Marked In Ink

::Product Description::

Megan Massacre, one of the most popular tattoo artists and reality TV stars with starring roles in TLC's NY Ink and America's Worst Tattoos, brings her wildly popular art style to a coloring book.

Tattoo artist Megan Massacre invites adult coloring book fans into her whimsical world of sugar skulls, sailing ships, mermaids, owls, and more. Now you can add your own bold, vibrant colors to her signature edgy and artistic tattoo designs--and tear each perforated page out for display!

::My Thoughts::
This is a fantastic adult coloring book. The images are very well drawn, very interesting, and definitely creative.
The pages are also perforated so you can easily tear them out of the book. This comes in handy especially when you want to color with marker. The pages are one sided so I highly suggest when using marker that you rip the page out first. Some of the markers I tried bled through despite the fact that the paper seems to be of very good quality. Each page is nice and thick.
Just be careful because you want to make sure you have the opportunity to color every page without having to worry about colors bleeding through. This will vary depending on if you are heavy handed or not so just make a note.
I absolutely love this coloring book! I of course love adult coloring books in general because they help relax me. It is a great way to de-stress at the end of a hard day or week. It's also another great way to get creative with your imagination.
I am so enthralled with this particular book because of the different art that is throughout. It has a variety of pictures to choose from. I also find it so fascinating that these are actual tattoos and you can color them however you wish. Megan Massacre the artist was actually on the TV show NY Ink. This is her first adult coloring book, and I definitely hope to see more from her!
Some of the pictures are an easy color in while some are more intricate and take more attention to detail. You can use a variety of tools to create the colors and effects you want. Gel pens, crayons, markers, ink joy pens, colored pencils (my go to choice), or a combination of a few different tools which gives a really cool effect.
I definitely recommend this coloring book if you love to color. You won't be disappointed.

I rate this book 5 stars.
Check out this book on Amazon


::Product Details::

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; Clr Csm edition (August 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399578773
• ISBN-13: 978-0399578779
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a blogging for books member in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Happy Homemaker Monday 11/21/2016

Hello all! How is everyone? I apologize for my very long absence. As you all probably know I have been active on some of my social media just not all. We have had a lot of changes in the previous months, and a lot has kept me very busy. We moved, the kids have been more active in school, school has been more demanding than usual, and the hubby's work schedule has been quite a mix. So I finally feel like I have the chance to breathe again! Sometimes we just have to unplug for awhile to get our bearings, get back in touch with ourselves and family, and just refresh.

I do want to start my first blog post back with a Happy Homemaker Monday. This is Thanksgiving week and while I will be trying to play catch up I will also be very busy this week. As I'm sure you all will. I hope all of you have a Happy Thanksgiving! If you would like to join in Happy Homemaker Monday go on over to Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and link up your post on Sandra's linky.

Photo Credit: Sandra @ familycorner.blogspot.com

::As I look outside my window::

It is sunny but cold. There are leaves on the ground, one of the kids chair's looks like it has blown off the patio so I will have to get that right after this post.

::Right now I am::

Sitting on the couch typing up this post real quick before I get started on my evening duties.

::Thinking and pondering::

About how life can be so very hectic and demanding. We get so caught up in all the demands plus the day to day that before we know it the days have passed, our children are getting older, we are getting older, and we are stuck wondering where in the world the time went. I have felt there a little lately. As I said the last few months have been a tad crazy. I'm determined to slow down no matter what and just enjoy more than I have been.

::On my bedside table::

Nothing at the moment but some adult coloring books. All of my books are still packed up waiting to be unpacked.

::On my TV::

Gotham

Jane the Virgin

Gilmore Girls

Vlogs

::Playing on the radio::

Not playing the radio at the moment.

::On the menu for this week::

Monday- Grilled Cheese, Broccoli, and Fried Apples

Tuesday- Spaghetti & Cheesy Toast

Wednesday- Oven Baked Chicken, Salad, and Apple Slices

Thursday- Thanksgiving Dinner (I will not be making the entire meal this year for Thanksgiving. We are only making a few things and we will be going to my mom's to enjoy this year's Thanksgiving with family. I will list the things I will be making first, followed by the other things we will have on the menu. We have a lot of people coming this year so it will be a big dinner and others are bringing some stuff as well.

What I'm making: Ham, green bean casserole, oreo truffles, deviled eggs, BBQ Smokies, stuffing.

What else we will be having which others are bringing and my mom is making most of it: Oven Roasted Turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, veggie, cheese and cracker tray, fruit salad, Pecan Pie, and Pumpkin Pie. 

There will also be an assortment of homemade candies. My mom makes candy and cookies every holiday and packs up little goody bags for everyone to take with them when they leave. It's something that I'm going to start doing when we host and let the kids help. We usually always have made cookies to give others, but I haven't done the candy except maybe once or twice.

Friday- Leftovers

Saturday- Family movie night we will be having a Goonie Themed Movie Night and ordering pizza, having Lay's Potato Chips, Pepsi, Baby Ruth's, etc. Definitely not the healthiest meal, but a lot of fun for the kids.

Sunday- Homemade Cheeseburgers and Fries

::On my to do list::

At this point in the day I have mostly done everything. I am joining in with this post very late in the day. I am about to help the kids with their homework, and do the lunch dishes left in the sink (our dishwasher is on the fritz and so I have had to hand-wash everything and we can't get it fixed until the week after thanksgiving. Speaking of hand-washing dishes does anyone out there still hand wash their dishes? If so do you prefer sponges or dish cloths? I'm just curious I have used both before, but so many say that dish cloths are a lot better and more sanitary.  I need to start dinner, and re-organize a few things in the living room to get ready for the Christmas Tree. I'm hoping to get that up the day after Thanksgiving.

::What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting, or creating::

I have been coloring with colored pencils in my adult coloring books. I find it VERY relaxing and therapeutic. I also need to sew my son a cape for his Grover Stuffed Animal. 

::My simple pleasure::

Playing board games with my family.

::Lesson learned this past week::

Age doesn't measure maturity.


::Looking around the house::
The kids have strewn their backpacks wherever so I need to have them put them in their place. They are revved up this week in anticipation of the holiday. :)


::Prayer list::
Some family and friends that are going through a tough time right now. Especially this time of year. As much as we all look forward to the holidays remember there are a lot of people out there that find this time of year a real struggle. Especially when it comes to finances. I know we have been there ourselves and could very well be there again at any given time. Regardless of the reason just think of all those out there that could be having a tough time and pray for them.


::Bible Verse / Devotional::

A Heart Most Certain

::From the back of the book::
While Lydia King's reasons for joining the Teaville Moral Society might be suspect to some members, her heart is in the right place. Because of her father's debts and her mother's persistent illness, her best chance at a secure future and curing her mother is to impress the politician courting her. Her first task--to ask the town's wealthiest man to donate--seems simple enough . . . until he refuses.

Despite appearances, Nicholas Lowe wants to help others, but prefers to keep his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, but Nicholas still intends to do things his own way. Neither predicts what they'll learn about true charity or foresee the complications their actions will bring to the town, forcing Lydia to decide where her beliefs and heart truly align.

::My Thoughts::
Typically it takes me a few chapters into a book to become really immersed, but this book had me from start to finish! I was captivated! It is very well written, the characters are very well put together, and the writing style will sweep you away.
This isn't your typical written historical romance fiction book. It holds so much information, and really a great look at how some people are, good and bad. Thought provoking doesn't even begin to describe this book.
At first I was so annoyed by Lydia. I know her background isn't great, but her way of thinking and going about things got on my nerves. It didn't last throughout the whole story thankfully, and without giving too much away I will leave it at that.
It isn't just a great read, but rather a book that will make you think. Particularly about judging others without knowing them, about love, compassion, charity, beliefs, etc.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. It's like a roller coaster ride if I must be honest. Definitely not in a bad way because I can't sing enough praises for this book. I definitely recommend this if you like historical fiction novels, especially Christian ones. I do have to say it has some sensitive topics, and some characters that young readers shouldn't be introduced to. There are prostitutes in this book, but it does talk about how sometimes women back then had little option.
Despite prostitutes being in this book it is a clean romance novel so no worries there if you don't like to read more in depth on that topic.
This is book one in this series, and I cannot wait to read book two. There are some secondary characters that I would love to learn more about as well.
If you would like to check it out, just click here.


::Product Description::

• Series: Teaville Moral Society
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (August 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764217518
• ISBN-13: 978-0764217517

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

My Little Prayers

::From the back of this book::

The bestselling My Little^® series, with more than 2 million copies sold, is a compact collection of books that will have a big impact on the hearts of your children. My Little Prayers will help you introduce your children to prayer.

My Little Prayers teaches children both classic and modern prayers surrounding subjects such as mealtimes, bedtime, playtime, time with God, and others as well as prayer for times when children are fearful, happy, or sad. New illustrations in the same perfect format for the small hands of your toddlers and preschoolers make My Little Prayers a wonderful gift for a variety of occasions, and it is just the right size to tuck into a birthday gift bag or Easter basket.

Children will learn a big lesson from this little book: that we can talk to God any time we want and that He always listens.

::My Thoughts::

This is such an adorable children's book. This has great prayers for everything, and they are easy to remember and repeat. The book is small enough for your child's hands to hold easily, and it makes it the perfect little gift as well. This can be great wrapped, in a gift bag, in a stocking, an Easter basket, etc. I love the illustrations in this book! The pictures are so well done, and colorful. This is sure to capture your children's attention, and a great guide for them to learn many prayers. There are so many great prayers packed into this little book. There are prayers for feelings whether your little one is feeling scared, happy, sad, etc. There are also prayers for mealtimes, bedtime, playtime, God time, etc. It just goes to show you can pray and talk to God whenever you want. I definitely recommend this book for your little ones. All three of my children love it. Prayer is big in our house, and even my oldest son who is almost nine likes to read the prayers, and has learned quite a few of them. My five year old is often reading through the prayers, and my one year old loves it to be read to her as well. I can't rave about this book enough. It is fantastic!

Find it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

::Product Details::

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Reissue edition (May 3, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718040198
• ISBN-13: 978-0718040192

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

How Do I Love Thee? A devotional journal for wives

::Book Description::
Happiness in marriage is not so much a matter of chance as it is a matter of choice. Choosing to be happy means choosing to think on things that are good and noble and right and lovely and pure—including your spouse’s most positive, admirable, and endearing qualities. Our marriages can’t help but benefit when we discipline ourselves to do this. That’s the purpose of this journal in a nutshell. Whether you’re writing, drawing, pasting, or coloring in it, each page, prompt, and verse is designed to help you recall and record the things you love most about your husband, to reflect on your most cherished memories, and to recognize God’s hand at work in your relationship. I pray you will be richly blessed as you meditate on God’s Word and allow it to shape your life and marriage.

::My Thoughts::
This is a really beautiful journal, and I haven't seen anything quite like it before. I have seen them to write memories for your children, but never for wives which is very important. This book is especially for wives to write down things about their marriage, and husband. There are helpful prompts, passages, and it's a great way to get you to take a look at the important parts of your marriage. There are places to tape/glue pictures, or draw them, and you can just make the pages how you want. The clip art is adorable and classy with plenty of pages you can color yourself. I find writing in this journal to be very therapeutic. There are a lot of meaningful bible verses and passages contained within as well.
This would be the perfect gift for a new bride, or even any married woman. It is literally for the whole journey of marriage start to finish. It starts out at the beginnings, talks about God's plan, goes through romance, children, and it's just something to keep throughout all your years.
What a great keepsake to have when your older to be able to reflect on your marriage. And how awesome for your children to look at this one day, and pass it on through generations. I don't know about everyone else, but I would have loved to have a book like this from my grandma or even great-grandma or before her!
This is a Christian book, and really shows how to love your spouse deeper in all way. It's a great way to keep you on track with scriptures, and faith as well. Sometimes life can get so busy and we are human we get swept right up in it not realizing what we are neglecting. It's the little things we don't always catch.
All in all this is a fantastic journal and I can't recommend it enough. It really got me thinking, looking back on me and hubby's journey from start to now, and thinking of the future. 
If you would like to check it out for yourself and add this amazing journal to your home just click HERE.


::Product Description::

• Diary: 218 pages
• Publisher: Prescott Publishing (August 24, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1938945158
• ISBN-13: 978-1938945151

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a BookCrash member in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

A Review on Wonderland: A Coloring Book Inspired by Alice's Adventures

::About the book::
Follow the White Rabbit into this imaginative adult coloring book inspired by Lewis Carroll'sAlice's Adventures in Wonderland, featuring intricate pen-and-ink drawings by acclaimed artist Amily Shen. 

Meet the Cheshire Cat, attend the Mad Hatter's tea party, and play croquet with the Queen of Hearts in this evocative tale that invites you into a strange and beautiful new world of coloring.


::My Thoughts::
I am a huge fan of adult coloring books. I have been since they came out. Coloring has always been a passion of mine, and as soon as "adult" coloring books came out I was smitten. They are more intricate and challenging, and a great way to just decompress while expressing yourself artistically. Coloring is a great stress reliever, and a great way to unwind.
I was even more excited when I seen there was a coloring book inspired by Alice's adventures in wonderland! It has everything that a fan of Alice in Wonderland could want! You get the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and tea party, the Queen of Hearts, Alice, etc. The artist of the book has taken a much more updated look than other Alice in Wonderland coloring books I have seen. She is definitely dressed more stylishly than I have seen her. There is even passages from the original book scattered throughout. They are not big so they do not take up too much of the page which I really appreciate. The pages are thick and durable. While coloring I had no trouble with bleeding through of any kind. I mostly use colored pencils to color in my coloring books, but in this one I also used pens, markers, and colored pencils. The book is broken up into chapters so you can work on a page at a time, a chapter at a time, however you want to do it. It's almost like reading the book through your coloring which is something I haven't come across so far.
This book also has a dust cover which is durable and nice. This is definitely a good buy if you are a lover of adult coloring books. Some of the pages are more challenging while some are more novice, but either way you look at it nothing is taken away from the beauty of the pictures. Each page is beautifully designed, and this has become one of my favorite coloring books so far. I will definitely be on the lookout for more coloring books by this artist, and I recommend this artist and book highly. You will have hours of coloring fun with this lovely book.


::Find this book on::
Amazon    Barnes & Noble


::Product Details::

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; Clr Csm edition (April 5, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399578463
• ISBN-13: 978-0399578465

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a Blogging for Books member in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Guys Slimline Holy Bible NLT

::Product Description::
The Guys Slimline Bible blue chevron edition is the perfect gift for all occasions and features the easy to understand New Living Translation text. The 53-page dictionary/concordance helps kids locate passages on various topics. Includes 8 pages of full-color maps, a blue ribbon marker, and a special presentation page. 

The New Living Translation text is excellent for young readers because it is so clear and they can understand what they are reading! When they can read and understand God’s Word, God can work in their hearts!



::My Thoughts::
I have really loved this bible for my oldest son. He is constantly reading it, and he understands what he is reading. The language is very understandable which means younger kids can really think about what they are reading. It is an imitation leather cover with a blue chevron print. Absolutely wonderful design for any young man to have. 
There is a very helpful dictionary in the back so you can search by topics, etc. There are full color maps, and even an attatched blue ribbon so you can hold your place. It is slim enough to easily carry along with you to church, school, etc. My son was so excited when I presented this bible to him. He had been wanting a more "adult" bible for some time, and this was just the one. It is a very durable bible, and would make a fantastic gift for any occasion or even just because. 


::Product Details::

Reading level	9 and up
Publisher	Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Publication date	June 1, 2015
Language	English
Product Dimensions	5.5 x 1 x 8.1 inches
Shipping Weight	12 ounces
Book length	1104
ISBN-10	1414397666
ISBN-13	978-1414397665

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

The Behemoth Dinosaur In The Land of UZ

::About the book::
The behemoth walks to the well to get water and sees his friend Job. Job becomes excited to see him and hugs him. Many villagers want the behemoth out of the village. But at the end, everything changes.


::My Thoughts::
I love dinosaurs, my kids love dinosaurs, and let's be real who doesn't love dinosaurs? So I was quite excited to get the chance to review this book. I thought it would be fun for my kids, and so we got to try it out.
This book is great whether you speak English or Spanish because it has translation for both. It's rare to see a bilingual book so this is a nice feature. This is good to know before you start reading the book so you don't get confused.
The story is kind of hard to follow, and doesn't really capture the readers interest like it should. Still it has possibilities, and if you have a young one that uses a lot of imagination then really it isn't all that bad. It isn't something I would say run and purchase right away, but everyone is different. What we may not have liked, you may. So you will have to use your own judgement on that. I don't think we will personally read this story again. It was kind of a once and done for us. It was hard to follow, there were some grammatical errors which is fine for me because I know what the writer means. However, it's not so fine when you have a young reader trying to make sense of the words themselves. This is a great little story to learn more about Job, I just didn't feel many other lessons were present in this book.
I do like that finally there is a book that mixes Dinosaurs with the Bible. This will engage young readers attention. However, I just overall felt like the book fell kind of short.

If you would like to get a copy to read just click here

::Product Details::

• File Size: 4103 KB
• Print Length: 33 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: WestBow Press (July 2, 2014)
• Publication Date: July 2, 2014
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00LO3RRA8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
• X-Ray:
  Not Enabled 
• Word Wise: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a BookLookBlogger in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ICB Princess Bible

::About this bible::

This beautiful Bible for your little princess features a lavender cover with intricate pearl design.

Does your little princess love all of the popular princess animated programs, birthday accessories, and princess accessories? Now you can get her excited about God’s Word with her very own pretty princess Bible! This new Bible features the easy-to-read ICB^® translation with larger type for easy reading. The text includes bold subject heads, more than 300 highlighted key verses, and full-color inserts of Bible study helps.

The new Purple Pearl Princess Bible will make a wonderful birthday, baptism, or Sunday school graduation gift to celebrate the precious princess in your life!

::My Thoughts::
This is really a must have Bible for your little Princess. It is sturdy, pretty, purple, has little pearl embellishments, texture, glitter, and even has a crown on the front of it! There is a purple ribbon to hold the readers place, and a page where you can "present" this bible to your young one. It has a place for name, and all. This makes it a great gift to give. This Bible is just all around adorable.
The terms are easy for younger children to understand, and there is so much this bible offers. It offers an index, dictionary, maps, verses to remember, etc. This Bible includes the old and new testaments as well so no worries on that front. I get frustrated at times when I find only one or the other.
It is geared for younger girls around third grade and up. Of course this depends on your child's reading level, and if you will be reading along as well. I never like to go off age recommendations alone since everyone is different. It is worded so that it is very easy to understand for young children, without leaving anything important out. This is a big plus because usually when re-wording things, especially any bible, it can be easy to leave things out. This book does not do that.
The bible keeps with the princess theme throughout so you will find lots of fun pages inside. Most of all the pages are extremely thin, as all bible pages are, so this would maybe not be the best fit for a very young child. Very young children can get kind of rough with the pages. It is a hardcover book which is wonderful, and will hold a lot better vs one with a paper cover. It also adds a lot of elegance which I appreciate.
This is just a lovely book for any little girl, filled with God's word, and just a way to show them they are all God's Princesses.


Get your copy today!


::Product Details::

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 1 - 5
• Hardcover: 1312 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 9, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718088751
• ISBN-13: 978-0718088750

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a BookLook Blogger in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

How to Convert a Nursery into a Big Kid Room

Hello all! Today we have a fantastic guest post from Kaitlin Krull answering all of our questions on converting our little ones nursery into a big kid room. This is something we are all curious about as our little babies grow into our big babies! Enjoy!

How to Convert a Nursery into a Big Kid Room

Kaitlin Krull

Once your precious little baby starts toddling around and climbing out of her crib, parenthood takes on a whole new meaning. In addition to dealing with added tantrums, obstacles, and frustrations, you might realize that your little one’s beautifully decorated nursery isn’t cutting it anymore for her new needs and wants. If you’re thinking about making the transition from nursery to big kid room, there’s no need to stress. Here are some of the basics you’ll need to consider when re-decorating your baby’s room.

Furniture

If you were forward thinking enough to buy transition-friendly furniture for your baby before she was born, then give yourself a pat on the back. Convertible cribs and storage units with accessible and kid-safe drawers and doors are easily adapted for your new big kid. For those of us who had other things on our minds (or baby brain, in which case you had not much at all in there for awhile), never fear. There are tons of furniture options for toddler and kid rooms. Choose from junior beds and other lower storage units for accessibility, or push the boat out and consider other sleeping options such as bunk beds, loft beds, floor beds, or anything else you and your big kid dream up.

Room organization

Once you’ve decided on big kid bedroom furniture, it’s time to get organized. Create an independence-fostering space with designated areas throughout the room: separate places for sleeping, reading/quiet play, building, and imaginative play. Just make sure you don’t store too much in the bedroom, otherwise you will be forever cleaning up messes. For the inevitable clutter, stock the room with kid-friendly storage, such as baskets, bins, tubs, pots, bookshelves, and plenty of accessible closet space. Encourage your big kid’s independence by labeling storage and encouraging regular tidying. You never know, you just might save yourself a little bit of time somewhere in the near future!

Decor and accessories

No room is complete without accessories, so talk to your child and get creative with decorations. Taking your child’s tastes into account, you can make a tastefully grown up (but not too grown up) space that is all hers. Over at Modernize, we have a few pointers to help you get started. Remember not to clutter the room with too many decor pieces and accessories, or you run the risk of over-complicating your design. Instead, choose a few pieces that make a statement, such as a large framed art print (or your big kid’s own artwork!), family photos, keepsakes, and vintage toys. As far as bedding is concerned, remember to choose the right size duvet or comforter and pillow for your child (junior sizes are available if you want them, but opting for larger sizes increases their longevity).

Safety

Before you let your big kid loose in her new sleeping space, double check that you’ve completed all your childproofing throughout the bedroom. Tick off the same boxes as you would in any other part of the house, including plugs, cords, blinds, windows, door frames, choking hazards, and trip/fall hazards. If you’ve opted for bunk beds or a loft bed, consider a toddler bed rail to minimize the risk of falling. Make sure to tether large and tall pieces of furniture to the wall. Lastly, it might be a good idea to keep a video monitor in the room for the time being for added safety, since your little one will be free of her restrictive crib and will be spending some time alone in her room.

A Treasure Concealed

::From the back of the book::
There is more than gold to be found in these hills.
Emily Carver longs to have a home of her own, but instead she endures a transient existence in the gold mining camps of Montana, where her father's hopes for riches lie endlessly buried. Promises of wealth from this wild land have brought only hardship and disappointment, causing Emily to wonder if her own modest dreams will ever see the light of day.

Caeden Thibault, a young geologist working for the government, is a man trying to escape the pain of his past, and the idyllic mountains of Montana serve his purposes well. In the course of his work, he has seen more than his share of starry-eyed gold seekers. So when Emily Carver catches his attention, he is intrigued by the fact that she isn't pinning her hopes on striking it rich. 

Will an unexpected discovery come between them or draw them together?


::My Thoughts::
This has got to be by far my favorite book by Tracie Peterson. I have read a few of her books before, but this one just takes the cake.
It has everything within it's pages, love, heartbreak, romance, suspense, mystery, treasure, etc.
I had a hard time putting this book down, and when I did have to take a break I could not wait to delve back into it. I was hooked by this book from the get go, and it has a way of just pulling the reader right in.
I even found myself literally holding my breath in many places wondering what would happen next. The book was well written, and the characters were very well done as well.
Here's a few of my thoughts on the main characters:
-Emily Carver was frustrating at times due to her stubborn nature. However, regardless of her stubbornness she is very admirable. I actually thought I wouldn't like her at first because it was clear from the get go she did not have the life she wanted, and dreamed of another. But she really grew through the story, and even through all that I couldn't help but to like her. In fact she was by far my favorite character. She did her duty by her family, and did the best with what she had. Even though she longed for more she still had a peace about her with what she did have, and she never gave up. She showed bravery, strength, and faith through all of her hardships. It was very touching.
-Caeden Thibault was also very frustrating at times. I liked this character, but I felt like he could have been more protective at times, and more outspoken. I would have liked a bit more fire from this character. I would have liked more passion, but he was by no means flat. He had a lot going for him. He was a strong character that grew the most, in my opinion, and by the end of the novel I couldn't help but adore him.
There is so much unspoken between the two main characters from the get go. Despite their differences there was a pull between them that one cannot ignore. I love that the reader can almost feel that tug as if they are right there.
This book is not vulgar so it is a fantastic read for any christian readers out there.
It is so much more than just a romance book. It really helps you appreciate more in life, and uplift faith. I was touched by the faith of the characters in this book. I could honestly write compliments about this book all day, but instead I'm going to just recommend it. It is really one of my favorite books, and I can't wait to tell all I know about it.
This is the first book in the Sapphire Brides series, and I cannot wait to read the others that follow. I hope they are as good as this one.


::My rating:: 5 out of 5 Stars
::Amazon rating:: 4.5 out of 5 Stars with 67 customer reviews
::Goodreads rating:: 4.24 out of 5 Stars with 126 ratings and 46 reviews


::Get this book::
Kindle   Hardcover   Paperback   Audible  

::Product Details::

• Series: Sapphire Brides (Book 1)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764213245
• ISBN-13: 978-0764213243

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Encountering Angels

::Goodreads Summary::
Angels have long fascinated humanity. From books to movies, from TV shows to video games, angels are portrayed in inconsistent and sometimes imaginative ways. What is biblical and really true about these heavenly beings. 
In this follow-up to her bestselling "Angels Are for Real," author Judith MacNutt helps you separate fact from fiction. With warmth and insight, she shows you
- the scriptural foundation for angels
- their purposes here and in heaven
- their role as protectors of children
- how they comfort, protect, and worship with us
- their role in spiritual warfare 
This book is full of amazing encounters and inspiring stories. You will come away encouraged and awed by God's provision for us through angels!


::My Thoughts::
This is a wonderful book filled with stories of real life encounters with Angels. Each story will have you quickly captivated, and leave you feeling awed.
I always enjoy these kinds of stories. In my life I have had encounters of my own. Because of that I never question others stories. Even if they sound far-fetched it is not up to us to judge another because we were not there in their experience. I never discount a story because you just never know.
This is more than just a collection of stories. This book also shows a history of angels, and how they are present in our everyday lives. You will learn a lot more from reading this book.
This book goes to show how Angels are present in our everyday lives. I love how there are different areas talked about in this book such as, messenger Angels, Angels bringing comfort, Guardian Angels, etc. There is also Scripture related reading in this book as well which is always nice.
I believe this book encourages faith, and opens the readers eyes to even more. This is not just a book you read, you will feel the stories in your heart. It will get you thinking, and strengthen your faith.
All in all this is a fantastic read if you love reading about angel encounters, faith, hope, etc. This book offers so much for many different readers going through various stages of their life.
I definitely recommend it.


My rating::: 5 Stars
Amazon rating:::4.5 Stars out of 5 with 7 reviews
Goodreads rating::: 3 out of 5 Stars with 1 rating


::Buy this book:: Kindle   Paperback   Audible   Audio CD


::Product Details::

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Chosen Books (February 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800797809
• ISBN-13: 978-0800797805

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.