Top Ten new authors (to me) in 2015

2015 has brought a lot of fun, new things with it, including some great new (to me) authors!

1. Patricia Bradley

Even though I jumped in at the end of the series, it really didn't matter, since each book could be a stand alone title. I need to go back and read the rest of series now...

2. Lisa Harris

Oh my goodness! If you are looking for a suspenseful read, then check this one out! I had a hard time putting it down and can't believe I have to wait so long for the second book.;)

3. Dina L. Sleiman

Both of her books are great stories about strong women!

4. Sarah Sundin

Another one that I can't believe took me so long to read, since this story is incredible! I have to wait forever for the next title in the series.:(

5. Alicia Buck

I hope to read more by this author, since she did a wonderful job of retelling Cinderella while making it wholly her own.

6. Mike Boldt

I love this one! His other book that we read together this year is good too, but this one shot to the top of my favorite books to read aloud.;)

7. Mike Austin

Another new favorite! I love how it teaches how to mix colors in a fun way.

8. Rod Campbell

How did I miss this book as a kid? It has totally ruined me at the zoo, since I go around quoting parts of it...;)

9. Karma Wilson

Another great book for teaching colors, this one using nature. I love Karma's stories!

10. Susan Verde

This one is a fun book with famous painting and how they can make the viewer feel.:)
So, what is on your top ten list?

The Mexican Slow Cooker

A collection of 55 fix it and forget it recipes for Mexican favorites from an award-winning Mexican cooking authority, in a stylish, engaging package.

When acclaimed chef and cookbook author Deborah Schneider discovered that using her trusty slow cooker to make authentic Mexican recipes actually enhanced their flavor while dramatically reducing active cooking time, it was a revelation. Packed with Schneider’s favorite south-of-the-border recipes such as Tortilla Soup, Zesty Shredded Beef (Barbacoa), famed Mole Negro, the best tamales she has ever made, and more, The Mexican Slow Cooker delivers sophisticated meals and complex flavors, all with the ease and convenience that have made slow cookers enormously popular.

My thoughts: I love using my slow cooker, but I often have a hard time branching out and trying new recipes in it, since I have had a few that have over cooked or just didn't turn out like expected. So, I was thrilled to get this cookbook and try out some very different recipes from my norm! These recipes are easy to follow, often accompanied with a picture. I like that the recipes taste good without using a bunch of off the wall ingredients that you will just use once (a pet peeve of this thrifty cook. lol). If you are looking to make some fun, different dishes then I highly recommend this book!
I received this cookbook from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

The Sparkle Box

The moving story of an uncommon gift and how giving to others shows a little boy the true meaning of Christmas. Sam is so excited about Christmas! He’s thinking about his Christmas list, anticipating holiday parties, and puzzling over one very mysterious gift—a sparkly box sitting on the mantel above the fireplace. In the midst of the festivities, Sam and his family participate in various acts of kindness to others. On Christmas morning, when Sam finally opens the Sparkle Box, he finds only slips of paper that record the family’s good deeds. Sam’s parents explain that the things that they’ve been doing for others are, in fact, a gift for Jesus—for Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. This heartfelt story will inspire readers to adopt this faith-centered tradition in their own homes, using the included Sparkle Box.

My thoughts: I have mentioned before how I love to have a stack of Christmas books for the kids around this time of year, to help re-iterate what Christmas is really about. I'm thrilled to add this one to my stack! It is an excellent story of a young boy who learns about acts of kindness and how to keep the holidays from being just about the presents that one receives. I love that it comes with a sparkle box, so families can start their own tradition of performing acts of kindness as a way of giving back to the Lord.
I received this book from First Look in exchange for my honest review.

Some of my other Christmas favorites for kids:
M is for Manger


A Star for Jesus


The Story of Christmas

My First Tervis sippy cup review

About the sippy cup:
BPA free
Microwave and dishwasher safe
Made in America
Reduces condensation
Great for both hot & cold
9 m+
Size Comparison: 2.5 oz collectible, 6 oz My First Tervis sippy cup, 10 oz wavy tumbler, 12 oz tumbler, 16 oz tumbler, 16 oz mug, 24 oz tumbler, 24 oz water bottle, 9 oz wine glass, 16 oz goblet, 87 oz (2.5 qts) ice bucket


My thoughts: I haven't tried Tervis sippy cups or tumblers before, so I was thrilled when I was sent one to review. The cup is well made and heavy duty, which is good since we have dropped it a lot.;) My daughter is a toddler, but she loves to use the sippy cup. I'm impressed that the lid is made well and holds up well to teeth. The cup has a double wall, so it will keep drinks cold longer. This is now one of our favorite sippy cups! It grows well with children, since you can just use the cup part when they no longer need a lid. It's well made, American made, and easy to clean! (the last is a huge deal to me, since we have a few that have been a pain to keep clean)
I received this product from Tervis in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Joy Ride

Miranda did not put adventure on her Christmas list, but thanks to her eighty-five-year-old neighbor Joy, that's exactly what she's getting this year. When Joy tells Miranda that she plans to drive an old RV decked out in Christmas decorations from their Chicago neighborhood to her new retirement digs in Phoenix--in the dead of winter, no less--the much younger Miranda insists that Joy cannot make such a trip by herself. Besides, a crazy trip with Joy would be more interesting than another Christmas home alone. Unemployed and facing foreclosure, Miranda feels she has nothing to lose by packing a bag and heading off to Route 66. But Joy has a hidden agenda for their Christmas joyride--and a hidden problem that could derail the whole venture.

No one captures the heartwarming fun of the Christmas season quite like Melody Carlson. Fasten your seat belt, because it's going to be an exciting ride!

My thoughts: This is a fun, lighthearted read for the holidays! I enjoyed the characters, as they spread some Christmas cheer along Route 66. It's a sweet story of two ladies who who are at different points in their lives that is requiring a lot of change, one is an elderly lady who is moving closer to her children and the other is a younger woman who is looking at being totally uprooted. As they make stops along the way, they both realize that they are exactly where they need to be.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Like Father Like Son

What do men need in the twenty-first century? There are so many opinions–some think the answer is a masculine to-do list. Others give detailed directions on how to become a “real” man. Those things can be helpful, but do they get to the core of the identity issues that men are facing today? You can’t know who you are and who you are meant to be without knowing the love of your Father–that is, your Father in heaven. Without knowing the Father’s love and acceptance, men are adrift looking for identity in imperfect relationships or cultural norms about manhood. But knowing God’s fatherly love changes everything. A man who is forgiven and accepted by his heavenly Father is free to become like him. Living out of the love of God the Father changes everything for his sons.

Instead of telling men how to recover and reclaim their masculinity, Pete Alwinson invites men to recover and reclaim an intimate, growing relationship with their heavenly Father and live out of that identity in their particular calling as sons, fathers, brothers, friends. Using personal stories and anecdotes from his many years of men’s ministry, Pete shows men that the way forward in life and relationships is through their growing relationship with their heavenly Father.

My thoughts: This is an excellent book that shows the importance of fathers in the lives of the children, and how important it is to acknowledge God as your father. Using scripture, personal stories, and stories of men he has known, Pete Alwinson does a wonderful job of showing readers the importance of a father. I found this book easy to read and engaging, making me all the more thankful for both my earthly and heavenly fathers. Whether you read this book on your own or in a Bible study (I think it would be a great resource for a men's Bible study), this book is an excellent reminder.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Whispers in the Reading Room

Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

My thoughts: This may be my favorite story in the series yet! It is a lovely story of secrets, mystery, and redemption. I liked Lydia a lot, and the hero grew on me.;) I liked how the characters and story developed as you read on and that there are some like able secondary characters. While I did read the other two books in the series, you don't have to in order to enjoy this one. This is an excellent story to add to your winter reading list!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.