Healing Through Nutrition: The Essential Guide to 50 Plant-Based Nutritional Sources by Eliza Savage – A Book Review

  

Most of us could benefit from having more plants in our diet. This book will assist the reader in becoming more familiar with the nutritional value and healing properties of many plants. Food has many functions: fuel, growth, survival, means of celebration, disease prevention and healing. What we leave off of our plates may be as important as what we put on them. Eating a plant-based diet of whole foods eliminates (or at least reduces) highly refined foods and sugars. This type of diet has been linked to numerous health benefits.

Following the basic introductory information, Savage has organized this book by grouping food types. Beyond the normal fruits and vegetables, she has even included herbs, spices, coffee and tea, along with whole grains, legumes, and nuts. For each plant listed she includes the nutrients that plant contains, its healing power, its health benefits and the medical conditions it may impact, and a variety of recipes that feature that plant. In addition to the typical index at the back of the book, the reader will also find a health/medical condition index so that he or she may immediately identify which plants relate to the condition that is of greatest interest to him or her.

I believe those seeking to promote overall health in natural ways will find this book to be a wonderful resource. 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 Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay - A Book Review

   

How did I possibly allow this book to linger on my e-shelf for five years? It is an outstanding read, and has inspired me to read some of the classics that I have always meant to get around to reading. (I actually downloaded Wuthering Heights this evening.) Katherine Reay so intertwines quotes from classic books into this story that they both contribute to the feel of the story and almost become a character speaking into the lives of Lucy, James and Helen.

The theme of The Bronte Plot revolves around honesty and integrity, values often lacking in our society. The associated hard lessons are tempered by the book's other theme of grace and mercy, both accepted and given. Reay makes readers care about her characters, to want the best for them. I highly recommend this book. It is perfectly paired with a long weekend and multiple pots of tea.

The Glass Bottom Boat by Laura Thomas - A Book Review

     

I enjoyed this romantic suspense story. Laura Thomas has woven together a tale that allows readers to see that God can work things for good in the most unexpected ways, giving them encouragement to hang on when He does not act in the expected ones. While some readers may be put off by the love-at-first-sight scenario; having recently celebrated our fortieth anniversary, I can assure you such things do happen!

I am very grateful to have won a copy of The Glass Bottom Boat in a give-away sponsored by the author. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Low-Carb Vegetarian Cookbook by Amy Lawrence and Justin Fox Burks – A Book Review

    

The Low-Carb Vegetarian Cookbook contains 100 recipes filled with fresh, nutritious ingredients, most of will be readily available at your local grocery. If the cooking times given are accurate, the recipes will be good for busy weekday meals. They certainly will be a healthy alternative to fast foods, and will give your family a variety of new tastes to enjoy. I am especially excited to try the Muffuletta Salad, Kohlrabi Tabbouleh, Almond and Eggplant Baba Ghanoush, and Cheddar-Thyme Biscuits. I do recommend this cookbook to those looking for new ideas for a special weekday cuisine.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this cookbook from RockRidge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes and Hearts By Nina and Sonya Montenegro - A Book Review

     

First of all I must say that the illustrations in this book are absolutely delightful. They set the mood for the book. The authors mention that they were in high school in the early 2000s, but they are truly old souls, both in their writing voices and in their world view. While they refer to some Eastern religions, a mending life also fits into the Christian view of intrinsic value and restoration.

This book is as much about philosophy and a way of life as it is an instruction manual. The authors give step-by-step instructions for a variety of ways to mend different types of fabrics with different uses. The instructions seem clear, but I have not as of yet attempted to put them into use. I would recommend this book to young and senior adults, and everyone in-between. I am grateful to have received a copy from Sasquatch Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to give a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The 30-Minute Paleo Cookbook: 90+ Delicious Recipes for Busy People by Stephanie A. Meyer – A Book Review

   

I came to this cookbook wanting to know more about what the Paleo diet was all about, and figured I would get some generally healthy recipes. The author does a good job of explaining the Paleo diet, and describing some of the ingredients with which those new to Paleo might be unfamiliar. I am about healthy meals made with nutritious, fresh ingredients. So admittedly many of these recipes are going to be more appealing to those seriously following a Paleo diet. I read over each of the 91 recipes and found 24 that I thought our family would eat and that I could readily find the ingredients available in our small town without having to order online. With the frequent long list of ingredients, I am not sure about the 'For Busy People' portion of the book's subtitle.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this cookbook 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 5-Ingredient Low-Carb Diet Cookbook: 100 Easy Recipes for Better Health by Bek Davis – A Book Review

   

Bek Davis writes from personal experience, needing to get to a healthy weight. I love that she honestly explains how one might feel when beginning a low-carb diet, but I love even more that she takes a sensible approach with recipes that contain low-carbs, moderate proteins, and healthy fats. Of the 100 recipes in this book, I thought our family would eat 74 of them. The vast majority of ingredients are readily available in our small town, which is always a plus.

I am quite grateful to have received this wonderful cookbook from RockRidge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation. I will definitely be using this cookbook to create my next weekly menu and grocery list.

Unintended Consequences by Dan Walsh - A Brief Cpmment

   

While Unintended Consequences is the third book in Dan Walsh's Jack Turner Suspense series, it works quite well as a stand-alone read. Through Jack's grandmother's reminiscing, we learn the story of how his grandparents met and fell in love during the days that the Germans were attacking England and France before the United States entered the war. I thoroughly enjoyed Renee and Flying Officer Jack Turner's story. It was filled with both sweetness and adventure. Dan Walsh is a masterful storyteller.

Selah by Lisa T. Bergren - A Book Review

  

Selah is the third book in Bergren's The Sugar Baron's Daughters series, this time focused on the youngest of the three daughters. The story is set on the West Indies island of Nevis where the conflict between England and the Colonies is causing a significant shortage of supplies. Verity, the middle sister, has married a Patriot sympathizer, and it is not long before Selah joins her sister and brother-in-law in their endeavors to assist the Patriot cause. Selah also continues to do all she can in support of freed and enslaved Negroes, thus making enemies of the most powerful man on the island.

I enjoyed revisiting the Double T plantation on Nevis, and was moved by the sacrifices Selah and her family were willing to make for those in their care. Bergren knows how to fully engage her readers' emotions. The themes of social justice, and willingness to put one's future in the hands of God while responding to His call were well developed and may spur many to give them further consideration. I am grateful to have received a copy of Selah in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund - A Book Review

  

The theme of The Runaway Bride is having the courage to do the right thing, especially when there is a personal price. In 1862 Arabella Laurence found herself on a bride ship voyaging from England to Vancouver Island because there were those in her family that lacked such courage. Readers will see that this type of courage is born of Christ and the willingness to pick up one's own cross and make personal sacrifices. While the book's description so far might sound a bit preachy, nothing could be farther from the truth. Jody Hedlund writes quite passionate love scenes without stepping outside the boundaries of Christian fiction. She develops a wide variety of characters, using their eccentricities to help both Arabella and readers to embrace valuable lessons on the virtues that grow in those who truly seek to live for the Lord, and to recognize a life of emptiness that comes from living to please people.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Runaway Bride 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.

100 Days to a Healthier Church by Karl Vaters – A Book Review

   

100 Days to a Healthier Church is a step-by-step guide for pastors and leadership teams, although the voice of the book is definitely directed toward the pastor as leader of this process. As a lay person having been in various leadership positions in our church over the past forty years, I embrace the need for change in order to improve the health of the church. The weekly foci outlined in this book seem to be a good prescription for this. The author gives many useful tips to make the process go more smoothly as well as pitfalls to avoid. It does seem to me that a pastor and leadership team would have to decide if the actual structure outlined in this book is feasible for their setting. Building a team that can commit to fifteen consecutive weekends would limit our church to mostly senior citizens and even then to ones without grandchildren events to attend. Overall this process is Scripture-based, organized, and would indeed lead to a healthier church.

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

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble - A Book Review

    

Coble has outdone herself this time. I lost track of the number of mysteries included in One Little Lie. Wondering how they would all converge compelled me to continue flipping pages, putting other things aside. Cults, vigilantes, murders, lies, and betrayal; a mystery lovers smorgasbord! I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers, and am grateful to have received a complementary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are completely my own.

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham – A Book Review

   

Beginning in 1869 and continuing until 1948, over 100,000 destitute British children between the ages of three and eighteen were taken from the streets and orphanages of England and sent to live in Canada. They were known as the British Home Children. While some indeed found a better life living with loving families, many were grossly mistreated and were used as cheap labor. Such was the life of the main characters in The Forgotten Home Child. Genevieve Graham tells their stories with honesty and sensitivity. Although these characters are fictional, they represent the hearts and lives of so many Home Children. Readers who are interested in books about the Orphan Trains and the Tennessee Children's Society will find this book equally interesting. Graham will engage their hearts as well as their minds.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Forgotten Home Child from Simon and Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot - A Book Review

   

Out of the Embers is set in 1855 Mesquite Springs, Texas, and is the story of two orphans, twenty-three- year-old Evelyn Radcliffe and six-year-old Polly whose last name is a guarded secret. Evelyn lost both of her parents to murder, and for much of the book the fate of Polly's parents is unknown. It would seem that the two are in danger, but the source of that danger is a mystery, a mystery that had my carrying around my Kindle, reading or listening at every opportunity. Amanda Cabot is a master at building and sustaining suspense. I cannot wait for book two in her Mesquite Springs series.

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

The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear - A Book Review

   

In the front matter the author describes how difficult it was for her to write this book. She touches upon that again at the end of her Historical Notes section. Each True Colors book, of which this is number five in the series, centers around a true American crime or criminal. The Blue Cloak focuses on the story of Micajah and Wiley Harpe, AKA Roberts, serial killers that plagued Tennessee and Kentucky in the late 1700s. It is also the story of Susan, Betsey, and Sally, three women who were controlled by the Harpe men and who served as wives to them both. Susan and Betsey were stolen by the men as young girls in or near their teens. Wiley, living up to his name, tricked Sally, a Baptist preacher's daughter, into marrying him before she learned of the lifestyle they would be living. McNear successfully tackled the daunting task of writing a Christian fiction piece that could truly claim that descriptor while telling of the horrors perpetrated by Micajah and Wiley. Having the name of my current hometown of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, mentioned several times made the story all the more real to me, horrifyingly real.

This book will appeal to those who like historical fiction as well as those who like thrillers. I am grateful to have received a copy 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.