The Amish Baking Cookbook by Georgia Varozza and Kathleen Kerr

The Amish Baking Cookbook
Plainly Delicious Recipes from Oven to Table
Authors: Georgia Varozza and Kathleen Kerr
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Spiral-bound: 272 pages
ISBN: 9780736955386

About the Book:

Building on the success of The Homestyle Amish Kitchen (more than 58,000 copies sold), Georgia Varozza partners with experienced baker Kathleen Kerr to give you a cookbook filled with the foods most associated with the Plain and simple life: baked goods. This delicious collection of more than three hundred classic baking recipes for cookies, cakes, pies, bars, and breads inspires you who love Amish fiction and are drawn to the Plain lifestyle to roll up your sleeves and start baking!

Whether you consider yourself a novice or a veteran in the kitchen, Georgia and Kathleen make it easy to make delicious baking recipes such as Amish Nut Balls and Brown Sugar Pie. Find the perfect recipe to prepare for that large weekend potluck, tonight’s intimate family dinner, or a fun activity with the kids.

My Thoughts:

Being blessed with living in Amish Country, the one thing I know to be a fact is that the Amish really know how to cook, and they do it well! "The Amish Baking Cookbook" is worth its weight in gold as it contains many of the delicious recipes I have found in my area. I was excited to find recipes for Blueberry Bagels, Brown Sugar Pie, Rhubarb Coffee Cake as well as many other delightful baked goodies.

Each recipe is easy to follow and everything I've tried has come out wonderfully delicious. Besides the recipes, there is a guide to ingredients and a section about the Amish and their beliefs.

No matter how many cookbooks you have, if you really enjoy delicious home cooking, you really have to add this to your collection. You won't be sorry you did!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley courtesy of the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.

Strait of Hormuz by David Bunn

Strait of Hormuz
Book #3 of the Marc Royce Series
Author: David Bunn
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764211386
Paperback: 384 pages

About the Book:

The threat of an Iranian blockade of the narrow Strait of Hormuz is escalating global tensions. Sanctions against Tehran have begun to bite, and it seeks to retaliate by cutting off vital shipping routes for crude oil. The specter of a preemptive Israeli strike has US officials on edge as they struggle to keep the world from plunging into the abyss.

Stymied in its efforts to uncover the sources of funding that bolster the Iranian nuclear program, the State Department calls on Marc Royce to investigate. With little to go on, he'll have to rely on an old ally. Kitra Korban has ties to people with the means to get things done, so long as no questions are asked. But Iran is on the brink of nuclear capability, and time is running out.

My Thoughts:

Davis Bunn is one of my favorite authors, so you can just imagine how excited I was to get my hands on a copy of "Straight of Hormuz". Of course, with that excitement came a great amount of expectations, and believe me - this book didn't disappoint!

This is the third book of the Marc Royce series but can easily hold its own, but do yourself a favor and start from the beginning with "Lion of Babylon" (if you haven't already). Bunn takes us on another political adventure that will keep you turning the pages and will leave you unable to put the book down and needing to know what happens next. This fast paced thriller will keep your heart racing and and wondering how, when and why. Oh my!!

Bunn has written across different genres with a fantastic Christian message in each of his stories, including the Marc Royce series. If you enjoy political thrillers, mysteries, or just a great page-turner, you'll certainly enjoy this latest book from Davis Bunn. I give him 11 stars out of 10 for this one!

Highly recommended!!!!!

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley compliments of the publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review, but instead one that reflects my own opinion.

Review: Not A Sparrow Falls

Not A Sparrow Falls
Author: Linda Nichols
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764207471
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis: (from the publisher)

Two Desperate People--
One With All the Answers•One With None

Mary Bridget Washburn is tired of running, tired of being haunted by the empty shell her life has become. How in the world did the little girl she once was become a woman on the wrong side of the law?

Determined to make a new start, she escapes to the quaint city of Alexandria, Virginia, where she takes on her mother's identity and finds sanctuary in the shadow of a decades-old church. But a little girl's plea proves to be her undoing, and the reverend•well, someone's got to open his eyes before disaster comes calling.

Can Mary Bridget and her tainted past stay hidden long enough for her to bring hope to a family falling apart?

You can read the Prologue and Chapter One here.

My Comment:

When I looked at the cover art, I decided this book was going to be a sweet little romance about a sweet young woman. What I got was a fantastic read filled with suspense that at times had my heart in my throat. I just couldn't put this book down!

The characters were well thought out and some were just so real, they made me think of people I knew in my own life travels. The story line, especially the main character's situation, was quite realistic.

I truly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it. This is geared more to the adult audience, as it contains the horrors of meth production and addiction.

About the author:

Linda Nichols, a graduate of the University of Washington, is a novelist with a unique gift for touching readers' hearts with her stories. She is also the author of the acclaimed novels If I Gained the World and At the Scent of Water. She and her family make their home in Tacoma, Washington. Visit Linda's Web site at www.lindanichols.org

This book was sent to me by Bethany House for me to honestly review.

Review: Never Say Never

Never Say Never
Author: Lisa Wingate
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764204920
Suggested Audience: Teens through Adult
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis: (from Bethany House):

Sometimes Life's Storms Blow in Unexpected Possibilities
Never Say Never

Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence. And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else.

Daily has always been a welcoming place of refuge for those the wind blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta Bradford has cooked up a scheme. 

My Comment:

"Never Say Never" was a really fun read. It's a cozy type of story that has suspense, drama, and some romance mixed in. The story comes from two points of view - Kai's and Donetta. Kai is a young and sensible woman who works for a cruise line and didn't have much of a family life. Donetta is an all around Southern hairdresser who uses her Southern charm to manipulate and get what she wants - but in a charming and hard to refuse kind of way. These two very different woman end up crossing paths, and that's when the fun begins.  They are both very lovable and will have you laughing - especially Donetta! 

I really enjoyed this heartwarming read. I found myself terrified with the description of the hurricane. It felt very believable and made me thank heavens that I live in a hurricane-free area. The scenario felt quite realistic and I could just imagine the panic and terror that those people felt. 

Although somewhat predictable, this is one of those stories that you want to curl up with and read on a yucky day. It is a great escape and makes you feel good at the end. 

For those that want to know... This is Christian fiction, and it has a definite Christian theme throughout, however, I don't find it out of character. Those in the Bible Belt are strong in their faith, especially during times of disaster. This story centers around Texans in a hurricane :)

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers to honestly review.

Review: The Rewards of Simplicity

The Rewards of Simplicity: A Practical and Spiritual Approach
Authors: Pam & Chuck D. Pierce
Publisher: Chosen - A division of Baker Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780800794774
Audience: Adult
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from publisher)

Bestselling Charismatic Leaders Offer Timely Guide to Living Simply

In today's fast-paced and technology-driven times, Christians feel stressed out and overly busy. Many are left longing for simpler days, unaware that these days are within their grasp, made possible by getting rid of spiritual and material clutter.

Respected prophetic leader Chuck D. Pierce and his wife, Pam, remind Christians of the rewards of living simply. Together they weave biblical teaching with practical tips that will help readers answer questions like these:

How can I...

• clear out unnecessary clutter in my home?
• overcome anxiety?
• rely on God for my sustenance?
• get free from too much technology and/or entertainment?
• preserve a Sabbath rest?
• free myself from the stronghold of materialism?

Sharing their insights to help readers break free of anything that enslaves them, Pam and Chuck empower Christians, both materially and spiritually, to live a clutter-free life.

My Comments:

First let me say, I really, really wanted to like this book. The synopsis sounded perfect for one wanting to find a simplistic life. I enjoyed Pam's writing style. It was engaging, and I was through her writings before I knew it. She covered a lot of good and interesting subjects but didn't deal with them as thoroughly as I felt she needed to. Yes, I know that one needs to clear out the clutter in their spiritual life before they can take care of their physical life. That was covered pretty well, but the physical clutter needed to be dealt with more. If one has a lot of clutter around, then they really need a more in-depth approach of how to get rid of it. There was a reason the clutter was kept to begin with, and those things needed to addressed more than they were. 

The last half of the book was authored by Chuck. I found it to be more preachy and annoying. Yes, there were good points, but all I wanted to do was get through "his" part. I feel awful saying that, but I got very tired reading about all his health problems and all the references to his past books he authored.

Although there were things that I really didn't like, the book had a lot of useful ideas. It was worth the read, and I did learn a few things. I just wish it were more in-depth with how to achieve simplicity.

This book was supplied by Bethany House Publishers in exchange of an honest review.

Review: Beguiled

Beguiled
Author:  and J. Mark Bertrand
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764206283
Audience: Older teens through Adult
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Good Reads)

When novelists Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand first met in a Houston critique group, they never expected where friendship would take them. She wrote romance; he wrote crime novels. But growing respect for each other's work culminated in the decision to try blending their talents into this wonderfully engaging story merging romance and mystery. 

Rylee Monroe walks dogs in old-money Charleston, a part of the city recently targeted by a daring thief. Logan Woods works the crime beat for the local paper but dreams of a life as a nonfiction writer. When the string of robberies takes a strange twist, Logan sees the making of a once-in-a-lifetime book that seems to circle around this charming, eye-catching dogwalker. But pursuing the truth means ignoring that he seems to be falling for her. And what is she hiding in her past that could crack the story wide open?



My Comment:

I love a book that I can sit down with and really get into. You know the kind... you find that half of the book is already finished and you haven't even realized that hours have passed away.  Beguiled is one of those stories. It has that "Cozy Mystery" feel to it and you just want to curl up with it and keep reading and reading. It's fun, full of mystery, some romance, and you can't help but love the main character and her friends. The plot is good, the mystery keeps you on your toes, but you'll probably come close to figuring it out by the end. I had it narrowed down to two people, then to one, then back up to two, then...

I know this is listed as Christian fiction, but for those that don't like the Christian genre, don't turn away yet. There really isn't a lot of "God talk" in the book and it's far from preachy. It's just a good clean read that should appeal to those that like romantic suspense, and for those that like a good mystery.

I rated this book older teens through adult just because it deals with adults and their life. There's no objectionable content, although there are a few scenes that cause your heart to race!

If you would like to learn more about the authors, please visit their websites. Deeanne Gist can be found at: http://www.deeannegist.com and J. Mark Bertrand can be found at: http://www.jmarkbertrand.com/

This book was supplied by Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.