Inklings and Notions

Friday, June 19, 2015

Happiness Accourding to Jesus

Bobby Schuller has experienced enough loss and family struggle in his thirty-three years to understand that being blessed is not about glory, money, or fame. It's about so much more.

In Happiness According to Jesus, Schuller explores ten contemporary truths drawn from Jesus's Sermon on the Mount about what it means to live a blessed life. He asks:
How can I be a peacemaker in my relationships?
If God loves me, why won't he answer my prayers?
Is it wrong to be materially blessed?
What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"?
How can I find fulfillment whatever the circumstances?

No matter how long we have been following him, Jesus wants to mold our hearts to his so we view life as he does. As Schuller writes, Jesus didn't come to bring a new law. He came to make us a new creation.

My thoughts: I like that this book is based on the Sermon on the Mount, which is something we have been studying at our home. Filled with personal experiences, this is a wonderful and easy read. I thought it was engaging and insightful.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Yogurt by Janet Fletcher

A fresh, modern yogurt-centric cookbook that showcases the versatility of this dairy superstar in 50 recipes for appetizers, salads, soups, sauces, marinades, beverages, and desserts, and provides fail-proof directions for making your own yogurt at home.

Americans have fallen in love with yogurt, thanks to its creamy texture, tangy flavor, and health-promoting probiotic cultures. In Yogurt, a fresh and modern full-color cookbook, author Janet Fletcher demonstrates the versatility of this dairy superstar in more than fifty recipes for appetizers, salads, soups, beverages, and desserts. Fromroasted tomato bruschetta with yogurt cheese tomeatballs in a warm yogurt sauce to a golden yogurt cake, these recipes showcase yogurt in dishes both rustic and sophisticated. Drawing inspiration from the culinary traditions of Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, India, and beyond, this useful handbook includes a guide to purchasing yogurt (all of the recipes work with quality store-bought brands), advice on choosing a yogurt maker, and easy methods for making yogurt, Greek yogurt, and yogurt cheese at home.

My thoughts: I enjoy making my own yogurt, so I was thrilled to get this cookbook in the mail! While some of the recipes are fairly simple (fruit smoothies, like those I grew up eith), there are also a lot of fun and inventive recipes that I would of never thought of. I especially like how the recipes incorporate a lot of herbs and vegetables that one can either easily grow or find at a local farmers market. That is always a huge plus in my book! :-)
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Summer's List

Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness-caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore-she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love... didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something-or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

My thoughts: This story is a fun, different one, about a young woman who has sacrificed to hrlp her family out. I enjoyed The characters, since they are fun and quirky, not to mention memorable. I found myself wanting to adopt some of them! The story has some delightful twists, making this the perfect sumner read (not just because of the title! lol).
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Book of Mormon Search and Find

Search the scriptures in this fun and fascinating picture game book. Featuring scenes from the Book of Mormon, this book will keep kids entertained as they look for their favorite scripture heroes and hidden objects in the colorful illustrations. Perfect for home, church, or on the go, it makes learning the scriptures fun for everyone!

My thoughts: I was thrilled to have the chance to review this Search and Find book, since my daughter is getting to the age where she enjoys helping me find things in her books. While this one is a little advanced for her, it is still a lot of fun! It's not as colorful as some of the other ones we have, but I would imagine that is because this one is geared towards children who are a bit older (like, 4 on up). That said, we still enjoy it and have enjoyed sharing it with some older children.
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

The Charity Chip

The Charity Chip
Life on the streets of Lima is already difficult for Julio, but now that digital money has replaced hard currency, survival is virtually impossible. Isak comes to his rescue and offers him a chance at a better life through a hi-tech humanitarian program. The only catch is a microchip implanted between the thumb and forefinger of the hand. At first life improves dramatically, but when another participant dies mysteriously, Julio suspects that the chip does more than just dispense charity. Now he must uncover the truth behind the charity chip before someone else suffers the same fate.

My thoughts: This book was hard to put down from the get go! It has an interesting mix of mystery, street ethics, and showing how life is on the streets of another country. I thought the characters were well written, and I found their characters development was well portrayed. It was interesting to put things in perspective and wonder how one would survive on the streets in a similar situation. The only drawback for me is that I felt like the last few chapters were a bit violent, though I didn't think the writer went overboard with the violence. It probably made it more realistic, but it bothered me a bit. For that reason, I would say that the story is more for older teens or young adults.
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

Two Roads Home

Minor-but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman’s initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans’ son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington’s friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless—and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk.

With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?

My thoughts: I very much enjoyed the return to Chicory Inn. The one going story, told from different perspectives, is interesting and picking up the second book was like revisiting old friends. I like how Deborah Raney has tackled some difficult scenarios with the series: infertility, owning a business, and marital issues. She does a wonderful job having her characters develop over the course of the story! This is an excellent summer read.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.