Shine Bright Anyway | January Book Club

Shine Bright Anyway

I don’t care who you are or how charmed others think your circumstances to be, sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes it’s VERY hard.

If now is one of those times, my book club pick for January is arriving right on time.

“Shine Bright Anyway” by counselor, Faith Broussard Cade, is a beautiful book with 90 messages to inspire hope. Faith gained a large Instagram following when she started posting daily handwritten positive affirmations or “love notes” on her account as she grappled with recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

Following that success, Faith has written her debut book which promises to show readers that they are enough even when the world says they’re not. Faith's hand-penned notes came from a place of trauma and brokenness originating from a commitment to healing from a car accident in 2018, the effects of which she still deals with today. It hurts. It slows her down. It makes her feel emotionally vulnerable and overwhelmed sometimes. But every day she chooses gratitude, love, and hard work. Sharing her struggles on her Instagram account has helped thousands of others do the same.

In this full-color book she pairs each handwritten note with a longer message to help readers:

• Overcome the wounds of the past through honesty and humbleness
• Replace feelings of inadequacy with the truth of your worthiness
• Prioritize self-care even when life is demanding
• Celebrate each day with gratitude and appreciation
• Believe in yourself when others say you can't or that you don't matter.

If life has left you feeling you are not enough or you are haunted by past choices, circumstances, or labels, “Shine Bright Anyway” will give you the encouragement to change your narrative. The expectations you live with today do not have to define you. You are enough.

“Shine Bright Anyway” is a beautiful little hard-bound volume that would be a lovely gift for oneself or anyone you care about. Christmas may be over, but birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and “just because” are not.

Give the gift of “Shine Bright Anyway”.

Victor Hugo's Wonderous Feast | December Book Club

"Victor Hugo's Wondrous Feast: The True Story of How the Author of Les Misérables Invited the World to Love", is my December book selection.

1860 Guernsey, France

At the marketplace, a five-year-old girl is carrying a baby and crying, hungry for food. She is just one of the many needy children in the streets, and Adèle Hugo, wife of author Victor Hugo, is moved to make a difference. Victor is equally determined and organizes a Christmas party at the Hugo mansion and invites a few malnourished children, convinced that a good meal is what they need.

This first Christmas feast turns into weekly dinners every Monday where up to forty children are invited. For seven more years—week in, week out—children and adults come to the Hugo mansion for dinners and the annual Christmas feast.

This timeless, true story with beautiful illustrations will inspire young hearts to embrace empathy and do good works, especially during the holidays. Victor Hugo’s Wondrous Feast teaches that “to love is to act” and reminds us that it only takes one person to make a difference.

"Victor Hugo's Wondrous Feast” is the heartwarming, true story about the transformative power of love and good works, nurtured in the home of Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables.

GET YOURS: "Victor Hugo's Wondrous Feast”

Most Requested Copycat Dishes | November Book Club

ORDER: “Most Requested Copycat Dishes”

The weather is colder, the leaves are falling, the days are shorter and darker… Must be nearly Thanksgiving! While that BIG FEAST is fast approaching, there are other meals to be prepared each and every day.

If you’ve grown tired of the same-old, same-old and want some inspiration, you’re going to appreciate “Most Requested Copycat Dishes”

From fast-food classics to gourmet restaurant delights, “Most Requested Copycat Dishes” brings the restaurant experience directly to your home kitchen. From crave-worthy appetizers like Disneyland’s Jalapeño Cheese Stuffed Pretzels and PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps to mouthwatering main courses like Mizithra Pasta from The Old Spaghetti Factory and Gino’s East Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Then finish off your meal with decadent desserts like Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Pie or Nothing Bundt Cake’s White Chocolate Raspberry Cake.

This cookbook presents more than 100 tested and perfected recipes that mirror their famous cousins. With insider tips along with step-by-step photo instructions for some of the trickier recipes, “Most Requested Copycat Dishes” can elevate your home dining experience whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen enthusiast.

You’re sure to find a new favorite - or several - and maybe there’s even something so good it will make it to the big table on Turkey Day… This fall, my gift to you is recommending “Most Requested Copycat Dishes”, your tastebuds will thank me!

GET YOUR COPY OF: “Most Requested Copycat Dishes”

Lady Flyer | October Book Club

LADY FLYER

October is a slowing month. It lounges between the frantic back-to-school pace of September and the bring-on-the-holidays race of November. October is for taking the time to rest, reflect, and ready oneself for winter. For that reason, it’s a very good time to pick up a book!

“Lady Flyer” by Heather B. Moore, is the the book I recommend. It’s got some heft to it, so pull on your cozy sweater, grab a cup of tea, and curl up in your favorite book nook, you’ll be here a while.

Based on a true story and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for identity and equality.

“In the quiet town of Houghton, Michigan, sixteen-year-old Nancy Harkness discovers a passion that ignites her heart in ways she never expected. The arrival of barnstormer pilots brings more than just the thrill of their daring stunts; it brings the promise of adventure. Nancy vows she will be a pilot someday.

Years later, as the dark clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Nancy’s dreams take a new and daring turn. With unwavering determination, she envisions a squadron of female pilots. Yet, her path is far from clear. The male-dominated world of aviation pushes back, determined to keep women out of the skies.

But Nancy isn’t alone in her quest for equality. Jackie Cochran, a formidable aviatrix and Nancy’s rival, has her own dreams and ambitions for women in aviation. As they both navigate the turbulent skies of a nation at war, their destinies intertwine in a story of rivalry, respect, and competition.”

Author, Heather B. Moore is a USA Today best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy publications, including The Paper Daughers of Chinatown and Under The Java Moon. She’s lived on both east and west coasts of the United States, as well as Hawaii, and attended school abroad, including the Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about anything in history and is passionate about historical research. That is evident in “Lady Flyer”.

Order your copy of LADY FLYER

So True A Love | September Book Club

SO TRUE A LOVE

September has arrived, and with it a changing of the seasons. Labor Day, regardless the weather, marks a turning point for many, from the idles of summer to the productivity of fall.

But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, as the old saying goes, so make sure you carve out some time for yourself between business meetings, school drop offs, shopping, cooking and house chores.

15 minutes a day curled up with a book that plucks you out of the daily grind and places you in the midst of the danger and passion of two love birds embroiled in a Bow Street investigation is what I’m talking about!

“So True A Love”, by Joanna Barker, is my book club pick for this month of transition, September.

London, 1803

As the daughter of a renowned actress, Verity Travers is a privileged lady of high society—and the last woman one would suspect as having worked as a private investigator. But she has hung up that dangerous hat to live the uninspiring life of a gentlewoman. However, when she and her dearest friend become victims of an armed robbery, Verity finds herself swept back into the clandestine world of mystery and crime as she seeks to bring the thief to justice. There’s just one complication: the persistent and dashingly handsome Bow Street Runner Nathaniel Denning, who always seems to cross her path.

Verity is confident she could accomplish her work quickly if only Nathaniel would stay out of her way. Focusing on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult as his keen mind, quick wit, and determination to keep her out of danger muddle her progress—and her heart.

When the two rival investigators learn they are both pursuing the same cunning criminal, they must figure out how to navigate the delicate dance of cooperation amid a backdrop of increasing peril and an irresistible passion that sets their hearts ablaze.

I love to take a book out onto the porch or into the garden, any time of year, but right now, when the kids have gone back to school and the days are still warm, is when I have the best opportunity to do so. “So True A Love” is good company.

BUY: So True A Love

What In The World?! | August Book Club

I adore Leanne Morgan! She’s smart, she’s beautiful, she’s humble, and she’s sooooo funny! Relatable is the word most people use to describe her. Actually no. “Funny” is the first word, followed closely by “relatable,” but you know what I mean.

She took the time to share some laughs and stories when she joined me on my podcast, LOVE SOMEONE and while I was a fan before, that cinched our relationship. I’m one of her loudest, proudest cheerleaders now, watching her star ascend, applauding every new endeavor.

From raising babies and doing some stand-up on the side, to social media fame, to her smash Netflix special, Leanne Morgan is now a household name and marquee’s all over the country are lighting up with it as she smashes sold-out show after sold-out show. She’s wrapped up a movie with Reese Witherspoon and Will Farrel, and a new sit-com is in the works. What more is there to do? Well, write a book, I suppose… and she did just that!

“What In The World?!”, by Leanne Morgan, “A Southern Woman’s Guide To Laughing At Life’s Unexpected Curveballs And Beautiful Blessings” is available to preorder now.

“For a long time, no one pulling the strings in the comedy world thought that a woman over fifty from rural Tennessee could make it in the industry. But Leanne Morgan has defied the odds, reaching millions with her musings on hormones, low-rise britches, Weight Watchers, and her opposites-attract relationship with her husband, Chuck.

In her charming southern accent, Morgan brings readers inside her quest to find her voice after spending many years trying to figure out what that meant. Along the way, we learn how she grew up as a butcher’s daughter, landed a husband with health insurance, honed her stand-up technique selling jewelry at house parties, embraced the glories of aging, and surrendered to the comfort of wearing big flesh-toned panties.
 
Equal parts warm and hilarious, this book is a must-read by one of comedy’s rising stars—reminding you that every time life leaves you asking “What in the world?!,” something good is bound to come out of it someday.”

Pre-Order “What In The World?!”

A Kingdom To Claim | July Book Club

A Kingdom To Claim

Ready to escape reality for a little bit, letting the noise of the world fade into the background, and the roar and excitment of a Viking battle take its place? My book club pick for July will take you there!

“A Kingdom To Claim”, by Sian Ann Bessey, will immerse you in ancient culture, clashes, and a kingdom on the brink.

Wessex, AD 878

“Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now, almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was a little more than a child, she recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.”

I enjoy my life so much, especially the chaotic parts, but I still need an escape every once in a while. Books, more than anything else, provide it. A few pages into “A Kingdom To Claim” and I am walking in Aisley shoes, sharing her doubts and desires, experiencing her insights and feelings as she practices her healing arts, falls in love, and fights for the future of her Saxon home.

Welsh born, Idaho state resident, author Sian Ann Bessey, transports us to a time and a place that is the stuff of legends, but really DID exist.

The lives of the Viking and Saxon people during the time of King Alfred’s reign, and the Viking invasions of the British Isles will fascinate you as it does me. Rich in detail and masterfully told, “A Kingdom To Claim” is historical fiction at it’s best.

Pick up your copy HERE.

Beneath A Crescent Shadow | June Book Club

“Beneath A Crescent Shadow”

New month, new book club pick!

“Beneath A Crescent Shadow” is from a genre I share with you a lot, historical fiction, but instead of a Victorian period piece, this one goes way way back to the Ottoman Empire toward the end of the dark ages.

Author A.L. Sowards has obviously done an incredible amount of research to be able to depict the era with such realism and fascinating detail.

“After an arranged marriage, Konstantin and Suzana must find a way to meet the demands of a conquering Ottoman sultan amid a torrent of setbacks and dangers much closer to their Balkan home.

The Balkans, 1373
A devastating battle claimed the lives of Konstantin’s father, uncle, and most of their Serb army, leaving him to rule as a vassal of the Ottoman sultan, a role he is wholly unprepared for. Between war, famine, and a persistent band of brigands, Konstantin is nearly bankrupt. He will need to find a wealthy bride to marry if he is to have any hope of saving his lands and securing his future.

A betrothal to Suzana, the daughter of a prosperous merchant, is soon arranged, and upon meeting her, Konstantin immediately feels hope that their marriage could someday grow into love. Yet, from the moment of Konstantin and Suzana’s betrothal, enemies threaten their lives, outlaws prey on their lands, and the terrors of Suzana’s abusive past haunt their fragile new relationship. As this onslaught of threats closes in, the two face challenges that will test their love, their faith, and their hope to save their people and win their freedom from the heavy weight of Ottoman oppression.”

Although it’s an arranged marriage, neccessary because Konstantin needs the wealth Suzana’s dowry will bring to him and his floundering kingdom, I loved that our two main characters fall for one another at their first meeting. I was cheering them on from the beginning!

As a reader I too felt the cold realities of the period, wartime, and the duties and expectations placed upon the young rulers. And, as each is only human, they must also overcome personal struggles, learn and grow as individuals, and find their place in a brutal world. When hope is a meager commodity, the ability to trust in one another helps them to work through past and current traumatic events, staying resolved and steadfast in their love and the execution of their overwhelming responsibilities.

It’s action-packed, with epic nail-biting battles too. History is so much more interesting when there’s a romance to guide you through it! Just the thing to take out into the garden or tuck into a beach bag.

“Beneath A Crescent Shadow, The Balkan Legends” is Book 1 in a new series, and once you’ve cracked the cover, your going to want to read them all! I know I do!

Order: “Beneath A Crescent Shadow”

Highcliffe House | May Book Club

I only had to glance at the cover of “Highcliffe House”, by Megan Walker, to know I wanted to lose myself between its pages.

When you see the beseechingly moody scene of a women dressed in a Regency era long skirt and bonnet, gazing up from the beach toward a formidable stone house… I know you’ll feel drawn to it as well, that’s why I chose it for my May Book Club recommendation.

It’s a Proper Romance too, so while it tells a sweet, charming story full of splendid detail, historical references, and witty repartee, it skips all the stuff that might make you uncomfortable if your young daughter were to pick it up and flip through.

“When a romantic entanglement leaves her humiliated and reeling, Anna Lane wants nothing more than for her father to whisk her away from the gossip of the ton. Unfortunately, he has obligations elsewhere, leaving her stuck in London.

Graham Everett’s financial security depends on an investment with Mr. Lane, his long-time fried and business partner. He’ll do just about anything to secure it for his family, even if it means fighting spiled, embittered Anna for her father’s attention.

Lucking, Mr. Lane concocts a plan that will give everyone what they want, with one stipulation; Anna must accompany Graham to Brighton in her father’s stead and make a decision to invest—or not—based on a thorough report.

But it will take more than a day at the beach for these two headstrong hearts to admit that they’ve been wrong about each other. If they are willing to invest a little time working out their differences, they might have a chance at real love.”

Mom’s would love to receive this on their Mother’s Day breakfast tray along with lovingly prepared french toast, orange juice, hot tea and fresh flowers.

When the last bite’s been eaten, tidy up the tray and leave her to her book and tea for a while, she deserves it.

Eat Dessert First | April Book Club

EAT DESSERT FIRST

“Eat dessert first!” is a credo I live by.

I mean, if the occasion calls for dessert (and what occasion doesn’t?!) why wait until the end of the meal?

Elise Thomas seems to feel the same. The first section of her cookbook, “Eat Dessert First”, lists 15 recipes that include cookies, bars, cakes, pies, and other sweet treats. A very complete collection (135 more recipes!) of both sweet and savory offerings follow.

Elise is known for her famous signature gourmet cookies she first started baking in her home kitchen and quickly turned into a highly successful chain of bakeries, “Cookie Co.” Yes, they’re THAT good! But cookies isn’t all she knows… Her first cookbook contains delightful breakfasts and brunches, lovey lunch offerings, and delicious dinners, PLUS breads, soups, salads, and all the extras. It’s a one-stop experience for recipes that any novice cook or experienced meal-maker will treasure.

From fluffy sour cream pancakes, to wedding shower chicken pasta salad, to black beans burgers with chipotle sauce, you’re mouth will be watering and you’ll be making a long shopping list the first time you flip through the full-color glossy pages. The slow cooker ranch chicken baked potatoes look like something the kids and I could dig into after a day full of work, school and activities. But first, dessert!

Pick up your copy, and a few for friends here:
EAT DESSERT FIRST

Wat Kept Playing | March Book Club

“Wat Kept Playing”, by historical author, Emily Inouye Huey, is my book club pick for March!

This picture book biography about Asian American basketball hero Wataru Misaka will inspire young readers to challenge barriers and dream big.

‘The Inspiring Story of Wataru Misaka And His Rise To The NBA’, is sensationally illustrated by Kaye Kang. And whether or not those you might find yourself reading it to, (or gifting it to,) are basketball fans, they’ll love this story of “Wat” Misaka who often felt like he didn’t fully belong to the American culture he was born into, or the Japanese culture his parents had come from, and yet, “Wat Kept Playing”.

As he got older, Wat discovered he had both a love, and an amazing talent, for the game of basketball—his troubles would often disappear, or at least recede, when he had a ball in his hands.

Through a World War, when people who looked like Wat were feared in America, through college ball, when he was the shortest person on the team, and through racist heckling from referees and others, his skills expanded, the cheers kept coming, and he found his place on the court and in the world.

Wat’s undeniable talent changed history as he became the first person of color to play in the NBA when he was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1947 BAA Draft.

March Madness is upon us, and “Wat Kept Playing”, is a wonderful way to introduce young people to the game of basketball, while also delivering the important message that though finding our place in the world may not always be easy, the three-point set-up of Dream, Drill, and Determination, will get you well on your way!

Cheer Wat along by ordering copies of “Wat Kept Playing”.

Protecting Her Heart | February Book Club

ORDER: “Protecting Her Heart”

Ah February, the month of hearts and roses. What better book to chose to share with you than one of romance--Proper Romance that is.  Which means, that if your teen or pre-teen pick it up, you’ll have nothing to blush about!

"Protecting Her Heart", by Nancy Campbell Allen, takes us back to London, 1887.

Romance? Yes. But there is also a mystery to be sorted out and in doing so, our characters, Charlotte Duvall, who has just recently graduated from an American medical school, and her treasured friend, John Ellis, of the Metropolitan Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, wrestle with danger and intrigue in a time and setting that is as foreign as it is familiar to us modern-day readers.

“Investigating the detais of a death was not how Charlotte imagined she would find love, bu as she and John work to unravel a dark web of secrets and lies, she finds herself relying on him more and more— and openingi her heart to him in the process.

As the danger draws ever closer, John vows to do everything in his power to protect Charlotte from harm. But he fears protection her heart might come at the cost of breaking his own.”

Come along with Charlotte and John, down dark alleyways enveloped in the foggy mists of London, it's social scene and schemes, and the tug of romantic feelings—welcome or not!

Get it HERE

Once Upon A Climb | January Book Club

Another year behind, another year in front of us, and undoubtedly we all have goals we’d like to achieve in the coming months. My book club choice for January might help!

“Once Upon A Climb” by New York Times best-selling author, Jennifer A. Nielsen, has been called “insightful and motivating.”

It’s for anyone and everyone who might be looking for guidance on how to reach the summit of their own personal dreams.

Jennifer is a well-known novelist and keynote speaker, inspiring countless attainers. She’s compiled her hard-earned life lessons, advice, and insights for achieving individual success into five steps for all who dare to dream — and make those dreams reality!

Her five steps include:

1. Gear up. Yes, you'll need confidence and courage, but ice cream is also on the list.

2. Choose your climbing team carefully. You'll need someone to guide you, someone who can support and bolster you up during those hard stretches, someone to train you, and someone to cheer you on.

3. Choose your route. Not all trails go to the same summit, so make sure to plan accordingly.

4. Cross the crevasse. When faced with something that appears impassable, hold on, call on your climbing team, and find the courage to move forward.

5. Reach the summit. It's important to celebrate both the journey and the destination.

Once Upon a Climb is like having a heart-to-heart with your personal life coach--someone who has been there, wants the best for you, and is cheering you on. Jennifer's motivating wisdom and thought-provoking insights can inspire every dreamer to put one step in front of the other, no matter where you are in your personal quest.

ORDER: “Once Upon A Climb”

Year to year my goals change to align with my priorities, sometimes the focus is more on career, sometimes family matters take center stage, or a farm project has been conceptualized and I need to figure out how to make it happen. Often all of the above and several more challenges must be tackled!

Balance is key, and that’s where I need help. I’m going to look at “Once Upon A Climb” to help me sort through my “To-Do” list, so it becomes more of a “Ta-Da!” list by the time 2024 is in the rearview!

Witnesses of Christmas | December Book Club

When it comes to holiday décor, don’t forget the books!

I love having Christmas themed books on my coffee and end tables, so everyone can enjoy them during this special time of year. That’s one of the reasons I’ve chosen “Witnesses of Christmas, A Musical Journey Through the Nativity of Jesus the Christ”, by my friend, Jason F. Wright, with Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four as my December Book Club pick.

Witnesses of Christmas is an adaptation of the narration and music from the original stage production of Joy to the World: A Sacred Celebration, a production conceived of, performed by, and produced by Jenny, that Jason would write the script for and narrate as a shepherd named David.

This book includes the script, sheet music and QR code links to performance recordings and accompaniment track to re-create a Nativity experience for readers unlike anything they’ve seen, heard, or read before.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them. Fear not: for, behold. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” ~ Luke 2:8-11

The second half of the beautifully illustrated book explains how readers can adopt five of Christ’s attributes to become better people, encouraging us all to try to live the kind of life that Christ’s life exemplified.

It’s truly a treasure I know will enrich your lives and those you chose to share it with, just like the production my friendship with Jason, it’s author.

Obtain your copy, and those for gift-giving here:
Witnesses of Christmas
A Musical Journey Through the Nativity of Jesus the Christ

The Light That Shines Forever | November Book Club

November brings shorter, darker days. We “fall back” an hour placing sunset, especially for those in Northern states, just after the last school bell rings, and before the time clock strikes 5. We rise in the dark, commute in the dark, and might feel like we’re living much of our lives underground like moles… searching for the light.

My November Book Club pick then, is perfect, “The Light That Shines Forever”, written and illustrated by David T. Warner.

It’s the inspiring, true story of Sir Nicholas Winton, who ingeniously rescued hundreds of children before Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia.

“The shadow of war was spreading across Europe. Hitler’s armies had marched into the borderlands of Czechoslovakia, forcing Jewish families, among others, to flee their homes and seek refuge in any location that would accept them.

When Nicholas Winton, the son of Jewish-German immigrants, traveled from London to Czechoslovakia to help the refugee families huddled in tents in sprawling encampments, an ingenious plan began to formulate in his head. By special waiver, children could leave the country without their parents, as long as host families abroad took them in. As word of his plan spread, parents lined the hallways and staircases of Winton’s hotel, begging for help. If Nicholas could get their children out of the country safely, the families would find a way to join them. Three weeks later, when Winton returned to London, he carried with him the names and photographs of hundreds of children—even babies—entrusted to him by their parents.

With the assistance of his mother and a growing circle of helpers, Winton began recruiting host families, raising funds, and securing visas. For nine months, he arranged for children to travel by train and ferry to England. Then war was declared, and the Czech border closed.

Fifty years later, Nicholas’s wife, Grete, discovered a long-forgotten scrapbook in their attic containing the names and documentation of 669 children. It was the only record of her husband’s remarkable rescue efforts. What followed was a series of equally remarkable events that allowed this heroic story to be told and for millions to learn the fate of these rescued children, all on live television.”

The Light That Shines Forever is a beautifully illustrated picture book, with primary source documents and photographs, that brings to life a remarkable wartime rescue.

The forward is written by one of my favorite British actors, Sir David Suchet (Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot 13 seasons). In it, he states, “So often, relious beliefs, cultural backgrounds, historical traditions, and so forth, are excuses to divide ourselves from one another. But, like light itself, God’s love shines on all people, everywhere. And when we share that light by serving others—including with those who are different from us—the light of goodness has an infinite reach and influence.” This book’s lesson and message invite readers to ask the questions:

What light will we bring to others?
What stories will fill the scrapbooks of our lives?

It’s a marvelous book that will help to shine some light into the dark corners during this dimmed season. Pick up several copies to share, but make sure you keep one for yourself!

The Light That Shines Forever

The movie, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins is coming out next month!
WATCH THE TRAILER

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe | October Book Club

Wow! Wow! Wow! Have I chosen the PERFECT book for my October Book Club!

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe: A Celebration of Our Recipes and Memories by Colleen Worthington.

This big, heavy, hard cover volume contains all the recipes you’ll need to see you through the coming months (including the holidays!) and beyond! So many delicious artisan and sweet breads, as well as the soups, sides, and salads you want to go with them! Then they add scrumptious sandwiches, dips, and desserts too. And if that weren’t enough, there’s a whole section on drinks and smoothies!

The recipes are accompanied by the most stunning full-page, color photographs that will make your tastebuds tingle just looking at them.

How does Turkey Curry Chowder sound on a cold winter’s eve? That’s one of the many soup recipes I’m looking forward to trying with and on my big brood! I’m sure it will be a hit, especially paired with the Kaiser Rolls (which we could also use for sandwiches or burger buns.) There are just so many intriguing ideas between the covers of this book!

“The story of Kneaders Bakery & Cafe began with Colleen and Gary Worthington baking traditional European bread in their kitchen. After mastering old-world bread-baking techniques and testing countless recipes, Colleen, Gary, and their growing team of bakers moved onto their signature artisan bread.

But bread is just the beginning. Kneaders is well-known for their mouth-watering soups, sandwiches, and breakfast as well as their delectable pies, cakes, and pastries. For the first time, home cooks have access to popular recipes such as Overnight Chunky Cinnamon French Toast, Artichoke Portobello Soup, and Blueberry Sour Cream Pie. Beautiful and appetizing photos accompany each recipe.

What began in Colleen Worthington’s kitchen a little more than twenty-five years ago has grown into a successful family-owned bakery and cafe business with time-tested, delicious recipes gathered in this one-of-a-kind cookbook.

Kneaders also has 48 restaurant locations.
Find the one closest to you here: KNEADERS LOCATIONS

You’ll want your own copy of Kneaders Bakery & Cafe: A Celebration of Our Recipes and Memories of course and I suggest you waste no time before placing your order!

ORDER: Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Not That Fancy | September Book Club

Anyone that knows me knows that I’m not that fancy. Really. And apparently neither is one of my biggest inspirations, Ms. Reba McEntire.

Her new book, “Not That Fancy, Simply Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots” tells it like it is.

Plain. Simple. And down to earth. Just like Reba… with some amazing talent, hard work, and tenacity thrown into the mix!

The best things in life are really not that fancy. This photo-driven book featuring all-things-Reba invites you to get back to the basics of life: fun, food, friends, and family. In her first book in over two decades, actress and country music legend Reba McEntire takes you behind the scenes and shares the stories, recipes, and Oklahoma-style truths that guide her life.

“Not That Fancy“ includes:

• Nearly 200 photographs from Reba’s childhood, career, and personal life—many of which are straight from Reba’s phone

• Never-before-told stories from rodeoing with her family to pranks with Brooks & Dunn to falling in love over a plate of tater tots

• Behind-the-scenes anecdotes from her music and acting career, with inspiration on how to follow your passion, trust your gut, and take a chance on yourself

• More than 60 recipes of appetizers, mains, sides, desserts, and cocktails from Reba’s personal kitchen, from friends and family, and from her restaurant, Reba’s Place

• Lighthearted lifestyle tips on how to achieve Reba’s signature hairstyle, plan a down-to-earth date night, throw an effortless dinner party, and more.
  

  WATCH the behind the scenes SNEAK PEAK

This heavy, hard bound volume is as beautiful as Reba herself. It’s going to look gorgeous on your coffee table right next to a little autumn decor, begging to be opened and read.

It’s available on October 10, so pre-order yours now so you have it in hand to lend all the fall inspo you need for recipes, relationships, and realizing your self-worth!

 Pre-Order HERE

The Art of Love and Lies | August Book Club

Last month I dropped multiple books titles on you hoping summer would inspire you take some time to lose yourself between the pages of a good story (or three!). This month we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming, and I’m sharing just one; one really GOOD one!

It’s a work of historical fiction entitled,The Art of Love and Lies, by Rebecca Anderson.

In it, a free-spirited artist teams up with a no-nonsense detective to capture a thief who has stolen a priceless Michelangelo painting.

”Manchester, England, 1857

Rosanna Hawkins is one of Manchester’s finest artists, even though no one knows her name. She reproduces “parlor versions” of classic masterpieces with near-perfect precision, which her employer then sells to the emerging upper-middle class families.

When the largest art exhibition ever to be held in England opens in Manchester, Rosanna is excited to visit. She meets the handsome Inspector Martin Harrison, who is head of security, and is immediately intrigued by his charm, confidence, and portrait-worthy good looks.

The two spend many a flirtatious afternoon exploring the exhibition hall, discussing art, and sharing their secret hopes. Rosanna dreams of painting something original and meaningful, and Martin hopes to one day shed the shadow of his father’s notorious past.

But when they discover the theft of some of the paintings—and all the evidence points to Rosanna—she must convince Inspector Harrison she is innocent and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief.

It is a daring race to catch the criminal before he disappears with the most priceless piece in the collection—Michaelangelo’s The Manchester Madonna. If Rosanna and Inspector Harrison fail, not only will the painting be lost forever but so will their chance to paint their own happily ever after.”

I hope some part of each day finds you parked in the coolness of a big shade tree - or at least in front of an air conditioning unit! And when those moments arrive, I hope you’ve got a chilled beverage beside you and a book in your hands!

The Art of Love and Lies is the perfect story to get lost in while the heat of August rolls over us. Get your copy today!

ORDER: The Art of Love and Lies

A Tantalizing Trio... | July Book Club

I have not one, not two, but THREE books to recommend to you during this star-spangled month of July!

“Why We Fought”, stories of those who helped to defeat the Third Reich, “One Base At A Time”, a memoir of losses, gains, baseball and surviving PTSD, and “A Song & A Prayer”, a month’s worth of daily devotionals inspired by Loretta Lynn’s song lyrics.

There’s something for everything in this big beach stack - which is where I recommend you dive in to them!

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“Why We Fought: Inspiring Stories of Resisting Hitler and Defending Freedom”
by Jerry Borrowman

The struggle to combat the Nazis during World War II encompassed front lines far beyond conventional battlefields.

In a panoramic and compelling account, author Jerry Borrowman shares seven largely untold stories of people who undertook extraordinary efforts at enormous personal risk to defeat the Third Reich.

Some were ordinary citizens like William Sebold, a German immigrant and US citizen, who could have been a deadly foe, but ultimately chose the Allied cause. Coerced by the Gestapo into becoming a spy in America, he instead approached the FBI, offering to become a double agent.

Among them was famous Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich, who was born in Germany but volunteered to entertain Allied troops in the European Theater of Operations and recorded radio messages designed to demoralize German soldiers.

As the Nazis swept through Europe, citizens around the world faced both an individual and a national complex moral question: How do you respond to tyranny and bloodthirsty madness?

These are stories of men and women who would not surrender or compromise. They resisted and fought with total commitment for freedom and democracy.

ORDER: “Why We Fought”

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One Base At A Time: How I Survived PTSD and Found My Field of Dreams
by David R. Mellor

On July 10, 1981, David Mellor was just a baseball-crazed kid, a star high school pitcher preparing to go to college and dreaming of one day taking the mound in Fenway Park for his beloved Boston Red Sox.

His dream was derailed as he crossed the parking lot of a McDonald’s. He heard the racing engine, but couldn’t defend himself against the car coming straight at him.

It sent him flying through the air and into a wall, where it hit him again and pinned him, severely damaging his knee and destroying his hope of ever being a Major League pitcher.

In the wake of the accident, even as he reached the major leagues as a groundskeeper, David was tortured by the aftermath of his injuries and additional traumas, including being struck by a car again, this time in the outfield of Milwaukee’s County Stadium while he was working on overhauling the field for the Milwaukee Brewers. He suffered terribly from anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks, completely unaware that he was experiencing the debilitating symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD.

One Base at a Time recounts in vivid detail his subsequent twenty-nine-year struggle with PTSD. This harrowing but inspiring story, documents the remarkable journey of a man debilitated by physical and psychological injuries who refused to give up even when everything seemed hopeless. After a fortuitous event, he admitted to needing help, sought effective treatment and turned his life around. It’s a powerful, helpful outline of the steps one needs to take to overcome the powerful hold PTSD has on one’s life.

LISTEN to my podcast episode with guest, David R. Mellor

One Base at a Time is a must read for anyone suffering in silence or anyone who knows someone suffering in the wake of severe traumatic events. Those who seem broken can be fixed and live a happy, fulfilling life.

ORDER: One Base At A Time

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“A Song & A Prayer: 30 Devotions Inspired by My Favorite Songs”
by Loretta Lynn and Kim McLean

A Song & A Prayer is a collection of devotionals combined with song lyrics that delivers a unique form of worship.

Inspired by Loretta Lynn’s songwriting sessions with Kim McLean (a fellow songwriter, music producer, as well as ordained minister and reverend doctor), Loretta's love of God is felt on every page of this book.

Readers will learn to experience and maintain an intimate one-on-relationship with God.   This volume will become a cherished companion for Loretta Lynn fans and readers everywhere as they strive to live each precious moment to the fullest and happiest.

Through A Song and A Prayer, readers of all faiths and walks of life will have the opportunity to bask in a month’s worth of spiritual encouragement. Loretta’s thoughts and lyrics not only capture the presence of God, but also capture a presence that transcends Christianity—the spirit of creativity.

In a busy world, Loretta’s lyrics and prayers remind readers that God loves them more than they could imagine.

ORDER: A Song & A Prayer

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Summer is just getting started and really heating up! I hope you’re wearing your sunscreen, staying hydrated, and getting your summer reading in! If you needed a little inspiration as to which book(s) to pick up next, I hope I’ve provided it.

Grab your beach chair, sunbrella, water bottle, and a bag of books and head to the nearest beach or lake/river’s edge whenever you have a chance. Summer won’t last forever and great reads are calling you!

Under The Cover of Mercy | June Book Club

A beautiful book has come my way that I can’t wait to share with you this June!

“Under The Cover of Mercy”, by Rebecca Connolly.

It’s another from one of my favorite genres, historical fiction, and you’ll love this fast-paced novel about a nurse “on a mission of mercy and rebellion.” It’s set during the tumultuousness of WWI, and it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat - or lounge chair, or beach towel - where ever you devour your summer reading list.

You won’t want to wait to dig into the based on the true story novel of a nurse that risked charges of treason to help wounded Allied soldiers escape their German captors.

”November 1914

The Great War has come to Brussels, and Edith Cavell, Head Nurse at Berkendael Medical Institute, faces an impossible situation. She has sworn an oath to help any who are wounded, under whatever flag they are found. But Governor von Lüttwitz, the ranking German officer, has ordered her and her nurses to also stand guard over the wounded Allied prisoners of war and prevent them from escaping.

Edith feels that God called her to be a healer, not a jailer. How can she heal these broken boys, only to see them returned to the hands of their oppressors to be beaten again?

So when members of the Belgian resistance, desperate for help, bring two wounded British soldiers to her hospital in secret, she decides she will heal the soldiers, and then help smuggle them out of the hospital to freedom.

With her loyal friend and fellow nurse, Lizzie, by her side, Edith establishes her hospital as a safe house for the resistance, laboring tirelessly to save as many soldiers as she can. Working under the watchful eyes of the German army, Edith faces challenging odds as she fights to bring hope to her small corner of a war-torn world.

Based on a true story, Under the Cover of Mercy is the remarkable account of one woman who defied an entire nation in order to heal those who needed her help the most.”

Rebecca Connolly
photo credit: Sarah Schroering

I’m looking forward to many summer days in my garden with a stack of books to keep my company! “Under The Cover Of Mercy” will be the first of the season.

Get yours HERE.

I hope you’ll join me in your own garden, on your patio, or under the shade of a big tree in your neighborhood park.