Modern Pioneering (Review)

This review is for the book "Modern Pioneering" by Georgia Pellegrini. This book includes more than 150 recipes, projects and skills that are sort of a lost art in this modern society. Pellegrini was inspired by her family, who has passed down their skills from generation to generation. Unfortunately, many families do not pass along their skills and traditions. This book has it all. Pellegrini begins by explaining every detail of gardening and moves to preserving, cooking, and survival techniques. You won't find a recipe for a homemade apple pie, but you'll learn how to cook dandelion greens, pickle eggs, and make your own jerky.

I think this book is absolutely amazing. I want to try every single thing I read in this book. What a treasure trove of knowledge Pellegrini has shared in this book. I highly recommend it to all!

Thank you to Waterbrook Multonah  and Clarkson Potter Publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Pilgrimage (Review)

This review is for the book "Pilgrimage: My Journey to a Deeper Faith in the Land Where Jesus Walked" by Lynn Austin. I have read several of Lynn Austin's fiction novels and she's a great writer. This was different because Austin wrote this book based on a trip she took to the Holy Land. To be honest, I did feel as though some of the writings on the actual sightings were a bit tedious. But her thoughts - so deep and so thought-provoking! I am interested in the Holy Land and I did enjoy reading about it, but I enjoyed more reading how Austin was affected by everything she saw. Her honesty in what she learned about herself while there is what really kept me reading. She definitely made me look deeper at certain aspects of Christianity because she brought the Jewish viewpoint into it. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Bethany House for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase your own copy from Amazon here: (affiliate link)

Bittersweet (Review)

This review is for the book "Bittersweet" by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore. I will admit I was thrown off at first with this book. I got it from a website which I thought gave out Christian fiction books to review. So in the very beginning when there was some cursing I started wondering about it. I couldn't wrap my head around the characters or the plot, either. I was going to give up on the book, so I decided to check out some other reviews on it. Once I realized it was certainly not a Christian novel I gave up those expectations, and then when I realized it was going to turn into a suspense novel I decided to continue reading and give it a second chance.

The story follows a girl named Mabel who, by chance, gets a college roommate who invites her into her life of riches and fame. Mabel has no idea the entanglements that are involved in the lives of her roommate's family, though. Unfortunately Mabel gets twisted and tangled right along with everyone else.

I will say that I'm glad I gave the book a second chance. I think it was much more detailed than it needed to be, but the story itself was interesting. Once the suspense part really came around I was more intrigued than I was in the first half of the book.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah and Crown Publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

You can purchase your own copy from Amazon here (affiliate link):

Penny Wise (Review)

This review is for the book "Penny Wise" by Neta Jackson and Dave Jackson. This is part of the Windy City Neighbors series, although it certainly stands alone without reading the other books in the series. This story primarily follows the Jasper family in a fairly typical suburban neighborhood.

The thing that struck me about this novel is how much I related to the family in the book! They were so busy. So busy with work, church, and extracurricular activities that all the members of the family were literally passing each other by every day without discussing important events and decisions. We have probably all been there at some point in our lives. By the end of the book, the wife is just reeling from everything going on in her life. But she finds out that although she feels overwhelmed, God has never left her side.

This was a great read and now I am interested to read the other novels in the series.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase your own copy of the book from Amazon here (affiliate link):

Forever Amish (Review)

This review is for the book "Forever Amish" by Kate Lloyd. This book follows the journey of Sally Bingham, who travels to Lancaster County for what she thinks is going to be an opportunity to sell a prize corgi. When she gets into town, everyone around her is acting rather odd, and they are all dodging certain questions she's asking. It doesn't take long for the reader to figure out that her father has something to do with this town - she just has to figure out what that is. Also, she has to figure out her feelings for Armin, an unbaptized Amish farmhand.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and I love Amish fiction. The only problem I had was I felt that the book wrapped up rather quickly. I remember having only 20-30 pages left and having a gut feeling that things were just going to be tied up more quickly than I like and most likely, with loose ends. So while I enjoyed the story, I wish the author had lingered a bit more on the ending.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and David C Cook for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase your own copy from Amazon here (affiliate link):








Four Weddings and a Kiss (Review)

This review is for the book "Four Weddings and a Kiss" which is part of the Western Bride Collection. It is a collection of four novellas written by Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy, and Robin Lee Hatcher. Now, I have read books by all these ladies before and I enjoyed them. I liked these stories because they all had a common theme (historical romance, strong leading female character) but they were separate stories. The book also includes reading group guides which is great for your book club. I think the stories were enjoyable and they will keep your attention, particularly if you like the historical romance genre.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.




You can purchase your own copy from Amazon here (affiliate link):

Rival Hearts (Review and Giveaway!)

This review is for the book "Rival Hearts" by Tara Randel. This book is part of the Quilts of Love series. The thing I love about this series is that they all have a common theme of quilting but the stories are completely different, and so are the authors. In this book, quilter Molly is set into a competition against athletic Ben. The story follows their competition as well as their blossoming romance. The book really follows Molly's journey and how she ends up coming into herself. I really enjoyed this story and the characters!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.




You can purchase your own copy from Amazon here (affiliate link):

Out of the Ruins (Review)

This review is for the book "Out of the Ruins" by Karen Barnett. This is the first book by Barnett I have read and the first in a new series, The Golden Gate Chronicles. This story is set in the early 1900s. Abby Fischer's sister and only friend is racked with cancer. The family decides to travel to San Francisco in order to let her sister receive a new experimental treatment, x-rays. Once there, not only is Abby constantly worried about her sister, but a huge earthquake strikes and the entire family is separated. This book is full of Abby's spiritual journey as well as her journey to find her family and her grief journey. There is a lot that Abby has to work through in this book.

I enjoyed the characters and the story line. I felt this book was more interesting to me than most historical novels. I think Karen Barnett is a great author. I would be very interested to read the next book in this series.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase your own copy from Amazon here (affiliate link):