Love's Fortune

by Laura Frantz

 

There are only a handful of authors that I adore enough to pre-order their books and read them right away. Laura Frantz is absolutely one of those. Her knowledge of American history is astounding and beautiful. She is so passionate about history and authenticity that she writes her manuscripts in longhand first.

Love's Fortune is the last book in a The Ballantyne Legacy Trilogy. This book revolves around Wren Ballantyne. Raised in the wilds of Kentucky during the early 1800's, she is wild, free and has no aspirations towards wealth and title. She is sent to live in Pittsburgh with her wealthy grandparents and must learn to become a gentile woman while finding a husband. She is thrown into the path of two exceptional gentlemen and must choose what it is she really wants in life.

Of course, I am sad to see the series end. However, I do look forward to seeing what Laura has next! I am giving this a rare 5 Stars because history is so beautifully intertwined with great storytelling.

Thanks so much, netgalley.com, for this book in return for an honest review. Here's to many more!!!

BTW, the first two books in the series are on Amazon. Just click here!!

Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Whoopie Pies

Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Whoopie Pies
Original recipe from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

Cakes
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 c. oil
1 c. dark brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
3 c. pumpkin puree
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs

Cream Cheese Filling
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1 8-oz. package cream cheese (you could use light)
3 c. powdered sugar
3 tablespoons maple syrup of 1/2-1 tsp. maple extract
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.

Lightly spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level with a knife. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat together the brown sugar, white sugar, and oil. Add the pumpkin puree and mix well. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix well. Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix until combined.

Using a 1 tablespoon scoop or a 1/2 tablespoon measure, drop the batter onto a baking sheet (lined, if possible, but not necessary), leaving about 1″ between the batter. Try to keep the batter as circular as possible. Bake for 10-14 minutes or until the tops are done and a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the pan and then transfer to a cooling rack.

To prepare the filling, beat the butter on high for 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, maple, and vanilla and beat until combined. Transfer to a large Ziploc bag and cut 1/2″-1″ off the corner.

Flip the cakes over on a flat surface. Squeeze about 2-3 tablespoons of filling per large whoopie pie (less if you used a 1/2 tablespoon measure) onto every other cake. Top each pie with the remaining cakes.

Serve immediately if possible; otherwise, these can be refrigerated in an airtight container.

Makes about 30 large whoopie pies.

Great Little Gifts to Knit

by Jean Moss

 

Being relatively new to the art of knitting, I was really excited to check out this title. I was pleased to find that there were so many options and all skill levels. You can find a gift here for ANYONE. From your dog, to your kids, to your home, self, Grandma and husband, there is something to be found.

Thank you, netgalley.com, for giving me this book for my review. Here's to many more!!

Return to London

by Terence Jenkins

 

 

Having never been to London, I found this a bit overwhelming, but fascinating. There are so many places that I now want to see. This is like a museum tour in your pocket.

If you have never been to England, or don't know much about the sites there, you will find yourself either doing a lot of research, or feeling very confused.

Great info (and lots of it!!).

Thank you, netgalley.com, for giving me this book for my review. Here's to many more!!

My Biggest Fear

Christians are interesting people. It seems that we spent about 1,500 years being a church that got what we wanted in the name of religion. Crusades, Violence, Hate and Control. There is a sudden wave of change around 2000. Now, it's as if the pendulum swung to the opposite side. Now we are a religion of something completely different. Coddle. Look the other way. No Judgement. Always Mercy. I don't believe that any of it would even be called Christianity, let alone the same religion!

Look, I believe that God is a God of great mercy, compassion and love. I believe that He will love and take you at any place or turn in your life. However, I also believe in the God that is jealous.

People like to say that now we are a New Testament church. That the entire Old Testament is irrelevant. "I'll go with what Jesus said.". That's all fine and dandy, but Jesus was all up in the Old Testament too. So, yeah, I'll go with what Jesus said, but I'll take it as a whole.

There's plenty of judgement and mercy/anger and love in both. God wiped out nations of innocent children and then loved and took care of His people. Jesus helped the lame and hung out with the "least of these". But he also showed righteous anger. He also told Peter, "Get behind me, Satan.".

Look, I am not in the business of judging others. I am in the business of loving what God loves and hating what He hates. Jesus clearly loved the "sinners". But he also told them, "Go and sin no more". He never said, "Aw, I support you because I'm a merciful God!". Absolutely not!!!!

The God of the Bible is a complex figure. He should be. Why would I worship Him if I understood what He does? Why would I worship Him if I knew everything like He does?

I wouldn't. That's the point.

Stop trying to understand everything and put God in a box. He's GOD. We will NEVER, EVER comprehend His ways. They are above our ways. We can't box Him into what we think is the perfect God. That's a god of our creation.

Christianity is not the design for the church that Jesus left Peter with. We cling to that title and then make up our own gods. It is scary! People are so confused by what God is because everyone has their opinions and labels.

I am sorry if you feel like you are judging someone because you don't like their lifestyle. You should be loving them with everything you have. Not judging them. But supporting them in their sin is the exact opposite of what God would have you to do. Society has burned into our brains that we are judgmental and narrow minded.

Run away from it all. Get back to the roots. Love God with all of your heart, soul and mind. Love others as yourself. Period.

I feel that, more and more, we are being bullied into a faith that is against everything God stands for. It's not acceptable and I won't do it. I won't spend another 1,500 years letting the church confuse people again. Not if I can do a thing about it.

Stop worrying about our "acceptance" bringing them to Jesus. Jesus if fully capable of winning their hearts. We just need to love them (and I definitely don't mean support the things that Jesus hates). Loving God is taking Him as a whole. Even the parts we don't get, or the parts that make us feel angry.

Love Story

by Nichole Nordeman

I sit here very torn. I have not been this undecided about a book in a long time.

Love Story is a collection of Nichole's perception of Biblical characters. I think it is wonderful that she is so in love with Jesus and tuned into the people she is writing about. I don't, however, agree with all of her ... findings?

Nichole Nordeman is a fabulous singer/songwriter. I am sure you have heard her music and probably sang it in your car a time or two. In fact, whenever I hear about her, I think of one of my sweetest friends. Before she moved far, far away, we swapped some Nordeman CD's. (Love you, Robyn!!)

Like I said, it's a collection of her views on religion and the Bible. Please take it for what it's worth and pray about your own conclusions. There are some really lovely pictures that she paints, and some really dark ones too. I love that she is open and vulnerable. I also believe that those struggles taint, in both good and bad, her view.

Because I struggle so deeply with a few things, I am going to have to give this book 2 stars. Again, there was good in it, but I fear that her fame will taint other people's views as well. Paul clearly didn't have a problem with women. He worked with them and encouraged them. His ideas didn't stem out of dislike or arrogance, but out of the inspiration of the Spirit. There were multiple things I disagreed with, Paul was just one.

Thank you, so much, Worthy Publishing, for the book. Here's to many more!!

Awesome website with FREE BOOKS

I have been blogging/reviewing for Tyndale House and came across this rewards program. It's for FREE BOOKS through their publisher. They have Christian authors from the Robertsons to David Jeremiah (and everyone in between).

Anyway, check it out! I'll be doing a blog tour with Kay Robertson in October and you'll have a chance to win her newest book then too. For now, see what other good books you can score!!

www.tyndalerewards.com/signup/?pc=6r05-omwh-hz6c-3rpd