Book Review ~ Devotions from the Kitchen Table by Stacy Edwards

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Title:  Devotions from the Kitchen Table by Stacy Edwards

Series: Devotional 

Pages:  224

Date Published:  April 11, 2017

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

 Blurb:

Taste and see God’s goodness from the heart of your home—the kitchen table.

A simple meal shared around a table. A fresh cup of coffee and God’s Word in the quiet hours of the morning. The joy of laughing with friends and family.

Devotions from the Kitchen Table invites you to slow down and appreciate the gifts that are right in front of you. These ninety devotions will inspire you to sit in God’s presence, nourish your soul, and cherish the people who grace your kitchen table.Take a seat at the table and reflect on the extraordinary blessings that are wrapped up in the most ordinary moments at home.    

My Thoughts:

It has been a really long time since I was actually sad to finish a book.  I mean REALLY sad!

I received this devotional in a Christmas Swap and have been using it as my daily devotional ever since.  It seemed like each day was exactly what I needed to read.

The Kitchen was the theme throughout in the devotional illustrations which I adored.  My swap partner, Patti, knew what she was doing when she sent me this book!

The photography was absolutely AMAZING and made it such a joy to turn the page each new day.  The photos were absolutely breath-taking!  

Thankfully, there are more devotionals in this series.  I've already ordered "Devotions from the Front Porch" and "Devotions from the Garden" from www.christianbooks.com .  I might have to wait a few weeks to receive it due to their distribution center being closed because of COVID 19 but it will be worth the wait!

Colletta

Book Review ~ A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

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Title:  A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

Series:  Empire State #1

Pages:  334

Date Published:  October 3, 2017

Publisher:  Bethany House

 Blurb:

Telegraph operator Lucy Drake is a master of Morse code and has made herself a valuable asset to the Associated Press news agency. But the sudden arrival of Sir Colin Beckwith at rival British news agency Reuters puts her hard-earned livelihood at risk. Colin is talented, handsome, insufferably charming—and keeping a secret that jeopardizes his reputation.

Despite their rivalry, Lucy can't deny that Colin has the connections she needs to give her family an edge in the long legal battle they've been waging over their rightful inheritance. But when she negotiates an unlikely alliance with him, the web of treachery they dive into proves to be far more dangerous than they ever could have known.    

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adore Elizabeth Camden as an author!  (I don't exactly know her personally, now do I?)  Every book I've read by her has been AMAZING in writing, content and history.  I love that I feel like I've learned more about history after reading one of her novels!

"A Dangerous Legacy" was spectacular!

The book was set in New York City, for the most part, at the turn of the 20th century.  I learned so much about plumbing, newspapers, Morse Code, telegraphy, asylums, PTSD, the Panama Canal, shooting competitions, homing pigeons and even a snippet about the Boer War!  I was sucked right in from the comfort of my new bed pillows :)

At first I didn't know if I was very fond of either Lucy OR Colin.  They both had characteristics that weren't very appealing.  Lucy was obsessed with suing her uncle and Colin was obsessed with marrying into money.  The author deals nicely with both of these issues and finishes the book off with a "bang".  By the end of the book I loved both the main characters and was sad to leave them.

I stayed up late to finish this book!  That tells you how good it is!  I like my sleep, but I liked this book more :)

I'm so excited that I have the second book of this series on my TBR shelf!  I like to alternate between contemporary and historical reads, so it won't be my next read but it will be soon!

If you'd like to read a few of the lines from the book click HERE!

Onto the next book!

  



Colletta

Book Review ~ One Thing I Know by Kara Isaac

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Title:  One Thing I Know by Kara Isaac

Series:  N/A

Pages:  368

Date Published:  February 12, 2019

Publisher:  Howard Books

 Blurb:

A fresh, heartfelt romance involving a case of mistaken identity when a ghostwriter masquerades as a relationship expert and the man who is determined to expose her holds not only the key to her success, but also her heart…

Rachel Somers is America’s #1 relationship coach—America just doesn’t know it. Rachel writes the books, but her Aunt Donna plays the face of the operation. Afraid of their secret being exposed, Rachel has no choice but to keep up the charade or lose the big money required to care for her father.

Lucas Grant is a star of late night radio and set on achieving his dream of syndication. When a big-time producer calls, it looks like his hard work is about to pay off. But the offer comes with a catch—the producer is convinced Dr. Donna is not what she seems and he wants Lucas to discover her secret. To do that, he needs to win over her tight-lipped assistant who holds the key to his success and—he begins to suspect—his heart. Can love find a way through the lies that force them apart?        

My Thoughts:

My last book review was published in January.  I've been in a bit of a reading slump and have been working on other projects.  I'm barely getting this book finished in February!  Luckily, it is a Leap Year or I wouldn't have had ANY book reviews in February.

I knew just from the blurb and knowing this author that it would be a great book to get out of a slump and back into reading a bit each day.

I love reading books about books!  So much fun!

The author unfolded the back story beautifully with just the right amount in each chapter to really suck me in.  Then she added just the right amount of romance and angst to fully engulf me in the story.

Rachel is a complex character who is carrying around a lot of guilt for a few different reasons.  Lucas is a lovable character who just wants to talk sports but is really good at giving relationship advice but not taking it.

This was such a great story to read!  I loved a few of the side characters and would love to read more about them in the future.  This book is not listed as part of a series so I don't know if Lacy's or Anna's will ever be told...

Kara Isaac has become one of my go-to authors.  I've read a few of her novels now and have loved each and every one.

If you'd like to read a few of the lines from the book click HERE!

Onto the next book!

  



Colletta

Book Review ~ For Love or Loyalty by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

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Title:  For Love or Loyalty by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Series:  The MacGregor Legacy Book #1

Pages:  352

Date Published:  November 2013

Publisher:  Abingdon Press

 Blurb:

   Scotland to Carolina, 1760

One conquest could destroy her, but avenge his family.

Malcolm MacGregor vows to free his family and exact revenge against Duncan Campbell. When the opportunity arises, Malcolm decides to use Duncan’s daughter as the bargaining price. Lauren Campbell is the perfect answer, until she begins chipping away at the bitterness in Malcolm’s heart and changing everything. Her bold faith and forgiveness ignites guilt he would rather avoid and a love he doesn’t deserve.

Lauren Campbell never expected to discover such a caring and protective man behind the façade of Malcolm MacGregor’s fierce reputation. When they arrive in America, things turn against them, and Lauren finds herself in a fate worse than death. Now Malcolm has the dilemma of freeing the rest of his family or rescuing Lauren, but time is short and with little means, he needs a miracle.    

My Thoughts:

I was scrolling through www.christianbook.com 's Christmas sales and came across this book.  The cover drew me in right away.  The description and price (less than $2.00) sealed the deal!  Back in the days when I read mainstream romances, I loved books set in the Highlands so I was very eager to dig in to this one!

I found it extremely interesting that people were so desperate that they would sell themselves (indenture) just to get passage to the "colonies".  I was also surprised that people could be indentured against their will.  What a horrible, horrible situation that would be!

The story of Malcolm and Lauren was an epic tale going from Scotland to the High Seas to Charles Towne (plantations and bordellos and lumber mills).  It was quite a ride with a very strong inspirational story line as well.

I really want to find the next two books in The MacGregor Legacy Series!  I'm off to search for them now :)

Onto the next book!

  



Colletta

Book Review ~ Fetching Sweetness by Dana Mentink

 

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Title:  Fetching Sweetness by Dana Mentink

Series:  Love Unleashed Book #2

Pages:  224

Date Published:  August 1, 2016

Publisher:  Harvest House

 

 Blurb:

 

Standing Between Stephanie and Her Dream
Is One Hundred Pounds of Lovable Trouble

It should have been so simple for Stephanie Pink: Meet up with Agnes Wharton in a small town in California, retrieve the reclusive author's valuable new manuscript, and be promoted to a full-fledged literary agent.

But Agnes's canine companion, Sweetness, decides to make a break for it before Stephanie can claim her prize. Until Agnes has Sweetness safely back at home in Eagle Cliff, Washington, Stephanie will never set eyes on the manuscript she needs to make her dreams come true.

When Stephanie tracks the runaway mutt to a campground, she meets Rhett Hastings—a man also on the run from a different life and a costly mistake. Rhett agrees to help Stephanie search for the missing dog...thus launching a surprising string of adventures and misadventures.

Once Sweetness gets added to the mix, it's a recipe for love and loss, merriment and mayhem, fun and faith in the backwoods of the Pacific Northwest.        

My Thoughts:

 

I read the first book of the "Love Unleashed Series", "Sit, Stay, Love" back in April 2016 and really enjoyed it so when I saw "Fetching Sweetness" on www.cbd.com for just $0.99 I snatched it up.  Well, I put it in my cart and then anxiously awaited its delivery :)

 

I loved that the Leading Lady was a book nerd!  Stephanie loved all things literary and couldn't stand to be without a book.  She learned so much about herself on the adventure and came to realize that maybe she was chasing someone else's dream and not her own.

 

Rhett evolved into the quintessential Hero.  He started out quite harsh but along the way became a big old softy.

 

I can't forget Sweetness as he was as important to the story as Stephanie or Rhett.  In fact, there would have been no story without him.  He was a spatula-loving, big, old lump of love. 

 

Within the story was the main idea of learning to listen to God and letting Him direct your path and more importantly your plans.

 

I must mention that I was very surprised and excited that a blessing my Mom taught me when I was little was featured in the book and that it was Rhett that said:

 

"Thank You for the world so sweet.

Thank You for the food we eat.

Thank you for the birds that sing.

Thank You, God, for everything."

 

"Fetching Sweetness" was possibly the sweetest book I've ever read!  I adored this novel.

 

Onto the next book!

  



Colletta

Book Review ~ A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris

 

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Title:  A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris

Series:  N/A

Pages:  327

Date Published:  September 18, 2018

Publisher:  Revell

 

 Blurb:

 

Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn't simply suffering from paranoia.

Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan--and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.     

My Thoughts:

 

This was my first book of 2020!

 

I decided to read an inspirational suspense novel next and Lisa Harris is one of my favorite authors for this genre.  I really enjoy her writing.

 

The fate of the Nation was resting in Nate's and Grace's hand and they didn't even know why!  It was definitely a mystery that needed solving and a murderer who needed brought to justice.

 

 Nate and Grace were both suffering from forms of PTSD and past hurts.  Somehow they found a way to push through their struggles and, of course, solve the case!

 

There was a lot of technical jargon in a few places that was a bit hard to follow and had to be read very carefully to understand but to some it would probably be easy to follow.  I'm no coding expert!

 

The conclusion was a bit surprising as far as who the "culprit' was.

 

I was also a bit surprised...spoiler...that the "l-word" was used after Nate and Grace were re-united for only a few days.  A few action-packed days, granted, but none-the less...

 

This was a totally enjoyable book that I was able to read at a fast pace and am now ahead of my reading goal for the year!  Whoohooo!

 

Onto the next book!

  



Colletta

2020 Print Only Reading Challenge

I've decided to sign up for the Print Only 2020 Reading Challenge hosted by www.astoldbytina.net .

Below is the info from Tina's website:

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The goal of Print Only is to challenge yourself, so I’d love for you to pick a level. You are NOT locked into the goal, you can move up and down as you need. I totally understand that life happens and sometimes you just need to scale back.

1-9 – Rookie Status
10-19 – Semi Pro Status
20-29 – Pro Status
30-39 – Veteran Status
40-49 – Expert Status
50-59 – Master Status
60+ Legend Status
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I've decided to strive for the Pro Status of 20-29 Books this year.  I only read print books so if I hit my goal of reading 26 books this year (at least) I'll fall right into being a PRO!

Here's to a great Reading Year!

Colletta