Book Review: London Art Chase (Glimmer Girls)

My Review:  This adorable read is charming, sweet and as wonderful as the three little girls that grace the pages within!  What a refreshing read, a wholesome faith-filled novel for the younger crowd (and those of us young at heart!)  There is no way to pick a favorite with these 3 - each one holding her own with intelligence, creativity, cheeky!

Their mom, the popular singer Gloria Glimmer, globe trots around and the children are blessed to travel with her and their caring nanny, Miss Julia.  What I loved so much is that I have been to London and took my own 4 children with us ... it was fun to read this novel 'through the eyes of children' from the author's perspective.  The girls dot around London searching for missing art work from a London museum, trying to find all the clues and solve the mystery.  For adults, this is a quick read - and I was even able to get my 11 year old son to read it one afternoon, too.  It's engaging, fun, and entertaining!

I love that London Art Chase, penned by Natalie Grant, one of my original loves of christian music, continues to enthrall us with her work - as an author!

Disclosure :  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this by the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From the book Jacket:  

In London Art Chase, the first title in the new Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls series, readers meet 10-year-old twins Mia and Maddie and their adorable little sister, LuLu. All the girls are smart, sassy, and unique in their own way, each with a special little something that adds to great family adventures.

There is pure excitement in the family as the group heads to London for the first time to watch mom, famous singer Gloria Glimmer, perform. But on a day trip to the National Gallery, Maddie witnesses what she believes to be an art theft and takes her sisters and their beloved and wacky nanny Miss Julia, on a wild and crazy adventure as they follow the supposed thief to his lair. Will the Glimmer Girls save the day? And will Maddie find what makes her shine?

Book Review: Undaunted Hope

My Review:   

"I could give her a lifetime, but she'll always love you more than me."

Jody Hedlund - you write from the heart!  Undaunted Hope catapults from the first splash into the freezing waters in Eagle Harbor and dashes to the finish at the box lunches.  This refreshing love story isn't gardens and flowers and all things 'rosey' - it's a contrast with ice and winter.  Yet, just as love tends to do, there is such warmth in the pages of the blossoming relationship with Tessa Taylor and Alex Bjorklund that you almost forget it takes place in the bitter winter days.

Imagine late 1800's - an unmarried woman - shortage of wives - freezing winter months .... and a teacher who is willing to take all that on for the cause of making a difference in the lives of the coal mining children.  That's Tessa - strong, independent, faith-filled and making a teacher's career in a man's world .. and she's running from a blemished past.  Immediately after arriving at Eagle Harbor, Alex saves Tessa's life and they have immediate chemistry ~ matching wits and playfully bantering back and forth through-out the novel.  Alex lives with his brother, Michael, as lighthouse keepers and Alex helps take care of Michael's two children since his wife's passing.  Alex hasn't known marriage and parenthood, and until he meets Tessa, feels it's his fate to be a guiding light in the lives of his niece and nephew.  

There is joyful bantering between Tessa and Alex through-out this book, matching wit and bouncing one liners off of each other.  Naturally, both brothers fall for Tessa and an ensuing courting begins, pitting brother against brother until one sacrifices family above all things.  Tessa falls equally for Alex but has a hard time conveying that in a town filled with deception and hardship. The coal miners are suffering and going without while the conniving Percival (overseer of the coal mines) continues to cut costs and certainly at no expense of his own.)
I love that Jody Hedlund included the wholesomely sweet brother of Percival, in the novel, as the polar opposite who Tessa treats with respect and care. 

The connections to the lighthouse makes this book unique in that Tessa is not only running from blemishes in her past, but tragedy as well.  She witnessed her father's drowning and couldn't do much more than stand helpless on the shore.
She vowed never to set foot in a lighthouse again and yet she's drawn to Alex, Michael and her two students, Michael's children.  She has a special teacher's bond to Henry, developed after a real boy who was a bright student who left the school to work in the coal mines and ultimately fell to his death at just 13.   Just like Henry, some of the characters in this story are based on the real life accounts of people living in the town (minus the coal mines, says Hedlund).

This is my first Hedlund read, and, frankly, I'm hooked!  Even though the description states that this is book 3 in the Beacons of Hope series, I read it as a 'stand on it's own' book and it was a strong read, thoroughly enjoyable from cover to cover!

Disclaimer:  I received this book for an honest review from Bethany House,

a division of the Baker Publishing Group and was not required to write a positive review.  

Any reflection of such is my own and this review is an honest reflection of such.

From the Jacket:  
Tessa Taylor arrives in 1870s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, planning to serve as a new teacher to the town. Much to her dismay, however, she immediately learns that there was a mistake, that the town had requested a male teacher. Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since they won't be able to locate a new teacher before then, and Tessa can't help but say she is in his debt. Little does she know that Percival will indeed keep track of all that she owes him.

Determined to become indispensable, Tessa throws herself into teaching, and soon the children of the widowed lighthouse keeper have decided she's the right match for their grieving father. Their uncle and assistant light keeper, Alex Bjorklund, has his own feelings for Tessa. As the two brothers begin competing for her hand, Tessa increasingly feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her.

From the Heart Stamps - Progressive Challenge February!

Hi friends!

For some odd reason, I'm locked out (temporarily!) of my regular blog so I'm posting on my book review blog!  It IS the year of Adventure, after all! :)

This card is from the Progressive Challenge at FTHS, designed by the talented artist Faith.  What delightful images she creates!  If you play along in the challenge, you are given the next month's image for free to continue playing along, and they are all adorable.  It's like a surprise in your emails once a month :)

This is actually my 2nd card - my first one didn't sit well with me after it was done so I started all over.  I like the contrasting colors of this one much better so here it is!

Hopefully I'll be back to blogging at the regular blogspot soon - if you'd like to join me here,

or if you are an avid reader like me, then I welcome you! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Big hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly

Book Review: Lots of knock-knock Jokes for Kids

Knock knock!
Who's there?
Ida!
Ida who?
Ida like to be your friend!

Haha!  This book is a riot!  I have 4 children and you'd think I've heard every possible joke there is!  But this hilarious 121 page book, chock full of over 250 jokes is was one of the best times I've had hearing the kids tell the jokes page after page. 

This book is good, clean fun. 

Lots of laughs and giggles, geared towards the younger crowd, but even my 11 year old was howling with laughter at most of these original, laugh provoking funnies!

5 well deserved stars!

Disclosure :  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this by the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: An Amish Year

Bet Wiseman has done it again!  Such an incredibly faith-filled and wonderful author, tipping the pen to write a novel(s) that are as refreshing in faith as they are in proise!

Although I have read Beth's work previously, this novella of 4 stories contained new stories, new cast of characters that make you feel so at home - as if you knocked on their door and they invited you in to break bread and become part of their families.

While An Amish Year does contain one (possibly two?) repeat stories, this book overall has a wonderful flow as it follows Irma and Saul through their teenage years and beyond.  The surprising twist of why Irma originally breaks off her relationship with Saul is haunting and heartbreaking, but it weaves a tale to be told!  This book is faith strong and fast, heartbreak and redemption and, of course, love.

The recipe collection included in this book was an added bonus and wonderful surprise!

5 well deserved stars!

Book Jacket:

Spend a year in Amish country with four sweet romances.
Rooted in Love (previously published in An Amish Garden)
Rosemary Lantz is doing her best to run her family’s household. She excels at all her tasks except one: gardening. Saul Petersheim has pursued Rosemary for years, but Rosemary keeps turning him down. What Saul doesn’t know is that she has good reason—something no one can know—especially not him.
A Love for Irma Rose
The year is 1957, and young Irma Rose has a choice to make. Date the man who is “right” for her? Or give Jonas a chance, the wild and reckless suitor who refuses to take no for an answer?  Irma Rose steps onto the path she believes God has planned for her, but when she loses her footing, she is forced to rethink her choice. 
Patchwork Perfect
Eli Byler has been a widower for two years when he chooses to make a fresh start in Paradise, Pennsylvania. As Eli juggles the admiration of two women, he meets Miriam Fisher—the most unconventional Amish woman he’s ever met. She doesn’t fit the mold for what Eli is looking for, but it isn’t long before Eli realizes that Miriam is everything he wants. But Miriam has no plans to get married—ever.  Will Eli be able to change her mind?
When Christmas Comes Again (previously published in An Amish Second Christmas)
Katherine knows the first Christmas without Elias will be hard for her and the children. But when a mysterious Englischer appears with photographs of her late husband, Katherine begins to wonder what other blessings Christmas could have in store.

         I thank BookLook bloggers for the chance to review this book 
                        and my review is a positive opinion expressed by me on my own accord.

Book Review: Willie Out West

My Review: 

Absolutely charming book!

 This is a delightful little children's book,

creative, funny, and thought provoking.

The character drawings and artwork through-out give a greater sense of wholesomeness to this book,

from the octopus with his western hat and 8 spurs (one for each tentacle!) to the one-eyed whale named Old Walter.

Young Willie desperately wants to be important,

and he so very much wants to be needed.

As he sits in front of the tv, waiting for mom to finish dinner,

he couldn't imagine being whisked away to an underwater "Old West" 

where he'd be asked to save the day!

"We need someone with lots of courage and strength to save our town"

(book quote)

Willie is excited to be needed!

He comes up with a plan ("Like I learned in school!")

to scare the mean whale away and allow the town to be united again,

peaceful and in harmony.

 Whether intentional or not, I liked the way the author weaved into this tale the threat of a bully, using sheer size and brute strength to intimidate the other towns folk (which, by the way, are all under the sea, ocean characters - adorable as all get up!)

There is a fun 'western twang' and cute jargon that's spoken by the animals which kids will find entertaining.

A great message wrapped up in a short, lovely little read!

 

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: The Whisper Theory

Book Jacket:

Meghan Shanahan is confident in her Christianity, if not a bit selfrighteous . When she moves in with Jeff and Carol, her two unbelieving college roommates, she begins to unravel.

Meghan thought she could save Jeff, but in the first three months of college, she's breaking more rules than she's keeping. Even worse, she finds herself falling in love with Jeff. When a young woman in their apartment building is murdered, everything starts changing. Through heartache and despair, tragedy and suspense, Meghan learns what friendship is all about, and more importantly, she discovers the voice she's going to follow.

Book Review: 
I read The Whisper Theory as a e-book as a blind copy, meaning I basically had no idea what the book was or about!  It was like unwrapping a present,

pulling back the shiny wrapping, peeking under the tissue paper, 

and finally seeing it's content.

I was intrigued, at first, to see that it was a half story, half bible study.

It's a rather quick read, and each of the 16 chapters seem a bit choppy.  

We are taken on a journey of three young people (Carol, Jeff and Meghan)

as they venture through the woes and challenges of general life, though some of the decision they make are entirely intentional - drinking under age, partying, premarital sex, and more.  There is a real lack of character developing and I kept reading onward, hoping that more of the christian foundation would pour through.  Humbly, this e-book felt like I was reading through a really long term paper - it lacks focus, depth and development.  

I did appreciate the questions at the end of the chapters though it's mostly a series of questions.  I think this book could have benefited greatly from the author expanding on each of the questions by focusing on God's word in depth

and pitting questions with biblical scripture basis.

  I'm not sure if it's centered towards teens and young adults or just a general discussion guide for the 'over 21 crowd.'

Be warned: This e-book has topics and frank discussions that are not meant for the young christian crowds and this is NOT a youth group guide.

YES, these are topics many teens are faced with and 

YES, these are discussions that many parents/group leaders may encounter,

it's just not a very concrete guide or enjoyable read, frankly speaking.

I did so want to enjoy this book and bible study - it just fell very, very flat.

                  I thank BookLook bloggers for the chance to review this book 

                        and my review is a positive opinion expressed by me on my own accord.