Classics Club Spin 18

My Classics Club Spin List for August

This is a hodgepodge of books left on my list I made in 2017 for the Classics Club. Tomorrow the club will pick a number and that is the book I will read in August.

1. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
3. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
4. The Making of a Marchioness by Frances Burnett
5. Good Evening Mrs. Craven by Mollie Panter Downes
6. Greenery Street by Denis Mackail
7. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift
8. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
10. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Burns
11. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
12. Mariana by Monica Dickens
13. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyles
14. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
15. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
16. The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery
17. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
18. Greenbanks by Dorothy Whipple
19. Emma by Jane Austen
20. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

Love Inspired May 2018 Blog Tour

Feel comforted and at peace when you read these uplifting romances of faith, forgiveness and hope from Love Inspired. There are 12 new books each month! 6 from Love Inspired for those who love contemporary romance and 6 from Love Inspired Suspense who like some danger with their romance stories.

Love Inspired Blog Tour Sweepstakes! 

Widowed single mom Rebecca Mast returns to her Amish community hoping to open a quilt shop. She
accepts carpenter Daniel King's offer of assistance---but she isn't prepared for the bond he forms with her son. Will getting closer expose her secret---or reveal the love she has in her heart for her long-ago friend?

Review: This was a sweet Amish book. It is a quick satisfying read. Recommended to fans of Amish fiction.

Marcus Palermo's simple life gets complicated when he meets the son he never knew he had---and his beautiful guardian. Lissa Hart thought she'd only stick around long enough to aid Marcus in becoming a dad---but could her happily-ever-after lie with the little boy and the rugged rancher?

When Sgt. Linc Colson is assigned to monitor Zoe Sullivan and determine if she's secretly aiding her fugitive serial killer brother, his instincts tell him she's not in league with the criminal---she's in danger. It's up to him and his K-9 partner, Star, to keep the pretty single mom alive.

Framed for the murder of his ex-girlfriend---and then attacked at the crime scene---fire investigator Mitch Callahan turns to ER nurse Dana Petrie for help. As they fight for their lives, can she be convinced of his innocence---and in his promise of love?

Dewey's 24 Hour Read a thon Intro Post and Update

I am participating in the April 2018 Dewey's 24 Hour Read a thon. It has been many years since I last did one. I know I will not make it all 24 hours since I value sleep a lot more than my younger years and I am going to play with my niece for awhile. lol I intend to read at least 8 hours. 

Update: 

I have finished reading Dangerous Waters by Christy Barrett (really good)

Currently Reading:

HCCA Privacy Manual (for certification test)

You Need a Budget by Jesse Mecham

To Die but Once by Jacqueline Winspear

The Moon Stands Still by Sibella Giorello

Death at Thorburn Hall by Julianna Deering (Review)

• Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 7, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764218298
• ISBN-13: 978-0764218293

The Fartherings' Scottish Holiday Takes a Dark Turn

Drew Farthering arrives in idyllic Scotland for the 1935 British Open at Muirfield hoping for a relaxing holiday, but he soon finds a mystery on his hands. Lord Rainsby, his host at Thorburn Hall, fears his business partner may be embezzling and asks Drew to quietly investigate. Before Drew can uncover anything, Rainsby is killed in a suspicious riding accident.

Thorburn Hall is filled with guests, and as Drew continues to dig, he realizes that each might have had a motive to put Rainsby out of the way. Together with Madeline and Nick, he must sort through shady business dealings, international intrigue, and family tensions to find a killer who always seems to be one step ahead.

My Review:

This was a good Christian British cozy mystery set in Scotland. It is book six in the Drew Farthering Mystery series. The main characters are Drew and his wife Madeline along with their friends Nick and Carrie. It can be read alone but I enjoyed the whole series. This mystery starts with Lord Rainsby asking Drew to investigate his business partner for embezzling. Then, Lord Rainsby dies in a suspicious riding accident. Drew, Madeline, Nick, and Carrie have their hands full investigating all the leads. The book was interesting and I did not guess the who done it before the end. There was also development in the relationship between Nick and Carrie. Recommended to fans of Christian British cozy mysteries. 

JULIANNA DEERING (also writing as DeAnna Julie Dodson) has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness, and triumph over adversity.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner (Review)

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Revell (October 3, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800727665
• ISBN-13: 978-0800727666
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches

Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that's obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she's made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing. Now Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she's chosen. She's still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she's not sure she can write anymore. She's beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a "scandalous" book. And the fact that she's falling in love with her pastor doesn't make things any easier.

With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn't afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.

My Review:

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is the debut Christian fiction book by Bethany Turner. I did not particularly enjoy reading it but my grandmother loved it. It is amazing how two people can read the same book and have very different opinions on it. I thought it was unbelievable and underdeveloped. She thought it was great. The book had great promise and an interesting premise. I would not be opposed to reading the next one and giving the author another chance.

Bethany Turner is the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former VP/operations manager of a commercial bank and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she's chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason (Review)

• Series: Blue Justice (Book 1)
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Revell (January 2, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800727215
• ISBN-13: 978-0800727215
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches

Police officer Isabelle St. John loves her crazy, loud, law-enforcement family. With three brothers and two sisters, she's never without someone to hang out with--or fight with. And she knows they'll be there for her when things get tough. Like when her partner is murdered and she barely escapes with her own life.

Determined to discover exactly what happened, Izzy's investigation sends her headfirst into a criminal organization, possibly with cops on the payroll--including someone from her own family. With her dead partner's handsome homicide detective brother Ryan shadowing her every move, Izzy's head is spinning. How can she secure justice for her partner when doing so could mean sending someone she loves to prison? And how will she guard her heart when the man she's had a secret crush on for years won't leave her side?

With her signature fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action, Lynette Eason invites readers into a captivating new series where justice is a family affair.

My Review:

Oath of Honor is the first book in the Blue Justice series by Lynette Eason. It is Christian fiction with mystery, suspense, and a little romance. The main character in this book is Isabelle St. John. She is a police officer in Columbia, SC.  Her mother is the police chief and most of her five siblings work in law enforcement too. This book reminded me of the show Blue Bloods. I do not want to give away any major plot details so all I will say is that this book involves the mafia, gang warfare, and possible bad cops. The romance part is between Izzy and Ryan, her dead brother's partner. I would have liked to see more development with that. The book is full of suspense and I did not figure out the who done it until the end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Recommended. 

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching, Without Warning, Moving Target, and Chasing Secrets in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett (Review)

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook (June 6, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735289549
• ISBN-13: 978-0735289543
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches

An ideal sanctuary and a dream come true–that’s what Margaret Lane feels as she takes in God’s gorgeous handiwork in Mount Rainier National Park. It’s 1927 and the National Park Service is in its youth when Margie, an avid naturalist, lands a coveted position alongside the park rangers living and working in the unrivaled splendor of Mount Rainier’s long shadow.
 
But Chief Ranger Ford Brayden is still haunted by his father’s death on the mountain, and the ranger takes his work managing the park and its crowd of visitors seriously. The job of watching over an idealistic senator’s daughter with few practical survival skills seems a waste of resources.
 
When Margie’s former fiancé sets his mind on developing the Paradise Inn and its surroundings into a tourist playground, the plans might put more than the park’s pristine beauty in danger. What will Margie and Ford sacrifice to preserve the splendor and simplicity of the wilderness they both love?
 
Karen Barnett’s vintage national parks novels bring to vivid life President Theodore Roosevelt’s vision for protected lands, when he wrote in Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter: "There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children's children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred."

My Review:

I love love the cover art for this series. The Road to Paradise is the first book in the Shadows of the Wilderness series. I am a huge nature lover so I couldn't wait to read a book set in Mount Rainer National Park. This book is a historical Christian fiction book and is set in 1927. The author does a good job describing the scenery. It made me want to go hiking and read Walden by Henry David Thoreau. The main plot line in the book is the relationship between Margaret Lane and Chief Ranger Ford Brayden. She is a rich girl who father is a state Senator. She loves nature and considers herself a naturalist. Margie is not your typical rich girl and wants to work with the park rangers. Chief Ranger Ford has been struggling ever since his father's death and does not want her there. Margie's former fiancée comes to the mountain and is not happy with her decisions so he decides to make trouble. The first half of the book is definitely my favorite even though the pace is slower. The second half of the book has a lot of action in it. The ending is satisfying. The author does a good job developing the characters and plot. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. Recommended. 

KAREN BARNETT is an award winning author of four novels who draws on her firsthand experience as a naturalist, former park ranger, and outdoor educator to transport readers to America’s national parks.. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two children.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart (Review)

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Revell (September 5, 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800723635

ISBN-13: 978-0800723637

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches 

Francine Howard has her life all mapped out until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII's end writes to tell her he's in love with a woman in England. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.

Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he's at a loss when it comes to envisioning what's next for his life.

When Francine's and Ben's paths intersect, it's immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this Christian historical fiction book. I felt transported to the Appalachian Mountains. It reminded me of Christy by Catherine Marshall. Francine Howard is the main female character and she is a nurse with Frontier Nursing Service. Ben Locke is the main male character and he is a native Appalachian just come home from WWII. They hit it off but face pressure because they are from two very different worlds. The Frontier Nursing Service frowns on the nurses fraternizing with the locals. Ben's family likes Francine but does not want him to get hurt. His Mom also cannot see their two worlds melding together. The author did a good developing the characters and plot. The ending was satisfying. Recommended for fans of Christian historical fiction. 

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen (Review)

• Series: Tales from Ivy Hill (Book 2)
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (December 5, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764218158
• ISBN-13: 978-0764218156
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches

Return to Ivy Hill in The Ladies of Ivy Cottage as friendships deepen, romances blossom, and mysteries unfold.

Living with the two Miss Groves in Ivy Cottage, impoverished gentlewoman Rachel Ashford is determined to earn her own livelihood . . . somehow. When the village women encourage her to open a subscription library with the many books she has inherited or acquired through donations, Rachel discovers two mysteries hidden among them. A man who once broke her heart helps her search for clues, but will both find more than they bargained for? 

Rachel's friend and hostess, Mercy Grove, has given up thoughts of suitors and fills her days managing her girls' school. So when several men take an interest in Ivy Cottage, she assumes pretty Miss Ashford is the cause. Exactly what--or who--has captured each man's attention? The truth may surprise them all.

Meanwhile, life has improved at the coaching inn and Jane Bell is ready to put grief behind her. Now if only the man she misses would return--but where is he?

As the women of Ivy Hill search for answers about the past and hope for the future, might they find love along the way?

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the second in the Tales from Ivy Hill series and my favorite. I recommend reading them in order since the characters repeat and the background knowledge is helpful. The main characters in this book are Rachel Ashford, Mercy Grove, and to a lesser extent Jane Bell. The first book was focused on Jane Bell. There are several minor plot lines. It is nice to see the other characters continue. I love the characters and plot. The author does a good job developing everything and making you feel like you are there. There are some twists and turns. The ending is satisfying.  If you a fan of British 1800s books then you will love this. Highly Recommended. 


Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Her book, The Silent Governess, was also a finalist in the Minnesota Book Awards, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards, and Romance Writers of America's RITA Awards. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit www.julieklassen.com for more information.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson (Review)

Hardcover: 176 pages

Publisher: Revell (September 5, 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800722701

ISBN-13: 978-0800722708

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.6 inches 

When she receives the news in late 1944 that her baby's father was shot down in the South Pacific, Amelia Richards loses hope. Jobless and broke, she has nowhere to turn for help but her infant's paternal grandparents. The only problem is, they don't know that she--or their grandson--exists. When Amelia discovers that the family is wealthy and influential, dare she disclose the truth of her relationship with their son? Or could the celebration of the arrival of another unexpected baby nearly two thousand years ago be the answer to her dilemma?

My Review:

This was an easy, short, Christian fiction book. It is set around Christmas time after WWII.  The characters and plot are well developed and interesting. Amelia Richards and her baby are the main focus of the book. She travels to her baby's paternal grandparents house to beg for help. They do not know either of them exist. Amelia is desperate. She is unable to take care of her baby. I really felt for her. There are some twists and the ending is perfect. Recommended. 

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with combined sales of more than six million. She is the author of several Christmas books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington's, The Christmas Cat, The Christmas Joy Ride, and The Christmas Angel Project. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hello

Hello Everyone,

It has been awhile since I have been able to update my blog. Last Fall I decided to go to graduate school. Working full time it liked to have killed me.  IF I go back to school, it will this Summer or Fall. I had no clue how hard it would be combined with my job. I miss regular life and reading. I am working on catching up review books and blog posts now. Thank you for your patience.

Brittanie 

The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook by Patsy Catsos (Review)

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Harmony; Exp Rev edition (April 11, 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0451497724

ISBN-13: 978-0451497727

Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches

The complete guide for overcoming IBS by discovering your triggers and building a personalized, doable, and fulfilling diet around nutritious, delicious foods that let you finally feel your best.
Patsy Catsos, MS, RDN, LD, pioneered the use of the low-FODMAP diet to find your unique FODMAP fingerprint when she self-published IBS--Free at Last!, ushering in a new era of treating IBS through diet instead of medication. Written for at-home use, her book quickly established itself among doctors and other specialists as an invaluable tool for anyone suffering from IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, SIBO, and gluten sensitivity.

This new, definitive edition offers the theory along with a program that walks you through eliminating FODMAPs (difficult-to-digest carbohydrates found in a variety of otherwise healthy foods) and adding them back one by one--the most usable, thorough program available. And its 56 delicious recipes, 24 full-color photos, and comprehensive guides to high- and low-FODMAP foods make this the bible of the low-FODMAP lifestyle. Here is your plan for eating well while finally feeling great.

Note: This is the updated and expanded edition of IBS—Free at Last, including its landmark 8-step program.

Review:

The content is good but the format is awful. It is extremely hard to read. I was going to give it to my Mom who suffers but I know her and she is not going to read it. It is small font and the first half is like a textbook. The pages are yellowish.  Part 3 is the recipe section. The recipes range in difficulty and include some basics like salad dressing. I recommend looking at it in person before buying on the Internet.

PATSY CATSOS, MS, RD, LD, is a leader in the field of low-FODMAP diet. A nutritionist based in Portland, Maine, with a BS in nutrition from Cornell University and a master’s degree in nutrition from Boston University, she completed her internship at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital and now maintains a private practice. She also speaks at conferences for other nutritionist and doctors.

She was first to publish a book about the low-FODMAP diet, IBS—Free At Last! in 2009. Before long, it was adopted not only by IBS sufferers, but by health care professionals and major medical centers. Her step-by-step elimination diet is updated for ultimate usability and effectiveness in this new edition, The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook. It helped set the standard of care for patients using diet, not medicine, and continues to be the most recommended by doctors.

She lives in Portland, Maine, with her husband, Paul.

www.ibsfree.net

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Gjr edition (April 18, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1496421795
• ISBN-13: 978-1496421791
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.6 x 7.9 inches

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal invites you to mix creative journaling and coloring into your personal time with God. Prayers that focus on topics such as being thankful, dealing with stress and heartache, caring for yourself and others, listening for God’s leading, and waiting patiently on Him will guide your thoughts and calm your spirit. Filled with more than 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling, and 40 needs-based prayers, Tranquility will help you express your devotion to God with your whole heart.

My Review:

This is a nice coloring journal. It does have a hard cover. It is an adult coloring book with prayer and reflections too. Some pages have more spaces to color than others. Some pages have areas for you to write from prompts. There are some nice prayers too. Regular pens do not bleed through. The pages are nice thickness. This would make a nice gift. I gave one to my Aunt and she loved it.




Review copy provided by Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Chasing Secrets by Lynette Eason (Review)

Series: Elite Guardians (Book 4)

Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Revell (August 1, 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800723910

ISBN-13: 978-0800723910

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches

Elite Guardians bodyguard Haley Callaghan may be in South Carolina, but when a photo leads investigators in West Ireland to open a twenty-five-year-old cold case, her life is suddenly in danger. Haley knows how to take care of herself; after all, she's made a career out of taking care of others. But after an uncomfortably close call, Detective Steven Rothwell takes it upon himself to stay with her--and the young client she has taken under her wing. A protector at heart, he's not about to let Haley fight this battle alone.

In a sweeping plot that takes them into long-buried memories--and the depths of the heart--Haley and Steven will have to solve the mystery of Haley's past while dodging bullets, bombs, and bad guys who just won't quit.

My Review:

This is the fourth book in the Elite Guardians series and my favorite. It can stand alone from the previous books in the series.  I fell in love with Haley and Steven. She is a tough woman but needs a little back up sometimes. Steven is a great cop who has come home to help take care of his sick father. The main plot revolves around Haley and what from her past is causing her issues now. There is a secondary plot involving a family she takes under her wing. Steven has an issue from his past he is dealing with too involving the death of his brother. There is mystery, suspense, and action with a faith message that is not overpowering. The characters and plot are interesting, unique, and well developed. Recommended.  

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching, Without Warning, and Moving Target in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A Name Unknown by Roseanna White (Review)

Series: Shadows Over England (Book 1)

Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 4, 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 076421926X

ISBN-13: 978-0764219269

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

My Review:

This was an enjoyable Christian Historical fiction book. It starts a new series called Shadows Over England. I loved Rosemary and Peter. Rosemary is a really good thief who is hired to prove Peter is not loyal to England but to his family's native Germany. Peter is a rather unique person to begin with and being German at this time period is a huge no in England. He can be recluse except for his best friend and his family. He also has good loyal staff. He hires Rosemary to organize his books and papers. They hit it off and become close as they work together. The plot and characters are interesting, unique, and well developed. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Recommended.

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna's fiction ranges from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at www.roseannamwhite.com.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What Hope Remembers by Johnnie Alexander (Review)

Series: Misty Willow (Book 3)

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Revell (May 2, 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800726421

ISBN-13: 978-0800726423

When Amy Somers loses her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she's crossing bridges she'd burned years before. With all the mistakes she's made and the uncaring things she's done--even to her own family--she can hardly believe that happiness will find her, especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy's hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, he finds it difficult to see the path ahead.

But the memory of that long-ago kiss just may have the power to reignite a romance that brings out the best in both of them.

My Review:

This is the third book in the Misty Willow series. The characters do repeat with the addition of a few new ones like Gabe. I recommend reading them in order to get the full history of the family. The main focus of this story is Amy Somers. The previous book it was her brother Brett. I was happy to see that Amy was getting her own book. I felt like there was a lot more to her story. This book was hard to read sometimes because of the subject matter. Amy has a horrible eating disorder. The writing was excellent and the characters well developed. Her main love interest is Gabe Kendall. They grew up together but lost contact and now he is back at his aunt's farm. She is back too. The meet by chance and the spark is still there. This was a sweet slow paced story with a few twist. Great end to the series. Recommended.

Johnnie Alexander is the award-winning author of Where Treasure Hides and Where She Belongs, as well as an accomplished essayist and poet. Her Misty Willow Series was inspired by a 19th century house she lived in as a teen. Join her at www.johnnie-alexander.com to experience the love of random travel and the joy of treasured moments.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

High Summer Readathon Hosted by Michelle at Seasons of Reading

http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/2017/07/sign-up-for-high-summer-readathon.html

Japanese Literature Challenge 11 hosted by Dolce Belleza

This is a reading challenge dedicated to books that were originally published in Japanese. It runs from June 2017 to January 2018. It is hosted by Dolcebelleza. I enjoy this challenge because the books are so different than the majority of what I read. I will at least be rereading the The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa.

https://dolcebellezza.net/2017/06/23/japanese-literature-challenge-11-welcome/

Vibrant India by Chitra Agrawal (Review)

Hardcover: 224 pages

Publisher: Ten Speed Press (March 21, 2017)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1607747340

ISBN-13: 978-1607747345

From the acclaimed chef and owner of Brooklyn Delhi, a debut cookbook focused on the celebrated vegetarian fare of South India.
Lifelong vegetarian and chef Chitra Agrawal takes you on an epicurean journey to her mother’s hometown of Bangalore and back to Brooklyn, where she adapts her family’s South Indian recipes for home cooks. This particular style of Indian home cooking, often called the “yoga diet,” is light and fresh, yet satisfying and rich in bold and complex flavors. Grains, legumes, fresh produce, coconut, and yogurt—along with herbs, citrus, chiles, and spices—form the cornerstone of this delectable cuisine, rooted in vegetarian customs and honed over centuries for optimum taste and nutrition. 

From the classic savory crepe dosa, filled with lemony turmeric potatoes and cilantro coconut chutney, to new creations like coconut polenta topped with spring vegetables 'upma" and homemade yogurt, the recipes in Vibrant India are simple to prepare and a true celebration of color and flavor on a plate. Chitra weaves together the historical context behind the region’s cuisine and how she brought some of these age-old traditions to life thousands of miles away in Brooklyn during the city’s exciting food renaissance.

Relying on her experience as a culinary instructor, Chitra introduces the essential Indian cooking techniques, tips, and ingredients you’ll need to prepare a full range of recipes from quick vegetable stir frys (corn, basil, and leeks flavored with butter, cumin, and black pepper), salads (citrus red cabbage and fennel slaw with black mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chile), yogurt raitas (shredded beets and coconut in yogurt), and chutneys and pickles (preserved Meyer lemon in chile brine) to hearty stews (aromatic black eyed peas, lentils, and greens), coconut curries (summer squash in an herby coconut yogurt sauce), and fragrant rice dishes (lime dill rice with pistachios). Rounding out the book is an array of addictive snacks (popcorn topped with curry leaf butter), creative desserts (banana, coconut, and cardamom ice cream), and refreshing drinks (chile watermelon juice with mint). Chitra provides numerous substitutions to accommodate produce seasonality, ingredient availability, and personal tastes. The majority of recipes are gluten-free and vegan or can be easily modified to adhere to those dietary restrictions.

Whether you are a vegetarian or just looking for ways to incorporate more vegetarian recipes into your repertoire, Vibrant India is a practical guide for bringing delicious Indian home cooking to your table on a regular basis.

My Review:

This is a beautiful cookbook! The pictures are full color and amazing. I loved her family pictures and background story. These recipes are from Southern India. The recipes are interesting and full of different ingredients. The only bad thing is finding some of them in the South, USA, is difficult. The recipes vary in levels of difficulty and how many ingredients are required. Recommended.





Chitra Agrawal is the author of Vibrant India: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Brooklyn and the founder of Brooklyn Delhi, an award-winning Indian condiments line. Since 2009, she has been serving, writing about, and teaching her family's vegetarian recipes from India with a slant on seasonality and local ingredients. Chitra writes the popular recipe blog The ABCDs of Cooking, teaches vegetarian Indian cooking classes at Brooklyn Kitchen, Brooklyn Brainery, and Whole Foods, and hosts pop-up dinners throughout New York City with creative Indian-inspired menus. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Saveur, and Zagat, among others. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.


Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.