Cook like a rock star by Anne Burrell

This is a fantastic cookbook for novice and experienced cooks alike! I loved this cookbook and the style that it was written in. Anne is very endearing and personable in this book, and she knows how to make the reader both interested and entertained! There are six segments in this book - Piccolini (her little nibbles), Firsts, Pasta, Seconds, Sides, and Desserts. Anne shares her favorite tools and her basic ingredient pantry (and why). She also gives a brief description of cooking terms in an easy to understand format. There are 125 recipes that are amazingly tasty, and I really enjoyed how Anne gave a brief introduction paragraph before every recipe. She gives the reader the prep work in advance to make the process and preparation easier, and the steps for each recipe are easy to follow and understand. There are numerous beautifully taken photographs, and Anne also inserts hand-written personal notes into some of the recipes. I love her Anne-isms like "super cinchy". I am very excited to try the truffled deviled eggs, Light-as-a-Cloud Gnocchi, braised baby artichokes, and lemon curd tart for my next dinner party! If you like Anne on the Food Network, and if you like cookbooks, this is a fun one! I received this book from the publisher. 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.

When you don't see his plan by Nadine Hennesey and Rebecca Baker

This is a true life story based on the life of Nadine Hennesey. From the moment I started reading this book, I could not put it down! Nadine, a Christian, marries a very godly man, and after only 11 months of marriage (at the age of 26) the Lord took him home. Nadine was pregnant with their only child, and instantly became a young widow and soon-to-be single mom. She seeks the Lord's will for her life, and asks Him to use her. She then pursues the dream she shared with her deceased husband of international missions, and with her young daughter in tow, she bravely dives into serving others as a missionary and uses her credentials as a teacher to make a difference in the lives of the oppressed and needy in underdeveloped and war torn countries. Nadine and her daughter end up in Kosovo, and the stories she tells of her experiences there are heart renching, but also encouraging when she shares of the amazing things that God did and continues to do there. I deeply enjoyed reading this book and after reading it felt a deeper sense of compassion for missions work - and those that need to be ministered to. Everyone should read this book, especially if you have a heart for missions work and a heart to serve others.
I received this book from the publisher. 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.

Thank you, God, For blessing me by Max Lucado

This is a short, cute children's book by Max Lucado about a caterpillar, Hermes, thanking God. He thanks God for how God made him, for food, friends, family, creation, and even for playtime. I viewed this in ebook format so cannot comment on the quality of the book itself, but the illustrations are cute and seem age appropriate. I wish the book was a little longer, but it may be just long enough for a one to three year old.
I received this book from the publisher. 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

A Sound Among the Trees

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner is a fictional tale about the women of a grand Sounthern estate named Holly Oak, connecting the women of the house in the past who lived during the Cival War Era, to the women of the house in present day. The story is based primarily upon the premise that the spirit of Susannah (who was believed to be disloyal to the confederate cause) needs absolution for her deeds, and she is taking it out on the women of future generations of Holly Oak. Adelaide, the current matriarch of Holly Oak, believes this to the fullest extent, and lives her life in the shadow of Susannah and Holly Oak, to the detriment of her family and herself. After Adelaide's granddaughter passes away who lived with her at Holly Oak, a new woman "Marielle" marries her grandson in law, and thus begins a new discovery of the house and the past memories who overshadow everyone's existence who lives or has lived there. This book does a great job of showing human nature's tendency to explain away things because of superstitition and misconceptions and also shows how exposing truth can change our perspectives and beliefs. I also enjoyed the Civil War history and how the author made it very interesting to the reader by using the characters and the location of the house to make it real. This is a fun read!
I received this book from the publisher. 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."

Heaven is for real for kids as told by Colton Burpo

I loved the book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo, and so I was ecstatic to review Heaven is for Real for Kids as told by Colton Burpo. This kids book is so sweet and moving, just like the adult version. The book has sweet pictures and a brief statement on each page of what Colton saw while he was in Heaven, in a condensed version. Each page also has scriptures on it that coincide with the statements and pictures (that a child can understand). Colton's experience was so moving (in the adult version) and so I am so excited that the family decided to also express the experience in a way that children can understand. This book is very lovely and penned in a way that appeals to children, with a simple message. I recommend that you buy this book for your kids, or for child that you know. It will touch children, and also maybe the adults in their lives. The experience that happened to Colton Burpo is amazing, and I am so glad that God put it on their hearts to share it with the world. I received this book from the publisher. 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."