Composting Simplified for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Fix Common Compost Pitfalls, Create Fertile Soil, and Enjoy a Lush, Productive Garden ByKasey Bayr. 

Before I received this book, I had dreamed of being the best gardener possible. I thought of composting,g but everything I read was so complicated. This book goes into great detail about the reasons for composting, how to compost, and provides step-by-step directions for a weekly schedule to keep you on track. This was not only informative, but it also gave me the confidence I needed to start small and work my way to bigger goals. I loved the many illustrations and charts that went even further in explaining the process of composition. It also gave several charts to help with when things go wrong and what to do about it. I recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who are new to composting and have huge issues with putting it off due to fears of failure. I was once there, now I can't wait to get started. Green thumb here we come!

 

Stray: Breaking Free, Falling Hard, and Growing Stronger

 By Shannon O'Brien. 

I have to say that I am greatly amazed at this book. I not only found the story exciting and spellbinding, but it also truly deepened my love of travel. The author, Shannon O'Brien, tells her story of a lifetime with words that bring every detail to life. If I would have had someone read me the story while I closed my eyes, I know I would be able to feel and see and hear her entire travels as if I were there. She is an excellent storyteller, using vivid and descriptive words of her daily travels so that you actually feel like you are right beside her. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has forgotten how to dream. It will grab you and inspire you to take a chance and live differently

Decency & Determination: How Nicholas Winton Saved Hundreds of Children From the Holocaust By Sophia Brooks

Decency & Determination by Sophia Brooks. I received this book as a gift, and it truly was a valued present. It tells the story of Nicholas Winton, a man who did much more than just think about the atrocities happening during the German invasion of Czechoslovakia. He could have reacted like many others who chose to look away from the suffering of the Jewish people. He could have stayed detached from what was happening around him. Instead, he joined his friend Martin and others in creating a plan to rescue children from certain death. Nicholas's selflessness and resolve saved hundreds of children. This story encourages those of us who sometimes doubt that one person can make a difference. I especially appreciated the ending, which shared the individual stories of some of those precious children who were spared and the remarkable lives that might have been lost without brave people like Nicholas. I believe that sharing stories like this helps us better understand and empathize with those around us who are suffering. 

 

 October 7: A Story of Courage and Resurrection By Tsafi Timor

I don't believe there are enough stars to award to this book. Although the author says it is a fiction based on real events, I read it as if it were really a true story. The depth of emotion I felt while reading this book was almost overwhelming. Having followed the real October 7 terror through what the news allowed, this story gave me insight into what the people of Israel went through and are still living with. The author did an excellent job of bringing the reader into the reality of what happened. The author allows the reader to not only get an overall view of what happened but also to get a glimpse into each of the individual characters, their plights, and how they coped. I believe this book should be on the bestseller's list. I feel honored and grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it. My heart is with the people of Israel. 

The Harvest of Grace By Cindy Woodsmall

 

This adventure is about several young Amish people who eventually become entwined in each other's lives.

There is Sylvia, who is the eldest daughter of a dairy farmer, whose love for dairy farming outweighs the desire to be married. When her beau asks her, she wants to postpone their big day, wanting more time to be able to discover who she is. Taking her answer as a "no", her beau secretly plans to marry Sylvia's sister. Heartbroken and unable to leave the farm, she tries to endure her feelings of rejection and betrayal. When one day she is caught off guard with her now brother-in-law, he kisses her and she returns the kiss. Feeling shame and guilt, Sylvia leaves and begins working for a couple on the Blank's dairy farm, where she meets their son, Aaron, which leads her down a whole new road to adventure.

There is Cara, who has a young daughter named Lori, whose father died when she was little. Cara left New York because of the fear of someone stalking her, and traveled to Dry Lake because of some memories from her childhood. After seeking refuge in Ephriam's barn, she is taken in and falls in love with him. When Cara finally gets comfortable in her surroundings, she is given a challenge she feels is far beyond her power alone to conquer.
Then there is Lena. She is recovering from an accident and has a bluish purple birthmark on her face. She falls in love with Grey, who was married to the Blanks' daughter. Grey is now a widower and is made to wait the required time of mourning until he can court Lena. Grey also has a secret that he carries with him that he feels could destroy their relationship if Lena only knew.
Will these young couples be able to work through the challenges that God has allowed in their lives, or will they give up and play it safe? Find out how each of these couples faces their challenges both separately and together.

Last Season By Jenny Judson & Danielle Mahfood

Last Season By Jenny Judson & Danielle Mahfood

 I found this book to be well written in terms of the storyline. I liked the underdog mentality. One of the main characters, "Cassandra," comes from a rich and powerful family, while the second main character, "Crispin," is from the working class. Crispin, a stable boy trying to work off his father's debts, falls for Cassandra, making a huge error in judgment that results in him being sent away to India, where his future and fortune change. When Cassandra's father also makes a significant mistake, his decision affects their family's fortune, leaving them penniless. However, fate intervenes and guides both Crispin and Cassandra to a future neither of them expects. The only issue I had with this book was that large portions were written in italics, making them difficult to read. Overall, it's a story full of love, loss, and triumph.

 

"On the Black: Africa" by Theo Cage was one of the most thrilling books I have read in a long time. I won this book through LibraryThing. At first, I found the book kind of frustrating because it is set up into about three different sub-stories that eventually come together into one but just as one of the sections would become really intense it would switch over to the next section. The flow from section to section went very well so that you didn't know that you had left off when the story began again. There were many parts where I found myself holding my breath or wanting to turn away from the book due to the intensity but that is also what kept me from putting it down. I don't really get the title but I assumed that it had something to do with black ops or military talk. All in all, I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves adventure and suspense. Excellent story.