Books read May 11

SFTH: Parenting 101 Vol. 6 by Cheri Swalwell
This book starts out with summary of each of the prior works in the series, in case you missed any.
Also a listing of the authors works, in series format also.
Dedication page,  table of contents, note from the author, then into the devotions themselves.
Like so many things in this devotional that the author goes into more detail about: smell of love, a touch, family, tool belts for everyone, little things in life to mention a few.
So many real life experiences and memories and the message that is being sent from God. Love how the author interprets the signs for us.
Thanks page is included, along with offer of a free ebook, other works summarized and highlighted at the end of the book. Acknowledgments, contact the author, author bio are also included.
I received this review book from the author and this is my honest opinion.

My nest isn't empty, it just has more closet space_ [the amazing adventures of an ordinary woman]   by Lisa  Scottoline - Serritella_ Francesca Scottoline
This audio book is spoken from mother and her daughter who doesn't live at home anymore. Funny comical chapters about getting old, needing glasses and finding chin hairs.
Daughter knows her mothers quirls and they are funny...
Love take on automatic lights, wicked funny!  Liek tidbits from grandmother also
Q&A at the end. so funny book, just what you need to read for a pick me upper!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Lightning Strikes by Josie Riveira and various author from Prism book group
This book start out with Rachel and she hopes to be promoted to the editors job at the publishing company.
The storm has hit, she's lost power, her story will have to be done in longhand and her phone is dead. Gage, the neighbor upstairs invites her up for dinner, from his grill and she accepts after a bit of hesitation.
They decide after to walk around outside and they discover something under the road and Gage goes to investigate. They also have talked and she learns what he does for a living.
She is light enough to help the stranded animals and he helps. This story doesn't really seem to end as there is a hint there are other adventures for them at the publishing site.
Like that many took part in this short story, seems seamless to me. Enjoyed it but really could've been longer.
Other excerpts from the authors are included at the end.

Sleep Your Way to Good Health: 7 Steps to Make TONIGHT the Best Night of Sleep You Have EVER HAD! (And How Sleep Makes You Live Longer & Happier) by Amy Jenkins
Found this book to be mostly very common sense methods of falling asleep and staying asleep. We now do go to bed earlier to unwind from technology and it helps a lot. Also diet and exercise is discussed.
Many different things you can do to get a good rem sleep night.

10 Things I Learned living on an island by jason Blake
Enjoyed this story for many reasons. It took me to a location I've yet to visit and really gave me a great detailed description of the area, the people and what to expect as a tourist and as an owner of a part of this paradise.
Talks about some of the downfalls and a lot of cool free things to do. love hiking and discovering new things all the time and not too far from the other islands of Hawaii.

A Taste of Fresh: Garden Harvest Cookbook  by Sheryl Flynn
This book starts out with a table of contents where recipes are broken up into meals.
Each recipe contains a title, summary of the dish, servings. List of ingredients is included and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Direcitons are included. There are NO nutritional information. There are NO pictures.
Reason I like this book though is because I know what products I can substitute for making this a healthy cookbook for us.
I also like the seasoning chapters. Gonna have to try soup bowls that you can eat after.
Desserts even sound good with fresh ingredients.
Will be trying seasonings as we like to experiment with the spices we have already.
Also like section on preserving and the different methods.
KEEPER!

Dirty dancing at Devil's Leap by Long_ Julie Anne
Book starts out with Avalon and she's just discovered her livein boyfriend with the new intern-on their bed. She takes off for Devil's Leap where she was raised and her parents still live.
She's the CEO of a company that came out of nowhere and hit it big. She has enough to buy the mansion that is on the block-where Mac had been raised. She had a crush on him til she left the area.
Story also follows Mac and how he's struggled through family issues and came out with the little house on the estate near the hot springs and watering hole. He finds out she is the one who bought the mansion and makes life miserable for her.
Ava hopes to fix up the place and sell it as a retreat for others. Love hearing how they get on each others nerves and make life miserable to each other.
They do compromise and you wonder how far they will go. Hot steamy sex scenes.
Love hearing of the swimming and hot springs. Few characters so it's easy to keep track of them. Would like to read more from this author-x descriptions.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Always a cowboy by Linda Lael Miller 
Have enjoyed the authors other works.  Starts with listing of authors other works and series.
This book starts out with Drake Carson who's in WY runs the family herds and the middle son. He doesn't have the time to figure out why the herd is thinning...
Luce Hale is studying the herds to find a solution to their problem. Steamy sex scenes and few characters and most banter with one another to make the story very interesting.
Like views of what to do with wild animals.  Predictable.
Author answers how it all started at the end of this story.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Typhoon fury by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison
Starts out in 1945, Philippines island and they must invade the fortress and gain entrance before others do... With the help of Japanese captain they realize Hiroshima could be the next target.
Present day in Vietnam-they take the one with the knowledge of the memory stick with them so he can't notify his buddies.
Back in Phillipines and the order to go full power through the storm...but escort ships have fired on them, killing some.
Like hearing of the chip not detectable by wands implanted into the thigh and of the memory flash that could erase itself if tampered with.
Love hearing of the enhancements to the Oregon=so high tech.
Amazing how all the different stories all lead into one...
So much action, adventure, mystery and war things in one. Would read more from this author as everything is so well described.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Bread Machine Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for Homemade Bread by Jennifer Tate
This book starts out with an offer of a free ebook then table of cotnents where bread is separated by everyday bread, wheat breads, vegetable breads, meat breads and spice breads and sweet breads,, dough recipes.
An introduction with pictures talks about bread making skills. Chapter about the benefits of a bread machine and essentail ingredients. Small color photos along the way.
Chapter on common failures and different settings on your machine.
Each recipe starts with a title, small color phone, prep and cook time. servings, program on the machine, crust and yields.
Short summary and list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low fat, low sodium and low sugar products.
Directions on how to make are included. there is NO nutritional information.
NOT all reicpes have a color photo.
Found a few we'll probably try soon as we like experimenting.
Some recipes do contain nutritional information at the end of the recipe including calories, total fat, sat. fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbs, dietary fiber, total sugars and protein.
Not sure why all the recipes don't include all this information.
Cooking measurment converstion is included along with one for liquid volume measurements.
KEEPER!

Health: 50 PROVEN Ways to Boost Your Health, Increase Your Energy & Make You Live Longer! (See Results in 24 Hours)by Kayla Bates
Starts with a table of ocnents about most importnat things that will contribute to your overall health.
Common sense things if you stop and think about it.
Each of the 50 facts are also summarized and explained under their titles. It's a lot of common sense if you are active. Goes along with eating good healthy foods, exercising and getting the right amount of sleep, keeping busy by moving.
Good resource.

Monster Pals: Cute Rhyming Bedtime Story for Kids by Arnie Lightning
Colorful rhyming book for kids. Starts out with a monster by the anme of Blue.
There are good monsters all over this book and each has a spcial job.
Love granny monster the best because those are the things I do.
Author bio at the end and other works by the author are highlighted.

The Ultimate Guide: Recipes of Louisiana by Encore Books
Book starts out with offer of free ebook every week for signing up to their site.
Table of contents where recipes are broken up into food groups.
Each recipe starts with a title along with LA name, servings, prep and cook time and ready in. Short summary of the dish.
List of ingredients and you might not be able to substitute some ingredients for your healthier dietary needs: low sugar, low sodium and low fat products.
Directions are given. There are NO pictures. There is NO nutritional information.
I love the tradtiional foods of this area. Some of the recipes tell you how many servings the dish supplies.

50 Shades of Chicken: Quick, Easy and Unique Recipes by J.R. Stevens
Book starts out with offer of a free book, other works by the author: J. R. Stevens
Table of contents where dishes are broken up into groups of how the chicken is cooked: baked, grilled, etc.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook time and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to subsittute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions are given. There is NO nutritional information. There are NO pictures.
Good ideas if you have right spices to make the dish.
Besided the pot pies there are also salads using chicken.

Instant Pot Whole 30 Cookbook: Quick and Easy Instant Pot Whole 30 Recipes for Your Family by James Houck
Book starts out with an intro about whole 30 foods and the instant one pot. Table of contents where recipes are broken up into meat food groups.
Free gift offer is included. Benefits of eating whole 30 method and foods to avoid. Symptoms to watch out for as you detox from certain foods.
Each recipe starts with a title, serving size, serving per recipe, calories, prep and cook time.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, and low fat products.
Some nutritional information: total fat-NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, fiber, sugar and protein.
Directions are included. There are NO pictures.
Enjoyed learning about seafood recipes and spcies.

Dear Mr. Jefferson: letters from a Nantucket gardener by Laura Simon
Really enjoyed listeining to how the gardener wrote notes to the president after he left the White House.
Every month there was something related, reminds me of the Farmer's Almanac and a lot of clues to how things were done back then.
Sad to learn of the Monticello estate and it became run down, especially the gardens-I remember my mom visited and there was nothing there at all in the 90's.
Not only vegetables in the garden but flower gardens as well.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Top 500 Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Recipes: The Complete Instant Pot Cookbook by Billie Dean
Starts with a table of contents where the recipes are broken up into meals then same food groups.
Intro talks about the instant one pot and how nutritious the meals will be from this unit.
I also do not have a 'chicken' mode on my instant one pot. Some of the instructions-ingredient list and measurements are varied-not same format throughout this book.
Each recipe starts with a title, time and servings. List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions are given but they are confusing. Setting for cooking: 15 minutes on pressure cooking mode, hmmm which button-is it high pressure or low? There is also another that is called slow mode-not sure what that one is either.