Devotions from the seaside

The phrase "life is better at the beach" couldn't be more true in my opinion.  If I feel the need for a vacation, the first place that pops in my mind is the ocean and the surf.  Nothing better!  I feel closer to the Creator there than anywhere else on earth.  The fact that He controls that surf, the creatures within, and the tide amazes me.

Devotions from the beach contains 100 brief devotions with an included scripture verse or two (taken from several different versions of the Bible), a one page devotional  followed by a brief prayer you can use to help guide your own prayer.  What makes this devotional unique is the beautiful photography from the coastline.  Each devotion contains its own full color photo that will help you consider God's majesty, goodness, and power.  Complete with a page where you can record who the volume is to and who it is from, this book makes a nice gift.  In my opinion, another advantage is the ribbon marker to hold your spot, something my current devotional book is lacking.  Bound in a sturdy hard bound cover, this book is perfect for anyone who loves the beach.  I would recommend it primarily for home use as it is a bit heavy and bulky for me to fit inside my purse.

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

Perfect for graduations!

Every Christian, I believe, struggles with time with God each day.  There are so many things that scream at us for attention that we end up putting off our devotional time with Him, saying we will get to it _______, only to find at the end of the day that we may have cried out to him for guidance or shot a little arrow prayer but have not spent a minute in the Word.

John has often been said to be the perfect book for a new believer but his words are so relevant for all.  It is the perfect book of the Bible to learn more about Jesus and His teachings.  This small gift book has been divided into 46 ten minute devotionals with the key verse from the scripture (if you're in a big hurry and can't read the entire suggested text), a brief devotional, and then some questions to reflect on a takeaway from what you have read.  The text spans John 1 through John 21 and most are based on ten verses or less which I love because I often feel as if I need to read a longer passage because I don't know where to stop.  The text is written in language easy to read and understand and the scripture is lifted from the NIV version.

The book is perfectly sized for an easy stash away in a car or purse.  The attractive striped cover carries over to the pages and you can see the pattern on the page edges.  At such a reasonable price, I think this volume will be or should be used multiple times during this season of graduation.  What better gift to offer a student leaving home for college?

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

Perfect for the bride

I know I am old school but I love the thought of a bride carrying a Bible on her wedding day.  What better foundation to give your future than God's word?  I carried one on my wedding day that was beautiful and oh so heavy.  This small edition of both Old and New Testament is so lightweight and manageable  that it would barely be noticed yet provide the comfort and assurance through the day that God is the center of this relationship.

The soft "leather" cover, gold gilded pages, ribbon marker and pages at the front to record the details of the wedding day, how the couple met, and the proposal story along with other memories are sure to make this Bible an heirloom.  I plan to use one like it for my daughter's special day in hopes that it will be passed down to her daughter for her wedding.  The print is small for my eyesight and there is no commentary or index (which I am sure was omitted to allow for the petite size) but I love the fact that Jesus' words on written in red.  The embossed floral design on toward the spine is lovely but I must admit I could have done without the center of the flowers being a small rose gold dot but I think my daughter will love that touch.  Don't misunderstand, it isn't overwhelming at all and is subtle but I think the simple embossing would have been better.

Two thumbs up to Thomas Nelson for printing a Bible special for wedding use.  The size can't be beat and I love the sentiment.

Another hit by Wiseman

Eight years ago, Levi Shelter sat down at a piano and knew how to play--beautifully.  How could that be?  He was Old Order Amish and instrumental music was forbidden so he had never had the opportunity to play.  Only one person heard him play in that room and that is Mary who left the room with a promise to keep Levi's secret and his promise to write to her.

All these years later, the two find themselves together again, helping a "English" widow, Adeline, with her property.  Levi is still fighting the desire to play and struggles with the Amish believing instrumental music is forbidden by God, especially when musical instruments are spoken of so often in the Bible.  Mary is in her rumschpringe and is drawn to music as well, often playing it on her cell phone.  Their love of music as well as their devotion to Adeline draws them together and both continue to struggle with understanding the Amish ways compared to that of the Englischers.

Natalie, a young relative of Adeline's, begins having frequent visits with Adeline when she is close by for work.  What begins as an underhanded request from Natalie's mother turns to a special relationship between Adeline and the three young adults. Hearts in Harmony is a beautiful story of friendship across the generations and one of three young people trying to find their way in the world while respectively seeking wisdom for their elders.

I have never read a Beth Wiseman book that I didn't thoroughly enjoy and this first in the Amish Journey series is no exception.  Wiseman remains one of the best authors for Amish fiction.  How refreshing it is to read about the simple Amish way of life in today's fast paced world.  Even though both Amish, Levi and Mary's way of life are quite different as Mary's is much more advanced technologically--a learning experience for me and one I found unique in this book.

Two thumbs up for Wiseman's Hearts in Harmony.  I hope the next book in the series follows soon and picks up the story where this one left off.

High Sierra Sweethearts--book 2

I prefer never to come into a series mid way but Reluctant Warrior was offered to me as a review book and I typically love historical fiction so jumped at the opportunity.

Reluctant Warrior opens with Cam Scott recently returning from the Civil War to claim his child only to find that she doesn't know him and is very reluctant to leave the safety and security of the woman who has been caring for her.  Obviously, that doesn't sit well with Cam.  Danger does have a way of drawing people together in order to survive and the author uses a number of incidents one right after the other to force all the characters together, including Cam and Gwen.

The storyline was enjoyable and I did enjoy the quick moving pace of the book.  However, I was a bit perplexed with the simplistic language the author used.  As a middle school teacher, I expect quite a bit of sophistication from even 13 years olds and I was disappointed by Mary Connealy.  I have never given a book I have reviewed only 2 stars so this is a first for me.  If you enjoyed the first in the High Seirras Sweetheart series, I have no doubt you will enjoy this book as well because the characters are interesting and the situation/storyline is a bit unique but I had trouble getting beyond the short, choppy sentence structure and unimaginative language/word choices. For example it is on the sixth page of the book that Cam says his daughter and nephew "hate him".  They are small children for heaven's sake.  How could they hate him?

I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.  It is not my intent to color your opinion about the author so please read other reviews for a more well-rounded purchasing decision.

Winter touch and feel board book

Little bear meets up with a number of different animals that encourage you to huddle, nuzzle, snuggle, and curl up with your child while whispering "I love you" at the end of the day.  Each page has something soft and cozy to feel from Momma seal's soft brown coat to Momma Moose's golden brown fuzz and the longer fur of Momma polar bear.

I love the fact that this board book is interactive and your child has something soft to feel on each page.  Board books are a favorite for me as well because of the durability of the pages.  The book does exactly what the title suggests, encouraging cuddles but I was a bit surprised there really wasn't a story-line.  My favorite part is the precious faces of the animals, created by Fransesca Pesci.  A great wintertime read for very young children.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.  The opinions present in this review are my own.

Amish story for the season

Through the Autumn Air opens with Mary Katherine marrying off her last child.  Having been a widow for seven years doesn't lessen her need for her late husband to be near so she chats with him daily, at least in her mind, knowing he will never be far from her heart and has wisdom to help her through trials.  While her son is pressuring her to make some unwelcome changes in her life, Mary Katherine is searching for what the next phase of her life should look like, whether she should open a bookstore with her English friend, work in an Amish owned combination store, or even cook for an old friend, Ezekiel, in his restaurant.

A number of odd thefts have been taking place in the community and one night Mary Katherine finds herself somewhat of a victim.  Instead of turning to the authorities, she relies on Ezekiel to help her and the two are drawn together to help the young man Mary Katherine discovered in her kitchen.  Ezekiel and Mary Katherine grew up together and both have been alone for years after their spouse passed away.  Is the Autumn of their life too late to open their hearts to another?

Although Through the Autumn Air is the third in the series, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have any difficulty reading it as a standalone.  There were a lot of names thrown my way in the first chapter but that happens often, whether a series or not and Mary Katherine did have ten children!  I can only assume, with the ease of picking up the story and not feeling huge holes in the story, that each of the books in the series focuses on a different person.

I love the simplicity of the Amish way of life and enjoy reading Amish fiction--in bits and pieces.  Kelly Irvin is new to me but I think she did a nice job of portraying the Amish as you would find them in most Amish communities, with this setting being Missouri.  Men within the church always seem to have a great deal of authority and the women center their days around the home for the most part, quilting, cooking, etc.  The story line is perfect for those of us more in the later summer and nearing the autumn of life so I did particularly enjoy the ages of the main characters which are not often found.  I feel confident this will not be the last of Irvin's books I read and look forward to what she may write about the winter season.

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