I've Seen the End of You by W. Lee Warren, M.D.

*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-

Dr. W. Lee Warren, a practicing brain surgeon, assumed he knew most outcomes for people with glioblastoma, head injuries, and other health-care problems. Yet even as he tried to give patients hope, his own heart would sink as he realized, I've seen the end of you.

But it became far more personal when the acclaimed doctor experienced an unimaginable family tragedy. That's when he reached the end of himself.

Page-turning medical stories serve as the backdrop for a raw, honest look at how we can remain on solid ground when everything goes wrong and how we can find light in the darkest hours of life.

I've Seen the End of You is the rare book that offers tender empathy and tangible hope for those who are suffering. No matter what you're facing, this doesn't have to be the end. Even when nothing seems to 

makes sense, God can transform your circumstances and your life. And he can offer a new beginning.

My thoughts-

I read through this book in just a couple of days. I have kind of been on a non-fiction kick and I have been flying through them all, but none like this one. It really resonated with me. It was refreshing to read a book both about someone who can believe in both science AND God and who admits that sometimes his faith waivers. Sometimes it is difficult when we go through hard times and feel like we have to still be this pillar of faith and it is refreshing to see someone say not only is it okay to waiver in those moments, but that it happens throughout the Bible too. It doesn't mean that we give up hope or our faith, it just means it is okay to not understand why something happens or even to not be happy about it, and I think in the end most times that I go through periods like this, in the end my faith in God ends up renewed and even stronger than before. I am thankful to Dr. Warren for such a vunerable look inside of his very difficult profession and personal life. I thought this was an excellent book. I recommend this book to anyone really.

Experiement with Kitchen Science

*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-

Science isn’t limited to the classroom—it can be cooked up in the kitchen! This photographic book of experiments and projects covers covers chemical reactions, states of matter, microbiology, and much more– all with ingredients and equipment that can be found in the kitchen.

The STEAM Ahead series shows readers that science isn’t limited to the classroom—it can be found out in the garden, cooked up in the kitchen, and brought to life with paper and paints! Each book features clear, step-by-step instructions and has a fresh, contemporary design, with an emphasis on fun, achievable experiments to give kids hands-on experiences. The science behind each experiment is explained, giving readers the theory behind the practical activities. 

My thoughts-

I am always looking for ways to bring more education into our home. It is great when kids learn when they are having hands on fun because that will stay with them longer than sitting in a classroom and just hearing or writing something. My kids are getting a little older now, but I think even at 10 my boys would enjoy these kitchen experients. I like that most of the experiments use stuff you would already find in your kitchen so you don't have to go out and buy anything special or spend a lot of money. I also like the set up of the pages of the book with the pictures and explinations making it easy for older kids to conduct these expirements independently. They are also not so complicated that younger kids couldn't do them with a little help from an adult. I recommend this book to anyone who has kids 10 and under who enjoy science or other hands on activities. 

Snowfall on Cedar Trail by Annie Rains

*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 always bustling for Halona Locklear's flower shop, but this year, she's determined to take some time out to give her young son an extra special holiday. So she should be thrilled when hunky police chief Alex Baker wants to be their not-so-secret Santa. But Halona can't get too close to Alex. He knows a truth she needs to keep hidden...for her boy's sake.

Though Alex always had a thing for Halona, he never dared to pursue his best friend's little sister. But he can't shake the feeling that the gorgeous single mom and her little boy could use some holiday cheer, even if Halona refuses to let down her guard. But when ghosts of Christmas past threaten, Alex and Halona must decide what matters more: protecting their secrets or opening their wary hearts to new possibilities.

My thoughts-

Last year I was introduced to the world of Sweetwater Springs and it's inhabitants when I read Christmas on Mistletoe Lane and I have been loving them ever since. In the spring I devoured Springtime at Hope Cottage and soon as it was available and I couldn't wait to read Snowfall on Cedar Trail the second I was able to. I have been waiting on Alex and Halona's story since the first book I read last Christmas! There is just something that pulls on my heartstrings with romantic stories set during the holiday season, especially with familiar characters in a small town setting. It feels like you are there with them. I love the feeling that I could be friends with the charactrs. There was an added special touch with the addition of the storyline of Halona's son Theo and a cute little puppy. This is the perfect story to get you in the holiday spirit. It can stand alone but I highly recommend reading the others in the series and get to know all of the people in Sweetwater Springs! 

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

*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 postive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.

Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.

My thoughts-

Nothing pulls on my heartstrings more than a lost love from the past coming back into the picture in the future. I love stories like these. Tate left Sam in a bad way when they were younger so I knew it was going to be intense when they met back up as adults in a situation where they have to work together! There was lots of juicy content in this book. Seeing the full story unravel helped redeem Tate's decision. Yes, some of it was predictable as most contemporary romances are, but I thought it was a fresh story with a great feel to it. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading romantic stories. 

The Little Women Cookbook by Wini Moranville; Louisa May Alcott

*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-

Here at last is the first cookbook to celebrate the scrumptious and comforting foods that play a prominent role in Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women. If your family includes a Little Women fan, or if you yourself are one, with this book you can keep the magic and wonder of the beloved tale alive for years to come. Do you wonder what makes the characters so excited to make—and eat!—sweets and desserts like the exotically named Blancmange or the mysterious Bonbons with Mottoes, along with favorites like Apple Turnovers, Plum Pudding, and Gingerbread Cake? Find out for yourself with over 50 easy-to-make recipes for these delectable treats and more, all updated for the modern kitchen.

My thoughts-

Little Women is one of my favorite books of all time. I have loved it since I was a kid. I also love the movie version from the 90's and I am super excited about the upcoming movie adaptation that is coming out for Christmas this year. I love this beautiful cookbook. The gorgeous cover caught my eye first with all of the pretty colors and fun cartoon portraits of the sisters. I thought the recipes were wonderful and that the passages from the book to go along with each picture really added to the overall nostalgic feel of the book. I also love the fun illustrations in the cookbook. I have intentions of talking my book club into reading Little Women (and then going to see the new movie together) for our December meeting and having this excellent cookbook would be a great addition to a fun Little Women themed December. I can't wait!

What They Meant for Evil by Rebecca Deng

*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 thoughts are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Many stories have been told about the famous Lost Boys, but now for the first time, a Lost Girl shares her hauntingly beautiful and inspiring story. 
One of the first unaccompanied refugee children to enter the United States in 2000, after South Sudan's second civil war took the lives of most of her family, Rebecca's story begins in the late 1980s when, at the age of four, her village was attacked and she had to escape. WHAT THEY MEANT FOR EVIL is the account of that unimaginable journey. With the candor and purity of a child, Rebecca recalls how she endured fleeing from gunfire, suffering through hunger and strength-sapping illnesses, dodging life-threatening predators-lions, snakes, crocodiles, and soldiers alike-that dogged her footsteps, and grappling with a war that stole her childhood. 
Her story is a lyrical, captivating portrait of a child hurled into wartime, and how through divine intervention, she came to America and found a new life full of joy, hope, and redemption.

My thoughts-

I will never understand the wars that happen in countries between different tribes. I will never understand why we can not all just get along and celebrate each other's differences. I know it is mostly fear but it is still heartbreaking. Rebecca Deng should not have ever had to experience any of the things she did but I am thankful that she shared her journey, both through the war, through her thoughts as she joined a family in the United States, and through her faith. This book isn't for the faint of heart, and I don't think we can ever understand what Rebecca Deng went through, but reading her story is one way to help learn about different cultures. It is a way for us to celebrate our differences. It is a way for us to see one person turn her suffering into her life's work to help others. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes reading memoirs about real people.