How to Instant Pot by Daniel Shumski (Cookbook Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Legions of home cooks are falling in love with the Instant Pot multipurpose pressure cooker, which does the work of a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, sauté pan, steamer, and chafing dish all in one. This collection of 100 easy, creative, boundary-pushing recipes makes ultimate use of this amazing and increasingly popular contraption. The only Instant Pot cookbook organized by function, with detailed instructions for mastering each, How to Instant Pot features dishes from satisfying breakfasts through tempting desserts, plus skill-building recipes that offer simple methods for basic dishes (Chicken Soup 3 Ways, No-Stir Polenta 3 Ways, Sweet Yogurt 3 Ways) and surprising hacks that make this already remarkable gadget even more indispensable. Hard-boil an egg in 5 minutes? Yup. Bake a potato in half the time? You bet. Quick pickle some veggies? Why not. Want to know how to Instant Pot? This book is all you need.


My thoughts-

I had been thinking about getting an Instant Pot for at least a year when I started dropping some heavy hints to my husband that it was what I wanted for my birthday back in January. Being the good hubby that he is, he immediately went out and got me one! At first glance, this "magic pot" as some fans affectionately call it, can look fairly intimidating, but once you get down how to work the thing, it is a kitchen must have! If all I ever did with it was boil eggs and make baked potatoes, both perfectly done in the pot, it would be worth the cost, but luckily there are so many other meals to be made! How to Instant Pot is full of delicious food ideas, but before it gets down to the recipes there is a section of basics at the beginning. Remember earlier when I said the Instant Pot could be intimidating? These basics will help you to get started and to see that it is actually super user friendly and easy to use! Then come the recipes! Barbacoa tacos, beef stew, and many other mouth watering main dishes are featured, as well as some great side dishes and desserts. This book is the perfect cookbook and manual for any person who is new to the Instant Pot world or fun anyone looking for fun new electric pressure cooker recipes!

Almost Gone by John Baldwin & Mackenzie Baldwin (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

This is the never-before-told, riveting true story about a teenage Christian girl who was seduced online by a charming young Muslim man from Kosovo, and her father who ultimately worked with the FBI to save her from disappearing forever.

Told from the viewpoint of both father and daughter, Almost Gone follows Mackenzie’s network of lies and deceit and her parents’ escalating bewilderment and alarm. More than a cautionary tale, this is the incredible story of unconditional parental love, unwavering faith, and how God helped a family save their daughter from a relationship that jeopardized not only her happiness, but also her safety.

My thoughts-


This was one intense book. I wanted to read Almost Gone because this happened right in my backyard. I live 20 minutes away from Plano, TX where Mackenzie Baldwin grew up and this situation went down. I commiserated with and felt deep empathy for her parents as I read from her father John's perspective and as these events unfolded for him and he and his wife figured out what was going on and had very little time to put a plan into place that would ultimately save their daughter from what could have been a very bad situation. I commend Mackenzie for being strong enough to share her story in hopes that it might help other girls her age from making the same mistakes. What I took away was to never assume your kids won't do something no matter how far fetched it is, no matter how many times you have told them not to or talked to them about the danger of things, even a smart kid at 17 or 18 years old can fall victim to the pitfalls of internet relationships. I was happy this story had a happy ending and the Baldwin's shared the whole thing, painful as it must be, to help others. I recommend this book to anyone who reads non-fiction.

31 Proverbs To Light Your Path by Liz Curtis Higgs (Book Review)

*Dislcosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Take Heart, Beloved.
His Light Is Shining,
And Your Path Is Clear.

Wherever you are on your journey, here is the wisdom you need for the road ahead. Maybe you’re stuck and want to move forward. Or you feel anxious and long to know what’s next. Or you’re ready for an uplifting reminder that God holds your future in His loving hands.

Chosen by hundreds of women as their favorite verses in Proverbs, these thirty-one nuggets of truth reveal how faithfully God honors His promise, “I will instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths” (Proverbs 4:11).

Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs examines each word with care and adds a sprinkling of humor through her honest stories and personal examples. For each verse you’ll find a unique “One Minute, One Step” challenge—a do-it-now task that requires one minute or less. You’ll soon discover how practical and meaningful the book of Proverbs is as you apply its ancient wisdom to your thoroughly modern life.

With a study guide included, 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path is a daily devotional and a small-group Bible study, wrapped in a beautiful gift book brimming with encouragement!

My thoughts-

31 Proverbs to Light Your Path is a gorgeous book, worthy of gift giving. The cover is a beautiful start to a fantastic book full of great insight and encouragement. There 31 chapters for 31 proverbs, a little personal anecdote at the beginning of each chapter, and a great devotional that follows close behind. At the end of each chapter is a page entitled "One Minute, One Step which gives a quick tip for drawing nearer to God through your actions. I also liked that there was a study guide at the end of the book to even further help you get a whole pictures of Proverbs by challenging you to answer questions. I recommend this book to any Christian looking for encouragement or as a gift to someone you would like to encourage to grow in their relationship with God.

The Proving by Beverly Lewis (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Amish Fiction's #1 Author Presents a Touching Story of Perseverance and Second Chances
Amanda Dienner hasn't seen her Old Order family in five years when she receives word that her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County's most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. Now an Englisher, Mandy is shocked: Her twin sister should have been the obvious choice! What's more, the inheritance comes with a catch: The farmhouse inn will only truly be hers if she is able to successfully run it for twelve consecutive months.

Mandy accepts the challenge even though it means returning to Gordonville and the painful memories she left behind at eighteen. Still, she's determined to prove she is more than capable of running the bed-and-breakfast, no matter that its loyal clientele are expecting an Amish hostess!

The inn isn't Mandy's sole test, however. Rubbing shoulders with her married twin sister reopens wounds that Mandy isn't ready to forgive. And an Englisher guest with a difficult past of her own just complicates matters.

Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this year in Amish country prove a dreadful mistake?

My thoughts-

I have read so many Amish fiction novels that I always think that there is no way an author can think of a spin on this type of story that I haven't already read. Beverly Lewis always manages to prove me long. This was an interesting story overall with Amanda Dienner coming back to take over her mother's bed-and-breakfast, coming back to the family she has been estranged from,including her twin sister. I enjoyed watching Mandy's story unravel but I also equally, if not more, enjoyed Trina's story in the novel. I would love to get away to this Inn. I wish it existed in reality! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish Fiction. 

Sweet Tea & Sympathy by Molly Harper

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thought. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Nestled on the shore of Lake Sackett, Georgia is the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop. (What, you have a problem with one-stop shopping?) Two McCready brothers started two separate businesses in the same building back in 1928, and now it’s become one big family affair. And true to form in small Southern towns, family business becomes everybody’s business.

Margot Cary has spent her life immersed in everything Lake Sackett is not. As an elite event planner, Margot’s rubbed elbows with the cream of Chicago society, and made elegance and glamour her business. She’s riding high until one event goes tragically, spectacularly wrong. Now she’s blackballed by the gala set and in dire need of a fresh start—and apparently the McCreadys are in need of an event planner with a tarnished reputation.

As Margot finds her footing in a town where everybody knows not only your name, but what you had for dinner last Saturday night and what you’ll wear to church on Sunday morning, she grudgingly has to admit that there are some things Lake Sackett does better than Chicago—including the dating prospects. Elementary school principal Kyle Archer is a fellow fish-out-of-water who volunteers to show Margot the picture-postcard side of Southern living. The two of them hit it off, but not everybody is happy to see an outsider snapping up one of the town's most eligible gentleman. Will Margot reel in her handsome fish, or will she have to release her latest catch?

My thoughts-

I LOVED this book. Absolutely loved it! I love stories set in small towns like these and the southern humor is just spot on! This reminded me of many of may favorite stories set in small town, particularly Steel Magnolias (without the outrageously sad undertone) and especially the television show Hart of Dixie. I enjoy Margot's fish out of water story, and how she comes to be comfortable, and even love where she is. and of course I love the fabulous romantic interest we find for Margot in Kyle Archer. I am so glad this will be a book series. I already can not wait to see what happens in the next one! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women's fiction.

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The Texas Slow Cooker by Cheryl Jamison

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Even great cooks, such as Cheryl Jamison, one of the preeminent authorities on American regional cuisine and the author of many award-winning cookbooks, occasionally prefer the make-ahead convenience, easy cleanup, and depth of slow-cooked flavor that you get when you use a slow cooker.

Co-author of the pioneering book Texas Home Cooking, Cheryl reveals in these pages that a stunning range of Lone Star gems, from chilis and stews to enchiladas and roasts, from bean or rice dishes to beef, bison, poultry, and shrimp, come out of the slow cooker brimming with flavor--and with a minimum of fuss for the cook.

These 125 recipes are full of delectable, down-home goodness, each one at least as good as its version from outside the slow cooker. 

My thoughts-

If you throw Texas in the title of a cookbook, I am likely going to check it out to see if it's a. really Texan, and b. full of deliciousness. I think Cheryl Jamison has succeeded in meeting my criteria. The Texas Slow Cooker is full of fantastically Texan food. I would literally try any recipe in this book. I especially liked the section on chilis (although some would argue any chili with beans is quite in-Texan, I am willing to try any variation on one of my favorite meal time staples).  The sides are also worth mentioning, especially the Mac 'n cheese with a Texas Twist. And of course, the book is full of  fabulous desserts. Particularly notable are the peach cobbler, and Margarita cheesecake. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys utilizing their slow cooker, or who loves good downhome southern food.

Santa's Countdown to Christmas by Kim Thompson (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Help little ones be patient until Christmas with this storytelling twist on the timeless Advent tradition. Each day, starting December 1st and counting down to Christmas Eve, children can read a story that recounts how Santa and Ms. Claus, the elves and the reindeer get ready for the big night ahead, from Santa’s initial fitness test (will he make it through the chimney this year?) to a behind-the-scenes look at Santa’s toy factory. A book that captures all the excitement and the magic of the holiday season.

My thoughts-

I love reading books with my kids in December all the way through until Christmas night. This is the perfect book to read to lead ones, to help build excitement, and to spend precious quality time together. The book has adorable illustrations and the daily stories are short enough that they will hold the attention of nearly any kid.  Santa's Countdown to Christmas would be great combined with an advent calendar to make the overall countdown to Christmas super exciting!

The Anne of Green Gables Cookbooks by Kate Macdonald

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Avonlea beckons in this cookbook inspired by the most famous Canadian children's book, L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. "Kindred spirits" both young and old will enjoy experiencing late-nineteenth-century Prince Edward Island firsthand through the delicious recipes culled from the eight books in the Anne of Green Gables series.

From Poetical Egg Salad Sandwiches, to Anne's Liniment Cake and Diana Barry's Favorite Raspberry Cordial, these recipes are easy to prepare and delicious to serve up any day, on a weekend, or for special occasions! With full-color photography, whimsical illustrations, and quotes and anecdotes from the books, get ready to be immersed in Anne Shirley's world.

My thoughts-

The cover art on this cookbook is so beautiful, and so very Anne, I couldn't resist. The cookbook is filled with treats mentioned in the Anne of Green Gables series, which are like a step back in time, but still will hold up today. For fans of Anne Shirley, this is a must have. The cookbook is short but filled with beautiful pictures and illustrations and will help you relive some of the food moments from such a wonderful book series.

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions started are 100% my own.

About the book-

With The Keto Reset Diet, you can eat to total satisfaction by enjoying rich, high-satiety foods, and even weather occasional slip-ups. You’ll use keto as a lifelong tool to stay trim, healthy, energetic, and free from the disastrous health conditions caused by the typical American diet. With step-by-step guidance, daily meal plans and a recipe section with over 100 delicious keto-friendly recipes, this is the definitive guide to help the keto-beginner or the experienced health enthusiast understand the what, why, and how to succeed with ketogenic eating.

My thoughts-

I have actually already been following a Ketogenic diet since August, but I think you can never learn too much about a subject, especially if it is one you adhere to, and I can never have enough recipes, so that was a big draw for me too. I read this book all in one setting the second it arrived on my doorstep. I thought that it got wordy in some places, probably because a lot of this was reiteration for me of things I already knew, but this will be a fantastic resource for Keto newbies! The only thing I don't like is that there are no pictures to go along with each recipe, but there is a great variety of recipes to choose from, as well as meal plans to help you reset your body. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to take control of their health.

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Christmas is the season of the heart, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber is here to warm yours with a delightful holiday novel of first impressions and second chances.
Merry Smith is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her—minus her photo—and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.

Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects—or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.

My thoughts-

Every year by the beginning of October I am itching to read a good Christmas romance. Yesterday, on the 1st day of October, I started reading Merry & Bright and it was exactly the type of Christmas novel I love. It was so good I read it all in one sitting! I love the play on words title for the Christmas season with the two main character's names! It just makes this book even more cute. I found myself rooting for Merry and Jayson from the second he created his online dating profile. I loved the humor and romance, and that this could be read in a few short hours since I didn't want to put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a lighthearted romance.