Category: review

February 8, 2016

Plant Based Cookbook

Going vegetarian was an important decision for me but it has also been difficult to plan meals and keep up variety. It was also hard to explain my choices to family members and friends. Plant Based Cookbook makes the guess-work easy. It breaks down how to eat a plant-based diet and fantastic recipes to go along with it.

About Plant Based Cookbook

The health benefits of a plant-based diet are at your fingertips in this all-inclusive cookbook with 200 hearty vegetarian and vegan recipes, from basics such as stocks and sauces to appetizers, meatless mains, bakes and casseroles, grains and pasta, tofu, tempeh, and seitan, desserts, and more.

The Plant-Based Cookbook also provides nutritional information, tips on transitioning to a plant-based diet, making your favorite recipes meat-free, sources of protein, cooking techniques and tools, and advice for the newbie on easy-to-do plant-based cooking.

My Thoughts

A fantastic resource for those starting out on their journey to becoming a vegetarian and those who have already been on this path for a while. This cookbook will also be helpful for family members to understand the vegetarian diet and learn a variety of recipes to cook for their family members (it isn’t all about eating vegetables!).

The hardcover cookbook contains 200 recipes with plenty of different options to choose from, not a fan of a certain vegetable or bean – no worries! Turn the pages and you will find plenty of other options. The book is divided into sections from breakfast to sides to desserts and breads. She also includes easy substitutes in her recipes if you are not a huge fan of a certain fruit or vegetable. The photography is stunning in this cookbook, large bold images span each page that make your mouth water!

The only thing I wish was included in this book was a breakdown of the nutritional value. I could easily add the recipes into my phone app but having it ready would have been nice too.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Trish Sebben-Krupka is a chef, culinary educator, cookbook author, and freelance editor. She is the owner of Local Girl Makes Food, a personal chef and culinary education business catering to clients interested in vegan, vegetarian, and eco-friendly diets. She is a former corporate chef for the Viking Culinary Center and Carl Schaedel and Co., Inc., where she created original recipes and menus; taught culinary classes in home food preservation, plant-based cooking, and sustainable cuisine.

Disclosure: I received this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 5, 2016

A Son’s Vow Book Review

When life changes drastically three months ago, Darla’s whole life is turned upside down. It is up to A Son’s Vow to help her during this time.

About A Son’s Vow

Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger–with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.

Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her–and her family–even more.

Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone–especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.

As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover something deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?

Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.

My Thoughts

A Son’s Vow has so much depth and emotion. A small town is devastated by a fire that killed five of their own community members. Some of the community can’t help but point the finger at Darla’s family, some are so full of hate and anger at the loss of life that it now consumes them.

At the heart of this novel is Darla. Darla is the daughter of the man who has been blamed for the fire. She faces daily struggles with her community, she is verbally harassed in the book and on top of that has the responsibility of caring for her younger family members. Her life is consumed with the care of others without ever looking at her owns emotions and pain. She ignores the struggle she feels on the inside and puts on a brave face for the outside world. To top it all off, her brother is so angry and takes it out on her – sometimes physically!

Lukas would do anything for Darla, he has always been her teacher, her friend and her support. He feels they can only heal and move forward if they speak about their loss and join forces. He misses his friend. Slowly they find their friendship is changing, maybe into a more romantic feel???

I don’t want to spoil anything for you! But definitely check out this wonderful book from Shelley Shepard Gray.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 5, 2016

Keeper of the Stars Book Review

In Keeper of the Stars, it’s not always love at first sight, sometimes we have to heal ourselves and forgive the past to feel love.

About Keeper of the Stars

When her mother died from pneumonia, Penny Cartwright was heartbroken. But now, after burying her younger brother just 12 years later, she is devastated. Anger, guilt, and sorrow cloud Penny’s mind, and the last thing she wants is to be reminded of her pain–but that’s exactly what happens when a stranger comes to town.

Trevor Reynolds has been chasing fame for more than a dozen years, but his musical career can’t get off the ground. While on the road, an accident kills his young drummer, Brad Cartwright. Trevor wasn’t behind the wheel, but he still blames himself . . . and so does Brad’s sister, Penny. Now Trevor finds himself in Kings Meadow, determined to follow through on his final promise to his friend.

Still feeling the pain of Brad’s death, Penny and Trevor must learn that forgiveness is the only thing that can heal their hearts. And if they do forgive, something beautiful may rise from the ashes of heartbreak.

My Thoughts

An extremely powerful, touching story of faith, forgiveness and healing. My heart was so sore for Penny, the pain she must have felt going through so much loss. She carries so much resentment and pain in her heart and lashes out at certain people who she feels are the cause of her pain, such as Trevor.

Trevor, who made a vow to visit Kings Meadow to his dying friend, has no idea what he is doing in Kings Meadow. He doesn’t feel like he belongs and doesn’t know quite how to act in such a different environment the small town of Kings Meadow is. He finds that he is more at peace in this small town then he has ever been in Nashville. He actually becomes close to God and finds his faith, not the faith that he grew up with (going to Church for show) but the faith that you feel deep in your heart, a faith of love, trust, hope and belief in God.

Their characters evolve and continuously grow throughout the novel. They may take two steps forward and one step back but we see this constant test of faith, hope and small acts of love. Keeper of the Stars was an awesome book from start to finish.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse Blog tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating:5/5

About the Author

Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heart-warming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over sixty novels.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 4, 2016

To Be A Child Book Review

In To Be A Child, give a child a cardboard box and his imagination will turn it into anything but!

About To Be A Child

Today, it is less common to see children playing in the streets, especially in urban areas. The plethora of ready-made toys should make any child happy. What usually happens is that the box the toy came in becomes the toy!

This book documents children at play (and at times at work) from 10 different countries. A child’s ingenuity never ceases to amaze me and I hope you will share these images with your children as well.

My Thoughts

I love children, they have this power to bring out about happiness, love and peace. They love with no boundaries and forgive without question. To Be A Child is a powerful photographic journal of children in action.

Debra captured the children from a variety of countries around the world from Canada to Nepal to Mongolia to China! My favourite sections were pets/animals and learn, with a close runner up in play. She captured children as they played on swings, mimiced their parents, played in playgrounds, in museums, horseback riding and more. She beautifully captures their innocence, their love and all of the things that matter to children.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon and the author’s website.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

“My dad always carried a camera under the seat of his car and was constantly taking pictures. I think that his example, together with pouring over National Geographic magazines as a child fuelled my curiosity for the world around me.

I am a documentary photographer and street photography is my passion. Some of my images have been chosen by National Geographic as editor’s favourites and are on display in the National Geographic museum in Washington, DC. I also have an off-kilter sense of humour so I’m always looking for the unusual. Plus I usually have a lot of scars on my knees.

(le sigh…)

I live with my creative director, Miss Pickles (my budgie) in Victoria, BC, Canada. You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 2, 2016

Cancelled Vows Book Tour

In Cancelled Vows, one small obstacle stands in the way of the wedding between David and Chelsea.

About Cancelled Vows

Police Chief David O’Callaghan and Chelsea Adams’ wedding day is fast approaching. Unfortunately, at the last minute, David discovers that there is one small problem to be taken care of before he can tie the knot, divorce his first wife!

Lauren Carr takes fans of the Mac Faraday mysteries to the Big Apple in this nail biting adventure. In Cancelled Vows, David, Mac, and Gnarly, too, rush to New York City to dissolve David’s marriage to an old girlfriend and he has five days to get it done. When murder throws up a road block, it is up to David’s best man, Mac Faraday, and Gnarly, K9-in-waiting, to sort through the clues to get David to the church in time.

My Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised with this novel! I was not expecting the plot to play out the way it did but I was quite happy with the way book played out. It was exciting, shocking and full of twists.

David is a man who lives by his principles and values. He wants to make sure he does right by Chelsea – even if this means putting aside his own feelings and worries. He is worried that he has been tainted by his past and works hard to prove he isn’t the same person.

The shocking turn of events and how they all tie in to David and Mac are shocking! It is this twist of events that help open David’s eyes and see what he may be missing out on. He grows emotionally and spiritually throughout the novel and I love seeing the novel from his eyes.

Well written, thought out and fast paced! I fell in love with the characters and the suspense was killing me! It was hard to put down because I did not want to miss out on the next chapter and adventure!

You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday and Lovers in Crime Mysteries and the Thorny Rose Mysteries. Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real live Gnarly!) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren on her website, Facebook and Twitter.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.