#REVIEW: Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall

Title: Same Kind of Different as Me
Author: Ron Hall
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published Date: March 9, 2008
ISBN: 978-0849919107
Pages: 245
Buy It Link: Amazon
Synopsis:
A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery. An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel. A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream. A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it.
It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana . . . and an East Texas honky-tonk . . . and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda . . . an upscale New York gallery . . . a downtown dumpster . . . a Texas ranch.
Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, this true story also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

My Rating 4 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but whatever it was, it definitely isn't what happened. It was a crazy, moving, soul-wrenching book that makes me want to shake people and say, "See? This! This is why we are better people if we embrace each others' differences!" This book, though fiction, gives me hope that people at such opposite ends of the spectrum, one a homeless, angry black man and another white man of privilege and wealth, can come together and understand each other as human beings....and come away from the encounter a better person for it.
The beginning of the book is kind of slow, however it picks up pretty quickly, and from then on out, I couldn't put it down. I wish this was required reading for everyone in this time of strife and uncertainty.

#REVIEW: Truth Doesn't Have A Side by Dr Bennet Omalu and Mark Tabb

Title: Truth Doesn't Have A Side
Author(s):  Dr Bennet Omalu and Mark Tabb
Publisher: Zondervan
Published Date: August 8, 2017
ISBN:  9780310351962
Buy It Link: Amazon | Zondervan
Synopsis: One day in 2002 the fifty-year old body of former Pittsburgh Steeler and hall of famer Mike Webster was laid on a cold table in front of pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu. Webster’s body looked to Omalu like the body of a much older man, and the circumstances of his behavior prior to his death were clouded in mystery. But when Omalu cut into Webster’s brain, it appeared to be normal. Something didn’t add up.
It was at this moment, Omalu studying slides of Webster’s brain tissue under a microscope, that the world of contact sports would never be the same: the discovery of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE can result in an array of devastating consequences including deterioration in attention, memory loss, social instability, depression, and even suicide. And Omalu’s discovery of CTE in the brain of an American football player has become the catalyst of a blazing controversy across all contact sports.
At the center of that controversy stands the unlikely Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born American citizen, a mild-mannered, gentle man of faith. It is fascinating that it would take someone on the outside of American culture to make this amazing discovery, and refuse to let it be kept hidden. Dr. Omalu began his life in strife, growing up in war-torn Nigeria. But his medical studies in forensic pathology proved to be a lifeline. It fed his natural curiosity and awakened within a deeper desire to always search for the truth. Who would have thought that such an unexpected character would play such a role in bringing to life this world-changing data?
In Truth Doesn’t Have a Side, discover the truth about CTE: Its causes and symptoms, how we might keep our children safe and guide professional athletes when CTE sets in. The problem of CTE is coming to light with each new story about an athlete’s concussion problem, and we are likely facing dramatic changes to professional sports. You’ll be inspired by Dr. Bennet Omalu a man driven by his love and concern for the welfare of all people, and his professional vow to speak the truth.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are books that come into your life that are life-changing. They change the way you look at the world, or an aspect of your life or society, and you are never the same after. Or it's a book you can't stop talking about with your friends. This book is both for me.
Growing up in the Deep South, football is life. It literally takes up over half our week, from high school Friday Night Lights, to Saturday College Football, to Sunday, Monday and Thursday pro football. Parents go out with their kids and toss the pigskin back and forth for hours. For some, it is the only possibility out of a life of abject poverty. Thinking that it could be a life-threatening sport that we are willingly putting our children in from single-digit ages goes against threads that make up a good portion of our society. Football is such a lucrative sport, I can understand why the NFL would want to squash this evidence that shows football can negatively impact a player's life.
The author, Dr Bennet Omalu, puts forth the situation in which he found the first case of what he later termed, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or as we lay people recognize it, CTE. He does it in such a clinical, and yet personable way that makes him seem very approachable and no-nonsense. He presents the facts, and says how he came to his conclusions.
During the time I was reading this book, it came out that Aaron Hernandez was found to have the worst case of CTE known at his age. It certainly explains why a superstar player like Hernandez, who was adored in New England, would get involved with drugs, murder (alleged murder, since his suicide in prison overturned his conviction), and suicide. It can also explain why OJ Simpson has done the things he has done.
I highly recommend reading this book to anyone and everyone I come across.

#REVIEW: NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible, Large Print

Title: NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible, Large Print
Publisher: Zondervan
Published Date: August 8, 2017
ISBN: 9780310447054
Buy It Link: Amazon | Zondervan


Synopsis:
Easy to color and easy to read! Reflect on the precious truths of Scripture with the NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible, Large Print, featuring beautiful line art for coloring and a large type size. Perfect for all ages, this Bible’s thick white paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins provides ample space for your own artistic expressions and journaling.
The NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible, Large Print is a perfect gift that will become a cherished keepsake full of personalized creative expressions of faith.
Features of this treasured Bible include:

• Hundreds of verses illustrated in ready-to-color line art
• Readable 10-point type size
• Thicker white paper for enduring note-taking
• Lined, wide margins for notes, reflections and art
• Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)
• Easy-to-read black letter text in a single-column format
• Lays flat in your hand or on your desk
• Ribbon marker

My Rating: 4 1/2 stars


My Review: I received a copy of this Bible in exchange for an honest review.
The words large print can be deceiving, however, as most Bibles are printed in 8 point font, it is a larger font at 10 points. I find the font size to be perfectly fine for me, especially if I am using my Bible in a low-lit area. The cover itself is a beautiful cloth over cardboard, a large floral print and navy spine. As someone who loves touching and handling things, I absolutely love my cloth Bibles.
I did get the Beautiful Word Bible before for review, and the one thing I didn't like about it was the illustrations were mostly already colored in. In this iteration, the reader gets to color, and there is plenty of space for note taking, writing down your thoughts, or journaling in general.
I feel like the publisher took what I didn't like about the previous one and changed it into exactly what I wanted.

#REVIEW: Get Out of that Pit: Straight Talk About God's Deliverance by Beth Moore

Title: Get Out of that Pit: Straight Talk About God's Deliverance
Series: none
Author: Beth Moore
Publisher :Thomas Nelson
Published Date: July 11, 2017
ISBN: 9780718095826
Buy It Link: Amazon | Thomas Nelson Publishers

Synopsis:
From her first breath of fresh air beyond the pit, it has never been enough for Beth Moore to be free. This best-selling author and Bible teacher who has opened the riches of Scripture to millions longs for you to be free as well—to know the Love and Presence that are better than life and the power of God’s Word that defies all darkness.
Beth’s journey out of the pit has been heart-rending. But from this and the poetic expressions of Psalm 40 has come the reward: a new song for her soul, given by her Saviour and offered to you in Get Out of That Pit—friend to friend. This is Beth’s most stirring message yet of the sheer hope, utter deliverance, and complete and glorious freedom of God:
I waited patiently for the Lord
He turned to me and heard my cry
He lifted me out of the slimy pit
He set my feet on a rock
He put a new song in my mouth
It is a story, a song—a salvation—that you can know too.

My rating: 4 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
All of us at one time or another find ourselves in a pit, whether it is self-made, or completely out of our control. You know, those horrible situations or habits that we find ourselves in or doing that we can't get out of no matter how much we struggle. And it really is like quicksand, the more we struggle, the harder we fight, the deeper we seem to get into it. Sometimes, we need to stop fighting, and hold our hands out for God's help. This book shows us that even in the Bible, pits were very real, scary things, but that with God's help, we can rise above every single one of them that we find ourselves in.
The author goes into three different ways we find ourselves in pits: the ones that we are thrown into, the ones that we sort of end up in without much idea of how we got into it, and then the one pit that we wholeheartedly fling ourselves into.
It doesn't matter how deep, how hopeless, how dark and slimy that pit is that you are in right now, you can get out of it with God's help. God will help you get out. That is the lesson of this book.

#REVIEW: ICB Blessed Garden Bible

Title: ICB Blessed Garden Bible
Publisher: Tommy Nelson (Thomas Nelson)
Published Date: June 27, 2017
Pages: 1312
Reading Level: 6-10 years old
ISBN: 978-0718092207
Buy It Link: Amazon | Thomas Nelson


Synopsis:
The ICB Blessed Garden Bible is a beautiful way for little girls to carry the full text of Scripture with them. Its beautiful cover design with multiple foils and glitter will delight any young girl as she reads and learns God’s Word from the Bible children can read and understand, the International Children’s Bible^® translation.
The International Children’s Bible^® translation, the Bible kids can read and understand, has been a favorite of kids, parents, and teachers. With its easy-to-read text, the ICB has a third-grade reading level, making it the ideal translation for children beginning to read and learn Bible.
The ICB Blessed Garden Bible is a full-text ICB Bible with swirling, floral details, foil, glitter, and winsome illustrations. This will appeal to both moms and daughters, as it capitalizes on an organic garden trend. Inside features 24 colorful pages of study help inserts, including a presentation page for personalizing. Young girls will enjoy this softer more sophisticated look as she reads God’s message of love just for her!


My rating: 4 stars


My Review: I received a copy of this Bible in exchange for an honest review.
This Bible is advertised for little girls, but I don't see anything specifically for little girls. This could be for any child from 6-10 years old. The cover is a light teal color, with a whimsical, garden feel using gold and silver foil, glitter and cute little animals (love the little fox in the center). The right hand side of the front cover has a design that is reminiscent of a diary with the keyhole.
Reading through Ruth quickly, the reading level seems appropriate, but I will really test this out with my youngest daughter this coming week.
The paper is just as thin as any other Bible, the font a little larger perhaps to make it easier to read. Overall, this is a beautiful Bible for any child in this reading range, however, I take exception to the fact that it is marketed as girl specific.

#REVIEW: NIV True Images Bible

Title: NIV True Images Bible
Series: none
Contributors: Livingstone
Publisher: Zondervan
Published Date: June 27, 2017
ISBN: 9780310080039
Buy It Link: Zondervan


Synopsis:
For 15 years, the best-selling NIV True images Bible for Teen Girls has been a trusted resource guiding teen girls ages 13-18 towards a closer relationship with God. Updated for this generation, this new edition is packed with tools and insight to help teens navigate today’s contemporary cultural issues with confidence, love, and grace.
Facing today’s contemporary issues can be difficult, but the NIV True Images Bible gives teen girls a fresh perspective on faith-related issues and provides tools to navigate a complex world. They will ask the big questions, take valuable lessons to heart, and help others do the same.
Beautifully designed from the inside out, this Bible is filled with challenging insights, honest advice, and personal notes helping teen girls build a closer relationship with God as they set out on a personal journey of their world. Following Jesus isn’t unfashionable or illusive. It’s an authentic way of life!
This newly updated edition uses the accurate, readable, and clear NIV translation and includes features strategically designed to empower teen girls in their quest for truth.
Features:

• Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version
• 12 Magazine-Style Quizzes that help girls learn more about themselves
• In-depth introductions establish the context of each book in the Old and New Testaments.
•  “In Focus” notes explain the Bible’s perspective on contemporary cultural topics such as perfectionism, spiritual growth, eating disorders, pornography, prayer, self-harm, relationships, sex, bullying and popularity on social media
• Over 300 “Genuine” notes focus on the value of authenticity and true inner beauty.
• Over 100 “Love Notes” give opportunities to reflect on God’s love.
• 500 “Dare to Believe” challenges help you discover God’s truth about life and faith.
• 52 “Mirror Images” share the stories of Biblical women.
• “Christianity 101” introduces you to the basics of Christianity
• “Beliefs 101” helps you dig deep into the underlying principles that shape your worldview

My Rating: 3 1/2 stars


My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Can you explain to me why everything marketed towards girls has to be pink? Or frilly? Pink with gray lettering, that's what this Bible is. Here is an example:

NIV True Images Bible For Girls

NIV Revolution Bible for Teen Guys



Why do we need to continue with these gender stereotypes, and in a Bible? My 11 year old, whom I was hoping to give it to, because I think she might be open to at least doing some of the quizzes, but yeah, she's into dark colors right now. The pink was an immediate turn off for her, and I can see why, I don't like pink either. I think she probably would have liked the Revolution Bible better.


The text is the complete NIV text, with cute little "Love Notes" from God for the girls, and good introductions for each bible chapter, as well as the "In Focus" sections that deal with a few of the modern day issues our pre-teens and teens deal with, like perfectionism, pornography, sex, bullying, online popularity, etc.


Overall, this Bible is just okay for me. I'm not too impressed with it.

#REVIEW: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber

Title: The Evaopration of Sofi Snow
Author: Mary Weber
Series: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow #1
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published Date: June 6, 2017
ISBN: 9780718080907
Pages: 352
Buy It Link: Amazon

Synopsis: Ever since the Delonese ice-planet arrived eleven years ago, Sofi's dreams have been vivid. Alien. In a system where Earth's corporations rule in place of governments and the humanoid race orbiting the moon are allies, her only constant has been her younger brother, Shilo. As an online gamer, Sofi battles behind the scenes of Earth's Fantasy Fighting arena where Shilo is forced to compete in a mix of real and virtual blood sport. But when a bomb takes out a quarter of the arena, Sofi's the only one who believes Shilo survived. She has dreams of him. And she's convinced he's been taken to the ice-planet.

Except no one but ambassadors are allowed there.

For Miguel, Earth's charming young playboy, the games are of a different sort. As Ambassador to the Delonese, his career has been built on trading secrets and seduction. Until the Fantasy Fight's bomb goes off. Now the tables have turned and he's a target for blackmail. The game is simple: Help the blackmailers, or lose more than anyone can fathom, or Earth can afford.

My Rating: 3 1/2 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book took a really long time for me to get into it, or understand what was going on. And even then, there were parts where it felt very unclear. I liked the basic storyline, I liked Sofi. I could feel the sibling relationship. I even liked Miguel's Spanish words he would interject. But that was it. Details seemed to be very murky for me, I couldn't seem to visualize the scenes. 
I get the whole post-apocalyptic society and the introduction of aliens. That in itself kept me reading, I needed to see where the author went with this, and it was a twisty road. The end though seemed too vague for a cliffhanger.
I may continue this series just to see where it goes.

#REVIEW: Quilts, Barns and Buggies: Amish Quilts and Proverbs Coloring Book

Title: Quilts, Barns and Buggies: Amish Quilts and Proverbs Coloring Book
Illustrator: Julianne St. Clair
Series: Coloring Faith
ISBN: 978-0310087595
Pages: 96
Publisher: Zondervan
Published Date: June 6, 2017
Buy It Link: Amazon

Synopsis:

Take Time Away from Your Busy Day

to Reflect on the Simpler Life

Take a walk through the fields and feel the warm breeze as you color your way through an Amish lifestyle. With intricate patterned quilts, beautiful scenery, and a focus on the simpler things in life, Quilts, Barns & Buggies will encourage you to relax on even the most hectic days. Sprinkled throughout the pages are wise Amish sayings and biblical proverbs that will inspire you.

Special Features
• 90 beautiful coloring designs of Amish quilts and scenery
• More than 40 Amish sayings and biblical proverbs
• Perforated pages on heavy stock

Look for more inspirational coloring books at Coloring Faith, www.coloringfaith.com.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy coloring books, I find the simplicity and single-mindedness of coloring to be relaxing when I get stressed out and super anxious. Since I started sewing recently as a hobby, I find this book to be a wonderful mash-up of quilt top ideas, Scripture, and inspirational quotes. If you are a fan of the Amish lifestyle, you will enjoy the farm scenes, barns, animals, and Amish quilt tops.
Each page has a quote on one side, and a regular coloring side for the other. The drawings can sometimes be complex and intricate, but I enjoy truly focusing on the minute details. This book promises hours of single-minded, enjoyable coloring time.

#REVIEW: Siren's Fury by Mary Weber

Title: Siren’s Fury

Series: Storm Siren Trilogy #2

Author:  Mary Weber

Published Date: June 2, 2015

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: hardback

Pages: 352

ISBN: 9781401690373

Genre: fantasy

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: "I thrust my hand toward the sky as my voice begs the Elemental inside me to waken and rise. But it's no use. The curse I've spent my entire life abhorring—the thing I trained so hard to control—no longer exists."
Nym has saved Faelen only to discover that Draewulf stole everything she valued. Now he’s destroyed her Elemental storm-summoning ability as well.
When Nym sneaks off with a host of delegates to Bron, Lord Myles offers her the chance for a new kind of power and the whispered hope that it may do more than simply defeat the monster she loathes. But the secrets the Bron people have kept concealed, along with the horrors Draewulf has developed, may require more than simply harnessing a darker ability.
They may require who she is.
Set against the stark metallic backdrop of the Bron kingdom, Nym is faced with the chance to change the future.
Or was that Draewulf’s plan for her all along?

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was very disappointed in this book. The previous book was incredible but this book was slow to get to the action. I found Nymia this time around to be angry, desperate, weak-willed, and rather pathetic. Once her Elemental powers were taken away from her, she became a sniveling, desperate, power-hungry woman who lashed out at everyone she encountered.

For half of the book, the action paced a snail… in molasses…. in February. Once the first half was done, the action picked up considerably, and I was actually happy to read the book. Still not happy with Nymia’s attitude…no seriously, she needed an attitude adjustment.

It wasn’t until the last 5 pages that Nymia finally learns her lesson: “I let out a dry chuckle—because isn’t that the truth of it all right there. That who we are is not our abilities. Not really. It’s more who we are in spite of them.” But it’s a very painful, slow lesson for the reader to have to go through, to watch Nymia be so pathetic because she lost her Elemental powers, she’s not resilient enough to find her own inner strength. 

#REVIEW: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson

Title: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

Series: A Medieval Fairytale

Author:  Melanie Dickerson

Published Date: May 12, 2015

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: paperback

Pages: 320

ISBN: 9780718026240

Genre: Christian fiction

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon | Thomas Nelson

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Swan Lake meets Robin Hood when the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant by day becomes the region's most notorious poacher by night, and falls in love with the gamekeeper.

Jorgen is the gamekeeper for the wealthy margrave, and he is in pursuit of the poacher who has been killing and stealing the margrave's game. When he meets the lovely and refined Odette at the festival and shares a connection during a dance, he has no idea that at night she is the one who has been poaching the margrave's game.

Odette is caught up in a ring of black market sellers of poached animals. She thinks the game is going to feed the poor, who are all but starving, both in the city and just outside its walls. However, most of the animals are being sold by the greedy leader of the ring-her stepfather. When Odette discovers what he is doing, she threatens to expose him, putting herself in great danger.

The gamekeeper finds her poaching one night and shoots her, wounding her. When he realizes who she is, he hides her to keep her from being executed by the margrave and also to protect her from her stepfather. Jorgen and Odette will band together to stop the black market poaching ring . . . as they fall in love. But what will the margrave do when he discovers his gamekeeper is protecting a notorious poacher?

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this retelling of Swan Lake. I have never read the actual fairy tale, only watched the animated movie with my children many, many, many times. I enjoyed the story itself, though I could have put it down a few times and walked away. It didn’t capture me so wholly that I couldn’t put it down.

As like the previous books from this collection, just because the protagonist happens to like to read the Bible, and calls on God a lot, I don’t see how this makes it into a Christian fiction book. It’s just part of the character make-up. I didn’t see a lot of inner character development of Odette or Jorgen. That disappointed me.

Overall, it was a nice book to read as a loose retelling of a fairytale, but it could have been better.

#REVIEW: Fairy Tale Romance Collection by Melanie Dickerson

Title: Fairy Tale Romance Collection

Series: none

Author:  Melanie Dickerson

Published Date: April 7, 2015

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: ebook

ISBN: 9780310749219

Genre: fantasy

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon | Zondervan

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Five of bestselling author Melanie Dickerson's popular YA fairytale retelling novels now available as a bind-up.

Romance, intrigue, and danger abound in this bind-up of five of Melanie Dickerson's fairy-tale retellings presented in realistic historical settings. Includes The Healer's Apprentice, The Merchant's Daughter, The Fairest Beauty, The Captive Maiden, and The Princess Spy.

The Healer's Apprentice: Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, and when Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, Rose tends to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to fall in love, and wonders if he feels the same. But Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

The Merchant's Daughter: Annabel is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. She soon finds he is not beastly after all, and becomes involved in a situation that could place Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, in her hands.

The Fairest Beauty: Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and receives her chance when Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and that he has come to rescue her. Though romance is impossible--she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else--the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven to find help. Before long both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them, they must also protect their hearts.

The Captive Maiden: When Gisela learns the duke's son, Valten--the boy she has daydreamed about for years--is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it's only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.

The Princess Spy: Margaretha has always been a romantic, and 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. It is up to her to save her father, Colin, and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook's wicked plot.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Five of the most popular fairytales being re-written in a historical setting, no fairy godmothers, no magic, but a lot of faith in God. The first four books, The Healer’s Apprentice, The Merchant’s Daughter, The Fairest Beauty and The Captive Maiden were very easy to figure out which fairytale it was from.

The Healer’s Apprentice was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with Rose Roemer, not much of a stretch there to see a parallel there. An evil man is bent on destroying the daughter of his enemy, and she is hidden away her entire life for her safety. In plain sight seems to be the order of the day here as her betrothed searches here and there to find the evil man, destroy him, and bring his betrothed (whom he has never met) into safety.

In The Merchant’s Daughter, this is a beautiful retelling of Beauty and The Beast, one of my absolute favorite fairytales. A daughter takes upon her family’s sentencing and goes into servitude to the local lord for three years, the lord being supposedly terrifying to look upon and “beastly”.

Fairest Beauty is a retelling of Snow White, complete even with the Cottage of the Seven. No, they are not dwarves, at least not all of them, but they are all misfits and shunned by society. Add in a romantic twist of denied love, and you get a wonderful retelling of the story.

The Captive Maiden, a story of Gisela, the daughter of a horse breeder and merchant who remarried and later died. The stepmother and two step-sisters (sound familiar?) waste away the family fortune on gowns and carriages. A kindly neighbor helps Gisela out to go to the tournament, where she becomes crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty. And thus the tale of Cinderella arises.

The last book is supposed to be a retelling of The Princess and the Frog, but I certainly couldn’t figure that one out, besides a very small scene where Colin is put into some clothes that remind her of a frog.

I don’t really see these as being Christian novels. Yes, they make an awful lot of “Oh God” and “Oh Jesus” remarks, but these novels are set in the 1400s, when the Church and God held a huge amount of sway over the common people’s life. I see these remarks more of a historical setting, not necessarily making the novels Christian, just as someone saying “Jesus Christ” doesn’t make them a Christian.

These books each had their positive and negative points, but overall, they were all very well-written, and I like how they were all tied together so we could see the characters from previous books in the current one.

#REVIEW: A Warrior's Faith by Robert Vera

Title: A Warrior’s Faith

Series: none

Author:  Robert Vera

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: hardcover

Pages: 207

ISBN: 9781400206780

Genre: biography

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: The exhilarating life story of the Navy SEAL whose relentless faith transformed his life and inspired others long after his tragic death. Highly decorated Navy SEAL Ryan Job mastered the grueling SEAL training program not by physical aptitude, but by an unstoppable sense of humor, positive attitude, and fierce determination. In A Warrior's Faith Job's close friend, Robert Vera, recounts how these traits helped Job survive after being shot in the face by an enemy sniper on a roof in Ramadi, Iraq. Though blinded, the irrepressible Job recovered from his wounds and began facing a new set of obstacles with his characteristic humor and resolve. He married the girl of his dreams, graduated college with honors, influenced countless people around him, and was looking forward to being a father--before his life was tragically cut short by a hospital medical error. Vera's stirring account of his friend's life redeems the tragedy by offering a picture for all readers of finding peace and happiness in the middle of life's raging storms. 

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I tend to stay away from true life stories like this that are so modern, simply for the fact that I don’t like seeing the violence of our world, portrayed so starkly. However, despite that, I enjoyed reading about the life of one of our American elite soldiers, Ryan Job, the sacrifice he made in the line of duty, and his tragic, senseless death.

The biography is written by Ryan’s good friend and training partner, Robert Vera. It is done in a no-nonsense way, while at the same time, drawing parallels between Ryan’s life, and the book of Job from the Bible. He shows how, despite losing his sight in the firefight in Iraq, Ryan Job’s faith grows stronger and he faces his new life with humor and strength of character.

You may find the scene of the battle familiar, as it is the same scene in the blockbuster movie, American Sniper, which was adapted for film from the book by the same name, written by Ryan’s fellow SEAL, Chris Kyle.

The book is well-written, though some parts tend to lag a little.

#REVIEW: An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund

Title: An Uncertain Choice

Series: An Uncertain Choice #1

Author: Jody Hedlund

Published Date: March 3, 2015

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: paperback

Pages: 254

ISBN: 9780310749196

Genre: Historical romance

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon |  

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, a month before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice. If Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow. 
Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights the one who appears the most guilty had not already captured her heart. 

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rosemarie starts out with a headful of naïve, no, I shouldn’t say that, because she’s got a heck more than a head full of naiveté. Somehow she thinks that once she enters the cloistered life of the monastery, she will continue to rule the lands she has inherited through the demise of her parents. Has no one told her that once those vows are said, all lands go to the king? That little fact seems to be overlooked in the book.

Through her parents’ friend who is also her godfather, she is shown there is a loophole to the promise given. She must fall in love and marry before her 18^th birthday, which is only a month away. And of course, he gives her three choices in men.

It’s obvious from the beginning who the winner of the contest for Rosemarie’s heart will be, as the other two seem far too shallow for her tastes and have nothing in common with her. Now it’s just a race against time and the elements who would prefer to see Rosemarie safely cloistered away so they can have full control over her lands. Maybe the bad guys didn’t get the notice either the king should get all her lands….

Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. It was fun to see the three men competing to win her heart over, though her Godfather seemed to know the end result far in advance (poor Rosemarie being played by all these men). It was a cute romance, and I can’t wait to see how the next in the series is.

#REVIEW: NIV Proclamation Bible

 Title: NIV Proclamation Bible

Series: none

Author:  miscellaneous

Published Date:  March 10, 2015

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: hardback

Pages: 1568

ISBN: 9780310437956

Genre: Bibles

Purchase: Amazon | Zondervan

Rating: 3 ½ stars

Synopsis: “The NIV Proclamation Bible is remarkable for how well it puts the highest quality biblical scholarship at the Bible student’s fingertips in such a clear, penetrating and accessible form. There are many study Bibles on the market right now, but none better.” – Tim Keller

The NIV Proclamation Bible offers a valuable resource for those who teach from the Bible regularly and anyone who enjoys studying Scripture in greater depth.  This edition, developed by Lee Gatiss in collaboration with the Proclamation Trust, includes a wealth of additional material from leading theologians, pastors, and Bible teachers to enhance your study of the word. The Bible features ten introductory essays on theology, doctrine and the application and interpretation of Scripture, as well as detailed overviews of each literary genre in the Bible--from the historical narratives to the apocalyptic literature. It also features introductions to every Bible book.

Sixty-five expert Bible teachers have contributed to the NIV Proclamation Bible including Christopher Ash, Graham Beynon, Gerald Bray, Simon Gathercole, David Jackman, Karen Jobes, Dick Lucas, Douglas Moo, Peter O'Brien, Vaughan Roberts, William Taylor, and Chris Wright. Many of these individuals are also members of the NIV translation team, which takes into account the latest developments in biblical scholarship and language usage when working with the NIV translation. Setting the highest standards of reliability and readability, the New International Version is ideal for personal reading, public teaching and group study.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a study bible as much as it says it is. The only thing it has is articles on how to teach the Bible, and really nice introductions to each book as well as articles on how to teach the Bible. The contributors are all insanely intelligent; most of them are professors and thusly write at a sometimes doctoral level. I personally like the articles before the Bible, some may not like them because they are written at a level that people who have not gone to college may find difficult to understand.

Some of these contributors are Anglican (versus a more evangelical, charismatic branch of Christianity), which I appreciate simply because I am a quiet, reserved Episcopalian.

The Bible itself is no different from any other Bible. Its format is a three column page, with Scripture on the two outer columns, with cross-referenced verses in the middle. The pages aren’t super-thin, so it makes to be a hefty Bible, weighing in at 3.1 pounds.

#REVIEW: In The Heart of the Dark Wood by Billy Coffey

Title: In The Heart of the Dark Wood

Series: none

Author:  Billy Coffey

Published Date: October 28, 2014

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: paperback

Pages: 384

ISBN: 9781401690090

Genre: fiction

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 4 ½ stars

Synopsis: A motherless girl hungry for hope . . . and the dream that could be leading her astray.

Almost two years have passed since twelve year-old Allie Granderson’s beloved mother Mary disappeared into the wild tornado winds. Her body has never been found. God may have spilled out his vengeance on all of Mattingly that day—but it was Allie’s momma who got swept away.

Allie clings to memories of her mother, just as she clings to the broken compass she left behind, the makeshift Nativity scene assembled in Allie’s front yard, and to her best friend, Zach. But even with Zach at her side, the compass tied to her wrist, and the Nativity characters just a glimpse out the window, Allie cannot help but feel lost in all the growing up that must get done.

When the Holy Mother disappears from the yard one morning, Allie's bewilderment is checked only by the sudden movement of her mother's compass. Yet the compass isn't pointing north but east . . . into the inky forest on the outskirts of Mattingly.

Following the needle, Allie and Zach leave the city pavement behind and push into the line of trees edging on the Virginia hill country. For Allie, the journey is more than a ghost hunt: she is rejoining the mother she lost—and finding herself with each step deeper into the heart of the darkest woods she's ever seen.

Brimming with lyrical prose and unexpected discoveries, In the Heart of the Dark Wood illustrates the steep transition we all must undergo—the moment we shed our child-like selves and step into the strange territory of adulthood.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.

This was a book that was so slow in its action; it seemed to drag out like a sloth on a cold February day. On the other hand, the storyline somehow wound itself into my soul, so that when I wasn’t reading it, I was wondering about it. When I got to the last few chapters of the book, it had finally gotten to a place where I couldn’t be ripped away from the book. The end was just amazing, and it was because of that end the book deserves every one of those 4 ½ stars it gets from me.

The characters were well-written. Allie had a voice that I could hear in my head, she truly stood out for me. From trying to constantly be the strong one in her family and never giving up hope, and at the same time, dealing with becoming a woman, when she had no idea what was going on, Allie is a character I won’t soon forget. Zach as well, had a maturity about him that made him stand out. The author didn’t write him so adult-like that he lost his childhood innocence, but at the same time, you could see the core strength that would end up making him a good man one day. And Sam, how could anyone forget about Samwise the Dog, faithful to the end like his namesake. There were so many parallels between Samwise the Dog and Samwise the Hobbit, it made me love the pooch just as much as I loved the hobbit. If you’re going to name a character after a famous character like Samwise Gamgee, you have large boots to fill. The author did a great job of it. If not, I think it would have partially ruined the book for me.

#REVIEW: A Plague of Unicorns by Jane Yolen

Title: A Plague of Unicorns

Series: none

Author:  Jane Yolen

Published Date: 2014

Publisher: Zonderkidz

Format: hard cover

Pages: 186

ISBN: 9780310746485

Genre: historical fantasy

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: Young James, an earl s son, is a bit bothersome and always asking the oddest questions. In despair the last of James tutors having quit his mother sends him off to be educated at Cranford Abbey. She feels the strict regimen will do him a world of good. But Cranford Abbey has its own problems. It has been falling into disrepair. The newly appointed Abbot Aelian takes it upon himself to save the abbey with the use of his secret weapon: a recipe for golden apple cider passed down in his family for many generations. He believes that by making and selling the cider, the monks will raise necessary funds to restore the abbey to its former glory. Abbot Aelian has everything he needs almost. One obstacle stands in his way, unicorns that happen to feast specifically on the golden apples. Abbot Aelian and his men must fight off the unicorns to make the cider. He and the monks try to form a battalion to fight off the beasts; next they import heroes to fight for them. But the heroes run off, monks are injured, and a herd of ravenous unicorns continue munching. After no success, the abbot finally calls upon the most unlikely of heroes, one suggested by no other than young James. That hero is small and unprepossessing but possesses the skill to tame the beasts. Though wildly skeptical, Abbot Aelian must risk everything and believe in this recommended stranger or risk the fall of Cranford Abbey."

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an awesome book. It’s a book about an abbott who finds himself in an unlikely war against a herd of unicorns, with his precious golden apples at stake. There’s also a boy whose curiosity tends to make people run with the number of questions he asks. Put them together and you get an amazing book with just the right sense of fantasy and reality to make this a great book for kids.

Of course, I devoured it in one sitting, and I loved it. Then I gave it to my 9 year old daughter, who chewed it over in 3 days. I’ve never seen her read so much, usually I have to put a timer on her to get her to read her required 20 minutes a day.

She loved it as well, and I saw her doing research on real-life unicorns. Her only complaint was there was no table of contents. Otherwise, she loved it.

#REVIEW: NKJV Note-Taker's Bible

Title: NKJV Note-Taker’s Bible

Series: Note-Taker’s Bibles

Author:  various

Published Date: September 30, 2014

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: hardcover

Pages: 896

ISBN: 9780310434139

Genre: Bibles

Purchase: Amazon | Zondervan

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Finally, a hardcover Bible that has plenty of room for taking notes during public or private worship, small-group fellowships, or any other time or place you feel the need to make comments on the Bible. No more cramped writing in tiny margins—the New King James Version Note-Taker’s Bible makes it easy to stay organized and neat. Personalize the text of God's Word to your life as never before, and treasure this record of your spiritual journey. Includes the complete text of the popular New King James Version.

 Features: 

• Deluxe wide margins for note takers

• Complete New King James Version text

• Double-column text for easy reading

• Words of Christ in red letter

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This Bible is similar to the Single Column Journalling Bible put out by Crossway. The concept is the same: room for you to write in your bible. Yes, you read it right. You are encouraged to write in this Bible.

If you don’t feel it is appropriate to write in a Bible, don’t get this Bible. There are plenty of other New King James Version Bibles out there that don’t encourage you to actually put pen, or marker, or crayon, or any other medium of self-expression to the pages. However, if the idea of self-expression in the form of writing utensils while studying your Bible appeals to you, this is a Bible for you!

The pages are minutely thicker than a normal Bible page, and you have about an inch margin to write in at the outer edge and bottom of the pages, perhaps half an inch at the top.

The type however is in probably a size 2, which makes it absolutely tiny and crazy to try to read. Please don’t try to read this Bible in a candle-lit service; you really do need a well-lit area to work on this.

Personally, I am using Pinterest to see how to creatively use these margins in my Bible study in 2015. I am also looking for creative ways to spruce up this cover, because under the jacket it is a plain, boring black.

#REVIEW: NIV Once A Day Bible for Leaders

Title: NIV Once-A-Day Bible for Leaders 

Series: NIV Once A Day

Author:  miscellaneous

Published Date: November 10, 2012

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: paperback

Pages:  1600

ISBN: 9780310442431

Genre: Bible

Purchase: Amazon | Zondervan | CBD

Rating: 2 stars

Synopsis: With this NIV Once-A-Day Bible for Leaders you can read through the Bible in a year. Or at your own pace.Now you can practice the spiritual discipline of daily Bible reading with a special focus on leadership. Plus, you can read at your own pace. Want a reading plan that will take you through the Bible in a year? You got it–with check boxes and all. Don’t want the guilt of falling behind? You won’t---each daily reading is not dated but numbered, allowing you the flexibility you need as you strive to engage God’s Word every day.

The NIV Once-A-Day Bible for Leaders organizes the clear, accessible New International Version Bible into 365 daily readings. Each day’s reading includes a portion of Scripture from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and a Psalm or a Proverb. And to help you develop your leadership skills with a biblical focus, each daily reading includes a leadership insight from both past and present outstanding leaders. Featured leaders include Bill Hybels, Wayne Cordeiro, Erwin McManus, Charles Stanley, Max Lucado, Ann Voskamp, Chuck Swindoll, and many more.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have other bibles in this series, specifically NIV Once a Day for Women and NIV Once a Day Chronological. I won’t be reviewing much on the NIV portion of the Bible, as if you have one NIV, the other NIVs are worded exactly the same. The daily readings are broken down into one Old Testament, one New Testament, and one from Psalms or Proverbs. That is then followed by a reflection on one of the readings that is expected to help the reader (assumed to be a leader of some sort in his or her life).

I am a lower level leader at work, so I was truly looking forward to the reflections, hoping that I could find something to help me in my every day leadership qualities, pulling Biblically. I was expecting concrete reflections that I could use to become a better, more effective leader.

Instead, I found ambiguous, fluffy reflections on the readings that are definitely about leadership, but nothing that I could take away and use in my day to day leadership role. Ultimately I was very disappointed in this Bible for I did not feel it accomplished its goal of helping leaders with insights that would make them into better leaders, whether it is in their career, church, or in their community. 

#REVIEW: Saint Paul, The Right Man at the Right Time by Irving J Brittle Jr

Title: Saint Paul: The Right Man at the Right Time

Series: none

Author:  Irving J Brittle Jr

Published Date: August 7, 2014

Publisher: Westbow Press

Format: ebook

Pages: 190

ISBN: 9781490844510

Genre: Christian study

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: Saint Paul, the Right Man at the Right Time was written to get a comprehensive biographical sketch of Saint Paul including his early life, his life as a Pharisee, his direct contact with Jesus Christ on the Damascus road, his conversion from the many teachings of the Torah, and his God-given mission as the Apostle to the Gentiles.

The times in which he lived proved that God chose him as his apostle due to his brilliance and his ability to communicate in both written and verbal forms, not only in Hebrew, but in the Greek language, which was important in that historical time. His words and letters are as relevant today as they were in the first century of Christianity, and his teachings are still presented in Protestant churches and sermons today. My hope is one may read Saint Paul, the Right Man at the Right Time and have the ability to teach a basic class on the life of Saint Paul and encourage students to further their understanding of the importance of this biblical figure. The work touches on his theology, but I was more intent on giving the reader a personal overview of the man we know as Saint Paul. He very much lived in a time trying to spread a new religion in Christ that was very different from the belief systems of the Jews and Gentiles in the first century.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There was a lot of information in this book, and as I read it, I couldn’t imagine that it was only 190 pages long. It seemed at least twice that long, and it took forever for me to get through it. The author took a man who existed almost 2000 years ago and made him as dry as his bones must be now. When I signed up for this book, I truly hoped for some personality for Paul, and I read nothing of his personality.

There were plenty of references to Acts and his epistles to diagram out Paul’s travels and when they occurred, but I truly was hoping for something to help me like the guy, besides that he was a fantastic evangelizer. This book was great in allowing me to figure out why it was so easy for Paul to get his message out relatively easily, as well as understanding the Roman  concept of a prisoner (not exactly the picture I had in my mind).

#REVIEW: NKJV Study Bible Full Color Edition

Title: The NKJV Study Bible: Full-Color Edition
Series: Signature Series

Author:  none

Published Date: October 21, 2014

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: hardback

Pages: 2400

ISBN: 9780529114389

Genre:  study Bible

Purchase: Amazon | CBD | Thomas Nelson

Rating: 4 ½ stars

Synopsis: The NKJV Study Bible, the most comprehensive study Bible available, now in a full-color edition with added features! The acclaimed NKJV Study Bible is the most complete study system for all who desire accurate study in God's Word. The Second Edition ifsncludes more features to make it the best all-purpose study Bible. Using the trusted New King James Version, The NKJV Study Bible has "the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor." Nelson's skilled team of scholars has produced the system to reach for when study in God's Word is the goal.

Features include:

·                 NEW stunning Bible-land photos and graphics

·                 Full cross-references with textual notes

·                 Book introductions, outlines, and timelines

·                 Reader-friendly notes and articles ideal for extended study

·                 Deluxe NKJV Concordance including proper names

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The version of this Bible that I received is hard back with a book sleeve that looks like the one shown above. Without the book sleeve, it is a very masculine, marbleized, dark brown. It also comes in imitation leather (at a higher cost of course). It is completely full color in the introduction page of each book of the Bible. It does not have Jesus’ words as red text, so if you are used to that, you may find yourself disappointed. This study Bible has articles in almost every book, Bible times and Culture Notes, Charts and diagrams all in full Color, in-text maps and word studies.

Half the pages are dedicated to notes on the page above it. There are center column notes to other Bible verses that relate to that particular verse.

Overall, I find this to be a very detailed study Bible, and in some ways, even easier to read and understand than my favored NIV.