Miracle Drug by Richard Mabry, MD

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Miracle Drug (Abingdon, September 2015)

Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug—it will take a miracle.

The infection wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn’t. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why—his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.

As if treating the President of the United States isn’t stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation’s eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.

My opinion: As always, I enjoyed this book by Dr. Mabry, it was a delightful blend of medical drama, character development, religion and romance. This book really kicks up the suspense and drama a notch! I loved the fast pace action and could hardly put this book down. I enjoyed the characters in the book even if they are a bit too brilliant and too beautiful, but it still was an excellent read. An excellent book that keeps you guessing until the end. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This Is Camino

What a delightful and fun cookbook. I had never heard of Russel or Allison before, but this book was excellent and had so many delightful recipes. I have done some cooking on an open fire before due to historical reenactment and I can attest to the fact that food prepared over an open fire really is uniquely flavored and is wonderful.
This book has brilliant photography and lush recipes, with varied skills needed, there is some difficult recipes to be sure and yet there are many that are deliciously simple that even I feel confident to attempt.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Splendor of Ordinary Days by Jeff High

The pastoral charm of small-town Watervalley, Tennessee, can be deceptive, as young Dr. Luke Bradford discovers when he’s caught in the fallout of a decades-old conflict.

After a rocky start as Watervalley’s only doctor, Luke Bradford has decided to stay in town, honoring the three-year commitment he made to pay off his medical school debts. But even as his friendships with the quirky townsfolk deepen, and he pursues a romance with lovely schoolteacher Christine Chambers, several military veterans’ emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley.

At the center of the clash is the curmudgeonly publisher of the local newspaper, Luther Whitmore. Luther grew up in Watervalley, but he returned from combat in Vietnam a changed man. He fenced in beautiful Moon Lake, posting “Keep Out” notices at the beloved spot, and provokes the townspeople with his incendiary newspaper.

As Luke struggles to understand Luther’s past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly. Suddenly Luke must answer life’s toughest questions about service, courage, love, and sacrifice.

My opinion: This book was a delightful read about small town living, at least that is all it seemed like at face value but it is so much more than that. This book is a quaint story that deals with Vietnam vets and other issues. The characters are utterly charming and the author does such a good job at making endearing characters that it makes you wish that you could meet many of them! A wonderful read with a warm center that one really enjoys. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Just show up by Kara Tippetts

Kara Tippetts’s story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.

It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara’s story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing “God with us” through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

My opinion: What a very emotional read, knowing that Kara had lost her battle with cancer and left a young family behind, this book was hard to pick up and yet I am glad I did. While the book does deal with Kara's battle with cancer it is about so much more than that, it deals with being a good friend, during the good times and the rough times and how vital that is. I feel like Kara really opened up about her struggles and her faith in God and was able to praise Him till the end. This book was amazing and I am still so encouraged by it. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

What to eat when you're pregnant by Nicole Avena PhD

What a wonderful book that I very much wished I had when I was pregnant with my bundle of joy. I tried eating healthy but after reading book I realized that I really had no idea what the heck I was doing! This book is full of wonderful advice and had a lot of information that most people don't think about. I loved how it was broken down by trimester and what was best to eat when and why it was good to eat while pregnant.
I think it would make a great present for an expecting Mom, very different and yet essential.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees: Essential Techniques of Authentic Chinese Cooking

What a unique and interesting cookbook. I wasn't so sure about this cookbook at first, I love Chinese food, but find it to be so involved and certainly not something that you can easily do with a demanding 4 month old. This book really helps break Chinese food down and make it seem less daunting and more simplistic. With more than enough photos and a great step by step approach this book made Chinese food seem much more doable. I also love the wide range of recipes for chefs of various skill.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

Pass it on by Jim Burns and Jeremy Lee

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Pass It On (David C. Cook, September 2015)

Parents often experience a “freak out” moment when they realize their children’s view of God will primarily come from what they learn at home.

Most parents spend more time helping their kids succeed at academics or athletics than infusing shared spiritual experiences into the rhythm of everyday family life.

While the idea of strategically passing down our faith can seem intimidating, the annual Rites of Passage Experiences contained in Pass It On make it easy for your family to celebrate milestones from kindergarten through high school graduation. Forever change the direction of your family’s spiritual legacy . . . starting now!

My opinion: I feel this book is so vitally important to this day and age where many Christians are wondering how they are going to pass their faith on to their children. There are so many temptations and things that can pull children away from the faith so parents need to be super vigilant and make sure their children are exposed to the gospel daily. I really appreciated this book and the suggestions that were found in it, I feel this is an important book for any parents out there.