Fix Freeze Feast by Kati Neville and Lindsay Ahrens

Here is the book summary:

With this updated second edition of a best-selling cookbook, you can have it all — great tasting, nutritious meals that don’t break the bank or your daily schedule. Cook one recipe in bulk and stock your freezer with three nights of homemade dinners for your family. Updated recipes incorporate plenty of fresh, seasonal produce, along with bulk grains and beans. From Asparagus and Potato Frittata and Lemon Blueberry Strata to Tomato Basil Soup and Berry-Roasted Chicken, the 150 tasty options span the menu. Filling the freezer with healthy, ready-to-cook meals is more delicious than ever.

And now, my review:

This book breaks it all down by the type of meat you want to make for the month and all your options with it.  It also has sides, condiments, and breakfast options.  The time saver aspect along with the food options at my fingertips had me from the get-go.  I love that the author is about being frugal and avoiding waste.  I feel like this book has set me up with all the problems I could fall into addressed.  From filling to freezing to flavor to avoiding freezer burn, this book has it all spelled out.  I’m thankful for the soup area because that’s my go-to for the season we are in at the moment.  Happy Cooking. 

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Fix-Freeze-Feast-Ready-Cook-ebook/dp/B075G54L55/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543613123&sr=8-1&keywords=fix+freeze+feast+2nd+edition

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fix-freeze-feast-2nd-edition-kati-neville/1126743783?ean=9781612129280#/

Sovereign Hope by Claudia Barba

Here is the book summary:

Sovereign Hope: A Study in the Minor Prophets explores the lessons taught in the last twelve books of the Old Testament. Many of us are unfamiliar with what God has to teach us through the accounts of the Minor Prophets. The men chosen to share the Lord’s message lived in times as turbulent as ours. In this study, the Minor Prophets show you how to trust a mysterious God in Habakkuk, to obey God no matter what in Jonah, and to confront pride, procrastination, and more in Obadiah and Haggai. As you work through the passages in the Minor Prophets, you will see the sovereign hope the Lord gives us.

And now, my review:

Sovereign Hope by Claudia Barba is a book about the Minor Prophets and I just love it when an author chooses to take on something that is not often taken on.  She’s upfront and comes across in a way that connects me to what I’m reading.  You don’t have to wonder where she is coming from because she addresses her position right away.  She brings about the facts she mentions in ways that challenge me to contemplate the Truth and if I’m lining up to it correctly.  She equips the reader with nuggets to share.  This book is a great reference for me after I have studied a book Inductively and I’m excited to have it in my library.  I look forward to more from this author in the future.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Sovereign-Hope-Study-Prophets-Reflections-ebook/dp/B07K7J27H3/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543609271&sr=8-2&keywords=sovereign+hope

https://www.christianbook.com/sovereign-hope-study-the-minor-prophets/claudia-barba/9781628565478/pd/565479?event=ESRCG

The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep

Here is the book summary:

Mercy Lytton, a scout with keen eyesight raised among the Mohawks, and Elias Dubois, a condemned traitor working both sides of the conflict, must join together to get a shipment of gold safely into British hands.
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees. 

A War-Torn Countryside Is No Place for a Lady
Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause. . .to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart.  Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he is offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he is the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.   Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?

And now, my review:

The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep is the 3^rd book in a wonderful series that I’m really enjoying.  This one is about a set up of a relationship between a guy and a girl.  These two main characters have to agree to an arrangement that will help the ultimate goal come about.  They need to take the direction of one another at times and there is battle of the wills being played out.  There is an older mentor-type man character that I really enjoyed and watching them journey through this adventure was quite the ride.  I liked how the author incorporated the American Indians in her writing of this Historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Captured-Bride-Daughters-Mayflower-book-ebook/dp/B078X5QZ6L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543513242&sr=8-1&keywords=the+captured+bride+daughters+of+the+mayflower

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-captured-bride-michelle-griep/1128531805?ean=9781683224747#/

https://www.christianbook.com/the-captured-bride-3/michelle-griep/9781683224747/pd/224747?event=ESRCG

Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano

Here is the book summary:

Miss Temperance Flowerdew is on her way to work when a stranger suddenly grabs her off the street and sends her on a Chicago-bound train before she can figure out what happened.

When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind the abduction, they're seen alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.

Gilbert is willing to propose marriage--except Temperance will have none of it. She's finally stepped out of the shadow of her relations and won't give up her independence. But when it becomes clear the misunderstanding in Chicago has escalated into a threat on her life and followed her to New York, accepting Gilbert's help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

And now, my review:

This is book 3 of a series by Jen Turano and I really enjoy her writing.  It starts out with, what I thought, a great cover.  This book has action and adventure in it.  There are twists and turns that are fun to follow.  There is romance in the devotion that Gilbert has for Temperance.  It was enjoyable to watch their relationship go up and down and up and down and up throughout the book.  If you’re in for a LONG book that takes a while to complete, then this just might be the book for you.  Actually, you might want to start with book 1 and work your way through the whole series. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Caught-Surprise-Apart-Crowd-Book-ebook/dp/B079C26YNG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543511658&sr=8-2&keywords=caught+by+surprise+jen+turano

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caught-by-surprise-jen-turano/1127179088?ean=9780764217968#/

https://www.christianbook.com/caught-by-surprise-3/jen-turano/9780764217968/pd/217960?product_redirect=1&Ntt=217960&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Barton

Here is the book summary:

"Come away and rest awhile." Jesus invites us to be with him, offering our full and undivided attention to him. When we choose retreat we make a generous investment in our friendship with Christ. Truth is, we are not always generous with ourselves where God is concerned. Many of us have done well to incorporate regular times of solitude and silence into the rhythm of our ordinary lives which means we've gotten pretty good at giving God twenty minutes here and a half an hour there. And there's no question we are better for it! But we need more. Indeed, we long for more. In these pages Transforming Center founder and seasoned spiritual director, Ruth Haley Barton, gently and eloquently leads us into an exploration of retreat as a key practice that opens us to God. Based on her own practice and her experience leading hundreds of retreats for others, she will guide you in a very personal exploration of seven specific invitations contained within the general invitation to retreat. You will discover how to say yes to God's winsome invitation to greater freedom and surrender. There has never been a time when the invitation to retreat is so radical and so relevant, so needed and so welcome. It is not a luxury, but a necessity of the spiritual life.

And now, my review:

This book is an invitation to come away and be with God in a way that strengthens our relationship like none other.  As a person who has attended multiple silent retreats myself and has had the honor of leading as well, I was very interested in this book for my own use and sharing with others.  I look at every book I read as a way to see what I can glean from it.  So I was on a search through this book as well.  She walks us through a chapter and then at the end of the chapter she gives a section for those preparing for retreat and those on a retreat.  I really like this part of the book and there is an appendix in the back for additional nuggets to enjoy going further.  I have in common with the author a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.  For the most part, I have enjoyed her sharing in her book and the direction she gives.  Full disclosure, there are a few places that I have not come to a place where I agree.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Invitation-Retreat-Necessity-Transforming-Resources-ebook/dp/B07H9DNRKN/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543510503&sr=8-2&keywords=invitation+to+retreat+ruth+haley+barton

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/invitation-to-retreat-ruth-haley-barton/1128297419?ean=9780830846467#/

https://www.christianbook.com/invitation-retreat-necessity-time-away-with/ruth-barton/9780830846467/pd/846467?product_redirect=1&Ntt=846467&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Susie by Ray Rhodes Jr

Here is the book summary:

The definitive biography of Susannah Spurgeon.

While many Christians recognize the name of Charles H. Spurgeon, the beloved preacher and writer, few are familiar with the life and legacy of his wife, Susie.  Yet Susannah Spurgeon was an accomplished and devout woman of God who had a tremendous ministry in her own right, as well as in support of her husband. Even while dealing with serious health issues, she administered a book fund for poor pastors, edited and published her husband’s sermons and other writings, led a pastor’s aid ministry, wrote five books, made her home a hub of hospitality, and was instrumental in planting a church. And as her own writing attests, she was also a warm, charming, and fascinating woman.

Now, for the first time, Susie brings this vibrant woman’s story to modern readers. Ray Rhodes Jr. examines Susannah’s life, showing that she was not only the wife of London’s most famous preacher, but also a woman who gave all she had in grateful service to the Lord.

Susie is an inspiring and encouraging account of a truly remarkable woman of faith that will delight Spurgeon devotees and fans of Christian biographies alike.

“I am writing in my husband’s study, where he thought, and prayed, and wrote. Every inch of the place is sacred ground. Everything remains precisely as he left it. His books (now my most precious possessions), stand in shining rows upon the shelves, in exactly the order in which he placed them, and one might almost fancy the room was ready and waiting for its master. But oh! That empty chair! That great portrait over the door! The strange, solemn silence, which pervades the place now that he is no longer on earth! I kneel sometimes by his chair, and laying my head on the cushioned arms, which so long supported his dear form, I pour out my grief before the Lord, and tell Him again that though I am left alone, yet I know that ‘He hath done all things well’…”

And now, my review:

Reading the works of Spurgeon has always been a blessing to many believers throughout the years including myself.  This book is on the life of the wife of Charles H. and it brings to life all the things going on throughout their lives together.  The happy moments, the family dynamic changes, and the hard times and how they navigated through it all by holding on to God.  That makes it a book that encourages the reader to know God and hang on to Him in all the types of “water” that life brings.  Whether they are ideal calm “water” moments or crazy tumultuous crashing seas it inspires others through the telling of their life and walk with the Savior through it all. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Susie-Legacy-Susannah-Spurgeon-Charles-ebook/dp/B078Z6FGYH/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543509809&sr=8-2&keywords=susie+the+life+and+legacy+of+susannah+spurgeon

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/susie-ray-rhodes-jr/1127820985?ean=9780802418340#/

https://www.christianbook.com/susie-legacy-susannah-spurgeon-wife-charles/ray-rhodes/9780802418340/pd/418342?product_redirect=1&Ntt=418342&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

A Rebel Heart by Beth White

Here is the book summary:

Five years after the final shot was fired in the War Between the States, Selah Daughtry can barely manage to keep herself, her two younger sisters, and their spinster cousin fed and clothed. With their family's Mississippi plantation swamped by debt and the Big House falling down around them, the only option seems to be giving up their ancestral land.

Pinkerton agent and former Union cavalryman Levi Riggins is investigating a series of robberies and sabotage linked to the impoverished Daughtry plantation. Posing as a hotel management agent for the railroad, he tells Selah he'll help her save her home, but only if it is converted into a hotel. With Selah otherwise engaged with renovations, Levi moves onto the property to "supervise" while he actually attends to his real assignment right under her nose.

Selah isn't sure she entirely trusts the handsome Yankee, but she'd do almost anything to save her home. What she never expected to encounter was his assault on her heart.

And now, my review:

I just love historical fiction.  This one is based on the American History time period of the War Between the States.  This story is based on the rebuilding after the war and what living through that looked like for these characters.  One of the things at the beginning of this story was a train adventure that was quite a gripping trip, showing bravery and quick thinking.  The main girl after this point takes on guardianship of a boy affected by the trip.  She and her sisters are on a journey to fight for what is theirs and keep it in the family, needing to discern who is for them and who is against them.  It’s a great recipe for a wonderful read.  If you like historical fiction, this is a great one!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Heart-Daughtry-House-Book-ebook/dp/B07933GVKB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543507876&sr=8-1&keywords=a+rebel+heart

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-rebel-heart-beth-white/1127179086?ean=9780800726898#/

https://www.christianbook.com/a-rebel-heart-1/beth-white/9780800726898/pd/726894?event=ESRCG

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden

Here is the book summary:

As a biochemist in early 1900s New York, Doctor Rosalind Werner has dedicated her life to the crusade against waterborne diseases. She is at the forefront of a groundbreaking technology that will change the way water is delivered to every household in the city--but only if she can get people to believe in her work.

Newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York, Nicholas Drake is highly skeptical of Rosalind and her team's techniques. When a brewing court case throws him into direct confrontation with her, he is surprised by his reaction to the lovely scientist.

While Rosalind and Nick wage a private war against their own attraction, they stand firmly on opposite sides of a battle that will impact far more than just their own lives. As the controversy grows more public and inflammatory and Rosalind becomes the target of an unknown enemy, the odds stacked against these two rivals swiftly grow more insurmountable with every passing day.

And now, my review:

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden was a great historical fiction about the importance of water purification and what happens without it.  This book started off with quite a bang and I was holding onto my seat through the first bit wondering about making it through the ride.  It was intense to watch the main character’s hard times with water-borne illnesses.  She then is on a quest to find the solution so no one has to endure her pain and suffering.  This leads her to some deception of sorts that I found frustrating but realistic.  If you enjoy historical fiction, you’ll want to check this one out.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Venture-Empire-State-Novel-ebook/dp/B079BZRSJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543507192&sr=8-1&keywords=a+daring+venture

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-daring-venture-elizabeth-camden/1127179090?ean=9780764218828#/

https://www.christianbook.com/a-daring-venture-elizabeth-camden/9780764218828/pd/218828?event=ESRCG

My Heart Belongs in Glenwood Springs Colorado by Rebecca Jepson

Here is the book summary:

Journey now to healing spa town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado in 1888
Where the past and present collide and a woman is on the precipice of unexpected love.

Millie Cooper, fisherman’s-daughter-turned-nurse, flees a painful entanglement with the wealthy Drexel family who summered near her childhood home in Nantucket, only to encounter them again six years later in Glenwood Springs. The serenity of her mountain hideaway in a town with healing springs is disrupted when she faces caring for the elderly mother and the expectant wife of Stephen Drexel, the man she’d once loved—at the request of his brother John, the man who’d kept them apart. Will Millie forgive the wrongs she feels were done to her, or will she come to see them as a blessing in disguise that leads her to greater joys?

And now, my review:

Another great “My Heart Belongs in…” book.  This one is based on a nurse in the late 1800s who is given quite a responsibility.  She has faced trauma in her life and now she wants to help others as they face what is coming for them.  She was hired by her former beau’s family and there are so many twists and turns involved in that whole thing that it just kept me reading.  I was very much surprised by some of the outcomes and didn’t really think some of the things coming would happen.  I just love that in a book.  I look forward to reading more by this author and reading the next “My Heart Belongs in…” book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Belongs-Glenwood-Springs-Colorado-ebook/dp/B078WL1QRX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543506070&sr=8-1&keywords=my+heart+belongs+in+glenwood+springs+colorado

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-heart-belongs-in-glenwood-springs-colorado-rebecca-jepson/1127353405?ean=9781683226031#/

https://www.christianbook.com/belongs-glenwood-springs-colorado-millies-resolve/rebecca-jepson/9781683226055/pd/95390EB?product_redirect=1&Ntt=95390EB&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP