I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson

A few months ago, I began following Sarah Wilson's blog and am being careful about the amount and type of sugar my family eats.  So, when I had a chance to review her new book, "I Quit Sugar", I was really excited to receive it.

First of all, this book is very easy to read and understand.  Ms. Wilson begins her book with why she decided to quit eating sugar and educates us about the different types of sugars and their effects on our bodies.

Then she shares her 8-week detox program,which I thought seemed entirely doable.  My 13-year old daughter who loves sweets suggested we do this together as a family, so it can't be that bad!

Then, there are the recipes...  Ms. Wilson has included some really easy recipes that don't require a plethora of weird ingredients.  As a matter of fact, other than brown rice syrup (never tried the stuff before), we pretty much have everything thing in our pantry already.  The items she's included look good, too, and makes me (and my daughter) believe this is a change we could live with... and excited to give it a go.

In summary, Ms. Wilson encourages her readers to make different choices by educating us about the different types of sugars and their effect on our bodies.  She is an understanding teacher and shares that in her food journey, she has made mistakes along the way and how to handle the times she's "fallen off the wagon".  I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to improve their health and to be able to say , "I Quit Sugar"!

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 Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion. 

When We Were on Fire by Addie Zierman

I just finished reading Addie Zierman's honest and raw memoir titled "When We Were on Fire" and I couldn't wait to get to my computer to write down my thoughts.

First of all, I appreciated how vulnerable Mrs. Zierman has made herself by publishing such a candid and poignant account of her journey in her faith and life.  She wrote about things I have only allowed myself to think of briefly before self-chastising and moving on. 

I appreciated that she, too, has experienced hurt by "Church People" who are most likely so focused how they appear to others that they forget the humanness of others, themselves included.

I could relate to her story of trying to do the "right things" although they motive may have been sketchy.  I could feel her pain of drowning in depression and took a deep breath as she came up for air and reconnected with her faith.

One note:  The author does use profanity, although not in a gratuitous fashion in my opinion.  She is a real person.

All in all, I would recommend this book especially for those that may be struggling with what a "real" Christian looks like.  Thankfully, God loves us... flaws, scars, blackheads and all.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Young Women of Faith Bible (NIV)

I recently had the opportunity to receive the Young Women of Faith Bible for review.  The first thing I have to say is that I wish this Bible were in the New Living Translation (NLT) instead of NIV.  With that said, that is the only "negative" I could find about this Bible. 

First of all, I love the fun, colorful cover that makes you want to open up this Bible and find out what's inside.  Next, there are the pink butterflies, flowers, and hearts that really appeal to young ladies.  Each book begins with an easy-to-read synopsis, and there are a lot of great side notes to help explain some of the more difficult areas.  On top of that, there are "Memory Challenges" that encourage memorizing God's Word.

Some may find all of the girly things about this Bible to be unnecessary... and it may just well be.  But if the "girliness" of this Bible causes just one girl to fall in love with reading it, I'd say it was worth far more than the price paid.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Get Your Teenager Talking by Jonathan McKee

"Get Your Teenager Talking" by Jonathan McKee is a great book to have...  and use... no matter what your relationship with your teen.

When I first received this book from Bethany House Publishers, my daughter, whom we homeschool, saw this book and began to laugh!  Her immediate thoughts were, "Like that's a huge problem... not!"  But after I read a couple of the "springboard" questions to her, we were both hooked.  Even though we have a great relationship and talk to each other a lot, there are ideas for conversations that my hubby and I may not have thought of without this book as a resource. Some of the topics are fun and just a way to get to know each other better, some gritty.

I would recommend this book to any parent.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Blood Moons Rising by Mark Hitchcock

"Blood Moons Rising" by Mark Hitchcock is an interesting look at the meaning of the four "blood moons" occurring in 2014-15 and the historical significance of those events happening during major Jewish holidays.  The author believes that these events are significant and point to the end times.

This was an intriguing book.  I appreciated that the author is clear that he is not making a claim about when he believes the end times will take place, but believes that God uses planets and stars to signal the coming of important events.  He also retells how these astrological events paralleled significant historical incidents.

I would recommend this book for anyone interested in current events, history, or the study of the end times. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge

Heirloom recipes, family secrets…and a chance for love.  How could this book go wrong?

It didn't.

It has been such a long time since I picked up a fictional book that I couldn't put down.  If you love to cook and love to read, my guess is you will enjoy the story of Juliette, her large and opinionated Italian/French family, Neil, and the interesting little side-story of Juliette's Grand-mere.  

Set in Portland, Oregon, Juliette continues her family's restaurant legacy by opening a new restaurant with her brother Nico.  While planning the new eatery, Juliette meets Neil from Tennessee via an online dating service.  The drama of a long-distance relationship threatens to split up this perfect pair, but a trip to France to visit her great aunt makes Juliette realize what her dreams truly are.

Loved how each chapter started with a "food" quote and recipe.  Can't wait to try them!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Between Heaven & Earth by Steve Berger

Sometimes it is hard to remember that as followers of Jesus, earth is not our home and we wonder what heaven will be like.  Steve Berger answers many of those questions about our heavenly home in his new book, "Between Heaven and Earth".

Pastor Berger's teenage son was killed in a one-car accident.  That incident made the author question what heaven was really all about and what his son was experiencing there.

This book reminds us that heaven is a glorious place... perfect... filled with joy.  There is no sadness, want, or even boredom there.  But the book also warns that heaven isn't inevitable for everyone, and that each of us must believe and accept Jesus as our Savior.  We can't get there because we are a "good" person and have done a bunch of good stuff during our lives.  (Bunny trail: I heard Chuck Swindoll once say that if you believe that you earn heaven by your deeds, when will you know that you've done enough?)

I appreciated that Pastor Berger even wrote a little about pets in heaven.  He has a perspective different from what I was taught and I hope he's right.

I for one am looking forward to finding out for myself.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.