights Bridge. She’s decided to turn the 19th-century house she purchased in her hometown into The Farm at Carriage Hill – a place to have showers, meetings, teas, etc. The house next door (which used to belong to Grace, a 90-year old retired school teacher from Knights Bridge) is now owned by someone from out-of-town…and is an eyesore. Olivia writes a letter to the owner asking him to clean up his house.
When Dylan (who lives in San Diego) received the letter from Olivia about the house he owns in Knights Bridge, MA…he assumes someone got the wrong person. He doesn’t own a house there…in fact…he never even heard of the town. But, after asking his lawyer, he found out that his father had purchased the house not long before he died suddenly. So, Dylan decides to take an “adventure” and went to Knights Bridge, partly to find out more about why his father (who was a treasure hunter) had purchased this house.
Olivia and Dylan will become friends, and will both help each other in finding out answers to the mystery surrounding Dylan’s house. In the process, they’ll also find out more about Grace (the house’s former owner), and the history of the Quabbin Reservoir (which is a real place in Massachusetts.)
I thought overall this book was a good book. The “mystery” of the house was a tiny bit “far-fetched”, I thought, but I did enjoy reading this book. I found it easy to read…and hard to put down! I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
**Links are Amazon Affiliate links**

Book Reviews - Christian {Bible Studies}

Face-to-Face with Lois and Eunice -- 
Nuturing Faith in Your Family... by Janet Thompson

Book description from the publisher:

Lois and Eunice followed the numerous Scriptures instructing one generation to pass on its faith to the next generation, and young Timothy grew up to be a second-generation leader of the early church.
Often mentoring focuses on reaching out to others; but as parents and grandparents the first line of mentoring should be within your own family, a concept repeated throughout the Bible. The Bible has many devastating examples of parents who were poor role models or didn't rear their children to know God, as well good and faithful parents whose children wandered away from God.
Face-to-Face with Lois and Eunice focuses on how women today can be grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and mentors whose faith takes root in the next generation.





Face-to-Face with Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah -- Pleading with God ...by Janet Thompson

Book description from the publisher:


At some time in life we all beg God to perform in a way we think is best. Even a woman of strong faith can experience a crisis of faith when life doesn't turn out as she expects and she knows God could intervene on her behalf.
Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah thought God should provide a child and pleaded with Him to honor their hearts' desire. In different ways, each woman took matters into her own hands when God's timing didn't match her timetable.
Face-to-Face with Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah explores various issues in women's lives that lead to pleading with God. Janet examines ways they react when He doesn't immediately respond or they don't like His answer and guides women to learn to rest in God's sovereignty and wait on His timing.






My review {for both books combined}:

Each of these Bible Study books are divided into five sessions – which are each broken down into five “days” per session. Each day’s worth of reading/studying is a manageable amount for personal study. Within each session there are quotes (some from different books), On Your Own sections (with Bible verses and personal questions), M&M’s (which deals with mentors/mentees), “Face-to-Face Reflections”, Personal Parables (“real-life” stories that pertain to the Bible study), and Mentoring Moments.
At the end of each book there is a guide for leading a group Bible Study on the book, which I thought were laid out really nicely.

Face-to-Face with Lois and Eunice deals with family relationships and the importance of passing on our beliefs to our children/grandchildren. It also has a session on dealing with our “prodigals” – how to pray for them, and learning to forgive them and “leave it to God”. It also teaches us how to mentor to the younger generation (our own children, and others that may look up to us as a mentor.)

Face-to-Face with Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah is about how we handle ourselves and our relationship with God when we want something {really bad} and God doesn’t come through {either never, or “in His own time”.} This book leads us though studies (based on Sarah, Rachel and Hannah) about how to get through the following “problems” we may have: doing things “our way” versus “God’s way” & bargaining with God … and then proceeds to deal with learning to have patience (waiting on God) and making peace with God (and what His will for us may be.)

I really thought both of these Bible studies would be good to use individually as well as in a group study. The small questions, etc. geared towards the Mentor/Mentee relationship (in my opinion) seemed a little “awkward” and just seemed to be “thrown in there” sometimes – but as a whole, did not detract from the books. I thought there were plenty of really good verses to look up, and lots of great questions included in each session. The only other thing that I didn’t care for (again, this is just my personal opinion, you may think differently) was the amount of references to the author’s other books that were included. It was almost like advertisements to go buy her other books (which are probably really good books, and worth reading…but I still found the references to be sort of annoying.) But…in the author’s defense, the quotes that were from her other books and included in these 2 books were relevant to the Bible studies. (And there were plenty of quotes from other books/authors, as well.)

Overall, I think these 2 Bible Study books are good, and would recommend that you try them out! I would rate them both at a “3.5 out of 5 stars”.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
**Links are Amazon Affiliate links**

Book Review - How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person?

"How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person?: Bright Ideas for Delightful Transformation" ... by Rhonda Rhea


Book description from the publisher:

All of us search for light. We seek enlightenment, understanding, and answers. We seek hope. So many people grope through smothering spiritual darkness reaching for something to bring light into their lives. Some even think they've found it in other things. After all, it would be easy for a blind person to think he's found light if he's never seen it or experienced it for himself.
But there is only one way to find the light we really need and to be able to live the Christian life in successful obedience, and that is to let the true Light flood our hearts. Fruitful, joy-filled, victorious living happens only as we are spiritually enlightened through the truth of the Word of God and by the inner working of the Spirit of God.
Through humor and stories, Rhonda Rhea explores many of the almost 300 references to light in the Bible to draw us back to the real light found in Christ. This light is the only light that can provide change in our lives, and is ultimately not just a light that changes us, but the lives of those we come in contact with as well.

My review:

Very deep...yet light-hearted!
This book was jam-packed with Scriptural teaching!! It was a very thought-provoking book....with LOTS and LOTS of Bible verses to back up all the points she made. The book's theme was LIGHT - as in "Son"-light.
It was divided into five parts (with five chapters in each part):

• --Lightbulb-Over-the-Head Enlightenment - Understanding the Real Light of the World
• --Bright Ideas for Enlightened Living – Embracing the Light of Godly Living
• --Seeing Your Life Change – One Watt at a Time – Walking in the Light Requires Obedience
• --Watt in the World? – Living in the Light Gloriously Spills Over
• --Sanctified, Electrified! – Looking to the Light

This book would be awesome to use as a group Bible study (it includes a great study guide at the end)...but it's also good for personal study, too. The Bible study guide suggests doing 2 chapters per meeting, which would definitely give you plenty to discuss each week. Each chapter in this book really gives you a lot to think about and to study…with lots of Bible verses to read, study, and maybe even memorize! Most of the chapters in this book are designed to get you to "dig down deep" and really think!!

I really thought she covered a lot of great points, used lots of relevant Scripture, but kept the entire book from feeling "too deep" by injecting some funny stories from her life which fit in with the lessons.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link.**

Book Reviews

{Book Review} ~ “One More Summer” ... by Liz Flaherty



Book description from the publisher:
Grace has taken care of her widowed father her entire adult life and the ornery old goat has finally died. She has no job, no skills and very little money, and has heard her father's prediction that no decent man would ever want her so often she accepts it as fact.
But she does have a big old house on Lawyers Row in Peacock, Tennessee. She opens a rooming house and quickly gathers a motley crew of tenants: Promise, Grace's best friend since kindergarten, who's fighting cancer; Maxie, an aging soap opera actress who hasn't lost her flair for the dramatic; Jonah, a sweet, gullible old man with a crush on Maxie.
And Dillon, Grace's brother's best friend, who stood her up on the night of her senior prom and has regretted it ever since. Dillon rents Grace's guest house for the summer and hopes to make up for lost time and past hurts—but first, he'll have to convince Grace that she's worth loving...


My review:
I LOVED this book! It was a sweet, moving story about true love – not just romantic love, but love between friends and siblings as well. True love is defined in this book through all the characters – it’s the kind of love that doesn’t matter what you look like, how smart you are, if you’re sick or well, or if you’re angry or moody. This book was so well-written, I could imagine myself being amongst the characters, and could empathize with them as they dealt with the things that were happening in their lives. I cried numerous times while reading (especially towards the end) because I just felt like they were all my friends, too.
Grace and Dillon both had horrible things in their pasts that they had buried deep down inside of them…but they both realized that the only way to be able to move forward was to talk about the past, and receive the love and comfort that others were willing to give them. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars…and HIGHLY recommend that you read this book!!!!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**


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{Book Review} ~ “His Secret Past” ... by Katie Reus



Book description from the publisher:
Six years ago, Alexis Baptiste's world was turned upside down when Hunter Cassidy disappeared without a trace, leaving her alone and pregnant. She's finally moving on with her life when he resurfaces, just in time to rescue her from a would-be assassin. Forced to join him on the run to protect herself and her young son, Alexis is now in even more danger: danger of falling for Hunter all over again.
Betrayed by rogue CIA agents after infiltrating an infamous drug cartel, former DEA agent Hunter Cassidy has spent years trying to clear his name. He's not proud of the things he's done, and knows he doesn't deserve a future with Alexis, or the son he never knew he had, but he's determined to protect them from the men who ruined his life. Convincing Alexis to trust him—and denying his feelings for her—is going to be the hardest mission he's ever faced.



My review:
“His Secret Past” is a book filled with suspense intermingled with a little romance, too. It had a complex story line, filled with plot twists and turns…I never quite knew what was going to happen next. I did find that occasionally I was a little confused at the “who” and “what” in the story…but after either continuing to read or paging back, I could figure it out.
I thought “His Secret Past” was a good book, and would recommend reading it. The only part I didn’t like was at the end of the book. There was an overly graphic love scene that I personally feel was unnecessary…and slightly detracted from the book.
3.5 stars out of 5 {with a toned-down ending…I would give it 4 stars.}


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Books I'm Reading...plus BOOK REVIEWS

{BOOK REVIEW} ~ "Cherry Blossom Capers" ... by Gina Conroy, Frances Devine, Cara C. Putman, Lynette Sowell



Book description from the publisher:
Encounter mystery, mayhem, and murder near Washington, DC, alongside four professional females. White House assistant chef Tara Whitley works with an old flame, FBI agent Jack Courtland, to stop a plot to sabotage a state-dinner. Attorney Ciara Turner and her nemesis Daniel Evans have trials tracking down a judge’s murderer. Archeologist intern Samantha Steele and security guard Nick Porter are on the heels of a dangerous forger. Shop owner Susan Holland and renovator Vince Martini turn upside down her late uncle’s mansion while investigating a string of mysterious accidents. Will these sleuthing couples’ machinations move them into matrimony?


My review:
“Cherry Blossom Capers” is a Christian fiction {romance/suspense} book – part of the “Romancing America” series. I absolutely LOVED this book! It was a really great read! The book was a four-in-one type book, but all four of the “mini-books” were related, which I really liked! The book is based on four women neighbors (who are friends…and share “movie nights” together), with each woman being featured in her own story. In each of the four stories within the book, one of the four women ends up being in the middle of a dangerous situation. And, while trying to figure out what is going on…they each end up falling in love! This book had everything I love to read combined – drama/suspense {reminded me of Nancy Drew} mixed in with a little romance {but not too sappy}! (After reading this book, I am definitely interested in reading other books from the series.) I thought the entire book was well-written, easy-to-read, and hard to put down!! I would HIGHLY recommend this book! 5 out of 5 stars!!!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

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{BOOK REVIEW} ~ "Designed for Death"...by Jean Harrington



Book description from the publisher:
An Eye for Detail, a Nose for Trouble
Interior designer Deva Dunne's latest project comes to a screeching halt when blood on the carpet leads her to the body of her client, an exotic dancer with a mysterious past. But the murdered woman is not the only resident of the posh beachfront condominium with secrets, and investigating officer Lieutenant Victor Rossi considers them all suspects.
Though wary of working in the killer's midst, Deva continues decorating the unit for the new owner. When she stumbles upon clues that might help crack the case, she can't resist doing a little digging of her own, despite Rossi's orders to quit meddling. Now, she's juggling the investigation, her career and sexy neighbor Simon Yaeger, who seems interested in more than her etchings.
Deva can't help but be flattered by all the male attention—that is, until she realizes the killer has designs on her, too...


My review:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Designed for Death” by Jean Harrington. For lack of a better word to describe this book…this book was AWESOME!! It was a great suspense book…full of twists and turns throughout the entire book. I really did not know for sure who the murderer was, until the very end of the book. The book was very hard to put down…because I just wanted to keep reading it to find out who the murderer was…and WHY he/she did it. This book was cleverly written, was extremely entertaining and overall, it was just a GREAT suspense/drama book. I LOVED it…and would highly recommend that you read it, too! 5 out of 5 stars!! {And it’s the first book in a new series – “Murders by Design”….can’t wait to read more in this series!!}

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

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{BOOK REVIEW} ~ "All Fall Down" ... by Megan Hart:



Book Description:
In the midst of a chaotic midnight assembly, Sunshine is forced outside into the darkness. Holding a scrap of paper scrawled with a stranger's name and address, Sunny grasps the hands of her three small children and begins her escape.
Liesel Albright has dreamed of starting a family. She never bargained on inheriting one already in progress…or one so deeply damaged. When nineteen-year-old Sunshine appears on the Albrights' doorstep claiming Liesel's husband, Chris, is her father, all they can think to offer is temporary shelter. The next day, they're stunned by the news that the Family of Superior Bliss, led by a charismatic zealot, has committed mass suicide. Sunny and her children haven't just left the compound—they've been left behind.
Now, instead of a baby of her own, Liesel must play mother to the four survivors, while Chris retreats into guilt and denial. For Sunny, however, a lifetime of teachings is not easily unlearned. No matter how hard she tries to forget, an ominous catechism echoes in her mind, urging her to finish what the Family started.


My review:
“All Fall Down” by Megan Hart is a very unique book – very different from most books I usually read. But I really enjoyed reading it! The book is about a girl named Sunshine, who is raised in a cult, and is forced by her mother to escape (along with her 3 small children) the cult and go to her real father (who she never met.) Liesel (the wife of Sunshine’s father, Chris) always dreamed of having a family – but Chris says he doesn’t want children. When Sunshine and her children show up at Liesel and Chris’ doorstep, everyone’s life changes drastically.
I found the book to be very interesting and hard to put down. It was written in a way that you really felt that you could relate to Sunshine, and understand how hard it was for her to adjust to “real life” outside of the cult. In the same way, you could really relate to Liesel, and understand her feelings – from shock and anger at finding out about her husband’s child, to forgiveness, and joy and love.
This book really brings your attention to the radical cult lifestyle – and makes you really think about what it would be like to be raised in a cult setting {think Kool-Aid drinking type cult}.
I felt the ending was a little bit of a “cliff-hanger”, maybe the author could write another book continuing this story – I would definitely read it!!
Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars – the book was enjoyable to read, a little “creepy” at some parts (when it described some of the details of cult life), but I would recommend that you read this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an e-book edition of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**


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Here are some great books I'm reading right now.
{Reviews will come shortly for some!!}


The Mercy ~ by Beverly Lewis:

Source: christianbook.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

The Cowboy Tutor ~ by Linda Ford:

Source: amazon.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

All Fall Down ~ by Megan Hart:

Source: amazon.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

44 Cranberry Point ~ by Debbie Macomber:

Source: amazon.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Heart of Ice ~ by Lis Wiehl:

Source: christianbook.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: barbourbooks.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: ebooks.carinapress.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: ebooks.carinapress.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Book Review - Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl

I LOVED “Heart of Ice” by Lis Wiehl (with April Henry)…I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it! From the very first page of the book, I was already “into the book” – {the story line started from the first paragraph, no excess “fluff” at the beginning of this book!}
“Heart of Ice” is the third book in the “Triple Threat” series. It follows three friends – a TV reporter, a Federal prosecutor and an FBI agent – as they work together, each in their own special way, to investigate and solve crimes. These three women are all very intelligent, but they all have their own “down-to-earth” personal problems – relationships, family, health, weight – to deal with (which makes it very easy to relate to each of them.)
The main “plot” in this book deals with an extremely manipulative woman with a “heart of ice”, Elizabeth, who is just plain evil to the core. She uses people to get what she wants, without the people realizing what she’s doing. Elizabeth befriends Cassidy (the TV reporter), which almost destroys the friendship “bond” between the three friends. However, with the “Triple Threat Club” working together using their own specialties, they are able to piece together the bits and pieces of the crimes and are able to figure out who Elizabeth really is – the killer (which you, the reader, know from the beginning of the book.)
This book was full of suspense…which just made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I would highly recommend this book to everyone! And, another great feature of the book…there are discussion questions at the end…which would make it a great group/book club book to read!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Tasty Tuesday - 12/6/11...PLUS 2 cooking book reviews

Welcome back for another week of Tasty Tuesday - my compilation of tasty things found on the web!!
This week I'm also including 2 book reviews ~ see them listed at the end of the post!


Click on pics below to go to the blog/web post:


Caramel Filled Sandies ~ from Betty Crocker:





Ham and Cheese Sliders ~ from The Girl who Ate Everything:





Cheesy Ham and Potato Hash ~ from The Traveling Spoon:





Easy Pizza Dough ~ from Budget Saving Mom:





Yummy Cake Balls ~ from Talking Dollars and Cents:





Snowday Cookie Shovels ~ from Nestle Family:





Triple-Chocolate Whoopie Pies ~ from Kraft Foods:





Inside-Out Peanut Butter Cookies ~ from Betty Crocker:





Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Pie ~ from Cooking With K:





Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ from Mom on Timeout:





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{Book Reviews}


First up..."Treasured Amish and Mennonite Recipes: 600 Delicious, Down-to-Earth Recipes from Authentic Country Kitchens" by the Mennonite Central Committee



Book description from amazon.com:
The Pennsylvania Dutch are known for their unique traditional foods—recipes that reflect their German heritage and agricultural roots. Experience PA Dutch cooking with the authentic Amish and Mennonite recipes found in the pages of this cookbook. Inside, are recipes for everything from apple butter to chicken pot-pie, ham loaf to classic mashed potatoes. The book is also filled with interesting facts and fun stories about many of the recipes, sure to surprise and delight any cook. Bringing these delicious recipes into the kitchen will please any family!

My personal review:
This is a GREAT cookbook! Coming from Pennsylvania Dutch region in PA...there's lots of good "down-home" recipes that I would love to try (and some very familiar ones for my favorites, too!)
Along with having LOTS of GREAT recipes...the book also has little helpful tidbits as well as really cute one-line sayings mixed in. I loved that aspect of the cookbook!!
But...you're probably wondering what some of the oh-so-yummy recipes are...so here's a sampling of some of my favorites:
Deviled eggs
Ham balls
Cinnamon rolls
Funnel cakes
Soft pretzels
Cheesy scalloped potatoes
Baked corn
Fastnachts (doughnuts)
Macaroni salad
Lebanon bologna
Shoofly pie
...and many more!
I would highly recommend this cookbook!!


And for the second book...
The "What's for Dinner?" Solution: Quick, Easy, and Affordable Meals Your Family Will Love by Kathi Lipp



Book description from amazon.com:
For many women, dread turns to panic around 4:00 in the afternoon. That’s when they have to answer that age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” Many resort to another supermarket rotisserie chicken or—worse yet—ordering dinner through a drive-thru intercom.

In The “What’s for Dinner” Solution, popular author and speaker Kathi Lipp provides a full-kitchen approach for getting dinner on the table every night. After putting her 21-day plan into action, women will

save time—with bulk shopping and cooking
save money—no more last-minute phone calls to the delivery pizza place
save their sanity—forget the last-minute scramble every night and know what they’re having for dinner
The book includes real recipes from real women, a quick guide to planning meals for a month, the best shopping strategies for saving time and money, and tips on the best ways to use a slow cooker, freezer, and pantry.

With Kathi’s book in hand, there’s no more need to hit the panic button.


My personal review:
This book is a different type of book. It's more a "how-to" than a typical cookbook filled with recipes. This book gives you some practical advice on the four following aread: planning, organizing, getting your food, and cooking - with a few recipes mixed in.
In this book, Kathi teaches you that you don't have to be a professional chef to make good meals, and you don't have to spend a lot of money to make good meals. She shows you some simple "rules" to abide by when it comes to planning and preparing meals.
I personally already have been doing most of the things in this book, but I still found it interesting to read through the book and see the reasons behind the tips and advice she is teaching.
I really think this would be a great book to give to a young person starting out on their own (would make a good bridal shower gift), because it does teach some simple, down-to-earth principles on planning and preparing in advance. My only thing I didn't like about the book was that I was hoping for a few more recipes included in it (and a lot of the ones that are in I wouldn't make anyway.)
However, overall, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It is a very unique book, with lots of practical advice that some people might not think of on their own (or would've had taught to them by someone in their life). If you need a "fresh start" in organizing your kitchen/pantry areas, or a lesson in planning meals and buying food in advance, then you may want to read this book!


***I was given an e-book edition of these books for free from the publisher. The reviews given are my opinion, and I was not required to give a positive review.

**Links are Amazon affiliate links**

Who doesn't LOVE a good romance??!! {book reviews}

I'm a sucker for a good romance book...and I've recently read 2 that I would like to recommend to you:



The first one is "Holiday Kisses" ~ a collection of 4 short love stories by the following authors: Jaci Burton; Shannon Stacey; HelenKay Dimon; Alison Kent. (available as an e-book and/or Kindle book)



A description from the publisher's website:
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Love!

A man gives the gift of trust and receives a second chance at love in return. A woman helps to heal the wounded heart of a soldier. A couple finds that true love knows no distance. And a young widow learns that there can be two great loves in a lifetime. Love, romance and passion come together in this collection of four seasonal shorts.

Anthology includes:

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent

A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton

It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon

Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey


My personal review:
I loved this book!! The four short stories that comprised this book were all well-written, and I could easily "get lost" in the stories and imagine myself as the main character {I love books like that!!} I found it hard to put the book down ~ I just kept wanting to read more and get to the "happy endings"!!
All four stories are about a man and a woman who don't think they should be together because of different circumstances in each of their lives, but who end up falling in love with each other anyway. After trying to put aside their feelings, eventually love wins out!!
Really cute stories...gotta love romance books with happy endings!! I really enjoyed reading this book, and think you will, too!
{Warning: there is some graphic content in this book ~ not for kiddos!!}



And the second book is "Head Over Heels" by Jill Shalvis {part of the Lucky Harbor series}



Description from Amazon website:
Breaking rules and breaking hearts

Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble--and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?


My personal review:
I really liked this book! It is a book that has love, family, drama, and suspense all in one! I loved that!!
The book's main character is Chloe - a smart, sweet girl with dreams who grew up in a different environment than that of her sisters. She's a little more wild and free than her sisters are, but still longs to be accepted by them, as well as by others around her. The sheriff has his own set of struggles that he needs to deal with, but the two of them start to fall in love, (although they really try to resist it!)
While I would consider this book a romance book - it also had a great story line in it about the sisterly love and the respect and friendship that the three sisters had for each other. I really enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to reading the other books in this series!!
{Warning: there is some graphic content in this book ~ not for kiddos!!}



**I received an e-book edition of these books from the publisher for free. The reviews are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

**Links are Amazon affiliate links**

Crafty Friday: PLUS...a NEW Craft Book REVIEW

Here are some of the cute and unique crafty things I've found online during the past week:

Miniatures in a jar ~ {very unique...I love these!}: from salt tree:




Christmas tee ~ {with an "oh-so-cute-model" ~ I can see this on tote bags...maybe even a wall hanging ~ LOVE it!!}: from Grits and Giggles:




Christmas Tree Twig Art: by At Home With K:




DIY duster: from DIY Home Sweet Home:




Snowman Ornament & Gift Card Holder: from Coley's Corner:




Paper & Lace Snowflake Ornament: from Lisa's Craft Blog:




Snowflake Pillow ~ {really pretty}: from House of Noise...I mean Boys:




Feather Christmas Trees: from Rhinestone Beagle:




Bling Bling Felt Tree Skirt: from ornamentplace.com:




Book Page Flower Wreath: from Twigg studios:



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Craft Book available {review}:

Sew Kawaii ~ by Choly Knight




Here's the book description {from amazon.com}:
Kawaii is the Japanese work for cute, adorable, or lovable. Cuteness is a large part of the Japanese culture from Hello Kitty, which emerged in the 1970s, to the cute mascots of today's banks and airlines. Kawaii arises from the need to have a little bit of child-like innocence and naivete in your life, regardless of age or gender. You'll see kawaii mascots for companies like Sanrio, San-x, Tokidoki, and even the Tokyo police force. Kawaii has grown all over the world to inspire cute, iconic characters that are eye-catching in their simplicity.

This book is packed with super-cute sewing projects that you'll actually want to make! Though the instructions are simple enough for a beginning seamstress to get dynamite results, more advanced sewers will be impressed by the variety of projects and the quality of construction. Easy-to-use step-by-step instructions, photos, and patterns guide you through the creation of 22 fun and simple sewing projects. Sidebars throughout the text wil fill you in on techniques to add to your sewing arsenal. Organized from easiest to easy, you'll find clear instructions to sew accessories, simple clothing items, stuffed animal plushes, and great items to decorate your room. You'll be surprised by how easy it is to sew these awesome projects - all that's needed is this book, a sewing machine, some inexpensive fabric, and a few other basic sewing tools. The hardest part will be deciding which project to start on first!


And...here's my personal review:
This book has everything from keychains to purses and gadget cases to hats and wearables to plushies and pillows - all in a cute Kawaii style. I think children -especially girls- from little up through teenagers will really like the projects in this book.
The book starts out with sewing basics - including a GREAT pictorial on sewing an opening closed. (This is very helpful!) I really think even beginning sewers would be able to make the projects in this book because the directions and the accompanying pictures are very detailed and easy-to-follow!
I especially like this book for the following reason: if there are older children/teenagers who are interested in learning to sew, this book would be great for them! As stated before, the very detailed directions (and pics) make this a great book for beginning sewers including children! Overall, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!


**I was given an e-book version of this book from the publisher to review.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Book Review: Thank You, God, for Blessing Me by Max Lucado

Thank You, God, for Blessing Me by Max Lucado is a really cute little children’s book about Little Hermie the caterpillar. This book is basically a prayer – set in the form of a poem – that Little Hermie says thanking God for everything and for blessing him.
It’s a very cute book, although it is on the short side (I wish there were a few more pages in the book, but it’s perfect for really small children and children with small attention spans!) The pictures are very cute – very bright and colorful (great attention-getter), and the prayer is a great way for little children to learn from Little Hermie about what to pray and to thank God for.
Little Hermie remembers to thank God for food, a bed, his eyes and feet, and his friends and family – all things that little children can also thank God for, too. The poem/prayer also rhymes which makes it really fun to read – and fun for children to listen to!
Overall, this is a cute {but short} book – great for reading to small children. It teaches children how to pray to God, and teaches them basic things to pray about and thank God for. I really enjoyed this book, and think that infants and toddlers would really enjoy this book, too.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book edition of this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Book Review - The Encounter

“The Encounter” by Stephen Arterburn is a book about a wealthy businessman who is filled with rage because of his childhood memories. His anger is affecting his life in an extremely negative way. So, with his pastor’s encouragement he sets out on a trip to Alaska in search of clues about his mother, who abandoned him when he was four years old. His goal is to find out why she abandoned him so he can try to understand the reason and ultimately forgive her.
This book was very short and easy to read (I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a few hours), although it’s very predictable. I must say that it was a “cute” book, (and it did make me cry a little bit), but I personally didn’t find it to be the type of book that made me dig down deep inside myself to reveal any great revelations.
In summary, “The Encounter” is a cute fiction book – although it is based on two true stories – that shows us the need for forgiveness. To forgive not only helps the person we are forgiving, but in the end, it helps us to feel better and to let go of bitterness, anger, and rage. This was all shown to us through the characters in the story.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Book Review: Bible Stories for Preschoolers

Bible Stories for Preschoolers is a very nice book, especially for gift-giving. Overall, I thought the book was a very good book for preschoolers. The illustrations were very bright and colorful, but not too babyish. The stories were very engaging – they are all written for an adult to read to the preschooler – and are filled with some interactive questions throughout each of the stories, which I really liked.
At the end of each of the stories there is a family activity to do, which I thought was a very nice addition to the book, as well as a memory verse.
The only thing I (slightly) disliked about the book was that some of the pages had too many words on them, which lost my (just-turned) 3-year-old son’s attention. But, overall, I really liked this book. It was a nice-sized book (432 pages) filled with lots of stories from the Bible - from Adam & Eve to Jonah from the Old Testament...and stories about Jesus from the New Testament. I think most preschoolers would really like this book. I also think it’s a great book to read together as a family, especially with the extra questions that are written into the stories and the activities at the end of the chapters.


Disclosure of Material Connection: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Book Review - The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook

The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook (subtitle: Slaying the Living Dead Within) by Jeff Kinley is a very unique book. It is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction; half the book is a fiction zombie story, while the other half of the book is all about applying the Bible to our everyday lives. The zombie within us is our sin nature, and this book helps us - through the fiction story as well as with lots of Bible applications – learn how to “tame” the zombies within us.
I must admit that after reading the first chapter, I was ready to put the book aside. It was a little boring – filled with too much info on the background of the fiction part of the book. (All of the first chapter made more sense after reading the second fiction chapter.) But, I kept reading, and am very glad I did so. Upon reaching the next chapter (which is the first “Bible application” chapter), I really got “into the book”. This Bible chapter was about right and wrong and why humans sin – and basically started with Adam and Eve and their story.
The Bible application chapters are very much “in your face” and straight-to-the-point, and they really make you look at yourself deep down. These chapters are written in a way that applies to today’s culture. At the end of the book, there’s also lots of discussion questions for each chapter, which would make this book be great for a small group study, also.
Overall, I really liked this book, and intend to go back and re-read the Bible application chapters, and try to study them more in-depth for a personal introspective study.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Book Review - One Call Away - by Brenda Warner

“One Call Away” by Brenda Warner is the memoir Brenda Warner herself. Her story is a quite a remarkable story of strength, faith and love. When I read her book, it made me stop and really think about how lucky I am to have a wonderful husband, and 3 amazing, healthy kids. Brenda’s story was inspiring, and the book contained many valuable lessons.
Brenda had a life full of many hardships and challenges. She lived through everything bad that you can imagine. She had a son who had a terrible accident changing his life forever, a shocking revelation leading to a divorce, a time of poverty, and a terrible loss because of a natural disaster. However, she had her family to support her. And when her parents passed away, she had Kurt, who later became her husband, to help her get past her hardships. Brenda remained a strong woman, because after all, she was a marine. She worked through her issues, instead of turning from them. She, like any other human being, made several mistakes, and learned from them.
Through her book, I realized that God is truly great, and we can always turn to Him because he really cares. Overall, this was a very good book, and I would definitely recommended it to any of my friends, men or women, because it shows that through good and bad, we can (and should) always put our faith in God.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Book Review - Desert Gift - by Sally John

“Desert Gift” by Sally John is a really great fiction book about marriage. The book’s main character, Jill, is a syndicated talk radio show host and has just released her first book. Both the talk show and the book are on her insights and “rules” for a good marriage, which she thought she had. However, as she was leaving to go on a publicity tour for her book, her husband dropped a bombshell on her – he wanted a divorce.
Jill then spent some time reflecting on her life and her marriage, trying to figure out what went wrong. Through this process, she discovered a lot about herself – and it wasn’t all good. But, with help from her friends, sister, parents, and above all else, God, she sorted through everything, thought of ways to become a better wife and friend for her husband, and eventually worked things out.
I really enjoyed this book, it was hard to put down when I was reading it. It is a fiction book, but there are a lot of insights to gain about marriage by reading this book…I know that throughout the book I found myself digging deep down inside of myself to see where I could improve at being a wife. And just like Jill discovered, God is always there to help us when we ask Him.



Disclosure of Material Connection: Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**

Book Review: LOVE by Calvin Miller - a Bible study guide

LOVE by Calvin Miller is a six-week Bible study, mainly to be used by small groups, but I found it was ok to use as an individual study, too. It is part of a Bible study series on “The Fruit of the Spirit”.

I really liked the format that this Bible study used. Each week has it’s own memory verse; plus each week’s “lesson” is divided into six daily mini-lessons. Each daily “mini-lesson” centers on its own verse(s) and its own topic; plus every day there are two questions for personal reflection. The seventh day is the group discussion questions.

I found the weekly topics (as well as the sub-topics used on the daily lessons) were very well thought out, and used a good assortment of different verses pertaining to love. There was enough background content included in each section that helped you to think, but not enough to give you all of the answers yourself. You really had to think about things and had to “dig deep” within yourself to answer the questions (most of which were directed at your personal feelings, etc.)

The seventh day of each weekly lesson had about six group discussion questions to answer and discuss together. The book said the group discussion should last about 45 minutes, but unless you have a really talkative group, I don’t think the questions would necessarily take 45 minutes to discuss. A lot of the group discussion questions were still slightly personal in nature.

As stated earlier, I really liked the format of this book, and would like to study from the other books in the series. My only “drawbacks” are: I thought the group discussion sections should have more questions, and maybe not so many that are really personal in nature, because not everyone likes to share their feelings in a group setting. Also, I wish the book would have just a few “hints” for the group (or group leader) to use to at least get a conversation/discussion started. Most books have these, and while sometimes they aren’t helpful, or aren’t used by the groups, I find it’s a good place to start if the group needs a little help in getting started. Overall, I would recommend this book for small groups and/or individuals to use.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

**Link is an Amazon affiliate link**