Brio: My First Take Along Set | Toy Review

Brio My First Take Along Set

Ages: 18 months +

• Practical, plastic take along storage case
• Includes My First Engine with bell wagon, train tracks and two patented ramps
• Additional curved tracks are built into the carrying case and are compatible with all BRIO railway sets and engines
• Size: 17.75" x 9.5" x 3"

My Thoughts

Our kids are crazy about trains. In fact when we are going on a trip they always want to take their trains with them. We wind up tossing them into the bottom of the backpack and hoping that they make it back to the house.

I was asked to review the Brio: My First Take Along Set and I am so pleased with it. In fact I'm wondering where it's been all my parenting life. The set comes with a couple of ramps and two train cars but it has room to add additional tracks and trains. It's so lightweight and compact that the two-year-old can easily carry it himself. 

We've been taking it everywhere and it's been a hit. Before we leave my little one grabs a couple of his favorite train cars and some tracks. We stow them away and then we're off. This has been a bonus going to grandma's house or when he has to accompany me to a meeting. He'll literally play quietly with this for hours. I highly recommend it to anyone with littles that love trains!

The Prince Warriors and the Swords Of Rhema (Prince Warriors Trilogy #3) by Priscilla Shirer | Juvenile Fiction Review

The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema

Prince Warriors Trilogy #3

Priscilla Shirer

Juvenile Fiction

In this third book of The Prince Warriors trilogy, the Prince Warriors finally receive their last piece of armor—the swords they were promised when they began their adventure in the unseen realm of Ahoratos. And none too soon, for they must face the ultimate enemy, one who is gathering his Forgers and creating unthinkable new evil to stop the Prince Warriors from winning any battle ever again.

My Thoughts
Every good epic trilogy should come to a climactic ending. That's exactly what you can expect from The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema. Our warriors have fought battles and learned to wear their armor but now they are looking forward to the ultimate weapon . . . their swords. 
On the surface this has been a spectacular story that fans of Tolkien will enjoy. But just like the Lord of the Rings trilogy there is a major storyline going on underneath the surface. The whole trilogy centers on learning to put on the armor of God and fight the battles through Him. The forces that come against the young warriors are from the unseen realm and they are big and fight nasty . . . but God is bigger and through Him the warriors can prevail.
If you have a tween you should get them this series. I think it appeals to girls and boys even though the main characters are boys. We've been reading it together as a family and even the adults are enamored with it. I would say that you need to read all three books in order. The adventure builds on itself and so if you read the books out of order you'll have major spoilers. 
Other Reviews For This Author
The Prince Warriors The Prince Warriors and the Unseen Invasion Fervent God Is Able
Connect With The Author

www.ThePrinceWarriors.com

www.GoingBeyond.com

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Never Enough? 3 Keys To Financial Contentment by Ron Blue and Karen Guess | Christian Life Review

Never Enough?

3 Keys to Financial Contentment

Ron Blue & Karen Guess

Christian Life

HAVE YOU EVER WORRIED that doubling down on your debt repayment is robbing your family of memories and fun? Or had a major appliance fail, right after splurging on an expensive purchase or vacation? The tension between giving to church or charity and paying for your kids' tuition or sports equipment is real.

Money and life are inextricably linked. They don't run on independent tracks but rather continually exist together, both of them somehow needing to be handled with steady applications of wisdom and biblical integrity, even when they seem in direct competition.

Veteran financial counseloor and trusted author Ron Blue helps you navigate the seeming incompatibilities of money management. His liberating, simplifying analysis breaks down all your financial options to a basic four, then shows you how to adeptly keep them spinning alongside each other without leaving you consumed by confusion or regret--in fact, with all your dreams, plans, and principles still intact.

My Thoughts

I have read several financial planning books over the years but I think I can honestly say that none have ever had the impact that Never Enough has had on my thinking. This isn't a mega book, in fact it comes in at only 213 pages. But those pages pack a punch.

Ron Blue's plan is simple yet complex. He uses the words Live - Give - Owe - Grow to show you how your money works in your life. In fact even if you aren't actively managing it these are still the areas that your money lands in. 

During this tax season I particularly appreciated Ron's take on paying taxes. He presented it as a privilege rather than a burden. I honestly have never looked at it in that light but he's absolutely right. I pay taxes because of God's abundant provision in my life. 

The other concept that is resonating is that of making more margin in our financial lives. And guess what, he encourages doing it without adding a second job! He uses a pie chart to show you how your money decisions aren't linear but rather circular. For instance you can't overspend on something and just continue on down the line. Instead when you overspend it comes out of the overall pie taking away from another area of your finances. It's an easy concept that makes perfect sense.

If you are looking for a book that will relieve the stress and guilt of money management then this is the one to get. The gentle reminders that God is in control of it all and that you can trust Him in every area of your life are a lovely way to begin setting your financial house in order.

Invitation (Harbingers: Cycle One) by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky | Supernatural Suspense Review

Invitation

Harbingers: Cycle One

Bill Myers, Frank Peretti,

Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky

Supernatural Suspense

FOUR STRANGERS WITH GIFTS

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. 

A WORLD FALLING INTO DARKNESS. 

THIS IS HARBINGERS.

You're invited on a journey of suspense and the supernatural as four of your favorite bestselling authors team up for a unique series.

From the minds of Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky, Invitation compiles the first four episodes of Harbingers, each following a different character.

BRENDA--the street-hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future
THE PROFESSOR--the atheist ex-priest ruled by logic
ANDI--the professor's brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns
TANK--the naïve, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power

Brought together for the first time in "The Call," the four soon realize pockets of darkness are emerging throughout the world. Whether it involves a mysterious house, the unexplainable death of animals around the world, or an otherworldly little girl, each puzzle they solve brings them closer to the ultimate explanation of what's happening. But will they discover the truth in time?

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

Supernatural suspense is not the genre that I seek out. But the four authors of Invitation are among my favorites so I decided to give it a read. I'm so glad that I did. There is a supernatural element to it and at times it does have that "woo woo" feel but the stories are so well written that I just kept reading.

The book is set up into four different novellas that feature a different author writing through the lens of a main character. I was worried that the characters would have changes that stood out as the authors changed. But the four authors obviously worked closely with each other because I didn't find any of that to be a problem.

The very first thing in the book is a note from the authors that explain what they wanted to do with this book. They set a couple of rules that included each author writing from the perspective of one of the characters and the writing would be like a TV series. They also said they would continue the series until they had to do something else or they got cancelled. My hope is that it will continue for several more books.

If you're looking for something a little different you should give this one a try. As I said I'm not a big fan of supernatural suspense but I really enjoyed it. So if you lean towards that genre you're going to be in for a real treat!

Connect With The Authors

www.BillMyers.com

www.FrankPeretti.com

www.AngelaHuntBooks.com

AltonGansky.com

Sandpiper Cove (Hope Harbor #3) by Irene Hannon | Contemporary Romance Review

Sandpiper Cove

Hope Harbor #3

Irene Hannon

Contemporary Fiction

WISHING FOR THINGS THAT CAN 

NEVER BE IS FOOLISH . . . or is it?

Hope Harbor police chief and single mom Lexie Graham has zero time for extracurricular activities--including romance. Ex-con Adam Stone isn't looking for love either--but how ironic is it that the first woman to catch his eye is a police chief?

When Lexie enlists Adam's help to keep a troubled young man from heading down the wrong path, sparks begin to fly. Could it be that God may have a different--and better--future planned for them than either could imagine?

Lauded by Library Journal as "a master at character development," Irene Hannon welcomes you back to this charming Oregon seaside village.

COME HOME TO HOPE HARBOR

where hearts heal--and love blooms

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

Up until recently when I thought of Irene Hannon's books I thought of romantic suspense. With her new adventure into contemporary fiction I'm beginning to broaden my thought classification of her as a writer. I love her voice in suspense and her contemporary fiction writings aren't far behind.

Irene's Hope Harbor series makes me want to take a trip to the Oregon coast. The town is full of what all small towns should be, friendly neighbors that care about and for each other, quirky characters that keep things from being boring, and a sense of belonging that makes you feel like you've been a part of the community forever. Plus the beautiful seaside setting doesn't hurt anything.

In Sandpiper Cove we focus on two people that should belong to two different worlds. Lexie Graham is the police chief and Adam Stone is an ex-con. You would think that the two would steer clear of each other. But the heart is a funny thing. It doesn't consider a person's past, only those possibilities that lie ahead. I enjoyed reading about how these two seemingly incompatible puzzle pieces began to fit together. 

There are other ongoing storylines that allow the readers of the series to catch up on what has been going on between the books. Even though this book is part of a series I still think it can be read as a stand-alone novel. There is enough background given for the reader to understand what is going on without being redundant for the series reader. If you've liked Irene Hannon's romantic suspense I urge you to give her contemporary romance a try. You won't be sorry!

Other Reviews For This Author

Vanished

One Perfect Spring

Deceived

Buried Secrets

Hope Harbor

Thin Ice

Sea Rose Lane

Tangled Webs

Connect With The Author

Photo Credit: © DeWeesePhotography.com

www.IreneHannon.com

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The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection by Joanne Bischof, Amanda Dykes, Heather Day Gilbert, Jocelyn Green, and Maureen Lang | Christian Romance Review

The Message in a Bottle

Romance Collection

Joanne Bischof, Amanda Dykes,

Heather Day Gilbert, Jocelyn Green, 

and Maureen Lang

The Distant Tide

Heather Day Gilbert

1170: County Kerry, Ireland

When a Viking bent on revenge mistakenly raids the castle of a bookish Irish princess, will she cast her fears aside to befriend the enemy, finally realizing God's plan for her life?

A Song in the Night

Amanda Dykes

1715: Scotland and England

When a Scottish story-weaver loses her family in a clan war, she finds herself aided by a handsome, secretive bagpiper in a race against time to reunite with someone she never dared hope she'd see again.

The Forgotten Hope

Maureen Lang

1798: New York

As a champion of the sick, a young New Yorker never doubted her worth until a new doctor arrives to work with her father, one who believes her to be nothing more than a social butterfly. Can she gain his respect--and his love?

A River Between Us

Jocelyn Green

1864: Roswell, Georgia

When a Georgian cotton mill worker is arrested and sent North, the Union officer who tries to protect her is the last person she wants to forgive--and the only man who can bring hope and healing to her heart.

The Swelling Sea

Joanne Bischof

1890: Coronado Island, California

After washing ashore on the California coastline, a young woman's yearning to discover her past leads her to the courageous oarsman who helps her find the key.

My Thoughts

What a wonderful collection of authors and stories! I've enjoyed the works of the individual authors so I was pretty sure that I was going to have an interesting read before me. I was right!

The prologue begins in a monastery in Northern Ireland in the year 834 AD. That is where the bronze bottle first appears and the stage is set for a wild adventure involving that mysterious bottle. Each of the stories that follow take us through time and travel. While the individual stories are unrelated the bronze bottle appears in each.The epilogue was a fun ending in present-day California and it neatly tied the whole thing together.

I really like that the stories were stand-alone titles. It's hard to keep a continuity of character traits and voice when different authors are writing for the same characters. By changing stories completely it made the book a delightful collection that could be read over several afternoons. With five different novellas the book as a whole is quite hefty but the layout makes it reader friendly.

I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite story. I liked each one of them in different ways. Each of the stories had a strong message of faith. Due to the talent of each of the authors the characters really came alive. I was left wondering about what happened after the story ended. How did they live out their happily ever after? That's a nice feeling at the end of a good book.

The genres in this book are a mixed bag. Romance winds through each of them but there is history and mystery mixed in as well. I believe it would appeal to a wide audience.