Book Review: How to Window Box

This how-to book is great for those who love window boxes or would like to try one, or more. There are box ideas for both indoors and out along with a variety of plants.

To begin, they discuss what to consider for either the outdoor box or the indoor box. This includes the amount of sun a site received and what constitutes full sun, part sun, part shade, or shade. The tools required, how to buy plants, whether a plant is an annual, perennial or biennial, different planting medium, surface materials, watering and so much more. There are even hint boxes throughout which talk about different things like sun deprivation.

From here they show and talk about different kind of window boxes, such one for sand loving plants, herb gardens, or perhaps a tropical box.

I found the illustrations and directions throughout the book to be helpful. They take the reader through everything needed for a box from location to feeding.

I recommend this book to the do-it-yourself person or anyone that enjoys plants.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Beneath a Prairie Moon

I have become fascinated by the writings of Kim Vogel Sawyer, as of late. This book is a good example why.

In Beneath a Prairie Moon, Abigail Brantley has suffered the affects of her father's illegal actions. She has been thrown from the world of social registers to one where she is now a tutor for ranchers in Kansas. These men need to be educated in manners so they can be deemed worthy to their mail-order brides.

There is one man, Mack Cleveland, who does not want these mail-order brides coming because of how his father was taken in by a scheme like this. Mack has also decided that Abigail does not belong here. Soon however he sees the work she is doing for the ranchers, but he knows that life needs more than smooth edges and he wants to show this to Abigail.

This author has a talent for developing the characters in her story. Each one stands alone and does not need to rely on others to create their story. I was envisioning the characters and the scenes as I read along. She also is great at showing the differences between the characters she writes about.

This was more than a historical novel. It contained twists and turns that surprised me throughout. I highly recommend this book.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Gathering the Threads

This is the third book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. This book finds Ariana back in the world she loves. The world of the Old Order Amish. She spent month in the English world but finds she this world feels like a better fit. Now she has to take what was learned in both worlds and see if she can mesh them. She is not my herself in figuring this all out, Quill Schlaback, a long-time friend who is an ex-Amish, wants to help her. This is difficult when changes in Ariana are plain.

Skylar Nash is also hoping that the appearance of Ariana will not threaten the place she has found here.

This story is so filled with God's love as these two try to find who they are through His love.

I had not read the previous books but I was able to feel like I fit into this world almost from the beginning. I found the world Cindy Woodsmall made to be just like the communities I knew when I was growing up. The characters were rich and made you feel you had an investment made in them and when finished, they become a part of the reader's life.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be found at Amazon HERE!
or at Barnes and Noble HERE!

 

Book Review: The Tea Planter's Wife

This book is set in Ceylon with Gwen, a 19-year old bride to a tea planter. She was originally from England, so after the marriage, on her way to her new home, many odd things begin to happen. Ravi was a friend of the family who Gwen's husband begins to act differently to. Then there is the previous marriage of the groom. There are many mysteries which come to the open as the story continues to unfold.

The author has a way of making the reader feel they are a part of the conversation which is going on through the book. I feel like she has a deep grasp of the times and marriages like this that occurred. There was good character development, overall and the plot was well-done. Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

I was given this book by NetGalley the publisher in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Book Review: The Little French Bistro

Married for 41 years, Marianne decides to leave her marriage and life behind. So she set off for Brittany. While there she finds many interesting people. People she will remember forever. They welcome her like an old friend and they all seem comfortable with her from the beginning. Soon Marianne feels like she is rediscovering all the good parts that make her up.

I love this book and the joy and warmth that it gives the reader. I had read "The Little Paris Bookshop" and loved it, so I was looking forward to this book. I did not sink into it as quickly but soon I fell in love with this world. I loved taking in the language and the characters.

This book may not be for everyone, but it is well worth picking up and enjoying.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: English Lessons: The Crooked Little Grace-Filled Path of Growing Up

English Lessons is a memoir by Andrea Lucado, the daughter of Max Lucado. It tells of her path to finding answers to some important questions such as Who am I? Who is God?

I felt like this book spoke to my heart. When I first received it, I thought I would try it because I have always liked her father's works. But I also had doubts. This is a very personal story for her as she went off to Oxford and while there she shares the new view she discovered while there.

I felt her laughter and doubts through the book and rejoiced when she made discoveries. 

This is an excellent book for all who are looking for their own answers.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. 

Find the book HERE!

Book Review: The Chapel Car Bride

I loved this book from the first page to the end.

Hope Irvine is an optimist always seeing the good in people, no matter where they are. Her father becomes an on-the-rail missionary where he goes from place to place in a chapel car. Hope wants to use this opportunity to share her gifts in music with others.

Luke Hughes also enjoys music. He is a miner who does not see a future between the two of them. However, he does feel some jealousy when Hope begins visiting people in other counties with the mine manager. Soon Luke begins to questions the mine manager's true purpose for the trips. Luke decides to speak up so he can keep Hope safe.

I loved the way the author, Judith Miller, is able to blend fiction with history, plus she is able to reflect the morals of a Christian throughout the book. I had never heard about chapel car ministries before but I can see how they served their purpose. Very fascinating.

The characters are fully developed and intriguing. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Harvest

This book, Harvest, is a beautiful book to look at and a wonderful resource book for uses of garden plants. Most of the ideas, plans and recipes given in this book were new to me. I had never thought about pickling rhubarb, or using blueberries for dyeing. These are in here plus lemongrass salt scrub, pineapple guava simple syrup and many, many more. Each entry has large colorful pictures along with an introduction about the plant, where and if you can grow it in your garden, when to harvest, a recipe, or directions and then a picture of the finished item.

I loved this hardback books with print which is easy to red and instructions that are plain and easy to follow. I found this book beautiful and full of useful information.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Children's book review: When God Made You

This book, When God Made You, is one which made me smile from the time I saw the cover until I turned the last page. Matthew Paul Turner created a book full of sing-song rhyme which will make children realize how special they are to God. The illustrations by David Catrow are as creative and beautiful as the verses inside. Just hearing someone read the ways that God has shown he loves you helps to draw the reader and child closer to God and each other. I cannot say enough good things about this book.

I highly recommend this book to parents, grandparents, anyone that would like to encourage a young one with God's love.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. I would like to say a special thank you to them for allowing me to read and review this beautiful book.

Book Review: the Chilbury Ladies' Choir

Set during World War II, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir shares the story of quiet English town. When the men are sent to war the vicar decides that the choir should be discontinued. However, a few of the women fought to keep the choir for the women. It is seen as a way to help raise spirits, share emotions and provide support and development. Throughout the story we meet the different women through letters, journal entries and diaries.

The author, Jennifer Ryan, uses these entries to show the warmth, schemes, wit, romance and adventures the women are in the midst.

Each of the characters were portrayed in such a way that I could understand the pressures each of them felt. There were the role models, those looking for love or financial security, and those that are looking for ways to set themselves up for a better life. I felt like this novel gives a good look at what women's lives were like at this time, including the challenges and how music and the choir became inspirations, a way to handle grief and more to each of the characters.

I feel like this book would be enjoyable to anyone who reads it.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Women of Easter

Liz Curtis Higgs is such a gifted writer. I was reading her bio where she says that her one goal is to help help us find the "grace of God with joy and abandon." You can tell by reading any of her works that this is exactly what she wants.

In The Women of Easter, Higgs looks at Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene and their story surrounding Christ. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Each woman was so dedicated and faced many trials because of their love of Jesus.

This book is such a blessing in my life and I know that it would be the same for anyone who would pick it up and read it.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Shylock is my Name

First of all, I love Shakespeare, so this title attracted my attention. It is based, loosely, on the Merchant of Venice. Jacobson uses this story to address antisemitism, as it is addressed a little in the original play. His wit and eye when addressing this is right up there with Shakespeare, even though the Bard's use of these traits was not touched upon quite as much.

In this story, the main character, Strulovitch is a well-to-do gentleman who is generous. He is also a Jew who tries to stay on the periphery of the goings on in the city. This does not mean that he has no feelings about the goings on around him. He feels the anger, but he deals with it with humor and wisdom.

I cannot say that I enjoyed it as much as I did the original but it was an interesting version of the Merchant of Venice. Readers should be aware of the subjects that are addressed in the book as they may begin to feel uncomfortable. However, this was a well-written book.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.  

Book Review: The Angel of Forest Hill

This is such a feel-good book to read for Christmas. It is an Amish setting which adds to its charm.

This was a quick read, which I enjoyed reading so much that I finished it within two days. It is one that will stay with you, in a good way.

Rose Kurtz is the only girl in her large family. She did not have a pleasant childhood and is asked to go to another community to help out a family. This makes her with that the new place is filled with love. When she gets there, the man of the house, Joel Dienner, has just lost his wife and he now has two little children and a baby to take care of. Rose agrees to stay and marry Joel, not because she loves him but because there is a need.

The arrangement works out until Rose become jealous of a pretty widow in the next town. This trouble is worked out through the remainder of the book.

I felt connected to Rose, not because I have had that kind of life, but because the author's style is such that it makes this possible.

I feel like anyone that is like me and enjoy reading Christmas fiction, especially this time of year, will enjoy picking up and delving into this book. I hope each reader feels the same as I when finished.

I was given this book by Blogging for Book in exchange for my honest review. I am very glad that I received and read this book for them.

Merry Christmas!

HUGS!

coloring book review: The Night Voyage

As my readers know, I love coloring books. When they are by Daria Song it is a double winner.

Like her other books, each page is filled with the intricate designs with a multitude of choices on how to color them. Each page is magical on their own whether they are filled with mystical mechanics, paper birds and flowers, teatime or more, they will keep the coloring going for hours.

In the back of the book are thumbnail copies of each of the pictures, an additional picture and a card to color (mine will go to my grandchildren.

Each page is printed on both sides on a heavyweight, non-perforated paper. The binding is sewn and glued, so they are not easily removed. Many designs cover both pages, so removing some of them would spoil some of the beauty anyways.

Many of the designs carry into the bound margins, which is not superb. The dust cover also can be colored on the inside and the out.

It will withstand most coloring materials except alcohol-based markers.

The beauty of the work and the fun in coloring make up for any shortcomings this book my have. Overall, I love it and recommend it to all.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The London Cookbook

When people have referred to the food in the UK, at least to my ears, all I remember is how bad it is. However, when I traveled over there, I found their food enjoyable. Now, with this cookbook, I can make some of my favorite recipes, from my travels, in my own kitchen.

Aleksandra Crapanzano has brought some of the culinary delights into one book. She talks about her time in the different restaurants and then she breaks the recipes into an easy-to-follow, easy-to-make format.

The book is broken ito Light Fare; Soups; Pasta, Rica and Grains; Vegetarian; Seafood; Fowl; Meat; Desserts; Chilled Desserts and Cocktails.

The recipes which I tried have been delicious and easy to make.

Anyone who enjoys cooking would enjoy this book. I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Natural color

When I began dyeing yarn, I toyed with the idea of dyeing yarn from nature, however, I was not sure how to make the dye a permanent part of the yarn. This book is the answer. I really wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but the illustrations are beautiful and the instructions are so clear, I now have the confidence to try it.

The book is divided into seasonal sections, so the items can be easily found during that time of year. Some of the items include pine cones, onion skins and various flowers and vegetables. Plus they show you how to dye a number of items from silk, to plant matter to yarn.

I am so excited to add this book to my collection of resources that I have and I know that it will be stained with colors which show how much love I have for it.

I highly recommend this hardback book for anyone that enjoy colors throughout their lives.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: the Tea Planter's Wife

This book is set in Ceylon with Gwen, a 19-year old bride to a tea planter. She was originally from England, so after the marriage, on her way to her new home, many odd things begin to happen. Ravi was a friend of the family who Gwen's husband begins to act differently to. Then there is the previous marriage of the groom. There are many mysteries which come to the open as the story continues to unfold.

The author has a way of making the reader feel they are a part of the conversation which is going on through the book. I feel like she has a deep grasp of the times and marriages like this that occurred. There was good character development, overall and the plot was well-done. Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books, and the publisher in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Book Review: Pop Manga Coloring Book

I love coloring books and the innocent appearance of Manga. Put them together and you have this wonderful coloring book. I am always excited when a coloring book comes up for review and this one will be a joy to add my own flair to.

The book has a removable dust cover, which can be colored. The pictures are beautifully drawn and will be fun for adults or older children to color, although they do say to not be afraid to stray outside of the lines.

If there is one negative it is this, I like to take my pages out of the book while coloring and the binding on this book may make that difficult without tearing the pages. This will not keep me from enjoying the book however or recommending it to all who enjoy coloring.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Cookbook Review: A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches

There are times when all we want to eat is a sandwich. This book allows the reader to fulfill that wish in numerous, delectable ways. Even if the reader doesn't want to make a sandwich right now, this book is a great purchase just to read the recipes and look at the pictures. From the forward to the index, this book is filled with recipes, pictures, words of wisdom and so much more. Chef Kord even encourages the reader to take the sandwich ingredients to make a plate of food.

I am so excited by this book. I have cut back on the amount of bread that I eat, so the mixtures of ingredients suggested helped place me in a creative place and try some myself.

The chef does like to use colorful language at time, but if you can look past that, I would recommend this for everyone.

I was given this book by blogging for books in exchange for my honest review.

Cookbook Review: The Naked Cookbook

The Naked Cookbook, by Tess Ward, is exactly as its title suggest. It is a very basic cookbook. When I requested it, I don't think I was thinking about the cover of the book. It is made from a heavy cardboard with a simple spine. Once inside though there are so many recipes which can be used when looking for going to a simple cooking, and eating, lifestyle. There are so many recipes inside that cover a variety of foods. It begins with infused oils, sauces, broths and stocks and then comes soups, one-dish meals, instructions on how to make sauerkraut and kimchi, pickles and so much more. The recipes are broken down into pure, raw, stripped, bare, nude, clean and detox. I am so glad that I had the chance to review this book and I can see how I can use it to enrich my lifestyle.

My one concern with this book is I am not sure how well the spine will hold up if it were to be used as a go-to cookbook regularly. If this weren't an issue with me I would definitely give it five-stars. Overall, though, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for practical recipes for a healthy lifestyle.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.