The Prisoner's Wife

The descriptive writing pulled me into the life of Izzy, a Czech farm girl, and Bill, a British POW. Their story tells of love, determination and horrific hardships no human should endure. The forged friendships with other prisoners is touching, and shows that there is hope to be had even in the darkest times. Izzy lives life as a man, and their secret is kept despite the lack of privacy in the German labor camp. 

There is some crude and violent scenes, as would be expected in a WWII tale, yet the love Izzy and Bill cleave to is inspiring. The fact this is inspired by a true story drew me into the story even more. 

This is truly a page-turner, and not once did the story lag.

I highly recommend The Prisoner's Wife. It is my favorite book of 2020. 

5+ Stars

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House. 

Dairy-Free Meal Prep

Dairy-Free diets can be challenging, but this book makes it easy. Dairy-Free Meal Prep is just one of many cookbooks by Silvana Nardone. She is the founding editor of Everyday with Rachel Ray, so I'm confident this book is chock full of reliable information. 

Unlike most cookbooks, this one delves into the reasons of why. Why go dairy-free? Why are meal plans important? This book has answers. Not only that, it has six weeks of meal plans for those who really don't know where to start. Broken down into a three part format, with easy to follow instructions, anyone can begin a healthier diet. 

4 Stars

I received this book from Callisto Publisher's Club.

Dairy-Free Cookbook for Beginners

I'm always on the lookout for Dairy-Free cookbooks, and I'm so happy I came upon this one. Dairy-Free Cookbook for Beginners is full of great recipes. They're easy to follow, even for the most inexperienced cook, so the "for beginners" in the title is accurate. Everything from entrees to desserts can be found, along with substitutions and shopping tips. I reccomend this cookbook to anyone journeying into the dairy alternative lifestyle.

5 Stars

I received this book from Callisto Publisher's Club.

Everyday Stress Relief

With the Corona Virus affecting every aspect of my life, stress has become three-fold. This book is full of techniques to combat that stress. The biological effects stress has on the body is explained in layman's terms. I honestly think this book is helpful to everyone. 

5 Stars

I received this book from Callisto Publisher's Club

Mediations on Christ

This little journal is beautiful. Mediations on Christ is full of guidance, Biblical verses, prayers and  meditation. There are journal entry prompts to help you write your thoughts on the daily subject. The georgeous illustrations are an added bonus.  

The meditations are focused on many things we encounter in life: faithfulness, joy, patience, and many other qualities we strive for as a Christian. 

5 Stars. 

I received this book from Callisto Publisher's Club.

The Hand Lettering Workbook

This is a little bit of whimsy and a lot of fun. The instructions are easy to follow and there's plenty of room to practice. The pages are thick, so no chance of bleed through. The lettering starts simple, and gradually progresses to more challenging letters.

Great bit of fun for anyone.

I received a copy of this book from Callisto Publisher's Club.

4 stars

Urban Gardening for Beginners

From windowsill herbs to hydroponics there is many choices for a garden. This book helps break it down by difficulty level, cost and great instructions. Being able to pluck an herb while cooking, or spending time outside in a vegetable raised bed, it really doesn't matter what you choose. The feeling you get from growing and providing food is the best. I am going to start small and work my way to a full backyard garden. But even if you don't have a backyard, there are many options in this book. Go for it! Spring is almost here.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Callisto Publisher's Club.

4 stars

The Sleep Workbook

The easy to understand steps in this book help change sleep habits. The journaling exercises are full of self-reflective questions to help you deal with the underlying anxiety that causes insomnia.  Instead of turning to pills or other strategies that mask the problem, this book helps you grasp your sleep issues and solve them through thoughts and behavior. It's certainly worth a try!

I received this book from Callisto Publisher's Club.

4 stars

Family Cookbook Recipe Journal

My daughter has gone out on her own but still calls me for recipes. This journal type cookbook is the perfect gift! Full lined pages to write down beloved recipes. Each page has a header to fill in prep and cook time, source of recipe, and servings ... and any little personal pointers. This is a hefty 200 page book, with color coded pages. There's measurement conversions, blank table of contents. I love the idea of filling it in with favorites and handing it down to my daughter. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Callisto Publisher's Club.

5 stars

Only the Hardest Puzzles

Wow. Yeah ... I um. What? This was my first reaction upon leafing through the pages of this crossword book. I found it quite a challenge to even figure out how to do some of these puzzles. There's types that I haven't even seen before. I love a challenge though, so I find this book a fun way to pass the many hours I spend at home now. I like the many different choices. 

I received this complimentary copy from Callisto Publisher's Club.

4 stars