The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible by Doris Rikkers

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Flyby Promotions in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Over 40 Bible stories are brought to life the words of Doris Rikkers and the illustrations of Fernando Juarez. From the story of creation, to the letters of Paul, as well as many other old and new testament stories, The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible reminds us that the spirit of God is always with us.

My thoughts-

I absolutely love The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible! The pictures are so gorgeous and appealing that even adults would enjoy looking at and reading these stories. It is nice to have illustrations to go with easy to understand words for kids to better understand the Bible and to enjoy reading about it in the process. I like the way each story is a few pages long so you could read one or two each night with your kids before bed or at whatever time you decide to read it. I love that it is a hardback book so that it will stand up to little hands and last a long time!

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Unbroken: The Path to Redemption- In Theaters Tomorrow! + Fandango Ticket Giveaway!

*Disclosure of material connection- I received an advanced screening of the movie from Flyby Promotions in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. 

Several years ago when Laura Hillenbrand wrote Unbroken, it became my absolute favorite biography, and it still is 6 years later. There is just something so gripping about Louie's story while he was a prisoner of war. I happily went and saw the movie version of Unbroken when it came out too, and then when I heard that there was another movie about Louie Zamparini coming out, I couldn't contain my excitement! I was so excited to watch this movie! Unbroken: The Path to Redemption is the story of what happened to Louie after he came back from being a prisoner of war, and about his relationships with his family and with, his struggles with PTSD and his faith and ultimately what all led up to him becoming the man of faith we learned about in Unbroken. This movie was moving in a completely different way than the first one, but maybe even more important to watch  (although I recommend watching both!) . Unbroken: The Path to Redemption is out in theaters tomorrow!

Look below the trailer for your chance to win 2 tickets to see Unbroken: The Path to Redemption!
 
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Little People BIG DREAMS- Mother Teresa by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the incredible life of Mother Teresa, in this true story of her life.

With stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful women of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world!

My thoughts- 

I have enjoyed every book in this series, and I love seeing all of the amazing, positive female role models being profiled, but I saved my favorite for last. I have always found inspiration from Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to helping the poor in India. If there were anyone famous I would ever strive to be like, it would be here. Once again, this is a great introduction of a female role model to kids with gorgeous illustrations to match. I think this book belongs on every kid's bookshelf!

Christmas on Mistletoe Lane by Annie Rains

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Welcome to the Sweetwater Springs -- where a B&B is getting a major makeover, traditions take centerstage, and everyone gets a fresh start.
Christmas is coming to the North Carolina mountains, and the air is fresh and crisp and filled with promise. After the devastating loss of her job in the big city, the small town of Sweetwater Springs feels like heaven to Kaitlyn Russo. She's inherited her grandparents' charming (if a little rundown) bed and breakfast, and it's just the new lease on life she needs. Only "heaven" comes with a catch-and a handsome and completely infuriating one at that. 

After what he hopes will be a quick trip, Mitch Hargrove wants nothing more than to put his hometown in the rearview mirror. But his plans get derailed when he learns he's now half-owner of the Sweetwater B&B. The fact that he's given only two months to make the inn a success is a huge problem, but it's his pretty-and incredibly headstrong-partner who's the real challenge. With the holiday fast approaching and a grand re-opening looming, will Mitch keep running from the ghosts of Christmas past . . . or will he realize the true gift he's been 

My thoughts-

Around the beginning of September I get an uncontrollable itch to start reading Christmas novels. I have several on deck waiting to be read after Christmas on Mistletoe Lane already! This was an excellent book to kick of my Christmas reading extravaganza. It had the quintessential love story, but it was also set in a small town AND in a Bed and Breakfast, both of which always add to the romantic aspect of a novel for me. I found myself rooting for Kaitlyn and Mitch, and shaking my head at Mitch plenty too. I recommend this book to anyone who just can't wait for the Hallmark Channel's Christmas movies to start playing! This will hold you over until then!

Little People BIG DREAMS- Lucy Maud Montgomery by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the incredible life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famous writer, in this true story of her life.

With stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful women of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world!

My thoughts- 

I think of my first favorite book series' was Anne of Green Gables. There was just something so interesting about her story. I didn't know much about the author, L.M. Montgomery so this Little People BIG DREAMS book taught me something new. It makes sense why she would want to escape into the world of writing and why she did such a good job at it with such an early interest and big imagination. I think that kids will love this book and maybe be inspired to read Anne of Green Gables as well. 

Little People Big Dreams- Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the life of Anne Frank, the writer whose diary captured the hearts of the public, in this true story of her life. Little Anne was born in Germany to a liberal Jewish family. But when the Nazis came into power she was forced to go into hiding with her family.

With innovative illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful women of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world!

My thoughts-

The first time I read The Diary of Anne Frank, I was in 8th grade. We read it out loud in class and I remember always volunteering to read Anne's part. I loved reading, I loved the idea of being a writer, and I was inspired by Anne's positive outlook in the midst of probably the worst time in world history. This book aimed at introducing Anne Frank's story to younger kids does a fantastic job of staying sensitive through the wording of the book, but without downplaying what happened to Anne. I thought the black and white pictures with the dairy always displayed in color was a beautiful choice and help portray the fact that this was a dark time in history, but to Anne that Diary was her bright spot. I highly recommend Little People Big Dreams: Anne Frank to absolutely anyone. I think just like Anne's diary, this is a must read for everyone. 

I'll Be There for You: The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Today, Friends is remembered as an icon of 90s comedy and the Must See TV years. But when the series debuted in 1994, no one anticipated the sensation it would become. From the first wave of Friends mania to the backlash and renaissance that followed, the show maintained an uncanny connection to its audience, who saw it both as a reflection of their own lives and an aspirational escape from reality. In the years since, Friends has evolved from prime-time megahit to nostalgic novelty, and finally, to certified classic. Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe have entered the pantheon of great television characters, and yet their stories remain relevant still.

I’ll Be There for You is a deep dive into Friends history and lore, exploring all aspects of the show, from its unlikely origins to the societal conditions that amplified its success. Journalist and pop culture expert Kelsey Miller relives the show’s most powerful moments, sheds light on its sometimes dated and problematic elements, and examines the worldwide trends that Friends catalyzed, from contemporary coffee culture to the wildly popular Ô90s haircut The Rachel. Taking readers behind the scenes, Miller traces the cast’s rise to fame and untangles the complex relationship between the actors and their characters. Weavig in revelatory interviews and personal stories, she investigates the role of celebrity media, world-changing events and the dawning of the digital age—all of which influenced both the series and its viewers.

I’ll Be There for You is the definitive retrospective of Friends, not only for fans of the series, but for anyone who’s ever wondered what it is about this show—and television comedy—that resonates so powerfully.

My thoughts-

I was a teenager in the 90's so of course Friends is one of my favorite shows. It is like comfort food to me, especially  the Thanksgiving episodes, I have this show playing in the background quite often and I know other people from my generation do too. I will devour any book related to Friends even two decades after the show ended. I'll Be There For You: The One About Friends had some interesting behind the scenes facts. I absolutely loved the section that gave the background on each of the main six cast members and how they came to join the show. They were six incredibly unique experiences and they all came together to make one of the best esemble casts of all time. Some of the rest of the book gets a little political, and that isn't what I want in a story about one of my favorite TV shows. I wanted more about the actors and less political stuff. I did appreciate the backstory on the writers and others involved in the behind the scenes work! Still, I would recommend this book to any fan of Friends. 

Little People BIG DREAMS- Jane Austen by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

I absolutely love seeing book series' for children about really important grown ups. It is great for them to have people who have done something extraordinary to look up to and aspire to be like. One of my favorite author's of all time, Jane Austen, is a great example of one of those people and one of the subjects of the Little People BIG DREAMS series. The book tells us about Ms. Austen's early life, how she became interested in writing, the inspiration for her book Pride and Prejudice and other facts about her. The illustrations are gorgeous and really add to the appeal of the book. There is also a timeline at the end that I think really brings the whole thing together. I recommend this book to any kid who likes to learn about history and people from history or to any Jane Austen fan.

This Old Gal's Pressure Cookbook by by Jill Selkowitz

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Do you have a new pressure cooker you're too scared to use? Now with This Old Gal's Pressure Cooker Cookbook, you can use your Instant Pot, pressure cooker, and slow cooker with ease and confidence!  

Get delicious, easy-to-prepare meals on your table in a fraction of the time! More than a million people have been coming to author Jill Selkowitz's blog, This Old Gal, for her incredibly easy and delicious pressure cooker recipes, and now you can have them at your fingertips with brand new, never-before-seen recipes, tips for getting the most from your pressure cooker, and the quickest, tastiest dishes you can get on the table for your family in no time. 

Want to learn how to make Sweet & Sour Chicken just like your local restaurant? How about Chicken Enchiladas? Beef Stew with Root Vegetables? What about Red Wine Braised Short Ribs, or Tomato Basil Soup? With photographs and step-by-step instructions as well as make-ahead, freezer meals, Jill can show you how to use you pressure cooker to make anything from appetizers, pastas, meats, and desserts - you'll never be at a loss for a delicious dinner! You know your pressure cooker can change your life, so what are you waiting for?

My thoughts-

I spend a lot of time in my kitchen because I enjoy cooking, but I know not everyone feels that way. There are days I don't want to be spending all of my time cooking as well and that is what my Instant Pot is one of my favorite (if not my absolute favorite) of all of my kitchen gadgets. It is convenient and makes cooking nice homemade meals fast and easy! What I love about This Old Gal's Pressure Cookbook is that there is a wide array of recipes all in one place. There are kid friendly recipes, plenty of ethnic recipes (I will be spending a lot of time making the meals from the Indian section!), and even some low carb and gluten free recipes sprinkled throughout. I love that there is a wide variety of different meals, all to be made in a pressure cooker. There are also some basic recipes for things like ghee and yogurt, as well cooking instructions for simple things like boiled eggs and corn on the cob (two of my favorite things to make in my Instant Pot!). I recommend This Old Gal's Pressure Cookbook  to anyone who owns an electric pressure cooker. This book is perfect for both the novice and the advanced user.