When I was recently given the opportunity to review a new coloring book entitled Majestic Mandalas by Orna Ben-Shoshan, I had no idea what to expect. You can imagine my surprise when I received a large, thick, 12”x12” package in the mail, and opened it to discover one of the most beautiful, high-quality coloring books I have ever seen! As the subtitle explains, it is truly “A rich assortment of super-size theme mandalas for coloring fun and relaxation”. Continue reading
Just Not as Amazing as Book #1…
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived! Er, well, at least all the readers and subsequent fans of Katie Fisher, heroine in the first book in the Brides with Style series (Every Bride Needs a Groom) will be pleased to discover that the sequel has been released! Written by Janice Thompson and published by Revell in the autumn of 2015, Every Girl Gets Confused is a treat because it takes us back to visit people who feel like old friends, in a community that feels like home. But is the silliness still as charming as the first book, and do the annoying innuendos remain few and far between, as they most certainly should? In essence, does the sequel live up to its predecessor? Continue reading
A Beautiful Message
Beloved singer/songwriter, worship leader, author, and speaker Darlene Zschech has written her fourth book about a topic certain to be fascinating to many readers… Worship Changes Everything: Experiencing God’s Presence in Every Moment of Life was published by Bethany House in the fall of 2015, and is also accompanied by a beautiful song album entitled “In Jesus’ Name”. Without question, the words contained within the book are an insightful portrayal of the true power and blessing of living a worship-filled life, though naturally it is not without a few negative points as well.
Three of the best facets of this book include: Continue reading
Illuminates the Wisdom of Proverbs!
We are all familiar with the wellspring of wisdom offered in the Biblical book of Proverbs. Many people, myself included, often read this book over the course of a month since it conveniently contains 31 chapters. Sometimes, however, it can be a little more difficult to actually incorporate that wisdom into our daily lives. If you seek to make the practical guidance of Proverbs a deeper part of your inner life, I am so excited to share a new, certain-to-be treasured book with you…
Proverbs Prayers: Praying the Wisdom of Proverbs for Your Life was written by minister, speaker, and best-selling author John Mason, and published by Revell in the fall of 2015. This little book contains the full text of Proverbs, divided chapter by chapter. What is the unique part, you ask? Why not just read the book in your Bible? Continue reading
Not On My Read-Again List
“Nothing is more beautiful than family”. With this theme as its tagline, Keeping Christmas is Dan Walsh’s newest Christmas novel released by Revell. Ultimately, it is a story of heartache and depression which ultimately transform into joy and hope. Empty-nesters Stan and Judith Winters are facing their first Christmas with none of their children or grandchildren able to come home. As the 25th of December draws nearer, Judith becomes more depressed and despondent. Stan, beside himself to help his wife, is faced with a difficult decision that will fill their home with Christmas joy once again, while simultaneously letting down a friend and crushing a dream.
With this plot in place, it is easy to see the setup for a heartwarming, sweet surprise at the end of the story. A reader’s journey along the way, however, is slightly tedious, a little unbelievable, and even somewhat depressing. To begin with, Continue reading
Sure to Become a Christmas Tradition
Many families have a special collection of Christmas stories they enjoy reading, year after year. Often this is a cherished tradition. And the only thing more fun than actually DOING a cherished tradition is adding to it – in this case, by finding new stories! If you are looking for new stories to add to your Christmas collection – stories that are unique, meaningful, and suitable for all ages – then I am happy to share with you a new volume that I have just discovered this Christmas season… “Twenty-one Candles: Stories for Christmas” was written by Canadian author Mike Mason, chapter-by-chapter over the course of many years, and collected into a single volume in 2014. As stated on the back cover, this book peers into the deeper meaning of the holidays and is filled with: “Silly sages and the wisdom of the simple. Stones and rockets and hand-written notes. Presents that unfold endlessly, and presents already open, if only we would notice.” Continue reading
An Incredibly Well-Done Suspense Novel
Vendetta, written by Lisa Harris and published by Revell in the fall of 2015, is the first book in a new series entitled “The Nikki Boyd Files”. As a mystery and romantic thriller, this novel has it all – heart-pounding action, emotional drama, and suspense that is enough to make you a little (or a lot) hesitant to read it after dark! Of course if you are like me, you WILL still read it after the sun goes down, because the suspense will just be too much to bear, and you will HAVE to find out what happens next.
Vendetta is very reminiscent of various crime shows on television, just in book format. In similar television fashion, it seems the series will have an ongoing story woven between the books. Of course, this first book also contains a separate-but-related mystery that is solved by the end. With this technique in play, I’m sure you realize that after reading Vendetta you will be anxiously waiting for the next book in the series, set to be released in July 2016! Continue reading
An Interesting Story of an Unsuspecting Little Town…
Isn’t it fun to open the pages of a new book and immediately be transported to that location? Well, if you open the pages of Ann H. Gabhart’s newest release from Revell entitled Murder at the Courthouse, you will undoubtedly find yourself visiting the small town of Hidden Springs, Kentucky. It is a pleasant-enough town, with your average number of busybodies, family feuds, and personal histories that are known by everyone. One unique thing about this town, however, is the fact that it is home to a murderer. And not just any murderer, but one who leaves their victim on the front steps of the courthouse – in broad daylight! As you can see, Hidden Springs may not be such an ordinary town after all… Continue reading
A Helpful Tool for Healthy Living
“Don’t let anyone tell you your symptoms are untreatable! We defied the odds and so can you!” With this tagline and a snappy, makes-you-stop-and-think title, who could resist taking a second look at this book? It Takes Guts to Be Happy: A 21-Day Cleansing Plan to Heal Your Belly & Recharge Your Life was written by Julia Loggins, a certified therapist specializing in hydrotherapy, health education, detoxification, and facilitating the reversal of illness. Published by Vibrant Health Publishing, this 260-page book is a wealth of information, not only related to Julia’s specific cleanse but also to better health in general. Continue reading
A Unique Biography – But Definitely for Mature Readers
COME SEE THE BOY BORN DEAD. These were the words on the sign that started it all. They initiated David Ring’s career as an international speaker, simply by helping to fill a small high school auditorium with people ready to hear his story. How did David Ring, a boy who lived every day with the debilitating affects of cerebral palsy, arrive at this point? Well, you’ll need to read The Boy Born Dead, published by Baker Books and written by David Ring with John Driver and David Wideman, to find out.
Although you may not guess it from the first few pages of David Ring’s story, this book was definitely not a light and carefree read, nor an easy story to watch unfold. It was, however, powerful. Continue reading
Prairie Sky Book Reviews 