Books read Apr 17

The Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown
Think I have read other works by the  author and treasured them as I did this one.
Starts out with Smokey and Tootsie living in TX and they have 3 new army families moving in next door.
It's so special to them as they never had kids of their own. The husbands all leave for work overseas and the women and the 3 girls are left behind to keep them entertained over the years.
Love that there are so many sides to this story, not only of the older couple Smokey and Tootsie but each of the 3 women as they go through changes over the years.
And the girls are all grown up, graduating high school and enlisting themselves.
Love how the women all stick with one other through the good and bad times and I love what obstacles they are able to overcome with help from each other.
Can't wait to read more of this author's works. So many emotions while reading this book.
They are strong and brave through it all.


A Loan for Christmas by Katie Carver
First time reading this author and can't wait to read more. Story moves right along and starts out with
Mary and she's telling her friend at work about her cruise for holidays with her boyfriend. Problem is Annie's parents won't even be home so she decides to visit with Mary's family at the VT tree farm instead.
The family welcomes her lovingly and she helps with some chores that highlight her expertise at work. Problem is the boss didn't get the memo that she's not to work at all...
She gets along ok with Mary's brother, Spencer but sometimes not, he just rubs her the wrong way. She soon learns of the money problems the farm is having and pitches in her ideas to the women and they put on a fair for the town to participate in to bring more business to the area.
Part I love the best is the trees themselves-knowing the difference between the fir and a spruce.  Dad and grandpa ran a nursery so I know a fair bit about it all from the wholesale side was great fun learning from personal side of things.
Love wildflower acre my mom also spread her flowers around outside! Love hearing all about this town and how ti will play a part in the next books in the series although you should be able to read them as stand alones.
Like all the things I learned in this book and the characters. Just a handful and easy to keep track of them.
Love this book for simple story and love learning about others jobs and how to do them.

Cake by Carmen Jenner
Starts with table of contents and a prologue of how the story really starts.
Poppy works in a wedding planner company and her own wedding got sabotaged by her best friend who now wants her to be her maid of honor.
Others try to come to her rescue over time but it gets a bit raunchy for me. Who in their right mind sends a big basket of sex toys to someone at work.
In a way I guess it could be funny but I'd not wanting this to happen to me. Did finish the book and would probably give another book a try but if they are all like this I'm not going to enjoy them.
More works from the author and acknowledgments are listed.
About the author is included at the end along with her website.

Eat Right for Your Sight: Simple, Tasty Recipes that Help Reduce the Risk of Vision Loss from Macular Degeneration by Jennifer Trainer Thompsoson, Johanna Seddon

Lots of history and intro material about how to ward off macular degeneration and other eye illnesses.

Recipes start with a title and summary of the dish sometimes telling you nutrients they will provide.

Servings are listed. List of ingredients and I'd substitute for our healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat products.

Side bar includes nutritional information and other tips: serving size is given, calories fiber, fat, sat. fat, sodium vitamin listings

Directions are given. Lots of tasty choices and easy to make that pack a wallop of flavor and nutrition.

I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

 

Power Pressure Cooker XL Cookbook: 350 Irresistible Electric Pressure Cooker Recipes for Quick, Easy, and Healthy Meals by Vanessa Olsen
Table of contents where the recipe chapters are broken up by meals and also food categories.
Intro mostly about this particular pressure cooker but as long as you know the type of pressure the recipes can be used in any pressure cooker.
History of pressure cooking and health benefits are discussed.  Functions and how to clean the unit are also detailed, even with photos.
Love the section on converting slow cooker recipes to use in pressure cooker.
Each recipe chapter has a title and listing of what's included.
Each recipe starts with a title servings and time in prep and cooking.
Summary of the dish is included and list of ingredients which I'd substitute for our healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat, and low sugar products.
Directions are given and there is some nutritional information per a portion of the serving-giving you the size portion: total calories, protein, carbs, fat and fiber. Fat is NOT broken up into good or bad.
There are NO pictures.
Maple syrup cornbread would by my choice to try first.
Very wide selection and variety of food available.
A KEEPER because I know what I can substitute for a healthier meal.

Almond Flour Cookbook: Easy Gluten Free Recipe Book for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Tasty Paleo Almond Flour Recipes (Paleo Recipes: Paleo Recipes for Busy ... Lunch, Dinner & Desserts Recipe Book 8) by Jane Burton
Table of contents where recipes are broken up into meal and food categories.
Intro about choosing almond flour and why and the benefits. We looked this morning at our local store and they didn't have any.
Each recipe starts with a title and a very tiny 1/2" color photo along with list of ingredients.
Directions are given but there is NO nutritional information.
Cooking resource listings is included at the end along with other works by the author.