Friday, February 17, 2012

If you like fiction about the Amish here is another good book

A Life of Joy, written by Amy Clipston, is part of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series. You do not have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this story.

Lindsay has been living with her Amish Aunt since the passing of both of her parents. Her sister Jessica has taken a different road and has chosen to live outside the Amish community. Lindsay has just found out that all of her friends are being baptized into the Amish faith. Now it is time for her to decide what she wants for herself.

When a family friend outside the community needs her help, Lindsay decides it would be a good time to step away and spend some time in the world of computers and cell phones. While she is away she misses her friends, her job at the bakery and especially the handsome Matthew. Will she choose to follow her sister and finish her public education or will she choose to go back to the Amish community? The story follows Lindsay as she tries to decide what she wants to do with the rest of her life.

The book is well written. The story flows well and the characters are believable. You can tell research was done, as the information about the Amish community is abundant. I did find some of the words hard to understand. There was a list with the English word next to the Amish word at the beginning but having to look at the list interrupts your reading. Some Amish books use these words and others just use English. Personally I like not having to look up the meaning of terms used when reading a book for relaxation. However, this does not take away from the story itself and therefore I still would recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Reviews for two books I recently read...

A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists, written by Michelle LaRowe, has over 100 lists to save you time and money. From preparing for a baby, to tips on chores for children, the book was written to make your life easier to manage.
This book has something for every Mom. Do you know how much sleep a toddler needs? What about when to call a doctor or when to treat the fever at home? There is even a list of household poisons to look out for.
I found this book helpful in multiple areas and really feel that all Moms’ should have this on their bookshelves. This is a perfect gift for a new Mom or a Mom of multiple children. Every Mom will find a list that will help them manage their life better.
I gave this book 5/5 stars.


365 Days of Hope, by Julie Walker Mitchell, is a very encouraging book filled with devotionals for each day of the year. The devotions are not very long, only about a paragraph long, and are introduced by a verse. The devotional then expounds on that verse for the day.
The devotionals are all positive in nature and encourage you to be a better follower of Christ. I did at times feel like it was a bit preachy. I don’t think the author was meaning to come across that way but some of the wording seemed more like orders from a teacher then loving suggestions. I still enjoyed the book and thought the author’s insights were great. I would recommend this devotional for anyone who wants a quick devotional to read before heading out to a busy day.
I gave this book 4/5 stars.

I would like to thank ChristianReviewofBooks.com and the publishers for the copies of these books I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Want to succeed? This book has great tips for women!

Successful Women Think Differently, written by Valorie Burton, is filled with helpful information on how a woman can feel successful in all of her ventures. The subtitle, 9 Habits to Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient, accurately describes the content found here.

I learned so much from this book. I highlighted so many paragraphs I think each page had at least one underlined section! There are a couple principles that really stood out. My top pick was learning that what you consider being successful will not be the same as what any other woman will think is success. You can’t compare yourself to others and what they have succeeded in doing; you should only look at what you want to succeed at. Learning this will help you keep your goal in focus as you work towards your moment of success in whatever area you choose.

Another important principle is learning that excuses are a way for us to justify our lack of progress. Instead of allowing yourself to make these excuses, just do the work! There are great questions throughout this book that will help you focus on what you want to succeed at.

This book is great for anyone struggling with wanting to succeed at something that is important to them. This could be about a marriage, a job, or even a class. If you need some guidance on how to move forward and walk towards succeeding at a task you have been struggling with, this book is perfect. The author writes in a loving and informative manner. You will be encouraged as well as enlightened.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Review for revised 5 Love Languages of Children

This book is the revised version of The 5 Love Languages of Children written by Dr. Gary D. Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell. I have not read the other versions so will not be comparing this one to any of the other books.

I have heard of this book over the years and the concept that we all have a way that we receive love. This particular book centers on how our children accept and feel love. The authors break down into 5 different areas (or languages as they call it) the ways to express love to our children. Each child is different in how they need love presented to them. What is interesting is how they explain that we each give and receive love in different ways. Meaning you may need to receive flowers on Valentines Day to feel loved but want to show love to your spouse by spending time going on a walk alone with them. Our children are the same way, each receive and each show love in different ways. One may need you to sit and play board games with them while they show you love by speaking words of encouragement to you every day.

The book is organized and easy to follow. I liked the end of the book where you can work on some questions with your child and narrow down how they most feel loved. Do they like it when you bring home treats for them or do they like it better when you give them a big hug instead? Very helpful for anyone struggling to reach out to a child and not sure why the child is pulling away. I think it is a great book for any parent no matter the age of their child. I look forward to reading the other 5 Love Languages books! If they are filled with as much helpful information as this book was they are worth reading too!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.

Monday, February 13, 2012

My Review for a good Bible study

What Does the Lord Require: Doing Justice, Loving Kindness, Walking Humbly, written by James C. Howell, is a good Bible study to complete when you want to learn how to live for Christ.

The author expounds on Micah 6:8 and helps us understand how to apply its principles to our day to day life. He starts by giving us some insight into who Micah was and the era in which he wrote this verse. What does the verse mean when it says the Lord requires justice, kindness and humility? Gaining a real understanding of these terms will help you follow the Lord’s guidelines for living as a Christian.

There is a guide included in this book for those who want to lead a Bible study group. Using this book would be great in a Sunday School class as well. You can tell the author is a pastor! The book is easy to understand and very organized. I learned not only facts about a book of the Bible but also principles to live by. This is an excellent book to learn from and I will be looking for other books by this author to read!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

I gave this book 5/5 stars.