Mason Jars: More than just salads!

Quite some time ago I was introduced to salads in a jar or mason jar salads. I thought the idea was interested, saved some recipes, and didn't do much with it. Then a little over a year ago, I participated in a meal planning challenge and actually made some salads in a jar as well as overnight oats in a jar and some others items. While I enjoyed these items and had a few cookbooks on my kindle about mason jar salads, I was having difficulty being consistent about making them AND only had about two recipes I was using. Both recipes were very good but there were only two. So, instead of salads, my packed lunch usually involved leftovers from the night before, a frozen meal, or noodles in a cup.

One day I spotted some interesting looking recipes that I saved to Pinterest. I noted the recipes were excerpted from the book 150 Beset Meals in a Jar: Salads, Soups, Rice Bowls, and More. My interest was piqued and like any self-respecting librarian, I headed to the library catalog to find a copy to borrow so I could "look before buying." I found my local public library had a copy so I quickly checked it out. I was delighted to find the book chock full of a variety of recipes that sounded intriguing and tasty. I immediately noted several that I wanted to try.

As I studied the book to determine if I needed my own copy, on first impression I found that there was a wide variety of recipes that featured many different ingredients. I also enjoyed that while there were definitely salads, there were numerous other items included such as a lentil soup. At first, I was slightly disappointed that most of the recipes are for a single serving. My immediate reaction "Why would I want to make multiple different recipes where you need different ingredients?" and "I'll need to double the recipes to make this worth my while." Doubling or tripling recipes would be very easy in most instances and definitely would be one method of helping with the shopping list. However, as I studied the recipes more thoroughly, I found that the single serving sizes were useful as they would provide a variety to my lunches rather than the same salad multiple days in a row. I also found that I could locate 2-3 recipes that used similar ingredients and then use the one type of green for the bulk of my shopping list. For example, this week I picked three different salads that used arugula. One of the salads also called for pasta and I happened to have leftover pasta on hand. Having similar ingredients made shopping a breeze yet provided variety in my lunch and even my breakfast options.

If you find you need to pack a lunch or that you want to begin packing a lunch for financial or health reasons, I highly recommend 150 Best Meals in a Jar. The variety of options which include both cold and hot meals allows you to take control over the ingredients in your lunch but reduced dependence on the cafeteria or vending machine and doesn't require eating last night's leftovers.

Irish split-time story

Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having previous read Lost Castle, I knew that Castle on the Rise was going to be an enjoyable book. Once again Cambron combines stories from three different time periods, but this time the stories are set in Ireland. Two of the three are historical stories which focus on the conflict between the Irish and English and to some extent Protestants and Catholics. Cambron does an excellent job of presenting the historical details, dialect, and other details to ensure each setting is portrayed accurately. The three stories are also connected beyond the castle locale, but the exact connections do not become apparent until near the end of the book. Even then, the connections are not explicitly explained and I found myself wishing I had a family tree to consult or a afterword which explained the connections more specifically.

As this story is a sequel, reading Lost Castle is recommended in order to fully take in the nuances of the story. However, individuals who have not read the initial book will be able to understand the plot easily as only the portion of the story told in the present day connects to the first book in the series. This series is published by a Christian publishing house. The book was very clean and appropriate in terms of language and relationships, but did not emphasize salvation. There was one or two memorable scenes which emphasize faith.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book Castle on the Rise from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

A familiar tale with a brand new setting

The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having read nearly all of Melanie Dickerson's previous works which I discuss in this previous blog post, I knew that The Warrior Maiden would be excellent. There were certainly some surprises though that I was not expecting. To begin with, in previous books the name of the main character did not give away the fairy tale the story was based on. This book did right away so the reader does not have to guess and piece together clues to figure it out. However, even though many readers may be familiar with the overall story, the large variation in setting requires others changes as well. Compared to previous works in this series, I found that the male character had a much more prominent role than I recalled in the other books. I found the larger emphasis on warriors, knights, and war allowed the male perspective to be emphasized. The story also alternates between the two main characters which provides deeper insights into both.

While this book is number 9 in a series, it is not necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this title.characters. That said, characters from previous books in the series are mentioned in passing and knowledge of the previous books is helpful. Dickerson's books are written from a Christian perspective but are not pushy. The middle ages setting provides the perfect opportunity for prayer and Bible verses to be included and seem a natural part of the story. Dickerson also does a fantastic job of including accurate historical detail.

The typical audience for these books is teen girls. I have found them to be completely enjoyable and would encourage anyone of any age to read them. I did find that this particular addition to the series with the more prominent male characters may be interesting to young teen boys and could be considered as a read-aloud for a mixed group.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book The Warrior Maiden from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” View all my reviews

Meticulously Researched Civil War Novel

With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tamera Alexander is an author whose novels I have enjoyed. Her most recent novel, With This Pledge, is no exception. Set at Carnton House during and after the Battle of Franklin, Alexander's meticulous research skills and ability to craft an engaging story truly shine in this work. As you read, the sights and sounds of the battle and the makeshift hospital are vivid. While definitely a work of fiction, it is hard to remember that the characters and the events depicted really happened.

If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly Civil War stories, you will enjoy this book. I greatly enjoyed how Alexander wove themes of fighting injustice and bucking the system into a story told from largely from the Confederate point of view.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book With This Pledge via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

View all my reviews

Sweet romance

The Rancher's Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Rancher's Unexpected Baby is the second book in Jill Lynn's Colorado Grooms series. Reading the initial book, The Rancher's Surprise Daughter, is not necessary to enjoy her newest book but does help to fill in background information on the characters which enhances the story.

Jill Lynn provides good character development which allows readers to see the growth in the characters over the course of the story. This quality, along with likeable characters ,helps to set the book apart and keep the reader engaged. The plot is straightforward with no surprises, but the reader wants to see how the expected happy ending will be achieved. I hoep that author Jill Lynn will continue this series with the final unmarried sibling and allow us a peek into this couple's lives as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book The Rancher's Unexpected Baby from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



View all my reviews

Final Installment in Winternight trilogy!

Several years ago I picked up the book The Bear and the Nightingale by Katharine Arden which I greatly enjoyed and wished there was a sequel. It turns out the book was the first in the Winternight Trilogy. So, I read The Girl in the Tower when it was published and just finished The Winter of the Witch.

I had greatly enjoyed the previous books and was really looking forward to the concluding volume of this series and the adventures of Vasya. Immediately, I noticed The Winter of the Witch is much darker in tone than the previous ones. As the title suggests, this volume really focuses on the main character's identity as a witch and the chyerti (translated devils or spirits). The juxtaposition of this darker magic or pagan influence and the strong role of the orthodox church feels odd at times, but given the time period of the book is fairly accurate. This combination also creates a story that does not fall entirely into the fantasy genre or the historical genre, but is a pleasing mix.

Finishing the book, I found it was an overall satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Readers truly do follow the main character's development over the course of the entire series. As such, I almost want to go back and re-read the entire series in succession in order to follow the arc of the character development and story line better. I'm certain re-reading would also allow readers to catch details that help to fill in the larger story as well which would cause some of the "a-ha's" in the final book to make more sense. As such, I recommend that readers read the entire series. S Reading a single volume, and particularly to read the concluding volume by itself, would not be a satisfying experience as it is definitely not a stand-alone novel. I do look forward to reading future books by author Katherine Arden.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book The Winter of the Witch via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Are you welcoming others?

You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us is a book you'll want to read slowly and thoughtfully. I actually finished it last week but needed to mull over the book before writing a review. Kent Annan has written several prior books and is no stranger to this topic as he has worked with refugees in numerous countries and leads the M.A. at Wheaton College's Humanitarian Disaster Institute.

Annan does a wonderful job of wedding stories from his personal experiences with statistics and Biblical teaching. A primary focus is Biblical teaching. Annan's prime emphasis is Christ welcomes us,(in fact he did while we were still sinners,) and as Christ-followers we need to be welcoming to others who are made in the image of God as well. His stories place you in the middle of a scenario and make you think "what if?" What if your home was destroyed and you needed to start over in a completely different country? What if your community or country was not a safe place to raise your family? Questions such as these and many others help you to imagine yourself in these situations. Beyond these questions, Annan tells the stories of specific refugees and immigrants as well as individuals who are assisting them. Numerous illustrations show how individuals in impoverished countries are sharing what little they have with refugees. Another memorable illustration told of a community who was going to accept refugees but was impacted by a devasting fire. The fire and damage helped the community residents to better identify with the refugees who had lost everything and they proceeded to welcome the refugees. These illustrations of generosity in the midst of despair are quite convicting.

Annan notes that when churches and communities welcome refugees, we are often the ones who are the most changed by the experience. Annan backs up these stories with a variety of statistics regarding the number of refugees and immigrants and points out that the U.S. receives a small percentage of the world's refugee population. Keep in mind that Annan does not advocate a completely open border. He indicates that we do need a vetting system even while we more generously welcome refugees. Annan also points out that countries near disasters and war zones accept many more refugees than the U.S.A. ever could but that we could do so much more than the current 0.2% of the world's refugees. Annan also does a marvelous job of debunking a variety of myths which surround refugee and immigrant populations such as they take American jobs or being a security risk. These statistics can be viewed in the following infographic provided by InterVaristy Press.

You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us is highly recommended. The book is highly engaging and accessible as it focuses on stories backed up with statistics rather than being an academic tome. Annan also provides specific practice challenges at the end of each chapter. These challenges take the reader beyond the book to actually engage with others, to share their stories, and to welcome them. Some individuals may find these challenges difficult to do not because they are hard but because they live in locations where the challenges are difficult to accomplish. For example, readers in rural areas may find it difficult to locate someone who is new to our country or locating a church or nonprofit that is working with refugees. Each challenge exists to help readers experience opportunities to welcome others and to break down barriers.

I was most excited to discover a FREE six-session video course has been created to accompany this book. I have not worked through this curriculum, but I believe it will provide the basis for much needed discussion about this topic. A FREE 13 page Family Toolkit is also available to help families discuss this topic. Both of these resources will help to make this already rich resource accessible to an even wider audience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book You Welcomed Me free from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Romance with an Unexpected Twist

I recently finished The Light Over London by Julia Kelly. When I saw this book I was sold because I haven't read a World War II book that I haven't enjoyed. However, when I started reading this book I found that it is a marvelous blending of a contemporary story and a war romance with several unexpected twists.

Author Julia Kelly uses a found diary as the bridge to combine the story of Cara, a contemporary divorced woman who works for an antique dealer, and Louise, the author of the World War II era diary. The diary also is one aspect which leads to Cara learning her Gran's never before told war story and serves as the connecting point for a blossoming relationship between Cara and her charming new history professor neighbor. Kelly seamlessly transitions from contemporary times to World War II and back again. The story is so well told that readers will be surprised by at least one of the three twists which occurs at the end of the story.

On an "appropriate scale" this book barely registers a blip. Foul language was pretty much non-existent. This is a romance geared toward adult readers so there were veiled references to sex but nothing tantalizing or descriptive. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to high school readers on up.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book The Light Over London free via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Word for 2019

For several years now, choosing a Word of the Year has been one of those "New Year" things that many people tend to do. While I had flirted with the idea of choosing a word for the year previously, I will confess I have not experienced success with selecting a word that stuck with me and impacted my daily life. So, as December rolled around I saw where several friends chose their word of the year and several bloggers I follow had a series of blogs about choosing your word of the year. Given my previous experiences I did not sit down with determination to select a word but allowed the idea to germinate as I considered other potential "New Year" goals.

Before Christmas I drove to St. Louis for the day. While driving down the interstate, I had a word pop into my mind that really resonated with me. Over the last two weeks, I have continued to mull over and consider this word as a possible word for the year. I have found the word "Intentional" is quite applicable to the other goals I have for the coming year. So during 2019 I plan to be intentional about life rather than just letting life happen. So, there will be some "go with the flow" because sometimes there has to be and that it will be an intentional choice not to make a fuss about something. I plan to be intentional about what I do, how I spend my time, what I put into my life in terms of physical, spiritual, and mental nourishment, and what I put into other people by speaking and writing positively. Intentional sums up my attitude and plans for 2019 yet does not pigeon hole what I plan to do.

As we begin a new year, a fresh start, and all those things, do you have a word for your year? Are you planning to pursue specific plans or goals? Share a comment describing your word, goals, or plans.