Honor Redeemed Book Review

Title: Honor Redeemed

Author: Christine Johnson

Genre: Christian, Romance, Fiction,

Plot: Prosperity Jones is set adrift in the big bad world of 1852 when her mother dies. Her father's ship had gone down years before and all that's left is a wealthy estranged aunt in Boston and her betrothed, David, in the Key Islands serving out his eight year tour of duty as an engineer. With nothing left for her in Nantucket, Prosperity uses her small savings and goes to Key West looking for her beloved, only to have her world shattered upon arrival to learn that David is married. Forced to stay with new friends and take a job as a laundress at the hospital, Prosperity doesn't know what to do with her future anymore and is unaware of God's hand in her life.

David made a mistake and seems to keep paying for it over and over again. Seeing Prosperity again only makes matters worse but little does he know, he's in for greater trouble ahead. With a tiny shred of future and an innocent life hanging in the balance, how will God mend these broken hearts?

Likes/Dislikes: I was intrigued by this book and hoped for a really exciting historical  adventure but instead, found a painfully silly romance set in a historical time with a bit of plant lore thrown in for plot filler. When you read a historical fiction, you want historical details and to come away feeling like you just time traveled and learned some pretty cool stuff, not a love triangle with everyone bemoaning their choices in life and going on and on about how so and so broke their heart and oooh, if only I could make things better without talking about them! Seriously, if everyone had just sat down and communicated, everything would've worked out so much better. It was a sequel but you barely noticed that fact unless you already knew it which was nice.

Rating: PG - 16 and up, mainly for content {bloody birth scene, suggestive content, nothing graphic}

Date Review Written: October 6th, 2016

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publishers in exchange for an honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Counted With the Stars Book Review

Title: Counted With the Stars

Author: Connilyn Cossette

Genre: Christian, Biblical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Action/Adventure, Egypt,

Plot: Young Kiya has everything that wealth can bring, including an indulgent father, loving mother and sweet big brother. But her reality comes crashing down when her father's ships sink, taking down the family's livelihood with them and Kiya finds herself sold into slavery to pay the debts incurred. Thankfully, she is bought by the close family friend Shefu. Unfortunately, Shefu's bitter wife hates her and takes delight in Kiya's reduced status and humiliation. And on top of that, her handsome betrothed soldier Akhum abandons her for another wealthy girl of status.

But all is not lost. Kiya befriends a sweet Hebrew slave girl named Shira and watches in increasing horror and awe as ten devastating plagues sweep through her beloved Egypt, each one more terrifying than the last until, in order to save her brother's life, Kiya flees Egypt with the Hebrews. Homeless and godless, Kiya agonizes over whether or not she made the right choice, not realizing that she is on the very path that God wants her to be on.

Likes/Dislikes: This is a very unique story of Moses and the mass exodus out of Egypt from the eyes of an Egyptian slave who flees with the Hebrews. I really enjoyed that angle of the story though it flet like the author rushed through the plagues a little. It's rather obvious that this is a debut novel; it's very fancy worded which was close to overkill in some areas. "My chest ached after enduring the abuse of my furiously thrashing heart." Still, there's a lot of potential from this author. The main character, though apparently eighteen, is very immature for most of the book which annoyed me, though that's just my own personal thing. I like mature main characters and female main characters are often extremely hard for me to like cause they're just so wishy-washy and whiny. Kiya was okay mostly but wasted an awful lot of time being infatuated with Eben. All in all, a pretty good book.

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content {some suggestive hints of attacks on women and bloody deaths, etc.}.

Date Review Written: September 27th, 2016

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publishers in exchange for an honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are y own.

Christmas Love Letters From God Book Review

Title: Christmas Love Letters From God

Author: Glenys Nellist and Rachel Clowes

Genre: Christian, Children's, Christmas, Bible Stories,

Plot: Telling the Christmas story of Jesus' birth is a long-held tradition and this book is a beautiful new addition. Beginning with Isiah's prophecy and ending with the Wise Men, this book covers the classic tale in a lovely new way for children.

Written in a story form with poetry and a short verse that children could memorize if they wanted, this little gem will delight children everywhere and the best part is the little letters from God accompanying each story that can personalized by adding the child's name. And at the back is a longer envelope for the child to write their very own letter to God. Colorful, unique and just right for the targeted age range. This is a Christmas gift you will want to get and then share with everyone you know.

Likes/Dislikes: The targeted age range is 4-7 year olds, so my almost 3 year old was interested in the pictures and the love letters but didn't want to sit still long enough for the whole story to be read. That's okay; I intend to save it for her and her sister. The colors are all bright and lovely with cute animals and little embellishments like holly on one page, etc. and the stories were short, simple and sweet. I liked the Bible verse and the poetry bits particularly. The pictures had a sort of felt cut out look to them which seemed odd to me but they weren't weird like other books I've read. All in all, very cute.

Rating: G-5 and up. Highly recommended.

Date Review Written: October 6th, 2016

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Big Bang Theory 10.3

Working under the intense pressure of a two month deadline,the guys put in late hours and lots of coffee. At least, Howard and Leonard do. Sheldon refuses to touch the stuff until the Flash convinces him to try an energy drink. Once it wears off, the guys are even more annoyed by a very distracted Sheldon.

Amy and Penny attend a geologist;s party and are the only ones to show up while Raj helps a worried Bernadette try to set up her nursery while battling hormonal mood swings and concerns over whether she'll be a good mom or not.

I Wish He Had Come With Instructions Book Review

Title: I Wish He Had Come With Instructions

Author: Mike Bechtle

Genre: Nonfiction, Christian, Relationships, Marriage, Men, Humor,

Plot: The differences between men and women has fueled many books and movies, some to make fun of those differences and some to try to solve them. In that regard, this boo isn't any different than another relationship book, but it is unique in that it's by a man for women to learn how to appreciate those differences and live with them rather than a manual on ho to change the men in their lives.

With humor, Mr. Bechtle lays down a map to the man's brain and points out the unique differences and the areas that women can influence {habits} and the areas they can't change {genetics and how God wired the man}. If more women understand the differences, accept and appreciate them, more men will find themselves willing to change for their woman. And together, every couple can write their own instruction manual.

Likes/Dislikes: This book really is unique and fell in line with a lot of what my husband says about men, which was nice. And being reminded of the different ways I can appreciate my husband was a timely blessing. It never hurts to run little martial check-ups and remind your husband that he's the number one person in your life, no matter how rough or smooth things are going. But beyond that, this book wasn't anything new and it was excruciatingly repetitive. Copy and paste must've written half this book. Some of the stories were funny but the mind map wasn't a map at all and the chapter on red flags in relationships was completely useless.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for content {its a marriage book}

Date Review Written: September 27th, 2016

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.