4 hours ago
I wanted to read Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble because I read another one of her books, Tidewater Inn, last year and I enjoyed it. When I started this book I realized that it is the second book in the series and actually includes some of the same characters that appeared in Tidewater Inn, so that made it even more fun for me to read! I like it when authors give us a glimpse into how their previous characters are doing, and this book did that.
Amy is convinced that her brother's death was not an accident, and she's going to prove it. She heads to Rosemary Cottage, their childhood vacation home, and the place he was staying when he died. While she's there she runs into Curtis, who has also recently lost his sister and is taking care of the child she left behind. Suspicious things happen that make them both realize that there is more to their siblings deaths than they originally thought.
Coble's books are written in a more relaxing and laid-back way than other mysteries I have read, which I think makes them perfect to read on vacation. At times I felt like the "flow" of the book was a little disjointed - I felt like certain things could have been explained more naturally and clearly. But I liked the characters, and I really enjoy the pictures that Coble paints in her books - I can imagine myself on the Outer Banks when I read them.
I also felt like Coble did a good job of balancing the grief that the characters were feeling. If I lost one of my siblings I would be devastated, and Coble dealt with her characters feelings instead of glossing over them (which I think happens sometimes in novels), but she did it without it seeming too depressing.
This book actually surprised me because there were a couple of interesting plot elements, including a twist at the end, that I was not expecting! I enjoyed it, and I would recommend it.
As part of the book tour, Coble is also hosting a Facebook giveaway and today is the last day to enter! She'll announce the winners on Monday, so click here for more information and to enter!
Note: I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
Alternatively titled "Random Tips On Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods".
You are a new mom who has been faithfully following your pediatrician's advice to exclusively breastfeed and/or bottle feed your infant. No cheating and adding rice cereal to the bottles, no sneaking them whipped cream - you are a rule follower. Then somewhere between 4 and 5 months, your pediatrician hands a you a sheet on starting your baby on solids. Enter paranoia/panic mode!
Okay, maybe that was just me, but even if you don't panic, starting solids can seem a little scary. But trust me, it's not. In fact, it's fairly easy. Regardless, I'm going to give you my personal, random solid food tips. Here we go.
1. Start with rice cereal.
Obviously. This was on that sheet your pediatrician gave you, after all. You mix the rice cereal with a little bit of breastmilk or formula until it reaches a still-pretty-runny consistency. Rice cereal has no taste, so it's basically the same as giving them milk/formula, just a little thicker. The whole point is to get them used to textures before you bring in the big guns - real, pureed baby food.
2. Don't go straight for the yummiest food.
Once your baby is good and used to rice cereal, you get to try real baby food - now the fun begins! But hold your horses - it might be tempting to go straight to sweet potatoes or bananas and watch your baby gobble it up with glee. But my personal opinion is that you might as well get them used to the "yucky" foods first. Think about it, would you want to go from sweet potatoes back to green beans? Yeah, me neither. And trust me, your baby will have plenty of fun just adjusting to something that actually has flavor. So go with the green beans and carrots before you try the peaches and pears.
3. Don't freak out if there's a change in color (if you know what I mean).
It's probably not an adverse reaction, it's probably the peas you tried yesterday. But if you see any blood or other concerning things in a diaper, or if your baby has another kind of reaction, discontinue the most likely culprit and call your doctor!
4. Don't try more than one new food ingredient at a time.
See previous tip. You want to be able to quickly identify the culprit if your baby has a reaction.
5. Just because your baby doesn't open up, it doesn't mean they don't like the new food.
Gwen likes peas. But the first time we tried them, when she wanted another bite she pursed her lips and craned her neck toward the spoon, and I had to pry her lips open to get the food between - then she gulped it down.
(Gwen, after her first meal of sweet peas.)
6. Learn to perfect the scoop method.
Give Baby a bite. Baby will spit most of the bite back out. Scoop the bite off Baby's face and re-insert. Repeat until Baby actually swallows.
7. Get ready for your husband to one-up you.
I have taken a brief poll (i.e. my friends agreed with me), and dads are generally better at feeding the kiddos solids. Derek can feed them and keep both of the kids looking like they just had a bath, but when I feed them it looks like they took a bath in whatever I'm feeding them. And I swear they open up better for Derek too. Don't take it personally, just use it as a way to convince your husband to take baby-feeding duty every now and then.
8. Take pictures and video!
I never took a messy-face photo or new-food video that I regretted. Baby food is fun! Adorable and fun. Have fun with it.
9. Grab an extra spoon.
Let your baby hold it (see picture below) while you employ the scoop method (see #6). This will help distract them from grabbing at the spoon you are using to feed them, and the baby food jar, and your hair, and it will encourage their sense of independence. They're too little to realize that they aren't really feeding themselves just because they get to hold a spoon.
(Wyatt at about the same age as Gwen is now. Look how little he was!)
And this concludes my non-comprehensive guide to introducing solids.
Experienced mamas, speak up! Anything else you think new moms should keep in mind when they take the leap to solid foods?
First off, no, I'm not pregnant! But I wanted to request this book because I've really enjoyed Erin Macpherson's other books in the Christian Mama's Guide series, and I figured I needed this one to fill in the missing parts of my collection.
The Christian Mama's Guide To Having A Baby is probably my favorite so far in the series, not necessarily because I agree with every one of Macpherson's tips in this book, but because I just love how she takes her own experiences and tells you what she thinks. The book covers each trimester in detail, as well as topics like what baby gear you'll need, what to bring to the hospital, labor and delivery, etc. It's written in a conversational tone, and almost feels like you're listening to tips from a n older sister who's been there, done that.
Like the other Christian Mama's Guide books, in each chapter there are also Bible verses and short prayers included for encouragement, which I love. Throughout the book I found myself laughing and nodding when Macpherson hit the nail on the head! She doesn't sugar-coat some of the difficult parts of pregnancy, but she manages to bring out the blessings and funny sides of carrying a baby too. I really enjoyed this book, and I'd definitely recommend it to any mothers-to-be out there!
Note: I received this book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
I was excited to read Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer after I read the description on the back, because it sounded like it was going to be such a cute story.
Crockett Archer is on his way to a new position as a pastor when his train is robbed - only the outlaws came to steal him! He is taken back to the outlaw's ranch as a "birthday present" for his daughter. He's anxious to leave and follow God's call, until it becomes clear that God has other plans for him.
I really enjoyed this book - the story was just as cute as I thought it was going to be, and it kept me turning the pages. I also thought the author did a really good job of incorporating the gospel into the book in a natural way. The characters were all relatable and likable, even the more minor characters, and the sub-plots kept things interesting. The ending was just what I wanted it to be (I love happy endings). I'd definitely recommend Stealing The Preacher if you like western romance stories.
Throughout the book I kept thinking that the author should write books about the other Archer brothers, so I was excited when I learned that she has! There is another book in this series about a different Archer, and I think I' going to have to pick up a copy. I liked Witemeyer's writing style, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from Bethany House in exchange for this review. This is my honest opinion.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson since I had never read one of her books before. I feel like Christian romance can be highly variable on quality, depth, likability of the characters, etc. But I was pleasantly surprised with this book!
Emmalyne and Tavin are engaged to be married until tragedy strikes Emmalyne's family and she follows her father's wishes to have her stay unmarried and take care of her parents in their old age. Eleven years later Tavin and Emmalyne meet again, and the story develops from there . . .
When I first started this book I was afraid that the main characters were going to be too perfect (which is a pet peeve of mine in fiction), and that the tension in the relationship with Emmalyne's father was going to be too tense (sometimes I feel like those tense relationship story lines go overboard).
But I quickly started to feel like I could relate to the hero and heroine (they weren't too perfect), and I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Emmalyne and her father. I also felt like the author really did her research on what it would take to quarry granite in that time period, and her descriptions were all well thought-out.
I liked this book, and I finished it in about three days - it was an enjoyable read! I would recommend it. I will say though that I hope the author plans to write another book on the doctor, because I want to know what happens to him! I'd love to read another one of her books.
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From Litfuse:
For nearly 100 novels, bestselling author Tracie Peterson has entertained readers with heartwarming tales of history, romance and courage. Now you have the unique chance to win a large selection of some of Tracie’s greatest adventures, along with her newest novel, The Quarryman’s Bride. To enter, just visit Tracie's Book Page on Facebook and fill out the short form. Then click around to read an excerpt, take a poll and more!
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