Saturday, October 31, 2009

Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook

What a fantastic book/cookbook! The Jack Daniel’s Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook by Lynne Tolley & Pat Mitchamore is more than just a cookbook. Through the pages of this beautiful book, you’ll find recipes, stories, photos, traditions, and some of the folks who come from the lovely area of Lynchburg, Tennessee. This is a delightful portrayal of the life, character, food, drink, and history of the south.

The recipe sections include: Drinks (of course!), Appetizers, Soups & Salads, Vegetables, Breads, Entrees, Outdoor Cooking, Desserts, Cakes & Pies, and Accompaniments. There are plenty of recipes that include the famous Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, but many more that do not. In addition to the numerous recipes, this book shows a rich heritage of Southern living and hospitality. It is both interesting and informative, with the photos adding beauty and flavor. (Some of the photos are downright stunning!)

While I am not much of a cook myself, I do enjoy reading cookbooks. And this one just plain made me happy. I would recommend it to cooks of all levels, and even to those like me, who like to simply read cookbooks, look at the pretty pictures, and fantasize just a little about being a great cook!


This book was provided to me for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

~~~

Jack Daniel’s Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook
By Lynne Tolley & Pat Mitchamore


The rich tradition of country cooking, the distinctive taste of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, and the heritage of rural America are all elegantly captured in Jack Daniel's The Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook. Included are more than 350 recipes, stunning full-color photographs, and stories of the people, places, and traditions of Middle Tennessee. Illustrated and indexed.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Things Worth Remembering ~ by Jackina Stark

Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark is a book worth reading. It is a moving story depicting how easy it is to fracture a strong relationship, and how difficult it is to mend. Mother/daughter relationships can be complicated. Feelings for one another are often intense and long-lasting. For mother Kendy and her daughter Maisey, their once extremely close relationship is shattered one summer and hurt and anger begins to rule. Both must look deep within themselves, remembering and confronting painful issues in order to move forward.

This is a story of great depth, strong characters and a poignant portrayal of the importance of forgiveness, and how unforgiveness can cloak a life in darkness. The story is powerful and moving and will easily captivate the reader. This book is a great read for anyone who enjoys women’s contemporary fiction, but even more so for mothers and daughters to read and discuss together.


This book was provided to me for review by Bethany House Publishers.

~~~

Things Worth Remembering
By Jackina Stark


An Emotionally Gripping Story of Broken Relationships Restored

Kendy Laswell and her daughter, Maisey, used to do everything together--until one fateful summer when Maisey witnessed something she shouldn't have, and their relationship fractured. Now, Maisey is back home to get married and Kendy realizes this is her last chance to reconnect with her daughter. Will Kendy and Maisey be able to reclaim the bond they once shared?

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Watch Over Me ~ by Christa Parrish

When I was first offered the opportunity to read and review Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish, I thought it looked really good. Then, as I began reading it, I didn’t like it very much. Actually, I didn’t like one of the main characters very much. But the story was very intriguing so I continued on – and boy, am I glad I did! There was loss, grief, anger, love, forgiveness, pain, joy, new beginnings, struggle, achievement, and a beautiful example of family that is chosen rather than obtained through traditional means.

So many times in reading this book, my heart ached for different characters and the particular trials they were each facing. So many times, I found myself truly caring about what happened to the characters collectively and individually. This book was deep, the characters were real, the plot was dramatic and the pace was fast. I had difficulty putting it down. One sentence spoke volumes about the brilliance of this novel, “… because who outside of God himself would have known a brilliant, deaf kid, a vegan hippie, and a toeless soldier would find themselves as some sort of family.” Amen.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

~~~

Watch Over Me
By Christa Parrish


Her Rescue Might Be the Miracle They Needed

Deputy Benjamin Patil is the one to find the infant girl – hours old, abandoned in a field. When the mother can't be located, Ben and his wife, Abbi, seem like the perfect couple to serve as foster parents. But the baby's arrival opens old wounds for Abbi and shines a harsh light on how much Ben has changed since a devastating tour in Iraq. As their marriage teeters on the brink, they now must choose to either reclaim what they once had or lose each other forever.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Kiss Me Again ~ by Barbara Wilson

Love and marriage, and . . . sex. In her new book Kiss Me Again, Barbara Wilson explores intimacy and sex in marriage and how emotions, sexual abuse and past sexual impurity can sabotage the sacred union between a husband and a wife. In society today, premarital sex is more the rule than the exception (sadly, even in Christian circles), and this creates unhealthy and invisible bonds to any persons with shared sexual history. And these bonds cause pain, scars, and hang-ups that are damaging to marriage. But forgiveness, healing and freedom are available. This great book includes a 10-week study guide at the end. It can be read and worked-through individually, as a couple, or even within a safe women’s small group setting.


This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

~~~

Kiss Me Again
By Barbara Wilson

Many married women genuinely want to feel more desire toward their husbands. But while sex before marriage was hard to resist, now resisting seems like all they do. In her new book, Barbara Wilson shows how couples can suffer for years from the “invisible bonds” of previous relationships without even knowing it. Hidden emotions of distrust, shame, and resentment can sabotage even the most loving marriage.

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson:

~ Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire
~ Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices
~ Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”
~ Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond
~ Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands
~ Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost

With assessment tools, write-in exercises, and gentle guidance, Kiss Me Again offers a biblical plan for rekindling the closeness and passion women long for in marriage. Because no past is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch.

~~~

Author Bio:
Barbara Wilson
is the author of The Invisible Bond and former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento. She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California. Barbara and her husband, Eric, have been married for twenty-eight years.


To get more information about Kiss Me Again, including online purchase options, simply
visit http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421586

Friday, October 16, 2009

Women's Home Workout Bible ~ by Brad Schoenfeld

I am in love with this book! It is FANTASTIC! Women’s Home Workout Bible by Brad Schoenfeld is everything I’ve ever wanted in a workout resource, and much, much more! It is designed to help any woman set up a workout area in her own home, with budgets ranging from less than $100 to over $2500, depending on what the woman wants. The absolutely amazing thing is that Schoenfeld shows how to get a great, gym-style workout, for very little money.

There are hundreds of exercises, complete with large, easy to see photos and complete explanation, and often slight alternatives as well. The book is organized very well into sections that include body weight, balance balls, elastic bands, dumbbells, barbells and machines. And each section breaks down into shoulders and arms, torso, core, and lower body. It explains sets, reps, tools and equipment, and various workout jargons as well. There are several routines included, but it would be super easy to create your own routine.

The author also takes the time to discuss how or where to purchase equipment, new vs old, etc. This book includes everything to do a proper workout, whether for a slight, low-impact workout, for an intense, grueling workout, and anything in between.

~~~

Women’s Home Workout Bible
By Brad Schoenfeld, CSCS, CPT


Shed unwanted weight, sculpt your physique, tone muscles, reduce joint pain, or simply be healthier and more fit. Women's Home Workout Bible will show you how--all in the privacy and comfort of your own home.

In Women's Home Workout Bible, best-selling author and renowned personal trainer Brad Schoenfeld shares his secrets on the perfect at-home workout. Step by step, you'll identify the home gym setup and workouts for your fitness goals, schedule, and budget.

You'll learn how to set up your personal gym for as little as $100, or expand your options with more equipment for $500, $1000, or more than $2500. Whatever your budget, with over 160 exercises, you'll have plenty of variety, including bands, balls, free weights, and fitness machines.

Women's Home Workout Bible will then ensure you get the most out of your investment. You'll learn how to set up workouts and organize your training for noticeable results. To get you started, there are 12 four-week programs for conditioning, sculpting, and core stability, plus three levels of fat-burning cardio workouts. And with expert advice, exercise tips, and answers to the questions you always wanted to ask, it's like having your very own personal trainer and fitness consultant.

If you're ready to reclaim your body without the expense or scrutiny of public health clubs, you need Women's Home Workout Bible.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The Power of Respect ~ by Deborah Norville

I’ve just finished reading The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville, and have to say I am very impressed! Deborah is best known as the anchor for Inside Edition, and this is not her first book, but it is the first by her that I’ve read. In it, Deborah delves deeply into the subject of respect, both giving and receiving, in all types of relationships. She clearly shows the often forgotten importance of respect in the family, business, organizations, schools, etc. She also looks at both self and others respect, and how closely self-respect is linked with self-image and confidence.

The book is filled with examples, studies, facts, stories, great quotes and even Scripture that will help anyone to become better at giving and receiving respect. It would be a good resource for parents, bosses, teachers, leaders, and anyone who is in a place of influence. It would also be a great book for those who see themselves as followers rather than leaders, though the truth is we all lead, influence and guide someone.

~~~

The Power of Respect
By Deborah Norville


Best-selling author and journalist Deborah Norville researches the importance of respect in our daily lives and in society as a whole.

Respect, a lost value in our world today, is the latest subject of research for Inside Edition anchor and best-selling author Deborah Norville. Citing scientific studies and using stories based on personal interviews, Norville reveals the importance and benefits of respect in many areas of our lives:

* Personally and with others
* Marriage and parenting
* Classrooms and education
* Business and leadership

Readers are reminded that how we look at ourselves and others determines our level of respect. And respect, when given, unleashes the power of goodwill that boomerangs back to the giver in the form of loyalty, trust, and mutual respect. This others-focused approach causes recipients to operate at higher levels of performance, increase productivity, improve relationships, and increase their overall effectiveness.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Sound of Sleigh Bells ~ by Cindy Woodsmall

This book is thoroughly enjoyable and quite satisfying! The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall is not quite normal Amish fiction. It touches on the destructiveness of secrets, guilt and shame, but doesn’t dwell there. Once again, Woodsmall delivers a great story with characters who really tugged at my heartstrings. She clearly shows that the importance of family, trust, forgiveness, and strength of character is important to facing adversity and coming through stronger and better. It is a heartwarming story that is being marketed as a Christmas story, but really works for any season. Once I began reading it, it was difficult to stop until I came to the very satisfying end!

~~~

The Sound of Sleigh Bells
By Cindy Woodsmall

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancĂ©. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry. Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

~~~

Author Bio:
Cindy Woodsmall
is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.


To get more information about The Sound of Sleigh Bells, including online purchase options, simply visit here.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Extraordinary ~ by John Bevere

Extraordinary: The Live You’re Meant to Live is the newest book by best-selling author John Bevere. In it, he explores the possibility that God actually wants more for us. Not necessarily to have more, but to be more. Many of us settle a mundane, blasĂ© existence, when we are to live a life of abundance. We live that life of abundance when we use the power and gifts God has placed within us, to walk into the purpose He has for us. Deep down we aspire to be the best us we can be, but we’re often afraid to act on it. This book will challenge and possibly even inspire you to move beyond ordinary to Extraordinary!

~~~

Extraordinary: The Life You’re Meant to Live
By John Bevere


There’s a question that troubles many believers: “Why am I not experiencing more joy, more hope, more satisfaction, more intimacy, more power, more everything in my Christian life--didn’t Jesus promise that?”

He did promise an abundant life, but too many people are trapped by the curse of “the ordinary.” They have accepted the wrong idea that following God means losing individuality, creativity, and a passion for achieving lofty goals.

Nothing could be further from the truth! John Bevere builds a convincing case, straight from Scripture, for a way of living marked by extraordinary experiences and accomplishments—the life God always intended for his children.

Here is a guide to understanding God’s incredible plans, and how to enjoy a life where he adds the “extra” to “ordinary.”

~~~

Author Bio:
John Bevere
is an internationally popular conference speaker, teacher, and author of bestsellers, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near, and Driven by Eternity. His award-winning curriculum and books have been translated in over sixty languages and his weekly television program, The Messenger, is broadcast around the world. John and his wife, Lisa—also a bestselling author and speaker—reside with their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit his ministry website at www.messengerinternational.org.

To get more information about Extraordinary, including online purchase options, simply visit http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457721&ref=externallink_wbp_extraordinary_sec_0817_01

Monday, October 5, 2009

Green ~ by Ted Dekker

Gripping drama. Thrilling suspense. Good and evil. Love and hate. Light and darkness. The apocalypse. If any of these phrases appeal to you, get ready, because Green by Ted Dekker has them all! Green is the final book in the Circle Series, following Black, then Red, then White. It is a thoroughly brilliant, fantasy redemption story, but with a more contemporary feel, like a modern Lord of the Rings or Narnia. It was almost alive in a sensory sort of way, meaning I felt I was actually experiencing emotion to what was being described – I experienced despair, horror, repulsion, fear, love, joy, hope, strength, etc. I even saw the most stunning of beauty and the vilest of evil.

While this is the final book of the series, it can be read first. I have not read the other three, but (with a bit of fear and trepidation) I really want to after reading Green. Once I picked it up, I could hardly put it down. At nearly 400 pages, it can easily be consumed in a weekend; it is such a page turner. Fans of Dekker, a master of suspense and story-telling, will once again be pleased with his work.

~~~

Green
Book Zero: The Beginning and the End
By Ted Dekker


AS FORETOLD BY ANCIENT PROPHETS, an apocalypse destroyed Earth during the twenty-first century. But two thousand years later Elyon set upon the earth a new Adam. This time, however, He gave humanity an advantage. What was once unseen became seen. It was good and it was called...Green.

But the evil Teeleh bided his time in a Black Forest.

Then, when least expected, a twenty-four year old named Thomas Hunter fell asleep in our world and woke up in that future Black Forest. A gateway was opened for Teeleh to ravage the land. Devastated by the ruin, Thomas Hunter and his Circle swore to fight the dark scourge until their dying breath.

But now The Circle has lost hope. Samuel, Thomas Hunter's cherished son, has turned his back on his father. He gathers the dark forces to wage a final war. Thomas is crushed and desperately seeks a way back to our reality to find the one elusive hope that could save them all.Enter an apocalyptic story like none you have read. A story with links to our own history so shocking that you will forget you are in another world at all. Welcome to GREEN. Book Zero.

FOUR NOVELS. TWO WORLDS. ONE STORY.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Let God Talk To You ~ by Becky Tirabassi

I think it is safe to say most of us would like converse with God. To have a prayer life that is not just talking to God, but also hearing from God. In her latest book on prayer, Let God Talk to You, Becky Tirabassi explores this concept that many people struggle with. She explains that God truly does want to talk to us, and that He uses many methods to do so. If we will take the time and prepare our hearts to hear from Him, He will not disappoint, and our lives will be so much richer, stronger, peaceful and purposeful for doing so.

In addition to using examples from her own life, Tirabassi also uses examples from bold pray-er heavyweights such as D. L. Moody, William Wilberforce, George Mueller, and Andrew Murray. This is a great book for anyone, regardless of whether they are new to the discipline of prayer, or have already made it a lifestyle.

~~~

Let God Talk to You
When You Hear from Him, You Will Never Be the Same

By Becky Tirabassi

It is possible – you can hear from God!

Do you long for a closer connection to God? To talk to Him and hear His voice? To follow His instructions, if only you knew what He was saying?

For many of us, talking to God sometimes feels like sending words out into empty space. And hearing from God as the biblical prophets did may seem like an ancient fairy tale.

But Becky Tirabassi shares that it really is possible to hear from God. In fact, God longs to talk to us. He loves us and wants to communicate with us, just as we desire to communicate with those we love. You’ll discover how to develop a conversational relationship with God, one where you can both talk to and hear from God.

You’ll see that God is talking all the time, and there’s no special prayer to pray or requirements to meet in order to hear from Him. Becky shows the many ways that God talks to us and how God has spoken to her in big and small ways, saying things that have redirected her day or changed her entire life. You can hear from God, too. When we set aside the time and focus our hearts on God every day, God talks to us.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Godly Minds, Bold Hearts ~ by K.L. Kraemer

I am so thankful that once again, I’m able to a review a patriotic, historical, in-depth book. Godly Minds, Bold Hearts: Behind the American Defense Against Tyranny by K.L. Kraemer provides a wealth of information about our Godly heritage and history. It is filled with facts, quotes, biographies of the founding fathers, texts of documents, pictures, Scripture, songs, and more. Also included is a listing of American clubs, societies and organizations that serve traditional American values of God, Home and Country. There is a special tribute section to the Daughters of the American Revolution.

This fantastic book is more like a text or reference book, not really one to be read straight through. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves (true) American history, is patriotic, or would like a source that easily backs up the fact that America began as a Christian nation, and will not only survive, but thrive only if it remains one. It would be a wonderful addition to home resource library.

~~~

Godly Minds, Bold Hearts
Behind the American Defense Against Tyranny

By K. L. Kraemer

The story of how colonial America, under the rule of England, became a nation unto its own sizzles with faith inside the hearts and biographies of the founding fathers. America’s scrappy, sloppy, ragtag army was ill prepared, but their unwavering belief in the right of freedom under God held back the greatest military might in the world. A must-have status book of patriotic proclamation for each Christian library.