Hidden Falls

You can download the first episode here for free

I'm not sure what to think. I enjoyed this first installment of the weekly series. The author introduced the characters, and I felt I could get to know them. I'm looking forward to the next installments, that is if I don't forget to download. I read the 1st installment in about an hour and it kept my attention. The story so far revolves around Ted Quinn a beloved teacher who isn't thrilled about all of the attention being put on him. The story takes place in a small town which seems to have some secrets. If you like a book that you have to wait on the next installment I think you will like this one. It made me want to know what happens next. 

No Cape Required

 

 

No Cape Required: 52 Ways to Unleash your Inner Hero by Kristen Parrish includes 52 devotionals that can be applied to daily life. In the introduction Ms Parrish states “we are all in search of heroes”  and  “the good news is that being a hero requires no cape”. “The Holy Spirit enables us to do great things”.

The book is broken up into 52 devotionals each one featuring a hero from television, movies and books. Each devotional gives and example of a situation that the hero has been in and then scripture is given so that we can see how biblically we can apply the life lesson to our own lives. Then that is followed by a suggested prayer and ideas on how we can tap in on our inner hero.

Each of the heroes are well know and probably recognizable by most people and the devotions seem as though they could be helpful. I would have personally would have liked to have had more biblical references and biblical heroes versus fictional characters but still there are good biblical comparisons to the fictional heroes and situations.

This is probably not my favorite devotional but I believe my daughter would probably enjoy it a lot more. This is one of those books that I’m not sure I would highly recommend but if asked wouldn’t give it a poor review either. It will be an individual’s preference and taste in devotionals. It does seem biblically sound which is very important to me.

I would suggest looking through the devotions before purchasing and see if it would be of interest to you. I received this book at no charge from booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

Emma of Aurora

Jane ­Kirkpatrick’s Emma of Aurora is a trilogy that includes the following books: A Clearing in the Wild, A tendering in the Storm, and A Mending at the Edge. This is the Change Cherish Trilogy that is based on the true story of Emma Wagner Giesy. It is Emma’s journey from the colony in Bethel, Missouri to the colony of Aurora in the Washington Territory in the middle 1800s. Emma was an outspoken woman who yearned for independence but also inclusion into the Bethelite Colony. She faced many trials throughout her journey and a lot of times her outspoken ways caused her trouble. I believe she was probably an early version of a women rights activist and was probably ahead of her time. She struggled with her spiritual beliefs and her wants.

First, I would like to say I enjoyed this book but be aware this is 3 books in one and is over 1100 pages. It’s a BIG book and will take some time to read. You can purchase each book individually if the size seems to daunting.

As I was reading I didn’t realize the book was based on a real person. I wish I had known this it may have made the book even more enjoyable. Ms Kirkpatrick seems to have really researched the colony and its residents. She has included an excerpt at the end of the book about her research. (This is when I realized it was based on reality, haha). I guess I should have read the back of the book better.

At times I felt frustrated at the colony and at Emma then I had to realize the 1800’s were vastly different than that of today’s world. I can’t say too much without spoiling so I will just say there were things that I assumed were going to happen and then they didn’t. I will leave it at that. You will just have to read the books to see what I mean. I think I would’ve liked to have seen one more book in this series in order to give me some more closure.  Emma constantly struggled with her personality challenges that were not totally in line with the beliefs of the colony. She struggled with her spiritual life and wanted to desperately do what God wanted her to do. At times I felt she used the “spiritual” beliefs to justify her “wants” and it wasn’t always spiritual at all it was just a means to an end for her. Emma was at a constant war with herself and at times would seem selfish but I can’t say that I would be much different. Again I had to remind myself that this was a different era and the expectations of women were very different than they are now. She wanted equality and I found myself wanting equality for her much like what we have today.

At times the scripture seemed to be used incorrectly but again it seemed as though the characters were trying to us it to meet their “wants” or to make them “right” to another person. The three books flowed easily together and if you were reading them separately you definitely would want to read them in order. I’m not sure they could be stand alone books.

I would recommend this book if you like historical books and if you have the time to sit down and read. It’s not a book that you will finish quickly and it’s not really a romantic type book. It is more of a religious journey with life and hardships that one would face in the 1800s.

I was given this book at no charge by Waterbrook in exchange for an honest review. A favorable review was not expected.

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The War on Christmas

 

 

The War on Christmas: Battles in Faith, Tradition, and Religious Expression a book to help “Find the truth about Christmas and the Christian’s response to a culture that seems to be declaring war on traditions and the Bible!”­

I have become so tired of trying to defend my Christian beliefs and the reasons we do the things we do. I have been approached by even Christian people who have be confused about holidays that we celebrate and at times even question if they are right or not. I was excited to receive this book to read and review to see if maybe it could clear up some of the confusion. Although reading some of it seemed almost like reading a textbook and some of the information I already knew it did make some interesting points. A point that was made that I liked was if we are uplifting Christ and making it about Him how could it be wrong? We are after all praising Him. Now if we are turning a Christian holiday into something else I feel it would be wrong. As a Christian I feel we should take any opportunity we can to uplift His name. I have also been asked about the decorating of the tree that is mentioned in the bible as wrong and the book addressed this. I’m glad that I now know what the tree in the bible represented and can pass that along. You will have to read the book to find out J.

I liked that the book included biblical references and not just opinions. I believe anytime we defend our Christian beliefs it should be backed up by His Word. The book seemed to be a little choppy but other than that it was well written and beautifully illustrated. I do wish there was some more elaboration on a few issues but overall I enjoyed the book. I wouldn’t say it was life changing or overly enlightening but there are some good points that could be brought up when one is questioned about the holiday. If you are questioning the Christmas holiday pick this book up and give it a read.

I was given this book by Handlebar Publishing at no charge for an honest review.



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Fatal Tide

Lis Wiehl’s book number three in the East Salem Trilogy, Fatal Tide, does a great job wrapping up the series. “In East Salem, the Elite St. Adrian’s Academy is at the nexus of the satanic apocalypse – and the fatal tide is rising.’ Fatal Tide continues with Tommy and Dani trying to solve the spiritual mystery that has invaded the town. Everything seems to be centered around the school. There are evil entities lurking everywhere. Can they get to the bottom of this mystery before it is too late?

This trilogy brings forward a spiritual warfare that exists around us daily and we may not even be aware of it. I highly recommend reading these books in order or you may be lost. As I posted in my first review of Lis Wiehl’s first book in this series last year, her books are written kind of like Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker. The demons take on physical forms that can be seen as do the angels. There are battles between the two all through the story. She did a good job holding my interest and at times I found it hard to put the book down. I’m not sure it is a good book to read right before bedtime if you are prone to have sleeping problems or nightmares, but I read it anyway. I love this style of writing but if you have a problem trying to visualize the spirit world in a realistic, tangible way you may not enjoy it. If you have never read one of her books I suggest you start to see if you like her writing style. Her style may not be for everyone but I personally love the difference from other authors. I read a lot of different genres of books and the predictable gets old. I thing this series isn’t completely predictable although there are some parts of it that are. There is a little romance going on mixed with mystery and spiritual warfare.

I would recommend this book to others and have done so with my husband. Sometimes (at least in my brain) I feel like men will shy away from female authors I would shout out please don’t take that attitude with Lis Wiehl. Her books are by no means “girlie” books and can be enjoyed by both genders equally.

I received this book from booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

 

My Hope is Found

I really liked My Hope is Found the third book in the Cadence of Grace Series by Joanne Bischof. I’ve read all three books in this series and the third one didn’t disappoint. 

“Gideon O’Riley has been given another chance a life with Lonnie. But will the fight for her heart risk it all over again?”  In the earlier books Gideon and Lonnie faced a series of events that separated them. In book three things are changing. Lonnie is moving on with her life trying to get Gideon out of her head. Gideon is gone on with his new life. Events happen that change everything but is it too late for Lonnie and Gideon? Love is in the air but is it love for Gideon or Lonnie’s new beau Toby.

I would suggest that you start from the beginning with these books or you may not connect with the characters and it may not be as enjoyable. This book is a light, easy read. It shows that God has a plan for our lives, and that He works even when we don’t think He is. I wouldn’t say there is any great mystery with this story but I found myself wanting to see what happens next. I hope there is a continuation with some of the characters maybe in another series. I can’t say who because I don’t want to give any of the storyline away.

If you like historical, romance novels then this is a good series for you to read. I would recommend it to others.

I received this book from Waterbrook/Multenomah at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

Prairie Song

Prairie Song by Mona Hodgson is the first book in her new series Hearts Seeking Home. Although this is the first book in this series it continues the stories from her series The Quilted Heart. You could read this book without reading the other series but I feel like the other books allow you to get to know the characters of this book. I would definitely suggest reading The Quilted Heart series first if possible.

The Boone Lick Company Wagon Train is getting ready to head west. Families and friends are parting ways, some are staying in Saint Charles while others are venturing westward. Anna Goben is hoping that the trip will help heal her family after they suffered the loss of her brother in the Civil War. Caleb Reger  one of the trail hands wants to hide his secrets and his pains from the war. Anna and Caleb really don’t like each other very much and want to avoid each other as much as possible but God may have other plans.

I enjoyed reading this new book. I’m glad it picked up where The Quilted Heart series left off. The book leaves a few unanswered questions which drives me nuts as I have to wait for the next book. But overall I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves historical, romance novels. I think you will enjoy this series. If you have read The Quilted Heart series then you definitely want to start the Hearts Seeking Home series to see were the journey leads the families who left Saint Charles. Just like her other books this one is filled with adventure, love, disappointment, highs and lows.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book with no anticipation of review but I decided to review it anyway.  You can now purchase this book here.

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Heritage Kit by Project Life

I just received my second Project Life Core Kit from www.amazon.com . I love genealogy and have been looking for a way to do a scrapbook of all of the wonderful, old family pictures I have collected over the last few years. Once again life has gotten in the way and I haven't had the time to sit down and finish scrapbooks the way I would like to. Becky Higgins just released the Heritage Core Kit and this has become my perfect solution. When I saw that this kit was coming I waited patiently  not so patiently on this kit. I was keeping a close eye on her blog awaiting the announcement of this new kit. Well it finally hit the shelves of amazon and I purchased it quickly. My hat's off to amazon who got it to me in 2 days. Thank you amazon prime :) Now I have my solution and I have been getting my pictures together. I'm a little weird, I will scan all of my originals and keep them in a safe place. I will likely scrap the copies. I know this sounds strange but I keep my scans on dvd's in a safe and these irreplaceable originals will also go into the safe.

 

When I received my kit I immediately fell in love with the mute brown and black tones. The cards will work well with any type of picture; colored, black and white, as well as sepia. Keeping with the great quality of the designers of Project Life the cards come in a sectioned box with a magnetic closure with suggestions to help you get started on the lid. I loved this kit so much when I opened the box but then it hit me I have some photos that I would like to feature on a traditional page so I immediately went shopping again. :) I purchased the matching 12x12 papers and the page dividers. Although, the pages will not be divided on a monthly basis I will divide they my generation.

 

The 12x12 papers are of the same quality as the core kit cards, my only complaint would be they do not come packaged as well as the cards. They are packaged with a cardboard insert to keep the papers from bending and then shrink wrapped. They aren't as easy to store with the kits as I would like them to be. Once they are opened they are loose and could easily be damaged. It would be nice if the paper had better storing packaging. I used the box that my page protectors came in to store the paper so that it wouldn't get damaged or seperated from my kit.

 

 I'm hoping to finish this album and include some family history to pass on to my daughter and hopefully she will be able to pass on a little of our heritage to her children if God sees that in her future.

Project Life by Becky Higgins Review

I am usually a traditional scrapbooker but I have recently come across a product that I am absolutely in love with. Project Life by Becky Higgins is a new way to look at scrapbooking. It is designed to scrap your everyday life without taking too much time. I have to be honest I am a little intimidated by a product that is supposed to make my scrapping easier. The reason being is I don’t typically scrap everyday life, I tend to scrap trips, holidays, and events so this has been a challenge for me. I have yet to dive in full force but I am determined to do it. One of my major problems is getting caught up on printing pictures that I so long neglected but I am working on it. I have managed to stay somewhat up to date for 2013 while trying to go back and print from prior years. I had only been printing things that I was in the process of scrapping. BIG MISTAKE now I’m way behind and it is costing a fortune to print. Oh well I am going to get there.

Now for Project Life, I purchased my 1^st kit on HSN when it was a special value of the day. It included an album, 60 page protectors,12  page dividers, and 1 Core Kit  that includes 616 cards. I chose the Jade edition. The core kit has enough cards to complete album.  I think the cost was close to $50.00 but I have enough materials to complete and entire album with no additional cost.

1^st – The album is very well made. It is a three ringed binder type of album with plenty of room. There are metal corner protectors and metal plate window on the binding for labeling your project.

2^nd – The page protectors include spaces  for 4x6 cards and photos as well as 2x3 spaces. The protectors that came with the kit on HSN included 40 pages that the 4x6’s spaces are in landscape, and 20 pages the 4x6 are in portrait orientation. The protectors seem sturdy and the cards fit into the pockets nicely. You can purchase page protectors for your Project Life project that have various orientations of pockets as well as traditional 12x12 pages if you want to include a few more “traditional” pages.

3^rd – There are 12 page dividers (designed to separate your 12 months) They are printed acetate dividers and are equally beautiful. Don’t forget to remove the clear covering that protects them. It is very difficult to see and if I hadn’t read about someone trying to remove them I wouldn’t even have known they were there.

4th – The cards in the core kit are absolutely beautiful. The paper quality is wonderful with the weight equal to a light weight to medium weight card stock. Most are double-sided and match beautifully with each other. They are designed so that you can slip them into the pockets with little thought and they go great with each other. You do not need any glue or scissors for your project. Now if you are like me you are going to want to add a little bling. Wink wink. But the album will look gorgeous without any bling. The cards come in a divided box with a magnetic closure. It is very well designed and thought out. There are suggestions to help you get started on the inside cover of the storage box and a few of the cards that aren’t double-sided have suggested placement guides.

In short Project Life is a great way to document everyday life, which are the important moments that tell who we really are. It is for the busy person who doesn’t have a lot of time to sit down and spend hours on layouts. So if you feel like you want to scrapbook and don’t have the time this will be a wonderful way for you to get started. Or if you feel like you are never going to get caught up, maybe you can in a weekend.  And if you are like me and usually scrap themes you can easily adapt this system to do so with no problems. I definitely recommend Project Life to anyone who wants to document your life!!!! Thank you Becky Higgins for bringing us this wonderful, new way of scrapbooking.