Little Words Matter Jumbo Coloring Book ~ from B&H Kids

Little Words Matter Jumbo Coloring Book from B&H Kids!

This delightful coloring book has many opportunities and simple pages for young children to color. I would recommend this for children ages 2 to 5. It begins with coloring pages that share Jesus Loves Me. It then teaches letters and offers pages showing children how to trace their letters. The Little Words Matter Jumbo Coloring book then goes through different animals that children can color and does reinforce various activities such as alike and different. There are also matching activities, color words and activities, number word and activities, Bible characters, shapes, shape activities and beginning letter sounds. As you can see it is filled with rich learning pages!

This book offers many different options for young children. The only drawback is that for a few pictures it’s hard to distinguish what the picture stands for. For example, the page where you two are to identify what starts with the letter "I" and "J", there is a picture of a girl jumping, some jelly, and a soldier.

Overall the Little Words Matter Jumbo Coloring Book is a fantastic resource for little ones. It is big, so it does offer endless hours for coloring! 

I was given a free copy to review from the publishers. All opinions are my own. 

Our of the Embers by Amanda Cabot

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot is book one in the Mesquite Springs series.  Evelyn always feels that someone is watching her when she must leave the orphanage and head into town.  She needs to head into town to sell the doilies that the children have made.  One of the children, Polly, is with her on her latest trip.  Ready to set home, the wagon breaks down. Once they finally are able to journey home, they discover the entire orphanage has burned to the ground. No one is left and no one from the town really cares. They never really cared for the orphanage anyway.  Evelyn must take Polly and flee. But where? How? And who is watching her? Why?

This delightful tale book you on an adventure set in the 1850's.  There are lost of exciting twists and turns and it is an intriguing tale. I did find it a little confusing on some of the characters, but if you are patient, will all come together in the end.  Out of the Embers is a fun read and best of all it's the beginning of the series, but can be read alone.  You will come to love the characters in the book and enjoy the story.

I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review, which I was happy to do.  I do recommend Out of the Embers.

Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs

Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs is a beautiful story for children ages birth to older elementary.  This story shares a mama giving her son kisses and compares them to how other animals kiss their children. Then its's papa's turn to come in and pray with his son. He gives his son hugs and they talk about how other animals hug their young.

Perhaps the most poignant part of the story is when the son asks, "Papa, how does God give us hugs?" Papa replies, "Hundreds of times throughout the day, God sends us hugs. We might miss them if we don't pay attention."

The book is full of beautiful illustrations. Even though it's a picture book it is also great for older children as well. The message is sweet and heartwarming.

I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review which I was happy to do!

Praying Women by Sheila Walsh

Praying Women by Sheila Walsh is an excellent resource on “how to pray when you don’t know what to say.” The insight provided by Sheila Walsh is valuable and meaningful. It is also extremely relevant to women today. 

As one who is heavily involved in a prayer ministry, I really appreciated what Sheila Walsh shared in Praying Women. She shares not only her personal journeys and struggles, but also biblical passages to support the need for and power of prayer. The ten insights shared through each chapter are challenging as well as encouraging. The scripture share is rich.  I firmly believe this book will be an encouragement for women who do not know how to pray, or an inspiration for women who want to go deeper in their prayer life.

I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review, which I was happy to do. I highly recommend Praying Women by Sheila Walsh.

The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear

Wow! I had the opportunity to read The Blue Cloak by Shannon McNear! What a thrilling tale!

Rachel is excited and jealous as her best friend, Sally, marries her new beau.  However, something isn't quite right at the wedding ceremony.  Rachel is happy to stand as a witness with her childhood friend, Hugh, but he is clearly off soon to be with his new interest, Liz.  Time moves on. Is Sally safe? What is going on with her new husband? And what has become of Hugh? What about his friend, a potential suitor for Rachel, who he mentioned in passing?

The Blue Cloak will captivate you!  This compelling novel will draw you in and carry you along the frontier on a journey set in the late 1790's.  The Blue Cloak is part of the  Historical Stories of American Crime Series.  It is truly a spellbinding story.  In fact, I couldn't put it down!  The author does start off with a "warning" that this book does share some (real) graphic details. That made me nervous at first - as I've read some other author disclaimers - but honestly I'd give it a PG or PG13 rating.  Not appropriate for children and likely historically accurate.

I did enjoy The Blue Cloak and would highly recommend this book. I  received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

A Different Kind of Love Story

A Different Kind of Love Story is a fabulously written personal life story from Landra Young Hughes.  In A Different Kind of Love Story, Landra shares a journey starting in her teenage years to being a young mother. She was raised the daughter of a famous pastor and endured some turbulent times as a family that were very public, not necessarily by choice. Landra then went on to develop an eating disorder and went to treatment for her eating disorder. Although this book does share about her eating disorder it is applicable to many. 

On page 122 Landra shares a label that women need to put on themselves. It is “Chosen By God”.  This really resonated with me!

On page 148 Landra writes, “Maybe you need to keep your personal life private because that’s what’s been modeled for you. Maybe your parents never talked about spiritual or faith based topics and it’s just a foreign concept to you. Maybe it feels weird to let others in when you have doubts because you are afraid of looking stupid or weak or like you’re not a ‘good’ Christian.”  Laundre then goes on to share how opening up your personal life will deepen your spiritual life.

A Different Kind of Love Story is full of wisdom, personal experiences and encouragement. 

 A Different Kind of Love Story is an excellent book that I would recommend. I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review which I was happy to do.

Find More Money $$$$$ by Art Rainer

Find More Money by Art Rainer is a fabulous book to help those who are looking for additional income through a side hustle, side gig or whatever you choose to call it!  Art has a history of authoring books about finances, however this is the first one I read!  Art shares several key elements as to why you need a side gig: you need more money just to make it through each month, you need more money so you can pay down your debt, you need more money so you can create an emergency savings account, you need more money so you can eventually retire, you need more money so you can be more generous (page 15). Art also lays out the options for making more money, which include, get a raise, get a new job, get a side gig (page 15).  Art also encourages you to know you why of why you want to make more money, and encourages you to explore your passions and what you can do. I appreciated that Art listed practical websites that you can use and does acknowledge the websites are always changing!  Art explores what it takes to find a side gig, develop that side gig and more forward to try and make additional money!

I appreciated that this was a practical book. Art offered many suggestions to help the reader move forward with a side gig! Perhaps the big questions is: is this in line with Dave Ramsey and what is taught by Financial Peace? Yes! Art Rainer has similar principles that will compliment and encourage any Dave Ramsey followers! (Note that programs are slightly different, but similar in many ways!)

I did enjoy this book and found it very helpful but most importantly practical!  I would encourage others to check it out! I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill is a captivating fiction mystery. 

This book shares the story of Detective Alvarez who happens upon a mystery of students killed in a school bus accident three years ago. However the students may be alive. Even though detective Alvarez has no children of her own, she is intrigued by the prospect of solving the case. She also desperately wishes to get out of property crimes and move into homocide. 

This book is a thrilling and entertaining mystery fiction. I found myself unable to put it down. I did find it interesting however that this book is published by a Christian publisher with no mention of any Christian aspects  throughout the book. The characters are entertaining and the story is gripping. 

 I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review. I would definitely recommend this book. 

Holy Guacamole by Carrie Stephens

"Have you ever felt on the edge, alone, down and out, or maybe wondered what in the world God can do with someone like you?"

Carrie Stephens shares her journey of life, being a pastor's wife, and motherhood in an entertaining way in Holy Guacamole.  Carrie shares stories from her growing up years, to early marriage, to raising teenagers and how she has been used by God during those times.  I loved the footnotes {which are hilarious side commentary!}

Carrie also draws on her experience of a being a pastor's wife and the dynamic that it adds to her life as well as the expectations of others. One time a friend shared with her that she is "holy guacamole" and totally worth it!  Carries expands on this idea of value and worth.  I appreciated the practical and real life stories that 40 something Carrie incorporates into the book!

On page 174 Carrie writes, "Relax, you'll get what God has planned for you from the beginning of time. In the meantime, let her (meaning those you compare yourself to) have her things. Let him do what God made him to do. Let God be God.  To carry this truth in our broken world, maybe we need to practice receiving whatever God's hand is holding out to us today - even when it seems like less than what He promised."

I did enjoy this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.  

Isaiah's Legacy

I recently had the chance to read the book Isaiah's Legacy by Mesu Anderws.  This book is the fictional story of King Mannasseh and his wife based on the Biblical account. It is fiction. You will want to keep that in mind while reading the story  

This story is a psychological take of how God has worked during Isaiah‘s time period. Isaiah's Legacy studies the life of king Manasseh and how Satan made him one of the most wicked kings. This book illustrates the war between Satan and God as seen in the lives of real people.

I really enjoyed how the author starts the book with a list of the characters in a map of the location and a brief note giving a background for the book. The author takes the liberty to explore the story and make it very vivid.  

I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.