Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi

"Simple Pleasures" by Marianne Jantzi is stories from the life of an Amish mother.  This one of the sweetest little books from someone day to day life that I have read.  Its not like most memoir's where you have something major and bad happen in someones life.  Not this one it is just simple little memoir on an Amish's woman's life.  Her story was so beautiful written I could just picture her life in her words.  I was very blessed to have read this woman's beautiful story.  I highly recommend it.

I was given this book from Net Galley for my honest review and not required to give a positive review.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Wonderland A Coloring Book by Amily Shen


"Wonderland, A Coloring Book Inspired by Alice's Adventures" by Amily Shen is a beautiful adult coloring book inspired by Alice in Wonderland.  This is one of my most favorite coloring books I have gotten my hands so far.  It intertwines part of the story with the coloring pages.  You have pages that are set up just for you to color and other pages that where you can add to the artists drawings.  My favorite page I would have to say is the tea plate pages where it asks you to invite someone to a tea party and then draw/color what you would serve on the plates.  What an adorable and beautiful book this is even without being colored in yet.  I highly recommend this very fun coloring book.

I was given this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

They Say We Are Infidels by Mindy Belz

"They Say We Are Infidels" by Mindy Belz is a book about the persecuted Christians in the middle east and what they face day to day.  This was a very good book about Christians viewpoint in the middle east that we will not get from the mainstream media.   For example we keep hearing about how Isis is bad now after the war in Iraq but this book brings up that they were flaring up during the war also.  The author does not hold back when discussing some of the horrific things Christians have to face over there. Also she brings up how scam artists will even flare up during times of persecution that was a great reminder for us all to be on the watch out for.  This was such a powerful and informative book and is a must read.  American Christians have a tendency to forget what our brothers and sisters are facing in other parts of the world and this book does remind us of that.  I highly recommend this book.

I was given this book from Tyndale Publishers for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.

Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey

"Cold Shot" by Dani Pettrey is a murder mystery that starts with a body found in Gettysburg.  It is a murder mystery that starts in the present but things from the past effect also effect the story and the people involved in it.  The main people affected are Griffin McCray, Declan Gray, Parker Mitchell and Finley Scott.  The main part of the story the murder happens to touch areas that can get all of them killed.  This book also makes some of the main characters face demons from their pasts and forgiveness.  The side story of forgiveness was very powerful.  I don't want to give away most of the story but I will say it has a lot of twists and turns that made a great murder mystery.  I will admit the first little bit was slow for me but I after about 20 pages it really took off.  I highly recommend this book as a good and fast paced murder mystery that has twists you are not expecting.

I was given this book from Bethany House for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Mother Can You Not by Kate Siegel

"Mother Can You Not?" by Kate Siegel is a memoir of sorts about the craziness that the author deals with regularly with her mom.  I will admit I have never read the author's tweets or anything else of hers so I had no idea what to expect.  This book was a quick and crazy book to read.  It was interesting but at the same time not my taste.  I could sum up a lot of this book in a couple words the author's mother is sex obsessed.  If I known about that or the language in the book I probable would not have read it. However it still was interesting read and I did feel on the bad side for the author on having an extreme helicopter mom.  So if the sex talk or language does not bother you then I would recommend it, however if that writing type bothers you then don't read it.

I was given this book from Blogging For Books for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch

"Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World" by Kristen Welch is a book not just steps to help create grateful children but also the author's story on her own children. This book was a very honest book about gratefulness.  The author had no problem telling us when her, her husband or children were even thinking or acting entitled themselves.  I also enjoyed her writing that there is nothing wrong with having stuff for example but its our attitude about the stuff. She also encourages you while you are teaching your kids to be more grateful not to put them or yourself on a pedestal about it.  This book was a good book on teaching being humble.  I highly recommend it as it was a great teaching guide for kids and even the parents on being grateful.

I was given this book from NetGalley for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.

Friday, April 8, 2016

67 Shots by Howard Means


"67 Shots, Kent State and The End Of American Innocence" by Howard Means is a well researched book on the Kent State.  This was a very well written book that does not give just one side of the Kent State Massacre from 1970.  It gives both sides of the incident and both sides of supporters.  It was very sad to see how people treated each other over just what side they believed.  The violence really did not end after the shooting when supporters of each side either threatened violence or their children hurt other children.  What a sad day in American history I wish I had learned more of this in school.  A very good book and I highly recommend it. 

I was given this book from NetGalley for my honest review and not required to give a positive review.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Book Recommendation and other thoughts

"A Mother Reckoning, Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy" by Sue Klebold is her memoir of coming to terms with what happened and what her son had done at Columbine.  This was a powerful book which she really writes how she felt and having to coming to terms with what her son Dylan had done.  It is sad how people threaten her life and even the lives of distant family members over what Dylan had done.  I was glad to read that some people that were also affected by the tragedy did come help them also.  It was tragedy all around.  I highly recommend this book and now to the possible toe stepping portion that is coming from my thoughts after reading this book

 She really talked a lot about how we don't know everything that goes on in our teens lives or whats happening with changes in their brains.  She talked about how sometimes parents will think that they know everything about what is happening with their teen but they don't(does someone know everything you do or all your thoughts). That is so true and it really made me think of the Christian and home school world out there.  I have heard too many parents in the world say well my child has been home schooled or is a Christian so I know everything on what they are doing or thinking.  So wrong.  I have seen parents brag about how sweet their child is which the child can be when they are around but when the parents are not around I have seen an almost 180 on that same child.  If someone trys to say anything to the child's parents the parents usually go ballistic on that person not willing to maybe see that junior is not always so sweet or innocent.  Also as a church we have a tendency to put "good" children on a pedestal and when they fall act like its not possible or ostracize the parents like its their fault their child sinned.  We seem to forget that children are sinners also and will fall.  Just because a child grows up in a Christian home or is home school does not mean they will be perfect.  We all need to watch for teens that may be having issues with depression or other thoughts ignoring is what can hurt our teens the most.  Also don't blame other teens if your precious one gets in trouble it might have been your child that started the whole issue.   I know my children are not innocent I have had people try to tell me otherwise and I will usually laugh and say something to point of I know my kids are not perfect they are sinners just like me.   Also remember being in church, growing up in a Christian home or not being in public school does not guaranty that your child will not be bullied or in some cases the bully.

Thoughts on my hubby

27 years ago was the summer before my senior year in high school and I went for a walk that would change my life forever.  I just wanted to ...