Book Review: Where Hearts Are Free

“Where Hearts Are Free” is the third novel in the Darkness to Light series by Golden Keyes Parsons. This novel is set in 1681 and follows the blossoming love between Bridget and her family’s indentured servant and stable hand, Phillipe. Phillipe’s family is part of the French Royalty that was forced to leave France because of religious prosecution. He and his brother were forced into servitude after losing their wealth on the passage from France. Bridget and Phillipe’s courtship is forbidden by both of their parents and soon Bridget is promised to an older bachelor, with a dark secret.
The book was a nice romance read, it held my interest and kept me hoping that Bridget and Phillipe would finally get their happy ended. They faced many obstacles, hardships, horrible circumstances and trials on their way back to each other. My favorite part of the book, is that is has a Christian basis, and the characters were people of faith, trusting in God to help them find their way. So many times romances put everything on luck or fate when the main characters have a happy ending, I liked that this book acknowledges God.
I would recommend this book to any romance fan.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)

Book Review: The Butterfly Effect

Have you ever had a bad day? Ever wonder if you are really making an impact in this world? Do you wonder if YOU matter? If you have pondered these questions, please take the time to read Andy Andrews’ book, “The Butterfly Effect”.  This fascinating book is full of hope and encouragement. It will get you motivated, ready to make a difference in this world and pick you up after a bad day.
The latest release of “The Butterfly Effect” is an absolutely gorgeous gift book. With full color, glossy pages, the book is printed in the highest quality. The backgrounds and embellishments give the book a scrapbook like feel. The backgrounds are well chosen and amplify the words on each page.
The book follows the lives of three history making, remarkable people who were not trying to impact the world, they were just trying to survive the day. Their actions led to other actions, and so on, and so forth, creating a chain of events or “butterfly effect”. Their actions altered millions, maybe billions of lives for the better. While reading, you are constantly reminded that just like those people, what you do matters, that you are special and that you absolutely have a purpose in this world.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)

Book Review: One Hand, Two Hands

“One Hand, Two Hands” is written by well known author Max Lucado for children. The book describes ways little ones use their hands every day, and ways those hands can help others too.
This is a large book, which is nice as the book’s best feature is its illustrations. Gaby Hansen’s illustrations are gorgeous! They are cheery and colorful, sweet and very detailed. My son and I just sat and looked at the pictures on each page for several minutes. It was more fun to make up a little story with the pictures. Each time you read the book, you will find something new in the illustrations you didn’t notice before.
“One Hand, Two Hands” is written in rhyming pattern. I thought some of the lines were odd and threw off the rhythm, like “Pick flowers, they smell sweet. Squish cheese, they smell stinky. Ooey. Pooey. Right down to your pinky.”  The writing is average, you won’t find anything outstanding here.
There is a section at the end of the book listing ways children can use their hands to show kindness, love and to help others. We enjoyed that section better than the story in the book. “My helping hands can… feed my pets. My hands are gentle and kind when I… draw a get-well card for a sick person. My hands show love when I… clap for someone else.” Several examples are listed for each section and again there are sweet illustrations.
There is a book plate page where you can fill in information if you were giving this as a gift.
Overall, I just didn’t feel the story was as impressive as the illustrations.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)