Loved

Loved

This is a journal for a woman of faith who wants space to record her thoughts, write down prayer requests, or use for journaling. Each page is thick and lined. The pages are also filled with quotes from Christian people and scripture that could be used as prompts for writing. The cover is a hard cover with a soft, velvety leather covering it. The book ends with references pages about the people quoted in the book and finishes with a small thought from the creators of the book.

I loved the cover of this book. It would make an excellent gift. The pages are thick enough that I didn't have any issues with bleeding through or ghosting. It is a wide rule and I would have preferred a more college rule style, but I loved the thoughts scattered throughout the book.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Fresh Air

Fresh Air DVD

Often our lives need a breath of fresh air breathed into them. The speaker/author of this group Bible study experience has taken this concept and expounded on it with practical applications and Biblical principles to create a study that groups (or even an individual) can gain a blessing from.

This review is for the dvd. But it really doesn't work without the study guide, and works best if the book is being read in conjunction with the study materials.
The speaker on the dvd speaks clearly, is engaging, and sticks to the subject he's discussing. The lighting and camera angle are pleasant and the format setup of each lesson is easy to access. There are lots of texts that are provided on the screen. The speaker begins each session with some thoughts on the chapter being discussed and ends with prayer. Each segment is short and leaves room for the study guide discussion at the end. There are also videos included that are just for the group leader to view before each study. I found these to be very helpful in guiding the class. I used this in our small group and everyone enjoyed it enough that we've purchased another by this same speaker/author to use when we finish this one.

I received a copy of this dvd from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

The Life Giving Table

The Life Giving Table

Sally Clarkson

Studies have shown that children who eat supper (or any sit down meal) with their families, do better in life. It provides a time to connect and have in-depth conversations; a time to renew relationships, and bond; a time to enjoy food and fellowship. The author played on a previous title "The Life Giving Home" and shared her families recipes, traditions, and experiences that were shared around their family table. She pulls from scripture and personal experience to write about the joy of friendship, food, and ministry.

The concepts in this book are great. The cover will entice the reader to pick the book up. The recipes aren't complicated or too time consuming. The author sprinkles quite a few of her personal stories of how mealtime nurtured their family. My only complaint was the tone of the book. If family mealtime isn't your thing yet, this book can be incredibly overwhelming and come across as too complicated, described by someone who has "arrived". The author is a bit more into the touchy feely parts of life than I am. My family would not be remotely interested in candles at meal times. I guess the best way to describe it would be that it felt too perfect. As in, no way to make it my reality. But if you can look past the more dated style of "setting the atmosphere", this book has recipes, suggestions, and thoughts that will be great for the family who wants to connect more and build their faith and ministry by utilizing the hospitality gift.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

My Worship Journey

My Worship Journey

Linda Dillow

Part journal, part devotional, part supplement to the book Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, this book will delight anyone who is a fan of Linda Dillow. The book is divided up into twelve weeks. It begins with an intro that explains the book and how the author envisions the reader using it. There is a couple of pages with journaling tips. Each chapter, or week, begins with scripture, a thought from the author, and then the worship experience. The rest of the chapter is journaling space,  interspersed with quotes and scripture. 

I loved the thoughts that Dillow wrote. She is wonderfully gifted with words and can bring up thoughts I hadn't considered. The journal meshed beautifully with the companion book, but could be used alone or with another worship book. I loved the layout and soft grey/blue pages that gave the book a reverent, peaceful tone. Overall, this was a wonderful addition to my devotional time and I would definitely purchase it if you are planning on reading the companion book.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Lord, Have Mercy

Lord, Have Mercy

Ellen Miller

 Just when we think we finally have mothering figured out, our kids change or get on our very last nerve. Motherhood can be the best thing that ever happened to you, filled with joy, blessings, and love. But it can also be painful, numbing, and heartbreaking. The author has written a book to be read in 90 days that helps moms laugh, be encouraged, and be strong. The book is intended to help you find humor, your faith, and a renewed faith in God. The author pulls stories, some from personal experience, to help bring across her point. Sprinkled throughout the book are sections on prayer and scripture reading that tie in with the previous few days.

The book was well written. The addition scriptures and thoughts on prayer were a bonus. The author definitely added some humor as I found myself laughing several times. But I had to wonder how many overwhelmed moms would keep reading after the first day. The book was nice, but it didn't grab me. It had some thoughts throughout, but I didn't feel encouraged or motivated to keep reading. I honestly don't think I would have finished the book if I wasn't writing a review. It's nice, but just not for me.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Just Look Up

Just Look Up

Courtney Walsh

 Lane has left the small town of Harbor Pointe behind and is now working in a large design firm in Chicago. She has worked incredibly hard to shed her small town image, including the extra weight. She hasn't returned home in years and has no plans for doing so in the future. She's up for a promotion and is working almost around the clock to ensure that it happens. But when her brother, the only one in her family who seemed to ever understand her, is in an accident, she makes the difficult decision to face her bad memories and return home.

I didn't expect this story to engage me as much as it did. I'm a fan of this author, but the description didn't grab me initially. But a few pages in, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. It's authentic. I loved the various characters and their interaction with the main female character. The family, while very flawed, was real and entertaining. The author did a great job of making Lane's issues flow well with the story, without bogging everything down in depressing dialogue. The ending, while suspected, was well done and was the perfect last chapter for the book. I loved the chemistry between Lane and one of the characters. I also liked the elements of faith that was woven throughout the story. This is probably my favorite book by this author. Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a story about family, faith, love, and small towns.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Chocolate for Your Soul

Chocolate for Your Soul

Sheri Rose Shepherd

Do you find yourself craving chocolate? Then when you finally get your craving you feel a sense of completeness and fulfillment.  But those feelings don't last. Craving the faith and presence of God can fill us with an eternal peace that earthly cravings can't satisfy. Follow the author as she shows you that God is good with scripture, spiritual thoughts, stories, and recipes. Each chapter focuses on a different craving that we might experience, such as love, laughter, energy, or a new beginning. The author begins with a scripture and then breaks her thoughts down like recipes, listing ingredients that will help the reader achieve the craving they desire. At the end of each chapter are several recipes that tie in with the chapter.

This was a nice book. The thoughts were well explained and I liked the format of the book. It was unique and caught my attention. There are over 100 recipes so even if some of them don't appeal, there is sure to be several that look great. My only complaint was that I thought this would feature chocolate throughout the book. And while the first chapter had several chocolate recipes and talked about richness, the rest of the book was not about chocolate at all. Disappointing for this chocolate lover, but overall, nice book that I'm sure will appeal to many.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Ruth

Ruth

Drawn in Bible Study

Eugene H. Peterson

Each of us can learn from the stories presented in the Bible. Ruth shows us that we can rely on God and hold on to His hope. The bible study guide is designed to show the reader that each and every person has a place in God's beautiful story. The author begins with an brief introduction and then a chapter on how to get the most out of this study guide. Then each chapter contains some coloring pages that go with the theme, discussion questions, and the scripture passages from Ruth that fit with the questions. There are also little notes and thoughts inserted throughout by the author. At the end of each chapter is a section called Until We Meet Again followed by a Prayer. The book is designed to be colored, written in, and made personal by the owner. It can be used in a small group setting or for personal devotions.

I really liked this study guide. For some reason the cover didn't thrill me, but once I opened the pages I really started to enjoy it. The color pages are detailed enough so they feel perfect for an adult. The questions are thought provoking and insightful. I also really liked the author's thoughts interjected throughout. Overall, this was a nice book that I enjoyed using. But I also think it would make an excellent gift.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

The Touch

The Touch

Randall Wallace

Dr. Andrew Jones, a gifted surgeon, suffered a horrible tragedy. Now he works in the ER and teaches. But he refuses to do another surgery. Several years have passed and a Ms. Lara Blair is asking him to join her biomedical engineering company. She and her team are developing a special set of robotic hands that do not shake for difficult brain surgery. But they need a human hands to model the robot after. Dr. Jones clearly the surgeon for the job. But Ms. Blair can't seem to convince him to join her company.

The book started off with the touching tragedy and then moved on to the current time. When I started the book I had the thought that this book was going to profoundly affect me. The author had the characters expressing some deep and contemplative thoughts. But about half way through the book it took a slightly confusing turn and ended very cheesy and predictably. So while I absolutely loved the first half, I'm still not sure what to think about the last half. Overall, I would have to say I enjoyed the story and definitely enjoyed the spiritual thoughts and process of the characters and their lives. So if you enjoy medical stories, romance, and thought provoking spiritual thoughts than you might enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book by Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

No More Headaches

No More Headaches

Enjoying Sex & Intimacy in Marriage

Dr. Juli Slattery

The author is a speaker and psychologist and drew from her experiences to write about how wives can avoid the headaches and frustrations in the area of intimacy. She uses a little bit of scripture, a lot of her education, and resource material to answer the questions that so many woman have asked her. The book is all about how to shed your inhibitions, baggage, stress, etc. to enjoy being intimate with your husband. 

This was an interesting book for me. While I do not have the issues that she addresses, it never hurts to be more informed and to grow your relationship. I've been married for over 20 years and I could see this book being a help to my younger self. But it still have some things that I could take away from it. I read portions to my husband and he said it helped him see things from my perspective. It is definitely written with a Christian perspective so it might not appeal to non-Christians, but I definitely appreciated that aspect. I would recommend this book to anyone who is newly married, engaged, or has problems with intimacy.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Tranquility

Tranquility

A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal

Amie Carlson

This book is part journal, part devotional, part coloring book. Each page is slightly different, but all of them have places to write, reflect, and color. There are very short devotionals accompanied by scripture, places to write with suggestions, and lots of coloring and doodling space. Each devotional and suggestion is based on the topic of calm and tranquility. The book is designed to show God's love through peacefulness and quiet. 

I liked the concept and layout of this book. The book is on the smaller side, so won't allow for extensive journaling, but would work well for a supplemental book. I loved the color pages and the hard cover that made coloring easier. The pages are very thick so there is little or no bleed through when using markers. There is an introduction page for those unfamiliar with this type of book. My only complaint would be that some of the color pages are already colored in. While this adds visual appeal, I would have preferred to do the coloring myself.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Maybe It's You

Maybe It's You

Crisis Team #3

Candace Calvert

 Sloane has left her past behind when she moved to Los Angeles. She even went so far as to change her last name. But in trying to help a young girl, she is noticed by the PR Manager for the hospital. He's looking for a face for Hope Hospital and thinks that Sloane would be the perfect candidate. But Sloane is doing everything to avoid the spotlight. Her conception of Micah didn't get off to a great start, but maybe learning that he's also a volunteer crisis responder will change her mind.

While this book is in a series, I do think it could be read as a stand-alone. I somehow missed book #2 and was still able to jump right in to this story without feeling like I was missing a piece. I enjoy the laid back writing style and the character depth that the plot had. The author gave enough background and information to make the main characters intriguing. There was a bit of mystery and intrigue combined with the romance of the story. I always enjoy medical drama and was a tiny bit disappointed that there wasn't more medical jargon, but appreciate the author thinking of the non-medical readers. Overall, this was a fun story that I read quickly and enjoyed.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Kingdom Family Devotional

Kingdom Family Devotional

52 Weeks of Growing Together

Tony Evans and Jonathan Evans

Family is the most important element in our country. Learning, growth, life lessons, and spiritual guidance all begin at home. We can't ever reach the world and cause a change without first starting in our own homes. Mr. Evans and his son Jonathan have written a devotional that focuses on the things that families need most and has divided the topics up by weeks. The book contains 52 weeks (260 devotionals) that speak to the needs of the families. Each devotional has a scripture that is to be read in conjunction with the devotional thought.

I really liked this devotional. I thought the authors did a great job of bringing their point across in each week. The thoughts were well worded and inspiring. Each day was short, but had a lot of content for thought. There were also some family activities that could be done with the devotional. The book cover was pretty as well. This would be a wonderful gift to give to that special family in your life or to use in your own family to boost your connection with each other and God.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Beating Busyness

Beating Busyness

Adam R. Holz

Technology, social media, and the busyness of life tend to crowd our time with God and push us toward neglecting that still small voice. The author has taken from scripture and his personal experiences to write a Bible study on how to beat the busyness of life. Each chapter is a separate study that breaks down the barriers that we erect around us that crowd out the Holy Spirit. Each chapter is slightly different, but has some thoughts from the author on the subject, Biblical references to support his thoughts, and questions to get the reader thinking. There is space after each question to write in the book or jot down ideas and verses.

I liked this study guide. It was well thought out and nicely executed. There were a couple of times that I was a little uncertain where the author was going or didn't completely agree with his thoughts. But this didn't really detract from the study. It was thoughtful and informative. If you feel overwhelmed and incredibly busy, take a few minutes each day to recharge and reconnect with your heavenly Father using this Bible study pamphlet to guide you.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale. All thoughts expressed are my own.

All is Bright

All is Bright

A Devotional Journey to Color Your Way to Christmas

Nancy Guthrie

 This book is thirty-one devotionals for families that all tie into Christmas and the season of giving. Each page has a devotional on one side that is scripture based, while the opposite side is a coloring page that fits with the devotional. Most of the designs are intricate and are along the lines of an adult coloring book. At the back of the book are some coloring pages for younger children that are more simple. There are also several pages of activities for the family to do together and some conversation starters that fit with the theme. With each of the discussion starters, there is a scripture and a prayer.

I loved this book. It was designed for families of all ages and my children can't wait to get started in a couple of weeks. I read through the devotions and think that the author did a great job of writing for adults with children in mind. Some of them are a little simplistic for me, but have some adult thoughts woven in. My only complaint would be that the pages aren't perforated so I can't tear out a page for each of the children to color. They'll have to wait and I thought it would be fun to have them color while I read and then we utilize the conversation starters.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

365 Pocket Morning Prayers

365 Pocket Morning Prayers

Strength and Joy to Begin Each Day

David Veerman

Begin each morning with a devotional from the pocket prayers book. Each of the little prayers will set your heart and thoughts in a direction of strength and joy for the day ahead. The prayers are numbered, but do not have dates so the book can be started at any point. And if a day is missed, can be picked up where the reader left off. Each prayer has a title that says what the prayer will be about. The prayer is followed by a Bible verse that ties in with the subject.

I love the cover. The light colored section is like a book cover and comes off, leaving the light blue leather. It's a small book that can be placed in a purse or bag. The author's writing style is calming and he pulls the prayers and scriptures together well. There were several prayers that I felt wouldn't apply to everyone, like the pastoral prayer. But if the reader uses this as a supplement to devotions or as something to bring comfort when needed, I think it would be a great addition. This would also make a wonderful gift.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Gratitude

Gratitude

A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

 This little journal has several purposes. It's a hard back book that is designed for the reader to be able to comfortably color, draw, journal, or jot down thoughts and prayers. The paper is thick and won't bleed through, each page has places to color or write. Interspersed throughout the book are prayers and Bible verses to guide you during your quiet time with God. Coloring has been proven to be calming and a stress reliever. So combined with prayer and journaling, the reader/writer has a wonderful tool at their fingertips to spend grateful time with God.

I am in love with this book. The prayers and thoughts are encouraging and uplifting. The scripture fits with the prayers and color pages. Every page is different and I can jump around or work my way through the book since it isn't date specific. The board book feel makes a perfect background for coloring or writing on. Most of the pages have some color on them so the pages aren't just black and white. While this would make an excellent gift, I fully intend to keep my copy and will continue to use it for my devotional time with God.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Your Heart's Desire

Your Heart's Desire

14 Truths that will forever change the way you love and are loved

Sheri Rose Shepherd

The book is written for any woman, single, married, or divorced, who wants to love and be loved. Written with faith at it's core and the experiences from years in ministry, each chapter takes a different step to making your relationship whole with God so that you can have a loving and healthy relationship on earth. Each chapter ends with a prayer, love letter from God, and some thoughts and questions for further study. There is also a QR code if you want to go to the author's website for more information.

The book kept my attention with the stories and author's thoughts. There was plenty of scripture mixed with the thoughts. I liked the questions and Bible verses at the end for further study. I was expecting something that I hadn't heard before or perhaps a different approach. Maybe I've been married too long, but all of this was the same information I've heard before. It was just packaged a bit differently. I liked the author's writing style and thought this would be a great book for a newly married couple. And while I enjoyed reading the book, I didn't walk away with anything new or life changing. So I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about or just married, those who might be struggling in their marriage, or new Christians who want to read about a Biblical approach to marriage.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Latte Love

Latte Love

Doug Nuenke

The old ways of evangelism don't seem to be working for the Christian church any more. Times have changes and as Christian we need to adapt so we can continue to share the gospel. The author has drawn from personal experiences in ministry to show how laypeople can connect with their friends to share the gospel. This method is known as friendship evangelism or "latte love".

This is more of a pamphlet or booklet and would be a good addition to an evangelism curriculum for a bible study or small group. The author uses stories and lots of scriptures to show how the method is working for him and his family. He shows how creating authentic friendships can lead to trust and honest conversations about faith. He embodies the concept of one planting and another harvesting. Overall, this a great read and I felt like I came away with a lot of usable information and a better concept of how to share my faith in today's world.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Land of Silence

Land of Silence

Tessa Afshar

Elianna's past is marked with tragedy and sorrow. She makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of her fiance, but looses him in the process. Now she's years into a debilitating disease the robs her of strength and human contact. She's tried every doctor and has almost completely exhausted her resources. Her last hope is this strange man reported to heal people. Elianna knows that she is unclean. But if she can just touch Him, she hopes that she'll be relieved of her physical burden.

Afshar is a gifted writer. She takes a character from the Bible and weaves a story that captivates and enthralls the reader. The reader will be drawn in to the story and will come away with not only a deeper understanding of Jewish history and customs, but with a sense of the love the Savior has for His children. I'm not usually a fan of Biblical fiction, but this author is definitely an exception. I think even readers who tend to not enjoy Christian fiction would enjoy this novel for it's historical depth and expert story telling. Overall, this was an amazing book that I will be sharing with friends and would highly recommend.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.