Thursday, May 11, 2017

Brave Is the New Beautiful by Lee Wolfe Blum

Brave Is the New Beautiful

 Women of all ages need to read books such as this one. Brave is the new beautiful is eye-opening, inspiring, and encouraging. With all the stories of women who have fought through trials and tragedy, it is also convicting. It puts our personal disappointments in perspective when compared to women's stories of losing a child, health, etc. I love how the author, Lee Wolfe Blum masterfully blended all her thoughts and convictions into a sensible and rock-solid book for women. I appreciated how the author was open with her own story and thoughts. I was humbled and encouraged as I read this book! Basically, it gently tells women to look beyond the surface and the image the media tries so hard to ingrain in us as ''the right image''. We need to realize there is more to ourselves than our outward appearance. Because truly, brave is the new beautiful!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Our culture bombards women with "thinspiration" messages and pressure to "do it all" while wearing the mask of perfection. 

Women are left feeling alone and overwhelmed. How can they stop comparing themselves to others? How can they live out who they really are?

Lee Wolfe Blum offers stories from everyday women who have answered these questions with their lives-and found true beauty in the process. In Brave Is the New Beautiful, Blum weaves reflections from her own journey with inspirational stories from everyday women who chose to take off their masks and live authentically. Through call-to-action questions and ideas, she encourages readers to be brave enough to be who

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

God's Easter Miracles: Adventures of the Sea Kids by Lee Ann Mancini

God's Easter Miracles: Adventures of the Sea Kids
God's Easter Miracles: Adventures of the Sea Kids
by




Paul, Jimmy, Brian and the whole town, witness God's Easter miracles in this unique story.

"In God's Easter Miracles, the sea kids learn that Easter isn't just about the Easter bunny or candy. It's about Jesus Christ giving up His life for all of us, and how we are to sacrifice ourselves for others. Paul, who is autistic, struggles with relationships. Jimmy doesn't want to share and Lenny clings to life due to a terrible boat accident. "
~from back cover
 

Monday, May 8, 2017

Food52 Ice Cream and Friends: by Editors of Food52


Food52 Ice Cream and Friends: 60 Recipes and Riffs for Sorbets, Sandwiches, No-Churn Ice Creams, and More
Food52 Ice Cream and Friends: 60 Recipes and Riffs for Sorbets, Sandwiches, No-Churn Ice Creams, and More
by
   The must-have ice cream book if you love ice cream, love friends, want to learn more about ice cream or expand your ice cream palate or want to widen your dessert horizons in general. Basically, this book will not disappoint! I am an avid ice cream maker (if that's a thing) and so I was extremely excited about this book. One main thing which pleased me about this cookbook is that it is not simply a repeat of basic ice cream recipes. It will accompany my original tried-and-true ice cream basics book beautifully. It is full of unusual recipes not found in typical ice cream how-to books. Not only unusual, there are also amazing and delicious-looking recipes such as smore's ice cream sandwiches, coffee frozen custard, cinnamon roll ice cream, avocado gelato, the richest chocolate treats I have ever seen....there is something for everyone and I am so excited about this book!
For those of you who are wanting more details, the book is organized into different sections: Chocolate, Vanilla & company; Nutty; Fruity; Herbs & Spices; Drink Riffs; and Savory. There are a decent amount of recipes per category.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

He Will Be the Preacher: The Story of God's Providence in My Life by Erwin W. Lutzer


He Will Be the Preacher: The Story of God's Providence in My Life
He Will Be the Preacher: The Story of God's Providence in My Life


Saturday, May 6, 2017

Let's Be Real: Living Life as an Open and Honest You by Natasha Bure

Let's Be Real: Living Life as an Open and Honest You
Let's Be Real: Living Life as an Open and Honest You
From singer, model and YouTube celebrity Natasha Bure, the daughter of Candace Cameron Bure, comes a real, honest conversational book that doesn’t hold back. Everywhere she goes and every video she posts has one basic message: this is real, this is life, and we all go through it. Whether it’s acne, boyfriends, faith, stress, or having fun, Natasha’s view is to simply be honest, simply be real, no matter what you face. Natasha’s real and relatable tone paired with personal notes and stories will help readers see that living a “real” life is the best life.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Under the Cover of Light by Carole Engle Avriett and Thomas Jerry Curtis

Under the Cover of Light: The Extraordinary Story of USAF Col Thomas "Jerry" Curtis's 7 1/2 -Year Captivity in North VietnamUnder the Cover of Light: The Extraordinary Story of USAF Col Thomas "Jerry" Curtis's 7 1/2 -Year Captivity in North Vietnam
This is the amazing autobiography of a colonel shot down down over North Vietnam in 1965. Colonel Thomas ''Jerry'' Curtis' life was changed as he endured the next 7 1/2 years in brutal captivity. That alone should be enough to make anybody want to read this biography, right? Add to it the fact that this account is a testimony of how a true Christian's faith is strengthened under hardships and trials such as this. Over and over again I was astounded by the fortitude Jerry showed. I absolutely loved how this book emphasized God's faithfulness and the hope Jerry had through Christ. This is a must-read! At first it took me a while to get into the book but for some (good) reason by the third chapter I was fully interested and didn't want to put the book down. I believe the reason I wasn't as engaged at first was that there are so many foundational details the author (Carole Avriett) is trying to lay down in the first chapters before getting to the action as it were. I found the writing style a little choppy (especially after being spoiled by Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken). However, I think the writing style definitely improved further into the tale! One thing I loved about this book was the absence of foul language and crude names which were given by the Americans to their tormentors. (''Unbroken'' includes all the rude names given to the torturous captors and many of them are unrepeatable) I found this more appropriate for younger readers. The descriptions of the tortures, sickness and hardships made me cringe and weep and wonder how those men lived through them but are not unacceptable for even young teenage readers (thinking girls here :) ) to read. This book will make a perfect gift for anyone, especially for Dad's this upcoming Father's Day!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

In 1965, Col. Thomas "Jerry" Curtis's helicopter was shot down over North Vietnam. He was immediately captured and spent 71/2 years confined in a filthy 5′ x 7′ cell at the notorious Hanoi prison camp. Thousands of miles from home and unable to communicate with his wife and children, Jerry endured months of solitary confinement, suffocating heat, freezing cold, grueling physical and psychological torture, constant hunger, and unimaginable mental duress. And yet, time and again, the Light that darkness cannot overcome became his beacon of hope. Now, for the first time in print, Jerry shares the full story of his 2,703 days in captivity and what he learned about faith, hope, and the indomitable power of the human spirit.

Monday, May 1, 2017

Beauty Begins: Making Peace with Your Reflection by Chris Shook, Megan Shook Alpha

Beauty Begins: Making Peace with Your Reflection
Beauty Begins: Making Peace with Your Reflection