Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible

"The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible" is edited by Phil and Al Robertson of the hit TV show, "Duck Dynasty". The Bible itself is a traditional NKJV translation, so it is easy to read and written in, what I consider to be, the most plain English version of the Bible. What sets this Bible apart from other NKJV Bibles on the market is the articles that Phil and Al included.

One of the unique features of this Bible is the periodic appearance of a "Set Your Sights" article in this Bible. These appear frequently, and focus on faith, family, fellowship, forgiveness, and freedom. These articles offer Phil and Al's experience, views, and insight, in conjunction with Biblical reference and principles. Each article is signed by either Al or Phil so that you can know which Robertson wrote which articles. These articles also include a section at the end called, "On the Hunt", which gives the verses from the Scripture that are relevant and support the specific article.

Another feature of this Bible that is unique from other NKJV Bibles is a topical index that is based on the five principles that appear in the "Set Your Sights" articles. The index is organized in relation to core values, so for example, children and parenting are sorted under the "faith" topic.

Overall I would highly recommend this Bible to anyone. I thought that the frequent articles that Phil and Al Robertson added to it were helpful and insightful. I am a fan of the "Duck Dynasty" show, and loved that Phil and Al put this together. If you are a fan of the show, you will definitely love this NKJV Bible.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this Bible through the BookLook Blogging program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Having a Mary Heart in A Martha World

"Having a Mary Heart in A Martha World" by Joanna Weaver is a book that is dedicated to finding a close and intimate relationship with God, even through the crazy grind of daily life. I was intrigued by the title of this book, as only a few months ago our pastor preached a sermon on this same topic. I remembered the emphasis that our pastor put on the Lord's words to Martha, "You are worried about many things, but only one thing is needed". Simple, to the point, and a little poetic. I was excited and intrigued to learn more about having a Mary heart in a Martha world!

What I love about this book is that it goes verse by verse through the interaction between Mary, Martha, and Jesus in the book of Luke. Seven of these chapters go in order through the verses in Luke that deal with Mary, Martha, and Jesus. Five of the chapters give solid Biblical advice for developing an intimate relationship with Jesus, as Martha did. Each chapter focuses in on a short Bible verse, followed by an in depth look at the verse, explanation of the circumstances/events of the verse, and then a healthy dose of practical advice for how to apply that principle in our own lives. Each chapter also offers up a small gray box that has personal experiences/advice from Weaver that coincides with the chapter.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. As a busy mom of two little kids, sometimes I find that the chaos of daily life overwhelms to the point where I don't feel like I am walking side by side with God, but rather running ahead of him, chasing a screaming toddler. This book has helped me slow down, and allow for the time to build that relationship with God.

I would highly recommend this book for any busy mom or grandma. It's a wonderful reminder of how our relationship with our Creator was designed to be, and with a wonderful example of that relationship in Mary and Jesus.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBooks.org in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Bible Study for Busy Mamas

"Bible Study for Busy Mamas: Thirty Days in 1 Corinthians 13" by Pam Forster is advertised as "inspiring, in-depth Bible study, five minutes at a time". As a busy mom of two little kids, I was intrigued by this book. Rarely do I have more than five minutes of uninterrupted time, so I thought this might be a great way to help fill in my days with more Bible study time.

The book is broken down by day, numbered "day one" through "day thirty". The daily reading itself is easily done inside the promised five minute time frame. However, rather than this book reading like a devotional with a focus on explaining, and strengthening understanding, it is more like classwork. Each page starts with just a short overview of the purpose of this particular "lesson", and is then followed by the "assignment".

Most of these "assignments" are slightly more involved that I thought they would be, which requires more time to sit and work on them. Then, the assignment is followed by "for your children", which is an assignment for you to do with your kids to help tie it all together. However, I feel like at times, this became more about doing so much that the message or purpose of the actual Bible verses were lost.

Overall I would say that this book had good intentions, but it really wasn't for me. When I'm picking up a devotional or Bible Study time, I look forward to that time being between myself and God, and I feel like this book tries to "assign" too much work and not enough wisdom.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com in exchange for this review.

Geoffrey Zakarian's, "My Perfect Pantry"

Geoffrey Zakarian's newest cookbook, "My Perfect Pantry" is one that is designed around a handful of specific ingredients that are commonly found in your kitchen. Featuring ingredients like baking soda, almonds, ketchup, and anchovies, these recipes are simple to make, but have great flavor! It will taste like you spent much more time cooking than you actually did!

Be sure to read the first few pages of this cookbook, as Geoffrey outlines some of the commonly used spices and herbs, so that you can make sure your pantry is fully stocked. Most of these items you will probably already have in your spice cabinet.

The recipes in this book are designed for the everyday cook, not for a professional chef, so the recipes are simplistic, and the ingredients are common. I hate when I find a delicious recipe I want to make, only to realize that I need to make a trip to the store in order to get uncommon spices or ingredients. Some of these amazing recipes include white asparagus salad, pizza margherita with olives and arugula, and brown rice crab cakes.

The only downside to this book is that it is organized by ingredient, rather than by type of meal. So if you are looking for an appetizer, you have to page through the entire book, because they are scattered throughout.

I would give this book a 4/5. The recipes are great, and I loved that it is all designed around easy to find ingredients. I think that this book could have been organized a little bit better, though, as I mentioned.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBooks.org in exchange for this honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review for this book.

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary

"Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary" is am absolutely amazing resource for Bible study. Personally, I've never seen anything that is so exhaustive and complete all in one book. This dictionary definitions of terms, a brief history, explanation, and if applicable, the Biblical references of that word. This is organized like a normal dictionary, in alphabetical order. This is so handy to have on my bookshelf, and when I come across a name, place, or word I'm not sure of, I can easily find it in this dictionary, as well as gain a better understanding of the meaning/person/place.

As I mentioned, this dictionary offers people, places, and things, and I have found it most helpful in reference to names of people. I have a hard time keeping minor characters in the Bible straight, so being able to look it up in this dictionary really helps in getting the most out of Bible study time. What is handy is that uncommon words are also accompanied by a pronounciation key, so that you can sound out the word correctly.

There are also many photographs in this dictionary. Maps, historic relics, significant places, and architectural feats are all featured in this dictionary. Placed where appropriate, these visual aids are a helpful way of connecting with the Biblical places, people, and times.

Overall, I would give "Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary" a 5/5. I feel like this is a comprehensive study tool that supports studying the Bible. I loved all of the pictures that were added to this book, and thought it helped to make me feel more connected with the events in the Bible. I also really loved the pronounciation aid for some of the more uncommon names and terms.

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FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLookBloggers.com, in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

NKJV Study Bible

Thomas Nelson's newest study Bible, aptly named, "NKJV Study Bible" advertises itself as "The Complete Resource for Studying God's Word", and it is, in fact, an amazingly helpful and informative Bible. This Bible offers a full color edition, which really adds a lot to this Bible, with colorful photographs, maps, and bright boxes with study materials.

This Bible offers chapter introductions, as most study Bibles do, which gives you a summary of what the chapter is about. It includes pertinent information, like the author, theme(s), chapter outine, and the tie-in to Christ in the Scripture. The translation of this Bible is New King James Version, which does make it a little bit easier to read and comprehend than the older KJV. There are TONS of footnotes in this Bible - I felt like there were notes for nearly every verse! I loved how in-depth the footnotes are, to really help you unlock the meaning of what you are reading.

This Bible also focuses on some words that are used frequently in the Scripture, and gives definition, Hebrew version of the word, where it can be found, and what it means in context of the Scripture. I found this to be very interesting, and helpful.

Throughout this Bible, helpful and colorful boxes appear with helpful information, as well. Some feature colorful photographs with a summary of the photo, others include information about Biblical culture, or an understanding of the times.

Overall I would definitely give this Bible a 5/5. I really thought it offered so many amazing tools to really help you get the most out of your Bible. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone in the market for a new Bible.

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FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this Bible for free from BookLookBloggers, in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Draw-A-Saurus

In his book, "Draw-A-Saurus", James Silvani does something amazing - he teaches you how to draw dinosaurs. Yes, you! By breaking down the drawing into simple, easy to follow steps, with tons of images to help you along, Silvani gives you an awesome tutorial in designing your very own dino.

This book not only offers tips and hints for drawing your favorite dinosaurs, it also has lots of real information about a variety of dinosaurs. For example, did you know that Oviraptors were named so because their skull shape made them appear to be egg thieves and eaters? I loved that Silvani took the time and effort to make this not only a book about drawing, but a book about understanding the animals that you are drawing.

The tutorials cover a variety of different dinosaur species, and Silvani goes step by step through the drawing of the dinosaur, with plenty of pictures of how the image should look at each step. I got this book for my daughter who loves to draw, and I think it's the perfect book for beginners or more advanced artists. I also think it is perfect for any age. Silvani mixes in humor with his lessons, but it's appropriate for anyone.

Overall I would give this book a 5/5. The actual drawing tutorial is simple and easy to follow for any age or skill level. With over 100 pages of information, lessons, and humor, Silvani really offers a great guide to drawing these magnificent beasts!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBooks.org in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Weird & Wonderful Creations

"Weird & Wonderful Creations" is a Zonderkidz publication that is all about animals and plants! This book is actually a combination of four books, each featuring different types of animals. There is one book that features spiders, snakes, bees, and bats; another book features big bugs, little bugs; another that focuses on sea creatures; and the final book is all about poisonous, smelly, and amazing plants.

The recommended age for this book is 4-8 years old, which I would agree with. My daughter is 6 years old, and had no trouble reading this book independently. The hardback cover makes this book sturdy and attractive. The images in the book - and there are TONS of pictures - are wonderful. Bright, beautiful photographs of animals in their habitat are amazing, and will definitely gain the attention of your young one.

What I loved about this book is that it combines fun facts about animals with the Biblical story of God's creation of them. For example, a short section of the jellyfish pages reads, "Even though jellyfish do not have brains, hearts, or bones, they are special to God". I loved that this book reinforces God's creation of the world, as well as his love for his creation, but it also offers a lot of interesting facts about these animals.

Overall I would give this book a 5/5. I loved all the unique facts about animals, as well as the way that this book ties into God's creation of the world. I thought it was put together thoughtfully and very tastefully. I also loved all of the beautiful images throughout the book. This makes it easy for even my 18 months old to look through, and enjoy. Lots of fun in these pages, especially if you have a little animal lover in your home. Highly recommend this one.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLook Bloggers, as a member of their blogger program, in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari

"Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari" is the third book in the "Good News Shoes" series featuring Riley Mae, a teen shoe model. Published by Zonderkidz, this is a chapter book (240+ pages of reading), ideal for ages 8 and up.

This book conveys the adventures of Riley Mae and her friends, this time on a trip to Kenya, Africa for an ad campaign for her Sole Fire running shoes. This book follows Riley Mae through her experiences in Kenya, starting with her culture shock as she experiences an entirely new way of life in Africa. Strange food, hard work, and completely different means of transportation throw Riley Mae for a loop!

Riley Mae has plenty of new experiences in Africa, including visiting a Christian orphanage and going on a real African safari. Through her experiences, Riley Mae learns about herself, having faith, prayer, and how to feel comfortable sharing her own Christian faith with others.

Overall I would give this book a 4/5. I think that all of the new African terms that were used in this book muddled it down at times, and it slows down the reading when you have to stop and look back to remember what a particular words meant. I think this book is appropriate for ages 8 and up, and I think that it offers some good messages to young girls through a character that they can really enjoy.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLookBloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.

Promises for God's Princesses

"Promises for God's Princesses" by Katrina Cassel is a super cute devotional for girls. I would say that this devotional is appropriate for middle school girls and older. The devotional is girlie, and carries the theme of being royalty in God's family, but it tackles a lot of tough issues that teenagers face. The devotionals themselves are short, only one page (front and back) for every day.

I liked the variety of topics that are discussed in these devotions. Cassel touches on kindness, listening, being an example, filling the mind with good things, hard work, faithfulness, and dignity. The devotions do a great job of pulling together situations that teens can relate to and Biblical principles and truths to encourage Christian growth.

Each devotion has a Bible verse that is the basis for the message, and it is printed in a large, bold font at the top of every devotion. This makes it really easy to know what the bottom line message is, and where to find it in the Bible, for further reading and study. With references to social situations, pop culture, and historical events, this devotion is the perfect daily reading for the teen/tween in your house.

My daughter is a little too young for this one, but I plan on holding onto it for a few years until she is old enough to really understand it better. I would highly recommend this one for those looking for a way to get the girl in your life into the devotional routine. This one does a great job of tying together things that are interesting and relevant with Scripture. Loved it.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"Sweet: Our Best Cupcakes, Cookies, Candy and More"

"Sweet: Our Best Cupcakes, Cookies, Candy and More" is a dessert cookbook by the editors of Food Network Magazine. This cookbook is amazing! With over 300 pages of delicious, enticing desserts, there is really something for every event. Whether you are a beginner, or more advanced baker, there are plenty of recipes to make, as well as variations on some of the recipes to try out. From whoopie pies and pineapple upside down cake to the more exotic bourbon praline cake, these recipes will make your mouth water.

What I really liked about this cookbook is that each recipe features a full page photo of the finished product. I find this to be really helpful when deciding what to make - although, be warned, many of these photos will have your mouth watering before you even read the ingredient list.

The book covers a myriad of desserts, and is broken down into chapters: cupcakes and whoopie pies; cookies and bars; candy and snacks; pies and crumbles; fake-out cakes; show-off cakes, frozen treats; and holiday desserts. See? I told you - something for every occasion! The book also offers a photo table of contents, so instead of flipping page by page through the book, you can scan the photos in the table of contents to easily find the recipe you want.

Overall I would give this book a 5/5. I loved the photos, and found the recipes to be delicious. I also loved that the directions and ingredient lists are relatively simple and easy to follow. Great recipes, just in time for the holidays!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBooks.org in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Adventure Bible for Toddlers

Zondervan's "Adventure Bible for Toddlers" is an awesome Bible storybook for young children. I didn't even realize it when I ordered this book, but it is a BOARD BOOK! I was so excited when it was delivered and I saw it - I have an 18 month old that just loves looking through books, and I love how easy the board books make it for him to turn pages (not to mention it's easy to wipe the book off if he spills on it!).

The book is a cute storybook with some of the most memorable stories from the Bible, including Jonah, Daniel, Noah, Moses, and David. The stories are short, and use simple words that are perfect for reading to young children who do not have a long attention span or a very large vocabulary. The illustrations are awesome - bright and colorful. My son kept pointing at different pictures, excitedly!

This would be a great first Bible for young children, ages 3 and under. I loved that it was a board book, and I thought that they did a great job of making some popular Bible stories simple enough for even the younger child to understand and enjoy. The illustrations are fun, and depict what is going on in that particular story well.

Overall I would give this book a 5/5. I loved it, and know that it will definitely be a staple in my son's library for a long time. Highly recommend.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from the BookLook Blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, September 8, 2014

"Blessed are the Peacemakers"

"Blessed are the Peacemakers" is a Berenstain Bears book authored by Mike Berenstain that deals with the difficult concept of making peace. Sometimes it is easy for kids to get drawn into the world of "you can't like him because I don't like him" or "you can't be friends with her because I'm not" drama. This book teaches the lesson of keeping peace, and trying to get along with everyone, regardless of the circumstance.

The main issue in this book arises between Too-Tall and Ferdy, because Ferdy is picked to play Romeo in the school play. Too-Tall's friend, Queenie, is picked to play Grizzliet. It's obvious there is some jealousy from Too-Tall that causes him to act out on multiple occassions, even causing a fight to break out the night of the play!

What I liked about this book is that there are a couple of times when the lesson of making peace is reinforced through Bible verses, first from Brother and Sister when they try to restore peace to the rehearsal, and again by Preacher Brown the night of the play.

Overall I would recommend this book for kids ages 5 and up. I think that the message of including others, and maintaining a sense of peace is important for those children entering school. I would give this book 5/5. Wonderful story, and backed by Biblical truth.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free through the BookLook Blogger program in exchange for my honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions in this post are my own.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Your Family in Pictures

Me Ra Koh has put together a valuable tutorial on family photography in the book, "Your Family in Pictures: The Parents' Guide to Photographing Holidays, Family Portraits, and Everyday Life". This book is my new go-to book for anything relating to taking pictures of my family. There are so many tips, tricks, and ideas all in one place and organized so perfectly.

There are seven different chapters in this book, each one focusing on a different aspect of photography. The first two chapters serve as almost an introduction to photography, discussing light, color, line, shape, texture, and when to shoot in black and white. The next five chapters discusses photographic moments, with chapters featuring everyday life, holidays, family portraits, tweens and teens, and family vacations and travel.

Each chapter of this book offers a lot of valuable tips on staging, camera settings, and ideas for poses, illustrated by Koh's own photos. I loved that there were a lot of illustrations to show how her photos turned out. I also loved that there were so many tips and tricks to photographic the different scenarios. One of my favorite tips from this book was for family photos, have Mom wear what she feels most beautiful in and then have everyone else dress to complement her.

Overall I would definitely give this book a 5/5. I thought it was an amazing resource for an amateur photographer to get the most out of their photos. Taking photographs is capturing a moment in time, and who doesn't want these moments to look as amazing as possible? Great book, great resource. Loved it.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Bloggingforbooks.org's blogger program in exchange for an honest review.

The Mess Detectives and The Case of the Lost Temper

"The Mess Detectives and the Case of the Lost Temper" by Karen Poth is an "I Can Read", level one book for early readers. The level one uses simple sentences and mostly simple vocabulary that are ideal for early readers. The print in this book is larger, and each page only has a few sentences.

The storyline of the book is Bob and Larry from "Veggie Tales" are detectives, and looking for someone who keeps slamming doors. As the villain eludes them, Bob gets more and more frustrated. In the end, they learn that it was only the wind slamming the door, but as Larry pulls his goofy stunts (like dressing up in a chicken costume when Bob tells him they need to wear a disguise to stake out Mr. Carrot's house), Bob gets more and more frustrated, and closer to losing his temper.

This book is supposed to be a lesson in self-control, but really the solution to Bob losing his temper was simply Larry telling him, "Bob, stop! You have lost your temper". I thought that maybe there could have been a little more helpfulness for how to calm down, or regain composure for the kids reading this book. I wish Larry had mentioned praying or something to that effect to help Bob calm down, so that kids could learn how to calm down once they do get frustrated or upset.

Overall I would give this book a 3/5. I thought that the story was cute, and the illustrations are what I would expect from any "Veggie Tales" production. But I really thought that there could have been more of a tie-in to actual Biblical reference than what there was.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLookBloggers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Spiritual Renewal Study Bible (NIV)

The New International Version "Spiritual Renewal Study Bible" is a Bible that encourages the reader to experience new growth and transformation in your spiritual walk, with notes from Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. This version has standard print, and is a traditional NIV translation. A recipient of the ECPA Medallion of Excellence Bible of the Year, this is a great study Bible the offers plenty of notes, character profiles, and in depth analysis of Biblical principles.

Each chapter of this Bible opens with a two page introduction to the chapter, including spiritual renewal themes, author, audience, date written, setting, key verses, and key people. I have found this chapter profile to be a really great resource in really helping me understand the who, what, when, where, and why of each book of the Bible. I loved that each chapter profile also highlights the themes that tie into spiritual renewal.

Additionally, a feature entitled "The Spiritual Disciplines" appears frequently throughout this Bible. This study tool focuses on a specific principle in each appearance, such as repentance, confession, Bible study, meditation; "The Spiritual Disciplines" also occassionally features a particular person from the Bible and focuses on their life, as told by the text of the Bible, and some of the ways that they exemplify spiritual renewal, as well.

There are also a few other study tools featured in this Bible, such as "Profiles" that give an indepth look at particular figures from the Bible, such as the relationship between Esther and Mordecai, Job and his family/friends, and Isaiah. This feature looks at strengths, accomplishments, lessons from their lives, and key verses.

Overall I would give this Bible a 5/5. The tools that have been put into this study Bible offer so many ways to get a deeper look at the characters and foundational principles found in the text of the Bible. I would highly recommend this Bible to anyone who is seeking out a new study tool for their Scripture reading time. Great resources.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from BookLookBloggers.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Mickey and Willie

Growing up in a home where baseball was truly a celebrated past time, I was very interested in reading "Mickey and Willie" by Allen Barra. I remember my father recording PBS' "Baseball" series on VHS tapes when I was younger, and the love of the sport was passed down to myself and my brothers. Obviously the Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays era was much before my time, but historically, these two were very significant players in the game, and I was really interested to know more about them, personally and professionally.

Allen Barra does an amazing job of narrating the lives of both Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays in this book. What I really appreciated was the time that Barra takes in establishing the background of both Mantle and Mays. Barra goes to great lengths to draw parallels between the two baseball greats, from the time of their childhood on. I loved the fact that this book truly was an education experience for me - I learned so many things about these baseball players that I never knew.

I thought it was very interesting how dynamic the friendship between Mantle and Mays was, and how they kept in contact even when they had little to no personal time to spend together. At a time when it was fairly uncommon for a white man and a black man to be close friends, Mantle and Mays had so much in common that it would have been impossible for them to not find a sort of camaraderie. I also found it very interesting how similar their childhoods were, but also how very different they were treated.

Overall, I thought this book was very well researched, and organized in a way that it was easy to read. You don't feel like you are reading a biography - it really reads more as a novel, which makes it a very compelling read. If you are a baseball fan, I would highly recommend it. 5 stars for Allen Barra and "Mickey and Willie"


FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBooks.org in exchange for this review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

The First Family Detail

"The First Family Detail" is a fascinating book written by Ronald Kessler, detailing the Secret Service's interactions with various first families. When I first saw this book I was not exactly sure what to expect - whether this would be a book with a lot of gossip about the first families, or if it would be more interesting, factual accounts of events that unfolded. I was happy to find that this book is very interesting, and tells a wide variety of accounts from the actual agents who were involved.

There are first hand accounts from the presidencies of Nixon, Ford, and George H.W. Bush, to name a few. The stories are intriguing, personal, and most of them are little known. One of the most intriguing accounts in this book, in my opinion, is when President George H.W. Bush made a visit to Enid, Oklahoma. Prior to his visit, a psychic claimed to have had a vision of the President being assassinated. The details of this account were really interesting, and something I had never heard of.

The chapters are each devoted to one particular story, and they really are not super long chapters, which makes this a really easy read. I liked that it was written for the common person who isn't involved in politics. I thought there were a lot of interesting details put into this book, like code names for the Presidents, among other things.

Overall I would rate this book a 5/5. I thought that is was well written, and there isn't too much of the Secret Service code lingo, which I appreciated. I thought the stories were really interesting, and I also felt like I did learn a lot from reading this book. I love history and politics, so I think that plays into how much I did enjoy this book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who also has the same interests, as it truly is a fascinating book.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free through the Bloggingforbooks.org's blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Goodnight, Ark!

"Goodnight, Ark" written by Laura Sassi, and illustrated by Jane Chapman is a super cute story for young children. This book tells a funny story about the animals on the ark all climbing into bed with Noah. The sounds of the storm gradually wake animals on the ark, and they clamor into Noah's room with him. Noah eventually lulls all of the animals to sleep with a bedtime lullaby. The story is written in a rhyming, sing-song tone which makes it fun to read. This book is a hard cover book, which I love, since kids tend to be hard on books (especially books that they like!).

"Goodnight, Ark" is a relatively short book, and each page only has a few sentences on it, detailing the animals' antics on Noah's ark. The illustrations are awesome, and I found them to be colorful and bright, and lots of fun for children. I thought this book would be perfect for a bedtime story for young children, as it has elements of bedtime that kids could relate to. All of the animals were scared, and didn't want to sleep in their own "rooms", so they climbed into bed with Noah. Noah sings the animals a lullaby and gets them back to sleep.

Overall I would rate this book a 5/5. I loved the rhyming style of this book, and I thought it was a fun and humorous book that my kids enjoyed. The artwork was fun and depicted the humor of the story, with all kinda of animals, from elephants to skunks making their way into Noah's room. I would recommend this book for children 3 and up. It's a short book, so great for kids with shorter attention spans. And the images are bright and fun and even my one year old enjoyed looking at the pictures and pointing at the different animals.

Great book - loved it!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLook Blogger's Program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The Blessings of Friendship Treasury

"The Blessings of Friendship Treasury" by Mary Engelbreit is a book that is devoted to poems, quotes, and illustrations that deal with friendship. This book is very unique in that it isn't an actual story with a plot and a storyline - Every page has illustrations, and some kind of quote, Scripture, poem, or short story that is all about friendship.

What I liked about this book were the amazing illustrations. The artwork in this book is just phenomenal, with fun pictures of children playing and enjoying each other's company. I also really liked that many of the quotes that are found in this book are Biblical messages, such as "Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you". I thought these Scripture references are the foundation of what friendship and love is, and it was great to see these Bible verses featured prominently in this book.

There are also fun quotes and poems from famous writers, as well. For example, "Hug O' War" by Shel Silverstein is one of the featured poems. Growing up loving Silverstein, I was excited to see this poem begin the book. There are quotes from classical writers, such as Henry David Thoreau, Oscar Wilde, and Shakespeare. Overall I thought that this book puts a fun twist on what it is to be a friend, in a way that children can understand and enjoy. The illustrations draw you in to this book, and make you want to walk through the pages with the smiling children.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with younger children in their homes. This would also make a great gift for a young child. I would recommend this book for ages 5 and up, as it does have some challenging words that may be difficult for early readers. My six year old loved this book.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLookBloggers.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, July 28, 2014

The Big Flavor Grill

"The Big-Flavor Grill: No-Marinade, No-Hassle Recipes" by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby is an "all things grilling" cookbook. With this being grilling season, this book is an ideal companion for the beginning griller or the more experienced grill master. I was intrigued at the thought of grilling meals without the hassle of having to marinade everything beforehand. This cookbook gives plenty of delicious options for grilling that using relishes, sauces, and delicious flavor combinations that completely compliment the grilled flavors.

There is quite a nice variety of meal ideas in this cookbook, from steak, lamb, pork, chicken, shrimp, fish, vegetables, and even drinks! There is a very helpful section at the beginning of this cookbook that has lots of helpful hints about grilling, which I thought were really interesting and very helpful. This section gives you a crash course on grilling tools, how to get the fire started (if you use a charcoal fire), and how to tell if the food is done.

I would recommend this cookbook to anyone who enjoys deliciously grilled food. I thought this book offered a lot of really delicious recipes, and I loved the addition of the sauces and relishes that really make the food pop. There are also simple recipes, where the meat is only salted and peppered in olive oil. There's something here for everyone.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from the BlogginforBooks.org blogger program in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The Berenstain Bears : God Shows the Way

"The Berenstain Bears : God Shows the Way" by Stan & Jan Berenstain, with Mike Berenstain is a collection of three Berenstain Bears stories. This book includes "Faith Gets Us Through", "Do Not Fear; God is Near", and "Piggy Bank Blessings". Each story has a very clear Biblical message, and is based on a particular scripture.

"Faith Gets Us Through" is based on the 23 Psalm, specifically "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me".  This story is about Papa Bear and the Bear Scouts exploring Spooky Cave. Papa Bear and the Bear Scouts use faith and prayer to get them through their scary experiences in the cave.

"Do Not Fear, God Is Near" is based on Psalm 34:4, which reads "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears". This story is about Sister Bear, and her fear of spooky shadows. This story has many constant scriptural reminders that God is always with us, no matter where we go, or what we experience.

"Piggy Bank Blessings" is based on Proverbs 13:11, which reads "Whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow". This story is about Mama Bear teaching the cubs about money, and the importance of saving money for something special. The cubs earn money doing chores, and save their money in a piggy bank until they need it for something special.

All three of these stories are adorable, and filled with Biblical reminders of God's love. The illustrations are exactly what I would expect from a Berenstain Bears book, and the language is easy for young children to read. This book is an "I Can Read" book, for beginning readers, so the language is simple, and isn't too difficult to read. I would highly recommend this book for children who are beginning or even more advanced readers. The stories are great, and the messages they convey are awesome. Great book.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Simplify

"Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul" by Bill Hybels addresses the busy world we live in, constantly going at a breakneck pace that just is not sustainable. We are constantly trying to get 36 hours worth of things done in a 24 hour day, and Hybels attempts to help us to unclutter our souls in order to have a sense of peace and happiness.

Some of these directives that Hybels addresses in an attempt to unclutter our lives are common sense things that can easily be integrated into our daily lives, such as scheduling time for travel around commitments so that we keep those commitments that we have made; living joyfully within the financial circumstances that God has given us currently; and identifying and recognizing the origin of our fears and anxiety. These all seem easy enough, but what Hybels does is back up what seems to be logical resolution of these issues with Biblical soundness and a plan of action, step by step, to help you overcome these soul blockers.

I think that Bill Hybels did  a wonderful job in summing up the most common culprits in stealing our joy and peace in this book. He identifies issues that we experiences on a daily basis that will create anxiety, frustration, or fear in our lives, and gives you a step by step way to work through those issues. This book isn't a cure all for restoring joy and peace in our lives, but it is the blueprint for eliminating some of the stress, fear, and overwhelming feelings that we face.

I would highly recommend this book to nearly anyone. Coping with daily frustrations, financial problems, stress, and maintaining our relationships are all important aspects of our entire life, and the center of our souls. I think that anyone could read through these pages and walk away with at least one thing that they can do to improve the state of their soul.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers through their blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Simple Thai Food

Leela Punyaratabandhu's newest cookbook, "Simple Thai Food - Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen" is a collection of the most common Thai recipes. Typically I am a more traditional home cook, but chose this book to try something new in the kitchen. My husband is a big fan to Thai food, and I thought it would be fun to expose our kids to a different type of food. I have to admit, before this cookbook came in the mail, I was a little bit intimidated at the thought of trying to cook ethnic food, but once I received this book, I definitely felt more at ease. Punyaratabandhu  does a great job of simplifying these Thai recipes and making me feel like even I can make them!

The recipes in "Simple Thai Food" are mouthwatering, and with the addition of many photos of the prepared food, how could I resist? The recipes are so flavorful and unique, and I was so excited to try these recipes! The directions are easy to follow, and well written. The ingredient list will usually require specialty items that aren't normally kept in my pantry or refrigerator, but the extra planning and trip to the store is completely worth it for the meal.

Overall I would give this cookbook a 4/5. The recipes are delicious, and I loved that there were lots of pictures of the food as it is supposed to be prepared. The only down side to this cookbook is the unique ingredients, which can sometimes be hard to find if you don't have an ethnic food store nearby.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free through the BloggingforBooks.org Blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Jonah and the Great Big Fish

"Jonah and the Great Big Fish" by Rhonda Gowler Greene is an adorable retelling of the Biblical story of Jonah. I have two young children, a daughter that is 6, and a son that is 1, and what was great about this book was that they BOTH enjoyed this book. My daughter was able to read this book independently, and the language was kid-friendly and easy for her to understand. My son enjoyed all of the vivid, playful artwork that depicted the events of the story. He kept pointing to different pictures, exclaiming, "This!"

This book sticks to the Biblical story of Jonah, chronicling the events as told in Scripture using words that are kid-friendly, and easy for young children to understand. I loved that my daughter could read this book on her own without having to ask me, "What does this word mean?" This is a wonderful children's book, and Greene was clearly very thoughtful of the young audience she was writing this book for.

The artwork is so much fun to look at, as well. With bright colors, and fun images of the story as it unfolds, it really draws young children into the story. I would definitely recommend this book for children ages 1 and up. With a Biblical message and storyline, combined with a kid-friendly style of writing and beautiful artwork, it is the ideal book for any young child. Wonderful!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from the BookLookBloggers program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Celebrate Recovery Bible

The "Celebrate Recovery Bible" is a NIV Bible translation infused with articles, devotions, and resources designed to speak to those who are celebrating their recovery from addiction. This particular Bible version is a paperback book, which does make it a little less durable than a hardcover Bible, especially if you tend to use it a lot. The type is average size, and easy to read.

What sets this Bible apart from others is the addition of character studies, moral lessons/principles, amends lessons/principles, sponsor lessons/principles, and recovery stories that are designed to speak to the hearts of those who are struggling or have struggled with an addiction. My favorite feature was the recovery stories that are featured - each tells about a person who struggled with a particular addiction, and gives a brief overview of their life before they embraced sobriety, followed by a testimony of their faith and a description of their healing. I think that this can be the most encouraging thing for those who have struggled with addiction, and it is so helpful to be able to hear about others coming through similar experiences successfully.

I think that this Bible would be great for anyone who is currently or has previously dealt with addiction in their life. This Bible gives comfort in knowing that they are not alone in their struggles, and uses well-thought out devotions, articles, and other features to reassure them that no matter what they have done in their past, God can forgive them, and help them. I found the extra features in this Bible to be really useful, and are based on Christ-centered twelve steps, which I really think it critical in overcoming addiction.

Overall I would rate this Bible a 5/5. I think that the development of a Bible with study features that are easy for a recovering addict to relate to really can help them connect with God in a different light. I would highly recommend this Bible to those who have been through or are currently dealing with addiction.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this Bible through BookLookBlogger.com's Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Go Fresh

"Go Fresh"is a heart healthy cookbook developed by the American Heart Association. In addition to recipes, this cookbook also gives tips of storage, shopping, and cooking heart healthy ingredients. This cookbook covers a wide variety of meal ideas, which is really helpful. Appetizers, Snacks, and Beverages; Soups; Salads and Salad Dressings; Seafood; Poultry; Meats; Vegetarian Entrees; Vegetables and Side Dishes, Sauces and Condiments; Breads and Breakfasts; and Desserts are all featured in this book.

Every recipe gives you the basic information about the recipe, such as serving size, prep time, cooking time, and standing time, which I think is really helpful. If you are going to be rushed for time when making a meal, it is helpful to know how long a particular recipe will take. Many of the recipes in this book are simple recipes with standard ingredients, which I like as well. I also liked that there was a variety of flavors and ideas in the recipes. Orange-Poached Chicken Salad, Herbed Chicken Salad with Swiss, Pork Chops with Tarragon Jus, and Italian-Style Vegetable Soup are already on my list to try next!

Overall I would say that this cookbook is a great way to be more heart healthy and still be able to eat delicious food. I think that most people can easy find several recipes in this book that will be easy to insert into their meal planning, and feel good about what they are eating. I'd give this book a 5/5 - I loved the recipes, format, and helpful tips throughout the book!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBook.org's Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, June 30, 2014

The Chopped Cookbook

Food Network's show "Chopped" is all about taking random everyday pantry items and turning them into a delicious coherent meal. "The Chopped Cookbook" follows the same format - delicious recipes that are designed for the everyday cook, with most items in the ingredient list being items that most people will have on hand.

What I love about this cookbook is the variety of the recipes - Singapore Chicken Fried Rice, Nacho Bake, Jerk Chicken, Sausage, and Celery Fricassee, Linguine with Bell Pepper Marinara, just to name a few. I love how the recipes are not just one genre of food.

Another awesome feature of this cookbook is that the ingredients list is usually relatively basic - I hate when I have to go to three stores to hunt down one particular, obscure ingredient. Most of the ingredients on this list are already on hand, which I appreciate. The directions are easy to follow, and simplistic.

I also really love the photos of the meals that they included with most of the recipes. Not every meal has a photo, but most do, and it really helps me to see what I'm making, and how it should look! The recipes in this book cover pasta, chicken, eggs, vegetables, beef, salads, fish, grains, and desserts, so there really is something for every cook.

Overall I would rate this cookbook a 5/5. I love the show, and I am now in love with "The Chopped Cookbook". I have already picked out about five new recipes I want to try out! I would highly recommend this cookbook.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBook's Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook



The "Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook" is designed around the concept of having small community based potluck meals. Nancy Vienneau and her best friend created this concept in their own neighborhood, in an attempt to bring food lovers together to meet, socialize, and share in delicious foods.

What I liked about this particular cookbook is that its divided up by month, and the recipes coordinate with the seasons, holidays, and availability of different foods. There is a lot of thoughtfulness in planning out the various recipes in this book. Each recipe takes into consideration which ingredients are in season.

The recipes in "Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook" are all more of an upscale type of food, but simple enough for a home cook to make without a lot of trouble. This would be a fun cookbook to use to mix up a dull food routine.

I loved the story behind this cookbook, and thought that bringing people together through food was such a cool concept.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE FROM BOOKLOOK BLOGGERS' BLOGGING PROGRAM IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.


Monday, June 23, 2014

The Loving Kitchen

"The Loving Kitchen" by Leann Rice is a mouthwatering cookbook filled with "downright delicious Southern recipes to share with family, friends, and neighbors". I downloaded the e-reader version of this cookbook, and am so excited to try so many of these recipes. What I love is that the recipes are relatively simple comfort foods that will meet with approval from everyone in my family.

This cookbook has recipes for every meal - breakfast, breads, salads and appetizers, soups and sandwiches, entrees, vegetables, and desserts. I really liked that there were so many photos of the food in the cookbook - it makes it so much easier to decide what to make when you can see what the final product looks like! My favorite recipe in this cookbook is the fried chicken recipe. I have been searching for a "go to" recipe for fried chicken, and this one is definitely a keeper! What makes this cookbook so great, too, is that there are no obscure, hard to find spices or herbs to hunt down. In fact, most of these recipes include ingredients that I usually already have on hand.

Overall I would rate this cookbook as a 5/5. I loved the recipes, the comfort food, and the variety of types of food included in this cookbook. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to change up some of their meal routine, and has more than one mouth to please.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this e-book for free from BookLookBloggers.com's Blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

NIV LIFE JOURNEY BIBLE

The NIV Life Journey Bible is a traditional NIV translation of the Bible that attempts to connect some Biblical truths and principles to our journey through life. I used the e-reader version of this Bible, and really liked it. I was a little bit hesitant just because I wasn't sure how easy it was actually going to be to navigate through the chapters of the Bible, but it was super easy.

The table of contents lists each chapter of both the Old Testament and New Testament, as well as all of the additional features, and skipping to a particular chapter or study tool is as simple as tapping on the title of the chapter you want to skip to. Easy!

What I really enjoyed about this Bible was the feature called "Insight". These links appear within the text of the chapter, and then when you tap on the link, it skips to the "Insight" that connects with what you were reading in the Bible. This feature takes the Biblical references and connects these principles to modern day life, touching on topics such as blame, faith, righteousness, and marriage, among many others. I thought that these were interesting, and very relevant to my life. I liked that it was easy to connect these with the reading in the Bible text, and that they were really connected and rooted in Biblical truth.

This Bible also features many study tools and helpful hints, such as a subject index, table of weights and measures, as well as full color maps, covering everything from the Holy Land to the Roman Empire (14 maps in all). What I love about having these features on the e-reader is the ability to zoom in on these maps!

Overall I would give this Bible a 5/5. I loved the "Insight" feature, and how easy it was to use this Bible on the e-reader, despite my apprehension. Would highly recommend to those looking for a new NIV Bible.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this e-book for free through the BookLook Blogging program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting

Josie Jeffery's gardening handbook, "The Mix & Match Guide to Companion Planting" is one of the neatest and most helpful books I have come across in a long time. Planting a garden requires so much time in preparation, before the first seed is even planted, and this book helps you plan and organize your garden space in a way that is helpful to the plants.

What I love about this guide is that it is simple to understand. Each page of the actual guide is cut into thirds, so that you can flip through the photos various plants, vegetation, and herbs and mix and match which plants make good companions. The split page view is great, because each 1/3rd of the page has little circles with abbreviations in them that you simply match up to the next 1/3rd of the page in order to easily identify friendly plants.

What is also neat about this book is that is also gives you a brief overview of each plant, identifying when to plant, the location the plant prefers, growing tips, when to harvest, as well as information on pests and diseases, recommended cultivars, and also general comments about the plant. I found this to be really helpful in getting a brief overview of the plants before I plant them in my garden.

Overall I would say that this guide should be on every gardener's bookshelf. I thought that this book made it super easy to determine what plants should be planted together, and I loved the helpful information about the plants. I would give this book a 5/5, definitely! I would highly recommend this guide to anyone who does gardening - so helpful!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBooks.org's blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Friday, June 20, 2014

NIV Teen Study Bible

Zondervan's "NIV Teen Bible" is a New International Version Bible designed for teenagers. The Bible is a hardcover version, with a white and green motif on the exterior. This Bible has many additional study features that appear in addition to the traditional NIV translation of the Word of God. There is a question and answer box that appears throughout the Bible, entitled, "Dear Jordan", in which some modern day questions are answered using Biblical references (for example, one of these "Dear Jordan" letters asks about the legality of abortion and whether Christians should get them). I thought this was a great way to connect what many teens view as an "out of date" text with the modern day choices that many teens are faced with.

Another cool feature of this Bible is the trivia. Randomly placed throughout this Bible are small boxes with a trivia question about the Bible and Biblical times. The answer to the trivia question is conveniently on the next page of the text, so you don't have to go hunting through the Bible to find it. It's a good way to help keep teens engaged, by challenging their knowledge. There is also another study tool entitled, "Instant Access" which connects the particular reading to modern day life in a way that is easy for teens to understand and relate to. I thought this was especially useful in helping young adults understand how the Bible STILL applies to their lives through realistic connections.

Overall I thought this Bible was awesome. I would give it a 5/5, and really enjoyed all of the study tools that it featured. This would be a wonderful Bible for any teen, boy or girl. I believe it is very helpful in tying Biblical truths in to the daily life and choices of today's teenager.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this Bible for free from BookLook Blogging in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All views and opinions above are my own.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Spoken For

"Spoken For" by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke is a book that encourages you to embrace "who you are and whose you are". In this joint venture, Robin and Alyssa use Biblical stories, personal experience, and conventional wisdom to help uncover the ways in which an all-knowing God claims you as his own.

How many times have you thought that the path your life was on couldn't possibly be God-ordained? What you are going through is too much for you to handle? In this book, Robin and Alyssa use their own life experiences and the promises of God to show you that no matter where your life may go, you are always a child of God, and He is always with you.

I loved the personal stories that Robin and Alyssa share in this book. Some made me laugh, and some made me feel sorry for their situation. But through their experiences, and a Creator who relentlessly pursued them, this book shares hope, inspiration, and joy.

I would highly recommend this book to my female readers - married, single, divorced.. It's a wonderful reminder of the way in which our first love - our God has pursued us, and will never give up on us. Loved it! 5 stars!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free through BloggingforBooks.org's blogger program in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, June 2, 2014

The Derision of Heaven

"The Derision of Heaven" by Michael Whitworth is a fresh look at the book of Daniel. "The Derision of Heaven" covers, chapter by chapter, the book of Daniel, using current events, Biblical reference, and historical context to give a more in depth explanation of the events, lessons, and truth in the book of Daniel.

The book is split up into ten chapters, with each chapter covering a specific section of the book of Daniel, and specific important lessons that we should be taking away from this amazing chapter. This book focuses on Daniel 1 through Daniel 9, and each of these chapters typically have their own chapter. Whereas, chapter 10 of the book encompasses Daniel 10, 11, and 12.

What I thought was really helpful about this book was the depth of the detail that Whitworth uses in order to give the reader a comprehensive and coherent understanding of Biblical information. One example of this is found in Chapter 9 of this book, which discusses Daniel 9, and the many ways in which it has been (incorrectly) translated over the years. When explaining Daniel's vision from Daniel 9, Whitworth takes special care to help the reader understand the historical events surrounding Daniel's vision. This type of care in explaining fully the circumstances of the times are one thing that sets this book apart from others.

I thought this book was very well written, with a lot of thought given to the details in an effort to help the reader expand their own understanding of the book of Daniel. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, as it offers so much insightful and useful information and explanations.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com's blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

Thomas Nelson's newest Bible is the "New Spirit-Filled Life Bible". This Bible is an NIV version of the Bible, and the translation is as would be expected of any NIV Bible. What makes this Bible different are all of the study tools and additional features that help you to dig deeper into God's word than ever before. Each and every page is loaded with footnotes, to expound on the verses

Every chapter begins with a one or two page summary of the author, background information, theme of the chapter, and key words from the chapter. This is especially helpful in understanding more about the events of the time, and what was going on in society at the time the chapter was written. I also liked that this introduction also touches on the personal application of the chapter, helping me to understand how the lessons of each chapter can be applied on a personal level.

Other features included in this Bible are: "Kingdom Dynamics", which are themes that are explained throughout the Bible, featuring topics like stewardship, prophetic dreams and visions, and human worth/divine destiny, among many others; "Word Wealth" boxes appear frequently in this Bible, and feature key words. Each little box defines and explains a word that is important in the text. This helps to really understand the actual text of the Bible on a deeper level. Also, this Bible features "Truth-In-Action" charts that offer a short summary, with the truths that were taught in the chapter, as well as the actions that exemplify those truths. Essentially this shows us how we can live out the truths taught in the Bible in our own daily lives.

Overall I would give this Bible a 5/5. I loved all of the additional study features, and felt like they were a wonderful complement to this version of the Bible. There are tons of footnotes, which I personally enjoy because when something is a little confusing or I'm not entirely sure of the message, they easily and quickly explain what I am reading.

I would recommend this Bible to anyone in need to a study Bible. Great tool. Love it!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this Bible for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Bible Stories for His Beautiful Princess

"Bible Stories for His Beautiful Princess" by Sheri Rose Shepherd is a collection of fun Bible stories for young girls. Nearly every little girl loves playing dress up, and pretending to be a princess. This book feeds on that love by relating some of the most popular Bible stories with your little princess in mind.

Some of the stories that are included in this book are Noah, Moses, Ruth, Creation, Daniel, Soloman, and David, among many others. Illustrations are by Shelley Dieterichs, and are fun, bright, and tell the story in a vivid way. The type is large, which is perfect for young readers. Each story is told using several pages, with only about five sentences on each page. The stories are written using simple words, which make it easy for early readers to understand.

At the end of each story, there is a "Princess Prayer" and a "Princess Jewel". The "Princess Prayer" is a prayer that centers around the point of the story they just read. The "Princess Jewel" is a simple explanation of the moral that the story emphasizes. These are a great addition to each story, because they help the child understand what they just read. It also makes it easy for parents to interact with their child using these tools.

Overall I would give this book a 5/5. I loved that it was easy for my 5 year old to read all by herself, and she loved the princess theme of the book. The book is a nice hardcover book, with some of the most loved Bible stories inside. Great book, perfect for ages 3 and up.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Chronological Study Bible

The Chronological Study Bible by Thomas Nelson Publishers is an amazing Bible tool. This Bible is organized chronologically, so that as you are reading, all of the events of the Bible are read in the order that they happened. The Bible is divided into epochs, and before each epoch begins there is an explanation of the time frame that the events are occurring in, with explanations of any relevant historical/archaeological context. Once the epoch begins, it clearly notes what chapter of the Bible you are reading making it easy to cross-reference with another Bible if needed. One of the things I really liked about this particular Bible was the abundance of color and images/maps/study tools within the pages. Notes appear frequently to add information to the reading, as well as maps, images, and historical information. There is certainly no shortage of extras with this Bible.

I would highly recommend this Bible to those looking for a way to help organize the events of the Bible in order. I plan to use this in addition to my regular Bible to understand the order of events in my personal Bible study time. I think this Bible would make a great addition to any household - it is packed with extra features, in addition to being a chronological Bible. Loved this!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's Blogging program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

101 Bible Stories

"101 Bible Stories" is a compilation of some of the most loved Bible stories. The stories are easy to read, and very short, which makes them perfect for an independent young reader to read all on their own! Each story is only one page long, and there is a picture on the opposite page, usually of a character in the story as the illustrator envisions him or her. The illustrations are beautiful, and almost resemble oil paintings - they take up one full page for each story. I loved that this book compiles stories from BOTH the Old and New Testaments.

Young children can learn all about Jesus' baptism, Lazarus, Queen Esther, Ruth and Naomi, and the story of Jericho, plus many, many more, all on their own. I loved how simple the stories were, using language that is easy for a younger child to understand easily. I would say that this book would be the perfect Bible Story book for beginning readers, most likely ages 5 and up.

I loved everything about this book, from the durable hard cover, to the beautiful illustrations, to knowing that it was something that represented Biblical stories without going too far off point, like some other books tend to do. This book is perfect for the young audience it was created for - Love it!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookLook Blogging Program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages

"The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages" by Shaunti Feldhahn is a book that attempts to give tips and advice about enhancing your marriage with your spouse. As with any book that attempts to offer relationship advice, some of it is great and some of it I wouldn't necessarily agree with.

For example, this book offers up the idea of "keeping score", just not in the traditional sense. This book proposes that you should keep score of how much your partner is doing or giving, in order to give back to them even more. I found this thought to be a little bit flawed - If you have to keep track of what your partner is doing to support his family, in order to establish how much of yourself to give back, I think it puts too much focus on the wrong things. So this was one of the "I don't think I'd try this" sections of this book.

The book, does, however, offer some good advice for happy marriages, such as looking higher, being plugged into a faith community, sharing key values, and trusting God for the outcome. I think this book offers some healthy and realistic advice that can be poured into marriage, but as I mentioned earlier, I think you have to look at it from a perspective of what will work for your particular situation, rather than an all inclusive marital fix.

Overall I'd give this book a 3/5 - some good advice and observations, but not all of it is what I consider to be healthy and productive. Just like any other self-help book, I would take away from it what works for me, and leave the rest.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Multnomah Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Young Woman of Faith Bible

The "Young Women of Faith Bible" is a Bible designed for girls, ages 6 and up. This is a traditional NIV translation, with tons of study tools to help young women get the most out of their Bibles. This Bible is a hard cover, with bright colors on the outside. The inside is a traditional black and white text, but features light pink boxes on nearly every page that offers some kind of additional explanation or elaboration on the text.

These pink boxes offer everything from perspective on the societal situation of the time, explanation of complicated verses, and modern day situations that reflect the same Biblical lessons as found in the text. Memory verses are occasionally highlighted with a bright pink flower, followed by the verse, which naturally draws your eye to it. There is also a pink box entitled "Journal" that also appears periodically throughout this Bible. This journal feature is a fictional journal entry from a young girl that uses an everyday situation for young girls to further expand on Biblical concepts.

Overall I thought this Bible was a great first "real" Bible for young girls. I think the age bracket of 6 years old and up is perfect. My daughter is 6 and this is her first real Bible. In the past she has always had the colorful Bible Story books that concisely tell popular Bible stories. I think this is a great companion to those type of books, as now we are able to look up those stories and use this as a more detailed story for her.

I would give this Bible a 5/5, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a first Bible for the young girl in their life.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Compass Study Bible

"The Compass Study Bible" is a new Bible that was created by the same team that created "The Voice" New Testament Bible. What makes this Bible most unique is the way it is written. This Bible reads almost like a play - The text indicates who is speaking, followed by their words. This does make it a little bit easier to follow exactly what is happening in the actual text. The translation of this Bible easy to understand, and uses modern language that helps make this Bible less of a challenge to read.

There are lots of notes that interject the text itself, with helpful notes about traditions, rituals, and lifestyles of the people in Biblical times. These notes appear within the text, rather than as footnotes, making them less challenging to read as you are reading the text of the chapters. The notes are relevant and helpful, and I thought this was a great additional feature.

Overall I would give this Bible a 4/5. The only thing I thought it really could have used was some color. This is pretty much a black and white Bible. I thought it could have used some colorful maps, notes, or study features to help make it more appealing.

This would be a great Bible for anyone who finds it a struggle to follow the events happening in a traditional Bible. With the play-like text, it is very simple to follow. I'd recommend this Bible for ages 16 and up. 







FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this Bible for free from BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

One God, One Plan, One Life

Max Lucado's "One God, One Plan, One Life" is a one year devotional that is devoted to helping guide the daily life of young adults. What I liked about this book is that each devotion is short, to the point, and easy to understand. Getting a teenager to sit down and read a lengthy devotion on a daily basis would take a small miracle, and Lucado seems to get that. These daily readings could be read in a few minutes, easily. While the messages are relatively short, Lucado makes the effort to tie in the message to the daily life of a young adult in a way that they can easily tie in to their life.

Each devotion consists of a verse from the Bible, then a short message about the principle/message/meaning of that verse, followed by a tie in to how this relates to daily life. I think that Lucado did a great job of reaching his target audience here, which I would consider to be teenagers and young adults. I would recommend this devotional as a daily reading for middle school through college aged young adults - I believe that this age group could all get something out of this, and it would be easy to fit into a busy daily routine. Literally, it takes about three minutes to read the day's devotion.

The one thing I did not like about this devotional is that the devotions are dated, so it begins with a devotion for January 1. I always feel like if I miss a day of reading, I'm missing something when the devotions are dated, and it's one of my biggest pet peeves. I would have preferred that they were just labeled, "day one, day two, etc.", but other than that I think this is a great book, and would highly recommend it to those with young adults in their home. It could even be read together, with mom or dad over breakfast, or before school.





FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Devotions for Women

Do you know a busy woman who could use a daily reminder of God's peace? Then "The One Year Devotions for Women - Becoming a Woman at Peace" is just the ticket! Ann Spangler's devotional just for women uses the central theme of peace in the daily readings designed to help live a life of peacefulness. I'll be the first one to admit that my own life is filled with stress, anxiety, worry, and at times, fear. The gentle reminders of God's greatness, and faithbuilding devotions give me that gentle nudge that I need on a regular basis to live more at peace.

The devotions themselves offer wisdom straight from the Bible, using verses, events, and happenings within the Bible to comfort and inject peace into my daily life. I liked that these devotions weren't too lengthy. As something that I read daily, it really helps when the readings are straight to the point. These were easy to fit into my schedule regardless of what was going on that particular day.

This book is an entire year's worth of devotions, with each one only about one page in length. The devotion consists of a verse from the Bible, and then a short reading that ties into the verse that was quoted. Each devotion closes with a short prayer. This short devotional really felt like my quiet time to commune with God, and I really enjoyed that about it. The fact that it is a one year devotional, and that it has short readings means that you could realistically use it year after year as a daily reminder of living in God's wonderful peace.

I would definitely recommend this devotional. I thought it was a great addition to my daily schedule, and allowed me to feel comfort and peace even in the midst of a hectic schedule, and busy life. 5/5!





FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

The Jesus Bible

"The Jesus Bible" is a great way to get young adults interested in God's word. This Bible is a traditional NIV translation, which is easy to understand and read. What I really liked and thought was inviting about this Bible was the colorful in-text tools that appear frequently throughout the text. Sometimes it is hard to get focused on line after line of black and white text, and I think that adding some color really helps this Bible feel more inviting.

There are many study tools as well that help with the understanding of Biblical events as well as the time and place that these events take place. Bible verses are highlighted in small boxes of color throughout this Bible, which helps with understanding key verses in the Bible, and also encourages memorization. Chapter summaries at the beginning of each chapter help the reader get a feeling for the "who, what, when, where" of the upcoming reading. There are also many full page study tools that help explain concepts and principles laid out in the text. These pages are colorful, and use a verse from the reading and elaborates on it, and offers a prayer also related to the reading.

Also appearing in this Bible is the "Jesus Revealed" tool, which is a small box that appears within the text, revealing facts and important explanations of Jesus and events that occur that link Jesus and prophecy. This is an especially useful tool in understanding how the Old Testament and New Testament connect to each other, and I thought it was a really cool way to help readers understand this connection. This Bible is also a red-letter text, with Jesus' words appearing in red text.

I would give this Bible a 5/5. I loved all of the fun study tools and features that really helped me to gain a better understanding of Jesus in the Bible. I would highly recommend this book for middle school age young adults and up. 


Front Cover


Chapter Overview



"Live Like Jesus"


Upper right box is a featured verse
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from BookSneeze.com's blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Friday, January 10, 2014

NIV Essentials Study Bible

The NIV Essentials Study Bible is a Bible that offers some of the most comprehensive study tools all in one place. The NIV Essentials Study Bible takes some of the best features from a variety of Bibles, such as the NIV Student Bible, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, The Great Rescue Bible, and the NIV Quest Study Bible. One of my favorite features of this Bible is the "People in Focus" tool. This tool appears in a half-page box throughout the Bible, focusing on a particular Biblical figure. What I really liked about this feature is that it focused on some not so widely known Biblical figures, such as Abiathar, Ahab, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel.

Another feature of this Bible that I thought was really helpful was the "Q & A" section. This is another small box that appears throughout the pages of this Bible, and offers answers to common questions that relate to the reading. Questions such as, why the Bible repeats material covered in other places, how God judged the Kings, how we can handle guilt, and whether it is wrong to be angry with God. These are placed perfectly within the pages of this Bible so that they tie in to the teachings perfectly, and it is easy to find the Biblical response to these questions. 


There are many, many other features in this Bible, such as maps, in depth chapter overviews at the beginning of each chapter, insights that offer helpful advice on handling particular situations (for example, the "Insight" in Job 6 discusses what not to say to a hurting person), extensive footnotes throughout the Bible, and "Reflect and Respond" sections that offer in depth analysis of events that occur.

Overall, I would give this Bible a 5/5. The amount of amazingly helpful tools that are packed into its pages makes it my new favorite Bible for studying God's word. I love all of the awesome ways that this Bible makes me find a whole new understanding of Biblical events and people. If you are a person who really wants to get more out of the Bible, this is definitely for you. Tons of explanations and analysis really help get a completely different experience from reading the Bible. Awesome.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.