The Plan Cookbook

The Plan Cookbook

More Than 150 Recipes for Vibrant Health and Weight Loss

Lyn-Genet Recitas

Everyone's bodies are different. Yet we each hear the same thing - eat oatmeal, eat breakfast, drink 8 glasses of water. Yet some of these things could be the problem that is causing us to feel tired and bloated. Based on the concept that our bodies need to eat a variety of things and each body is different, the author has written a cookbook with a plan. The book begins by outlining why our bodies reject certain foods and how to go about detoxing the body to get rid of the toxins that have built up. The next section is detailed instructions and menus for the 3-day food detox. The rest of the book has all of the recipes that are to be used after the detox. Included are quite a few beautiful photographs of some of the recipes in the book.

I've read quite a few weight loss and cookbooks. This one was impressive. Not only did his explanations of how "the plan" works make sense, but his instructions are clear and concise. The recipes are simple and easy to implement. Some of the ingredients are going to be a bit more difficult to get in my small town, but hopefully that won't be a problem for most people. My only complaint would be the type of materiel used for the pages makes it difficult to actually use the book while cooking. I had to make copies of the pages since the ones in the book are thin and more like newspaper.

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.

Waiting for Your Prince

Waiting for Your Prince

A Message for the Young Lady in Waiting

Jackie Kendall

Young girls are being bombarded on all sides with messages about their outward beauty, self-worth, and about marriage and love. The author has taken Biblical stories and turned them into messages for the heart for young girls on the cusp of being a teenager. Each chapter focuses on different aspects that girls can take to heart that will help them while they are waiting on their prince to arrive. These lessons are intended to get them ready for their heavenly Prince as well.  The author uses scripture liberally and ends each chapter with questions for further reflection and study. The book would work well for an individual or small group of girls studying together.

I was very impressed with the large amount of scripture and thought that the author put into the book. The stories and thoughts were interesting and on level with a pre-teen girl. The concepts were not difficult to understand, but provided some food for thought or for further reflection. I also liked the questions at the end of each chapter. I will definitely be keeping this book for my daughter to read and would recommend it to anyone with a young daughter getting ready to hit her pre-teen years.

I received this book free of charge from Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

Heartfelt

Heartfelt

A Woman's Guide to Creating Meaningful Friendships

Joneal Kirby

Women crave personal and deep relationships. But in today's world of social media it is getting harder and harder to find those deep connections that we crave so much. The young women of today are often living far from their families, the very ones who should be teaching them about marriage, mothering, dinner parties, and relationships. Titus 2 instructs the older women to take the younger women and mentor them. The author has taken this much needed concept and created a ministry structured around the Titus verse. Readers will learn the benefits of mentors and mentoring and will learn how to create this group.

The stories were taken from women who experienced this group and have been blessed in multiple ways. I enjoyed each of the stories and could definitely see why the author saw the need for this type of ministry. The instructions in the last few chapters were insightful and would be very helpful to anyone wanting to set up this type of ministry in their own home. I would recommend this to anyone who feels the need for deeper connections with other women or who feels the need for a mentor.

I received this book free of charge from First Look in exchange for my honest review.

The Dandelion Field

The Dandelion Field

Kathryn Springer

 Gin has always run from problems. But she promised her daughter that she'd stay in small town Wisconsin until Raine can graduate high school. But when Raine and her boyfriend Cody find out they are pregnant Gin wants to run. Dan, a family friend and mentor to Cody, steps in to help Gin as they guide the young couple toward the right decision for them and the baby.

Small town stories almost always have elements of gossipy problems, local diners, the ones from out of town who want to be accepted, and the locals who add color and vitality to the story. This book was no exception. The author did a great job of telling two romantic stories in one setting. The local town and family members add grit and spice to a sweet romance. The authenticity and faith elements that the author added bring the right touch to the story. I appreciated how the author didn't sugar coat some of the problems the couples were dealing with, but provided a faith filled solution. There were a couple of times that I felt I might be missing an detail from another book. But overall it was a great story that had me wanting more from this author.

I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Summit of Desire

Summit of Desire

The Springs Book 5

Elena Aitken

Kylie is trying hard to be understanding of her boyfriend's crazy schedule. But when everything blows up at the party for his lodge she decides they need to take a break. It's not a break-up, only a time out so they can figure out what needs to change. But throw in a career change, twin brother (who is also an ex-boyfriend), and small town gossip, and these two will be lucky to make it back into each others arms.

The tension and drama were high in this romantic story about love at all costs. The visuals painted a beautiful picture in a small skiing town. The characters, while flawed, are likable and make the reader want to read more. The story is a continuation of a previous story, that I haven't read yet. While the book would work as a stand-alone, I wished I'd read the previous book since there were references to past situations in this story. The author did a great job of creating curiosity for not only the main character's story, but also for stories on the secondary characters. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Where Rivers Part

Where Rivers Part

A Texas Gold Novel

Kellie Coates Gilbert

Dr. Juliet is quickly making a name for herself in the corporate world. She's in charge of quality control at a plant that provides water to millions of people. But when e coli is traced back to her plant she realizes she's in over her head. She's not exactly getting along with her father and her boyfriend isn't who she thought he was. She needs to quickly figure out who she can trust before she and an entire company are brought to their knees.

I read the first book by this author and liked it. So I thought I'd try this one. It's not your typical Christian fiction. So anyone looking for a slightly different feel will really enjoy the plot. It was a little dry for me, though. I just couldn't get interested in the characters. The author did a great job of portraying the drama and tension that goes with this type of plot. I think some of that tension is what made the book less enjoyable for me. The entire book felt stressful. But the visuals were great and the ending was nice and realistic. 

I received this book free of charge from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.

Unexpected Endings

Unexpected Endings

Castle Mountain Lodge Book 2.5

Elena Aitken

Andi has booked a romantic weekend for her and Colin, at the Lodge where everything began. But now he's late and he's said the dreaded words "We need to talk.". A girls night out with a negative woman has Andi feeling like her relationship is on the way down. Can she give Colin a chance to explain or will she run.

This is a novella (short story) that the author has written to give us a little update on the couple from book one. While short, the author has packed in a story full of emotions and sweet romance. It was nice to have a conclusion to the first story and I enjoyed it. It also showcased how easy it is to let our emotions get the best of us and the importance of trust.