Berenstain Bears Christmas Fun Sticker and Activity Book Review

 About the Book

The Berenstain Bears come to life this holiday season with puzzles, activity pages, and more than 50 reusable stickers in The Berenstain Bears’ Christmas Fun Sticker and Activity Book.


Featuring Papa, Mama, Brother, Sister, and Honey and the rest of the Bear Country gang, kids are sure to find lots to do helping Honey Bear find the missing piece of the Bear family Nativity scene, doing crosswords and word searches with Brother and Sister, and even helping out at the Christmas Eve service at Chapel in the Woods. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

This is the second Berenstain Bears sticker book I have gotten and I am quite pleased. The activities are said to be ages 4-8 which I would say is fairly accurate depending on the child. There are stickers, mazes, coloring pages, matching, dot to dot, word searches, etc. Very fun and all centered around the Christmas holiday. This would make a great little gift for littles! 

Five stars. 

Thanks to BookLook for the gift of this book. 

A Night of Great Joy Children's Review

 

 About the Book

Mary Engelbreit presents A Night of Great Joy, a delightful picture book that celebrates the joyful season of Christmas. This book tells the story of the nativity through the performance of a children’s Christmas pageant. With adorable illustrations and simple storytelling, Engelbreit paints a wonderful picture of the night that Jesus was born.


A Night of Great Joy recalls that fateful night with wonder and awe. From the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem to the gathering of many before the baby Jesus, this holiday treasure leads children through the tale of the birth of Jesus, guiding them with the star of Bethlehem.


Mary Engelbreit, New York Times bestselling illustrator of the blockbuster Christmas classic The Night Before Christmas, brings readers a new holiday picture book that’s sure to become a family favorite. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Mary Engelbreit has such wonderful books. This one is a re telling of Jesus' birth which I didn't realize but it is just adorable. It is essentially illustrated as being a children's play of "A Night of Great Joy" which has the cutest pictures. Her illustrations really are what make the book so if you enjoy fun pictures, this is a book for you. Great to add to your Christmas collection.

Five stars. 

Thanks to BookLook for the gift of this book.    

 

Waves of Mercy Book Review

 

 About the Book

Austin Returns with a Multi-Generational Historical Novel

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she's asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

The idea of this story line intrigued me and is what made me pick up the book. Once I got further into the book I realized that this was not the book for me. It was so difficult for me to fully get into. The characters while well developed didn't totally capture my attention. It was a very slow read for me and the back and forth between characters past and present required paying close attention. Many people are loving this book but it simply wasn't for me. 

Three stars. 

"I received this book free of charge from Bethany House."

Mary: Chosen of God Book Review

About the Book

Buy Here

“Blessed are you, Mary, chosen of God.”

Mary is ordinary girl from Nazareth. She helps her mother with household chores, she daydreams about a handsome carpenter’s son named Joseph, and at night she lies on the roof and contemplates the stars.

But one evening, a heavenly visitor comes with unexpected news—and her life is changed forever.

Experience the life of the Messiah from the perspective of his mother, who must place her trust and obedience in Adonai, the Most High, as he fulfills centuries of prophecy in the middle of her daily life. Walk with Mary as she witnesses Yeshua grow, mature, minister, and even be crucified—and then raised again, to the kindling of her new faith.

About the Author

 

Diana Wallis Taylor

has written eight biblical novels, including Mary, Chosen of God, Martha, Journey to the Well, Mary Magdalene, Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate, and Ruth, Mother of Kings. Well-known in the Christian book industry for her biblical fiction, her most recent five books have received over 3,000 ratings on Goodreads. Taylor is a former San Diego Christian Writer’s Guild’s “Writer of the Year” and her biblical novels have earned her a variety of awards. Diana lives in San Diego with her husband, Frank. They have six grown children and ten grandchildren.

 My Thoughts

I don't typically read Biblical fiction unless the focus is on someone I find very interesting. Also, many authors struggle with very boring a dry novels when it comes to Biblical fiction, but not so with Diana Wallis Taylor. I think she did a splendid job writing this story and holding true to our Biblical knowledge about Mary. Honestly, we don't have a lot to go on when it comes to Mary, so of course Taylor had to take liberties with the story. That is why this is a fictional book. I also like how she kept Mary's humanity and didn't raise her up as being someone more than what she was. She was chosen by God to give birth to his son, but she was still just a girl and still just a human. I liked reading this because it really made me think about the setting, the culture, and what it really would be like. Imagine showing up pregnant and your betrothed being in shock. I would think Mary would be worried about this. People would talk and you can't tell me she didn't notice. She had faith and didn't doubt what she had to do, but can you imagine what people must have thought of her? 

The only parts which I didn't really love is when Jesus is a little boy/teenager. We have no clue and Taylor did a fairly good job with this. I think she could have left it out and just put possibly what Mary could have been thinking instead of how Jesus might have acted. 

Otherwise, wonderful book and well written. 

Five stars. 

"I received this book from Celebrate Lit for free in exchange for an honest review."

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Diana is giving away a gift basket that includes Mary, Ruth, Whitaker House’s study Bible, and The Lord is my Shepherd candle from Abba Anointing Oil! Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/a5b3

Blog Stops

October 4: Simple Harvest Reads (spotlight)

October 5: Proverbial Reads

October 5: I Hope You Dance

October 6: Book by Book

October 7: History, Mystery & Faith

October 8: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses

October 9: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner

October 10: A Greater Yes

October 10: Back Porch Reads

October 11: The Power of Words

October 12: Book Babble

October 13: For the Love of Books

October 13: Mary Hake

October 14: Splashes of Joy

October 14: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

October 15: Bigreadersite

October 16: Henry Happens

October 17: His Grace is Sufficient

Finding Your Voice Book Review

 

About the Book

In a culture that praises blending in over standing out, productivity over purpose, and noise over truth, many women find their God-given voice compromised, quieted, or even mocked. We all long to live out our divinely designed passions and unique talents, yet too often it becomes so much easier in the face of opposition to stay silent altogether. What if God is calling you to so much more?

As a working mom, wife, artist, and abolitionist, Natalie Grant has struggled to live on purpose while battling the worldly demands of keeping up the appearance of perfection. Emerging from her own dark spiral of suffocating inadequacy, Natalie found fresh hope in the truth that God has already given women everything they need to live out their God-given identity, passions, and calling. Finding Your Voice offers the heart-rallying, life-giving truth that a woman’s voice is not an uncalled for interference to be silenced, but a gift to be used for God’s Kingdom purposes. In voice lessons as in life, a strong vocal identity requires us to first stand firm, breath deep, and finally, go for it—loud and clear.

With rich scriptural study and personal stories infusing every chapter, Finding Your Voice reveals how to discover your own unique talent, train it according to God’s Word, and start using it for the good of others—without guilt and apology. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I have always enjoyed Natalie Grant's music so I was curious to see what else she had to say. This book is fairly short and to the point. I liked how it was written and it gave some good examples on how we can manage our life from a Christian perspective. Chapter five was most helpful for me especially the last part about clothing. While this book isn't necessarily something new to me, it was a good reminder on what our focus should be about. 

Five stars. 

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free in exchange for an honest review."

All Is Bright Coloring Book Thoughts

 

 About the Book

This Christmas season, celebrate the birth of our Savior through beautiful design and devotion. Grab your colored pencils, cozy up with your favorite blanket and a cup of tea, and settle in for a night of peace and wonder with All Is Bright. For lovers of the Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest coloring books, All Is Bright is the perfect way to transform the Advent and Christmas seasons for your whole family, re-centering the holidays on the miracle of Jesus' birth. Combining 31 days of rich content by the beloved and inspirational Nancy Guthrie with intricate designs that will reconnect you with the heart of Christ, this coloring book devotional journey reminds us all of what the season really calls us to: worship. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I love everything Christmas and this coloring book looked like a fun idea. Once you open the book you see a devotional/story on one side and a coloring page on the other. While I like many of the pictures, some I didn’t really love. Compared to other coloring books this one is very detailed as you would expect. Some of the pages were a tad too detailed for me. But I know many people who would love all of the detail so to each their own.
For a Biblical adult coloring book this is one you might enjoy.

“I received this book from Tyndale Publishing for free in exchange for an honest review.”

Tackling the Fields

Congratulations to Janet W. Ferguson and the novel Tackling the Fields for taking home this month's Clash crown! We're pleased to feature this guest post, which gives us a little insight into Janet's book and football...yes, football!

In the South, most of us love football. It’s something we talk about, cheer for, and spend time watching with friends, whether in person or as a group viewing it on TV. The adrenaline seems to flow as the leaves begin to turn from deep greens to those fall yellows and oranges, a chill touches the air, and those pads and helmets are put on.

My husband played high school football. He was a center. I’ve always watched the sport at whatever school I attended, and of course, in Mississippi, a lot of us follow the SEC games. I never thought a whole lot about why we enjoy watching so much or about the injuries the players battle with—until my son played the sport.

His junior year, he tore his ACL and his shoulder labrum participating in this sport he loved. And he was not able to make a comeback. I saw the game through different eyes as he struggled with the loss. He missed the comradery, the goal, the discipline, the friendship. Everything about being a part of a team.

While he was going through three of four surgeries that he ended up having, I began writing Tackling the Fields. It combines this love for a game with the loss of a dream for one character and the loss of innocence for another. It was a challenging, almost painful, book to write. But in the end, God heals our wounds and helps each of us recover from our broken places. 

He’s there to free each of us from the heartaches that try to take us captive.

About the book:

Cole Sanders is a changed man. The university quarterback questions his direction in life after serving on a mission trip in Honduras. Things that used to fill Cole’s ego seem empty after witnessing the developing country’s extreme poverty and the death of a precious child. The one glimmer of hope through his confusion is the fresh perspective he now has about his tutor, Audrey. She possesses something beautiful inside and out—something that might help him become the person he wants to be.

University senior Audrey Vaughn tutored Cole Sanders for an entire year and never imagined the popular quarterback would see her as anything more than a friend. After partnering with him on the mission trip, they are drawn together. And he  appears to have changed for the better. To let Cole into her life, Audrey will have to overcome not only her brother’s distrust, but also the paralyzing fear still lingering from a past she’s tried to leave behind.

Cole can’t walk away from Audrey now that they’re back in Oxford. He’ll have to figure out how to keep her giant of a brother, a  lineman on his football team, from killing him when the coach has his back turned. But can Audrey trust her heart to a player so similar to the one who stole so much from her in the past?  

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Tangled Webs Book Review

 About the Book

After a disastrous Middle East mission ends his six-year Army Ranger career, Finn McGregor needs some downtime. A peaceful month in the woods sounds like the perfect way to decompress. But peace isn't on the agenda once he crosses paths with publishing executive Dana Lewis, a neighbor who is nursing wounds of her own. Someone seems bent on disrupting her stay in the lakeside cabin she inherited from her grandfather. As Finn and Dana work together to discover who is behind the disquieting pranks, the incidents begin to take on a menacing tone. And when it becomes apparent Dana's foe may have deadly intent, Finn finds himself back in the thick of the action--ready or not.
Bestselling author Irene Hannon draws readers into a web of psychological suspense where danger lurks in dark corners . . . and keeps them captive until the very last page. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I have really enjoyed Irene Hannon's suspense novels. This is the last book in her Men of Valor series. While it is not important to read the books in order they are all pretty good reads. This book had a few different characters, at times it took me a minute to figure out who I was reading about. I'll be honest in saying the suspense was lacking a bit in this story line. The romance seemed rushed so that kind of irritated me right off. I ended up liking the characters but the overall flow of things romance and suspense just didn't work as well for me. Hannon has talent in her writing this just wasn't my favorite book by her. 

If you are a fan of hers you will probably want to pick up this book. 

"I received this book from Revell for free in exchange for an honest review."

  

Newton and Polly Book Review

 About the Book

Now remembered as the author of the world s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father until the night he hears Polly Catlett s enchanting voice, caroling. He s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.
An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?
Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe." (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Jody Hedlund has done it again. This book, while not my all time favorite of hers, is still a fantastic read. I loved going behind the scenes in Polly and Newton's life. The setting is great and of course the real life story, which very historically accurate, is a wonderful addition to my library. While this book spans about seven years, Hedlund did a nice job keeping the reader up to date and not confused. Hedlund is one of my favorite authors and she hasn't written anything I haven't loved.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a dash of romance you will enjoy this sweet novel. 

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free in exchange for an honest review."

Deadly Infiltration Book Review

 About the Book
In the 1980’s there were 8 Islamic terrorist attacks of note around the world, fewer than one a year.
In the 1990’s there were 31 attacks.
Between 2000 and 2010 that number grew to over 180.
In 2015 alone there were over 117 such attacks. More than twice a week somewhere in the world significant numbers of innocent people are dying at the hands of Islamic terrorists. Today the attacks have become so common, most of them don’t make the news. They have become an “everyday occurrence”.
With each success, the terrorists are becoming smarter, bolder, and more powerful.
Deadly Infiltration, the second book in the “Agents in His Service” series, brings to life a story that is all too real.
Infiltrators inside our government are betraying undercover agents while helping sneak weapons of mass destruction across our borders. These terrorists are planning a highly sophisticated attack to kill millions and cripple America, threatening our national security and the fate of our nation.
To keep their work hidden, they are willing to murder anyone who gets in their way.
Sara, a brilliant computer expert working for the FBI, finds herself caught in the middle, and the choices she makes out of anger towards those who hurt her in the past make her the perfect scapegoat and tool to divert everyone's attention from the real threat.
 Sara’s young faith in God is gravely tested when she is framed for the murder of an FBI agent, forcing her to go into hiding. Meanwhile, Sara’s fiancé Derry lives up to a promise he made to her, and gives up his future to save her and hopefully the country.
Deadly Infiltration is an exciting read that hits very close to home.

* For more details on actual terrorist attacks visit www.wrichardlawrence.com or the publishers website.


My Thoughts

After reading the first book by Lawrence I was thrilled to read Deadly Infiltration! 

While I loved Fatal Transaction more so than this one, still I really enjoyed this overall suspenseful story. There are many things going on throughout the book that twisted my mind. Terrorists and hackers and many different characters set in Denver. I liked the setting because I have been to Denver a lot so I understand the area.I liked the attention to detail and the suspenseful part, all very well written. I am anxious to read more by this author.

If you are looking for a good modern day hacker/terrorist suspense you should check this book out!

"I received this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review."

The Berenstain Bears Book Of Prayers Review

 About the Book

This new prayer book for toddlers features Mama and Papa Bear, Brother, Sister, and Honey. Nearly 50 simple rhyming prayers cover a typical day and the typical worries of a young child. From waking in the morning to going to sleep at night, from thanking God for a meal to praying for His comfort when afraid, the prayers will help little ones see that any moment is a good moment to talk to God. With its soft padded cover and convenient size, the book is the perfect way to teach children about prayer and the ways God cares for us each day. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

This is a such a cute and fun board book! I love it because kids can actually use it and not tear it up. It includes very short little prayers for different situations such as before bed, when you are sad, when you have done something wrong, etc. I think parents should review the book before giving to their kids and also to emphasis what the prayers say. This is definitely one you could use in a lot of ways with kiddos but it is also important that kids understand that they can pray whatever they want to God not just go by a book. But that is the parents job in teaching this. This is a nice addition to your children's library. 

Five stars. 

"I received this book from Worthy Publishing for free in exchange for an honest review."