Book Review: Let There Be Light

'In the very beginning, God's love bubbled over when there was nothing else---no trees, no birds, no animals, no sky, no sea---only darkness.' Let There Be Light combines the love and warmth of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu with the extraordinary talents of bestselling author and illustrator Nancy Tillman. This retelling of the biblical story of creation vividly portrays the wonder and beauty of God's creation on each of the seven days. Using Archbishop Tutu's lyrical text from the Children of God Storybook Bible and Tillman's remarkable illustrations, Let There Be Light brings the story of creation to life for readers young and old.

My Review:

Ahh... this book is gorgeous!  The pictures are so beautiful and the story is so simply told.  This is a wonderful book that draws everyone in.  It is definitely going to be a favorite in our house.  The story is very close to the Biblical version and I appreciated that very much.  I highly recommend this book for every family.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Riley Mae and the Ready Eddy Rapids

Book Description

If you’re gonna run for your life, you gotta wear the right shoes.

Life is rapidly changing for pre-teen shoe spokesperson Riley Mae. After the last photo shoot and trek up the Half-Dome in Yosemite, Riley Mae and her Swiftriver friends find themselves in Northwest Montana, the perfect backdrop for a river sandal campaign. The first problem is a plane malfunction. Then the rigorous raft training for the “Ready Eddy” river sandal campaign brings more bumps and bruises. And given that she is in Montana for a shoe campaign instead of back home with her friends, Riley thinks life can’t get much worse. But then she meets Sunday, a 10 year-old boy from Kenya, who wrestles fish, battles bears, and tackles leukemia. And Riley soon learns that life is as unpredictable as the raging waters, which, if she is not careful, will sweep her away and into the hands of the enemy - who is even closer than she thinks.

My Review:

I am always trying to get my 10 year old daughter to read.  It is always a fight.  Always.  Not only do I want my daughter to read, but I want her to read books that are not filled with trash.  I think part of the appeal is that Riley has a pretty awesome sounding life.  She is a pre-teen and a famous shoe spokesperson.  My other daughter's name is Rylee, so I think that also appealed to my oldest.  She is actually reading this book and enjoying it.  I read it and I definitely recommend it, but I think that starting with the first one in the series would be best.  I was a little lost in the beginning since this book seemed to start off where the last one ended, but my daughter didn't seem to complain about that at all.  It was a great story with a great message and we will definitely be looking for more from this series.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek

If you’re gonna run for your life, you gotta wear the right shoes.

Riley Mae Hart loves sports and action - so when the Swiftriver Shoe Company offers her a contract to be the spokesperson for their new outdoor sport collection, she jumps at the chance. Soon she’s appearing in commercials and magazine ads, and every girl in town wants to wear Riley Mae shoes. Well, except for Riley. Because walking in those shoes means missing out on softball season, making her best friend TJ mad, and embarrassing her new friend, Rusty. It also means sneaking around, hiding, and keeping secrets - because suddenly something isn’t quite right at Swiftriver. But a contract’s a contract, so Riley laces up her “Rock Shocker” hiking boots for a climb up Half-Dome in Yosemite. Will they be the right shoes to get her back on solid ground?

My Review:

I requested the second in this series first and although it was a great book I had regretted not reading the first one first.  This series is wonderful and I definitely recommend it to young girls seven and up.  It has great morals and shows girls being hardworking, dedicated and sporty.  My daughter, who is ten, really enjoyed this book and actually read it without complaining.  The characters are fun and the story line is also.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Celebrate Recovery Bible

This softcover Bible is an ideal, real-life spiritual guide for anyone looking for hope in the face of difficult circumstances and the negative habits they are trying to control. Based on eight recovery principles found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and on the underlying Christ-centered twelve steps of the proven Celebrate Recovery program, this Bible lifts readers up and shows them how to walk, step by attainable step, on a path of healing and liberty.
Featuring a foreword by Rick Warren, the NIV Celebrate Recovery Bible offers hope and encouragement to all who feel powerless and stuck. Through developing a relationship with Jesus Christ, readers will be empowered to rise above their hurts, hang-ups, and habits.




Features:

• Full text of the world’s most popular modern English Bible—the New International Version (NIV)
• Articles explain eight recovery principles and accompanying Christ-centered twelve steps
• Over 110 lessons unpack eight recovery principles in practical terms
• Recovery stories offer encouragement and hope
• 30 days of devotional readings
• Over 50 full-page biblical character studies are tied to stories from real-life people who have found peace and help with their own hurts, hang-ups, and habits
• Book introductions
• Side-column reference system keyed to the eight recovery principles
• Topical index

My Review:

I am not in recovery for anything so it might seem strange that I ordered this Bible to review.  I thought that there would definitely be someone who I could give it to and so I thought it would be a great resource to have.  I was right.  The Bible is amazing on its own, but this one is full of little extras that make it that much more enriching and easy to understand.  I love all of the features this Bible has.  I highly recommend this Bible for anyone, but the reflection aspects are more geared toward those in some kind of recovery.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Book Review: Accidental Saints

New York Times Bestseller | One of NPR's Best Books of 2015


What if that person you've been trying to avoid is your best shot at grace today?

And what if that's the point?
In Accidental Saints, New York Times best-selling au­thor Nadia Bolz-Weber invites readers into a surprising encounter with what she calls “a religious but not-so-spiritual life.” Tattooed, angry and profane, this former standup comic turned pastor stubbornly, sometimes hilariously, resists the God she feels called to serve. But God keeps showing up in the least likely of people—a church-loving agnostic, a drag queen, a felonious Bishop and a gun-toting member of the NRA. 

As she lives and worships alongside these “ac­cidental saints,” Nadia is swept into first-hand en­counters with grace—a gift that feels to her less like being wrapped in a warm blanket and more like being hit with a blunt instrument. But by this grace, people are trans­formed in ways they couldn’t have been on their own. 

In a time when many have rightly become dis­illusioned with Christianity, Accidental Saints dem­onstrates what happens when ordinary people share bread and wine, struggle with scripture together, and tell each other the truth about their real lives. This unforgettable account of their faltering steps toward wholeness will ring true for believer and skeptic alike. 

Told in Nadia’s trademark confessional style, Accidental Saints is the stunning next work from one of today’s most important religious voices.

My Review:

I was really intrigued  by this book and the author but I was not as impressed with this book as I thought I would be.  It is a very easy, enjoyable read and the author sounds like a lot of fun.  I enjoyed everything in the book except that the stories were... just not doing it for me-I'm not sure why.  The stories are about ordinary, imperfect people who influence us and "show" us a bit of God.  The stories were touching but so much of the story was spent on the author continuing to tell about her imperfections.  I appreciate reading that so much, but only so much, I guess.  I am excited to gift this book to someone who I think will easily relate to the author.  

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.  

Book Review: Before I Forget

Before I Forget: Love, Hope, Help, and Acceptance in Our Fight Against Alzheimer's

“I know where I’m going. I’m still myself. I just can’t remember things as well as I once did. So on short trips, I work hard not to be confused. I’ll say to myself, What are we going to do? How long are we staying? It’s like I’m talking to my other self—the self I used to be. She tells me, This is what we need to buy—not that. I’m conscious of that other self guiding me now.”

Restaurateur, magazine publisher, celebrity chef, and nationally known lifestyle maven, B. Smith is struggling at 66 with a tag she never expected to add to that string: Alzheimer's patient.  She’s not alone. Every 67 seconds someone newly develops it, and millions of lives are affected by its aftershocks.

B. and her husband, Dan, working with Vanity Fair contributing editor Michael Shnayerson, unstintingly share their unfolding story. Crafted in short chapters that interweave their narrative with practical and helpful advice, readers learn about dealing with Alzheimer's day-to-day challenges: the family realities and tensions, ways of coping, coming research that may tip the scale, as well as lessons learned along the way.

At its heart, Before I Forget is a love story: illuminating a love of family, life, and hope.

My Review: 

This book was heartbreaking for me especially because my grandmother just died and she had Alzheimer's.  The disease is real and scary.  It confuses everyone.  I loved reading this because much of it was written from the woman who is struggling with Alzheimer's.  Her viewpoints were different from what we often hear about and see.  We imagine what it is like to deal with someone who has the disease but we often don't think about how the person with the disease feels. 

This is a great book and unfortunately it is one that we all could use on our shelves.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: How to Be Married

Everyone tells you marriage is hard, but no one tells you what to do about it.

At age thirty-four, Jo Piazza got her romantic-comedy ending when she met the man of her dreams on a boat in the Galápagos Islands and was engaged three months later. But before long, Jo found herself riddled with questions. How do you make a marriage work in a world where you no longer need to be married? How does an independent, strong-willed feminist become someone’s partner—all the time?

In the tradition of writers such as Nora Ephron and Elizabeth Gilbert, award-winning journalist and nationally bestselling author Jo Piazza writes a provocative memoir of a real first year of marriage that will forever change the way we look at matrimony. 

A travel editor constantly on the move, Jo journeys to twenty countries on five continents to figure out what modern marriage means. Throughout this stunning, funny, warm, and wise personal narrative, she gleans wisdom from matrilineal tribeswomen, French ladies who lunch, Orthodox Jewish moms, Swedish stay-at-home dads, polygamous warriors, and Dutch prostitutes.

Written with refreshing candor, elegant prose, astute reporting, and hilarious insight into the human psyche, How to Be Married offers an honest portrait of an utterly charming couple. When life throws more at them than they ever expected—a terrifying health diagnosis, sick parents to care for, unemployment—they ultimately create a fresh understanding of what it means to be equal partners during the good and bad times. 

Through their journey, they reveal a framework that will help the rest of us keep our marriages strong, from engagement into the newlywed years and beyond.

My Review: 

     I saw the author on a morning show and thought her book sounded interesting.  I was excited to see it offered as a book for me to review.  I have been officially married for 11 years but consider it more like 14.  I have been married longer than many people in my family and even longer than a few of the contributors in this book, which made it fun.  I really enjoyed reading about the different customs and cultures around the world and the perspective that gave them on marriage.  This was definitely a fun read!  

     I highly recommend it for newlyweds or for anyone looking to get some fun (and often powerful) marriage tips and advice!

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.  

Book Review: Andi Under Pressure

Book Description

Twelve-year-old Andora ‘Andi’ Boggs and her new best friend Colin Carter couldn’t be more excited to attend the prestigious science camp at the local university in Killdeer, Ohio. Unfortunately, Discovery Camp’s curriculum appears to include much more than just chemistry and biology. From day one, the university is plagued by a series of pranks—missing markers, loose crickets, and stolen scales. Campus security blames the mysterious janitor Polk, but even though Andi agrees he’s acting suspicious, she can’t believe the gentle old man would do anything illegal. Then one prank goes too far and their chemistry professor is injured by an explosion in the lab, upping the stakes of the investigation. Andi and Colin must unravel the secrets behind the chemistry department and Polk’s dark past before danger closes the camp for good.

Book Review:

I am always looking for new books for my 12 year old daughter to read and enjoy.  I gave her this one hoping she would.  She loves mysteries and spy stuff.  She really did enjoy the book and read it quite quickly.  She loved that it was a series and we are definitely going to order more from Andi's adventures.  The book is clean and not full of stuff that I don't want my daughter reading or dwelling on.  It is similar to the Nancy Drew series in my opinion.  I definitely recommend this book and the entire series for your young daughter.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.  

Book Review: Get Your Story Straight

Get Your Story Straight (New Growth Press, October 2015)

What’s your story?

We all tell stories to each other–stories about what happened when we were kids, stories about last night, and stories where we dream about the future. Some stories are funny, some are amazing, others are sad, but they all have something in common–each of us is the hero of our own story. Our thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams take center stage. But when it’s all about you, it’s also all up to you. You have to make life work, find meaning, and hope for the best even when you mess up or things go badly wrong.

But what if we were made for something different? What if the main character in our life story isn’t us, but it is the God who became like us and is now with us? What if being fully human means knowing him and growing to be like him? What if the way to be fully alive is to be caught up in Jesus’s story?

This 52-week devotional book and small group resource is designed to help you live with Jesus in his gospel story–the good news that your sins are forgiven, your future is assured, and following him is the only meaningful way to live. No matter your age, where you live, who your family is, or what your past, God wants you to experience the freedom that comes in being secure in his love.

Divided into three parts, starting with creation, each section progressively explores the idea that the whole Bible is the unfolding story of Jesus. Through this grid, who Jesus is and why we need him will shape your understanding of freedom and grace and how you grow to be like him. This yearlong study for teenagers and young adults is designed for individual devotional times, but a small group discussion guided by a mentor would help participants to absorb and live out the truths of each week’s teaching.

Kristen Hatton is a native Texan now putting roots down in Edmond, OK with her church-planter/pastor husband and their three children. With a public relations background from Southern Methodist University, Kristen has a wide array of professional experiences, none of which she counts as important as the job of being a “present” mom. Through leading a small group Bible study of teenagers, she has discovered her passion for teaching and writing about God’s grace.

My Review:

First of all, the layout of this book is wonderful!  I love how it is broken down into three parts and then broken down further into small sections.  It would be a tremendous devotional or Bible study for teens and young adults.  I plan to have my daughter go through it in a couple years when she will be old enough to really grasp the concepts and teachings.  It is very well written, enjoyable and extremely engaging.  I love that the principle of the book (in my opinion) is that your life was created and is designed for God.  It is yours to live, but the purpose is to glorify Him and live a life that shares His story with others no matter what you do.  It would make a wonderful Christmas present for the teen or young adult in your life!!

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: A Love Like Ours

Fall in love with Becky Wade's new book, A Love Like Ours, a story of healing, romance, and cowboys. A glimmer of the hope Jake thought he’d lost returns when Lyndie lands back in Texas, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend? 

{MORE ABOUT A LOVE LIKE OURS}

A Love Like Ours (Bethany House, May 2015)

Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake’s childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion’s reluctance to run.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake’s will, Lyndie’s sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he’d thought he’d lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

Learn more and purchase a copy at Becky’s website.

{MORE ABOUT BECKY WADE}

Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, took time off to raise her children, then felt God nudging her to pursue contemporary Christian fiction. Becky’s work has been a finalist for both a RITA and an INSPY Award.

Find out more about Becky at http://beckywade.com.

My Review:

I love all of Becky Wade's stories.  She is such a great storyteller.  Everything is so vivid and realistic... the characters, the setting, the story line.  It usually seems that the man in the story is the one who is trying to get to a woman's heart.  She has usually been hurt and damaged from the past and he has to win her over.  This story is kind of the opposite.  Lyndie has to get to Jake's heart.  

I love stories in this genre because they are romantic and yet not anywhere close to trashy.  They are hopeful and leave you feeling positive after you put the book down.  These are my kind of romantic books and I love reading them all!

I recieved this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Moms' Night Out

USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer has written the novelization to the much-anticipated movie, Moms' Night Out. Don't miss this hilarious family comedy that celebrates real family life—where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right.

And, look for the companion devotional written by comedian Kerri Pomarolli, Moms' Night Out and Other Things I Miss: Devotions To Help You Survive.

Tricia and Kerri have teamed up for the "No More Frumpy Mommy" challenge.

Motherhood can sometimes seem like survival of the fittest. Every day brings its own troubles, and by the end of the day, you’re spent. Between school, soccer practice, cleaning, laundry, cooking dinner, putting away dishes, and keeping your kids from going at each others’ throats, the last thing on your mind is getting away for an evening. If that’s you, you’re invited to take part in Tricia and Kerri's No More Frumpy Mommy challenge.

Tricia and Kerri will choose 10 winners to receive a Fandango gift card to see Moms' Night Out, as well as copies of Moms' Night Out (the book) and Moms' Night Out and Other Things I Miss. One grand-prize winner will receive $200 to put toward her own moms' night out or her own moms' night out "ride" (getting her car detailed and cleaned).

GO HERE TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE!

Moms' Night Out

About the book: 

Moms' Night Out is a novelization of the hilarious family comedy that celebrates real family life---where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right.

All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms' night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours-what could go wrong?

Chronicling one night out gone awry, three harried moms, their husbands, a sister-in-law with a misplaced baby, a tattoo parlor owner, a motorcycle gang, and a bewildered cabbie all learn to embrace the beautiful mess called parenting. This book spotlights the unfulfilled expectations and serial self-doubts many moms feel . . . then reassures us that the key is raising kids in a loving home. Mom's Night Out is an endearing, true-to-life comedy.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/wAT15

About the author: 

USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of over 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and Lead Your Family Like Jesus (co-written with Ken Blanchard). She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. She is the host of Living Inspired, a weekly radio show. Tricia and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have six children.

Connect with Tricia: website, Twitter, Facebook

Moms' Night Out and other things i miss . . .

About the book:

As a Mom, couldn't you use a good laugh?

Inspired by the endearing, true-to-life movie Moms' Night Out, comedian Kerri Pomarolli has created this light, yet inspiring devotional that will definitely make you laugh, but will also help you discover that indeed you are not alone, and that God's gracious provision of love and faithfulness is at work in your life and of your loved ones.

Whether you're running full-speed-ahead or disappointed that it's Monday (again), you'll find joy in these devotions where Kerri shares hilarious stories and insights on daily life. Messy homes, messy kids, lost pets, never ending casseroles, forgetful husbands, and the desire to just take a long bath . . . This world can be a funny place, and these stories are bound to prove it. Read a devotion to brighten your morning, or catch a few words to make you smile before bed. There's never a bad time for a good laugh, and as a Mom, you need a Moms' Night Out and Other Things I Miss: Devotions To Help You Survive.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/wAUa1

About the author: 

Called Hollywood's "God Girl," Kerri Pomarolli is an accomplished actress, comedian, published author, Christian speaker and veteran of television---with credits that include 29 appearances on The Tonight Show and Comedy Central. 

Connect with Kerri: website, Twitter, Facebook 

About the film: 

The Moms' Night Out film features Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy), Sean Astin (THE LORD OF THE RINGS), Patricia Heaton (EVERBODY LOVES RAYMOND, THE MIDDLE), Alex Kendrick (COURAGEOUS), Robert Amaya (COURAGEOUS), Andrea Logan White (REVELATION ROAD), Kevin Downes (COURAGEOUS), and platinum-selling country recording artist Trace Adkins (THE LINCOLN LAWYER).

Moms' Night Out: Official Trailer

My Review of Moms' Night Out: This book was such a wonderful thing and it is about time that a hilarious and clean book and movie came out about motherhood.  This is definitely one that the whole family can enjoy.  The stories are so true to life and you will absolutely find yourself in one or more of the characters.  I cannot wait to see the movie! My Review of Moms' Night Out and Other Things I Miss: This was a cute little book.  I really enjoyed the little lists of things she has throughout it.  Being a mom is an amazing, hard, wonderful blessing, but it is sometimes nice to hear from women who face the same challenges and triumphs.  This is a great little book to pick up and read whenever you do get a minute to yourself.  The stories are heartwarming and funny, but always relatable.  I received both of these book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: For Every Season

Working hard to develop a new Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is fully committed to rehabilitating an orchard with business partner Samuel King. But an impulsive decision has created an unexpected strain in her relationship with her beau, Samuel’s brother, Jacob, threatening plans for the orchard. Amidst mounting tension in matters of the heart and business, Rhoda finds that this fledging settlement feels like the home she has always longed for, and she begins to embrace the God-given, heightened intuition that has always felt like a burden to her. She longs for Jacob to fully be free of his past, so they can work towards the future together.

But as Rhoda uses her gift to unpack an old secret with her Englisch neighbors, it is not her beau but an unlikely ally that cheers her on. With the orchard on shaky ground and Jacob’s plans in question, Rhoda is determined to see things through to harvest. But can she trust her insight to direct her path in matters of the heart?

My Review:

I love Amish books and I love Cindy Woodsmall's stories.  This one was wonderful as well.  I did not read the first two books in this series, but in the beginning of this book there is a quick synopsis of the past two books.  I do not think that I have ever seen that in another book that was part of a series.  I thought the idea was wonderful and I really appreciated the recap.  I would not have been interested or able to really enjoy this book without it.  Of course, reading the first two would have been best.  The other thing, besides the story which I loved, that I really enjoyed about this series was that the story was about the same people.  Usually in a series of books like these the setting is the same and the people are the same but you hear a different person's story.  I really enjoy those as well, but this one seems to just pick up right where the first two left off.  Basically, it could be a really long book if you just combined it all!

This story was great and I definitely think you should check it out especially if you like to read series that pick up right where the last left off.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Christmas at Rose Hill Farm

Join best-selling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm will charm readers into the holiday spirit.

Host a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch! This fall Suzanne is inviting book clubs across the nation to throw a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch. Sign up here between now and September 29. If you’re selected as one of the 50 hosts, you’ll receive a copy of the book plus two other Revell titles (give them away as party prizes or door prizes or keep them for yourself), a complete party kit, and a discount code to purchase copies of Christmas at Rose Hill Farm for your book club at a discount. Suzanne is also encouraging each book club brunch to collect non-perishable items for their local community shelter. She will be making a donation to her favorite charity (helping abused women and children) for every brunch that meets their goal. Click here for more details and to SIGN UP!
Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her upcoming wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.


As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy---and Amos, too---that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.


Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit."

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/ARPVX 

About the author:  Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster Country Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines.  She lives in California.

Download Suzanne's free app! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi

Find Suzanne online: website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

My Review:

I wait for Christmas-time all year long.  I love the decorations, the cooking, the shopping, the spirit people seem to have and most of all the reason for the season.  I also cannot wait to read my Christmas books.  I was so thrilled to be getting to review this one.  I knew it would put me in the mood for my favorite time of the year.  I also love every book written by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  She is a wonderful writer who truly captures the spirit of her characters and their surroundings. 

This book was great, as I expected it to be.  If you are looking for an enjoyable Christmas read, you should definitely check out this book!

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

book review: Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe



Praise for Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe“I have never seen a more practical book on how to pray for your husband than Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe. Sharon Jaynes has done wives (and husbands) a great service by writing this book. I can’t wait to see what will happen to husbands whose wives choose this challenge to pray.”—Gary Chapman, PhD, author of The Five Love Languages“In this much-needed book, Sharon Jaynes gives readers the whys, whats, and how-tos of praying for a husband. The thirty-day guide for covering every aspect of a man’s life through prayer is every wife’s dream come true. What a gift! As Sharon writes, ‘Prayer can change everything’!”—Elizabeth George, author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart“You will be delightfully surprised by the power of this book. Most of us have prayed for our husbands for years, but Sharon’s approach is so unique, it will change how we pray for our men forever.”—Shaunti Feldhahn, author of For Women Only“Sharon Jaynes has combined powerful prayers with a practical plan that wives everywhere can follow. Her words are full of wisdom, encouragement, and truth. This book is an invitation to deepen your intimacy with Jesus in ways that will ultimately bless your marriage as well.”—Holley Gerth, author of You’re Already Amazing“Every wife wants to know the best way to encourage and support her husband. The best place to begin is by having a conversation with the God who created him. God knows every detail about your husband—his struggles, his concerns, his joys, his fears, his hopes, and his dreams. After all, it’s God who wired your husband exactly the way he is. Sharon Jaynes invites you to pray for your husband by releasing the creation (your husband) back to his Creator (our gracious God) and praying for your husband from head to toe each day. This collection of prayers will be an encouragement to your husband, and in the process, you’ll be drawn closer to God.”—Diedra Riggs, managing editor of TheHighCalling.org“Sharon Jaynes has written a book every woman needs on her bedside table. Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe is a powerful and practical marriage changer. A woman will get in tune with God’s heart for her husband—and also with herself, her life, and the future blessings and best God has for her love.”—Pam Farrel, coauthor of Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti “Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe could not have arrived at a more perfect time. With life moving ahead at a near-frantic pace while I attempt—in vain—to keep up, this book is a reminder to slow it all down. My husband needs not only my love, encouragement, and support but most important, my prayers. And not just any boilerplate prayer, but specific prayers over every square inch of his body, mind, and even his sexuality (one of my personal favorites!).”—Fawn Weaver, founder of HappyWivesClub.com“In the nineteen years I’ve been married to my best friend, I’ve lived the ‘for better or for worse’ part of my wedding vows. I’ve learned so much and assembled quite the tool belt in my journey to love and honor my husband. But nothing—nothing—has been as powerful as bowing my heart and knee and simply praying for him. Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe is a practical, powerful guide for blessing not only your spouse’s life but also your own. This resource will take your marriage to a new level!”—Kristen Welch, author of We Are THAT Family blog
“One of the most important things we can do as wives is to pray daily for our husbands. Sharon Jaynes has given us a great resource to cover every aspect of our husbands’ lives and character with Scripture-based prayer over the course of thirty days. This will be a book I keep on my nightstand for years to come!”—Melanie Shankle, author of Sparkly Green Earrings and The Big Mama blogI truly believe that every wife ought to try to be a blessing to her husband, but how?  Sharon Jaynes' book, Praying for your Husband from Head to Toe, is a thirty day prayer guide that takes wives through a selfless, scripture-based prayer journey for their husbands. I am convinced that God will move in marriages in a big way as women use this book to daily pray for their husband. —Lindsey Nicole (Isham) Graves, National Speaker & Author of No Sex in the City: One Virgin’s Confessions of Love, Lust, Dating, and Waiting 

About the Author

Sharon Jaynes is a popular conference speaker, avid blogger, and best-selling author of numerous books and Bible studies. She is the cofounder of Girlfriends in God, a ministry with approximately 500,000 online devotion subscribers, and a popular guest on Christian radio and television programs such as Revive Our Hearts, FamilyLife Today, and Focus on the Family.

My Review:

I am completely IN LOVE with this book!  I never could have imagined it to be so great!  The beginning of the book is all about why, how, etc. we should pray for our husbands.  The second part is 30 days of prayers for him.  It is specific in areas: Mind, Eyes, Ears, Mouth, Neck, Shoulders, Heart, Back, Arms, Hands, Ring Finger, Side, Se*uality, Legs, Knees and Feet.  Then there is prayers for Fatherhood and for Healing.  My goal is to do these continuously for the rest of our lives and I'm hoping that soon I will have many of them memorized.  I really appreciate and am awed by this book and how wonderful it is.  It is going to bless many, especially me.  I hope that there is one for children and if not I hope that Jaynes will write one soon!

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

book review the A-Z of C.S. lewis

A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts and Writings

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis's death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis' works, from his literary criticism to Narnia.

C. S. Lewis's work is widely known and regarded, but enthusiasts are often only aware of one part of his work-his children's stories and his popular theology; and yet he wrote so much more, including science fiction and literary criticism. This volume brings together all aspects of C S Lewis's life and thought. Arranged in alphabetical order, it begins with The Abolition of Man-written in 1943 and described as "almost my favorite"-to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters. This book will delight anyone who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/tzmgH ;

About the Author: 

Colin Duriez was for many years a commissioning editor at Inter-Varsity Press UK. He has subsequently appeared as a commentator on DVDs of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and BBC television's The Worlds of Fantasy. He is also the author of The Inklings Handbook (with the late David Porter), J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Story of Their Friendship, and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, and has contributed to definitive reference works relating to Tolkien such as The Tolkien Encyclopedia (Routledge).

My Review:

I knew very little about C.S. Lewis before reading this book.  I learned so much about a brilliant man.  This book was a little more historical than I thought it would be, but I definitely enjoyed reading it.  It would have been much more enjoyable had I read the works by Lewis being described.  I have now wanted to start reading more of his works and this book will serve as a great reference back once I have read them.  If you are a C.S. Lewis fan I highly recommend this book and if you, like I did, know very little about him I still recommend this book as it might spark a fire for you to read more works by him. 

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.