Prayers for Prodigals by James Banks

 

This book is a great choice for parents and a blessing for their children. However, it is not only for parents, I am a grandparent and the wisdom it gave me is one I can share with my children and grandchildren. It does not matter if you child is walking God's path or not, prayers are our way of protecting them through all the difficult and various times in their lives. 

I was given this book by NetGalley and Our Daily Bread in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Wonderfultales from the Land of the Seven Kingdoms by George William Van Sise

 

This is a great book to read with the family. There are 20 short stories or Fables from the world of fantasy. By being told by a narrator it brought me into the stories like I were a child. None of the stories are long but they are very well told.

I truly enjoyed this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for my honest opinion. All comments are my own. 

Ten Ways to Pray

 

I am going to preface this by saying I am not a Catholic however, I do believe in the power of prayer. This book is written in a way that it feels like an invitation to a life filled with wealth. Through the use of Scripture we are shown how to pray and how the Scriptures have been used with prayer to help us to pray.

The author shows how prayer can lead to encounters with God. She also shows how prayer needs to have a form of discipline with it.

I did like this book. It is an invitation to any who would like to know God through prayer. 

I was given this book by NetGalley and Ave Maria Press in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The Longest Echo by Eoin Dempsey

 

The Longest Echo is set in Monte Sole, Italy in 1944. This is a small village during the time of the occupation. The Nicoletti family consists of Liliana, her parents, two sisters, her grandparents, an aunt and an uncle plus cousins. The family became divided when the invasion happened. The men to the hills the women and children to the church, each sure they would be safe. An SS man, Werner Brack, ordered all the people in the church to be killed. All but one died. 

There was also a man, a POW, James Foley, who escaped from a camp and was important to the survival of Liliana. Together, they found their way, through the perilous area of the enemy lines. They finally joined the Allies.

Liliana and James met again twelve years later. James had become a journalist and Liliana was widowed. Both were driven to find answers to questions they had had since the war.

This was a book that reached to my soul. Eoin Dempsey is a powerful writer who knows how to weave words to have the reader feel the heartbreak and drive each of the characters feel. This book was based on true events. I highly recommend this book 

Keats's Odes: A Lover's Discourse

 

This book is an incredible look into Keats and some of his odes. Through the author's insights I was able to see how these odes reveal some of Keats' life but they also pertain to our own as we go through love and loss. I now want to review Keats' work over and over. What a gift from Keats.

Mayflower Voyage, Community, War by Nathaniel Philbrick

 

This book is written in such a way that I felt for all those involved as I never had in my school education. It was easy to read and filled with information that was new to me. I enjoy reading historical books, especially when it is obvious that time and research was invested in the creation of the story. 

I recommend this book highly.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Penguin Group in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

DUFFY THE CHRISTMASSY DRAGON by Kate Noble

 

This is such a delightful book. Duffy is called upon to help Santa with his delivery. The story is in rhyme and the illustrations are so colorful that they held the attention of my grandchildren, via video call, while I read it to them. 

This will be included in my grandchildren's gift next Christmas.

I received this book from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO No Time to Cook Cookbook by Stephanie Laska; William Laska

I have started Keto cooking over a year ago but this is the first cookbook by Stephanie Laska that I have looked at. 

She seems to be knowledgeable about Keto cooking which encouraged me to continue looking at the recipes in this book. 

This book includes 100 recipes that are easy to prepare and quick to the table.

I recommend this book. 

I was given this book by Adams Media and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai

The Ardent Swarm first attracted me with the bees on the cover. My husband is a beekeeper so books like this catch my attention. 

This book is also about a beekeeper but from North Africa. It tells the story about how changes all around the world can affect his hive. 

There is one main character in this book but it also branches off into other characters and how each one is connected to the main character.

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it.

I was given this book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.