The Berenstain Bears Mother's Day Blessings by Mike Berenstain

Another new Berenstain Bears book, Mother's Day Blessings, has released under the Living Lights, A Faith story edition.  Since Stan and Jan Berenstain's death, their son, Mike, has continued the Berenstain Bear's story, and has released this new book in time for Mother's Day.

In this latest book, Brother and Sister Bear are excited to celebrate Mother's Day, but were having trouble coming up with the perfect surprise for their mom.  With a little help from Papa Bear, Brother and Sister settle on a gift that is not only perfect for Mama Bear, but also for Grizzly Gran too. Throughout the book, Mama Bear helps the cubs to see that there are mothers everywhere and that every cub thinks their mom is the best!

I thought that the book was carried out in the tradition that is expected when you pick up a Berenstain Bears book. The pictures were colorful, and interesting.  The story helps kids to remember that many of the people in their lives are not just their doctor, policewoman, store clerk, etc.  But these people have families of their own and are also mothers.  It's a good reminder for the kids to think about others and not just themselves or their own situations. Mother's Day Blessings is a fun addition to this line of books.

***I received this book free from BookLook Blogger in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Yankee in Atlanta by Jocelyn Green (book 3)

Do you enjoy reading historical fiction novels about the Civil War era?  Then this is the series for you!  Jocelyn Green has a series called Heroines Behind the Lines that is just fabulous.  I just finished her third book, Yankee in Atlanta, and enjoyed every bit of it!  Find out why I think this is a book that need to be a part of your library!

From the Back Cover:
 She hid from her past to find a future--and landed on enemy soil.
When Caitlin McKae woke up in Atlanta, the Georgian doctor believed Caitlin's only secret was that she had been fighting for the South disguised as a man.  In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta as a governess for the daughter of Noah Becker--on the brink of his enlistment with the Rebel army. Though starvation ruled and Sherman raged, could she keep her vow not to run again?

My Review:
 Much like the other books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this third book. Jocelyn does a great job weaving together a believable story that will draw you in and keep you captivated. I liked the characters in her book, and thought that they each demonstrated growth throughout the story. The way Jocelyn portrays all that people went through during the war helped me really understand and imagine what it would of been like to live during that awful time of history. I enjoyed reading her additional notes included at the end of her book stating what was fiction and what was actually from history.  You can tell she does a lot of preparation with the history of her novels, and I really appreciate that. If you're looking for a great series to add to your library, pick up the Heroines Behind the Lines series. You can read my reviews of her other two books by clicking on the titles, Wedded to War (book 1), and Widow of Gettysburg (book 2). Be sure to check back to read my review of her Fourth book in this series, Spy of Richmond!

***I received this book free from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Nourish Your Family's Spiritual Health this Easter

If your family is like most, breakfast is rushed to get everyone out the door. Lunch is spent at school or work. So where does that leave dinner? Nourish your family's spiritual health as you eat supper together. Adventures in Odyssey and Odyssey Adventure Club want to give you a free resource to help you begin your new dinner tradition of making the most of your family mealtime, beginning this Easter season. Simply head to this page and fill out the form to receive a free sample of Whit's End Mealtime Devotions.

 

Want new resources to continue to build your family's faith, even after Easter is over? Consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.

Behold the Man (book 3) by Bodie & Brock Thoene

The third book of the Jerusalem Chronicles series by Bodie and  Brock Thoene is out!  Behold the Man continues the story of Jesus as He lives out his last days on the Earth. This story is told from the viewpoint of the Romans rather than the Jews.  When Pilate makes a mistake, he is given another chance to further his career by being made the Governor over Judea.  But when the prophet from Nazareth becomes a problem for the High Priest and other religious rulers, Pilate may have more problems that could derail his quest to redeem his career.

Like Bodie and Brock's other books in this series, I thoroughly
enjoyed reading through this book.   The story takes a view of how things would of been seen through the Roman's eyes as the events unfold surrounding this prophet from Nazareth called Jesus.  It was so enlightening to feel through the author's words the political turmoil that was brewing among the people during this time of history.  It makes the scene of Jesus' triumphal entry much more vivid in my mind as I can understand the enormous expectation of the people to have someone save them from Rome.  Many times while reading through these stories we just read the facts of what happened, and forget that these were real people just like us living out their lives.  I enjoyed imagining what it would of been like to live as Jesus was walking the Earth. This novel certainly will make you think twice as you read through the story of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection for the Easter season.  

You can read my review of the the first two book in this series by clicking on the following titles: When Jesus Wept, and Take This Cup.

***I received this free book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Playing the Part by Jen Turano (book 3)

Do you like humorous stories?  Then this book is right up your alley!  Jen Turano's third book in her A Class of Their Own series has just released.  Playing the Part is sure to make you laugh and keep you entertained!  Find out below why this book should be added to your library.

About the book:

Playing the Part (Bethany House, March 2016)

Can they accept who they are behind the parts they play in time to save the day?

Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but is forced to abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucetta's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, is delighted at the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to her grandson's estate to hide out.

Bram Haverstein may appear to simply be a somewhat eccentric gentleman of means, but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows.

Lucetta, who has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, has the best intentions of remaining cordial but coolly distant to Bram. But when she can't ignore the strange and mysterious things going on in his house, it'll take more than good intentions to keep her from trying to discover who Bram is behind the part he plays.

My Review:

Jen Turano has a knack for telling some pretty funny stories that will have you smiling from ear to ear as you are reading.  I loved reading this book.  It was delightful and entertaining.  The main character, Lucetta Plum, has a great personality that makes the story come alive and hold your interest. I really had a hard time putting this book down. Of course, Miss Abigail is still up to her matchmaking schemes in this book too trying really hard to "help" Lucetta with her love life.  And the mysterious Bram Haverstein adds a fun twist in this story.  If you're looking for a fun series, pick up Jen Turano's books.  They'll give you a good laugh and bring a smile to your face. 

You can read my other review of Jen Turano's second book in this series, In Good Company, by clicking here. If you'd like to see what others are saying about Jen's new book, head over to the blog tour by clicking here.

***I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1RQM4QD

About the author:

Jen Turano, author of the Ladies of Distinction series and the A Class of Their Own series, is a graduate of the University of Akron. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado.

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Easter Devotions and Activities for Your Whole Family

 

We're down to the final two weeks before we celebrate Easter and Jesus' resurrection. Do your children understand and grasp the full meaning of why we celebrate the holiday? Adventures in Odyssey and Odyssey Adventure Club want to provide your family with a week of meaningful, fun Easter activities to help make the holiday come alive this year. Simply head to this page and sign up to download your free PDF full of family devotions, egg wraps, recipes, crafts, and cards. Oh, and as a bonus, here's a free activity sheet from Focus on the Family!

 

If you're looking to dig into the Easter holiday more and want to build your kids' faith, consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.

And It Was Beautiful by Kara Tippetts

Are you going through your own hard season right now? You know, the kind that brings you down to your knees and has you wondering if there is any end in sight?  Kara Tippetts went through her own hard season, and instead of hiding in the midst of her pain, she opened up her life to the world through her blog, Mundane Faithfulness. This book is her story.  So take some time to read the info below and find out why you should pick up this book as your next read.


About the book:

And It Was Beautiful: Celebrating Life in the Midst of the Long Good-Bye (David C Cook, March 2016)

"I was here. I saw beauty. I embraced it." -Kara Tippetts

How do you live out extravagant love in the everyday moments? How do you celebrate grace when your life turns out differently than the one you dreamed?

Kara Tippetts discovered how to find joy in the small moments of life. She learned how to hold tight to hope even while battling intense physical and emotional pain. And she lived out the truth that God can redeem any story.

In her final book, Kara offers gentle reflections on living and dying well. She invites us to cultivate soft hearts even when we face great disappointment. Her ideas for living are hard-won, wrestled with in the crucible of family, illness, and faith. And her constant reminder is that whether we are in the midst of dark days or mundane moments Jesus is always there, life is surprisingly beautiful, and God is forever good.

My Review:

This book is filled with Kara Tippett's blog posts from her blog, Mundane Faithfulness.  Her story is beautiful and touching, and Kara is open and honest about her journey through this disease called cancer. I found her book refreshing. This book is a great one for those walking a dark road through disease and loss.  It's encouraging to find that we are not alone in our journey of suffering, and that the only way to endure it, is to fix our eyes on Jesus.  Make sure to have some kleenex handy as some of the posts had me tearing up.  Kara was one who pointed others to Jesus, and she encouraged others to do the same.  I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who is struggling as they face the unknown of hardship in their life. And if you haven't already, make sure to pick up Kara's other books, The Hardest Peace and Just Show Up.  They are definitely books that should be on everyone's bookshelf!
Click here to find out what others are saying about this book on the blog tour!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1QVAvgz

  

About the author:

Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and the co-author of Just Show Up. She blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, has been parenting their four children and leading the church the couple founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

***I received this free book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Walk Through Holy Week with Odyssey Adventure Club

 

The Bible is no doubt a timeless book, but often it's seen by the younger generation as ancient and antiquated. How can we make the stories of the Bible—particularly the Easter story—alive and exciting for our children? Adventures in Odyssey has created a free activity kit for families to experience the Easter story brought to life through eight days of Christ-centered and fun activities. Click here to sign up and download the kit for free.

 

If you're looking to bring the Bible to life further during the Easter season, consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.

Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey

Do you enjoy murder mysteries with a little romance thrown in? Then make sure to check out this newest series by Dani Pettrey, Chesapeake Valor. This first book, Cold Shot, was a thrilling read to say the least.  Read below to find out what made this book so great!

From the Back Cover:

Four best friends, and then one went missing...
In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out.  Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore Police Department, Declan Grey would head to the FBI, and Parker Mitchell would study to become a crime scene analyst.  But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world--and friendships--crumbled.
Now years later, Griffin has left the police and his friendships behind.  Still trying to forget a case that went bad when he was a SWAT team sniper, he's living a quiet life as a park ranger at Gettysburg.  Quiet until skeletal remains are uncovered near Little Round Top--and they aren't Civil War-era.
Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott discovers evidence pointing to the work of an expert sniper.  When FBI agent Declan Grey steps in to take over the case, past and present collide.  Griffin soon realizes he'll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he--and those he cares about--are going to escape a downward spiral of crime, danger, and murder.

My Review:
I was thrilled to be able to get my hands on Dani Pettrey's newest book.  I loved her Alaskan Courage series and was looking forward to reading Cold Shot.  This newest series is just as exciting and is a thrilling adventure from cover to cover. I like how she gradually introduces you to each character not telling their whole story right up front.  It's like pieces of a puzzle that come together gradually and finally at the end you see the whole picture.  Although, this book has surely added mysteries that aren't solved in this first book and will lead to the next 3 books.  I appreciated the way the author communicated the faith of her characters. It was not forced, but seemed very natural throughout the book.  I enjoyed reading about the characters in this first book, and look forward to continuing their stories in the books to come.

***I received this free book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Spring into Faith and Fun with the Odyssey Adventure Club!

Are you looking for some fun crafts, recipes or stories as you celebrate the Easter season that point your little ones to Jesus?  Odyssey Adventure Club has some fun freebies for your family to enjoy.

Click Here to access crafts, recipes and more.
Click here to print out a craft project and make your own palm branch.



If you're looking to bring the Bible to life further during the Easter season, consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.