Life in the Country!

I love the country, so I enjoy a well-written fiction book with rolling hills, creeks, horses, and big families enjoying farm life together.  Home on the range is this second book in Ruth Logan Hernes' Double S Ranch series. I enjoyed it as much as the first in the series,  though a reader doesn't need to start with book one in order to understand and enjoy the book. It's the story of farmers on a large ranch and how they deal with change, trauma, haunting pasts, and family relationships. It's a story of forgiveness, hope, healing, and the power of relationships to make us stronger. The characters are delightful and easy to love. 

From the publisher: Nick Stafford stayed in central Washington, working his family’s large ranch after his brothers left to pursue other passions—but his toughest job is being a single dad. As a child he watched his father fail at marriage and parenting, so Nick was determined to show him up. He’d be a better husband, father, and ranch manager than Sam Stafford ever was. Despite that commitment, three years after Nick’s wife left him, he has a daughter in trouble at school and both of his girls are facing issues that force him to rethink his stubborn plans. For Dr. Elsa Andreas, life fell apart when tragedy caused her to abandon her family therapy practice and retreat to the backwoods of Gray’s Glen. Her school principal sister believes Elsa can guide the Stafford girls and that working with kids will draw Elsa out of her protective bubble. Summer on the Double S teems with life and adventure. Amid the bounty of God and land, will Nick and Elsa find the courage to build futures based on faith rather than fear?

I would recommend this book for readers ages 15 and older. I received this book as a gift from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Flip Bible Book - great for dining room table!

Candle has a new Bible storybook out for children called Day by Day, Walk With Jesus. The subtitle is "Read the story of Jesus in 40 days". There is a table of contents that outlines all 40 stories and the pages where they start. Each day has a key verse, a one-page story, and illustration, and a reflection question or statement. The stories are well told. The graphics are simple, but cute. They offer a wonderful way to let your children meet our savior through stories from  the Bible.

Candle also has a New Day by Day Bible. It's actually a flip stand book that could sit on your counter top or table to remind you to read your Bible story each day. There are 365 stories from a combination of the Old Testament and New Testament. Each daily reading is numbered, so you can keep on track if you want to. Each day is titled with a short story that is anywhere from 1 to 4 short paragraphs. A bright picture usually encompasses about half of the page , so the reading in total for each day is probably 2-4 minutes. The words are also somewhat simple, so a 2nd or 3rd grader could probably read the text out loud.

Candle sent me both of these Publications in exchange for my honest review. I think both publications are great. I especially like the flip stand Bible storybook - my 10-year old daughter read it cover to cover in a few days, and my 12-year old son is halfway through it. I would recommend this product for families with children ages 4 to 10.

Glacier National Park in Fiction

I’ve never been to Glacier National Park, but I feel like I’ve seen some of it after reading Susan May Warren’s new book, Wild Montana Skies. Wow, what a beautiful place!  I enjoyed the light-hearted story and the way she developed characters and relationships over long spans of time. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of challenges, and a little bit of love – all woven together in a nice package. The storyline is very creative and full of small unexpected twists.  I appreciate the themes of love, forgiveness, hope, healing, faithfulness, and standing up for yourself.  

I would recommend this book to readers age 15+.  It would be a good book to read with a friend or as a mother/daughter, as an opportunity to talk about decisions made throughout the book.

I received the book as a gift from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

If I had judged the stuff by its cover, I probably would not have read it, but now I have discovered that Michael Phillips can really write.  In The Cottage, Phillips paints a wonderful description of the Shetland islands in this new release, and leaves readers wanting to see the beauty of the islands in person. She develops her characters well, she tells a tail full of twists, and she gives readers I wonderful journey to another world via the pages of her books.  

This was actually the second book in the Secrets of Shetlands series, but I didn't feel lost, even though I hadn't read the first book.

I actually shared this book with a friend, and her comments echoed mine.  She said, "I didn't think it was going to be very good, but I actually enjoyed it."

I would recommend this book to female readers age 14 plus and some males will enjoy the book as well. I received this book as a gift from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.