A wedding at the Orange blossom Inn by Shelley Shepard Gray

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A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn (Avon Inspire, September 2015)

A wedding brings together two young widowed parents . . . and gives them a second chance at love.

Emma Keim was heartbroken when her husband, Sanford, passed away, leaving her to raise three young daughters alone. Though several years have passed, her relatives have made it no secret that they expect Emma to remain a widow, mourning Sanford indefinitely. But when she meets Jay Hilty—a handsome widower with three young sons of his own—Emma is delighted to have a new friend who understands her struggles. Still, she is dismayed that her family is so opposed to their friendship—and the idea of it ever becoming anything more. She honors her husband’s memory every day, but is she destined to be alone forever?

Emma’s gentleness with Jay’s boys stirs something in his heart that’s been quiet for far too long. But when his oldest son becomes engaged to a local woman, suddenly Jay, Emma, and their children are swept up in wedding preparations. Witnessing his son’s joy, Jay wonders if it’s time for him to move forward, too, and find happiness again.

Once again, love has come to Pinecraft. But can these two parties of four become a happy, healthy family of eight?

My opinion: This was a sweet stories that was about loving again after losing one that you loved. I like how the author showed them working through learning to love again and the challenges and difficulties that it presents. I liked the characters and loved watching them bond and slowly start to fall in love in a more mature fashion. It was an easy and enjoyable read. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gather around the Amish table by Lucy Leid

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Gather Around the Amish Table (MennoMedia, September 2015)

Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks.

Bake the pecan rolls that taste best after an ice-skating party, or try the hoagies that a community sold to help an Amish family with hospital bills. Discover the cocoa cupcakes with instructions to “stir by hand” that one young cook took literally, or whip up the whoopie pies that one Amish woman took to market in her horse and buggy.

These cherished recipes speak of comforting traditions, lively communities, and strong Christian faith. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: “Bake someone happy!”

My opinion: This book was filled with delicious looking recipes with items that one would expect as being typical Amish fare to unique items. I loved how most of the recipes were pretty simple with ingredients one would have on hand or at least be able to get very easily. I was particularly fond of the stories before each recipe, they were enjoyable to read and made the cookbook all the more endearing. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The finishing school by Valerie Woerner

The Finishing School: How One Book Nerd Began Living What She Learned (Nyree Press, August 2015)

Are you tired of waiting for change to happen in your life? Do you feel stuck, even though you want to live more intentionally?

In today’s world, our most precious pursuit of a life well lived gets squeezed out by the silliest of things: binging on Netflix or ice cream, shopping trips for things we don’t need, bad habits we can’t seem to get a handle on, and so much more. Valerie has been there despite knowing what she wanted for her life. Actually do it? That’s the challenge.

After gobbling up all the non-fiction and self-help books her donut-filled belly could handle, she decided it was time to put her knowledge to good use and start actually living it out. You will hear about her journey through victories and plenty of failures and find practical tips to apply to your own pursuit of holiness. You will find homework at the end of each chapter that includes a worksheet to put real change in motion for your own life as well as recommended books to further study those topics that really test you.

My opinion: I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, it sounded interesting but I just wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. Thankfully it was well written and engaging and was much better than I anticipated it to be! I can relate to the author who is good about reading self help books but is not so good about applying them to her own life. I felt the author did a fabulous job at writing in a way that the reader feels engaged and convicted without feeling guilty and I really like that. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Trim healthy Mama Cookbook

I was beyond thrilled to receive this cookbook for my honest opinion as I have heard so much about the Trim Healthy Mama way of eating and was so eager to try it. I would not call it a diet by any means because it is more of a lifestyle change and it is not very restrictive but is really replacing junk that isn't good for your body with stuff that is very tasty but so much better for you.
I simply love the variety of recipes in this cookbook, some are quite easy while others are a bit more time consuming and yet almost all of the look so delicious.
I really feel like this cookbook is for the average Mom wanting to slim down all while dealing with the craziness of life. I am so eager to try more recipes from this cookbook!

Israel's Mission

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Israel’s Mission | That the World May Know® DVD Volume 13 (Focus on the Family, July 2015)

What’s your mission?

God gave the assignment to His people thousands of years ago: to bring “lost sheep” back into the love and safety of His kingdom. He said to become a “Kingdom of Priests,” and put God on display to show the world what He is like. It’s still our task today. In this thirteenth volume of the That the World May Know ® film series, you’ll glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace. Discover the mission that can give your life – and the lives of those around you – greater meaning than you ever imagined.

Join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan as he guides you through the lands of the Bible. In each lesson, Vander Laan illuminates the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures. Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the That the World May Know ® film series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

Designed for use with That the World May Know ®: Israel’s MissionDiscovery Guide.

Filmed on location at these biblically significant sites in Israel and Jordan:

—Back to the Father’s House – Negev Desert
—Show Them the Way – Timnah
—Prodigal Sons and Daughters – Qatzrin
—Return from the Far Off Country – Jerash
—Welcome Home – Qatzrin

My opinion: What an excellent movie and book, so inspiring and poignant. This was a very well made, riveting film that was based on scriptures and filmed on location all over Israel and Jordan which made it all the more fascinating.I loved this movie and want to check out the other ones in the series.This would be excellent to present at church or watch at home. Rich with historical detail themovie really brings the scriptures to life! I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Classic Human Anatomy in Motion: The Artist's Guide to the Dynamics of Figure Drawing by Valerie L. Winslow

Wow! This book is very impressive and is simply a must for any art student or someone who wants to learn to draw people in much more detail. The illustrations throughout are so realistic and are liberally added throughout.  I thought even though it was often nude figures that it was done in a very tasteful and non sexual way which I appreciated. This is a very detailed and wonderful book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

Counting on a cowboy by Debra Clopton

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Counting on a Cowboy(Thomas Nelson, August 2015)

After losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the risk.

Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn to the cozy town of Wishing Springs, Texas. Maybe this small town could offer hope and healing and a future for Abby . . . if she’s brave enough to reach out and take it by the reins.

Bo Monahan isn’t interested in the new romantic destination his little town has become—or the women who might be looking at him like he’s their next Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup business, he isn’t looking for serious romantic commitments. But when the infant son he never knew about shows up at his doorstep, his world is turned upside down.

This confirmed bachelor might not think he needs a wife, but he sure needs help. Even Abby can see that, and despite her best efforts to keep her distance, she can’t help but be drawn to this new father-son duo. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe, just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

My opinion: This was an easy read and I was able to get through it fairly quickly. I was not crazy about the character of Bo, but I liked Abby pretty well. This book had good secondary characters. It was a quick read with a decent plot and okay characters,was it one of the better books I have read? No, but of you are looking for a frothy read this book delivers. I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion.