Book Review: A Tapestry of Secrets (Appalachian Blessings #3)

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Before I go into my review, I feel I need to say that I have not read the previous two books in this series. Having said that, I don't feel like I need to. The characters in this book are so rich, I began to understand them easily.
Perla and Ella have lives that are intertwined. Perla is Ella's grandmother and experiences two strokes. Each had her faces things within, such as pride, and fear. From the first I felt I understood her very well.
Ella returned to her  home when faced with uncertainty in her own life. She also had a dream for her life and over time she had to learn that God also has dreams or goals for her and these are the most important things for her.
This is worth reading, even if you have not read the previous books but now that I have, I would like to start with book one and work my way through.

Book Review: This is the Day

I received this book from WaterBrook and Multnomah, as part of their launch team, in exchange for my honest review.
Tim Tebow is such an inspirational writer. In this book he shares how he is able to apply his faith to his life and then he gives challenges to show ways that we can do this too.
He shares how he feels the same we do at times. He can feel categorized, or put-down, just like us, but by staying true to God and the faith He has given us we can overcome and tackle these feelings and show how a Christian can excel with God. "This is the day" to begin.
I like the way he writes so it is easy to read yet challenging enough to make me think. The biblical references are now highlighted in my Bible and I have a feeling I will be referring to this book quite a bit in the future.
I highly recommend this book.

Book Review: The Art of Unpacking Your Life

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Connie invites her friends from college to a safari in the Kalahari. There were friends, but that was 20 years ago. Within a short time, they begin to enjoy each other, even though there is tension. Throughout the trip challenges occur which makes them see that even though time has passed there is still a link between them.
This book about friendship is written by a talented Shireen Jilla. It played on my emotions. At time I was cheering on the friendships, at other times I wanted to pull a character aside to let them know they should hang on to special people.
It was a very good book and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Book Review: Awakening (The Elemental Chronicles #1) by Ross Kingston

Awakening is the first book of The Elemental Chronicles. In this book, in the shadows, the elements have picked who they want as their champions and the Vassals awake.
One Vassal is Alicea. She leaves her kingdom to come to the call. Along with a thief, they take a stand against the darkness and prepare for the war that is going to come.
From the beginning I was enthralled with this story. It is a perfect lead-in to the next book in the series as it left me wanting to read more.
Excellent job. I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: A Winterfold Christmas

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Reading Harriet Evans' books give me a cozy, at-home feeling. In A Winterfold Christmas the Winter family are awaiting a family reunion. This reunion is to take place over Christmas. Martha Winter enjoys the joyful feeling of having family around but also feels the ghosts of the past surround her. This is a magical time and this is a wonderful place to experience it.
As with other works of Harriet Evans, she has a gift to make the reader feel that warm feeling that comes when most families come together.

Book Review: Thief of Corinth

I was given this book by Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
Set in Corinth this book, The Thief of Corinth, tells the story of Ariadne. She leaves her father's home and finds that Galenos has been a thief of great renown. Ariadne chooses to keep him safe even if it mean her life is in ruins.
This is a beautifully told story which includes the story of Lydia. I loved "living" in that time for a while. I have now become a fan of Tessa Afshar and will be reading more of her books in the future.

Book Review: The Crescent Stone

The first three lines on the back cover were enough to bring me into this novel.
"A girl with a deadly lung disease...
A boy with a tragic past...
A land where the sun never sets but darkness still creeps in..."
This setup was ideal. The Crescent Stone is a fantasy novel by Matt Mikalatos. Madeline Oliver is the girl with the deadly lung disease. Jason Wu is filled with guilt that leaves him deciding to always tell the truth. They both end up in the land. A place they don't know anything about except each decision will touch others more than they could have anticipated.
This story is imaginative, deep, filled with humor and fantasy. It left me pondering things after I had finished it. Having never read a book by this author before, I look forward to more of his works in my future.

Book Review: Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program Grades 4-5

The Affective Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program grades 4-5 is part of an approach to reading which builds students learning and aids in inquiry-based discussions. This book goal is to help students progress their social-emotional needs. Included are works in biography, nonfiction and short stories.
Some of the works included are: 
The Man, the Boy and the Donkey by Aesop
Music by Arya Okten
The Leaping Match by Hans Christian Andersen
The Four Crafts-Men by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Success is counted Sweetest by Emily Dickinson

Each work includes a ladder used throughout the series. The  ladder helps the teacher to lead the student through discussions in varying areas of social-emotional growth.
These books are a good resource for educators of the gifted students. It could be used on its own or with other resources as the different creations of literature are discussed.

Book Review: The Wedding Shop

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

This book fascinated me from the beginning. I love the way Rachel Hauck made the wedding dress shop the central character of this book. The story tells the story of  Cora Scott in the 1930s. She inherited the shop from her great aunt. Brides would come from far and near to purchase their dress and receive the bridal treatment form this shop in Heart's Bend, Tennessee. Cora, however, was waiting for her love, a river captain, to return to her. She has another in the town, Birch Good who would like to be her special one.

Eighty plus years later, Haley Morgan, an Air Force Captain, decides to fulfill the promise she and Tammy, now deceased, made years ago to own and run the Wedding Shop.

The dreams and love each of these ladies found through this shop is engaging. Rachel Hauck is able to entwine these two stories effortlessly. The Christian message underlies everything without being overbearing. This is a story of forgiveness and living the life God has chosen for you. 

This story of journey is highly recommended by me.