The Bishop

The author of the book "The Bishop" (Fantastic novel by the way, will be posting my review soon!!) will be hosting a Facebook party where you can chat live with him!

Back on Murder

I generally enjoy the murder mystery type books, that are full of suspense and intrigue, so I had big hopes for this book. At first a was a wee bit disappointed as it took a bit to really get "into" the story, but I'm glad to say that after a few chapters I found myself pretty hooked!
The book is based on Roland march a worn down detective who's disillusioned and cynical. After being passed around on different jobs in different departments he finally lands a case that could pivot him back to the top.
I did enjoy the story, although it started slow, it's well worth it to keep going. You're going to end with an awfully exciting and good story!
I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of crime novels or suspense novels, this will be right up their ally!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Heartless

Words cannot express how much I absolutely loved this book. I know without a doubt that this will become one of the most well read books in my personal library! It reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis' narnia series, in the way it is almost a parable on being born again. (like Narnia was a play on the salvation story)
The book focuses on the main character Princess Una and the potential suitors she will be deciding between. We are led through some tragic and horrific events and transformations before we begin to understand the underlying message in the book.
Honestly though, this is probably one of the best books I've read in a long time. Anne Elisabeth Stengl did an amazing job capturing her readers and holding their attention throughout the book. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone and everyone, even Non-Christians. While the book does have a Gospel like message, it is not so pushy that someone who is not a believer would be turned off!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

His princess, Girl talk with God

Right from the beginning, even just looking at the title and cover this book made me smile. with a cute look it, the book goes through different Bible studies that focus on dealing with being a teen girl, and who they (teen girls) are in God's kingdom. Right from the beginning this was a great feel-good book, the message it has is quite positive and written in a way to really build up teen girls, and make them feel secure in their relationship with the Lord.
After reading the book, there were plenty of youth aged girls who came to mind, who would absolutely love this book. As the wife of a pastor I'm in plenty of contact with youth aged children, and this will definitely be at the top of my list to recommend!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Perfectly Dateless

I'm not a big fan of the cutsie romance novels, so I don't as a rule enjoy them very much, nor do I generally read them. I did though enjoy "Perfectly Dateless" and would probably recommend this book to those who enjoy that genre.
The story is about Daisy Crispin and her attempts to find a date (and a way to actually date that boy, lol). If being a teenager isn't hard enough already, imagine also having to wear home made clothing, being socially awkward, and not being allowed to go on dates, or even talk to boys.
This was a very cute book, i did enjoy how witty Daisy comes across in the story, and the hilarious situations she finds herself in.
I would more recommend this book for a younger adult/teen, but it is well written enough that I think most people would enjoy it!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

The Seeker

I love books that not only entertain me and hold my interest, but also teach me something. So it goes without saying that I very much enjoyed reading "The Seeker"
I loved learning a bit about the Shaker culture, I've heard often of it and knew only bits and pieces of what they believe. So i really did like finding more out about their lifestyles and beliefs!
The story focuses mainly on Charlotte Vance and the plans she has for her future, and the future of those around her. When her plans start falling apart, and she faces loosing the only home she's known she decides to take some drastic steps to hold on to them!
I really liked how we were able to see the main character Charlotte grow in her beliefs and faith throughout the book, and I very much enjoyed the different characters and how they effected, or encouraged (or even discouraged) her walk with God.
This is one book that I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Courting Morrow Little

I very much enjoyed this book, I love historical fiction, so i was really looking forward to reading the book. I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed at all! "Courting Morrow Little" focused mostly on Morrow Little (of course, lol) and the losses and struggles she was facing. After a tragic childhood event turned her world upside down, Morrow isn't sure if she can learn to trust again. Laura Frantz did a great job holding the readers attention all throughout the book, it was very well written and had a wonderful display of the Gospel message.
This was a fantastic book, the story moved along at a great pace and kept surprising me throughout the book. I very much enjoyed reading this and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good read!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Maid to Match

To be honest, when i saw the book upon receiving the package, i really didn't have very high hopes for it. I tend to stay away from the mushy love story kind of books that tend to get a bit corny and unrealistic. I'm SO glad to find that this book was not like that!! (That'll teach me for judging a book by its cover!)
Out of all the books i recieived this is one of my favorites. I loved reading about Tillie Reese and the struggles she had between choosing her job/family and finding love. I thought that the plots and Characters we all quite well laid out and very realistic. I'm crossing my fingers on this one and hoping the author comes out with a sequal to it! I keep thinking back to the story and wondering how their lives continued on after the book was finished!
100% recommend this book!!

A Tailor Made Bride

Like I've mentioned before (Numerous times I'm sure, lol) I love historical fiction. I love learning the different ways that people used to live and I love hearing what their lives must have been like. So when i saw this book, I immediately was intrigued.
The book surrounds the lives of Hannah Richards (Who through some amazing generosity, receives a great gift and a new life) and her struggles of fitting in and succeeding in a new town, with a new business. Also we hear a great deal about J.T. Tucker and his misconceptions he has towards the town's newest member.
I really enjoyed this book, i found myself getting angry right along side Hannah at some of the unfair things said to her, and rejoicing with her when things started going her way. I don't usually find a book that engages me this much, so of course I absolutely loved it!!
A great read for anyone!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

A hopeful Heart

I 100% loved this book, it was such a fantastic and charming read. I really enjoyed reading the struggles and triumphs of the main character Tressa and the other brides as well. I have a huge liking of any historical fiction, so this book was right up my alley.
I thought the book had a great message (and a clever walk through of the gospel) within it, and felt that this story would be well received by anyone!! The plot and characters were (In my mind at least, lol) very realistic and engaging. I felt like i was right there along with them!!!
Great book and one I'll be recommending to a number of people!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Out of the spin cycle (Devotions to lighten your mother load)

I love this book, I love it So much. I can't even begin to explain how much of a difference reading this book has made in my walk with Christ. I especially loved the section titled "The cannibalization of me" this little devotion spoke loads to me. Everything she mentioned fit right in with where I am in life!
This devotional had really revived my spiritual life and gotten me back into the Scriptures again. Hatmaker gives some great insight in her book with practical and insightful ways to get into a deeper relationship with God and to really find who you are in Him as well.
This book I think will benefit any woman, whether she is a mother or not. There's so much spiritual truth in it, that you can't read it without reviving your spiritual life!! I highly recommend this book!!


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Momology

I was a little weary about reading this book, I'm not normally into the "how to raise your child" books that seem to be out there. Most seem unrealistic or corny, and tend to be on the sanctimonious side. I was thrilled however to discover that this book is Nothing like that! I loved especially the section that Radic included that compared a mother's parenting style to Psalm 139. Its such a unique yet practical comparison!
I found that the book Momology was full of great info that was quite practical and have already started to implement the ideas that the author presented! I also loved reading about the real life stories she included, it really helped me to apply the points she was making to my own life.
I would highly recommend this book to any mom, whether your a brand new one, or well seasoned! This book will  and has become a great guide that i foresee myself reading many times over as my child grows!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Homecoming

I can't even begin to tell how excited i was to find out we were reviewing a copy of the book "The Homecoming" after I learned  that it was the sequel to Dan Walsh's book "The unfinished gift"! These are those kind of books you read a dozen times, the story is so heartwarming and full of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Homecoming", the characters and scenes (especially war scenes) in the book really tugged at the heart strings. By the end of the book I was thoroughly hooked on this story, the characters were quite likable and believable.
I very much liked the character Katherine Townsend and was thrilled to see how big of a roll she played in this sequel. I thought the book had a strong Christian message, but it didn't come across as really preachy, which i appreciate.
I very much recommend both of the books by Dan Walsh, (The unfinished gift, and The homecoming) They are a fantastic and heartwarming read!!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing group.

No more Christian nice girl

I love this book so much, absolutely everything in that book spoke volumes into my life! Even the title is similar to my type of humour, so i started this book with some high expectations. I'm happy to report that all those expectations were met and more!
As a PW I do tend to get pulled into that 'yes' cycle quite often, and so reading about how that can be harmful to my relationship with my family, friends, even my church, really hit home. I felt very empowered by this book and have already started to work on the steps she's suggested to become the Woman of God that I'm called to be!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group

What happened to my life?

As a rule, i generally do Not like the kind of 'self-help' books out there, they're generally unrealistic in their goals and suggestions, and tend to be a little too 'rainbow's and puppies' in their thinking. So when i saw this book, i was a bit weary about reviewing it. I was however quite pleasantly surprised to find myself really engrossed in this book!
Danna Demetre really hit the nail on the head on so many topics, and she did so without sounding preachy or arrogant which i really liked. I especially loved reading the different life stories in the book, of the difficult times people went through and how God led them through it. There were so many instances in the book where i felt it was written specifically for me! I gleaned a lot from this book and it will be a well read addition to my home library!!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

This fine life

I love Love LOVE historical novels, I love hearing about the different activities and attitudes of the days past. So this novel really got my interest. Not only that, but as a Pastor's wife, i could really relate to the main character Mariette's struggles to really fit into the 'role' of a PW.
This book was so well written that i found myself at times getting angry at the character in the book, lol. The story really flowed nicely and the characters were quite believable in their roles.
This book took me through many ranges of emotions, with their struggles and triumphs, their joys and sorrows. I really highly recommend this book for anyone, it has such a great flow that i think even though who don't normall enjoy reading will enjoy this book!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

It had to be you

I can't even begin to tell you  how incredibly excited i was to see that we had received the third book in the weddings by bella series. I loved the second book and the funniness (is that a word?) and quirkiness of the characters. I really found myself once again pulled into the story as the main character Bella works hard to plan an ever increasing mountain of upcoming weddings, while at the same time deal with her own nuptials! This book was hilarious, and there was more than one instance where i cracked up (loudly) in the middle of a very quiet room.
I would highly recommend this book (along with the rest in the series) for anyone, they had a great flow and a fantastic message as well! They were easy and enjoyable to read, and honestly i was disappointed when the book did end, lol.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Flabbergasted

I just finished the novel "Flabbergasted" By Ray Blackston, and while it was difficult to initially get into I really found myself pulled into the story towards the end.
The only complaint I have about the book was that it tended to be somewhat sporadic (I think that's the word i want, lol) and jumped all over the place. So it made it difficult to really get into a good 'reading flow'. However once I got used to the jumping around, I really started enjoying the book. I very much liked the humour of the author and thought that his character Jay was hilarious! I also like that the author didn't just throw in the usual cliche Christian jargon that we usually find in these types of novels. I honestly didn't realize what i read was considered a 'romance' until i checked my email again to find the name of the author. (This is a good thing, i hate romance novels usually, lol). There was an element of romance in the novel but it was so much more than that, that I really didn't notice it as much.
I'd really recommend this for more of an avid reader who is willing to put time and focus into reading, it starts out difficult to read but turns into a great story!


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Dad's Bible (New Contemporary Version)

After receiving and loving the "Mom's Bible" from booksneeze I jumped at the chance to review the Dad's Bible. As the wife of a Pastor I knew that this would be a valuable resource for my husband in both the roll of Pastor and father.
I love the insights found in this Bible (I've read through it on my own before passing it on to my husband, lol) and I've been constantly sneaking it away from him to look into the different bible studies and insights found in it. I feel like at times it give me a better insight into the life of a man, and their own struggles and challenges living as a Father.
Like with the Mom's Bible, the Dad's Bible has a ton of extra's in it, such as "walking in authority" and the questions and answers section.
I HIGHLY recommend this book for Dad's everywhere, what a Valuable tool!!!

Storm warning

I really enjoy reading books by Billy Graham, I find he tends to be quite straightforward and to the point, yet he does so in a way that you're left feeling informed not attacked. Normally I tend to stay away from these kind of books about end time prophecies, mostly because most authors really seem to stretch the facts to get them to fit with their points. However with this book, (as with the other books I've read by Graham) I found that he didn't see the need to stretch the facts or exaggerate in order to prove his point. He's connected many of the different natural disasters, wars and downfalls in our world with end time prophecies. This book really caused me to sit back and look at myself and the world and judge how I personally have been living my life. I know as a PW I'll be passing this book on to my husband, since I'm quite sure there will be some fantastic points that he can quote in there for his sermons!
If you're looking for a light read, this isn't for you, but if you want to not only be challenged in your faith, but also your walk I would highly recommend picking up this book. It is definately a life changer.

You can be everything God wants you to be, Max Lucado

I love all things Max Lucado, the children's books, devotionals, even the small gift books. They're full of great insight and laid out in a simple enough way that it's easy to understand what he's trying to say. This book didn't disappoint me in the least bit, there was seriously something on each page that really spoke to me and moved me! This is a book that i now keep in the pocket of my Bible cover/carrier, for when I'm looking for encouragement for either myself or someone else. I absolutely loved this book, and couldn't put it down until i read the last page. Absolutely an amazing book. HIGHLY recommend it!

Sixteen Brides

"Sixteen Brides" takes place during the Civil war era, about a group of women lured west by the promise of free land. What they didn't know was that the speculator (The man who lured them west) was more in the business of luring unsuspecting women west in hopes of them being willing to accept proposals and bring him more money from their "future husbands".
I loved reading about the different struggles of each woman, and how they showed themselves as strong, self-sufficient women who didn't need a man to make them complete and happy. I also love that this wasn't a typical romance/historical fiction, where it seems the only goal is to find a husband.
Definitely a book I'll be recommending!

She walks in Beauty

I love historical novels, I love reading about the different history and fads of the days, and just the different atmosphere that was around then. So needless to say, i absolutely LOVED this book. This has moved to the top of my book lists as an all-time favorite!
I love in the book that the main character Clara Carter doesn't allow the fads and expectations of the day to shape who she is. Even though at times she struggled and seemed to give into those expectations, she stil held true to who she was.
It floored me when i read of the lengths women went to in that time period to be considered "beautiful", even to the point of death.
I also really appreciated the lesson the book presented, that even though at times she seemed to give into the pressures be "beautiful" by societies standard, she showed herself strong and that she truly walks in beauty by following God rather than man.

How Do You Tuck in a Superhero?

"How Do You Tuck in a Superhero?" By Rachel Balducci
I have to say, as a mom to a boy, this book made me feel exceptionally better about how he's behaved/turned out. I loved the stories and mishaps that Rachel Balducci shared in her book, there were plenty of times that I cracked up laughing. I also love that while she shares lessons that she's learned while raising her boys, she doesn't come across as condescending or "know it all" in the least bit.
I especially loved the section in her book where she talks about the unusual rules that she has to make for her children, and could Fully relate with her in that!
This book wasn't at all what i expected it to be, I thought it would be more of a how to parent type of book, telling us all how we should be raising our boys. I was pleasently surprised though to find it was more just a book about the hilarious joys of being a mom of boys!
I found this book highly relateable, and will be recommending this book to all my mom friends!

In Harm's Way, Heroes of Quantico Series #3

Though this is the third book in a series that I hadn't read, the book was easy to get into, and i didn't feel like i was missing a bunch of information.
When the book started out it left me wondering how the author would reconcile a "Psychic" into a Christian novel, and I have to say, i think the author, Irene Hannon, did a fantastic job! The book was fast moving and had really well developed Characters. There were plenty of surprises in the book and a few moments in there that had me holding my breath in anticipation!
I loved the main character Rachel Sutton, even though she was living in unusual circumstances I still found her to be a very believable character, which is quite an accomplishment!
I generally enjoy suspense fiction, and this book was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel,  and i suspect this will be a repeated read on my bookshelf!
Highly Recommend this book!

Too close to home

"Too close to home" by Lynette Eason was actually a really great book! I was weary of it at first, I find that usually the Christian novels that depict police women tend to be a little unrealistic. this book however was nothing like i expected!
The novel is about a group kidnapped girls who are all beginning to turn up dead and in similar circumstances. FBI computer expert Samantha Cash is brought in on the case to see if she can crack the computers for clues on where the girls are being taken.
The novel is full of turns and surprises that kept me guessing right until the last page, and made it a very hard book to put down!!!
I will totally be recommending this book to my friends, no matter what genre you like to read, this book will fit into it!

Plain paradise

I am quickly becoming an avid fan of Beth Wisman's books, I love the daughters of promise series (i've read two of the books now). Like usual Wisman draws the reader into the story with the very believeable and likeable characters, and takes us (the readers) on a journey with these characters that leaves us hungry to know more about Lancaster county and its inhabitants.
The story here focuses around three main characters; Linda a young amish woman/girl (she's 17) who finds out that her family has kept a Huge secret from her. Josie, Linda's birth mother who gave her up for adoption when she was 17, And Mary Ellen, Linda's mother.
Out of all the characters in the story i found myself really drawn in by Mary Ellen, as a parent of an adopted child, i really could understand her fear and heartache. I really feel like Wiseman hit the feelings she would have right on the nose!
The whole book was just a really fantastic read, I love these series and look forward to reading many more by her!

Somewhere to Belong

To be honest when i picked up the book i was a little weary about it being all that good, generally i love Amish stories but i wasn't sure if this was one. (I'm still not quite sure, but i think it is! lol)
Thankfully this book turned out to be fantastic, and while the characters lived lives quite different from the way i live mine, i found it was easy to relate to them and to sympathize with their struggles. Both of the main characters Johanna and Berta were quite easily likeable and realistic. Plus while the story provided some excellent Biblical lessons it didn't come across as preachy, which i really appreaciated about this book!
I will have no problem recommending this book to anyone looking for a good, wholesome read!

Hearts Awakening

In the book "Hearts Awakening" we read about the main character Elvira Kilmer, who by all worldy accounts is considered quite plain and ordinary. Fortunately for us the reader, we have a great insight into her soul and her struggles as she fights to earn a living and later fighting for her family. She show's courage and love in many situations that other's would walk away from. Plus I love that the character was written to show her doubts and worries, yet still rises above them to follow God's will in her life.  I think this was a great book for hearing and learning about following God even when the situation isn't what we're used to. I loved the main character's strength and heart, and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

The Promise of Morning

First off, as a Pastor's wife, i love reading about the lives of other's in the same kind of situations so i was quite excited to read this book! The story focuses around the life of Ellie Craig, and begins with the accounts of her losses and heartaches. Plus it gives some fantastic insight as to what its like living in a Minister's family. As trouble comes both to their own personal lives and their church, we follow along as the characters (Ellie and her husband Matthew) work to find God's strength, comfort, and will in their lives.
I completely loved this book, it was easy to read and had a great flow throughout the story. I got so into this story that I even found myself getting angry when people were attacking them, lol.
This will be in amongs my favorite books for a long time, and I have no doubt it'll be one of my most read as well!

Scattered Petals

The book "Scattered Petals" is about a young woman named Priscilla who longs for adventure and excitement, and while on her way to Texas for her Brother in Law's wedding she encounters awful tradgedies.
I really enjoyed this book, even though its a second in the series and i haven't read the first one, it was easy to follow and i didn't feel like i was missing a lot of vital information. The story is full of messages of forgiveness, healing, and redemption, yet it doesn't come across as preachy or antagonizing. The main Character (Pricscilla) is very realistic and easily likeable. I found myself quite engrossed in the novel and had quite a hard time putting it down! Plus i loved the lessons this book provided, they were insightful and very moving!
All in all i would 100% recommend this book to anyone, it was a great read!

Bibleman! Combating the Commandant of Confusion

I was so excited when i saw this up for review on Thomas Nelson! My son absolutely LOVES Bibleman and has nearly every movie! We sat down this afternoon and watched the movie together, and enjoyed it so much! I love that the Bible man movies are packed full of scripture and Godly messages, and this movie was no different! In a nutshell, the movie is about the Commandant of Confusion and his (sidekick/co-evil guy?) Chaos steal the armour of God and Bible man and his team have to race to retrieve it back.
I really appreciate how they make the Bibleman movies full of action and adventure that really draw kids in. My son isn't someone who enjoy's a lot of the Bible based movies (They tend to be corny) but he goes Crazy for Bibleman. He loves the costumes and especially the swords! More than once i've come across him watching this movie and quoting scripture with them!

A Distant Melody

I'm beginning to really love these historical romances especially when they're based in the 1940's era. Out of all the books i've read recently, this has to be one of my favorites! "A Distant melody" by Sarah Sundin is about the lives of two  characters, Allie and Walt. Both characters share the bond of having other's tell them they're not attractive enough, and both deal with issues that come out of that. As Walt goes off to war they begin to correspond and learn more about each other, and a love blossoms between them, but its threatened by secrets and expectations.

Sundin does a fantastic job of creating realistic and memorable characters, who are very relatable and down to earth. I love that these characters also were created with flaws, and real problems. It was easy to sympathize with both characters and  relate to their experiences and problems. The book also provides a great message of love and forgiveness that i really appreciate. All in all, I loved this book and will be recommending it to many people. It is well worth the read!

Along with that, I have an extra copy of the book so I'm holding a give-away for it! All you have to do is leave a comment with your email in it (so i can contact you!) I'll be doing a random draw to pick the winner.

The contest ends on Tuesday the 23rd of March, and I'll announce the winner the following day (March 24th) Good luck!

Sons of Thunder

This is one of those books that I will be reading over and over again, the flow to the story was great, and it kept my attention throughout the entire story. I love these historical fiction books, especially the ones set in the WW2 era.  The story focuses around Sofia Frangos and the two men who care for her, and through many misshaps and bad decisions she comes to realize the love of a good man, but also the love of a Great God. Susan May Warren wrote a fantastic story, this book kept my attention, even after putting the book down. lol. When i wasn't reading the book, i was thinking about what had gone on, and wondering what was happening next. I very much enjoyed this story and all the different twists and turns in it.
I love too that the charaters she created were quite human, they made real mistakes (it seems most Christian novels have their character's problems as corny, silly problems that don't reflect real life situations, this book was NOT like that!) and experienced Real grace.
I would definately recommend this book for anyone looking to find a great story about love and redemption.

The story of Easter

I loved the simplicty and straightforwardness (is that even a word? lol) of this book. As someone who works with children I was so excited to review this, and knew that the kids would love it too!
The day we got it in the mail the children (I have a day home) I was watching all gathered around once they saw it was a children's book. For the most part the book really kept their attention, and they very much liked looking at the pictures in the book. I found towards the end their attention started to waiver a bit, but then again, the kids were in the 2-3 year old range, so i suspect that the book may have been a little over their heads for the most part. However I loved this book as well, and it'll be keeping a place on the family book shelf for years to come!
I highly recommend this especially for people with young children, a great tool in teaching them the Gospel!

Anything but normal

Even though this book's audience is aimed at young adults/teens (of which i'm not, lol) I found this book to be very well written with a great message. The story focuses on Sophie Ramsay the main character who finds herself pregnant and alone (in the sense of not having a real relationship with the father of the baby).  The author, Melody Carlson, did a great job bringing the issues teen girls face to light. She wrote both a well written and compelling story that would benefit any young girl who reads it. Not only by showing what wrong choices can result in, but also in showing the readers to withhold judging those who face these situations.
This is one book that I will be recommending to our church's youth group library, I think it has a message that would benefit anyone reading it.

Beguiled

As i've mentioned in previous reviews I'm not one who really enjoys a romance novel, and while I think that the authors did a great job in their genre, it really wasn't a book that i fully enjoyed.  That though, is just my own personal dislikes/likes, and not because the novel wasn't good. For me, i found some of the happenings in the book unbelievable which to me tainted the rest of the book. However, when the book was good, it was Very good. I did like the suspense that was injected into the story, and there were a few parts that really kept me going with the book rather than putting it down. I also really enjoyed reading the clear Christian message in the book and very much liked that  Rylee (the main character) through her trials (both literally and figuratively) finds her faith in Jesus ressurrected.
All in all, if you enjoy the romance genre then you will most definatley enjoy this novel. Even if you don't the authors have injected enough suspense into the story that it will keep you entertained throughout the story.

Swinging on a Star

I can't say I'm one for romance novels, I'm not crazy about the corny sappy love stories that usually pop up in Christian fiction. That said, I really did enjoy this book! Although it was a romance novel it also gave a little extra that kept me enjoying the book.
The book focuses on bella Rossi a wedding planner who is planning an incredible (in both size and imagination!) wedding. Along with that she has a cast of family, friends, and clients who keep her on her feet running!
I found this book incredibly entertaining and quite funny which was a nice surprise, this book kept me laughing and entertained from start to finish. It was such a good book that (Like i mentioned before) although i'm really not into romance novel's this is one author i'll be keeping an eye out for the next time I'm at the book store!

Abigail

I love historical/Biblical fiction,  I love that it gives a new perspective to different events in the Bible, and this book is no exception.
The story focuses around Abigail the wife fo Nabal (Found in 1 Samuel 25) who struggles with being married to an angry and mean fool. As we know from the Biblical account, Abigail eventually goes on to marry David (who already has one wife) (two if you count his first one who was married off to another man after David ran from King Saul) and this book deals with some of the struggles she faced and her triumphs and most importantly, her faithfulness to God.
I really enjoyed this book, it was encouraging to read accounts of Biblical women, plus it was extremely well written and very entertaining. This book was so good that I'm looking forward to finding the other books in this series at our local Christian book store!!
The author (Jill Eileen Smith) really seems to know her stuff (in reference to keeping the novel historically accurate) which I really appreciate. There are many times when authors seem to take liberties with the lives of Biblical characters that to me seem quite unbiblical, Smith however isn't one of those authors. She kept the novel as historically accurate as possible while keeping it entertaining.
Definately one I'll be recommending to anyone looking for a good read!!

Hunter's Moon

Ok, I wanted to like this book, I really did, I tried three different times to start it before finally struggling through it on that third try.  I hate to be a downer, I'm sure the Author put a ton of work into this, and the Lord knows he did a much better job than i would have. But for me the book just jumped around so much, and was so hard to follow. I loved the idea of the plot, and thought the idea of it was really compelling and imaganitive, so that was a big thumbs up for the author. Perhaps though this just isn't a style of writing that I'm used to reading, so I would encourage people to check him out for themselves. I know other's who have read his book and enjoyed it immensely so I'm thinking this just wasn't my cup of tea in a way.
Anyway, onto an overview of the book for those who want to know more about the plot!
The main Character in the book is CJ Baxter, a writer who takes his stories straight from his own life. With the death of his grandfather looming Baxter has to travel back to Adelia NY, back to his family. Even with all the stories he's written there is one that he's kept secret, and its a secret that his brother Graham is willing to keep silent by any means possible. There were some spots in the book that I'll admit I found compelling and really held my attention, Hoesel did a great job especially during the more suspensful sections.

"Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

"A Mom's ultimate book of lists"

Seriously, I don't think I've ever loved a book like I love this one. Michelle LaRowe has compiled an amazing amount of lists that as a mother, I find myself going back to constantly!
"A mom's ultimate book of lists" has lists and information dealing straight from pregnancy to childhood and beyond. LaRowe doesn't just stick to information and lists deal with the children though, there is also plenty of great suggestions for the rest of the family as well! One of my favorite (chapters/contents?) in the book is the section of the Virtuous Wife. LaRowe really modernizes the list that the Bible gives us and makes it easier to apply to lives now days.
LaRowe however doesn't just stick to teaching only the Bible basics and such, but also includes many lists and information on common childhood illnesses, allergies, etc...
This is a book I know I'll be coming back to often, and recommending to all parents!

Mom's Bible: God's wisdom for mothers

I seriously LOVE this Bible, There are so many great things in there that I don't know quite where to start! lol.
There are so many extras and features in this bible that really give it a huge boost in my opinion! From articles about questions kids ask (provides scripture based answers too!) to articles about who Our God is (Building your knowledge on God), there is just so much to glean from this Bible. I also love the articles on mom's in the Bible, its great to have some solid Biblical examples of how to be a good mother, as well as learning the lessons they've shared.
There is so much going on in this Bible that it's hard to pack it all into one review, the people who put this together thought of everything!
If you're a mom, then this Bible is an incredibly useful tool, that i think every mother should have!!!!

50 Ways to Feel Great Today

I did not think I was going to like this book, I'm not really into the the whole self-help scene when it comes to books and I really thought it was going to be a chore to get through this book. I was quite pleasantly surprised though to find myself enjoying it!
The book was really quite practical with some great idea's on how to lift your spirits and feel better. (As someone who loves art, i especially loved the suggestion about finding your inner artist, i always find myself feeling better after doing a painting or drawing!!)
I love that the advice given was practical, and not the whole New-age-ish type stuff that seems to be out there. There were none of the corny 'invite your inner child out to play' suggestions in that there make me roll my eyes. lol.
I can't say i'll read through the entire book again, but there are a few chapters (that i've marked!) that will get re-read anytime i need a pick me up! I think this would be a fantastic book for people who are dealing with the day to day stresses and anxieties.


"Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Silent Governess

This book by Julie Klassen was exceptionally well written and highly entertaining! Its one of those books where you loose all track of time, and find you've been reading it for hours, lol.
I love that her Characters in the book (Both Olivia Keene and Bradley Brightwell) really seemed to develop throughout the story, they were very multi-dimensional and seemed to grow as you were reading.
Without giving away too much of the story, the book starts off with the main character Olivia Keene, who is running away from an act she committed and ends up in the home of someone who fears her yet is drawn to her. Brightwell with his own secret forces Olivia into service in the manor house, where both Characters are at odds yet find themselves drawn to each other.
Really a great book, i had a hard time putting it down.



"available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

The Hidden Flame

I love Janette Oke books, I used to (before i read them) think that they would be super corny and mushy romantic stories. I've recently discovered that she is a fantastic writer, and one of my favourites now!
I truly loved the book "The Hidden Flame" by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke,  I was weary about being able to understand it after i found out it was a second book in a series. However, even without reading the first book, i LOVED the second in the series. This book really gave a new perspective on Biblical events, ones that we hadn't considered before. I love that they included actual people from the Bible like Ananias and Sapphira, (and writing the story based on the truth of what actually happened) plus Stephen (Who i hadn't really gave much consideration to until now, this book gave me a new appreciation for what he did for the Gospel!).
This is one book that I think is a must for anyone into Biblical based fiction, not only is it very well written and entertaining, its also insightful. I know that this will not be the last time i read this book!

"available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Plain Pursuit

I am absolutely in love with reading the Amish series books right now, and Beth Wiseman is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors within this genre. I was so excited to see her book among the titles to review, I could hardly wait to get the book!!!
Her book "Plain Pursuit" doesn't disappoint, it is full of the type of Characters that Wiseman is becoming known for (at least in my books, lol). Her characters are incredibly realistic, they have their own problems (such as Dr. Noah and Carlely) and situations to handle, and Wiseman doesn't give them the 'pat' answers to their problems.  I loved this book so much, that i read the entire thing in one sitting (which lasted well into the night, lol). Its one of those books that you just can't put down.
I love that she (Wiseman) is able to write about the Amish and their beliefs without coming across as preachy.
The book begins with a Character named Carley Marek after facing a forced vacation, decides  to visit her friend Lillian and her family in the Amish community. While there she witnesses and takes part in the struggle of a child's illness and the issues of faith and forgiveness.
I definitely recommend this book, This one will be re-read a number of times!

The Choice

I have to say,  I was a little weary about reading this book.  From some of my experiences, I've found the Amish themed books to be a little slow moving and very preachy about living that way of life. So i didn't really have great hopes for the book when i started reading. However that changed after the first few pages, the book was absolutely fantastic.
The book begins with a young Amish woman named Carrie who makes plans to run away to marry her 'boyfriend'. However tragedy strikes the family and Carrie is forced to choose between love for a guy and love for her family.
I loved the characters in this book, they were kind and faith-filled yet without that condescendingly proud tone you sometimes get when author's are trying to convey this. The author gave them real problems (not the corny silly problems that sometimes Christian authors seem to put in their books) and real heartache and showed how they dealt with it. All the characters were quite believable and easily likeable. I found this book easy to read and incredibly well written. I do believe Lancaster County has found a new fan!
"Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

The Selfless Gene

I was really curious when i saw the title of this book on Thomas Nelson last week. Darwin and Christianity are generally not all that compatible with each other, and I got to wondering how Charles Foster would attempt to bring them both together. I have to say after reading it, I have mixed feelings. In some ways I think he was right on the money, Foster had solid knowledge of both the Bible and his scientific data. There were times though that i felt he was really stretching in some area's, and while it gave me pause, it also caused me to really think hard on those topics.
All in all, while this isn't a light read by any stretch of the imagination, it does cause you to really look into what you believe. And it does provide common ground for the Christian and scientific community to build on.
A definite recommendation for those who are interested in more then just a light read!

The Sweet By and by

What a surprisingly great book, I hadn't had really all that high of hopes for this book. I hadn't read any previous books by the authors and really didn't know what the book would be like. I have to say i was pleasently surprised,  both Evans and Hauck provided an exceptionally well written and interesting book. The character in "The sweet by and by" were very realistic and well written. You really felt like you were getting to know them throughout the story. I really appreciated the insight they gave to previous instances in the character's lives. It really gave you an idea of each of the Characters and their unique struggles and hopes.
I highly recommend this book, a very good read!!

The Lightkeeper's Daughter

I just finished reading this book and it was Fantastic! Basically (but without giving the ending away) the book is about the lead character Addie who discovers she is not the person she grew up thinking she was. In her search to find out who she truly is, she encounters many dangerous situations.
I really did love this book, Coble did a fantastic job keeping the attention of the reader and really keeping the story moving. There was enough of a mystery to the story that it really kept the reader guessing until the very end. All in all it was a fantastic story, and very enjoyable!

Pearls of Wisdom

December 15:
12 Pearls of Christmas: Just God

 

A Tangible Reminder
by Mary Byers

Last year I read Me, Myself, & Bob: A True Story About Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer, creator of the Veggie Tales video series. I was interested because my children grew up on Veggie Tales. But I was also interested because somewhere along the way I noticed Phil Vischer was no longer with Big Idea, the company he founded. I knew there must be a story there, so I picked up the book.

Though millions of children can sing the Veggie Tales theme song, Big Idea no longer exists. After expanding too quickly, the company was forced into bankruptcy. Vischer writes about the experience in his book, which is part memoir and part business tutorial. And it's a touching example of how one man encountered grit and allowed it to be turned into grace.

At the end of the book, Vischer outlines the lessons he learned from the rise and fall of Big Idea. In part, he shares, "I was ready to be done, if that's what God wanted. To just rest in him and let everything else fall away. At long last, after a lifetime of striving, God was enough. Not God and impact or God and ministry. Just God."

His words convicted me. As an author and speaker, I realized that I'm often more focused on my deadlines or my next speaking engagement than I am on God. I have it backwards. God first, then everything else will fall into place.

It's a powerful message for us as women, too. When we focus on God first, we'll have everything we need to handle whatever is happening in our families and our lives. As Vischer reminds us, God is enough. As we approach Christmas, I'm reminded that this is the time when God shared his Son with us-a tangible reminder of his love for us. And a reminder that when we have him, we have everything we need.

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Mary Byers is the author of Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof. She offers advice and encouragement for moms work from home for profit at www.makingworkathomework.com.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

 

Pearls of Wisdom

December 14:
12 Pearls of Christmas: Home

COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
by Virelle Kidder

My mother had remarkable zeal for Christmas. Weeks in advance, she would come home from teaching school and bake late into the night. I helped clean the house and decorate the tree while my older brother Roger wired the house with Christmas lights, transforming our humble red house into a place of magical beauty. Following the church candlelight service, a crowd of happy people crunched through the snow to our house for cocoa and cookies.

We were, like many, quite alone in the years after my father left. Our Christmas open house was my mother's supreme effort to make us feel complete. It almost worked.

Despite years in church and Sunday school, God was more a distant relative I wished I knew. I grew up with a gnawing sense of incompleteness, and longed to find meaning and purpose in life. Strangely, it was shortly before Christmas years later that it found me.

My husband Steve was fully absorbed with his new job at Johns Hopkins University, and I was home with a two year old. We wanted friends, but were both hesitant when Steve's officemate his wife invited us to attend their church. We had nothing in common with "religious types," but Steve said, "Let's be nice and go just once."

Sitting in church that Sunday, my temples pounded. Hymns and Scripture verses long ago ignored called to me from my childhood. Could others tell I didn't belong here? Oddly, I felt jealous of their peace. They looked happy.

First thing Monday morning I began tearing through the unpacked boxes in our basement. At last, I found my mildewed Bible from fifth grade. I resolved to read it cover to cover. I opened to Genesis, chapter 1. Same old story; I've heard this a hundred times, and quickly slammed it shut.

No one told me God could hear my thoughts. A soft Voice whispered, Why not read as if it were true? I opened my Bible again. Suddenly I was listening to the most interesting person I had ever heard. By afternoon I was still reading in my pajamas. I couldn't stop.

I read for weeks until one day, a picture popped in my mind of a beautiful old house with wide porches, brightly lit at night. Music, laughter and lively conversation carried onto the porch where I stood in the dark, peeking in. I saw a feast and a fire on the hearth, much like the Christmas open houses from my childhood, with one important difference. There was a Father here whose face mirrored love and warmth at His children's presence. This was God's family, and I desperately wanted to be inside. But how?

A voice taunted, Why would God want you? You don't fit in this crowd! It was true. I considered giving up. Instead, I marched upstairs to our bedroom, knelt down and prayed out loud, "Lord, help me find the way! Please don't let me go!"

Verses I'd read made sense. Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Our friends explained that God already knew I was a hopeless mess and loved me anyway. Opening the door to Heaven was a gift that cost God everything. It was on the cross Jesus died to pay for my sins. He rose again to prove forever that He is the Truth. Weeping at such love, I knelt and gave Christ my life. I found that, with or without a happy family, no one is ever complete without Jesus.

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Virelle Kidder is a conference speaker and the author of six books and numerous articles whose passion is sharing the love of God with women around the world. For her latest books, please visit her at www.virellekidder.com and www.meetmeatthewell.fm

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

Pearls of wisdom

December 13:

12 Pearls of Christmas: Life Beautiful

Life Beautiful
by Margaret McSweeney


During a quiet moment after Thanksgiving, I started reading my parents' stack of love letters that I recently found in a storage box. As a Christmas gift to you, I would like to share my father's words to my mother written to her during Christmas 1949. This incredible "hug from heaven" has been a tangible affirmation that Pearl Girls has true meaning and great worth for women throughout the world. I pray that God will continue to bless this ministry and outreach. May we all realize that the grit in our lives can be transformed into grace through the love of God.

This is what I found written on a tiny folded card inscribed with "Christmas Greetings" on the front:

Christmas 1949

My Dearest Carolyn,

Truly a jewel is a thing of beauty, but a life that is lived to serve others and to glorify our Christ, such as yours, is my dearest, a far surpassing gem in radiance and beauty.

Pearls to me, symbolize this "Life Beautiful" that you have achieved, Carolyn. Each pearl is a result of a great hurt to the oyster's life. But the little mollusk builds an iridescent coat around this source of hurt, and as a result, the precious pearl comes into being. Life is like that too.

If we, like the pearl, can make of our hurts the basis of a thing of beauty, then we can bear witness to an on-looking world how Christians can overcome through Christ, blows that are seemingly insurmountable.

At this happiest season of the year, I give thanks to God for you, Carolyn - my Pearl of Great Price.

Your Claude

Isn't this an amazing Christmas Pearl? I hope this message has touched your heart, too. Another Christmas gift I would like to share with you: My father's lessons on leadership. These can be found on my guest blog post at Michael Hyatt's website.

During this holiday season, decorate your life with Christmas Pearls --- strands of God's grace-reminders that nothing can separate us from his love, not even the grittiest of circumstances.

And please celebrate the "Pearls of Great Price" in your life through Post a Pearl. It's a fun and free gift that you can share with special people who have been a blessing to you over the years.

Merry Christmas!

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Margaret McSweeney lives with her husband David and two teenage daughters in the Chicago suburbs. She's the founder of Pearl Girls and a published author. Please visit  www.pearlgirls.info for more info. You can also find Margaret at her writing blog, From Finance to Fiction or on Facebook and twitter.


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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

Pearls of Wisdom

December 12 (extra post):
12 Pearls of Christmas: Gifts of Purpose

Too Precious to Wear
by Sarah Sundin

One Christmas when my mother was a girl, she received a string of pearls from her father. Since her parents were divorced-an unusual situation in the 1950s-she treasured the pearls as a sign of her father's love. When he passed away her senior year in high school, the pearls took on even greater significance.

When I was growing up, my mother talked often about the pearls, but my sister and I never saw them. Mom kept them safe in their silk-lined velvet box tucked in her jewelry box. For dressy occasions, she wore other nice jewelry, but never the pearls.

The pearls were too precious to wear.

What if the strand broke and even a single pearl was lost? What if the clasp broke and she lost them forever? She couldn't risk it. Better to keep them cocooned in silky security.

When my mother offered to let me wear her pearls on my wedding day, I was deeply touched. This was more than "something old" or "something borrowed," but a sign that she trusted me and loved me.

A few days before the wedding, my mother pulled the box from seclusion. My sister and I watched with curiosity and awe.

The pearls had turned a deep grayish-yellow, they were flaking, and some had fallen apart.

They were fake.

For over thirty years, my mother nurtured a piece of costume jewelry. All that time she could have worn them and enjoyed them without worry. Her father gave them to her for a purpose-to wear them and feel lovely and ladylike and special. He didn't mean for her to hide them away.

On our wedding day, my husband gave me a strand of real pearls. They symbolize my husband's sacrificial love for me-they were expensive for a graduate student with half-Scottish blood.

I vowed never to tuck them away but to wear them often. Yes, I'm careful. I inspect the cord and knots and clasp, and I plan to have them restrung when necessary. But I wear them and enjoy them. That's why my husband gave them to me.

Our heavenly Father gives us gifts too-brilliant and costly. We should cherish them, but we should use them. Whether our individual gifts involve serving, teaching, encouragement, evangelism, or even money-they have a purpose. The Lord wants us to use our gifts to bless others and to spread the message of His love.

While pearls make women look lovely, using our God-given gifts for His kingdom makes us even lovelier. And just as pearls grow more lustrous with frequent wear, our gifts from God grow in beauty and strength the more we use them.

This Christmas I plan to wear my string of pearls, a sign of my husband's love-and to display my pearls from heaven, a sign of my Father's love.

Have a lustrous Christmas!

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Sarah Sundin lives in northern California with her husband and three children. She works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. Her first novel, A Distant Melody, historical fiction set during World War II, will be published by Revell in March 2010. Please visit her at http://www.sarahsundin.com or her blog or find her on Facebook.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

The Christmas Dog

In the book "The Christmas Dog" by Melody Carlson, a dirty, uncared for mutt shows up on the doorstep of Betty Kowalski's house, and completely changes her views and her Christmas!
 I generally don't enjoy the kind of 'mushy' stories that tend to come out at Christmas time, they tend to get a little 'corny'. However Carlson was able to capture the emotion in the story without taking it too far. Which meant that although the story was an emotional one, it didn't cross that line into becoming too mushy!
At times i would have liked to have seen a little more depth to some of the characters and their connection in the book, (I.e; Avery's mother, or a little more information/interaction with Jack) however that is about the only criticism i can give this book. It was well written, great story line, and it had a message that was easy to read without becoming "preachy" This is a book that I think even my Non-religious friends would enjoy!
I would totally recommend this to friends and family (Plus its short enough that i was able to read it together with my 7 yr old son, {Who loves dog stories, lol} and he really enjoyed it as well!) Would be a great family story to read through the holidays!!

*Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Unfinished Gift

I LOVED this book, right from the first page Dan Walsh was able to bring you deeply into the story and keep you there! The story is about a little boy named Patrick who after a series of heartbreaking events ends up having to stay at the home of his estranged Grandfather.  After many mishaps and mistakes we see a true relationship begin to form.
This was one of those books that I couldn't put down until I finished it. Walsh's book was well written and heart warming, perfect for the holiday season! I honestly have no criticisms of this book, this is one that I will be recommending to my friends and family as one of the 'must have' holiday books this year!


* Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group!

An Amish Christmas

I got this book on Friday and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! I had prepared myself for a pretty tame and slow moving novel, but this book is anything but! I love  that each 'book' within the book focuses on a different Character, but is still connected to the other books. The books basically focus on the lives of three Amish women and their hopes, struggles and hurts. One of the things that i really appreciated about the book was that when you read 'outside' your denomination, the authors tend to get a little preachy with why their way is the 'best' way. This book had absolutely None of that in it! They were informative without that 'prideful' aspect you tend to get from some authors!
The books were very well written and moved at a nice pace, I loved hearing about some of the different traditions within the old order Amish. Also I absolutely LOVED that there are Old order Amish recipes at the back of the book! I can't wait to sit down and try them!

Healing Sands

In the book "Healing sands" by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn  we are introduced to Ryan Coe a photojournalist who's job has now turned into a mundane work of shooting minor stories. That is until she's at a crime scene getting ready to shoot some photo's and see's her son right in the middle of it!
I really enjoyed this book, its one of those ones that once you pick it up you can't put it down again till you're finished! The characters in the story we very well thought out and authentic, and I found the entire book to be very well written and interesting! This is definitely one of those books that I'll be recommending to friends and family!

Graf Martin

So i've joined a Blog Tour with Graf martin, and they sent me some excerpts of a few books to post until i post my review. So i wanted to share them with you! (I'm very excited about reading these!!)

The Christmas Dog:


http://www.revellbooks.com/Media/MediaManager/Excerpt_9780800718817.pdf

The Unfinished Gift:
http://www.revellbooks.com/Media/MediaManager/Excerpt_9780800719241.pdf

 Finding Christmas:

http://www.revellbooks.com/Media/MediaManager/Excerpt_9780800719395.pdf

Faith, Hope, Love

Ok, this is the last of the paintings that i completed for Christmas! The pictures look orange but are really a deep red in person.
The verse on the main one is from 1 Corinthians 13:13 "But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Close up of the right side

Close up of the left

Fearfully and wonderfully made!

My second painting, that I just finished this evening! This one was made for my nieces, and has the verse from Psalm 139:14 on it!

Love is:

This is the newest painting, and hopefully a first in a series of paintings! I absolutely without a doubt love this one. The verse at the top is from 1st Corinthians 13:4+7.

The Liturgical year

I was a little disappointed with this book,  when i requested it I imagined it would give me a bit of historic background, look at the practices. And while it does give  one, i was really hoping it would go deeper. Plus It was a fair bit more difficult to understand than i thought it would be. The book reads a lot more like a text book, which in its own sense is fine, but when i read something i tend to want more of a flow to what i'm reading. It is however well written and Chittister definitely has here info down pat.
One other thing that confused me was I'm not sure if what i read was Catholic/Lutheran/ etc... it was really hard to pin down what denomination this book was aimed at. So it was informative, but i would have liked a bit more information wise, and well written but didn't quite have the flow that i really like. All in all, i probably wouldn't reccommend this book to my friends, I just didn't enjoy it very much!

Encouraging Words!

Psalm 103:8-13(NIV)

 ⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
       slow to anger, abounding in love.

 ⁹ He will not always accuse,
       nor will he harbour his anger forever;

 ¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
       or repay us according to our iniquities.

 ¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
       so great is his love for those who fear him;

 ¹² as far as the east is from the west,
       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103%3A8-13&version=NIV 

Graf martin Review

A while back Graf martin sent a christmas package (Including a new testament book, invitation card, and 30 free days of an online study bible). I have to say i was really impressed! The whole presentation of the package was really classy (a white and gold theme), and very appropriate in a church setting. I really thought that the New Testament, paired with the study bible online was a Fantastic feature, and a great evangelism tool!

The tallest of smalls

Max Lucado's children's book "the tallest of smalls" is a parable from his book "Fearless". I think this is a fantastic book for children, I read it to my little guys here and they absolutely LOVED it. It was simple enough for them to follow without too much trouble, but still kept their attention. They also absolutely loved the illustrations, we spent more then half the time reading the story looking at and pointing out different things in the pictures.
Lucado provides a great lesson that children in these times really need to learn, That Jesus loves them and that They Matter.
This story is fantastic and I can see already that its going to be a favorite in this house!

Green

When i first started reading this book by Dekker i was really weary on actually being able to follow the story without having read the rest of the series. And i have to say for the first couple of chapters it was a bit difficult to understand some of what was going on. But by the time i got past them i was completely hooked on to the story! The story revolves around the idea of one man Thomas Hunter going into the future (after the apocalypse) in an age where good and evel could be seen.
The book was a fantastic read, i had a hard time putting it down! And i'll be searching for the rest of this series now! Something else i like was that previous books that dekker has written were tied into this series as well. Definately something i'll be recommending!

Find Your Strongest Life

It took a bit but i did get through find your strongest life, and it might be because i don't generally read these types of books but i found it difficult to really get into. The author did present some great idea's though that already i've tried hard to implement into my life. I also like the amount of examples he gave in the book on way to apply what he was saying to our lives.
So in all i can't say i really enjoyed the book, but i don't think the idea is to so much enjoy it as to learn from it. And i did learn a lot from what Buckingham wrote, he presented a clear and easily understood way to grasp success.
I would recommend this book to those who are looking to move up in life and find ways to get ahead. I think this book would be very helpful to those people!

Lonestar Secrets

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lonestar Secrets, it very well written and easy to read. Colble writing really drew me into the story and continually surprised me. The book Lonestar secrets revolves around the life of Shannon Astor who return to her hometown to work as the vet. Colble very masterfully wove Biblical truths throughout her story without it becoming preachy or tedious. She was able to keep the story flowing at a good pace while still making it easy to read and understand. All in all, i really enjoyed reading this book, it was the kind of book you pick up and can't put down until the last page. Now that I've been introduced to this author I'll be looking for more of her books!!

Fearless

I have to first say that i have yet to read a book by Max Lucado that i didn't absolutely Love! And of course Fearless went far beyond my expectations! In his book Fearless Lucado talks about living our live not in fear but with trust in our Heavenly Father! Lucado gave many great examples of how to overcome and move beyond this paralysing fear that people tend to live with. I love that he uses real life situations as illustrations and gives us straight forward ways to apply these truths to our lives! Lucado as always, lays it out in an easy to read/understand and an easy to apply way, that makes changing one's life and outlook as simple as it can possibly be. I also am so happy to see how much Scripture he uses in his book! I love that he gives us simple ways to apply God's truths to our lives!
This is one of those books that i honestly can say has absolutely changed me and the way i look at the present time and future!

The Expanded Bible

The Expanded Bible is quickly becoming one of my favorite references when i want to get deeper into God's word, and get a deeper meaning as well. I Love Love LOVE to find the meaning behind the words used in the Bible to try and get a deeper understanding of what's being written and The Expanded Bible has now made that Much easier for me! One of my favorite features is having the expanded parts (like the different meanings of the words, the cross references for other scriptures, ect...) lined up right with the text. It made it so much easier to find! I spent a great deal of time (especially when preparing Bible studies) online searching for information like this, so i am in love with the idea that now all i have to do is open The Expanded Bible in order to find this out!!! It took a bit of getting used to, with the layout looking slightly different (since the 'helps' are alongside the text) but once you get past that, its proven already to be an incredibly Vaulable resourse!! In the long run this will be saving me hours of searching and allow me to be putting that time into getting to know God's Word even better! I 100% recommend this book to anyone who wants a better understanding of the Bible!!

Faces in the Fire

When i Saw T. L. Hines new book Faces in the fire up for grab i was so excited! I loved his book The Unseen and had incredibly high hopes for this! I'm happy to say it doesn't disappoint, i immensely enjoyed reading "Faces in the Fire". It was full of twists and turns (That T.L. Hines seems to be known for, lol) and kept me guessing right till the end! This was one of those books that once i picked it up to read, i didn't put it down until I had finished the book! Faces in the Fire revolves around the lives of 4 people; Kurt a trucker turned artist, Corrinne, an e-mail spammer (who is surprisingly a very likable character!), Grace a tattoo artist and heroine addict, and finally Stan the hit man. Hines weaves together this story in a subtle way, yet it is easy to pick out, in the story, what is tying them together. I absolutely loved this book! It will definitely be at the top of my recommendations!

Jesus Calling

I wasn't sure about how much i would like this book when i signed up for it, but i have to say that by the time i finished it i was absolutely loving it. I love the simple way that the author (Young) presents the words of Jesus and how her devotions really tie in with scripture. Plus something that i appreciate is that they aren't really long ones, so i can sneak a devotion in even when i'm busy! Young really captured the heart of Jesus in her book as well as keeping the devotions inline with what Scripture says.
As well i truly love the way the book speaks to you in a first person, like Jesus is speaking directly to us through this book. It was insighful and heartwarming!!