Reading, Writing & Pondering

Claire Holloway Is Winging It by Angela Ruth Strong is a Christian contemporary romance novel. I wasn't sure what to think of this one when I heard that it was a love triangle story. However, having read it, I felt that trope was well-done. Claire Holloway was a ballerina who lost her dream of performing when she developed some foot issues. Her boyfriend, Wyatt, continued to support her and she valued that support and saw him as her main support. Then she decided to become a flight attendant and he isn't too happy to support her in that dream. He struggles with her being gone so much as he works in a regular office. First officer pilot in training Nathan Stuart recently faced a break-up with his fiance. He had been feeling down about that until he meets the frazzled Claire on her first day on the job. From the first day they met, Nathan and Claire share some humor and have a friendly bond. Does it stretch the boundaries of friendship? Claire continues to try to keep her relati...

  Are you looking for a new book to gift a baby or a toddler? Or maybe a toddler's Easter basket right now? The Beginning of You by Laine Lawson Craft is such a cute illustrated book with rhyming lyrical prose throughout the book. This cute board book measures 7 inches square and has the thick cardboard pages that make it easy to little ones to turn the pages on their own. The Beginning of You is 17 pages long and is aimed at children ages two and under. The illustrations are inclusive and show children of all skin colors, which I like. The words of this book are written with a wonderful rhythm. I like how she writes about how we are all made by God in our own special way. The words also remind little ones that they are loved by the Creator who made them.     I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions within this review are my own. 

  Age Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz is the book I wish I had had when I first needed it. I like how Dr. Pelz shares her own story of changing hormones amidst her information to help with your changes. This is a book that could help you prepare for what is coming if you aren't there yet and it is a book to help make sense of what is happening if you are in the middle and it can still be helpful if you are post menopausal.  Age Like a Girl is divided into three parts:  The philosophy behind Aging like a girl The Art of Aging Like a Girl The Path to becoming a New You Age Like A Girl covers the brain changes, the physical changes and the way you are becoming a "new you." This book puts a positive spin on the aging that I think is helpful.  Along with the meat of this book, there are also some sides at the end of the book that are helpful too: A  Man's Guide to Supporting the Women you love through menopause A note to healthcare practitioners A note to employers-...

  Do you journal or art journal in your Bible? This new Filament NLT Wide Margin Journaling Bible from Tyndale House Publishers has so many great features for both journaling and reading the Bible. With this Bible, after you make your purchase, you also have access to the Filament Electronic Bible App.  What is a Filament-enabled Bible? Filament-enabled Bibles offer a seamless fusion of traditional reading and cutting-edge technology. The Filament Bible app is your gateway to a deeper, more enriching Bible-study experience. This Bible mixes paper reading with computer technology for those who want that experience. Seamlessly connect every page of your Bible to a treasure trove of resources, including : o     25,000+ study notes for understanding o     350+ videos for insight o     40+ maps and infographics for context o     400+ profiles and articles for enrichment o     1,500+ devotions for daily inspi...

  The Wild Card by Emma St. Clair is part of the Love Stories in Sheet Cake series. It could read as a stand-alone but characters from the other books are in this one so I would encourage you to read the whole series. I loved all of the books in the series that I have read. Collin Graham often feels over-looked in his family of brothers and a sister. However, he is surprised when out of the blue, Molly, grabs him at a festival and asks him to be her fake boyfriend. He knows Molly is his brother-in-law's sister but she doesn't recognize him in a beard--so he once again feels over-looked even though she only met him twice before. He agrees to go along with her plan and the fun begins.  Molly is auditioning for an actress role in a new production company based in Sheet Cake and really wants the part when she grabs Collin. She is trying to make her own way after her father tries to control her. Collin is reeling after a bad break-up with someone who since drug his name through th...

    All Booked Up by Melody Carlson drew me in with the bookish cover. While there is some talk about books, the story is mainly about a widowed woman who takes in boarders for financial reasons. It is a character driven novel about relationships. Riva Owen lives in a large Victorian house that has been in her family for generations. Her lawyer husband passed away several months earlier and her finances were now a challenge. Riva doesn't want to move and leave her house--and her library of cherished books.  After some consideration, instead of moving, Riva takes in boarders. With a few women living under the same roof, they have to learn to navigate different personalities and challenges as housemates. There are some men included in the story but there isn't a lot of romance in All Booked Up . This book focuses on friendships. I enjoyed getting to know Riva and the other ladies in her house to start with. Then, when they were living together, there was some gossip and ch...