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.
Friday, February 17, 2012
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Great ideas for helping someone who is dealing with an illness
Caring For A Loved One With Cancer is written by cancer survivor June Hunt. This book was written for all of us who know someone that is dealing with cancer.
Most of the fifty ways to help someone going through cancer are very practical and can be done by anyone close to the cancer sufferer. Each of the main chapters discusses one of the ways you can reach out and help. The specific ideas are all easy to do and can greatly help someone who is not feeling well. Running errands, keeping a gift/helper journal for them, writing a chart with all of their scheduled medication, and even going to appointments with them and taking notes. All of those are great ideas and just a few of the many the author lists in this practical yet helpful book.
The book also contains ways to help children understand what is happening to their loved one. It also lists things that are and are not helpful when personally dealing with cancer. Although this book was written for all who know someone with cancer, I really felt it was more geared for woman who have girlfriends who are fighting the disease. The author writes in a loving and open manner. All the information presented is helpful and worth reading if you are close to someone who is dealing with cancer or really any debilitating illness.
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 have this book 5/5 stars.
Most of the fifty ways to help someone going through cancer are very practical and can be done by anyone close to the cancer sufferer. Each of the main chapters discusses one of the ways you can reach out and help. The specific ideas are all easy to do and can greatly help someone who is not feeling well. Running errands, keeping a gift/helper journal for them, writing a chart with all of their scheduled medication, and even going to appointments with them and taking notes. All of those are great ideas and just a few of the many the author lists in this practical yet helpful book.
The book also contains ways to help children understand what is happening to their loved one. It also lists things that are and are not helpful when personally dealing with cancer. Although this book was written for all who know someone with cancer, I really felt it was more geared for woman who have girlfriends who are fighting the disease. The author writes in a loving and open manner. All the information presented is helpful and worth reading if you are close to someone who is dealing with cancer or really any debilitating illness.
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 have this book 5/5 stars.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Two reviews of books I have recently read
Love Like God, Embracing Unconditional Love was written by Caroline A. Shearer. The book is filled with lessons on unconditional love. The author has taken the time to gather stories by numerous people and present them in this book.
Some of the writers are authors, some are names you will recognize but most are just average people you would talk to everyday. Each person writes about an incident in their life where they gained an understanding of what unconditional love is. Loving another person the way the Lord loves us is what unconditional love is about.
The author ends each story with a note. This note is her thoughts on the story. She also adds an affirmation to reiterate the principle of unconditional love. One affirmation found on page 138 states "Love is always stronger than my fears."
I found each person view of unconditional love and how it changed their lives very interesting. This book kept my attention and I enjoyed the different viewpoints. The authors’ notes really brought all the different stores together and the book would not have been as good without her notes.
I gave this book 4/5 stars only because some of the writers were hard to understand and their stories did not flow well.
What’s Good About Feeling Bad? A great question and a perfect title for this book written by John C. Thomas and Gary Habermas. You will put this book down with a better understanding of suffering and how the Lord wants us to learn and grow as we walk through each painful situation we encounter.
Helping you understand the purpose of suffering is really the main purpose of this book. Breaking it down into sections the authors describe what the Lord desires for us to learn. Most important we need to learn to trust that He is doing it all for our good.
Everything that is written in the book is helpful. I did think it got rather wordy sometimes. Meaning some of what is written is repeated again and again, not in the same words but still the same principles. Overall a good book for someone who is suffering through a hard experience and wants to better understand why the Lord allows bad things to happen.
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.
Some of the writers are authors, some are names you will recognize but most are just average people you would talk to everyday. Each person writes about an incident in their life where they gained an understanding of what unconditional love is. Loving another person the way the Lord loves us is what unconditional love is about.
The author ends each story with a note. This note is her thoughts on the story. She also adds an affirmation to reiterate the principle of unconditional love. One affirmation found on page 138 states "Love is always stronger than my fears."
I found each person view of unconditional love and how it changed their lives very interesting. This book kept my attention and I enjoyed the different viewpoints. The authors’ notes really brought all the different stores together and the book would not have been as good without her notes.
I gave this book 4/5 stars only because some of the writers were hard to understand and their stories did not flow well.
What’s Good About Feeling Bad? A great question and a perfect title for this book written by John C. Thomas and Gary Habermas. You will put this book down with a better understanding of suffering and how the Lord wants us to learn and grow as we walk through each painful situation we encounter.
Helping you understand the purpose of suffering is really the main purpose of this book. Breaking it down into sections the authors describe what the Lord desires for us to learn. Most important we need to learn to trust that He is doing it all for our good.
Everything that is written in the book is helpful. I did think it got rather wordy sometimes. Meaning some of what is written is repeated again and again, not in the same words but still the same principles. Overall a good book for someone who is suffering through a hard experience and wants to better understand why the Lord allows bad things to happen.
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.
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