Faithful Finances

Book Review: Real Marriage

2012-01-17T16:03:00.000-06:00

Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship & Life Together
By Mark and Grace Driscoll
Thomas Nelson, 2012
English, 272 pages

Description:

Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife, Grace, talk about sex and marriage in down-to-earth terms, hitting issues other Christian books won't.

While a wonderful wedding day is important, it's the last day of marriage that really counts. Will the last day of your marriage come prematurely through divorce? Will it be filled with regrets as you sit at the funeral of your spouse? Or, by God's grace, will the last day be a day to rejoice in the life you lived together?

Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife, Grace, want you to finish well on the last day. From the importance of date nights to answers to the most tricky "can we do that?" sex questions, they share practical help and hope with people just like them-who entered marriage a complete mess-or who are planning to be married someday and want to avoid some sticky pitfalls.

Together Pastor Mark and Grace tackle the tough issues, such as:

Why being your spouse's best friend changes everything and how to achieve it.
Pornography and sexual sin inside and outside of marriage.
Submission and respect - marriage's most misunderstood tenets-and what they should really look like.
Honoring your spouse emotionally, technologically, and financially.
What the Bible says about masturbation and oral sex.
The "Can we do that?" questions you're too embarrassed to ask your pastor.
How to deal with intimacy issues and create the joyful and fun sex life God intended you to have.
What type of man or woman are you? What type of lover are you? And what type of marriage do you have?

Review:
I have a good marriage. I have an amazing partner and friend. I did not pick this book because something was bad and it needed to be fixed or anything like that. This is a very practical book written by one of our shared favorite authors/pastors. This would be a great engagement present for a young Christian couple. It's important to understand how to love and respect each other, and the Biblical mandate behind each one.

It does get pretty graphic with the sexual talk, but what doesn't these days? I'd rather read and understand from a Biblical/Christian perspective than from another view.

The chapter that hit home most with me was "Taking out the Trash". I can become very critical and can harbor resentments really quickly. This has taught me the error in that and I'm working on being better with my husband.

I think what I like best is that they don't hold back. They're open and honest and, most importantly, Scripturally based. It's a book that should be read together. I can't imagine doing this in a small group, although there is material available for this.

I received a copy of the book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: What a Son Needs From His Dad

2012-01-17T15:49:00.000-06:00

What a Son Needs From His Dad: How a Man Prepares His Sons for Life
By Michael O'Donnell
Bethany House, 2011
English, 141 pages

Description:

No one can prepare a son for life better than his father. Dads are role models and this book encourages fathers to grow into the kind of men they want their sons to become. Practical topics include preparing boys for work, marriage, sexuality, friendships, and their relationships with God. The author researches and speaks on family issues, and is also a dad himself. Originally published as How a Man Prepares His Sons for Life. Updated by the author.

Review:

If I were allowed a one word review, it would be...EXCELLENT! I love this book. This is my new official "congrats on having a baby boy" gift book for dads.

My husband read it too and I wasn't sure if he was going to feel like I picked this book to review because I was saying something about him or whatever, but he read it and loved it too. He has started implementing some of the lessons from the book with our sons and I'm seeing a difference in behavior.

My 5 year old is understanding better what it means to work hard. I can tell him that all day, but when Daddy shows him with a lesson, he seems to get it. They've been playing a lot more together. We've been enjoying that as a family, but I know it's important for Dad to get on the floor and play. (Living room obstacle courses are great!) We haven't quite moved on to the good citizenship and sexuality chapters, but I know they're coming...way too soon for my taste...and we'll be able to handle them when they get here.

I received a copy of the book for review purposes and was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Exceptional Life

2012-01-02T10:20:00.000-06:00

The Exceptional Life
By Stephen Arturburn
Bethany House, 2011
English, 224 pgs

Description:

Steven Arterburn, popular author, speaker, and radio host, shows readers what they need to give up in order to have God's best for their lives. After candidly sharing his give-up moment, he examines eight things that hold Christians back--including guilt and shame, resentment, ear, anger, and isolation. He then helps readers give up their lives to God, resulting in lives full of hope, love, trust, forgiveness, connection, community, and much more. Discussion questions are included for individual and small-group use.

Review:

This is one of the more amazing books I've read lately. It's not a long book, only 8 chapters, but each chapter is packed full of good stuff. The book deals with guilt, shame, resentment, fear, anger, instant gratification, learned helplessness, isolation and addiction and how each can harm your personal relationships. Each chapter has 5 parts to discuss how to break the cycle of each and move toward a healthier you. Each chapter discusses what needs to be given up, why, how, what you'll gain from God and what you'll be able to do and be after giving it up.

This is not a light, sit down and read it real quick book. This is a change-your-life book. It has questions at the end of each chapter for diving deeper into what you think and feel. I can see application in it for personal study as well as a group study. I also see great value in the book for professional or pastoral counseling.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Going Deep

2011-12-01T14:17:00.000-06:00

Going Deep: Becoming a Person of Influence
By Gordon MacDonald
Thomas Nelson, 2011
English, 400 pages

Review:
I found this book agonizing to read. I couldn't get into it at all and ended up putting it down, frustrated. The ideas presented are great. (According to what it says on the back of the book.) There's nothing really new to it and there's nothing hard about what is being presented.

It was interesting that this was written as a fiction book. I can see that was an attempt to make it "flow" better and to make it more presentable, but that also made it too long.

I wish there was an abridged version or a non-fiction version with just the "meat" of the book.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Need "homemade" cookies???

2011-11-22T10:54:00.000-06:00

This time of year is about family and food. Come on...don't argue. You know you eat more and bake more and pass it off as "holiday festivities". Nothing wrong with that.

However, I don't bake. I'm not good at making things from scratch. I can do well with mixes and pre-made dough but they never taste good. There's always that "chemical" taste that you just can't get rid of...no matter what you do to the batters. Scratch just tastes better.

Enter Kroger brand "The Truly Awesome homestyle chocolate chip cookie"...I actually passed these off as home made. They're that good. They are made without added preservatives and with real butter. Chocolate chips are the first ingredient!

My two sons loved them. My husband thought they were really good and I probably ate more than I should have. They're a little more crispy than I prefer. The box suggests warming them and that did help a bit. I thought about putting some in a baggie with a slice of bread to soften them, but that always makes cookies taste like bread and these were just too good to "ruin" like that!

I received sample boxes of the cookies through BzzAgent for the purpose of a review and spreading the word about the product. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: A Wedding Invitation

2011-11-11T16:33:00.000-06:00

A Wedding Invitation
By Alice Wisler
Bethany House, 2011
English, 312 pgs

Description:

After returning home from teaching English at a refugee camp in the Philippines, Samantha Bravencourt enjoys her quiet life working at her mother's clothing boutique in Falls Church, Virginia. When she receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart, and a young Amerasian refugee named Lien who needs Samantha and Carson's help to find her mother before Lien's own wedding. When the search for Lien's mother reveals surprising secrets from the past, Samantha must reevaluate her own memories and decide whether to continue to play it safe or take a risk that could change her life.

Review:

I was excited to get to review this because I really liked Wisler's book Hatteras Girl and wanted to read more from her.

I couldn't get that into it though. It takes a long time to get to the heart of the story and I'm never a big fan of a lengthy introduction. There's nothing wrong with giving background information, but if it doesn't really seem to fit with what's been told in the story so far, it's just confusing.

I gave it as long as I could before I just didn't want to read anymore. There are a lot of personal touches from the author in the story and those are sweet, but the circumstances around them didn't seem to fit with the flow of the story.

I wish I could have liked it. Hatteras Girl has been a book I compare others to for reviews. I hope the next book from Wisler is better.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was only required to be honest in my review.

Book Review: 40 Ways to Get Closer to God

2011-11-10T10:26:00.000-06:00

40 Ways to Get Closer To God
By Jerry MacGregor
Bethany House, 2011
English, 189 pages

Description:
Sometimes faith demands action. This practical book gives Christians ideas for how to adjust their hearts to get closer to God.

Each chapter contains a unique challenge and a brief explanation that puts the challenge in context. Exercises include acts of service to others, extended prayer, Scripture memory, fasting, a day of gratitude, media fasting (no TV or Internet), evangelism, and much more. The challenges are broad in scope, allowing people with varying personality types and learning styles to benefit from them.

Review:
This book is really simple to read. It provides a challenge each day to put your faith into action. It requires you to get up and do something. You can't grow just sitting still, you have to move and do.

You can still get information from the book without doing the challenges, but you won't be growing and you won't be truly learning.

I think this book would be great for a small group or a prayer circle to use within itself. Of course, it's perfectly fine to do it by yourself too. I won't say that the challenges are easy. Some of them require you to get uncomfortable and do something outside of what you're used to doing. Again...growth...

I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation was received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Comforts of Home

2011-10-25T08:00:00.003-05:00

I am so happy to be hosting a blog tour for Jodi Thomas's new book in the Harmony series: The Comforts of Home. Here's a short bit from Jodi about the book (my review will follow):

I’m very happy to announce the birth of my new book. It’s been a long labor of love, but I know you’re going to enjoy the next Harmony book, THE COMFORTS OF HOME. I want readers to feel like they are walking the streets of a small town. You’ll laugh at some of the people, worry about others and fall in love with a few as they find their way through life.

In THE COMFORTS OF HOME I wrote about people who probably live all around us but we never take the time to know. One was Ronelle Logan. She’d lived and worked at the post office without anyone noticing her. She solved the funeral home’s crossword puzzles before she handed over the magazines, but no one complained. Tyler Wright, the funeral director, just brought her a huge crossword puzzle book. He was a kind man who tried to help everyone he came across. In the lives of these people now and then, wonder happens, brightening the world around.

THE COMFORTS OF HOME is about the people in a small town who come together to celebrate life. They care about one another. Many nights when I sat down in my study to write I felt as if I was stepping into a world, a place that was as real to me as my life. I never think of my people as characters in a story, but always as people. They walk though my life and make it a richer place and I hope they’ll do the same for you as you read THE COMFORTS OF HOME.

About Jodi:
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today best-selling author of 34 novels and 11 short story
collections. In June 2011, WELCOME TO HARMONY won a RITA, the highest award for contemporary fiction. Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. You can check out her other books at www.jodithomas.com

Publishers Weekly Review:
In her third Harmony novel, Thomas takes readers back to that Texas town where a number of romances come to a head after a tornado strikes. Funeral director Tyler Wright struggles to profess his love to Maj. Kate Cummings. Aspiring rodeo star Noah MacAllen keeps returning to Harmony and his best friend (and beloved) Reagan Truman. Reagan, whose “uncle” Jeremiah (he’s her foster father) is dying, wrestles with her feelings for Noah and local firefighter Brandon Biggs. Meanwhile, shy Ronelle Logan meets angry, lonely Martin Winslow, who helps her emerge from her shell. Despite their passion, Claire Matheson has trouble committing to Denver Sims. The tornado leaves each character wondering if loved ones have survived, and this uncertainty forces them to action. Even for readers new to the series, the intricate relationships between these affable men and eccentric women are easy to follow and even easier to love. Thomas skillfully juggles the many subplots, and the relationship between Ronelle and Marty, which inspires both to trust again, is especially touching.

My Review:

This is my fourth book to read and review for Ms. Thomas. I'm hooked on her storytelling. The Harmony series is so real. Maybe it's because I'm from a small Texas town and I can see a lot of the people I know and (sometimes) love in the characters. It was really a great book and I love that new characters are explored while not forgetting the characters from the first two books.

Beyond all the romance-y parts, my absolute favorite character in the books has been SaraLynn. I love the interaction between her and Tyler. I actually found myself saying, at one point in the book, "what a sweet girl she is" and then had to laugh because I had made her into a real person in my mind!

Reading these books is like sitting around catching up with old friends. I actually find myself thinking about the characters and what I hope happens to them. When Autumn was introduced, I started wondering where the character was going to go. (Jodi does far better by the characters than I do in my head!)

I'm glad that Tyler got a main story line in this book. He's a great character in the first two and he deserved a "leading role". He's one of those people in your community that goes without being noticed for a long time, yet is so integral to the workings of the town that he would be sorely missed.

I can't wait for the next book. Jodi leaves you wanting more, yet not frustrated at everything not being tied up with a little bow.

You can pre-order the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or at Jodi's Site. While you're there pick up some of her other books. You will not be disappointed in any way by the stories. The fourth book in the series, Just Down the Road, will be released in April 2012.

Book Review: Three Cups

2011-10-18T12:50:00.000-05:00

Three Cups
By Tony Townsley
Tommy Nelson, 2011
English, 32 pages

Description:

Teaching children how to save, spend, and be charitable can be as simple as 1, 2, 3.

All parents want to teach their children good money habits from an early age. Many start by giving them an allowance. But it's equally important to teach children a positive, generous attitude as they learn to use money responsibly.

Filled with warm, memorable illustrations by award-winning painter, April Willy, Three Cups is the story of one family's unique and effective method of teaching personal financial management-and how one boy reaped first the small, then the immeasurably great rewards of the lessons he learned.

Families will be delighted with the heart-warming tale and want to integrate the three-cup system in their own children's lives.

Review:
Our big boy just turned 5 and we've been trying to decide if he's old enough now for an allowance and how to handle teaching him about tithing and saving. I'd considered getting a separated style piggy bank, but I don't want to have to give him coins for his allowance. I'd considered envelopes, but they would likely get misplaced in his room.

I like the story and lesson in Three Cups. It's about a little boy who is given 3 cups for his birthday and is taught how to use the cups for giving, saving and spending. The art work is superb and I really like that there is a Getting Started Guide in the back of the book.

I fully intend to use this method with our sons. It's a visual reminder that may help teach a lesson that is truly important to learn at this age.

I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Doctor's Lady

2011-10-14T16:29:00.000-05:00

The Doctor's Lady
By Jody Hedlund
Bethany House, 2011
English, 378 pages

Description:
Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

Review:
This is the first historical Christian fiction book I've wanted to finish in a long time. To be perfectly honest, nothing in it was a shock. The plot isn't hard to figure out. There are no surprises in the story line. But it's still an engaging read. The fact that it's based on a true story makes it that much better. (I didn't realize that before I started reading...)

There are funny parts, "hold-your-breath" parts and pitter-pattery heart parts. I particularly liked the self-discovery aspect of the characters. They all learn something about themselves and that's pretty cool in a story.

I'm passing it on to my fiction friends and I'm sure they'll all love it too.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Heroes and Villains of the Bible

2011-10-12T12:49:00.000-05:00

Heroes and Villains of the Bible
By Thomas Nelson
Tommy Nelson, 2011
English, 256 pgs

Description:

50 true-life adventures of real people from the Bible-stories of good versus evil, right versus wrong, and heroes versus villains-and their life-shaping lessons that point children to God-the greatest hero of all!

The Bible is packed with stories of courageous people who loved and served God, and how He used them to do great things in the world. It is also filled with villainous people who disobeyed God and did horrible things. Heroes and Villains of the Bible encourages its readers to aspire to become great, courageous, and heroic servants of God, and reject all that is evil in the world.

With Heroes and Villains of the Bible, children will realize some of their favorite heroes aren't from the movies, but are real people from the Bible.

Review:
I was expecting this to be more than just Scriptures. I was expecting a story style book about the famous heroes and villains in the Bible. There were maybe two paragraphs on each story with a paraphrase of the story. The art is actually pretty though. The pictures are computer generated and have a style similar to Avatar in realness.

The language is simple enough to read as it's geared toward the 9-12 year old demographic. I just couldn't find anything different about the book.

It contains 50 stories, both Old and New Testament and each story is marked to tell the reader it's a hero with a lion or villain with a snake. It was a pretty good selection of characters too. I appreciate that women were included (whether hero or villain).

If I were the publisher though I'd rethink the cover. It looks like a book for boys and it really is for both genders.

I received a copy of the book for review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Site Review: Shirley's Prepackaged Crafts

2011-10-11T13:57:00.000-05:00

We are now in our 4th month of homeschooling the 5 year old. We made this decision because his birthday falls after the state cut-off for starting school in September and he would have had to go into Pre-K. The kid is reading at probably a 1st grade level and can do math with digits 0-10. He can name every continent, ocean and most countries. (Thank you LeapFrog Explorer!) We couldn't in good conscience let him be in Pre-K. Mainly because he'd be bored and that just invites discipline problems.

So about early July or so I purchased homeschool material on the Kindergarten level and off we went. Most days go pretty smoothly. Most. Certainly not all!

I had bought the basic subjects: Math, English, Handwriting (like pulling teeth people...), Science and Geography (he LOVES it!). I also wanted to get him into "elective" things like Character, Health, Music and Art. My great plan on Art was to get him doing craft projects and making cute things to hang on the fridge. It ended up not so great. I couldn't find what I wanted (I'm not crafty and needed help in book form) so I just bought the Kumon First Book of Cutting. He runs from the scissors now because he is so bored with it.

So, on to Plan B...I had to find something to get him interested in learning to cut and paste and make things we can send to the grandparents. I started seeking information in magazines. I found one that had either an article or an ad for Shirley's Prepackaged Crafts. (I read so many I can't remember!) I checked it out and that was exactly what I was looking for! Nothing too hard, but full instructions and supplies in one kit!

We received the October box and my son wanted to sit down and do it all immediately. I limited him to one every other day, just so he wouldn't run out!

Each month's box has 12 crafts and they are tied by theme. For instance, the themes coming in November are blue, the number 3, rectangles and Thanksgiving. December is going to be green, the number 4, stars and Christmas. I love that she does this in the boxes.

There is also a certificate of completion for each month. I know my son loves getting rewards and will be thrilled when we get to this one!

Each box comes with everything you need for the 12 craft pages. The only things you add are scissors, glue, tape, colors and time.

The first craft we did was a simple cut and paste activity. My son didn't mind cutting on the lines when he realized he was making a puzzle that would become a fire truck!

Next we did a pumpkin page and then a Columbus Day craft. He really enjoyed all of it. I did have to help him with some of the cutting though since he's still not great with curves. He noticed the trapezoid shaped pumpkin all on his own!

He was so proud to show them to his daddy when he got home. He's even memorized the "In 1492..." rhyme from the Columbus Day activity. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow when we use trapezoids to make a dump truck!

The boxes retail for $18 per month and there are discounts for buying multiple months in a package. I just ordered the Nov-Jan boxes and saved about $2.50 by purchasing three months at a time. You can also purchase all the rest of the school year and will get about $1 off per month. If I had ordered that now, I would have saved $7 and that's almost half a month!

I don't consider this a huge investment mainly because I don't have to spend my time thinking of things that we can do. Shirley does that for me. All I have to do is portion them out during the week. And he loves them. That makes it worth every penny.

If you're a homeschooling mom you have to look into this easy time saver. Shirley is also offering a discount code for my readers. Use the code faithful to save $2 off your first order. She also offers a discount if you're ordering more than one box per month.

All orders for the following month have to be in by the 15th. She's pretty smart to keep overhead down by only printing and compiling the boxes that are ordered. She ships them in time to get to you before the start of the month.

I received the October box in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the free product. No additional compensation has been received.

Book Review: Night of the Living Dead Christian

2011-10-07T13:36:00.000-05:00

Night of the Living Dead Christian
By Matt Mikalatos
Saltriver, 2011
English, 288 pages

Description:
What does a transformed life actually look like?
In his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Imaginary Jesus, Matt Mikalatos tackles this question in an entertaining and thought-provoking way—with MONSTERS!!! While Christians claim to experience Christ’s resurrection power, we sometimes act like werewolves who can’t control our base desires. Or zombies, experiencing a resurrection that is 90 percent shambling death and 10 percent life. Or vampires, satiating ourselves at the expense of others. But through it all we long to stop being monsters and become truly human—the way Christ intended. We just can’t seem to figure out how.

Night of the Living Dead Christian is the story of Luther, a werewolf on the run, whose inner beast has driven him dangerously close to losing everything that matters. Desperate to conquer his dark side, Luther joins forces with Matt to find someone who can help. Yet their time is running out. A powerful and mysterious man is on their trail, determined to kill the wolf at all costs . . .

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Night of the Living Dead Christian is a spiritual allegory that boldly explores the monstrous underpinnings of our nature and tackles head-on the question of how we can ever hope to become truly transformed.

Review:
It has been a long time since I enjoyed a book this much. The story is laugh out loud funny in some places (zombies breaking into spontaneous song!) and just a punch in the gut in others (see the descriptions of monsters above).

Matt seems to have a wickedly sharp sense of humor and it has kept me glued to this book.

I have to be careful though, I've started seeing other people and church members in his descriptions! Oh look, zombies...careful of that vampire...

I really can't say how the story ends (I never tell plots in my reviews) but I can tell you that you are going to be thoroughly entertained for every single page. It's hard to put down and even harder to not laugh out loud (awkward at times...). You will not regret the time you spend reading this.

There is a readers discussion guide and a guide to monsters in the back. I'm wondering how this would go over for a October Bible study...lots of fun I'm sure.

I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Thank You God For Blessing Me

2011-09-30T11:21:00.000-05:00

Thank You God For Blessing Me
By Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson, 2011
English, E-book Version

Description:

Meet Little Hermie-the cutest baby caterpillar in the garden! Little Hermie's thankful heart shows toddlers how to be thankful for God's blessings.

Little Hermie is thankful for everything God has given him. He goes through his day thanking God for his many blessings in this adorable board book with flocking on the cover!

With over 5.5 million brands units sold, the new Little Hermie books open the wonderful world of the Hermie & Friends garden to an entirely new audience.

Review:
This book is hopefully going to teach my selfish kids to appreciate what they have and to be thankful toward God for our blessings.

The Hermie books are amazing for kids. Especially ones who are obsessed with bugs (and what kid isn't!). My kids sit completely still every time we're reading a Hermie book and ask for them again and again. We even had caterpillars that were Hermie and Wormie.

The Hermie books and DVDs are well written and beautifully illustrated. They're sure to become favorites in your house too.

I received a digital download of the book for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Night Night Blessings

2011-09-30T11:06:00.000-05:00

Night Night Blessings
By Amy Parker
Thomas Nelson e-Book, 2011
English

Description:

Cuddle up with your little ones and count all the blessings God put in their day.

This book is a precious way to put your little ones to bed at night and fill their thoughts with the many good things that have filled their day. It's a great way to teach them gratitude and help them sleep soundly at night.

Whether it's Mommy's goodnight kisses, Grandpa's comfy lap, or pancakes stacked THIS high, there are so many blessings to count before bed! Written in rhyme and coupled with adorable illustrations, this follow up book to best-selling Night Night Prayer will be an instant bedtime hit.

Review:
I love this so much. It's a collection of sweet prayers for children before bed. I read it to my son last night and he insisted on reading it back to me after I'd finished.

My only negative is that the e-book version doesn't line up the pictures with the text. It's kinda all jumbled and there were a few strange symbols in the text.

The pictures are beautifully drawn and the prayers are simple and easy for the kids to memorize. I can imagine that in a few days of using this, he'll be saying them from memory.

I received a digital download of the book for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Sunrise on the Battery

2011-09-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

Sunrise on the Battery
By Beth Webb Hart
Thomas Nelson, 2011
English, 320 pages

Description:

Now that she's arrived at her ultimate address, will Mary Lynn's longed-for view of the harbor satisfy the craving of her heart?

At last, Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville are living the life they've dreamed of. Two self-described "small town bumpkins" from Round O, South Carolina, they made a small fortune selling the little gems of lowcountry real estate Jackson inherited and now they are living in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, carefully working their way up the social ladder in hopes of meeting their ultimate goal: to give their three daughters the life they themselves never had.

But the long-forgotten God of Mary Lynn's childhood seems to be trying to get her attention in clear and unusual ways. So clear and strange she can no longer deny it. When Mary Lynn prays for Jackson to open his mind and heart to God, her prayers are answered beyond her wildest imaginings. Now Jackson's dramatic conversion (which includes street witnessing, giving away a lot of money, and inviting poor, desperate and marginalized people into their home) is threatening their social status as well as their family mission statement. Is she willing to go along with him?

What would it be like to go "all out" for God? Jackson, a sharp and focused Type A man, is unafraid and willing to go all the way. Mary Lynn has her doubts.

Review:
I like the concept of the book. I did not enjoy the style of the book. I had to force myself to read the first 100 pages (I will not read less than that for a review.) and at that point I was glad to put it down and really didn't care about finishing it.

The story concept is great, it should have been a great story. I just did not enjoy the author's style.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: A Most Unsuitable Match

2011-09-22T11:11:00.000-05:00

A Most Unsuitable Match
By Stephanie Grace Whitson
Bethany House, 2001
English, 328 pgs

Description:
An unlikely attraction occurs between two passengers on a steamboat journey up the Missouri River to Montana...

She is a self-centered young woman from a privileged family who fears the outdoors and avoids anything rustic. He is a preacher living under a sense of duty and obligation to love the unlovable people in the world. She isn't letting anything deter her from solving a family mystery that surfaced after her mother's death. He is on a mission to reach the rejects of society in the remote wilderness regions of Montana. Miss Fannie Rousseau and Reverend Samuel Beck are opposites in every way... except in how they both keep wondering if their paths will ever cross again.

Review:
I could not get into this book. I have a rule that when I pick up a book for review I give it at least 5 chapter or 100 pages, whichever comes first, before I decide if I like it or not. I can't even get that far with this book. I've been trying for about 2 weeks now to try to read it and I just can't. It's completely boring and as much as I don't like writing negative reviews...I have to.

There isn't anything to grab your attention and it really isn't an inventive story line either. I wish I could have gotten into it, but it's just not gonna happen, I don't think.

I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was only required to be honest.

Book Review: Hermie, A Common Caterpillar

2011-09-07T13:18:00.000-05:00

Hermie, A Common Caterpillar
By Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson, 2011
Ebook version

Description:

This Max Lucado's Hermie & Friends^® best-selling story now available in easy-to-read format!

Hermie and his friend Wormie have always felt common. They don't have stripes or dots, they aren't very strong, and they can't find anything special about themselves. But every time they pray, God tells them that He loves them all the time just as they are and that He isn't finished with them yet. When Hermie becomes a beautiful butterfly, he realizes just how special God's plan is for him!

This classic story has been revised for kids to read and enjoy on their own as a Lever 2 Reader. With fresh new art and a story kids can read themselves, plus a new, low price-this classic story will find a whole new generation of kids who love Hermie and his garden friends!

Review:
My son and I read this together on my Nook. I was a teeny bit annoyed that the pictures that went with the narrative were on the next "page". Other than that, it was great.

The story is sweet and I really think my son learned something from it. I've been asking him questions about it and although he wasn't exactly still and attentive when I was reading, he heard all I said.

We've talked about what it means that God is still working on him. We've discussed what it means to be happy with who you are and how God made you.

The words were too hard for my son (who is 5 and reads on 1st grade level) so I did most of the reading, but he's asking for it again so he must have liked it!

I received an ebook copy from Book Sneeze for review purposes. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Hour that Matters Most

2011-09-06T15:16:00.000-05:00

The Hour that Matters Most
By Les and Leslie Parrott, Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna
Tyndale House, 2011
English, 208 pages

Description:
The facts are on the table. Dinnertime is truly the most important hour in a day that a family can spend together. Focusing on the family meal, this book will help strengthen families by showing them how to reclaim this important time in order to build relationships, draw closer to one another, and restore a sense of peace in their homes. Millions of parents in America can picture the kind of home life they want but don’t know how to make it a reality. The Hour That Matters Most will help readers strengthen and transform their own families—specifically around the dinner table.

Dinnertime—It’s More Than Just a Meal
Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott have discovered the surprising impact that something as simple as sharing a meal together can have on a family. And they aren’t alone. Researchers across the board are finding that an hour around the dinner table can really tether a family together and help you raise up healthier, happier kids.

Featuring the inspiring story of Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna, the founders of Dream Dinners, The Hour That Matters Most shows you how to nourish and nurture your family through regular meal times.

An inspiring, practical book packed with everything you need to help you make the most of the dinnertime hour, The Hour That Matters Most includes

never-before-published recipes
expert cooking tips and ideas
color photos of family-favorite meals
dozens of conversation starters to get your kids talking around the table

If you’re looking for ways to bring love and laughter to your home, rediscover the remarkable power of the family meal in The Hour That Matters Most.
Review:
My family eats practically every meal together. We make it a priority to sit together, pray together and talk about what's going on and what we've done so far that day. My son also uses the time to report on what he's been learning in school to his Daddy.

I do realize though that we have a luxury. Not all families have the time to sit together for every meal (including snacks...) every day. I do not have sports practices and games to work around. We are homeschooling our oldest so it's easy to have lunch together. My husband's office is literally next door so he's home when he needs to be. Now, we do get fast food on occasion and we make the use of a babysitter for a night out as often as we can...but generally we're together.

It makes a difference.

One of the things proposed in the book is using a meal service like Dream Dinners. I had never heard of this before and think it's cool for those who are short on time (or like me...cooking skills) and want to have a hot meal together with the family. If you're lucky enough to be near a location that is....

Anyway, back to the book...At the end of each chapter is a recipe card. I really appreciated the "table talk" ideas. So often we can get quiet if we don't know what else to talk about, and these will come in handy. Especially as the boys grow and get more involved in things.

The issues discussed go beyond manners and "how was your day" conversation and go into how to really listen to what your kids (and spouse) are saying when they speak.

I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Veiled Rose

2011-09-06T15:13:00.000-05:00

Veiled Rose: Tales of Goldstone Wood
By Anne Elizabeth Stengl
Bethany House, 2011
English, 394 pgs

Description:
Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely.

Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Leo, a lonely lad, befriends Rose Red, and together they begin hunting for the Mountain Monster which, rumor says, stalks these lands.

But the hunt which began as a game holds greater risk than Leo supposes. Rose Red can scarcely guess at the consequences should he insist on continuing his search. Dare she trust him with her secret? Or tell him what dwells at the top of the mountain in the cave only she can find?

Above all, when Leo asks Rose Red to leave the mountain and follow him to the low country, dare she agree and risk the wrath of a Monster that is all too real?

Review:
I couldn't get into this book. It took a good 185 pages to get interesting. I always tell myself that if a book isn't interesting by half way, I'll quit reading it. Half way was 197 pages....

Anyway, I did read the entire book and I am somewhat disappointed in it. It had the potential to be a sweeping fantasy with heroes and villains and the damsel in distress...it never quite got there. It was a long book to read. I haven't had to force myself to read something in a long time and that just doubled my un-enjoyment (if you'll permit the word).

I understand it's the second in a trilogy and that I may have missed something by not reading the first book, but honestly, I don't want to.

It was refreshing to have it not be a happily ever after style book. The ending does set up the next book (out in April 2012) and if it's your style, you're probably going to be "itching" to get the next book.

I'm still not sure if I like or despise Leo. And I guess that is part of the appeal of the book. He's really an anti-hero at this point. It makes the reader want to read the next book to see if he can redeem himself or not.

Rose Red was the one character that I did really like. She wears a veil and the reason is disclosed at the end. But she shows that true love and character come from within. You can't tell how someone is going to be until you take away all that you see and see what comes from within their heart.

I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Stained Glass Hearts

2011-08-31T15:18:00.000-05:00

Stained Glass Hearts: Seeing Life from a Broken Perspective
By Patsy Clairmont
Thomas Nelson, 2011
English, 208 pgs

Description:

Much like stained glass, life's broken pieces become the prism through which God's grace shines most brightly and beautifully.

"Life is no doubt full of difficulties, but it is also filled with promise and possibility," says best-selling author and Women of Faith speaker Patsy Clairmont. In Stained Glass Hearts Clairmont guides readers to view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of God's grace. Using art as a theme, and likening people to stained glass windows, she shares that it's when we're surrounded by darkness that His healing light shines most brightly within us. Encouraging women to step back and see life from this new perspective, Patsy offers help and hope for the dark places of life.

Along with character studies of women in Scripture, and modern-day, relatable stories, each chapter includes:

Chalice-memorable quotes
Mosaic-recommended music
Spires-scriptures and readings
Litany-sample prayers

Review:
I have been a fan of Mrs. Clairmont for years now. Someone gave me one of her books in high school (with one by Barbara Johnson...remember her???) and I thought then that she was one of the funniest and most genuine authors I'd ever read. I still feel that way about her books.

I jumped at the chance to review this book because I was supposed to be going to Women of Faith and I was going to get to be in the same room with Patsy. That was an overwhelming thought. Here was this author I've loved for years, and I was going to get to hear her speak! Well, things changed and I didn't get to go. But I read the book.

Patsy has a way to take situations and make them either 1. humorous 2. relevant or 3. spiritual. You can almost imagine yourself in the stories. I laughed and cried reading this book and you will too. It's completely worth your time. It would also be a great book to give to someone who has been in a place of feeling shattered by life and maybe needs a new perspective on God and how he uses and loves us.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Night Circus

2011-08-30T18:58:00.000-05:00

The Night Circus
By Erin Morgenstern
Doubleday, 2011
English, 400 pgs

Description:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Review:
This book's release date is September 13, 2011.

Captivating. Mesmerizing. Dream-like.

There isn't much I can tell you about the plot that the description doesn't tell you. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I did I couldn't put it down. It's a beautifully written and imagined world where anything can happen, and does.

Celia and Marco are competitors in a macabre duel. They manipulate and control their game in a way that is totally amazing. The rest of the cast, from Bailey to Mdm. Padva are so integral in every way to the story.

I think it's kinda cool that Summit Entertainment (who did the Twilight movies) has already optioned this for development. However, I cannot even begin to imagine how they're going to make this movie! The chapters move through time and location and it can get a little hard to understand where and when you are if you aren't paying attention.

All in all, it's a good book. It's not the best I've ever read, but it's good. I would recommend it for you!

I received an advance reading copy in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Escape (CLOSED)

2011-08-29T10:19:00.001-05:00

Escape
By Barbara Delinsky
Doubleday, 2011
English, 320 pgs

Description:
In her luminous new novel, Barbara Delinsky explores every woman’s desire to abandon the endless obligations of work and marriage—and the idea that the most passionate romance can be found with the person you know best.
Emily Aulenbach is thirty, a lawyer married to a lawyer, working in Manhattan. An idealist, she had once dreamed of representing victims of corporate abuse, but she spends her days in a cubicle talking on the phone with victims of tainted bottled water—and she is on the bottler’s side.

And it isn’t only work. It’s her sister, her friends, even her husband, James, with whom she doesn’t connect the way she used to. She doesn’t connect to much in her life, period, with the exception of three things—her computer, her BlackBerry, and her watch.

Acting on impulse, Emily leaves work early one day, goes home, packs her bag, and takes off. Groping toward the future, uncharacteristically following her gut rather than her mind, she heads north toward a New Hampshire town tucked between mountains. She knows this town. During her college years, she spent a watershed summer here. Painful as it is to return, she knows that if she is to right her life, she has to start here.

Review:
Seriously, who doesn't look around at least once in their life and think "I could walk away from all this". When I was selling newspaper ads and was seriously disgusted with everything, I had that thought. I was lucky enough to get away from the job for the title of "mommy".

This book makes me wonder...could I take a break from it all? Could I turn off the iPhone, not check into Facebook, not even look at a TV screen? I'd like to think that I could. I don't have the same existential conflicts that the character in the book has, but sure, I'd like to get away and not have to deal with anything for a few weeks. But to be honest, I'd miss what we have here.

Emily does what so many people only dream about and she figures out where she felt life starting going wrong and what she needs to do to fix it. She realizes what is important to her and what she wants for her life, going forward.

The good people at Doubleday are allowing me to give one reader a copy of the book.

To enter simply leave a comment telling me you want the book. Please leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you're the winner. The winner will be chosen September 9 at 10 PM CST. Only people in the US and Canada are eligible. Book will be mailed to the winner from Doubleday so a physical address will be necessary (no PO Box).

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you to Liz for including me in promoting this book.

Book Review: Stumbling Into Grace

2011-08-23T20:43:00.000-05:00

Stumbling into Grace
By Lisa Harper
Thomas Nelson, 2011
English, 224 pgs.

Description:

Humorous yet poignant stories from Lisa's life help readers relate to spiritual truths found in the life and ministry of Christ.
Stumbling Into Grace is the diary-devotional of one woman's honest, ongoing, bumbling journey of faith and how she finds encouragement through a deeper understanding of Christ's time on earth. Within each chapter she alternates her often humorous memoir with stirring portraits of Jesus and his own encounters as recorded in the New Testament.
Both intimately relevant and refreshingly inspirational, this book will help readers to jettison the theological misconceptions, guilt, shame, and hypocrisy they struggle with, exchanging them for a vibrant, passionate relationship with Christ that results in a more abundant, joyful life.

Review:
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's full of humor and honesty. The stories are absolutely something that a mother will read and just shake her head...yep...saw some of those coming! For those who struggle to believe that they matter deeply to God, this is a great book. There is no doubt left after reading this.

I love that each chapter has a group study/personal time journaling segment. I recommend having a notebook handy though because there isn't a ton of space on these pages to write your responses in the book.

I truly believe that Lisa Harper was touched by God to write this book. I can't even imagine someone thinking up some of the connections she makes (panty hose and being "unbound" in the Spirit!) on their own.

This book is destined for my step-mother-in-law as we're going to Women of Faith together this weekend and I'm sure she's going to love this book as much as I have!

I received a copy of the book for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Kroger Trip! Woot!

2011-08-08T12:39:00.000-05:00

I finally was able to remember to take a picture when I have a great trip!

Transaction #1 (thank you hubby!):
Paid $1.38
Saved $10.36 (89%)

All of it was free with the exception of one deodorant. AND...it was regular priced at $1.89...so you do the math there!

Transaction #2
Paid: 23.89
Saved: $81.86 (77%)

All that Ivory soap, toothpaste, floss, the rice and two of the packs of pens were 100% FREE! Actually, I was paid 13 cents to buy the rice and 5 cents on each of the floss! That Emergen-C was about 60% off in the clearance because of a crushed edge! Just in time for cold/flu season! Almost bought all three, but that added to the total would have made me croak!

The Dial soaps were 19 cents each after coupon. The jelly was 93 cents each after coupon (hope it lasts more than two months!) and the wipe packs were 99 cents each after coupon. OH, the yogurts were 88 cents after coupon and the cinnamon rolls were 25 cents after coupon! The deodorants ended up being 89 cents after coupon (and the hubby is set for a while!) The protein bars ended up being 66 cents each (and good for a quick lunch!).

The only thing not really cheap was the butter, which I needed anyway, the sandwich crackers, which my sons eat like they're candy, and the Fiber One bars, which I eat like candy!

All in all, what a great trip!

Now lest you think I'm a hoarder, all the free toothpaste, floss and soap are going to be on the way to Mission Centers of Houston. Our GA group at church picked them to "adopt" for a month and these are at the top of the list of things they need. I'll be pulling out of my stockpile for other items too!

The blue pens are going into the school supply collection box at school (the red stay home...for grading homeschool!).

So, you been Krogerin' lately????