The Skinny Life

Skinny Life® provides new tools to help you identify destructive beliefs that sabotage not just your attempts at weight loss, but also destroy your total health and well-being. Hansen shows you how
to replace those saboteurs with healthy new beliefs that create life- long personal health and success. The key: In order to change your life, you must change how you think! Once you do, you can finally become the person you always wanted to be—one that stays healthy, youthful, spiritually strong, and thin for life. Your beliefs drive your behavior, which, in turn, shapes your body.

My thoughts: Crystal Dwyer Hansen is a life coach who discovered some secrets in her own life to losing weight and being healthier. In this book, she shares some of those tips with readers.
I think that she has a lot of great points in her program, especially when it comes to changing your mind set and viewing your body as a temple and looking at food in relation to how it will nourish you, not just how good it tastes.;) I also think she has valid points on what to stay away from, when it comes to food.
I enjoyed reading the testimonies she included in the book!
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Through Waters Deep

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war.

Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them.

Sarah Sundin takes readers to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true love, in this hopeful and romantic story.

My thoughts: I fell in love with these characters! The romance was so sweet and came about naturally, I love how the hero and heroine interact with one another! The mystery kept me guessing, with its many twists and turns. And, I loved this historical side, since it showcases what America was like in the year leading up to Pearl Harbor, how we were involved in the war without being officially involved. I think Sarah really outdid herself with this one! It is the perfect historical tale to curl up with and enjoy!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

1, 2, 3 Nephi and Me

Cuddle up with your kids and count your way through the Book of Mormon! This colorful board book is perfectly sized for little fingers and is a fun way to introduce numbers and scripture stories at the same time. With rhyming text and cute illustrations, it’s sure to become a family favorite that your kids will want to read over and over again!

My thoughts: From the first time we opened this book, my toddler decided this is her new favorite vook. Not only is it a fun, lyrical book that teaches counting, it also backs each number up with a verse out of the Book of Mormon.
The illustrations are adorable! This is a new favorite at our home.
I received this book from Cedar fort in exchange for my honest review.

At Any Cost

When Mike and Hayley set out to adopt a child from Sierra Leone, Africa, never in their wildest imaginations did they dream this venture would lead to the “Jones Dozen.” This dramatically moving story will amaze and inspire any reader. Their stunning observation: “It was the least we could do!” Mike and Hayley Jones set out to adopt one, or maybe two, African children. They had no idea where this chaotic, inter-continental road would take them. How could a search for a child explode into a tribe of eight young kids—who didn’t speak English? The nation of Sierra Leone had no formal adoption process, causing Mike and Hayley to spend many months in Africa that involved more than ten lengthy trips. at any cost traces a heart-wrenching 34-month journey in response to God’s call to Africa. They escaped Sierra Leone before the Ebola crisis racked that nation. You will be inspired.

My thoughts: This book is incredible! I love how open and honest the Mike and Hayley are about the struggles they went through on their journey to adopt 8 siblings from Sierra Leone. The book is an easy one to get through as they share about the obstacles, joys, and eventual triumph they went through in order to follow God's call to open their home to 8 more children.
One of my favorite quotes from the book:

When God says it's time, then and only then is it time. And there is nothing you can do to stop it.

I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

A Jewish Baker's Pastry Secrets

This follow-up to the author’s James Beard award-winning Secrets of a Jewish Bakeris a charming collection of European-style bakery classics, such as coffee cake and strudel.

George Greenstein had a gift for teaching home bakers to think, work, and bake like the pros with his evocative and tactile descriptions of baking. In A Jewish Baker’s Pastry Secrets, he crafts master dough recipes for Jewish holiday baking and European classics, creating a comprehensive set of building blocks for both beginners and baking enthusiasts. Greenstein’s expert guidance for making doughs like bundt, babka, strudel, gugelhopf, stollen, pressburger, puff pastry, and Danish create a jumping-off point for more than 200 variations of classic pastries, including napoleons, coffee cakes, and sweet buns. The book also offers an in-depth guide to ingredients and equipment, including both professional and home ovens, as well as basic recipes for fillings, icings, and glazes. With Greenstein’s steady guidance and familiar voice, home bakers and professionals alike will be encouraged to turn out flawless pastry creations for any occasion.

My thoughts: I enjoy baking, even after working for a small bakery for over ten years.;) So, I was thrilled to get a copy of this book, since I figured I could learn a thing or two from it. The book is excellent for both the experienced baker and the newbie! The front part is interesting, as he goes over the different equipment, tools, and ingredients that will make baking easy. I also love that there are tips and secrets spread through out the book!
The actual recipes are delicious and fun to try. I love that there is a recipe for making homemade puff pastry! And, the Danish pastries look amazing. This is an excellent resource for those wanting to try one unique pastries.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

A new favorite

Wingate's third Carolina book follows the highly reviewed, The Prayer Box and The Story Keeper as well as related three novellas.

From modern-day Roanoke Island to the sweeping backdrop of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and Roosevelt’s WPA folklore writers, past and present intertwine to create an unexpected destiny. . .

Restaurant owner Whitney Monroe is desperate to save her business from a hostile takeover. The inheritance of a decaying Gilded Age hotel on North Carolina’s Outer Banks may provide just the ray of hope she needs. But things at The Excelsior are more complicated than they seem. Whitney’s estranged stepfather is entrenched on the third floor, and the downstairs tenants are determined to save the historic building. Searching through years of stored family heirlooms may be Whitney’s only hope of quick cash, but will the discovery of an old necklace and a depression-era love story change everything.

My thoughts: Lisa Wingate is one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled to see this book come up for review on Netgalley! I like her current trend, which is to combine past and present into one lovely story. This book was no exception! When Whitney is pulled from her restaurant woes to deal with her ailing stepfather and given the chance to go through her inheritance, she stumbles upon letters written to her grandmother during the depression from a woman who worked as a folklore writer during the depression. As Whitney is pulled into the mystery of who the woman is, she is also given a chance to change her future.
While I haven't read the Novellas in this series (which, I hope to remedy!), I have read the other two books. This one talks a fair bit about the mystery in The Story Keeper, so I would recommend reading the books in order. You could probably get by with reading this as a stand alone novel, but somethings wouldn't make sense.
This is one of the best books I have read all year! I highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book through Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

What a Bragger

This book is the second in the Adventures of the Sea Kids series. Melissa Blowfish likes to brag that she can swim the fastest, climb the highest, and has the best of everything. Corey finds her crying in the sand box with her broken shovel, the only toy she had. They all chip in treasure coins for her birthday present. Melissa prays giving thanks to God for her friends and learns that true friendship is found in love.

My thoughts: This is the first book out of the Sea Kids series that we have read together, and I was impressed! The story does a wonderful job of being short and interesting for kids, filled with colorful pictures to keep even very young children entertained. My daughter loves this book and has already asked me to read it to her quite a few times, and we only just received it in the mail.;)
I also like that there is a wonderful lesson in the story about having compassion on those you don't get along with, since you never know what kind of story they have. Though this is a kid's book, it has a great message for adults too!
I received this book through Book Crash from GLM publishers.