25,000 Mornings by Fay Rowe

This is a nice inspirational devotional, nothing out the ordinary. The story’s are well written their just not my particular style for devotions.

Each devo is two pages and has a Bible verse to go along with the story for that day’s message.

There are about 140 devotionals. This can be useful for someone who is new to having devotions. You don’t get a lot of depth but it can spur on conversations when in a mentoring atmosphere.

I would give this book a three star rating.

I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze.com.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Redemption by Bryan Clay & Joel Kilpatrick

A Rebellious Spirit, a Praying Mother, and the Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold

  

This is a biography of Bryan Clay and how he came to be a decathlete. At a young age Bryan’s mom told him that he was going to win Olympic gold. He never believed her. I enjoyed how Bryan shares his story with us and guides us through the process of becoming a decathlete.

 According to Bryan; “What separates elite athletes from everyone else has more to do with the choices they make along the way rather than their DNA.” Location 215-216.  You will see this mentality being played throughout his career.

“The decathlon is composed of the following events, listed here in order in which they take place in competition:

Day One: 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 meters.  

Day Two: 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, 1500 meters.” Location 1125

Bryan is preparing for the 2012 Olympics in London.

The only thing I don’t like is how the sidebars are inserted with my kindle. It may just be a kindle thing, just a minor distraction. I quickly realized that I could skip over the sidebars since they were in bold and the information was already in the text.

I am pleased to give this book a five star rating.

I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze.com.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock

I must admit that I read this book from cover to cover in one day.

This is a modernized parallel to the prodigal son story found in scriptures.

We have a family torn apart through tragedy. The girls are torn away from a loving home and raised with cruel grandparents. Life for Kara and Lizzie becomes understatedly complicated. During this time the girls are lied to about the tragedy for the next fifteen years by their maternal grandparents. The girls are stuck with Eloise and Deke until their eighteenth birthday. Only then can Amanda come and offer the girls their birthright, with conditions.

Ultimately, can Kara make peace with her past and accept the loving relationship Amanda most desires to have with her and Lizzie?

Some of the issues covered in this story are, child neglect/abuse, gambling, alcohol, premarital intimacy, steeling, and spousal abuse.

I would like to give this book a five star rating.

I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze.com.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Chasing The Sun by Tracie Peterson

This is book one in the “Land Of The Lone Star” series.

This was a quick read for me and it’s very challenging not to write a spoiler! I will do my best.

Setting is Texas in 1863. We have a plethora of things going on historically during this time. Tracie has been diligent to check for historical accuracy.

I enjoyed how the main love interests have been woven into the story. Hannah and William face a variety of challenges throughout the book. Some of them they go through alone while others they face together. Of course we can’t have a love story without someone to interfere, and this one is cunning.

We have two young children, Hannah’s siblings. I love how accurate Tracie portrayed them. Kids can say the most honest things and sometimes they do.

You will enjoy this book so I am pleased to give it a five star rating.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Publishers.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Voice

“The heart of the project is retelling the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works, yet remaining painstakingly true to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts.” - Kindle Location 251

I think this will be able to help new believers to start/continue having devotions.

Great for senior saints that are having difficulty reading, now they have the ability to listen to the scriptures they have come to love.

Out driving in the car with the kids, just play The Voice New Testament.

Super Sunday School aide; just play the Bible story while you act it out for the kids; lots of options for you to use puppets, mime, silent drama, fabric boarding, etc.

I am pleased to give this book a four star rating.

I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze.com.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

I think that this book is geared to teens as its main characters are high school seniors. Brielle has just come back from city life to her small hometown…not by choice. Enduring hardships would be an accurate statement without giving a spoiler. Jake is the new guy in town. Let’s just say he is one “hot” guy…not just figuratively.

This is a dark story one that can be considered very heavy reading. Some of the topics included throughout the story are, Angels and Demons, sword fighting, guns, death, and child trafficking.

I found this to be a very intriguing story and was hooked by the first chapter. This is also the first book that I have read on a kindle.

I am pleased to give this book a five star rating.

I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze.com.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Beauty Book by Nancy Rue

This is a great book for tween girls. Nancy uses humor to get her point across.

          Topics range from:

Birthmarks                     Hair

Braces                             Make -up

Clothes                            Pimples

Ear/body piercing          Shaving arms & legs

Feet                                  Skin

Glasses                            Tattoos

There are plenty of activities in the book to keep your tween engaged and feeling loved and special.

 I think this is a great way for moms to have open discussion with their tween daughters about becoming a woman and being comfortable with the many changes her body is going through. It’s always great to have a tool available to help to spur on conversation that may be uncomfortable to have, but this book helps to break the ice.

 I know that I am planning a weekend getaway for me and my tween so we can start our own dialogue about the changes she will be starting to go through.

 Nancy has also included an excerpt from her next nonfiction book in the Lily Series: The Body Book.

 

I am pleased to give this book a five star rating.

 

I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze.com.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255