Archive for Books

Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

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Nowhere to Turn Lynette Eason

Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason is the second book in the Hidden Identity series. You can read my review to book one, No One to Trust, here. This book series is Christian fiction/Romantic Suspense.

I really liked this book. Once again, I was kept guessing and was rather surprised when one of the characters in the book turned out to be someone completely different. Even my 14-year-old mentioned she was not expecting that twist after she finished the book.

This book review fell due at an interesting time with the Ray Rice and Janay Palmer fiasco came to a head this week. Nowhere to Turn deals with the sensitive and hard (how’s that for a contradictory sentence?) subject of domestic violence and abuse of women and children. The main character, Danielle Harding, of this book leaves her abusive husband and discovers there is nowhere to turn. She enlists Operation Refuge to help her escape the vicious cycle of abuse and violence against her and her 11-year-old-son. They literally run for their lives.

I liked the suspense of the book. It was fast paced. My 14-year-old loved the characters because they were all so different. This is what else she said, “At every turn in the book, I felt like I was with Dani and Simon. I loved learning about the other characters, about their fears and the things that made them go – their drive. I did not like Dani’s husband, Kurt, or his brother Stuart. Stuart was creepy and obsessive with Dani. I loved the ending. The nice characters deserved happiness.” I quite agree with her!

Two thumbs up from us!

Help for Domestic Violence Victims

If you or someone you love is suffering from domestic violence, please get the help you need. Dr. Phil’s wife has a foundation that can help, visit https://www.whengeorgiasmiled.org/#home for more information. Other resources include: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Operation Refuge is a real organization and offers assistance or HelpGuide.org. Do not stay for the wrong reasons (#WhyIStayed) and carefully plan your escape.


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Back to School with CampusBookRentals.com

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Back to School with CampusBookRentals.com

Are you headed back to college or know of someone who is? College students should know about the perks of renting textbooks from CampusBookRentals.com I am sure my daughter will want to look into this for next year when she goes off to college.

Here are some perks:

-Save 40-90% off of bookstore prices

-Free shipping both ways

-Can highlight in the textbooks

-Flexible renting periods

-They donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

-Live customer support

….and so much more.

CampusBookRentals.com RentBack Program

CampusBookRentals.com started a new program, RentBack. RentBack is new initiative that allows students to rent the textbooks they own – to other students… which is an awesome opportunity for them to make 2-4x more money compared to what they’d make through buyback options! Buyback is selling their books back at the end of the semester.

Isn’t that a great idea?! Check out this CampusBookRentals.com RentBack video:


This is a featured post.


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Book Review ~ Made by Raffi

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Celebrated singer and actor Craig Pomranz debuts his new children’s book, Made by Raffi, that embraces differences and promotes diversity in children.

Synopsis:

Raffi is a shy boy who does not like noisy games and is often teased at school. But when he gets the idea of making a scarf for his dad’s birthday, he is full of enthusiasm even though the other children think it is girly to knit. Then the day draws near for the school pageant, and there is one big problem: no costume for the prince. And that’s when Raffi has his most brilliant idea of all — to make a prince’s cape. On the day of the pageant, Raffi’s cape is the star of the show.

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Our thoughts:

This was an EXCELLENT book! We enjoyed sharing it with our children. The story , message and illustrations all exceeded our expectations. The message that runs through the book is acceptance … it is so great to see a book written from this perspective. We often read books about a little girl being a “tom boy” but rarely …dare I say never do we read about a boy being a “tom girl”. This book did an excellent job tackling a subject about acceptance.

I cannot reiterate how much we enjoyed reading this book to our children. It was a GREAT way to start the school year and facilitated discussions each time we read the text …and even each time my children ran into a child that did not fit into the square box as I like to call it! I love books that help convey a message and values that I am trying to convey to my children… this book did just that!

Though thoughtful text and vivid illustrations the author have a winner here in my opinion! Go ahead and peruse the text over at amazon (you can even look inside the text and preview the book)  …you will not be disappointed!

 

 

 

 


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In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin

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In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin


In Perfect Time
by Sarah Sundin is book three in the Nightingale series. Each book is a stand alone book. The series is set in WWII and is about flight nurses and the men serving in the war. I have enjoyed this series. You can see my reviews of the first two books of the series here and here.

In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin

I enjoyed the adventure and intrigue of Lt. Roger Cooper’s flights in this particular novel. It kept me wanting to turn the pages. A couple of flights are based on true WWII flights, which my husband found hard to believe when I relayed information to him. He’s a skeptic though and a war buff so he likes the facts and the flights were pretty amazing feats so that’s why he was a doubter at first.

There is a definite Christian theme in this book, as there are in most of the books I read. This particular book’s theme centered on the fact that God loves sinners no matter what they have done. We are all redeemable and do not need to earn forgiveness but to accept it as the gift it is.

In Perfect Time provided me with the back stories of a couple of characters featured in the first two books. It was nice to finally learn more about them and what made them tick, as well as the follow-up story of some of the other characters.

I even enjoyed the romantic side of the book this time. It was realistic, romantic, humorous and heart-breaking all rolled into one.

There was an underlying theme of parents who do not display confidence in their children’s talents and abilities. For me this was sad to read about, it made me feel sorry for the characters and question if I am expressing my belief in my children so they know that I truly believe in them and what they are capable of doing with their lives. The characters in this book only learned in adulthood what should have been impressed on them in childhood – you are talented, you are worthy, you are capable and you can do anything you put your mind to. Every parent should instill self-belief into their children, especially if the child does not have it in themselves. What a responsibility we have as parents!

I give In Perfect Time two thumbs up and recommend it to all history lovers and romantics.


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The Big Book of Symptoms: A-Z Guide To Your Child’s Health

The Big Book of Symptoms

The Big Book of Symptoms: A-Z Guide to Your Child’s Health

Reviewed by B, my 15 year old daughter.

I thought The Big Book of Symptoms: A-Z Guide to Your Child’s Health
was very informative. I liked the fact that it had both natural and traditional preventives and treatments. I wish it hadn’t had so much of the “take your child to the pediatrician if he/she has such and such a symptom.” I completely understand taking them to the doctor for what you think could become/be life threatening i.e. Leukemia, A Brain tumor, TSS and others like these, but I would have liked to have known what to do in the meantime to ease my child’s symptom(s).

I like that it was written by a mom and a pediatrician.

I found this book to be really informative and easy to read. The illustrations were handy and easy to understand (especially to a non-picture reader like me :)) I loved the 3-in-1 First Aid, Choking, and CPR chart you can take out and hang up, I thought that was a nice touch.

About the Authors

Edited by two esteemed members of AAP, Steven P. Shelov, MD, FAAP, and Shelly V. Flais, MD, FAAP, The Big Book of Symptoms is an A-Z directory and ultimate guide to over 100 of the most common childhood symptoms from infancy to adolescence. From bee bites and colic to fever, sleep and skin problems, the new guide is designed to help parents evaluate their child’s symptoms and distinguish minor every day concerns from more serious conditions. It also includes an illustrated first aid manual, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) chart, and age-specific safety and injury prevention tips.


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Whaley’s Big Adventure ~ Children’s Book Review

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Join Whaley on his big adventure in the ocean as he meets Whales of all different sizes.

Written by 5 year old Alexander Luke and presented by his grandmother, award winning children’s author Carole P. Roman, this oceanic adventure of whale sized proportions will teach youngsters about the different whales that live in the oceans.

Our review:

This really is a unique book… in the fact that it was written AND illustrated by a 5 year old. We loved that the book was written for and by a child. The story is wonderful… Whaley is such a great character! We liked that the book not only gave Whaley and adventure but we learned about Whales along the way! What a great way to learn non-fiction facts in a fiction story!

For more information about the author or her books please visit www.carolproman.com

This book can be found on Amazon.com


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Captain No Beard Series Installment ~ Book Review

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Another great series from author Carole P Roman! The Captain No Beard series stresses valuable life lessons and topics such as sharing, teamwork, loyalty, and cooperation.

We reviewed the latest installments in Carole P. Roman’s pirate series

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The Treasure of Snake Island: A Captain No Beard Story

 

The crew of the Flying Dragon is together again and exploring the vast and beautiful oceans in search of treasure. A colorful sunrise sparks talk of how important books are in learning things. This is followed by a search for treasure, danger, and a great reward. Once again, the crew learns that through teamwork, friendship, and cooperation, there is nothing that can stop them from exploring and discovering the treats the world has to offer.

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A Captain No Beard Story: The Crew Goes Coconuts!

 

As the imagination of cousins Hallie and Alexander bring their stuffed animals to life, the crew of critters is stranded alongside a desert island. The friends wish to refresh their thirst; however, the newcomer to the ship makes a critical error that draws the negative attention of the other shipmates. Miffed by Matty the Goat’s mistake, the parched crew turns on the hapless greenhorn with cruel taunts and personal attacks. Captain No Beard steps in and expertly navigates the rough waters of bullying with sensible leadership that leaves everyone with a good taste in their mouths.

 

These arre two wonderful installments in the Captain No Beard series of books! My children were engaged throughout both books. We loved the colorful illustrations that each book had to offer. I as a mom enjoyed that the books provided entertainment, while providing a life lesson for my children. That fact alone makes this an important series to read! We also love that the book is full of imagination and even after we read the book we could imagine our own adventures! We LOVE the entire series… this is a great new addition to the Captain No Beard adventure!

 

For more information about the author or her books please visit www.carolproman.com

 

This book can be found on Amazon.com


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If You Were Me and Lived In…. ~ Series Installment Book Review

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IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … : A Child’s Introduction to Cultures Around the World, is the latest exciting new children’s series of children’s books from Carole P. Roman. Roman takes young readers all over the globe to explore different countries and cultures. With each book covering a different nation, Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Focusing on what life would be like for children if they were to live in another city or country, she examines the diversity around the world and the value possessed by each different culture. Think of the series as a children’s version of the travel Channel that is filled with entertaining and educational facts.

We reviewed two more exciting books in Carole P. Roman’s series

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IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … PORTUGAL

 

In short we are in love with the idea of this new series! What a wonderful way to introduce young children to cultural diversity. The text of the books are simple yet powerful. We liked that the book was written for children … I did not have to summarize or paraphrase information because the text was outside of their knowledge grasp…what a plus! The vibrant illustrations were also a plus. My children not only loved listening and learning but took the book after we were done reading just to look at the pictures.

On a cultural note… this book really hit home for us. Our neighbors are from Portugal and we are always hearing about their Portuguese traditions. I thought this was very poignant for our family because it let the children learn about our neighbors’ cultural identity.

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IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN … RUSSIA

 

 

The books are geared toward Pre-K through age eight… well… my 5, 8, and 10 year olds all LOVED the books! Love of literature and cultural awareness is a must in our household, so this series was a hit!

 

Wow! What an excellent read! This is such a lovely book and we look forward to the next installment of the series!

 

For more information about the author or her books please visit www.carolproman.com

 

This book can be found on Amazon.com


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The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third and last book in the Inn at Eagle Hill series. As a reminder, this is a series about an Amish family, as seen from the girl on the book cover above. The mother was widowed and started an inn to make ends meet, due some bad financial decisions on the part of her deceased husband. It is all about how the family is making the inn work and their life in their Amish community. A review of book one and book two are here and here.

It was sad to see this series come to an end. I have enjoyed getting to know Rose, Bethany, Mim, their neighbors the Kings and various other characters.

In this particular book, I really liked how Suzanne made baby Sarah a part of the story and how Tobe and Naomi triumphed through some troubled waters of their relationship.

I was disappointed that we did not get to see how Bethany and Mim’s love life ended. I mean we saw them get to know a couple of fellows but that was it. Granted, Mim is just 14 years old in this book so it is kind of hard to show who she ends up with….but it was like a cliff hanger gone wrong because the series ended with too many questions. It made me feel like the story of The Inn at Eagle Hill was left unfinished….unless she is going to start a new series and share the missing details in it. I want to know if the inn ends up being the income Rose needs to provide for her family, I want to know if Jimmy goes into the horse breeding business, I want to know if Mrs. Miracle continues to give advice, what Mim and Bethany go on to do? See? Too many questions!

Otherwise I did find it an enjoyable read since it will probably be one of the only books I read this summer.

What are you reading this summer?

Buy it Now


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Alone Yet Not Alone

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We have the original book Alone Yet Not Alone so when I agreed to this review I mistakenly thought it was a review of the movie that is coming out in theaters (only a select few!) this Friday, June 13. It looks really, really good! Check out the trailer below:

The book review below is written by my 15 year old daughter, B. By the way, this book is based on a true story about two sisters during the French and Indian war (1755). It is written by Tracy Leininger Craven, which is the great something granddaughter of Barbara Leininger, one of the main characters.

Alone Yet Not Alone Book Review

By “B”

This may be the “movie version” of the book Alone Yet Not Alone: Their faith became their freedom, but it is almost exactly the same as the original we own, which I haven’t read it in a while. But you will hear no complaints from me about the new version! :) The only difference is there are photos from the movie.

I’ve always admired and respected Barbara and Regina. Not just for their strength but also for their love for God and their hope.

I hope I can be as great a big sister as Barbara. She never gave up on escaping and finding Regina.

I liked how Barbara never gave up on her faith. Sure she went through trial after trial but she never gave up. She is a big inspiration to me. This book made me think, “What would I have done in her situation?” I don’t know if I would have been able to stay strong, but the knowledge of their story has helped me strengthen my own faith in God so that I can stay strong.

To learn more about the book and movie visit: http://www.aloneyetnotalone.com/

Buy it Now


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