Tag: review

The Queen’s Handmaid: Book Review

Grace-Filled Writer
I’ve found a new genre of fiction which I now love! This is the second novel from Tracy L. Higley I’ve reviewed…and loved! I love history and historical fiction, but I’ve stayed away from anything that wasn’t American History. I pretty much stayed with novels set in the 1800’s. I’m so glad I gave something different a try. 

It may be because my oldest daughter and I are studying this period of history extensively, but I found it much more interesting than I would have a few years ago. Set in the time of Cleopatra (About 40 years before Christ’s birth) and follows the journey of her oldest son’s nurse, Lydia, as she travels from Egypt to Israel in search of her own heritage. 

This beautiful tale weaves history throughout the pages in a way that doesn’t feel as if you are reading a history book. I’ve become a huge fan of living books, books which tell history in a story-like way. This is an excellent example of how one can enjoy learning history. I knew Cleopatra existed, but had no idea what time frame or what she was really like as a ruler. This was not an area I remember studying in grade-school. I actually did a little historical research of my own as I began reading because I wanted to make sure I knew when it was taking place. 

I really enjoyed Lydia’s spiritual journey as well. She struggles with knowing what or who to follow religiously because of the Egyptian, Greek, and Jewish cultures she has learned. She knows she must choose, but it is a long process, not a quick decision. 

I also was surprised at many turns this novel took. It helped to be rather unfamiliar with the history surrounding the story, but I love a novel that keeps me guessing. So much already published is predictable and I’m more excited to read author’s who don’t take the predictable route. 

Even if you don’t normally read historical fiction or this particular time of historical fiction I urge you to give this book a try. I think you’ll find yourself as drawn to it as I was!


Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Heart’s Pursuit: Book Review

Grace-Filled Writer

One of my current favorite author’s is Robin Lee Hatcher. I really enjoy her style of writing and that her stories tend to hold some suspense beyond the typical boy-meets-girl romance. I always look forward to getting my hands on her next endeavor!

The Heart’s Pursuit was an interesting read which took twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. That’s always a fun change. As an avid reader I can often predict the plot development of a story and anytime I’m surprised or caught off guard by a certain turn of events I’m thrilled.

The plot is also unique. A young woman, Silver Matlock, is jilted at the alter. She hires a bounty hunter, Jared Newman, to find him merely to recover the family money and jewels which he pilfered away. Their journey is difficult and takes unexpected turns and Jared discovers information about a different criminal he is hunting for a very personal reason. You’ll be quickly drawn into the lives of each character as they travel across the west both seeking justice for different crimes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the character development of Jared and Silver, the hero and heroine of this western story. Several books I’ve read recently have been lacking in the area of character development, but I can always count on Robin Lee Hatcher to provide interesting, imperfect individuals who grow in their personalities as well as their relationship to God.

I also love that her stories draw the reader to think more about God and His role in our lives, but she isn’t preachy. Some author’s write entire sermons. This isn’t wrong, but I don’t particularly enjoy reading a story I feel is preaching at me.

If you’re looking for a good read this summer pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed!

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

101 Color & Sing Bible Stories: Review

Grace-Filled Writer

Grace is my youngest and as the youngest she often gets hand-me-downs for just about everything, especially toys and books. She has a few things that are her own, but just by the course of life almost all her books were once her sisters. She was over-the-moon excited to have a new Bible story book all her own! Grace has grown up knowing all about God and the Bible and enjoys reading the same stories over and over.

101 Color & Sing Bible Stories by Stephen Elkins is a great addition to our library! We have well over 10 Bible story books and that doesn’t even include individual storybooks with Biblical themes. I wondered if this would capture Grace’s interest, but I should have known she would love it!This is much, much more than your average Bible for kids!

 

For each story there is a child-friendly reading which has the Scripture reference clearly shown, a song to help retain what they learned, and a coloring page which matches the illustration provided. This is one of the most interactive Bible books I’ve seen for kids, and I’ve seen a lot. While the content may be predictable as it is laid out in chronological order this makes it all the more loved by kids. My daughter already knew what the next story would be because she knows the basic order of creation.

Her favorite part so far has been the CDs. She loves listening to the music during her rest time and alternates between the two CDs. Some songs were new, but most were the traditional Sunday School songs my husband and I grew up with. She loved this as well because she immediately was singing along with them all!




This is a great Bible Story book for toddlers and preschoolers whether you have many on hand or this is your first one. The teaching is solidly biblical, yet not too deep for them to understand and the music and coloring pages are the icing on the cake! 

Disclaimer: I received 101 Color & Sing Bible Stories from Tyndale Publishers as part of  the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. 

Strange Fire: Book Sneeze Review

Grace-Filled Writer

John MacArthur’s book, Strange Fire, explores a scriptural understanding of the Holy Spirit. From the beginning of the church in Acts there has been confusion, misconceptions, and outright lies taught concerning who the Holy Spirit is and how He operates in our lives. John MacArthur uses Scripture to correct common false teachings and misunderstandings within the church about the Holy Spirit. He also helps those with no real understanding of this part of the Trinity learn the basics.

This book was difficult for me to enjoy. One of the stated main purposes is to directly confront specific denominations whom teach false doctrine about the Holy Spirit. Because of this the tone of the book is rather intense. My personality shies away from confrontation and while the teaching in this book was solid, I can not count this as a book I will return to often because of this.

As always John MacArthur provides solid, biblical teaching and this is a book my husband, a pastor, will very much appreciate. We have personally encountered individuals within the church with strong misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit either because they had not been taught or they had been taught falsely. This is invaluable for the pastor who wants to lead his people to a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit.

I also would encourage anyone who has not learned much about the Holy Spirit throughout their study of Scripture to pick up this book. The clear teaching is a great place to start for a complete and solid teaching regarding what many see as a mysterious part of our faith.

Disclosure:  I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook.com® <http://BookLook.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Questions God Asks: Book Review

Grace-Filled Writer
I have come to really love reading the gospels. My favorite parts are when Jesus is asked a question. More often than not He responds with a question rather than directly answering. Why did He do that? Further exploration of Scripture reveals God has been asking men and women questions from the beginning of creation. Israel Wayne delves into these questions in his book Questions God Asks from New Leaf Press. 
As with all books from New Leaf Publishing Group I eagerly jumped right into reading. I genuinely enjoy learning and growing in my faith through solid biblical teaching. While there is no substitute for the Word of God I feel so blessed to live in a time when there is no shortage of clear evangelical instruction from those who believe Scripture is the literal and inerrant Word of God. I am, however, cautious to research both the author and publishing company before I read because I know there are those who do not take God’s Word as it should be. 
Israel Wayne fervently and consistently defends the Christian faith and a biblical worldview. His straight-forward writing style invites everyone, no matter where they are in their walk, to consider the questions God poses to specific individuals, then walking the reader through Scripture to see why the answers are so important. He also explores why God would ask questions in the first place. 
One aspect of this book which I feel lends itself to being a tool for evangelism is the brevity of each chapter. Words are not wasted and the simple clarity of each section makes this an ideal read for those seeking to understand who God is according to the Scriptures. As I continued reading individuals came to mind in nearly every chapter with whom I wanted to share the book. 
Although every chapter is excellent, my favorite was the first, a question posed to Job. Where Were You? was a chapter with which I related closely. Several years ago we felt the pain and loss of our first child to miscarriage. It was an incredibly difficult time and as my husband and I found comfort in the Book of Job. Job 38:4 in particular was a verse which God brought to me during this time. “Where were you when I lid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” At first read this may seem a rather harsh statement for our loving God to make to a man who has lost nearly everything of value in his life, yet this question led Job, and me thousands of years later, to feel deeper peace and comfort. 
I loved Wayne’s chapter on this verse as he related a conversation he had with an unbelieving seatmate on a flight. He showed how this same question God posed to Job could also be used to defend the Christian faith. What a blessing to see God teaching us apologetics through His own questions to humanity! 
I also really liked chapter seventeen, Do You Have a Right to be Angry?, a question God posed to Jonah as he whined and complained at the grace and deliverance given to Nineveh. This chapter deals with the sovereignty of God, something we all struggle with from time to time. Whether we are angry at what we perceive to be God’s response to a situation or about life circumstances it is a questions we should allow God to ask us the same and listen to His promptings. I often need reminded of the sovereignty of God as I view the world around me. 
I highly recommend this book and feel better equipped to share my faith after reading it. For more on what is included in the book take a look at the preview below!
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For more reviews click the link below!
Disclaimer: I received Questions God Asks from New Leaf Publishing in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. 

Awesome Science DVD’s: Review

Grace-Filled Writer

I was soooooo very excited for the opportunity to review some of the Awesome Science videos! I’ve been eyeing these for a while, but my girls were not quite old enough to really understand them yet. My oldest, now 8, has really loved learning more of science and how it relates to the Bible, like how mountain ranges formed during the global flood and what started the ice age. We’ve also been learning about ancient cultures and religions and we have talked more about why some people do not believe God created the earth. We have always been very open in our explanations and I can do this more confidently with resources from Master Books.

The two newest titles in the Awesome Science series are Explore Rocky Mountain National Park and Explore Glacier National Park. All of the DVDs in this series aim to show how observational science and historical biblical accounts can coexist. It is important to know that no matter what evolutionary science may claim, the Bible does not contradict science. Quite the contrary, if one starts with a biblical worldview scientific evidence in fact supports the historical accounts.

So much information available regarding the geological formation of the earth either completely ignores Scripture or goes even further to say anyone who believes the biblical account of Creation is ignorant at best. I love having solid information at my fingertips to share with my girls.

Noah Justice is the articulate and energetic hosts for each episode. Most videos for kids have adults presenting information, which is fine, but Noah’s excitement is contagious and we love it! I very much appreciate the respectful way which he presents both sides of the debate, showing how much of the evolutionary belief is found to be lacking. Consistent references to Scripture and empirical scientific evidence help us to further understand explanations which make more sense than those who seek to find a way for creation apart for God.

Rose is eight and loves this series. She’s already asked to get more of the videos soon! Beth is six and while she enjoyed them, she does better if we just watch a short section. Grace is four and honestly lasted about as long as the opening music! These are excellent videos, but very much geared towards older elementary children. They very much enjoyed the bloopers of Noah, especially falling down the sand dunes! They love to laugh and really enjoyed this part.

My favorite part was that the gospel was clearly presented at the end of each video. You see, all this information is good and important, but if we are still without a relationship with Jesus, none of it really matters anyway. That is the beauty of these videos. They are not intended to be a source of ammunition we intend to volley at the opposite side. They instead seek to points us to the Creator of the universe, arming us with truth to stand against the falsehoods thrown at us daily.


Check out what my fellow Moms of Master Books had to say about these videos! 

Disclaimer: I received the Explore Rocky Mountain National Park and Explore Glacier National Park DVDs as part of the Moms of Master Books Team. I was not required to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. 

STEM Science Station – Magnets from Lakeshore Learning: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
(Read to the end to find a FABULOUS coupon code!
Hands on, experiential learning are key components of our homeschool. I love to integrate as much hands-on activity as I can and manipulative for learning are huge part of this. Lakeshore Learning has a wonderful array of learning games, toys, and manipulatives to engage eager young learners born with the desire to learn and grow. 
We were blessed to review the STEM Science Station – Magnets from Lakeshore Learning. What fun this has been for my sweet girls! They are so curious by nature. I truly believe we are all created with natural inquisition, but unfortunately it is often crushed at a young age due to circumstances beyond a child’s control. What a blessing I have to help keep this wonder alive and strong in my own girls! 
The girls were itching to get their hands on everything side this wonderful box! The box has a set of cards which you can set in a stand and display while they explore. Each card challenges the child to complete a task and figure out one of the many properties of magnets.
Some challenges teach how magnets can oppose one another while others show their attractions. Students also have to figure out where to positing magnets to create movement and problem solve how to complete each task. 
I like how they were encouraged to explore around the house as well to see where magnets would work. I did make sure they knew to keep them away from certain objects, like computers, but otherwise let them go ahead and explore! Grace was shocked her magnet stuck to the dish washer since she never realized it was magnetic! It didn’t surprise her to find it stuck to the refrigerator though. 
Beth figured out she had to hold her magnet above the little car in order to make it move. I was very pleased she kept trying different ways before she gave up. Sometimes she gets frustrated, but she was quite intrigued to find the answer on her own. 
Rose, ever my over achiever, decided to make up her own experiments. The kitchen was filled with, “Let’s try this guys!” as she led her sisters to further discover more about magnets. I loved how she looked for new ways to use these and did such a good job leading her sisters to discover! 
This is a great explore and play learning tool. I love being able to say, “Let’s go do some science experiments!” and see them run to the table to get started. All of the STEM Science Stations will have this effect on your children. They are made very high quality and your children will easily begin to understand observable science through using them.
I also have a coupon code for all of you! Just click here and you’ll get 20% off your next order from Lakeshore Learning! 
(Expires 3/31/14)
(This is not an affiliate link)

Disclaimer: I received STEM Science Station – Magnets from Lakeshore Learning in exchange for an honest review.  I was not required to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way. 

Parenting Cheat Sheets from Christianity Cove: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
Parenting is hard. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but there is so much more to parenting than I realized before actually becoming a parent. As a full-time teacher I mistakenly convinced myself parenting would be easier than maintaining discipline and order in my classroom. After all, they were my own. Boy was I ever wrong! The reason it is so difficult sometimes is because they are my own. I am concerned with more than just keeping them quiet for a certain period of time during the day. Their heart condition is more important to me than following my directions for any given task. There is just more involved. Parenting is even harder in our society of fast-paced, in-your-face multimedia. Sometimes we need a little help along the way and thankfully there are many resources available now to help. 
Mary-Kate Warner from Christianity Cove has compiled a simple to use resource for families called Christian Parenting Cheat Sheets. The name explains it all! Now when you have one of those moments when you don’t know how to respond, a quick reference guides are available for 27 different areas. Available in a printable e-book these can be kept handy as a hard copy or on your tablet. I printed these and keep them in a notebook in our schoolroom so I have them as a handy resource whenever I need them. 
I appreciate the many different categories. As I read through the list of what is included there are many which I wouldn’t have thought to include. I love how they can be used both in the moment of crisis as well as in advance as I disciple my girls. It is important to be able to address theses issues biblically at both times and these are incredibly helpful. 
I was blessed to be raised by Christian parents who strove to parent me biblically, but even with this great example there are moments when I feel at a loss in how to deal with a situation or to know what words to say which will speak Christ into their lives. These have been a great blessing to me for this reason. I know many parents who have stared their walk with Christ later on in their lives and think this an invaluable resource for them as well. I often find myself being challenged as I teach and train my girls. 
In addition to these everyday helps, Mary-Kate Warner has also compiled a holiday edition! These are a really neat way to focus on Christ no matter what the holiday is.  Some holidays are Christian in their origins anyway, but all celebrations can be used to point our children to the Savior. Each holiday includes Scripture to study as well as activities and projects to focus on during and leading up to the day. The 10 holidays included will give you new ways to focus on Christ throughout the year. 
I highly recommend this resource to parents looking for new ways to train their children in godly virtues and discipline with grace and love. You will find every moment you spend with Christian Parenting Cheat Sheets a blessing on your journey. 
Disclaimer: I received the Christian Parenting Cheat Sheets in return for my honest opinion and review. I was not required to write a positive review. 

The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky from Master Books: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
I never liked science very much in school. I did when I was younger, but by the time I reached middle school and high school not so much. I’ve been wondering why recently and think it may have to do with the effort I felt it was taking to sort out what was factual and what was being based on evolutionary theory. I couldn’t tell whether what I was taught was actually based on observation because of how things were worded in my science books. The only teacher I knew I could trust was my AP Biology teacher my senior year because she told us from day one she was a Christian and did not believe evolutionary theory. Now, I’m working to remedy my apathy for all things science mostly because of my science-loving daughter!

While there are several groups who publish materials which are Creation based my favorite thus far is Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing. Not only are their books educationally and scientifically sound, they take time to make sure they are beautifully published and engaging to read. I now find science interesting where I once was turned off by it. The most recent book I had the opportunity to review was the The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky. Wow! This book is jam packed with information and beautiful pictures.

I appreciate there is information for beginners as well as those more experienced. I’m certainly a beginner, but for those who already know a bit about the heavenly bodies will learn as well. The best part is that the purpose is reflected in the title. Lots of information is given, but everything relates back to observing the night sky. We know the stars are a revelation of the wonder of our Creator and understanding which is honoring to Him.

The moon one night while we were camping this summer

No matter what you are hoping to learn about astronomy, this is an excellent starting point. The moon is an excellent place for beginners to start and is fascinating for students of all ages. My girls love looking for the moon each night and have begun to realize it isn’t always in the same location. The chapter on the moon and sun explain a lot about the moon’s position and movement.

My favorite chapter so far is about the basics of using a telescope. I purchased a telescope for our homeschool over the summer and it wasn’t as easy to use as I’d anticipated! Although it was not a complicated telescope, I had no experience using one and needed some guidance. Thankfully we were all able to enjoy a beautiful view of the moon one evening when it finally stopped raining! We were also blessed that evening with an unobstructed view of the moon.

The hardest part about using a telescope is keeping it focused for all three girls! They really enjoyed looking at the moon, but I’m definitely going to be taking more time to read this chapter of the book so I can understand how to use it even better. I know there are many more ways to use this telescope and I’ve only just begun to learn! 


The pictures in this book are breathtaking…simply stunning. Even if you aren’t able to see the night sky because of bad weather, this book can give you an up-close view. In case you’re interested in photographing the evening sky there is also a wonderful chapter on this. I doubt I’ll ever be to that point, but my girls might be one day. One of their favorite past times is photography. They each have their own digital cameras. While their current cameras are nowhere near high powered enough for night-time photography, I can certainly see them studying photography more in depth as they get older. I’m sure this book will be one of the first places they’ll start.

Master Books has become a trusted source for our family and they definitely don’t disappoint with A Stargazers Guides to the Night Sky.

Disclaimer: I received The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky from Master Books in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I was not required 

Timeline App from Knowledge Quest: Review

Grace-Filled Writer
One of the wonderful blessings of homeschooling is having the opportunity to focus on history in the younger grades. Our curriculum is already based this way, but I’ve come to appreciate it even more as I find out how little time is spent on history in most traditional schools. Part of our curriculum includes a timeline which the kids create. While I still like the idea of my kids creating a timeline they draw themselves, I was intrigued by the idea of building a timeline with the iPad.
Knowledge Quest has created a lovely iPad app called Timeline Builder which is simple to use and has multiple applications. I love how beautiful the opening screen is and the lively music is incredibly fun! The multicolored tabs are easy to use and navigate with.

Photo Credit: Knowledge Quest

I really like that it comes with a sample timeline to play around with. This gave me lots of experience so when I was ready to make my own I knew exactly what to do. I decided to make our Heart of Dakota timelines with the app to go along with our studies. It was very easy to create what I wanted for both Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory as well as Preparing Hearts for His Glory. I did accidentally put the wrong dates in at first, but editing your timeline after it is created is just as easy as making it. With just a couple of clicks I was back on track.

Beth working on her timeline

I really love how easy it is to add a picture to each entry. The app is linked directly to Wikipedia so you have immediate access to royalty free photos. You can also use photos from my iPad which is a neat way to incorporate the girls’ created timelines. All I have to do is snap a quick photo of their entry for the week and use it on the timeline. My pictures are small right now because we are going to fill this very quickly. With the ability to resize the photos as well as move the pictures around on the screen to find the best layout, this app is very functional and just so easy even for a newbie at the iPad and apps like me!

These are images from Rose’s timeline

I also really like how this timeline is applicable to so many different things whether your are studying history, science, a novel, or even your own family. I have plans to map out our family history using this app. You can access photos easily from any online source, so pairing this with an ancestry site would make creating a family history very easy. I can’t think of a more unique or fun way to teach my girls about their past.

My father and a fellow seminary professor
visited our class for the unit

As an English teacher I also see the opportunity to apply this to any novel. I teach 13 junior high homeschoolers writing and literature every Monday. We recently studied the novel Across Five Aprils. If you haven’t read it yet, this classic novel centers around the five years of the Civil War from the perspective of a young boy who was not old enough to go to war. His unique perspective is a wonderful way to study this tumultuous time in history. The app helped easily show my students where events in the novel fit alongside the actual events of the Civil War which are mentioned throughout the story.

Whether or not history is an integral part of your studies yet, this is a resource you won’t want to miss. You can keep track of so many things with this app in an interactive way which your kids will enjoy and can review for years to come.

Disclaimer: I received this app from Knowledge Quest to review for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and these are my own opinions.