Growing Up God’s Way for Boys by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones (Review)

 Growing Up God’s Way for Boys

By Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- EP Books

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 80

Age Group- 10-14 year-old boys

Description of Book- paperback, ISBN 978-0852349991, $12.99

Dr. Richards and Dr. Jones have written a fully illustrated book which will help teach young men what puberty and marriage is about from a Biblical point-of-view.  The Bible is a constant reference point and there will be no doubt in the young man’s mind how a Biblical life should be lived.

Some of the topics are:

• Marriage
• Puberty and how it starts
• Physical Intimacy

About the Authors- Dr. Chris Richards is married and has four children.  He is a Consultant Pediatrician and a deacon.

Dr. Liz Jones is married with three married daughters.  She is a retired Community Pediatrician. 

My thoughts- I thought Growing Up God’s Way for Boys, Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones was very interesting. 

I have a son who is almost eleven and I think this book would be good for him to read.  I need to read it again and study it to make sure he would be the best age for it.  I will have him read it and discuss it with his father, because I think that is a good subject to discuss between father and son. 

There are parts of this book that I thought might be important to wait until he is older, like 14, and that would be the changes in girls and physical intimacy.  I personally feel that a lot of innocence will be lost if he knows more about girls at a young age than is pertinent. 

I think this book was well written and illustrated.  I would recommend it to all parents of young men. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Growing Up God’s Way for Boys, by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

Growing Up God’s Way for Girls by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones (Review)

 Growing Up God’s Way for Girls

By Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- EP Books

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 80

Age Group- 10-14 year-old girls

Description of Book- paperback, ISBN 978-1783970001, $12.99

Dr. Richards and Dr. Jones have written a fully illustrated book which will help teach young girls what puberty and marriage is.  The Bible is a constant reference point and there will be no doubt how a Biblical life should be lived.

Some of the topics are:

• Marriage
• Puberty and how it starts
• Physical Intimacy

About the Authors- Dr. Chris Richards is married and has four children.  He is a Consultant Pediatrician and a deacon.

Dr. Liz Jones is married with three married daughters.  She is a retired Community Pediatrician. 

My thoughts- I thought Growing Up God’s Way for Girls, Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones was very interesting. 

When I was young my mother gave me a book to read about puberty, but it did not have any of the Biblical aspects that this book did.  I have a daughter, so this will be the book that I will show her and read with her.  It is important to know how your body will be changing and especially the physical intimacy with her husband. 

There are parts of this book that I thought might be important to wait until she is older, like 14, and that would be the changes in the boys and physical intimacy.  I personally feel that a lot of innocence will be lost if she knows more about boys at a young age than is pertinent. 

I think this book was well written and illustrated.  I would recommend it to all parents of young girls. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Growing Up God’s Way for Girls, by Dr. Chris Richards and Dr. Liz Jones, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

How to Make Friends and Monsters by Ron Bates (Review)

How to Make Friends and Monsters

By Ron Bates

(received for review purposes)   

Genre- Juvenile Fiction / General

Published by- Zonderkidz

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 352

Age Group- 8-12 years-old

Physical description of book- hardback, list price $12.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-73607-3

In How to Make Friends and Monsters, by Ron Bates, Howard Boward is unable to make friends.  Kids make fun of his name and it does not help that he enjoys science.

Howard decides he is going to make a friend, a monster.  Before he knows it this new friend is popular and all the cool kids want to be Howard’s friends.  They want him to make them monsters too.

What will he do?  Will he learn the true meaning of friendship?

About the author- Ron Bates currently lives in Texas.  He is a humor columnist, writer and journalist.

My thoughts- Sometimes I wonder why Christian publishers publish some books and How to Make Friends and Monsters, by Ron Bates, is one of those books.  I thought the book itself was great, because it taught the reader that you cannot force people to be your friend and you cannot buy your friends.  It just did not have any obvious message from God, something I have come to expect in books from Christian publishers.

It would be a good book for tweens to read.  They will be able to learn how to and not too make friends.  I know that tweens, especially those who are different have trouble fitting in and may go to any length to do so.  Howard and his monster friend can show them the right way to gain true friends.

I highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received How to Make Monsters and Friends, by Ron Bates., for free through DJC Communications.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

Andi Unexpected by Amanda Flower (Review)

Andi Unexpected (An Andi Boggs Novel)

By Amanda Flower

(received for review purposes)   

Genre- Juvenile Fiction / General

Published by- Zonderkidz

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 224

Age Group- 9-12 years-old

Physical description of book- hardback, list price $10.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-73701-8

In Andi Unexpected (An Andi Boggs Novel), by Amanda Flower, 12-year-old Andi Boggs and her older sister have to move in with their aunt after their parents die in a plane crash.  Andi’s aunt lets her clean up the attic of the family home, so she can have a space of her own.  While Andi and Colin Carter, a young neighbor, are exploring the attic they find a trunk which holds a mystery.  The trunk contains items belonging to Andora Boggs, a family member.  Andi, whose real name is Andora, had never her of her.

Colin and Andi are suspicious when people will not answer their questions and someone starts snooping.  What will happen?  Will they find out what happened to Andora?

About the author- Amanda Flower is a librarian and currently lives in Ohio.  She is an Agatha-nominated mystery author.

My thoughts- I thought Andi Unexpected, by Amanda Flower, was a well written book.  I felt as if I was part of everybody’s life.

Andi was certainly a character.  It would be fun to have her as a friend as she is so adventurous.  It was certainly nice for Colin, a young neighbor, to be able to gain such a friend such as Andi, especially since her knew so much about the town.  They needed each other to be happy and to solve the mystery of Andora Boggs, one of Andi’s relatives.

I thought there could have been a stronger presence of God, but I am hoping there will be more in the future books.  In the series I know they are Christians, but it still needs to be stronger.

I think all tweens would enjoy reading this book.  There is lots of adventure and lessons to be learned.  I highly recommend it!

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Andi Unexpected, by Amanda Flower, for free through DJC Communications.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

How Sweet the Sound by Vanessa Miller (Review)

How Sweet the Sound

by Vanessa Miller

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Christian / Fiction / Historical  
Published by- Abingdon Press 
Copyrighted- 2014
Number of pages- 288
Age Group- Adult
Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-4267-4928

In How Sweet the Sound, by Vanessa Miller, Shar Gracey first has to decide whether or not to go on tour with Thomas A. Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson or stay at home and perhaps become engaged to her pastor.

She decides to go on tour, because the money she will make will help take care of her mother’s medical care.  She did not realize though that the 1930s United States may not be friendly to the gospel choir, especially in the South.  She also did not expect to meet Nicoli James who would mistreat and use her.

She returns to Chicago because of James, but will Pastor Landon still be there for her?  What about her mother’s health and bills?

About the Author- Vanessa Miller currently lives with her family in North Carolina.  She is a playwright, motivational speaker, and author.  She can be reached at www.VanessaMiller.com.

My Thoughts- I thought How Sweet the Sound, by Vanessa Mille, was really interesting.  I thought the story about Shar Gracey was important as she was the main character in the story and had to deal with her mother’s health, the lack of interest from Pastor Landon, and the way she was treated on the tour, but I found the historical parts equally important.

I am from a small town in the Rocky Mountains and my historical interests are in Western History, primarily 1800s, so I knew nothing of the Restrictive Covenants or the Black Belt of Chicago.  I had no idea that life was so difficult in the 1930s for African Americans in the Northern States.  After I read this book I spent some time researching it and found out it took place in other large cities, not just Chicago.  I would like to thank Vanessa Miller for bringing to light a part of American history that I knew nothing about.

You all need to read this book to learn how Shar learns to overcome her situations and for an American history lesson.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received How Sweet the Sound, by Vanessa Miller, for free from Abingdon Press.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

A Road Unknown by Barbara Cameron (Review)

A Road Unknown (Amish Roads series, Book 1)

by Barbara Cameron

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Christian / Fiction / Romance / Amish  
Published by- Abingdon Press 
Copyrighted- 2014
Number of pages- 304
Age Group- Adult
Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-4267-4059-6

In A Road Unknown, by Barbara Cameron, Elizabeth Bontrager is looking for her own happiness after having helped her mother and father with her younger siblings for most of her life.

She is currently living in Goshen, Indiana, but she is planning on moving to Paradise, Pennsylvania to live with her English friend, Paula.  She has fun living with Paula, but two men interrupt her fun and peace.  One of them is English and the other is Amish and is also her new boss.

What will Elizabeth do with her new life, stay in Paradise or go home to Goshen? 

About the Author- Barbara Cameron has written more than 35 fiction and nonfiction books.  She can be reached at www.barbaracameron.com and www.amishliving.com.

My Thoughts- I have read all of the books in the Quilts of Lancaster series, by Barbara Cameron and enjoyed them very much.  A Road Unknown, the first book in the Amish Roads series was excellent as well. 

While I really enjoy learning about Elizabeth Bontrager and her new life in Paradise, well named I thought, since she does find her own piece of paradise, I especially liked the back of the book that had recipes, glossary of Amish words, study guide, description of this series and a excerpt from the next book.  This information made me hungry, was very helpful for me to understand the words I did not know, and to think about and understand the message Cameron was writing.  I cannot wait to try some of the recipes.

It was very interesting to read a book where an Amish person lived with the English.  I thought it would be frowned upon, but if she is in her Rumschpringe, then I guess it would be o.k.  It was good that Saul and his family did not object to it.  Paula, who was English, was a very nice person and I am glad she was the one that Elizabeth stayed with.    

This is a very good book.  I hope you enjoy it as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received A Road Unknown, by Barbara Cameron, for free from Abingdon Press.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

I Like Giving by Brad Formsma (Review)

I Like Giving

by Brad Formsma

(I received this book for review purposes.) 

Genre- Christian Living

Published by- WaterBrook Press

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 214

Age Group- Adult and Teen

Description of book- hardback, list price $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-60142-575-1

Do you like to give or is something always holding you back?  I like Giving, by Brad Formsma is all about the way to give without regrets. 

This book contains advice on what and how to give.  It also contains many stories from others about why they give and how it makes them feel.  Formsma has even included stories from his children and how it made them feel to give generously.  It even includes scientific research which shows that giving is a very healthy thing to do.

Giving does not mean just giving away more things.  It can be giving time, listening, or just your presence. 

About the author- Brad Formsma currently lives in Michigan with his wife and children.  He is the founder of ilikegiving.com, which has been viewed in over 165 countries.

My thoughts- I thought I Like Giving, by Brad Formsma was interesting.  I liked all of the stories, but there wasn’t enough advice for me.

I always have the fear that if I give monetarily then I won’t be able to provide for my own family and Formsma did not include anything that would alleviate those fears.  I did like how easy the book was to read, but it needed to include summaries of each chapter and questions that would help me to gather my thoughts.  Those two things may have helped me glean more information from this book.

This book would be good for all ages, especially since it includes stories of Formsma’s children living a generous life.  I plan on reading and discussing the book with my ten-year-old and eight-year-old.  I want to see a bigger spirit of generosity in them.  This book might be able to do that.

I think that families can gain a lot from reading this book together.  Please read it and share what you think.

Resources-

• Book Trailer
• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• More Info
• Read Chapter One
• Author Bio

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received I Like Giving, by Brad Formsma, for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany by Dolores Kimball (Review)

Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany

By Dolores Kimball

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion /Christian / Nonfiction / Bible / Women’s Studies

Published by- EP Books

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 120

Age Group- Adult (Women mostly)

Description of Book- paperback, ISBN 978-0852349632, $10.99

Who is Mary of Bethany?  Dolores Kimball explores the mystery in her latest book, Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany. 

Mary of Bethany along with her sister, Martha, and brother, Lazarus, were friends of Jesus.  Their story is mentioned in the gospels and Mary is specifically mentioned in Matthew 26:13 and Mark 14:9.  Kimball writes in the introduction, “For years I’ve pondered the words of Jesus spoken as Mary anointed him for his burial: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’”  This is the basis for her look at a woman who was totally committed to a life with God.

About the Author- Dolores Kimball is currently a freelance writer and editor.  She has worked with Focus on the Family, David C. Cook, and Compassion International.

My thoughts- I have never thought much about Mary of Bethany, but I know much more about her now that I have read Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany, by Dolores Kimball. 

I never knew that Mary had anointed Jesus for His burial and that what she had done would be told as a memorial to her.  What a powerful testament to her commitment to Jesus.  She was definitely dedicated to him and his teachings.  I am glad that Kimball wrote a book dedicated to Mary. 

Since there are several women named Mary in the Bible, I was glad to read about the different women and how this Mary was not the others.  As women we need to learn and become like Mary.  Women filled with faith, spiritual understanding, and a quiet spirit.

Nonfiction books are always best when they include questions at the end of each chapter, especially when they can be used as Bible studies.  I wish that this book had those questions.

This was an interesting book.  I think that women should read this book and learn about Mary of Bethany.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Memorial: The Mystery of Mary of Bethany, by Dolores Kimball, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

Bible Revival by Kenneth Berding (Review)

Bible Revival

Recommitting Ourselves to One Book

By Kenneth Berding

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion /Christian Life / Personal Growth

Published by- Weaver Book Company

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 128

Age Group- Adults and older teens

Description of Book- paperback, ISBN 978-0-9891671-3-0, $12.99

Bible Revival, by Kenneth Berding, was written to help Christians with how to read and stay involved with the Bible.  This book includes many of the distractions that prevent us from being highly involved with the Word and the solutions. 

This book begins with a preface which discusses what the book will about.  Each chapter has a similar layout with a discussion of how things are, then it continues with what it could be and how to do it (“digging deeper”).  Each chapter ends with thought provoking questions.  There is also an appendix at the end of the book that will help the reader learn the best way to memorize the Bible.

Here is a link from Shaun Tabatt.  It is episode 96 of Author Talks which features his discussion with Ken Berding on Bible Revival.  http://BibleGeekGoneWild.com/096.

About the Author- Kenneth Berding is an author, co-editor, and a professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.

My thoughts- As Christians we know it is important to be in the Word, but are we?  I know I do not read and study the Bible as much as I should.  Bible Revival, by Kenneth Berding taught me that it is important to read the Bible every day and how I should implement it into my daily life.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the questions at the end of each chapter.  I always enjoy reading and answering the questions.  They help me to grow closer to God.  This book had excellent questions and helped me understand how and why to read the Bible.

I really enjoyed all of this book.  It was about valuing, understanding, learning, applying, obeying, and speaking the Word.  All of these subjects showed me the importance and need for reviving reading and understanding the Bible.

This is an important book that everyone needs to read.  Please get a copy and study it today.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Bible Revival: Recommitting Ourselves to One Book, by Kenneth Berding, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.