The Grumble Free Year: Twelve Months, Eleven Family Members, and One Impossible Goal by Trisha Goyer

*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-

The Goyer home--with two parents, eight kids, and one eighty-eight-year-old grandmother with dementia--is never without noise, mess, activity, and, often, complaining. And it's not just the kids grumbling. After adding seven children in less than six years through adoption, the Goyer family decided to move out of survival-mode and into unity- and growth-mode. They decided to tackle the impossible: a grumble-free year.

With grade-schoolers, teenagers, and a grandmother who believes children should be seen and not heard, plenty of room exists for flunking the challenge. Add to that seven children being homeschooled together in close quarters, and what could possibly go awry?

In The Grumble-Free Year, the Goyers invite readers into their journey as they go complaint-free and discover what it looks like to develop hearts of gratitude. They share their plans, successes, failures, and all the lessons they learn along the way, offering real-life action steps based in scripture so that readers get not just a front-row seat to the action but also an opportunity to take the challenge themselves and uncover hearts that are truly thankful.

My thoughts-

I have read a lot of Tricia Goyer's fiction works over the last several years and even a few of her non-fiction books. I always seems to enjoy what she writes so I jump at the chance to read whatever I see by her. I felt this book got off to a slow start, but that is because the grumble free year at the Goyer house also got off to a slow start- which makes sense in such a large family, even my family of 5 would take a while to get used to such a big change. We are wired to be negative so we have to fight those urges to get to a place to be positive. I thought the book gave some great advice on how to be more positive, how to complain less, and how to takes life's punches as they come in a better way than just always focusing on the bad of difficult situations. I appreciate the Goyers letting us learn from their year long project and their willingness to be open about their struggles to get there. I enjoyed the discussions questions at the end of each chapter. I recommend this book to anyone looking to be more positive. 

The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

*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-

Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.

But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.

No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

My thoughts-

I love reading books by new authors because it is a great way to find something new and fresh. I think The Dating Charade is one of the cutest books I have read in a long time. I love heartwarming stories, especially this time of year and this one was full of heart. Cassie and Jett are lovable characters that you can't help but root for. I always enjoy a good blast from the past re-connection and Jett is just too adorable when he sees Cassie's profile and the events that unfold that make Cassie interested. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean romance novel. 

The Kitchen without Borders by The Eat Offbeats Chefs

*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-

Founded in November 2015 by a brother and sister who came to New York from the Middle East, Eat Offbeat is a unique catering company staffed by refugee and immigrant chefs who have found a new home, and new hope, for their lives. Now, in 70 authentic, nourishing recipes, with roots and soul that run as deep as their flavors, The Kitchen without Borders brings the culinary traditions of fourteen chefs from around the world including Syria, Iran, Eritrea, and Venezuela, right to our tables.

Discover delicious, unexpected flavor combinations, and ingredients—like sumac, pomegranate molasses, tahini—that will enhance the repertoire of any home cook or adventurous eater. Here is Iraqi Biryani, a rice dish combining vegetables and plump dried fruits with warming spices. Or an irresistibly cooling yogurt and fresh mint drink native to Afghanistan, known as doogh. Gorgeously smooth Syrian hummus, the original inspiration for Eat Offbeat. And Chari Bari, hand-formed meatballs simmered in a Nepali-spiced tomato and cashew sauce.

More than a celebration of delicious foods from around the world, this recipe collection—with its intimate chef profiles and photographic portraits—allows people who have been displaced to share their cherished cuisines, in their own words. And it makes a thoughtful, inspiring gift for any home cook, for anyone concerned about or affected by the world's refugee crisis, or for anyone who understands the profound link between food, home, and keeping traditions vibrantly alive.

My thoughts-

The Kitchen without Borders is a beautiful cookbook for some many reasons. It goes beyond a traditional cookbook with just recipes to a peek into the people who run the kitchen at Eat Offbeats. I find other cultures fascinating and enjoy food from different places as well, so this was a great cookbook for me, one of my favorites in a long while. I loved reading the stories about the different chefs, and how it included both anecdotes about growing up back home (whether that be Nepal or Iran or numerous other places) as well as moving to a new country and starting over and about their time in The Eat Offbeats kitchen. Most of these chefs are refugees which makes the fact that this company exists even cooler. They have a shared story although all of their stories are different. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to cook or learn new things. 

The Kid-Friendly ADHD Autism Cookbook

*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-

One of the challenges that parents face is coping with children who have picky appetites and crave the very foods that negatively affect their behavior, focus, and development. Linked to this is the challenge of finding ways to get their children to eat the healthy foods that will improve their nutrition. This book provides suggestions for feeding picky eaters, including those with texture issues.

The 3rd edition of The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook provides a current and greatly expanded review of the most commonly used diets that are important in the treatment of ADHD and autism. There are recipes appropriate to specific diets as indicated by icons and descriptors with each recipe. The authors share details about just how and why each diet works, examine specialty ingredients in-depth, and provide extensive resources and references.

My thoughts-

Once upon a time I had an older edition of this book at my home. I am not sure what happened to it, but I was definitely interested in this update. This version, the 3rd edition of The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook is a plethora of great information. There are some wonderful break downs of the different diets that might help kids with these neurological differences. I am familiar with a few but not all of these diets so it was nice to have them all explained and how each might help or which one might be right for your kid or kids. I found that all of the recipes included were kid friendly enough to work for our family. I think this is a book that is worth having for any parent with a kid with adhd or autism. 

The Secret Garden Cookbook by Amy Cotler

*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-

Frances Hodgson Burnett's wonderful tale The Secret Garden celebrates its young heroine, Mary Lennox, as she brings an abandoned garden back to life. It also delights in good food, robust appetites, and the health and strength they can bring. It describes a world where water, light, and loving care bring soil and plants back to life—and also one in which fresh milk, homemade currant buns, and hearty, simple fare renew and bring pleasure to the novel's complex and fascinating characters.

Amy Cotler serves up in these pages 50 recipes, all updated for the modern kitchen, that are at once true to Mary's world and completely appealing for today's tastes. You will find a bounty of baked things, including English Crumpets, Cozy Currant Buns, Jam Roly Poly, Dough Cakes with Cinnamon and Sugar, and The Best Sticky Gingerbread Parkin. (A parkin is a cake rich in molasses, honey, and sugar that often is served on Guy Fawkes Day.) There is more-substantial and savory fare for teatime and dinnertime, too, and for breakfast and brunch, along with drinks and snacks for the daily whirl—all guaranteed to keep the magic of this beloved tale alive for years to come.

My thoughts-

I love the beautiful cover to this book with the gorgeous colors that bring you right into the garden. The inside pages are filled with recipes, history of food, and book quotes to further transport you to the Secret Garden novel. The mouthwatering recipes mostly make me want to host an afternoon tea or go have a picnic. The Secret Garden Cookbook celebrates fresh foods and a time when people would get their food from their own gardens. There are many of great dishes included, but I was excited especially to see  a couple of Indian dishes in the book. Any fan of The Secret Garden will enjoy this cookbook. 

Losing My Voice to Find It by Mark Stuart

*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-

The incredible story of a lead singer's rise to fame and his crushing fall when he lost his singing voice, his career, and his marriage--and then found a new calling more in tune with God than he ever thought possible. 

Mark Stuart was the front man of popular Christian rock band, Audio Adrenaline, at a time when the Christian music scene exploded. Advancing from garage band to global success, the group sold out stadiums all over the world, won Grammy Awards, and even celebrated an album going certified Gold. But after almost twenty years, Mark's voice began to give out. When doctors diagnosed him with a debilitating disease, the career with the band he'd founded and dedicated his life to building was gone. Then to his shock, his wife ended their marriage, and Mark believed he'd lost everything.

Unsure of his future, Mark traveled to Haiti to help with the band's ministry, the Hands and Feet Project. When the devastating 2010 earthquake hit, media learned he was present and sought him out for interviews. Ironically, Mark became the scratchy voice for the struggling Haitians, drawing the world's attention to their dire circumstances. In the process, Mark found a greater purpose than he'd ever known before. In this gripping, compelling new book, Mark Stuart overlays his story with passages from the gospel of John, urging his readers to listen for God's voice and to embrace his big love that calls us into a big life.

My thoughts-

Like many Christians who were kids or teenagers in the late 90's I adored Audio Adrenaline. They were one of my favorite Christian bands (second only to Relient K). I remember going to see them at Six Flags with a few friends and then running into kids from my youth group and one of those boys ended up on stage with them that night. They put on a great live show, full of energy and the presence of God through their music and the power of fellowship. This was an interesting read to me. I loved the band, but back in those days the internet was still kind of a newer thing and we weren't looking for information about every little tidbit of every person's life so I didn't know much of Mark Stuart's story. I loved that through this memoir I got to learn about the bands roots in college before it's "Big House" days when they became a household name. It wasn't always all rainbows and butterflies and Mark Stuart is very open in sharing his story including the sad parts. The sad parts led to some really new great parts! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs or who loves Audio Adrenaline and wants a behind the scenes play by play of Mark's journey from then until now. 

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

*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-

Where do you see yourself in five years?

When Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Cohan is asked this question at the most important interview of her career, she has a meticulously crafted answer at the ready. Later, after nailing her interview and accepting her boyfriend’s marriage proposal, Dannie goes to sleep knowing she is right on track to achieve her five-year plan.

But when she wakes up, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. The television news is on in the background, and she can just make out the scrolling date. It’s the same night—December 15—but 2025, five years in the future.

After a very intense, shocking hour, Dannie wakes again, at the brink of midnight, back in 2020. She can’t shake what has happened. It certainly felt much more than merely a dream, but she isn’t the kind of person who believes in visions. That nonsense is only charming coming from free-spirited types, like her lifelong best friend, Bella. Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind.

That is, until four-and-a-half years later, when by chance Dannie meets the very same man from her long-ago vision.

Brimming with joy and heartbreak, In Five Years is an unforgettable love story that reminds us of the power of loyalty, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of destiny.

My thoughts-

I read a lot of books, like sometimes several a week, and much of the time because of that I have to push through them when I find them to be slow. In Five Years was the exact opposite. I read it in one day, every chance I got to get into the pages because I had to know what happened. This was a beautiful contemporary love story that was both modern but had a classic feel about it. It will pull at the heartstrings (both happy and sad tears were shed), but it will leave you feeling fulfilled.  I thought it was going to be an entirely different book than it was, but I was grateful I was wrong because I never could have imagined the story any better than it turned out. 

Portrait of an Artist: Claude Monet by Lucy Brownridge

*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-

Claude Monet is one of the best loved artists of all time. Find out how this special young painter strove to capture light and feeling in his paintings and how together with a group of talented friends, he came to start the most famous art movement of all time, Impressionism. In his long life he experienced war and heartbreak, love and the joy of family. See how his life shaped each piece of art he made and that throughout it all he never stopped trying to paint the ever changing light and glimmering water. In the end he built himself a garden filled with both, with waterlilies floating on dappled ponds setting the scene for his last, infamous masterpieces. 


My thoughts-

I have always had a special place in my heart for visual art, particularly the masterpieces that created during the Impressionism era. Claude Monet has always been my absolute favorite artist. In fact, I have a canvas of Water Lilies hanging in my French themed kitchen. This gorgeous book is written in an easy to understand narrative for young children and is a great introduction to art, and it's importance. The beautiful illustrations are like a book full of Impressionist paintings themselves, but there is also a Claude Monet piece on each spread. I enjoyed learning about Monet, there were a few things that I learned I didn't know, and I loved the descriptions of several pieces of Monet's works at the end of the book. I recommend this book to any person at all of any age, but particularly for elementary aged children. 

I'm Waiting God- Women's Bible Study Guide with Leader Helps by Barb Roose

*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-

Do you ever feel like God is taking too long to answer your prayers? Have you ever taken matters into your own hands, only to discover that you’ve made the situation worse?

Waiting on God challenges our faith when the bills are stacking up, our families are falling apart, or our dreams feel like they won't come true. We know that God hears our prayers, but it’s hard when the clock is ticking yet He hasn’t shown us the answer.

In this four-week Bible study, Barb Roose invites us to explore the stories of women in the Bible who had to wait on God— women such as Hannah, Ruth, Martha, and the unnamed woman who suffered for over a decade with a painful medical condition. If you’ve felt anxious, angry, discouraged or depressed because God isn’t giving you what you want, their stories will breathe fresh hope and practical next steps in your life. As a reforming control lover, Barb mixes in her personal stories of learning how to wait for God during long seasons of unanswered prayers, family difficulties, and challenging times in ministry. Together we will discover that there is goodness and blessing to be found in times of waiting, including a closer relationship with God than we’ve ever dared to dream.

My thoughts-

I just finished up attending a women's Bible study based on another book my Barb Roose about worry. I really felt that study was helpful and I like Barb's style so I was excited to read "I'm Waiting God". I also felt like it was more pertinent to the season of life I am in since there are several "waiting rooms" I feel like I am in. This study highlights 4 women of the Bible who were in "waiting rooms of their own". This study spoke to me on a deep level. I had several "a ha!" moments! I also like the way the study is laid out. It is organized into 4 weeks, with 3 days of study and 2 days of optional further studies. I like this because it allows you to dig deeper if you feel lead to, but doesn't make you feel overwhelmed to keep up. This study can be done alone, but would be best done as a group with group discussion. I would recommend this to anyone women's Bible study group, but I wouldn't discount doing it on your own either if you don't have a group to attend. 

Keto Simple by Martina Sajerova

*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 al opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Best-selling KetoDiet author, Martina Slajerova gives 100 delicious recipes that are easy in preparation and technique, frugal in the number of required ingredients, and can be put together quickly. No stress. No complication. Just a great keto meal from stove to table in minimal time.

Keto has become the hottest health-supportive diet around. However, even the most committed keto follower doesn't always have the time and inclination to cook for 90 minutes or the budget-bandwidth for 14-ingredient dinners. With Keto Simple, you can live your keto lifestyle without it becoming expensive, complicated, or all-consuming. Along with simply amazing recipes, find meal-prepping, planning, and shopping strategies that save you time and money.

Whether you are looking for a quick recipe to throw in your office lunchbox or how to build out leftovers and simple base recipes into tomorrow's menu, Keto Simple has you covered.

My thoughts-

When it comes to Ketogenic cookbooks, if either Maria Emmerich or Martina Slajerova, I am going to look to it for recipes. Before I even so this was a cookbook by Martina Slajerova, I loved the beautiful cover and the clever play on words of the title "Keto Simple" (keep it simple) and the idea of easy meals that could help keep me on track. When I dove into the recipes I was even more impressed. There were not only some great breakfasts, and a nice section on lunchboxes, there were several interesting dinners with some outside of the box meats like duck and lamb, which I think can really elevate a meal. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants to live a healthy low carb lifestyle full of tasty meals but that may not have the time to make elaborate meals. 

The Bathsheba Battle: Finding Hope When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn by Natalie Chambers Snapp

*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-

Has your life ever taken an unexpected turn, leaving you feeling hurt and stuck?  In The Bathsheba Battle, Natalie Chambers Snapp helps women find healing and hope when things haven’t gone as they had planned. Bathsheba, typically misrepresented as an adulteress, is one of the most misunderstood women in the Bible. Despite an unexpected turn in her life, which resulted in tragic circumstances beyond her control, there are glimmers of hope in her story. By studying her life, readers will find healing from their own painful pasts and hope for living the free and full lives God intends.

My thoughts-

I know when many people think of life taking an "unexpected turn" they probably immediately think of death, but it can  also be anything from going through a divorce, an unplanned pregnancy, or a number of other things. I don't think anyone in this life is immune from going through something unexpected that may make you feel worn down, and defeated. The Bathsheba Battle is the perfect study for someone going through an unexpected season of life, someone who might need some healing. I have had several unexpected things going on in my life over the last year and I think I am just now processing all of them so I have been in kind of a bad place. This study gave me hope. This study lifted me up. This study modeled strong women who dealt with pain and suffereing and turned it into stronger faith in God. The main study is about Bathsheba but many other women heroes are briefly mentioned in these pages. I read this book alone, but it is also set up to be done in a group Bible study. There are fabulous verses at the end of each section to meditate on and study, as well as a prayer and  discussion questions. I recommend this book to literally any Christian woman, but particularly Bible study groups. 

The Little Bookshoop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

*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-

When bookshop owner Sarah Smith is offered the opportunity for a job exchange with her Parisian friend Sophie, saying yes is a no-brainer—after all, what kind of romantic would turn down six months in Paris? Sarah is sure she’s in for the experience of a lifetime—days spent surrounded by literature in a gorgeous bookshop, and the chance to watch the snow fall on the Eiffel Tower. Plus, now she can meet up with her journalist boyfriend, Ridge, when his job takes him around the globe.

But her expectations cool faster than her café au lait soon after she lands in the City of Light—she’s a fish out of water in Paris. The customers are rude, her new coworkers suspicious and her relationship with Ridge has been reduced to a long-distance game of phone tag, leaving Sarah to wonder if he’ll ever put her first over his busy career. As Christmas approaches, Sarah is determined to get the shop—and her life—back in order…and make her dreams of a Parisian happily-ever-after come true.

My thoughts-

The beautiful cover of The Little Bookshop on the Seine alone would have drawn me in, but a novel set in a bookshop? in Paris? Yes, Please! Just by looking at the book cover I know many of the boxes I would tick to want to read something would be met. I absolutely loved the novel, having an small town American girl on an adventure in Paris, running a bookshop there tugged at my heartstrings. I once went to Paris many years ago with my family, and I have been pining over Paris nearly every day since. I hope to go back one day and spend more time enjoying the magic and romance of one of my favorite places on Earth, if not my most favorite. I enjoyed the varied characters that make up the bookshop staff and loved seeing their stories unfold. This was a cute romance novel that ties things up around Christmas time so this is the perfect sweet romantic novel to usher in the holiday season here in the U.S. I recommend this book to dreamers, romantics, and francophiles.