Audrey Bunny by Angie Smith ~ An Amazing Children's book Review & GIVEAWAY on Mom Loves 2 Read

About Audrey Bunny

From best-selling women’s
author Angie Smith (I Will
Carry You, Mended) comes
this sweet children’s book about a stuffed animal named Audrey Bunny who fears
her imperfections make her unworthy of a little girl’s love. She'll learn the
truth soon enough, and young readers will learn that everyone is special and
wonderfully made by God.

[Also included]: The Parent Connection (last page of the book) shares
discussion questions and activities reinforcing God's love for us.

Angie Smith is the wife of Todd Smith (lead
singer of Dove Award winning group Selah), best-selling author of Mended, I Will Carry You, and What Women Fear, and one of the most popular
speakers and blog writers in the country. She holds a Master’s degree in
Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University and lives with her husband
and daughters in Nashville, TN.  

Find out more about Angie Smith and her books



http://angiesmithonline.com/

Audrey Bunny is now
#1 in Christian Children's Books at Amazon.com!







My Review:

I was nearly in tears the first time I read about Audrey Bunny.  The story of Audrey Bunny is a heartwarming tale of a stuffed bunny who is not perfect.  She has a thumbprint type mark on her that has kept most children from choosing her.  She is embarrassed about this imperfect mark and sad because she has not been chosen.  Then, a miracle happens and a little girl named Caroline chooses her as a birthday gift.  Audrey does her best to hide her mark from Caroline, afraid that she won't be loved or special if Caroline realizes she isn't a perfect bunny.



This story is one that captured not only my imagination and hear, but that of my daughter and her little friend who I read the story to.  They both sighed, saddened that the bunny was not chosen in the beginning and clapped and were so excited when she was chosen by Caroline.  My daughter told me that "she would love the bunny just the way she was" and it brought joy to this Mom's heart to hear that from my 5 year old.



The illustrations on each page are wonderfully accurate and adorable.  The pictures helped make the story come alive for me and for the girls who were reading it with me.  The loved the pictures of Audrey Bunny when she was hiding her mark, and especially the pictures of her going to school with Caroline!



This is a story of God's love, and how each of us are unique and wonderfully made.  A story that tells every little one that he or she is special no matter what is on the outside.  I love this story and will continue reading it over and over to my children, friends, and family. I also enjoyed the Parent Connection in the back of the book.  It has questions
and activities for parents and children to do together to reinforce the
message of the story. I highly recommend this book for any child!

The Giveaway!  

To kick off my Holiday Gift Guide 2013 - another amazing giveaway!

one hardcover print copy of Audrey Bunny will go to the winner of this giveaway

Open to US/Canada, 18+

Void where prohibited

Entry-Form

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.”.

Delicious GIVEAWAY ~ Pasta With Personality, makes wonderfully tasty gifts ~ Holiday Gift Guide 2013

 

Welcome to Mom Loves 2 Read!

Throughout the Month of November through early December, I will be providing a lot of fun giveaways to celebrate the upcoming Holiday Season.  

Kicking off with my Holiday Gift Guide 2013 post, then adding more and more as the season draws near.

To start the Holiday Fun - Here is the first giveaway from my 2013 HGG!

A box FULL of delicious pasta!

one winner will receive a pasta box filled with an assortment of seasonal
pastas including their choice of collegiate pasta ($30ARV). Please note, this giveaway
is open to US residents, aged 18 and older, of the lower 48. The Pasta Shoppe does not currently
ship to AK or HI



Read my review of these delicious products, then enter using the giveawaytools form below!

Entry-Form

Spirituality for Kids ~ a free online program that encourages children to make a difference in the world around them! Review on Mom Loves 2 Read

Spirituality For Kids is a free online program that you and your child can do together. Don’t wait another minute!

Spirituality for Kids is back with an entertaining, self-guided
program that encourages children to reflect on their actions, to see
challenges as opportunities, to develop self-worth, and to activate the
desire to make a difference in the world around them. 



To make sure the child is grasping the concepts, there are five
“checkpoints” throughout the lessons. Each “checkpoint” is an activity
that will help the parent measure their child’s understanding of the spiritual
concepts covered along the way. If you notice your child is having a
challenging time understanding a concept, revisit a video lesson more
than once and discuss a concept together several times.



Spirituality
for Kids is a completely self-paced and flexible program based upon
your child’s needs. You can determine the amount of time needed for each
lesson, be that a single day or stretched out over a longer period of
time.

My Review:

Spirituality for Kids is a great free online program that has an abundance of lessons that are fun for the whole family.  Each lesson has step by step building blocks that teach children important spiritual lessons using games, videos, activities and fun to help them learn key morals and values.  Using the theme that "life is like a game" each story and lesson helps children learn at their own pace, while grasping key concepts like the importance of rules, being positive, inner strength, self-worth and their own unique abilities.



I started this lesson set with my youngest child - my 5 year old daughter.  We have only been working on it for a few days and already she is able to understand the value of rules.  She loves watching the video over and over and we stop from time to time to discuss what we just learned together.



I plan to continue this with her as well as add in my two older children over Christmas Break so they can also benefit from some of these wonderful lessons!

I definitely recommend that parents check out Spirituality for Kids online and see what you think!  I love that it makes discussing difficult issues easier for me as a parent and more fun for my kids.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review.  Sponsored post: I will be compensated for posting.  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.”.

Sticky Icky Booger Bugs ~ a day in the life of a little boy with Cystic Fibrosis ~ Review & Giveaway on Mom Loves 2 Read

There are 30,000 children each year diagnosed and battling cystic
fibrosis. There is no cure for this progressive disease. Sticky Icky
Booger Bugs is the tale of a boy's battle with cystic fibrosis as he
attempts to avoid the hospital. 



Kory is just like any other child. He
loves recess, playing soccer and exploring his neighborhood with his
best friend. With every puff, cough, and sneeze, Kory keeps the sticky
icky booger bugs away so he can have fun every day!





My Review:

This is a wonderful book to explain to children and parents what it is like to live every day with Cystic Fibrosis.  I love how Kory explains his daily schedule and that other than the sticky icky booger bugs, he is like nearly every other kid his age who enjoys soccer and playing with his friends.  He can run and play, he just has to take special care of his body so he can breathe better.



The simple illustrations are perfect for each page, helping show the course of Kory's treatment throughout his day.  This would be a perfect book for doctors to give to children and families who are newly learning about CF, or even for friends and relatives who need to know that a child with CF is just like any other child, only with special medicines to help get rid of those nasty, sticky icky booger bugs.  I'd love to see a copy of this book in my children's school library.  It would be a great addition to school and local libraries everywhere.



I found this great information about Cystic Fibrosis on www.cff.org:



What Is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease
that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and
adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and
its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky
mucus that:

• clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and


• obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis
lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and
medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children
and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live
into their 30s, 40s and beyond.



Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

• very salty-tasting skin;


• persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;


• frequent lung infections;


• wheezing or shortness of breath;


• poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and


• frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

Statistics

• About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.


• More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.


• More than 45% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.


• The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is in the late 30s.

About the Author

Author Sherry Frith is the mother of three boys and the founder
of K.C.H.H., Inc, a nonprofit organization. She has patents and
copyrights pending in various areas and lives each day full of new ideas
and grace. Sherry lives in Bakersfield, California, with her sons-Kyle,
Kevin, and Kory. 



Illustrator Carol Newell Walter majored in fine arts
at Wayne State University and earned a B.A. and teaching credentials
from California State University-Bakersfield. Now retired, Carol and her
husband live in Bakersfield, California, where she continues to create
all kinds of artwork. 





Sticky Icky Booger Bugs was published by Archway on July 26, 2013 and is
available on  http://www.amazon.com/


To learn more, visit http://beatsnot.com/.

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.”.

Bringing in Finn Review ~ an amazing story of miraculous birth and the love of family

Bringing
in Finn is an
incredibly moving story of surrogacy and how it created a bond like no other
between a mother and daughter

In
February 2011, 61-year-old Kristine Casey delivered the greatest gift of all to
her daughter, Sara Connell: Sara’s son, Finnean. At that moment, Kristine—the
gestational carrier of Sara and her husband Bill’s child—became the oldest woman
ever to give birth in Chicago. 

Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy
Story tells this modern family’s remarkable surrogacy story.

After
trying to conceive naturally without success, Sara and her husband Bill
dedicated years to a variety of fertility treatments—but after Sara lost a third
pregnancy (including the loss of twins at twenty-two weeks), they started to
give up their hope. When Kristine offered to be their surrogate, they were
shocked; but Kristine was clear that helping Sara become a mother felt like a
calling, something she felt inspired to do.

In
this achingly honest memoir, Connell recounts the tragedy and heartbreak of
losing pregnancies; the process of opening her heart and mind to the idea of her
sixty-one-year-old mother carrying her child for her; and the profound bond that
blossomed between mother and daughter as a result of their unique experience
together.

Bringing
in Finn is
the true story of a couple who wanted nothing more than to have a family and a
mother who would do anything for her daughter. After unsuccessfully trying to
conceive naturally, years of fertility treatments, miscarriage and a late term
loss of twins, Sara and Bill Connell were emotionally and financially depleted
and at a loss as to how they could have a family. When Sara’s mother Kristine
offered to be their surrogate, the three embark on the journey that would
culminate in Finnean’s miraculous birth and complete a transformation of their
at-one-time strained mother-daughter relationship.

My Review:

This is an amazing and unique story that completely captivated me from the very beginning.  Knowing several couples over the years who struggled with fertility and pregnancy problems, I was so excited to read Bringing in Finn.  This is a story that will bring tears of joy to a reader's eyes while keeping the reader completely intrigued from beginning to end.  I could not put this book down.

What a miraculous and wonderful gift Kristine gave to her daughter! 

Bringing
in Finn is available as a print and e- book at Amazon.

AUTHOR
BIO & CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sara
Connell is an author, speaker, and life coach with a private practice in
Chicago. She has appeared on Oprah, Good
Morning America, NPR, The View, FOX News and Katie
Couric.
Sara's writing has been featured in: The New York
Times, Good
Housekeeping, Parenting, Psychobabble, Evolving Your Spirit, and
Mindful Metropolis magazines. Her first book, Bringing in Finn; an
Extraordinary Surrogacy Story (Sept 4, 2012 Seal Press),
was nominated for Book of the Year 2012 by Elle magazine.

Sara’s
Website:
http://www.saraconnell.com

Sara’s
Blog: http://www.saraconnell.cm/blog

Sara
on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SaraConnellAuthorSpeakerCoach

Sara’s
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saracconnell

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.”.

A Bargained for Bride Book Tour and Giveaway on Mom Loves 2 Read

A Bargained-For Bride by Marcia Lynn McClure (Novella)




Excerpt




“You’re the sweetest girl in Mourning Dove Creek, you know?” Jack mumbled as he paused in kissing Jilly a moment.






Jilly smiled. “And you’re the handsomest man in Mourning Dove Creek, you know,” she flirted in return.






Jack smiled. “I do know,” he said.






Jilly giggled. Jack Taylor was so predictable—and a little conceited. He really did think he was the handsomest man in Mourning Dove—and he was, for the most part.






Secretly, however, if Jilly ever allowed herself to be completely honest about it (which she tried to avoid), there was one other man in Mourning Dove who always crossed her mind when the subject of the handsomest man in town arose. Yet there was no lingering on thinking of that man—no sirree! Not for a moment! Not for any reason—ever. And so Jilly just kept telling Jack that he was the handsomest man in Mourning Dove Creek. Besides, it was almost true—being that the other man lived outside of town and not right in town the way Jack did

Amazon * Distractions Ink

My Review:

Although many readers have enjoyed this story, I personally didn't care for it as much as other books by this wonderful author.  I thought the main female character, Jilly was shallow and aggravating and I guess it just left me frustrated with her throughout the story.  I think many others will love this story, it just didn't captivate me the way her previous book have and my aggravation with Jilly's attitude and behavior made it hard for me to like her and hard for me to enjoy this book.

But as I always recommend, this is just one reader's opinion, don't take just my work for whether or not this is a book worth reading.  Give it a try for yourself!

Author Marcia Lynn McClure




Marcia Lynn McClure’s intoxicating succession of novels, novellas, and e-books, has established her as one of the most favored and engaging authors of true romance. Her unprecedented forte in weaving captivating stories of western, medieval, regency, and contemporary amour void of brusque intimacy has earned her the title “The Queen of Kissing.”






Marcia, who was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has spent her life intrigued with people, history, love, and romance. A wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, poet, and author, Marcia Lynn McClure spins her tales of splendor for the sake of offering respite through the beauty, mirth, and delight of a worthwhile and wonderful story.

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/12/13

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, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com 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.”.

My Image Bracelet Maker Giveaway ~ a fun way for kids to create unique jewelry

My blogger friend over a The Stuff of Success has kindle offered to share her review and giveaway of My Image Bracelet Maker her on Mom Loves 2 Read . .. .

 

My Image Bracelet Maker

My Image Bracelet Maker is a unique craft toy that gives children
(and often parents and grandparents) the opportunity to create
personalized photo bracelets. The kit comes with 6 preprinted image cards,
including 144 pictures, an extra strength glue stick, 18 elastic
threads, 54 image tiles in 6 bright colors, a knot key tool (to make
seamless bracelets), and even has a refill kit with special glitter
tiles available.





To take it to the next level myphotosizer.com allows
crafters to upload and use their very own photos. Better yet, a free
iPhone/ipod touch app is available so that you can pull photos from your
library or take a photo, crop, and resize right on the spot. These
applications produce a 4x6 image card that can be easily printed from
home or your local drugstore. My Image Bracelet Maker includes a
built-in punch so that photos are perfectly (and safely) cut each time
and can be used to make reversible bracelets.



To continue reading the rest of this review, click here.

My Image Bracelet Maker retails for $29.99.  Right now you can order one for 20% OFF with coupon code:  FASHBASH







The Giveaway: Would you like to win your own My Image Bracelet Maker? TSOS has one to give away to one lucky contestant! To enter the giveaway please follow all of the instructions below!

Entry-Form