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 ~ Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan

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Title:  Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan

Series:  Atlanta Justice Book #1

Pages:  320

Date Published:  September 5, 2017

Publisher:  Bethany House

 Blurb:

In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower's allegation and soon suspects that the company may be engaging in a dangerous game for profit. He also soon finds himself falling for this passionate and earnest young lawyer.
Determined not to make the same mistakes, he's intent on keeping Kate safe, but as the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything—even murder—to keep the case from going to trial.     

My Thoughts:

Rachel Dylan is a new-to-me author although I've seen many great things about her subsequent books.

I hadn't read a legal suspense novel in ages so the lingo took me a minute or two to place everything.  Luckily, I've seen enough legal TV shows that it didn't take long to get into the groove :)

I liked how the author explained everything as it was happening for us legalese challenged people.

Kate was a person who struggled with depression but the author didn't get into it very much.  I would have liked to see Kate's struggles a bit more as a person who struggles with anxiety and depression myself.  Landon also had struggles which were much more prevalent.

I enjoyed getting to know the setting and the characters.  I have a few ideas of what the rest of the books of the series will be about (at least I hope) but I look forward to seeing if I'm correct.

This was my first book by Rachel Dylan but I'm off to see if I can order more :)

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

Onto the next book!



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 ~ 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

Tackle My TBR 2020 Reading Challenge

I decided to join another TBR Challenge for 2020!  I'm going to tackle the "First Down: read 25-36 TBR books".


The following is from Kimberly Faye Reads:

The 2020 Tackle My TBR Reading Challenge runs January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020. You can join at any time, but the link-up closes on November 30.

• The goal is to read at least ONE book from your TBR every month. It can be an ARC, ebook, audiobook or print – your choice. Any reading is good reading!
• If one TBR book a month isn’t enough, set your goal higher! Do you think you can read five a month? Ten? Go big or go home! There are some goal levels below if that’s your thing.
• You don’t have to be a blogger to participate. You can track your progress on Goodreads, Insta, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube… wherever you want!
• Use #TackleMyTBR2020 on social media.
• Feel free to use the banner graphic on your posts and/or social media.
• Link up below to declare your intentions.
• Tell your friends! [Shortlink: http://bit.ly/tacklemytbr2020] 

Challenge Levels

Back again this year: challenge levels! (Unsurprising to anyone who knows me, they’re football-themed.) Pick a level, any level! (These are all based on a 1-5+ books per month average.)

• Safety: read 12 TBR books
• Blitz: read 13-24 TBR books
• First Down: read 25-36 TBR books
• Field Goal: read 37-48 TBR books
• Hail Mary: read 49-60 TBR books
• Touchdown: read 61+ TBR books

And because reviewing is so important, I’ve added a couple of bonus levels!

• Extra Point: review half of the TBR books you read
• Two-Point Conversion: review all the TBR books you read

Go check it out!

Colletta