God Made Me and You: Celebrating God's Design for Ethnic Diversity by Shai Linne

I am always on the lookout for children's books, especially ones that talk about diversity. My children range from 3-10 and they honestly don't talk about the differences in skin color or the different cultures. It may be that we've talked about it so much from their little years on up and even have a teen girl from a different culture living with us. Nevertheless, I still want to remind them constantly that God made everyone for the job He created them to do. This book fits the message I want my kids to know.

For starters, I tend to look at the Editorial reviews of a book, especially a Christian book. When I see some of the names that I highly respect, I know it's a book I need to read. It's not always one I may agree with, but it's one I need to read. In this book, it was both....a book I needed to read and agreed with.

The illustrations are cute and fun. The story is biblical. Shai reminds the children that God created a diverse group of people for unity. In a culture where disunity is taught and encouraged, she reminds them that's not God's plan.

I love how she talks about how sin causes division. My kids have asked that question a lot lately, when trying to understand why people hurt others because they're different. What a beautiful answer on these pages. She even reminds the children of Jesus's words in Revelation about the bride and how we will all worship together as one. What a beautiful picture to leave in their young minds...and in my mind!

In researching who Shai is, I saw that she has a companion CD, too. I haven't checked it out yet, but it's on my list to find.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

A Fever, a Flight, and a Fight for the World by J. A. Myhre

I have absolutely loved this series. It's captivated the mind of my 10-year-old son and has been a story that my 8-year-old daughter refers to quite a bit. We love the setting and how J. A. Myhre is able to write a lot from her experience as a doctor in Africa. I think her knowledge of Africa helps to make this book come alive.

This is a fictional series, but she writes in facts beautifully. Her description of places is easy for the mind to imagine. We have even stopped reading it out loud to even look at the scenery of different places in Africa.

The story focuses on good vs. evil, something that my son has loved. He has a hard time ending the story because he wants to know what happens next! Many great conversations have flowed out of not only this book, but the entire series. It's a series that promotes conversation with parents. I highly recommend this book as a read-aloud with your kids. If you don't read it aloud, then definitely follow up with them on things they loved or saw throughout the story. You definitely need to read it with your kids or you'll miss out on some good memories and conversation!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

I love reading historical fiction that leaves me feeling like I learned something that I didn't know. A few months ago, I had read a non-fiction book on the life of Joy and Jack Lewis. Because I had read that, I felt like I might not learn as much from this book. However, the cover was beautiful and it drew me in. So after picking it up and putting it down several times in a store, I decided I'd finally just read it and give it a try. The history that flows into this story is beautiful. Patti Callahan did an excellent job weaving the facts into this novel. It has become a book that I've recommended to people when they need another book to read.

Of course, this is a love story between Joy and Jack. You do have to remember that this is a fiction novel. It's not nonfiction, so you will have to weed out the facts from the creative license that Callahan takes as an author. However, it quickly becomes a story that you can't put down.

While the novel is mostly a love story, there's a little something for everyone in this book. For those C.S. Lewis and Tolkien fans, you will love the conversation thrown in that these two have together. It's fun to see some of the history of C.S. Lewis thrown into the storyline.  There are also a few sensitive issues that are talked about in the story, so some readers may need to be aware of that.

I've never read anything by Patti Calahan before, but I've already been trying to find some of her other books now!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

Everything She Didn't Say by Jane Kirkpatrick

I have been a huge Jane Kirkpatrick fan since I discovered her. I was so excited to see that her new book had finally been published. It was a book that I devoured. I couldn't stop reading this story that reads more like a memoir. I can't imagine how hard this book had to have been to write and how much time she spent pouring over historical information to help form the framework of her story.

Carrie Strahorn marries a man who is a writer. He, Robert, has the task of writing for the railroad to help encourage people to go to the West and settle there. It'd be a hard life, but he firmly believes it would be rewarding as they begin settling towns in this area. Robert thinks that he might should journey alone and then just pop in to see his wife. Carrie disagrees. She thinks that he needs her and she could be a benefit to him. Not realizing all that she was signing up for, Robert gets permission to bring his wife along. After all, she's okay traveling until they start a family.

It's on this journey that secrets come out that begin to change some of their hopes and dreams. What was only going to be short adventure is now the foundation for a memoir that she one day hopes to publish.

This book has a little of everything....adventure, love, death, pain, hurt, excitement.....Jane Kirkpatrick makes you experience one emotion after another as you turn the pages.

If you haven't had a chance to read Jane Kirkpatrick before, I highly recommend you getting all of her books! Don't miss any!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

The Biggest Win Book Trailer

The Biggest Win by Joshua Cooley

I love football, but I'm not always a huge fan of books on football. I've read several book from football players and there's only been a few that I've closed the book feeling like they had pointed me towards Christ. Many felt like they were pointing to themselves. This book, though......

The Biggest Win focuses on the faith of six Christian football players who are in the NFL....particularly, the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl team. I remember seeing video on social media of some of the testimonies from this team and I couldn't help but like them and celebrate with them in their win.

Reading this book gave me a fresh insight into what these players have face in their lives. Carson Wentz and his love for God is so encouraging to see. He didn't have an easy road. I learned several facts about NFL players, in general, that I didn't know before.

I hadn't really taken into account how hard it would have been to be in such a close knit team and then to be traded. Yet, that's the reality for several of these players. I did rejoice when they all had the opportunity to come together to win the super bowl!

I absolutely loved this book and how so much of the book pointed to Christ. I mean, my eyes got big as I saw John Piper quotes and explanations of the gospel. Hallelujah! I loved how "spot on" this book was theologically. I was hurrying to read it simply so I could give it to my son for him to read.

For anyone who has a sports-loving kid, this book is for them. I can even see parents reading it with their children and talking about the lessons that they could learn. The back of the book says you can use it in small group. Normally I'd say no, but because the gospel is all throughout this book and the players are constantly pointing people's attnetion away from themselves and onto God, it'd be a great resource!

I'm so thankful for this resource and now I can talk about it with my son!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

Too Blessed to be Stressed for Moms by Debora M. Coty

Having experienced some stressful seasons of motherhood and work recently, I was so excited to come across this book. Having read To Blessed to be Stressed, I knew this one had to be encouraging since it was tailored for moms. I was so glad that I was right! I needed to read this book exactly when I did.

Debora has such a heart for women and it just pours out of her books. She gently, and bluntly, tells the truth to her readers while encouraging them along the journey of motherhood. 

One of my favorite, unforgettable chapters was on time management. The story that she shares about her daughter pricked my heart. I have made some of the same choices Debora has. That chapter made me squirm but how thankful I am for the hard truth. Now I've looked at my children and "interruptions" differently.

That's one of the things that I love about this book....she deals with things that moms deal with. It's almost like she's sitting across the table for our weekly coffee date. She's there encouraging you to not let those lesser things suck your joy or take your eyes of who and what really matter.

Thank you for your loving words, Debora!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.