Believe Storybook Think, Act, Be Like Jesus

Presented by bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee, the Believe Storybook shows children how they can think, act, and be more like Jesus. With 60 old and new testament stories from the Bible that showcase the themes, combined with captivating and dramatic illustrations by Steve Adams, children and adults alike will be inspired to become more like their savior and the person they were meant to be.

The Believe Storybook is part of the national church-wide program led by bestselling author Randy Frazee that shows

children how they can think, act, and be more like Jesus.

About the Authors

Randy Frazee is the senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Oak Hills is one of the largest churches in America, where Randy teaches and leads in partnership with pastor and author Max Lucado. An emerging leader and innovator in spiritual formation and biblical community, Randy is the architect of The Story church engagement campaign. He is the author of The Heart of The Story, The Connecting Church 2.0, The Christian Life Profile Assessment, and coauthored Real Simplicity with his wife Rozanne.

Review:

The Believe Storybook is not only a book of children's Bible stories, but explains more about the stories and why they are important to our lives.  It teaches children more about their personal faith and how to keep growing and knowing God.  Reading along with the child helps the adult see how to explain things to the child that may sometimes even be difficult for the adult to understand.



With wonderful colorful illustrations and explanations of each story, it is a wonderful and compelling book that is a must read for children of faith and their parents as well!  Great for parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles to read along with the child or for a child to read alone.



Highly recommended for ages 3/4 through 8.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari by Jill Osborne

If you’re gonna run for your life, you gotta wear the right shoes.

Pre-teen shoe model Riley Mae laces up her flaming orange Sole Fire running shoes for another ad campaign—this time in Kenya, Africa! Kenya is the perfect place for runners to train, with its high elevation and encouragement from Olympic athletes. It’s also a great hiding place for Riley and her Swiftriver friends from so-

called enemies back in the United States … but for how long?

Adjusting to a new culture is difficult. Every chore is tiring, school is miles away, and there’s always the threat of a lurking lion that can ruin everything. But after spending time with the children and Christian women in her friend Sunday’s remote village, Riley finds herself growing stronger and praying for God to use her to spread the good news. Her prayers are answered in exciting and startling ways when she meets an orphaned girl seeking answers at a children’s home, but also when an error in judgment causes her to stumble into a surprise meeting with the enemy.

Review:

"Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari" is by Jill Osborne and is the third book in the Good News Shoes series. 



Riley Mae Hart is a pre-teen "spokesmodel" for running shoes.  She has the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa for her next ad campaign! Riley loves to run so when she learns that Kenya is the perfect place to train for running, she gets very excited. She and her friends also need a great place to hide from enemies in the US, so off they go to join other Olympic athletes in Kenya, Africa.

Riley is a good character who has a strong faith in God.  She spreads the Good News of Christ to those she meets on her adventures.  Although she struggles with the differences in the culture in Kenya, she eventually grows to love life in the village.  Unfortunately all is not safe and carefree for Riley and her friends.

This is the first book in this series that I have read.  Although I did enjoy the adventure I feel I may have missed some information because I have not yet read the first two books.  I highly recommend starting with the first book in this series.  It is a great story for young girls who strive to live their faith even when things get tough.





Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari can be purchased at these and other great websites:

Amazon

Christian Book

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post through the Book Look Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Gracie's Secret by Lorelie Rozzano #review #blast

Book Genre: Children’s Ficton

Publisher: Edgewood Publishing

Release Date: July 29, 2014

Buy Link(s): http://www.amazon.com/Gracies-Secret-Lorelie-Rozzano/dp/0993740901/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409186470&sr=8-1&keywords=gracies+secret



Book Description:

Meet Grace. At nine years old she has a big secret. Grace knows
first-hand that life can be difficult. Her parents aren't very happy.
Their arguing is giving her a stomach ache. She spends a

lot of time
alone, worrying. Are her parents problems her fault? Had she done
something wrong? Grace pretends everything is fine, but it's not. She
feels helpless and has learned that making things up is easier than
telling the truth. One big question haunts her every day. Will her
family ever be happy again?



This book is
perfect for a child with a difficult home life. Divorce, addiction,
mental health issues and more can cause children to feel alone, anxious
and afraid. Gracie's Secret addresses this by showing kids they aren't
alone, and that they can feel better. With a workbook section for kids
to understand their own issues and a message that talking to a safe
person will help, Gracie's story can help kids cope.





Review:

We all would love to believe that every child has a loving and happy home with two parents who are completely devoted to their child.  But unfortunately that is often not the case.  As a child who was raised in a dysfunctional family, I was not sure how I would feel about reading and sharing this story that was written for younger children.  It is well written and has a good moral for children going through difficulties at home, and has a nice section in the back for kids' to work through their own issues and find a trusted person to talk to.  I can say that it would be good for younger children to see that they are not alone in what they are going through.

---

Author Bio:



My name is Lorelie Rozzano and I'm a recovering addict. Seventeen years
ago I took the most difficult walk of my life – through the doors of a
local treatment centre. I found in recovery, what I’d been looking for
in alcohol and drugs. Finally, my skin fit! I'm an author, mother, wife,
grandmother, foster parent, sister, family counsellor and daughter.
Growing up in an alcoholic home I understand first-hand, the importance
of a healthy family. I began working at the Edgewood Treatment Centre
for addiction in 1998 and have had the privilege of working with both
patients and their families. I'm passionate about helping others whose
lives like mine, have been affected by addiction. In the past few years
I've created a blog, Jagged Little Edges – living in a world of hope,
and written three fiction books: Gracie’s Secret, Jagged Little Edges,
and Jagged Little Lies. My hope is that the honesty found in my books
and and on my blog, will help those dealing with unhealthy behaviours
and addiction. After all, I truly believe if I can get clean, anyone
can. I'm currently working on book three in the Jagged series

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

IT Girl 4 Life - build unshakable self-confidence and bring out your special something!

Genre: 

YA nonfiction — self-esteem/ self help/ personal growth/inspiration/motivation.



Publisher: Heart Project Publishing

Release Date: June 15, 2014

Buy: Amazon | BN

Book Description:


"YOU have IT. IT is the GREATNESS you were born with." - from the book

Writer,
artist, and speaker, Tamara Branch serves up 40 bite-sized chapters on
how to build unshakable self-confidence, honor your life, and shine
bright

in the world, in ITGIRL4LIFE: How to bring out your special something and so much more. Get ready to fall in love with your own wisdom, beauty, and strength.

---

Tamara
Branch is from New York, born and raised in the Bronx. She is thrilled
to share her first book release, ITGIRL4LIFE: How to bring out your
special something and so much more. The book kicks off the ITGIRL4LIFE
self-esteem movement to help empower girls to stand up, stand out and
shine bright in the world.
Tamara
has worked as a professional model and actor for almost two decades.
She strutted down the runway for designers Calvin Klein, Donna Karen and
Christian Dior, acted in a few independent films,
co-hosted PBS New York’s education series, “What’s up in Technology”
and appeared T.V. commercials and print ads for Levi’s, Old Navy,
Hershey’s, Colgate, Kellogg’s Special K, Revlon, Hanes, Nike and many
others. A Penn State alumnus and lifelong student of personal
development, Tamara is deeply passionate about uplifting the human
spirit.



After
graduating from Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying under
Deepak Chopra, Dr. Andrew Weil and some of the top health and wellness
experts in the world, she was inspired to raise the bar on her own ‘self
care’ and support others in living more vibrantly. She is an abstract
artist and teaches a dynamic dance class, where she gets to fuse her
varied background, having trained in everything from jazz, ballet and
modern to Afro-Caribbean and Salsa.



Tamara
was recently asked to become a Female Visionary Author guest blogger
for The Brave Heart Women Global Community. She's a SAG/AFTRA member
since 1998, a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and
Illustrators and is represented by Abrams Artists Agency.



Tamara currently lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband of
seven years and offers ITGIRL4LIFE workshops to assist girls on their
self empowerment journey. Her second book is due out next Spring. Stay
tuned!



Author Links -

http://www.tamarabranch.com
http://tamarabranch.com/tams-blog/ 

https://www.facebook.com/itgirl4lifemovement
https://twitter.com/itgirl4life
http://www.pinterest.com/branch0204/
http://linkd.in/1s7bSPA
https://www.goodreads.com/
http://amzn.to/1nPlKs7 

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Before Amen by Max Lucado ~ building a stronger, faith filled prayer life ~ #review

{About Before Amen}

Before Amen || (Thomas Nelson, September 2014)





We all pray . . . some.




We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed
malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the
marriage is falling apart. We pray.




But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?




Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The
calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And
what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain

words. Unmet
expectations. Unanswered requests.




We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of
Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial
they ever requested.




And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the
doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable
prayer. Couldn’t we use the same?




In Before Amen best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers
on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for
doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the
Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer
is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is
simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the
conversation begin.




Learn more at Max’s website.



My Review:

I must completely agree with this particular part of the book description ". . .prayer
is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is
simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. . ."  This book describes exactly that - that prayer is not just a "God I need . . want . . please help . . " but should be seen as a special gift given to us.  Direct communication with the Creator!


Before Amen is a powerful and amazing book, well written for those who really desire to strengthen their prayer life and communication with God.  It has made me stop and think of the way I approach prayer.  I see it as a way to give God my requests and expectations, but I should see it for the privilege it truly is.  I need to approach God with reverence yet a child-like heart full of love and desire to spend time in his presence.  This book is Highly recommended by this blogger!

{More About Max Lucado}

More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of
Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas,
where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt,
Andy.


Find out more about Max at http://teamlucado.com/beforeamen/cbd.html.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Expectant Parents – New Resource from Focus on the Family {And, iPad Mini Giveaway!} ends 11/2

While many books for new parents focus on prenatal development and the health of a mom-to-be, Suzanne Hadley Gosselin's Expectant Parents' core purpose is to help new parents understand key issues related to the arrival of a new child in the home, offering practical assistance as they prepare themselves for long-term family success.

Learn ways to strengthen your marriage relationship, set plans and expectations for parenthood, increase communication, and prepare for the new stage of your family life. Pick up a copy for yourself or for expectant friends and enter for a chance to win an iPad Mini!



One grand prize winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini


• Expectant Parents from Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Focus on the Family

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 2nd. Winner will be announced November 3rd on Suzanne's website here.

 

{Review} Chasing Heaven (Amish Romance) Kindle Ebook

Hannah Bieler's wedding is more than just cause for celebration. 

It
gets her sisters wondering when they will get married, who they'll fall
in love with, or whether God has other plans for them entirely. 

But it
becomes clear that although the Amish are simple people, their love


lives are anything but.

Review:

The story is centered around one Amish family and their relationships within the
family as well as their dating relationships outside the family and the
struggles with being Amish or the desire to become an Englisher. I found the
book appealing and it held me from beginning to end. Other than a few misspelled words within the story, I thought it was very well written.  I would highly recommend it
for anyone who likes to read about the Amish
lifestyle.

~ Review by Sharon

~ Posted by Susan





Available as Kindle Ebook through AMAZON

Disclosure: I purchased this book through Amazon.com. I chose to post the review because it is a book I enjoyed and felt my readers would love as well. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Review} Studies in World History ~ Vol 1 from New Leaf Press ~ Home School History Lessons for Jr High Students

About this Product:

From Creation Through the age of Discovery (6000 BC to AD 1500)

• Chronologically based, but focused more on skill development


• Meant to be a 20 to 30 minute experience every day


• World history is combined with social studies in a one-year course.

The
Jr. High School student will see history come to

life no matter what
their pace or ability. Developed by Dr. James Stobaugh, the courses grow
in difficulty with each year, preparing students for high school work.
This is a comprehensive examination of history, geography, economics,
and government systems. This educational set equips students to learn
from a starting point of God's creation of the world and move forward
with a solid biblically-based worldview.



Volume I Covers - The Fertile Crescent, Egypt, India, China, Japan, Greece, Christian history, and more.

Who is it for: 6th-8th grade (ages 11-14)

My Review:

Although I am not a homeschool teacher, I do try to work with my kids each school break to have them continue learning and exercising their minds as much as I can.  I love looking for fun books, activities and short lessons to try to do with them at least once a week.

  

For my son, it has been harder since he has gotten older.  He will be in Jr High this coming school year and finding something that he would consider fun as well as educational is a challenge.  So finding that he really likes reading some of the lessons inside Studies in World History ~ Vol 1 from New Leaf Press, is wonderful.  He has a love for history and enjoys learning more about why and how things happened.

I have found him reading through the student as well as the teacher's books to find out more about some of history's events from a Biblical standpoint.  Studies in World History ~ Vol 1  not only tells events of history and make the lessons short and interesting, but also includes occasional references from scripture.

Mom's Favorite Chapters:

God's Precious Treasure: Prospering in a Hostile Place

Ancient North America: Hunter-Gatherers

Fringe History

Son's Favorite Chapters:

The Fertile Crescent: Nomads to Farmers

Ancient China: Technology Triumphs

Early Japan: Identity Crisis

Fringe History

The Crusades: Changing the World



 

 So whether you home school, add additional lessons at home, or just want to give your child a different look at history - the Studies in World History from New Leaf Press is a great set of books to check out!

Purchase links:

New Leaf Publishing

Amazon (affiliate links)

Studies in World History Volume 1 (Student)



Studies in World History Volume 1 (Teacher Guide)



Studies in World History Volume 2 (Student)

Studies in World History Volume 3 (Student)

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Book Review} A Different Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong

Fashion
is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model
Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is
everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks
beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it
starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means


moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be
the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for
words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.



If only
her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her
mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of
success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats
her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the
façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other
characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty
and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken
by the world—yet wants her still?



Purchase on Amazon  A Broken Kind of Beautiful: A Novel (affiliate link)






Review:

I found this book interesting as well as appealing. I was drawn into the life
of the model because I too for along time felt that my life was broken and
unraveling until I met my source of help. The story is about a model whose life
has been "broken" and is unraveling and a photographer who has been following
the life of the model since she was 12. They renew their relationship at the
funeral of IVY's(the model) father.



Their lives begin to intertwine in a small
town of Greenbrier, South Carolina where IVY becomes a model for her stepmother's
bridal wear line and Davis Knight(the photographer) is working at a local
church. Davis sees something in IVY that no one else sees and in return IVY
comes to see beauty and worth in a different light. I loved this book from
beginning to end. It was filled with spiritual uplifting help.



I would recommend
this book for anyone that feels that their life is broken or unraveling. I
received this book free from Blogging for Books.



~ Reviewed by Sharon

~ Posted by Susan

Disclosure: I (Sharon) received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Blogging for Books. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Book Review & Giveaway} Dr Carey's Baby Care Guide for that Important First Year

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

A Doctor’s Original Baby Care Guide for that Important First Year

With over 120 full color pictures, I am able to share baby care as
if you were in my office. Neatly written in under 100 pages (print
version), this easy to understand guide is written by a doctor to assure
reliable information for you and

your child. My goal in writing this
guide is to ease your concerns and eliminate those sleepless nights. Dr.
Carey’s® First Year Baby Care Guide will provide essential baby care
knowledge and a better understanding of when your baby needs to be seen
by a professional. In short, the confidence to be an outstanding parent
to your baby.



Some of the topics Dr. Carey shares in this book:


Your baby’s developmental milestones


Newborn rashes explained


How to handle minor medical problems as they arise


Surviving your baby being sick


Answers to the most common questions parents ask


PLUS – A place to record your baby’s milestones



My Review:

As a Nurse and Mother of three, I have read a selection of baby books over the years to help me figure out what I consider "minor" issues that come up that are usually not worth taking my child into the office for a visit to figure out.  I have a couple that are my "go to" books that I highly recommend to any expecting parent, babysitter, parent, grandparent or caregiver for young ones.  Dr Carey's Baby Care Guide is definitely one that I would recommend as an addition to those all-important reference books that I consider a must-have for anyone taking care of infants!



I was quite impressed with the subjects covered in this small book as well as the full-color, real life photos.  I can't tell you how many times I read about an issue but wished for a good picture example to compare my son's or daughter's problem to, and this book has a wonderful amount of reference photos.

This book is full of great advice and examples for baby care that any caregiver would love to have on hand.



This book is organized in a user-friendly way, where the most common questions are handled by topic, as well as an informative appendix, which cross-references topics and
situations as well. A great book for a baby shower or new parent gift - or a great book for any caregiver to keep on hand!



Giveaway Info:

Open to US and Canada unless prohibited by law.  Must be 18 or older to enter/win.  All entries are optional, but the more you enter the better your chances of winning.  Winner will have 24 hours to reply and claim prize.



Available on Amazon in paperback and for kindle

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review using Tomoson.com. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

(Book Review) Biff & Becka's Stupendous Vacation ~ Christian Children's Fiction

Biff’s anticipated family vacation takes an unexpected turn. How will
he deal with bitter disappointment? Is his summer ruined? Will he be
humiliated by his friends?



In interesting twists and turns, the
author takes Biff and his rabbit family through a trying time that has a
surprising outcome. Engaging questions

for each chapter at the end
encourage lively discussion between your child or grandchild and you.



The author paints a picture of a godly home to give encouragement and guidance to parents who struggle and kids who hurt.



Biff
and Becka’s Stupendous Vacation helps your child know how to deal with
disappointment. It also helps children relate to family and friends
with honesty and respect.





My Review:



I understand wanting to share a moral and Godly message with children and parents - and this book definitely goes above and beyond with that message.  The entire first chapter is a "pour it on thick" type of sermon that seems to go on forever.  Once the first chapter is finally over, the story actually begins and it is a good story.



With characters that are in a rabbit family that acts like humans which is not unusual, but it does not carry over into the rest of their world - other animals in the story are just animals, while they are talking, thinking, praying rabbits who wear clothes and do everything humans do, why couldn't they just be human kids?  Or why aren't all the animals human-type?



Anyway overall it is a nice story with a great moral message - I just felt it could have been written better so that children would enjoy reading it for the story itself and see the message within rather than having it shoved at them right from the beginning.  Sorry, I just really had a hard time with that first chapter.  Don't get me wrong - I agree with most everything said, just do not feel it belongs in a large sermon in a child's story.  I'm afraid I'm a bit conflicted with this one and not sure I'd read any others in the series personally.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Booklook Bloggers. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

(Book Review) Always With You by Andrea Hurst

1977 is a glorious time to be alive in the beautiful wine country of
Northern California, and Cathy has everything she thought she wanted -
from a thriving health food café to loyal friends.


Since the devastating failure of her short-lived marriage, Cathy has
buried herself in her work and kept men at arm’s length. But when an
old high

school friend, Pam, brings her family for a short stay, Cathy’s
stone walls begin to crumble when she meets Jamie. Jamie, whose
compassion and warmth slowly break down her defenses. Jamie, whose
devotion to his four-year-old daughter melts Cathy's heart and makes her
desperate for a family of her own. Jamie… who is married to Pam.


A profound love that transcends time and place is impossible to
resist. But is love more important than friendship? Are loyalty and
fidelity an anchor or a chain? In the end, it’s all about choices –
tough ones that can break hearts. Now Cathy must make the most difficult
choice of her life. 





Review:

Cathy a divorcee, living alone in the county part of Sonoma County
California has company come for a stay while the husband looks for work as a
chef in the area. Sparks begin to fly between Cathy and the husband of the
friend staying with her as well as their young daughter. To find out what
happens in this tale of twisted love, you will have to read it. It is an
excellent book that draws you in from the very beginning all the way to the
end.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Book Review} Labeled by Humanity, Loved by God by

Labeled by Humanity, Loved by God is an inspiring story of how one,
small determined girl depends upon God to transform her life. Doctors
predicted she would never walk advising her parents to put her away in a
home when she was born with a severe deformity of her lower

legs and
feet.



Labeled lame at birth, with twisted stumps for feet, only two toes
per foot, no ankles, and calves the size and shape of a tiny ball bat,
God has proven he is able! 



The book is splashed with vivid photos that
will amaze you, along with personal accounts of how God has rescued,
forgiven, delivered and continues to mold her life.If humanity labels
you as different or perhaps a misfit, God loves you, as his child.



First paragraph excerpt:

Darkness, miserable and pitch
black.  Darkness yearning desperately for
a flicker of light to prove hope exists. 
Misery ushered in on a day that should’ve been one of the happiest in my
parent’s lives.  A darkness so black it
was if I had licked my tiny thumb and forefinger and snuffed out the only
candle that lit the room.   I have just
been delivered in a small community hospital in northwest Georgia.  If I could speak I would ask “Mommy, do you
love me?” 

My
memoir, Labeled by Humanity, Loved by God answers that question. Go
with me on my journey from darkness to light, desperation to hope...

Review:

This story is about one woman's life from birth to adulthood, from
deformed to transformed, from humanity's labels to God's love. I can not put
this book down. It is for anyone, even if they do not have a deformity in their
physical body, but struggles with "labels" that society has put on them. Through
it all, God is there to show them that they are loved and accepted by him.



~ Reviewed by Sharon

~ Posted by Susan

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Book Review & Giveaway} Stocks, Bonds, and Soccer Moms by Michelle Perry Higgins

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Are you juggling motherhood, marriage--and perhaps a career? Whether
you're a career woman  or a stay-at-home mom, you want to give your all
in every part of your life.



Personal time and romance become distant memories and the stress

piles
high. Sound familiar?  There is a solution! Stocks, Bonds & Soccer
Moms returns you to that all-important sense of balance, fulfillment,
and contentedness in seven clear steps.



Put the romance back in your marriage Learn to set boundaries and ask for

help Let go of perfectionism and the damaging myth of the Supermom&; the secret principle

that will change everything.





available on Amazon.com in ebook and print



My Review:

A great resource for parents in any stage of life.  Raising kiddos, working in or out of the home, juggling school, work, sports, household, marriage and more can be quite overwhelming, yet author Michelle Perry Higgins brings Motherhood back into focus in a down-to-earth way.  With witty and down-to earth stories from her life that mirror many of my own experiences, Michelle brings Mommyhood back into focus in a real way that any Mom can empathize with.  I found many of her stories and points were not only inspirational but I could completely see it in my own life - a few eye openers for this Mom.  I really feel that this is a Must-Read book for Moms everywhere of any age. A great book to have on-hand for any Mom to read, re-read and share with other Mom Friends!





Now for the Giveaway!  Mom Loves 2 Read has been given the chance to offer a print copy of this book FREE to one lucky reader - simply enter below - all entries are optional!  Open to US & Canada - must be 18 or older to enter/win.  Winner will have 24 hours to reply and claim prize!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review using Tomoson.com. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Giveaway} $100 And The New 101 Kids Activities That are the Bestest Funnest Ever!

101 Kids Activities That are the Bestest Funnest Ever!

by Holly Homer & Rachel Miller

Will be released on June 10, 2014!

Guest What I just found out?  The newest Kids Activity book from Kids Activities Blog is Coming OUT!  AND you can

enter the giveaway for a chance to WIN a copy today!

It is currently available for pre-order:

• Amazon


• Barnes & Noble

Easy, Creative and Fun Things to Keep Your Children Entertained and Happy

Never again will you hear the all-too-common call of “I’m bored!” with this kid-pleaser for many ages.

Whether your child is 3, 5, or 12 years old, there are hundreds of
fun, educational and engaging things to do in this book.  When they ask
to watch television, you’ll have the perfect solution.  101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever! has time-tested, exciting activities to keep your children laughing and learning for the whole day, every day.



Oh I can't wait to review this one!  With three kiddos ages 6, 9 and almost 13 this book has some amazing ideas to keep them occupied and entertained this summer - One way or another I'll end up with a copy of this book for myself!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a small compensation for posting about this giveaway.  I only post items that I feel my readers will like. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Book Tour, Review & Giveaway} The Ripple Effect by Jennifer Griffith & Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Immersed by Jennifer Griffith



Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever.
But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just

have Lisette at their side.



Solution? A make-under. Way under. It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest.
Until… Erik.



Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she'd never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.

Amazon

Author Jennifer Griffith



Jennifer Griffith studied French, German, Japanese, and a wee bit of Spanish in her school days. Her grandmother was Norwegian, and Jennifer grew up with lots of Scandinavian traditions floating around, including fabulous cardamom laced cookies called Krumkaker, made on a fancy waffle iron. However, she’d never dream of trying to teach someone any of those languages. And she might botch the cookies. Instead, she writes novels in English, drives her five kids a million places, and laughs with her husband, who came up with the plot for Immersed because he’s just a cool muse like that.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Review:

Immersed is the sixth book in the Ripple Effect series by author  Jennifer Griffith.  Once again the reader (namely ME) is taken on an epic adventure straight from the author's imagination to my ereader.  The main character, Lisette has a horrible problem - men can't get past her pretty face to see her in a professional way - so she does what any beautiful, intelligent woman does for her career, she gets a "make-under."  Yep, that's right - sort of a make over only opposite.  She wants to be less attractive and more plain so that the male clients who hire her don't focus so much on her physical attributes, yet one doesn't seem to get the message - and she finds herself smitten with him and considering exposing her little make under.



As the story unfolds, I found myself laughing and loving how well-written the characters are, how engaging the story is and how much I have enjoyed reading not only this book but the others in this series.



Although Immersed is the sixth in the series, I felt that this story could be read on it's own without having to read the first five books.  A fun and fantastic clean read that kept this reader entertained from beginning to end.

Blog Tour Giveaway 

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash 

Ends 6/9/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

{Book Review} Seasons of Tomorrow by Cindy Woodsmall ~ Amish Fiction

As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming.

More
settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound
confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish
in Orchard Bend, Maine. Time has helped to heal the wounds of Rhoda’s
recent severed relationship, and she finds that even her unusual gift of


profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s
wisdom for her future. She is happy to be working alongside the King
family and the love of her life as they tend and nurture the
settlement’s orchard.



Yet when Leah King’s involvement with
Englischer Landon Olson becomes known outside of the Maine community,
her disregard of the Ordnung could threaten all the Orchard Bend Amish
are building. In the midst of addressing the discord, a shocking
tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening
to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.



When
several members of Orchard Bend Farms are displaced, the estranged King
brother is called upon to return. Can those who founded the new Amish
community in Maine unite Or will the lingering pain of past hurts and
present struggles result in the end of their dreams?



Review:

Cindy Woodsmall continues the life of Rhoda in her Amish Vine and Orchard
series. This was the 4th book in the series, but the first book I read and I
found it worth reading and held my interst from the introduction to the end. The
book takes Rhoda through the struggle of keeping a newly founded Amish community
together while dealing with the pains of past hurts and present struggles. I
look forward to finding the first 3 book so I can fully understand the complete
story line involved in this series. I would recommend this book as well as the
rest of the series to anyone that loves to read Amish books.

 

~ Reviewed by Sharon

~ Posted by Susan

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Blogging for Books. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.