Tag: Book Reviews

Two Children’s Books | Book Reviews

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
This is my third book by Kristie Wilde, and I have been pleased with all of them—both with the illustrations and the message in these books. They go beyond the simple “children’s book” and give a deeper meaning that the reader can discuss with young children. This book’s theme is on the variety and contrast of animals, and how we as people have variety and contrast, and that’s simply okay, because God created us all different. It concludes with a page of information on the different animals featured in the paintings throughout the book.

As with Kristie’s other books, I enjoyed looking through the art and also seeing how she added a creative touch to the text. This is a collection I’m happy to add to my library.

*I received this book from Book Crash and happily provided my honest review*

My favorite children’s illustrations are what I think of as “soft and fuzzy.” And that is exactly the type of illustrations in this book—so that made my heart happy. There are giraffes, foxes, sloths, penguins (!!!!), and several other animal families depicted in this book
The poetry rhymed nicely in this book, featuring subjects that most children would be familiar with in normal bedtime routine. It also goes a little deeper than just physical routine and mentions counting blessings, praying, thanking God for the day, and singing about God’s love.
My youngest sister (age 8) grabbed this as soon as I opened my packaged and “oohed” and “ahhed” over the whole thing. It definitely catches the young readers’ eye.
*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*

Presumption and Partiality | Giveaway, Review, Book Tour

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments


Several months ago, I featured several novels from the Vintage Jane Austen collection (which, *spoiler alert* is the giveaway later on in this post!!).

My Review

 This makes the fourth book of the Vintage Jane Austen series. “Pride and Prejudice” is probably the Jane Austen with which I am most familiar. I have watched various movies (repeatedly) and have read the book. I was very interested not only in seeing how Rebekah Jones retold it, but also in reading my first book by this author.

As a Christian book, I liked it. Alice (“Jane”) especially, stood out to me as a strong Christian who was striving to live by the Bible. She was very cautious to guard her heart and to live by the Scriptures. Eloise (“Lizzie”), however, though she quoted Scripture, there didn’t seem to be much actual daily devotion in her life—her thoughts didn’t tend toward the Lord much. I think she was supposed to be a character who was growing in her faith, but it was a small growth, not much.


I did really like the addition of Alice and Eloise’s work with the poor, and the many discussions that induced.


There were a few surprises, but overall, it felt like I was reading “Pride and Prejudice” in a different era. I knew what was coming up next and I could almost quote the phrase that was coming (though the dialogue was not verbatim, so much of it was very close to P&P original). As I’ve already indicated in my retelling reviews, I like a retelling to surprise me. If I want to read “Pride and Prejudice,” then I’m going to read “Pride and Prejudice.” It’s just my preference. So, as far as a retelling goes, I was a little disappointed with a lack of originality. 


I had a hard time feeling the era. There were facts about cotton and hot weather, but I just had a hard time getting sucked into it. Part of that may also be because I have spent several summers working at a Navajo/Ute camp, so the Native American aspect did not at all feel real to me. It’s a completely different culture, even if you have Christian Native Americans. I tried to read it objectively, but I had to constantly remind myself that Sydney was Navajo. He didn’t seem like one. 


It is, though, quite clean. The “Lydia” (Junie) instant went a little more into the penalties and consequences of her flippant choice, and I did like the way that this thread resolved. Still, because of it (her running away with a guy), I would say maybe girls 16+ should read it? 


*I received this book from Celebrate Lit for my honest review, which I happily provided*

About the Book

Title: Presumption and Partiality
Author: Rebekah Jones
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction
Release Date: November 27, 2017
Among the cotton fields and farmland of Gilbert, Arizona in the early years of the Great Depression, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey live a simple, but happy life with their five daughters on a cotton farm. When the wealthy Richard Buchanan moves to town, bringing his family, a friend, and a desire to learn about cotton, Matilda Bailey is convinced that he is the perfect candidate to marry her eldest daughter, Alice.
Richard is cheerful, friendly, and likable. His friend Sidney Dennison doesn’t make such a good impression. Eloise Bailey decides he’s arrogant and self-conceited, but when Raymond Wolfe comes to town, accusing Sidney of dishonorable and treacherous conduct, Eloise is angered at the injustice of the situation.
When the Buchanan household leaves town, Alice must turn to the Lord and face, perhaps, her most difficult test in trust, while Eloise takes a trip to visit her friend and may well discover a web of deceit that she doesn’t really want to believe exists.

Click here to purchase your copy.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rebekah is giving away a grand prize of the complete set of the Vintage Jane Austen Collection!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cc8f

About the Author

Rebekah Jones is first and foremost a follower of the Living God. She started writing as a little girl, seeking to glorify her King with her books and stories. Her goal is to write Bible-Centered, Christian Literature; books rich with interesting characters, intricate story lines, and always with the Word of God at the center. Besides writing, she is an avid reader, songwriter, pianist, singer, artist, and history student. She also loves children. She lives with her family in the Southwestern desert.

Blog Stops

Remembrancy, April 26
Mary Hake, April 29
A Greater Yes, April 30
Carpe Diem, May 3
Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

KJV Minister’s Bible | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Though I am not a minister, I was interested to see what all this publication of the Bible contained, as I heard it had extra resources. It is a soft leather and very comfortable to hold. There are three bookmarks, which is a major plus for me, as I usually read in more than one place at a time. The text is small print (not tiny, but definitely not large print) and portions of Scripture are separated by titles and captions.
In the center of the Bible is a tab for easy flipping to the minister’s resources (which thus make this a minister’s Bible). I didn’t read through all of them, but skimmed somewhat, just to see what they were like. One of the categories that I read was on baptism. I found that some of the method suggestions and approach used was a little extra-Biblical (almost leaning toward baptism being what seals our salvation, rather than it just being a symbol). On that note, I would mention that though there are these resources, whoever is using the Bible should be careful to be certain that the material given here is actually in line with the content of God’s Word.
*I received this from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*


Book Description

Pastors and church leaders stand ready to meet the needs of their flocks. And Thomas Nelson’s beautiful and durable KJV Minister’s Bible is here to help. With sermons, readings, outlines, prayers, and more, this Bible is a one-stop resource, offering direction for weddings, funerals, communion and baptism services, confirmations, dedications, and a variety of other pastoral care situations.
Features include:
Complete text of the timeless and beautiful King James Version, perfect for devotional and worship settings
Exclusive KJV Comfort Print®
A comprehensive collection of pastoral resources, located between the Testaments—prayers, sermons, outlines, and more
Sewn, lay-flat binding to ensure easy, one-handed use
Three satin ribbon markers to quickly navigate between favorite passages and resources
Elegant, durable, understated covers, appropriate for any ministry setting
9-point print size

Spread Too Thin | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment



Every single family member who saw me reading this book gave a little grin with, “Yep, that’s your book.” Ellen Miller hits the nail on the head with the subject (and title) of this book. Today’s women are definitely spread too thin, trying to go too many directions at once, and lacking the peace and joy that God yearns for us to have.
This was very easy to read. Because I was reading this for a deadline review, I didn’t do the devotional in 90 days, as intended—but I can see where the 1-3-page devotions would be perfect for just that little “gem” to get your day started on the right foot and your heart refocused. Not all of the devotionals were applicable to me as a single gal, but there was still a lot of great soul-searching content.
A few of the devotionals sounded very “modern Christianity” about accepting/knowing your worth, etc. but in context, I don’t think it was over-done. Just a little, “Hey, don’t beat yourself up because you’re a child of God.” Overall, though, this did take on a more modern Christian woman viewpoint. In some ways, Mrs. Miller explained how sometimes we’re “spread too thin” because we’re not accepting the calling God has given us—but she really didn’t go into what a woman’s calling is, or what the role of a woman should be Biblically. It was just more of how to balance things in your busy life. It’s not a book that I think would really get on people’s toes in that aspect (which, I personally could have taken a little more Biblically backing for what womanhood should be, but I realize this may not have been her intent in the book).
The author did reference quite a few Bible translations, and I prefer the KJV, but I didn’t find she took any Scripture out of context.
So overall, a good devotional book. Sometimes in devotional books, the authors will throw a few cringe-worthy examples (speaking of content-cringing, not Spiritual truth-cringing), and this book was wonderfully lacking in that area! I handed it to my teen sister without any disclaimers or “skip this chapter.”
To finish; a quote:
“Gratitude—not talent, money, prestige, or any other things we might hope for—can do the most for resetting the mind, heart, and soul toward abundant living.” (Page 71)
*I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers and happily provided my honest review*



About the Book
You know the drill. Somebody asks, “How are you?” and you respond automatically: “Crazy busy!” “I’m exhausted!” “Running too fast.”

And it’s no wonder! Between the breakneck speed of your job, the one million family activities on the calendar, the volunteer luncheon you signed up to host, the growing to-do list on your phone, and the workout you’ve been meaning to get to for weeks—if you ever stopped long enough to think about it, you’d be curled up in the fetal position on the floor.

Life these days. It’s exhausting, isn’t it?

Ellen Miller gets it—and she wrote Spread Too Thin just for you. Whatever stage of life you find yourself in, you don’t have to live it frantically. Written for women who care deeply and extend themselves selflessly, this 90-day devotional offers an honest look at the obligations that have drained us and then point us toward a more abundant life with Jesus. Through personal stories, practical insights, and classic Ellen humor, you’ll discover that it is possible to find hope—and even peace!—throughout your harried, overcommitted days.

Purchase on Amazon

I Prayed for You | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

What an adorable book! Unlike the last few children’s books I’ve reviewed, this one is hard-cover a jacket and paper pages.
The illustrations are soft, pencil drawings of a mama bear and her cub. They are very relaxing to look at—and remind me of some of my favorite childhood books as well.
Each page-spread has both a message of “when I prayed for you” and a little prayer to go along with it. It is very sweet, going from the time that the cub was an infant to his early childhood. For me, it is a book just as precious to a mother as to the child, as it will remind the mom to pray during these different points of life.
*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*

Night, Night Farm | Book Review

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments

Cute cartoon animals illustrate the pages of this book as the reader explores the farm, making animal sounds, and telling them all goodnight. It begins with an overview of the farm then travels to say goodnight to the pigs, cows, horses, cats, sheep, chickens, and mice. I have to say that I loved the two little mice who scampered across the pages of this book.
The rhyme is catchy and easy to read, though a few of the words feel a little odd and out of place—like it seems to mix proper rhyme with a sudden cutesy phrases (“Oh, the animals God has made! And hey, He made me too!” for exam

ple).

As soon as I got this in, I opened it to explore the “touch and feel” aspects. I loved the curly sheep, the smooth pig, the furry horse, fuzzy cat, and glossy hen’s comb. But then, on the second-to-last page, there was nothing to feel besides an indent on the page. I suppose I like consistency. Where the animals had a little circle to feel a “sample” of their skin, there was an embossed “car” for mice? At least, I think that was what the “feel” was supposed to be. My younger sister read it, and brought it to me with the same question, “Where is the touch-and-feel on this page?” It’s not a huge issue and doesn’t alter the reading of the book, but I can see many inquisitive toddlers running their fingers along the page disappointed.
*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*

Count it All Joy | AudioBook Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

I didn’t realize when I began this book (listening to it audio-version) that it is a study on the book of Philippians. Wow. Dr. Jeremiah covers so much material in this book and it is well worth the reading (or listening to).
At this point in my life, I really needed the reminders in Philippians, and Dr. Jeremiah used many illustrations that really drove the points home. He goes from church members’ responsibilities to individuals’ lifestyles to our attitude and focus to suffering and more. Most of this is very practical, down-to-earth, and everyday-applicable. I now want to get the paperback form to have on my shelves.
He uses a few various versions of the Bible, which I prefer KJV, but it didn’t alter the doctrine of the book at all.
I highly recommend this for Christians who are finding themselves in a rut of life and need a bit of encouragement and direction. There is a big emphasis on joy (given the title), especially in the midst of suffering—no matter what that suffering is.

Night, Night, Jungle | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Yet another cute children’s book! The reader takes a journey into the jungle and explores the various animals, drawn in brilliant colors. A catchy verse of poetry accompanied each page as you say goodnight to lemurs, Jaguars, toucans, chameleons, monkeys, parrots, frogs, and sloths. I appreciated a small touch of expectancy as when one animal was featured, the next animal was peeking out somewhere.

There are two references that make this a Christian book: the first is thanking God for food, the second is about God’s creatures and Him loving them all. It flows well and is a nice little touch.


This is the perfect night-time book for children. I’m happy to have it on my shelves!


*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*

The Proverbs Management Handbook | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

Having recently begun reading through the Proverbs on a regular basis, and owning a few businesses, I was very eager to see what Mr. Guderian had to say.

There are a lot of verses referenced—I’d guesstimate that a good 1/3 of this book is quotes from Proverbs. I really like this aspect of the book; I always appreciate the use of God’s Word in books. I will mention that several different Bible translations were used. Though I prefer King James, reading books with various translations doesn’t usually bother me. This one kind of did, because he seemed to treat the translations as “this one represents what I want to say best, so we’ll use this one.” That seemed to be manipulating the use of God’s Word a little, too me, and some of the verses seemed to be stretched to fit into his agenda.


In some ways, sticking only to Proverbs limited the depth of this book. There are many other verses with valuable help on stewardship, financial wisdom, and giving, but because he stuck solely to Proverbs, these verses weren’t included.


The organizational structure didn’t really click with me. He had good things to say, but many times, it seemed a little stiff (e.g. a verse was quoted then a 1-2 sentence thought shared). And a few of the concepts were repeated throughout the book. Personally, I would have enjoyed it more in a different format, as the presentation itself hindered my flow in reading it.


However, this book did contain a lot of helpful nuggets with real-life examples and scenarios. I can see where it could help a lot of people in the business world—both as employers and employees.


*I received this book from Book Crash and happily provided my honest review*

Every Day With Jesus | Review

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments

I have enjoyed the adult devotional books by Charles Stanley, so when I saw this children’s daily devotional available, my interest was piqued.

The book is sturdy, colorful, and attractive. There is one short devotional per page that takes less than five minutes to read.

Each devotional begins with a verse, gives practical application, then ends with a one-sentence prayer and challenge for the day. The devotional covers topics such as trusting God, forgiving others, reading the Bible, believing God, doing the right thing, and more. It is written in a way that is very easy for children to understand.

Personally, I find the devotionals best suited for children 3-5. However, they could very easily be expounded on for children a little older, and lead the way to have good discussion about what various verses and commands mean.

The Scripture verses used are primarily from the International Children’s Bible, and I prefer to stick to the King James (yes, even for children). From the devotions I read, it would be easy to read the verse from my own Bible and the lesson still apply.

*I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and happily provided my honest review*