Gratitude -- A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal

Adult coloring! Fun! This coloring journal has a cover like a toddler’s board book but regular pages inside. Each page has a place for journaling and illustrations that you can color. It has prayers, Bible verses and journaling pages. For instance two facing pages say “never, never, never give up!”, followed by a prayer and a scripture. The facing page says “he never changes” and has lines for journaling. All around the two pages are black and white drawings for you to color any way you want to.


Once you finish this book it will be a keepsake. You will want to go back and look at it over and over and your kids and grandkids will think it’s a cool keepsake someday.


I received a free copy of this from Tyndale in exchange for a review.

365 Pocket Morning Prayers

This is a great devotional book with a page for each day of the year. I received this book from Tyndale House in exchange for a review. Here’s an example of one day: Day 103 – A prayer about overconfidence (Trusting My Leader) It’s all about trusting the Lord and not yourself. There is a short essay and then two related scriptures: Psalm 138:8 and Proverbs 20:24.


This is a nice little book and is a good size to tuck into your purse or briefcase and take along with you or you can leave it in your nightstand for easy reference during your quiet time. It gives you something to think about each day.

Jesus Talked to Me Today

This is a compilation of testimonies of people who experienced a miracle as a child and the memory is still vivid today. There are stories of protection, provision, seeing angels and seeing Jesus. As one of the writers said, “Ask a Christian friend if they have experienced a miracle and then sit back and hear their story.” Many, if not most, Christians have experienced a miracle of some sort at some time in their life. I, myself, have experienced a handful over the years and have stories passed down from my grandmother of other miracles that occurred for members of her family. All these stories are heartwarming and encouraging and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys hearing what God does in individuals’ lives. There was nothing that was against scripture in here. Obviously the compiler is an evangelical Christian. I intend to read some of these to my granddaughter in our homeschool devotions because I feel they would be very informative for her.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book is becoming a part of my permanent collection so I can read these stories again. I read the entire book in one day and look forward to revisiting it in the future.

The Artisan's Wife by Judith Miller

This book is third in the Refined by Love series by Judith Miller. The first book is the older brother Ewan of the Irish family that came to America with big dreams. He marries into a brickmaking family. The second book is about his sister Rose whose dream is a pottery factory. This final book is about Ainsley who is running a tile factory in another town and Levi, the artisan who comes to work for her and designs some very beautiful tiles.

The book is a history rich story about labor in the late 1800s and about insane asylums during that time. Ainsley gets involved with making a library for the inmates, many of whom are there just because a family member (often husband) and had them committed.

I love the way Ms. Miller brought all the three books together and tied up loose ends without taking away from the integrity of the current story. I love the simple faith of the characters. It’s an unembellished, matter-of-fact trust in God and I am so glad that Bethany House’s authors have learned to make this just part of the character’s lives and not added preachy stuff that doesn’t ring true as in some earlier Christian fiction that I have read.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for a fair and honest review. I would have come by my own copy one way or another anyway because I enjoyed the previous book so much this one just had to find its way into my bookshelf.

Deadly Encounter by Diann Mills

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Veterinarian Stacy Broussard becomes unwillingly involved in a puzzling situation that leaves people ill and even dead. FBI Agent Alex LeBlanc is working the case and finds himself spending a lot of time worrying about Stacy’s safety.

This story has an intricate plot and it leaves you guessing to the end. The characters are very well developed and very likeable. I found myself cheering for Alex and Stacy as a couple, but also for each of them in their careers and life choices. The fact that both of them were of Cajun background made an interesting twist to the story.

Diann Mills never disappoints with her crime novels. I find myself skulking about Amazon trying to figure out when the next one will come out and how soon I can get a copy. Tyndale gave me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was thrilled to do it because it meant I got the book sooner but I would have gotten it by hook or by crook. I’m saving every one of Diann Mills books for a delicious rereading if I ever have a lull in all the new great fiction that comes out of Tyndale and other sources.



Author's Website

No Way Up (The Cimarron Legacy Book 1) By Mary Connealy

This is the first book of a new series by my favorite author, Mary Connealy. However, it brings in one of the characters from the previous series (The Kincaid Brides), Heath Kincaid. So much fun!


Chance Boden of the Cimarron ranch in New Mexico is injured in a rock slide and has to be taken by train to Denver to try to save his leg. His wife goes along, but their three grown children are left in charge of the ranch with a little extra incentive from Chance to stay put (he will give the ranch to someone else entirely if any of them leave). Heath Kincaid is one of their top cowhands and he and the two Boden sons and the daughter, Sadie, team together to try to figure out who was trying to hurt Chance after they discover that it was a set-up and not an accident.


I love this book and I love all the characters. I can’t wait for the next two installments. This is Mary Connealy at her best. Her books are always suspenseful but also funny and endearing. That is my most favorite aspect of her writing – it makes me laugh all the way through.


I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review but it was on my Amazon queue anyway so I would have had it on my shelf in a month or so anyway. I have all of Mary’s books and will continue to as long as she will write them.

Delilah: Treacherous Beauty (A Dangerous Beauty Novel) by Angela Hunt

This is the story of Samson & Delilah told in Angela Hunt's own unique style. It remains true to the Biblical account, but is fleshed out with additional characters and lots of historical / cultural insight. Delilah is betrayed by a step-brother and begins her own personal journey for justice. Samson is the Judge in Israel that travels around where Delilah is living. The story of how they became involved and how it led to the conclusion that we see in the Bible account is relayed through Angela Hunt's wonderful, imaginative telling of this tale. Delilah doesn't look like quite as much of a villain as she is usually portrayed, and the reader has a little more kind feeling toward her in spite of the conclusion.

Bethany House provided me with a copy of this book for the purpose of an honest review.


See my review of another book in this series here: Esther: Royal Beauty