Review: Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof

About the Book:
 Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent-she's used to fading into the background within her family and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian Hills. Though they are poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith. But when handsome ladies' man and bluegrass musician Gideon O'Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate.
 Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon-a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob.
 Her distant groom can't seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life. What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie's God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?

About the Author:
 Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne Bischof lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their homeschooled children. When she's not weaving Appalachian romance, she's blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life. Be Still My Soul is her first novel.

My Review:
 At the beginning this book seem to slow to start. But after awhile the characters start to roll in. And quickly you learn what each character is all about. Joel Sawyer Lonnie's father is a really mean, controlling man. And by the way the bruises are described on Lonnie's arm that was made very clear from the beginning. Lonnie seems like the type that will do just about anything to keep him from trampling her or her feelings. What got to me about the whole book was why would Gideon,if he is such a ladies' man marry Lonnie in the first place. Lonnie has a quiet faith in God. And as we all know that can get us through the most impossible situations. But it is interesting to see how this all plays out in the end. And how the two come to realize that they really are perfect for one another.
 This was a really good read and the author has included readers guide at the back of the book to help with a book group discussion.

**This book was provided to me for free through the WaterBrook Multnomah Blogging for Books program for my honest review.**

Review: My Grandma&Me by Crystal Bowman

 About the Book:
 Bless your grandchildren with rhyming devotions about God, special Scripture verses, prayers, and original lyrics to familiar tunes. Whether your grand kids are near or far, you can use this book to create hours of fun memories-and pass along your faith to the precious toddlers and preschoolers in your life.

About the Author:
 Crystal Bowman is a bestselling author of more than seventy books for children, including The One Year Book of Devotions for Preschoolers and My Read and Rhyme Bible Storybook. She has written numerous I Can Read! books, as well as stories for Clubhouse Jr. magazine and lyrics for children's piano music. She is a mentor and speaker for MOPS and also speaks at churches, schools, and writers' conferences. Whether her stories are written in playful rhythm and rhyme or short sentences for beginning readers, her desire is to teach children that God loves them and cares about them very much. Crystal and her husband live in Florida and have three married children and one granddaughter.

My Review:
 The author has done a wonderful job of putting words and rhyme together. She has included in this book sweet devotions, songs, verses, discussions and prayers for a Grandmother to share with her grandchildren. Each devotion has a Bible verse to go with it and then when you are done going over the devotion with your grandchild or grandchildren there is a prayer or a song to end it with. This book would be a great addition to add to any children's library. How fun would it be to climb in Grandma's lap and listen to her read you character lessons or devotions? What sweet tender hearted memories this book will create in your home.
 The author has also provided tips for Grandmothers that are far away and can't share those up close and personal moments with their grandchildren how they can go about this in different ways.

**This book was provided to me for free through the Tyndale Blog Network for my honest review.**

Review: When Hope Blossoms by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Book:
 Amy Knackstedt hopes a new start in Weaverly,Kansas, will help heal the pain of losing her husband and provide a better future for her three children. But her new neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have an Old Order Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard. Tim left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn't want any reminders of his former life.
 Yet when circumstances throw Amy and Tim together, they form a friendship that surprises them both. Will past hurts always be a barrier between them, or will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?

About the Author:
 Kim Vogel Sawyer is the best selling author of than twenty novels. Her books have won the Carol Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas and have three daughters and nine grandchildren. You can find out more about her on her website.

My Review:
 This book begins on a some what happy note. A new beginning of sorts. Amy Knackstedt and her three children Bekah, Parker, and Adrianna move to Kansas in the hopes of starting over. Prior to this Amy lost her beloved husband Gabe in a terrible accident. Now a single mom to her children, Amy has to find ways of providing for them and with that thought she also wants to begin anew. While unpacking, the youngest children decide to go exploring and wander too far from home. And accidentally meet their new neighbor, Mr. Tim Roper. Tim Roper is a man that has willingly left his faith and has also shared in the same feeling of loss as Amy and her children have. As things between this little family and Mr. Roper develop something happens to disrupt it all. It is interesting to see what finally happens in the end. Two willing and able adults that are afraid to take the next step.

If you are interested in  receiving free books in exchange for an honest review you can visit their website
here .

**This book was provided to me for free for my honest review by Bethany House Publishers**

Review: Sugar Creek Gang Audio Set

 So when things are not going well on one of our school days maybe we are trying to get over a sickness or we are having a bad day or we just want to have a lazy day I hop on over and pop in a movie or audio story CD. This a great way for the kids to relax and learn something without much effort on my part. And I'm all for that!
So recently I was asked to review the Sugar Creek Gang Audio Set entitled "Swamp Robber". First of all, let me start out by saying these are read from the original books. And done very well I might add. It is  a christian based action packed adventure series for children but adults may enjoy it as well.
 If you are interested in this product for your homeschool go to this link.
 And for your listening enjoyment Beloved Books will let you listen to the "Swamp Robber for free at this link.
 Also if you see some things on the website you would like to purchase you are encouraged to use this COUPON CODE : Lorrie12 to save $12 off each CD. What a savings!

**Disclaimer** I received this product for free for my honest review.

Review: Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

About the Book:
 Overcommitted and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife-but she feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens. Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart in training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her. It's just the break Julie needs.
 But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. Whether it's cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications... and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

About the Author:
 Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the author of five novels, including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. She is also the co-author of Angel Song with Sheila Walsh. Kathryn and her family currently live in Santa Barbara, California.

My Review:
 I don't believe I have ever read or reviewed any of Kathryn Cushman's novels. I have to say that her style of writing gets straight to it right away. She doesn't seem in my opinion to dilly dally around she gets straight to the heart of it within a couple of chapters. So that was definitely refreshing.
 So on to the main character Julie Charlton. Julie is like a lot of us moms. We see our family being invaded by electronic it devices and we just want Calgon to take us away. We want to get back to fresh air and wide open spaces. Now the route Julie took may be a little unorthodox for the majority of us but it seems this was a drastic move in what seems to be what modern society could actually accomplish. Now, enter Susan Julie's sister-in-law, a new divorce' with a slight chip on her shoulder towards her ex-husband. Being a single mom is a very hard feat in it self much less trying to make it in this world as an author. So while Susan is working on her career she sort of decides to bring some of her extended family along for the ride. But when all is said and done how will this change the lives of these two very strong but adaptable women? 

**Disclaimer** I received this book for free for my honest opinion from Bethany House Publishers.

Review:Authors&Artists by Mrs. Lorrie Flem

This months Gabby Mom's review is Mrs. Lorrie Flem's Authors&Artists. This book of writing prompts is an excellent edition to any Bible curriculum,writing curriculum or character studies you may be doing in your home school. There are many different things to write about such as family,tattletales,honesty, Heaven and many, many more. There are even ones on the Fruits of the Spirit and Holidays. These prompts could easily be adapted to any age child. My 7 year old and I flipped through the book and read many. But I believe what really stuck out to us the most was the one about Honesty. There was an incident once involving a certain 7 year old and a cinder block. Needless to say this incident involved him getting hurt something he was going to slip past me. He lied about it which led to another lie which led to another lie and continue to snow ball from there. And before you know it we found out that he had a partner in crime. It was awful. He immediately brought up this incident and we talked about how he made a mistake not coming to me right away especially since he got hurt. I think that experience was a real eye opener for him. Of course his dishonesty hasn't come to an end. But a mother can dream, can't she?
 So if you are curious about this great product follow this link.
 Fortunately for all of us Lorrie has even wrote a book similar to this one for our little lambs that prefer to draw.
 If you would like a chance to win either product go to Lorrie's website here .For a direct link to either giveaway you can go here or here.
You can go here to learn more about Lorrie's products.


**Disclaimer** I received this product for free for my honest review as a mom in the Gabby Mom program.

Review: The Power of the Prophetic Blessing by John Hagee

About the Book:
 Humans have forever been searching for a guarantee of the good life-from Ponce de Leon's quest for the proverbial fountain of youth to our twenty-first century search for a mystical Shrangri-La. But all to no avail!
 That's because the supernatural something we seek is not a magical place or an enchanted kiss that transforms the ugly frog into Prince Charming. The only supernatural ingredient that produces the good life became a reality thousands of years before Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem's manger. That supernatural something was introduced in the book of Genesis by God Almighty as He spoke and released the power of the Prophetic Blessing over the lives of Adam and Eve.
 The power and permanence of the Prophetic Blessing has been clearly charted over the centuries in Scripture. The Jewish people have obeyed the principles and long received the blessing; however, its potential has been overlooked by most Christians for over 2,000 years.
 This transforming supernatural blessing, when spoken by spiritual authority, has the power to sculpt your future! And as you'll discover from Pastor Hagee  in this incredibly encouraging book, the words of this blessing carry the power to revolutionize your life-and the lives of your children and grandchildren-for today,tomorrow, and forever, so that you may all experience spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational prosperity.

About the Author:
 John Hagee is the author of four New York Times bestsellers, in addition to Jerusalem Countdown, which sold over 1 million copies. He is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a nondenominational evangelical church with more than 20,000 active members, as well as the founder and president of John Hagee Ministries, which telecasts his radio and television teachings throughout America and in 249 nations worldwide. Hagee is also the founder and national chairman of Christians United for Israel, a grassroots national association with over one million members to date.

My Review:
 Pastor John Hagee is someone that my family and I watch regularly. We love him as well as his family. We are continually blessed by Pastor Hagee's teachings and we learn a lot from him. I loved the book first and foremost because he goes into detail about the Prophetic Blessing from the very first time it came into existence. Reading his book makes you feel like you are listening to him speak. It is worded in such a way that I could hear him speaking it, which was wonderful. Little did I realize that the Prophetic Blessing started with Adam and Eve and continued on down the line through Abraham as well. The Pastor goes back in time and shows you how this blessing has played out over Israel over the years. Sometimes it really makes me laugh at the irony that when Israel is continually protected by the Lord's favor that people are just amazed. It is written about in scripture that these things would come to pass is it not?
 The Pastor goes on to tell us how to release and receive the blessing. Who wouldn't want this blessing passed on to our children and grandchildren? I have always believed that our words carry a lot of weight. And I try to avoid the best that I can to say things in a rude and crude manner especially to my babies. Sort of the say it so shall it be mentality. I never want to put in their heads that they are lazy or rude or will be a failure because I feel like that will define their destiny and that is something I do not want for my children. The Pastor talks about our jobs as parents to pour blessings out over our children to love them, to correct them to bless them. I pray the blood of Jesus over my children daily and I told the Lord that I want him to lead them and have dominion over their lives. It is a terrible world out there we need to protect our babies and this is the best way to do that. Who but the Lord to keep them safe?

*Disclaimer* This book was provided to me for free through Handlebar Marketing for my honest review.