Book Review: Creating Celtic Knotwork

I enjoy Celtic knotwork, plus I am working on keeping a journal this year. So when I came across this book, I fell in love.

The book begins with a basic grid page, to be copied, then continue on with the basics, such as a basic Celtic knot and how to modify it. They also give models of different knots such as the trefoil knot.

Some of the other sections in this book include borders and corners, crosses, spirals, maze and step patterns, zoomorphics, techniques and materials.

I found this book to be just right for me. I am not usually a very good pencil artist, but with this book in my hand, I believe that I can make a start at creating my own Celtic knotwork.

I was given this book by Dover Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Beneath a Prairie Moon

I have become fascinated by the writings of Kim Vogel Sawyer, as of late. This book is a good example why.

In Beneath a Prairie Moon, Abigail Brantley has suffered the affects of her father's illegal actions. She has been thrown from the world of social registers to one where she is now a tutor for ranchers in Kansas. These men need to be educated in manners so they can be deemed worthy to their mail-order brides.

There is one man, Mack Cleveland, who does not want these mail-order brides coming because of how his father was taken in by a scheme like this. Mack has also decided that Abigail does not belong here. Soon however he sees the work she is doing for the ranchers, but he knows that life needs more than smooth edges and he wants to show this to Abigail.

This author has a talent for developing the characters in her story. Each one stands alone and does not need to rely on others to create their story. I was envisioning the characters and the scenes as I read along. She also is great at showing the differences between the characters she writes about.

This was more than a historical novel. It contained twists and turns that surprised me throughout. I highly recommend this book.

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

Book Review: Under a Cloudless Sky

This novel tells how a town's past can bring it down or save it. Set in Beulah Mountain, West Virginia, in 1933 and in the present. In the past, there are two girls who make a vow. Ruby and Bean come from two different homes. One is the daughter of the mine owner and the other is the daughter of a mine worker. Both girls are looked after by Bean's mother and they do not know about the conflict that is coming.

In the present, Hollis Beasley has decided he is going to hold onto the legacy which his family left him on Beulah Mountain. His friend Buddy Coleman, however, want to increase the coal production of the town and open a museum. He wants to share the entire history of this town, including the 1933 uprising. He also will do this without care for anyone else.

These two stories come together through an elderly woman who lives miles away. The children of Ruby Handley Freeman want to take away the life she knows, so she disappears. While she is going she discovers a secret which will effect her and those who come across her path.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat clear until the end. It is so well-written that I felt like I was int he midst of the story from beginning to end. There is suspense throughout. I look forward to reading other works by this author in the near future.

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

This book may be found at Amazon HERE!
or
at Barnes and Noble HERE!

Book Review: The Masterpiece

Roman Velasco is a successful artist in LA. On the outside he appears to be the man who has everything. There is only one person who knows differently, Grace Moore. When he looks out at the view from his mansion, in fact throughout his house, he sees demons. When he gives into these demons he is a graffiti artist, named the Bird. This other side of Roman could end his career and land him in jail.

Grace also has her own secrets. Her former marriage turned her off of love, until she came to know Roman by more than his artistic reputation. This story tells how these two have learned to fit their lives together in spite of difficulties thrown their way.

Francine Rivers has the magic touch to be able to take people and their circumstances and thrown them together in unexpected ways. She does this without sacrificing faith throughout the book. For those who already love her works this will not let you down at all. For those who have not read her books before, try this one, it will leave you wanting to read her other creations as well. This is a fantastic book.

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


This book may be found at Amazon HERE!
or
at Barnes and Noble HERE!

Book Review: Sigried's Smelly Socks

Sigfried notices things and people have smells and they do not always smell nice. This is a fun book about a boy, the things around him. Even this book smells and he encourages the reader to smell it to see. Could it smell like a banana, pizza or even his dog's pee? The smells he explores, with the reader, will have everyone laughing out loud.

As parents read this book to their children, they can then help the child share stories about things they smell, even their smelly socks. The story is fun and will keep the children's attention while the illustrations are so bright and colorful. The expressions used on faces will help to drive home how not all things smell nice.

This book was the winner of the Mom's Choice Award, which looks at books, and products, intended for children, their families and educators. Being given this distinction shows that the product is family-friendly.

I was given this book by Online Book Club in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The First Christmas Carol: A Miser, A Manger, A Miracle

Before we begin, The Christmas Carol is a touchy subject in my house. To my husband, it is not Christmas without it and yet, I could easily do without it. This version is the exception to my rule.

This insightful book takes place at Jesus's birth. The innkeeper is the miser, however, I felt that word was almost too nice for him. He almost seemed heartless, worse than Scrooge. But through the miracles of Christ's birth he was changed.

The characters were so well written. I almost did not want to read it because the innkeeper was so hateful, but I knew, from the Dicken's tale that there would be a reversal to his story.

Such a wonderful book and story I would highly recommend it to all of my friends, family and all.

This book may be found on Amazon HERE

Nicki's father, an ex-con, came to visit for an undetermined amount of time. This book tells of the funny side of life living with a father, son and boyfriend.

Nicki loves real estate but right now she appraises homes. Real estate gives her a dream of the life she would like to have with Cody, her son and Jake, her boyfriend. Somehow in her dream her father was not one of the occupants in the house.

Ronnie, her father, was released from prison when it was discovered there had been an error made in his sentencing. He spent a couple of months in a halfway house but now is ready to move in with her daughter who he has not had any communication with for years. His thoughts are Nicki is his family and family always welcomes each other.

This was such an entertaining book filled with characters that are so humorous they have to be based on real-life, and in this case they are. There was also depth throughout as Ronnie realizes the affect parents have on their children when they are young.

I felt like this was an entertaining book that goes so much further than expected. I enjoyed it.

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

This book may be found at Amazon HERE
or at Barnes and Noble HERE