Book Review: House of Secrets

About the Book:
Bailee Cooper feels the weight of her sisters lives on her shoulders, even from her earliest childhood recollections. The question Bailee is trying to answer is why? Why does she feel like she has to protect her adult sisters?

When their father plans a trip to the family vacation home, the sisters sift through fact and fable to figure out what happened to their ill mother. How did she die? What really happened the last night of their mother's life? What desperate situation lead to the shocking choice to end a life? The three sisters unanimously decide that they need answers. The only person better fitting to answer their questions is their father. Are the three sisters ready to hear the heart-wrenching facts of their pasts? Are they willing to hear the truth? Or will they try to forget the future that may await them? 

One sister knows more than she is leading on. She is unsure whether she should tell her sisters what they deserve to know or harbor them from pain and anxiety.

Mark Delahunt shows an interest in Bailee but she is not ready for an in-depth friendship... or commitment. Did the secrets of her past ruin Bailee's ability to trust? Caught  between the past and an uncertain future, can Bailee let God guide her to healing... or will she risk losing the chance to embrace love? 

My Review:

In this review, I included many question that I myself asked while reading Tracie Peterson's novel, "House of Secrets." In every chapter, readers are confronted with a ever-twisting plot. I felt the thrill and suspense of Bailee's life while I read this book. I enjoyed the fact the the author included many biblical truths.

Bailee's life is an example of someone who is hurt by life's curve balls, blames God for all of their problems and then is in desperate need for His help. I was pained to see Bailee's resistance to God, but nearly cried a sigh of relief when she finally let Him heal her pain.

I would recommend this book to anyone in search of a thrilling and mysterious novel. The ups and downs of Bailee's life are truly entertaining and passionately written. I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. If you'd like to read "House of Secrets" you can purchase it from Amazon, Amazon Kindle, CBD, and CBD e-Reader. 

Recipes: Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Cookies.

Do you sometimes crave a sweet treat? Do you always have an hour to bake a cake or pie? Yes and no are my answers. After some recipe research and a bit of testing on my behalf, I've come up with a delicious soft cookie recipe.

• 2/3 cup of softened butter   
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 1 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cup of flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 1/2 cups of uncooked quick oats
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1-2 medium sized apples

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

2. Peel and slice your apples 

3. Mix all of your dry (sifted) ingredients. {flour, sugar, baking soda, oats and cinnamon.}

4. Add the rest of your ingredients {milk, vanilla, and butter} to your dry ingredients.

5. Add the apples to mixture.

6. Butter your cookie sheet

7. Spoon the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet leaving about and inch between each dallop

8. Place your cookie sheet into your oven and let the cookies bake for 10 minutes.

9. After 10 minutes let the cookies cool and serve with a tall glass of cold milk.

Voila! You have a fast, simple, and delicious snack.

Book Review: His Steadfast Love

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"His Steadfast  Love" written by Golden Keyes Parsons is the riveting novel of young Amanda Belle. 

Life was simple for Amanda and her family, until war erupted. The Civil War. Father against son and brother against brother was the fate of America at this shameful point in her history.

Being raised southern, Amanda's family strictly believes in the south's way of life. Daniel, Amanda's younger brother, enlists in the confederate army to protect his home, rights and views. What pride the Belle's must feel for this brave young man entering into the bloody war that they hope to win! Amanda feels fear. Her mother's last wishes were for Amanda to care for her siblings when she died. How was she going to protect her brother out on the bloody battlefields? What's more, Amanda's heart is torn between her father's wishes and the man she loves. She has fallen in love with the enemy, a handsome Union soldier by the name of Kent Littlefield.

I enjoyed the richly entertaining plot of this book. Through out this read, I learned more on the Civil War period, a stain in our country's cloak of greatness. The author intelligently weaved appropriate romance and history into this book. Several questions, though, were left unanswered. A few friends of mine (Alicia and Aizess) and I agree that the author lacked to include which side Amanda Belle was really on. During the war, she seemed to sympathize with the slaves and the future that awaited them if they were freed.

I'd recommend this book to all who enjoy a well-written historical fiction novel. My reason for choosing this book, was for the fact that it covered one of my favorite eras and time in history. I received this book free from Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review. If you'd like to read this book, I can be purchased from Amazon, Amazon Kindle, CBD, and CBD e-Reader.

Operation Christmas Child

This will be the third year my family and I participate in Operation Christmas Child. This organization is run by Samaritan's Purse. Through this ministry, millions of children in the United States and around the world receive shoe box filled Christmas presents. 

I really enjoy packing gifts each year for children around the world. The first year, our shoe boxes traveled all the way to the Philippines. Last year, children from Ecuador received our boxes along with several children in Nigeria. 

Packing a shoe box is simple. If you'd like to send a shoe box or two, here are the do's and donts of shoe box packing.

Be creative and caring. Most of the children in these countries don't have the basic hygiene items that we comfortably live with. 

Scotty McCreery shows you how he packs his shoe box.

Here are a few pictures of my "shoe boxes" from last year.

Are you ready to pack your shoe box? Here are a few simple things you'll need to know before you get started.

If you can't pack a shoe box, you can still do something equally important. You can pray. Pray that the children may come to know God and the love He has for each one of them. Pray that volunteers can reach these children with no interference from the government. 

We can all be a blessing in one way or another. Will you be a blessing?