Devil Dogs

For this tasty sweet treat, head over to  Taste and See for the recipe.

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

Head on over to Taste and See for my most recent recipe post...

http://crestwomenrecipes.blogspot.com/2016/10/slow-cooker-crack-chicken.html

Recent Reading Adventures

* * * * stars

You could say this book is about good people making bad choices and the consequences of those choices. Many people were hurt by their decisions, including themselves.

The characters are well developed and so is the plot. The story builds for a heart wrenching end. I found myself asking what I would do in their position and I guess for some the answer would be easier but I can... see for others how the lines of right or wrong can be blurred when isolation and grief become a part of life as it did for Izzy.

This is the most recent book I've read. I finished it yesterday.

The first 60% can drag a bit but it's not until the end do you appreciate it.

It's set in Australia just after WW I.

I loved Izzy until I didn't. Even upon finishing the book, I still felt some disdain for her even though I realize why she did what she did. But my love for Tom never wavered.

The last 2 chapters had me ugly crying. We were actually arriving at our vacation destination, beach, when I finished the book. I was a mess. My husband told me to get it together before we approach the front desk to get our keys. "It's just wrong to be crying when arriving at the beach."

This book has been made into a movie.

* * * stars out of 5.

I wish the story of this book was as beautiful as the cover.

This book was chosen by a member of my book club. I didn't have this book prior to the choosing but happened up on it while pilfering through a bin of books at a local Gateway. I paid a total of .10 for this hardcover edition.
While this book isn't a terrible story, I find it to be average. 3 stars out of 5.

The two main characters introduce each other with white lies about themselves that continue to grow because they don't like who they really are. Their relationship is built on who they want to be until they are finally exposed as who they really are.

Ella is struggling with her husband's infidelity, resulting in denying the truth about him. Her husband, Sims, vacillates his feelings between his mistress and Ella.

Hunter/Blake uses Ella's vulnerability to get a good love story for his next romantic comedy movie. Unbeknownst to him, the story Ella is sharing with him are partial lies. He believes he's getting the perfect, small town love story while she thinks he's a struggling author looking to write a book on the history of the town Ella lives in.

It's all too soap opera-ish to me, with predictable outcomes.

There are no sexual scenes or but there is mild cursing.

If you like romance "When Harry Met Sally" or "While You Were Sleeping" type books, this book may appeal to you. It's not a serious read being suitable for the more casual reader.

* * * stars of out 5

I chose this book to read while on our vacation at the beach. It's the only "beach" book I could find in my library (notice I didn't call it my hoarding stacks) and I wanted something light and relaxing.
Hatteras Girl is a chic-lit, contemporary Christian fiction set in Hatteras, North Carolina.

Jackie has a dream of owning the once prosperous bed and breakfast in her town of Hatteras. But for most of the book, she's a writer for a local magazine. Her best friend, Minnie, and Minnie's young son are living with her as they grieve the lost of Minnie's husband.

Jackie meets the real estate agent who is selling the bed and breakfast and a relationship ensues. She eventually finds out he's not who he appears to be, exposing his deceptive tactics in his real estate business. Meanwhile, a lifelong friend, Buck, knows Jackie's heart and uses his charm to win it.

This book, like most chic lit books is predictable but like those of Christian fiction, there is an innocent, sweet charm to it. Minnie's character and life was actually more realistic then the main character, Jackie. Minnie's grief of losing her husband and how she is moving on with her life is well developed. I enjoyed the more realistic storyline of Minnie than the predictable one of Jackie.

I give it 3 stars. It's not that I dislike this book, I just prefer books with more depth. But true to Christian fiction, it's clean and wholesome.