It's Addicting

Its Addicting
By Laura L. Smith

About the book:
This third installment of the Status Updates series finds four college sophomore roommates finally getting comfy with the routines of dorm life. But Kat, Claire, Palmer, and Hannah soon begin to feel the nagging ache of innocent addictions pulling them away from their true selves. Still, obsessing over perfection, exercise, or a super-cute boyfriend could never be a bad thing—could it? Hang out with these four roomies to see if they can—or even want to—ditch these sneaky little hang-ups before they take over their lives.




* I received this book free for review from Playlist Fiction*

Vegan Ice Cream

Vegan Ice Cream
By Jeff Rogers

About the book:
Whether you’re vegan, lactose intolerant, or following a dairy-free diet, you don’t have to miss out on one of the world’s favorite desserts. Although ice cream substitutes are available, none of them achieves the richness of the real thing or offers the breadth of delicious flavors—until now. Vegan Ice Cream offers decadent frozen alternatives that don’t rely on milk, cream, or refined white sugar. Instead, these luscious recipes use nut milks, fresh fruit, and natural sweeteners to create simple and inventive ice cream flavors, from old favorites like Chocolate Chip and Strawberry to exotic creations such as Pecan Pie, Pomegranate, Kiwi Mandarin, Piña Colada, Chai, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Gingersnap, and many more.

This fully revised edition now features more than 90 recipes, including raw vegan ice creams and sauces, and full-color photography throughout. From the very first taste, you’ll be astonished at just how tasty and rich vegan ice cream can be. So make room in your freezer, and never miss out on the joys of ice cream again.

My thoughts:

I was really excited to read "Vegan Ice Cream". Since I am dairy free, I don't get to eat ice cream and I miss it. The book begins by listing and explaining the ingredients he uses. Most of the recipes contain nuts, usually cashews. In them he basically makes a "milk" from the nuts. I think you can use a non-dairy milk from your grocery store instead of making your own. Then he goes into the chapters of recipes complete with pictures that look just like ice cream.There's traditional ice cream flavors, non traditional ones, raw flavors, and sauces to top it all off.


I like this little book, it's exciting to think without dairy i can have ice cream. Good ice cream and also to see flavors I never even though of. Jalapeño Heaven, anyone?

*i received this book free for review from Blogging For Books*

Rating: 4 carats

Nashville Sweetheart

Nashville Sweetheart
By Rachel Hauck

About the book:


What do you do when the past you’ve been dodging shows up at your door with cameras rolling?

Aubrey James ruled the charts as the queen of country for over a decade. She’d rocketed to fame in the shadow of her parents’ death—both of them pioneers in gospel music. But while her public life—high-profile romances and fights with Music Row execs—made for juicy tabloid headlines, the real and private Aubrey has remained a media mystery.

When a former band member betrays Aubrey’s trust and sells an “exclusive” to a tabloid, the star knows she must go public with her story. But Aubrey’s private world is rocked when the Inside NashVegas interviewer is someone from her past—someone she’d hoped to forget.

All the moxie in the world won’t let this diva run any longer.

My thoughts:

"Nashville Sweetheart" follows Aubrey James a country music star that appears to have it all but longs for the simple thing she has lost, her family.

A former band member sells the story if parts of her life she tried to keep the most private and Aubrey must face the truth. Will she reconcile with the brother she loves of will he cut her out of his life forever?

Rachel Hauck always has such well developed characters but this one felt a little lacking. Maybe because its an older book or hers or maybe because the story was simply hard to follow. All and all, Nashville sweetheart is a good book.


*i received this book free for review from BookLook Bloggers*

Rating: 4 carats

50 Things You Need To Know About Heaven

50 Things You Need To Know About Heaven
By Dr John Hart

About the book:

We all want to know what happens after we die. Will we go to heaven? What will we do there? Will we see our loved ones?

It turns out the Bible is filled with answers to your most important questions, explaining what heaven looks like, who will be there, and how to get there in the first place. In this book you will find clear explanations of these passages, giving you an honest and beautiful picture of our eternal home.

Find comfort and peace in the truth about heaven.

My thoughts:

"50 Things You Need To Know About Heaven" answer 50 different questions about what heaven will be like. The questions are simple and ones we all have wondered with some we haven't but upon reading would like to know.

Will there be animals in heaven?
Will we get bored?

The answers are very straight forward, easy to understand and all have multiple Biblical references throughout the chapter and at the end of the chapter for further reading.

I think this is a great little reference book to pick up and read through.

Rating: 5 carats



*i received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers*

A June Bride

A June Bride
By Marybeth Whalen

About the book:
It takes a reality TV show for Wynne to realize love isn't just a game.
Wynne Hardy never thought she'd get engaged on a reality TV show, but when she met Andy on The Rejection Connection, the two of them hit it off. Now he's asked her to marry him, much to the public's delight and fascination. They're all set to wed on live TV in a seaside ceremony at the height of the wedding season.
But just as Wynne thinks all her dreams are coming true, her ex-boyfriend walks back into her life at the worst possible time. Steve broke her heart years ago, and she's still sorting through her feelings for him. Her heart isn't as clear as her head that it's past time to move on---even though she's engaged to Andy.
At a local TV talk show appearance, Wynne meets Meredith, who won another reality TV show---Marathon Mom---proving herself nothing short of a superhero. As Wynne's beach wedding plans spin out of control, Meredith offers to help, unknowingly stepping on Wynne's secret feelings . . . and exposing some secrets Meredith has been keeping to herself. Can these two reality stars get real about their feelings? Will Wynne go through with her televised wedding and be the perfect June bride the network is looking for?

My thoughts:
A June bride is sort of a take off of "the Bachelor" tv show.I wanted to like the story but most of the time I felt confused. There were pieces left out and the story bounced around. I didn't really know who Wynne was or why she chose Andy. Yet isn't that how "The Bachelor" tv show is?

Wynn:




*i received this book free for review from Zondervan Publishers through netgalley.com*

The Stone a Collective- May

The Stone Collective is a community making much of Jesus as we create art, photography, prose, poems or music that commemorate the wonderful things God does in our life. Based on the passage in 1 Samuel 7:12-14, each month we will collect Ebenezer Stones as a regular practice in the art of worship via our creativity. Want to join in on The Stone Collective? Create your own Stone and link up to LIVE IT OUT! Blog. #TheStoneCollective on FB, Twitter, and Instagram.

Urban Watercolor Sketching

Urban Watercolor Sketching
By Felix Scheinberger

About the book:
A guide that shows painters, drawers, doodlers, and urban sketchers how to bring their drawings to life with colorful, bold, yet accessible painting methods.

COLOR YOUR LIFE

Bring new energy to your sketches of urban scenes with this fresh and simple approach to watercolor painting. Whether you’re an amateur artist, drawer, doodler, or sketcher, watercolor is a versatile sketching medium that’s perfect for people on the go—much like pen or pencil. Accomplished designer and illustrator Felix Scheinberger offers a solid foundation in color theory and countless lessons on all aspects of watercolor sketching, including:

Fundamentals like wet-on-wet, glazes, and washes
Materials and supplies to bring on your travels
Little-known tips and tricks, like painting when water
isn’t handy and seeking out inspiration

Vibrant watercolor paintings grace each page, and light-hearted anecdotes (why do fish make great subjects to paint, you may be wondering...) make this a lively guide to the medium. With an open mind and sketchbook, you will be ready to capture the moments around you in luminous color with confidence, creativity, and ease—no matter what your skill level may be.

My thoughts:
I've been watercolor painting for about a year and I love it. It's so relaxing and fun. Each chance to learn a new technique excited me.

"Urban Watercolor Sketches" is all about being you in your art while cover all the watercolor basics from color theory to different types of glazes.

The entire book is filled with bright and sketchy pictures to spur you into to trying out watercolor for yourself.

This is a great book for someone wanting to start out in watercolor or anyone wanting to re-inspire there hobby!

*i received this book free for review from Blogging For Books*

Rating: 4 carats