The Inheritance by Michael Phillips

The Inheritance (Bethany House, April 2016)

The death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whale’s Reef into turmoil.

Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch’s heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David’s grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island’s land. And while Hardy doesn’t enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate’s assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island—and its traditional way of life—hangs in the balance.

Loni Ford is enjoying her rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, DC. Yet in spite of her outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .

Past and present collide in master storyteller Phillips’s dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace, and of the dreams of men and women everywhere.

My opinion: I was very eager to read the latest by one of my favorite authors and the fact that it was set in Scotland made it all the better. This book certainly wasn't a quick or easy read and at times it was quite dry, but the characters were well developed and engaging enough to keep you plodding through. I enjoyed the premise and the fact that it was set in culture rich Scotland. Another great read from an excellent author that I have not had the pleasure of reading in awhile. I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti

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Song of Silence (Abingdon, April 2016)

Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?

Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. Charlie retired early, but Lucy is devoted to a long-term career . . . until the day she has no choice.

Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her form the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.

When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.

My opinion: This was a beautiful book with so much heart, depth and reality in it. I loved how it dealt with being committed to a relationship even when life doesn't turn out like you planned, which for all of us is something that has happened in one form or another in our lives. I love how Lucy and Charlie grown and develop throughout the book and are so raw and real, I can totally see them being someone I would know. I have always appreciated Ms. Ruchti books but this book really exceeded my expectations and was her best work yet.   I received a copy of this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

Understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson

I have recently started to getting into photography recently and upgraded my camera , I was utterly delighted to get my hands on the newest edition of Bryan Peterson's book about exposure and I am so glad I did!
This book is a fabulous book for amateur photographers to get the basics on exposure and help avoid amateur mistakes, many of which I was very guilty of. I really feel that this book breaks down different aspects so well and illustrates them so beautifully with photographs. I noticed a marked improvement in my photography skills after going through this book and look forward to getting my hands on some of his other books.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinio

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King's Folly by Jill Williamson

What an intense book! Despite being long book (almost 500 pages!) this book was so easy to get sucked into and was quite the page turner. Which is a good thing because if you put it down for too long it would be easy to remember what is going on because there is so many different story lines going on and several different narrators which I loved.
Pros:
This book is so engaging and I love how it is told from multiple perspectives, in my opinion that adds so much more depth to the story.
The style of writings is so engaging and rich, I absolutely loved it.
The characters themselves were enjoyable, such a wide array from wonderful to very unlikable,
Cons:
Some aspects of the book were pretty dark, especially some aspects of the religion that is practiced. I felt better reading the authors note about she was trying to capture some aspects of the Old Testament which is certainly what it reminds me of at times.
It had a bit more sensuality then I usually read. One of the main characters who I overall like Prince Wilek has a concubine that is not very nice and they allude to a lot more than I am comfortable with. it also deals with noble women with loose morals, sleeping around,etc. I wish she had scaled back a bit in that department.
All in all I loved the book, I feel because of some of its more mature content that I would not recommend it young adults, but for adults it is a great read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

Flirtation walk by Siri Mitchell

I was intrigued by the concept of this book being about West Point as I had not really read much about historical West Point and this book was an interesting and informative read. There certainly wasn't much of a mystery to the book, it was pretty predictable, but it was an interesting enough read. I appreciated the rich historical detail, what I didn't care for as much was the main character, Lucinda, she was vain, manipulative and I got tired of how beautiful she was, Sure, she developed and got better near the end but having a unlikable heroine made the story not near as enjoyable,
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid

A Dream of Miracles (Thomas Nelson, April 2016)

Amish widow Mattie vows never to love again . . . until a suspicious outsider with a shadowy past comes crashing into her fragile world.

Mattie Diener can barely keep it together. A young Amish widow and mother of two young children, she faces the lingering heartbreak of lost love, her son’s mysterious illness, and a torrent of accusations that threaten to undo her.

Bo Lambright is a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother won’t rest until she finds his Mrs. Right. Despite Bo’s worldly success, the raw ache of a shadowy past and a series of unsettling dreams have left him reeling.

When Mattie and Bo cross paths, all signs point to disaster. Yet as they face a crucible of trials and tragedies together, longings begin to stir that seem destined only to end in more heartbreak. Is a miracle possible—not only of healing but of forbidden love? What secrets lie in Bo’s dreams? And will Mattie find the courage to face her uncertain future . . . or will she simply run away?

My opinion: Usually I find Amish fiction to be somewhat enjoyable if not pretty predictable.I wasn't so sure I would enjoy this book as the premise of a Amish widow falling in love with a man who comes from a high society background. Overall the book was a lot better than I expected, I still have a hard time with how they make Bo's job seem a lot more glamorous than working in Social Service really is, trust me, I did  it for awhile and it was the hardest, poorest paying job. I did enjoy how the author developed the characters and I loved the honest, raw emotions. One cannot help but feel for the characters, especially Mattie.I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Malibu Farm Cookbook

What a fun, fresh and gorgeous cookbook! This book can almost make one feel like you are on the California coast with the wind whipping through your hair and the ocean breeze blowing in.
I love the concept of Malibu Farm which is locally sourced, fresh foods that make so delicious food! Some of the recipes are alas harder for myself to make as I sadly don't live in California so some things just aren't easy to get, but that certainly doesn't affect most of the recipes. The grilled chocolate  cake with caramel sauce looks amazing and is something that is unique and yet so deliciously easy at the same time.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.