Wednesday, August 5, 2015

A Heart's Home


Isaac Liddle is keen to marry Emmie, and she knows she shouldn’t hide her pregnancy from him any longer. But before she can tell him her secret, a widower friend asks the impossible of Emmie: Will she honor her promise to his dead wife by marrying him to care for the orphaned baby?

With the Sioux Wars threatening outside the fort, Emmie’s solemn vow threatens her happiness from within. Will she honor a promise sure to break her heart—and Isaac’s? Or is there another way to find a home for her heart?

My thoughts: I think I enjoyed this story the best out of all the books in the serial! It does a wonderful job of bringing to life what it might of been like to live in a fort on the frontier shortly after the Civil War. I love that there are several different couples and that each of their stories are so different. If you enjoy historical stories, or if you are looking for an easy read, then this is a wonderful series for you to pick up!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Take Ten

Top Ten favorite fairy tales and re-tellings.

1.Beauty by Robin McKinley

I love a good re-telling of Beauty and the Beast!

2. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale.


3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer


4. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine


5.East by Edith Pattou


6. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine


7. Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis


Cupid and Psyche

8. Entwined by Heather Dixon


9. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George


10. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

This was was just a cute, fun re-telling of Cinderella (ish).

Thursday, July 30, 2015

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.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

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.

Monday, July 27, 2015

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?