Standoff by Patricia Bradley

Standoff by Patricia Bradley is a thrilling novel.  Brooke has recently become a law officer. Luke, who left her years ago to attend the Naval Academy and never returned, or even said goodbye is back in town.  He just left town with no respect for her feelings nor the romance they shared.  As Brooke starts her new career, just after her father is murdered, she is overwhelmed and determined to discover who killed her father. Who can you trust in the department and who is feeding the drug cartel their information?

While I must admit, it was hard to follow all of the characters in this story, it was a good read. The thrilled pace keep you wondering what is next and who is responsible for the murders! It is a plot twisting enjoyable novel!

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

Called Out by Paula Faris

Called Out by Paula Faros offers a candid look at Paula's life and all that she did to improve her career on the View and as a reporter for ABC news.  Paula shares her upbringing, including her parents turn to faith found in a church community, her journey to Cedarville University, and her climb as a top news reporter. Paula wanted to have it all no matter what the cost. Until. Paula finally realized there was a cost and shares her journey of faith and realizing what her calling really is.

This book is insightful.  It offers much wisdom to the reader, especially with Paula's driven attitude and quest for achievement.  Perhaps it can be summed up on page 178. Paula writes, "I came to a simple conclusion: Something is fundamentally broken with our society when we care so much about success that we slam preschoolers with questions of vocation and fifth-graders are considering resume builders for college admissions."

While this book is about Paula's Christian faith, she does try to include all faiths, maybe to a fault. I did enjoy this book and was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.

My Heart Ever His {Prayers for Women} by Barbara Rainey

My Heart Ever His {Prayers for Women} by Barbara Rainey is a beautiful collection of prayers for women.  Barbara shares wonderfully written prayers that reflect all stages of a woman's life. As an older women, Barbara has lived through many stages and touches on many of them in her book.  These prayers offer hope and come from a strong Biblical basis. Some are simply scripture quoted.

My Heart Ever His is a great gift for Mother's Day.  It can be an encouragement for women.  Barbara shares not only the prayers, but on some pages the story behind the prayers.  I like that it offered wisdom and words that you may not have thought about praying.

This book is a great encouragement. I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review, which I was happy to do!

The Traitor's Pawn by Lisa Harris

The Traitor's Pawn by Lisa Harris is a face paced fiction novel that is an enjoyable read!  Aubrey Grey is on an estate with her father like figure, a former senator.  Just as Aubrey and the former Senator start to enjoy the morning, the Senator is shot and next thing you know Aubrey is kidnapped. FBI Agent Jack Shannon arrives to investigate the case.  This is no longer a shooting investigation, but has now turned into a case involving shared intel with foreign countries.  Whatever happened between childhood best friends, Aubrey and Jack? When Aubrey started dating Jack's brother their relationship changed. Can it be salvaged after all these year?

I did enjoy reading The Traitor's Pawn by Lisa Harris.  This book was rich in characters, kept you on the edge of your seat, and was overall great fiction.  The main character of Aubrey explored past hurts caused by her father and needed to look at forgiveness.  I enjoyed the themes in the book.

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

Big and Little Activity Devotional by Rachel Swanson

The Big and Little Activity Devotional by Rachel Swanson is a super fabulous activity book for children ages 5-12.  It offers many pages filled with countless activities.  Not only are the activities rich with content, but there are also a variety of pages.

If you hold the book and open it one direction, you will see pages for younger children. Then if you flip the book over you will see pages for older children! How clever!  Pages range from word puzzles, mazes, trace and color, how to draw, word searches, coloring pages and so much more.

This is a great resource for families of children that span ages, or can be used with a younger child and then used again when they are older.

The listed scripture passage and short devotional can be used with both the younger and older children.  This book offers great fun for children to pass the time and still learn a valuable

lesson at the same time!

I was given a free copy of Big and Little Activity Devotional by Rachel Swanson from the publisher for my honest review!

Countercultural Parenting: Building Character in a World of Compromise by Lee Nienhuis

I had the privilege of reading Lee Nienhuis' second book, Countercultural Parenting: Building Character in a World of Compromise.  In a nutshell: run to get this valuable parenting book!

Lee's first book, Brave Mom Brave Kids, was an amazing parenting book, and Countercultural Parenting simply builds on the momentum of that book. However, you don't need to read the first book to appreciate the wisdom in Countercultural Parenting!

Lee offers amazing knowledge and insight into raising children that are NOT the status quo.  If you are looking for HOPE in an honest form, Lee offers that in Countercultural Parenting.  As Lee states, "Is it crazy to imagine that we could raise children who are godly, who will grow into righteous leaders? Could they become men and women who choose for the earliest age to be people of character, steadfast and immovable?"

Lee then follows through with the how to of parenting and raising children who go against the culture! In Countercultural Parenting, Lee shares the insight that not only helps you propel yourself toward raising godly children but also the insight to help you as a parent who does not follow the status quo.

Lee offers a fresh (and rich) look at Biblical characters who can serve as role models and examples for parents and for our children.  I highlighted so many passages in this book!  I can't wait to share this with friends as an encouragement in their parenting journey.

No longer can we raise children who are part of the status quo of society. It is clear it is no longer working.  We need to stand up and raise countercultural children. Lee's book is a great resource for just that.

I was given a free copy of Countercultural Parenting: Building Character in a World of Compromise by Lee Nienhuis for my honest review. I was thrilled to do this and would highly recommend this book!  

Peanut Butter Play Dough

If you are looking for more fun recipes to make at home, this is another one that my children LOVED! Always fun to eat after you play!

Peanut Butter Play Dough

1 1/4 cup peanut butter

6 TBS honey

Nonfat dry milk powder

Mix honey and peanut butter. Add dry milk powder to make a consistency that you can work with. Store in airtight container when not using.

(Hint to Print. Click on graphic. Open Graphic in a new tab, print graphic.)

Other recipes you might like: pancake and waffle mix, white chocolate mix.

And how to organize those recipes! 

Homemade Play Dough

When my {now 21 year old son} was in preschool, his teacher asked for families to make play dough to send into the classroom!  So here I am, 16 years later sharing this great recipe during the COVID-19 outbreak.  I hope that this will help keep your little ones (and you!) occupied, if even for just a little time. Oh mamas, it IS hard to be home with the little ones all day!

Best part of this play dough - although I wouldn't recommend, it is edible because all of the ingredients are edible. So if little ones tend to want to put everything in their mouths, they can enjoy!

1 cup flour

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 cup water

1 TBS vegetable oil

1 pack unsweetened Kool Aid (for color, optional)

Add dry ingredients to sauce pan. Stir. Add water and oil.Stir over medium-low heat until mixtures becomes quite thick & resembles the consistency of play dough (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat and place dough on cookie sheet or wax paper to cool completely.Once cool, knead until smooth.Store in a covered container.

(Hint to Print. Click on graphic. Open Graphic in a new tab, print graphic.)
Other recipes you may enjoy: White chocolate mix, pancake and waffle mix, taco dip, chicken corn soup. And how to organize all those recipes!

The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson

The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson is a delightful fiction story, an enjoyable book! This is actually the first book I read by the award winning author!

Dillion has quite the life. Well, maybe. She has a decent job, a boyfriend and an ok life with her roommates. When her boyfriend is late to dinner again, and continually takes her for granted she knows its time for a change. Then her boss implores her to come in to work on a Saturday, again.  This is the last straw. Dillion does it! She packs up and heads to her beloved Grandpa's farm. However, surprise, her mother is there. Sadly, she has never gotten along well with her free spirited mother.  And her mother starts telling Dillion how to run her life and always takes Dillion for granted!

However, there is this gentleman who works at the hardware store.  And enter a beloved vintage camper gifted to Dillion.

The Happy Camper is a sweet story.  It is fun, delightful and engaging. A cheerful read!  You will enjoy the story of 34 year old Dillion and her transplanted life back to simpler times on the family farm.

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

Made to Move Mountains by Kristen Welch

When I am asked to write a review, I am always asked to be honest. Sometimes reviews are just hard to write.  Bottom line: Did I enjoy this book? Yes and No.  Perhaps it was because I was reading this book at the height of COVID19.  Perhaps it's just the book. I'm not sure.

I had read Kristen Welch's blog a LONG time ago, before she was as influential as she is now. Perhaps it was simply a different time.  This was the first book I had read of hers.

In Made to Move Mountains, Kristen shares some of what is on her current blog, the story of Mercy House (her organization to free pregnant women from slavery), fair trade and helping immigrants.  She also dabbles in what she has shared in the past concerning her marriage, and some of her family life.  Kristen does share that this book was a hard book to write, and I don't expect her to share all of her secrets, but when as author writes that she is going to through trials, but cannot explain more, I relate it to telling someone, I have a secret but I'm not telling you.  In that case, don't even bring it up.

The focus of Made to Move Mountains is just that. The mountains in Kristen's life and how God has and will move them.  Or she will climb them. Perhaps the most impactful writing for me, was when Kristen shared sending her daughter off to college and the affect that had on her, and the wisdom and insight that Kristen gained as a mother through that experience.

I'm not sure I've read a book before that quotes more authors than this book. There was even an author quoted within another author quote. Kristen goes from quoting Tim Keller to John Piper to Joel Osteen.  (All within a few pages!)

Bottom line: Would I recommend this book? Yes and No. I would encourage you to read this for yourself and decide about Made to Move Mountains. Was there thought provoking material? Yes. Did it offer hope? Sometimes. Some of Made to Move Mountains was more focused on Kristen's mountains than moving them.

I would  encourage you to read the book for yourself and decide. I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.