The Essential Amish Cookbook ~ Review

The Essential Amish Cookbook
Everyday Recipes from Farm and Pantry
By Lovina Eicher

The Essential Amish Cookbook is a delightful assortment of recipes, personal tidbits, and photographs (but none of the author). For those who want to create food from scratch, this is would be a perfect gift. There is a little bit of everything in this book - breads, breakfast dishes, soups, salads, meat dishes, desserts, and much more. There are many dishes that will appeal to Vegetarians (not Vegans).

This more than a cookbook as the author shares personal information about the various recipes and her life. For those who are interested in learning more about Amish life there is information about both church services and weddings and recipes that will feed a large crowd - think a couple hundred or more.

There are over a hundred recipes found within these pages - so one is sure to find something to please and delight most palates. I'm personally looking forward to trying out several of the breads and many of the desserts. And who knew there was a salad recipe featuring dandelions (these are my treat of choice for our horses and goats!).

And just a warning don't look at this book when hungry it will inspire cooking!

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review, All expressed opinions are my own.


About the Book:

Taste the goodness of Amish life.

Bestselling cookbook author and food columnist Lovina Eicher brings together the best of Amish cooking in The Essential Amish Cookbook: Everyday Recipes from Farm and Pantry. Join Eicher as she shares traditional Amish recipes along with her own kitchen tips and secrets. Growing up, Eicher learned to cook and bake at an early age alongside her mother, longtime columnist and Amish cookbook author Elizabeth Coblentz, and has put those skills to use in her own Amish kitchen as she cooks for her eight children.

The easy-to-follow, authentic recipes you’ll find in The Essential Amish Cookbook are prepared every day in countless homes in Old Order Amish communities across North America. Many of the more than 100 recipes are richly illustrated with step-by-step photographs to help you learn Amish cooking just as if you were in Lovina’s kitchen. From hearty main dishes to substantial sides—plus a generous sampling of scrumptious cakes, pies, cookies, and other delectable desserts—learn how to make the hearty, simple dishes that the Amish cook together and serve at home, church services, and weddings.

In a fast-food, digital world, the book’s colorful photos and conversational tone provide a real taste of Amish life and invite you to slow down. Your family will come to love her Zucchini Chocolate Chip Bread, Rhubarb Juice, Roast Beef with Veggies, Oven Crusted Chicken, pickles, jams, and so much more. Experience the simple joys of Amish life—food, faith and family!

About the Author:

Lovina Eicher is author of the syndicated column, Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, which appears in 40 newspapers around the United States and on a weekly blog maintain by her editors. She is the author of several cookbooks. Lovina and her husband have eight children and live in rural Michigan.

The Noble Servant ~ Review

The Noble Servant
A Medieval Fairy Tale #3
By Melanie Dickerson

Magdalen of Mallin is desperate to save her people who have been suffering since the region's copper mines ran out and her father died. Her only hope is marriage to a wealthy man, but Magdalen has always dreamed of marrying for love. And secretly she has had fond memories of her short time in the presence of the Duke of Wolfberg. But her dreams of the Duke are just that dreams or are they?

Suddenly Magdalen's hopes and dreams for herself and her people are about to come true. But when Magdalen's dream becomes a nightmare - when she is forced into a role of servitude by the very servants entrusted with her care - she finds herself living a life she never imagined. But who would believe a shamed servant girl that she is in truth the intended bride of the Duke of Wolfberg?

But there is more at stake in Wolfberg than Magdalen's future as something about the Duke seems amiss, but is Magdalen's memory of the Duke true or has it been altered by her dreams?

This is another delightful tale from Melanie Dickerson and those who have read her previous books will once again be enchanted. For those new to her work, this book is well worth reading as her books can stand alone though there are little snippets that refer to characters who have been in previous books. Tweens, teens and adults alike can enjoy this wholesome and refreshing reimagining of the Goose Girl. The cover is as beautiful as the story it wraps.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through BookLook with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

SHE lost everything 

to the SCHEME of an 

EVIL SERVANT.

But SHE MIGHT just gain what 

she’s ALWAYS WANTED . . .if she 

makes it IN TIME.

The impossible was happening. She, Magdalen of Mallin, was to marry the Duke of Wolfberg. Magdalen had dreamed about receiving a proposal ever since she met the duke two years ago. Such a marriage was the only way she could save her people from starvation. But why would a handsome, wealthy duke want to marry her, a poor baron’s daughter? It seemed too good to be true.

On the journey to Wolfberg Castle, Magdalen’s servant forces her to trade places and become her servant, threatening not only Magdalen’s life, but the lives of those she holds dear. Stripped of her identity and title in Wolfberg, where no one knows her, Magdalen is sentenced to tend geese while she watches her former handmaiden gain all Magdalen had ever dreamed of.

When a handsome shepherd befriends her, Magdalen begins to suspect he carries secrets of his own. Together, Magdalen and the shepherd uncover a sinister plot against Wolfberg and the duke. But with no resources, will they be able to find the answers, the hiding places, and the forces they need in time to save both Mallin and Wolfberg?

New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson beautifully re-imagines The Goose Girl by the Brothers Grimm into a medieval tale of adventure, loss, and love.

A Stranger at Fellsworth ~ Review

A Stranger at Fellsworth
A Treasure of Surrey Novel #3
By Sarah E. Ladd

Annabelle Thorley has determined that leaving the life she has always known is her only option. Her brother is strongly encouraging her to marry a man she wants nothing to do with, Her social standing has fallen with the scandal surrounding her father before his death. Her fiancé has abandoned her in favor of a more socially advantageous match. A long ago promise of help from her uncle is her only hope for a future that she will determine. 

Doing the unexpected Annabelle leaves London society behind for Fellsworth, where she hopes her brother will never find her. The luxury that Annabelle has lived is to be a thing of the past as the safe harbor she seeks with her uncle means she will have to work at the school he runs. But  Annabelle is willing to do what is necessary.

With the help of an almost total stranger - Owen Locke, Anabelle manages to make good her escape. But like her Owen has lived under a cloud of scandal following the death of his wife. But Owen has a way of making Annabelle feel safe - something she never expected.

But there is an undercurrent in Fellsworth that keeps Annabelle from feeling completely safe. And when poachers begin causing trouble in the area Owen is tasked with finding those responsible. But Owen feels there is more going on than just poaching and he feels there is a link to the school.

This story is set in 1819, England and those who enjoy an uncurrent of mystery with their historical fiction will love delving into this book. This book is the third book in the A Treasury of Surrey series but it is not necessary to have read the first two books in this series to enjoy this book.  The action and reflective moments are a well-balanced blend that keeps the reader's interest from cover-to-cover.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through BookLook with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Could losing everything be the best thing 

to happen to Annabelle Thorley?

In the fallout of her deceased father’s financial ruin, Annabelle’s prospects are looking bleak. Her fiancé has called off their betrothal, and now she remains at the mercy of her controlling and often cruel brother. Annabelle soon faces the fact that her only hope for a better life is to do the unthinkable and run away to Fellsworth, the home of her long-estranged aunt and uncle, where a teaching position awaits her. Working for a wage for the first time in her life forces Annabelle to adapt to often unpleasant situations as friendships and roles she’s taken for granted are called into question.

Owen Locke is unswerving in his commitments. As a widower and father, he is fiercely protective of his only daughter. As an industrious gamekeeper, he is intent on keeping poachers at bay even though his ambition has always been to eventually purchase land that he can call his own. When a chance encounter introduces him to the lovely Annabelle Thorley, his steady life is shaken. For the first time since his wife’s tragic death, Owen begins to dream of a second chance at love.

As Owen and Annabelle grow closer, ominous forces threaten the peace they thought they’d found. Poachers, mysterious strangers, and murderers converge at Fellsworth, forcing Annabelle and Owen to a test of fortitude and bravery to stop the shadow of the past from ruining their hopes for the future. 

Local Poet ~ Review

Local Poet
By Paul Trembling

He killed her.

But who was she?

Rob Seaton was living a life that didn't attract attention - just a normal guy who lived life as it came to him. But the day he first notices Laney Gray is her last.

Who is this woman that stepped in front of his van? Was she trying to die or were they both just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Rob is determined to learn who Laney was and his quest takes him into a world he's never before experienced. He enters Laney's world - a world of words with layered and complex meanings. Laney's poetry brings Rob into a new understanding of this young woman whose life ended so suddenly. Laney's poetry hides the answers that Rob seeks - the answer as to why - he just needs to see beneath the surface.

Local Poet is a mystery and the first book of a new series. If you are looking for an intense climatic reading experience you need to read this book. This book feels longer than it is and yet it doesn't last long enough.  Fortunately, there is a sneak peek at the second book in the series. If you're looking for a mystery that builds in suspense as the book progresses give this new series a try. Highly recommended if you like an unexpected twist or two along the way.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

A horrific road accident is just the start of a journey into the dark past of the local poet. Rob doesn't know Laney Grey. But when she deliberately steps out in front of his van and dies on impact, his life will never be the same. The police declare him innocent, but how will he deal with the guilt?

Now Rob is driven to know who she was, why she chose to die, and why he had to be part of her death. To understand her, he must read her poetry. To know her, he must unravel the mysteries of her past. As Laney's dark secret starts to come to light, and Rob's innocence is questioned, he must learn the full truth. But truth comes at a cost. Will Rob be the one who has to pay the price?

Life After ~ Review

Life After
By Katie Ganshert

Autumn Manning is stuck in the memories she lost when she was the lone survivor of a deadly attack. She is stuck in her guilt over surviving and over the state in which her life now is.  Her nights are haunted by the lives that were ended and by those who were left behind. But an unexpected encounter is about to bring Autumn into the reality of one of the families that has been left bereft.

Paul Elliott is hoping for a new normal once the one-year anniversary of the tragedy that took his wife has passed. But his hopes are all too soon shattered when his preteen daughter, Reese starts acting up. And then there is the hidden pain that haunts him.

When Autumn and the Elliott family are unexpectedly brought together will healing begin or will even more damage be done to the lives of all involved? Autumn needs to discover the reason she alone was spared and to remember what she has lost. Paul just wants to shove away the pain and get past it all. And Reese needs something that she's been desperately missing in her life - her mother.

This book is moving as the various characters deal with the life they all find themselves living after the tragedy that shook Chicago. While reading one has to ask one's self,"What would I do in such a circumstance?' This also an intriguing look at the power of guilt, whether or not it is justified.

Katie Ganshert's books are not cookie-cutter offerings - each is unique in and of itself. The characters are a complex layering of emotions and insights that have the ability to bring out the reader's empathy. This book would be an excellent choice for a book club selection.

I was provided a review copy of this book by Blogging for Books with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

It could have been me.

Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest.

Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve-year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake.

In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.

About the Author:
KATIE GANSHERT is the author of several novels and works of short fiction, including the Christy Award-winning A Broken Kind of Beautiful and Carol Award-winner, The Art of Losing Yourself. Katie lives in eastern Iowa with her family.

West Oversea ~ Review

West Oversea
By Lars Walker

A Norse saga of mystery, adventure and faith...

Father Aillil is priest to those who live and serve under the authority of Erling Skjalgsson. When he hears rumors of an Irish thrall who fits the description of his sister Maeve, Father Aillil seeks Erling's aid in searching out this woman who has been taken to Greenland.

When Erling's long-lost, presumed-dead, elder brother returns to Norway he gives over his leadership to Karri rather than fight for his rule. This frees Erling to make the journey across the sea that Aillil desires.

But nothing is ever as easy as it sounds and the party that travels with Erling and Aillil faces dangers that are both unknown and expected. But the greatest danger may be the one Aillil carries with him - one that threatens his faith by tempting him with the gods of old that still vie for the hearts and souls of the people who call the far northern countries home.

This book will expose the reader to the Norse history and mythology that shaped a region. There are definite elements of fantasy throughout.

There is a map at the beginning of the book so that the reader can visualize this journey and there is a list of characters which I for one definitely referenced while reading. This isn't light reading but it is entertaining and somewhat educational. This book is geared towards older teen and adult readers though younger teens who have advanced reading comprehension are sure to enjoy it.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through BookFun with the expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.  

About the Book:
In the year 1001, King Olaf Trygvesson is dead, but his sister’s husband, Erling Skjalgsson, carries on his dream of a Christian Norway that preserves its traditional freedoms. Rather than do a dishonorable deed, Erling relinquishes his power and lands. He and his household board ships and sail west to find a new life with Leif Eriksson in Greenland. This voyage, though, will be longer and more dangerous than they ever imagined. It will take them to an unexplored country few Europeans have seen. Demonic forces will pursue them, but the greatest danger of all may be in a dark secret carried by Father Aillil, Erling’s Irish priest.

Unseen Road to Love ~ Review

Unseen Road to Love
By Chelsea Curran

When you stray 

too far from the path,

fate can have a way 

of intervening...

Logan Atwood has a life that most would be envious of - a great job, a nice apartment but they only see the surface. Logan is estranged from his family and he's let the beliefs that he was raised with slid away. But in an, It's a Wonderful Life kind of experience he's about to see what he's missed by making one decision instead of another.

Going 5 years back in time to the decision that resulted in his life beginning its downward moral slide, Logan has a chance to relive his life. His friends and family see him as he was before the temptations of the city and his career pulled him away from them. And more importantly, Logan meets Addie Garrison a woman unlike any he's recently dated.

But like any "what if I'd done this instead" scenario Logan's must end when he awakens from his coma. Will the experiences he had while teetering on the edge of life or death make a lasting impression or will he simply return to the life he's been living?

Logan is getting a second chance at life and love.  And finding the woman who filled his dreams will also take him on a journey that will bring him back to the values that shaped his youth. But to complete his journey he will need to reconnect with those he hurt including his best friend.

We may not be able to go back and relive our lives but sometimes we are given a second chance at the life we didn't choose. The Unseen Road to Love is just such a story.  This is a story that focuses on faith and family and how both shape and support one.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher, Cedar Fort, with no expectations of a positive review.


About the Book:
From the outside, Logan Atwood’s life looks perfect: a successful career, a lavish lifestyle. But after a brutal car accident leaves him in a coma, Logan suddenly finds himself five years in the past. Only then does he realize that his perfect world may have cost him the woman of his dreams and the faith he once loved. Is it too late for Logan’s second chance?

FYI: This book has obvious references to Mormon / LDS beliefs which will not detract from the reading experience if one is not familiar with these beliefs,