Monday, October 31, 2016

Book Review: The Big Tiny





This is such an addicting book to read. I have been fascinated by the tiny house movement which seems to have taken over the scene and this book helped to fill my head with the ideas that this type of living could take on. Dee Williams turned to this life because of life circumstances. This caused her take on getting rid of the unneeded things in her life. She begins to build a tiny house to gain freedom. This freedom helped her to become more of the person who she wanted to be.

This book can motivate all to try to see what to change in their lives and the differences it can make in their lives. I recommend this book highly.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Penguin Group Blue Rider Press.




Children's Book Review: Last Day Blues






different.The last day of school is full of lots of excitement. In Mrs. Harwell's class it is especially fun. There are fun thoughts of the summer going through everyone's minds however, they are concerned their teacher will miss them.

The story is so much fun and the illustrations are perfect. Even though I was a former teacher, I am kind of glad that my last days were not quite like this. This is a fun book for classrooms, teachers and students alide.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Charlesbridge in exchange for my honest review.




Children's Book Review:




Such a cute book. It has great illustrations and introduces children to caring for a dog. Ben has a dog named Buster, who is not trained. When the family decide they will go on vacation, they leave him with grandpa. This causes concern for Ben. He is not sure Grandpa will know how to take care of Buster. His dad writes notes for Ben to the grandpa. These notes are filled with some of the adventures and the not-so-great traits of Buster. While gone, Grandpa trains Buster and shows Ben how to make Buster listen. This way Buster can go on the next vacation.

The book shows why dogs should be trained and how once they are trained, the dog will be so much happier.

The colors of the illustrations are bright and filled with the details needed to gain children's attention.

I received this book from NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing in exchange for my honest review.




Sunday, October 30, 2016

Book Review: Nightbird

This book, written for those in 4th through 6th grade, is such a lovely book. I believe that if this book were available when I was in those grades it would have quickly become a favorite.
Due to a curse, the Twig family kept her brother hidden. This did give me issues, even though the family was loving to the son. However, I felt the resolution in this book came together well. There are healthy relationships throughout and the story telling was excellent.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House Children, in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Wish

Beverly Lewis has such a talent for writing stories based on the Amish. In this story an Amish girl shows some interest in life away from the community.

Lewis creates believable relationships in her writing along with lessons. I was delighted that I was not able to tell how this story would end and was surprised. As with her other works, Beverly Lewis gives the reader a glimpse into a world they may not have been familiar with otherwise.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.


Thursday, October 27, 2016

Book Review: The Forgotten Room

The Forgotten Room is a beautiful story which links three generations through paintings and a ruby necklace.

I do not know that I can do justice to the writing and the way the generational stories are linked. It is a story about love and following the signs that lead you to it. The central location is one room in a New York City mansion. The story follows three women: Olive, Lucy and Kate.

Olive is a housemaid in 1892 who want to find out the reason her father was not paid for his work as an architect on the mansion. Lucy is Olive's daughter. She is a secretary in 1920 who desires the truth on who her father is. Kate is Lucy's daughter and a doctor during the end of World War II. She is trying to gain respect in a male-dominated field and also trying to avoid the attraction she feels for one of her patients. All three women live in the mansion at different times, one as a maid, one when it was a boarding house and one when it was converted to a hospital.

I must say, while reading this story, I keep forgetting that there were three authors involved in the writing of this story, the continuity was effortless. There were so many times I had to stop to realize that I had made another connection through the plot.

This book is wonderful and I highly recommend it.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Penguin Group Berkley in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Book Review: Untraceable

This book, Untraceable, is a suspense book which was written especially for teens.

Grace is the 16 year old daughter of a wild life officer who has disappeared. When others have given up on the search for her father, Grace takes the skills for survival which her father has taught her.

One person, Wyn, her childhood friend, is willing to help her. However, he is not comfortable in the woods. 


Grace also comes across Mo, who rescues her from danger. However, she is not sure she can trust him.

I found this book intriguing and I think teens will enjoy this book a lot.

I was given this book by NetGalley and All Night Reads in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Esther

Angela Hunt has made Esther come to life for me. Biblical stories, which are well-written, are a joy to find and read. Angela Hunt has the gift to do just this. Esther is brought in front of King Xerxes, when he called for beautiful women. Esther went though months of preparation before she won the heart of the king. However, she must not reveal her ethnic background to the king. Then she learned about a plan to exterminate all the Jews. Esther saves her people's lives while risking her own. 


I have not come across any of Angela Hunt's books which I have not liked.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Children of the Stone

This book, Children of the Stone, touched me to my heart. The research that was needed to write this is evident through the book, some of it is through interviews. This allowed the author to understand the struggles in Palestine as he wrote.

The emotions and the history go hand-in hand and the personal stories blend in to allow the reader to understand motives behind actions. It is written from a perspective which does not take sides.

It truly had me thinking about some of my thoughts on the area and where these thoughts have come from .

I was given this book by NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA in exchange for my honest review.


 

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Book Review: The Oblate's Confession

 
This book is the written confession of a 7th century Northumbrian monk or his sins. Winwaed is a servant of a hermit when he first arrives. The hermit, FAther Gwyneed show the boy many woodland animals, as well as how to track them. His father shows us soon and asks the boy to pray against the bishop who has been doing terrible things. The book shows the tensions between the Celts and the Roman Christians. The boy become unsure what to do, this father, who he has not seen since he dropped Winwaed off years before.  

I loved the way William Peak presented this dissension between the religions and loyalty. The author covers many of the events that take place throughout the book plus the personal events that happened to Winwaed, such as when the hermit taught him how to pray. This is a novel that will stay with the reader long after they put it down. 

I was given this book by NetGalley and Secant Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: A.D. 30

I began reading books by Ted Dekker when my daughter was in high school. He has a style that grabs your attention from the beginning and makes it difficult to put the book down.

The story is from the viewpoint of Maviah, a Bedouin slave. She is sent to bargan with King Herod in Sepphoris so her people may be set free. She has a couple of traveling companions, one of which want to go to see the man who is the Messiah, Yeshua. Along her journey, Maviah actually crosses Yeshua's path herself and this changes her life forever.

I identified with the fear that Maviah felt along the way and the feeling of the need to rely on concrete things and the love of the Messiah.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Faithwords in exchange for my honest review.

Glitterville's Handmade Christmas



This book is filled with photographs and directions to help make each person's Christmas unique. It helped to make me excited about the crafts that I can either do this year or next year. The projects also included poems to go with the crafts.
To begin, the book lets the reader know what kind of tools and materials are needed to complete the projects, then there are many tips and techniques to aid in success. There are forests, snowflakes, glitter domes and so, so much more.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for my honest review.


Friday, October 7, 2016

Book Review: The Dogs Were Rescued (and so was I)

I love books which involve dog rescue. The author talks about her struggles trying to fit in with the world around her, plus how she rescued a dog and it helped to change her world. It opened up a whole new side to her, as it does all of us. She is so forthcoming throughout the book and I recommend this book highly.

I was given this book by NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS in exchange for my honest review.


Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Book Review: Sharing Morocco

What a fun book. I love cookbooks, especially those that share recipes from other cultures. I love the warmth and spices which are used in Moroccan food and Ruth Barnes shares tips and ideas for over 100 recipes. Included in the recipes are Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons, Ema's Chicken Soup, kebabs, baklava and so, so much more. None of the recipes are difficult and, I believe, that most of the ingredients can be found at any local store.

For anyone that loves exploring through food, enjoys cooking, or trying exotic recipes, this is the book for them. I loved this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Pastor's Kid

Before I say anything, I want my readers to understand I am not a Pastor's Kid. I have known a few over the years and I believe this book could have been a good resource for them to fall back on. These kids face challenges and expectations from everywhere they turn. This can make their lives unbelievably difficult.  I think this would be a good resource for pastors and their families to look into and talk about.

I was given this book by NetGalley and David C. Cook in exchange for my honest review. 

Monday, October 3, 2016

Book Review: Mary Chosen of God

I enjoy historical fiction. This began when I started reading fictionalized biblical stories. This book fits in with the latter category. In "Mary, Chosen of God" the author was able to do a great job of telling this story. She was able to make her descriptions come to life in a way that I felt like I could reach out and touch the items she talked about, or hear the conversations taking place.

This is a beloved story that I feel was well represented with this book. The author did a wonderful job, which was a wonderful surprise. I hadn't read anything by this author before but I will keep my eyes out for her works in the future.

I was given this book by bookfun.org and Whitaker House in exchange for my honest review.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Book Review: Natural color

Image result for natural color by sasha duerrWhen I began dyeing yarn, I toyed with the idea of dyeing yarn from nature, however, I was not sure how to make the dye a permanent part of the yarn. This book is the answer. I really wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but the illustrations are beautiful and the instructions are so clear, I now have the confidence to try it.

The book is divided into seasonal sections, so the items can be easily found during that time of year. Some of the items include pine cones, onion skins and various flowers and vegetables. Plus they show you how to dye a number of items from silk, to plant matter to yarn.

I am so excited to add this book to my collection of resources that I have and I know that it will be stained with colors which show how much love I have for it.

I highly recommend this hardback book for anyone that enjoy colors throughout their lives.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Family Prayer Made Easy

Praying with our children is a wonderful way to show the importance of this activity and of God in our lives. However, there are times where our lives become so busy that we can't wrap our heads and hearts around this special time. This book, Family Prayer Made Easy, can help with this.

Inside the cover is a commitment form for each member of the family to sign to show that each agree to pray together. Then each section begins with a family minute, including a short scripture. Then there is a true story from the author, some simple questions for the family and then a prayer, scriptures and promises. There are also optional activities that the family can work into this devotional time.

The different sections include Praying for a Happy Family, for Students, Schools, and Teachers, for Our World, Nation and Community, Serving God and them there are 100 more ideas for this time.

I think this is a wonderful book for any young family who is looking for a way to bring the family together during devotions, no matter the age of the children.

I was given this book by bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Almost Perfect

This is a heart-warming book that will touch the heart of people who love animals and enjoy feeling good. There is an elder lady, Bess, and a teen, Benny, who through the help of a dog and the Westminster Kennel Club, are able to heal parts of their lives.

Both of the main characters and others through the book are written in such a way that I can envision them easily. I came to care for them and liked them better each page I read.

I cannot give this book high enough ratings. It is a great book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and AuthorBuzz in exchange for my honest review. 







Children's book Review: Oliver and the Seawigs

Oliver and the Seawigs is a fun adventurous book for young children. Oliver Crisp's parents have always been explorers, until they decide to settle down. This does not last very long as their home, which is surrounded by water, become surrounded by islands also. While exploring, they go missing along with the islands.

This book is so creative. There is a wig which is made out of the sea, a mermaid who is nearsighted, rude seaweed and monkeys galore.

This book will easily become a favorite for parents and children. Just be prepared for read-a-thons involving this story.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review.