Little Tidbits of life, food and family!

Here's my review: Food for thought and for the belly! I really enjoyed this book! I find history fascinating, and I'm a foodie, so this book was perfect for me! The tone of the book was very personable. I felt as if I was riding along with the author and his wife. The only bad thing was that it made me really hungry!! I think I'll mark this historical trip on my bucket list. I won a complimentary copy of the book from LibraryThing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a new author to me. I won a book via LibraryThing. Here's my review: I enjoyed reading this book! It has rich cultural themes and a fair amount of drama! The love story reminded me of my own- bad boy, good girl. There's a lot of talk about faith and prayer. I really connected with Ibelema. She has a dream and a vision. She's talented, smart, and involved in her church. Silas kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but then he changed! It's amazing what love can do! Since I'm a foodie, I found all of the food mentioned intriguing! I think I'll have to head to Houston! I look forward to reading the next book by these authors! I won a complimentary copy of the book from LibraryThing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a great book! I am recently transitioning to a gluten free diet and this book was very informative! Here's my review: Fantastic book! I really enjoyed reading the introduction by the author. The recipes sound and look amazing! I will definitely be trying almost all of the recipes!!

Mary Connealy writes such amazing books! This is part of a series, and I recommend reading all of the books! Here's my review: Wow! What an amazing book! There's a daring escape, friendships formed, and mental and physical abuse. There's also the grit and determination of a group of pioneers! Beth is wonderful! She risks everything to save her mother. Their adventures are sometimes scary, but they work together as a team. I liked Jake right from the start. He's generous with his time and his skills. He's also compassionate and a good listener. I really enjoyed the imagery! I could picture the wagon train in my mind. Hidden Canyon is definitely a place I'd like to visit! I look forward to the next book in the series!

Wow! I really enjoyed this book! Here's my review: More than 5 stars for this book! I loved everything about it! My favorite setting is at Lillian's house. Her private garden is a place of tranquility and restfulness. There's some drama and two sweet love stories! The characters are relatable and easy to like! I have many favorites, but Lillian is my #1! She's resourceful, generous, compassionate, and caring! Her faith in God is inspiring. Even when all seems lost, she perseveres and doesn't give up. The dual timeline and the way that they joined brought the past and the present together seamlessly. I found the subject of the tokens fascinating. The author's note is definitely a must-read! Some difficult issues are mentioned throughout the book. Abandonment, human trafficking and abducted children. While these may be sensitive topics, they are important to be aware of. I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from the author/publisher via NetGalley

I really enjoyed reading this book! Lynn Austin is one of my favorite authors! Here's my review: This book is fabulous! There's nothing better than reading a Christmas book, especially when it's 90 degrees outside!! I was immediately drawn into this book and eagerly read it. (Almost hoping it would be longer 😀!) Addy and Howard are an amazing couple! When their paths cross with young Jack, their lives will never be the same! Jack's sad story tugged at my heartstrings. He's persistent, and he never wavers in believing the promise his father made. Honorable mention to Mrs. Gleason, Susannah, Addy's mother, and Howard's parents. Its their loving and caring support that help lead this story to a happy ending! Faith in God is prevalent throughout the book. My favorite quote is: "God knows all our needs before we even ask. And He knows the best way to answer our prayers, even if it isn't always what we wish for. " I was provided a complimentar

Such a great book! Here's my review: I love everything about this book! I love the settings, the characters, and the plot! The fishing lodge brought back many good childhood memories to mind. Ginny is someone I'd like to emulate! She's a hard worker, organized, caring, compassionate, and a great listener. Ben is amazing! He's accomplished, and more importantly, he knows how to relax. My two absolute favorites are Jack and Margie. They both seem like crusty old coots, but their wonderful personalities shine bright. Jacqueline kind of annoyed me, but she really changed, and I grew to like her. Melody Carlson is an exceptional author! She's versatile and creative! I look forward to reading many more books by her!

Elizabeth Goddard is the Queen of suspense writing! Each of her books get better and better! Here's my review: This is suspense writing at its finest! There's non-stop action, murders, mysteries, missing people, and intrigue. I've never been to Alaska, but Elizabeth Goddard brings it to life! I absolutely love Carrie and Trevor! Carrie is a no-nonsense, butt kicking woman! She's caring, compassionate, and helpful. Too bad her past just won't leave her alone. I admit I have a little crush on Trevor! He's amazing at his job. He is someone who can be relied on. He's persistent and determined. My favorite character is Rip! Mountain man extraordinaire. I love that he seems all gruff, but then he prays and feeds his guests! Faith in God is prevalent throughout the book. The many scriptures are inspiring and encouraging! "When I pass through the waters, you will be with me; and when I pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over me. When I walk throu

I really enjoy this series by Lisa Jones Baker! Amish books are my absolute favorite! Here's my review: I really enjoyed reading this book! Amish fiction is my favorite genre, and Lisa Jones Baker is becoming a favorite author! There's intrigue, a mystery, and a friend's to lovers romance! The mystery really kept me guessing until the end. There are familiar characters from the previous books. The characters are well developed and easy to like! I enjoy reading about the friendship of Trini, Abby, and Serenity. Their support and love for each other is comforting. My favorite character, though, has to be Angel the horse! His personality is epic, and his love for Serenity is apparent to everyone! I hope a story for Abby is coming soon! I certainly am looking forward to reading more books by this author! I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely LOVE Downton Abbey! My dream is to go and visit the house in England! Until then, books like these entertain me! Here's my review: I found this to be an interesting and informative book! It has such an honest tone. I felt as if I was sitting down having tea with Margaret. I'm sure most people know about Downton Abbey. This book really opened up about the servants' lives. Margaret recalls her memories with some fondness and some bitterness. The people she met and worked with were quite a variety! It's definitely a great read!

When I saw this book posted on Netgalley, I knew that I wanted to read it! I'm so glad that I was approved! Here's my review: This set of books is extraordinary! I was very sad that it had to end, but I'm thankful for the epilogue that tied everything up in a satisfying way! I love how the Liberty scarf is wound through each book! It starts as the product of the creativity of one woman and touches lives and offers hope amidst war. The characters are written brilliantly! I became invested in their lives. My heart broke when theirs did and rejoiced with them in times of joy! The women: Iris, Genevieve, and Clara each have special gifts that help others during the war. The men: Rex, Maxime, and Roman all serve in some capacity trying to end the war. Each of the authors did a fantastic job with imagery. I could easily imagine myself in London, France, and Belgium. My favorite place was the Cave a Champagne! Francois is such a wonderful man! He truly loves his vineyard and

I always enjoy a book written by Pepper Basham! She's such a creative writer! Here's my review: Oh my word! This book is fantastic! I was immediately hooked from the very first sentences! It's a story of forbidden love, friendship, brokenness, second chances, and redemption! The characters are written brilliantly! I want to be Kizzie's friend! She's so amazing! Despite being heartbroken time after time, she still maintains hope and a giving heart. Her transformation to becoming a new person in Christ is inspiring! The Chappell family welcomes Kizzie with open, caring, and compassionate arms. Noah is my favorite! Absolutely swoon worthy! He genuinely cares for others. He'll give the shirt off his back to anyone who asks. My favorite part of the story is the sweet love story! It's not your typical relationship because of many factors, but it was meant to be. The other great parts, in my opinion, are those dealing with faith in God. I felt encouraged and u

I'm on the launch team for this book and I'm so happy that I am! This book and the one before it are amazing! Here's my review: Wow! I really enjoyed this book! I would recommend reading the first book, A Royal Quest, because it will help the reader know what's going on in this book. (Melody Carlson does provide some background.) So much happens is this story! There's an escape from prison, a kidnapping, a threat of war, and a beautiful love story! Rose really has a change of heart in this book. She grows and matures due to distressing circumstances. She realizes that she can use her talents for good! Queen Heather continues to amaze me with her maturity and compassion. The parts that made my heart leap with joy was when both sisters find love! Instead of fighting each other, they can look to their futures and live peacefully! I was provided a complimentary copy of the book by WhiteCrown Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Let me know if you re

Here's my review: This is a fantastic book filled with suspense, intrigue, and a mystery! It's almost non-stop action that kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought that I knew the perpetrators, but it was a complete surprise. The characters are wonderful! Mac is a crime solving, butt kicking woman! Sam is super smart and usually one step ahead of everyone else. Jake, as a detective, is always ready to go at a second notice. There's a bit of a romance in the book. It was a little frustrating that more didn't happen, but the book was mostly about the mystery. Surprise! The end is a cliffhanger!!!! Now I'm excited to read the next book!

Here's my review: I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately drawn in by the storyline of twin princesses who couldn't be more different. The crown can only go to one of them. The characters are wonderful and relatable (except for one)! Heather has a good head on her shoulders. She's wise beyond her years and genuinely cares about the kingdom. Sir Edward is my favorite! He's extremely loyal and a protector. Bess is great! She proves herself loyal when she is needed. There's some intrigue and subterfuge. There's also acts of bravery by several characters. A beginning of a romance is eluded to, but, yes, the ending is a cliffhanger!!!! I can't wait to find out what happens next! I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from White Crown Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Here's my review: Wow! Kristen Heitzmann is such a wonderful writer! This book is captivating and inspiring. "The sky was sugared with stars, and the air smelled sweet." I was there in my mind, seeing the brilliance of the sparkling stars. What a cast of characters! I found myself deeply invested in their lives. Abigail grows and matures so much in this book. She starts out as an innocent woman and then suffers much heartache and despair. Her faith in God is put to the test multiple times. Sharlyn is my favorite. She loves with her whole being, no restraints. There are some extremely harrowing circumstances. There's murder, a kidnapping, and alcohol dependency. There's also love, second chances, new life, and hope!

Here's my review: I really enjoyed reading these novellas! They both involve a house and family ties in Cary, North Carolina. The romances are very endearing! In Deck the Halls, I immediately connected with Lillian. Her family is having a very rough time. She meets William, who is wealthy but very down the earth. I'm glad that Lillian's mother relaxed about her ideas on marriage between those of different social classes. The generous spirit of William and his family is wonderful! In Tis the Season, I found all of the characters wonderful and easy to like! My absolute favorite, though, is Harvey! He's generous, understanding, compassionate, and caring. There are some major misunderstandings between Nikki and Drew, but they do get their happy ending! Yes, I'm aware that I'm reading a Christmas book in July! These stories were so enjoyable, and they put me in a joyful mood! I look forward to reading more books by these authors! These are really great novell

Here's my review: This is an interesting and informative book! I gave it 4.5 stars because sometimes I didn't always know what the timeline was. Some parts of it are devastating, and some parts are full of hope. I find historical fiction fascinating, and I can't wait to find more information about the American Queen. Louella had a difficult and and at times horrible life. She has lost so much, and her heart is broken. She's so strong and courageous! Her people and their needs come first. She truly was royalty. The kingdom of Happy Land and its people brought messages of hope and comfort to those in need. I enjoyed the many references to faith in God. The scriptures were inspiring! Yes, this is a hard book to read, but I'm glad that authors like Vanessa Miller write these books so history can live on. Trigger warning- this book talks about hangings, beatings, murder and death.

I was on the launch team for this book! I really enjoyed it! Here's my review: This book blew me away! The author's writing is phenomenal. The dual timeline kept me in suspense as I wondered what was going to happen next. It's a heartbreaking story of forbidden love, broken families, and sacrifice. It's also about redemption, the power of friendship and healing. Mary intrigued me from the beginning. Her father's love for her is apparent. She's an old soul, an artist, curious. When her path crosses with Jakob, her entire life changes. She loves him and fears him. Soon, her life changes, and she faces new challenges. I love Mrs. Oliver! Her personality is authentic. She's hospitable, compassionate, and giving. She is independent and a good provider. The epilogue is my favorite part of the book. When Mollie opened her present, my heart rejoiced! Side note: I recommend reading the author's note. It offers insight into the background of this amazing stor

I won this book via LibraryThing. Disclaimer- there is some swearing and references to sex (nothing explicit). Here's my review: This book offers an amount of mixed feelings. There's deep grief, denial, hope, and love. Ted has passed away, and the family members are struggling to pick up the pieces of their hearts and move on. Because of the pandemic, there was no proper funeral, and the family needed closure. The characters are very interesting, and I enjoyed getting to know them. The rock of the family is Parisa. She is running a successful business. She's giving, kind, and compassionate. Olivia grew on me. I didn't feel a connection with her at first, but she grew as a person. There's a lot of variety in the characters- gender neutral, deaf, black, Indian and biracial. A real World Buffet! I liked the parts of the book that brought attention to saving turtles. I'm passionate about saving as many animals as we can. I also liked learning about Japan and it

I was so happy when I was pre-approved to read this book by J'nell Ciesielski! She is a brilliant author! Here's my review: Wow! More than 5 stars for this book! I honestly feel like this could be the next Jason Bourne movie! A marriage doomed from the start, notorious thieves, a winged tiara, and a crazy chicken! The imagery is amazing! I felt like I was traveling along with Jasper and Esme on their quest. The characters are written brilliantly! Jasper is swoon worthy! Although he is suffering from a shameful family secret and a wife who disappeared on him years ago. He is loyal, romantic, and a gentleman. Esme is a strong and determined woman. She presents as a porcupine, but her heart is tender. Lamb cracked me up! He's full of mischief! The theme of second chances is apparent in the story. Jasper and Esme get second chances with estranged family. Their marriage also gets a second chance. The epilogue of the book is a fantastic happy ending! I was provided a compli