Among the Fair Magnolias

In the most turbulent decade of our nation’s history, four Southern women—destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war—face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love.

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.

An Outlaw’s Heart by Shelley Gray
When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he’s determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother’s homestead, he discovers she’s very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
Emily has a secret: She’s in love with one of the freedmen on her family’s plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

My thoughts: I liked that the first two stories in this book of novellas (A Heart So True and To Mend a Dream) were about characters from some of the authors other stories. I especially liked reading about Savannah (To Mend a Dream), who showed up in To Win Her Favor, finally getting a happy ending of her own. I thought all four of the authors did a marvelous job of bringing history and their characters alive! All of the stories were interesting and had plenty going on, which made it easy to read through the whole collection quickly.;)
The only thing I didn't particularly care for was how quickly one of the characters affection changed from one girl to another. I thought it made him seem less honorable to be thinking about a woman who wasn't his fiance.
Otherwise though, the stories were interesting and fun to read!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

A Heart's Promise

A rival threatens Emmie's budding romance with Isaac.

At Fort Laramie, soldier Isaac Liddle determines he will court and win Emmie Croftner's hand. Though courting seems improbable for a woman in her condition, Emmie begins to care deeply for Issac and chafes as Jessica Dubois sets her bonnet for him.

When Jessica learns of Emmie's secret pregnancy, she blackmails her. With the Sioux Wars raging outside the safety of Fort Laramie, Emmie knows she cannot lose Isaac. But will he reject her--and her child--if he learns the truth?

MY thoughts: I like that a lot of the secondary characters have more of a voice as the serial continues. The first few books where about Sarah, and now the story has switched to Emmie. The historical details in this book are interesting and I thought some of the twists in the story were surprising.
Fans of Colleen Coble will enjoy this serial!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

The Blender Girl Smoothies

A beautiful collection of vegan smoothies from powerhouse blogger The Blender Girl, featuring photographs, flavor boosters, and nutritional add-ons for every recipe.

The Blender Girl takes smoothies to the next level in this comprehensive guide, helping you blast your way to good health and blended bliss. These 100 creative and delicious recipes are designed to fit your every need, whether you want to detox, lose a few pounds, get energized, or guard against seasonal colds. Each smoothie has three optional boosters (like chia seeds, ginger, coconut oil, or wheat grass) that allow you to ramp up flavor, nutrient value, or both. Featuring gorgeous photography throughout, a smoothie pantry that demystifies unusual ingredients, icons to identify smoothies that fit your particular dietary needs, and strategies for achieving smoothie success, this accessible handbook makes it fun and easy to find your perfect blend.

My thoughts: I have been interested in trying smoothie recipes for some time (since I need inspiration when it comes to making them. I get stuck in a huge rut when it comes to making smoothies.;)), so I was thrilled to try this cook book out! I love the combination of fruit and veggie smoothies in this book, using a lot of basic ingredients, but also having some fun and unique smoothie ideas. If you love smoothies or would like to try making some, then this cook book would make a wonderful addition to your kitchen.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Thai Food Made Easy

Stop spending a fortune on takeout and bring the delicious flavors of Thai food into your own kitchen. With a tantalizing variety of curries, pad thai, and all your other favorites to try, this book takes the mystery out of Thai food preparation so you can enjoy those fresh and exotic flavors any day of the week.

My thoughts: Thai food is something that I haven't had a lot of, since it is hard to get a hold of in a small town. I enjoy it when I do get to eat at a Thai restaurant though! So, I was thrilled to have the chance to review this cook book for Cedar Fort and see if it made making Thai food easy. While I haven't tried a whole lot of the recipes, I think that this book does a wonderful job of taking some of the mystery out of making Thai food. Each recipe has a picture, excellent instructions, and a shopping list to help one make sure you have all the ingredients on hand before embarking on making a recipe. I love that there are common dishes, like Pad Thai, and then a lot of ones I have never heard about.
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten

My top ten list of characters who are book nerds as well.;)

1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

2. Jo March (Little Women)

3. Mary Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

4. Liesel (The Book Thief)

5. Sherlock Holmes

6. Jane Eyre

7. Matilda (Matilda)

8. Harriet (Harriet the Spy)

9. Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)
Though, perhaps she is more a romantic and into poetry.;)

10. Mary (Through Waters Deep)

Who is on your list of geeky/ bookish characters?

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

My thoughts: This book is a great summer read! I fell in love with the characters, as they are thrown together again after being apart for so long. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first picked it up, since (I thought) the story could either be cute or fall flat. Thankfully, it is adorable and has some surprising depth and character development. I especially liked the flash backs.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Everyday Detox

A healthy guide to detoxing naturally, all year round--no dieting, juice fasting, or calorie counting required--to lose weight, improve digestion, sleep better, and feel great, featuring 100 properly combined recipes for every meal of the day.

Most diets and cleanses have all-or-nothing rules that encourage unhealthy cycles of intense restriction followed by inevitable bingeing. In this healthy guide to detoxing naturally, nutritionist and blogger Megan Gilmore shares 100 delicious, properly combined recipes that will leave you feeling satisfied and well nourished while promoting weight loss and improving digestion and sleep.

Because the recipes were developed with digestion mechanics in mind, detoxers won’t feel bloated or uncomfortable after eating. And crowd-pleasing recipes for every meal of the day—such as Banana Coconut Muffins, Chocolate Chia Shake, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Mediterranean Chopped Salad, Skillet Fish Tacos, Cauliflower Flatbread Pizza, and Peppermint Fudge Bars—are packed with all-natural, whole-foods ingredients designed to stave off feelings of deprivation. With helpful information on how to stock your detox-friendly kitchen plus a handy food-combining cheat sheet that demystifies this cutting-edge health principle, Everyday Detox makes it easy to start eating this way today.

My thoughts: This cookbook makes eating healthier easy! I love that the recipes include whole foods and are packed with nutritious ingredients. With her ideas on how to stock your kitchen and have food good food handy, this book makes eating better so much easier and more attainable. I like that a lot of the ingredients are easy ones to have on hand and that the recipes are easy to follow. So, whether you consider yourself a good cook or not, eating healthier is easy to do.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.