Review: The Plans I Have for You Holy Bible, NIV by:Zonderkidz

 
About the Book:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. —Jeremiah 29:11


God has great plans for you. It’s true. The Plans I Have for You Holy Bible will inspire readers to dream about their future and to trust that God has great plans for each and every one of us.


The features of this latest addition to The Plans I Have for You collection include:



Introduction from author Amy Parker
50 God’s Big Plans pages tell how God had big plans for individuals in the Bible and his people as a whole, for example, Moses, Noah, Jonah, Esther, and YOU!
25 Promise Prayers pages focus on children asking God to help them fulfill his plans for them.
100 highlighted verses, including God’s promises as well as hopeful and uplifting verses
Presentation Page
Index to features
Index of highlighted verses
Lively two-color art from Vanessa Brantley Newton, illustrator of The Plans I Have for You picture book

My Review:
 The Plans I Have for You Bible is a great gift for Easter! Easter is right around the corner and this Bible based on Jeremiah 29:11 is the perfect addition to any Easter basket. In several different places in this Bible you will find God's plans revealed. I really liked this neat little addition because it explains things as God went along carrying out each individual plan leading to crucifixion and Ascension.

 This is also a great time o explain to our children that God has all of His plans for us mapped out ahead of time most of the time way before we even know about them ourselves. This Bible has many different features worth mentioning. Promise Prayers and the many highlighted verses keep the child in tune to what this Bible has to offer. A great starter Bible for ages 8-12.

 This is hardcover and the print is small font or seems to be. This is a more serious Bible versus the ones that are geared toward younger ages.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

Review: Shine Like the Dawn by:Carrie Turansky

 
About the Book:
Separated by an inconceivable tragedy, can faith and love reunite childhood friends and light the way to a bright future?
In a quiet corner of northern Edwardian England, Margaret Lounsbury diligently works in her grandmother s millinery shop, making hats and caring for her young sister. Several years earlier, a terrible event reshaped their family, shattering an idyllic life and their future prospects. Maggie is resilient and will do what she must to protect her sister Violet. Still, the loss of her parents weighs heavily on her heart because she wonders if what happened that day on the lake might not have been an accident.
When wealthy inventor and industrialist William Harcourt dies, his son and Maggie s estranged childhood friend, Nathaniel returns from his time in the Royal Navy and inherits his father s vast estate, Morningside Manor. He also assumes partial control of his father s engineering company and the duty of repaying an old debt to the Lounsbury family. But years of separation between Nate and Maggie have taken a toll and Maggie struggles to trust her old friend.
Can Maggie let go of the resentment that keeps her from forgiving Nate and reconciling with God? Will the search for the truth about her parents death draw the two friends closer or leave them both with broken hearts?"

My Review:
 First of all, love the setting of the story. Very "Englishy" and yes that is a word. But all funny aside. Carrie Turansky knocked tis one out of the ballpark. She takes such simple times and creates a snowstorm of cause and effect enough to keep you hanging on for all 352 pages.

 The story of Maggie and Nate was a timeless love story but there are so many obstacles in the way for these two to finally join together. Poor Maggie she is raising her sister after a terrible tragic even took place that basically destoryed their lives as they knew it. Maggie is beginning to think that what took her parents away may not be an accident and this haunts her like a bad dream.

 Nate has returned to the scene after the death of his father and even though he had a vast fortune that he inherited life is still not so simple and he is fighting his own demons. Maggie hasn't seen Nate in years and she has never forgiven him even to this day. Will Maggie and Nate discover what really happened to her parents and will the to of them be able to get past their differences with each other?

 I like how the author made Maggie completely vulnerable, at least to the reader. It shows me that she is a lot like most of us. She is easy to like, too!

Giveaway for the book, here. 

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

Review: When God Made You by:Matthew Paul Turner

 
About the Book:
YOU, you... God thinks about you.
God was thinking of you long before your debut.
From early on, children are looking to discover their place in the world and longing to understand how their personalities, traits, and talents fit in. The assurance that they are deeply loved and a unique creation in our big universe is certain to help them spread their wings and fly.
Through playful, charming rhyme and vivid, fantastical illustrations, When God Made You inspires young readers to learn about their own special gifts and how they fit into God's divine plan as they grow, explore, and begin to create for themselves.
'Cause when God made YOU, somehow God knew
That the world needed someone exactly like you!

My Review:
 When God Made You is a sweet and special book. This is a book that will convey to a child just how special and unique they truly are. As we grow older we either forget that important fact or just don't believe that a big ole great God could love little ole imperfect us. So I feel like this is a great book to share with our children because it will get them in the habit of seeing themselves as God sees them.

 God knew us before the world every did. We are truly unique, loved, and always on His mind. We are exceptional. We are children that belong directly to Him and He knew our name, face, and frame. A sweet book that will quickly remind our children of the dynamic relationship between them and their creator.

 With creative prose and rhyme this book will tell a story to them that will leave them happy and carefree to live in the world God created especially for them. The illustrations are phenomenal as well. Full of color and life! This book is a winner!

Lastly, if you are having problems finding the book, here are a few retailers you can order from. B&N, CBD, Wal-Mart. Amazon also has these available but are out of stock as of late.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

Review: Always Close to Home by:Jerry S. Eicher

 
About the Book:
Are Two Miracles Too Much to Ask For?

Twins Laura and Lydia Mast keep few secrets from each other, but even Laura doesn't sense the great ache Lydia has held in her heart since Laura started dating the charming John Yoder. When will it be Lydia's turn for love?

Despite having a willing suitor in Wendell Kaufman, who once unsuccessfully pursued her sister, Lydia's attention is fixed on Milton Beiler. Milton hasn't paid Lydia the least bit of attention, and worse still, he's on rumspringa and conflicted about permanently joining the church.

Meanwhile, Laura's world is turned upside down when a tragic accident threatens her dreams of becoming John's frau. Despite the obstacles in her path, Laura remains steadfast in her faith.

Will Lydia's love for Milton win out over his love for the world, and is Laura strong enough to face an uncertain future with John? Only the Lord has the answers the Mast sisters so desperately search for.

My Review:
 The newest story by author Jerry S. Eicher entitled Always Close to Home, is a telling one that involves sisters. Things among them are usually terrific but these girls are twins and one of them is starting to feel that love will never come her way. I loved the story. I loved the dynamic between Lydia and Milton. I think it was a nice change for the author to play the angle that the guy love interest never even noticed the girl love interest.  

 This story is a two in one because you will get a chance to see both girls and their love life unfold. And at times during the story it seemed that things just were not going to go their way and there wouldn't be a happy ending. I really enjoyed the dynamic between characters. I think this may be my most favorite of the author's books, so far.

This book is part of The St. Lawrence County Amish Book series. It is book 3.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

Review: 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart by:Liz Curtis Higgs

 
About the Book:
Here are the words of hope you re looking for when your faith needs a boost or a friend needs encouragement. Chosen by more than a thousand women as their favorite verses in the Bible, each one is worth learning, worth sharing, worth remembering,
You ll find verses you already know and love: I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). Others may be less familiar but are no less powerful: Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe (Proverbs 29:25). All of them capture the truth of God s goodness, mercy, and love for His own.
Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs invites you to experience
A deeper, richer understanding of thirty-one treasured verses.
A fresh look at how these timeless truths can impact your life.
A new passion for memorizing Scripture, verse by verse.
Thirty-one creative ways to keep them in your heart forever.
With a Study Guide included, 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a daily devotional and a small group Bible study, wrapped in a lovely gift book overflowing with joy!"

My Review:
 As a woman I know how hard it can be to be the answer to everyone's problems but when we need help or encouragement it's hard to find someone to be there for us. This really becomes evident when you become a wife and a mother. Liz Curtis Higgs seems to understand the struggles we go through as women and in her writing I have definitely been able to find solace and even encouragement through my daily life.

 In this the latest of Liz Curtis Higgs she encourages us to memorize scipture and she insures that once we have a reread that same verse for the second or even third time we will have a deeper meaning and feeling from it. This is God's intended purpose and He wants us to grow closer to Him in many ways and Scripture reading and memorization is a better way to connect to Him.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

Review: Angels In the Bible for Little Ones by:Allia Zobel Nolan

 
About the Book:
Angels in the Bible for Little Ones gives children a fascinating look into how powerful behind-the-scenes helpers interacted with Bible greats such as Abraham, Daniel, and Mary, acting as messengers, protectors, warriors, and more. This padded cover board book, written by bestselling author Allia Zobel Nolan and illustrated by Alisa Massari, brings eight stories from the Bible to life for little ones.

My Review:
 I believe that angels are usually some of the first connections that little ones make with their being something other than themselves in this big old world. In the Bible, angels are mentioned several times. They are God's servants there to do whatever He commands and this is shown throughout the Bible.

 Now little ones can learn a little more about these fascinating creatures in Allia Zobel Nolan's book entitled, Angels In the Bible for Little Ones. In this padded board book each of the parts of the Bible that features angels is detailed and it is written in simple words for them to understand. A sweet little book for a young child just being born or a preschooler thats curious.

 My favorite part of the book was the angel that told the Mary's that Jesus was no longer in the tomb. This is the perfect story for this time of year because we are about to celebrate the resurrection.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.

Review: Would you Like to Know? Collection by:Tim Dowley and Graham Jefferson

About the Book:
In this new addition to the fantastic Would You Like to Know? series, six little books are featured in one boxed gift set. Each book offers a starting point for young children to explore some of the key points of their faith and gain a greater understanding of Christianity. Each title has accessible illustrations, an inscription page, and notes for parents. A wonderful gift for those getting to know the church.

Contains:
Would You Like to Know About God?
Would You Like to Know How to Pray?
Would You Like to Know Jesus?
Would You Like to Know the Bible?
Would You Like to Know the Story of Christmas?
Would You Like to Know the Story of Easter?

My Review:
 These are the perfect little books for little, tiny hands. In this collection your little one can learn a very short version of some very important things about God, Jesus, and the Bible. It is perfect for little hands and is in a complete collection containing 6 little books to teach them about their Creator and Savior. In this collection is also two books discussing Christmas and Easter, the two most important holidays that we celebrate.

 I love the books and what they teach our preschoolers and we really enjoyed the illustrations, as well. These would make a really good baby shower gift. It is a great collection that covers a great deal of material.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.