Month: August 2018

REVIEW: Eden Conquered by Joelle Charbonneau

REVIEW: Eden Conquered by Joelle Charbonneau

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Andreus survived the Trials of Succession and has been crowned king. But he is still heartbroken at the death of his beloved and the betrayal of his sister Carys. And things in Eden and with the Council seem… off in various ways. The winds don’t blow, the lights that protect the city seem to flicker in ways that make Andreus nervous. He is starting to wonder if the things he has believed about the people around him were ever really true.

Carys is actually alive and relatively well. She and Larkin and Garret and Erick are in hiding but on the move in search of answers and the truth about what happened to the king and crown prince. Erick and Garret are both working angles, and she’s not sure she can trust either of them. Other than Larkin, there’s no one Carys trusts completely. And throughout her hunt for the truth, the wind whispers to her to let go and loose her powers against her enemies once and for all.

Review

I read book one, Dividing Eden, last year and really enjoyed it. I also read the novellas – Forbidden Fruit and Into the Garden. About half way through this one I stopped to re-read the novellas again. They are really helpful for rounding out the story!

This book was immensely twisty. There are so many schemes and side plots to work through, so many characters pulling strings to achieve their own agendas. It made for an exciting reading experience.

I really enjoyed the core characters, especially Carys and Andreus in this book. I was pleased with how the pieces all came together in the end.

I’ve been a Joelle Charbonneau fan since I first read The Testing (book one in a dystopian trilogy). She consistently delivers a great story! Be sure to read this duology in order and don’t forget the novellas.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Trinity Episcopal Church is an important part of the Caerphilly community and an important place for Meg Langslow and her family. So when their priest goes on maternity leave, Meg of course jumps in to help. Armed with her notebook-that-tells-her-when-to-breathe, Meg is ready to corral obstinate vestry members, supervise a parishioner’s toucan, and keep the church and grounds locked and secured.

Despite the best efforts of Meg and her team, however, someone breaks into the crypt (columbarium), removes some of the cremains from their niches, and bashes one of the more tiresome vestry members on the head.

It seems as though the niches that were disturbed had some connection to an unsolved jewelry heist. Mrs. Beatrice van der Lynden reportedly staged a heist with her son for the insurance money. But the college guys they planned to use ran into some real criminals trying to get in on the job. In the end, two men were dead and the jewels disappeared. Meg can’t see how the dead vestry member ties into the jewelry case, but her specialty is asking questions. She might be surprised by what she uncovers this time.

Review

This is the 23rd book in the delightful Meg Langslow mystery series. Meg is one of my favorite book characters, and she doesn’t disappoint this time.

I love this series for its quirky and eccentric characters. This book introduces some new ones who were a lot of fun. Donna Andrews does an amazing job of building a community I love while not sacrificing the core mystery in each book.

The mystery in this one is good. The contemporary crime ties into a cold case which opens up some interesting investigation options.

I loved the church setting for a lot of the book. There’s no preaching or moralizing that might put off a non-religious reader. But the characters connected to the church – Robyn the priest, Dr. Womble, and the rest – were fun. My favorite part of the whole book was the wrap up piece at the church at the end. There is even a moment there that brought tears to my eyes. It’s a lovely scene in a fantastic story in a series I love.

If you haven’t read any of the Meg Langslow books before, start with the first few (Murder with Peacocks, then Murder with Puffins and then Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos) to get the characters in mind. After that the order probably doesn’t matter. Book 24, Lark! The Herald Angels Sing releases in October, 2018.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant

REVIEW: Quid Pro Quo by Vicki Grant

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Cyril MacIntyre likes to say he started law school when he was ten years old.  That was how old he was when his mom started night school, and she couldn’t afford to get a sitter. So he quizzed her for her tests and ran to get her materials from the library. When she finally graduated, he was almost as proud of her as she was of herself.

But Andy MacIntyre is brusque and abrasive and loud. She had a hard time finding a job. Eventually she became an “articling student” for a local lawyer who was always trying to help the underdogs. It’s a perfect place for Andy. She and Cyril are finally pulling things together for a more positive life.

Then Byron shows up. He pushes Andy’s buttons worse than anyone Cyril has ever met. And he holds something over Andy’s head because she let him move into Cyril’s room but she never wanted Cyril to talk to him. Just when Cyril starts doing some investigating into Byron and his history with Andy, they both disappear. Cyril is alone. He knows if he calls the police he’ll end up in foster care, so he’ll just have to solve the mystery on his own.

Review

This was a great mystery! Cyril is a smart, resourceful kid. He really has to work to get all of the pieces to come together. Some of the clues – like Andy’s notes – can be puzzled out by the reader. The legal terms at the start of every chapter are a great way to convey information and keep the theme of the story going.

Andy is a pretty rough-around-the-edges parent. She’s aggressive and foulmouthed (although all her swearing is bleeped out in the book), but underneath it all you know she loves Cyril and wants to do right by him.

I’d recommend this for older middle grade readers – middle school age – due to the bleeped out swearing, the older protagonist (Cyril is 13 or 14 – the ARC was inconsistent on his age), and some components of the mystery. This will be great for kids who love a first rate mystery and those who want to be a lawyer some day.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: August 28, 2018

BOOK NEWS: August 28, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

As August comes to a close, we have a LOT of new books to check out for this week!

Books for Kids

  

Hello Knights AND Hello Ninjas (board books) – Two spectacular new rhyming books for the youngest set of readers. I have seen a handful of pages of each of these are they are outstanding! I can’t wait to see the real thing. I’ll have to find some little readers so I can buy these for them.
When Your Monkeys Won’t Go to Bed (board book) – A new going to bed book starring some mischievous monkeys. This is another adorable new board book!
The Day You Begin – A lovely new picture book from poet extraordinaire, Jacqueline Woodson. This one focuses on being yourself even when you are in places where you seem to be alone. I can’t wait to read the whole thing; the pages I have seen are delightful.
Delivery Bear (Sept 1) – A bear wants to work as a delivery bear, but all the other delivery animals are cute bunnies. Maybe if he looked more like a bunny, his customers wouldn’t be afraid of him. This looks cute, too.
Eduardo Guadardo, Elite Sheep (Sept 1) – A sheep about to graduate from the Fairytale Bureau of Investigations (FBI) goes undercover to protect Mary from Wolf, Troll and Witch. This retelling of Mary Had a Little Lamb sounds right up my alley! I have this one in my Amazon cart right now.
Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude – A story of the two lion statues outside the New York Public Library. This one is in my Amazon cart, too!
Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein – A picture book biography of Mary Shelley. The story sounds fascinating! I could see this being popular in upper elementary classrooms.
Maximillian Villainous – A monster who doesn’t have the heart to be scary has to figure out a way to become a villain or his new pet bunny will have to find another home. I can’t wait to read this one!
The Harlem Globetrotters Present the Points Behind Basketball (The Science of Fun Stuff) – A perfect addition to your nonfiction collection! I love this whole series.
You Should Meet Lin-Manuel Miranda – A kids biography of the composer of Hamilton: An American Musical. Looking forward to reading this one myself.
Bad Guys: Do-You-Think-He-Saurus? – After their last adventure, the Bad Guys have traveled through time to the age of the dinosaurs. I have GOT to try one of these books. They look like so much fun for the early chapter book crowd. I’ve put the whole series in my library wish list.
Eva’s Big Sleepover – Book 9 in the Owl Diaries series from Branches. I adore this whole series!
Grumpy Goblins – Book 9 in the Ella and Owen series about a set of twin dragons
Lord of the Fleas – Book 5 in the DogMan series. I have these in my library wish list, too.
Mac Undercover – Book 1 in the Mac B Kid Spy series. I have an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this that I hope to read soon.
Stealing the Sword – Book 1 in a new Branches series called The Time Jumpers by Wendy Mass. I’ve already ordered this one from Scholastic Book Clubs (where you can get great deals, early releases and help a teacher get books for his/her classroom!!).

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Harbor Me – Six kids meet together in a space where for the first time they can be completely honest about the things they are facing. This has gotten a lot of positive buzz already. This makes two Jacqueline Woodson books out this week.
Hero Pup of World War I – A stray dog is taken in by a group of soldiers and then finds himself on the front lines of World War I. Book 2 in the G.I.Dogs series.
If This Were a Story – A story of growing up. This looks lovely. This is on my list for this week.
Lucky Luna – Two girls learn the meaning of “Blood is thicker than water.”
Monster Mayhem (Graphic Novel) – This new graphic novel is from the terrific illustrator of the Ordinary People Change the World series, Chris Eliopoulos. I adore his art style. In this book, a science-minded girl finds herself in the middle of a monster movie. I have this one in my Amazon cart, too!
Quid Pro Quo – A kid who’s learned a lot about the law from attending night school with his mom finds himself in the middle of a mess when his mom goes missing. I’ll be reviewing this one here tomorrow.
Resistance – For fans of A Night Divided, or other Jennifer Nielsen books (The False Prince is my favorite) comes her latest World War II story about Nazi-occupied Poland and a girl in a resistance cell. This is another one I ordered early from Scholastic Book Clubs.
Sheets (Graphic Novel) – A girl trying to hold her life together meets the ghost that has taken up residence in her family’s laundromat.
The Story Collector – Book 1 in a new mystery series about a girl raised in the New York Public Library. Yes, please!
Wonderland – The latest book by Barbara O’Connor focuses on two girls looking for friendship and understanding, and  a stray dog looking for a new home. This will be a must read for me!
Access Restricted – A sequel to All Rights Reserved about a world that forces people to pay for the words they use. I still have to read the first book before I can dive into this one.
Hidden Pieces – A girl with a secret is being blackmailed. I have the author’s first book on my wish list; I love twisty, suspenseful stories like this. This will be on my list, too.
Mirage – A girl is kidnapped to serve as a body double for a despised princess. Yep, this is on my list, too!
The Second Life of Ava Rivers – When a missing girl returns after 12 years away, her family looks to repair the fractures in their relationships while wondering where the girl was for all those years. This sounds fantastic!
That’s Not What Happened – Three years after a school shooting, a girl wonders if she should tell the truth about what really happened that day. This is at the top of my list for the week; I already ordered this one early from Scholastic Book Clubs, too.
Towering Sky – The third and final book in The Thousandth Floor series. I need to catch up on this series, too.

Books for Adults

 

Climate Changeling – Book 2 in the Flash novel series based on the CW television show. The Weather Wizard returns and he’s hunting down Joe West and The Flash. My family has enjoyed these novels based on the CW series; they’ll be thrilled to know there is a new one. (Mass Market Paperback)
Come Back to Me – Book 6 in the Blessings Georgia series. High school sweethearts torn apart by a devastating fire have another chance at love – if they can get past the 19-year-old secret Phoebe has been keeping. This sounds like a great story. I haven’t read any of the others in the series, but I plan to give this one a try.  (Mass Market Paperback)
Died in the Wool – Book 2 in the Knit and Nibble mystery series about a crafting group caught up in a murder at the annual town festival. I have book one on my TBR shelves already. (Mass Market Paperback)
Dim Sum of All Fears – Book 2 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series about a young woman managing her family’s restaurant when the newlyweds in the shop next door are found murdered. I have book one of this series on my TBR shelves, too. (Mass Market Paperback)
Goodbye Cruller World – Book 2 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series about a donut shop owner whose treats are used to commit murder. I don’t have book one yet, but it’s on my list. (Trade Paperback)
Marigolds for Malice – Book 3 in the Enchanted Garden Mystery series about a perfume shop owner, a time capsule and a dead body. I haven’t tried this series out yet. (Mass Market Paperback)
Shattered at Sea – Book 5 in the Webb’s Glass Shop mystery series about a glassblower performing on a cruise ship where a passenger goes missing. This is another series on my reading wish list. (Mass Market Paperback)
Stabbed in the Baklava – Book 2 in the Kabob Kitchen Mystery series where the best man at a wedding is killed and the caterer’s new head chef is the primary suspect. I have book one on my TBR shelves for this series also. (Mass Market Paperback)
The Trouble with Truth – Book 2 in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series. You can read my review of book one here. I loved it! This time Colbie and her cat Trouble are harboring a fugitive when her part time chef is accused of murder. I’m looking forward to reading this one! (Trade Paperback)
Trust Me – The latest suspense story from Hank Phillippi Ryan. I met her once, several years ago at a conference and she was a delight. I have this one on my library wish list. (Hardcover)
Letters to the Church (Sept. 1) – The latest from Francis Chan focuses on calling Christians back to the Church depicted in the Bible. I’m looking forward to reading this one. (Trade paperback)
Teacher Training with Jesus: 10 Lessons from the Master (Sept. 1) – Teaching strategies and practices for Christian teachers (in public or private schools as well as Sunday school, etc.) I’m curious to check this one out in person. (Trade Paperback)
Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House (Sept 1) – April Ryan has had some interesting interactions with the President, and I am  curious to read about them in her own words. (Hardcover)

REVIEW: Giant Days by Non Pratt

REVIEW: Giant Days by Non Pratt

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Amulet books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Susan, Daisy and Esther are in their first year of college. As neighbors, it was natural that they would become friends.

Susan is studying medicine. She also has background as a non-licensed private investigator. She has a strong personality and no patience for bullies.

Daisy was raised by her grandmother and home-schooled. She’s sweet and naive and eager to try new things and find her place at college. Although signing up for 32 extracurriculars might be going too far.

Esther comes from money. She’s officially an English major but she never goes to class. She’s used to BSing her way through things but college students are more savvy than she realized. She’s desperate to be friends with a Goth-looking girl she’s seen glimpses of on campus.

While the girls care about one another, they get sidetracked by their personal drama. And while they are focused on themselves, one of the girls walks into a situation she might not be able to get out of.

Review

This is a quirky story. It took awhile for me to get the feel of the girls and for the story to build to the main crisis. But the girls and their friendship is really the point of the story. So once I had  sense of each of the girls, I was on board for the rest.

I don’t know that I had a favorite among the core characters. I loved Susan’s strong personality. I wish the private investigator pieces were a little bigger because that was a fun twist to her character. I cracked up at Daisy’s 32 clubs and her inability to choose what to keep and what to leave. Esther wants so desperately for Vectra to like her that she puts up with Vectra’s appalling behavior. I was so sad for Esther. I was cheering for her to dump Vectra and stick with her true friends.

The climax at the end was terrific. It made the rest of the book come together, and the characters got to be the best versions of themselves. The source material for this is a graphic novel series. I’m curious to see how similar the graphic novels are to this and how the different format changes or enhances the story. (Some mature content and adult behavior.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Rescued by David Rosenfeld

REVIEW: Rescued by David Rosenfeld

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When a body is found in a truck full of over 60 dogs, Andy Carpenter is called in. Andy’s foundation rescues dogs in danger of being euthanized and finds them forever homes. The Tara Foundation will take in the dogs, care for them, and get them adopted. The body in the truck is not Andy’s problem.

Except it is. The man who killed Kenny Zimmer is at Andy’s house. Dave Kramer is Andy’s wife, Laurie’s, ex. They’ve stayed in touch, and she says Andy is the best defense attorney. And Dave needs the best. He admits to killing Zimmer, but says it was self-defense. Zimmer tried to take him out with a knife so Kramer shot him.

Kramer and Zimmer have a history which doesn’t look good for Kramer. Even worse, there’s no sign of a knife on the truck. It’s hard to prove self-defense without a weapon.

Review

This is the 17th book in the awesome Andy Carpenter mystery series. I have finally worked through all of the books in this terrific series, so now I get to enjoy the new ones as they are released (Deck the Hounds will be out in October!). I’ve even gotten my inlaws sold on this series thanks to the tightly written mysteries and the dogs present in every book.

As always, Andy and his team are great. No huge developments with the team this time – they all play their usual parts. I love Andy’s sarcasm and self-awareness and his interplay with the other members of his team.

The mystery in this one is quite intricate. Andy has the barest hint of a clue, and he and his team are able to pick away at the lies and alibis until they can ferret out the truth. And I was just along for the ride; I couldn’t figure this one out on my own.

I highly recommend this whole series to mystery fans. This is a little darker than a “cozy” series – more swearing and sometimes more violence. It’s mostly a court room series – the investigation is done outside but justice is often sorted out in the trial or shortly thereafter. The twisty mysteries keep me guessing and the terrific characters keep me chuckling and coming back for more. This is a keeper series for me!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess by Emma Wunsch

REVIEW: The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess by Emma Wunsch

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Princess Miranda is about to start third grade, and she’ll be going to school for the first time ever. Her castle tutor has finally retired (maybe several years later than she should have). Her teacher seems nice enough, but Princess Miranda would rather still be at home.

Maude Kaye is joining the same third grade class as Princess Miranda. She’s highly verbal and describes herself as a “social justice advocate.”

The girls don’t hit it off. Maude always has several hard boiled eggs with her for lunch, and Princess Miranda finds the thought of them disgusting, much less the smell.  Maude thinks Princess Miranda believes she’s better than everyone. And Princess Miranda is overwhelmed by school and standardized testing and feeling completely unprepared academically for school.

The tension comes to a head when Princess Miranda starts handing out birthday party invitations and sees Maude has been drawing and writing about her in her class journal. So she refuses to invite Maude to her party. And Maude knows she is the only one left out.

Review

At it’s core, this is a story about misunderstandings and faulty assumptions getting in the way of friendship. It’s easy to see things from the perspective of each of the girls. Readers just have to wait until the girls work out their misconceptions.

There’s an opportunity here for readers to learn empathy for Princess Miranda and her struggles at school. They can also see that for every behavior (for example Miranda is always at school early), there are several possible motives (Maude assumes it is because she is trying to flaunt the rules because she is better than everyone else. In truth, she is there for extra help.). Readers can also see how alike the girls can be – and how they can help one another – once they give it a try.

There are hints at a deeper story – like the kids who bonded over the loss of their parents, the solidarity of the kids when Maude tells them she wasn’t invited to the party – that might develop in future books.

This is a solid early chapter book /transitional chapter book for kids ready to stretch their new reading skills into longer stories. This is book one in the Miranda and Maude series.

Rating: ♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: August 21, 2018

BOOK NEWS: August 21, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s a light week for new books, but quantity isn’t the same as quality. Some great new stories to explore this week – here they are!

Books for Kids

Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies – A beautiful pony is tricked by a jealous Queenie and becomes lost. Can the Seven Miniature Ponies help her find her way home? The illustrations for this are lovely. This looks like a fun, horse-y twist on the classic Snow White story.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Flip the Silver Switch – Book 2 in the Crimson Five series about a group of kid inventors in the future. Sounds like a fun series. I have book 1 on my library list.
Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish – After a fight at school, Marcus’ mom takes him and his brother to Puerto Rico to see extended family, but all Marcus can think about is the fact that the father he hasn’t seen in ten years is somewhere on the island, too.
The Phantom Tower – A pair of twins discover a portal to a parallel world in their new home. This sounds great. I have this on my list.
The Potion Problem – Just Add Magic, book 2 from the MIX line for middle grade readers. The girls lose their magical cook book, but it mysteriously finds its way back to them. The girls will have their hands full figuring out the mystery of their special book as well as saving their favorite bake shop. The whole series sounds delightful.
Trees: Kings of the Forest – The latest from Science Comics
Giant Days – A novelization of the comic book series about three college students. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
The State of Grace – An autistic girl tries to make sense of her world when things start to change after a kiss. Early reviews of this one are glowing.
To Be Honest – A high school senior tries to deal with her sister’s departure for college, her own college dreams, and her mom’s diet obsession. I am curious about this one.
The Truth Lies Here – An aspiring journalist and her friends go looking for the girls father, a conspiracy theorist who has gone missing. This one sounds terrific!
We Regret to Inform You – When the perfect college applicant is rejected by all of her college choices, including her “safety” school, she launches an investigation to see how that could have happened. I requested this one from the library weeks ago. Tomorrow morning it will be mine!

Books for Adults

 

The Fated Sky – Book 2 in the Lady Astronaut series about an alternate history where mankind is already set up on the moon in the 1960s, so now they look to Mars. With that fascinating premise, book one is on my library wish list.
The Stars Now Unclaimed – Book one in a new space opera series. This is on my library wish list, too.
Vox – A dystopian story of a society where women are forbidden to speak more than 100 words per day and their other freedoms are growing more restricted. One woman says No More. I will be reviewing this one in September. I’ve been excited about reading this all summer!
American Cookie: The Snaps, Drops, Jumbles, Tea Cakes, Bars and Brownies that We Have Loved for Generations – A journey through American baking history – with recipes. Sounds terrific! Fun AND educational.
One Pan, Whole Family: More than 70 Compete Weeknight Meals – I can’t wait to see this one in person.
Star Trek Lost Scenes – Previously unseen and fully restored stills from the original Star Trek series. This looks fantastic!

REVIEW: Royals by Rachel Hawkins

REVIEW: Royals by Rachel Hawkins

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Daisy’s life in Florida is relatively normal. Sure, her parents are from England, and her dad used to be a rock star. But Daisy is just a normal high school kid with a crappy job (grocery store clerk), a best friend, and an ex-boyfriend. What makes Daisy stand out from the crowd is her sister Ellie – who is dating the crown prince of Scotland.

When Ellie and Alex get engaged, things get a lot more complicated for Daisy. Her ex has already tried to sell the paparazzi their prom pictures. And then he sells them a lie that Daisy broke up with him because she has her sights set on bigger fish – Alex’s younger brother, Prince Sebastian, the wild child of the royal family.

Daisy is whisked off to Scottland – under protest – by “the crown” so they can control the media around Daisy’s family and the upcoming wedding. But Prince Sebastian and his friends – the “Royal Wreckers” – may be a bigger risk than Daisy or her American family.

Review

When I first read the description for this book, I thought it sounded a lot like one of my favorite books from 2017, Prince in Disguise. I approached this with some reluctance because of that. I didn’t want to read anything that might feel like a copycat of one of my favorite stories. But once I got the flavor of this on its own merits, I really enjoyed it!

Daisy is fun and sassy. She tries to hold herself back for the sake of her sister, but her true nature still comes through – and it’s awesome! Prince Seb and his crew are fun, although I would have enjoyed even more time with them. The interpersonal parts of the story were where most of the humor came in. There are many LOL moments in this one!

The story was fun and light. I enjoyed the setting. The uppity royals and high society folks needed to be put in their places. I would have enjoyed even more of it, but what is there is satisfying.

I’d still rank Prince in Disguise higher than this one, but this was a great book in its own right. Read BOTH for a lot of royal romance fun! I know I plan to read both of them again… and again.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Made Like Martha by Katie M. Reid AND The Family Bible Devotional by Sarah Wells

REVIEW: Made Like Martha by Katie M. Reid AND The Family Bible Devotional by Sarah Wells

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of both of these books from Netgalley – Made Like Martha from WaterBrook and The Family Bible Devotional from Discovery House. All opinions are my own.]

Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done – Summary

Luke the gospel writer shares a story of two sisters. Martha bustles around getting things ready for the Messiah’s visit while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. Martha becomes frustrated and asks Jesus to make her sister help out. Jesus refuses, saying Mary is in the right place.

This passage seems to shame the do-ers of the world, saying they aren’t okay in the eyes of Christ. And when Marthas are shamed into trying to be Marys they fail, and the shame is compounded.

Katie M Reid offers Marthas another way to look at this interaction with Jesus. “What if God wasn’t asking me to be Mary but instead loved me for being Martha? (pg 10)

Review

It’s like this book was personally written just for me! I loved this from the very first chapter of the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and immediately ordered a copy for myself so I could write in it and highlight pages to my heart’s content. I adore this book and it’s message for a do-er like me.

Each chapter includes an application activity as well as personal anecdotes, Bible stories and commentary on the scripture. There are also a few assessments and action steps (including an emphasis on spending time with God) for readers to try. There are links and websites for extra resources and a five-session Bible Study that readers can work through either after reading the book or along side as they read.

I think this would be an excellent study resource! I highly recommend this book!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

The Family Bible Devotional: Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage and Love Scripture – Summary

This is a devotional Bible study for families. It includes a passage of scripture, some discussion questions, kid-friendly activities, a prayer prompt and some background information. The author gives some tips for parents that are well-reasoned – things like keeping the emphasis on the activities, down playing questions if they aren’t grabbing the kids attention, keeping things engaging so the kids want to dig into scripture, etc.

Devotions are from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The scripture passages are included in the book, so you don’t have to pull out a separate Bible. The book uses various translations – NLT, NIV, The Message and the NRSV.

Review

This is a well-organized devotional for families that focuses on the Bible as the source material. Sometimes devotionals only have one verse of scripture along with a story. I love that this is more Bible based. The activities seem like things that will work well for kids – art activities, build an “ark” out of living room furniture, go for a hike – and hopefully connect them to the story. The author doesn’t shy away from stories like David and Bathsheba or the woman caught in adultery, but they are handled in an appropriate way for families willing to dig into those stories with their kids. I think this would be a terrific resource for families who want to add a spiritual component to their family time but aren’t sure how to structure it on their own.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥