Monday, September 30, 2013

Pete the Cat

Pete the Cat
The Wheels on the Bus
James Dean

Pete the Cat is driving a bus for all of the little kittens and one small dog. Following the same rhyming pattern of the popular children's song, the book takes the reader on a journey through a day of sounds with Pete the cat. The book is written to follow the song, so is not written as a story. Young readers will enjoy the rhyming patterns that can be either read or sung. The illustrator has filled each page with color and helps to bring the story alive. The different fonts make the writing stand out on the brightly colored pages. The simplistic illustrations will appeal to the young reader's eyes. It could help little singers develop an interest in reading. Young fans of Pete the cat will love this book and want to add it to their favorites. My children hadn't heard of Pete the cat books yet, but still enjoyed the illustrations and lyrical wording.

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

All of Me That You Can't See

All of Me That You Can't See
Callie Grant

When you look in the mirror what do you see? Colorful illustrations and fun rhythmic words help children see that inside of them is something far more important than what they can see in the mirror. The words describe how our minds, heart, and love reside inside our bodies where we can't see them. And it also talks about how we can use the things we can't see to show others about our love for God.

My children really enjoyed the illustrations and were able to easily relate to the words. The message is beautiful and the presentation is superb. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone with young children. 

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

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The Note II

The Note II
Angela Hunt

Peyton receives a letter one day that helps to change her prospective on life. She goes to meet the letter writer and finds the meeting to be unsettling and confusing. Can she juggle her new found daughter and boyfriend without hurting someone? Could it be possible that her approach to love is all wrong? Take a short journey with Peyton as she discovers what love is really about.

I have not read the first book or watched the movie (or movies). So I started the book feeling a little confused. The style of writing felt more like a movie than the author's typical style of writing. Other reviewers also mentioned that it felt more like reading a screen play than reading a novel. Perhaps this might have contributed to the unrealistic feel that the entire book left me with. The secondary story of the older woman was intriguing, but has definitely been done before. While I enjoyed the story for the most part, it didn't leave me with the desire to go back and check out the first book.

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

Monday, September 23, 2013

Fired Up

Fired Up
Trouble in Texas Book 2
Mary Connealy

Glynna has just lost her husband. It certainly isn't a huge loss in her book. She's very thankful to be rid of the abusive, evil man. But now what is she supposed to do with two small children and a home that her husband stole from someone else? The Regulators are back again to rescue the downtrodden and oppressed.

I was really looking forward to this book after reading the first book in the series. Thankfully the author did not disappoint. The romance, mystery, and fun were all in the second book too. Since I read the first book it's harder for me to judge, but I feel this book can be read as a stand alone. But the first book is great, so I highly recommend reading it first. The characters are so fun and realistic. The plot has lots of action and keeps you wondering what will come next. Another home run by Mary Connealy that keeps her on my favorite author list.
 
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Winter In Full Bloom

Winter In Full Bloom
Anita Higman

Lily and her mother have never gotten along. After a ten year hiatus, Lily returns home to try reconcile with her mother. She's feeling the effects of an empty nest and hopes that she can somehow reconnect. But her mother drops a bomb shell that sends her half way around the world to Australia. Can Lily find who she's looking for and still have a second chance at love?

This book was a mixed bag for me. I'm not a huge fan of overly emotional books and this one was definitely full of drama and emotion. The romantic part of the book was sweet and well done. The plot was a good one. And looking back after reading the story I can honestly say that I enjoyed it and it was a fast read. But quite a few circumstances in the book felt unbelievable and either rushed or forced. It was just a little too unrealistic in places for me.
In summary, it was a good book, just not my style.
I received this book free of charge from Book Fun in exchange for my honest review.

Experiencing God's Presence

Experiencing God's Presence
Learning to Listen While You Pray
Linda Evans Shepherd

If you had a conversation with God, but never listened to what He had to say back would you really be conversing? The logical answer is that we need to listen as much as we talk. The author has taken this and written a book about how to listen better when praying. Filled with scripture and probing questions, it takes the reader on a journey that will change and revolutionize their prayer life.
Each chapter begins with a quote or scripture. The author then presents her thoughts on prayer with a clear, concise and easy to read manner. A prayer, several questions, and a section called "Making It Personal" are included at the end of each chapter.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author was able to present facts and scripture without it being too dry. The message was beautiful and so relevant to today. The book will be an added bonus to any Bible study or devotional time. I will definitely be keeping this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve their prayer life.

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

Show Me Space

Show Me Space
My First Picture Encyclopedia Series
Steve Kortenkamp

Plants, solar systems, moons, and galaxies are just a few of the more than one hundred facts in this fun picture encyclopedia. Each page is filled with bright, colorful photographs and illustrations. The large font and phonetic assistance will have children enjoying the experience of reading all about space. The easy to read page set up will give children confidence in reading while also teaching them all about our solar system. The last page has lists with more books and websites that will help aid the reader in finding more information about space and the places beyond our planet. This book would work well in a school setting. The students would love learning with the fun layout of the book and the teacher would appreciate the facts and additional information provided. My son really enjoyed reading this book and it opened up several further discussions about the space beyond our world.

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

Jesus Invites Me

Jesus Invites Me
Knowing My God Series
Callie Grant

The colorful board book uses bright pictures and Bible verses to explain the plan of salvation that Jesus gives to everyone. Each page opens ups to a picture on one side and a Bible verse and thought about the picture on the other. The invitation that Jesus gives all of us is made simple and easy to understand with this fun little board book.

The message in the book, while simple, was beautifully explained. My kids enjoyed reading the book and understood everything I read. The message on each page ties in perfectly with the picture and helps the child to grasp whatever is being read to them. I would recommend this book as a great gift to anyone with small children. 

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

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Every Waking Moment

Every Waking Moment
Chris Fabry

Treha has a very special gift. She can reach the elderly when no one has heard their voice in months or years. She's considered handicapped, but can somehow get these people to talk. Her boss, Miriam, has allowed a documentary team into the retirement facility to capture the stories of the elderly before they are lost. But as they follow the residents they find Treha. Her story is something that is haunting and mysterious. Soon her story involves everyone around her as secrets are brought into the open.

Several stories were all being told at once. The author did a good job of weaving the stories together and connecting all of the dots without drowning the reader in too many details. The story had a bit of an Erin Brochovich feel as the reader was given clues as to why Treha was different. It is a story of hope and forgiveness all wrapped up in a thought provoking work of fiction. The author had a great style of writing, but I could not get into the story. The characters didn't interest me. But I appreciated the way the author put everything together and enjoyed his style of writing. So I will be checking out his other books.

Check out the media page here.

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

A Plain Disappearance

A Plain Disappearance
An Appleseed Creek Mystery Book III
Amanda Flower

Chloe is beginning to feel at home in Appleseed. She's enjoying her roommate Becky and her new relationship with Timothy. But trouble pops up again on their first date. They find a young Amish girl, murdered, by a barn. Chloe's life seems to get a little bit complicated as she assists the police in looking for the murderer while still trying to maintain her relationships with friends and family.

I haven't read the previous books in this series or anything by this author before I picked up this book. And while reading the first book would definitely make this book clearer, I do think it can be read alone. The characters were realistic and enjoyable. Even the more disagreeable characters were interesting and had depth. I really enjoyed the way the author had the story flowing at a fast pace without losing any of the mystery feel. The romantic parts of the story were clean and well written. It is difficult to pick up a book in the middle of the series and still have it grab you. Usually the author grabs you in the first book and then just finishes the story in the rest of the books. Not so with this author. I am definitely hooked and plan to purchase the previous two books in the series.  Will be keeping this author on my radar.

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

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

52 Ways to Grow Your Faith

52 Ways to Grow Your Faith
Connect With God in a Busy, Noisy World
The 52 Series
Gregg Peter Farah

If your faith is feeling dead or slightly stale, then check out this book. The author has created 52 different ways to rejuvenate, invigorate, and revitalize your faith. Each chapter begins with the idea of how to put some life back into your faith. It is followed by a Bible verse, a story that relates, a key quote, a "try it" section that explains how to make it work, testimonials from people who tried the idea, and lastly a prayer to wrap it up. There is also a section to write down some thoughts or prayers.

I really enjoyed reading through these chapters. The ideas were sometimes fun, sometimes thought provoking. Each one made me stop and think about what I was doing in my faith walk that I could improve on. It is definitely a book that I would recommend. Even if you don't feel like you need a jump start, there is always room for improvement. And it's always great to see things from a different perspective. Looking forward to reading other books in this series.

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

Jesus Shows Me

Jesus Shows Me
Knowing My God Series
Callie Grant

 The colorful board book uses bright pictures, Bible verses, and facts about animals to show little children how much their heavenly Father loves them. Each page opens ups to a picture of an animal on one side and something about the animal and how it relates to Jesus on the other side. 

My children and I really enjoyed this book. The verses and thoughts are short enough for their little attention spans. The pictures are captivating and entertaining. The author has done a great job of bringing the love of Jesus to a simple level that they can understand.

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

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Fashioned to Reign

Fashioned to Reign
Empowering Women to Fulfill Their Divine Destiny
Kris Vallotton

Women have been powerful and prominent throughout history. But the author believes that we are still being repressed and misrepresented in today's world, especially in the church. His focus seems to be on showing how women can be great and be groomed to "reign".

The idea for the book is great. So I was excited to see how the author put these ideas on paper. Almost from the very beginning I was turned off. The presentation just wasn't working for me. There were quite a few things initially that I didn't agree with either. The author seems to use scripture very loosely and, I felt, often incorrectly. He kept urging the reader to stay with him and finish the book.  I finished the book. I was left with very mixed feelings. The idea was great. The history was great. The battering ram approach just turned me off. While I enjoyed parts of this book, I honestly can't say that I would recommend it to someone wanting to read about this issue.

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

Made to Last

Made to Last
Where Love Begins Book 1
Melissa Tagg

Miranda is the star of a very popular home building show. But she's been hiding a secret for three years. When she applied for the show she might have accidentally told them she was married. And now for three years she's been making references to her husband on the show. The show is in jeopardy and her manger feels it necessary to manufacture a fake husband to save the show. Only problem might be the journalist who is coming to shadow her. This story could make or break his career, so he has a vested interest in her secrets.

I really enjoyed the author's style of writing. The story was fun, humorous, thought provoking, and romantic. All of the characters, even the secondary ones, were real and likable. The author did a great job of showing the human side of the main characters while still making me fall in love with them. My only complaint was the short courtship at the end when the couple got together. I would have preferred this to be lengthened a bit. But it certainly didn't detract from the story. I'll definitely be checking out the author's next book.

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

Monday, September 16, 2013

Cheery

Cheery
The true adventures of a Chiricahua Leopard Frog
Elizabeth Davidson

Cheery begins the story as a little Chiricahua Leopard tadpole. He talks about his environment and the dangers of living in his pond. The story talks about how he is loosing all of his siblings until some kind zoo workers help clean up his pond. They take away some of the dangers and return him and his family to their clean home.

I was very impressed with this book. The story is told in such a way that a small child will enjoy it, but an older child will be able to grasp the concept of the rapidly declining numbers of frogs. And they can understand how the zoo workers are trying to create more natural environments for these little creatures. The illustrations are bright and colorful and aid in telling the story. The author has done an incredible amount of research and presented it in an enjoyable way. The book also includes a curriculum guide, additional information on the frogs, and information on the people who helped put this book together. This book will work for parents, but would also be a great addition to the classroom. I'll have to buy another copy for our school, because we are definitely keeping this one.

I received this book free of charge from Five Star Publications in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, September 9, 2013

The Temporary Bride

The Temporary Bride
Julie Tetel Andresen

Helen is traveling by coach to her new position as a governess. She's exhausted getting off at one of her stops and inadvertently takes the wrong bag. This lands her in a world that at first seems to be completely out of her element. But she's a smart girl and rallies to the occasion.

The story was fun! The characters were likeable. The details, suspense, and plot were written well enough to keep me entertained. The twists and turns kept me guessing and kept the story interesting. Several reviewers commented on some inconsistencies in the story. But the story was so fun to read, that honestly, I didn't notice them. The sign of a great story teller is to enthrall the reader or listener. And I feel this author has that gift. She told the story well enough that, if there was something wrong, I completely missed it. When reading a story for pleasure, the reader wants something to entertain and amuse. And I was entertained. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

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

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Are We There Yet?

Are We There Yet?
The Ultimate Road Trip: Adopting & Raising 22 Kids!
Hector and Sue Badeau

Hector and Sue have a plan. They will have two biological children and adopt two children. But when they requested children that no one else wanted, something happened to their plans. Several years down the road and they find themselves weathering the joys and sorrows of parenting 22 children. Life isn't easy, but it's always an adventure.

This book is huge! I was a bit intimidated by the size (507 pages) when I picked it up. But don't let this bother you, it's well worth the time. I really enjoyed the casual, family feel that the authors used when telling their story. They were able to portray their children and other family members as authentic and lovable. Anyone looking into adoption should pick up this book. Anything worthwhile can have its challenges. This book will give you a glimpse into some of the challenges that the Badeau family faced and how they dealt with them. Towards the end of the book I did get a bit confused with so many people coming into the story. But considering my memory, this isn't surprising. This was an inspiring, heartwarming book that was definitely enjoyed.

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

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Pennsylvania Patchwork

Pennsylvania Patchwork
Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy Book 2
Kate Lloyd

Holly finally gets to meet the Amish family her mother grew up with and kept a secret for so many years. She has a fiance, but circumstances lead her to wonder if she'll ever get married or if she should be looking in a different direction. Should she join the Amish faith like her mother, or wait to see what will happen with her fiance.

I, unfortunately, did not read book 1 before I received book 2 for review. This, I'm sure, colored my view of the book. The characters were fun and seemed to have depth. The story was well written and portrayed the emotions well. My complaint about the story was the fact that it didn't seem to stand alone as its own book. I felt lost from the very beginning and stayed this way through most of the book. So much was missing that I'm sure was in book 1. My recommendation would be to find book 1 and read it first. The author is good and the book was fun to read. But these books don't stand alone.

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