Moment by Moment: A Devotional Journal for Girls - A Book Review

I am so excited to tell you about Moment By Moment!  I absolutely ADORE this devotional journal designed for girls.   There is no right or wrong way to complete it.  You could start anywhere you want and write, doodle, sketch, paste pictures, paint or do whatever other creative outlet you desire or maybe even a combination.   There are over 200 pages to fill up! There is plenty of journal prompts to get your little girl moving in the right direction.  Some pages have fill in the blank questions others have plenty of space for you to fill in with words or pictures.  There is beautiful clip art throughout the whole book and it is rooted in the Bible which I love.

Not only will your little girl be encouraged in her writing and artistic skills she will be strengthened in her walk with Christ.  I personally think this would be a great book for a mother and daughter to complete together.  What a wonderful time it would be to share and what a keepsake!  This will be a book to look back on when your daughter is older, one she can share with her own children.

In our fast paced world of smartphones and other electronic devices I think that this is just the kind of book that young girls need.  It will help teach real values and morals that will help mold and make young girls into great women of God!

If you would like to purchase a copy of this book for your little girl I am sure she will love it and you can do so by clicking HERE.

***This book was provided to be through Book Crash and the author in exchange for my honest review.

A Heart's Betrayal - A Book Review

A Heart's Betrayal is book four in Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart's Series.  There are six books in this series and since March a new book has been released every month.   This series is the first that Colleen Coble wrote.  These books have not been available for 10 years, but now fans of this author have the chance to read her first work.

The books are quick and easy reads.  The four that I have read so far have each been around 100 pages.  This makes it very convenient for busy days, but what I don't like about it is that you have to wait a month from one book to the next.  It drags out the story and I have been finding that annoying with the last couple books.

Each book starts where the last one ended and A Heart's Betrayal took a little bit of a different turn.  Even though Sara and Rand are still prominent characters in this story, the main character in this Novella is Emmie Croftner.  In the past three books Emmie's brother Ben has wreaked havoc on Rand and Sara's life.  Emmie is the complete opposite of her brother and has such a sweet disposition.  The book starts with Emmie mourning the death of her husband.  After only being married a short time she never dreamed she would be a widow so suddenly, but she is even more surprised when she answers her door and there stands a woman and a child...the wife and son of her late husband.   Unbeknownst to her she was married to a bigamist.  Now she has no place to stay and is ashamed of her circumstances.  She decides to head for Fort Laramie, Wyoming to find her friend Sarah and start a new life.   Not long after she arrives she finds out she is pregnant.  The new start she was hoping for is now looking pretty bleak.

This book sparked new interest for me.  I was beginning to grow tired of this series, but with a new character and a new story line I am excited to read the last two books and see what the conclusion of this series will be!

***This book was provided to me by the publisher through the booklook blog review program in exchange for my honest review.

The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book - Review

The best word to describe this book is in the title...Amazing!  What better time to start good eating habits for your children than when they are babies.  Most mothers want what is best for their babies and one thing we need to be aware of is what they are ingesting.  I'm sure you have read the back of plenty of food packages and know how many preservatives and unhealthy products are in our food.  Unless you are buying organic you even have to worry about your fruits and veggies.  I know one cop out for our family has always been the cost.  It is so expensive to buy whole organic foods.   The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book will have you seeing things in a different light when it comes to the food you are buying for your baby.   First of all, baby food, especially if you buy organic, is crazy expensive.  I believe it is just as economical, if not more, to start making your own baby foods.  Not only will you be sure of exactly what is going in to your little one, but you will have a great feeling of satisfaction in knowing that you provided your baby with a healthy meal.  No worries of what else has been added, because you are the one making it.

Now, you may be thinking that this book is for the stay-at-home mom, someone with a lot of time, but if you are a working mother this book is for you too!  The book gives step by step instructions and in 3 hours you can make 3 months of homemade purees.  This book offers more than just purees too!  It has a special chapter on finger foods and advanced meals and I'll just be honest here...some of the recipes are yummy for adults too.  There is a humus recipe in this section along with a creamy fruit roll up and a coconut granola parfait just to name a few.

The book is hardback, has beautiful pictures and is loaded with information, recipes and health tips.  The instruction are very clear and it walks you through the whole process step-by-step.  The book takes all the "thinking" out of it for you.  All you need to do is follow the guidelines and recipes!

I would encourage any mother who want to know exactly what is going into their babies to invest in this book.  You won't be sorry!  It will have you making delicious meals for your baby in no time at all!

You can purchase the book on Amazon by clicking HERE.

About the Author:

Dr. Barrangou is an experienced mother, food professional, food enthusiast, and advocate for healthy living. She previously created a homemade baby food company, Green Baby Chef, offering personal chef services for infants, as well as private cooking instruction and baby food making workshops. She holds a B.S. in Nutrition, Food and Agriculture from Cornell University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Food Science from North Carolina State University.

As a food scientist who previously worked for three different Fortune 500 food companies, she knows first hand what processed food truly is. When she had her first child, she knew that homemade baby food, made from whole, real foods, with no additives or fillers, would be her baby's primary food source. She has been making homemade baby food since 2005, for each of her 3 children, her friends' children, and for clients.

Through her homemade baby food service company, Dr. Barrangou developed an efficient system to create 3 months worth of baby food within 3 hours, all safely made in her clients' kitchen, conveniently packaged and compactly stored in their freezer, taking up no more space than a small basket. After realizing how many parents wanted to learn how to make baby food and use this efficient system for themselves, she integrated her knowledge and technique into a comprehensive baby food plan that became her first book, RealSmart Baby Food (2013). After much success, the first book was completely revamped and optimized, incorporating updated information, new and more advanced recipes, as well as all new vibrant photos, and turned into the current book The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book (2015).

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Amish Promises - A Book Review

Amish Promises by Leslie Gould is book one in the Neighbors of Lancaster County series.  The book is about two families.  One English and one Amish.

Shani's husband Joel injured his leg in Iraq and has come back to America a completely different man.  In hope to salvage her marriage and help her husband heal they move to Lancaster County to live in the home that Shani's grandfather once lived in.  No sooner than they arrive Joel hurts his leg worse.  On top of that their son Zane has wandered over to the Amish neighbor's home and accidentally scared a horse and injures one of the Amish boys.

Eve lives with her brother Tim and has been taking care of his children ever since his wife and Eve's best friend Arba died of cancer.  Eve has accepted her life and know she will never marry and has even made a vow to herself to never marry an Amish man.  Tim is a very stern man and does not make life for Eve easy.

When Eve and Shani meet an instant friendship forms between them and even though their worlds are very different they enjoy each others company.   Charlie is a family friend of Shani and Joel's and comes by every weekend to help with the things that Joel is not able to do.  Despite their differences Charlie and Eve are drawn to each other.  Tim does not want his sister or his children to have contact with the English family and feels that they will draw them to the lifestyle that the Amish has turned from.  Gideon, the Bishop also has his sites set on Eve.  He is a good man, but Eve does not have feelings for him.  Will she do what her brother wants and start a life with Gideon?  Will she be able to fight her feelings for a man she should not love?  Or will she choose to continue to raise her brother's children without the interference of love?

I was a little disappointed with Amish Promises.   It was an okay read.  I honestly found it a little boring.  There were several times that I wondered if there was a series or a book before this series that featured the same Amish family, because at times I felt like I was missing something.  There was not enough background on some of the characters and I was a little lost with some of the things that was written.  Mainly with Abra.  Abra, Tim's wife, died from cancer and the author kept referring to her and her past with Eve, but I had no idea what that past was in the first part of the book and frankly I found it irritating that something I didn't know anything about kept being referred to.

I also didn't care much for Joel, Shani's husband.  I did however like how the author featured two different families from two very different worlds and the friendship that formed between them.  I also enjoyed reading about the Amish children and how they interacted with an English friend.  I loved Eve and Charlie and would of loved if the book would of stayed focused more on them.

It seemed like so much of it was drawn out.  Every little detail was written about an event and for me, it seemed to take away from the event itself.  The book could of been a whole lot shorter if it was not so drawn out in this manner and I possible could of enjoyed it more.

I'd have to give this book 3 out of 5 stars and I'm not really sure if I will be continuing on with this series or not.  I guess that will depend on what else I am reading at the time.

***This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishing as a part of their blog review program in exchange for my honest review.

As Love Blooms - A Book Review

Tessa Gregory has a mind of her own.  She has studied horticulture and is determined to get a job as a gardener at Como Park in St. Paul Minnesota, but the man in charge has no desire to hire a woman.  It is 1913 and he thinks a woman is better suited to join a garden club and do work in her own back yard.  With the help of Reese, a young man who works at the park, Tessa devises a sneaky plan in hopes to get her gardening designs acknowledged and a job secured.

The more time that Reese and Tessa spend together the more they realize that they are meant to be together.  Both of them are hiding secrets from each other and Tessa is always doing things without thinking and Reese has a hard time accepting her "wild" ways.   Will their love be strong enough to see them through the troubles that seem to follow their relationship?

This was a fun book to read.  Before this book I had read a couple books that were a little more intense so this was a pleasant change.

It is actually the third book in the Gregory Sisters series and I did not know it until after I finished the book.  It is a great stand alone book, but I am definitely going to be going back and reading the other two books.

Along with the main story line I found myself enjoying the minor character's story line.  Aunt Sam and her secret courtship with a senator was an enjoyable extra as was the conflict between Tessa's two sisters.  I would definitely recommend this book to others!

***This book was provided to me by Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.

No Place to Hide - A Book Review

No Place to Hide by Lynette Eason is a book that once you start you won't want to put down until the very end.  It is full of page turning suspense and it had me captivated from the beginning.

I have just started reading suspense novels and this one was a little different than what I normally read since it was a modern day story dealing with terrorist.  I wasn't sure how I would like it, but I loved it.  I am now a fan of Lynette Eason and can't wait to check out her other books.

Jackie Sellars cannot believe that her old friend and one time crush, Ian, is involved in a terrorist plot.  She decides to help him, but instead finds herself being accused as an accessory.  Ian came across an email that was not meant for his eyes and now he is a wanted man.  People are turning up dead and Ian and Jackie are running for their lives.  Thankfully Jackie has connections with people that are willing to help, but with the bad guys and the FBI hot on their trail they cannot stay in one place for long.  They are determined to crack the code and prove their innocence before it is too late.

No Place to Hide is book three of the Hidden Identity series.  You don't need to worry about reading them in order though.  What you do need to worry about is the lack of sleep you will miss out on until you finish the book.  If you are a fan of christian suspense and action novels this book is a great choice!

You can purchase this book on Amazon by clicking HERE.

To learn more about the author and the other books she has available you can check out her website at http://www.lynetteeason.com/

***This book was provided to me through Revell Reads Blog Review Program in exchange for my honest review.
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The Sweetapolita Bakebook - A Book Review

The Sweetapolita Bakebook: 75 Fanciful Cakes, Cookies & More to Make & Decorate 

I was so excited to get this book in the mail.  It was everything I hoped it would be and more!  The pictures are absolutely amazing, there are 75 recipes included, but what is really unique about the cakes and cookies included in this book are the amazing designs.  

What kid wouldn't love to decorate their cookies with special markers or edible paint.  What about chalkboard cookies or cakes.  Who would of thought?  Certainly not me!  Edible chalk?  How much fun is that?  

In reality I will probably never make any of the fancy ideas in this book, but there are plenty of great ideas for average people like me.  Sprinkles, cupcakes and cutout cookies can be just as fun with the recipes and ideas in this book.  

I learned quite a bit within the pages as well.  There were some great tips for decorating with icing that I will definitely benefit from.  The recipes look delicious and I can't wait to try the chocolate sugar cookie cut out recipe.  

With several family birthdays coming up in the next few months I know I will be getting lots of practice in my cake decorating skills and thanks to this book I think my designs will be better than ever!

If you like to bake this is a great book for you.  Not only will you be inspired by the designs you will broaden your knowledge of baking in a very beneficial way!

***This book was provided to me by Blogging For Books in exchange for my review.

A Heart's Danger - A Book Review

A Heart's Danger is book three in Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart's Series.  There are six books in this series and since March a new book has been released every month.   This series is the first  that Colleen Coble wrote.  These books have not been available for 10 years, but now fans of this author have the chance to read her first work.

The books are quick and easy reads.  The three that I have read so far have each been around 100 pages.  This makes it very convenient for busy days, but what I don't like about it is that you have to wait a month from one book to the next.  It drags out the story and I am finding that I am starting to lose interest.

Each book starts where the last one ended and A Heart's Danger continues the story of Sarah and Rand.  Rand's new fiance is desperate to keep him and Sarah apart and she turns to Ben who has been trying to get Sarah for himself with devious plans since book one.  Still at Fort Laramie, the soldiers find their self on the brink of a war with the Sioux Indians.  Ben turns to the Indians to help him carry out his plan to get rid of Rand once and for all.

This is a fast pace book with a lot of drama.  I struggled more with this book than I did the others.  It seemed a little rushed and a little far fetched, but I am half way through the series so I am in it to the end.  Hopefully the next book will pick up interest for me.

***This book was provided to me by the publisher through the booklook blog review program in exchange for my honest review.

The Heart of the Amish - A Book Review

The Heart of the Amish - Life Lessons on Peacemaking and the Power of Forgiveness by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a compilation of short inspirational stories on forgiveness.  They are true stories that have been gathered from various Amish communities.  The Amish believe in forgiveness.  No matter how they are wronged they do not seek revenge, but instead release their pain by offering forgiveness and many times go the extra mile by showing kindness and goodwill to those that wrong them.  

We are human and we all have been wronged or hurt by others.  Sometimes it is very hard to let go of the hurt, anger and bitterness that we feel.  We may find it hard to extend forgiveness to the person who embarrassed us in front of a group of people or the person who betrayed our trust, but imagine forgiving someone who murdered your child or someone who took advantage of your daughter.  The Amish forgive.  Not just the things that are easy to forgive, but also the things that are unthinkable.

This book is very moving.  For me, I found myself sharing some of the stories with my family members.  Some of the stories really amazed me.  There is so much to be learned from this book.  There is freedom in forgiveness and this book will inspire you to live a life that is willing to extend grace to those who wrong you.  

There are also a lot of great quotes in this book.  At the beginning of each chapter/short story an Amish proverb is included and I absolutely loved these.  For example:

There is no love without forgiveness and no forgiveness without love.

At the end of each short story there is a small section called "Reflections on Peacemaking"  where the author asks questions that will help the reader examine their own life as well as words of encouragement.  Then there is also a section after that called "Plain Truth" where Amish facts are included.  I loved this section and enjoyed the little tidbits of information included.  

I would definitely recommend this book to others.  It is encouraging and inspirational and if you love reading about the Amish you will love getting a deeper look into their lives!

***This book was provided to me by Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.