A Refuge Assured Review Part 1!

Hello all! :)  So since A  Refuge Assured is a 400+ page book, and I am a self proclaimed "slow reader", add in there that it is a pretty deep book, and broken into 5 parts of it's own.  I was Inspired to review it in pieces.  

So as I read I'll be posting mini reviews on what I think about what I've read.  I hope you enjoy this new idea and follow along! :)

Happy Reading! ~ASC

A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green

Book Description:

Vivienne Rivard fled revolutionary France and seeks a new life for herself and a boy in her care, who some say is the Dauphin. But America is far from safe, as militiaman Liam Delaney knows. He proudly served in the American Revolution but is less sure of his role in the Whiskey Rebellion. Drawn together, will Liam and Vivienne find the peace they long for?







My Opinion:
DEEP READ!  Ok so I know that France has a very bloody history especially with the revolution times.  And that's where Jocelyn immediately drops you in the beginning, right in the beginning/middle of a lot of blood shed.  I will say that the horror of the details doesn't sit that well with me.  Especially because I read right before going to sleep so.......  I skimmed through many of the terrible details.  When I read the book description I was hoping that we would start in America and find out some of Vivienne's details looking back.  And since I had to skim through a good deal of horrifying detail I felt it could have easily been done.  This could be my own personal preference however, so if you're more hard core than I am perhaps you will disagree! ;)  Yes that's right, I might be a wimpy reader, but I'm embrace it! :D  The main character Vivienne however is a highly interesting one!  I can't wait to see what else happens to her and where else the story leads!  Also I absolutely LOVE the lacemaker parts and I hope there are more of those! :)

Songs: (I've chosen these songs because I hope that Vivienne will cling to The Lord and remember she is not alone and that she can find strength in Him.  I hope as the book goes on they will still fit :) ) "Healing Hand Of God" by Jeremy Camp, "Chain Breaker" by Zach Williams, and "Greater" by MercyMe
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Psalm 142:5

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about A Refuge Assured. ~ASC

Amish Cooking Class Cookbook Review!

Amish Cooking Class Cookbook: Over 200 Practical Recipes for Use in Any Kitchen

"by Wanda E. Brunstetter"

Book Description:
Amish Cooking Basic Enough for Beginners 
 
Fans of New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish romance novels are invited to go back to cooking basics with characters from the bestselling Amish Cooking Class series. Heidi Troyer, her students, and other contributors share over 200 practical recipes for use in any kitchen, along with tips to keep things running smoothly. From learning how to boil eggs and knead biscuits to building a German Pizza and an Amish Haystack feast, The Amish Cooking Class Cookbook includes something beneficial for every age and skill set. Divided into traditional cookbook categories, there is a recipe everyone will find to love.

My Opinion:
Well.......  There are things about this book that I loved, but then there are quite a few issues I have to.  First of all I LOVE the addition of all the Bible verses!  What pictures are included are gorgeous, but that seems to be where the issues start.  There aren't nearly enough pictures.  Now, I realize that I am the type of person that thinks that cook books should have a picture of every single recipe.  I'm a visual person, and I like confirmation that what I made is supposed to look like that! ;) LOL!  Secondly this book REALLY needs to add how many servings will be made from the recipes.  It kinda scared me when one of the cookie recipes called for half a dozen eggs and 8 and a half cups of flour!!!!  Now I LOVE cookies, but WOW!  I hesitate to agree with the for Beginners part also.  I grew up watching cooking shows and learning recipes and the like since my mom LOVES to cook and reads cook books like they're novels ;) so I'm not necessarily a novice in the kitchen.  And I have to say that some of the "tips" I read aren't going to work very well for many things.  And there are some recipes through out the book I'm not sure will come out either. :/  The setup is a little strange as well with having the main dishes after desserts and the like.  I always like to try at least one recipe from a cookbook before reviewing it, but I'm sad to say that it wasn't good.  I tried the "Fruit Filled Coffee Cake" but the consistency of the batter or dough was really gloppy and I wasn't very happy with it from the beginning.  Then when I baked it is just didn't taste very good.  To give my honest opinion it called for a can of cherry pie filling and that was the only tasty thing in it.  But perhaps it was just my personal tastes; I was just pretty disappointed.  I think it needed more liquid to help it be less gloppy and more batter like, and I'm not quite sure what would help the taste :/ .  I will be trying again with another recipe (the hot fudge sauce) and then write another blog post with my results of that.

Songs: "Amazing Grace"
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Matthew 4:4

~ASC

*I received this book from Barbour for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about Amish Cooking Class Cookbook: Over 200 Practical Recipes for Use in Any Kitchen. ~ASC

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!  

He was an amazing Christian man!  A Scotsman kidnapped by the Irish then once released he felt God calling him to leave Scotland and return to Ireland and tell them all about Jesus!

Treacherous Trails Review!!!!!!!

Treacherous Trails by Dana Mentink

Book Description:
Falsely accused… 

Can she escape the real killer? 

In this Gold Country Cowboys story, farrier Ella Cahill is accused of murder—and only former marine Owen Thorn, her brother's best friend, can help clear her name. Now with someone trying to kill Ella, Owen must protect her…despite his promise to her brother to stay away from her. But can they work together to find the true killer before she becomes the next to die?

My Opinion:
WHAT A BOOK! I LOVED THIS STORY!  And I must say I am LOVING this series!  I can't WAIT for the next book! :D  I really enjoyed meeting these two main characters in the last book and I was looking forward to Owen's turn!  And let me say that Dana did not disappoint!!!!  This one is also totally different in style of mystery and plot which I also truly LOVED, because when a sequel just repeats the original it's not good.  But with completely different situations in this one I think I loved it even more than the first (and I will also say, without giving too much away, that I usually don't like this style of mystery, but still ABSOLUTELY LOVED this one!)!  The character's backgrounds are highly interesting to me.  Two people that have overcome their pasts and continue to overcome obstacles in their present as they come together to survive!  Add in just enough suspense and intrigue and you've got a recipe for a highly entertaining read!  I HIGHLY recommend this one and truly can't wait for the next two brother's to get their stories!     

Songs: "Jesus I Believe" by Big Daddy Weave, "All My Hope (feat. Tauren Wells)" by Crowder, "Control (Somehow You Want Me)" by Tenth Avenue North, "Miracle" by Unspoken,
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 41:10

~ASC

*I received this book from the author for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about Treacherous Trails. ~ASC