365 Questions for a Woman's Soul

This is a compact, beautiful leather-bound devotional for women. There is a simple, yet intricate and beautiful leaf pattern on the front of the light gray colored book. The devotional has sections covering most any topic that women may find themselves struggling with at some point in their lives. The index of 365 topics go from Abandonment to Worthiness, in alphabetical order by subject, each with corresponding Bible verses and devotional anecdotes for readers to apply the verses to their own life situations. This would be a beautiful gift for a loved one or for oneself. Thank you to Tyndale Blog Network for the review copy of this title. I'm in love with this one!

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

The Masterpiece is contemporary Christian fiction at its best. Having read and loved Redeeming Love, one of Rivers's previous novels, I had an inkling that I would enjoy her newest work, fittingly titled The Masterpiece. Many times Christian fiction can become a little too squeaky clean, which distracts from an exciting or enticing story line and pace. Being a Christian myself, I know that no one is perfect and Christians have just as many faults as everyone else. Therefore, Christian fiction should be real and not put on an act, pretending to be completely wholesome and pure. This is one of the reasons that I love Francine Rivers's novels. Her characters all have major flaws and pasts that haunt them. Many times they feel like or even try giving up, but God is not done with them yet. Rivers has a knack for writing long books with unique plot lines and memorable characters, and The Masterpiece is no exception.

The Masterpiece is a story of survival, grief, forgiveness, family, and love. Famous artist, Roman Velasco has a very checkered past, even though his future looks bright to those who don't really know him. The only person he lets get a little closer to him turns out to be a young, single mother named Grace, who becomes his personal assistant. Grace has been through many a tragedy and trial in her young life, but she knows and loves the Lord and leans on him in everything. Her parents died when she was a little girl, and God has become her one true father. Because of all the pain and bad relationships in her past, Grace keeps her distance and doesn't have any interest in becoming romantically involved with anyone. Her only goal is to be able to support herself and her infant, Samuel, so that they can be together full time and she can be a devoted mother to him. She is determined not to let her past dictate her future. Roman, on the other hand, is distrusting and unstable. He doesn't know the Lord. He lets his past mistakes and pain eat at him daily, unable to forgive or forget the horrible things he has done and seen in his young life. In and out of foster care during his childhood, running from the authorities, and tagging with graffiti in a gang, he is no stranger to the streets. No one knows his real name or the circumstances of his upbringing.

As Roman gets to know Grace, he starts to open up and question her about her devotion to God. When a new tragedy strikes, will Roman be strong enough to survive it?

Though this is a very long book, do not be intimidated. It only took me two days to read it, and I loved it. The story takes place in California and many of the landscapes and settings that are described are beautiful and breathtaking. The plot reads quickly, because it switches back and forth from present day back to the time when both Roman and Grace were children and teenagers. It is through the flashbacks that readers are able to get a better picture of the horrible things that Roman and Grace have both endured in their lives. I would highly recommend this novel for fans of Christian fiction, contemporary fiction, women's fiction, romance, and even mainstream fiction. It has a little bit of everything between its covers. The ending was a tad bit predictable, but that was to be expected with the kind of story it is. Even so, it was rather enjoyable all the way to the last page.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Operation Clean Up Day by Jason Tucker

Operation Clean Up Day, a picture book by Jason Tucker and illustrated by Nick Roberts will be released on September 28, 2017 by Clink Street Publishing.

Operation Clean Up Day offers a simple story line with a clear message for little ones. It is split into different sections, called “Missions,” for different areas of the house that the two young boys need to clean up for their Mummy (ex: The Kitchen, The Bathroom, The Bedroom). With rhyming text and whimsical illustrations, readers see many different types of imaginative worlds dreamed up by the two young boys who would rather be playing make-believe than doing housework. From knights and ogres in the Kitchen to aliens and spaceships in the Bedroom, this little story have some amazing illustrations. The illustrations brilliantly portray the very active imaginations of two little boys. Dinosaurs, dragons, aliens, spaceships, castles, ogres…what more could a kid want in a picture book?

The ending is playful with the boy winking at readers. This story would be great for children age 5-10, who will relate to both the characters and the situation. A lesson to be learned for readers is that if you want to play, or go to the pool (as the two little boys are hoping to do), you must clean and tidy up first. Adults will have fun reading the book to youngsters as well.

Thank you to Authoright Marketing for allowing me to review a copy of this book.

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Clean-Day-Jason-Tucker/dp/1912262320/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503072973&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/operation-clean-up-day-jason-tucker/1126986275?ean=9781912262328

About the author:

Born and raised in London, Jason Tucker is married and is a father of three young boys. He is enjoying an international working life basing himself between London and Dubai. This is his first published work with a number of other titles in the pipeline as well as working on a number of other ventures including TV, Film & graphic novels.

Picturing Heaven: A Coloring Devotional

I've seen so many adult coloring books being published in the past year or so. This one is one of my favorites, because it's much more than just a coloring book. This book is jam packed full of devotional material and beautiful illustrations for the reader to color and reflect on the verses being expressed. The cover provides a beautiful preview of what is to be expected of the art-filled pages, waiting for the reader to color as they study the word of God. There are 40 devotion pages and 40 corresponding coloring pages included in this paperback, which is the size of a small children's picture book. This would make a great gift for a friend or loved one.

Here's the gorgeous cover that I referred to:



Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for the review copy of this item.

Practical, Beautiful Women's Devotional Book

Bible Promises to Live By for Women by Katherine J. Butler is a beautifully crafted gift book for women. The imitation leather and compact size allow the book to be portable, but sleek. Women can easily carry the book in their purse or handbook and have it with them daily to look up verses in a variety of subject matter. The topics are arranged alphabetically in the Contents index at the beginning so that readers can easily find verses to help with virtually any situation or rough road in life. This would make a great gift for someone, or a nice treat to purchase for yourself. Each topic has a small, 1-page devotional section followed by 5-6 key verses from the Bible the speak specifically to that topic. The book is 303 pages long and published by Tyndale House Publishers.

 Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for a review copy of this item.

A Bible Study Devotional/Coloring Journal

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of Ruth: Discovering your Place in God's Story in exchange for an honest review. Ruth is one of the Drawn In Bible Study devotional books. 

Included are scripture verses, devotional stories about Ruth, and sections to color. The book is meant for a four week long Bible study about Ruth. Other books in the Drawn In series feature different women of the Bible. This book would be a great devotional for a women's group to enjoy together, as well as a great gift for any woman hoping to grow in her Faith and be closer to God. 

The small paperback size includes 96 pages, and is convenient for traveling or bringing in a handbag to Bible study or wherever one can find a quiet moment to read and study God's word.  

Crisis Shot by Janice Cantore

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a review copy of Crisis Shot by Janice Cantore. The first installment of The Line of Duty series, Crisis Shot, will be released on September 5, 2017 in paperback form. Having served as a Long Beach police officer herself, Janice Cantore's writing is authentic based on her own past experiences. The characters and the plot line are unique, capturing the readers attention in the beginning and keeping their interest until the final pages.

The story takes place in Long Beach, California to start and then later in Oregon, where the final character, Tess O'Rourke, moves to escape the negative backlash and media portrayal of a police shooting in which she was the officer involved. The book eludes to a possible romantic interest between Tess and handsome sheriff's deputy Steve Logan, wish whom she teams up to solve a double murder in Rogue's Hollow, Oregon. However, there aren't any romantic scenes, leaving the novel very clean and suitable for young teenagers who enjoy police procedural or small-town mysteries. I do hope some actual sparks will fly between Tess and Steve in future novels in the series, however, because they seem like they would make a great pair. Additionally, being in the Christian fiction genre, the language is also very clean, without the profanity that riddles most mass-market mystery/suspense/thrillers these days.

I would recommend this novel for fans of fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, and even Christian fiction. My favorite part of the story was the way the residents in Rogue Hollow embraced Tess into their town and welcomed her, even in the midst of the first murder and disappearance in their town in a very long time.

Creative Seek and Find Book for Children

Bible Sleuth: New Testament is a creative seek & find book for children of any age to enjoy. There are quick Bible scenes and verses from the New Testament on each of the two-page spread sections and then a list of pictures to find in each scene.

Children will enjoy finding the pictures, while also learning about the Bible in a different way than what they may be used to. This would make a great gift for a Sunday School teacher or any grand-kids or kids who enjoy books. It is comparable to the Seek-N-Find, ISpy, and Where's Waldo brands that are well-known and beloved.

Thank you to Tyndale Blog Network for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for review. My children love it already!

Beautiful, Compact, & Durable Prayer Coloring Journal

This little book has it all! It is part prayer journal, part devotional, and part coloring book. The cover is gorgeous and the book itself is very sturdy with a hard binding. For this reason, along with the compact size, it is perfect for packing along in a purse or tote back for devotion, coloring, and/or meditative prayer time on the go. This would make a great gift for anyone from teenagers and up. I've seen a lot of devotionals and spiritual coloring books lately, and this one is definitely my favorite of them all.

Thank you to Tyndale Blog Network for providing me with a review copy of this title.

Unique Coloring Devotional

This is a beautifully put-together, unique coloring devotional with a very attractive cover. The coloring pages are illustrated on a simpler side, so as not to be too daunting for the beginning coloring fan. Each two page spread includes a one page devotional and a corresponding coloring page with a quote or Bible verse. This would make a nice gift for anyone.

The Story Traveler's Bible

This is a unique format for a children's Bible. It is laid out into 85 different Bible stories, as well as information in sidebars, and scripture passages throughout. The book itself is very sturdy, with a perma-bound cover, making it durable for reading many times overs. The full-color, high-quality illustrations enhance the stories, making them more appealing for young children learning the Bible. There are three narrators telling the story as they travel through the Holy Land, Lana, Munch, and Griffin - who are the story travelers. This would be a great read-aloud story book for children of any age, but it would most appeal to children up to the age of 8. I would highly recommend this product to everyone!

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Kingdom Family Devotional by Tony Evans & Jonathan Evans

The Kingdom Family Devotional by Tony Evans and Jonathan Evans was released on January 1, 2017. What a great way to start a fresh new year off on the right foot! This simple, but beautifully bound hardcover devotional will delight readers who would like to grow in their faith and/or draw closer to God. The devotional spans for an entire year with a page for each day. There is an introduction by Tony and Jonathan Evans, followed by a wide range of weekly study topics ranging from "Priorities" to "Greatness," and everything in between. Each day starts with a scripture passage to read and a corresponding devotional story and challenge to follow. This would be a great gift for a family hoping to spend more quality time together. I would highly recommend this book. 

Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.

The Importance of Good Deeds in Board Book Format

Where Does Love Hide by Mary Manz Simon is a well-put together board book with lift-the-flaps. The illustrations are simple, but meaningful. The book's colors are bright and cheerful. Each page has a lift-the-flap showing a good deed that children can do, along with a corresponding Bible passage for children to learn. This book would make a wonderful gift for a child or a Sunday school, or Christian preschool teacher.

Thank you to Tyndale Blog Network for the review copy.

Whimsical Picture Book about the True Value of Friendship

Flash is a loveable, inventive donkey with a large imagination who likes to create things. Sometimes he goofs up along the way, but that's okay. He presses on with the help of some newfound friends, a goat, a pig, and a chicken. Flash and his friends turn ordinary moments into adventures. Kids will love the whimsical illustrations of these barnyard animals and their fearless leader, Flash the donkey. I would classify this as a Christian children's fiction picture book because of the message and bible verse at the end of the book. Also at the end is a bit of background information about Flash and the author, Rachel Anne Ridge. Flash is based upon a true story of a homeless donkey who was given a home and named Flash.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Beautiful Christmas Devotional & Coloring Book All-in-One!

All is Bright is a wonderful month-long devotional perfect for both individual and family devotion time. For each day through the month of December, there is a devotional with biblical passages and a corresponding coloring page. The pages could easily be copies so that more than one person could color after sharing the devotional information together. At the back of the book is a family activity section and a bunch of reproducible coloring images with a Christmas theme. This is a beautiful book and it would make a wonderful gift. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places is at its heart a story of an unlikely friendship and then love between a girl named Violet and a boy named Finch. However, it's not your average YA romance, and there are richly created scenes and moments. It has been compared to The Fault in Our Stars, but I found it to be so much more than just another story dealing with loss. I chose to read this book after a recommendation from a good friend who loves YA. The story takes place in my home state of Indiana, which is where the author grew up. I appreciated the amount of research the author completed about the different "bright places" of Indiana, as well as the way she wove in so many passages and quotations from famous literature and writers. This was a beautifully written, touching story, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly. The story touches on so many important issues which teens unfortunately may face on a daily basis: loss of a sibling, survivor's guilt, grief, abuse, mental illness, bullying, and suicide. Both Violet's and Finch's narration captivate the reader, and both have important stories to tell. After reading, you'll have a new appreciation for Post-it notes and teenagers. Read it, read it, please read it!

The Blue by Lucy Clarke

The Blue by Lucy Clarke will be published on August 4, 2015.

This book had a little bit of everything I look for in a quick read: suspense, mystery, romance, twists and turns in the plot, and adventure. Lana and Kitty, best friends since childhood decide that they have nothing holding them to their current lifestyles and set off for adventure and a carefree life. They find exactly the thing when they happen upon The Blue, a yacht with a crew of young, beautiful, and intriguing people. However, as the weeks at sea become months, Lana soon gets to know the crew and wonders if they made a mistake diving into this lifestyle with a bunch of strangers. Aaron, the skipper, has a carefree attitude about ship safety, but strict rules about relationships other crew members. The other crew members are Denny, Heinrich, Joseph, and Shell. It's interesting to see how Lana's various relationships develop with each of them, and even how things change with Kitty, who she thought she knew so well. If you are in for a fast paced adventure on the sea, this is the book for you. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Ashfall is the first in a 3, and planning to be 4 book series by Mike Mullin. Mike Mullin is an Indianapolis based author, whom I met at an ALA conference last year. He is well spoken, super smart, and the most down to earth guy. After reading his first book, I have even more respect for him and his awesome talent. The book was published in October, 2012. However, I finally got around to reading it after hearing my students rave about how amazing it is. The book is written for the YA crowd, but there are certainly many adult themed scenes. I enjoyed the book very much, for the suspense, and the non-stop action which kept the story propelled forward as if the reader was actually there with Alex and Darla making their way through the ashfall. The story supposes that the supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park erupts with no warning and ash covers the earth for thousands of miles around the eruption site, including Alex's hometown while he is home alone for the weekend. Alex is determined to get to where his parents are and reunite with his family. The readers can assume it will not be easy if only for the ash covered landscape and extreme weather fluctuations, but there are so many other obstacles Alex must face which make for a nail-biting read. This is one of my all time favorite YA books so far. I couldn't put it down. Well done, Mike. I look forward to reading Ashen Winter, Sunrise, and the upcoming 4th installment.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

After seeing all the buzz for this book and all the comparisons to Gone Girl, I decided I would give it a try. Then, I was on a hold list forever and that caused me to want to read it even more. Funny how that happens! Well, I finally read it and I'm not entirely sure what the big hubbub is all about. It wasn't as crazy weird as Gone Girl, and I do believe this story would make a better movie than Gone Girl. There are three characters who are narrating the story, Rachel, Anna, and Megan. The chapters switch back and forth between the three women and also back and forth over the span of a few months. I wouldn't advise trying to pay attention to the timeline while you read, because I tried and got too caught up in it and lost momentum for reading.

Rachel is an alcoholic, and therefore, a mostly unreliable narrator. Anna is Rachel's ex-husband's new wife, and she is not a fan of Rachel for various reasons which you will soon figure out by reading the beginning of the book. Megan is a neighbor down the street from Anna's house (which is also Rachel's old house). Rachel rides the train every day and becomes quite interested in watching Megan's house, while trying to avoid looking at her old house. One day she sees something out of place, and her obsession builds from there. Meanwhile, Megan goes missing and the night it happens, Rachel is so drunk that she blacks out and has no memory of where she was, or why she came home battered and bloody. Could she have done something to Megan? Does she really know what happened? Did she see who took Megan? The story does move along rather quickly, and I'm glad I read it. But, I just didn't have the feeling that I couldn't put it down and I'm not in love with it. If you like psychological suspense and stories where all the characters are a bit off their rockers, this is the book for you.

The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek

 

This was a great book. It follows the lives of Bella, Sam (male), and Suzie from the time they are 15 until they have reached adulthood. The story switches back and forth between the characters, giving the reader glimpses of each as they grow older and experience love, loss, marriage, children, etc. The author does a nice job of keeping the interest level high, even though much of the plot consists of everyday life. The romance is sweet, and it's not overdone. I would recommend this book as a quick read for those who like realistic fiction.