Reading, Writing & Pondering

    What do you get when you mix a book featuring Amish people with suspense? A new book called, Among the Innocent by Mary Alford. Ten years ago, Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered. She thought the killer committed suicide. But was that the right guy? Miller, along with the new police detective Dalton Cooper, are faced with a new case where an Amish woman is murdered in the same way almost exactly 10 years later.  Among the Innocent is my first book by Mary Alford. This book kept me turning pages quickly to find out who the real killer was. The plot was fast-paced and the story line moved along quickly. I liked the main characters, Leah and Dalton. However, I didn't think there was much romance to develop a relationship and I thought it happened a little too quickly.  I bring this up because it is labeled Romantic Suspense. . .and I think just "Suspense" would have worked better as a label. Anyway, I was more interested in finding out who the bad guy w...

Are you a fan of books set in small towns? If so, then you may want to give Her Hometown Dream by Rachelle Paige Campbell a try. Amy Parker has come home. What Amy doesn't know is if her homecoming is a temporary two-week trip between jobs or if she should come back for good. When her dream house comes on the market, she believes God is telling her to come home for good.  At the same time, the tenth anniversary of Jake Grant's best friend dying in a tragic accident is fast approaching. He is working to create a charity to honor him but he doesn't have all the skills he needs to set it up. Amy could be the one to help him--but he has to forgive Amy for what he sees as her part in his friend's passing.  Amy had a crush on Jake years ago. Can they heal the past and form a relationship? Her Hometown Dream is a nice, clean read if you like to read about interpersonal relationships in a small town. Amy had a crush on Jake since high school but I didn't really feel a lot...

  Children often learn to fear making mistakes. Unfortunately, they often learn that perfection is important. You're Always Enough and More Than I Hope For by Emily Ley was written to help children realize that everyone makes mistakes and that they don't have to be perfect. This book was written to help children understand that they are loved just the way they are. You're Always Enough and More Than I Hoped For is a large, colorful book. It has 32 pages and is close to 9 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches. This colorful book is aimed at children ages eight and under, but I think it would be good for children up to age ten or so. So many children need affirmation that who they are is enough in today's world where social media can get a grip at an early age and the competition can begin in their minds.  I liked You're Always Enough and More Than I Hoped For in many ways. There is a lot to look at in the colorful illustrations. There are children of differing races and abilities. A...

    Both the Prayer Journal: 30 Days on Humility and 30 Days on the Gospel were written by Erika Allen. Allen writes in such a way that these daily readings would inspire women of all ages. They could also be read by women of various denominations. They encourage you to read the Bible prayerfully--which I really like. I also like how these slim volumes are so beautifully decorated both inside and out by Ruth Chou Simmons. They are simply gorgeous besides the solid Biblical content inside. They have thick cream-colored pages inside with plenty of space each day for journaling. I haven't tried markers but pens and pencils don't bleed through and work well for both prayer and even doing some prayerful art journaling in these books.  These slim volumes are a good size to slide into your Bible case alongside your Bible or into your purse for study away from home. If you know someone who might like them, they would work well in a gift basket to cheer someone who is ill or needi...

  Are you a fan of clean mysteries and suspense books? If you haven't read James R. Hannibal, I would encourage you to give this author a try. Elysium Tide is a book full of mystery, suspense, lots of action and some twists and turns that you may not see coming. Dr. Peter Chesterfield, one of the top neurosurgeons in London, is a workaholic who just had a big blow-up with his colleague--and his boss orders him to attend a medical symposium at a luxury hotel in Maui. Not surprisingly, Peter has a had time relaxing once he gets there so he takes a midnight walk on the beach--where he pulls a woman with a skull fracture from the water. Sadly, in spite of his skill, he can't save her and he becomes obsessed with finding her killer. . .much to the frustration of Lisa Kealoha, who is the detective assigned to the case. Maybe if they work together, they can find the killer? I devoured Elysium Tide quickly as I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed Peter's dry British humor. ...

  If you are a young woman or are looking for a Bible for a young woman, I would encourage you to consider this Bible. The Young Women Love God Greatly Bible from Thomas Nelson is a Bible with a WHOLE LOT of study helps included. As the back cover says, The Young Women Love God Greatly Bible uses the SOAP Bible study framework--Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. There are 50 reading plans for reading through Scripture using this method. There are also topical reading plans about life's issues, such as fear and anxiety and friendship. This Bible combines devotions, profile of Biblical and historical people, other women's personal testimonies from all over the world, and letters from mentors to guide you when faced with a challenge. Women who made a difference for God's kingdom throughout history are highlighted throughout the Bible. The Bible is fairly heavy at about 4 pounds so it isn't one you likely want to carry to church or Bible study, rather is is one...

  Are you looking for a devotional to carry with you or one to journal in that features the book of Psalms? The NKJV Spurgeon and the Psalms book includes the whole book of Psalms along with devotions from Charles Spurgeon that include a brief passage from his book, The Treasury of David.  This devotional is such a beautiful slim book in Leathersoft imitation leather with gold edges and a ribbon marker. This book measures roughly 6 by 9 inches and is a great size to stick in your book bag or laptop bag or other type of travel bag to carry along to read on the go. The pages are fairly thin but a pen that does not bleed through or a pencil would work well to make notes in the generous margins in this book. I especially like how the print is easy to read 9.5-point Comfort Print. There is also a nice presentation page in the front of the book, followed by a preface with Spurgeon's words and an introduction to who he is. If you are not familiar with the author, Charles Spurgeon, yo...

  For some young people, if they spend time thinking about it, there is a lot to be anxious about in the world right now--school work, relationship issues, world problems, and more. 100 Devotions for Kids Dealing with Anxiety by Justine Froelker could be a book that would help some tweens and teens as it is aimed at those ages eight to thirteen, but depending on the person could be helpful to those slightly young or older than that. In 100 Devotions for Kids Dealing with Anxiety , each reading starts with a Bible verse, followed by a short devotional to read, and ending with prompts to write related to each reading. There is a lined space following each prompt, but for those who write a lot, they might want to use their own blank book/notebook.  100 Devotions for Kids Dealing with Anxiety includes readings on giving worries to God before bed, Waiting and Patience, Feeling afraid, and feeling like we are enough, among other issues related to anxiety. Each reading is fairly sh...

  All the Places We Call Home by Patrice Gopo encourages children to have a look at their family history and to see where they have come from.  All the Places We Call Home , a 32-page fairly large dust-jacketed book measures  about 9 1/2 to close to 10 inches in size. It is aimed at children ages four to eight. This is a lovely book to read together before bed to inspire a sense of family history in children. This book inspires children to see how family has helped to shape who they are, to learn a little about where their family came from, and to help them better connect with other cultures and communities around the world. All the Places We Call Home would also have special appeal to people of color. The illustrations are bright and colorful and definitely draw the reader in to the story. There is action illustrated on many of the pages. Both the colorful illustrations and the lyrical prose work together to draw children in to the story. All the Places We Call Home wi...

  I don't know about you but I have been a fan of coloring since I was little and could hold my crayon. Coloring God's Love for Me: 100 Devotions to Inspire Young Hearts by Janae Dueck is a quality coloring book that combines coloring with devotionals to inspire children ages 6 to 9--but I think it is inspiring for older children and adults too. Coloring God's Love for Me has brief devotionals written in language that early elementary children can understand and relate to. Each one starts out with a Bible verse and follows with a short reading that relates to every day life today. Along with the coloring pages, there are also a number of activity pages that include journaling, mazes, drawing and more. It is a fun book with readings that could both inspire young hearts to learn and encourage them to grow, as well as help them express a creative side while they do it. Coloring God's Love for Me would also be a great book to use for devotions while Homeschooling.  The p...

  It is easy to feel alone sometimes--no matter what our age. We talk about God with our children, but it takes time to get to know Him. Is God Awake? by Sheila Walsh is a good book to read with young children to help calm their fears and turn them towards knowing God. Is God Still Awake? is a fairly large book at roughly 8 1/2 by 10 inches and 32 pages long. It is written for children ages four to eight, which sounds about right in reading it. It is a great book for early elementary children. The illustrations are bright and vibrant and they draw you in. The words often rhyme and are likely to be comforting at times of fear and feeling alone. There is a bit of humor at one point with the dog and the cake her mom made, which I thought made it fun.   Sheila Walsh also points children to the Bible for proof of God's character and the faith of parents or other loved ones. The language in Is God Still Awake? seems to be age appropriate. I think it is a great book for those wh...

  Are you a gardener? I am. When I saw this beautiful book, The Sower by Scott James, I knew that I had to get a copy.  The Crossway website says this book is aimed at children five to 10 years old. It is 48 pages long and approximately eight inches square in size with a dust jacket. I think the illustrations are beautiful in an artsy sort of way.  Andrew Peterson writes the forward, which I think is beautiful as I can relate to his love of nature and God's creation.  The Sower is an artistic metaphorical book relating God to a Sower. It seems to me that this is a book that one would appreciate more as they got older. I think younger children require some explanation to go along with the book. There is a Bible verse before the book begins and one at the end. If I were reading this book to my son when he was younger, I would have read slowly and taken time to explain some of the meaning, which I think would be made easier by the fact that we actually garden so he kn...

  We are all different and sometimes children have had feelings of comparison and not measuring up just like adults do. Uniquely You by Joyce Meyer and illustrated by Marcin Piwowarski is a beautifully illustrated and written book that reminds children that they are all created to be the special person that they are with their own unique gifts. Uniquely You is a large 32-page book that measures about nine inches square. The intended audience is children 4 to 7 but it may reach children of a bit older age too. It would be great to read to your family or to a small crowd of Sunday School children. Both the illustrations and the text invite inclusiveness for children of differing abilities and races as well as having different likes and gifts. The words rhyme and the beautiful illustrations just echo the beautiful story in just the right way. Uniquely You would make a nice gift besides a book to read to either your own children or those you visit with. It is also a great reminder t...

  Love You S'More by Melinda Lee Rathjen is a cute book to start out the Summer reading season with a young child or group of children.  Love You S'More is a 20-page board book measuring 7 inches square. It is a great size for young children to hold on their own. From the back of the book, "Enjoy  three of life's greatest pleasure--love, puns and s'mores with this silly story about two raccoons competing to see who loves the other s'more." That sums up the book well. It is a cute book. It would be great fun to read with a bunch of young children at a family reunion type gathering while making s'mores. It would also be fun to read parent to child. . .and in many other circumstances. It is just a cute book with fun lyrics that go so well with summer s'mores. Love You S'More also has cute illustrations of the raccoons with their faces covered in s'mores. I love the whole package. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinion...

  Luke Davenport was restless. He wasn't sure what to do with himself now that the other men in Hanger's Horsemen were "domesticated." In Honor's Defense , Book three of Hanger's Horsemen series is Luke's story. At the start of In Honor's Defense , Luke Davenport jumps at a chance to do something and takes a job tracking down some rustlers. It doesn't turn out to be quite as easy of a job as it sounded. While working that job, Luke meets Damaris Baxter who takes charge of her nephew, Nathaniel, after her brother unexpectedly dies. As a single woman, caring for a growing boy turns out to be quite a challenge. Nate is an angry young man but is he mixed up with the rustling? Or is there more to all of this trouble than meets the eye? In Honor's Defense kept me reading from the first page right through to the end. I enjoyed getting to know Luke, Damaris and Nathaniel. There is also a mystery to be solved within the book and that kept me thinking a...

  Lots of action and romance are a big part of Sunburst by Susan May Warren, the second book in the Sky King Ranch series. Sunburst starts out with both romance and action. This book flips back and forth a bit between the beginnings of a relationship that got cut short between former Navy SEAL Ranger Kingston and Noemi Sutton. They met and spent two weeks dating and getting to know each other in Florida. Now Ranger is in Nigeria trying to save his brother Colt, and also Noemi as he quickly discovered, in Nigeria. From there, the book is constant action--with back and forth relationship between Noemi and Ranger. I enjoyed Sunburst as a whole. It is full of action that kept me turning pages. There are rich descriptions of the area, the culture and the foods in Nigeria that I enjoyed. I also liked the romantic wedding that took place in Nigeria--even though it was just part of "the operation." At the same time, I did get a bit frustrated with the characters as they kept going...

  Castles and dragons and mystery abound in the new middle-grade fantasy book, The Dragon and the Stone by Kathryn Butler.  The Dragon and the Stone begins with Lily McKinley finding a dragon named Cedric in her kitchen eating her dinner. Things start to get really crazy for Lily after she confronts a bully named Adam in her school yard and the a stone pendent that belonged to her father, who recently passed away is now glowing, and she is transported to a magical place with the magic pendent when she puts it on.  I enjoyed this magical book even though I don't read a lot of fantasy. It would be a fun book to read as a family. There are themes of faith, mourning, sacrifice, salvation, and redemption. The Dragon and the Stone has some fun characters and is a wonderful adventure into a magical land. I enjoyed the characters and the surprises along the way. There were some points that would make for some great family discussion. While it is a fun book as a whole, there are ...