Tag Archives: Family

#BookReview: Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate

1 Aug


Tending Roses is a tender and touching tale! Wingate deftly portrays the emotions of motherhood and the intricacies of family ties as Kate’s story unfolds. The entire cast of characters comes to life, but none more so to me than Grandma Rose. Her journey tugged at my heartstrings, and my emotions were stirred by the stories she shared and the wisdom found within her words. Tending Roses holds a special place on my keeper shelf and is a novel I highly recommend!

 

About the book:

When Kate Bowman temporarily moves to her grandmother’s Missouri farm with her husband and baby son, she learns that the lessons that most enrich our lives often come unexpectedly. The family has given Kate the job of convincing Grandma Rose, who’s become increasingly stubborn and forgetful, to move off her beloved land and into a nursing home. But Kate knows such a change would break her grandmother’s heart.

Just when Kate despairs of finding answers, she discovers her grandma’s journal. A beautiful handmade notebook, it is full of stories that celebrate the importance of family, friendship, and faith. Stories that make Kate see her life—and her grandmother—in a completely new way…

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Noelle by Greg Kincaid

10 Nov

Christmas and dogs are the perfect combination for a heartwarming holiday tale, and that’s just what Noelle is. The McCrays and their canine companions are endearing characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed their touching story of “the power of family and the strength and love that comes from our pets.”

Kincaid has penned several books in the A Dog Named Christmas series, all of which I have not read yet. After reading this one, I am eager to go back and read the earlier stories and discover how the McCray’s journey began. A delightful diversion for the holiday season, Noelle will appeal to fans of Christmas stories and Hallmark movies.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

In this installment of the poignant stories of the McCray family and their lovable canines in rural Kansas, matriarch Mary Ann McCray is determined to shake up Christmas by accepting the role as Crossing Trail’s first woman Santa Claus. Mary Ann, always a bit of a rebel, is looking to offer a more progressive voice in the staunchly conservative town at Christmastime and has a few ideas up her red velvet sleeves.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Stepping on Cheerios | $75 Cash Card #Giveaway

23 Jun

 Filled with wit and wisdom, Betsy Singleton Snyder’s tales of parenthood are ones all moms can relate to. I enjoyed the observations found in Stepping on Cheerios, as Snyder shares her thoughts and experiences of finding God and grace amid everyday living. As she says, “Family life is beautiful and motherhood is a privilege, but it ain’t no picnic!” Child-rearing is challenging, and it is great to read stories from one who knows and understands both the blessings and misadventures of motherhood.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.  

 

Join Betsy in celebrating a crazy life of motherhood and her new book by entering to win a $75 Visa cash card!

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of Stepping on Cheerios
  • A $75 Visa cash card

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 27. The winner will be announced June 28 on Betsy’s blog.

 

About the book:

Independent and self-sufficient, author Betsy Singleton Snyder lived a full and busy life as a pastor, missionary, and wife to a husband who served in the U.S. House of Representatives. She had her first child at age 44, then at 47, she found out she was carrying triplets. Suddenly finding herself overwhelmed is an understatement.

Stepping on Cheerios is a collection of funny, warm, and charming tales from the frontlines of parenthood, written for women who are juggling to accomplish everyday feats of work, motherhood, marriage, church, and more. It’s a comical story of one woman’s realization that her crazy life is a gift and how she found the grace in it.

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#BookReview: A Primary Decision by Dr. Kevin Leman and Jeff Nesbit

30 Nov

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A Primary Decision by Dr. Kevin Leman and Jeff Nesbit

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2ggUg4K

The road to power and position is fraught with perils, even for a Worthington.  But Sarah does not intend to lose.

Sarah Worthington never expected to become the US attorney general–at least not this early in her career. Plunged into the vicious vetting process, with all sides digging for secrets in her family closet, she steels herself for the path forward. Nothing will deter her from making her mark on the world in the biggest way possible–even if that means prosecuting the current president of the United States.

Yet powerful forces conspire behind the scenes to take the Worthington family down, and the president orders her to close the investigation. Will she comply? Or turn the tables to pursue her ultimate dream–the US presidency?

 

My thoughts:

The Worthingtons are back and better than ever! Leman and Nesbit masterfully capture the dynamics of this powerful, political family and drama ensues as their long-buried secrets begin to surface. Rife with themes that are relevant and conceivably ripped from the headlines, I loved the intrigue and excitement of this compelling story. A Primary Decision is a page-turning conclusion to The Worthington Destiny series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

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#BookReview: Total Family Makeover | Family Fun Night #Giveaway

3 Oct

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Total Family Makeover by Melissa Spoelstra

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2d5hLtG

God calls us as parents to be key disciple-makers in our children’s lives, but if we’re honest, some days it’s a battle just to get them dressed and ready for school on time. How can you mold their hearts when sometimes you can’t even find their shoes?

In Total Family Makeover, author Melissa Spoelstra gives parents a way—a sort of spiritual track to run on—when it comes to building family discipleship. She focuses on eight key habits of growth:

-Spending Time in Prayer
-Reading God’s Word
-Growing Through a Mentoring Relationship
-Finding Community in the Church
-Serving Others
-Taking Time to Rest
-Giving Back to God
-Sharing Your Faith

Disciples are made, not born. Whether your children are babes in arms or teenagers getting ready to leave the nest, making disciples at home starts with you! Give your family a makeover with this practical approach to helping your children learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

 

My thoughts:

Total Family Makeover is a helpful and insightful guide to training your children to be better disciples! Melissa Spoelstra shares her own personal experiences and couples them with recommendations based on Biblical principles, giving parents “a sort of spiritual track to run on–when it comes to building family discipleship.” I enjoyed delving into the eight key habits Spoelstra highlights and found encouragement and inspiration within each one. Whether you are just starting a family or are in the later stages of child rearing, Total Family Makeover offers a practical approach for spiritual growth.

 

Plan an evening of fun, pizza, devotionals, and games with your family! Melissa is giving away a Family Fun Night Prize Pack.

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One grand prize winner will receive:

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melissa-spoelstra
Melissa Spoelstra is a popular women’s conference speaker, Bible teacher, and writer who is madly in love with Jesus and passionate about helping women of all ages to seek Christ and know Him more intimately through serious Bible study. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible Theology and enjoys teaching God’s Word to diverse groups and churches within the body of Christ. She is the author of the First Corinthians: Living Love When We Disagree, Joseph: The Journey to Forgiveness, and Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World Bible studies and Total Family Makeover: 8 Steps to Making Disciples at Home book. She lives in Dublin, Ohio, with her pastor husband and four kids.

 

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 7. The winner will be announced October 10 on Melissa’s blog.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.  Click here to read what other bloggers are saying about Total Family Makeover.

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#BookReview: I Love You Sour, I Love You Sweet by Anita Higman

1 Feb

I Love You Sour, I Love You Sweet

I Love You Sour, I Love You Sweet by Anita Higman

Purchase links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

An ABC picture book by bestselling author Anita Higman, beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Jeneal B. Rogers. 

C: I love you like a Cookie crunch. I love you when you’re late for lunch.

J: I love you sour, I love you sweet, I love you like a Jelly treat.

N: I love you rainbow colors bright. I love you in the starry Night.

T: I love you much in whispers light and when you Tuck me in at night.

Z: I love you bigger than a pancake stack. I love you Zooming to the moon and back!

 

My thoughts:

I Love You Sour, I Love You Sweet is full of charm! Its fun, sweet messages of love are sure to delight children as well as adults. With poetic verses and whimsical illustrations, my children and I loved each and every page. We look forward to reading and sharing this special book again and again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.  All thoughts expressed are my own. 

 

Anita Higman

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Connect with Anita:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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