Princess Cupcake Jones

Princess Cupcake Jones Won't Go To School

Ylleya Fields

Cupcake doesn't want to go to school. So she comes up with a plan. But each time her mother thwarts her plans. Cupcake is really scared, but her mother reassures her that it will be fine. When cupcakes meets her teacher and classmates she feels much better. Maybe school won't be as scary as she'd thought. And having a new friend is pretty cool.

The rhyming text and colorful illustrations make for a really fun story. The author shows kids that it's okay to be scared, but new things can be really fun. This book would be perfect to read to any little one just starting school. My five year old daughter loved the story and the illustrations. She laughed at the antics of the little girl. The story is a great opening to talk to children about what their concerns might be with school.

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

The Long Road Home

The Long Road Home

Four Romances with an Enduring Pioneer Spirit

Judi Ann Ehresman & Naomi Mitchum

Story 1 - Mandy watches her husband walk away to work on the railroad, wondering if she should have told him she was pregnant. When she gets notice that he was killed in an accident she wonders how she is going to survive. But God sends a run-away slave with a the message of salvation. Deidre saves her financially by helping with all of the work and by helping provide an income. But most importantly she saves her spiritually.

Story 2 - Bess grew up in a brothel. But when one of the patrons "finds Jesus" she realizes there might be a way out of her former life. But old thoughts are hard to shake and Bess struggles with the concept of forgiveness and a new life.

Story 3 - Deidre ran away from a cruel master who had sold her husband and was getting ready to sell her baby son. She's found a wonderful home with Mandy, but she misses her husband. Will she ever be reunited with him?

Story 4 - Frederika wasn't happy about her family leaving Germany. She protests vehemently, but eventually steps up to the plate and takes over when neither of her parents are there to help her.

The first three stories are sweet, well written, and romantic. They all tie together to form a nice cohesive story about three woman who overcome difficulties to become strong women in Christ.

The fourth story doesn't fit with the first three and is by a different author. The feel of the story is completely different. The romance felt rushed. I'm sure that the author writes a great story. It was just didn't seem to fit with the first three stories. I would recommend this book for the first three stories alone.

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

Surprised by Love

Surprised by Love

The Heart of Sand Francisco Book 3

Julie Lessman

Megan is returning from Paris a completely different woman. She's lost some weight and gain some confidence. But she's hoping that her friendship with her best friend Bram hasn't changed a bit. 

Bram is shocked when he sees the beautiful woman that Megan has become. His feelings for her are very non-best friend like. But he's made some commitments that might prevent him from following through on his new feelings.

I really enjoyed the double romance in this story. The author painted a beautiful visual as she told the story. There were times that I felt a little lost since I was coming into the story without having read the first two books. But instead of frustrating me, it made me want to check out the other books. The story was sweet, had a bit of drama, and had great secondary characters as well. I'll definitely be adding this author to my wishlist.

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

What is Wind?

What is Wind?

Robin Johnson

What exactly is wind and where does it come from? This small, informative book will help parents and teachers answer these questions. Readers will learn about air pressure, the effects of wind on plants and animals, and tools that scientists use to harness the wind. Each page is filled with colorful illustrations, charts, photographs, and fact bulletins. The graphics and variety to each page will engage and entertain children while helping them learn more about the science of wind. The vocabulary is simple enough and the print large enough that a young reader can read the book for themselves. Several bonus features include a wind craft for children to make, instructions for a weather journal, a list of books and websites for further study, and a glossary of wind words. This little book only has twenty four pages, but it packs in a ton of information. This book would be a great resource for schools and home school parents to supplement the science curriculum.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Lomelino's Cakes

Lomelino's Cakes

27 Pretty Cakes to Make Any Day Special

Linda Lomelino

Gorgeous pictures, delicious cakes, and tons of helpful tips make this book a must have for cake enthusiasts. A wide variety of recipes will appeal to all different kinds of cake lovers. Simple instructions make amazing cakes within reach of the basic baker. The first 30 pages are full of detailed instructions on how to make your cake stunning. The rest of the book is filled with over 25 different and beautiful cake recipes.

I loved all of the photography. The cakes were truly gorgeous. The instructions were simple and not intimidating to the amateur baker like me. But the end results looked amazing. I've got several of these cakes earmarked to try soon. This book would make a wonderful gift for that baker in your life.

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

Trading Secrets

Trading Secrets

Melody Carlson

Micah began writing to Zach when she was in the fifth grade. Because of her name, he assumed she was a boy, and she never corrected him. Now Micah is a senior and the opportunity for them to meet is here. She has to come clean, but she's afraid that it will ruin her friendship. And Zach has become her best friend, the one she shares all of her secrets with.

Somehow I missed that this was a young adult. I've read books by Carlson before and remembered enjoying them. This book was sweet and I think will really appeal to a younger generation. It was a quick read with very little drama. The relationship between Zach and his parents was not one that I've seen in the Amish books I've read in the past. It was definitely a different spin on Amish fiction. The book wrapped up neatly, but without a resolution between the friendship of Micah and Zach. Not sure if the author is leaving this open for a sequel or if this is typical of YA. It was a nice book, but did not prompt me to read her other YA books.

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

The Christmas Cat

The Christmas Cat

Melody Carlson

 

Garrison was raised by his grandmother when his parents were killed. But when he went to the mission field, his grandmother began collecting cats. She knew he was severely allergic, but she kept adding more cats to her home. When she passes away, Garrison finds out that her cats are in her will and he has to follow specific instructions to find them new homes. He's torn between wanting to follow his grandmother's last wishes and feeling less loved then a bunch of cats. Throw in some noisy neighbors, rumors of money, and lots of sneezing to make a wonderful Christmas story.

This was such a sweet, fun story. The author mixed a little bit of everything to make a small town novella that is great for the Christmas season.  There is a whole neighborhood of characters, but the author has given them enough definition that they don't get lost in the story. There is a little bit of romance and a whole lot of faith and love. I enjoyed the story and will definitely read more by this author.

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