Piece de Resistance

Piece De Resistance
By Sandra Byrd

About the book:
Having earned her chef’s hat, Lexi Stuart bids ‘au revoir’ to her glamorous and deliciously satisfying pastry mentorship outside of Paris and returns home to Seattle, Washington.
In Seattle Lexi finds life unexpectedly complicated when she is put in charge of the high-end catering bakery, Bijoux. The bakery should be her dream job but there’s a catch: Lexi has to make this lavish bakery into a successful business in a few short months which will require more than an ability to make amazing wedding cakes. Stir into the mix a complicated relationship with her French beau Philippe and his daughter, Celine, add a dash of romance with a down-to-earth lawyer and life suddenly contains more ooh la la than Lexi can handle.

Review:
‘Piece de Resistance’ is the last and best part of a meal. Sandra Byrd’s novel of the same name doesn’t disappoint. As the heroine Lexi Stuart excitedly returns to her hometown, fulfilling her dream of running a high-end catering bakery, she is quickly splattered with cake batter from an out of control mixer. Lexi soon is led to examine where she has placed her faith and is left wondering if her dreams are as exquisitely ooh la la as she hoped.

Piece de Resistance is a rare novel which leaves you sad it has come to an end. You finish craving more, more of the French sweets, sights and sounds intermingled throughout the pages. The book is filled with enticing scenes and yummy recipes to delight the senses.

*I received this book free for review from the author*

The Kindle edition of Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd is free February 10-14! Bon Apetit and Piece De Resistance, books two and three are 99 cents!

Let Them Eat Cake: http://amzn.to/UX74hl

Bon Appetit: http://amzn.to/11Vmxkf

Piece de Resistance: http://amzn.to/YfXMsf

Rating: a whole gem parcel

Bon Apetit

Bon Apetit
By Sandra Byrd
About the book:
Lexi Stuart is risking it all. Saying au revoir to the security of home, her job, and could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi embarks on a culinary adventure in France to fulfill her life dream of becoming a pastry chef.
As she settles into her new home in the village of Presque le Chateau to study and work in a local bakery, her twenty-something optimism meets resistance in the seemingly crusty nature of the people and culture around her. Determined to gain her footing, she finds a church, meets a new friend, and makes the acquaintance of a child named Celine–as well as Celine’s attractive, widowed father, Philippe. Even Patricia, the gruff pastry cook, shows a softer side as she mentors Lexi in the art of baking.
As Lexi lives her dream, the only thing she has to do is choose from the array in life’s patisserie display window: her familiar home, friends, and family in Seattle or her new life in France. Lexi discovers that as she leans more on God the choices become a little clearer– and making them, well, c’est la vie!
My thoughts:

In Bon Apetit, book two of the French Twist Series, Lexi has now moved to France in order to pursue her chefs hat. She arrives with stars in her eyes and is surprised at the difficulty she ha adjusting to the coldness of the French people, school with some less than truthful students, and being so far away from home. Through this time Lexi is driven further to look for God for guidance and fulfillment.

Sandra Byrd does an amazing job of bringing France and Lexi's surroundings to life like she dropped up into the center of Paris.

The Kindle edition of Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd is free February 10-14! Bon Apetit and Piece De Resistance, books two and three are 99 cents!

Let Them Eat Cake: http://amzn.to/UX74hl

Bon Appetit: http://amzn.to/11Vmxkf

Piece de Resistance: http://amzn.to/YfXMsf

*I received this book free for review from the author*
Rating: a whole gem parcel

Let Them Eat Cake

Let Them Eat Cake
By Sandra Byrd
About the book:
Lexi Stuart is at a critical crossroads. She’s done with college but still living at home, ready to launch a career but unable to find a job, and solidly stalled between boyfriends.
When a lighthearted conversation in French with the manager of her favorite bakery turns into a job offer, Lexi accepts. But the actual glamour is minimal: the pay is less than generous, her co-workers are skeptical, her bank account remains vertically-challenged, and her parents are perpetually disappointed. Her only comfort comes from the flirtatious baker she has her eye–but even may not be who he seems to be!
So when a handsome young executive dashes into the bakery to pick up his high profile company’s special order for an important meeting–an order Lexi has flubbed–she loses her compulsion to please. Something inside Lexi clicks. Laissez la révolution commencer! Let the revolution begin! Instead of trying to fulfill everyone else’s expectations for her life, Lexi embarks on an adventure in trusting herself and her God with her future–très bon!
My thoughts:
I'm so excited to see The French Twist series being digitally re-released. Don't you just love the new cover? This series is one of my favorite series it all time. It's relatable, lighthearted, and introspective.

Lexi Staurt feels stuck in life and behind everyone else her. After sending out numerous resumes Lexi is offered a job at a French Bakery. A job that she will love but a job that isn't prestigious, doesn't utilize her degree, and doesn't pay enough for her to get her own apartment. Following her heart Lexi takes the job and little by little learns about herself, her family, her relationship with The Lord. She begins to see that maybe she does had what it takes to follow her dreams.

The Kindle edition of Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd is free February 10-14! along with books two and three for .99!
 Let Them Eat Cake: http://amzn.to/UX74hl

 Bon Appetit: http://amzn.to/11Vmxkf

 Piece de Resistance: http://amzn.to/YfXMsf

*I received this e-book free from the author*
Rating: a whole gem parcel

Top Five Friday- American Cities to Visit

Top Five Friday is when we post our favorites, depending on topic- American Cities to visit.

1. New York City, NY



2. Nashville, TN



3. Honolulu, Hi



4. San Diego, Co



5. Boston, MA



What cities do you want to visit?

Out of Time

Out of Time
By C.J. Darlington

About the book:
A busy woman blindly rushing through a grocery store.

A hard-working man with a pink slip.

A desperate teen girl who has a terrible secret.

All are running out of time, and the choices they make will change their lives forever.

Each story is approximately 1200 words in length.

My Thoughts:
Out of Time is a collection of three short stories that makes you stop and think are we to focused on ourselves? Each story was almost like a parable that could be used for Bible study.
Out of Time is a quick read and great for when you want to step outside of yourself.

*I received this book free for review from the author*

Rating : 5 carats



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Top Five Friday- stranded on an island

Top Five Friday is when we post our favorites, depending on topic. You're stranded on an island. What five foods would you want with you?



1. peanut butter



2. chocolate



3. kettle corn



4. Strawberries



5. Sweet potatoe Fries



What foods would you want on an island?

Secretly Smitten

Secretly Smitten
By: Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter

About the book:
Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!

There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?

Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.

My Thoughts:
"Secretly Smitten" is four intertwined novellas. One written by a different author. It's a lot of fun to read.

"Love Between the Lines" by Colleen Coble is filled with her trademark mystery and romance as the Thomas sisters discover a dean man, but is he actually dead?

"Make Me a Match" by Kristin Billerbeck features Smitten, Vermont's town matchmaker and quips along in Kristin's chick lit style.

"Knit one, Love Two" from Diann Hunt takes readers into a cozy and romantic knitting shop.

"Love Blooms" by Denise Hinter throws in a nursery manager and man looking for a job who instead finds what his heart is looking for.

"Secretly Smitten" is the second in the Smitten series and continues each characters story from the previous book. It's easy to be one smitten with these novellas.

* I received this book free for review from Thomas Nelson Publishers*

Rating: 4 carats



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