Ordinary Suspense

For years now, one of my go-to genres has been suspense. The tangled plots that mess with your mind just enough to convince you that you're always on the verge of solving the crime for yourself  make these the kinds of books that I almost always fly through.  "Beneath the Surface" by Lynn H. Blackburn is one of those books that's perfect for times when such a mood strikes.

It's the first book in a brand new series and will be hitting shelves in bookstores and libraries at the end of this month. If you're in the mood for a little suspense that is developed just as much through ordinary people as it is through a horrific string of murders, then this will be a good fit for you! I'll admit, this one seemed to be more about the characters themselves than the actual murderer on the loose angle. As hard as I tried, I didn't have any idea who I was up against or who to suspect and it didn't seem as though Blackburn was concerned with making that possible.

In some ways, it was nice to just sit back while the story happened, but my mind does like the challenge of sorting through all the evidence that suspense writers usually toss out there. There wasn't any one character that I was especially taken with. The romance between two of the main characters that was apparently a LONG TIME coming took center stage and there weren't any real obstacles in the way of things working out between them.

My favorite part by far, as hard as this is for me to admit, were the food references. Blackburn, who lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, was very generous with details where food was concerned. Since the book happens to take place in Carrington, North Carolina, that meant Southern cooking was basically a well developed character with a role to play. Which...Was fine by me!

I may continue reading the series to get to know the supporting characters (and for more stories filled with awesome food on display against a southern backdrop), but if nothing else, this one was a great way to spend a few days while winter took a little break.

What's something you appreciate in books that might be a little odd?

What's one genre you go to again and again for a quick read?

*I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own honest opinion. 

Island of New Beginnings

"The Red Door Inn" by Liz Johnson is a novel set on Prince Edward Island. In this story, a woman named Marie is in the process of leaving her life in Boston behind. She sets her sights on starting over on Prince Edward Island because of her infatuation with LM Montgomery and the famous Anne of Green Gables saga. I don't share Marie's admiration for Montgomery, but I am very familiar with the pull a faraway can have on a person because of the way an author portrayed it in books.

Along the way, we meet an old man named Jack who will endear himself to you from the moment you meet him. Johnson mixes in a wide range of characters who are absolutely perfect for the roles that she designates for them to have in this story about starting over, carrying on, and renovating a B&B in one of the most touristy places in the world. I read the first 200 pages of this book in one evening and finished the rest of it the next day. It's not necessarily a quick read, in fact, it's the kind you could take slowly if you wanted to. Once I got going I just couldn't seem to stop. I wanted to see what Johnson had in store.

With the introduction of Jack's nephew Seth, I started to wonder if Johnson was going to disappoint me. I'm not a fan of mushy-gushy chick-lit. This book walks the line. 200 pages in and things could have really gone either way. That first evening, I was getting to know Marie, kind of swooning over Jack, getting a feel for the island life, growing super curious about how the B&B would turn out, and hoping that the Seth plot would not ruin things. Marie and Seth's story does take up a fair amount of space, but I wasn't disappointed. The B&B remained central and Johnson did a great job of keeping things balanced.

If you're looking for an enjoyable novel, this is probably one you'll enjoy. It's not a mystery and there isn't any real dilemma. It's a nice easy story about a handful of people on Prince Edward Island. Johnson gives her readers plenty to think about as her characters wrestle with hope, forgiveness, the idea of "home", and figure out how to relate to God. Whether you grew up sharing Marie's love for Montgomery, find B&Bs enchanting, tend to read heavy books, or not, Johnson's "The Red Door Inn" will have something for you.

Grab your copy HERE.

What have you been reading lately? 

*I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher. All thoughts are my own honest opinion. 

The Feathered Bone Review

I have always been one to choose a book because of its cover. From the moment I saw the mostly blues and blacks and the font that reminded me of ribbons on the cover of "The Feathered Bone" by Julie Cantrell , I was drawn in. I've never read anything by Cantrell and I didn't even know what the book was about. All I knew was that THIS looked like a GOOD one.

Last Friday night, I pulled it out before bed and read the first few chapters or so. That little preview clued me into the fact that it was set in New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina. Cantrell didn't waste any time setting the stage. By the time I read a few more pages the next morning, I had a pretty good idea about where the plot might be headed.

By Sunday afternoon, I couldn't put it down. I did something I rarely do and spent pretty much the entire afternoon finishing this book. I HAD to figure out where these characters were going and how the story line resolved itself. So, there is my pitch. "The Feathered Bone" by Julie Cantrell is hands down, the book that has proved to be the most difficult to put down so far this year.

Now, you need to know that this is not a happy book. As I told Allegra and Cassandra about it at church Sunday morning, Cassandra made a face and shook her head, "Oh, my! No, I can't read books like THAT. I'd get depressed."

This fiction book deals with some HEAVY topics It's not a lighthearted beach read, but rather a book that will dig deep and really make you think about life and your philosophy of it. Seriously...I actually wrote notes in the margins in several places. I almost never do that with fiction.

That said, it's exactly the kind of book I crave as I prepare to come out of winter. This book couldn't have come along at a better time. I've been thinking and reading and writing about the idea of home and the tragedy of longing for it. I've been wrestling with the theme of suffering and slowly coming around to see God's good purpose and HAND in it. I'm always curious about New Orleans. I've spent 25 years in a world where husbands and fathers hurt the very people they are supposed to take care of.

This book leaves no stone unturned. It takes the hardest things in life and places them right in your face. My pastor's sermon on Sunday even tied right into the way this book connected the things in my mind lately (I'm telling you this so that I can share the link with you if you're interested).

If you need a book that will challenge you and give you something to chew on for a while, this is it! Cantrell is fantastic. Maybe it's because I read it in one weekend, but this book really affected me in so many good ways. If you read it, please be sure to tell me!

Grab your copy HERE.




*I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher. All thoughts are my own honest opinion. 

Roots and Sky

Every now and then I come across a book that really resonates with me. Roots and Sky by Christie Purifoy is one of those books. Purifoy has been blogging and writing articles for other websites and now she can call herself a published author.

I'm not exaggerating when I saw that Roots and Sky is made up of the most refreshing prose I've ever read. Reading this book is like stepping outside on a spring day and taking the deepest breath you possibly can. You can feel the sun, but you can also feel the cool breeze and the fresh air in your lungs helps you to forget the months you've spent cooped up inside waiting for a moment like this to come around again.

This book is basically a memoir of the seasons. It's about Purifoy's longing for home and how finding it helped her to see that the home God is preparing for her (or her for) is where lasting satisfaction will be found. Each chapter is short. Each section corresponds to a season. I recommend reading it through once and then digging into section by section as the seasons pass.

As you know, I've found myself in a strange situation. I'm in a new house, in a new town, with a brand new church. I don't know how long this temporary move will last or if it will even be temporary. The last few years have taught me that a lot of my unrest has come from a certain longing, namely, a longing for the home I once knew and the stability and security it offered. Reading about someone else's longing and one whole year of receiving was exactly what I needed this winter.

Not only does Purifoy share my longing for home, she also shares my love for God, family, gardening, tea, books, and gathering people together. I learned more about the church calendar and I have a list of flowers to research. More than that, the perspective that God has been teaching me was strengthened.

I think we all long for home. Some of us have homes to keep and to guard and to hang on to. Whatever side of the longing we find ourselves on, there is one thing we need to know and Purifoy uses this book to lay it all out. As she says in the introduction, "This is the story of my journey home. This is the story of a kingdom come."

Order your copy today by clicking HERE.



*I received a review copy from the publisher and all thoughts are my own honest opinion.

More Than A Mystery

Detective novels are my favorite. They belong to a genre that always keeps readers on their toes. If you can find a good author, then every new release means another book gets added to your reading list. Irene Hannon is one of those authors that I keep tabs on. Her stories always draw me in. I'm someone that finds it pretty easy to walk away from a book even if I'm enjoying it immensely. Hannon gets the better of me. I almost always finish her books in just three or four sittings.

When I'm reading Hannon, I might sit on the kitchen floor to read a few more pages while a pot of pasta simmers on the stove or while a tray of cookies comes to life in the oven. When I'm reading Hannon, I know I'm in for a treat.

That's exactly how things went when I picked up my review copy of her latest novel, "Thin Ice". This book happens to be the second in her Men of Valor series. A woman named Christy Reed takes the center stage in this thriller that is just spooky enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.

In typical mystery fashion, this is a race against the clock. Readers will find themselves wrapped up in staying one step ahead of the plot by paying careful attention to the information Hannon allows them to access.

Without giving away any spoilers I'll tell you that "Thin Ice" involves an abduction and one person's attempts at seeking revenge. Christy needs to examine the past before she can ever get on with the future. As you might have guessed from the cover, ice skating plays a brief role in the plot, but not so much that non-skaters like me would get bored with the details.

While there are a few cliches here and there that Christian fiction can't seem to escape from, there are also a few moments that will stop you in your tracks. In fact, I folded three particular pages over so that I could come back to them. What I'm trying to say is that Hannon gives you a mystery, but she also gives you characters who are learning lessons and overcoming obstacles that we can all relate to.

Pick up your copy here.




*I received a review copy from the publisher and all thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Let's Garden

It's no secret that gardening is one of my favorite hobbies! Aside from working alongside other gardeners, books are the place that I go when I need to learn more about a certain plant.

I have a small shelf dedicated to the books on gardening that I turn to again and again. My most recent addition to this shelf was the latest edition of "The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden" by Karen Newcomb.

When it comes to gardening books, you never know what you're in for. Some books have a ton of information and no pictures. Other books have a bunch of pictures and yet don't tell you very much about actually caring for the plants. The best books are the ones that have the perfect balance of helpful information along with informative illustrations. 

I'll tell you right now: "The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden" is most definitely part of the best books category! 

Let's take a peek inside so that you can see for yourselves! 

Newcomb begins the book by explaining the planning process. She shares her knowledge on how to figure out how many plants to plant, how much room they need, and how to arrange your garden, as well as the benefits that certain plants offer. Rather than just telling you to draw a diagram, Newcomb provides eleven diagram examples for her readers!

The helpful information continues throughout the rest of the book! She covers everything from the soil and watering to planting timelines and troubleshooting help. If you've ever thought about starting a garden of any size or have been gardening for years, this book will be an invaluable resource for you! 

I began my vegetable gardening journey in 2010. After hearing so many people talk about their failed gardening attempts, I decided to take it very slowly. Looking back, I'm so glad that I made that choice! Whenever I talk to someone who is thinking about gardening, I always give them the advice that has been my gardening game plan:

Choose one new vegetable each year and learn everything you can about it. 

Learn when to plant it, where to plant it, how much water it requires, how to care for it, when to harvest its produce, how to use or put up its harvest, and how to save its seeds. Each year, I've been forced to pour over a handful of gardening books, ask my friends, and occasionally look for articles online to get answers to all of my questions.

That hunt is over now that I have this book in my hands! I was super excited when I came across the section dedicated to telling you everything you need to know about pretty much any vegetable you would consider growing.

 

 "The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden" will not disappoint! Like I said earlier, wherever you are as a gardener, this is a resource that will be sure to help you.  Grab your copy HERE.

If you ever have questions about gardening or just want to chat about it, please don't hesitate to e-mail me!!!

Do you grow vegetables?

If you aren't a gardener, what has held you back? 

* I was provided with a review copy of this book by Blogging for Books. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Buried Secrets

I have a handful of favorite authors. I watch for their books to be released so that I am sure not to miss anything. When I was offered a review copy of Irene Hannon's latest release, I didn't even have to stop to think about accepting! Hannon's books are always suspenseful and I never tire of the plots that she weaves together.

"Buried Secrets" is a book that will keep you guessing. Just when I thought I had something figured out, a new detail would surface and I was forced to think things through once more. I don't want to give any spoilers, so you'll just have to trust me when I tell you that "Buried Secrets" will not disappoint.

I enjoyed the way that plot unfolded even though it seemed like it was a little slow going at first. This is one of those books that flashes back and forth a little bit. The main characters face a pretty typical dilemma, but Hannon takes off as soon as the ground work is laid. You'll find yourself excited to keep reading!

You should know that this is the very first book in a new series! If you haven't read Hannon before, this might be a good book to start with because it will give you something to look forward to. I think it would make an especially good summer read!

Grab your copy here.

 Have you read any of Irene Hannon's books before?

What's the newest release you've read?

*I received a review copy from the publisher and all thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Hope, Home, and What's Fair

Back in February, I read a book that everyone is talking about and I found out what the big deal was. Anthony Doerr's book, "All The Light We Cannot See" is a book that will stick with you. I read it in about a week, but it still hasn't left me. Every book that I picked up after it had to compete with it. No book could. A review copy of another book came in the mail and I knew I needed to get to it...I felt bad because I was pretty confident the book wasn't going to get a fair review.

"By Your Side" by Candace Calvert caught me by surprise. It is different from Doerr's book in every way, but I have to tell you that it is the first book that I was able to really enjoy after it! Calvert was an ER nurse and she brings her experiences there into her writing. "By Your Side" follows Macy Wynn (an ER nurse) as she finds herself in the middle of something completely unimaginable. I loved getting to know Macy. I've never been one to watch shows that center around hospitals or read books that I call "medical dramas", but Calvert changed my mind!

She gave enough detail to make the urgency of each crisis clear without overwhelming me with goriness. She wove a thread of questions that so many of us struggle with into the story in a way that shows she really cares for her readers. While Macy struggles with what's fair and tries to come to grips with an idea of "home", we meet other characters who are also trying to continue hoping during times that are very confusing.

This book with a nurse and a cop bulging his muscles on the cover was the last thing I expected to make me so eager to read again! Calvert writes a story that is easy to invest yourself in. She reminded me that with God there is always hope and that home is a blessing from Him. "By Your Side" also brought another familiar truth to my mind which is that life isn't always fair, but it's really not up to us to decide what is fair in the first place.

Pick up your copy here.

*I received a review copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts are my own honest opinion. 

A Call To Rise

When I was 15, I attended a week long conference where I came face to face with the truth that I was created for the glory of God. I may have come to Christ at 9, but it wasn't until I was 15 that I FINALLY knew what being a Christian was all about. After years of searching for the answer to the "now what" questions that were constantly coming up in my mind, I had answers!

To this day, I can't help but wonder how many other people have those same questions going on in their heads. I'm always looking for ways to remind myself of the importance of the Gospel in my life so that I don't lose sight of what it means to be a Christian. Rap that is faithful to the Gospel has played a huge part in my fight against sin and complacency.

One of my most recent finds came in the form of a book that happens to be authored by one of my favorite rappers. By the time I finished chapter 6, I was telling anyone who would listen about this new book that I'd been reading. You see, most of my friends don't listen to rap, but if I could get them to read this book, they'd finally be able to come into contact with this man that has been a huge encouragement to me since his first record deal!

"Rise: Get Up and Live in God's Great Story" by Trip Lee is that book. It's a book that takes a place right alongside a handful of other books that have encouraged and challenged me to BE a Christian. It's a book about living the life I've been called to live as one of God's people. I had my pen out to mark and underline and star things constantly. I picked up this book right as I was getting to Ecclesiastes in my Bible reading plan and I paused "Rise" to go through the book of the Bible that plays a crucial role in helping readers understand what Trip is trying to communicate.

As Trip says on page 48, "There are really only two ways to respond to Jesus: you can deny yourself and follow Him, or you can deny Him and follow yourself." That's the kind of hard-hitting truth that Trip has been weaving into his songs. I'm excited to be able to say that he is just as faithful to God's Word in this book!

I will say that I feel careful discernment is needed in chapters 12 and 14. I would love to sit down with Trip to chat about them. My concern is that these chapters hold implications on music and living as a Christian in a culture that is anti-Christian that could lead some people to compromise. I know that is not his intent at all, but I still feel that these chapters could be taken the wrong way.

Overall, I'm excited to get this book into people's hands. It will lead you to take stock of your life. It will answers the questions that you may not have even realized that you have. Whether you call yourself a Christian or not, you've got a life to live. This book is all about living a life that counts. Pick it up, read it, discuss it, and most importantly: rise!

God has called you to Himself and into His story. We're meant to live for His glory and Trip Lee has used a pen to join God in declaring this truth.

Click HERE to get your copy! 

For more from Trip Lee, click HERE. Since no post is really complete without a little music, here's "Real Vision" which happens to be one of my favorite songs and a great intro to Trip Lee for those of you who've been wondering about this talk about rap:

*I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Another Saturday Another Series

The last Monday of the first month of this new year is already behind us. I have mixed feelings about how quickly this year is already flying by. "At Home in Last Chance" by Cathleen Armstrong is another thing that I have mixed feelings about. I've really enjoyed Armstrong's writing in the past, but this book took some getting into. 

"At Home in Last Chance" is the third book in the "A Place to Call Home" series. It's set in present day New Mexico in the tiny town of Last Chance. I've grown to love Last Chance and the people that live there, but this book centers on a couple of new comers. If I'm honest, I care for these new characters about as much as the rest of Last Chance, which is not much at all! Maybe that's exactly what Armstrong was aiming at.

This novel revolves around Kaitlyn, a young woman who has reached the end of herself and is ready to get a fresh start. Only, she's not quite as ready as she thought. Characters like that tend to get very little sympathy from me, but I really did want to see Kaitlyn work things out! I grew to like her as the book continued, but those first few chapters were a real test of my endurance! With every leading lady there comes a guy trying to get her attention. That's where Steven comes in...Steven thinks he is all that and then some. Thankfully, Steven's Gran is more than ready to set him straight! In fact, she happens to be my favorite character. She is always ready to lend a hand, even when it came to helping Kaitlyn with her seven year old daughter Olivia.

Armstrong has a way of setting the scene that is unique. I happen to love the role that food and family play in this series. This book in particular is good for people like me to read! There comes a time when we all need a little help. It's up to us to be willing to take the help when we need it and lend help when the opportunity comes up too.

If you can make it through the first few chapters, it does pick up. You get to follow the characters that you became attached to in the first two books and you come to see other sides of both Kaitlyn and Steven. Overall, I give this book 3 stars. It's not a book that I loved, but I did keep reading it!

If it sounds like a book to keep you reading this winter, get your copy HERE.

* I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Let's Bake Breakfast Muffins

When I read books, I tend to mark them up. I underline things, write notes in the margins, and use the blank pages at the front of books to make indexes of my notes. Sometimes I even mark up the introduction and the footnotes.

Tyler Florence's new cookbook, "Inside the Test Kitchen", taught me that cookbooks even call for this kind of interaction! His unique style really came through with this book that is bound like a moleskine journal and features pictures that were only taken with an iPad.

The book begins with a brief summary of Tyler's kitchen history as well as an introduction that featured some words that took me right back to the wisdom my Mom shared with me all the way through elementary school.

I have another habit...Whenever I eat food that I didn't make, I immediately start trying to figure out what flavors I'm tasting. If I love the food, I start making mental notes about what it will take to recreate it in my own kitchen.

Tyler's recipe for "5-in-1 Baking Mix" was the push that I needed to finally give my friend Julie's breakfast muffins a try. I'm excited to be able to tell you that the muffins were a complete success!

"Inside the Test Kitchen" is loaded with pictures that are super helpful. Before I started messing with things, I poured over the whole section related to the "5-in-1 Baking Mix" recipe. Tyler explained why it works and added extra notes in the margin, which happen to be written with a sharpie. Grab a copy for your kitchen HERE.

I combined my adaption of Tyler's "5-in-1 Baking Mix" with grated cheddar cheese, breakfast sausage, butter, milk, and egg. I gave it a stir and spooned it into muffin tins...20 minutes later, I had 20 of these gorgeous muffins! I have to mention that it also happened to be January 20th. I'm so tempted to call these things "20-20-20 Muffins" or "20 in 20 on 20 Muffins".

Enough about me and my strange habits...Here's the muffin recipe!

Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar

6 tablespoons butter, melted

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 lb. breakfast sausage, browned and cooled
8 ounces medium cheddar cheese, grated

Steps:
After you've got your sausage browned and cooled and your cheese grated, make sure your oven rack is in the middle of your oven. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease your muffin tins.

Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine the butter, egg, and milk.

Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, and stir until combined.

Mix in your cooled sausage and grated cheddar cheese. If the mixture is especially difficult to stir, feel free to add a touch more milk.

Spoon batter into muffin tins. Fill any empty slots with some water (about halfway will do).

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Remove muffins from tins and let rest on a rack until ready to serve or until completely cool. Store in the refrigerator in a ziplock bag. Makes 20 muffins.

I should mention that these muffins started flying off the cooling rack as soon as I removed them from the muffin tins! I have a feeling that I'll be making quite a lot of these in the years to come and I hope you will too.

Do you mark up your books?

Do you try to recreate recipes?

What was your latest kitchen success?

* I was provided with a review copy of this book by Blogging for Books. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Another Great Saturday

2015 has brought with it some pretty great Saturdays! On January 3, we got an extra day with friends in GA. On January 10th, I had just gotten home and was feeling pretty rotten about it. Jay's birthday and Joe's shopping trip served as perfect distractions. And then there was last Saturday...

Last Saturday was PERFECTION. I had the day to myself (half the house went to play laser tag and my Mom was working). I'm not a person that generally enjoys a day to myself, but I made the best of it. I started the day trying to finish up Rex Stout's "The Doorbell Rang", which happens to be a great mystery, if you're in the market for one of those. When that got old, I fixed myself some macaroni and cheese and left over chicken nuggets and turned on Pride and Prejudice (the Matthew Macfadyen version). From there, I switched things up with "Roman Holiday" (Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn). And then I went back to my reading.

I needed that day. I said "No" to a lot of things to make it mine, but it was so great to recharge and refresh.

This Saturday could turn out very similar. It just so happens that today is National Readathon Day. Since I've got several books going, I'm planning on doing at least some reading. It helps that I'm working on the third book in a series that has really had me interested! "Hidden Agenda" by Lisa Harris is just as good (if not BETTER?!?) than the other two books that came before it in her Southern Crimes series.

This particular book is set off the coast of Georgia as well as in Georgia. A side plot that has been present in the other two books is finally taking center stage. I've been trying to figure out this part of the mystery since I first found out about the series. "Hidden Agenda" obviously shares characters with the other books, but Harris also brought in some characters that we've never met before.

The plot is thick. We've got a police department with unknown moles, a drug cartel with a brutal and uncatchable leader, two people who find out that their Dad is not who they thought he was, and a carload of people on the run. The characters themselves are developed very well. Character development is easy to skip in suspense stories, but Harris doesn't skip anything.

It's not often that I tell you about a book BEFORE I finish it, but I'm confident that this one will end with at least 4 stars to it's name! Grab  your copy HERE.

So...I've got another great Saturday waiting for me and I hope you do too!

What does your perfect Saturday look like? 

Do days to yourself excite you?

* I was provided a review copy of this book by Revell. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

DIY Type

I am not creative at all. Pretty much all of my friends and family members ARE crafty. When I saw this book, I immediately thought of my sister.

As you probably guessed, "DIY TYPE" by Dana Tanamachi comes with letter stencils and several different shape and border stencils. The stencils themselves are not quite as fancy as I thought they would be, but it turns out that this book is meant to be a starting point.

You will find several pages of ideas and how-to's to get you started!

"DIY TYPE" will be a great tool in helping you to create so many things. I'm loving the cake idea and I'm hoping that my sister will make a banner of some kind.

I'm confident all of you will love this book! My friend Robyn used one of the design stencils to dress up a mug.

I'm telling you, the possibilities are endless!

Pick up your copy HERE. 

Are you crafty?

What would you use stencils to make?

* I was provided with a review copy of this book by Blogging for Books. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

The Boston Girl

 

Boston is one of my favorite places and the early 1900's are one of my favorite times in history to read about. This novel caught my eye because it's all about an 85 year old woman looking back on her life and recounting her story to her 22 year old granddaughter. "The Boston Girl" by Anita Diamant is available for pre-order and will be releasing on December 9th. 

I've got to begin by saying that I was slightly disappointed with this novel. It's no secret that I've done some great reading this fall. This one just didn't keep up. It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't what I expected.

Addie (Diamant's main character) seems completely real. Born in 1900 to immigrant parents who happen to be Jewish, Addie wants nothing more than to BE an American Girl. She tries hard. It's difficult for me to read about "the grass is always greener" characters. The striving we do as young women usually takes us places we never meant to go. It's no different for Addie and her friends. Those are the kinds of elements and plot points that will probably draw other people in. 

As far as I know, this book is fiction. Diamant did incorporate events from the past as well as places and the way culture would have impacted the people who lived during those days. That's the part of the book that fascinated me! 

"The Boston Girl" has a little bit of everything. You'll love some of it, you'll want to shake Addie and her friends sometimes, and you'll be shaking your head in agreement in other places.

*I was provided a review copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Christmas Reading

Every December something called Christmas comes over me! Picking out an Advent study, pulling out the decorations, heading to the library on a hunt for some quick Christmasy novels, and baking until right before December 25th never get old.

The only thing different this year is that Christmas came over me in November! I've held off as long as I can, today I'm going to spread some cheer to you. This is also my very first post feature pictures taken with the fixed 50mm lens that I just got a few weeks ago!!! I LOVE it.

"The Christmas Cat" by Melody Carlson was the first Christmas book that I read this year. It's a very short read, but true to Carlson's style, packed with several great plots! I've received a lot of teasing for reading this book...I am not an animal person, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it!

I've been reading Carlson since I was ten or eleven years old. If her name is on the cover I'm going to give it a try for sure. We all have our favorite authors and she has been one of mine for years.

Let's talk about her latest release and then I'll tell you about my Gingerbread Hot Cocoa recipe...

"The Christmas Cat" is mostly set in present day Vancouver, WA and begins just before Thanksgiving. A man named Garrison is the main character and he begins the book with a few things to sort out. After being a missionary in Africa, he returns to the states and finds himself single, living with a buddy, and without a job. To complicate matters even more, he ends up losing his Grandmother and becoming the executor of her estate which includes six cats who are going to need homes.

Garrison's dilemma unfolds in Vancouver with a fair amount of humor, a smidgen of romance, and some good lessons that we can all relate to along the way.

You'll become pretty fond of Ruby (the sweet older neighbor lady) and I hate to admit it, but even the cats themselves!

Sometimes you just need to read a good story and "The Christmas Cat" is exactly that. It's not one that will make you cry. The humor won't have you rolling your eyes. It really is the perfect book to enjoy with a hot drink on a cold winter day!

Grab a copy of "The Christmas Cat" today and be sure to tell me what you think!

* * * * *

A few years ago on my Grandma's birthday, I was baking up a batch of Ginger Cookies and I came up with the brilliant idea to use some of the spices from that recipe in hot cocoa.  This cocoa is pretty much Christmas in a cup if you ask me!

This recipe is not exact. I use less than an 1/8 of a teaspoon of each spice. You can adjust the amounts to your taste!

While the kettle is on the stove, pour your cocoa mix, a little ginger, ground cloves, and cinnamon into your cup.

Add your water and stir VERY well to make sure that all of spices are thoroughly mixed into the drink. Cinnamon can be a little stubborn, but it will come together. Pour in a splash of half & half and stir one last time.

Top with a dollop of whipped cream or some marshmallows and ENJOY!


12-12-12 Gingerbread Hot Cocoa
makes 1 serving

1 pkg hot cocoa mix
touch of ginger
little more ground cloves
little more cinnamon
water
splash of half & half (or milk)
optional: whipped cream or marshmallows

Set your kettle on to boil. Combine hot cocoa mix, ginger, ground cloves, and cinnamon in a mug.

Add water and stir VERY well until all of spices are dissolved completely. Stir in a splash of half & half.

Top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

ENJOY!

* I was provided with a review copy of this book by Revell. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

A Cookbook From Our Favorite Baker

Surely you've all heard of Joy the Baker by now! It's no secret that I love Joy. I have been reading her blog for the longest time and I talk about her as if she lives next door. Let's be honest, I definitely wish that she did.

When Joy's latest cookbook, "Homemade Decadence", came in the mail, I was excited to have it in my hands, but even more excited that it's a sign that Joy gets to keep doing what she loves. I'm so glad that she gets to do all of this baking for a living and that she chooses to blog her way through it.

This cookbook has some of the best pictures. I may be biased, but I really do love it! I was planning to sit down and mark down the recipes that I want to try out....but then I realized that I'd rather just grab this book on days when I feel like baking and whip something up because it looks good in that moment.

I think you'll find yourself wanting to do the very same thing!

This last Wednesday was one of those days. It was rainy and cold and dinner was in the crock pot. I had remembered seeing a recipe for Chai Tea Lattes in the book, so I pulled it out and got started.

My sister (who recently got into chai tea) came back from her piano lesson just as I was putting the milk on...She thought I saw her coming and decided to make her a drink. I WISH that's what I was doing, but it wasn't.

Needless to say, I added more milk! My sister had hers straight, without any coffee added. I had mine with the coffee, exactly as Joy suggested.

I used to work at a coffee shop where they had chai to rave about. Joy's chai is even better than that! It's strong and smooth and exactly what you want. I never thought to make chai this way, but I'm never going back. The trick is going to be NOT making it every single day.

My sister and I sat in the living room doing our own things while sipping on what is most definitely our new favorite drink...The rain kept coming and dinner kept cooking. I've e-mailed  Joy to ask her about sharing the recipe, so I'll share it as soon as I get the okay!

In the meantime, get your copy of Homemade Decadence HERE.

* I was provided with a review copy of this book by Blogging for Books. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Mystery Lovers Unite

I love a good mystery. My Mom who pretty much only reads theology books and mysteries was the first one to tell me about Irene Hannon. Ever since then, her covers draw me in and Dee Henderson's words about Hannon's books always add to my excitement.

Hannon creates characters who are facing extreme circumstances that could be headlines in the news. As you read her books, you have to remind yourself that this particular crime is fiction and that the main characters don't actually need your help. 

As I was reading Irene Hannon's newest release, "Deceived", I quickly realized that it wasn't a whodunnit as much as a HOW was it done and a race against time to make things right. Mysteries like that can be very refreshing! Hannon does an excellent job of tying in details about the investigation and creating characters with a lives that carry on in spite of the dilemma that is defining their life through the course of the book. 

"Deceived" is all about a woman named Kate who has been living in the aftermath of a boating accident that caused her to lose both her husband and her four year old son. On a trip to the mall she is convinced that she has seen her son. So, she hires a PI named Connor in an attempt to put her mind at ease. "Deceived" is proof that things are not always as they seem. You probably won't be able to put this one down, because Hannon is a master of cliffhangers. 

I'd point any mystery lover to "Deceived" and encourage them to check out Irene Hannon's other books too! Her style will be especially enjoyed by fans of Dee Henderson and even Mary Higgins Clark. Her style is the perfect combination of real life, mystery, and interesting details. 

Grab your copy HERE!

What's the last book that you finished reading?

Have you ever read any books by Irene Hannon? 

* I was provided with a review copy of this book by Revell. All thoughts are my own honest opinion. 

Nuggets of Gold

"Wonder Working God" by Jared C. Wilson is a book to read slowly. If you're like me, you'll find yourself reading a chapter or two at a time and then spending several days going back over the key points.

Wilson is an excellent theologian. I have enjoyed reading his articles on the internet for quite some time, but this is my first time reading one of his books. He tends to be very true to the text so I was disappointed and surprised when I came across sections where he embellished Scripture by filling in the blanks and talking about what else MIGHT have been going on. I find it extremely unhelpful when people handle God's Word this way. Another thing that kept stopping me in my tracks were the places where Wilson used what I would describe as "juvenile" phrases to make a certain point. I'm sure many would find his style relatable, but I had to work very hard to get past it.

HOWEVER, every single time I would decide that this book just didn't pass muster, he would come right back around and share an application of Biblical truth that was spot on. I'd find myself highlighting a sentence or paragraph and making a note so that I can return to it later.

I have come to the conclusion that while this book did not meet my expectations or unpack the miracles of Jesus in a way that was particularly unique, it is not a book we should dismiss. Pick up your copy HERE and get ready to see how Jesus' miracles fit into God's big picture. You might even discover that many of them contain convicting lessons that will bring you to your knees.

Mr. Wilson, thank you for studying God's Word, taking the time to share what you've learned, and for being dedicated to the glory of our great God!

 * I was provided with a review copy of this book by Crossway. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

When You Must Write

When Waterbrook offered to send me a copy of Robert Benson's latest book, "Dancing on the Head of a Pen", I was ecstatic. There is something about reading about writing from someone else's perspective that always intrigues me. This book promised to be a kind of writing memoir aimed at inspiring others to pick up their pens and fill pages of their own. Benson's hope for this book is that it will:

"...help you write one of your own. If you are not sure whether or not you can write a book, this one will not answer the question. You will have to write a book before you will know. I do hope these pages will give you a way to begin to make dark marks on pages of your own." (p. 13)

No matter how much we love it, writing is hard. You can read about those writers who have inspired Benson the most in chapter 8 and  in the section at the end titled, "On Gratitude". He knows that getting alone, sticking with it, and believing that the words are important are struggles that all writers share. Benson has faked it (you can read about that in chapter 3), but he has also put the work in and come out on the other side to see his name in print.  

He knows what it's like to desire real people to read your work (you can read about this in chapter 5), so he devotes several chapters to the process of sharing your work with others, putting the finishing touches on it, and realizing that you are free to move on to the next one (see chapters 11 and 12). 

In short, this is one of my favorite books on writing. I have a feeling it will become one of your favorites too!

Click HERE to order your copy today. 

* I was provided with a review copy of this book by Blogging for Books. All thoughts are my own honest opinion.

Back Burner Mystery

Back in May, I reviewed a copy of the second book in the Drew Farthering series for Bethany House. When they offered me a copy of the third book, I was pretty excited to continue the story!
Julianna Deering's newest release, "Murder at the Mikado" seemed like the perfect August read.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this one. The back and forth between Drew and his fiance was just too much for me. He was sneaky. She didn't like it. They worked it out. But then they realized that they really hadn't. The mystery seemed to take a back burner, which was disappointing to me. 

There were about 150 pages that were SOLID and had me ALMOST changing my mind about this book. I was eager to figure out which clues were meant to lead me astray. Those pages had me content to keep reading so that I could get to the bottom of exactly WHO was behind the crimes taking place.  

No sooner did I really get into it that the mood changed and it was right back to the on again off again relationships between certain characters.

Deering is so capable of putting together a good story. I'm just not in it for the human interactions and cliche dilemmas that they may face.  

While I couldn't get into this book, you might just love it! If you are interested, you may pick up a copy HERE. 

* I was provided a review copy of this book by Bethany House. All thoughts are my honest opinion.