Book Review of Samantha Sanderson On the Scene by Robin Carroll

Robin Carroll's book, Samantha Sanderson On the Scene, is the second in this FaithGirlz! series.  Samantha Sanderson is a middle school student that works for her school's newspaper in hopes of becoming a investigative journalist.  In this book, Samantha and the rest of the middle schoolers are preparing for the upcoming Spring Fest.  A girl who isn't very nice, Nikki, is dealing with her parents getting divorced when she starts being the victim of anonymous bullying.  Samantha decides to help Nikki find out who is doing the bullying.

I really enjoyed reading this book.  It is definitely perfect for the age group that it is targeted for.  I think that the topics that were covered in the book--divorce, parents travelling, bullying--are important ones that many middle schoolers are dealing with.  Samantha dealt with these issues in a Christian way which I thought was great for the reader to experience.  My daughter is still little, but this is definitely a book that I would encourage her to read when she is old enough or one that I would read to her.  As a young girl, I LOVED to read Nancy Drew books.  Samantha Sanderson reminds me of a young, Christian Nancy Drew.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review of Along Came You by Karona Drummond

My daughter and I recently read the book Along Came You by Karona Drummond. It is a very sweet book about what a parent's life is before and after they have a child.  For each "before you" page, the illustrations show the mother doing the task on her own.  Then on the next page ("after you"), shows the mother and daughter doing the same task together.

At the end of the book, the parent says "I am still me. But you are with me. Life became amazing...after you." I think the illustrations were amazing.  The story was sweet.  I think that I would have liked the text to rhyme and would have liked more of an emphasis on children being a gift from God, but overall it is a really cute book.

When we were finished reading the book, my daughter said, "I liked that book."  From the mouths of babes!

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers program.*

Book Review of Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate

In Wildwood Creek, Allie Kirkland's dream is to follow in her father's footsteps in the film industry and become a director. When she is offered a summer job to be part of a historical reality show directed by one of the directors in the business, she can't pass it up.  Allie is cast in the reality show as Bonnie Rose, a young woman who was a teacher in Wildwood, Texas.  Things didn't end well for Bonnie Rose or any of the residents of Wildwood and the more Allie learns, the more uncomfortable she becomes.

I thought the author did a great job in creating the two different storylines – one set in 1861 and one in present day--making it a perfect blend of past and present. The twists and turns in this book will have you on the edge of your seat. I LOVED this book and cannot recommend it enough! 

*I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.*

Review of The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

I received an electronic copy of The Dancing Master from the publisher through NetGalley.  

Here is what the backcover says:

"Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julia Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul--and hidden sorrows of her own.

Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master--a man her mother would never approve of--but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village...and to her mother's tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a "good match" in Regency England."

At first, I found this book slow and hard to capture my attention.  Then I hit a certain point in the story, and I couldn't put it down!  The characters were very well developed, and many of them have a mystery/secret to uncover that will make you want to read on.  I would suggest you pick it up if you are a fan of historical fiction...just be warned that it does start a bit slowly while the storyline and characters develop.

*I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.*

Review of The Jesus Bible, NIV

I recently received a copy of The Jesus Bible, NIV through the Booklook Bloggers program in exchange for an honest review. This bible is geared towards kids ages 9-12.  I feel like it is perfect for that age range, but it could also be perfect for those who are just starting to read the bible or are new Christians.

It has lots of great features to it, which I found myself excited about.  It has introductions to each book of the bible explaining where Jesus appears in that book.  There is a timeline of Jesus' life, the lineage of Jesus and an index of the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ.  The bible also includes 365 devotions that revolve around the "sightings' of Jesus in the Old Testament and his life and teachings in the New Testament.  There is a list of "I Am" statements made by Jesus along with explanations as to the meaning behind those statements.  There are verses highlighted throughout the Old Testament in "Hints of a Savior" sections and then throughout the New Testament in "Jesus Revealed" sections. There are so many great features in this bible that I can't even list them all.

I HIGHLY recommend this bible if you are looking for one for your kids or even if you are interested in having the extra background information right in your bible.  I really love it!

*I received a complimentary copy from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review of Let There Be Light by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Let There Be Light is a children's book written by Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  This is an absolutely beautiful retelling of the biblical story of creation.  The illustrations by Nancy Tillman are amazing. The text and illustrations bring the wonder and beauty of God's creation to life for the reader and are pleasing for both children and adults alike.

I read this with my daughter, and she loved it.  We have read many stories of creation, but this is by far one of my favorites.  I have always been a fan of the illustrations of Nancy Tillman, so they made this book even more amazing for me.   My favorite part was the rays of light on every page to represent God's presence.

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

Book Review of Payback in Panama by Noel Hynd

Payback in Panama by Noel Hynd is part of his Cuban Trilogy.  It is about a U.S. Treasury Agent, Alexandra Laduca and her attempt to end the drug cartel in Central America.  A moral battle between her faith and responsibilities at work is taking a toll on her effectiveness in doing her job.  The Dosi Cartel has her name on a hit list.  Alex's career, her life and her future with the man she loves are all at stake.

I normally love to read books in the suspense category, but for some reason this book just wasn't one that I enjoyed.  I found it to be a very slow read although the characters and plot seemed interesting enough.  There was a lot of information to take in, and while that is helpful and sometimes necessary when building a plot, it was just too slow for me.  I felt like it jumped around a lot and at times I felt a bit confused, but that may be because it is the 3rd book in the series and I hadn't read the previous two.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers 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