How to Be a Courageous Girl of God: An Interactive Journal Inspired by Extraordinary Women of Faith

Barbour Publishing has just released this new devotional for girls ages 8-12 called, How to Be a Courageous Girl of God: An Interactive Journal Inspired by Extraordinary Women of Faith.

From the Back Cover:
YOU CAN BE A COURAGEOUS GIRL! Yes... YOU!
Featuring brief descriptions of dozens of Bible women, you'll be inspired to become courageous too, as you learn from the examples of strong women of faith--including:
Abigail
Anna
Deborah
Dorcas
Elizabeth
Mary
and dozens more!

Each section will prompt you to read the complete story in your own Bible; draw a related picture; journal your thoughts about courageous women of the Bible; and think about how you can be a courageous girl too!
With each turn of the page, you'll be inspired to live out your very own courageous story!

My Thoughts:

This devotional has 35 different examples that are given of courageous women who followed God. I liked that each character has the scripture for your child to look up on their own and read the section from their Bible. The brief descriptions of the characters are just that.. very brief. This devotional is more about getting your child to read and comprehend what the Bible is teaching on their own than someone telling them what to think about the passage. I like how they encourage different outlets of learning with including drawing along with journaling.

The journaling section has plenty of room for your child to write their thoughts about what was read, and a writing prompt is given at that top of the page asking why that particular character was courageous. The following page encourages them to apply what the have learned to their own lives by how they too can be courageous like the character in their own lives.

This last page of the section gives a scripture verse that sums up what was learned about the character and gives more journal space for your child to write about how this verse would apply.

Overall, I think the idea is good in trying to help young girls to not only read the Bible stories but to ask the question, how can I apply the godly principles I see here in this character's life to my life? However, I would also encourage my child to not only look at the story of the person, but to first see what the passage is teaching them about God. This is the whole purpose of the Word of God. It reveals our God to us. I wish that would be more of the primary focus instead of the focus being on how to be like the people in the story.
One other thing I didn't feel was a good choice, was that this devotional does include Noah's wife as a courageous example and makes assumptions about her since not much is said in scripture about her. I don't think such an obscure character should of been included.
But, in conclusion,  I think this devotional is on the right track in trying to get tween girls to think for themselves and to study Scripture. And would recommend it along with parental involvement!

My Rating: ★★★★

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under not obligation to post a review.

The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse (The Daughters of the Mayflower series, book 9)

The Daughters of the Mayflower series is back with it's newest addition, The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.  This is the ninth book in the series, and takes readers on a trip out west to when the Pony Express was the fastest way to get your mail.

From the Back Cover:
In 1860 Utah Territory, after her father's death, Jacqueline Rivers becomes manager of a home station for the Pony Express as well as a way station for the stagecoach line. There are daily stresses placed on her in this unconventional role as she cooks and cares for a ragtag crew of young men who have become her family--and now a government official is asking her to sniff out counterfeiters.
When Elijah Johnson passes through from Saint Louis on the stage, while on an exhausting quest to find his boss's heir, he doesn't want to leave the beguiling station manager. In fact, he may never leave when caught in the crossfire of the territory's criminal activities.
Jackie can't decide whom to trust when trouble lurks around every corner. Can she remain strong when secrets of the past and present are finally unearthed?

My Thoughts:
This whole series has been so interesting to read as it moves throughout American history, and this newest addition is just as great! I thought this was a fun story that brought the history of the Pony Express to life and gave the reader an idea of what it would of been like to be a part of a way station in the year 1860. I never thought about the logistics of making something like this work especially with their horses needing to be changed out so often in order for them to ride hard and fast! The characters are charming, and I love Jackie's spunk and determined nature to keep the station going after her father's death. The story was told at a good pace that engages the reader and keeps their interest all the way to the last page.  So if you're looking for a little mystery, suspense and romance, make sure to pick up The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse!

My Rating: ★★★★

Watch for the next books coming soon!
#10 The Rebel Bride (1863--The Civil War) by Shannon McNear coming December 2019, and
#11 The Blizzard Bride (1888--Children's Blizzard) by Susan Dietze coming February 2020

***I received this complimentary book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky (McAlister Family #1)

Have you ever heard of the British re-homing children across the ocean to Canada? I had never heard of this until reading this book by Carrie Turansky. No Ocean Too Wide is a story based on historical events during the late 1800's and into the early 1900's.


From the Back Cover:
Between the years of 1869 and 1939, more than one hundred thousand impoverished British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household servants were told the children were orphans--but was that the truth?

After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while the oldest, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and seven-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans' home before Laura is notified about  her family's unfortunate turn of events. With hundreds of British children being sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.
Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?
Inspired by historical events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God."

My Thoughts:
I love history and books like this one bring history to life! I had never heard of the orphan ships that traveled from Britain to Canada, so this story was eye opening for me. My heart-strings were tugged as I fell in love with the characters and followed their story across the ocean and into a broken system that had let them down. Laura is willing to care for her siblings, but she is blocked every way she turns. This story is heartbreaking, and there is child abuse mentioned so be forewarned about that if you are triggered by such events. I also wasn't expecting this book to be the beginning of the series, so i was a little surprised it ended without wrapping up the McAlister's story. Overall, I think it's a good story and one that should be told for all of those families that were affected by these historical events. This story is going to be continued in the next book coming out in 2020. I really wished the author would of put a section in the back of the book to let the reader know what is fact and was is fiction.

Check out the Book Trailer!


 

My Rating: ★★★★

***I received this complimentary book from Waterbrook & Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Teen to Teen 2019-2020 Academic Planner by B&H Publishing Group

It's hard to believe that we are half-way through summer and the new school year is only about a month away! With that in mind, I know that my 6th grader will be needing a new planner that she can use to keep herself organized in middle school. And this year, B&H Publishing has just released a new Academic Planner for the 2019-2020 school year just for teens!


From the Back Cover:
The Teen to Teen Academic Planner, with its clean design and lay-flat pages, provides generous space for capturing your assignments and keeping you organized with monthly and weekly spreads. Keep an eye on the big picture with a weekly top-three checklist and gratitude sections. Be inspired with encouraging Scriptures and quotes from the bestselling Teen to Teen devotionals. Allow the Teen to Teen Academic Planner to free you from the stress of the details.


My Thoughts:

The gray cover is a great neutral design that is good for either guys or girls. This academic planner reminded me a lot of my bullet journal since it includes a year in view, and a Dates to Remember (future log).

 There is also a weekly schedule and semester planner for Fall and Spring. 

Each month has a full 2 page calendar, and weekly pages to write out assignments. This is where the week's Top Three and Gratitude sections are located.


All throughout the planner you will find quotes taken from Teen to Teen: 365 Daily Devotions for Girls and Teen to Teen: 365 Daily Devotions for Boys.

Overall, I think it's a wonderful planner that will be very useful for my tween daughter. If you're looking for a planner for this up coming school year, check out this new one from B&H Publishing.

You can find this planner with this link for B&H Publishing or this link for Amazon.com.
Both places are currently selling the planner for $12.99.

 ***I received this complimentary Planner from B&H Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Don't Blame the Mud by Marty Machowski

Marty Machowski's newest book, Don't Blame the Mud, is a children's book that addresses the sin living inside each and every one of us. But there is hope because Jesus can make us clean!

From the Back Cover:
Despite his mother's reminder to keep his school clothes clean, Max takes the muddy path home and falls into a mud puddle. He tries to hide hi mistake, but the stain of his disobedience goes deeper than the mud on his clothes.
Don't Blame the Mud by Marty Machowski addresses the nature of temptation and sin, pointing to Jesus--the only one to wash us clean.

My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed reading through Marty Machowski's books. They are full of sound, biblical advice for working with children and teaching them the truth of God's Word. I liked the concept of this book. Mud is something that kids can comprehend because they have experienced it. And taking that experience and putting it into this story, was a great way for kids to identify with the idea of being soiled with sin. I also liked how even after the mud was cleaned off of the child, the child identified that he still felt dirty inside. From there, Marty moves into the presentation of the gospel and how Jesus is the only one who can clean us on the inside.  Overall, the story is a good teaching tool especially with young kids. This book is pretty straight forward, but probably not one my kids would pick up and read over and over. I wish that after addressing salvation, the author would of talked about how being saved doesn't mean we don't sin anymore. And how we now can come to the Father and confess our sins to keep a right relationship with Him.

My Rating: ★★★

***I received this complimentary book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.