Monday, May 25, 2015

Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary

 Several years ago the story of Rifqa Bary and her decision to leave her family and convert to Christianity made national headlines. This is her story in her own words. And is it a heartbreaking reality for many people worldwide.
Rifqa shares the testimony of how she was wooed by God from an early age. How He revealed His presence to her time and again. And how He gave her the strength to leave everything she knew in order to serve Him. 
This is one book not to miss. It made me cry several times and it strengthened my own faith.
This book was provided for review by Blogging for Books

Sunday, May 24, 2015

As Love Blooms by Lorna Seilstad

As Love Blooms is the third and final installment in The Gregory Sisters series by Lorna Seilstad. I've enjoyed this trip back into the early 1900s with these three ladies. This wasn't my favorite of the three books, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Tessa meets her match while trying to make a name for herself in the gardening industry. The story was sweet but I just didn't connect with this character like I did with Hannah and Charlotte. I did enjoy watching Aunt Sam and her friend get in a little deeper though.

From the back cover:
Tessa Gregory is nothing if not tenacious. Denied a position as a horticulturist at prestigious Como Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota, she is not above a little benevolent deception in order to get the park superintendent to change his mind and hire her. SHe plans to infiltrate the world of wealthy and influential people in hopes of drumming up financial support for a world-class conservatory. Before she can put those plans into action, she meets Reese King, a handsome gardener at Como Park-and a major distraction. Still, Reese might be the key to achieving her dream. But is his goal to help her...or to capture her heart?

This book was provided for review by Revell.

Friday, May 22, 2015

No Place to Hide by Lynette Eason

 I always love looking at the author picture on the back of a book. Especially when it's a suspense-filled story. I want to know what the person who thinks this stuff up looks like. And they always look normal.

Lynette Eason is the latest one that caught me by surprise. She looks like such a nice lady, how can such an intense story come from that sweet looking thing?

In No Place to Hide we are taken on a wild ride. The book opens with action and never lets up until the end. There is a little romance thrown in which caught me by surprise, I wasn't expecting that little delight. 

This is another author to watch, she keeps getting better and better. The true test of a suspense author and how good they are is when I want to request prayer for the characters that are stuck in sticky situations. This book made me feel that way. And I enjoyed every minute of it. 
This book was provided for review by Revell

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Big Tractors with Casey & Friends



 New for kids ages 4-8 is the Big Tractors with Casey & Friends book by Holly Dufek. 
The book is filled with colorful pages of pictures of real and pretend tractors while Casey serves as your tour guide through the book. Casey is a farmer and loves to show kids around her farm.
There are many different jobs on a farm and a lot of them are done with the help of tractors. Now your kids can learn and play when they get the accompanying toy tractor (that comes with its own fact card).

More about the book:
Meet “Casey & Friends.”Written by Holly Dufek, Illustrated by Paul E. Nunn | Published by Octane PressAges 4-8 | 32 pages | 9x9-inch hardcover | $14.99 each 
Follow Casey the farmer, Tillus the worm, Big Red the tractor, and a whole cast of cartoon equipment characters who teach important life lessons gleaned from the farm, like thinking ahead and working as a team. Each title is licensed by CASE IH and highlights a different aspect of farm equipment and technology with educational sidebars, picture glossaries and fun farming facts for added learning possibilities.
A Year on the Farm with Casey & Friends (Jan. 2015) introduces children to the world of modern farming by teaching them about the different jobs a farmer does each season. Casey and her team show how tractors, combines and other equipment: plant and harvest crops, work in the farmyard, and care for animals. Learn how farming involves planning for the year, reacting to the weather, and working as a team.
Big Tractors with Casey & Friends (Apr. 2015) shows how the biggest, most powerful tractors handle the demanding jobs of pulling and powering on the farm. Find out how Big Red and Sammy – the biggest tractors on the farm – use their powerful muscles to work in the field with the rest of the team. Learn about the science of farming and discover how advanced technology makes Big Red and Sammy special.
Combines with Casey & Friends (June 2015) explains the step-by-step processes used to harvest crops by the most complex machines on the farm. Follow Cody and Kellie—the combines of Happy Skies Farm—as they do the work of three machines: gathering, separating, and unloading grain and corn.
Planters & Cultivators with Casey & Friends (Sept. 2015) features the specialized farm equipment used to cultivate, plant and spray crops. Learn how Tammi the Tiller, Evan the Early Riser Planter and Peter the Patriot Sprayer work together to make this year’s crop bigger than ever. Explore the science of soil and discover how Casey’s team keeps it healthy.
“Know a kid or two who thinks corn comes from the grocery’s freezer section? Put ‘em on track with A Year on the Farm with Casey & Friends....Plenty of detail combined with lots of color photos and illustrations makes this an engaging read for kids ages 4-8. A fun (and educational) read for kids and their grandparents!”
—Leslie McManus, Farm Collector Magazine
OCTANE PRESS produces high-quality narrative and illustrated books for discerning enthusiast audiences. Some of the company’s best-known titles include Red Tractors 1958–2013: The Authoritative Guide to IH and Case IH Tractors and Beast: The Top Secret Ilmor-Penske Engine that Shocked the Racing World at the Indy 500. Octane Press has won several book awards, including IBPA Benjamin Franklin awards (Red Tractors 1958–2013, Forward, Adventurous Motorcyclist’s Guide to Alaska) and Independent Publisher Awards (In the Red, Red Tractors 1958–2013).



This was provided for review by PR By the Book
They are also giving one set away. Leave a comment to be entered to win.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

 The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert is one of those books. You know the kind. The book that you find yourself completely lost in. The book that you read when you should be doing laundry. The book that you stay up past your bedtime reading because you could not put it down. Yeah, it's one of those.  So completely captivating that I could feel what the characters felt. It felt real.
I laughed with them and cried with them, wow did I cry with them.
This author is one to watch. She keeps getting better with each book. I hope she continues on with this story and these characters. I would love to see what happens next in the lives of Gracie, Carmen, and Ben. 
It's a deep story, not a light read at all. I felt refreshed after reading it though. It isn't often that a deep story can be refreshing. Loved it.
This book was provided for review by Blogging for Books

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Chance of Loving You

 Chance of Loving You is a new romance collection from Tyndale. Three authors. Three stories.
Terri Blackstock writes the first novella, For Love or Money. In this short story (just 140 pages and one hour of reading time) we meet Julie, a waitress, and Blake, the man she's waiting on at the restaurant where she works. This story had me giggling and cheering for the couple as they wove their way around a lot of money and tried to find each other in the process. Very sweet story and a nice departure from the suspense that we've come to expect from Terri Blackstock.

The second entry in the book is The Recipe by Candace Calvert. I've not heard of this author before but if her other works are as good as this one then I must find them. A sweet story of two people who find each other in the most unexpected of ways. 

The third is Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren. It was my least favorite of the three which surprised me because I've enjoyed many books by this author. Maybe it was just the theme of fishing, something that I have no interest in at all. I found it dull and I couldn't finish reading this story even though it was only eighty pages in its entirety. 

Nice idea, to volume three short stories together. It appeared that I liked them in order that they were put together. This would be a great book to take on a vacation. The stories are short and fun to read.

This book was provided for review by Tyndale