Reading, Writing & Pondering

  The Battle for Heaven and Earth by Mark M. Yarbrough and Jerry B. Jenkins just released from Thomas Nelson Publishers.This is a story that flows well and is easy to read. It is an interesting take on creation. From the Publisher: In the beginning–before Earth, before humanity, before sin–there was Heaven. And it was perfect. This is the story of creation as you’ve never imagined it. Once united in worship and purpose, the angelic realm is shaken when Lucifer–the most beautiful and exalted of all–questions the authority of God Himself. What begins as subtle pride soon ignites into open rebellion. As loyalties fracture and one-third of Heaven’s hosts defect, Michael the Archangel is thrust into a role he never imagined: commander of God’s army in a war that was never supposed to erupt. Friendship turns to enmity. Worship becomes warfare. And Heaven itself becomes a battlefield. From the first spark of dissonance to the thunder of celestial combat, this sweeping epic explores the ...

    I just love all of the special edition books that are coming out. As a book lover, I especially love the beautiful new book editions. Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker from Thomas Nelson is just gorgeous! With the holidays coming, this would make a lovely Christmas gift for someone. Because the book would be good any time of year, it would also make a good birthday gift, shower gift, Mother's Day gift or any holiday.  Besides the beautiful outside, Breath as Prayer is one of my favorite devotional/prayer books that I own. It has a permanent place on my keeper shelf.  I believe health is holistic and that is how God made us to be--body, mind, and spirit/soul all work together for our best health. For that reason, I like Breath as Prayer  by Jennifer Tucker. Deep breathing relaxes me and prayer often relaxes me as I leave things with God. This book helps me combine the two. Breath as Prayer  is a book that speaks to me in so many ways. I like being abl...

  Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Pride & Practicality by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! My Review:  Are there authors where you just want to read all of their books? Pepper Basham is one of those authors for me. I was excited when I was given the opportunity to read and review Pride and Practicality . I'll be honest about one more thing. I have been slow to read Jane Austen. I keep meaning to but I haven't done it yet. However, this book isn't meant to be a retelling, according to the author in the back of the book. Rather, she does feature Jane Austen's timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice , in the book and the heroine does deal with some similar issues as Jane's heroine. This book is classified as a Regency Romance. It follows her book, Sense and Sensibility , which is also a Regency Romance  I tend to read more contemporary romance these days, but I will read anything Pepper writes. Pride and Practicality contains themes...

    Do you read daily during Advent season? If so, you may want to consider Advent Unhurried: Daily Devotions for a Season of Wonder and Stillness by Micha Boyett. Advent Unhurried has daily readings covering Hope, Peace, Joy and Love--representing the four candles of Advent. At the start of this book, there is a brief section about how to engage with this book and how to read a poem prayerfully, following the general book introduction. The book is a mix of poems, readings and prayers. I especially like that aspect of the book. Bible verses are also a part of the daily readings but sometimes they are at the beginning and sometimes in the midst of the readings. I would say Advent Unhurried is aimed at more progressive or mainline protestant Christians. My faith has changed through the years and I fall into this category. I liked this devotional more than others I have read in recent years because I could relate to it spiritually more than others. I also like that there were ...

  Do you know a young person who enjoys inventions and learning about how things work? Next Stop: The Future: A Journey Through Tomorrow's Science by Tom Jackson and Irma Ruggiero is a cool book that explores creations and ideas that just might change the world in the years to come. Next Stop: The Future is aimed at young people ages nine to eleven years old. It is 128 pages long and this full-color hardcover book measures just under 7 1/2 inches by 10 inches in size. The book is divided into four sections that look at the future in those areas: Space, Machines, Our World, and The Body. From the possibility of living on Mars to sensors in clothes that may make people better athletes to nanobots that help keep bodies healthy, this book is full of ideas for how the future could be different and help humans in various areas.  I think Next Stop: The Future would be interesting for any young person interested in science or inventing things for the future. There are some ideas yo...

  Meet The Invisibles by Mike Barfield and Jess Bradley is a cool book aimed at young people ages nine to eleven. Meet The Invisibles are the tiny organisms and energy waves in your world that you cannot see--but that doesn't mean they aren't there. There are Three main sections to Meet The Invisibles : Only Natural about tiny microscopic marvels, What's the Matter which is about atoms and particles in space, and Hi, Energy--about energy sources and waves.  Meet The Invisibles is a beautiful, full-color book that measures about 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size and is 96 pages long. There are charts, graphs, and all sorts of illustrations that show the various tiny invisibles in our world and in space. This is a fun book for those who are interested in science. It could also be a great book for those who homeschool too.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the Amazon Vine Program. All opinions are my own.