Lake Season by Denise Hunter - A Book Review

    

Fear. Fear of not measuring up. Fear of letting people down. Fear of not being loving or lovable enough. Fear of having your heart broken. The theme of living a life controlled by fear versus the freedom found in living a life of faith and trust in God is deeply embedded in Lake Season. While our personal fears may come from a variety of sources, and they may masquerade as peculiarities or personality traits, most of us can find some area of life where fear keeps us from doing or being something we desire, something we know God is leading us to, or something we know to be in our best interest. Lake Season is likely to speak to us as we cast off fear and seek to live our best life.

Denise Hunter has created a story with believable characters who are impacted by God's love in an amazing way. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lose Your Belly Fat Cookbook by Alix Turoff - A Book Review

    

The author of  the Lose Your Belly Fat Cookbook is a registered dietitian whose life goal is to help find a way for people to love and enjoy food without sacrificing their health. The background information in this book explaining how to calculate your daily caloric goal, the importance of protein and fiber, good sources of fat, and choosing the right type of carbohydrates is as important as the recipes provided. Turoff provides a fourteen day jump start plan that is very doable. The recipes look amazing and I can't wait to try many of them. I am very grateful to have received a copy from Rockridge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The 30-Minute Dairy Free Cookbook by Silvana Nardone - A Book Review

  

Inspired by her son's improvement in his health after adopting a diet that took his food intolerances into account, Nurdone compiled recipes for those needing a dairy-free diet whether due to allergies, intolerances, sensitivities, or a need to improve their overall health. The author says that these recipes can be made in thirty minutes or less. I found many of the recipes to be more adult-friendly than child-friendly, at least based on the children that I have occasion to cook for. While I have not yet had the opportunity to make any, the recipes do sound delicious and fairly easy to make. Some of the ingredients may not be readily available in small-town groceries, but can be made at home. I am grateful to have received a copy from Rockridge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann Hunter - A Book Review

  

I entered the Haven Manor series with book three, A Pursuit of Home, other than the short story Legacy of Love from The Christmas Heirloom Novella Collection. This book worked quite well as a stand-alone read. Hunter made good use of her prologue to build background and interest.

I had difficulty coming up with a word to describe the cast of characters of A Pursuit of Home. The best I can do is whimsical, a strange word to associate with nobility turned spies and an academic. Following Jessamine (Jess) Beauchene and Derek Thornbury on their quest to restore the small nation of Verbonne is full of danger and surprises. This is the kind of story in which the reader creates vivid mental images of the characters, the type that would cause a great degree of agitation if the book were made into a movie in which the actors did not match those mental images. Readers are likely to become vested in the lives of Derek and Jess.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas - A Book Review

   

It took me a few chapters to get drawn into this story, but once I was it was so worth it. When Silence Sings has quite an original storyline, sort of a Jonah meets the Hatfields and McCoys. I love the way Thomas takes Bible stories and sets them in the early 1930s West Virginia, making them relatable to the mountain folk and to her readers as well. The character development in this story is very well done. A sequel continuing the story of Colman Harpe and Ivy Gordon would be very well received. Readers will close this book with visions of where their story might lead.

I highly recommend When Silence Sings and am grateful to have received a copy from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason - A Book Review

    

Eason does not waste any time getting to the action. Protecting Tanner Hollow is full throttle in the first chapter. As I read on I discovered why. Protecting Tanner Hollow is a collection of four romantic suspense novellas, so it is necessary to get into the action from the get go in each of the stories. Fans of novellas are going to love this collection. The setting and a few recurring characters link the novellas, each containing a damsel in distress being rescued, very different than the author's Elite Guardians series' female characters, but still delightful. One of Eason's St. John family characters is featured in the last of these stories. Fans of Eason's full-length novels may find the novellas a little light due to the length constraints, but will still find them an enjoyable read.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Protecting Tanner Hollow from Revell Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

In the Cradle Lies by Olivia Newport - A Book Review

    

In In the Cradle Lies we again meet genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan Duffy. Jillian and Nolan are two of the most selfless, caring characters you might ever meet, however, this sometimes makes them the greatest busybodies you might ever meet. They may have never met a boundary they wouldn't breach, but the author successfully molds them into people you can love in spite of this character flaw, a flaw that is used to open up the way for readers to step into the lives of those around whom the stories in this series center; in this case, Tucker Kintzler and his deceased grandfather, Matthew Ryder. On his deathbed Matthew placed a heavy burden on Tucker's shoulders, one too heavy for him to bear alone.

In the Cradle Lies is a story of family secrets and the shame that keeps them buried. It is also the story of being set free by the truth, and the willingness to share the truth with others. I recommend this book to those who need encouragement to face truth and step out of shame created by themselves or forced upon them by others. I recommend it to those who enjoy books where characters unfold and wisdom is revealed. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.