"Sinister Sprinkles," by Jessica Beck

"Sinister Sprinkles," by Jessica Beck

Just in time for the Winter Festival, a glistening layer of snow has covered the streets of April Springs, North Carolina. Of course, it reminds donut shop owner Suzanne Hart of sweet delicious frosting. But her visions of sugar plums plummet when her ex’s ex-girlfriend gets iced …

Suzanne could never understand why her ex-husband and actor Max cheated on her with Darlene Higgins. Why Darlene’s body was found wearing another woman’s clothes is an even bigger mystery. Now Max is suspected of murder—and Suzanne is sifting through her mixed-up love life looking for clues. If she can’t sprinkle evidence on her half-baked theories of whodunit, Max is as good as fried….  

This is a fun book, fast paced and with enough mystery and fun to keep you interested.  I had no idea until the mystery was solved as to who did it.  Bonus with this book there are recipes included in the book.  Decided I don't want to be a donut baker though as they have to get up in the middle of the night!!!

This is the third book in the series and I will definitely be asking the library to lend me more.

Stars out of 5 : 5 a solid five at that, fun to read, an easy read and if you do have to put the book down, easy to pick up the story again

"Sisters of the Sari," by Brenda L. Baker

"Sisters of the Sari," by Brenda L. Baker

A debut novel about an American woman and an Indian woman who are about to dramatically change each other's lives-along with the lives of those around them.

While vacationing in India, Kiria Langdon, the opinionated and driven CEO of a major company, meets Santoshi, a former slave who now works as a cleaning lady and lives in a shelter for homeless women in Chennai. Appalled by the conditions in the shelter, Kiria becomes obsessed with the idea of building decent housing for poor working women in India. Santoshi reluctantly agrees to help, even though she thinks Kiria's ideas are too crazy to succeed.

Embarking on a rich journey of personal discovery, both women will learn invaluable lessons about themselves as they forge a powerful bond of sisterhood across the barriers of language and culture-a bond that makes anything possible.



This was such a fun book to read.  Made you laugh and happy and sometimes a little sad, but overall if you are a middle aged woman I think you will be able to relate to Kiria.  I have always wanted to go to India, but after reading this book, I think if would be hard work for me with the heat and mosquito's.  Plus I don't like spicy food at all.

It also teaches you never to judge a book by it's cover, or in this case; never judge a person by the clothes they wear.  It's an easy read and a book that will hook you after the first couple of chapters.

Stars out of 5 : 5 Didn't have a problem with any of the book.  Enjoyed it right the way through.  Well worth the read.

"The Breath of Dawn," by Kristen Heitzmann

"The Breath of Dawn," by Kristen Heitzmann

Corporate turnaround specialist Morgan Spencer, dubbed the "success guru," has a Midas touch in business. But losing his wife sent him to the brink, and his two-year-old daughter, Livie, is all he's living for--until they encounter a woman whose trouble just might draw him out of his own.

Four years ago Quinn Reilly did the right thing. Now the man her testimony put in jail is getting out. Though she has put up barriers to protect herself and those around her, she has come to care for the Spencer family, especially the winsome Livie and her mercurial father. Unwilling to put them at risk when the threats begin, she requests something she hopes the super-successful Morgan might be able to deliver.

Fixing problems is what Morgan does best, but his counter proposal takes them in a direction neither is equipped to handle. Determined to confront the past, will they survive to build a future?

I rather liked this book it kept me interested and wanted me to find out what happened next.  It had a lot of depth to it and enough twists and turns in it to keep it interesting.  I was surprised at how soon I was sucked into the story.  The main characters are made for each other.  Their story though was a little hard to believe, it was too good to be true, even with the twists and turns in it.

Stars out of 5 : 4 I liked it, but there was something missing, not sure what though.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

"Courting Cate," by Leslie Gould

"Courting Cate," by Leslie Gould

When This Couple Gets to Courting, Sparks Will Fly!

In Paradise, Pennsylvania, Cate Miller is known more for her sharp tongue and fiery temper than her striking appearance. Her sweet and flirty sister, Betsy, on the other hand, seems to have attracted most of the bachelors in Lancaster County!

But the sisters' wealthy father has made one hard-and-fast rule: older Cate must marry first, before younger Betsy can even start courting. Unfortunately, untamable Cate has driven away every suitor--until Pete Treger comes to town, that is.

Prodded by the men of the area, Pete turns his attention to winning Cate's hand. But is his interest true or is there a scheme at play?

I have to admit I was getting "Amish Book Burnout," prior to this book, as it was beginning to feel like they were all basically the same.  I am very pleased to say this book was different from the others.  It had a fast pace to the book with enough twists and turns in it, to make you want to read more.

Cate and Pete were truly made for one another and the path they take for them to realize that makes for a great story.  I am pleased to say that this is the first in the series and from what I have read about the next book, it will be a great follow on from this book.  I found the nickname for the twins Mervin and Martin very funny......won't spoil it for you by telling you what, you'll have to read the book!!

Stars out of 5:5 couldn't find anything wrong with the book.  A great read, and an easy read, would recommend this book.  Yes it's about the Amish, but it has a bit more to the story that makes it special.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

"A Change of Fortune," by Jen Turano

"A Change of Fortune," by Jen Turano

Lady Eliza Sumner is on a mission. After losing her family, her fiancé, and her faith, the disappearance of her fortune is the last straw. Now, masquerading as Miss Eliza Sumner, governess-at-large, she's determined to find the man who ran off with her fortune, reclaim the money, and head straight back to London.
Much to Mr. Hamilton Beckett's chagrin, all the eyes of New York society--all the female ones, at least--are on him. Unfortunately for all the matchmaking mothers and eligible daughters, he has no plans to marry again, especially with his hands full keeping his business afloat and raising his two children alone.

When Eliza's hapless attempts to regain her fortune put her right in Hamilton's path, sparks instantly begin to fly. The discovery of a common nemesis causes them to join forces, but with all their plans falling by the wayside and their enemies getting the better of them, it will take a riot of complications for Hamilton and Eliza to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.

When all of Hamilton's and Eliza's best-laid plans fall by the wayside, it will take a riot of complications for them to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.

This is the first book I have read by this author and must admit I am true fan of hers now.  What a super book, it hooks you straight away and the dinner scene with Eliza, Hamilton and Zayne was just so funny.

Hamiton and Eliza make great lead characters, and are perfect for one another, however Agatha, is right there with them.  All the characters have infact such "spunk" that there isn't one I truly dislike, well other than Lawrence, and he was just plain annoying.

I have no idea if there will be another book to follow?  However in my humble opinion there are still plenty of stories to tell with the other characters in the book.  Just looked at the authors website and this indeed is first in a series of four books.............YEAH!!!!!

Stars out of 5 : 5 Great book, I HAD to keep on reading it until I finished the book, so read it in one very long sitting...........and suffered dearly, or should I say my housework suffered dearly the next day.  Would highly recommend this book.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

"Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing," by Kathy Cano-Murillo

"Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing," by Kathy Cano-Murillo

Sometimes to find your life's true path, you have to stray outside the lines . . .

Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past.

But as stitches give way to secrets and classmates become friends, the women realize an important truth: There is no single pattern for a good life. Happiness is always a custom fit.

This book was really good, fast paced and interesting.  It's easy to get engrossed in the book and the main character Scarlet is great.  Just trying to imagine her in real life would be a joy to know her.

The author of the book has a web site called Crafty Chica     which I must say is very interesting and also a link to a number of blogs.  There are instructions in the back of the book to make various things mentioned in the book.  If you enjoy sewing this book will interest you.  If you like a good chick-lit book you will love this book also.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5 Great book, easy read and one I didn't want to put down.                              

"A Year of Biblical Womanhood," by Rachel Held Evans

"A Year of Biblical Womanhood," by Rachel Held Evans

What is “biblical womanhood” . . . really?

Strong-willed and independent, Rachel Held Evans couldn’t sew a button on a blouse before she embarked on a radical life experiment—a year of biblical womanhood. Intrigued by the traditionalist resurgence that led many of her friends to abandon their careers to assume traditional gender roles in the home, Evans decides to try it for herself, vowing to take all of the Bible’s instructions for women as literally as possible for a year.
 
Pursuing a different virtue each month, Evans learns the hard way that her quest for biblical womanhood requires more than a “gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:4). It means growing out her hair, making her own clothes, covering her head, obeying her husband, rising before dawn, abstaining from gossip, remaining silent in church, and even camping out in the front yard during her period.
See what happens when a thoroughly modern woman starts referring to her husband as “master” and “praises him at the city gate” with a homemade sign. Learn the insights she receives from an ongoing correspondence with an Orthodox Jewish woman, and find out what she discovers from her exchanges with a polygamist wife. Join her as she wrestles with difficult passages of scripture that portray misogyny and violence against women.

With just the right mixture of humor and insight, compassion and incredulity, A Year of Biblical Womanhood is an exercise in scriptural exploration and spiritual contemplation. What does God truly expect of women, and is there really a prescription for biblical womanhood? Come along with Evans as she looks for answers in the rich heritage of biblical heroines, models of grace, and all-around women of valor.

I wanted to read this book as I was curious about what exactly it entailed to live like a "Biblical Woman" would have.  When reading a book it should be an enjoyable experience, not a chore; unfortunately this was a chore for me.  It took me nearly a month to read, which is super long for me, and it felt like hard work to wrap my head around all the details.

It's unfortunate that all the publicity surrounding this book focuses on the author sitting on her roof, living in a tent during her period and calling her husband "Master," as there is a lot more to this book than that and I think if I were brought up in a more "relaxed" faith I think I may have enjoyed/related to this more. 

I did learn more about the women in the Bible, but one person's interpretation of Bible stories/verses etc, may not be another ones.  So I found myself wondering why she thought certain things meant what.  I have no examples to show you, as I didn't write notes when reading the book, and that I think would have been a good idea.  This book has left me having more questions than answers.

Would I recommend this book to you..........YES, as I think you will gain something by reading this book.  If nothing else it will make you think about some of the passages of the Bible that the author quotes.  Was it accurate in all it said........probably not, but if you go into this book with an open mind you may learn something new.

Stars out of 5 : 3 Glad I have read it, but wasn't sorry to see the last page of the book!

I will be donating my copy of the book to the local library.