The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues by Cindy Vincent

Buckley and Bogey, Cat Detectives, find their next big case with the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Agency to be their most complicated ever! It all starts when someone hides a mysterious package in their Mom’s antique store – in the middle of the night! Of course, the boys find it, and put it in a nice, safe place, until they can open it . . . and, find the rightful owner. But that’s when a whole bunch of suspicious people show up in St. Gertrude, and every single one of them seems to be after that package! Holy Catnip! Plus, everything happens just when a priceless, jeweled statue collection goes on display at the St. Gertrude Museum. Missing from that collection are two jewel covered cat statues that disappeared almost a hundred and fifty years ago.

But soon Buckley and Bogey wonder how long those statues will stay missing. Because this is one case that really keeps them on their paws! From a trip to the Museum, and to an old church for the Blessing of the Animals; and from dinosaurs to diamonds, they end up dodging shady suspects the whole time. It sure helps to have their friends with them, especially when the bad guys make a beeline for boys. That’s because it becomes very clear, very quick — the priceless cat statues aren’t the only cats those crooks are after! Holy Mackerel!

My opinion: This is a book written by a cat lover for cat lovers. Even though I am not a cat lover myself this was a sweet book with  fun little mystery. It was very different from the typical books I read so it was kind of nice and was well written and overall very fun. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Beyond all dreams by Elizabeth Camden

Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?

Anna O’Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across the baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. Thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation’s most powerful congressmen before his promising career was shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglements with members of Congress.

From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation’s finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?

My opinion: As with all of Ms. Camden's other books this one is filled with rich historical detail, the setting is perfect and the attention to detail is magnificent, it is hard to rival the author on her attention to detail and this book does not disappoint!  I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of this book and the character development. I received a copy of this book in  exchange for my honest opnion.

The Dandelion Field by Kathryn Springer

This handsome firefighter makes a living coming to the rescue, but Gin doesn’t need a man to fight her battles.

After Raine’s dad walked out, Ginevieve Lightly never lived in one place too long, a rambling lifestyle that defined her daughter’s youth. When their car dies in Banister Falls, Wisconsin, Gin promises Raine they can stay until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future . . . a future that’s compromised when Raine reveals she’s pregnant.

Dan Moretti has only ever called Banister Falls home. After losing his best friend in a tragic accident, Dan devoted himself to responding to fires, rescuing the helpless, and guiding Cody Bennett, his best friend’s son, through life. With Cody being the epitome of the good kid, it was an easy job. Until he says four little words: “The baby is mine.”

Knowing gossip of Raine’s pregnancy will erupt sooner or later in the small town, Gin’s reflex is to grab the suitcase and escape to a new city, a new life. But with each passing day, Gin’s feet stay rooted in Banister Falls, and she falls a little more for this local firefighter who shows her not all men abandon women at the first sign of smoke.

As Gin and Dan do the best they can to guide the two teenagers through their early entry into adulthood, they discover together that romance can bloom in the rockiest of situations. And God can turn the pieces of a broken past into a beautiful new beginning.

My opinion: This book was a delightful read about how God turns mistakes into something He can use and can bring healing to ones life. Even though this was a work of fiction it dealt with some very real situations and got one to to think about each of the characters and the decisions they made well after one puts down the book. With likable, flawed characters this book was an excellent read. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Get your joy back by Laurie Wallin

An invitation and a promise for weary Christian parents of special needs kids from a parent who’s been there.

“It isn’t the long day of monitoring a child’s precarious health or being hypervigilant about her mood and mental health challenges that weighs parents down; it’s the wishing that things were different. . . . Resentment, not the intense care they must provide their child, is the parents’ greatest stressor and source of pain.” —Laurie Wallin

Parents of specials needs children are exhausted. They’ve done all the research, consulted all the experts, joined support groups, gotten counseling, fought for the best life for their children. Often just caring for their children’s needs and attempting to maintain a home maxes out parents’ mental, emotional, and spiritual reserves.

Laurie Wallin knows firsthand the difficulties of this journey. With Get Your Joy Back, she steps forward to make a bold, audacious claim: in the midst of this long-term, intense task, it is still possible to have an abundant life, full of joy. The key to radically changing daily life and restoring joy to the weary is forgiveness. Wallin gives parents a lifeline to find that restoration, pulling them back to shore when they feel like they’re drowning.

This book is full of practical, biblical insights and strategies to shed the resentments that leave Christian special-needs parents themselves spiritually, emotionally, and socially drained. Wallin meets readers right where they are, sugar coating nothing, but addressing issues with honesty, humor, and–above all–hope.

My opinion: This book was wonderful. Even though I do not know the struggles of being a parent of a special needs child I have seen those around me struggle with the additional challenges of having a special needs and the wear and discouragement that it often brings. I appreciated Laurie's honesty and insight coming from her own struggles. I think this book would make a lovely gift for someone who is struggling to find the joy along the journey. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opnion.

The life changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo

I was so thrilled to receive a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion because several of my friends have been raving about it. Being that I am not the worlds best housekeeper and both my husband and I come from families that are pack rats I was excited to see what this book was all about and found it to be an interesting read.
The book is all about simplifying and living with purpose, something that I need to be doing in my own life. It had some practical basic applications that I look forward to trying to in my own life.

A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliot

Thea’s first quilt show is coming apart at the seams!

Thea James has accepted an assignment as co‑chairperson for Larkindale’s first quilt show extravaganza. Juggling the new assignment with running her antique business, she’s already feeling frayed when things start to unravel.

Mary‑Alice Wentworth, a much‑loved town matriarch, respected quilt judge, and Thea’s dear friend, is covertly conked on the head during the kick‑off Quilt Show Soiree, throwing suspicion on her guests. It also appears that a valuable diamond brooch has been stolen during the attack. The family is furious. But is it because of their mugged mother or the missing diamonds?

When a renowned textile expert goes MIA and the famous Wentworth heritage quilt disappears, Larkindale’s reputation as a tourist haven is at risk. Thea attempts to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the quilt show before Mary‑Alice is attacked again . . . with far worse results.

My opinion: I have come to enjoy the Quilts of Love books and this one was particularly enjoyable. This one had a very enjoyable mystery with likable characters. I appreciated how it was lighter on the romance and focused on other relationships instead. It was a charming read that I highly recommend.I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I choose you today by Deb DeArmond

Married for nearly 38 years, author Deborah DeArmond and her husband have made the spoken declaration, “I choose you today” a regular part of their communication. It’s when we least feel like saying it that we need to remind ourselves that love is a choice, not a feeling. I Choose You Today features 31 scriptural principles that support marriage and help couples develop healthy biblically based behavior.

Built on an introductory anecdotal story, each chapter has an inspirational takeaway of not only what to do, but how to begin applying the principles immediately. Thought provoking questions create talking points for couples to explore their own choices and experiences in each area serve to generate open dialogue of discovery. I Choose You Todayis not a book of “shoulds,” but one of clearly identified choices that each individual can make to grow their marriage and align it with the word of God. Every saying ends with a conventional wisdom quote.

My opinion: I really enjoyed this book, what a little gem of a book with such a great reminder to choose love each and every day. I love how the author shared personal stories and insight making you think about the choices you make each day with the person you love. This is a great book and would make a wonderful gift. I highly recommend it! I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Masterpiece marriage by Gina Welborn

He wants to save his business. She wants to be a professor. But are they asking for more than they can really have?

After a flood damages the looms at Zenus Dane’s Philadelphia textile mill and the bank demands loan payment, Zenus turns to his aunt for help repurposing his textiles. Trouble is . . . his aunt has already been hired by the lovely yet secretive Englishwoman Mary Varrs.

Eager to acquire his aunt’s quilt patterns, Zenus attends the summer Quilting Bee, a social event his aunt has uniquely designed with the secret purpose of finding Zenus a wife. However Zenus only has eyes for Mary, but Mary has no such desire for him.

Though his aunt is determined to design a masterpiece marriage, both Zenus and Mary will have to overcome their stubborn ways. Can he realize that love requires stepping out of his routine? And will she recognize that following her heart doesn’t mean sacrificing her ambition?

My opinion: I thought this book was a delightful read. I enjoyed the characters and how they interacted and developed throughout the story. It was an easy read that was delightful and sweet.I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Supermarket healthy by Melissa D'Arabian

What a fabulous cookbook! I am sure I am not the only person who get frustrated looking over healthy recipes only to discover that half the ingredients are either impossible to find at ones small town grocery store or awfully expensive, this book really solves that problem and introduces some delicious recipes with ingredients that are easy to find and not horrible expensive.
I was positively drooling over so many of the recipes and am very excited to try them out!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.