Sunflowers at Home'sBook Reviews 4 U 2

75 miles review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 22:19:00 +0000

75 MILES by Robyn VanDerSys
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read One Second After by Forstchen several years ago, and when I read that VanDerSys was inspired (at least in part) by that book I had high hopes for this title. Unfortunately I didn't find it nearly as interesting, as well written or as well researched.

The premise is simple. a 16 year old girl has traveled several miles from home (a home she had recently moved to) to break up with her long distance boyfriend so she could pursue a guy where she now lived that she found attractive after seeing him a few times but didn't really know. While at a gathering with friends, where she chose to dump her boyfriend, an EMP goes off killing all electronics. She then decides to make the journey home alone and that is the story that is told.

While we do encounter the expected "bad" elements - they are all portrayed as being drug addicts, as if the people we consider law abiding citizens under normal circumstances would not possibly turn to a life of self-interest and bad behavior. The only other "bad" character is portrayed as a fat and creepy neighbor prior to the EMP. Everyone else was either someone willing to help, or they just locked themselves inside.

I also have a hard time believing that a 16 year old with very little experience, an old map and a gun that she had never shot before would have fared as well as this one did - surviving on granola bars, jerky, and a canteen with a water filter that was all given to her by adults that appear to have no issue with sending her off on her own.

I found myself skipping quite a bit of repetitive description (especially towards the end when the characters are retelling their story over and over to others) to get to the end only we never really get to the end. Yep, that is right. Our main character doesn't actually arrive home at the end of the book. We end with her on the road to her home after she was told that there was word of several break-ins and possible nefarious deeds in the area...

I will read the next book because I already own it and I hope the writing and story has improved in it....

View all my reviews

The Wanderer Scorned

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:41:00 +0000

The Wanderer Scorned by Natasha Woodcraft

Publisher's Description:

The Wanderer is a man shrouded in legend. Moving from place to place in the land of Nod, he is known primarily for the curse that hangs over his life. When that curse is invoked during the celebration of a murderous rampage, The Wanderer is summoned to tell his story.

Few know the truth of the tale encompassing life, death, love, hate, faith and doubt, for it has been obscured by centuries of rumour. Now, it will be told by the one who lived it—the man who became The Wanderer.

A story you know as you've never heard it before, The Wanderer Series presents the ancient tale of Cain and Abel from Genesis 4, reimagined in gripping new fiction.

My Review:

Honestly, when the author sent out a request for advanced readers for The Wanderer Scorned, I knew I had to read this one. It has been quite a while since I have reviewed for a publisher or an author, but the story really intrigued me.

Woodcraft covers the events from the Fall of Man to shortly after Cain killing Abel and connects it all to Lamech's bold statement that, "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold," after he killed a man. This statement brings about the telling of Cain's (or Kayin as it is spelled in the book) story to those who are present.

I'll say upfront, I had a difficult time at the beginning of this book. Woodcraft makes every effort to transliterate names from Hebrew to English, often choosing to use a phonetic spelling, which varies from spellings we are accustomed to: Chavah for Eve, Kayin for Cain, Havel for Abel etc. I appreciate that she explains this at the end of the book, but at the beginning it takes a bit to become accustomed to it.

It was also obvious that this is Woodcraft's first novel. It doesn't immediately draw the reader in, BUT hang in there because it is well worth sticking it out. She seems to find her writing "groove" a little later in the story, and when she does you will really begin to identify with Kayin.

As a work of Biblical fiction, this novel does a great job of filling in the blanks left by the sparse details of Kayin's life. You see family drama unfold, you recognize how hurts and misunderstandings can damage relationships, and how those can lead to a moment that can never be undone.

I love that we get a peek into the mind of Kayin throughout the book, and how relatable he is. He asks questions that many of us have asked ourselves, such as:

"He (Havel) said he had followed Yahweh's voice. What did he even mean by that? Had he heard the voice alone, or had others heard it? Had it een like the wind by the river or a voice inside his head? I longed to know what it felt like to hear the voice of Yahweh. Perhaps if He just spoke to me, I would get the answers I needed."

"Oh, I knew I could never have the same relationship with Yahweh that Havel had; I wasn't born with that easy connection to Him. Yet if I worked hard enough, kept my feelings in check - even prayed regularly- perhaps something might change."

If you have been a disciple of Christ for any length of time, one or the other ( or maybe even both!) of these thoughts have probably crossed your mind. Who hasn't longed for a closer relationship?

I won't spoil the story by telling you what caused Kayin to take the life of his brother, but I will say that by the time you get there, you will be able to relate to him.

One of the great things about this book is that it gives life to people other than Kayin and Havel. Woodcraft takes the time to create backstories and personalities for several siblings. And by the conclusion you too are going to be anticipating the next installment in what looks to be a great series!

One final thing, Woodcraft is not just a Biblical Fiction author, but a songwriter as well, and that gift appears several times throughout the book. Worship, including worship through song, is woven throughout the lives of the first family on Earth. And the lyrics that are included in the novel are beautiful. Don't believe me? Check this out!

"On the twins’ first birthday, we were sitting together outside the hut. In a rare moment, Havel was not in my mother’s arms but was crawling on the floor with Avan. They had invented a new game, climbing over the top of each other and then giggling furiously when one of them tumbled. I shifted my weight to my hands and knees and crawled towards them. Havel looked at me wide-eyed, but Avan chortled and came crawling forward. I swept my arm under her belly and tickled her until she rolled over on to her back, legs in the air and holding her toes.

Havel decided to join in. When he crawled forward, I tickled him in the same way. However, he resisted rolling over and continued towards me, grabbing hold of my arm. I swung him up and around onto my shoulder, where he grasped my ear and started chewing it. I laughed aloud as he’d found my single ticklish spot. Then, he fell into my arms and I blew on his stomach, reducing him to fits of giggles. When I looked up, Ima was watching us, her face radiant.

Then Abba began to sing, his low voice rumbling through the valley:

Give to Elohim all praise,

He is our source; by His breath, we were made.

Formed from the dust to subdue the land,

Taken from my side, she was placed at my hand.

Then blessed to procreate, producing more

Offspring to fill the earth and adore

Yahveh, for in His name is might,

All power and goodness are His right.

We fell, alas we listened

To the lying tongue that glistened,

In the light of the fading day.

Only darkness evermore would reign.

Or so we thought.

Yet Yahweh has blessed us again,

For we followed His command, when

We multiplied! And blessed we have been

With three to bring glory to Elohim.

Yahweh – my rock – forgive our iniquity;

Set us free, provide sanctuary.

Cleanse us, make us new once more.

May we fulfil all you have designed us for.

We sat silently afterwards for many moments. Even the babies were still. Then a gentle wind whipped around us and caressed our hearts. "

Even better, Woodcraft created a video of the song as well!

All that to say, this book is well worth the read! You can pre-order it on Amazon here.

Carrots review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 20:10:00 +0000

Carrots by Colleen Helme
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let's start with what I liked. The main character is a middle aged, happily married stay at home mom. She isn't some SUPER mom that has perfect hair and make up, making gourmet meals for her kids while working at a high powered job and still keeping it sexy for her hubby. She wears sweatpants, is concerned about the mega sexy young lawyer her husband works with, occasionally gets side tracked and forgets to do something for her kids and has real life struggles. I love that about this book.

What I didn't like was all of the "I" statements throughout the book. It is written in first person, so there are repeated sentences that include:

"I sat...", "I took...", "I pulled...", "I thought...", I passed...", "I went...", "I think...", "I've still...", "I need...", "I hadn't...", "I decided...", "I'd lost....", "I'd deal...", "I concentrated...", "I still....", "I haven't...", "I think....", "I had....", "I realized...", "I managed...", "I really...", "I haven't...", "I guess..."

All of those are from ONE page (273) of the book. I like Shelby (the main character) but I didn't like reading "I" ALL THE TIME!

The story is interesting, if a bit far fetched for me. Shelby witnesses a bank robbery at her local grocery store and receives a head injury during the robbery. As a result she suddenly is able to hear the thoughts of the people around her. This inadvertently leads to her becoming involved with a local crime boss. Not a bad summer read, but I was able to read it through Amazon's Prime lending library. I didn't like it enough to purchase the next book in the series.

View all my reviews

1,000 Gifts review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 12:47:00 +0000

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lots of quotes from this book were added to my commonplace book. Lots of poignant thoughts and meaningful paragraphs. However, the flowery writing and (overly) poetic sentences made it difficult to fall into every time I picked it up. It would take several pages to adjust to Ann's writing style before the words could penetrate my soul and speak to me. Once I fell into the language, though, it was nourishment and a reminder of God's love for each of us. Voskamp issues a call to return His love through gratitude and shows us how doing so inevitably draws us into a deeper, fuller relationship with Him.

View all my reviews

The Yada Yada Prayer Group

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 02:03:00 +0000

The Yada Yada Prayer Group
by: Neta Jackson

Book Description:

What do an ex-con, a former drug addict, a real estate broker, a college student and a married mother of two have in common?
Nothing, or so I thought. Who would have imagined that God would make a prayer group as mismatched as ours the closest of friends? I almost didn’t even go to the Chicago Women’s Conference—after all, being thrown together with five hundred strangers wasn’t exactly my “comfort zone.” But something happened that weekend to make us realize we had to hang together, and the Yada Yada Prayer Group” was born! When I faced the biggest crisis of my life, God used my newfound Sisters to show me what it means to be just a sinner saved by grace.

My Review:
Why has no one told me about this book yet?!?! Originally published eight years ago and reprinted in 2013, I would have thought someone I know would have read this and shared it with me by now. Since it wasn't shared with me, let me share it with you....

Jodi is the middle class, middle aged, married mom of teens. Avis is her boss and church acquaintance that convinces her to attend a local women's conference. While there, they are grouped with 10 other women for a breakout prayer session. Before the conference is over their faith in the power of prayer is challenged and they decide to rise to the occasion and continue the prayer group.

I won't give away too much of the plot, but I will say that you will probably identify with aspects of at least one of the Yada Prayer sisters. Whether you find yourself facing what appear to be impossible odds, fighting to recover from past mistakes, trying to decide if the whole "God thing" is real, dealing with the pain of lost relationships, or struggling with feeling far from God this story helps you to realize that you are not alone.

There are those that have reviewed this book as being too "preachy" or "churchy". I say they missed the point. For me the point was that we are all in a different place on our journey to know Jesus, but that doesn't mean we don't each have something to offer those around us, and that we don't each have something still to learn. Were parts of the book "churchy" or "preachy"? Maybe, but couldn't we all use a reminder that life is more than just our circumstances? Or that life was not meant to be walked alone? I think so!

The Yada Yada Prayer Group is an easy read, it is well written and moves along at a decent pace. I did feel that it wrapped up a little too quickly and a little too neatly, but I hope that the second book, The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down, continues where this one left off and delves into things a little deeper. Still, this was well worth the few hours invested in reading it and I have already begun book 2.

Review: The Dream Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 03:10:00 +0000

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A mother's love for her unborn child and a struggle to save what remains of her love for her husband is our introduction to this fascinating book. To the emotional appeal add a dash of science fiction and you have The Dream Daughter.

This is a well-written page-turner that I couldn't put down! So glad I had the opportunity to review it thanks to #SheSpeaks and #StMartinsPress. My heart broke for Carly when she received the news that her unborn baby suffered from a heart defect that meant certain death. And yet it is that tragic news that began an adventure that Carly, nor the reader, could ever have expected. Chamberlain does a phenomenal job weaving the storylines together and drawing us into the characters lives. I recommend you #ReadTheDream and see how it turns out! You won't regret it.

The Lying King

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 13:37:00 +0000

Publisher's Description of The Lying King:Can warthogs fly? Do tigers eat broccoli?

For answers, follow along as Warthog lies his way to the throne in this timeless, yet most timely, Tale from the Watering Hole.

Will the Truth catch up with the king?

Find out as Alex Beard’s whimsical animals come to life to illuminate real world truths for children of all ages. With a nod to Aesop and Kipling, this funny and pointed parable has lessons for everyone, from the playground to the boardroom and beyond!

My Review:
Politics and children's books, not two things that I would expect to go together. Yet Alex Beard, in The Lying King, weaves a story of a warthog that rises to power through a series lies and the (supposed) inevitable outcome of such actions.

While this tales is definitely a nod to Aesop and/or Kipling in its style, I found it a bit disturbing. While I can't lay my finger on what exactly unnerves me about the story, I can say that the plot seems to be written more for adults than children. While the illustrations are engaging and the rhyming prose keeps us turning the pages, the story just feels off to me.

I will say that Beard's tale is a cautionary tale of choosing to look the other way when faced with overt lies. Children may be able to glean the notion that lying is bad from this fable, but in the end, it isn't one I would put on our bookshelf.

The Crescent Stone review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 16:25:00 +0000

Book Description:

A girl with a deadly lung disease . . .
A boy with a tragic past . . .
A land where the sun never sets but darkness still creeps in . . .
A bargain that brings life, but may cost more than anyone can imagine . . .

Madeline Oliver has never wanted for anything, but now she would give anything just to breathe. Jason Wu skates through life on jokes, but when a tragedy leaves him guilt-stricken, he promises to tell only the truth, no matter the price. When a mysterious stranger name Hanali appears to Madeline and offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service to his people, Madeline and Jason are swept into a strange land where they don’t know the rules and where their decisions carry consequences that reach farther than they could ever guess.

My Review:

This is my first foray into Matt Mikalatos' young adult writings. Having read Night of the Living Dead Christian, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and My Imaginary Jesus I was very familiar with his Christian works. However, I had never read any of his young adult fantasy works.

The Crescent Stone is the first it what looks to be an interesting series entitled The Sunlit Lands. Imagine a world divided. One portion lives in beauty and sunlight and wealth. And yet they are plagued with a second group that lives in darkness and crudeness and ugliness. A war rages and this is where Madeline and her friends enter the story.

What would you do when someone offers you life in exchange for a year of service? Madeline barely hesitates to accept and is quickly swept into a world so different than her own along with her new friend Jason Wu. Madeline is spellbound by the beauty that greets her, while Jason is skeptical.

Mikalatos, in this fantasy world, brings up some very interesting real world questions. Is it ok to do something that harms someone in order to save someone else? Is it ok to allow someone else to volunteer take on pain and hardship that should rightfully be yours? Is your enemy necessarily your enemy, or is it a matter of perspective?

I really enjoyed the characters and the world that Mikalatos has created in this story, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!

You can order your copy of The Crescent Stone on Amazon here.

The Lifegiving Parent Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 19:15:00 +0000

Book Desciption:In today’s world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and even paralyzed by the constant flow of parenting advice. We’re flooded with so much practical information that we wonder if we’re choosing the right way. And we may be missing the one thing God really wants us to give to our children: His life. God doesn’t include a divine methodology for parenting in the Bible, but He does provide principles that can enable any faithful parent to bring His life into the life of their home.

In The Lifegiving Parent, respected authors and parents Clay and Sally Clarkson explore eight key principles—heartbeats of lifegiving parenting—to shed light on what it means to create a home where your children will experience the living God in your family. Now parents of four grown children—each with their own unique personality and gifts—Sally and Clay have learned (sometimes the hard way!) that the key to shaping a heart begins at home as you foster a deep and thoughtful God-infused relationship with each child. Filled with biblical insight and classic Clarkson stories, The Lifegiving Parent will equip you with the tools and wisdom you need to give your children much more than just a good Christian life. You’ll give them the life of Christ.

My Review:I have been a fan of Sally Clarkson since Desperate: Hope for the Mom who Needs to Breathe. So when I had the opportunity to review this book, I quickly downloaded and began reading. In 10 short chapters, Sally and Clay Clarkson share some great pointers on how to not only create a home where children feel loved, but where they experience God's love as well.

I love that this book is written to parents in general, rather than just moms. So many parenting books direct all their advice to moms who already feel the pressure of parenting on their shoulders. There is a woeful lack of parenting books directed towards fathers. While this isn't specific for dads, Clay Clarkson's input definitely makes this a book that stresses the truth that it takes BOTH parents to create a home that gives children a view of the Biblical concept of an abundant life.

This book is a reminder that, "Lifegiving parenting is not about changing the culture we live in but about being a counter-culture to it." It isn't our responsibility to shelter our children from the world and isolate them, but to prepare them to live a spiritually abundant life in the culture in which we live, without compromising God's truths. Clay and Sally lay out the wisdom they have gained from raising their 4 children in the hopes that it will help you and I to accomplish this.

Night of the Living Dead Christian

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 20:14:00 +0000

Night of the Living Dead Christian: One Man's Ferociously Funny Quest to Discover What It Means to Be Truly Transformed by Matt Mikalatos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 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.

My Review
Honestly, the first 2 chapters of this book were hard to get through. They didn't make sense and seemed REALLY out there. But I kept with it, and I am glad I did!

Zombies, vampires, mad scientists, robots and werewolves in a story about coming to Christ? I never would have thought that such an odd combination would touch my heart and cause me to do some serious self-reflection, and yet it strangely did.

I highly recommend this to anyone struggling with the idea of what it means to be a "real" follower of Christ, you might find yourself to be one of the monsters. Fortunately, "when human beings became sinful, or depraved, or whatever happened there--they never lost, somehow, being in the image of God. Which means that even at our worst, there's some piece of us that still reflects his image...and that's not something we can ever completely eradicate."

*I did not receive this book for review purposes. I actually sought this one out to read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Inspired Shawls review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 20:33:00 +0000

Book Description:

Knitters of all skill levels will rejoice in this colorful collection of 15 original shawl patterns. These stylish, versatile designs will complement any outfit, formal or casual, while offering the warmth and comfort of a cloak. Perfect for any season, the patterns include varying yarn weights and textures that provide the pleasures of year-round knitting. Their unique designs, rendered in bold colors as well as in neutral shades, offer a rich assortment of knitting choices.

Author Laura Zukaite was inspired in the creation of these shawls by the vibrant handicraft traditions she observed during her South American travels. Beautiful full-color photographs illustrate the patterns, which feature herringbone and cable stitches, ruffles, stripes, geometrics, and other eye-catching motifs in an array of gorgeous, hand-dyed yarns. The diversity and abundance of designs guarantee that this book is one that knitters will turn to time and time again for an inspiring range of patterns.

My Review:There are some absolutely gorgeous patterns in this book. Many of the shawls include interesting textures created by combining different weight yarns in the same pattern, use of cables, embroidery, and open lacework. The instructions appear to be well written and several of the patterns include charts as well. The photography is BEE-YOU-TIFUL! with many of the patterns including multiple photographs.

My only disappointment was the costs of the suggested yarns. For example this pattern:

The Amazonia,calls for $70 worth of yarn to create. Another pattern suggested a yarn that was $58 for a skein of 330 yards, and that pattern used 3 skeins of the yarn! And while I realize that these are items that can last for generations, especially if you use quality materials, and that you CAN substitute less expensive yarns, it was disheartening to realize that it was going to be so costly to reproduce the beauty on the pages.

So, is it worth the $20 (physical copy) or $10 (digital copy) price tag for Inspired Shawls? If you are willing to put in the time finding comparable yarns in beautiful colorways, or able to invest in some of the fabulous yarns suggested, then absolutely. The patterns are gorgeous.

With Love, Wherever You Are Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 15:39:00 +0000

Book Description:
Everyone knows that war romances never last . . .
After a whirlwind romance and wedding, Helen Eberhart Daley, an army nurse, and Lieutenant Frank Daley, M.D. are sent to the front lines of Europe with only letters to connect them for months at a time.

Surrounded by danger and desperately wounded patients, they soon find that only the war seems real—and their marriage more and more like a distant dream. If they make it through the war, will their marriage survive?

Based on the incredible true love story, With Love, Wherever You Are is an adult novel from beloved children’s author Dandi Daley Mackall.

My Review:
I am a sucker for a love story. Everyone knows that. And I am a sucker for books set in true history. So when I had an opportunity to review a love story that is TRUE and set in history. well, let's just say I couldn't say no.

This is a wonderful story of perseverance. Despite everything that was thrown at them, despite the atrocities they witnessed, despite the depression, the anxiety, the doubt, the loneliness, Helen and Frank CHOSE to not give up on each other. That's a great story. Only this is more than a story. It's the life that the author's parents led.

I thank Mackall for sharing her parent's story and reminding us that love is a choice, and when we chose love nothing can separate us.

Brave Beauty review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:38:00 +0000

Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You by Lynn Cowell

Publisher Description:

What will my life be like? Who will I be? Whether girls put these concerns into words or struggle anxiously with these thoughts, during this season of change, girls have questions. Sometimes these questions also come with fears and they need a safe place to process these fears. From Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and blogger, Lynn Cowell, comes Faithgirlz Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You. For girls 8-12, Brave Beauty brings tweens 100 courage-building moments to reflect on Scripture and find confidence in God, rather than in someone, some place, or some thing, as culture will all-too-soon tell them to. Lynn will also prepare girls to:

Overcome confidence-defeating thoughts and stand on who Jesus says she is.
Shape her self-worth on Christ and overcome the temptation base it on environmental factors.
Build a strong foundation to face the fickle and flippant opinions of others.
Find approval of herself even when she lacks the acceptance of others.
Find security by turning to Christ as she steps through the exciting, yet scary world of growing up

Formatted as theme-based mini chapters, these moments can be read as one-a-days, one-a-weeks, or at the reader’s own pace. Simple and empowering, Lynn’s voice is relatable and conversational, making it easy for girls to feel like they’re spending time with a friend.

My Review:

When I was given the opportunity to review this book I expected that it would appeal my 9 year old daughter. What I didn't expect was for it to appeal to all of us!

While this is definitely written as a conversation with younger girls - simple language, examples that connect with preteen experiences etc - the topics are such that apply to all of us. Who doesn't need to be told they are loved (section 1)? Or that they can be brave (section 2)? Or that they can be confident (section 3)?

Admittedly, some of the sections are more applicable to prepubescent girls (it actually talks about pimples!) but it opened the door to some great discussion between myself, my 17 year old and 9 year old about our experiences. I don't know that these discussions would have come about without a starter story like this book offers.

I love the "Becoming Brave" sections at the end of most chapters. They are simple, little sections that encourage the reader reflect on what has been read, on God's truth about the situation and apply it to their own life, to internalize the truth of Scripture. We use these as journal starters for personal prayer journals. But not all sections have these. Some have "Getting to Know You" sections with short little surveys. These encourage the girls to examine themselves and see where they are in that particular area of discussion.

And most importantly, I see my daughter not only drawing closer to God, but finding who she is as well. That alone makes this a book that I would recommend to others, and that I wholeheartedly recommend to you.

Anticipation

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:00:00 +0000

I have the privilege of revealing the cover of the first book a very dear friend of mine has been writing for several years. I remember sending texts and emails back and forth about "them", the nights that my friend just couldn't sleep because "they" kept her up all night. And I remember the first time she entrusted me with the manuscript.....I fell in love with "them" too! Now here we are, their story has finally gone to print to share with all of you. So let me introduce you to "them" and the beginning of their story....Anticipation....

Anticipation

by S.D. Thomas

Genre: YA Christian Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 2017

Summary:

Cassie Smith wasn't expecting to fall in love with her best friend, Mark Santos, or the emotional turmoil she encounters in the relationship. But, this newfound love has her questioning the only commitments she's ever made: to God and to leaving her hometown. Will she change her mind and stay with Mark? Or will she risk everything she's ever known and loved to continue with her original plan?

Doesn't that sound like an amazing story? How can you go wrong with friendship, romance, indecision, and God? Once it is released, I promise a review...and maybe even a giveaway.....

And below you can read a little more about my amazing friend....

About the Author

S.D. Thomas has a B.A. in Journalism from Penn State University, and has always enjoyed creative writing. It wasn’t until after heartbreak that she accepted God’s calling and began writing according to His Word. She’s the co-founder of Coffee With Christ, a bi-monthly blog regarding topics and stories from the Bible. She is an avid reader, coffee enthusiast and studies her Bible daily, doing her best to live her life as a disciple of Christ. She lives with her husband and their fur baby in West Virginia.

Author Links:

Cover Reveal Organized by:

60 days of Happiness review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 16:39:00 +0000

Book Description:
When it comes to happiness, most of us have the same questions. Why can’t I be consistently happy? Is it wrong to be happy when there’s so much pain and suffering in the world? And perhaps the biggest one: How can I be happier? Some Christians make an artificial contrast between joy and happiness, while others claim God wants us to be holy, but not happy. In fact, he wants us to be both, and the two go hand in hand!

In 60 Days of Happiness, noted theologian and New York Times bestselling author Randy Alcorn shares sixty timeless devotions demonstrating that God not only wants us to be happy in him and enjoy his gifts, he commands and empowers us to do so.

My Review:

Ok, so I struggle with this one. I come from a long line of women that battle depression so consistent happiness seems like an oxymoron to me. Therefore, when the opportunity arose for me to review this book for Tyndale House Publishers I thought, "Why not?"

The book is broken into 60 daily devotionals. Each begins with a Bible verse and a quote from people such as Anselm, James Houston, A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon and Isaac Watts. Each day has a specific topic, such as, "Can happiness be consistent and enduring," "how does seeing God accurately promote lasting happiness," and "what role do our attitudes play in our happiness". And each day ends with a prayer.

While you will get the typical Christian responses in some of the readings, ("God wants us to seek real happiness in Him.....""Only (Jesus) could have granted them...the deep and lasting happiness they sought") Alcorn urges us to move beyond the surface answers. He even addresses it on Day 9 when he discusses many that sought surface happiness and yet failed to find true, enduring happiness.

All in all I would say that this is a good, daily refresher that happiness is found only in God. When we focus on that we find that everything else may give fleeting happiness, but we won't lose our joy when the world falls apart if we rest in God's love.

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 18:12:00 +0000

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart description:

Let His Truth Find a Home in Your Heart
Here are the words of hope you’re looking for when your faith needs a boost or a friend needs encouragement. Chosen by more than a thousand women as their favorite verses in the Bible, each one is worth learning, worth sharing, worth remembering,

You’ll find verses you already know and love: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Others may be less familiar but are no less powerful: “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). All of them capture the truth of God’s goodness, mercy, and love for His own.

Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs invites you to experience—
* a deeper, richer understanding of thirty-one treasured verses.
* a fresh look at how these timeless truths can impact your life.
* a new passion for memorizing Scripture, verse by verse.
* thirty-one creative ways to keep them in your heart forever.

With a study guide included, 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a daily devotional and a small-group Bible study, wrapped in a lovely gift book overflowing with joy!

My Review:

I admit I am a Liz Curtis Higgs fan. She hooked me with Bad Girls of the Bible, then More Bad Girls of the Bible. So of course I agreed to review 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart. And I wasn't disappointed!

Higgs chose 31 different verses (that's 1 a day for a month if you chose to use this as a devotional) to delve into and share with us in this book. It is more than just "here is the verse and this is why it is important". Rather it is more along the lines of a word study in which we examine the verse word by word, phrase by phrase and look for the meaning, the purpose behind it.

I love that she uses many different translations when breaking things down, as it helps to clarify the meaning. and I love that she even stops to look at the smallest details. (Really! She even includes the word "is" in part of the breakdown! As in, "why is the word 'is' important here?".) I also enjoyed the tips for study that she includes with each verse to help you really settle the verse in your heart.

This is a great gift for someone just starting to memorize or study His word. But it is also a nice refresher for those of us that have been in the word for a while.

As an added bonus, Higgs has shared gorgeous images for each verse on her Pinterest board here for those of us that like to see them around the house.

review: My Holy Bible for Girls, Journal Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 23:05:00 +0000

Publisher's Information:

The NIV Holy Bible for Girls, Journal Edition is the perfect way to apply Scripture to your everyday life. Designed with the thoughtful writer in mind, a whimsical cover and journaling lines inspire reflection in God’s Word. This Bible contains the full text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) translation.

Features include:

Lines on each page for journaling and notes
Thick paper perfect for any writing utensil
A presentation page for gift giving
A “How to Use This Bible” page to get started on the right foot
Ribbon marker
The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV)

My Review:

I have an artistic inclined 8 year old. She has begun to notice that sometimes I write notes in the margins of my bible, illustrate my personal study journal and has requested to do so in her own Bible. Honestly, I was hesitant to allow her to do so in her regular Bible for fear that her notes and doodles would make it difficult for her to read the text. This solves that problem for me.

While I have looked at (ok drooled over) several different journaling and coloring Bibles, this is the first one that I have owned, and I now think I might invest in one for me as well. There is ample room for notes or doodling on each page.

This is the NIV edition, which I believe is the only translation this Bible is available in. I won't use this review to discuss the translation, as that is personal preference. What I will say is that the text size was easy to read for both my 8 year old and myself. Although smaller than many children's Bibles that I have encountered, it appeared slightly larger than most compact Bibles I own.

Despite the fact that the margins are extra wide to allow you space to record your thoughts, this Bible isn't that much wider than your typical hardback Bible, although it is thicker. And while this will not be the Bible my daughter carries to and from church (we use the NIrV in our children's church program) its size and weight wouldn't make it difficult to transport. Although I think many would chose to keep it for more of a personal reflection Bible.

It doesn't include any study notes or footnotes, sticking only to the actual text. For us that allows us to let the Spirit speak to us as we read rather than getting lost in the thoughts and opinions of others as to what a passage means. We do have and use study Bibles, but it is nice to be able to sit down and just meditate on His word, without distractions.

And while there is currently only the NIV translation available from Zondervan, the cover is beautiful and attractive and you have a choice of 4 different designs:

purple

Turquoise

Pink

Mint

Aren't they pretty?!?! I also love that they include an elastic band attached to the Bible to keep it closed when not in use as well as a ribbon bookmark to save your spot while reading.

And when I found these coloring sheets that you can cut out and they fit perfectly in the journal section my daughter absolutely fell in love! This is now her favorite Bible.

Larger than Life Lara

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 22:08:00 +0000

Larger-Thank-Life Lara by Dandi Daley Mackall

This isn’t about me. This story, I mean. So already you got a reason to hang it up. At least that’s what Mrs. Smith, our English teacher, says.

But the story is about ten-year-old Laney Grafton and the new girl in her class—Lara Phelps, whom everyone bullies from the minute she shows up. Laney is just relieved to have someone else as a target of bullying. But instead of acting the way a bullied kid normally acts, this new girl returns kindness for a meanness that intensifies . . . until nobody remains unchanged, not even the reader.

In a unique and multi-layered story, with equal parts humor and angst, Laney communicates the art of storytelling as it happens, with chapter headings, such as: Character, Setting, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax. And she weaves an unforgettable tale of a new girl who transforms an entire class and, in the process, reveals the best and worst in all of us.

My Review

Let me start by being totally upfront, this book is now required reading in my homeschool. As a matter of fact, I am using it in a Creative Writing class that I teach in my local co-op as well. It is THAT good!

Let me start with what I love. Chapter titles like: Character, The Beginning, Villain, Setting, Dialogue, Conflict, Twist, Rising Action, Climax, and Resolution. Not only is this a great, character building story, but it walks the reader through all of the key elements of a story and explains them from the point of view of a ten year old. Not only that, it includes great examples of active learning as well. For example, when Laney's teacher had them look up "suspense," she didn't understand the definition so she looked up the word "apprehension" that was in the definition, which made her look up another word until she finally understood the definition. Way to go, Laney!

I like that this story addresses bullying without glossing it over. Lara never makes a friend in this book. Even Laney stays a few steps back, afraid of how others will react should she befriend Lara, despite the help Lara provides her in the story and Laney's growing respect for her. Children this age can be very cruel and unthinking when a peer is different-especially different in a way that isn't socially acceptable. Mackall makes sure that comes through. It conjured up memories of my own childhood, and experiences my children shared with me during their elementary public school years.

There is a LOT of good in this story, but admittedly, there are things I did not like as well. First was Lara's character. This is a 300 pound 10 year old that somehow manages to keep a smile on her face and rather than respond in anger or display her hurt feelings when she is bullied or done wrong, she responds in verse. Yep, poetry. For example, when a boy in class passes a note to her comparing her to a pig (with the pig coming out the better of the two in his opinion), not only does Lara choose to keep the note from the teacher, who knows it is an unkind note, but she breaks out in verse.

Hey, Joey Gilbert, thanks for the note.
In a class clown election, you'd get my vote.
I watched you pitch, and I think you're great.
But you'll get more power if you arm is straight.

I have a hard time imagining a 10 year old being mature enough to not only compose herself enough to thank someone for a cruel not, but to also offer constructive advice on his baseball pitching! While I understand the purpose, teaching children to rise above bullying and be the better person, I just don't think it is realistic.

My final point contains a spoiler, so stop here if you are planning to read the book and hate spoilers.

The bullying gets so bad that Lara's parents decide to pull her out of school. The class planned and/or participated in a horrible "joke" along the lines of Carrie without the blood. And as bad as it was, Lara still refuses to name her tormentors. On the day she arrives to collect her things, as she is leaving, the class children suddenly come to an epiphany that Lara is a wonderful person for covering for them and create rhyming signs to hold up as she drives away proclaiming their repentance.

DOING THAT WAS A MEAN ATTACK.

IF I COULD I'D TAKE IT BACK.

WE WERE STUPID AND WE WERE MEAN.

YOU WERE THE NICEST PERSON THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN.

And so on. While it would be wonderful if a bully actually did repent of his/her misdeeds, this scene is so very unlikely. Lara sees the signs, she smiles and drives off. The End.

And while I may not have liked the end, or how Lara was portrayed, it opens up a door for communication, provides an opportunity to talk about how to respond to bullying and whether bullies are still "good" people. And that makes this a good book in my opinion. And THAT is why it is now required reading in my house....

All the Pretty Things review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 20:11:00 +0000

All the Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth

For a long time, Edie thought she had escaped. It started in an Appalachian trailer park, where a young girl dreamed of becoming a doctor. But every day, Edie woke up to her reality: a poverty-stricken world where getting out seemed impossible. Where, at twelve years old, she taught herself to drive a truck so she could get her drunk daddy home from the bar. Where the grownups ate while the children went hungry. Where, when the family trailer burned down, she couldn’t be caught squawlin’ over losing her things—she just had to be grateful anyone had remembered to save her at all.

And at the center of it all, there was her daddy. She never knew when he would show up; she learned the hard way that she couldn’t count on him to protect her. But it didn’t matter: All she wanted was to make him proud. Against all odds, Edie “made doctor,” achieving everything that had once seemed beyond her reach. But her past caught up with her—and it would take her whole life burning down once again for Edie to be finally able to face the truth about herself, her family, and her relationship with God.

My Review:

Every little girl longs for her Daddy's love. The girl from the broken home. The girl with a broken father. And Edie was no exception. And while this story doesn't focus entirely on her desire to feel loved by her father, it is there and it will resonate within the reader.

While I didn't do most of my growing up years in Appalachia, I have been in the region since I was 12 (no, I won't tell you how long "since" has been!) and Wadsworth does a wonderful job of capturing what rural, poor Appalachia looks like,

The guardrails provided somewhat of a barrier and peace of mind from the hundred-foot drop-off to the valley below-the valley that had become a dumping ground for everything from empty milk cartons to beer cans to old worn-out couches, and even the ocassional rusted-out car. The switchbacks were so narrow that if another car approached, you either had to hug the embankment to the right and pray you didn't puncture your tires from broken glass or hope one of you would be able to back up to where the road widened enough for both vehicles.

Wadsworth does a wonderful job of capturing the angst and longing of growing up in this environment. This story has it all: a struggle to overcome the past, a desire to achieve more, success, failures, trials, hurt, angst, and self-realization.

As with many Appalachian families, faith is interwoven throughout the story. For me this was the most "true" aspect. Wadsworth doesn't gloss over her trials. She doesn't spout off easy cliches about how she always knew God was going to make everything better. Instead she shares her doubts, her uncertainties about her salvation and her walk, and her journey to coming to really know her Creator.

So I will close my review with Edie's own words after her realization that so much of life is out of our control:

Whether we work or don't, whether we homeschool or not, whether we've had nurturing marriages or not, we walk in humility-knowing that we are dependent on God to use mostly our failures to teach us something of what it means to be a parent, to be a human being.

After all, isn't that truly what life is about, recognizing that God is in control?

Open Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 14:56:00 +0000

Open by David Gregory

Description from publisher:

It wasn’t the end of the world. It was just the end of Emma Jameson’s world. Fresh off the heels of a devastating breakup and floundering in her career, Emma is struggling to come to grips with why God allows so much pain in our lives, why He seems so absent when she needs Him most, and why the Gospel accounts—our supposed guide for how to lead a contented Christian life—feel so completely irrelevant.

Then one day, a mysterious envelope arrives in Emma’s mailbox with the word Open written on the outside. Inside the envelope is a card bearing the following message: “For a real adventure with Jesus, go through the nearest open door.”

Skeptical, but having absolutely nothing to lose, Emma steps through the pantry door, only to find herself instantly transported back to the first century, where she is taken on a personal tour of various Gospel accounts by none other than Jesus himself—an experience that radically challenges Emma’s perception of the Gospels and what it really means to be a Christian.

My Review:

Another simple and yet very meaningful story from Gregory. Once again he manages to share a side of Jesus with us in a way that enables us to connect and really get it in about 150 pages, making this a book that can easily be read in a day. The language is easy to understand. Gregory helps us to see the stories of Jesus life in a way that we can apply to our own life.

Emma is the girl that struggles with her faith. She knows that Jesus is supposed to satisfy her, who goes to church, participates in groups, listens to Christian music, and does all the "right" things. And yet, she doesn't feel like she is "getting anything at all from the Bible....none (of the stories) has anything to do with what I'm dealing with right now....reading stories...that (she'd) read a thousand times didn't provide the answers (she) needed. Jesus wasn't enough." She had begun to doubt her faith and then a mysterious letter arrived that would help her to connect with Jesus in a whole new way.

Together Emma and Jesus walk through several key events to help Emma see that faith isn't about religion, but about a person...and when we surrender completely to Him, our whole life changes.

I loved this book so much that I passed it on to a friend who was struggling with similar faith issues. Like Gregory's other books, this is a great way to open a door for discussion and dialogue on topics that we tend to hide from our brothers in sister in Christ so that we can appear to be good Christians.

Running on Red Dog Road

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Sat, 14 May 2016 22:35:00 +0000

Running on Red Dog Road: And Other Perils of an Appalachian Childhood by Drema Hall Berkheimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Description:
Gypsies, faith-healers, moonshiners, and snake handlers weave through Drema’s childhood in 1940s Appalachia after Drema’s father is killed in the coal mines, her mother goes off to work as a Rosie the Riveter, and she is left in the care of devout Pentecostal grandparents. What follows is a spitfire of a memoir that reads like a novel with intrigue, sweeping emotion, and indisputable charm. Drema’s coming of age is colored by tent revivals with Grandpa, jitterbug lessons, and traveling carnivals, and though it all, she serves witness to a multi-generational family of saints and sinners whose lives defy the stereotypes. Just as she defies her own.

Review:

Running on Red Dog Road and an interesting first hand account of life in Appalachia (specifically West Virginia). We are transported back in time to the 40's and 50's when coal was still the primary source of energy, the war separated families, and (as is still the case in many Appalachian families today) grandparents raised the grandchildren.

Berkheimer walks us through her past is a personal and real way. She brings to life the truth of her grandfather's teaching that, "the places and people we come from sear into our very being and follow us all the days of our lives". Written in a simple, conversational manner you can't help but fall in love with the story. And for those of us who grew up in Appalachia, it is nice to see a story come out that highlights the beauty of that life.

A moment of weakness review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 01:14:00 +0000

A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jade and Tanner could love be any sweeter "that" summer? And yet misunderstanding and misinformation leads to heartache. Jade finds herself wed to another, a man less than ideal. And yet......all hope is not lost when divorce and a nasty child custody case bring Jade and Tanner together again.

I appreciate that Kingsbury addresses real life, less than perfect issues. Even the "best" Christian makes bad choices in their life. It is how you respond to those choices that matter. I especially loved the prayer life/God conversations each had with God. Kingsbury does a good job of showing different views of what that can look like. And Tanner's acceptance of God's gift, all I can say is make sure you have a box of tissues!

While the story is predictable, and you probably already know how the story is going to end, it is an enjoyable pleasure read with a good moral compass. After all, isn't that what Kingsbury does?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I am N review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 01:55:00 +0000

I Am N description:

Yousef, whose mother threatened to kill him for having a Bible, now smuggles Bibles the way his family once smuggled drugs.
After Parveen’s employer beats her for attending church, Parveen begins to help other young Christian women who work in Muslim houses.
Abdulmasi kills hundreds of Christians in northern Nigeria with no remorse—until the day he chooses a new life of faith and sacrifices everything for a God of love.

What can we learn from these faith-filled brothers and sisters around the world? How can we pray for them? And what do their remarkable stories teach us about a God whose light shines in a dark world?

I-Am-N reminds us that we are each “N”—as radical Muslims in Iraq identify followers of Jesus the Nazarene. Wherever we live, we have camaraderie with those who are persecuted. So come meet their families. Read their stories. Deepen your faith in a God who gives us the courage to shine in a dark and hurting world.

My review:
You almost can't turn on the news without hearing about ISIS or troubles in the Middle East. In I Am N, The Voice of the Martyrs strives to move the story from sensational headlines to personal connections. Each of the 17 stories are real. Some end horribly in martyrdom. Others end with new Christians reaching out to others in their community sharing the truth of Jesus despite the personal risks. All will bring home the reality of what it truly is to abandon self and whole-heartedly serve God.

My church had already committed to praying for the Christians facing Islamic extremists several months ago. You will see many of us wearing orange (because of the jumpsuits the prisoners are often wearing when shown on the news) bracelets with Hebrews 13:3 on them as reminders of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are living it first hand. This book has helped to guide how I pray for these people.

The only negative (besides the obvious need to write such a book) is that the writing seems very impersonal and almost cold. Not that I think the authors don't hurt for those they write about, but as if they have distanced themselves from the horror. The stories present the facts with little emotion.

As an effort to share the stories of those who are N, Voice of the Martyrs has truly succeeded. I dare say you will be changed after reading this and will no longer be able to read the headlines or watch the news without realizing that every person being terrorized by ISIS has a story, has a family that loves them, has a desire to live....and yet their faith in Jesus love is such that they refuse to turn their back on Him. I never thought I would see persecution like in the days of Nero.....yet here we are......

Looking for Home review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 01:31:00 +0000

Looking for Home Description:

With his mother dead, his father gone, and his older brothers and sisters unable to help, eight-year-old Ethan Cooper knows it’s his responsibility to keep him and his younger siblings together—even if that means going to an orphanage.

Ethan, Alice, Simon, and Will settle into the Briarlane Christian Children’s Home, where there’s plenty to eat, plenty of work, and plenty of talk about a Father who never leaves. Even so, Ethan fears losing the only family he has. How can he trust God to keep him safe when almost everything he’s known has disappeared?

The first book in the Beyond the Orphan Train series, Looking for Home takes us back to 1907 Pennsylvania and into the real-life adventures of four children in search of a true home.

My Review:
When I was given the opportunity to review this book I was a bit confused. I had never heard of the orphan trains. Apparently (according to Wikipedia anyways)

The Orphan Train Movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded Eastern cities of the United States to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the Midwest. The orphan trains operated between 1853 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children.

In this series Richardson bases the main characters on the lives of 4 orphans and their experiences. While names have been changed the events are as close to accurate as the memories of those the characters have been modeled after.

That being said, I think this would be a great way to introduce younger children to this time in history. The main character, Ethan, is 8 years old in 1907 when this story begins. He is the oldest of the children being sent to the orphanage with his 3 younger siblings and is tasked with looking out after them. His older siblings had obtained work and thus were able to support themselves, but unable to support their younger siblings. Ma has passed on and Pa is out "working on a boat" but we are led to believe that he has abandoned the family.

As the first in the series this 12 chapter, 170 page book covers the children's trip to the local orphanage and their first year there. It is written in such a way that an elementary age child would easily be able not only read the book but connect with the characters. I believe this would also be a wonderful read aloud for lower elementary students as well. And if you are a lover of living books, this would be right up your alley.

Look for reviews of the next 3 books to come soon!

Cable left, cable right review

noreply@blogger.com (Ginny of Sunflowers at Home) — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 18:19:00 +0000

Book description:

Knitted cables, with their three-dimensional twists and turns, are a common element in lots of patterns -- but most patterns don’t include directions for executing them. Cable Left, Cable Right, by expert knitter Judith Durant, eliminates the mystery with detailed, in-depth instructions for creating 94 different styles of cable, from perfectly plain to fantastically fancy. Close-up photos and clear instructions teach you the techniques you need, including design options like braids, diamonds, and pretzels so you can make your cables truly one-of-a-kind. This book is the perfect companion to any knitting pattern featuring cables, giving you the information and skills to make polished, beautiful, and unique cables for any project.

My review:

If you knit, you should own this book! I knit hats for a charity organization and found the cable patterns in this book inspiring....you can bet there are going to be several donated hats sporting patterns from this book.

I found the directions easy to follow and the step by step pictures were beautiful as well as helpful. What I really enjoyed was the time that Durant took to include all of the possible chart symbols and what they mean as well as most of the abbreviations included in cable patterns. This makes is easier to understand both written and charted patterns, including those not this book, not that you will need to look elsewhere.

With everything from beginner (how to do both left and right crossing single cables) to the more advanced (knitting cables WITHOUT cable needles) and tons of gorgeous patterns you will find yourself pulling this book down quite often. And while I will be using the patterns for hats, I can easily see these incorporated in blankets, sweaters and even socks!