Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Thank You, God, for Grandpa Review



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About the Book


Thank You, God, for Grandpas,For Pops and Papas too,For Granddads, Gramps, and Grandpappies— They’re great, grand gifts from You!


No matter what you call him, there is nothing like the love between a grandpa and his grandchild! With whimsical rhymes and charming illustrations, Thank You, God, for Grandpa encourages little ones to treasure God’s special gift of grandfathers.


Grandpas and their grandchildren alike will love this heartwarming story that celebrates their sweet relationship.


Amy Parker’s children’s books have sold more than 800,000 copies, including two Christian Retailing’s Best award-winning books and the bestselling A Night Night Prayer. She lives outside Nashville with her husband and two children. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I love this book! Very fun and light with great illustrations. I love how fun this book is for kids to relate to their Grandpa and have fond memories to think about while reading this. I have always had good times with my Grandpa so this book really hits home for me!
Five stars. 

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free. All opinions are my own."

















Top Ten Authors I'm Dying to Meet ~Top Ten Tuesday

  1. Joanne Bischof: I would love to meet! I have talked to her a bit online and her books are simply wonderful. I know she is the sweetest person and I would have a major fan girl moment if I got to meet her. 
  2. Susan May Warren: I feel like she has a great sense of humor and I love her books! 
  3. Jody Hedlund: I am a huge fan of her writing so it would be fun to chat with her! 
  4. Katie Ganshert: I have loved reviewing her books and chatting with her a bit on social media. 
  5.  Kristy Cambron: Pretty sure I could have coffee with this gal and love every second of it!
  6. Kasey Van Norman: She is honest and real. I really would love to meet her.
  7. Jen Turano: Because she is hilarious.
  8. Liz Johnson: I want to talk to her about all things Prince Edward Island.
  9. Elizabeth Camden: I LOVE her books. Fan girl moment. 
  10. Ted Dekker: Because it's Ted Dekker...

Monday, March 27, 2017

When God Made You Children's Book Review


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 About the Book

YOU, you... God thinks about you.
God was thinking of you long before your debut.
From early on, children are looking to discover their place in the world and longing to understand how their personalities, traits, and talents fit in. The assurance that they are deeply loved and a unique creation in our big universe is certain to help them spread their wings and fly.
Through playful, charming rhyme and vivid, fantastical illustrations, When God Made You inspires young readers to learn about their own special gifts and how they fit into God's divine plan as they grow, explore, and begin to create for themselves.
'Cause when God made YOU, somehow God knew
That the world needed someone exactly like you! (Goodreads)



My Thoughts


This book is wonderful! This would make a great gift and would be something I would buy for the little people in my life!  The illustrations are fantastic and the meaning within the book is important for children to understand. Kids are special and made in the image of God and this book makes it very clear. 
Wonderful kids book, highly recommend!

Five Stars.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free. All opinions are my own."










Saturday, March 25, 2017

Life After Book Review

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 About the Book


On the day of a late spring storm, in Chicago, Autumn Manning boarded an “L” train. A bomb explodes, killing everyone in the train car except for Autumn—the sole survivor. A year has passed and Autumn suffocates under a blanket of what ifs and the pressing desire to bring the victims back to life, every day, if only for her. She doesn’t want their stories to be forgotten. She wants to undo what cannot be undone. An unexpected ally joins her efforts, also seeking answers and trying to find a way to stumble ahead.
But one victim’s husband, Paul Elliott, prays to let the dead—and their secrets—rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to hurt his loved ones.
Caught between loss and hope, these restless souls must release the past to embrace a sovereign God. (Goodreads)


My Thoughts

Katie Ganshert really knows how to write a story. There hasn't been a book of hers that I haven't adored. Life After has all the feels and I stayed up way too late reading it. Autumn is broken in so many way. Paul is lost and guilt is killing him on the inside. I loved these characters and how life was not easy or simple and right when you thought all was well, it wasn't. This was an emotional roller coaster for me as anxiety, courage, guilt, pain, heartbreak, Jesus, and honesty are all twisted up. I love how God heals the broken and how important the truth is. We serve a big God. 
Great setting, wonderful characters, and splendid writing. This book will grab you from page one. 
Five stars. 

"I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own."











Monday, March 20, 2017

The One True Love of Alice-Ann Book Review


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About the Book

Living in rural Georgia in 1941, sixteen-year-old Alice-Ann has her heart set on her brother's friend Mack; despite their five-year age gap, Alice-Ann knows she can make Mack see her for the woman she'll become. But when they receive news of the attack on Pearl Harbor and Mack decides to enlist, Alice-Ann realizes she must declare her love before he leaves.Though promising to write, Mack leaves without confirmation that her love is returned. But Alice-Ann is determined to wear the wedding dress her maiden aunt never had a chance to wear--having lost her fiance in the Great War. As their correspondence continues over the next three years, Mack and Alice-Ann are drawn closer together. But then Mack's letters cease altogether, leaving Alice-Ann to fear history repeating itself.Dreading the war will leave her with a beautiful dress and no happily ever after, Alice-Ann fills her days with work and caring for her best friend's war-torn brother, Carlton. As time passes and their friendship develops into something more, Alice-Ann wonders if she'll ever be prepared to say good-bye to her one true love and embrace the future God has in store with a newfound love. Or will a sudden call from overseas change everything? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I'll start by saying I really like the cover of this book, it's beautiful! I also like the overall story line that threads these pages into a book. That being said, this book was a bit of a slower read for me. Perhaps it is because there seems to be an overload of books written during this time period and I feel like I've read multiple books similar to this one. Alice-Ann got on my nerves a bit and was a difficult character for me to totally understand and enjoy. I liked Carlton and the secondary characters more so than Alice-Ann. I think many will enjoy this novel but it wasn't my favorite. 
Three stars. 
"I received this book from Tyndale for free. All opinions are my own." 




 

The Elusive Miss Ellison Book Review


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 About the Book

Pride, prejudice and forgiveness...
Hampton Hall's new owner has the villagers of St. Hampton Heath all aflutter--all except Lavinia Ellison. The reverend's daughter cares for those who are poor and sick, and the seventh Earl of Hawkesbury definitely does not meet that criteria. His refusal to take his responsibilities seriously, or even darken the door of the church, leave her convinced he is as arrogant and reckless as his brother--his brother who stole the most important person in Lavinia's world.

Nicholas Stamford is shadowed by guilt: his own, his brother's, the legacy of war. A perfunctory visit to this dreary part of Gloucestershire wasn't supposed to engage his heart, or his mind. Challenged by Miss Ellison's fascinating blend of Bluestocking opinions, hoydenish behavior, and angelic voice, he finds the impossible becoming possible--he begins to care. But Lavinia's aloof manner, society's opposition and his ancestral obligations prove most frustrating, until scandal forces them to get along.

Can Lavinia and Nicholas look beyond painful pasts and present prejudice to see their future? And what will happen when Lavinia learns a family secret that alters everything she's ever known? (Goodreads)



My Thoughts

The cover of this book captures your attention and makes you want to peek into the pages. While I liked the characters in this story, the overall book moved a bit slow for me. There are some amusing conversations between the two leads but honestly it was a struggle for me to totally get into this book. I really wish that wasn't the case, as I have read many other positive reviews. So simply stated you might enjoy this book a lot more than I did! 
Three stars. 

"I received this book from Kregel for free. All opinions are my own."









Saturday, March 18, 2017

Culture: Living as Citizens of Heaven on Earth--Collected Insights from A.W. Tozer




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 About the Book

"We have done nothing until we have left the world and set our faces toward the city of God in hard, practical reality." —A. W. Tozer

Readers love Tozer the way we love friends who tell the hard truth. The truth is often bitter, but if we are wise we will drink it down, and we'll be thankful we did. In Culture, A. W. Tozer tells it how it is: to follow Christ toward heaven is to invite trouble in this world.

Within these pages are reflections on the true nature of the church, the cost of following Jesus, and the blessed hope of the heaven-bound.

Read Culture to be made sober, determined, and bold in a world that would rather you quietly blend in. (Goodreads)



My Thoughts

Well I'll be honest in saying this book was not my cup of tea. For some reason Tozer is really difficult for me to read and understand. Obviously it is a slow read, most books like this should be so you can glean all you can. But slow to me just meant I was getting nothing out of it. I'll just leave Tozer to others to read. 
"I received this book from MP Newsroom for free. All opinions are my own."










Thursday, March 16, 2017

Thank You, God, for Grandma Kid Book Review




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About the Book
 
Thank You, God, for Grandmas, Nanas and Mimis too, Gigis and Grams and Grandmommies--They're great, grand gifts from You!

No matter what you call her, there is nothing like the love between a grandma and her grandchild! With sweet, rhyming text and adorable illustrations, Thank You, God, for Grandma encourages little ones to treasure God's special gift of grandmothers.

Grandmas and their grandchildren alike will love this heartwarming story that celebrates their precious relationship.

Amy Parker's children's books have sold more than 800,000 copies, including two Christian Retailing's Best award-winning books and the bestselling A Night Night Prayer. She lives outside Nashville with her husband and two children. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

This is the perfect book! It's a board book, which is important in my opinion. It is also just the right size with wonderful illustrations. I adore my Grandma so this book seemed fitting on how it explains how wonderful Grandma's are to have in our life. I think any child would enjoy this book and the illustrations. 

Five stars. 
"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free. All opinions are my own." 










 

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Open When: Letters to Lift Your Spirits Review


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About the Book

Happiness expert Karen Salmansohn presents a unique interactive book that invites readers to literally open letters of encouragement, wit, and wisdom whenever they need a boost.
Inspired by the trend of "open when" letters sweeping the nation, Instant Happy author Karen Salmansohn has created a bound collection of 12 notes for readers to flip open whenever they need a pep talk. With categories like "Open when you need a laugh," "Open when you're feeling stressed out," and "Open when you need courage," these little happiness-boosters are based on Salmansohn's viral posters that combine witty sayings with colorful graphics. (Goodreads)


 My Thoughts

This little book is a lot smaller than I expected. Not as many letters as I had hoped and honestly, not that uplifting. I like the overall idea. It would make for a cute small gift but as for truly boosting your mood, this isn't the book of letters for me. 

" I received this from Blogging for Books for free. All opinions are my own."










 

Monday, March 6, 2017

The Illusionist's Apprentice Review-Simply Wonderful!



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About the Book

Harry Houdni’s one-time apprentice holds fantastic secrets about the greatest illusionist in the world. But someone wants to claim them . . . or silence her before she can reveal them on her own.

Boston, 1926. Jenny “Wren” Lockhart is a bold eccentric—even for a female vaudevillian. As notorious for her inherited wealth and gentleman’s dress as she is for her unsavory upbringing in the back halls of a vaudeville theater, Wren lives in a world that challenges all manner of conventions.

In the months following Houdini’s death, Wren is drawn into a web of mystery surrounding a spiritualist by the name of Horace Stapleton, a man defamed by Houdini’s ardent debunking of fraudulent mystics in the years leading up to his death. But in a public illusion that goes terribly wrong, one man is dead and another stands charged with his murder. Though he’s known as one of her teacher’s greatest critics, Wren must decide to become the one thing she never wanted to be: Stapleton’s defender.

Forced to team up with the newly formed FBI, Wren races against time and an unknown enemy, all to prove the innocence of a hated man. In a world of illusion, of the vaudeville halls that showcase the flamboyant and the strange, Wren’s carefully constructed world threatens to collapse around her.

Layered with mystery, illusion, and the artistry of the Jazz Age’s bygone vaudeville era, The Illusionist’s Apprentice is a journey through love and loss and the underpinnings of faith on each life’s stage. (Goodreads)



My Thoughts

Kristy Cambron is incredibly talented at finding stories and events in history that many don't know much about. She takes a time period and setting and runs with it, letting you explore a special world. This book is wonderful. Have you seen the cover?! Stunning. I so enjoyed Wren's character because she wasn't perfect. I loved how she grew within the pages and how I got to know her better. I loved the setting and the vaudeville life. I feel like I got to peek around the curtain and discover their secrets. I think Cambron did an excellent job in separating the difference between magic and illusions. Also, the twist at the end just might blow you away! 
Wonderful book, I highly recommend!!! 
Five stars!

"Thanks to the author and the publishing company for offering me a free copy. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own."














 

Friday, March 3, 2017

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir Book Review



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About the Book


"Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely when we need it most!" 

As England enters World War II's dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar's stuffy edict to shutter the church's choir in the absence of men and instead 'carry on singing'. Resurrecting themselves as "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir", the women of this small village soon use their joint song to lift up themselves, and the community, as the war tears through their lives. 

Told through letters and journals, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir moves seamlessly from budding romances to village intrigues to heartbreaking matters of life and death. As we come to know the struggles of the charismatic members of this unforgettable outfit -- a timid widow worried over her son at the front; the town beauty drawn to a rakish artist; her younger sister nursing an impossible crush and dabbling in politics she doesn't understand; a young Jewish refugee hiding secrets about her family, and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past -- we come to see how the strength each finds in the choir's collective voice reverberates in her individual life. 

In turns funny, charming and heart-wrenching, this lovingly executed ensemble novel will charm and inspire, illuminating the true spirit of the women on the home front, in a village of indomitable spirit, at the dawn of a most terrible conflict. (Goodreads)




My Thoughts

Well this book really just wasn't for me. I felt like it went on and on and I couldn't click with the characters. The setting is great and the choir is interesting otherwise I couldn't get into it. I am rather picky when it comes to books being completely letters/journals. I found it at times confusing in this book with the amount of people writing and the multiple stories. I do like how many of the people grow throughout the book and the ending is pretty solid. Many others have enjoyed this book it just wasn't for me. 

Three stars. 

"I received this book from Blogging For Books for free. All opinions are my own."