Inspire Catholic Bible Review

Title: Inspire Catholic Bible


Author: Tyndale Publishers

Genre: Catholic, Christian, Bible, Religious, Journaling, Art, Creative,

Plot: Studying our Bibles is something we are told to do and which we should do, as good and faithful Catholics. But in this busy day and age, we don't always have the time or inclination to do so. On top of that, there are so many other distractions demanding our attention that Bible reading can get a bit squished to the bottom of the priority list.

If there was a fun and creative way to study the Bible, many of us would happily sign up and hop on board. Enter the first ever Catholic journaling Bible! This unique creation combines the allure of popular adult coloring books and our own sturdy Bible to produce this lovely one-of-a-kind book where we can read the words of Scripture and use our God-given creativity to make a memorable keepsake. Studying the word of God just became our favorite activity of the day!

Likes/Dislikes: I'm not personally a big fan of the New Living Translation but I love everything else about this Bible! The cover is smooth faux leather in a gorgeous dusty rose shade. The inner cover is smooth and sturdy enough for colored markers to make an especially lovely beginning to this Bible and the interior pages are thin with a nice texture to them. They will not hold up to colored markers. The ink bleeds through very easily; I tested to make sure. Colored pencil works beautifully however so no worries there. I didn't try watercolor but I assume it would be too wet for the thin pages. The pages themselves alternate between a plain ruled writing space and a picture to fill in. Sometimes the picture is simply one word like faith or believe which isn't something I particularly like but that's okay. There's enough to doodle that a few stray repetitive words to color shouldn't be too bothersome. If anyone was wording, the words of God are not printed in red ink. All in all, a lovely gorgeous Bible!

Rating: PG-all ages but geared toward teens and adults

Date Review Written: December 23rd, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Tyndale Publishers for my opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Parenting With Heart Book Review

Title: Parenting With Heart

Author: Stephen James and Chip Dodd

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Parenting, Self-Help,

Plot: Parenting is hard work. There are numerous styles, methods and techniques that all vary among themselves in subtle ways but they all have the same single-minded goal at the end: we want the best for our kids. We want the best living conditions, education, clothes, food, etc. We want them to thrive socially and emotionally. We want them to be healthy and wise when they are grown up. And most of all, we want our kids to be happy.

The stress of trying to make that dream a reality for ourselves and our kids can and often does take a toll on us. In this break-through book, authors Stephen James and Chip Dodd teach us that our kids don't need perfect parents to be happy and thrive. They need authentic parents who let themselves make mistakes but keep going after that end goal of happiness.

Likes/Dislikes: Both the authors are respected therapists who have seen plenty of parents in the same situations as us and have helped those parents succeed in their parenting lives. This adds credibility to their methods and weight to their names. The writing style is a tad dry but that rather comes with the territory in regards to parenting and self-help books written by professionals in other fields. There are questions at the ends of the chapters for further self-reflection to help us grow and the book dives into a lot of interesting material. All in all, a very interesting read.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level (its a parenting book).

Date Review Written: November 3rd, 2018

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

The Bride of Ivy Green Book Review

Title: The Bride Of Ivy Green


Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Series, Regency England

Plot: Mercy Groove has closed down her precious little school and anxiously awaits the arrival of her brother and his new wife from their honeymoon. Life soon settles into a new uncomfortable groove for them and Mercy decides to take the only option left open for her. So she moves to Fairmount House with Mr. Drake and his newly discovered little daughter as the governess. This position puts her closer to her handsome carpenter crush. Sadly, he doesn't seem to have much time for her right now and Mr. Drake does.

Meanwhile, Jane is torn between the man she loves and the inn she rebuilt and depends upon. But when a tragic accident occurs, Jane must make her decision before she waits too long and misses her one chance at happiness again.

With so much life crammed into one small village, not many secrets are left to spill. But one newcomer might just change all of that. The conclusion to the many intertwined adventures in Ivy Hill will have readers swooning.

Likes/Dislikes: I loved this book! It was so good to be back in Ivy Hill and I really hope more books set here will be forthcoming. I loved having Mercy as the main character more so than Rachel this time, and so pleased with her happy-ending. Jane was a touch annoying to me; she procrastinates her decision and then changes her mind so fast I'm surprised she didn't give everyone whiplash. Thankfully (as with all clever writings), her story ends beautifully. I liked Victorine but was confused by her arrival in the beginning and didn't care for the circus tie-in. I hate circus stories. All in all, a wonderful story!

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and content (some veiled discussion of pregnancy, miscarriages and a brutal assault on a minor character several years ago in the story's history but nothing graphic).

Date Review Written: December 22nd, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Minimalist Home Book Review

Title: The Minimalist Home


Author: Joshua Becker

Genre: Nonfiction, Christian, Organizing, Minimalist, Lifestyle, Self-Help,

Plot: One day Joshua Becker was elbow deep in cleaning out his garage when his neighbor remarked that he needed less stuff. This caused a light bulb to go off for Becker and he immediately went inside his house and began to minimize. He didn't just organize, tidy and declutter. He actively got rid of duplicates, broken items, useless items and things that he no longer had any need or emotional connection to.

By the time he was done, several years had passed and he had relocated his family to a smaller house. The amount of personal freedom and satisfaction Becker gave himself is immense and he wants to share his findings with you. In this handy little guide he takes us from room to room (beginning with the easiest rooms to declutter and moving onto the harder ones to boost our confidence levels and skills at throwing out useless junk), giving us step-by-step instructions for what to look for when minimizing and how to use our homes to shape the goals we ultimately want out of life. There is even a section on how to maintain our neat new look when we are all done minimizing. So what are you waiting for?

Likes/Dislikes: I have read a lot of organizing and decluttering, tidying and cleaning books. Some have been great like The Magic Of Tidying Up while others have been lacking - such as, Decluttering At The Speed Of Life. All of them have their own viewpoints and key aspects of interest and create a nice study in the different ways there are to manage our possessions in a manner that best suits our own personality types. This particular book is just so, with a strong hint of The Magic Of Tidying Up with the author's own experiences thrown in. As he states, "Minimalism, as I'm referring to it, is not about taking something away from you; it's about giving something to you." That sounds rather nice, doesn't it?

Rating: PG-12 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Review Written: November 2nd, 2018

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

The Innkeeper's Daughter Book Review

Title: The Innkeeper's Daughter


Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance,

Plot: Johanna Langley is 25 and runs the Blue Hedge Inn with the occasional help from her ailing mother and rambunctious ten year old brother. Business isn't exactly booming and the inn has seen far better days but Johanna is determined to keep it afloat because if she doesn't, she could end up in the workhouse and separated from her family who depend on her heavily. With this type of stress on her shoulders, Johanna doesn't have time for Alexander Moore.

Alexander Moore is an officer in the Bow Street Runners and has accepted an incredibility dangerous undercover mission to expose a high stakes plot against the British crown. His life depends on his mission and he never thought a pretty face would complicate things quite so much as Joanna's pretty face does. While he would love nothing better than to swoop in and save the day for her, his crucial mission must come first or a great many lives will be lost.

Likes/Dislikes: 1808 in England is an exciting time for historical fictions and this story does not disappoint. It does take a little bit of a slow boil at times and is a squeaky clean romance so if you want something a bit more passionate then best look elsewhere. On the flip-side I would have no problem letting my tweens and teens read this if they wanted to. All in all, a nice little story. This is the second in a series but it is a stand-alone story which is so nice.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Review Written: November 3rd, 2018

I received a copy of this for my honest opinion courtesy of Barbour Publishing group. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Risen Book Review

Title: Risen

Author: Angela Hunt

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Biblical Retelling, Novelization,

Plot: It is dangerous times for everyone in Jerusalem and Roman Tribune Clavius is very aware of this fact. He is sent to qualm a riot caused by Barabbas and then off to close up the crucifixions for that day. The man in the middle of a trio is quite clearly dead but he still has his men double check before taking down the body. A job nicely done.

Or so he thought. When the body goes missing, Clavius is sent to search for it. Many of the Jewish leaders claim that the man was calling himself the Son of God and suspect his followers of stealing the body to further propel this theory. Clavius goes on the hunt and begins his investigation in the halls of Herod Antipas and ends up in the Garden of Gethsemane. He meets many colorful characters and the reality of what happened to the body will shake his world to the roots.

Likes/Dislikes: For me, biblical retellings can be hit or miss and this was definitely a hit. I have not yet seen the movie (with three kids under five, we are knee-deep in Disney and anything animated right now), but it is now most definitely on my must-see list. I was a but disappointed to find out that Rachel didn't make it into the movie due to time constraints but that makes the book even richer for me.

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for reading level and content (mostly a love affair and some death, obviously).

Date Review Written: November 3rd, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

The Adventures Of Lettie Peppercorn Book Review

Title: The Adventures Of Lettie Peppercorn


Author: Sam Gayton

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Children,

Plot: Little Lettie Peppercorn is 12 and she runs this joint. She cooks, cleans, tidies, keeps watch through her telescope and takes in new customers at her inn. She seems quite content with running the show and never misses a beat. There are some odd bits to her world though. Her house is on stilts, her mother told her to never go outside and her mother disappeared. No one knows where she is or what happened to her.

One evening while her father is off drinking at the local pub, a stranger who calls himself an alchemist and has an icy beard arrives. Once he is all settled in with a room, he shows her an incredible invention called snow and sends Lettie off on the adventure of her life when he tells her that he knows where her mother is.

Likes/Dislikes: This is a really cute little story complete with some lovely illustrations to hence the experience for young readers. This book is geared toward kids 8-12 and at that age, I would've been all over this book. It feels special, magical and unique. The best part is there is just enough fantasy and reality to make it believable and a very memorable story for anyone who wants to meet little Lettie for themselves. My girls are too young for the story right now but they are enjoying looking at all the pictures and carrying the book around.

Rating: G-8 and up.

Date Review Written: November 2nd, 2018

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

Where We Belong Book Review

Title: Where We Belong


Author: Lynn Austen

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Egypt,

Plot: Growing up in the rough and tumble of the Chicago streets in 1892 is hard on orphaned sister Rebecca and Flora Hawes but they make it work and they survive. From there, their unconventional personalities and love of adventure propel them out into the world to do good deeds and impact the people around them for the greater good.

Traveling from Chicago to Cairo and thence into the great Sinai Desert is a long journey peppered with many dangers, new sights and smells, and incredible experiences. But soon the sisters - along with their sturdy young butler Soren and a plucky young girl named Kate - find themselves trapped in a fierce sandstorm and must wait to see if they will survive the danger or perish at the end of their journey.

Likes/Dislikes: The main attraction to this book for me was the idea of another exciting adventure in Egypt. I love reading books set in Egypt, especially in this time-period. But this book is dense and very long, written in a rambling manner and the bulk of it is all in flashbacks from all four of the main characters which can get a bit confusing after awhile. There isn't a lot of time spent in Egypt like I'd imagined either. I really don't have much interest in Chicago during any time-period. Oh well, better luck next time.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Review Written: November 2nd, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Begin Again Book Review

Title: Begin Again

Author: Leeana Tankersley

Genre: Nonfiction, Christian, Self-Help,

Plot: When you are stuck in a place in your life where you feel you have hit rock bottom and there's nothing else around except for some rocks and a hard place, life can seem pretty down. Nothing ever works out for you and the past just keeps hanging around, dragging you down and burdening you with its unbearable weight and pocketfuls of regret and despair. But there's still hope. A very tiny thin stream of hope to light the way. All you need to do is be brave enough to reach out and touch it.

Having been through her own hard times, author Leeana Tankersley shows us how to be brave enough to grasp that thread of hope and begin again, drawing ourselves out of our personal pits of despair and leaving behind the past with its pain, regret and darkness. When we begin again, we can finally let go and rest in peace without all the anxiety and inner torment we've been dealing with for so long. And that is well worth it.

Likes/Dislikes: Admittedly, I took a shot at reading this because the cover was pretty and it sounded very intriguing. I've been in some tight places and have spent the last year and a half or so reshaping my life and changing it. So this sounded like the perfect book for me. Unfortunately or fortunately, I was already past the point where this book would've been necessary and I found it to be a bit stale and repetitive instead of helpful. But that is just me. All around, a pretty solid book.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Review Written: October 21st, 2018

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

Eating With Peter Book Review

Title: Eating With Peter


Author: Susan Buckley

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Romance, Food, Travel

Plot: Susan lives nice and comfortably in her own little comfort zone till she falls in love with Peter - an older man who takes her on a whirlwind adventure. He challenges her to expand her comfort zone and try new things - especially foods. For their honeymoon they travel the world and try all kinds of different new foods, making friends along the way and saving recipes to use in their own little kitchen when the honeymoon tour ends.

For readers who enjoy books about food and travel, this is a true delight!

Likes/Dislikes: I love this book! It takes a nice quiet tone and pace and pairs up well with a rainy day for a good long reading session. There are twenty-seven recipes too so when the reading is done, we can cook too!

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for interest and reading level.

Date Review Written: September 25th, 2018

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

One Magical Christmas Book Review

Title: One Magical Christmas


Author: Berni Stevens

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Christmas,

Plot: Annie Berry has her hands full prepping for her baby sister's wedding in early October and she has finally found the perfect maid of honor dress. It's incredibly expensive but she feels it will be so worth it. And when she collides with Nic in the parking lot at the wedding wearing that gorgeous dress, the impression she creates will last a lifetime.

Having been knocked over by a vision in midnight blue with blonde hair, Nic thinks the answer to his prayer might just have been answered. Still, since he didn't get her name, he resumes his attempts at online dating till the vision sails back into his life. This time he gets her name and asks her out as well. But while their budding relationship shows considerable promise, he still hasn't told her his secret and he is running out of time.

Likes/Dislikes: Everyone loves a good sweet Christmas romance and this magical book delivers it beautifully. We have adorable kids, a nice leading pair and even a reindeer to fit in with the Christmas theme. Of course, it is very easy to guess what Nic's big secret is even before we open the book but it is still a fun read. The only things I had an issue with were Annie constantly watching her weight and going on about it, food and her perfect sister. I really couldn't relate to that but I haven't ever had any weight or food issues beyond a dairy allergy. And since the story takes place in Britain, I thought it odd that Nic preferred cold beer. Al in all, a good short story and surprisingly very clean.

Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for reading level and a few stray kisses.

Date Review Written: October 21st, 2018

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

Who Cares If They Die Book Review

Title: Who Cares If They Die?


Author: Wendy Dranfield

Genre: Suspense/Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary,

Plot: Dean Matheson is on his way to becoming a detective his small town. With that goal in mind, he works the streets as a beat cop and keeps his eye open for odd cases that can help launch his career. So when he gets the call about an apparent suicide, he tunes into his instincts and starts to ask the questions no one else seems to be asking.

Meanwhile, Beth is the new prison psychiatrist and is trying to find her place in her new town as well as get a foot in the door career-wise. She catches Dean's eye early on and could prove to be a useful element to his investigation or a lovely distraction. But when the killer ramps up his game, Beth might just be his next target.

Likes/Dislikes: While the premise of this story sounded intriguing and just a shade darker and grittier than what I usually read, the writing style proved to be a massive letdown. Written in first person present tense, this story jars and jabs across the page with the very strong feel of a debut novel with a hasty editing job. In addition to this, Dean is married but has been cheating on his wife and he is torn between wanting to continue the affair and saving his marriage. Once Beth walks in, he completely looses focus and goes sideways after her. I couldn't finish this book as the writing style was so terrible. It did have a lot of promise though, just some bad execution.

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for content and reading level (affairs, murders, etc.)

Date Review Written: October 11th, 2018

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

Fromage a` Trois Book Review

Title: Fromage a` Trois

Author: Victoria Brownlee

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, France

Plot: Ella is on the brink of turning thirty and has spent the last decade in a relationship with a man she thought she would marry and settle down with for the rest of her life. But apparently he has other plans and breaks up with her before going off on a exclusive retreat. Ella, left in tears and uncertain as to what she should do next, decides to spend a year in France and get back in touch with her old globe-trotter days.

On her first day back, she finds a cute little cheese shop which quickly becomes her favorite and the central point for all her Parisian adventures. But soon she finds herself in a sticky spot between two dashing men and has some adult decisions to make.

Likes/Dislikes: I love reading books about Paris and food so I thought this one would be great. Plus I loved the cover. I knew it was about cheese primarily but I secretly hoped the cheese wouldn't play as big a role in the story as it actually does. Silly, I know but still. I don't like cheese very much and found it was a turn-off for me in this form. But I will say that the book opens very well and gives us lots of details for being first person narrative. And Ella doesn't sound like one of those annoying weepy characters either.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and content (majority of content unknown but it is an adult romance so...)

Date Review Written: September 25th, 2018

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

On This Christmas Book Review

Title: On This Christmas

Author: Zondervan

Genre: Nonfiction, Journal, Christmas, Personal, Religious

Plot: Every year at Christmas time we get swept away in gifts, shopping, baking delicious cookies we only have once a year, decorating the house and numerous other little things that all add up to one big celebration on the 25th. Then we spend the remaining week in a daze, feeling glad that it is over and relishing in the new memories we created. And every year we always insist that we will remember this Christmas because it was the best Christmas ever.

But slowly, over time, those fond Christmas memories fade or blur together into one big happy Christmas memory. In order to keep the memories clear and concise, we have this adorable journal designed perfectly to record five years of fond Christmas memories. We can track how the little things like gifts and favorite songs change over the years. And this journal makes a perfect gift too.

Likes/Dislikes: I love journals and collect them whenever I can. This one is an absolute must for any journal enthusiast or writer. It smells divine and has a nice layout to really get down deep and record details about each Christmas, rather than a few sentences on a cramped space. There are lovely quotes and gorgeous Christmas photography sprinkle dresses throughout the book as well and the cover with its background of black is simply beautiful. All around, love this journal and highly recommend it to everyone this Christmas!

Rating: G-all ages, geared more for teens and adults.

Date Review Written: October 19th, 2018

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

The Love Dare For Parents Book Review

Title: The Love Dare For Parents

Author: Stephen and Alex Kendrick

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Parenting, Spiritual

Plot: Ever since the Christian film Fireproof came out, everyone has been interested in doing the love dare for themselves. But once our marriage is all set and fireproof, what else in our lives can we fireproof as well? Most of us immediately think of our children and this book is for exactly that purpose.

Using Scripture as the guide, this little book helps to turn the parents toward the children and enrich the relationship as the children grow and learn to survive in the world on their own. Designed to fit into a busy parenting schedule, this is dare everyone should try at least once - especially if we feel we are struggling in connecting with our children in this busy day and age.


Likes/Dislikes: While I loved the idea behind this book, the actual writing style was a turn off for me and I wasn't inclined to finish reading the book. On top of that, I have toddlers and this book seemed more geared toward older children. Maybe I'll pick it back up in a few more years.

Rating: G-all ages, geared mainly toward parents

Date Review Written: August 27th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Girlfriend Interrupted Book Review

Title: Girlfriend, Interrupted

Author: Patricia Caliskan

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Blended Families, Drama

Plot: Twenty-six year old Ella is quite happy being Dan's girlfriend and seeing his kids on the weekends when they visit and all go out on adventures. But since moving in together, the dynamic has changed and Ella doesn't know what to do about it. Throughout the week they are a happy overworked couple. But on the weekend, Dan retreats and spoils his kids to the point where they use Ella as a verbal boxing bag. All of which leaves Ella drained and feeling distanced from her dreamy boyfriend. The only one who really loves her is the dog.

Throw in some in-laws, her sex therapist mother and Dan's icy ex-wife and we have a recipe for a big family meltdown. Will Ella come out stronger or crumble under all the pressure and responsibility she never asked for?

Likes/Dislikes: I liked the cover and was really hoping for a nice sweet romance. And I did try hard to actually read this book. It got a lot of good reviews. But sadly, it wasn't my cup of tea. We are thrown into the romantic relationship several months after Ella and Dan have moved in together. We meet Ella and a ton of described jumbled co-workers in the first chapter before she goes off to lunch with her mother who is the best described character so far in the story. Then we meet Dan who is barely there at all and his children, one of which is a horrible little pre-teen girl. Pre-teen girls don't act like that in my experience. And it's all written in first person with a jumble of past and present tense which was hard to read.

Rating: PG-14 and up; conversations about sex, etc.

Date Review Written: August 27th, 2018

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

Seven Deadly Zins

Title: Seven Deadly Zins

Author: Nancy J. Parra

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Wine,

Plot: Taylor O'Brian lives in Sonoma County with her aunt at her aunt's vineyard and she has her own business where she arranges tours of vineyards and other interesting sights in her local district. She used to be in advertising in San Francisco but this new chapter in her life seems to suit her considerably better.

That is, until a body is discovered at her friend Tim's vineyard while she is conducting a tour there. Convinced that Tim is innocent, Taylor and her friends team up to clear his name but the mystery deepens as they unearth clues and Taylor begins to wonder just what kind of man her friend really is.

Likes/Dislikes: I loved the cover, the promise of recipes and the idea of a wine themed murder mystery to curl up with. But unfortunately for me, the first couple chapters weren't interesting enough to draw me further in. We get plopped in the middle of a wine tasting room with several characters thrown in and interested fairly well, followed immediately by a seance. I don't do seances. I skip them on TV shows and skim read them in books. And the writing style is first person which is always hard for me to read. At least its not first person present tense. Oh well. The author has numerous other mysteries so maybe one of those will be more to my liking.

Rating: PG-13 and up, it's a murder mystery.

Date Review Written: August 27th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and wasn't required to write a positive review. the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Little Book Of Thanks Book Review

Title: Little Book Of Thanks

Author: Jean Fischer

Genre: Children, Christian, Gratitude, Precious Moments, Board Book, Autumn

Plot: With the changing seasons come cooler weather and a focus on gratitude and being thankful for what we have in life. We can be thankful for the big things like a roof over our heads and the little things like toys to play with and fuzzy socks. The habit of being thankful for what we have is a healthy one and we can start at any time. We are never too young to begin expressing gratitude for what we have.

This adorable board book uses the classic Precious Moments children to illustrate the lesson of being grateful to God for what He has provided us with. Little readers will delight in the pictures and rhyming stories of things they can find in their own little worlds to be grateful for. The perfect book for autumn and the Thanksgiving season.

Likes/Dislikes: This is such a cute little book! I didn't know it was a board book when I saw it but I love that it is one! And Precious Moments are adorable. The words flow really well. My only observation is that it is about six pages too long for the 2 yr. old's attention span but with some practice she will get there.

Rating: G-all ages, highly recommended

Date Review Written: September 25th, 2018

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

Emotions Explained With Buff Dudes Book Review

Title: Emotions Explained With Buff Dudes

Author: Andrew Tsyaston

Genre: Fiction, Comics, Art, Humor, Millennial,

Plot: Once we reach adulthood in this day and age, everything is overwhelmingly overwhelming and many of us have a hard time coping with the realities of life on our own. Mondays suck, our job is grudgingly completed each day and someone forgot to buy milk this week. Coffee is our best friend and no one has a name for that weird emotion we're feeling right now.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel and along the way, little spots of humor and stress relief which help us get to the end goal. Enter this humorous and colorful outlook on life and emotions depicted as buff dudes who rule the life of the skinny protagonist. We'll all find something in here which we can clearly relate to.

Likes/Dislikes: I love reading these comics online whenever they show up in my feed so finding a whole book of them in one place was a treat. I'm thinking of buying a copy for my husband. Loved this book.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for content (adult life but pretty clean all things considered).

Date Review Written: August 27th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Decluttering At The Speed Of Life Book Review

Title: Decluttering at the Speed of Life

Author: Dana K. White

Genre: Nonfiction, Organization, Self-Help, Inspirational, Cleaning

Plot: Minimalism is the trend right now and many of us can clearly see why. But for the rest of us, all that open space and lack of stuff feels intimidating, hard to achieve and discouraging when we are surrounded by our clutter. Maybe we've read the books, bought the shiny new containers and thrown out a bag or two of unwanted items but still find ourselves stuck with no floor space and a sense of overwhelming stuff. Maybe we have kids or a shopping addiction.

Regardless of why we have so much stuff, we can agree that we'd like to be a bit more organized and could probably use some tips on how to get to the point in our head where we can actually use the dining table for eating instead of laundry storage. But we don't necessarily want to live on the bare minimum of stuff either. This book is the answer to our struggle. So settle down and start realistically decluttering your life today.

Likes/Dislikes: I read a lot of organizational books, including The Magic of Tidying Up and this particular book held potential for being neat and unique but fell flat, sadly. The only real revolutionary idea it contained was the idea that a container sets a limit on just how much of something you can actually own. Beyond that, it was excruciatingly painful to read because it was so incredibly repetitive. We understand that you had so much stuff that you couldn't live in your house and probably should've been on the hoarders show. Now please stop reminding us every paragraph.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level. It's a nonfiction book on organizing so very clean.

Date Review Written: August 27th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions in the above review are my own.

A Sherlock Holmes Devotional Book Review

Title: A Sherlock Holmes Devotional

Author: Trisha White Priebe

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Devotional, Spiritual

Plot: In a world filled with devotionals for everyone in every walk of faith at every age and written for every schedule type, there are a few that stand out as unique and this is one of them. Using the classic mysteries which have entertained and fascinated us for over a century, Trisha Priebe delves into the mysteries of God with a detective's enthusiasm and comes up with some surprising insights into our favorite detective as well as some words of truth and encouragement which have stood the test of time.

And since this is such a unique devotional, it is perfect for the novice Sherlock reader and the die-hard fan alike as well as fitting in perfectly with a season of time with the Lord or a unit study on Sherlock Holmes and the Victorian era.

Likes/Dislikes: While I didn't finish this book (I had a baby which can really take away from book reading, sadly), I did enjoy the first half and fully intend to revisit it again. And when my kids are older, I'm going to go all homeschool mom on them and incorporate this into their Sherlock Holmes/Victorian era faze for maximum benefits. I liked how there were new insights into Sherlock which I missed or didn't remember when I read the mysteries. So cool.

Rating: PG-12 and up, mainly for reading level. Geared more toward teens and adults.

Date Review Written: August 24th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Past Due For Murder Book Review

Title: Past Due For Murder

Author: Victoria Gilbert

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Fairies, Library, Treasure Hunt, Sequel, Series

Plot: Library director Amy Webber has had a busy year landing herself in trouble with one thing after another. She's hoping that this spring things will finally settle down but unfortunately for her, things aren't going according to plan in that regard. Instead, a student mysteriously vanishes for several days following a bonfire and a folklore storytelling session which sparks a resurgence of interest in the local fairy stories. The missing student was involved in a library research program with passionate Professor Mona Raymond who has a beef with a local talented musician who recently lost his girlfriend in a tragic accident.

When the missing student is finally found beside the dead body of Mona Raymond, things get interesting and Amy finds herself involved in yet another murder mystery in her tiny quiet little town, along with boyfriend concerns and someone snooping through her meticulous archives looking for something. What else could possibly land on her plate before the week is out?

Likes/Dislikes: While the first two chapters were completely confusing and introduced a jumble of main characters in a very slap-dash way, the rest of the book was very intriguing. The pace flowed evenly and fairly quickly, the plot was expertly interwoven with town history, Amy's friends and personal life, and the two murder mysteries along with hints of other interesting happenings. While I would've definitely had more description in the first two chapters of all the important main characters and introduced them better than just flinging them at the reader and hoping we sort them out later, all in all I rather enjoyed this book and will definitely look up the prequels as all the hints of the previous mysteries sounded interesting.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and content (annoying hints of pro-gay and bi characters, murders, some hints at romance but nothing beyond kisses shown).

Date Review Written: August 24th, 2018

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

Pumpkin Spice And Everything Nice Book Review

Title: Pumpkin Spice And Everything Nice Coloring Book

Author: Julianne St. Clair

Genre: Nonfiction, Adult Coloring Book, Creative, Autumn, Christian

Plot: Autumn is just around the corner and her loyal fans are already searching for the first hint of her arrival on the breeze. We're itching to dig out warmer clothes with comfy hoods and tall boots. We're eyeing the shelves while shopping for our favorite seasonal treats and waiting very impatiently for those treasured pumpkin spice lattes to appear on the menu once again.

While we wait, we can indulge our love of this wonderful season with this delightful coloring book. The perfect gift for any coloring or Autumn enthusiast and sure to enchant all who draw near with colored pencils or markers in hand. With pumpkins on nearly every page, beautiful scripted pages as well as full scenes and delightful little images all begging to be brought to life, this book has a little something in it for everyone. Better stock up on pencils and markers this year!

Likes/Dislikes: I love Autumn. Love, love, love it! And this coloring book is so perfect! Each page is a delight to behold and once I'm done coloring in it, it'll be a real beauty to grace my shelves. Toward the back of the book there are several sunset scenes which I'm not too sure of (having fully enjoyed all the hot chocolate, pies, pumpkins and owl pages much more previously), but I'm sure they'll look beautiful just the same. All I need now is a nice rainy day, a hot cup of tea, that rare two hour nap my kids take once a year and new coloring pencils.

Rating: G-all ages. You might not want to share though.

Date Review Written: August 24th, 2018

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

Death In Paris Book Review

Title: Death In Paris

Author: Emilia Bernhard

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Paris, Debut, Series

Plot: Rachel Levis, an American, first came to Paris in her early twenties looking to become a writer and find herself. Now she's in her forties, happily married and a poet. She found herself with the help of her older boyfriend Edgar Bowen so many years ago. So when she finds out that Edgar died mysteriously, having drowned in his soup at dinner one evening with a suspicious bottle of rose` on the table, Rachel feels that she owes it to Edgar to solve his murder. All she has to go on is the feeling that something isn't right because Edgar hated rose` wine with a passion.

With her best friend Magda by her side (also an American who came to Paris young and never left), Rachel begins to investigate and poke around for clues. The two friends meticulously debate their suspect pool and go over their few puzzle pieces repeatedly, always looking for new clues. But when their suspect pool starts to die off in more mysterious ways, they wonder just what have they gotten themselves into and if it's worth it to continue along their line of inquiry - possibly risking death themselves.

Likes/Dislikes: Ever since I read French Women Don't Get Fat, I've been wanting more Paris-centric books in my life and this tasty little treat came in with perfect timing since I'm suffering from a post-Phryne Fisher murder mystery slump. And it was such a nice treat too. Very Paris without being overwhelming (I could've gone with a bit more Paris but it was enough to satisfy me and very different from my usual visits to the sparkling city in 1920 or so), and a lovely little murder mystery that kept me guessing right to the end. I didn't guess the culprit mainly because I figured it was too obviously to actually be the correct answer. I would've liked a bit more food descriptions thrown in but I know it wasn't a foodie book, and I could've done with a chapter or two less of Rachel and Magda going over their clues and suspects. It got a bit mind-numbing there for a bit and they kept going in the same circles but in the end it all wrapped up nicely. I'm intrigued to see if Rachel's husband gets involved in future mysteries, despite his reluctance. He seems humorous. Now to very impatiently wait a whole year for the sequel.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level and content (it's a murder mystery. Clean and not graphic but a murder mystery all the same.)

Date Review Written: August 10th, 2018

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

The Daily Question Journal Book Review

Title: The Daily Question for You and Your Child Journal


Author: WaterBrook

Genre: Nonfiction, Journal, Parenting, Children, Self-Help, Inspirational, Spiritual

Plot: Raising children can be a hectic task (especially when they are very young) and finding time throughout the day to chronicle their growth and that cute thing they just said can be next to impossible. But in the years to come, we will miss these hectic chaotic days and wish we'd taken the time to record a little bit more of our kids when they were still small and ours rather than big and away at college.

To make the best of both worlds, we have this gorgeous little journal. Designed with the busy parent in mind, the layout is clean and simple. A new question is at the top of each page for each day and underneath are a few lines to write the answer on for the next three years. Just five minutes a day and we can build a record of our child's growth and development over the course of three years while they eat breakfast or tie their shoes. And we can keep it forever or give it to them when they have children of their own. The ideal gift for parents everywhere looking to capture a moment of their child's childhood without the stress of documenting every little moment in fine detail.

Likes/Dislikes: I love journals and collect them whenever my budget lets me. But I'm also a parent with three children under the age of five so I don't always have the time to journal like I want to. I also don't always have the time to keep daily records of my kids; the cute things they say, the weird things they do, the touching moments when they help each other or are cute and cuddly for no reason after a long day. But this adorable journal is perfect for doing just that, along with finding out things about my kids that I never would've known or thought to ask them about. 365 questions is a lot of information to uncover about these tiny people I made. And I'm sure you'll love this journal just as much as I do.

Rating: G-all ages. Highly recommended.

Date Review Written: August 18th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of WaterBrookMultnomah Publishing and wasn't required to write a positive book review. The opinions expressed in the above book review are my own.

Just Let Go Book Review

Title: Just Let Go

Author: Courtney Walsh

Genre: Christian, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Plot: Quinn Collins has grown up in the same little dreamy town she still lives in today and can't imagine ever leaving. She might miss something exciting if she leaves. Besides that, her dream has finally come true; she has just purchased her mother's old flower shop and has a notebook full of ideas to improve it and drag it forward into modern times. Besides that massive project, she is also working on a show-stopping entry for the big winter festival where her mother is judging the floral arrangements. Maybe, just maybe, she'll be good enough to get her mom's attention after all these years.

Meanwhile Grady Benson is an Olympic skier who has had a bad streak of luck lately combined with some ill-advised spending sprees and bad judgement calls. One of which lands him in front of the local judge who sentences him to five weeks of community service. With a bit of meddling, Sheriff Collins and the judge get Grady assigned to help Quinn fix up her flower shop - much to Quinn's disapproval. But the two eventually soften and get the job done with hints of something more, till Grady puts his foot in his mouth and makes a crucial mistake. Will their fledgling relationship withstand the test?

Likes/Dislikes: First off, even though the cover is gorgeous, it led me to believe that the book takes place in the spring. It does not. It takes place over the course of December which threw me off a bit mentally in the first few chapters. I always like my December stories to be snowy. Anyway, aside from that, it is a slow burner type story. Quinn really hates Grady for some reason which got annoying after awhile and she's very focused on reconnecting with her mom to the point where it interferes with everything else in her life. In all honesty, I couldn't finish this book. Maybe it gets better but it wasn't the cup of tea I wanted for the heat of July. I'll have to sample it again in some cooler non-pregnant months.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level and content (it's a clean romance).

Date Review Written: August 3rd, 2018

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

3-Minute Devotions For Moms Of Little Ones Book Review

Title: 3-Minute Devotions For Moms Of Little Ones

Author: Barbour Staff

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Devotional, Motherhood, Parenting, Toddlers, Spiritual

Plot: In the crazy busy days of newborns, diaper changes, breastfeeding, crawling, teetering first steps, endless snacks, more diaper changes, potty training and temper tantrums, it can be very easy to forget to do simple things like brush our teeth and read our Bibles. This handy little devotional takes into account our limited time, attention spans and attention spans of our tiny charges to deliver small bite-sized bits of encouragement and spiritual comfort. With a little something for everyone in here, this devotional is a wonderful thing to have on our shelves and to gift to every mom we know who has her hands full with raising tiny people.

Add in a mini bottle of wine and maybe some dark chocolate or tea and this becomes a wonderful little gift bundle.

Likes/Dislikes: While I enjoyed this book and loved the short entries and overall theme of encouragement, I felt that some of the entries were a bit guilt-trippy and others were very repetitive on the subjects of rest, doing literally everything to raise godly babies (when most of us are probably just trying to get them to stop peeing in their pants and eat their dinner), and a couple others. Overall, cute and I intend to get a copy for my expectant sister. Just not my personal cup of tea.

Rating: G-all ages, geared mainly toward moms.

Date Review Written: August 3rd, 2018

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

Big Trucks Book Review

Title: Big Trucks


Author: Sergio De Giorgi

Genre: Christian, Children, Construction, Boys, Trucks and Tractors, Teamwork, Board Book, Touch and Feel

Plot: Working on a busy construction site requires teamwork from characters like Digger, Tipper, Diggit, Dozer and Stretch as they lift piles of wood, haul dirt and rocks, and move the earth to build the work site. They are colorful, cheerful and know that by working together, they can get the job done faster and better than by working alone or fighting.

Complete with touch and feel elements on each page, young readers (especially boys) will love this book and want to read it over and over while reenacting their favorite scenes.

Likes/Dislikes: This is a very simple short little book full of dirt, rocks and noisy trucks and tractors. My four year old daughter loves it and has trucks and tractors of her own to play with. The two year old was intrigued by the touch and feel spots but overall could care less about the story itself. She's rather a girly-girl. While I personally thought it was cute and perfect for my oldest, I found the touch and feel spots to be lacking. They are mainly sandpaper, a shiny mirror and some smooth "rubber." Not very intriguing at all in my opinion.

Rating: G-all ages.

Date Review Written: July 24th, 2018

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

God Bless Our Bedtime Prayers Book Review

Title: God Bless Our Bedtime Prayers


Author: Hannah C. Hall

Genre: Christian, Children, Prayer, Bedtime, Board Book

Plot: Everyone has their own special bedtime routines and rituals, from adults to the tiniest of tots and incorporating this adorable little book will be easy once you've opened it up and seen the cute animal families all cozily getting ready for bed together. There is a mama giraffe with her baby, a group of fuzzy kittens, a grumpy baby badger, a tiny gorilla and a nest of squirrels. Mama bunny with her clever baby and a bear with her two cubs. All say a sweet little prayer together, describing their day and getting ready for bed.

Sure to delight readers of every age, this book is one for the family library and will be read every night for years to come.

Likes/Dislikes: I love this series of books and my girls are always excited to get the latest installment. They adore the various animals (especially the bears and their ice cream in this particular book), and enjoy listening to the flow of the rhymes. This book had the lovely addition of a Bible verse on each page which was nice.

Rating: G-all ages, highly recommended.

Date Review Written: June 16th, 2018

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

Night Night Jungle Book Review

Title: Night Night Jungle

Author: Amy Parker

Genre: Children, Christian, Fiction, Bedtime Story, Exotic Animals

Plot: Deep in the jungle with tall trees and hanging vines are all sorts of animals getting ready to go to sleep. We peek in at the lemur family all fuzzy and warm, the toucans in their bath, the jaguars finishing up their game for the night and the chameleons lined up neatly in a row. The mama monkey cradles her baby close and the parrots just can't settle down for the night while daddy frog carries his babies to bed. And the little baby sloth snuggles close to his mama as the sun sets.

Night falls on the jungle and everyone goes blissfully to sleep.

Likes/Dislikes: This was a cute book with lots of great colors and unique animals. My 4 yr. and 2 yr. old were curious as they are used to the farmyard animals more than jungle ones, but they liked the jaguar and the frog the best.

Rating: G-all ages

Date Review Written: June 9th, 2018

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

You Can Stay Home With Your Kids! Book Review

Title: You Can Stay Home With Your Kids!

Author: Erin Odom

Genre: Nonfiction, Tips and Tricks, Self-Help, Advice, Mothers, Budgeting

Plot: Staying home with our kids is a dream that almost every mom has at some point in their lives. Some of us put it into action and sail along beautifully while others struggle to make ends meet, and some of us put the hours in at work all while longing to simply be home with their kids. While this book doesn't have all the answers, it does have 100 tips, tricks and sneaky ways to cut expenses, maximize saving every penny and increasing at-home income so we can make those ends meet and give ourselves some financial breathing room as we achieve our dream of staying at home with our kids and living off of one income. If we play our cards just right, we can even achieve the elusive dream of buying a new car or becoming a homeowner one day.

Likes/Dislikes: Ever since the great Recession of 2008, the economy has been scrapped and people are having to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. For those of us who are living off of one income, this adds extra stress and pressure to both members of the couple (him for working and her for wanting to stay home with the kids and handling all the depressing budgeting). But there's hope for us yet! My husband and I already do many of the tips and tricks in this book as well as tweaking some to suit ourselves and we're always looking for better options. Currently, that involves the idea of moving to a state with a lower cost of living. Till then, we're budget shopping, using thrift stores and discount stores, saving the baby clothes for the next new one and going without all the shiny new things we want (but do indulge in sometimes for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas). This book is inspiring with its ideas and the fact that this couple has been there before us and survived so we can do it too.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level. Highly recommended!

Date Review Written: May 4th, 2018

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

The Prayer Map For Women Journal Book Review

Title: The Prayer Map For Women Journal

Author: Barbour Books

Genre: Nonfiction, Christian, Journal, Spiritual, Prayer, Women

Plot: In this hectic seemingly post-miracle day, we need all the help we can get and one direct line of help is through prayer. But how do we pray and what do we pray for exactly? Many books have been written answering these questions. This book is a journal to guide you on your own prayer journey as you talk to God and figure out what you need to pray for in your own particular spiritual adventure.

Each beautifully decorated page has a date header with an opening paragraph for us to fill in, followed by a space for a list of gratitude (always a good practice to keep track of those). A separate space has a few lines to list people we're praying for and things we are worried about. On the flip side of the page is a brief area to update God on what's happening in our life right now, what we need and other things on our hearts that we need to share with God. At the bottom of the page is an encouraging Bible verse to ponder as we end that day's prayer session. A must for anyone in a prayer drought, in a devotional study or simply a collector of journals.

Likes/Dislikes: This really is a beautiful journal and definitely very inspiring to open up and write in. Designed to help guide us in our faltering prayers, we can fill each page in and look back over the course of time to see how our prayers have grown, developed and changed as they were answered or we found the peace we were seeking. It's spiral bound and small enough to carry around with us everywhere if we so choose. Perfectly gorgeous and just in time for Mother's Day. Highly recommended.

Rating: G-all ages, geared more for teens and adults than children.

Date Review Written: April 28th, 2018.

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

Night-Night Farm Book Review

Title: Night-Night Farm

Author: Amy Parker

Genre: Children, Touch and Feel, Animals, Christian, Bedtime

Plot: As the sun sets on the farm, mothers begin to get their babies all snuggled in and ready for bed. Mama Pig gives her piglets a splashy bath while Mama Cat gives her kittens one last snack before bedtime and Mama Sheep tucks her lambs in close for the night.

Everyone gets fed, washed and put to bed while little readers enjoy the different textures and patterns on each page. A bedtime story to delight young readers over and over again.

Likes/Dislikes: My 20 month old and 4 year old were delighted with this book. They loved the colors and different animals on each page, and the younger one enjoyed the different textures. Their favorite is the lamb on the very first page. While it was cute and I liked the wording, I personally would've preferred more and varied textures. For example, the glittery gold moon was used three times and one page was blank with a supposed embossed milk jar. Not the greatest touch and feel book I've encountered as a parent but still pretty cute.

Rating: G- All ages.

Date Review Written: April 14th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of BookLook Bloggers and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

I Prayed For You Book Review

Title: I Prayed For You

Author: Jean Fischer

Genre: Christian, Children's, Prayer, Bedtime, Bears

Plot: Every mother at some point prays for her baby. She starts from the moment she knows that baby is on the way and continues long after the baby has grown up and flown away to start a family of their own. Mothers pray every day for their babies, asking for different things and rejoicing in the little things that come from having a growing baby toddling around their world. Mama bear shares some of her prayers with her little cub in this delightful picture book that will make bedtime extra sweet and special.

Likes/Dislikes: This is a really cute little book. My 4 yr. old loves the bears and was really excited that mama got her a new book to read. The 20 month old listened to the rhymes and tried to turn the pages herself but that was a tad tricky. She seemed to enjoy the story though so that's a good thing. It was really cute. I personally would've left out or changed the first soccer game because not every kid does soccer and therefore might not relate to that particular page but the rest were super cute.

Rating: G-All ages, though geared more toward 3 and up. Highly recommended.

Date Review Written: April 7th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Booklook Bloggers and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

A Memory A Day For Moms Book Review

Title: A Memory A Day For Moms

Author: Thomas Nelson Publishing

Genre: Nonfiction, Journal, Self-Help, Moms

Plot: We all know how busy moms are; they practically run the world and don't have time for hot coffee, let alone journaling all their memories of their growing kids. So here's the perfect solution for moms; a prompted five year journal to jot down a quick daily memory that we can look over for years to come and see how far our children have changed and grown.

Paired with an inspiring Scripture quote and a mini prayer at the bottom of each page, this is a gorgeous journal that moms everywhere will love - whether they've been moms for six weeks or sixteen years with one baby or ten babies. And it's perfectly sized for gift giving this Mother's Day!

Likes/Dislikes: I love the beautiful blue shade of this journal! The page feels smooth and beautiful but haven't tried writing on it yet. I'm sure it'll be a treat though. It smells nice and the gold and blue interior colors blend beautifully. I love all the questions! Some will be a breeze while others will take some thought. The verse and prayer are a sweet tough. All in all, I love this journal!

Rating: G-all ages, highly recommended.

Date Review Written: March 17th, 2018.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of BookLook Bloggers and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

God Made The World Book Review

Title: God Made The World

Author: Sarah Jean Collins

Genre: Children's, Christian, Board Book,

Plot: In six short days, God made the whole world. He started with a blank canvas of empty blackness and divided it into day and night. Then He got creative and started making plants of every variety, animals of every size, birds of every shape and fish of every color. then He made man and rested on the seventh day.

Boy, that was a lot of work. But in this delightful board book, it's super colorful and enjoyable story to read again and again and again.

Likes/Dislikes: This book is of very sturdy build with delightful splashes of color on every page. The second day of dividing day and night is especially exciting. My four year old loves the book and the 19 month old is especially fond of the third day with the birds and the fish. A win-win for everyone!

Rating: G-all ages. Highly recommended.

Date Review Written: March 10th, 2018

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

Why I Hate Green Beans Book Review

Title: Why I Hate Green Beans

Author: Lincee Ray

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Humorous, Memoir, Short Stories

Plot: Lincee Ray's blog, I Hate Green Beans, has been around for awhile now and keeps readers entertained with her unique sense of humor and outlook on life paired with how familiar and comfortable her writing style makes us feel. So now that's she's tackled blogging, she's now venturing into the book world to bring us more of herself in this shot story tell-all memoir.

From jobs in Disney world to the oil rigs of Texas and traveling around to foreign locations where she unwillingly samples exotic and weird foods, to the quiet hometown she was raised in, Lincee shows us her life and walks us through how she survived college to her first job to her divorce and beyond. She's like us and has struggled with many of the same problems we have and still does but she's choosing to triumph over those issues and look on the positive side of things. Plus the Bachelor is still going strong so there's that to look forward to every week.

Likes/Dislikes: This was a really fun book to read. It's broken down into short stories per chapter so it's easy to read in chunks or bits depending on how busy the day is, and right away we learn why she hates green beans instead of waiting till the end to find out which is always nice. I highly enjoyed this book and recommend it to everyone. Plus, now I gotta find me a single auntie like her to help babysit all my energetic kids.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level and content {divorce, eating odd foods, nothing at all graphic, just will be boring to younger readers).

Date Review Written: February 19th, 2018

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

God Bless You And Goodnight Book Review

Title: God Bless You And Goodnight

Author: Hannah C. Hall

Genre: Children, Christian, Bedtime Story, Animals, Picture Book

Plot: The sun is going down and it's time for babies of every shape, color and size to have a midnight snack, get all snuggled up in their pajamas and get tucked into bed lovingly by their parents so they can recharge for another exciting day tomorrow.

There's a fox family snuggled in the hay, a raccoon mama rocks her babies to sleep, a baby penguin gets all dressed up for bed and many others will delight little readers as they graduate from the classic board book to the picture book edition with this lovely story.

Likes/Dislikes: This book is for the growing readers who loved the board book edition but feel they are too old for it now. Enter the picture book edition with it's glossy grown-up pages for them to eagerly turn themselves as they encounter new and familiar faces across each page. My girls, 4 yrs. and 19 mos. old, both enjoyed this book (not having yet encountered the board book edition). They were delighted by the story and really enjoyed seeing some familiar faces from their collection pop up. The 4 yr. old was particularly taken by the adorable baby penguin while the younger one wanted to turn the pages herself. Very cute book.

Rating: G-all ages, (more so 4+), highly recommended.

Date Review Written: February 17th, 2018

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Booklook Bloggers for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinion expressed in the above review is my own.

The Saturday Night Supper Club Book Review

Title: The Saturday Night Supper Club

Author: Carla Laureano

Genre: Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Food,

Plot: Rachel Bishop has finally made it. After years of hard work and effort, she's now co-owner and head chef of her very own brand new and thriving restaurant in Denver, Colorado. She has her own hand-picked personally trained team - including one of her best friends, Melody, who is a talented pastry chef. But in the span of 24 hours, her world is crashing down around her after a New York journalist writes a piece indirectly about her that destroys her reputation on social media. Bought out by her partners, Rachel is left hanging with no clear direction or idea of how to pick herself up now.

But with the help of Melody and Ana, she at least uncurls from the couch and goes out into society where she meets the notorious journalist who destroyed her career and finds... someone she wasn't expecting. Alex Kanin has always used his wit and bitter sense of humor to get his point across but he never intended to take down Rachel's career. In his mind, he was defending her right to dominate in a man's world. In an effort to get her career back on track, he and Rachel come up with the Saturday Night Supper Club to woo potential financial backers for a new restaurant. But neither ever expected to consider romance a possibility.

Likes/Dislikes: This was a surprisingly really good book. I don't usually go for straight up romances and Christian ones can be kinda sappy but this one was nice. It had a good pace, great characters and the romance was just right. My only complaints are really just nit-picking like in the first chapter, they wouldn't have gotten the restaurant all cleaned and closed up so fast cause that poor dishwasher would've been there till 1am cleaning all the pots, pans and dishes. After they started dating, Alex was all over Rachel in a nice respectful way but very reminiscent of when my husband and I were dating - which was fine but not what I usually want in my fictional heroes. I started to skim those touchy-feely bits. And there wasn't enough food descriptions! Like, what did the girls eat when they went out to breakfast? Shouldn't Rachel be dreaming in food and making up recipes as she goes about her day? And why didn't the author include a recipe or two at the back of the book?! I don't like scallops but now I want to make the scallop salad! And the absolute worst part is that I have to wait a year before I can read the next book. So not cool.

Rating: PG-13 and up, mainly for reading level {content is squeaky clean}. Highly recommended.

Date Review Written: February 7th, 2018

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

Out of the Ordinary Book Review

Title: Out of the Ordinary

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance

Plot: Gertrude Cadwalader works contentedly as a paid companion to eccentric old Mrs. Davenport whose favorite hobbies include inventing new fashions before testing them on poor Gertrude and stealing things from other people when she's out and about. This usually puts Gertrude into some tight pickles {fashionable and otherwise}. One such misadventure soon lands Gertrude into serious trouble when she is caught returning some stolen items.

Meanwhile Harrison Sinclair is all the rage among the fashionable set and the most eligible bachelor now that his best buddy is engaged. But he doesn't have time or eyes for all the pretty females throwing themselves at him. Instead he focuses on work and his friendship with Gertrude, till she gets into trouble and then he finds himself drawn closer to her.

Likes/Dislikes: This book promised to be cute, fast paced and light-hearted with a few good laughs thrown in. What it didn't tell me about was how painful it would be to read it. It takes over four chapters to get Gertrude unstuck from behind the couch with multiple mentions of how stout she is {she's really not} and why does she keep letting herself get into these situations, etc. And every time someone has to talk, they have to use thirty or forty words to convey one simple idea. It's extremely tedious. And our dashing hero is one of those floppy guys that everything just flies right over their head, requiring a much smarter female {usually related to him} to whack him hard over the head so he figures the brutally obvious out and does something about it. Not exactly the type of book I needed at the moment.

Rating: PG-12, mainly for reading level. Squeaky-clean.

Date Review Written: January 6th, 2018

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

The Books Of 2017

The Paleo Kids Cookbook by Jennifer Robins

Read Dec 26th, 2016 - Jan 6th, 2017

How We Love by Milan and Kay Yerkovich

Read Dec 26th, 2016 - Jan 12th, 2017

The Tales Of Beedle The Bard by J.K. Rowling

Read January 16th - 18th

The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz

Read January 20th - 24th

How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran

Read January 28th - 31st

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Read February 1st - 3rd

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Read February 21st - 23rd

Eat Like A Dinosaur by The Paleo Parents

Read Feb 14th- March 15th

101 Easy Homemade Products For Your Skin, Health and Home by Jan Berry

Read March 20th

Like A Flower In Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Read March 25th - April 7th

Enjoy by Trillia J. Newbell

Read April 14th - 28th

How To Get Dressed by Alison Freer

Read April 22nd - May 22nd

Wings Of The Wind by Connilyn Cossette

Read May May 23rd - 26th

The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand

Read June 27th - 29th

French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano

Read June 30th - July 4th

The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand

Read July 12th - 15th

The Chocolate Heart by Laura Florand

Read July 15th - 16th

The Addams Family by Charles Addams

Read July 25th

His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle

Read July 6th - 25th

Hyperbole And A Half by Allie Brosh

Read July 25th - 26th

The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain

Read July 27th - 28th

French Women For All Seasons by Mireille Guiliano

Read July 30th - August 6th

Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams

Read August 9th - 11th

Salad Samurai by Terry Hope Romero

Read August 4th - 12th

I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira

Read August 12th - 20th

Organize Your Way by Katie MeMenamin

Read August 21st - 28th

Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman

Read in September

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

Read September 17th - 18th

The Year Of Learning Dangerously by Quinn Cummings

Read September 20th - 28th

Death By Water by Kerry Greenwood

Read October 17th - 19th

The French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook  by Mireille Guiliano

Read September 1st - October 20th

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Read October 26th - 27th

Introducing The Honorable Phryne Fisher by Kerry Greenwood

Read October 28th - 31st

Death Before Wicket by Kerry Greenwood

Read November 7th - 8th

The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood

Read November 10th - 13th

The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood

Read November 15th - 16th

Death At Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood

Read November 17th - 19th

The Ladies Of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen

Read December 4th - 24th

My Year In Books 2017