Hello Autumn, Goodbye Summer!

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Becky

My dad grew up on a farm that had been in his family for three generations, located in northeastern Kansas.  In addition to all the normal crops and livestock, the area was full of apple orchards.  The autumn time was special because that was when the apples were harvested, and apple products abounded.  Even though I was raised in the city, in the fall, my parents and I often traveled to dad’s old hometown along with the orchard areas.  Not only did we enjoy fresh apples, we picked out pumpkins, and sometimes got cornstalks for fall displays in our yard.

As the calendar has turned to September, fall is on its way while summer is bidding us goodbye.  My thoughts turn to the fall activities of my youth, and the fun I had with simple pleasures.  I hope you can enjoy visiting apple orchards, seeing the colorful leaves that begin to appear before our eyes, or indulge in tasty treats of the season—pumpkin pie, squash casseroles, or apple cider—to name just a few.

Whatever you do, may God bring you blessings during this wonderful time of the year!

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“NIrV Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids” from Zondervan

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Becky

The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

Pictures, lots of pictures!  That’s what I always wanted in my children’s Bible, but there were just a tiny number.  Not so with this new one from Zondervan.  The cover promises over 750 images, and there surely are that many, some pages even feature two!  With all the colors, and fun fonts, it is a pleasure to look through this volume.  Additionally, there is a bright, hardback cover with padding, that feels good in your hands.  The pages are thicker than thin Bible ones—making it more durable for sometimes rough little fingers.  When all the pages are viewed from the side, there will be found handy, color coordinated edges that makes locating the books easier.

Since this is an introduction to the Bible for young readers, lots was done to make this easy to read and understand.  The book’s format was created just for kids, and written on a third-grade reading level.  However, I think it will be enjoyed by older ages as well.  Chapter and verse numbers, along with foot notes were left out to make the text less confusing for kids.  The fonts and pictures use lots of bright colors making this very appealing and inviting. This children’s Bible is sure to be a hit with kids, give it a try! The only change I would make would be to make the font one point bigger. I highly recommend this five-plus-star children’s Bible. 

Bible Gateway Blogger Grid has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of NIrV Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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German Apple Pork Chops, Gluten Free

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Becky

 

 

 

 

5 boneless pork chops

3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into small pieces

1 cut-up onion

1/2 quart gluten-free chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 Tablespoons Swerve, or sweetener of choice

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

1/2 teaspoon McIlhenny Co. TABASCO Brand Buffalo Style Hot Sauce

1/4 cup water

1 heaping Tablespoon of cornstarch

In a large skillet over medium heat, lightly brown pork chops each side.  Add chopped onion, sauté until soft; next, add apples and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients, and cook at least 1 hour, or longer, until the chops are very tender, and test done with a meat thermometer.  Whisk cornstarch into 1/4 cup water until mixed and well blended.  Remove pork chops.  Turn heat to low, and whisk cornstarch mixture into skillet.  Once it is thoroughly blended, add pork chops back into skillet, making sure they are all covered with sauce.   Cover and turn off heat, keeping skillet on hot burner, and let sit 5 minutes.  Serve. 

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“The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff” by Art Rainer

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Becky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Lemonade from Life’s Lemons!

Life changes when three friends Jake, Sophia and Brody, sniff a bad smell at school.  Through the mysterious Agent G. B., they discover they are in danger of being taken over by the Albatross and turned into Albies.  Besides being selfish and not wanting to help others, Albies also smell bad!  The three friends can save themselves if they become secret agents and complete a mission to help their classmate, Drew, before the Albies get him.

This spy tale will tickle children’s imaginations with lots of action including the secret world at the end of the rocket slide, along with the many ways the Albies try to stop the mission from being successful.

In addition to being a cute story, this book also teaches money management using the principles of Give, Save, and Live–all on a child’s level.  Questions at the end of the volume help kids think about real life ways to put these ideas to work.  On his blog,  https://www.artrainer.com/the author has lots of great information about this topic for children and adults alike.

This is book one in the Secret Slide Money Club series, with more adventures, and lessons to learn in upcoming stories—all from a Christian point of view.  This 5-star story would be enjoyed by children who can read through tweens.

B & H Kids Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Blog:  https://www.artrainer.com/?fbclid=IwAR1BJBdPdhsGhFZU0_OoukMgLrmkGdilQMzRrB8CKS9JA4M_T95FMwkL1_A

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ArtRainer

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“King’s Shadow” by Angela Hunt

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Becky

Watch your Back!

Salome was the only sister of King Herod, and lived with him in his Jerusalem palace.  Despite Herod ruling with an iron fist, Salome was his biggest fan.  She constantly rationalized his bad behavior saying it was the result of his people not appreciating, and loving their king.  Zara, who lost both parents because of their part in an uprising against Herod, becomes Salome’s handmaid—at the tender age of nine!

Although Herod is remembered as a brute, the author humanizes him, and shows him as a misunderstood ruler, at least in Salome’s eyes.  But his story cannot be told without the inclusion the many murders he was responsible for, including a number of his family members.

Zara was the one bright light in this tale.  She serves Salome well, without blaming her for the loss of her family.  Eventually, she meets Ravid whose teachings bring her closer to God, HaShem.  Other than the time she spent supporting Herod, Salome was a very self-centered individual.

Herod was a troubled person who lived a disturbing life, which was the over-riding theme of this story.  That shines through no matter how human the book tries to present him, even if that was his sister’s opinion.  Biblical history fans will enjoy the thorny story in this 4-star book.

Bethany House Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of King’s Shadow for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angela.e.hunt

The Author’s Website:  https://www.angelahuntbooks.com

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“The Most Important Stories of the Bible” by Christopher D. Hudson & Stan Campbell

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Becky

A Quick Walk Through Biblical Stories

Explore seventy-five stories in the Bible starting at the beginning in Genesis, moving throughout both testaments, and ending with the book of Revelation.  The authors give their summary of each account, calling it the “essential story.”  That is followed by the “essential truth” which condenses the story into a couple of lines that contain the most important point.  Each narrative is only a couple of pages, so it can easily be read in a short time.

Use this book as a tool to examine events in the Bible.  This volume is divided into six sections such as:  Beginnings, Stories of Jesus, and Stories of the Early Church.  However, this is not an actual Bible, but Biblical stories as seen through the lens of the two authors.  Although both men have written a variety of books about the Bible, their work is still their own interpretation of the scriptures.  It is always a good idea to go to the Bible to read what God himself says–whether it is about this book, or about someone else’s ideas–to check things out for yourself.  This 5-star book is recommended to those who want another person’s perspective of  the meaning of Biblical scriptures.Bethany House Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of The Most Important Stories of the Bible for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Website:  http://www.readengageapply.com/search?q=the+most+important+stories+of+the+Bible

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Christopher.D.Hudson.books

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ReadEngageApply

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“Wherever You Go” by Tracie Peterson

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Becky

On with the Show!

Mary, Lizzie, and Ella are stars in the all-woman Wild West Show that tours the country in 1901.  But their jobs aren’t the only wild things they are a part of.

Mary’s life has been meaningless ever since the murder of her brother, which continues to go unsolved.  But now a mysterious reporter, Christopher, may help solve the crime, and heal her heart in more ways than one.

A deluded man becomes obsessed with Lizzie, and must have her for his wife.  Even though she tells him she doesn’t love him, he chases her across two continents, and will stop at nothing to force her to marry him.

Ella is constantly looking over her shoulder to see if her murderous father, along with her dangerous former fiancé, have caught up with her.  Her life has no peace while she hopes to stay hidden within the show.

This action packed, fast-moving tale reaches out and grabs your attention from the beginning.  It is done with a clean story-line, and characters who want to follow Christ with their lives—but aren’t always perfect.

Wherever You Go is the second installment in the Brookstone Brides series.  This story can be understood on its own, but the yarn would be richer reading the first episode.  Not all the questions were solved in this tale, leaving the third book with plenty of things to answer.  This 5-star book would be enjoyed by those liking tales of the Wild West, mystery or romance.

Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of Wherever You Go, for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TraciePetersonAuthor/?ref=ts

The Author’s Information:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/entity/Tracie-Peterson/B001I9W8WK

The Author’s Website:  https://traciepetersonbooks.com/

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“Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” by Heather Day Gilbert

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Becky

 

This An Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery, book two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Big Bad Wolf?

Belinda, although a pet sitter, does more than take care of cats and dogs.  She also watches “exotic” pets.  Because of that, she finds herself working with wolves at a sanctuary.  Even though she is reassured the wolves are harmless, two dead bodies appear in the animal’s enclosures, as well as, a third person who is hurt, but alive.  Are the wolves dangerous, or are they misunderstood, and falsely accused–or is something else at work?  Belinda is often reminded the wolves are not pets, but wild animals, so anything can happen, but does it?Belinda’s personal life is peppered with a mixed bag of people.   She is living on the property belonging to an ultra-rich friend who is off in India finding himself.  There is also a friend who has an unusual connection with animals that may be plucking at her heart strings.  Belinda herself dabbles with a lot of interests and careers.  This is a clean story, with a bit of humor and a dash of quirky thrown in, that stands on its own.  There are red herrings, twists and turns—with everything wrapped up neatly with a surprise culprit in the end.  This 5-star book will be enjoyed by those who like light mysteries.The author provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/heatherdaygilbert

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/heatherdgilbert

The Author’s Website:  http://heatherdaygilbert.com/

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“The Killing Tide” by Dani Pettrey

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Becky

Healthier at the Ocean?

Gabby Rowley is an investigative reporter whose story exposed a dangerous man, and is now running for her life.  She relocates to her hometown to hide.  Once there, she finds her brother, as well as, her former love interest, Finn, ready to protect her.

Both men are special agents with the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and are working on an interesting case.  As the story unfolds, murders, mystery and suspects abound. With more curiosity than a cat, Gabby tries to involve herself by attempting to uncover the person behind it all.

Unfortunately, Gabby’s snooping exposes her location to the killer hunting her.  Besides trying to solve the crime, the Coast Guards are forced spend a lot of time protecting Gabby from both the man after her, as well as, herself.

This fast-moving yarn has lots of action and mystery.  Gabby was hard to like because she constantly breaks her word to her family and friends, along with doing lots of fool-hardy things.  There are a number of characters to keep track of, but the story will grab your interest, and the person behind it all is a surprise.  Christianity is brought into the story in a very natural way, and adds to the tale’s appeal.  This 5-star book will be enjoyed by those liking action, fast-moving tales, or romance.

Bookreadingtic received a complimentary copy of The Killing Tide, for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Website:  https://www.danipettrey.com/

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DaniPettrey

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DaniPettrey

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“Until the Mountains Fall” by Connilyn Cossette

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Becky

Treasure in Your Own Backyard!

In a short time period, Rivkah was married, widowed and is now supposed to marry her deceased husband’s brother.  That is, if she does what her father wants, and what the Torah law decrees.  But Rivkah is tired of feeling like she never measures up, and not having the freedom to pick what she does with her life.  Angry about the situation Rivkah finds herself in, she jumps at the chance to make a hasty decision.  Little does she know, that one choice will change the course of her life, as well as, that of others around her—and it will not be for the better.

Rivkah has to deal with the consequences she set in motion.  Her life turns around completely, and she learns what it is really like lose her freedom.  Although she misses her old life, there is no going back—or is there?

Who hasn’t made a quick decision, and then lived to regret it? Rivkah understands that very well.  Can she forgive herself; can others forgive her?  Is it too late for her to make any changes?This is a great story set in ancient Israel that contains twists and turns, surprises, and unexpected results.  Until the Mountains Fall is a standalone 5-star story in the Cities of Refuge series, and is a clean tale.  This will appeal to those who like things set in earlier times, light thrillers, or romance.

Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of Until the Mountains Fall, for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Website:  https://www.connilyncossette.com

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ConnilynCossette/

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/connicossette

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