Bingeworthy TV Shows Top Ten Tuesday

This is taking a trip away from books at the moment and talking about my top favorite shows! Also, any ideas on new ones? Link up for Top Ten Tuesday!

I will be honest, after watching the first two episodes I still wasn't sure I liked the show. Then I watched a couple more and it truly is SO good.  I also was pretty surprised at how clean the show is compared to most TV shows these days. Can't wait until season 3! 

Yep, it is a favorite. 

 

 The last part of this show wasn't my favorite but the first ones are great! 

 

 I have watched all the seasons so many times. 

If you haven't watched this you are missing out-big time!

 

 I found this show a few years ago, I have since watched all the seasons too many times...

 Started watching this thinking it wouldn't be that great, boy was I wrong. LOVE it!

I love history so this show is awesome! 

There are so many things I love about this show. While compared to This is Us ( which I personally think is better) Parenthood had some terrific episodes and character development. 

So any suggestions out there???

Freedom's Light Book Review

 

 About the Book

Hannah Thomas left the South and all that was familiar to marry her beloved John. But the fact that she’s never been quite accepted by his mother and sister and that she doesn’t quite fit the strict Massachusetts Puritan community only becomes more difficult when John is killed in one of the first battles in the war for freedom. Hannah is allowed to continue to serve as lightkeeper for the twin tower lighthouses on the lonely coastline, but it is grueling work for a woman alone.

One of the first shipwrecks washes ashore a handsome captain she thinks is a Tory, but she soon finds out he’s working as a spy for Washington. Much stands in the way of their happiness including the need to protect his secret, pressure from John’s family to marry another, near-constant disapproval from the townspeople, and the appearance of Hannah’s wayward sister. Coupled with the strain of war, Hannah isn’t sure she’ll ever see the light of freedom. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I am a longtime Colleen Coble fan and have especially loved her suspense books. This story is considered one of her historical novels and set during a favorite time period of mine, the Revolutionary War. The start of the book had me interested, mainly in Hannah and her story. A little ways in and in comes her sister and from there the story took a turn. While yes, there are more "adult themes" that isn't the reason for my low rating on this book. It had a great setting and a great possibility of being such a good book. But the dialogue was cringe worthy (very cheesy) and honestly Lydia was probably one of my all time least favorite characters. I felt like the end was rushed and the entire book all too predictable. 

I know Coble to be a fantastic author but this book was not for me. 

Two Stars. 

 

 Check out her Hope Beach Suspense novels!

"I received this book from BookLook Blogger for free. All opinions are my own" 

Little Book of Thanks Kids Book Review

 About the Book

It happens every autumn. As soon as the leaves begin to turn bright, beautiful colors, the year sprints ahead on fast-forward! Take a few moments out of the hustle and bustle of the season to sink into a cozy chair with your little one and thank God for everything He’s given us with Precious Moments® Little Book of Thanks.

In the sweet, enduring art style of Precious Moments, this timeless book will help your children recognize all the wonderful things God has given them! Read along, and you will remember to enjoy the simple things, like singing silly songs, jumping in a pile of leaves, and watching the seasons change. The short, rhyming verses in this classic Precious Moments book don’t take much time to read at all, and they will create memories that last forever.

Precious Moments Little Book of Thanks offers you the chance to be thankful for all that you have and for the ones with whom you get to share every precious moment. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I love Precious Moments and autumn so this book I had to get! I wish there were a few more fall type illustrations but overall be prepared for a great little book! I think a book of thanks is a great idea for kids and adults. We all need reminded to be thankful and this little book talks about being thankful for many things. In typical style each page has a little poem that goes with a verse. I think it is a great little book and a must have to Precious Moments fans! 

Five stars. 

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free. All opinions are my own."

Ours For A Season Review

 

 About the Book 

An Old Order Mennonite couple's vows and beliefs are challenged in this stirring contemporary novel for fans of Cindy Woodsmall or Shelley Shepherd Gray.

Anthony and Marty Hirschler are part of an Old Order Mennonite community in Pine Hill, Indiana. The couple has grown apart since a doctor confirmed they would never have children. Marty longs to escape the tight-knit area where large families are valued, and the opportunity to do so arises when her childhood friend, Brooke Spalding, resurfaces with the wild idea of rebuilding a ghost town into a resort community. Brooke hires Anthony to help with the construction, drawing the Hirschlers away from Indiana and into her plan, and then finds herself diagnosed with cancer. Moral complications with Brooke's vision for a casino as part of the resort and the discovery of a runaway teenager hiding on the property open up a world neither the Hirschlers nor Brooke had considered before. Will they be able to overcome their challenges and differences to help the ones among them hurting the most? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I have mixed feelings after reading this book. I never know where Sawyer is going to go in her stories and this book had good and not great. I really enjoyed Brooke's story and her character. I thought that part of the book was well written. When it comes to Marty I simply had a difficult time. I truly didn't like her character. I thought perhaps I would at the end, as that often happens in books, but I just never could get to enjoy her at all. I thought there was good character development but Marty really made this book difficult to love. Also, while I like how the latter part of the book took a different turn, it didn't seem to flow with everything else. It just seemed rushed. Anywho all that to say Sawyer really is a gifted author this book simply wasn't my favorite. 

Three Stars.

"I received this book from the publisher for free. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own."

Top Ten Tuesday -Topics I Want To Learn More About

After finding out about this week's Top Ten Tuesday it was a bit difficult to figure out where I should take my list. So I am going to list some books that fall into my "things that I want to learn more about" category. I also added a couple of books that I want to read to add to my Bible studying. I love all things history and typically after reading many historical fiction books, it creates new topics I want to research.

Can this part in history be any more intriguing?!

I love all things L.M. Montgomery and I am always wanting to read more about/from her!

The Radio Signal Review

About the Book

Growing up in bucolic Eastern Pomerania during the early years of World War II, young Friedhelm Radandt has listened with his family on the Volksempfänger (people’s radio) to the many victory news bulletins. At the same time, Elizabeth Jobs and her family have lived in urbane Warsaw as loyal citizens of Poland who cherish their ethnic German heritage.

As the war intensifies, the Radandts continue to hold worship meetings in their home and defy the pressure of local party leaders to send their sons to the notorious school for future Nazi leaders. Meanwhile, across the border, Elizabeth’s family must cope with the death sentence from the Polish resistance movement for her father, Ludwig, the researcher and developer of radio tubes. When both families are driven from their homes, each embark on harrowing, yet thrilling parallel escape routes across war-torn Germany. Amid the darkness and rubble, can the light of love emerge?

The Radio Signal captures the true story of two separate families who share a vibrant faith that imbues their actions with courage and trust. During the war, neither family knew of the other. Neither family knew that their paths would ultimately cross.

Includes discussion questions for book clubs. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I will be honest in saying I didn't totally love this book. War stories are interesting and there are so many out there, fiction and non fiction. The thing of it is, this story didn't grab me. Perhaps the way it was written just didn't pull me into the overall story line. That isn't to say that this story isn't important but I do feel it could have been written a tad differently. In any case I am sure many people would enjoy it just wasn't my favorite! 

Three Stars.

"I received this book from the publisher for free. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own."

Books to Pull You Out of a Reading Slump Top Ten Tuesday

It is Top Ten Tuesday!
There is no guarantee if any of these books will pull you out of a reading slump. Sometimes I get stuck in one genre and simply need to mix it up. So I came up with a few different genres for you to try! 

A Rumored Fortune Review

About the Book

Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano welcomes readers to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England, for a treasure hunt they'll not soon forget. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

 I completely loved this book! I wasn't sure how in the world this story would go with a treasure hunt, a vineyard, and Victorian England. For the first part of the book I was pretty confused as to where the author was going with the story but I loved that part. The characters were very well developed and Tressa in particular really grows throughout the pages. I will say right when you think you know something, curve ball! The romance was perfect, and the vineyard setting was well written. The ending had a bit of mystery and I truly enjoyed every moment of this story. 

I look forward to more stories from Politano! 

Five Stars!! 

"I received this book from the publisher for free. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own."

Eat at Home Tonight! ( A New Cookbook Review!)

 

 About the Book

Founder of the Eat at Home website and family meal-planning wizard Tiffany King shares recipes focused on simplicity, flavor, and healthy balance to help home cooks end every day with an affordable family dinner.

A popular food blogger with 8.5 million page views, Tiffany King's debut cookbook is crafted for those nights "when life happens." This is the cookbook to turn to when all hope of a homemade, wholesome dinner seems lost: when the fridge is empty, when it's already 8pm, when one kid has soccer practice and the other dance, when there's no time for cleanup because homework has to get done. Just like her blog, King's book is tirelessly encouraging and realistic. The recipes feature bright vegetables and affordable pantry ingredients. The book, uniquely arranged by "excuses includes sidebars with mealtime conversation starters and helpful cooking hints. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I am all about new food ideas! This cookbook is unique in the fact of how it is organized and also it has some recipes that I never would have thought to make. For example on a couple sections they are titled: I Only Have 15 Minutes Tonight (yes!), My Refrigerator is Empty Tonight, I Want to Cook for the Whole Week Tonight, etc. So she takes real life and tries to make things simple and she has some great tips on making a fast meal. Some yum yum recipes are honey-sriracha roasted brussels sprouts, skillet peach crisp, and Memphis-style BBQ chicken tacos with coleslaw. 

So if you are needing some yummy new recipe ideas or quick meals go ahead and pick this cookbook up! 

"Thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah in offering me a free copy to review. All opinions are my own."

Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype

I can be pretty skeptical of "popular books" because a lot of the time I really don't love what everyone else seems to love. But there have been a few books that I enjoyed that made it on this Top Ten Tuesday List!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murder at the Flamingo Book Review

 

 About the Book

“Maybe it was time to land straight in the middle of the adventure…”

Hamish DeLuca has spent most of his life trying to hide the anxiety that appears at the most inopportune times -- including during his first real court case as a new lawyer. Determined to rise above his father’s expectations, Hamish runs away to Boston where his cousin, Luca Valari, is opening a fashionable nightclub in Scollay Square. When he meets his cousin's “right hand man” Reggie, Hamish wonders if his dreams for a more normal life might be at hand.


Regina “Reggie” Van Buren, heir to a New Haven fortune, has fled fine china, small talk, and the man her parents expect her to marry. Determined to make a life as the self-sufficient city girl she’s seen in her favorite Jean Arthur and Katharine Hepburn pictures, Reggie runs away to Boston, where she finds an easy secretarial job with the suave Luca Valari. But as she and Hamish work together in Luca’s glittering world, they discover a darker side to the smashing Flamingo night club.

When a corpse is discovered at the Flamingo, Reggie and Hamish quickly learn there is a vast chasm between the haves and the have-nots in 1937 Boston—and that there’s an underworld that feeds on them both. As Hamish is forced to choose between his conscience and loyalty to his beloved cousin, the unlikely sleuthing duo work to expose a murder before the darkness destroys everything they’ve worked to build. (Goodreads)

 My Thoughts

After meeting Rachel last year at CFRR I decided I really needed to read her books! I really loved so many parts of this book. The setting and characters are very well written and this book takes on a whole different spin when it comes to Christian fiction. There is a lot going on in this book and Reggie really makes a perfect heroine.  The first part of the book had me eagerly flipping pages, while the last part got slow for me. That being said, I still enjoyed the mystery, the humor, and the simple wit that comes with any McMillan book. 

Four stars. 

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own."