Stars Collide

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy don't just play two people who are secretly in love on a television sitcom--they are actually head over heels for each other in real life. When the lines between reality and TV land blur, they hope they can keep their relationship under wraps. But when Kat's grandmother, an eccentric star from Hollywood's golden age, mistakes their on-screen wedding proposal for the real deal, things begin to spiral out of control. Will their secret be front-page news in the tabloids? And can their budding romance survive the onslaught of paparazzi, wedding preparations, and misinformed family members?


From the soundstage to a Beverly Hills mansion to the gleaming Pacific Ocean, Stars Collide takes you on a roller-coaster tour of Hollywood, packing both comedic punch and tender emotion.

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson affords an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and lives in Texas.

My Review:  This was a fun book to read since it was lighthearted and entertaining.  The characters were very likeable, especially the quirky grandmother.  The storyline was full of comedy and romance.  It was easy to read and was definitely enjoyable.

Angel Sister

It is 1936 and Kate Merritt is trying hard to keep her family together. Her father has slipped into alcoholism, her mother tries to come to grips with their dire financial situation, and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to all of it. Kate could never have imagined that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena Birdsong would be just what her family needs.

In this richly textured novel, award-winning author Ann H. Gabhart reveals the power of true love, the freedom of forgiveness, and the strength to persevere through troubled times, all against the backdrop of a sultry Kentucky summer.






Living just thirty miles from a restored Shaker village in Kentucky, Ann H. Gabhart has walked the same paths that her characters might have walked in generations past. Her thorough research provides a convincing and colorful backdrop for her Shaker novels. Gabhart is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Outsider, The Believer,The Seeker, and Angel Sister.




My Review:  I enjoyed the way that this book transported me back into the middle of the "dirty thirties".  It was full of hard times and despair, but it also captured many beautiful moments along the way.  I really liked that the heroine in this story was a young girl.  She is full of energy and makes several attempts to preserve the relationships around her.

Another Dawn

Another Dawn

by:  Kathryn Cushman

When life gets complicated, Grace Graham runs. She's left romantic relationships, friendships, and even her family after the death of her mother. But now her sister, Jana, is giving her once last chance: Come home and help care for their father--whom Grace still blames for her mother's death--or never show her face in Shoal Creek, Tennessee, again. 

With her son, Dylan, in tow, Grace returns home from California. But is she returning for the right reasons? And when costly decisions from the past suddenly put her son's life and the lives of other children in town at risk, will she have the strength to stand strong and await Another Dawn?

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. After practicing as a pharmacist, she left her career to marry and begin a family and has since pursued her dream of writing. Leaving Yesterday is her third novel. Kathryn and her family currently live in Santa Barbara, California. Visit Kathryn's Web site at www.kathryncushman.com  

My Review:  This book was emotional and dealt with a very controversial subject in a sensitive manner.  I really appreciated how the author was able to show how there are always two sides to a story.  I definitely enjoyed this story of trust, forgiveness and understanding.

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group***

Promises To Keep

Promises to Keep

by:  Ann Tatlock

Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper. Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in.

Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them together--both are hiding secrets. So they make a promise--"cross my heart and hope to die"--never to tell anyone else.

When danger stalks the Anthonys, Tillie exhibits unimaginable courage and selfless love in her determination to protect the family she has adopted as her own.

Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award-winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association "Book of the Year" in fiction for both All the Way Home and I'll Watch the Moon. Her novel Things We Once Held Dear received a starred review fromLibrary Journal and Publishers Weekly calls her "one of Christian fiction's better wordsmiths, and her lovely prose reminds readers why it is a joy to savor her stories." Ann lives with her husband and daughter in Asheville, North Carolina. Visit www.anntatlock.com

My Review:  This was a well-written book.  I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters were well developed.  It was not a easily predicted ending, which I always appreciate.  I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this new author as much as I did and I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Ann Tatlock.

***Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group***

Picture It Picture Books

The one and only book series that children illustrate themselves. We write the stories and leave out the illustrations, giving children a chance to set their imaginations free. Our books focus on the environment, social responsibility, positive human interaction and creativity.

A Picture Book Without Pictures?

The most important part about Picture It Picture Books is that they don’t have any pictures.  We give our readers the opportunity to illustrate their very own books.  By visualizing the images to a story as it unfolds and then committing those images to paper, readers engage with our texts in a meaningful, physical way.  This increases reading comprehension and encourages readers to apply what they’ve learned to their own lives.

Picture It Picture Books:  Drawing on your imagination.

My Review:  Brianna, age 7, absolutely loves "The Moon Story" book that we were given to try out!  She is definitely a budding artist, and is usually found sitting at the table drawing or painting a picture for someone.  So the concept of her getting to create the pictures for each page of a story is brilliant!  It taps into her creative side and allows her the freedom to make the story her own, as she imagines it in her mind.  When I asked her what she liked best about it she said, "It's fun" and "Drawing is better than words".  Brie has spent quite a bit of time with her book already and I know that this will be a keepsake forever.  These books would make a unique gift for any creative child!  These books are available online at Chapters or through Picture It Picture Books directly.

***I was given a free copy of "The Moon Story" courtesy of Picture It Picture Books and Mom Central Canada in exchange for my review.  The opinions on this blog are my own***

Softly and Tenderly

Softly and Tenderly
by:  Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck

Jade has moved from her past toward a bright future. But then the man she loves most destroys her trust.

Jade Fitzgerald's hope for a perfect marriage shatters when her husband confesses he has an illegitimate son. What’s more, he wants to raise the boy in their home.

Hurting and confused, Jade embarks on a road trip to Iowa to take her sick mother to her childhood home. In the comfort of the old homeplace, Jade struggles with her fears and the tug of her first love. With the help of her family and her faith, she comes to understand her future doesn't rest on the power of her past, but in the goodness of God's mercy.

My Review:  I enjoyed this book and I easily read it as a stand-alone book, despite the fact that I have not read the first book in this series.  The main character has a lot of difficult things going on in her life which leads her, at times, to make some bad choices along the way.  Yet through all of the pain she is able to find healing and a fresh start.

***I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ***

Bluewater Holiday Appys

A large portion of Christmas is about spending time together with friends and family.

And eating good food!

I am a big fan of eating appetizers, especially potluck style where everyone brings their own favorites.  You can get so much variety and it's also a good time to try out new recipes to see what everyone enjoys.

If you are looking for some new ideas, Bluewater has some great recipes on their website.  I have previously reviewed their products, and my family continues to buy their products since we all enjoy it.






Maybe you could try out the Popcorn Shrimp in Puff Pastry.

It looks delicious, and anything with cream cheese is always a hit.










Or you could try the Shrimp Quesadilla.

Mmm!














Or if you want something on the healthier side, this Grill Salmon and Cucumber Salad looks super yummy.