Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three spring weddings . . .

A March Bride by Rachel Hauck

Susanna Truitt (Once Upon a Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna s heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her.

An April Bride by Lenora Worth

Bride-to-be Stella Carson cannot wait another day to marry soldier Marshall Henderson. But when Marshall returns home to Louisiana, it becomes clear to them both that he is not the man he used to be.

With only weeks until the wedding, Stella and Marshall must choose between a marriage built on the past and faith in long-ago love or a very different future than the one Stella imagined.

A May Bride by Meg Moseley

Ellie Martin, a country girl living in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life, but she's missing a key ingredient to her plans for the future: a groom. Then Ellie meets Gray Whitby at a wedding of all places. But when Ellie jeopardizes her own future for the sake of her sister, Gray feels like he'll always be second to Ellie's family. Can Ellie and Gray find their own way together amidst the demands and perceptions of others, or will their romance end before it has truly begun?"

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These may seem familiar to you. That's because I reviewed these individually at this time last year! That's right, last year's year of wedding novellas have now been bundled up into four books! I don't have much to tell you that I didn't tell you last year except that even now, rereading them was a total joy and a great way to spend my time while recovering from a spring cold. I love that these are bundled up so those of us who read the digital editions can get the print editions for our shelves and all of the novellas will be right there at our fingertips!



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Dial sent me sample bottles of both Dial® Baby Body & Hair Wash and Dial® Kids Foaming Hand Wash recently and while I always have hand soap on hand (no pun intended!), I didn't have any fun foaming hand wash so I thought this would be a fun treat for the bathroom. Of course, I also don't have any babies on hand, but since the boys' stepmom is due any day, she will, so I thought it might be fun for us to try out something that might help her out!

A couple of things about these products:

Dial® Baby Body + Hair Wash is gentle on babies’ and kids’ skin.

• Dial® Kids Foaming Hand Wash was developed with pediatric dermatologists and is gentle on hands and kids’ skin.

A collection of more than 120 recipes formulated to optimize brain health, boost memory, improve mood, sharpen the central nervous system, and more.

     Between digital overload, sleep deprivation, and the stress of modern life, most people's brains are constantly in flight-or-fight mode, with levels of cortisol and other hormones and neurotransmitters out of whack. Brain conditions ranging from childhood ADHD and adult depression to memory impairment are on the rise, and medications for brain conditions, if available, do only a mediocre job while generating a host of debilitating side effects. Fortunately, Rebecca Katz has harnessed the latest research on brain functioning to identify how the foods we consume can improve the brain's ability to control cognition, emotion, and physical function--all of which dictate memory, mood, and motion. These 120 recipes translate the very best of this science into the kitchen, incorporating nutrient-dense foods that best promote brain health and development from childhood through the golden years.

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Cookbooks...one of my few major weaknesses... This popped up on my screen and I couldn't hit yes fast enough. As someone who desperately needs to focus more on her health, not just body but also mind, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to pick up a tool that could help in that. Now, I have to say that nutrition science seems to be changing nearly every day, but the core of what's good and what isn't never changes. Plus, this book opens up with not one, but two chapters talking about the science behind everything. Then, there's a chapter devoted just to taste and flavor. That's right, there are three chapters packed full of information before you even get to the recipes. If I have one complaint, it's that not every recipe has a yummy photo to go with it. However, the photos that are there are stunning and made me want to run to the store more than once. Luckily for my gas tank, the reminder that the store was a good 15 miles away put a stop to me running around the countryside.

If you love a well put together cookbook that is full of recipes that may or may not be good for your brain, but will certainly be good for your body and your tummy, I recommend The Healthy Mind Cookbook.



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Small-town girl Katie Fisher is planning her wedding. Sure, her boyfriend hasn't managed to pop the question just yet, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't enter a contest in "Texas Bride" magazine to win the dress of her dreams, right? But when her boyfriend breaks up with her and takes a job in another town--the very same day Katie wins her dream dress--her world is turned upside down. Should she claim her prize? And will the hunky former pro-basketball player who runs the swanky Dallas bridal shop--yeah, you read that right--catch on to her humiliation if she does?
Janice Thompson designs a romance sure to delight, with plenty of fish-out-of-water moments, a hilarious supporting cast, and more of the wedding biz world her readers adore.
Janice Thompson writes the sweetest love stories and Every Bride Needs a Groom is no exception. While the story itself was fairly predictable, I still enjoyed the characters and how every one of them had their own smaller story within the main story. Katie was sweet and honest to the bone, her family so incredibly small town that it was a bit like being back where I grew up, and those big city folks? Well, they're a whole bundle of fun all in themselves. The book moves at a quick pace, but not so quick that you feel as if you've been left behind. I especially appreciated the epilogue and how the book ended. I can't tell you why though. You're just going to have to read it yourself to find out.


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Let's keep up the International flavor, shall we? Let's skip all the way across the ocean from Mexico to land in Italy with some yummy chicken, shall we? We've found this especially delicious served over some pasta with a salad on the side.

How are you enjoying this new segment? Don't hesitate to leave comments or to share the posts with your friends and family! Also, if you haven't noticed yet, there is a recipe link now at the top of the page which will take you to a listing of all of the recipes posted!

Italian Chicken

Ingredients:
1 small onion, chopped
28 oz can of diced tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup honey
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Add all ingredients to a gallon sized freezer bag. Squeeze out as much excess air as possible. Freeze.

Cooking instructions: Thaw in refrigerator. Place ingredients in the crockpot and add 1/2 cup of water. Cook on low for 8 hours.





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Girls will love Andrea's new adventures in Circle C Milestones, the continuation of Susan K. Marlow's two popular Circle C series

It's no secret that Andrea Carter would rather ride her beloved palomino, Taffy, than do anything else. Now Taffy's having her first foal, and Andi can't wait to train it to become as good a companion as its mother. The only distraction from those delightful plans is the fear that something may go wrong. When her foaling fears are realized, Andi is grateful for her brother Chad's intervention. It looks like smooth sailing from now on!

Unfortunately, life as a teenager might not be all fun and games after all. There's a new girl at school assigned to sit beside Andi--but Macy Walker is nothing like the other girls. She's homeless and ill-bred, and her mistakes do more than make Andi uncomfortable; they put her life in danger. Meanwhile, cattle rustlers have suddenly descended on the Valley and the Circle C ranch is a target. These outlaws mean business--and their business is theft.

When the thieves change from stealing cattle to stealing horses, it means heartbreaking loss for Andi. Her unpleasant classmate Macy may hold the key to getting Taffy's foal back. Can Andi trust Macy to do the right thing? Does she have a choice?

Picking up the story line of Andrea Carter and the Price of Truth, Thick as Thieves sees Andi growing up just in time for her loyal readers to grow alongside her. The Circle C Milestones series will follow Andi from age 14 to 17, as she begins to tackle the more serious issues facing an older audience and--eventually--discovers love.

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It's been a while since I've read anything geared towards teenagers, but this book wasn't a disappointment. Filled with action, family and some great lessons, Thick as Thieves kept me reading. I remember a time when a book that included horses would have kept me reading well past bedtime and I think if you have a child who loves them, this one could do the same thing. My only complaint is that while this is book 1 in the series, it does come after other books so I did feel a bit lost when it referenced things from the past. All in all though, I think this book is perfect for the tween set, especially if they love horses, adventure and a whole lot of excitement.



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I don’t want to go… Do I have to go?

13-year-old Prince Teodor of Freyne knows his duty to the memory of his father and his kingdom. Always, he must help those less fortunate than himself. Yet a frightening nightmare fills him with foreboding, but still he must do - into the Dome.

13-year-old Guy Erma lives in the shadow of the Dome, he has no father and no mother and his future is uncertain, he must start earning a living when he turns 14. He knows not where he will live or even how he will eat, and his only dream is to enter the military academy - at the heart of the Dome.

Two boys as different as any two boys might be. One act of cruelty will throw their lives together, but who dare they trust?

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I know what you're thinking... "But you just reviewed this!" and you'd be right, except for one teensy tiny detail. The author has decided to break down the book into segments that are going to be available as ebooks! That means that I now have the opportunity to share with you my opinions on each segment. I know you're excited about this. You might as well admit to it.

In Part 1, I love the science fiction and fantasy elements. Not to mention that the descriptions completely captured my imagination. I was really getting into it when suddenly I realized I was on the last page. Thank goodness there are more parts coming because just like the last time I read it, I'm looking forward to the next part of the adventure!


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