Adult coloring for cat lovers

Have a cat lover in your list of friends or family?  Adult coloring books are all the rage today and here is one for the cat lover on your gift list.  The subjects (a cat) range from whimsical to realistic and adult to kitten.   As for difficulty, I would have to say that these illustrations range on the easier side of adult coloring.  Not as simple as a child's coloring book but only a few contain the tiny, intricate details that a very steady hand is essential that seem to be in most of the adult copies I have looked at. The pen and ink drawings will bring a smile to your face and make a perfect gift for any cat lover who enjoys coloring.  Who doesn't enjoy coloring though?  I know where this copy is going! Each page is a light card stock weight making it a piece worth framing should you be pleased with your completed work. 

For additional information on the award winning Korean artist/illustrator, Won-Sun Jang:  http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2135229/won-sun-jang/

I did receive this copy free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I am in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Historical fiction that will grab you from the first line

Beyond the Silence opens with six year old Jimmy hearing the screams of his mother and going in the house to find a strange man hitting and yelling at his mother. When the encounter ends with he and his mother falling down the staircase, all she can say to him is that she loves him and to RUN!

Lillian Porter grew up in a loving home with her grandparents.  When her Grandmother died, her Grandfather and only living relative became a hard, bitter man so it was no big surprise that, when she shared her commitment to go west to nanny a mute boy, her grandfather forbade it and, seeing that she intended to follow through with her commitment, fairly disowned her. Lillian is certain she is following God's plan and is convinced by doing so that all will turn out as it should.

Ostracized by this neighbors, Woody Colton, Jimmy's father, has little business with those he once called friends.  The judge may have found him innocent but they towns people still have their doubts.  His olive farm isn't safe for anyone when things begin to happen around the farm.  Rumors rise up quite heavily when their housekeeper is attacked but those rumors and suspicions aren't consistent with the man Lillian has come to know. Will the strength of those rumors and gossip win out?

I have read other books by Tracie Peterson and enjoyed them thoroughly so was anxious to see what she produced the co-author Kimberly Woodhouse.  I wasn't disappointed.  A little bit of love, a little of mystery, and a lot of historical fiction.  Set in the 1880's, Beyond the Silence won't disappoint, especially if you love historical fiction.  The story will grab you from the first page and the characters are ones that you will love and will stick with you after this story comes to a close. 

This is the author's second book written together, the first being All Things Hidden. There is nothing on the book to indicate that this is a sequel to the first and I certainly didn't feel as if I was missing anything so am going to assume this is a stand alone book.  How refreshing!--at least from my point of view. 

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one. I am looking forward to other joint efforts by Peterson and Woodhouse. 

Fabulous audio of God's Word

Do you find it difficult to get up in the morning a bit earlier to read the Bible or do you get up and other activities around the house take priority whether you want it to or not?  Do you have a commute to work that you wish were more profitable? Perhaps you are someone or know of someone who doesn't care to read but listens well.  If you find yourself in any of these boats, consider the New Testament (Old Testament also available) recently released by Thomas Nelson.  Many audio books contain one and maybe a few more voices within the whole CD.  Thomas Nelson has chosen a number of very well known men and women to portray the various voices throughout the New Testament.  Included are John Schneider, Michael W. Smith, Lou Gossett Jr., and Richard Dreyfuss among others.  The New Testament is complete in the easy to understand New King James Version in a 20 CD set.


I think this may be the last audio Bible you need to purchase.  Now that I have posted the review, I look forward to listening to each CD in a more relaxed manner, allowing God's word to soak into my head and heart.   What better way to spend my time in the car each morning and afternoon?  The dramatically read Scripture allows me to form somewhat of a movie in my head and I feel that I can see the disciples and Jesus throughout. The set is quite affordable and I think you will be blessed more than you may think.

I did receive this set free from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one. 

Fabulous cookbook for healthy eating

Finally forgiven......When I received the latest version of Trim Healthy Mama, I was incredibly disappointed that there were no recipes, only the hows and whys of the sister duo's ways of cooking and eating healthy and losing weight in the process.  Well, I can now forgive the ladies because they have introduced a cookbook full of recipes that dwarf what was offered in the original book.  From one pot meals (my personal favorite) to breakfast foods to sweets and hearty main dishes, this book contains over 350 recipes, several of which are destined to become favorites.  Some of the recipes have ingredients that you may not keep in your pantry if you are not already a Trim Healthy Mama cook but all items are very easy to acquire at your local grocery store or health food store--also easily available on-line. (This comment probably applies more to baked goods than other recipes.) One of the unique features of this cookbook is that the sister's personalities still shine just as in Trim Healthy Mama when they take turns sharing the history of the recipe of tips.

As for the book itself, I will always wish cookbooks were either loose leaf or spiral bound so I can easily lay them on the counter and cook from them.  However, a nice slick paper was chosen so it is easy to wipe away small drips and spills from the book.

Lest you be misled, the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook isn't just for those who want to lose weight.  Eating healthy foods will make  you feel better and give you more energy than you have had for years.  Give it a try.  It isn't necessary to have the cookbook to eat healthy but it sure does make it a bit simpler. 

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Best coloring book ever

Who doesn't love to color?  It has to be one of the most relaxing activities ever and it isn't just for kids anymore.  Adult coloring books are everywhere now. 

We all know that we need to spend time with the Lord each and every day and in His word.  What could be more incredible than doing so while coloring?  Each page has a pictures just waiting for color and a short scripture or quote to meditate on and memorize while you are coloring.  On the verso of many of the pages is the entire scripture, words to a hymn, or the reference where the quote originated.  The paper is a heavy stock, but not card weight.  Each illustration is the work of one of a dozen different artists.  The book is bound and pages would be difficult to tear out so you can either look at it as an entire work that can stand the test of time and not be concerned about pages falling out or get out the scissors if you want to share or frame.

I can already tell that I need to begin looking for my next volume because this one won't last long.  Off to purchase a new box of colored pencils with as many color options as I can find.

I did receive this free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Silent no more

WE CANNOT BE SILENT:  Speaking truth to a culture redefining sex, marriage, and the very meaning of right & wrong.  In some aspects, the title says it all.  Our world seems to have taken everything good and holy and deemed moral and turned it into something shameful.  In his latest book, Al Mohler claims that this cultural revolution is far from over.  He says that what we, as Christians, have determined as the "straw that broke the camel's back" (my words, not his) in redefining marriage as anything other than being between a man and woman is not the start of the changes and certainly will not be the end.  As Christians, we have a choice to make during these times.  What should a Christian and the Church do in today's world? 


Mohler's book sheds light on the historical path that led us to where we are now, from the acceptance of divorce to the homosexual movement  and same sex marriages to the transgender movement.  After revealing our treacherous path, Mohler takes us into Scripture to look at what the Bible says about sex and marriage and the proper response Christians should have in the wake of our times.  Are we nearing the end of religious liberty and marriage?  Mohler fears we just may be and today's church could be partially to blame.

To be honest, this isn't a book I wanted to read but I simply couldn't get it off my mind once I saw it.  Fairly vocal on a normal basis, I didn't feel equipped to address this issue nor did I think I wanted to.  However, it seems to me that if no one ever takes a stand, what is to keep the United States from being a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah?  I call home a certain state that has been in national news for months because a woman refused to issue a marriage license to a homosexual couple.  I admired her fortitude.  Would I have done the same?  It was time to discover exactly what my reaction should have been.


Mohler's book is a challenging one. It was provoke you to think about sexuality and marriage and your own beliefs at a deeper level than ever before.  Is it one that is going to leave you feeling good about the world when finished? Probably not.  However, I want to personally challenge each of you to pick up a copy and read it for yourself.  His writing is straight forward and easy to understand.  Read it over time though.  Don't look at it as something to get read to check off your list. Read it and digest it as you go.  Two thumbs up to Mohler for authoring a book that confronts this touchy, sensitive issue.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one. 

A handbook of owls

Owls are loved by many and collected by some but who knew there were so many varieties of these winged friends?  I certainly never knew there was an owl small enough to fit into a pocket.  Matt Sewell takes the reader all over the world from the tropics to the desert, woodlands, and wilderness to introduce forty-seven different owls.  While the narrative is easy to understand and captivating, it is the watercolor pictures of the owls that make this such an intriguing small book.  They are beautiful.  As for the narrative, the author's voice comes through loud and clear making it an interesting read for older children and adults alike. Originally published in 2014 but now introduced in a different form.  An unusual feature the author also included is an illustrated checklist in the back of the book for bird watchers to keep track of the owls they are fortunate enough to spot.


This volume is perfect for any bird enthusiast or owl lover but also very appropriate and will capture the attention of children so a good choice to use in encouraging them to read non-fiction.  Who knows, perhaps your little person might pick up bird watching as a hobby. As for my copy, I have an owl lover on my Christmas list so off to the wrapping table I go.

I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one.