Book Review: Curiosities of the Civil War

I have read a couple of Webb Garrison’s books in the past and always found them interesting, so I was excited to review this one too.

Curiosities of the Civil War is what you would expect from Webb Garrison, a compilation of facts and research (and sometimes rumors), compiled into a user friend layman’s guide. This tome is quite large at over 500 pages of little know facts and stories related to people, places and events surrounding the Civil War. It is broken down into sections and includes a detailed index.

I am not a history buff so I was actually very overwhelmed with the deep and scope of information in this one. The remarks on a particular person, place, event or rumor are broken down in paragraph form, which makes for a quick read and easy to scan, but difficult to understand or reference if you are not familiar with that particular story or event in history.

I think anyone interested in the Civil War would love a copy of Mr. Garrison’s book and would find hours of entertainment in it. It may be too much and too obscurely referenced for the non-history buff though. I'm going to share it with my dad who is a HUGE military history buff!

(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: A Billion Reasons Why

A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck is a romance novel following the rekindled love between Katie McKenna, teacher and Luc DeForges, millionaire. He was her first love but she decided to move on and move away. She is engaged to an everyman character named Dexter. The story finds her in New Orleans to sing for her childhood friend's wedding, and falling back in love with Luc.

I’m sorry to say that while I was initially excited to read this romance novel, I found this book disappointing and boring. The characters where un-endearing and I couldn’t find a hook to make me care about them, their lives, or their love. It was all but impossible to get invested in the story or the characters plights. Neither the characters, nor the plot had much depth or quality. The back story was lackluster at best.
Reading the book felt like I was reviewing a first draft and not a completed, published work. “He’s a handsome billionaire. She’s not impressed.” Nor was I.

(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: Precious Moments Storybook Bible

“Precious Moments Storybook Bible” by Sam Butcher is a delightful book for any toddler, preschooler, or elementary school aged child.

The book includes important lessons, instructions and parables from the Bible in a format a young child can understand. Stories are from both the Old and New Testaments. Each story lists the Bible verses that the story refers to, so you can look up the verses in your Bible as you read. It also includes adorable and sweet full color illustrations of the Precious Moments characters. Each page has a charming border with little animals or objects as well. The colors are pastel, but appropriate for a boy or a girl.

The text is very large, making it easy for a beginning reader to see and follow. It is also great for a grandparent or anyone with poor vision, because the large text makes reading to a child easy and enjoyable.

As a bonus, included is a wonderful section of childrens songs that many readers will recognize (I grew up singing these precious songs in Sunday School). There is also a great section of special prayers that you can use for bedtime, or anytime you want to pray with your child. You can also use this to teach children to pray on their own. The front of the book has a nice record section you can use to record presentation information, the child’s family tree, and special events in the child’s life.This Storybook Bible would make a very nice gift for any young child.

(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: Then Sings My Soul

Then Sings My Soul by Robert Morgan is a compilation of 150 hymns, sung during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, as well as patriotic hymns and other well known hymns. This wonderful book includes not only the hymns, but the sheet music for piano and the wonderful history behind each hymn.

I love this compilation book and highly recommend it to anyone who grew up singing or playing hymns in church. The front and back cover include bookmark flaps to keep your place. The book is laid out with the hymn on the left, exactly as you would see it in a church hymnal, and the history on the right. The historical information includes the date written, scripture reference, information on the author and events taking place at the time each was written. There is an index in the back for quick lookup of your favorite hymns.

Looking through this book was very nostalgic for me. It holds all the beloved songs I grew up singing in church, the Christmas hymns that we sang each year, and songs my great grandmother would sing to me while playing her little keyboard.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee is by far my favorite hymn and I have been singing it to my son since he was born to comfort him. Having the verses, sheet music and history of the hymns I now sing to my son is a treasure.

I highly recommend this book as a gift for anyone who enjoys music!

(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 International Children’s Bible Holy Bible

The International Children’s Bible Holy Bible is designed for children and written at a third grade reading level.

I was disappointed that this Bible was not a hardcover book; my young son bent the cover on the first day it was in our house. He does like the shiny bright red cover though. This edition has CG illustrations portraying various bible stories, geared towards computer savvy and CG inundated youngsters. Although, I’m pretty sure the pictures will seem dated in a few years, as technology is always progressing.

Using the International Version, the wording is more relevant and uses a more easily followed speech pattern. Although, if you are used to the KJV or any more tradition Bible, the modern wording may put you off.
The book includes a dictionary which helps define words and names; as well as provides pronunciation help for each entry.
Also included is a small index in the form of a ‘Where do I find it’ section, which lists popular Bible stories and where to find them. There is also a nice section listing important memory verses for children. The book concludes with full color maps of prominent bible settings.

The book includes a small index in the form of a ‘Where do I find it’ section, which lists popular Bible stories and where to find them. There is also a nice section listing important memory verses for children. The book concludes with full color maps of prominent bible settings.

I wasn’t as impressed with this edition as I thought I would be. I really think the illustrations would have been better suited if they were next to the verses and not just clumped together into sections. I also think the CG graphic are relevant today, but may seem very outdated in several years, so this would not be a bible that would grow with your children.

If you are looking for a Study Bible that would capture a school aged child’s attention with relevant illustrations, an index, maps and more, this may be a great short term use Bible for your child. If you are looking for a version that is durable and can grow with your child, you would be better going with a different edition.

(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: 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.)

Book Review: God’s promises for boy

If you are looking for a nice book to gift to a son, grandson, or nephew, God’s promises for boys by Jack Countryman and Amy Parker, would make a wonder addition to any young man’s library.

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful! They are kid friendly, full color, well drawn and perfect for the topic they illustrate. The entire book is printed in color with borders at the top and bottom of the pages.  It is the high quality you expect when purchasing a book as a gift.

God’s promises for boys cover a variety of topics including virtues, emotions, life lessons, and social interactions.  On 2 facing pages, a topic, such as Worry, is presented. There is a little rhyming description of how that topic might make you feel. Following the rhyme are a handful of scripture verses that refer to that topic. The scriptures are taken from the International Children’s Bible.  The section ends with an illustration of that topic.

I think this is a wonderful book for any young lad. It can help families approach situations that young boys face from a biblical standpoint. While it does not go in-depth into topics or scriptures, it is a helpful way to pinpoint scriptures that can help your child, as well as open a dialog to discuss what they might be feeling.

(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: Why You Say It

Why You Say It: The Fascinating Stories Behind over 600 Everyday Words and Phrases by Webb Garrison is a compilation of phrases and words that we hear and use every day. The book reads like a reference book, with entries for each word or phrase divided into sections; it includes an index as well.

Why You Say It offers simple, but comprehensive, descriptions and possible origins of words and phrases like "three sheets to the wind," "whippersnapper," “crocodile tears,” “jump the gun,” and "hook, line, and sinker." The book covers a diverse range of words and phrases arranged by category. Unlike most reference books, the listings are written for the casual reader, not the academic.

As someone who loves words, knowing why we say what we do, and where those strange and quaint sayings come from, I genuinely enjoyed this book.  Why You Say It makes a fun addition to your bookshelf or even your ‘bathroom library’. The book provides easy reference to popular phrases, making it a not only a great word guide, but also a quick read when you have a few minutes to kill. It is also a great conversation starter.

(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.)