Try Not To Laugh Challenge

Here is the book summary:

GREAT GIFT FOR KIDS! Sneak peek at our Try Not to Laugh Challenge jokes: Did you hear about the golfer’s socks? There was a hole-in-one! That is just one of many hilarious jokes this book has to offer! Invite friends and family to sit down, take turns reading jokes aloud, and trying NOT to laugh at these corny jokes! Our book includes 3 levels for both our Silly and Corny categories along with our twisty Tongue Twisters! Grab one for your kiddos or give it as an interactive gift. Before you know it everyone will be competing to be named the ‘Laugh Champion’!

And now, my review:

My family and I just love to laugh and so when I saw this book I got really excited about the potential of a great laughing time together.  A few of the jokes are funny, some don’t make sense, and most of them we found did not make us want to laugh at all…  So the challenge was easy for us to keep because they were NOT hitting our silly bones.  Again we are a funny, love to laugh kind of family and so I was quite surprised by our sad reaction to this book. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/try-not-to-laugh-challenge-joke-book-crazy-corey/1128930285?ean=9781942915133

My Heart Belongs in Galveston Texas by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Here is the book summary:

Journey now to Galveston, Texas, of 1880...
Where is Mrs. Smith’s granddaughter?  Who is the mysterious Mrs. Smith?
 
Pinkerton agent Jonah Cahill is hired by the mysterious widow to find her lost granddaughter, rumored to be living in Galveston, Texas. Though Jonah prefers to travel alone, Mrs. Smith insists that she and her companion accompany him. Madeline Latour, investigative reporter, has been acting as Mrs. Smith’s assistant for several months, and Madeline will not allow anyone—even a Pinkerton agent—to ruin the story of a lifetime. The pair forges an uneasy truce as the investigation grows dangerous.

Is there a bigger story beyond a missing girl to be revealed?

And now, my review:

My Heart Belongs in Galveston Texas by Kathleen Y’Barbo is an exciting read with land and water adventures.  This story is full of mystery and the enjoyable who-done-it suspense.  This story involves a Pinkerton Detective, a News Journalist, and buried treasure.  These two are put on an investigation case together and they have to work out past hurts as they face the case together.  I really enjoyed this storyline and I felt the writer did a great job keeping it interesting and flowing well to the last page.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Belongs-Galveston-Texas-Madelines-ebook/dp/B078X4WXF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545936250&sr=8-1&keywords=my+heart+belongs+in+galveston%2C+texas+y%27barbo%2C+kathleen

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-heart-belongs-in-galveston-texas-kathleen-ybarbo/1127353418?ean=9781683225003#/

https://www.christianbook.com/heart-belongs-galveston-texas-madelines-search/kathleen-ybarbo/9781683225003/pd/225006?product_redirect=1&Ntt=225006&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Jacob's Bell by John Snyder

Here is the book summary:

For readers of Richard Paul Evans and Melody Carlson comes JACOB'S BELL, a heartwarming Christmas story about how an unlikely friendship between an old man and a little girl saved a family.

Sometimes the road to forgiveness and restoration can be a rocky one. Set in Chicago and Baltimore in 1944 with flashbacks to the 1920s, JACOB'S BELL follows Jacob MacCallum on his arduous journey to redemption.

At one time, Jacob had it all: wealth, a wonderful family and a position as one of the most respected businessmen in Chicago. Then he made some bad decisions and all that changed. For the past twenty years he lived in an alcohol-induced haze, riddled with guilt for the dreadful things he had done to his family and his role in the untimely death of his wife. Estranged from his children and penniless, he was in and out of jail, on the street and jumping freight trains for transportation. Realizing he needed a drastic change, Jacob embarked on a journey to find his children, seek their forgiveness, and restore his relationship with them. Befriended by a pastor at a Salvation Army mission, he struggled to transform his life. Yet finally he overcame his demons, but not without a fair number of setbacks. Jacob became a Salvation Army Bell Ringer at Christmastime. While ringing his bell on a street corner one snowy day, he met a young girl who, through a series of strange coincidences, led him back to his children and facilitated Jacob's forgiveness just in time for Christmas.

Author John Snyder pens a story of love, hardship, and reconciliation that will leave readers filled with Christmas joy.

And now, my review:

Jacob’s Bell by John Snyder was a new Christmas story that I had the pleasure of reading this year.  This stories setting is placed in the early to mid-1900s in America.  The picture this author paints, I felt took me right to America in years past.  It’s a story about poor choices that led to hard life consequences and there is a great need for redemption to be had.  This story made my heart ache at times, which is the purpose the writer intended I’m sure.  While sharing it with your family, you might want to do a pre-read through yourself to know if this is appropriate for your listeners.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Jacobs-Bell-Christmas-John-Snyder-ebook/dp/B079L67DP5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545934799&sr=8-1&keywords=jacob%27s+bell

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jacobs-bell-john-snyder/1127922431?ean=9781546010395#/

https://www.christianbook.com/jacobs-bell-a-christmas-story/john-snyder/9781546010395/pd/010392?event=ESRCG

Moments Til Midnight by Brent Crowe

Here is the book summary:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

In the biblical letter of 2 Timothy, the apostle Paul reflected on his passing life. It was but a vapor. He was a pilgrim, passing through this life and into the next. Moments 'til Midnight creatively peels back the curtain of Paul's final hours. Author Brent Crowe imaginatively retells the last twelve hours of Paul's life, from the perspective of the apostle himself. Along the way, readers will be encouraged to live with purpose, to redeem the time, and to embrace the awesome reality that they too are on a sacred journey.

With no more letters to write, no more churches to plant, no more sermons to preach, and no more missionary journeys to embark upon, Paul awaited his death sentence. What were his final reflections on life? How did he view the race he had run? How should you view the race set before you?

And now, my review:

Moments ‘Til Midnight by Brent Crowe is a fictitious account of what this author thinks the last 12 hours of Paul’s reflective life would have been.  Insights from Scripture were woven into the themes in each chapter.  I felt that even though this was fiction, the author had a wonderful grasp of Paul’s heart for people, for believers in the church.  I would recommend this book to individuals who are looking to expound on the Scriptures that Paul has written in an entertaining and count-down fashion of the last hours of his life. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Moments-til-Midnight-Thoughts-Wandering/dp/1462787770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545933101&sr=8-1&keywords=moments+til+midnight

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moments-til-midnight-brent-crowe/1127927496?ean=9781462787777#/

https://www.christianbook.com/moments-midnight-final-thoughts-peculiar-pilgrim/brent-crowe/9781462787777/pd/787774?product_redirect=1&Ntt=787774&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

The Winter War by Priscilla Shirer with Gina Detwiler

Here is the book summary:

Two years ago, the Prince Warriors lost one of their own, but now they must stand firm . . . because death is coming once again. In this sequel to Priscilla Shirer’s best-selling trilogy, the Prince Warriors return to Ahoratos to find it bare and dangerous. The Winter War is upon them.

And now, my review:

My family was SOO blessed to see this book come out!  We are HUGE fans of ALL of the Prince Warrior books and find great enjoyment reading them aloud, together as a family.  The Winter War is no exception.  We dove right in and picked up the characters like being reunited with friends.  What a journey this book took us through.  There are so many things that we can face in our lives and reading fiction that encourages and strengthens our walk with the Lord through it is a monumental advantage.  “We have all that we need.”  I pray these authors are led by the Lord to write more.  I believe this type of writing is severely missing in children and young adult literature and would love to see more of it in the future for the generations and for the Kingdom.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Winter-epub-Prince-Warriors-Book-ebook/dp/B07GLC2KSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543868477&sr=8-1&keywords=the+winter+war

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-winter-war-priscilla-shirer/1127287569?ean=9781462796755#/

https://www.christianbook.com/the-winter-war-priscilla-shirer/9781462796755/pd/796752?event=ESRCG

Seek and Circle Bible Battles

Here is the book summary:

Seek, circle, and learn!

Maybe you've heard about the battle of Jericho and David's battle against Goliath, but what about the day the sun stood still? Inside this book, explore six of the major battles from the Bible, filled with dozens of items for you to seek and circle! Every battle scene also has something to tell us about God's plan for His people through His Son, Jesus.

For an added challenge, look for the six pieces of the armor of God as you explore each battle. 

Use a wipe-on, wipe-off marker to seek-and-circle over and over again! 

This B&H Kids book includes a Parent Connection, an easy tool to help moms and dads (or anyone else who loves kids) discuss the book's message with their child. We're all about connecting parents and kids to each other and to God's Word.

And now, my review:

This book is based on the Armor of God and it tells of 6 battles that happened in the Old Testament with a Scripture reference for you to dig even deeper.  Each page has a list of findable objects and an extra Armor piece as well.  My girls felt that the pictures made them feel like they were in the battle with them.  We would all sit together while looking through the book and name off an item and look with our eyes to find each one.  It was a great challenge and fun as we love to do hidden object games.  Gathering my children around and having a great time being intentional together, it’s the best!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Seek-Circle-Bible-Battles-Story/dp/146279663X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543867632&sr=8-1&keywords=seek+and+circle+bible+battles

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seek-and-circle-bible-battles-b-h-kids-editorial-staff/1127287566?ean=9781462796632#/

https://www.christianbook.com/seek-and-circle-bible-battles/9781462796632/pd/796633?product_redirect=1&Ntt=796633&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP