Ten Dollar Dinners

Ten Dollar Dinners

140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week

Melissa d'Arabian

Raquel Pelzel

Melissa became known when she won season 5 of The Next Food Network Star. But she's been making simple, inexpensive meals for her family for years. In fact, her homemade yogurt recipe is probably what landed her a spot on the show. Her cookbook simplifies cooking and gives a price range for each recipe so the cook can plan a meal that is fresh and under ten dollars. The book is filled with helpful cooking tips and glimpses into the d'Arabian family.

I am a very simple cook. If the recipe has tons of ingredients or instructions I pass. My family has some really picky eaters so I was surprised to have quite a few recipes earmarked to try. I look forward to testing them out. Most of the recipes in this book are simple and easy to make. This is a book for the simple cook, the family on a budget, and the mom wanting to prepare fresh food for her family.

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

Prayers of a Stranger

Prayers of a Stranger

A Christmas Journey

Davis Bunn

Amanda is suffering after the loss of her child. When a neighbor offers her the opportunity to travel to Israel, her husband urges her to accept. The trip opens her eyes to things she'd been missing for a very long time. She learns that sometimes stepping out of our own grief to answer the prayer of another grieving person is just the thing we need to begin our own healing.

The story is set around Christmas time. But it can be read any time of the year, because it is a story about forgiveness, healing, and unselfish giving. Simply and beautifully written in a way that captures your heart. I really enjoyed this book even though some of the subject matter was a bit heavy. I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for more of his books.

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

Everything the Bible says about Prayer

Everything the Bible says about Prayer

 

How do I know God hears my prayers?

What should I ask for when I pray?

What does God say about worshiping in prayer?

How should I pray for my family?

 The title really says it all. This isn't an author's idea or study of how we need to pray. This is a list of every single text in the Bible that deals with prayer. They are broken up into chapters that each deal with a specific question. At the end of the book there are some thoughts on prayer from Christian authors. But this book is not about them. It is about what God says about prayer.

This is definitely a book I'll be keeping. My class at church is studying prayer and this will be the perfect companion guide to our lesson study. It's easy to reference and find the text you need.

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

Pursuing Peace

Pursuing Peace

A Christian Guide to Handling Our Conflicts

Robert D. Jones

Sadly Christians have conflict just as much as non-Christians. Jones takes the issues that we face and breaks down why and how we need to resolve our conflicts. He begins with examining our hearts and finding peace within. Then he breaks down the different types of conflict we will potentially face and gives Bible verses and practical advice on how to get through and overcome each obstacle in our lives.

The smooth writing style, plenty of Bible verses and practical advice are all good reasons to read this book. The book is detailed, but very simple to read. I didn't feel like I needed a degree in theology to wade through it. Since everyone has conflict, this book is for every Christian.

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

School Struggles

School Struggles

A Guide to Your Shut-Down Learner's Success

Richard Selznick

Learning issues in school are a frequent concern for parents, teachers, and students. The author of The Shut-Down Learner, takes the reader through the different issues that might be hindering your child scholastically. The section begins with an illustration on the issue at hand (ie: ADHD). There is take-away point that summarizes and then a "try this" section that gives practical advice on how to work with the particular issue.

I can definitely see this book being a huge help to a parent or teacher who has a child with one of these issues. Since the author tackles a wide range of issues that include social, organizational and reading this is a book that most parents will benefit from reading. The writing style makes this book easy to read and process, something that is greatly appreciated in an informative book of this nature.

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

Help Your Kids Get Better Grades

Help Your Kids Get Better Grade

Gary Howard

Most children do not have the time or inclination to read instructions on how to study better. But the author's style has made this book actually enjoyable to read. The simple writing style and clear instructions set this book apart from the typical self-help study books. A student of any age (starting about middle school) will greatly benefit from the concise and important lesson in this book. Forty-seven chapters outline every possible scenario for studying and learning. The print is large so that your eyes aren't strained. The strategies and skills in the book will prove invaluable if taken to heart. This is definitely a book I'll be keeping for my children to read when they reach middle school.

Be Still My Soul

Be Still My Soul

Joanne Bischof

Lonnie wants out of her abusive home so badly that she's counting the days until her eighteenth birthday. But she makes the mistake of kissing ladies' man Gideon and finds herself a bride. She's jumped from the frying pan into the fire and doesn't know what to do. Her faith is the only thing keeping her sane.

Set in the beautiful Appalachian mountains and fraught with trouble from the very beginning. This is a beautiful story by first time author Bischof. Her style of writing is very visual and helps the reader to picture where the story is taking place. The characters seemed real and true to life. My only complaint would be the loose ends in the story. There were quite a few illusions to more background on Lonnie in the story and after her marriage they were not mentioned again. I'm hoping that the next book clears those up. Despite this, I enjoyed the story. I'm looking forward to checking out her next novel in the Cadence of Grace Series.

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