What Child is This?

What child is this, who, laid to rest,

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spears shall pierce him through,

the cross he bore for me, for you.

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,

the Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,

Come, peasant, king, to own him.

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Raise, raise a song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The babe, the Son of Mary.

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The babe, the son of Mary.

The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill Book Review

Title: The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill

Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Community, Drama,

Plot: The young widow Jane Bell spends her days in a solitary haze, overlooking her inn with mild interest, still wondering why her husband left it to her in the first place. She was born a gentlewoman and doesn't feel cut out for the hard work of landlady. She's nothing like her fierce mother-in-law Thora, whose unexpected arrival coincides with the announcement of bad news from the banker.

Now Jane and Thora must work through their differences and combine their strengths to save their beloved inn in three months or watch it - and their futures - crumble under the weight of secrets and debt.

Likes/dislikes: a wonderful book and an excellent start to a series, though I was a bit distracted by trying to figure out which minor characters will show up in following books. I really hope we learn more about Gabriel, he was intriguing, and Rachel seemed very interesting. All of the cleaning done by the characters was very inspiring and I felt so sorry for Jane when we learned the heartbreaking extent of her losses. Overall a great book.

Rating: PG-16 and up mainly for reading level and content (one bloody miscarriage scene and some suggestions but nothing graphic)

Date Review Written: Dec 23rd 2016

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

O Holy Night

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appeared and the soul felt

Its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and

Glorious morn.

Fall on your knees O hear the

Angels voices.

O night divine O night when Christ as born

O night divine O night divine

O night divine.

Let it Snow

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful.

And since we've got no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Oh, it doesn't show signs of stopping,

And I've brought some corn for popping.

The lights are turned way down low,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight,

How I'll hate going out in the storm!

But, if you really hold me tight,

All the way home I'll be warm!

The fire is slowly dying,

And my dear, we're still good-by-ing.

But, as long as you love me so,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Oh, it doesn't show signs of stopping,

And I've brought some corn for popping,

Since the lights are turned way down low,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally say goodnight,

How I'll hate going out in the storm!

But, if you'll really hold me tight,

All the way home I'll be warm!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

but the fire is so delightful.

And since we've no place to go

Let it snow! Let it snow, Let it snow!

Let it snow! Let it snow! LET... IT ... SNOW!

Joy to The World!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

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.