To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden

This historical love story was a quick read for me.   I found myself totally engrossed and finished it quickly.   Janet Bennett is a nurse that worked at the Presido Army Base when she meets Ryan Gallagher.   In the brief time they are together, they quickly fall in love and start planning their life together.

        Suddenly, Ryan tells Janet that he is leaving and is unable to give her any information about where he is going and when he will return.  Something didn’t seem quite right to her… but there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.   He tried to reassure her that he would be back soon and they would get married and spend their life together.

        Ryan promises he will try to write… and he did... one time...  apologizing for leading her to believe they had a future and wished her the best. (Wow!) 

        Six year later he returns to the Presidio… and needs her help! Janet is filled with raw emotions and doesn't know quite what to do.  There continues to be a cloud of mystery that surrounds Ryan's life that Janet doesn't understand. Will she help him?  Should she help him?  You will have to read the book to find out!    

        This book is a good read! I’m looking forward to reading other books by Elizabeth Camden.


I received an ebook of To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden from Bethany House Publishers and in exchange I have written my honest review of this book.  

The Jesus Club by Brian Barcelona

This is a true story about a young man named Brian Barcelona that God used to ignite revivals in the lives of thousands of teenagers. 

When he was 16 years old he realized that God in fact did exist and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as he savior.  Growing up he had believed there was no way there could be a God.  

A few months after he graduated from high school, his life change in a direction he was not expecting.  The Lord called him to go into schools across America and share the Gospel.  Because of this call, he stepped out in faith… going and doing things that he would never have done on his own.  He went to school after school and continued to trust God and watched how hearing the Gospel changed the life of thousands of young people. 

This book made me aware how sometimes we forget how God can use ME, YOU,  or ANYONE that will heed his call to make a difference in the world.  Brian’s obedience to God’s call was amazing and because of his obedience many teenager’s lives were change forever.

If you are looking for an inspirational book… this is a good one to consider!


Disclosure: I received this e-book  from Chosen Books and the NetGalley reviewer program free of charge. In exchange, I agreed to review The Jesus Club by Brian Barcelona  and give my honest opinion of the book.

Still Life by Dani Pettrey (Chesapeake Valor Series #2)

If you are looking for a good read with romance and suspense, this just might be the book for you.  I wanted to read it as soon as I saw the handsome man on the cover and even more when I realized it was the 2nd book in the Chesapeake Valor Series written by Dani Pettrey.  If you haven't read the Cold Shot (the first book in the series), you might want to get that book and read it first.  J

I enjoyed every single minute I spent reading Still Life.  Just like every book I have read by Dani Pettrey, I can’t bring myself to put it down until I finish it.  This book was no different.  From the very beginning of the book, I wanted to keep reading… and reading… and reading… 

This is a very fast paced book.  When a young lady is discovered missing the characters from the last book begin to show up as their expertise is needed in solving the mystery.  The characters are unique and they work well together and make quite an interesting group of people.  This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.  Just when you think you have things figured out, another twist happens in the story. 

I received an ebook of Still Life from Bethany House Publishers and in exchange I have written my honest review of this book.  

Emerald Tree-Free Bath & Facial Tissue

     If you are looking to go green Emerald Tree-Free is a brand of bath & facial tissue that you might want to check out. 

     This Emerald Tree-Free Bath Tissues comes individually wrapped!  I don’t think I have ever had any toilet paper in my house that was individually wrapped!  J  It is 2-ply and is also much softer than the toilet paper we normally use.  However, it is definitely not the softest tissue I have ever used either.  The roll doesn’t disappear overnight like some brands I’ve used in the past.  I don’t know much anything about bagasse, but it is made with that as well as bamboo and eucalyptus.

     These Emerald Facial Tissues came at just the right time.  I’ve had a sinus infection for the past week.  I went through the entire box of tissues!  The tissues have a texture that I’ve never felt in other tissues.  They definitely aren’t like the soft ones with lotion…but after blowing my nose a million times a lot this past week… my nose survived! 

     I just read the bottom of the box and I learned something new.  BAGASEE is the residue from the sugar cane stalks!  Wow!  It’s amazing the things people discover that we have wasted for so many years!

     Shoplet offers so many wonderful products!  Chances are they will be able to meet most of your shopping needs… including medical supplies, cleaning supplies, office supplies as well as office furniture. 

Disclosure:  I was provided a sample of both of these items.  In exchange I have given an honest opinion of these products. 

Treasures in Dark Places by Leanna Cinquanta

          The cover of this book is haunting!  Perhaps it is the eyes of the little girl... but something about it just left me with a sensation of wanting to read it.  As I read the first chapter, I was quickly drawn into the story.  

          Leanna's childhood was the total oppositive of mine!  Her family traveled from one home to the next and they never knew where they would end up.  I can't imagine a life of such uncertainty!  As a young child she experienced dreams that became hard to discern if they were real or not.  They left her with many questions unanswered.

          As a young person when Jesus Christ came to her, things change for her and her life was never the same.  Within a few years of her life changing in a direction that she never expected, she traveled to India on a mission that she didn't think she would return. 

          Reading her story left me with a sensation of knowing there is so much more that God wants from me.  As a Christian, we should all be about God's Kingdom and this book was definitely an inspiritation to me personally.  I was left feeling an intense challenge to make my life count for the Kingdom of God!!


Disclosure:  I received this e-book through the NetGalley reviewer program at  no cost.  In exchange, I have agreed to give my opinion of this book.  

In the Shadow of Denali (The Heart of Alaska Book #1)

This is the first time I have read a novel by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse and I’ve officially added their names to my list of authors I enjoy reading.  It is a Christian historical fiction which beautifully depicts the Alaskan Frontier as not only a place of great beauty but also shows the grave danger that exist there. 

Alaska has always been on my bucket list of places I really want to visit.  After reading this book, I have moved it to the top of my list!  I love the descriptive writing that draws you into the story and allowed me to visualize so clearly what Alaska was like when it was land that was practically uninhabited with its natural beauty.

There are just a few of the main characters: 

·       Allan is a young man who recently lost his father while climbing Mount McKinley.  The death of his father leaves him full of anger towards the man he believes is ultimately responsible for his death. 

·       John is a mountain guide who lost a man during one of his expeditions while climbing Denali.  When the man’s son comes to do an internship with him, there are of course trust issues that somehow need to be addressed.  

·       Cassidy is a young girl who has been raised by her father.  She always has such a positive attitude.  An attraction quickly develops between Cassidy and Allan.

This is the first book in the series, and I am anxious to read the next book!

Disclosure: I received this e-book  through the NetGalley reviewer program free of charge. In exchange, I agreed to review In the Shadow of Denali and give my honest opinion.

Valentine's Day... A Month Away!!!!

Guess what a month from today is?  Valentine’s Day!!!  It will be here before you know it.  I’ve found several cute items at Oriental Trading. 

I try to send home Family Project several times during the year.  I saw this DIY Valentine Heart Pocket Classroom Quilt and I knew that it would be perfect for the month of February.  Each student will be given their own square to take home and decorate.  When the squares are returned they will be displayed like the picture below.  I can hardly wait to see what they look like!  (I will update the picture when I get them back from my students! J)

During the week before Valentine’s Day my first graders will start making these Rainbow Hearts.

They are really cool.  In the package there are 24 individual kits.  Everything you need is there, well… except for a pencil.  Students complete one color at a time by peeling the next piece of precut paper off, wrapping the tissue paper at the end of the pencil and pushing it to the sticky part.  No glue involved!  I must admit there was one issue with these hearts.  Have you heard of Roy G BIV?  Well that is how my students remember the order of the colors on the rainbow (Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo & Violet).  This is not the order listed on the directions…but I’m totally okay with that… who needs directions anyways??  My kiddos know the order.  J

First graders always need more practice writing sentences.  They will have so much fun writing different types of sentences while using these fun  Valentine Conversation Self-Adhesive Foam Heart Stickers.   There are two sizes and there are several saying on the pieces.

  

These DIY Heart Masks will be so much fun to make and what little first grader wouldn’t love wearing them when they are are decorated.  If you don’t like messy, they could color them using markers, crayons, or colored pencils.  I’m all about letting them express themselves, so they will pick from a variety of items I have at school… even glitter!!!   If you decide to get this… be careful… the product says it will make 24, but the package I received had only enough for 12.  hmmmm... L

I also found a heart shaped card I will be giving my kiddos in their Valentine boxes.  It says “I Think You Are Just Write” and it already has 2 holes to put the pencil through.  It can’t get much easier than that!  

These Peanuts® Valentine’s Day Pencils along with these Frosted Valentine Hot Air Balloon Lollipops will also be a hit in their boxes.  My kiddos love the frosted lollipops they have there.  They have a huge selection of really cute ones. 

Lastly, I can’t forget my precious dog Samson.  Here he is modeling one of the three Valentine's Print Bandanas that came in a package (3 different designs).  Isn’t he about the cutest thing you have seen today? Precious boy!

That’s it.  I know your favorite is my little puppy dog…but trust me there is a lot of stuff to check out over at Oriental Trading for very reasonable prices.  Head on over their to check out all their Valentine's Day crafts, decorations, teacher supplies, toys, etc.  Don't wait too long though... Valentine’s Day will be here soon!  

I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review of their products.  The opinions expressed above are my own.