Friday, May 31, 2013

On Every Side



On Every Side by Karen Kingsbury

Description from Goodreads:

After suffering the loss of his mother and separation from his sister and the girl he loved, Jordan Riley fills the holes in his soul with anger. But Faith Evans begins to disassemble the walls around Jordan ’s heart, and he realizes there’s something very familiar about her… 

This is another great book by Karen, while it was not my favorite, it was still amazing! Written well, full of emotions,  and a great story line based on a true story.  

You start off hating Jordan and over the course of the book you find yourself loving him! Faith is an amazing character that caught my attention from the start.  She is one of those characters that you quickly fall in love with.

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review!***

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Bedding The Wrong Brother



Bedding The Wrong Brother by Virna DePaul

Melina was friends with twin brothers, Max and Rhys since childhood. After having her ex boyfriend tell her that she is bad in bed, she turns to Max to tutor her in the bedroom. But since Max is a magician, he has a few tricks up his sleeve. Who will  teach Melina the ropes and how?

Personally, I thought this book was great! It is a fast read but it is not a typical romance. The story line was different than any book I have ever seen and it was entertaining. I could not put it down! I wanted to know what Melina was going to do or say next. Was it realistic? No. Was it fun? Heck yeah!

There was some sex scenes so you younger kids need to cover your eyes and not read those parts! Hahaha. But I thought those scenes were written well. In fact, I thought the whole book was written well. I can not wait to read the next one in the series!!!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

It's A Mitzvah, Grover!



It's A Mitzvah, Grover! by Tilda Balsley and Ellen Fischer

Description from the publisher:
Grover does a mitzvah (good deed) by joining his friends to spruce up the neighborhood playground. Even Moishe Oofnik comes out of his trash can to help, eating up all the trash, and separating the cans for recycling. This ebook features read-along narration by the author as well as music and sound effects.

While this book does not have all the usual Sesame Street characters (with the exception of Grover), you will see similarities between them! This book has the same colorful pages and educational information that you  have grown to love in all Sesame Street books! From mixing colors to recycling, this book talks about several different good deeds and explains them  well. I was very pleased with this book.

Review from my five year old son- "This book was so good! They made the playground look cool and I loved the rainbows! I want to go read this book again now!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Saving Armpit



Saving Armpit by Natalie Hyde

Description from the publisher:

"When vandals deface the Harmony Point sign, the town does indeed seem to become the "arm Pit" of the region. The baseball team hasn't won a game in two seasons and the town itself is falling into disrepair. But when the new postmaster becomes the new ball coach, Clay and the rest of the Terriers finally seem to stand a chance of winning a game. Until they overhear a bureaucrat from the city say that the post office will close unless "the numbers" work out. The team begins "Operation Tennis Elbow" a letter-writing campaign designed to generate enough mail to keep the post office--and its postmaster---in town. And along the way, they learn the power of the pen in effecting positive changes in their community."

I thought this was a cute book. If you are a child who likes chapter books and baseball, this book is for you!! The story was told in he eyes of a child without being whiny or bratty sounding, does that makes sense? There are some good lessons to be learned in this book and a few laugh out loud moments.

I would recommend this to a teacher to read to their students or for children who are able to read chapter books. 

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Monday, May 27, 2013

When Joy Came To Stay



When Joy Came To Stay by Karen Kingsbury

Description from Good reads:
"Maggie Stovall is trapped inside a person she’s spent years carefully crafting. Now the truth about who she is—and what she’s done—is bursting to the surface and sending Maggie into a spiral of despair. Will she walk away from everything, or can Maggie allow God to take her to a place of ultimate honesty—before it’s too late?

Maggie Stovall. One of the golden people. She has it all together. At least on the surface…

Ben Stovall. Godly husband. Successful attorney. Has no idea of the darkness about to overtake his life…

Amanda Joy. Child of society. Abused, broken, thrown away. But her trust in God is still alive… "


Once again, I am floored by Karen Kingsbury's writing style! This story had you guessing to fill in the missing pieces as she went from character to character. You get to a good point with one character and you are dying to know the rest of the story but it quickly jumps to a different character leaving you desperate for information. I could not put this book down until I finished it. 

I will give you this information. There IS a child abuse scene that is VERY hard to read so if you have a hard time with that, beware. I was crying so hard in that scene I had to walk away for a bit to calm down. 

Once again, she writes so well that I feel like I am in the room with these people. The emotions coming off the pages is just amazing. Very easy to get caught up in this book!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Sunday, May 26, 2013

The Sunday Post


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  is a chance to share news,  A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news on what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

This week was a great week. I got alot done at home and work and got a bunch of reading done as well. Earlier this week, my son played his last T-Ball game of the season and had a stomach bug later this week. He is MUCH better now.  He has one more week of school (mostly half days) then he is home with me for the summer! YAY!!!!




 
Last week I read and reviewed:



The Dogma of Cats For Kids


Channing O'Banning and The Rainforest Rescue 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Yesterday Lives

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding Cakes And Big Mistakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing But Trouble

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week I plan to read and review:

 

The rest of the Kingsbury Collection

 

 

 

 

 

Bedding The Wrong Brother 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Max plans to read and review:

 


It's A Mitzvah Grover!

 

 

 

No Dogs Allowed. Max is reading this for school. It is a 4th grade book and he is in Kindergarten. The teacher is curious to see how much he comprehends and he wants to review it for you all!

 

 

 

 

So this coming up week should be fun and I hope to read more than I said I would but I do not want to push my luck! LOL. Have a great week!

 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Nothing But Trouble



Nothing But Trouble by  Trish Jensen

Description from the publisher:
"He’s gorgeous, rich, sexy, super nice, and head-over-heels for her. So what’s the problem?  
Her psychic best friend predicts that Laura Tanner is due to meet a prince—the man of her dreams. Not a likely scenario for a hard-working bar owner who’s better at karate-chopping rowdy patrons than hobnobbing with the silver-spoon crowd. When Ivy League lawyer Brandon Prince (a prince!) strolls into her bar, Laura admits he’s hard to resist. Brandon quickly realizes that this lovely, funny, take-no-prisoners woman is the special someone he’s always wanted.  
Brandon is an expert at wooing women, and even a tough cookie like Laura can’t help but fall under his spell. Before she knows what’s happening, he’s lured her on a romantic adventure filled with laughter and desire. Dazzled, she begins to believe that she really can have this prince of a man as her own.
One problem: Brandon’s powerful mother is used to women chasing his family fortune, and she’ll do whatever it takes to keep yet another money-grubbing female out of his life. If a man is everything you’ve ever wanted, how can he also be nothing but trouble?"


Three words.......OH MY GOODNESS.......sexy, sexy!!

Ok, so I read this book in a few hours. I did not want to put it down. This was not like the typical romance books that I read. This one was fun. Between Laura's sasisness and Brandon's hilarious ideas, I was intrigued and hooked. I would read this book over and over again. The steps Brandon went through to get Laura to date him are beyond funny to me. He is sarcastic and I LOVE sarcastic. I would recommend this book to any romance lover out there!

I also have to say that the cover.....well......HELLO!! He is some kind of HOT! *giggle*

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Friday, May 24, 2013

Wedding Cakes And Big Mistakes



Wedding Cakes And Big Mistakes by Nancy Naigle

Description from the publisher
"For years, Carolanne Baxter dreamed of a life beyond Adams Grove. Being the daughter of the town drunk was no picnic, so when college offered her a chance for escape, she took it. Now Carolanne has returned home, finally ready to make amends with her father, Ben, and to celebrate the wedding of her best friends Jill and Garrett. Of course, the fact that Connor Buckham, her sexy new law partner and Garrett’s best man, happens to be the same guy the town matchmaker named as Carolanne’s perfect match…well! That’s just icing on the cake.

But Carolanne’s hopes for a fresh start are dashed when a dead body surfaces during Jill and Garrett’s wedding reception…and Ben Baxter becomes the prime suspect. The murder throws the town into uproar, threatening to destroy the tentative peace between father and daughter—and to derail the budding romance between Carolanne and Connor. Has the matchmaker’s perfect streak come to end? Or will the truth finally bring Carolanne the happy ending she’s dreamed of for so long?"


This was a great book. A nice read when calming down after a long day at work. It was fun to see the relationship between Carolanne and Connor grow as well as the relationship with Carolanne and her dad. There was a lot of romance, a little mystery and some fun humor. I thought it was a great book.

For me personally, there were parts that were VERY unrealistic but it was a fun book to get into. The mystery was light, nothing scary or too gruesome. It was interesting to see "who did it" although I was not very surprised by it. I would love for you all to read it and tell me your thoughts about this book!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Where Yesterday Lives


 Where Yesterday Lives by Karen Kingbury

  Descrition from Goodreads:
"At thirty-one, Ellen Barrett has already won a Pulitzer prize. Sadly, though, her skill as a journalist far surpasses her ability to sort out her troubled past. When she returns to picturesque Petoskey, Michigan, for her beloved father’s funeral, it’s a traumatic emotional and spiritual journey for Ellen—a rediscovery of what is truly important and eternal.

Will facing her past tear Ellen apart—or teach her what is truly important in her life?

Ellen Barrett, thirty-one, is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist with an uncertain marriage, a forgotten faith, and haunting memories of her picturesque hometown and the love she left behind. The eldest of five siblings, Ellen longs for the time, long ago, when they were happy—when they were a family.

Then tragedy strikes. Now Ellen’s beloved father is dead, and she must leave Miami and return to her childhood home on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, Michigan.

As she returns to a world that was, an avalanche of memories is unleashed. And so Ellen’s quest begins—a quest to make peace with the people who still live there, with the losses and changes that time has wrought, and with the future God has set before her."


I  LOVED this book and I will tell you why. The very FIRST page is captivating. You immediately want to know who this guy is and what is going on. That continues ALL the way through. I was absorbed in the characters. I wanted to know WHY they were the way they were. I wanted to know if they would be able to work it out or not. Not once did I get bored or want to put it down!

The way the author wrote this story was amazing to me. Just as I was getting to know a character and really want to know the details, the author switched it and put you in a different character's head. I found this to be both intriguing and frustrating (in a good way). I wanted to find out what the rest of the story was with the character so the author FULLY had my attention and I did NOT want to put this book down!

Let this be a warning to you all, you WILL cry when you read this. The last few chapters had me crying so hard I could hardly see the book. The emotions were radiating off the pages and I felt like I was there in real life watching all of this unfold. That just amazes me that a book could be so well written like that! Props to you Karen Kingbury! This is one of the best books I have ever read and I am proud to add it to my personal library!!!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Channing O'Banning and The Rainforest Rescue


Channing O'Banning and The Rainforest Rescue by Angela Spady, Illustrated by Tammie Lyon

Description from the publisher:
"Armed with a pencil in her ponytail, a pot-bellied pig, and a pocketful of gummy turtles, there’s nothing that fourth-grade artist Channing O'Banning can’t do. When Channing discovers that her best friend has gone crazy over the new boy at school, she fears that she's lost her best friend forever. Drawing her frustrations out in her secret sketchbook, Channing is determined to make Marco, “the best friend thief,” her worst enemy. But when they both wind up in the rainforest of Costa Rica, Channing soon discovers that Marco may be her only hope for survival. From zip-lining through the jungle and daydreaming of monster frogs to finding out what it means to “go green,” Channing not only discovers the wonders of the rainforest but learns a little about herself and the value of trusting others. With art education often being taken out of the classroom, parents and teachers—as well as readers who like to draw their way through one adventure after the other—will be excited that Channing O'Banning has come to the rescue."

This book is cute. It seemed like a typical 3rd-4th grade chapter book.  Girl drama and girl drama! It sounded like it was written by a child, which drove me crazy but I am sure the young readers love that, so I will leave it at that! I found  that this is a cute book that I would read to a 2nd or 3rd grade class.

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Monday, May 20, 2013

The Dogma of Cats For Kids



The Dogma of Cats For Kids by Deb Snyder, PhD

Description from the publisher:
"Join an adorable collection of cuddly cats for their warm wisdom on how we  can live a happy, heart-centered life. With colorful illustrations,  mindful lessons and sweet, rhyming text, award winning author Deb Snyder  delivers a book that will have cat lovers of all ages purring for  more! "

This book is full of adorable cats and wonderful life skills that everyone can use! We were able to discuss these skills such as expressing  gratitude and forgiving quickly. This are great skills and I was thrilled to see so many of them in this   book! What a fun and positive book! We loved it!

Review from my five year old son-"I love that the cat is on every page and I could  find it! This book is awesomer than awesome and cooler than cool!"

***This book was given to me by the  publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Sunday, May 19, 2013

The Sunday Post



The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  is a chance to share news,  A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news on what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

This week has been great! I had time to read again! YAY!!! Plus I keep getting approved for more and more books! WOOT! I LOVE it! Ok, so this week I wanted to get to know everyone a little better, so here is a question for you all, If you  are in a bad mood, what kind  of book do you turn to? Me, I like to read romance when I am mad at the world, for some reason it helps! What about you?

Now to the wrap up,

Last week I read and reviewed:

Burly & Grum, Beyond The Forest










Waiting For Dead Men's Shoes










Tib & Tumtum, Welcome To The Tribe










Undercover Angel










We Love California










Next week I plan to read and review:

Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes

I am almost done  with this book so the review should be posted soon!








Nothing  But Trouble

Does he look hot or what? Whew!!!!!








I do not have any review books for my son so I am keeping it open in case we get some! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

We Love California



We Love California by Gabriella Francine

Have you ever been to California? Do you know any details about California? This book is full of great information like the state symbol, flower, flag, ect.

Since my sister and brother moved to California (we live in Florida), Max has been really upset. When I saw this book I knew it would help him. So we sat down and read it together.

This book is VERY cute. I loved seeing some of the California symbols through the eyes of children! This is the perfect book to help a teacher with a lesson on California! It even includes the words to the state song! After reading this book, I was able to expand on it by pulling up more California facts online! My son loved it and got really into it! The illustrations were fun and colorful, the book was easy to read and understand.

Review from my five year old son-"I learned alot about California symbols, like the grey whale and the state capitol! It was cool and had nice pictures!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Friday, May 17, 2013

Undercover Angel



Undercover Angel by Cynthia Rutledge

A drug problem in high school? Hard to believe, I know, but  in this school, this is not just an ordinary drug problem, this is a HUGE drug problem. Angel goes undercover posing as a student so she can earn the trust of the students and staff and get the insight. All signs point to teacher and coach Jake Weston but as Angel gets to know him she does not believe he is the one behind the drugs. Can Angel find out who is behind the meth ring or will her heart get in her way?

A RL friend recommended this book to me as one she used to love, so I was dying to read it and I am very happy I did!!!

I was intrigued from page one. The fact that a student was behaving that way.......  well, I had to find out why, so from the first page through the last, I did not want put this book down.  It was entertaining, fun and captivating! When I had to put this book down to go to work, I could not stop thinking about it, I wanted it to be lunch time so I could finish reading it!

Due to it being a Christian book, there was no sex or "real" romance scenes that you generally see in a romance book. God was talked about but not obsessively. It really focuses on forgiveness and how important that is. This book was a good reminder of how and WHY you should forgive others as well as yourself. I love how the characters in this book show ways to forgive and they go through real ups and downs with it and do not act like it is easy to do.

All in all, this was a great read! Thank you to Dana for recommending this book!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Tib & Tumtum, Welcome To The Tribe



Tib & Tumtum, Welcome To The Tribe by Grimaldi, Illustrated by Bannister

Description from the publisher:

"The kids in Tib's tribe are so mean! They always make fun of Tib's birthmark. But one day Tib meets a new friend in the forest. This friend doesn't mind the birthmark. In fact, he has one too! He also has razor sharp teeth! 

Of course, no one believes Tib when he says he's found a real, live dinosaur. Dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago! How can Tib convince his tribe that his "imaginary friend" isn’t so imaginary after all?"


This comic style book has lots of little valuable lessons in it. They are not overwhelming and I was easily able to expand on them for my son so he was able to get more out of it and it pertained more to his everyday life.  The pictures are very bright and colorful and the characters are believable.

Review from my five year old son- "This book is cool cuz it has a dinosaur and I love dinosaurs and the pictures look really cool too!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Waiting For Dead Men's Shoes



Waiting For Dead Men's Shoes , A Mini Monroe Comic Mystery by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Description from the publisher:
"Underachiever Minette "Mini" Monroe has long dreamt of how much better life would be if only she were in charge of the world, said world being the independent bookstore in Westport, CT, where she's worked for the past half dozen years. After her beloved boss Colin Quimby is murdered, Mini gets her wish and also gets a chance to solve the case, aided by hot young Officer Michael "Mickey" Maus. Despite his unfortunate nickname - would any woman really voluntarily become part of Mini and Mickey Maus? - Mini takes a shine to him, but there's no real time for romance, not when Mini has her hands full dealing with Colin's viper's nest full of ex-wives, offspring, former business partners and current business rivals, all of whom had good reason to want to see Colin dead. Who will turn out to be the guilty party? The only way to find out is to read WAITING FOR DEAD MEN'S SHOES, a madcap comedic novel that proves that the Shakespeare Unabridged Globe and the Oxford English Dictionary are still a girl's best weapons."

I LOVE the cover of this book! It is colorful and fun and caught my attention. That being said, I had a hard time getting into the story. Once I got past the first portion of the book, it got better and I was interested to see "who did it" but the beginning was just too much information for me and I found that part to be boring. The end was good and I was a  little surprised. There was some action and of course the details played out in the end.

All in all, it was a good read. I would love to  know your thoughts on this book so please read it and let me know what you think!

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Monday, May 13, 2013

Burly & Grum, Beyond The Forest



Burly & Grum, Beyond The Forest by Kate Tenbeth

Description from the publisher:

"Groblins live deep in the heart of the Great Forest and very few people know they exist.
Despite the fact Grum is only a young groblin his two brothers throw him out of his home and tell him he has to go away and prove that he’s brave before they’ll let him back. Grum decides that the best way to do this is to go and find a human and bring it back home.  Along the way he meets Burlington bear (Burly to his friends),  who takes him under his paw and together they go to town! They soon get into trouble and along the way discover cupcakes, carnivals, kittens and what humans are really all about. But will Grum manage to convince his brothers that he's brave?"
This book was cute and different. The story line was good but quite long. Sadly I was not impressed with it but I am not big on make believe animals and this story was just too strange for me. I am sure other people would like it though so do not take my word for it, read it for yourself and let me know what you think!
Review from my five year old son-"This book was boring but some parts were funny and there were not very many pictures."
***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Sunday Post




The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  is a chance to share news,  A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news on what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

This week I have been working more at both jobs, did some spring cleaning around the house, took an unexpected 2 days trip out of town and surprisingly managed to read MORE this week. WOOT! LOL.

Last week I read and reviewed:


Isle Of Mystery, Eyes of The King by JZ Bingham. Illustrated by Curt  Walstead








The Sky Beneath My  Feet by Lisa Samson










Gansevort, The King and His Court by Jz Bingham, Illustrated by Curt Walstead







Though My Heart Is Torn by Joanne Bischoff










The Bramble by Lee Nordling and Bruce Zick











Next week I hope to read:

We Love California by Gabriella Francine










Burley & Grum, Beyond The Forest










Wedding Cakes and Big Mistakes by Nancy Naigle











I hope to read more than those by those are my goals! I hope you all have a great and fun week!!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Bramble



The Bramble by Lee Nordling and Bruce Zick

From the publisher- "In this beautifully illustrated and mostly wordless book, Cameron isn't small, but he's not exactly big. He's not slow, but he's also not quick. He wants friends, but it never quite seems to work out. And in a game of tag, he's going to end up "it." Or at least that's how things are on this side of the Bramble. On the other side, it's a different story. On the other side of the Bramble, something extraordinary can happen, something that changes everything."

This book is different than most. It is set up like a comic book but does not have words.  Without words it was a little difficult for us  to follow the story. A creative person would probably love this book as they can interpret it however they want too. I am sure a teacher can do the same to make it fit in with his or her lesson plans.

Review from my five year old son-"This book is not so good. The pictures are very scary!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review.***

Friday, May 10, 2013

Though My Heart Is Torn



Though My Heart Is Torn by Joanne Bischof

Description:
   "Settling into a simple life in the majestic Blue Ridge mountains, Lonnie and Gideon O’Riley have finally found happiness after the rocky start to their marriage. The roguish bluegrass musician has fallen in love with his gentle wife and the God she serves, and Lonnie rests secure in his tenderness for her and their young son. A heartless ruse interupts their peace, bringing them back to Rocky Knob—and forces them to face the claims of Cassie Allan, a woman who says she is Gideon’s rightful wife."

This book is far from  my typical choice and I was pleasantly surprised. I was hooked in the first chapter and could not put it down. I found myself desperate to read the next page to see what happened to Lonnie and Gideon. 


Joanne Bischof did an amazing job writing this in my opinion. There were several scenes that felt SOOO real, I felt like I was sitting in the room with these characters and as I read the words, I had tears running down my face.  I could feel EVERY emotion that they felt and I was amazed with this writing. 


I loved the book until the last chapter. Don't worry, I will not give out details but I will say that I felt like it was lacking. It felt unfinished, like there could only be so many pages so it just stopped. I sit here disappointed with the last chapter after the whole book had me totally engaged. Maybe there is another book that picks up where this one left off? I don't know but I will have to look into it.


***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Gansevort, The King and His Court



Gansevort, The King and His Court by Jz Bingham, Illustrated by Curt Walstead

Description from the Publisher:
"Gansevort, The King and His Court is Book 3 in the debut Salty Splashes Collection™ of illustrated fiction for children. Gansevort, the cartoon cast learns, is the name of the island on which they are stranded. Having made a new friend, they enjoy a warm campfire and learn about the memorable King of Gansevort and his disdain for visitors. Their plan to sail home in the morning is thwarted by an unexpected meeting with the King's tribe. The cast rallies together to devise a clever and comical plan to escape King Gansevort's Court and its punishment for their crime of Trespassing. Will their plan work, and how will they get back home?"

The third book in this series is just as good as the first two. The story line is cute. The friends all work together to get away from the  king. The pictures are brilliant as usual and they really pop off the pages.

I would love to own a copy of all three of the books in this series so my son and I may be taking a trip to the store soon! Hats off to the author and illustrator of these books! You are amazing!!!

Review from my five year old son-" I liked this book alot! All three of these books were so awesome! I want to read them again!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Sky Beneath My Feet



The Sky Beneath My  Feet by Lisa Samson

Have you ever been lost and confused with your life and where it was heading? Have you ever questioned your spouse and his or her decisions? Have you ever had problems with your child that you did not know how  to handle?

In this book Beth is a Pastor's wife. Her husband Rick is struggling to make a tough life decision and goes to extreme measures to talk to, and hear God. When he abandons his family ad locks himself in the shed, his family struggles to understand and keep moving forward.

I found myself sympathizing with Beth as she struggles with her own identity. She does so much for other people  and feels as though everyone is watching her (she IS the pastor's wife after all). Her struggles are real and many of us have been through similar situations.

I found this to be a good book. Parts were slow and other parts were intriguing. I found myself reading faster to see if Rick ever came out of the shed. The end was pretty expected in my opinion. Since this  book revolves around a pastor and his wife, there is quite a bit of religious talk but it is not overwhelming.

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Isle Of Mystery, Eyes of The King



Isle Of Mystery, Eyes of The King by JZ Bingham. Illustrated by Curt  Walstead

Description from the publisher
"Isle of Mystery, Eyes of The King is Book 2 in the debut Salty Splashes Collection™ of illustrated fiction for children. Isle of Mystery finds the cartoon cast washed up on a seemingly deserted island, welcomed by an old and eerie No Trespassing sign. Excited by adventure, they bravely set out to explore the isle and try to find a place to camp before dark. On the way, they have comical encounters with a host of island denizens with spooky yellow eyes. Undaunted by these detours, they finally make a friend and discover the mystery of the Eyes of The King; but can they make camp before dark?"

This book was adorable. Not as good as the first on, but still cute. I liked that the animals showed teamwork as they tried to survive and came together as they were scared. The last few pages were the best because they were all together and laughing. I would read this to my class of young children.

The pictures were vibrant and seemed to pop right off the pages. Some of the animals were a little scary looking but all in all, it was a great book. 

Review from my five year old son-"The bats were scary but the rest was a very good book!"

***This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review***

Sunday, May 5, 2013

The Sunday Post




The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer  is a chance to share news,  A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news on what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

I GOT TO READ THIS WEEK!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! LOL.

So this week has been busy but I have still been able to read! Score!!!! 

Last week I finished and reviewed the following:

~Speeding Down The Spiral by Deborah Goodman Davis

~Cropped To Death by Christina Freeburn

~ Dreamy Drums, Trouble In Paradise by JZ Bingham

I also joined The Clean Sweep ARC Challenge and I am VERY excited about it. I have added quite a few review books for myself AND for Max so we are having fun!!! If you want to join us Click here for the rules and details.








This week I plan to read and review the following:

I did not get the chance to read this one last week so I added it to this week.


The Sky Beneath My Feet by Lisa Samson










Max and I will read and review the following:

Isle of Mystery by JZ Bingham








Gansevort by JZ Bingham