Pamela Binnings Ewen's Chasing the Wind ~ Reviewed

CHASING THE WIND – 
Pamela Binnings Ewen
Pages 352
Release Date Jun 1, 2012
Publisher Broadman And Holman


Description:

At 8:47 A.M. on Wednesday, October 12, 1977, new-to-town businessman Bingham Murdock flew his small plane into New Orleans, banking it in such a way that a ray of sunshine shot through the city at light speed.

Amalise Catoir saw the flash from her sixteenth floor law office window. Finally feeling alive after the death of her abusive husband, she imagined seeing the plane was a fate for her eyes only; a special connection between the unknown giver and she, the recipient of light.

But someone else saw it, a six-year-old Cambodian refugee in foster care for whom a sudden burst of brightness reminds him of artillery fire.

Destined to cross paths with the man and the child, Amalise doesn’t yet know the deeper spiritual lesson she will learn: that we are responsible not only for the things we do, but also for the things that we don’t.


Review:

Chasing the Wind continues the story of Amalise Catoir from the book Dancing on Glass.  Amalise is now picking up her life after the death of her husband Phillip.  Things are looking up in her career at the law firm, where she is put in the case of a lifetime.  However, this top secret case involves tearing down historic parts of New Orleans to put up hotels and casinos.  Amalise is troubled by this, and while driving through the areas to be demolished, meets a family with foster children.  Amalise becomes very attached to an orphaned Vietnamese boy named Luke who has also become attached to her.  She becomes torn between doing her job to the best of her ability, and saving the home of this family and little boy she’s grown to love.  In the meantime, she’s finding her feelings for her long time friend, Jude, are changing into love, but she is unsure what to do about it.
                 
I enjoyed this book more than the prequel.  The storyline wasn’t as dark, and Amalise had a better grip on what was right and wrong in this book.  It was an okay, book, though I don’t know if I would recommend it.  However, that could be that this writing style is not my reading style.  Nevertheless, it did keep me interested and anxious to see how it would end.
 
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Robin Jones Gunn's Cottage By the Sea ~ Reviewed

COTTAGE BY THE SEA
Robin Jones Gunn
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (July 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416583459

Description:

A daughter’s gift of time, a father’s silent wish.

Erin Bryce and her best friend, Sharlene, count the day they start their wedding planning business as a very happy day. So much so that they name their company The Happiest Day to reflect the fulfillment of their long-held dream as well as their clients’ longing for a wedding celebration to match the exhilaration of being in love. As a bonus, the two women utilize their business to help Erin’s son Jordan and his fiancée, Sierra, plan a grand wedding.

But the two friends aren’t prepared for the cloud moving in to cover the sunny, successful start of their business. Erin’s father, who lives in a small coastal Oregon community with his brusque, downright odd second wife, Delores, develops a medical problem that puts him in the hospital. Erin responds by rushing from Southern California to her father’s—and oh, yeah, Delores’s—cottage by the sea.

What greets Erin when she arrives sends her tumbling down a bewildering path to a different kind of happiest day. Her journey tosses her through highs and lows of hurt and healing, betrayal and renewal, wrong assumptions righted, and the brightest future one could ever hope for. All just around the corner, at the cottage by the sea.


Review:
Cottage By The Sea is about a woman named Erin Bryce.  As the story begins, Erin and her best friend Sharlene have just opened up their own business, The Happiest Day, meant to help brides-to-be plan their wedding day.  However, the first day the business is opened a tragedy occurs.  Erin’s father, who remarried after the passing of her mother, has a stroke, and Erin feels she must travel to Oregon to check on him.  Upon arriving, she sees he’s doing ok, so she returns home, vowing to keep in better touch with him and visit more often.  But as her business booms, and one of her sons plans a wedding, time gets away and she doesn’t make it.  A year and a half later, when her father doesn’t make it to her sons wedding, she calls, only to find out he’s had a severe stroke a few weeks previously.  Erin rushes up there to be with him, and ends up staying longer than expected as his condition worsens.  However, while there, she begins to find the peace of God which had been lacking in her life for so long because she had been so busy.  
 
This book was a tad slow going at first, but I really enjoyed it.  I have a picture in my mind of this charming “cottage by the sea” that Erin’s father lived in, and would love to visit there myself.  Mostly, though, I liked how the situation was able to bring Erin and her father closer together, and help Erin re-prioritize the important things in her life.  This was a great book.
 
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Deborah Raney's After All ~ Reviewed

After All

Deborah Raney
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416599959

Description:

Eighteen months after the tragic Grove Street Fire took the life of her husband and four other heroic firefighters, Susan Marlowe thinks she’s finally beginning to heal. But then she discovers that David carried a secret to his grave-a secret that changes everything she thought about their marriage. For the sake of their sons, can Susan forgive the unforgivable?

Andrea Morley lost her closest friend in the fire. But she has no right to mourn him. Instead, she must forever grieve in silence-for someone else’s husband. Peter Brennan carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. As Hanover Falls fire chief, he was responsible for the brave firefighters who lost their lives that awful November night. Can he ever shake the feeling that he could have somehow prevented the tragedy? And now it seems he might find comfort in the arms of the woman he least expected.

Review: 

Accomplished writer Deborah Raney concludes her Hanover Falls trilogy with After All,  an engaging and moving love story between two forty somethings, dealing with tragedy and loss and the fragile hope of a new relationship.  Deborah’s experience and skill is revealed in the authenticity of her characters, heartfelt prose and sensitively entwined spiritual truths. Susan and Peter are very appealing as much for their strengths as their weaknesses, as they navigate single hood and then new attraction. There were times that I wanted to smack Peter for some thoughtless behaviour, yet that only underlined the realism with which Deborah writes. The underlying mystery is not intense but adds to the depth of the story and reveals an interesting twist at the end that I’m still in two minds about!  Deborah’s stories never disappoint and I highly recommend After All and the entire Hanover Falls series.

Reviewed by: Rel Mollet

Mindy Starns Clark's and Leslie Gould's The Amish Bride ~ Reviewed

THE AMISH BRIDE 

Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736938621

               

Description:

Bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould offer readers The Amish Bride, Book 3 in the Women of Lancaster County series, which tells the stories of young Plain women as they explore their roots, connect with family, and discover true love.

Ella Bayer and Ezra Gundy are in love and hope to marry someday, but she is a young Mennonite woman while he is an Amish man. Though both Plain, one of them will have to forsake what they believe to embrace another way of life.

Hoping some distance will cool the relationship, Ezra's family sends him to work at an Amish dairy farm in Indiana. But Ella disregards what her family wants and follows Ezra. In short order she finds a place to live, a job in a bakery, and an unexpected but budding friendship with a handsome Amish farmhand, Luke. When a family tragedy forces Ella back to Pennsylvania, she must face all she's been running away from. And once she has made peace with those around her, she has an important decision to make: Whose Amish bride will she become--Ezra's or Luke's?

The Amish Bride is book three in The Women of Lancaster County.  In this book we focus on Ella Bayer, a young Mennonite woman who is in love with Ezra Gundy, a young Amish Man.  They love each other, but both no the difference in their religious backgrounds could keep them apart.  They decide to go to Indiana, where Ezra is to learn the ins and outs of working on a dairy farm, and Ella plans to escape a troubled home life and pursue her dreams of becoming a bakery owner.  Her time away is also to learn some family secrets for her grandmother as well as to escape seeing her estranged father who has returned into her life.  In the meantime, she meets another Amish man, Luke.  It seems as if she’s being pulled in so many directions, and she is unsure about trusting God to lead her instead of doing what she wants to do.

                 

This was a good story.  I read book one in the series, but haven’t read book two yet, so it took a while to catch myself up to the characters.  Ella’s character was interesting.  She was so headstrong in her decisions, that I almost got annoyed with her at times, and found myself wanting to talk some sense into her.  In the end, though, she listened to the Lord and found that life was way better with his leading then it would have been had she followed through with her own plans.

 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Tessa Afshar's Harvest of Rubies ~ Reviewed

Harvest of Rubies [Paperback]  
Tessa Afshar (Author)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: River North; New Edition edition (April 20, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802405584

Description:

The prophet Nehemiah's cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she is a woman.

In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father's subsequent emotional distance and she came to two conclusions: that God does not care about her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth - the measure of her self.

Sarah, the talented scribe and cousin to Nehemiah, is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation.

Sarah soon learns that she has something of worth to offer beyond her ability with languages and sums - her very being proves to be a blessing to others.

Review:

Set in an ancient Persian empire, Harvest of Rubies is rich with historical elements and contains a strong romance thread. Nehemiah is the cupbearer to the king and his cousin, Sarah, like Esther before her, finds favor with the royals. Her skills with languages, reading and writing make her invaluable to the queen. When Sarah does the queen a good turn the queen bestows a gift/blessing on Sarah as a reward. However, this reward has challenging, seemingly disastrous results in Sarah’s life. 

The strong faith element within the book is of an ancient Hebrew vein vs a salvation message. Times of teaching crop up through Nehemiah, a wise old gardener, and Sarah’s own thoughts. Interestingly, the author added a few mysterious happenings that Sarah investigates so the story clipped along.  

There were a few times at the beginning that I wondered if I was going to like Harvest of Rubies. However, I found myself drawn in by the story and finishing it up quickly so the story conquered minor annoyances. If you love a bit of intrigue, romance and history this is a book you should check into.
 
Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Kay Warren's Choose Joy ~ Reviewed

Choose Joy
Kay Warren
Hardcover: 259 pages
Publisher: Revell (April 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800721721



Description:

Everyone knows how to be joyful in the peaks of life.
I've graduated!
I'm engaged!
I've been hired!
I'm having a baby!
I'm cancer-free!

When all your fondest hopes and wildest dreams come true, and your heart nearly explodes with happiness, it's easy to feel joyful.
 
But what about the valleys? When nothing seems to go your way? When everything is falling apart? When God is silent, and you feel all alone?
 
Where does joy fit into those moments?
 
In Choose Joy, acclaimed author and Christian leader Kay Warren shares the path to experiencing soul-satisfying joy no matter what you're going through. Joy is deeper than happiness, lasts longer than excitement, and is more satisfying than pleasure and thrills. Joy is richer. Fuller. And it's far more accessible than you've thought.
 
Joy comes from God . . . and it can be yours! Today.


Review:


“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything Is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” (p. 31)
 
Kay Warren uses this definition of joy throughout this amazing book to show readers that joy – real, lasting joy, doesn’t depend on our circumstances, but rather who God is and what Christ has done to redeem us from sin and ourselves. Using personal experiences and examples, and a very honest voice, Warren teaches some very powerful truths from God’s Word. This is, as I’ve already stated, an amazing book!
 
Once again, a God appointment in my life, I’ve learned some very solid truths about God, and some very unflattering things about my own spiritual condition. I’m just being honest. But there is HOPE! God is working in my heart and teaching me things – growing me in my faith – and drawing me closer to Him. I am learning what God’s definition of joy is in a very real way.
 
My highlighter and Bible were employed throughout this wonderful book, and I will be re-reading very soon! We serve an amazing God, folks! He can bring joy into your life that the world can never change. Praise HIM!!!

Needless to say, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!! It’s amazing! Be blessed!!

Reviewed by: Kim Ford

Lacy Williams's The Homesteader's Sweetheart ~ Reviewed

The Homesteader's Sweetheart (Love Inspired Historical)
Lacy Williams
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373829175

Back Cover
 
Sanctuary in Wyoming?

To escape a dreaded arranged marriage, Penny Castlerock will face anything--even life on her grandfather's farm. But it isn't the rustic lifestyle that's got the Philadelphia socialite tied in knots. It's the handsome homesteader and his eight adopted children next door....

With seven boys and a girl to raise, transplanted farmer Jonas White could sure use some help. He just didn't expect it to come from the high-spirited, copper-haired beauty he's always admired from afar. But surely working the land is no life for a woman like Penny. Yet a threat to Jonas's farm just might show him how perfect Penny is for him after all.

Review:
 
The Homesteader’s Sweetheart is about a young, well-to-do woman named Penny Castlerock, who escapes to her grandfather’s farm to escape marriage to her father’s business partner. While with her grandfather, she is forced to live a simpler life, and comes to realize she enjoys it more than she thought she would. In the meantime, she meets Jonas White, her Grandfather’s neighbor. He lives with his eight adopted children. When Penny volunteers to help him with his little girl, they begin to realize their growing feelings for each other, but are each too self conscious to say anything. In the meantime, Jonas’ farm is being threatened and he doesn’t know how he’ll support his family, while Penny’s sinister “intended” tracks her down and uses forceful measures to persuade her into marriage.

These are the kind of books I enjoy. I love the time period and the setting. I love that Penny’s character, while well-to-do and spoiled, is still down to earth and has a heart of gold for helping others. It was fun watching the love story between her and Jonas develop as well. This was a great read!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

 

Nikki Arana's The Next Target ~ Reviewed

The Next Target
Nikki Arana
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (June 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0781404312

Description:

It only took one bullet. Austia’s friend and student fell dead. And with a glimpse of a newspaper headline, the young and recently widowed Austia knows more about what happened than the police. From that fatal night, Austia’s secret outreach to the U.S. Muslim community—in the guise of English language classes—becomes a target. Local Muslim extremists set their sights on ending her ministry and even her life. And the women she ministers to will be next.

A thick web of deceit closes in around Austia, and her circle of friends becomes smaller by the day, even as she finally opens herself to the idea of falling in love again. But who can she trust? Facing a spiritual battle that proves more treacherous than it at first seemed, Austia’s convictions are tested to their limits and her heart becomes primed for breaking. She must ask herself: how much she will risk to stay true to her herself, her faith, and to the lives of the women she serves?

Review:

Nikki Arana has penned a romantic suspense novel that will challenge your thinking in a number of ways.  Bringing her personal passion of reaching Muslims for Christ to the pages, The Next Targetis a powerful story of sacrifice, compassion and forgiveness.  Nikki’s story of Austia’s secret ministry to Muslims and the ultimate sacrifice many Muslims make when they decide to follow Jesus is confronting and meaningful.  Cultural misunderstandings and ignorant prejudices on both sides make for compelling reading and are cause to re-evaluate our own thoughts and actions.  With the underlying powerful messages The Next Target also offers terrific suspense and an authentic romantic element.  I was both moved and encouraged by Nikki’s story and I recommend you add this one to your wish list immediately.

Reviewed by: Rel Mollet

Bonus Review:

I blame Nikki Arana, author of the Next Target for my lack of sleep during the latter part of July. Each night, her heroine Austia, a widow passionate about seeing Muslims experience the love of Christ, beckoned and held me page after page and chapter after chapter. Her life and heart were at stake. Should she go to the police, not only would she risk her ministry, but she’d endanger the lives of every Muslim woman who entered her ministry doors.

The story opens with a chilling honor killing—a young Muslim woman named Sabirah murdered at the hands of her cherished uncle. Before she dies, she’s given a chance to renounce her faith and live. But she will not. Cannot. Instead, she cries out to the only one who can save her—her beloved Jesus. Moments before the gun fires, the woman is whisked away and into the presence of her Heavenly Father.

We soon learn, Austia is one who told Sabirah about Jesus. Suspecting her and her ministry, radical Muslims begin to zero in, creating a dangerous web of deceit … a web Austia blindly stumbles into.

Throughout the novel, Nikki Arana handles a difficult subject with authenticity and grace. It is clear she did a great deal of research while writing this novel. It is also clear her love for the Muslim people mirrors that of her main character. With never a predictable moment, authentic and dynamic characters, and a sprinkling of heart-stirring romance, Nikki Arana’s the Next Target is by far the best suspense novel I’ve read in some time. 

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery

Kathi Lipp's The Get Yourself Organized Project ~ Reviewed

The Get Yourself Organized Project: 21 Steps to Less Mess and Stress

Kathi Lipp 

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736943854 

Description:

Finally, an organizational book for women who have given up trying to be Martha Stewart but still desire some semblance of order in their lives.
Most organizational books are written by and for people who are naturally structured and orderly. For the woman who is more ADD than type A, the advice sounds terrific but seldom works. These women are looking for help that takes into account their free-spirited outlook while providing tips and tricks they can easily follow to live a more organized life.
Kathi Lipp, author of The Husband Project and other "project" books, is just the author to address this need. In her inimitable style, she offers

• easy and effective ways women can restore peace to their everyday lives
• simple and manageable long-term solutions for organizing any room in one's home (and keeping it that way)
• a realistic way to de-stress a busy schedule
• strategies for efficient shopping, meal preparation, cleaning, and more

Full of helpful tips and abundant good humor, The Get Yourself Organized Project is for those who want to spend their time living and enjoying life rather than organizing their sock drawer.

Review:

Kathi Lipp’s style of organizing makes sense. I love to look at glossy pictures of beautiful rooms, but my rooms look anything but most of the time. Lipp uses common sense tips to help the wannabes reach just a bit more and find the solution that conquers their clutter, so her advice was something I could wrap my mind around. Where one family may use the dining room table as a catch all, another might have front door issues. She goes into the flow of the room, how to identify and conquer trouble spots and gives hints and tips from others who may share your unique struggles. Lipp also comes across as a chatty girlfriend who’s been there rather than a lofty expert. This is a plus when I want to tackle a problem. Nothing like a lofty expert to make me hide my head in shame. I’ll never, never, never be a Martha Stewart clone, but I could learn a few good hints from Kathi Lipp.

Lipp covers all areas of the house (and a few life issues, too) and tackles them one at a time. Bathroom got you buried, turn to the section on bathrooms. Office your nightmare? Good news, she covers that one, too. She even has a chapter on food preparation and organization which just might reimburse you for the price of the book, over and over again if you are prone to hitting drive-thrus due to “what’s for dinner?” paralysis.  If you are looking to get organized and tame your clutter beast this is a great resource. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Gail Gaymer Martin's A Dream of His Own ~ Reviewed

A DREAM OF HIS OWN
Gail Gaymer Martin
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 224
Vendor: Steeple Hill Books
Publication Date: 2012
ISBN: 0373877463

Description:

The only thing philanthropist Quinn O'Neill wants is to forget the accident that took his wife and son. He doesn't expect a fender bender with a lovely stranger to change his life in a major way. Struggling single mom Ava Darnell and her teenage son have their own hardships.

Review:

A Dream of His Own is about two adults who have gone through terrible losses.  Quinn O’Neil leaves the big city and his big business to escape in a small town after an accident takes the life of his wife and son.  Ava Darnell is trying to cope with the loss of her husband, while at the same time praying that her 15 year old son stays in remission after a bout of cancer.  They unexpectedly “run into each other” during a fender bender and feel an instant connection.  But as their relationship grows, so does the friction between them, as they are both keeping secrets about their pasts from each other. 

I really enjoyed this book.  At times, you really thought they just might not make it as a couple.  There were a few times when I wanted to give Ava a talking to because of her attitude, but she eventually let the Lord lead and help her.  This was a really good book.  I think my favorite character was Brandon, Ava’s son.  He started out  as a bitter teenager and grew into a really nice young man.  I do wish the book talked about salvation.  She talked about the characters going to church, reading the Word, and trusting the Lord, but never brought up salvation.  I would have liked to see that fit in there somewhere.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Jennifer ALee's A Wild Goose Chase Christmas ~ Reviewed

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, Quilts of Love Series #2
By: Jennifer AlLee 
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 240
Vendor: Abingdon Press
Publication Date: 2012
Dimensions: 8.50 X 5.50 (inches)
ISBN: 1426752490

Description:

Upon her grandmother's death, Izzy Fontaine finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase pattern quilt that supposedly leads to a great treasure. Of course, once the rest of the family finds out about the "treasure map," they're determined to have a go at the treasure themselves. And, if that weren't enough, Max Logan, a local museum curator, contacts Izzy and says that Grandma Isabella promised him the quilt.What is it about this quilt that makes everyone want it? Is Izzy on a wild goose chase of her own, or a journey that will lead her to the treasure her grandmother intended?

Review:


A Wild Goose Chase Christmas is about a young woman named Izzy Fontaine.  After he grandmother’s passing, she finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase pattern quilt that her grandmother left her, and supposedly, it leads to a great treasure.  The quilt itself leads Izzy on a wild goose chase, as new clues and even a map show up, which in turn brings Izzy’s family in on the hunt as well.  In the meantime, Max Logan, a local museum curator, has become involved as well, as Izzy’s grandmother let him in on the value of the quilt as well.  What can this great treasure be?  No one knows, but everyone wants to find out.

I really liked this book.  It was really sweet how the grandmother planned out all of these clues and surprises to bring the family closer together, and to lead Izzy to her “greatest treasure.”  I especially liked watching the change that came over Izzy’s mother.  She began as a very uppity woman who seemed to be very into herself, but she began to soften throughout the course of the story, and I really enjoy seeing that change in a character.  This was a very cute book and a fun read.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions: Veganize It! Foolproof Methods for Transforming Any Dish into a Delicious New Vegan Favorite

Celine Steen , Joni Marie Newman

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Fair Winds Press (December 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1592334415


Description:

Veganize Any Recipe with Confidence!

The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions is your secret weapon to turning any recipe imaginable into a deliciously “veganized” success—no guesswork or hard labor involved. And no more kitchen failures or recipe flops either. Simply look up whatever non-vegan ingredient you want to sub out, and expert author team Celine Steen and Joni Marie Newman will explain exactly what substitution is best to use and how to make it without compromising taste or flavor, so you’ll create dishes that are not only better than the “real” thing, but healthier, too.

With more than 200 recipes and substitutions that show the swaps in action, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for replacing everything from butter and bacon to gelatin and gouda. You’ll also find healthy substitutions for replacing things like gluten, sugar, and fat, so you can fine-tune any recipe to your dietary needs.

Stunning photography and easy-to-follow charts appear in every chapter, making it a cinch to dip in and out whenever you need a quick reference or recipe.

If you’ve always wanted to turn your aunt’s famous mac and cheese into a veganized taste sensation, or your grandma’s buttermilk pie into a rousing, “reinvented” success, The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions is the solution you’ve been looking for!

Review:

This is a terrific resource for a person who is exploring plant-based or Vegan cooking or a more seasoned cook who is looking to cut back on buying the processed Vegan friendly items. This is also a good resource for someone who's looking to transition out of meat and dairy products and wants to trade out traditional pantry/refrigerator items with plant-based substitutions.

I'll admit I purchased this complete guide because of the darling illustrations along with the implied promise that I could figure out this whole new way of cooking without animal products. And I have not been disappointed with my decision. I like the compact size of the book, as well.

Once I received my copy of The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions I glanced through it but didn't embrace it as a go-to cookbook. It was more of a resource for me. But after having it awhile I've begun to cook out of it and mark more recipes I'd like to make.

The book is broken down differently than a standard cookbook. Instead of appetizer, main, sides, salads, desserts type of format, the divisions are topical.

Section One has loads of recipes and is called "Let the Cows Some Home! Foolproof Substitutions for Dairy". It is further broken down by a milk sub and cheese sub chapter. Included are recipes for making nut cheeses, dairy free sour cream, milks and even chocolate bars. Each section has a chart that explains what an item does for a recipe and the items that you can use to replace it. (Most have more than one substitution and quite a few have a gluten free or soy free version that will work.)

There are a total of six sections: substitutions for Dairy, Eggs, Meat, Animal Products, one that encompasses Gluten, Soy, Sugar and Fat substitutions and finally a complete chart of subs. Note: the sugar and fat substitutions are not fat and sugar free, i.e. the authors use of agave or maple syrup or brown rice syrup instead of standard sugar.

Some of the recipes are quick and easy, and some rely on processed Vegan friendly foods. Example Cookie Cookies (cookies made with crushed sandwich cookies...hence the name, I'd guess) . Recipes will call for purchased patties and or meat subs. But there are recipes for make your own seitan, boiled and baked versions. And they include recipes on making your own "bacon" bits, hot dogs, "pepperoni" subs and even baby back ribs and fish sticks.

Several recipes are stack recipes, ones that call for another recipe to be made prior to making the end result. For example the Savory Artichoke Pie includes the  Roasted Squash Lentil Spread.

Recipe measurements are in weight and volume which is nice. And some of the unique recipes they provide include unusual items like Vegan marzipan, graham cracker crust, "ham", make your own gluten free baking mix, cheese fondue and a non-fermented dairy free yogurt. 

Ingredients like miso, nutritional yeast, agar flakes, vital wheat gluten and TVP are maybe unfamiliar to brand new Vegans but can be found on-line or in health food stores or sections.

I personally have prepared the Baked Seitan Cutlets and the Speculoos Cookies and can recommend both as worth the price of the book and of the shelf space. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Sean McDowell and Bob Hostetler's The Quest ~ Reviewed

THE QUEST
Sean McDowell and Bob Hostetler 
Format: Paperback
Vendor: Outreach Publishing
ISBN-13: 9781935541424

Description

A single phone call launches twenty-three year old Emma Seeger on the journey of a lifetime. And it turns out to be a more dangerous--and more consequential--journey than she could have imagined or feared.
The call is from a woman Emma despises most in the world--her father's wife. Emma's stepmother, a woman who had taken away Emma's father, not once, not twice, but three times. She had turned Daniel Seeger into a "born-again" Christian, married him, and dragged him off to Israel, where they worked as some sort of missionaries--an occupation Emma views as misguided, if not outright dangerous. Now Emma learns that her father has disappeared!

              
 Review:
  
The Quest involves a young woman named Emma Seeger.  She is a struggling college student, trying to come to grips with the fact that her father has just remarried, a “Christian,” no less, and has gone off to live in Israel to be a missionary.  Out of nowhere, Emma gets a call from her stepmother, Katya, informing her that her father has been missing for three days and no one knows where he is.  Emma scrapes up what money she has and flies to Israel to help in the search for her father.  Little does she know the God is using this experience to draw her to Him.
               
 I honestly wasn’t sure I would be able to get into this book, but after the first chapter, I was hooked.  I enjoyed the way the author’s used the character of Katya to explain why she knew the Bible was true, and the evidence she used to back it up.  It was very interesting, and there was just enough suspense to keep you involved, but it was not overly done.  I feel like the gospel itself could have been presented a bit more clearly, but it was still an enjoyable book.
 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Amy Clipston's A Season of Love ~ Reviewed

A Season of Love (Kauffman Amish Bakery Series)
Amy Clipston

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Zondervan (June 19, 2012)
Language: English

 

 

Description:

 

In the fifth and final novel of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, three young women are about to change their lives. Lizzie Anne and Samuel have decided to get married, and Lindsay is about to be baptized in the Amish faith and is courting Matthew. While Katie Kauffman is happy for her friends who seem to have settled their futures, she is also finding herself something of a fifth wheel. 

 

When Lindsay's sister Jessica returns to Bird-in-Hand, she finds that Jake Miller has moved on with his life. He lost hope that Jessica would ever be satisfied to settle in rural Pennsylvania and takes comfort in becoming close friends with Katie. However, it's not an easy road as Jake is Mennonite and Katie has just been baptized in the Amish faith. Her father forbids them to see each other, adamant that his daughter marry an Amish man. 

 

A Season of Love is filled with surprising twists that will grip you to the very last words. As the stories of your favorite Amish community draw to a close, join Lindsay, her friends, and all the people of Bird-In-Hand for one last volume.

Review:

A Season of Love is book 5 in the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series.  In this book, the characters that have developed throughout the series come into their own.  Two of the girls, Lizzie Anne and Lindsay, have become engaged.  But Katie Kauffman, while happy for her friends, is beginning to feel sorry for herself.  She is ready to find love as well.  But love comes unexpectedly in the form of Jake Miller, a young Mennonite man whose Amish relatives have close ties with Katie’s family.  Their feelings for each other grow, but Katie’s father forbids them to see each other, which makes matters worse.  Katie has to try to deal with the fact that the man she loves is someone she can never be with, and she’s not sure how to cope.                 

It took me a little while to get into the story, simply because I hadn’t read the other books, but after I got into it, I enjoyed it.  I can relate to Katie’s character in that I was one of the last of my friends to meet a guy and fall in love.  It’s hard to watch that happen.  While you’re happy for your friends, you wish for the same happiness.  I really enjoyed this book, though, and wish I could have read the others in the series.  I especially liked that the author included recipes before some of the chapters.  That was a huge plus!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Deb Roussou's 350 Best Vegan Recipes and a Giveaway ~ Reviewed

350 Best Vegan Recipes
Deb Roussou
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Robert Rose (March 8, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778802949


Description:

Delicious, innovative and easy-to-prepare recipes for everyone in search of meal-planning options to fit the vegan lifestyle.

These tempting vegan options include a wide and varied range of tantalizing meal ideas -- from amazing appetizers and salads to hearty soups, incredibly satisfying main courses and decadent desserts. This outstanding cookbook contains so much more than just incredible vegan offerings (that are also guaranteed to appeal to non-vegans and non-vegetarians) -- it also includes comprehensive and useful information on everything from stocking a vegan pantry to helpful kitchen tools and equipment.

And what really sets this book apart from other vegan cookbooks is the "Vegan from Scratch" chapter which provides information on making everything from Vegan Bouillon to Soy Cream Cheese and Smokey Maple Tofu Bacon Slices. These recipes really bring a wholly authentic vegan lifestyle into the home kitchen!


My Review

If you are new to Vegan eating, investigating it, or are trying to add delicious meatless meals to your life, this packed-with-recipes cookbook is a great resource to have on hand.

I'd love to tell you that I cook from my brain and pure creativity and never need cookbooks to get the juices flowing, but that would be a lie. Not saying I can't get on a roll and go all out. But when I'm tired, or bored, or just can't muster creative, I like me a good cookbook.

I also would love to tell you that I love internet recipes. Honestly, with a few strokes of a few keys one can really find a whole lot of what they need on the web. But, I hate cooking from recipes on my computer. There is something about a book that I can write down tweaks or suggestions for next time in the margins. I even like an occasional splatter mark in my cookbooks. (Not to be confused with spatter for those like me, who love police fiction. I do not want spatter in my cookbooks, thankyouverymuch.)

I have made a handful of recipes from 350 Best Vegan Recipes. Each of them was delicious.

My first recipe was Serrano and Roasted Pepper Cornbread. Yum. I had some leftover Spanish rice that needed a little something to make it star in another meal. With a handful of seitan bits and the cornbread layered over the top and baked with the cornbread instructions, yum, this bad boy is a keeper.

Next up was Almond Bear Claw Muffins served to breakfast guests.  Absolutely delicious. I used almond butter instead of the paste that is called for and the recipe worked well. And won raves. 

Another muffin recipe was equally delicious. Raspberry Streusel Muffins.

The Cremini and Kalamata Olivada -- YUM.

I don't think I can tell you what i still want to make from this cookbook. It would probably take less time and space to tell you what doesn't appeal to me.

Recipes on my radar include:

Trendy and creative sounding Horseradish Mustard and Panko-Encrusted Tofu and Northwest Passage Cedar-Planked Tofu. Down home fun comfort food... County Fair Corn Chip Pie. With recipes like these book covers most aspects of Vegan entertaining.

Raw and just veggie lovers will find a section that contains recipes like: Cauliflower and Zucchini Slaw, Hearts of Palm and Mushroom Salad with Lemon Parsley Vinaigrette, Grilled Artichokes with Jalapeno Mignonette Sauce, Sauteed Slivered Brussels Sprouts Over Wild Rice Cakes and Lemon Cucumber Tabbouleh. All together now, "Yum." 

The dessert section offers up a Cranberry Walnut Cake with Caramel Sauce, Jade Green Tea Pound Cake and Figgy Pudding with Brandy Hard Sauce.

A dozen or so pages contain cocktail recipes, too.

I also appreciated the resources. Like the salad dressing recipes, spice blends and basic Vegan recipe versions to replace expensive Vegan processed items. You can use this resource to make your own dairy free versions of mayonnaise, ricotta, smear, sour cream, tempehacon bits, caramel and divine chocolate sauces, vegetable broth and seitan.

Not every recipe in the book is unique, there are several basics or standard items you'll find in nearly every Vegan focused cookbook.  The recipes I tried are delicious and easy to follow.  If you are looking for why to go Vegan, or what one is, that information in not in here. However there are some resources for new Vegans like a very simple pantry list, useful kitchen tools, vocabulary, and suggested menu/party list. Most recipes can be made with commonly found-in-Vegan-household ingredients. If you are looking for some tasty Vegan recipes and like the idea that you can buy a book with 350 recipes instead of 175, then you might want to look a little bit closer at adding it to your bookshelf. It's a keeper and I will continue to cook from it.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

NOTE: Visit my blog for a chance to win a copy of 350 Best Vegan Recipes through July 21st and follow the directions. This offer is available through the publisher and available to residents of the US and Canada.  There is also a recipe from the cookbook.

Mary Ellis's Living in Harmony ~ Reviewed

Living in Harmony, New Beginnings Series #1
By: Mary Ellis  
Harvest House Publishers
2012 / Paperback
ISBN: 0736938664

Product Description: 

Amy King-young, engaged, and Amish-faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fianci, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.

Review: 

Living in Harmony is about a young Amish Family whose world is turned upside down when their parents die tragically in a house fire.  Amy King, the eldest, goes with her intended, John Detweiler, to stay with his family in Maine, along with her sister, Nora.  While there, Amy and Nora discover a connection with an aunt who was shunned, and want to get in touch with her.  However, this Amish district is much more strict about everything than their previous home, and these restrictions, along with John’s reservations about Amy meeting her aunt, cause Amy to wonder if this is where she really belongs.  Can she succumb herself to the will of a husband?
 
I enjoyed this story, especially the character of Nora.  She’s had some tough circumstances in her life and is trying to figure out what to do with her life.  But she has spunk.  This story ends with a good ending for Amy and John, but leaves you hanging in regards to Nora.  I’m looking forward to seeing what life holds for her in the next book.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Lorna Seilstad's The Ride of Her Life ~ Reviewed

THE RIDE OF HER LIFE

By Lorna Seilstad

Published by Revell

ISBN#978-08007-3447-3

381 Pages

Back Cover: 

The only man pragmatic Lilly Hart needs in her life is a six year old. Widowed two years ago, Lilly leaves the shelter of her intrusive in-laws' home to stand on her own and provide for her young son by working for the summer as a cook at Lake Manawa. However, her in-laws find that life utterly unsuitable for their grandson, and when a row ensues, a handsome stranger--who designs roller coasters, of all things--intercedes on her behalf. Still, Lilly is not about to get involved with any man, especially this cocky (though charismatic) gentleman. Little does she know she is about to begin the ride of her life.

Filled with delightful characters and the romance of summer, The Ride of Her Life is another supremely entertaining story from the witty Lorna Seilstad. Readers will laugh out loud and sigh contentedly as they spend the summer of 1906 in Lake Manawa.

Review: 

Love the book covers of Lorna Seilstad’s books.  The covers scream Fun! I was thrilled to receive a review copy of The Ride of Her Life and take a journey with this author through history that’s enjoyable and faith based. I adored it! I love how this author blends history, romance and faith into an entertaining story along endearing characters I instantly cared about, and her sense of well timed humor makes a great combination that will bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart.

I felt for Mrs. Lilly Hart and her delightful 10 year old son Levi right from the beginning.  It’s been three years since Lilly lost her husband and Levi his dad and Lilly had to take a stand against her in-laws who wanted to send her son away to boarding school to have a proper up-bringing. Lilly moves out of her in-laws house to embark on a new journey to keep her son by her side and work hard as a cook at a restaurant. Levi is all boy filled with wonder and surprise at the world and critters around him. He says to his mom, “Look Mama.”

“What had Levi dragged in now…Lilly thought?”

“Isn’t she pretty?”… You wanna pet her?”

Lilly doesn’t over react at the monstrous, writhing snake Levi just stuck very close to her nose. She simply tells her son snakes have to live outside and can’t dine in the restaurant.  Nick who eats at the dinner along with his crew says he’ll help Levi make a cage for his new friend to live in.  Levi is thrilled, Lilly is grateful and Nick loves Lilly’s cooking! It’s a win, win for all.

In the process of helping Levi, Nick and Lilly get to know each other and try to fight the feelings that are developing between them. Nick is on a deadline to finish a roller coaster in time for the grand opening of the new theme park in town. Strange things have been happening to delay his progress. He’ll get to the bottom of that and do what it takes to be done on time.

Spiritual themes of faith, fear and trust run throughout the story and deal with a couple of characters. Lilly prays quietly to herself one day after God reveals something to her heart, “Lord, I see what I’ve been doing. When the storms came, I had the same choice the Apostles had….I could’ve responded with fear or faith. And I chose fear. I stopped trusting you and started trusting only myself! Please Lord, Please forgive me.”

I don’t know about you but I’ve prayed that prayer too! I love how this author naturally weaves in the spiritual thread and doesn’t make this story preachy.

Levi will steal your heart and the budding romance between Lilly and Nick takes so many twists and turns it will keep you guessing with it’s ups and downs just like the roller coaster ride Nick is building.

Thanks to Lorna’s author notes and Nick’s construction of his roller coaster in this story I learned so much. I enjoyed reading about the development of Amusement parks and all that goes into making that and a roller coaster. I highly recommend this novel (and Lorna’s other books) for a great summer read and your next book club pick.

Reviewed by: Nora St Laurent

The Book Club Network 

Bonus Review:

Looking for a joyful, entertaining read with characters easy to adore? Look no further than Lorna Seilstad’s third Lake Manawa novel, The Ride of Her Life.  Instilled with humour, interesting characters and unique historical details of the beginning of the roller coaster craze, this book is quite delightful.  Lorna takes her place alongside Karen Witemeyer and Deeanne Gist as a talented writer who adds frivolity and wit to her historical romantic tales.  That said, Lilly’s struggle to maintain her independence and provide for her little Levi, and her faith journey add all the substance this story needs.  With a charming leading man in Nick, Lorna has produced another lighthearted gem which is engaging and sweet and provides a satisfying end to her series.

Reviewed by: Rel Mollet 

Nicole Unice's She's Got Issues ~ Reviewed

SHE'S GOT ISSUES

By Nicole Unice

Published by Tyndale

ISBN#978-1-4143-6510-7

252 Pages

Back Cover: 

We've all got our issues! Maybe you feel like life just isn't going your way, or you’re afraid that you don’t measure up to other people’s expectations. Perhaps you have a hard time managing your temper or have someone in your life you just can’t forgive. We deal with our “issues” every day in one form or another; the problem is, after a while, they start to feel . . . normal. Unchanging. Just part of who we are. And we forget that we have access to the power of Christ—a power that can transform our everyday weaknesses into our greatest strengths and gifts.

In She’s Got Issues, Christian counselor, ministry leader, and regular mom Nicole Unice explores the ordinary issues that are keeping you from the full and free life you were meant to have. Applying years of counseling with practical scriptural teaching and a fresh and authentic voice, Nicole shows you how to let God freely shape your character—and transform your life from ordinary to abundant.

Review: 

Love the cover, enjoyed and appreciated the author’s transparency and humor. I’m thankful for the review copy I received of this book and how Nicole Unice talks about topics that have been rolling around in my mind for a while now but haven’t expressed. I love when the Lord brings a book into my life I could really benefit from; She's Got Issues is one of them.

Under the heading, “Do You Have Issues?” the author discusses how people assume when we accept Jesus into our heart we live happily ever after. How can that be when we live in a fallen world and further more we’re human and all have issues. Some of us are willing to admit them and others are clueless. Nicole Unice goes on to say, “The ability to see yourself clearly is crucial in your relationship with Christ and in your subsequent ability to serve well. You can not live more abundantly and love better without addressing the underlying issues. You are not after perfection in the way you love but you do need to cultivate a growing dependency on a relationship with Christ that gives you the ability to love.”

The author then asks, “Am I changed because of Jesus?”

This glimpse into the book shows you her sense of humor and transparency. (It was refreshing to read). She says, “First I told myself I was qualified to decide if I was changed: I’m a counselor, for heaven’s sake. I’m a supposed expert on how to be a healthy person.

Then I told myself why I was qualified to be a Christian: I rock at bible trivia games. I’m so legit. I can even pronounce a few Hebrew words, and I know the four different Greek words for love. I’ve gone to seminary!

Then I told myself the truth: I can’t really handle ordinary life with a constant peace or lasting joy. I do ok loving when it’s easy. I don’t love much when it’s hard!”

I enjoyed the author’s honesty, transparency and courage to ask the tough questions we don’t think to ask ourselves. This book makes you stop, think and ask yourself some thought provoking questions. I liked the layout and how Nicole reveals things about herself and characters from the bible. She deals with five common issues in her book: control, insecurity, comparisons, fear and anger.

The author first defines the issue and how to deal with it. Then she has a few questions you can ask yourself to assess and identify how intently you struggle with the issue being addressed.

There is a word-up section where she helps the reader focus their thoughts on scripture. She says, “God’s word has the supernatural ability to satisfy your longings in a way that no other word can.”

She goes on to say, “We don’t think about the thing that’s driving the action that’s driving us crazy.” I like how she brings up this matter and helps the reader uncover why behaviors make them crazy.

This book can be read and done individually and/or as a group study with friends. Group discussion questions are included for your group if you want to use the book that way.

The author also has a Prayer section I enjoyed: Example prayer: “God I know there is a way that seems right to me. Would you open my heart to receive your instruction in this?”

At the end of each chapter there is the Prayer, a journaling Exercise – reflections time to help you on your journey and deal with issues you may not have been aware of  and stories from the bible to reflect on as well. The author says this about what she hopes you take away from She’s God Issues, “there is great freedom in transparency. My desire is that this book will invite you into that place of honesty with yourself, others and with God.”

What a encouraging look at a topic many of us don’t want to talk about and/or either stop to think about. I enjoyed this author’s humor, transparency and how she shares about the fact none of us will be perfect this side of heaven. We’ll have issues until Jesus returns. She’s Got Issues is a book you take your time reading. You'll be comforted to know you are not alone, others have issues too, and it's a time to reflect on characters from the bible that had issues as well. None of us wants to admit we have stuff to deal with. Nicole Unice gives hope in the healing process, and help to reflect on God’s word and the issues you might be facing. It’s good for a group study with people you know. I liked how this author tells the leader how to make the study safe for sharing and growing as the groups goes from chapter to chapter. Our world is changing all the time and our issues change as we learn and grow. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

The Book club Network

Carol Cox's Love In Disguise ~ Reviewed

Love In Disguise

By Carol Cox

Published by Bethany House

ISBN#978-0-7642-0955-0

350 Pages

Back Cover: 

Delightfully Engaging Blend of Romance, Suspense, History, and Humor

When costume-maker Ellie Moore suddenly finds herself out of a job in the middle of a bleak Chicago winter, she uses her knowledge of theatrical disguise to secure a position as an undercover operative with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Her assignment: find the culprit behind the theft of silver shipped from the mines near Pickford, Arizona.

Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie begins her investigation. Soon she finds she must also pose as the dazzling young Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.

Mine owner Steven Pierce is about to lose his business after the theft of several bullion shipments--until hope arrives in the unlikely form of Lavinia Stewart, who offers to invest in Steven's mine. In his wildest dreams, Steven never expected to be rescued by an inquisitive gray-haired widow...or to fall head over heels for Lavinia's captivating niece, Jessie.

But then the thieves come after both Lavinia and Jessie. Ellie isn't safe no matter which character she plays! Will she be forced to reveal her true identity before the criminals are caught? What will Steven do when he discovers the woman he loves doesn't exist?

Review: 

Shakespeare said, “All the world is a stage, and all the men and women are merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts…”

These words explain the premise of this book perfectly. In enters main character Ellie Moore a starlet wannabee, who is a wardrobe, make-up and hair stylist person in the theatre for a well known actress. Ellie takes her job seriously and watches the leading ladies so she can learn to be the best when it was her turn to be on stage.

Well Ellie gets that big break but it’s not exactly the part of her dreams. Her break comes to her in the most bizarre way and she uses the world as her stage literally.  She needed a job and she would make this part work, even if it killed her. It just might!  Ellie was a gal that could think on her feet – she learned this from her years in “live” theater when the unexpected happened all the time.

I was thankful for the review copy of this book that introduced me to Carol Cox. I hadn’t read a book by her before. This book was a fun, suspenseful, mystery story I adored. It was a refreshing female lead with an interesting plot and lots of unexpected twists.

Since my husband and I were around theater for years it was interesting to read that some things never change and how things were done in the 1880’s with live theater. If your looking for a fun summer read, a historical suspense story with a little romance this is the book for you. If you are looking for your next book club pick, look no further. Love In Disguise will bring about great discussion and lots of laughs. I highly recommend this novel for a great summer read and a featured book club selection.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

The Book Club Network

Bonus Review:

Carol Cox has found her niche with her latest novel, Love in Disguise, a mystery set in the Wild West with a romantic flavour. With an independent and determined heroine and a fun plot, Carol provides an entertaining and unique read that is sure to appeal to readers of Mary Connealy and Karen Witemeyer. Incorporating the early days of the Pinkerton Agency and the interesting history of the Arizona silver mines, Carol’s story provides a effortless history lesson as she draws you into Ellie’s adventure which soon takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. I enjoyed the twist of Ellie posing as two different women and the opposing reactions of the townspeople to Lavinia and Jessie. While the pacing dropped off a little for me in the middle of the book, I remained intrigued by Ellie and Steven’s journey and was keen to uncover the silver thieves and their motives. I’m looking forward to Carol’s further offerings.

Reviewed by: Rel Mollet