The God Puzzle by Valerie Ackermann

I am always on the lookout for Bible studies that would be great for me to use with my children, whether in school or for the summer.  I am very cautious about what I use because I want it to be biblical and not just fluff. I don't want it watered down or basic.  I want deep truths because even a child can understand these.

I was pleased to find out that this workbook was just perfect for our use in school in a few years.  I think my 5-year-old could answer some of the questions now, but I want to save it for when he can fill the answers out himself.  It's geared or ages 7-12.  The biblical truths are geared for all ages!

The pages are bright and colorful.  I even like the child-like font they chose to write in.  The first section of each topic is "Get the facts...Observation."  It's all about what the Bible says about the certain topics.  Then it moves to Interpretation and what does it mean. I've always feared this section, because I firmly believe the Bible ill interpret itself through other scriptures, etc.  Many books use this to speak their own opinion.  I appreciated that there are Bible verses to help answer the interpretation part and that Valerie Ackerman doesn't use it to express her thoughts.

Some sections have a "tool" section or an "application" section or a "What does God think about it" section.  Each lesson varies in what section it has.  Each section does have a "read it" section that has extra verses already written out for the child to read.  Then it's followed by a "talk about it" section that allows the child and parent to go into further discussion.  It also allows the parent to gauge how much the child understands on the topic.  The last section is a "talk to God about it" section.  The child can either pray about what they have learned or write their prayers out on a following page.

The topics are so good in here for children.  There are 36 lessons.  Just a few topics discussed are: Who is God, What is sin, What is the Trinity, How do I Accept Jesus as My Savior, How is the Christian Life like a Battle, What is Communion, What is Worship, How do I Study the Bible, and so much more.  Each lesson is wonderful, in my opinion.

I hope she writes more of these books in the near future so that we can use these in our schooling!

You can read more reviews on this book by going to http://litfusegroup.com/author/VAckermann.
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About the Book                     

The God Puzzle is a colorful, easy to use tool to help you communicate to your child the rich truths about God, His ways, His will and His love. The God Puzzle will help you address doctrinal themes of the Christian faith in a kid friendly way, present Bible lessons in an interactive way that will hold the child’s attention and deliver quality teaching with no preparation needed. 75% of children leave the church when they leave home. Something isn’t working. Sunday School isn’t doing it all. Kids need answers, good ones. And they need them from you, the parent. This book enables you to give them simple, clear answers.
What makes The God Puzzle unique?
- ready made discussion questions for parent to ask their child in each lesson
- can be done at any pace that works with your family…every night, once a week, 10 minutes here, 30 minutes there…it fits into realistic family life
- puts the pieces together for a child to understand God, the Bible, and the Christian faith
- in each lesson the responds to the truth so they understand their relationship to God is personal and life transforming
- any parent, whether they know nothing, or a lot about God can start teaching their child today with no prep
- deep theology put into language a child can understand
- deeply Biblical, each lesson points to Christ
- put in an order that starts with creation, and teaches the Bible as one story that all points to Christ
- child stays engaged by filling in blanks, crosswords, drawing, matching and using their Bibles as they learn

About the Author
 

Valerie Ackermann has a BA in Theology and has been a full time Children's Ministry Director at Parkwood Community Church in California for over 10 years. She is also a weekly Sunday school teacher, wife, and busy mom of two boys ages 9 and 11. She has hands-on experience as a children's ministry professional, teaching and leading children of all ages. Growing up in a Christian family in the small town of Saskatchewan Canada, she has wonderful memories of knowing God from an early age. She has a passion for kids to know the deep truths of God. Find out more at LeadMeToGod.com.
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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A Bride for Noah by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

After reading the Amish of Apple Grove series that was co-written by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith, I immediately researched to find out if they would be writing any more books together.  I had sincerely hoped so because that series had been so much fun to read. 

I was excited to start this book and had high hopes for this new series, the Seattle Brides series.  I was certain I wouldn't like them as much as the Amish series, but I really liked this book.  I learned a lot about lumberjacking and starting a town from scratch.  I also got to learn about the Duwamish tribe, which I found interesting.  I found their custom for declaring a wife interesting.  Who would have thought poles would determine who the girl would marry!

I was so glad to see that the humor found in the previous series was just as rich in this book.  That's part of what makes these books so much fun to read.  Who doesn't like a good laugh?  Evie Lawrence had so much spunk.  I had fun picturing her stubbornness with Noah and watching them figure each other out.  Uncle Miles was that uncle that you can only smile and shake your head at because you never know what crazy plan he has cooked up next. 

I am looking forward to watching many more women become brides in this new land officially named Seattle.

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I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman

I love the little cafe pictured on the bottom of this book.  It is so cute and I can just picture being here, sipping on some delicious tea.

Charlotte was someone that was easy to relate to.  I liked her personality and absolutely hated the way the book opened up and Sam's fiancée was introduced.  I liked her okay, but it wasn't who I wanted Sam to be with.  I really wanted Sam and Charlotte to have a second chance at love.

My favorite part is when Sam's father asked to speak with Charlotte.  I just knew that this was going to be a time that would lead to reconciliation in one way or another.

I was thrilled to read another book by Anita Higman.  I recently read Winter In Full Bloom and absolutely loved it.  When I saw that Anita Higman had come out with another book, I knew I had to read it.  I was so excited to know that it was just as good as the previous book I'd read.

To read more opinions on this book, go to  http://litfusegroup.com/author/ahigman.

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Book Info

About the book: One decision changed both their lives . . . but will love win in the end? Charlotte Rose Hill enjoys a comfortable life serving up country delicacies, uniquely blended teas, and matchmaking advice for her quirky, devoted customers. The only thing lacking is someone to share it with. At eighteen she denied Sam Wilder's marriage proposal after his family convinced her to walk away from their relationship. They both moved on . . . or so she thought. When Sam walks back into her life more than a decade later, Charlotte is surprised that her heart still quickens. But is it because of his presence? Or because of the presence of Sam's new fiancée? A second chance at love doesn't happen often, but their past may keep them apart. Is it too late for Sam and Charlotte? Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/qPbkU Meet the author: Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends. Connect with Anita at: http://anitahigman.com

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I just received this book free from Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Dawn of Christmas by Cindy Woodsmall

Welcome to an Amish Christmas and romance!  Sadie was so sweet and my heart broke for her when her no one would believe her when her relationship ended with Daniel.  I really liked Levi, though, and am so glad that Daniel got what he deserved!

Cindy Woodsmall writes wonderful Amish fiction that is such a joy to read.  This book is a sweet Christmas book that really follows several different couples.  Sadie and Levi are the main characters. They each have a past that has to be dealt with and some past hurt that needs to be acknowledged.

Jonah and Beth's journey into parenthood was another side story.  It was so sweet to watch them enter this new stage in life when the possibilities seemed so slim.  It was so good to meet up with some familiar characters again.

I can't wait to read more from Cindy Woodsmall!  I'm already ready for her next book.

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I received this book free from Waterbrook Press in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

To Know You by Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel

I really like the simplicity of the cover in this book.  The heart necklace really brings home the title of the book and I think it's such a sweet look that tugs at the heart when you see the title and picture together.  At least it did for mine.

I absolutely cannot imagine the heartbreak of giving up your children for their sakes.  I admire those who do and can recognize that someone will love them and care for them when you can't.  However, I would think the pain of handing them to another mother must be heartbreaking and leaves something of a hole in your heart. 

When Julia and Matt find themselves desperately in need of something that only their daughter (whom they gave up for adoption) could offer, she has to lay aside all fears and thoughts in hopes to ask her daughter to be a liver donor for her half-brother that she's never met.

You can imagine the thoughts of Julia's daughters as they have those thoughts put in their head about how their mother is just coming for them just for their liver.  I can't imagine being in either shoes through this story.  I wrestled with the same emotions and questions and thoughts as each character did, as I really thought about the situation.

The forgiveness wrapped in this book is amazing.  It was beautiful to watch played out.  I kept thinking about how neat it was that this book came out at Christmas time and the holidays.  I can imagine it would speak to many people, but also that the idea of forgiveness is powerful and what better gift can you give for the Christmas season than the same gift God gave us....forgiveness!  That message was so powerful in this book.

Read more opinions on this book by going to http://litfusegroup.com/author/sethridge.

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Julia Whittaker’s rocky past yielded two daughters, both given up for adoption as infants. Now she must find them to try to save her son.
Julia and Matt Whittaker’s son has beaten the odds for thirteen years only to have the odds—and his liver—crash precipitously. The only hope for his survival is a “living liver” transplant, but the transplant list is long and Dillon’s time is short. His two older half-sisters, born eighteen months apart to two different fathers, offer his only hope for survival.
But can Julia ask a young woman—someone she surrendered to strangers long ago and has never spoken with—to make such a sacrifice to save a brother she’s never known? Can she muster the courage to journey back into a shame-filled season of her life, face her choices and their consequences, and find any hope of healing?
And what if she discovers in her own daughters’ lives that a history of foolish choices threatens to repeat itself? Julia knows she’s probably embarking on a fool’s errand—searching for the daughters she abandoned only now that she needs something from them. But love compels Julia to take this journey. Can grace and forgiveness compel her daughters to join her?
In To Know You, Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel explore how the past creates the present . . . and how even the most shattered lives can be redeemed.
Purchase a copy here.
Learn more at Shannon’s website.

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I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish

First of all, I need to compliment the cover design of this book.  It is simple and beautiful.  When I saw it come across on the review list, I wanted to read it simply because of the cover. 

Now onto the book itself.  It was a very enjoyable book to read.  I could see myself in the character of Liesl, in her personality.  I have a lot of character traits she did, but not the traumatic past.  The story line is very real and I think everyone can find a little bit of themselves in Liesl.  It touches on suicide, depression, and a whole host of other problems that many people can relate to or who know someone who struggles with these.

This book was like a breath of fresh air between the different novels I've read because it is so different from the other books.  I'm not even certain I know where to stick it when I'm considering what type of book it is!  It's its own book and one that can speak to people across the board of all ages.

Liesl loves to bake bread and runs her own bakery, Wild Rose.  It's her heart and soul.  She likes the control and the decision-making.  I found the past of Liesl to be very interesting and the recipes in the book are ones I want to try.

The book is not a fast-moving book, but I even liked the change in that aspect, as well.  It wasn't so slow that it was boring.  It just gave me time to really think about what I was reading.

You can read more opinions about this book by going to http://litfusegroup.com/author/cparrish.

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Book Info

About the book: A solitary artisan. A legacy of bread-baking. And one secret that could collapse her entire identity. Liesl McNamara's life can be described in one word: bread. From her earliest memory, her mother and grandmother passed down the mystery of baking and the importance of this deceptively simple food. And now, as the owner of Wild Rise bake house, Liesl spends every day up to her elbows in dough, nourishing and perfecting her craft. But the simple life she has cultivated is becoming quite complicated. Her head baker brings his troubled grandson into the bakeshop as an apprentice. Her waitress submits her recipes to a popular cable cooking show. And the man who delivers her flour --- a single father with strange culinary  habits --- seems determined to win Liesl's affection. When Wild Rise is featured on television, her quiet existence appears a thing of the past. And then a phone call from a woman claiming to be her half-sister forces Liesl to confront long-hidden secrets in her family's past. With her precious heritage crumbling around her, the baker must make a choice: allow herself to be buried in detachment and remorse, or take a leap of faith into a new life. Purchase your copy: http://ow.ly/qPvoG Meet the author: Christa Parrish is the award-winning author of three novels, including the 2009 ECPA Fiction Book of the Year Watch Over Me. When she's not writing, she's a homeschool mother of three wonderful children. Married to author and pastor Chris Coppernoll, Christa serves with him as co-leader of their church's youth ministry as well as serving as a facilitator for a divorce recovery ministry. She is now also slightly obsessed with the art of baking bread. Learn more about Christa at: http://christaparrish.com

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I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra D. Bricker

I love Christmas novels this time of year.  It helps get me in the holiday spirit and ready to decorate my house!  After reading my first book by Sandra D. Bricker, I couldn't pass this one up. 

This book is full of humor and leaves you feeling good after reading it.  It was a great book for me to escape in during the craziness of Thanksgiving.  I couldn't help but laugh all throughout this book because I can picture me and my husband throughout the book.  Granted, he's not he biggest humbug, but he definitely doesn't appreciate all things Christmas like I do (like the lights and decorations).

The cruise was probably the funniest story, in my opinion.  Being part Irish, I was quite fond of Patrick.  It was fun to go back to the beginning of a relationship and remember the awkwardness and the hilarious things that tended to happen while getting to know each other. 

The other story, following Dr. Reese, didn't lack in humor either.  The adventures that she found herself taking part in as she was trying to impress her fiancé was funny, too!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

The author says that it was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer. "I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost," she says. "So it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch the Love Finds You line."

Sandie's real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is Not), the author has stipulated that a portion of each contributor's proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.


"Being allowed to combine my faith and my humor with raising funds for my pet projects ... and still pursue my writing dream," says Bricker, "well, that's the best of all worlds, as far as I'm concerned!"

And one of the author's pet projects is animal rescue, evidenced by the special bond she has created with one particular formerly-abandoned puppy -- a red-haired collie with "killer brown eyes and the heart of the class clown."

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

 In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Merry Humbug Christmas, go HERE.

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I received this book free from B & H Publishing and CFBA in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Strait of Hormuz by Davis Bunn

Davis Bunn has been an author that I have come to enjoy.  I look forward to each time a book of his is released.  This is the third book in the Marc Royce series.  Having read the first two, I knew this book would probably be even better than those two. 

There was a lot of action in this book.  It always surprises me that I enjoy this in certain books and I can't stand in others.  In fact, I'm very picky when it comes to reviewing action books because I'm always nervous I won't be able to finish from all my emotions!  (In case you don't know...I hate that nervous feeling from action movies/books.)  That said, I did have that nervous feeling in this book (and the others), but it was also one of anticipation.  I couldn't put it down because I just had to know how it ended.

These books are good stand alone books, but are even better when read straight through as a series.  I can't even imagine being Marc Royce--alone and not even having a clue who or what to be looking for.  All the while knowing that your life is being put into danger because people know who you are!
The romance in this book isn't mushy at all.  It fits the book and the style of Marc.  He's not a drama person, but the situations he finds himself in is pretty dramatic. 

It was really neat to see how the governments from two different countries acted, hypothetically, (but I also got a good understanding of how they could most likely act) during something that could be a big crisis.  The pressures mounted on not only the government but on Marc and his partner to save many lives.  That kind of pressure leads to lots of tension and Marc's heart for God shone through the book.  Just seeing how he was able to rely on God's will while so many weren't was encouraging.

Can't wait to read more by Davis Bunn!
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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

This is a book so unlike any other book I've read.  I've read the diary type books before, but this doesn't even compare easily to those.  I was hooked instantly, though, because of all the mentions of Jane Austen and the old never-gets-old authors like Dickens and many others.

Sam is 23 and an orphan.  She loves English and really wanted to write fiction.  However, a benefactor has decided he would pay for her to go to graduate school to get a master's in Journalism.  Sam wasn't on board with that idea at first, but gradually is convinced that she'd give it a try.  However, after being put on a wait list she begins to think she wasn't intended to go to Northwestern University.  Her benefactor tells her to be patient and that just being on the wait list is a privilege.

In order for Sam to receive this money, she has to agree to one thing: writing letters frequently to the donor whom remains a mystery.  She is alone, but uses these letters to Mr. Knightley as a form of a diary.  Sam begins to realize a lot about herself through these letters and confesses many things about herself. 

Sam's honesty with a complete stranger is amazing.  I kept thinking about how transparent I want my life to be.  Even though these words were written to someone, the comfort she had at knowing someone knew the true her (thoughts and all) had to be a comfort. 

This book does not seem like a debut novel.  It is written so beautifully and is well done.  I loved reading about how this story came about and how she was introduced to some wonderful authors while being injured.  I can just see me receiving books instead of cards when I'm sick, much to my husband's dismay!  Can't wait to see what else comes from this new author!

For more opinions on this book, go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/kreay.

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Book Info

About the book: Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others-namely her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story-by giving that story to a complete stranger. Growing up orphaned and alone, Sam found her best friends in the works of Austen, Dickens, and the Brontë sisters. The problem is that she now relates to others more comfortably as Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre than as herself. Sometimes we lose ourselves in the things we care about most. But life for this twenty-three-year-old is about to get stranger than fiction, when an anonymous benefactor (calling himself "Mr. Knightley") offers to put Sam through the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress. As Sam's program and peers force her to confront her past, she finds safety in her increasingly personal letters to Mr. Knightley. And when Sam meets eligible, best-selling novelist Alex Powell, those letters unfold a story of love and literature that feels as if it's pulled from her favorite books. But when secrets come to light, Sam is --- once again --- made painfully aware of how easily trust can be broken. Reay's debut novel follows one young woman's journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become. Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/qDEkp Meet the author: Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries. After earning degrees in history and marketing from Northwestern University, she worked as a marketer for Proctor & Gamble and Sears before returning to school to earn her MTS. Her works have been published in "Focus on the Family" and the "Upper Room." Katherine currently lives with her husband and three children in Seattle. "Dear Mr. Knightley" is her first novel. Learn more about Katherine at: http://katherinereay.com/ ______________________ I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.