Silent Night by Colleen Coble

About the Book:

 

As Christmas day nears, Bree and her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a troubling mystery into the snowy forests of Rock Harbor.

Bree Matthews is preparing for Christmas guests, but her heart is reeling from the recent and tender loss of her unborn child. Her sister-in-law, Lauri, suddenly turns up on the doorstep of the lighthouse home Bree shares with her husband, Kade, in Rock Harbor. Secretive and withdrawn, Lauri seems curiously intent on discovering what happened to a parachuter who disappeared in the North Woods along Lake Superior’s icy shore.

As Bree and Samson, her search-and-rescue dog, plunge into the search, Bree wonders if Lauri may know more than she’s admitted about the parachuter. And then the clues lead them to the trail of a young woman whose family fears the worst about her disappearance.

Will the search on this snowy, silent night lead Bree and Samson to more than clues about the missing girl? And will Bree’s prayer for a baby ever be answered?

 

My Opinion:

I was looking for a short Christmas novella that would be a quick read and get me feeling Christmas-y since it’s feeling more like Easter lately than Christmas where I’m at and Silent Night fit the bill on both accounts.  It was short, nine chapters short – which made it perfect for this busy mom of three to read in one day.  Some would assume that in that short of book that the plot wouldn’t be well developed or the characters, but they would be wrong on both accounts.  While the plot was a bit more hurried that didn’t take away from the story or the suspense as Bree finds out what happened to the parachuter who was found dead.

 

Having read other books of Colleen Coble, I’m familiar with her work but I’ve not read any of her other Rock Harbor series but that will be soon changing as I’d like to really delve into the characters that are in this book.  Yes, this novella can stand alone, enough background information is given that the reader has enough information as to who is married to who or at least related so that the rest of the book falls into place.  A wonderful read that I was glad to have taken the time to read and enjoy.

 

**Disclaimer:  I was provided an e-book from Booksneeze (Thomas Nelson) in exchange for posting my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

An Amish Kitchen by Beth Wiseman, Amy Cliptson and Kelly Long

 

About the book:

 

The Amish Kitchen is the Heart of the Home – and the Ideal Setting for Stories of Love and Hope.

Fall in Paradise, Pennsylvania, always brings a brisk change in the weather. This season also ushers in unexpected visitors, new love, and renewed hope for three women.

Fern has a green thumb for growing healing herbs, but longs for love to bloom in her life. Then the next-door neighbor’s oldest son, Abram, comes running into Fern’s kitchen seeking help for his little sister. The crisis soon leads to a promise of romance—until mistrust threatens to end the growing attraction.

Nearby, Hannah runs her parents’ bed and breakfast, Paradise Inn—but her life feels nothing like Paradise. She longs for a man of integrity to enter her life, but never expected him to knock on the front door looking for a room. Will she be able trust Stephen with her future once she discovers his mysterious past?

When a storm blows a tree onto Eve’s farmhouse, she has little choice but to temporarily move her family into her parents’ home. Outside of cooking together in the kitchen, Eve and her mother can’t agree on anything. But this may be just the recipe for hope in healing old wounds.

Three Amish stories—each celebrating love, family, and faith—all taking place in a tight-knit community where the kitchen truly is the heart of the home.

Also Includes Reading Group Guide and 45 Old Order Amish Recipes.

 

My Opinion:

 

You don’t have to be Amish to know that life sometimes really does revolve around the kitchen – family gatherings, lunches with children, births…..did I say births well if you want to know more you’ll have to get your own copy of this three in one novella that is written by some of the top authors in Amish fiction.  The stories all intertwine to some extent and you’ll feel as if you really know these characters by the end of the book and the whole book just flows with seemingly no breaks, which makes for an enjoyable read (and quick).

 

I have to say though I loved the bit about the lizard, again you’ll have to get the book to know what I’m talking about, but the lizard part just tickeled my funny bone and had me laughing – which then had my family thinking I was perhaps going crazy as well.  Seeing the faith, family and love all being lived out by those who may have been dealt a bad hand is wonderfully inspirational and that is what this book is, inspirational.  There is some romance but nothing that I wouldn’t not let my oldest daughter read, although she only wants to read the one with the lizard in it!  Grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and visit in a Amish kitchen, even if it’s only in your imagination.

 

**Disclaimer:  I was provided an e-copy of this book from Booksneeze (Thomas Nelson) in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

Tough Guys and Drama Queens: How Not to get Blindsided by Your Child’s Teen Years by Mark Gregston

About the Book:

Parents of preteens and teens can move from scared to prepared with a new approach to parenting their adolescents.

Parents of preteens intuitively know that no matter how good their kids are, there is turbulence ahead. Many feel lost and unprepared as they watch the damaging effects of culture collide with their child’s growing pains and raging hormones.

For the past 35 years Mark Gregston has lived and worked with struggling teens and knows what it takes to reach them. He says, “A parent’s success has little to do with either the validity of their words or their intent as messengers, it’s more about how they approach their child and engage with them.”

The book is divided into three sections:

*What’s so different about today’s culture *Why traditional parenting no longer works *A new model for parenting teens

Foundational and practical, and written from the crucible of experience, Tough Guys and Drama Queens answers the questions that parents are asking, helping them become the parents their children need them to be.

My Opinion:

I wanted to like this book, really, I did but it seemed more written to the parents who have a child that is in a public or private school setting and isn’t taught not to follow the crowd.  Most people, including the author, I believe feel that all teenagers or those who aren’t teens in age but are in other ways are going to have rebellion and discord in their hearts and homes.  However, I don’t feel this way, if the parents are building a foundation with their child from birth.  This is what I’ve done and while not every day is perfect or stress free with my budding adolescent we do our best to work through the issues and I try to use the Bible as my guide, instead of using new parenting ideas that change from one generation to the next.

 

I’m not saying I don’t think the author doesn’t know what he speaks of in this book, he runs a center for youth to live in that need to be out of the house but I wonder how many of the children he sees have parents who are devoted to teaching their children Biblical truths for their life, teaching them at home instead of sending them to school and being truly and honestly involved?  I’m all for giving children responsibilities but I don’t think that should start at age 12 – it should start as soon as the child is able to walk, even a toddler can help empty trash cans or make their beds.  Yes, there comes a time when a child needs more control over their lives but certain issues are not up to them and while the child may resent it there are rules.

 

There were some things I could take away from this book, but I found it frustrating to read and even maddening at parts because it sounded to me, like a lot of what goes on today, that children need discipline but don’t be too hard on them because they have to learn to make mistakes at some point.  I think for a family whose child is following the crowd and has a peer group that is less than desirable and spends most of their waking time in a school building, this could be very helpful but for this homeschool mom, who desires to raise her children up to know and love the Lord it wasn’t much help.

 

**Disclaimer:  I was given an e-copy of this book from Booksneeze in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

The Beauty Book by Nancy Rue

About the book from Booksneeze:

Learn with Lily and her friends just what it means to be beautiful in God’s eyes—inside and out!

In a society so focused on the idea that external beauty reigns supreme, it can be difficult for young girls to figure out what “true” beauty is all about. This unique and creative book for girls ages 7–11 answers the common questions girls ask during this often confusing and overwhelming stage in their lives in an inviting and conversational manner.

Filled with fun quizzes, imaginative activities, and cool illustrations, The Beauty Book offers cool, relevant information about everything from great hair styles to tattoos, from skin care to clothes, and much more. Above all, the message that God-confidence is beautiful is highlighted on each and every page.

 

My Opinion:

 

As a mom with two daughters I’m always on the look out for books that inspire godly beauty and Biblical insights into being a girl.  The Beauty Book is definitely one of those books that I’m glad to be able to share with my girls.  My daughters are 10 and 7 and as they get older they are struggling to find out who they are and who they are supposed to be according to God – and having this book along side us while studying the Bible is exactly what we need.  I’m not saying I agree with everything in the book, I don’t think girls need to get their hair trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks – I trim mine maybe once or twice a year – and don’t have issues with hair not growing or with split ends.  However the advice given to girls is that if your parents say no, then it’s no, and maybe you can bring it up again in X months.  Right before I wrote this review my 10 year old asked if she could dye her hair green – um, no!

 

As girls mature younger and younger, they are going to have questions about their bodies and this book does a great job in answering those questions without taking away the parent’s involvement.  There is mention of breasts and shaving but if your daughter is reaching or has reached this point then it’s really a non-issue as it’s handled very well and from a Biblical standpoint of how to deal with the changes.  This is not a book to answer in depth questions such as body changes, but more in how to take care of their temple – their body, as they go through changes that have them unsure of themselves and the others around them.

 

**Disclaimer:  I received this ebook from Booksneeze/Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review, no other compensation was given.

 

 

Simple Secrets to a Happy Life by Luci Swindoll

 

About the book from BookSneeze:

 

Is it possible to stay full of life, laughter, love, and the Lord through eight decades in this crazy world? Is that even realistic? Yes! There is hope, and Luci Swindoll is living proof.

With heart and humor, this best-selling author and beloved speaker lays out the truths that can help us all become a little more creative, organized, healthy, and happy. This is not a complex prescription for how to become superwoman. These are simple secrets, the wisdom produced by years of walking with God and living well.

We don’t need more tips for “having it all,” but we could all use insight on “having what matters,” and there is no better guide than Luci Swindoll.

Luci has spent eight decades accumulating the stories, memories, verses, and practical tips that make up Simple Secrets to a Happy Life. Whether traveling the world or building life-long friendships, singing in the opera or working for Mobil Oil, every step has taught her a little more about how to love God, love her neighbor, and love herself.

The result is both personal and universal. Organized into fifty short chapters, her reflections form a simple and profound outline for making the most of the lives God has given us.

We could all use a little more joy in our lives, which means we could all use a little more Luci. Visit her through these snapshots of wisdom. You’ll find yourself drawn back again and again.

 

My Opinion:

 

Do you have less than five minutes a day to dedicate to getting back to a simpler way of life?  If so, then grab Luci Swindoll’s, Simple Secrets to a Happy Life – in it she gives fifty ways to make the most of everyday with simple to follow ideas.  I think we all long for a simpler way – whether it’s just a day without electronics or just a day to sit and relax in the shade (no, I’m not a sun girl) – we all try to find the simple things.

 

You don’t have to read the whole book in one day, choose one or two bits of wisdom and focus on those each day, enjoy the book, savor it.  It’s divided into five parts; Beginning with the Basics, Developing Your Style, Achieving Balance, Living a Good Life,  and Staying Connected and within each of these parts are several smaller areas to focus on such as:

• Honor Your Father and Mother
• Take Jesus with You Everywhere
• Decide What Is Not Neccessary
• Figure it Out for Yourself
• Trust Friends for the Truth
• and many, many more

 

This is a book that you won’t read just once, but you might  find yourself coming back to refresh your insight into the simple life or maybe just to once again remind yourself that the simple is within reach and not some far off dream that only the Amish can have.  There are lots of great truths both Biblical and from life that speak to the reader if you really put your mind into it and try to implement at least some of these great ideas.

 

**Disclaimer:  As a member of Booksneeze, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.

Farm Fresh Southern Cooking Straight from the Garden to Your Dinner Table By Tammy Algood

About the Book:

Is there anything better than a kitchen countertop spread with the spoils of a Saturday morning at the farmers’ market? Every trip yields some new assortment of old favorites and newfound treasures. One week, you’re tempted by the sun-warmed heirloom tomatoes and the Mason jars brimming with orange blossom honey. Another week, it’s the slabs of milky Havarti cheese and the Red Haven peaches heavy with juice, enticing you to spend just a little more than you planned. Kentucky pole beans, silky ears of sweet corn, and sacks of stone-ground buckwheat flour may find their way into your basket on another visit.

Whether you shop with a list or purely on impulse, you’ll always find the truest taste of home at the local farms, roadside stands, and produce markets in your community. These are the places that offer up the native flavors of the South and all its seasons. They are your portal to the fields, the waters, and the vines where your food is cultivated. Get to know the origins of what you eat and the people who produce it. Tammy Algood’s Farm Fresh Southern Cooking celebrates this experience with delicious recipes that will enhance the natural flavors of your latest market haul and stories of the South’s most dedicated growers and culinary producers

My Opinion:

I’m not in the South, but I do enjoy all things Southern (well almost, I don’t like sweet tea, all may be too strong of word) so imagine my delight when there is a cookbook that combines farm fresh ingredients and Southern cooking.  Like most cookbooks this is divided into appetizers, soups, salads, desserts, etc but unlike other cookbooks it features farm from the South that are worth looking into (physically or on the internet).  Don’t think you have to have  a garden to use these recipes, visit your local farmer’s market and pick from the wide array of food selections and prepare to be surprised at what you’ll find – sometimes even cheaper than the grocery.  Some recipes I want to try are time honored cheese crackers (using a cookie press!), cheddar muffin pan biscuits, show-off grilled cheese sandwiches and grilled pork loin with fresh tomato marmalade – there are many, many more.

There are a lot of full colored pictures through out of the various foods which lends a very cozy touch to the cook book and it’s easy to tell which picture belongs with what recipe.  I really, really enjoyed the spotlight sections which feature a farm of some variety, either for bees, catfish, veggies, fruit, etc – with information about location and website, if available.  The author also gives a description of her visit and a little history of each farm.  This makes me want to take a road trip to visit farms!  This cookbook is not only a trove of recipes but also a fun trip down South to some great farms that makes one want to take advantage of those local farms in their area.

**I was provided an e-book copy from Booksneeze through Thomas Nelson in exchange for posting my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

Eyes of Justice by Lis Wiehl, April Henry

About the book:

The Triple Threat Club has solved intense murder mysteries before…but this time it’s personal.

Cassidy, Allison, and Nicole fight for justice every day—Cassidy as a crime reporter, Nicole as an FBI agent, and Allison as a federal prosecutor. Together they’re a Triple Threat to be reckoned with.

But when a ruthless murderer kills one of their number—and the authorities seem intent on keeping them out of the investigation of the crime—their desire for justice goes into overdrive. They find an unexpected ally in a quirky private investigator named Ophelia whose methods confound the wise.

Yet just when it seems police have the killer in custody and justice is within sight, he somehow strikes again. Not knowing whom to trust, the team engage in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the killer. Nothing can be taken at face value…and nothing will ever be the same.

A riveting Triple Threat mystery that will leave readers shocked and satisfied.

My Opinion:

I’ve really, really enjoyed the other two books I read in this series, Triple Threat, and I was not let down with this one either, Eyes of Justice was an edge of your seat suspense that kept me flipping the virtual pages.  I read this book in one day – I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down – it was engaging and kept me up reading way past my bedtime and I was not disappointed, except for the loss of a character.  In a way since I’ve read the other books, the characters have become like another family – through miscarriage, pregnancies, losses and crimes I felt like I have come to know the women in the novels as another set of friends (although not in the I can’t leave the fantasy behind way).

I did find this one to be a bit more graphic in the description of crime scenes and after a murder two of the characters get drunk to drown their sorrows – although one must not have been too bad as she was driving – regardless, this one did seem to be making things a bit more gruesome which didn’t appeal to me as much.  Yes, I enjoyed the story, but I didn’t need complete scene descriptions as they were discovered.  The other thing that kept creeping up was that the character who was murdered was depicted as going to Heaven and that the other character prayed for the Lord to take her soul.  While this is a nice thought it goes against what Scripture says – so that part was bothersome to me as well.

Even with the above issues the book for me was one that I did enjoy, I liked the suspense and several times when I thought I knew who the killer was I was shocked to find that I was wrong!  It was a twist turning plot line that will definitely appeal to those who want a ‘clean’ suspense, meaning no cussing and no intimate relationship stuff.  If you don’t mind a few crime scene descriptions and a few drinks then this book will give you a great read.

**I was provided a copy of this e-book from Booksneeze through Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

Sherman: The Ruthless Victor (The Generals Series) by Agostino von Hassell & Ed Breslin

 

About the book from BookSneeze:

A compelling and rounded portrait of the man who set the stage for “total warfare,” Major General William Tecumseh Sherman.

General Sherman has come to be regarded as one of the most influential military strategists and tacticians. His campaigns in the South during the Civil War set the precedent for 20th century warfare. Sherman set the stage for “total warfare,” and for this he is considered the ultimate Yankee. In the American South, even to this day he is reviled for it. He was the self-fulfilling proponent of his apt observation that “war is hell.”

Psychologically complex, intellectually brilliant, militarily inventive, Sherman was hounded by depression and plagued by an inherited tendency to nervous collapse. Nevertheless, he compelled extraordinary loyalty from his troops. Sherman will explore these and many other aspects of his life and military career.

My Opinion:

As a lover of  Civil War history imagine my happiness when I had the chance to review the book on Sherman.  I knew about Sherman from history in high school but he was always made to be a hero, I’ve since learned that a lot of history text have been revised to show one side of a story and I’m sure that is what happened in our studies about Sherman.  I thought well he was fighting to end slavery so he must be a good guy – this is far from the truth and far from what I learned in school.

Even as I read this I still felt these authors had an agenda – most authors do and I understand that, they wouldn’t be human if they didn’t have some agenda.  Anyway, while Sherman definitely wasn’t innocent I’m sure he wasn’t the pure evil that this book made him seem to be.  He was racist and only fought for the North because he hated the fact that the South wanted to break up the Union, he became a white supremest, anti-American Indian not to mention he was hardly ever home to be a good husband or father.  He also couldn’t abide by religion, the authors made it seem like he only joined the Episcopal church so he could get in good with the powers that be.

I felt like I understood more of the man who instituted “total war” and now I know why the Southerners so feared Sherman (not just the romanticized view given in a famous novel) – of course we all know about the burning of Atlanta but I never knew about the other pillaging that occurred under his watch and even with his knowledge and consent.  I enjoyed some new fascinating historical tidbits such as what city didn’t celebrate the 4th of July until WW2?  As I said, while I don’t think Sherman was as evil, he was a man of his time and upbringing, as the authors make him seem I also don’t see him as the hero touted in history books.  A great read for someone who wants another view of Sherman and I could see this being a great resource for the older middle school student who needs to research the Civil War or Sherman himself.

**I was given an e-copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review, no other compensation was given.

I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to reclaim Her Heritage by Mary-Ann Kirkby

Book description from the Book Sneeze website:

A fascinating journey into the heart and culture of a reclusive religious community.

I Am Hutterite takes readers into the hidden heart of the little-known Hutterite colony where author Mary-Ann Kirkby spent her childhood. When she was ten, her parents packed up their seven children and a handful of possessions and left the colony to start a new life. Overnight they were thrust into a world they didn’t understand, a world that did not understand them.

With great humor, Kirkby describes how she adapted to popular culture, and with raw honesty she describes her family’s deep sense of loss for their community. More than a history lesson, I Am Hutterite is a powerful tale of retracing steps and understanding how our beginnings often define us.

My Opinion:

I was impressed with this book, since I am into studying the Anabaptist faith and cultures this book caught my eye when I requested to review it. The author, Mary-Ann Kirkby was raised Hutterite, which is a segment of the Anabaptists like Amish, Mennonite, etc however they live communal life, sharing all they have.

Mary-Ann made you feel as if you were sharing her journey of her life in Canada as part of a Hutterite colony as well as living apart from them. The hardships both in colony life and regular society is felt in her words, I could feel the taunts from school mates and the feelings of her first love. She realizes that the world was not as safe outside the colony but her parents along with her siblings made a safe haven at home.

Gripping from the first page Mary-Ann Kirkby weaves a fascinating story, all of it true, of life in a communal setting which provided for the needs of all including safety and a way to worship God. If you’d like to know more about the Hutterities then this book will give a great glimpse into this seemingly secret way of life and religion – however as you read you’ll also see how friendly these people can be, but also see how human they are and that even they have bad days.

**I received this book through Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review. To see my full disclosure see the above tab.

Friendship for Grown-Ups: What I Missed and Learned Along the Way by Lisa Whelchel

From the Book Sneeze website:

Former Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel shares her experiences of growing up without true friends and how she learned to find and develop them as an adult through God’s grace.

Not many people can say they lived their most crucial developmental years on the sound stage of a wildly popular TV show. But that’s exactly what happened in Lisa Whelchel’s life. As a child, she learned to guard her heart so tightly to avoid true hurt that she found herself unable to form lasting friendships as an adult.

Friendship for Grown-Ups details her experiences of learning to come out of her shell, to trust, risk, and become vulnerable by God’s grace and find meaningful friendships. Readers encounter her captivating story and refreshing perspective on life’s most precious gift—and they find practical tips for their own friendships along the way.

My Opinion:

I’ve read one of Lisa’s books before and so with this new one I just had to request it, because while I have friends and am a friend, I know I can always improve in that area. She built up walls to protect herself and I have done that as well – however she has been working at overcoming those walls so that she can be more transparent with her friends.

With this book I didn’t feel lectured at, like some self help books do, I felt as if I was having a chat with a friend while having a cup of coffee, legs curled up under me and sitting on a couch. With both practical and Scriptural basis for how she went about healing this book is a must have for those who have erected walls, for those who don’t know that they have or for those who are friends with ‘walls’. Many resources are included in this book to help make you a friend or a better friend, depending on what end of the spectrum you fall on.

I like the fact that there are questions for discussion or reflection, if you wanted to turn this into a woman’s study then this would be perfect or if you need to privately reflect – it’ll work for that as well. Lisa Whelchel also gives some steps for developing and growing friendships – things that are practical (she’s knows moms are busy, she has three and homeschooled them!) and easy for a mom to do. One way she even suggests is Facebook – for some reason it’s easy to be transparent on Facebook. The other one that really sticks out is keeping cards (assorted occasion and blank) to be mailed out as needed or thought of.

This wonderful book should be a resource for every woman who wants to be a friend or become a better friend. A quick read, this is perfect for moms to read that don’t have a lot of time between raising children, caring for husband and house and educating at home. I felt so good after I read this book and want to go through it again just to glean more and go through the discussion questions.

**I received a copy of this book through Book Sneeze (Thomas Nelson Publishers) in exchange for my honest review.