The No-Stress Holiday Planner ~ Review

The No-Stress Holiday Planner: 

An All-in-One Guide to Organize and Record Your HolidaysBy Angela Baxter, Rodney Fife, 

      and Whitney Lindsley

Most people spend the year dreading the holidays because of the stress it brings into their lives.  After all there are to-do lists, shopping lists, gift lists, cooking, parties, get-togethers, school activities, etc.  And somewhere along the way the holiday gets lost in all the fuss, bustle, and stress.

Well this No-Stress Holiday Organizer will help you tame the beast and allow you to enjoy the joys of the season as you once did.

With calendars for each of the 3 months in one place you can be sure not to over plan your time.  Everything you need is in one place. There is a section for your favorite recipes as well as a few tried and true traditional dishes that you may want to try this year.  And there is a categorized shopping list for each holiday so you can't forget that necessary ingredient that somehow manages to get lost in the list.

My favorite part is the pages dedicated to photos of each holiday and areas for recording your reflections and memories of the days you just celebrated.  What a fun and delightfully way to remember your special days spent with family and friends in the years to come.  And you won't have to go "Is this the year we did.....?"   Be sure to write the year 2014 on the spine and place it on your shelf with your photo albums and scrapbooks and enjoy the memories and joys of the season starting this year!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review and my participation in this blog tour.

About the book:

Get organized this holiday season! Make you plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s as enjoyable for you as it is for your guests. From calendars and checklists to budget sheets and journal pages, this book saves you the time and money to enjoy family traditions old and new – year after year!

The Quick-Start Guide to the Whole Bible ~ Review

The Quick-Start Guide to the Whole Bible
Understanding the Big Picture Book-by-Book
By Dr. William H. Marty and Dr. Boyd Seevers

Do you ever get lost in the Bible as to when certain events take place in a historical reference?  Or do all the begatting bog you down so you just throw your hands in the air and decide to figure it all out later?

Well The Quick-Start Guide to the Whole Bible just might be what you need to help you have a better understanding of the Bible.  The setting explains what is taking place in this period of history and why it is significant.  The book is then summarized so we have a have an understanding of what events or messages of significance take place,  And then the truths of the book are applied so that we may take away a message or truth that we can use in our own day-to-day living.

This book would make an excellent self-study guide or would a nice addition to a Bible Study group as an introduction to each book before the study begins.  For Christian school or homeschoolers this would be an excellent book to use for a course on Bible history.  It could be a semester study or a whole year.

This book would also make a great on hand tool to just pull off the shelf when you have a question arise about any book of the Bible.  And with weddings, birthdays, holidays, and graduations always popping up this would be a lovely gift to have on hand for those near and dear to you.  I know this is one book that I'll  be turning to again and again.

I was provided a copy this book by the publisher Bethany House through their blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

A Friendly Overview of Every Book of the Bible
Reading the Bible can be intimidating. Made up of sixty-six "books" ranging in subject matter from history to instruction, from poetry to prophecy, this all-time bestseller is frequently misunderstood, even by those who read it regularly.

In this easy-to-read handbook, two respected Bible professors will help you make sense of the Bible, book-by-book. Using a conversational tone, they cut right to the heart of the matter, focusing on two main questions: "What does it say?" and "Why does it matter?"

Whether you're a seasoned reader of Scripture or reading it for the first time, you're sure to come away with a better understanding of what the Bible is all about and why it is the most important book you'll ever read.

About the Authors

Dr. William H. Marty (MDiv, Denver Seminary, ThD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute. He teaches and writes on both the New and Old Testaments and is the author of The Whole Bible Story, which has sold over 100,000 copies, and the recently released The World of Jesus. Dr. Marty lives with his wife in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Boyd Seevers (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary, PhD, Trinity Evangelical Seminary) is Professor of Old Testament Studies at University of Northwestern, St. Paul, in Minnesota. Dr. Seevers studied and lived in Israel for eight years and has published one book, Hidden in Plain Sight. He lives with his wife and four children in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Princess Spy ~ Review

The Princess Spy
By Melanie Dickerson

Margaretha knows she needs to accept one of her suitors soon, but she wants someone to want to marry her for herself and not because she's the Duke's daughter.  Not only do none of her suitors meet this qualification, they don't even seem to even like her.  Her talking may be part of the problem.

But Lord Claybrook seems different, but Margaretha is trying to hold her tongue - but it's not easy. And some of his conversations are just so uninteresting...  But accepting Lord Claybrook will allow her to stay close to her family.

But when a foreigner is brought to Hagenheim Castle, Margaretha finds herself needed - she can speak this stranger's language.  But is his tale even plausible or has the attack that brought him to her home left his brain addled?

Colin is determined to avenge the wrongs he claims Lord Claybrook is responsible for.  But how can he convince those in Hagenheim Castle of the danger that hides behind the man carefully presented facade?  Added to this is the fact that he can only converse with Margaretha and is unable to get word to Duke Wilhelm of the danger they now face.

But when events force Colin and Margaretha to search out her father Margaretha is forced to decide what she truly wants.  A marriage of convenience, a home near her family, a man who tolerates her, or love?  The choice is hers and the time to choose is now.

This is yet another delight from the skilled Melanie Dickerson.  Fans of fairy tales will not be disappointed in this lovely story.  This book won't make parents cringe when they see their daughters reading it.  Like Melanie's previous books these are timeless tales with an engaging heroine who discovers truths about herself and finds love along the way.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Zondervan though the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description

Margaretha has always been a romantic, and she hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha—one of the few who speaks his language—understands the wild story.

Unable to pass his message on to her father, the duke, Margaretha convinces herself “Lord Colin” is just an addled stranger. But when Colin asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment for retrieving a lost heirloom, Margaretha discovers that she might be very wrong about both Colin and her potential betrothed.

About the Author

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Gatehaven ~ Review

Gatehaven
By Molly Nobel Bull

Do you like Gothic Novels?  If so Gatehaven is just what you want to read.  Rachel Shannon Aimee is determined to marry a man with or without her family's blessing.  And the Earl of Northon has convinced Shannon that she is his heart's desire and wants her to meet his family in England, his home in Gatehaven.

Shannon's parents give their reluctant permission only after her childhood friend Ian Colquoun agrees to go along with Shannon and the Earl's cousin agrees to chaperon the stubborn young woman.

But fear and mystery surround Gatehaven and Shannon and Ian are soon in a battle for which they were not prepared.  A battle that cost them and those they hold their very lives.

Evilness has invaded Gatehaven and their only weapons lie in prayer and the Bible.  But do they have time to put on the armor of God and learn how to use it?

Gatehaven will keep you in suspense as the story unfolds.  And the danger is growing and time is running out to escape its vengeful clutches.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author through BookFun/TBCN in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
Gatehaven by Molly Noble Bull is a Christian Gothic historical novel set in a haunting mansion in the north of England where Ian Colquhoun and Shannon Aimee battle a Frenchman with dark secrets--spiritual warfare vs. the occult. Will they learn enough about God’s words to defend themselves and others or will evil overcome them?
Gatehaven is the 2013 Creation House Fiction Writing Contest Winner.

About the Author: 

Molly Noble Bull, Christian novelist, is a native Texan, and she is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Kingsville. Molly's father and maternal grandfather were ranch managers, making them real Texas cowboys, and she spent part of her growing up years on a 60,000 acre cattle ranch. She and her husband have three grown sons and six grandchildren, and all three of their sons are involved in ranching in Texas today.

Her novel, Sanctuary, won the 2008 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence in the inspirational category and tied for first place in the 2008 Winter Rose contest also in the inspirational category.
On February 1, 2013, Molly learned that her long historical, Gatehaven, won the grand prize in the Creation House Fiction Writing Contest 2013.

Gatehaven is a Christian Gothic novel and was published in trade paperback and as an e-book on March 4, 2014. Creation House.com

With a ranch background like Molly’s, it isn’t surprising that she has published two western romances with Harlequin’s Steeple Hill/Love Inspired series. Brides and Blessings and The Winter Pearl. God willing, When the Cowboy Rides Away, yet another of Molly’s western romances will be coming out from Elk Lake in 2015.

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm ~ Review

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm
By Suzanne Fisher Woods

Bess Riehl has finally given up hope that Billy Lapp will ever return to Stoney Ridge.  She's spent years hoping he would come back, but just when she's ready to start a new life with a man who loves her everything is about to get confusing.

A long forgotten rose has just been discovered at Rose Hill Farm.  A rose that can't be identified and Billy Lapp is the expert that is sent to identify it.  But Billy's return is about to upset the delicate balance that both he and Bess have in their lives.  And when the identity proves to be elusive Billy has to spend more time in the world he left behind forever.

The past with its pains, hopes, and disappointments have to be faced if there is to be a future without regrets.

Take a step back in time to Stoney Ridge and celebrate a Christmas season of miracles and second chances.  A Christmas of love lost and found.

Set in 1979 it is an interesting look at research before computers were the norm.  It is hard today to imagine the world as it was just 35 years ago before technology became a means of research and communication at the push of a button rather than combing through documents and articles by hand.

With glimpses into Bess and Billy's we are told the story of how they have arrived at who they are during this story.  This a story of hope, pain, love, and loss wrapped up in the beauty and joy of the Christmas season.

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm is a delight you'll want to add to your Christmas season.  This is the break you'll need from the stresses that many allow themselves to be caught up in.  So sit back, take an hour or two, and enjoy a Christmas miracle that will bring a smile to your face.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell through their blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

Join bestselling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember.

Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge. And that suits Bess Riehl just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word of explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes when Billy's cousin Amos proposed--for the third time--and beginning to plan for her Christmas wedding.

When a "lost" rose is discovered in a forgotten corner of the greenhouse at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. His plan is to get in, identify the rose, and get out. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose--and he can't get Bess Riehl out of his mind.

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy--and Amos too--that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series, the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist forThe Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Dogs of War Premier Episode ~ Review

I don't watch much television, nor do I subscribe to any television service provider.
But I was recently given the opportunity to preview the premier episode of A&E's
upcoming series Dogs of War.  Well, I have a thing for dogs and was intrigued by
the premise of this show.

DOGS OF WAR spotlights combat veteran Jim Stanek, who returns home struggling with PTSD. He looks into getting a service dog to help him heal, only to discover how expensive they are, and how long the wait to be paired with one is. So he starts his own nonprofit to rescue dogs from kill shelters, train them as service dogs and partner them with struggling veterans at little or no cost.

The show premieres Tuesday, November 11th at 10 pm ET/PT and then moves to Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT beginning November 16th.

In an era when most reality TV is hypersexualized, about cutthroat competition or designed solely to make us laugh at the culture of its “stars,” it is so refreshing to be associated with a series like this, which spotlights a man who uses the greatest pain in his life to offer the greatest comfort to the lives of others. 

Well, this first episode is quite the eye-opener - $10,000 to $60,000 for a service 
dog.  The prohibitive cost and his need for a dog convinced and inspired Jim Stanek 
and his wife Lindsey to help veteran's and shelter dogs by bringing them together, 
saving two lives at the same time.  

This is a moving show that will touch you as you see these lives offered a chance at 
restoration and healing.  This isn't a moment in the spotlight type of show.  It is a 
show of hope and second chances.

Check-out this trailer and decide for yourself...

Dogs have a special talent for making us feel better and this show is proof of it.

Playing by Heart ~ Review

Playing by Heart
By Anne Mateer

Lula Bowman is determined to leave her past reputation behind but Dunn, Oklahoma, and her older siblings won't let her forget that she was Fruity Lu.  Add to that most people don't think she can teach mathematics though she has excelled in mathematics.  When a tragedy strikes, bringing her back home Lula is faced with a dilemma - if she helps her sister she will have to give up her dream of a PhD in mathematics.  A dream her father has taken great pride in, a dream that has taken precedent in her life.

But helping her sister means taking a position at the Dunn High School - a position as music teacher and girl's basketball coach.  But Lula had given up musical pursuits after her mother died.  And basketball?  She hasn't a clue how to play it much teach it!  What's a girl to do if she wants to erase her past reputation as a flibbertigibbet?

But being a female teacher comes with a lot of strings attached.  No keeping company with men, home between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am, dress and conduct code.  But Lula sees no problems with fulfilling these rules of conduct, but she hasn't had to deal Chet Vaughn yet.

Chet Vaughn has managed to avoid all the matrimonial-minded teachers so far and he's determined to avoid the new music teacher if she is of a similar mind.  But when she reaches out for his help with coaching and not romance Chet is pleasantly surprised with this serious and intellectually-minded teacher.

But Lula and Chet are about to discover that they can't fulfill another's dreams nor make up for another's lacks.  They have to discover for themselves who they are and what God has planned for them - what His dream for them is.

Playing by Heart is an enlightening journey to the last century.  It is a time of war and change is slowly coming, but not without its struggles.  Education is considered a luxury and even an unnecessary one by some.  And women are not a good choice for employment as marriage is their goal in life.

Fans of historical fiction won't be disappointed in this book and will be delighted and charmed.

I was provided with a copy of this book through Bethany House's Blogger program in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But then a shocking phone call from her sister, Jewel, changes everything.

With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Lula doesn't even consider those real subjects!

Determined to prove herself, Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She's returning to college and her scholarship as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.

However, the more time she spends around Jewel's family, the girls' basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula comes to realize what she's given up in her single-minded pursuit of degree after degree. God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look a lot different than she'd expected.