Mississippi Brides/Plantation Christmas Weddings

 

About The Book:  Head to Mississippi in a 3-in-1 collection of historical romances. . . . Alexandra Lewis’s life no longer makes sense. After her father’s death in a shootout, she feels pressure to carry out her duty to her family and wed, regardless of love. Abigail LeGrand won’t be hindered by marriage. Until she catches the eye of an itinerate preacher. Caroline Pierce never dreamed someone like Luke Talbot would propose. But the promise of marital bliss quickly turns to civil strife as they disagree on everything from slavery to faith. Can God change hearts before love drifts away with the river?

About The Authors:  Diane T. Ashley is a a “town girl” born and raised in central Mississippi. She has been employed for more than 20 years by the Mississippi House of Representatives, where she currently serves as Deputy Assistant Clerk. When she took over the care of her mother, after the sudden death of her father,she rediscovered a thirst for writing and was led to a class taught by best-selling author, Aaron McCarver. She and Aaron McCarver now collaborate on historical fiction novels set during some of the turning points in American history. Their Tennessee series covers three generations of families who struggle to find or strengthen their faith. The Mississippi series features some of the characters first introduced in our Tennessee series.  She is married to a wonderful man, Gene, who is a constant support in all of her endeavors. She accompanies him on "rockhounding" trips each year and loves wearing the jewelry he produces from the rocks he collects. He in turn allows her to peck away at the keyboard and has even been known to give her a phrase or idea that later appears in her stories.
Aaron McCarver is a transplanted Mississippian who was raised in the mountains near Dunlap, Tennessee. He loves his jobs of teaching at Belhaven University and editing for Barbour Publishing and Summerside Press. A member of ACFW, he is coauthor with Gilbert Morris of the bestselling series, The Spirit of Appalachia. He now coauthors with Diane Ashley on several historical series.

My Thoughts About The Book:  I am a lover of historical romances and I especially love stories that take place in the deep south.  This book was delightful.  From the beginning story about Alexandra Lewis to the final story about her granddaughter, Caroline Pierce each story was an attention getter.   The stories are a mixture of three of my favorite elements:  faith, love, and history.  Each story glorifies God and Christ as the characters find their spiritual way in life.  I am so looking forward to reading more from these two authors. 

 

 

About The Book:  ’Tis the season for romance as four hearts are rekindled with love. Everything a widow felt she knew about her life changes when she meets her daughter’s future father-in-law. A successful novelist seeking peace with her past finds it in a mansion and the eyes of a handsome history buff. The trap is set for a divorced couple to receive the best Christmas present ever—a second chance at love. After being jilted at the altar, a wedding planner gets reacquainted with her heart. Will jingle bells be wedding bells in four Plantation Christmas Weddings? 

 

About The Authors: 

Sylvia Barnes thought after retiring early as a manager for BellSouth, now AT&T, she would sit on a swing and drink coffee. However, she opened a gift shop/tea room for three years, served as a part-time court/deputy city clerk, and worked in her county's after school program before finding a yellow pad on which she formed her first novel. Sylvia teaches a Sunday School class and is active in many church activities. She and her husband, J. W., live in the country outside of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, with numerous dogs, cats, armadillos, and moles. And, of course,there was Fred, the possum, who came by his decease between the teeth of her two dogs. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren.

Cynthia Leavelle - After a childhood of imagining herself as a writer, Cynthia thought of a story idea one day while rocking her first child. From that rough start, she has written a number of inspirational stories and devotionals and used them with her teaching and church groups. More recently, the idea for a novel about the love story of the Biblical characters of Salmon and Rahab took shape in her mind. That novel, The Cord published by Crossbooks, came out in October of 2010. Meanwhile, she has begun a sequel with the working title of Acsah and Othniel. Married for more than thirty years, her writing draws on lessons learned from raising her three sons and teaching English as a Second Language to international students.

Virginia Vaughan was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi and has never strayed far beyond those boarders. Blessed to come from a large, Southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table.  She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself.
​After marriage, two kids, and a bitter divorce, Virginia realized her characters needed the same thing she needed--the loving grace of Jesus Christ. She devoted her life and her writing to His glory and has since watched God swing open doors for her to walk through.  Now a mother of two grown sons and one daughter-in-law, she writes and speaks about the healing grace and restoration power of Jesus Christ.  "If Christ can restore himself from the grave then he can surely restore me from the choices I've made."

Lorraine Beatty was born and raised in Ohio but now calls Mississippi home. She started writing stories for friends in middle school and never stopped.

 

My Thoughts On The Book:  This four-in-one set delighted my senses beginning with CHRISTMAS at DUNLEITH by Sylvia Barnes. Beau Burnham,a large, rugged, handsome, praying "redneck" farmer meets his son's soon to be mother-in-law. Marilyn McLemore is  an also-widowed, swanky, Denver lawyer. Their kids are betrothed, so the two put on the family face and survive the ordeal on Christmas Eve.  Sparks fly as the story unfolds.  What a wonderful story of faith, prayer, love, and history.   Story number two is CHRISTMAS at LONGWOOD by Cynthia Leavelle. Rejections in life can leave lasting hurt. Meredith, a KS bestselling author, and Gary, a history teacher in their old HS, both suffer from school trauma. When the two meet again the reader wonders if their adult Christian lifestyles and faiths  will help them overcome their hurtful past.  Can the history of Longwood be a tie that binds?  This story was one of my most favorite.  The history of Longwood and the mending of hurt feelings really captivated me and touched a nerve hidden deep from my own high school years.  The third story was CHRISTMAS at BRANDON HALL by Virginia Vaughan.
Devon's sister's Christmas wedding at Brandon Hall appeared to be the needed opportunity for Sandra to serve Devon with divorce papers so they could end their twenty year marriage. Weddings are about love, and Sandra struggled with the feelings of LOVE for Devon and anger towards him.  Devon's family and  their college-age twins put on match-maker disguises and try and show the two that they belong together.  This is a touching story of God's intervention in what could be the biggest mistake the two would ever make.    The last story is my other favorite.  CHRISTMAS at MONMOUTH by Lorraine Beatty is about a Wedding Planner with the unusual name of  Wreath.  Our  heroine suffered from a past love wound.  When Micah, a ghost from her past, reenters her world, like changes drastically for Wreath. It is a Monmouth task to put sparkle into the Christmas.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of these books from Barbour Books and Net Galley Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Thanks guys for letting me have this chance!

Temptation Bay

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  Anna Sullivan brings us the first book in her witty new contemporary romance series set off the coast of Maine. TEMPTATION NEVER TASTED SO SWEET . . . Maggie Solomon has always been one of Windfall Island's favorite daughters. A beautiful, passionate charter pilot who loves this remote Maine island, Maggie has never cared much for outsiders-until her latest passenger arouses the curiosity of the town . . . and something hot and irresistible in Maggie. With his long, lean looks and razor-sharp wit, the man is temptation itself.  Cop-turned-PI Dexter Keegan is on a covert mission to solve the case that will make his career: uncovering the identity of the Stanhope heir, kidnapped nearly a century ago. No one on this fiercely protective island can know what he's doing, not even the spirited, blue-eyed beauty who infuriates-and excites-Dex. As the desire between them ignites, Maggie becomes the key to the case . . . and the target of an unknown enemy. Now Dex will do anything to protect the woman he's come to love-even risk his own life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Anna Sullivan was born and raised in southeastern Michigan, the seventh of nine children, whose claim to fame was reading five books a week in grade school. Needless to say, her obsession with the written word only grew from there-despite a short, and misguided, foray into the world of computer science (the 'sensible' job path). She still lives in Michigan, with her husband, three children and two dogs whose life of leisure she envies but would never be able to pull off.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK:  I enjoyed reading this book. It has an good story with a wicked suspense element and I am looking forward to seeing just where it goes in the next book.  I wouldn't call this book a cliffhanger not all of the mystery is solved in this story. Maggie, the heroine is my only problem with this book is the heroine. She was  abrasive and I am not really sure how Dex managed to have ANY feelings for her.  Even though she was not one of my favorite characters that does not remove the fact that Dex and Maggie did have some pretty spectacular chemistry. I think I would have liked to see a little more tenderness and a little less spark.  I am looking forward to the next book which will be the story of Jessie and Hold.

STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE: I received an paperback copy of this title from Netgalley as part of their blogger review program . I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. Thanks guys for letting me read this and participate!

The Outcast

 

 

About The Book:  Raised in an Old Order Mennonite community, Rachel Stoltzfus is a strong-willed single woman, content living apart from mainstream society until whispers stir the moment her belly swells with new life. Refusing to repent and name the partner in her sin, Rachel feels the wrath of the religious sect as she is shunned by those she loves most. She is eventually coerced into leaving by her brother-in-law, the bishop. But secrets run deep in this cloistered community, and the bishop is hiding some of his own, threatening his conscience and his very soul. When the life of Rachel’s baby is at stake, however, choices must be made that will bring the darkness to light, forever changing the lives of those who call Copper Creek home.  To view the first chapter, follow this link to Tyndale’s website, where you can download the PDF.

About The Author:  Jolina Petersheim was born in the heart of Amish country. While her family moved to Tennessee when she was only three years old, her childhood was filled with stories of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors hiding TVs from bishops and concealing permed hair beneath kapps. But this unique heritage did not interest her. Instead, she pouted as her mother divided her waist-length hair into plaits and then forced her to change from purple overalls into a jean skirt and sneakers in preparation to visit our Plain friends—knowing, even at the tender age of six, that this combination was a fashion faux pas. Playing Hide ‘n’ Seek or Kick the Can with her Old Order Mennonite peers, however, she soon became grateful for that skirt, which helped her transition from Southern Englischer to intimate friend.  In the autumn of 2008, she married a broad-shouldered, hazel-eyed Dutchman.  Upon moving into the haus her husband built with determination and his own two hands, she began to write a fictionalized version of a story that had once been told to her. A story regarding the power of desire and the reverberating cost if that desire is left unchecked; a story that, shockingly enough, took place in an idyllic Old Order Mennonite community.  In Nashville, she was introduced to a genial, white-haired man who was as excited to hear her Dutchy last name as she had been to hear his. This gentleman had attended the same Mennonite high school as her father (and her husband’s father) and, as a literary agent, he was interested to read the portion of the story that she had completed.  He read the first twenty-five thousand words while flying home from a book festival in Brazil and wanted to read more. Two months after the birth of their daughter, Tyndale House accepted the manuscript, as they were as excited to promote her modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter.

My Thoughts About The Book:  This book was a good bit different from most of the Amish life and romance books I have read.  The retelling of The Scarlet Letter Amish style was very interesting.  I enjoyed every minute of the book and hated to see it end. In the beginning I wasn't sure if this type of book would be for me, but the characters are wonderfully developed and I found myself lost in their world. This wonderful book is all about love and forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book to Scarlett Letter fans looking for a modern retelling, or anyone who wants a good read! 

STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE: I received an paperback copy of this title from Tyndale Publishing and Netgalley Publishing as part of their blogger review program . I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. Thanks guys for letting me read this and participate!

Delectable

 

 

About the Book:  Montana real estate agent Quint McCoy will tell you that the most important thing is location, location, location. It's a lesson he learns all too well when he goes incommunicado for a four-week fishing trip to Alaska. While he's away, his mother Molly turns his office into the pie shop she has always dreamed of, Big Sky Pie. But that's not the only surprise in store for him.  On her way out of town, Callee McCoy only wants to say a fond farewell to her beloved mother-in-law. But Molly soon persuades Callee to stay and lend a hand at the new shop, even if it means heating up the kitchen with her soon-to-be ex. As Callee and Quint rediscover their recipe for love, they realize that some couples are so sinfully good together that one delectable taste is never enough . . .

About The Author:  Adianne Lee lives with her husband of many, many years on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in Washington State in a pole barn building her husband transformed into an upstairs apartment with a shop below for his hot rods.  Adrianne creates her stories on her laptop, in her recliner with her adopted cat, Spooky, curled between her calves, snoozing.  over thirty years of summer vacationing in the Flathead Lake are near Kalispell and Glacier Park has given her a love for all things Montana.

My Thoughts About The Book:  I liked this book.  The story about a couple who were struggling in their marriage, who knew little about each other, who still loved each other, and the establishment of the Big Sky Pie Company was fun.  It was a light and easy read.  If you want something to read in one sitting that does not require a lot of effort than this is the book for you. 

STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE: I received an paperback copy of this title from net Galley Publicity Group  as part of their blogger review program . I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. Thanks guys for letting me read this and participate!

A Weaver Beginning

ABOUT THE BOOK:  USA TODAY bestselling author Allison Leigh introduces readers to a reluctant hero—and the woman who just might heal his wounded heart—in this newest addition to her popular miniseries, Return to the Double C! Small town deputy Sloan McCray was making amends for his past. They called him a hero but only he had to live with the difficult choices he'd made. And he certainly wasn't prepared to fall in love again, not even with his beautiful—and innocent—new neighbor, whose very presence was a balm to his troubled soul.  There was no doubt in Abby Marcum's mind that Sloan was the guy for her. Though she'd moved to Weaver, Wyoming, to make a better life for her little brother, she saw her future with Sloan. Now she had to convince the man who felt unworthy of love that she and her heart were his for the asking….

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  A frequent name on bestseller lists, Allison Leigh's highpoint as a writer is hearing from readers that they laughed, cried or lost sleep while reading her books. She credits her family with great patience for the time she's parked at her computer, and for blessing her with the kind of love she wants her readers to share with the characters living in the pages of her books. Contact her at www.allisonleigh.com

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK:  A Weaver Beginning was an extremely charming easy to read romance. I adored the characters, the town, the Weavers themselves. Being from a  small town the plot of small town life was familiar and comfortable. The hero of the story, Sloan McCray was a little larger than life and struggling with what he plans to do next. His twin sister wants him to stay in Weaver. This law man is dealing with a lot of issues about his memories, his past, and his guilt. Abby Marcum has just moved too Weaver with her young brother on New Years eve.  Her heat is not working, there is a ton of snow in her driveway, and she and her brother are trying unpack the car and settle in. Twenty-three year old Abby is going to be the new school nurse. Dillon, her seven year old half brother is being raised by his sister.  He is shy and afraid when he meets new people.  The three begin a relationship that made me smile.  It was a sweet read and I completed the book in a day. 

DISCLAIMER:  I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when done by Netgalley Publishing Group and Harlequin Publishers.  Thank you for giving me the chance to read this book.
4 STARS

A Weaver Beginning was a charming romance. I liked the characters, the town, the Weaver family. The plot was small town life. It did have two love scenes that I skipped over.

Sloan McCray has spent the year in Weaver and is not sure what he plans to do next. His twin wants him to stay in Weaver. He does not see himself as a hero. As a hard time dealing with his memories and guilt.

Abby Marcum has just moved too Weaver with her young brother on New Years eve. The house she bought heat is not working. Their is lots of snow in driveway as she tries to unpack her car. She is 23 and the new school nurse who will start in a few days.

Dillon is her 7 year old half brother that she has raised for the past two years. He is cute but really shy. He is afraid when he sees the stranger with snow shovel coming over from next door.

Sloan helps her carry stuff inn and when he realizes that the house is cold and that she plans to heat with fireplace till after the holidays. He brings her wood starts the fire, shovels the driveway for her before he tells her who he is. A sheriff deputy who was in the news for getting biker gang busted up working undercover deep undercover.

Dillon takes to his neighbor when he finds out he has a badge and gun.

I smiled a lot reading this story. Dillon is cute and can really say the wrong thing at the wrong time as all kids tend to do sometimes.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when done by Netgalley and Harlequin.
publication: September 17th 2013 by Harlequin Special Edition 224 pages ISBN 0373657706 (less)

How To Talk Minnesotan

About The Book:  Based in part on material written for "A Prairie Home Companion", How to Talk Minnesotan will help visitors to Minnesota keep from sticking out like sore thumbs when they don't know the difference between "not too bad a deal" and "a heckuva deal". Illustrated with line drawings.

About the Author:  A one-time radio script writer, Howard Mohr has become known as the man who translated Minnesotan for the rest of the world.  Early in his career, Mohr wrote for Prairie Home Companion, creating fake radio ads and listener favorites such as Raw Bits. But he's best known as the author of the bestselling book How to Talk Minnesotan. It's a book that when made into a video version won a regional Emmy in Chicago. He even adapted it into a stage musical which received a long-time run at playhouses in the region. Mohr is a graduate of Abilene Christian University and lives with his family on a southwestern Minnesota prairie.

My Thoughts About The Book: I am an avid Garrison Keillor and Prairie Home Companion fan and when I agreed to review this book I was hoping for someone who was like Garrison Keillor.  I  was disappointed.  The book was similar to the dryness of Prairie Home Companion but lacked the full bodied stories Keille shares each week with his radio audience.  I found a lot of familiar Minnisotan idioms absent from the book.   As a high school teacher I did love his lesson format with a few conversation tips and then examples.  I also liked the pronunciation notes.  The Power f the Negative lesson was one of my favorite lessons.  It is amazing how confusing expressing negatives can be.....in Minnesota.  Hotdish was a new concept for me when I visited Minnesota.  I assumed it was casserole (southern rendition)...but found it was a bit different....quite a bit.  Even though the book was not quite what I thought it would be it was an entertaining read and full of wonderful homilies from Minnesota. 

Disclaimer:  I was given this book from Net Galley and the Penguin Publishing Group for a fair and honest review.  The views expressed are my own. 

Hill of Beans

About The Book:  John Snyder’s memoir of growing up in the Depression era south evokes a time gone by. It is written with affection and understanding about people dealing with hard times, sometimes with cruelty, sometimes with violence... including a mysterious case of arson that forever changed the author’s life.

About the Author:  John Snyder grew up in North and South Carolina, attended the University of Chicago, and moved to New York in 1959. Recently retired as an Executive Director of Morgan Stanley, he previously worked as a buyer at Bloomingdales, and head of research for a carpet manufacturer. Along the way, he was awarded 7 patents, made an industrial film that won first place in the New York Film Festival, and wrote 2 off-Broadway plays. Throughout his working career he maintained a machine shop for making prototypes of inventions and turning found objects into sculpture. He continues to make sculpture (www.johnsnyder.org), and has written this memoir. He and his wife divide their time between New York City and Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.

My Thoughts On The Book:  As a southerner....sort of....I enjoyed this story a great deal.  John Snyder is quite the wordsmith.  This was an extremely well written account of what life was like growing up in the south during 1934 – 1951.  The author spent much of his childhood in North Carolina and South Carolina. The book had my attention from the get go.  Southern authors seem to love their characters,  and throughout this whole story there are well life like characters milling about.  During the Depression times were hard and a mysterious case of arson changed Snyder’s life forever.  Snyder writes  in the styles of William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor.  The book was a wonderful read and would make a great gift for someone who loves southern fiction.  I found a clip of the book on You Tube and you can check it out by clicking here.  I think this book would make a great movie and hope it becomes one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Smith/Kerr Associates LLC Publishing via Netgalley Publishing Group and their Blogging For Books Program. I was not required to write a positive review. All they asked for was an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

A Snowglobe Christmas

 

About The Book:  Rafe Westfield has come back to Snowglobe after being gone in the military for five years. When he left Snowglobe he left behind an ex-fiancee., Amy Caldwell.  Suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome,  Rafe has horrific nightmares about his experiences in Afghanistan.   He and his brother open a sports rental business and everything is moving along nicely….until… Amy Caldwell comes back to Snowglobe to take over her moms business. Amy is going to run the shop so her mom can retire. Amy had her heart broken when Rafe decided to join the service and now returning to Snowglobe from Spokan Amy finds herself shaken when she unexpectedly runs into Rafe.  Amy and Rafe end up working on Christmas boxes for those in need through their church.  Can the closeness of working together and the wonderment of Christmas re-kindle the old flame?

About The Author(s):  Linda Goodnight is a RITA Award winner for excellence in inspirational fiction.  She has also won a Booksellers’ Best Award, an ACFW Book of the Year award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from RT Book Reviews.  She is active in orphan ministry.  She lives in Oklahoma and can be reached at linda@lindagoodnight.com or Love Inspired Books.   Lissa Manley decided she wanted to be published at the ripe old age of twelve.  She lives in Portland, OR with her husband, a grown daughter, a college-aged son, and two bossy poodles.  When she is not writing, she enjoys reading, crafting, bargain hunting, cooking and decorating.  She loves hearing from her readers and can be reached through her website, www.lissamanley.com or through Love Inspired Books. 

My Thoughts About The Book:  As an avid lover of snowglobes and feel good Christmas stories I was drawn immediately to this book.  It was everything I hoped for.  On a very cold and blustery day I read the book in one sitting.  This was one of those get ready for the holidays kind of books.  The characters were very real and Snowglobe could have been any snowy town in the mountains.  Great read.  I can’t wait to read something else by these authors.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Net Galley Publishing Group and Steeple Hill Publishers I was not required to write a positive review. All they asked for was an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

A Home For Lydia

 

 

About The Book:  A Home for Lydia, the second book in a new romantic series from popular author Vannetta Chapman, centers again on the Plain community of Pebble Creek and the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways.  Aaron Troyer simply wants to farm like his father and grandfather before him. But instead he finds himself overseeing the family's small group of guest cabins nestled along the banks of Pebble Creek. That also means he must work with the cabins' housekeeper, Lydia Fisher. Lydia is the most outspoken Amish woman Aaron has ever met, and she has strong opinions about how the guest cabins are to be run. She also desperately needs this job. Though sparks fly between boss and employee at first, when the cabins are robbed, nothing is more important to Aaron than making sure Lydia is safe.  Together they work to make the vacation property profitable, but can they find out the identity of the culprit before more damage is done? And is Lydia's dream of a home of her own more than just a wish and a prayer?

About The Author:  Vannetta Chapman writes fiction full of GRACE. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather's birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her first novel, A Simple Amish Christmas, quickly became a bestseller. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.  For more information, visit her at her webpage --www.VannettaChapman.com; her blog -- http://vannettachapman.wordpress.com  her facebook page  --www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks, and on pinterest -- http://pinterest.com/vannettachapman.

My Thoughts About The Book:  The book was touching.  The story of Lydia and her family was heart breaking.  I felt as if I had know Lydia, Miriam, and their families forever.  This was one of those books where you don't plan to put it down until you are finished.  Chapman did a wonderful job making her characters real.  If you are a fan of Amish literature then this is a must read for you. 

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the NetGalley Publishing Group and Harvest House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All they asked for was an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Eat What You Love, Love What Youi Eat with Diabetes

About the Book and The Authors:  Authors Michelle May, MD physician, and Megrette Fletcher, MEd, RD, CDE, dietitian and certified diabetes educator, present an easy-to-understand model of different styles of eating: Restrictive Eating (rigid dieting), Overeating and Instinctive Eating. They help us see how Instinctive Eating helps us learn how to listen to the wisdom of our bodies. People who have been diagnosed with diabetes often have come to mistrust their body. They feel that their body with its out of control hunger is the problem, the enemy. This book guides them artfully to listen for signs of hunger and then to notice when they are satisfied. They learn the importance of balancing nourishment with pleasure.  The reader is taught what diabetes is and how to manage it in simple terms so that it is not something to fear, but something to be in charge of.  They tell us that "The most effective way to make permanent healthy lifestyle changes to manage your diabetes is to learn to eat according to your body's signals and to eat as healthfully as possible without feeling deprived. You can achieve this balance when you use reliable nutrition information to make your food choices while still allowing yourself the freedom to eat what you love without judging yourself or feeling guilty."

My Thoughts About The Book:  As a person who battles diabetes every day I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I discovered in each chapter methods to help me know how to live and thrive with diabetes.  When I was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic two years ago a massive fear ripped through me.  This book was so helpful in dispelling my fears and actually providing a step by step process of what exactly diabetes is and how to manage it and still eat the things I love.  As a diabetic I learned in the book that my relationship with food was not a healthy one and after reading the book I have found that I CAN have a different kind of relationship with food and be healthy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Net Galley as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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The Replacement Wife

Author:  Eileen Goudge

Publisher:  Open Road Media

ISBN: 9781453225028

About The Book:  From New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge comes a poignant new novel that asks the question, “What would you do if you were told you had only six months to live?” For one professional matchmaker the answer is heart-wrenching: She must find her husband’s next wife. Camille Hart, one of Manhattan’s most sought-after matchmakers, has survived more than her fair share of hardships. Her mother died when she was a young girl, leaving her and her sister with an absentee father. Now in her forties, she has already survived cancer once, though the battle revealed just how ill-equipped her husband Edward is to be a single parent. So when doctors tell Camille that her cancer is back—and this time it’s terminal—she decides to put her matchmaking expertise to the test for one final job. Seeking stability for her children and happiness for her husband, Camille sets out to find the perfect woman to replace her when she’s gone. But what happens when a dying wish becomes a case of “be careful what you wish for”? For Edward and Camille, the stunning conclusion arrives with one last twist of fate that no one saw coming.  At once deeply felt and witty, The Replacement Wife is an unforgettable story of love and family, and a refreshing look at the unexpected paths that lead us to our own happy endings. Want to read an exerpt?  Click Here:

About The Author:  Some say writers are born, not made.  Eileen Goudge thinks it’s both: Natural-born talent is basically useless without the persistence to go with it.  She was lucky enough to have been blessed with a deep and abiding love of books and writing coupled with an insane stick-to-it-iveness, which, let me tell you, is a double-edged sword (great when carrying on in the face of rejection and hardship; not so great when it comes to relationships that should’ve died an early death).

As a child, she read voraciously–as many books per week as she could carry home in my bike basket.  Her early writings were inspired by fantasy and mystery (She was a huge fan of Nancy Drew).  She won praise from her 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Cherry, for her short story “The Secret of the Mossy Cave,” which is probably what inspired her to become a writer. An aspiration cemented, in high school, when she won third prize in a state-wide poetry competition and took Honorable Mention for another poem, in a nationwide contest.  When she took up writing as a profession, as a young single mom, mostly what she did those first few years was collect rejection slips. However, she persisted and went on to publish 32 novels for young adults (starting with the successful “Sweet Valley High” series), and, to date, 15 novels of women’s fiction, as well as numerous short stories and magazine articles. Also a cookbook, inspired by my passion for baking, titled SOMETHING WARM FROM THE OVEN. Her first adult novel, GARDEN OF LIES, enjoyed many weeks on the “New York Times” bestseller list, both in hardcover and paperback.  She can still recall the thrill she felt when she saw it displayed in the window of the Barnes & Noble store on Fifth Avenue, in New York, where she lived.  Goudge's definition of success? Getting up one more time than you fall down.
My Thoughts About The Book:  When I started reading the book I thought, "Oh No...not someone dying....but from page one until the end I was hooked.  This book was one of the best written books I have read in a long time.  I did not want to put it down.  It was the kind of story that broke your heart one minute, had you laughing the next, and getting mad at one or more characters in the story.  I thnk everyone should read this book because it is one of those stories that could happen....and by the end of the book you feel Paul Harvey saying...."and now the rest of the story."    I could hardly wait to post a review of this book and have already ordered three of Goudge's books, Woman in Red, Such Devoted Sisters, and Otherwise Engaged.  That should keep me busy for a while.
Disclaimer:  I was given this book to review by Net Galley and Open Road Media.  I was not paid for my opinion or my review, they are mine.

Baby's In Black

About The Book:  Hamburg, 1960. Astrid Kirchherr has finished art school and now works as an assistant for her former teacher, photographer Reinhart Wolf. Her relationship with Klaus Voormann, a young graphic designer, is slowly fading. One night in October, following another argument, Klaus leaves and goes out on his own. He returns late at night, totally excited about what he has just discovered down in St Pauli, the redlight district of Hamburg: a young group from England playing Rock ‘n’ Roll in a club called Kaiserkeller …When Astrid eventually agrees to accompany him the following night, she doesn’t know her life is about to change forever.  »How does one tell the story as it was? … You have to consider the whole background of that time: what was Germany, how did we feel about our parents and what they had done? … The strongest influence for young Germans at this time was the desire - the need - to be different from our parent’s generation. We were struggling to find a new way, to escape the past and the burden of guilt we all carried. Our philosophy then, because we were only little kids, was wearing black clothes and going around looking moody. Of course, we had a clue who Jean Paul Sartre was. We got inspired by all the French artists and writers, because that was the closest we could get. England was so far away, and America was out of the question. France was the nearest. So we got all the information from France, and we tried to dress like the French existentialists.«  A fascinating, exhilarating portrait of the Beatles in their early years.  In this book you will meet the Beatles . . . right at the beginning of their careers. This gorgeous, high-energy graphic novel is an intimate peek into the early years of the world’s greatest rock band. The heart of Baby’s In Black is a love story. The “fifth Beatle,” Stuart Sutcliffe, falls in love with the beautiful Astrid Kirchherr when she recruits the Beatles for a sensational (and famous) photography session during their time in Hamburg. When the band returns to the UK, Sutcliffe quits, becomes engaged to Kirchherr, and stays in Hamburg. A year later, his meteoric career as a modern artist is cut short when he dies unexpectedly.  The book ends as it begins, with Astrid, alone and adrift; but with a note of hope: her life is incomparably richer and more directed thanks to her friendship with the Beatles and her love affair with Sutcliffe. This tender story is rendered in lush, romantic black-and-white artwork. Baby’s In Black is based on a true story.
About The Author:  Arne Bellstorf was born in Dannenberg, Germany in 1979. In 2005 he graduated at the University of Applied Sciences (Department Design) in Hamburg. His final thesis, entitled »acht, neun, zehn«, was his first graphic novel and received much recognition in Germany. It has since been published in France, Italy, Poland and South Korea. Frankfurt Book Fair, Comixene and Frankfurter Rundschau named Arne Bellstorf »Newcomer of the Year« in 2005. Since 2006 he has been writing and illustrating a monthly comic page for a German newspaper, Der Tagesspiegel. Besides working as an illustrator and comic artist, he also co-edits the annual Orang comic magazine with Sascha Hommer. Together, they founded Kiki Post, a small collective and independent publishing house for comics, in 2004.  Arne Bellstorf is currently living in Hamburg, Germany. If you would like to know more about Ame Bellstorf then click here and check out his website.
My Thoughts:  I was an avid Beatles lover back in the day and Baby's In Black was one of my favorite tunes, the book was ok.  As an over 50 Baby Boomer I would have preferred to see actual photographs and not read a cartoon style written book.  I am so past that now.  I did not get the same pleasure from reading cartoons that I did when I was a child.  That aspect of the book made it a difficult read for me.  The content itself was wonderful and I loved the story line.  I would recommend this book to Baby Boomer Beatles fans even though I would only give it a 3.5 star ranking.  It was just ok.
Disclaimer:  I received this book from Netgalley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest preview.  The opinions given here are 100% my own.