Big Book of American Trivia

"Big Book of American Trivia" is an awesome book jam packed with all kinds of awesome facts about America. I didn't realize how big this book is - it contains so many trivia questions, broken up by topics. I think this could make an awesome tool for middle and high schoolers who are going through history classes. Most of the questions had some historical importance, and it was really interesting to read through the trivia and gain a little more knowledge about this great country we live in. Would also be a great gift idea for the history buff in your life. I really enjoyed, this and plan on using it often with my own children. Wonderful resource. 


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest evaluation of this book. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Check out "The Christmas Singing"!!

Link to Chapter 1 of The Christmas Singing

NLT Facebook Giveaway!!

Here are the NLT Facebook page giveaway details:
Starting on November 29^th until December 24^th at the New Living Translation Facebook page we're giving away lots of great prizes and something free for you just for singing up.
By visiting the giveaway entry page (located on the NLT Facebook page, the link is under the profile picture) and entering your name and e-mail address you'll be entered to win the following prizes:

• One random person each day will win a Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (Guys Life Application Study Bible hc, Girls Life Application Study Bible hc, Student's Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible Large Print hc).
• One Random person each week will win an Apple iPad 2!

Everyone that signs up gets a free download copy of the Life Application Bible Study – Book of Luke!

Smitten

"Smitten" is a book written by Colleen coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter. "Smitten" is a wonderfully written book for those of us who are complete romantics at heart. The book is broken up into four different sections, told from the viewpoint of four different women, but each section continues the story. This is a wonderful story about a town that is trying to turn itself into a romantic getaway after the lumber mill is closed. This story really reels you in from the first few pages with the convincing story and well written storyline. The book itself is 400 pages, and it goes by so quickly when you are reading it. I was a little sad when it was over! The book also includes a short reading group guide, and a brief interview with the authors of the book. I would highly recommend this book for the romantic in your life, as it is an absolutely wonderful story. I loved it, and wouldn't hesitate to read anything from any of these women again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements

Love & War

"Love & War" by John & Staci Eldredge is a wonderful book about the realities of married life. The book is written by a husband and wife team, which makes this particular book approachable for both men and women. The Eldredges are very open about their own marital struggles, and I found this to be a really inspiring, yet extremely honest book about love and marriage. John and Stasi understand, through their own experiences, the power of the Enemy that we face, and the hope that God brings into a marriage if the married couple let Him. I really enjoyed the straightforward approach that John & Staci took in this book, and I believe that any relationship could benefit from the words of wisdom imparted in "Love & War". I would highly recommend this book to any couple seeking more out of their marriage than just "getting by". Wonderfully written.

~I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

December 1941

"December 1941" by Craig Shirley is the most interesting history book I've ever read. This book isn't just a historical account of the events surrounding World War 2 in December 1941. This book actually reads more like an actual story, as Shirley dives into the economic, social, and financial atmosphere of the United States, day by day, from December 1st, before the Pearl Harbor attack, through December 31st. It's really interesting to read, to understand how the Pearl Harbor attack was a pivotal moment that changed our country forever. Each chapter of this book is one day in December 1941, with facts about the war, explanations of the events going on in the United States, and the attitude of Americans. I found this to be an extremely insightful look at not only the war itself, but the way that our country and people were so changed by Pearl Harbor. It is a fascinating read, and I would highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements

As Silver Refined

Kay Arthur's "As Silver Refined" is an amazing book. The premise for the book is how to manage a life that doesn't seem to work out how you had planned. We've all been in a situation where we had planned for something, and it didn't work out the way we had hoped, and are left with feelings of disappointment, frustration, or even anger. "As Silver Refined" addresses these feelings, and gives practical, Biblical insight into dealing with life's disappointments, which Kay artfully renames "God's Appointments". As Christians, we have to learn that even though life doesn't always turn out as we had planned, these disappointments are God's way of fine-tuning us. I really loved this book, and found an extreme amount of wisdom and hope in "As Silver Refined". I would highly recommend this book to anyone - eventually we all go through difficult times in our lives, and having this book to help guide you through it makes it much easier to see God through the hurt and disappointment. Loved it. 


~I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

The Love & Respect Experience

This was my very first interaction with the Love & Respect concept of Emerson Eggerichs. I thought that the devotional itself was very well written. There are 52 devotionals, each one written specifically for couples - so it is definitely husband-friendly. At the end of each devotional, there is a prayer and a recommended activity for couples to work on together. I liked that the activities were relatively simple, and things that were helpful, but that didn't require a ton of time. My husband and I have a three year old, so getting extensive amounts of time alone is rare, and these activities fit within our busy life. Overall, I thought this was a pretty good devotional. I would give it 4/5. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements 

The Lucado Inspirational Reader

Max Lucado's "The Lucado Inspirational Reader" is essentially a compilation of memorable quotes and stories from his previous works. The book is split up into chapters based on the topics and subjects of the material. It is fairly easy to find an inspirational story or hope-filled quote or verse relevant to what you are looking for via the chapter topic. What I liked about this book was that it is like a compilation of Lucado's most relevant wisdoms from his previous writings. I don't own that many Lucado works, so this was definitely a welcome addition to my bookshelf. I thought the book had a lot of hope and inspiration in its pages, and I would recommend this book. I would give it 4.5/5. My only complaint was that the books is rather long, and a little heavy.. It's over 450 pages long, but that just means that there is a LOT of helpful information inside! Great book.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements 

The Scroll

"The Scroll" is a novel by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky. The short description of the book is enticing, and lured me in. This book is a suspenseful ride, and I found it to be a fulfilling read. There were short lulls in the action, and in some parts there seemed to be a tad too much detail that it became a distraction. But overall, I thought this book was well written, and well thought out. The story follows an archaeologist, and I felt like I was able to gain a lot of knowledge about the field of archaeology while reading the book. I thought that the ending of the book was slightly predictable, but entertaining nonetheless. Overall I would give this book a 4/5. The action and suspense kept me reading for hours at a time. Interesting topic and interesting storyline. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

~I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

RP Nettelhorst's - "A Year With Jesus"

RP Nettelhorst's "A Year With Jesus" is an awesome devotional! I had never heard of Nettelhorst prior to receiving this book, so I really wasn't too sure what to expect, but I LOVED this devotional. "A Year With Jesus" is an entire year of devotionals, each one only taking up about one page of the book. Obviously, each message is short, but I felt like Nettelhorst really packed a lot of important things into each page of this devotional. What is different about "A Year With Jesus" is that the bible verses that are the focus of each devotional are all words that Jesus spoke in the Bible, which makes this devotional feel like it is giving me more of a connection with Jesus, and I really felt like I was getting more out of these simple, short devotionals that I have gotten out of longer, more in-depth ones in the past. I am planning on buying this devotional for a Christmas gift - it was that awesome! I would give this devotional 5 stars! 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Of Man

"Book of Man" isn't really what I expected it to be, though that doesn't mean that it wasn't a good book. I expected this book to be more of a guide to the dos and don'ts to raising young men in our society today. In contrast, this book was really more of an anthology of stories about strong men. William Bennett using this book to profile influential, strong men who have had an impact on history. I think that this book offers up many potential role models for young men today - men who have shown courage, virtue, and dedication to a cause. While it doesn't offer up much advice on helping to raise young men today, it does hold a treasure trove of honorable men, with some great stories about their impact on history. I enjoyed these readings, and think that any parent would be able to appreciate the qualities that Mr. Bennett picks out of these men and presents to us. Highly recommend this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Nearing Home

Billy Graham's "Nearing Home" is an inspirational book about aging. I read this book, even though I am still in my 20's, because I think that it is important for us to understand that even as we become older, our purpose remains. It always seems as if the most purposeful time of our life is when we are raising children, taking care of a family, and working every day, but Graham shows us that even as life begins to slow down for us, God still has a purpose for our life. This book incorporates scripture and some of Graham's own life experiences as the backbone for his story. He also talks about practical subjects such as retirement, money, and hope. I think that this book would be a great Christmas present for the loved ones in our own lives who are nearing home, as a reminder that God still has a purpose for them in their lives, and that their journey isn't over yet. For me, it also helped me to appreciate the elderly people in my own life, and understand that they still have a God given purpose to fulfill. I would give this book a 4/5.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

You Were Born For This

Bruce Wilkinson's "You Were Born for This" is an interesting read. The book talks about miracles, and how we should be alert to the Spirit nudging us to take part in something that could be a miracle. I agree with the premise of the book - that God uses those of us here on Earth to work miracles through. I think that this book tries to push you to be one of God's tools that he can work through, but I think that at the end of the day, God chooses who he needs to use, and sometimes it just isn't us. I think the book makes good points about being attune to the Spirit. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but think that all we can do is be willing to be used by God, but we can't make him choose us. I would give the book a rating of 3/5.

~I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Heaven Is For Real for Kids

"Heaven Is For Real for Kids" by Colton Burpee is a cute story based on Colton's visit to Heaven. What I liked about the book was that it is a simple story, made especially for children, to help them understand what kind of place Heaven really is. Each page tells about something that Colton saw or experienced while he was in Heaven, and is coupled with a bible verse that backs up what Colton saw. This is a cute, and non-scary way for children to start to understand the concept of Heaven. I liked that it was a simple book, with easy to understand language for young children. I would recommend this book for children 4 and up.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Thank You God For Blessing Me

"Thank You God For Blessing Me" by Max Lucado is an adorable children's book. What I really liked about this book is that it is short, and has great illustrations. It is perfect for a small child who doesn't have the attention span to sit through a long book. The story rhymes, which helps the child remember the words on their own. I have a toddler, and she loved the cute little Hermie - the green caterpillar in the story. This book helps teach kids that everything that they have is because God has blessed them, and they should be thankful. It's a great book that can help teach a very important lesson. Loved it - wouldn't hesitate to purchase it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Just In Case You Ever Wonder

"Just In Case You Ever Wonder" is a children's book by Max Lucado. I thought it was great, because it really helps to reaffirm to your child that you love them, and will always be there for them. It also teaches that God is just like a father, which I think is a really important thing for a child to understand. This book reinforces that as parents, we will always love, cherish, and support our children, and it is structured in a way that is easy for the child to understand. It's encouraging to a child to hear that their mommy or daddy love them and will always be there for them. It makes them feel secure. And I think this book also helps make children feel more secure about God always being there for them as well. Well put together!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Gabby God's Little Angel

Gabby, God's Little Angel is such a cute story! It is an introduction to angels for young children, and is a great tool to help children understand that concept of what an angel is, and what they can do. I thought that the story itself was cute, Gabby, God's angel is sent to watch over a little girl, and the book tells the story of how Gabby helps to protect her. I think this story is a great way to help young children understand how much God loves them, and that he sends his special helpers to keep them safe. The book uses simple language, so it is easy for young kids to understand. I loved this book, and my daughter did too! Wonderful story! Wonderful illustrations!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Heroes & Villians of the Bible

"Heroes & Villians of the Bible" is a great way to introduce some new role models into the life of children. With so many questionable role models being glorified by the media, it is very refreshing to read this book with my daughter and show her that real role models make hard decisions to do the right things. I thought that this book could have really benefited from more illustrations, to help the younger children visualize what was happening. I liked the way that this was written, not as a book of bible stories, but rather actual biblical writings translated for children to be able to understand. I would recommend this book for children ages 3 and up. The language is simple, and easy for young children to understand, but the scarcity of illustrations makes it difficult to keep younger children interested. Overall a great book with great role models.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255