Monday, August 30, 2010

The Constantine Conspiracy

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by Gary E. Parker

Read the Back:

THE INNOCENT DON’T RUN – UNLESS THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.

When international playboy Rick Carson stumbles onto a murder in his Montana home, he knows his life will never be the same. But he certainly doesn’t expect to be the prime suspect. And he doesn’t expect to find himself in the middle of a 1700-year-old conspiracy with tentacles reaching into the very highest levels of the government.
Park ranger Shannon Bridge is the first responding law enforcement agent on the scene. She seems legitimate, but is there more to her than meets the eye? Why is she willing to help Rick elude the law?
With unanswered questions and the law closing in, Shannon and Rick must find some way to exonerate him – and expose the truth before it’s too late. In a place where no one is who they say they are and danger lurks around every corner, can they even trust each other?

My Thoughts:

This was a very engaging book. I found myself immediately transported into the story. The characters are well developed and relatable. I really enjoyed the plot twists that the author puts throughout the book. These help to keep the book interesting and the reader engaged in the storyline. Parker writes in such a way as to lead the reader to “solve” the plot twists before the characters, but not in the usually predictable way. There are subtle hints throughout the story that allow the reader to draw their own conclusions.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book is how the layout is. There are parallel plot lines running which makes the book read more quickly. This style of writing helps keep me interested as I have a short attention span when it comes to reading and plot development. It’s kind of like reading two books at once!
The only thing that I didn’t really like about this book was the love interest parts. They felt a bit “hokey” and/or fake to me and that kind of drew away from the suspense of the main story line. There were actually a couple of times I groaned out loud because of the cheesiness of certain lines of dialogue. Overall this is a great murder mystery story with a wee bit of history thrown in. Definitely an enjoyable book and worth the read.

This review was made possible because I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Picture Me Cooking

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There is a great new recipe book out called Picture Me Cooking. This book is VERY child friendly and is a great way to make memories with your kids. There are many colorful photos of the foods that are created and this makes the cooking experience (or even the decision making process of: Which recipe should we make?) much more enjoyable. You can find out a lot more about this book and it's Authors at their website: www.picturemecooking.com

You can also enter to win 2 copies of this book (one for you and one to pass on to a friend) HERE.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us

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by Sonya Haskins


Read the Back:
Overwhelmed?
Wonder How Others Do It All?
Not Sure You're Cut Out for Homeschooling?

It's time to break a myth: Homeschooling families aren't perfect. In fact, real-life families like yours can be -- and are -- successful homeschoolers! That's the life message of Sonya Haskins, who is dedicated to helping everyday families meet the challenges of home education and enjoy its countless benefits.

In this practical, encouraging guide, Haskins shares tried and true ideas for how to:
- Discover a realistic vision of homeschooling for your family
- Help your child get excited about learning
- Find a routine that fits your goals and lifestyle
- Nurture a biblical worldview in your child's heart and mind
- And much more

Whether you are already homeschooling or just considering it, this book offers the support, answers, and flexible strategies to help you succeed.

My Thoughts:

If you are considering homeschooling but you aren't quite sure what it entails, then this is the book for you! I knew nothing about homeschooling other than the fact that I was interested in doing it and I had several friends that were doing it too. This book takes a look at the joys and challenges associated with homeschooling. It tackles topics such as socialization, budgeting, routines and schedules, and dealing with relatives. This book gave me a different perspective on things so that I can better decide whether homeschooling is for me or not. This book gives several examples of schedule styles and even includes a chart that will help you compare the differences between homeschooling, private schooling, and public schooling. When you read books on certain topics you tend to see a bias towards one side or another. I didn't find that with this book. It really took a neutral stance and mentioned several times that homeschooling isn't for everyone. While it didn't give me a clear yes or no for homeschooling, it certainly gave me a lot more to think through and consider before embarking on the homeschooling adventure.



This review was made possible because I received a copy of "Homeschooling for the Rest of Us" from Bethany House - a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Dad's Bible: The Father's Plan

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Notes by Robert Wolgemuth


The Dad's Bible is the perfect addition to any Dad’s library. The language is easy to understand and makes reading the Bible more enjoyable. This Bible offers additional features. At the beginning of each book there is a summary of what the book you are about to read focuses on & what to look for as far as applying it to your own life. There are also sections that take closer looks at particular verses within book. I found this Bible to be easier to sit down and read as it was broken up with the smaller sections that take away some of the tediousness of reading the Bible.

One of my favourite features of this Bible is the Topical Index. This is extremely handy. When your child comes to you asking questions about X,Y, & Z, you can simply refer to the back of your Bible and find verses that deal with said subjects. Even better, there is a section called “Questions and Answers” that delves into specific questions such as:

“Why did God rest on the Seventh Day?” and “Where's Noah's Ark now?” What a great reference for ANYONE!

This Bible would make a fantastic gift for ANY Dad!

This review was made possible because I received a Dad’s Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub

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By Rick Burgess & Bill “Bubba” Bussey




Read the Back:
“ALL THE FAT IS THE LORD’S…”
- Leviticus 3:16

Radio personalities Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey love their grub, and they love it well – and now they want to tell you everything they know about it!
In this bountiful buffet of all-things-vittles, Rick and Bubba of the syndicated Rick & Bubba Show – heard nationally on more than 60 radio stations – will offer you a veritable smorgasbord of tantalizing tidbits to help you get the most out of America’s favorite pastime – eating!


Features of Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub include:

Rick and Bubba’s no-fail Weight Loss Tips

Palate-pleasing recipes to tickle your tummy

Rick and Bubba’s Tribute to the Casserole

“Da Rules” for eating with excellence and grace (including Rick and Bubba’s Never-to-Be-Broken Rules of the Church Potluck)

Rick and Bubba’s Favorite Places to Eat

The official list of interesting Food Fairs and Festivals


“Eating is an art…an event…an experience,” say Rick and Bubba. So grab your forks, y’all, and come on. There’s eatin’ to do! Let Rick and Bubba show you how!

What I Thought:
This book is VERY funny! I went into reading this book thinking that it was a recipe book with some funny stories sprinkled within, but it was exactly the opposite. Rick and Bubba talk about all aspects of food/eating and then sprinkle in some of their favorite recipes. This book is a great light read and will uplift anyone’s spirit! I really enjoyed the Top 10 lists that Rick and Bubba share with us throughout this book. Some topics include: Top Ten Reasons Why the Turkey Toss Should be an Olympic Event & Top Ten Reasons to Attend the Annual Spam Festival. The book definitely reads as though you are listening to a humorous morning radio show complete with jabs between your “hosts” Rick and Bubba. This would be a great gag gift with say a box of donuts or some other food that people indulge in.

I would’ve liked to see more recipes in this book, but the ones that are included are simple to make and sound DELICIOUS (translated as Un-healthy!). Rick and Bubba have several other books out there and after reading this one, I just might have to pick one up. My eyes are on the Rick and Bubba’s Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage. Great fun!

Book is courtesy of Thomas Nelson Publishers (BookSneeze.com).

Monday, March 15, 2010

Mom's Bible: God's Wisdom for Mothers

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The mom’s Bible is the perfect addition to any mom’s library. The language is easy to understand and makes reading the Bible more enjoyable. This Bible offers additional features. At the beginning of each book there is a summary of what the book you are about to read focuses on & what to look for as far as applying it to your own life. There are also sections that take closer looks at particular verses within book. These can be small stories about the love a mother feels for her new baby or a deeper look at specific characters that you meet along your journey. I found this Bible to be easier to sit down and read as it was broken up with the smaller sections that take away some of the tediousness of reading the Bible.

One of my favourite features of this Bible is the Topical Index. This is extremely handy as a mother. When your child comes to you asking questions about X,Y, & Z, you can simply refer to the back of your Bible and find verses that deal with said subjects. Even better, there is a section called “Answers to Questions Kids Ask” that delves into specific questions such as:

“Can Scientists Prove That Creation Isn’t True?” and “Why Do Good People Suffer?” Even as an adult I found myself asking some of these questions. What a great reference point for ANYONE!

This Bible would make a fantastic gift for ANY mom!

This review was made possible because I received a Mom’s Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Green Planet Parties

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Little April is turning 2 in just 1 more month and memories of all the plates, silverware, and decorations being taken down and promptly thrown away after her 1st b-day party are flooding my memories. What a waste! Well, I just discovered a greener alternative.

www.greenplanetparties.com

Green Planet Parties offers a variety of green solutions for your party. They have everything you could need including reusable party decorations, earth-friendly tableware, loot bags, craft items, lead-free jewelery, and even gift wrap! It truly is your one-stop shop. My favorite items on the site are the reusable cotton name/birthday banners with matching cloth loot bags.

All of their disposable tableware is biodegradable and compostable. They also offer reusable tableware that is made from recycled yogurt containers from Stonyfield Farms in the US. Also, each ‘Party In A Bag’ tableware order comes with a complimentary oxo-biodegradable garbage bag and informational tent cards about your better environmental choices. What a great way to share with your guests about your lifestyle choices!

I really enjoyed the diversity of goody bag items that are offered on the website as well. They are great alternatives to the standard dollar store trinkets that we are all too familiar with. They offer goodie bag items for boys and girls of all ages. My particular favourite goody bag item is the stainless steel cereal bowls. They are VERY cute!

In addition to all the great items for sale at Green Planet Parties, there is also a section filled with great tips about hosting an eco-friendly party.

Special for my readers:
The gracious founders of Green Planet Parties have offered a savings of 10% off any purchase from their website from March 5th to March 18th. Simply follow the link below and check out as normal:

http://www.greenplanetparties.com/?code=benjieandbooks