The Get It Together Planner by Ink & Willow

Each year around this time, many people begin looking for a perfect planner for the new year. Did you know that Ink & Willow published a planner this year? The Get It Together Planner came out in June 2021 and might be the product you've been looking for to get your day organized!

This planner is an undated 52-week planner, so you can start whenever you'd like, and it also includes wonderful tools to help keep you organized during your week like:

 A Yearly Calendar for 2021-2026, A Vision Board, Evaluation Page for the Past Year, Stickers, Budget Tracker and Menu Planner

 

This shows the end of the year evaluation page and how each monthly page looks throughout the planner. Below the calendar, there is space to list what your goals are for these categories: Family, Wellness, Relationship Health, Work, Emotional Health, Spiritual Growth and Special Projects.

 This is the menu planner that is included for each month. I thought this was a great addition to this planner. I love the layout and the ability to plan a whole month's worth of meals!

 This is the weekly part of the planner. There is plenty of room to write in the columns for each day, and along the sides there are additional features for tracking daily habits like: prayer, Bible reading, water and recharging. There are also 4 non-titled sections for you to add your own daily habits.

 

 There are stickers included in the back of the book to use in your planner. This is the only part that I really was kind of disappointed about. As you can see in the final picture I added below, one of the sticker didn't remove very cleanly from the page. I  only removed the month stickers, so I'm not sure if it would happen on any of the others. The stickers didn't seem like they were very high quality.

 

Stickers aside... overall, I thought this was a great product and well laid out. I was impressed with the quality of the paper, and the planning tools they have included to help get you organized for the year. So if you're looking for a new planner for this coming year, check out Ink & Willow's planner and see if it just might be a good fit for you!

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

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin

The Christmas season is almost upon on us; although, I must say, for some of my friends, it is already in full swing. What better way to enjoy this fun, holiday season than by picking up a new, Christmas book to enjoy reading on these cold, winter nights! Lynn Austin's first Christmas book has released! It's a novella that continues the story she wrote in her book published last year called If I Were You. (You can check out my review of that book by clicking on this link.) This sweet story between two friends has some more unexpected twists and turns coming up ahead.

From the Back Cover:

A nostalgic and charming tale that evokes the wonder and miracle of Christmas

Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson can't wait to celebrate Christmas in postwar America. They are thrilled about starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons, even daring to hope there might be fresh beginnings for both of them, too. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize their most task is teaching them the true meaning of the holiday by giving presents, not just asking for them. 

The heartwarming tale that unfolds reminds us all that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and often don't deserve.

 My Thoughts:

What a lovely Christmas story Lynn has written. She has penned a story that will bring back the nostalgia of 1951.  The author gives us a glimpse of the life Audrey and Eve have carved out for themselves and their sweet boys. All seems well and cheery, but deep down both women have past hurts and regrets they need to forgive and surrender over to God. And it seems as though, two little boys have a lesson to learn, too. I love how each character changes throughout the story, and how the story makes the reader pause to remember the greatest gift ever given to us... Jesus! This book is a delight, so pick one up for your Christmas reading this season!

 Rating: ★★★★★

About the Author:

I’m often asked if I’ve always wanted to be a writer. The short answer is, “No.” I was never the type of kid who always had her nose in a book or who wrote stories in her journal every night by lamplight. I was too busy living in my imagination all day like the little boy with the stuffed tiger in the cartoon “Calvin and Hobbes.” I would imagine wild, dramatic stories wherever I went.

After attending Hope College in Holland, Michigan for three years, I married my husband Ken, and completed my degree in psychology at Southern Connecticut State University. Then we set off on a real-life adventure, living in Bogota, Colombia for two years where I taught 4th grade in a Colombian school and Ken performed in the symphony orchestra. With no TV and plenty of time to read, I became an avid reader for the first time in my life. That’s when I began to dream of writing the kind of books I loved—books that made me laugh, made me cry, and made me think.

The demands of our growing family postponed my writing career until Ken’s work took us to Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was during those long Canadian winters at home with my children that I finally started carving out a few hours of writing time each day while they napped. The moment I started writing, I discovered how much fun it was to use my imagination again and create wonderful characters and stories. I was hooked! As my children grew, I returned to teaching and learned to squeeze in writing time amid the busyness of family life. For eleven years, I studied how to craft good fiction, and endured all the ups and downs of trying to get published. My first novel was finally published in 1995—and it was the same book I had started writing during naptime: Gods and Kings. It evolved into a five-book series, Chronicles of the Kings.

While researching this series, I had a chance to pursue one of my “bucket list” dreams, volunteering on an archaeological dig. My son Joshua and I traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in a month-long dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience not only provided background information for the Chronicles, it also inspired my novel Wings of Refuge.

In 1992 I decided it was time to resign from teaching to write full-time. Since then I’ve published twenty-three novels and one non-fiction book, Pilgrimage: My Journey to a Deeper Faith in the Land Where Jesus Walked. Eight of my novels have won Christy Awards for excellence in Christian Fiction, and I was honored to be named to the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2013. Fire by Night was one of only five inspirational novels chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. My novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. She received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.

Our children are now grown and I’m experiencing the joy of grandchildren. Ken and I live in Western Michigan where the woods and beaches of Lake Michigan inspire me every day.

 Check out her website: https://lynnaustin.org/

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

The Whole Bible Story (Young Reader's Edition) by Dr. William H. Marty and Troy Schmidt

 

As a parent, I like to check out the new Bible resources for my kids from christian publishing houses. Bethany House has just published this new young reader's edition of Dr. William H. Marty's book The Whole Bible Story: Everything That Happens in the Bible.

From the Back Cover:

From Genesis . . .
"In the beginning, God created everything out of nothing."

What do all the Bible stories actually mean?
Will the Bible be too boring for me?
Why is the Bible so long?

Have you ever asked--or been too embarrassed to ask--any of these questions? This young reader's edition of The Whole Bible Story will help you understand what the stories in the Bible are actually all about and how every single one of them fits together to tell one big story about God and his love for people--including you!

Along with the story of the Bible in words you can easily understand, in every chapter you will find great bonus material like exciting illustrations, fun facts and trivia about the Bible stories, simple lists of important characters and places, and easy-to-follow ways to apply the themes to your own life.

After reading The Whole Bible Story, you will understand what's so exciting about the Bible and why God's Word matters to you!

. . . to Revelation
"God has all of history-- past, present, future-- in his hands."

My Thoughts:

Like the title says, this book is the young reader's edition of Dr. Marty's book The Whole Bible Story which was written back in 2011 for adults. This book gives a concise overview of the whole Bible in 19 chapters with a total of three hundred pages. It is for kids ages 9-12 years of age. Each chapter has a Who's Who section that tells all of the main characters for the chapter, a Where are We? section that lists all the main places covered during the chapter, and an Interesting Stuff section that lists interesting facts to know before you read the chapter. The chapter ends with a What's the Point? section that wraps-up the main thoughts from the chapter.

There were things I liked about this book and some that I was not thrilled about. First, I liked the fact that the book gives an overview and lays out all the history of Israel for kids in a way that they can understand. I especially enjoyed this with Israel's kings for the northern and southern kingdoms. With so many changes of leadership, it was great to have it all laid out in order.

Now for the things I didn't like... I understand that this book is for 4th thru 6th graders, but I don't believe making the Bible "hip and modern" will draw kids in much more than just telling what the Bible says. 

For example:  In the Who's Who section for the chapter--From Creation to Babel, 

"God (the Lord)--God creates the world and then his people go and mess it all up

Adam and Eve--the first couple ever created; they run around naked

Satan--he shows up and ruins all the fun

Cain and Abel--two brothers who brought new meaning to 'sibling rivalry'

Noah--the guy who made the first cruise ship... for animals" (p. 7)

I was not impressed with the "funny." I guess when it comes to God's Word, I believe that we should show respect not add to the disrespect that is already prevalent in our culture. I'm all for humor, but not something that borders on irreverent.  

Another issue I had with this book was the writing made it seem like God was caught unaware of what was about to happen, or that He didn't know that beginning from the end. In the story about when Adam and Eve sinned against God and hid from Him, this is what the book said:

 "God showed up, wanting to see his favorite creations, and wondered where everyone was." (p. 11) 

It's subtle, but God never wondered where they were. He is all-knowing and knew exactly what they had done and where they were. One more example is from the times of the kings. On page 157, the author writes this about the evil king Manasseh. 

"Manasseh even sacrificed his own son to a god and talked to astrologers and people who claimed they talked to the dead. He shed so much innocent blood, God couldn't wait to get him off the throne." (p. 157)

It almost implies that God's hands were tied until Manasseh died and then finally He could get someone else on the throne of Israel. I don't know about you, but I don't want my kids to see anything except that God always has a plan, and His plan is always accomplished. Was He pleased with Manasseh's evil deeds? No, but Manasseh was on the throne to accomplish what God had plan for Israel. 

I think I've probably said enough. The way Scripture is handled matters a great deal to me. And while there were a few things I liked about the material, there was far more that I disliked. So, I would not recommend this book to others.

Rating: ★

 

About the Author:

Dr. William H. Marty

Dr. William H. Marty has taught at Moody Bible Institute for 40 years. His main emphasis has been teaching an Old and New Testament survey to freshman at the Chicago campus, and the fruit of his focus on teaching the storyline of the Bible has been published in The Whole Bible Story. Dr. Marty has also written The World of Jesus and The Jesus Story and coauthored A Quick-Start Guide to the Whole Bible. Bill lives in Chicago with his wife, Linda, and they have two children and two grandchildren. Bill is an active triathlete and has competed at the national and international levels.

 

 

 

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

Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund (Series: Waters of Time Bk. 1)

 This new series from Jody Hedlund, Waters of Time, is quite the tale. Mystical water, realistic visions, dangerous men and the reality of possible death await you in Jody's exciting, first book, Come Back to Me.

From the Back Cover:

The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That’s exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father’s obsession, even if it does come from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, all of Marian’s assumptions must be questioned. He’s left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he’s crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories herself and experiences strange visions of medieval times.

With the help of one of her father’s colleagues, Marian discovers that she is not the only one interested in his research. Stalking, break-ins, and a kidnapping convince her that she must take the plunge and follow her father back to the 1380s or risk losing him—and her sister—forever.

My Thoughts:

This book was unlike most I have read. The thought that mystical water could somehow transport the mind back centuries to see visions of the past is a unique story line.  I thought it was well written and took readers in a direction they definitely wouldn't expect. The characters are interesting as you learn more and more about each one of them as the story unfolds. The mystery of who is trying to sabotage Marian's father's work definitely increases the intensity of the story, and the author does a good job at keeping you guessing as to who is the real threat. It'll be interesting to see where this story goes in the following book. 

Here's a fun book trailer that Revell published for Jody's book.

 

Rating: ★★★★

 

About the Author:

Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

You can find Jody's website by clicking here!

 

 

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

Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Amant

 

A new contemporary romance has released by author Betsy St. Amant. This is the first book I've read by her, and it was a fun introduction to her writing style. Tacos for Two has a hallmark-like romance that leads your heart along hoping for that fantastic happy ending. 

From the Back Cover:

Food truck owner Rory Perez may not be able to cook, but she's determined to keep the family business out of the red. An upcoming contest during a food truck festival seems like the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her solid financial footing, freeing up her time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father's law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. If he loses the contest, he'll be back at the law firm for good, so failure is not an option.

But things are about to get... complicated. Rory's chef gets mono, forcing her to cook after all. And Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online. Will they sacrifice the futures they've envisioned for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

My Thoughts:

I have always had a soft spot for the movie You've Got Mail.  My husband and I met overseas and then dated by writing many emails back and forth. So, You've Got Mail was one of the first movies we owned when we tied the knot about a year after we met. Tacos for Two has references to this movie all throughout the story. It was fun recognizing all the famous quotes from You've Got Mail as they came up in the novel. 

Like in so many romances, misunderstanding seems to be the theme for this book. Jude Strong's family is well-known in the community for being quite wealthy, and Rory Perez has to scrimp and save for everything. These two seem to have some assumptions about each other as they interact. Will they let these assumptions cloud their view of each other, or will they stop long enough to see the other person for who they really are?

If you're looking for a hallmark movie romance, make sure to pick up Tacos for Two, and enjoy a relaxing evening with a fun read.

Rating:  ★★★★

About the Author:

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over fifteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hero of a hubby, two total-opposite young daughters, a vast collection of coffee mugs, and an impressive stash of Pickle chips. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she’s not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha–no whip. She blogs frequently at www.ibelieve.com, a devotional site for women.

Betsy is proud to be represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency.

 

 

 

***I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.