A Window Under the Table

A Window By the Table
A Novel of Family Secrets and Heirloom Recipes
Two Blue Doors Book 1

Hillary Manton Lodge

Juliette is grieving her grandmother and trying to decide what direction to take in her career. When she inherits her grandmother's table she finds a clue that her family history might not be what her family thinks it is. Her grandmother was keeping secrets. Right before Juliette cancels her online dating subscription she receives an email that will shake everything up. Now she's trying to decide about issues in her personal and business life all while juggling family and a new restaurant. She handles stress by cooking.

The story was rich with family, food, friends, and heart. This isn't my typical favorite genre, so I was pleasantly surprised when I loved the story. The author was able to portray the family so well and give the reader a sense of the drama and issues that were going on. I really enjoyed all of the food that was woven throughout the book. I wouldn't consider myself a foodie, but it was still enjoyable. The recipes were a great touch. Some of them are beyond my expertise, but I will be trying out a few. I did wonder as I read the story, where the elements of faith were. They were almost non-existent. Overall, this was an amazing story that touched me and I'm so glad that I have the 2nd book to start reading immediately.

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

Motorcycle Passion

Motorcycle Passion

Michael Kockritz

There is nothing like the thrill of riding a motorcycle and feeling the wind whip past your face. The sound of the engine, the heat from the pavement, and the sun on your face are all just a part of the wonderful world of riding. Most motorcyclists will tell you it's not just a ride, it's a passion. This book takes a look at that passion and shares a small part of what makes motorcycles so addicting and powerful.

This is a celebration of motorcycles. The photography is outstanding. The large coffee table size of the book lends to larger pictures and great page layout. The first section has specs on various bikes from around the world and the famous people who ride them. Old and new are mixed together to create a fascinating look at a wide variety of bikes. The history about the racers is interesting as well. The next section is all about the road. It lists those amazing roads that should be on every rider's bucket list. It showcases famous races, festivals, and places to go to meet other riders and join in the passion. The third section is all about custom bikes, the shops they come from and the people who make them.

This book is outstanding. It will definitely be kept in a place of honor in my library. It showcases so well the spirit and passion of the rider. We are all different, but at the end of the day all that matters is the bike and the road.

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

To Win Her Favor

To Win Her Favor

A Belle Meade Plantation Novel Book 2

Tamera Alexander

In two weeks Maggie is going to lose her home at auction. Her father's health is failing and their only hope is if she can race her horse Bourbon Belle. But when her jockey, a small freed child is a victim of hate she is in danger of losing everything. Cullen is considered almost as bad as the black people because he's Irish. He can't find a single person who will sell property to him. So when he comes across the desperate owner of Linden Downs they strike up a bargain. Cullen will save him and his daughter in exchange for the property. It seems a small price to pay, but some hidden secrets threaten to take the entire place down.

What a beautiful and heart wrenching story. The characters were so real and authentic that I felt I was living the story along with them. The imagery was amazing. The story was all about heartache, love, faith, compromise, and values. It had heart. Some of the subject matter was so heartbreaking that it was difficult to read. But these things really happened and I felt the author did an outstanding job of portraying them realistically without compromising the story or making it too harsh. I haven't read the first book in this series and it didn't seem to detract from the story at all. But based on this book I will definitely be adding it to my reading list. And I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

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

A Flag For The Flying Dragon

A Flag For The Flying Dragon

A Captain No Beard Story

Carole P. Roman

The Captain needs to find the perfect flag for his pirate ship. But Captain No Beard is having troubles with his crew. Everyone was doing their jobs and working together when they heard Mongo and Zachary fighting. Captain No Beard needs to come up with a solution so that everyone has a job and works together. His first suggestions don't work. But he doesn't give up. He keeps trying until he finds the perfect job for Zachary.

The story teaches the concepts of working together, the importance of family, and never giving up. The bright and colorful illustrations add whimsy and help tell the story. Children will delight in the fun and creativity of the story. Parents will appreciate the life lessons that are being subtly taught. Another sweet book about family from this author. My children and I look forward to reading more by her.

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

Lone Star Ranger

 Lone Star Ranger

Renae Brumbaugh

 Elizabeth and her brother, Evan, have just arrived in town and are eating at the local diner when a Texas Ranger arrests Evan. Evan is accused of being a notorious outlaw who is known as a cold-blooded killer. But Elizabeth can't let her brother hang for crimes he didn't commit. So her sets out to prove his innocence. The only thing in her way is the pesky Texas Ranger named Rett. But Elizabeth is not going to let that slow her down.

The story starts off quickly and the tension between the two main characters is very defined. The book was a quick read that I enjoyed. The story focused on the false arrest and the main characters trying to get to the bottom of the story. There wasn't a lot of back story or very many secondary characters since so much of the focus was spent on the accusation. The story ended abruptly and I wasn't ever clear just how the issues with the brother were resolved. Readers of romantic westerns would enjoy the feel and drama of this story.

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

Purposeful Parenting

Purposeful Parenting

Six Steps to Bring Out the Best in Your Kids

Jean S. Barnes

"Turn Chaos to Calm, Stress to Sanity, and Confusion to Clarity."

The author takes a Biblical approach to explaining numerous scenarios and situations parents might find themselves in on the journey of raising children. There are only six chapters, but each chapter is packed with solutions, advice, stories, and thoughts. The steps are laid out clearly and the concepts are explained. The instructions to implement the steps are easy to understand and doable for a bewildered parent. 

I really enjoyed this book. It is a huge book and will take some time to read, but it will be well worth your time. The author clearly knows and loves kids. This isn't one of those simple "do this and this will happen" types of books. Every kid is different, so the author has clearly taken this into account when writing the book. This is one of those books that I would recommend to all parents, regardless of their children's age.

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

Long Tail Kitty

Long Tail Kitty Come Out and Play

Lark Pien

 Long tail kitty is the name of a small kitten that goes on adventures with his animal friends. In five different graphic novel style stories the reader joins Long Tail Kitty and his friends as they learned about working together as a team, adventures, jealousy, and being alone. The friends also learned about friendship, scary feelings, and troubles.

The illustrator used a simple and yet detailed cartoon style to capture the reader's attention while reading the captions. This book is more difficult for parents to read aloud to children, but would work well for reluctant readers who need more pictures than words. Each story is separated so the reader can put the book aside and pick up again later. Teachers will enjoy sharing this with young readers who enjoy cartoon style reading. Children will enjoy the antics of kitty and his friends as they learn from their experiences and enjoy the fun of friendship.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.