12 Days At Bleakly Manor (Once Upon a Dickens Christmas #1) by Michelle Griep | Christmas Book Review

12 Days At Bleakly Manor

Once Upon A Dickens Christmas #1

Michelle Griep

Historical Fiction

A mysterious invitation to spend Christmas 

at an English manor home 

may bring danger...and love?

England, 1851: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds.

But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters.

What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

Pour a cup of tea and settle in for Book 1 of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series--a page-turning Victorian-era holiday tale--by Michelle Griep, a reader and critic favorite.

My Thoughts
Fans of Charles Dickens and Agatha Christie will surely enjoy this Christmas novella. The premise is one that you are familiar with in a storyline. Strangers receive invitations to come to Bleakly Manor and the one that remains until the end will receive the prize. 
But the resemblance ends there. Michelle Griep has taken those bones of an outline and fleshed them out with characters and scenarios that are fresh and interesting. As the characters are added one by one and then leave one by one you can't help but like them. They are quirky to a fault and really make the story come alive. The manor house is a perfect setting. As the story progresses it just gets creepier and creepier.
Just like a good Dickens story, when you think you have the plot figured out a turn in the story comes and takes you in a whole new direction. I was surprised and pleased with the ending which is exactly what I want in a story like this. I recommend you get this for one of those cold winter evenings that you need a good book to curl up with. You won't be disappointed.
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Kissing Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn | Contemporary Fiction Review

Kissing Father Christmas

Father Christmas #3

Robin Jones Gunn

Contemporary Fiction / Christmas

Bestselling, award-winning author 

Robin Jones Gunn welcomes us back to the 

cozy English village of Carlton Heath for a 

winter romance that will melt your heart.

Anna's first visit to Carlton Heath in England was last May for the wedding of her cousin Ian to Miranda. The beautiful event ended with a dance under the stars and Anna receiving an unexpected kiss from Peter, the groomsman who caught her eye and now holds her heart.

Now, at the invitation of family and friends, Anna is returning to Carlton Heath for Christmas. She has Peter's recent email to fill her with assurance that he's looking forward to seeing her again as well.

More than his brief words, though, the vivid memory of their unforgettable kiss provides a promise of more to come. Anna, ever the imaginative artist, has been busy painting a romantic conclusion to her holiday visit. Certainly she's not the only one who has been dreaming of another dance and another kiss.

But when she sees Peter again, his intentions seem to shift as speedily as the blustery winter weather. Is Anna's heart misleading her, or will Father Christmas bestow on her the gift of love for which she has long dreamed?

My Thoughts

Kissing Father Christmas is the third and final novella in the Father Christmas series by Robin Jones Gunn. I loved the first book, Finding Father Christmas, and I thoroughly enjoyed the second book, Engaging Father Christmas. I also enjoyed this novella.

The first and second books focused primarily on Miranda and then Miranda and Ian. This book shifts to Ian's American cousin Anna and Ian's friend and colleague Peter. The two met during Ian and Miranda's wedding which took place between the books. Now Anna has returned to Carlton Heath for a visit with the hopes that the friendship that began may develop into more.

While I was excited to return to Carlton Heath and catch up with what the characters had been doing, I just didn't click with Anna and Peter's story until almost the very end. I wish we knew earlier what is revealed later and then we could spend some time seeing the two's relationship deepen.

Even though I say that I am still a big fan of this book and series. Robin Jones Gunn has a way of developing characters that make them seem to dance off of the page and into the realm of reality. This particular series has a top story that is about a wonderful holiday romance. It's charming and inviting. But what separates her stories from the many others is the underlying story. If you look past the sweet romance you see a spiritual journey that convicts and entices you to look to your own walk with God. 

These books will most definitely go on my shelf to be revisited in years to come. I recommend them to anyone that is a fan of Christmas novellas. I would say that the books could probably read as stand-alone titles but they go so nicely together that you should scoop them all up.

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Marvel I Can Do That! Hero Training Game | Game Review

Marvel I Can Do That!

Hero Taining Game

Ages: 4+

2 or more players

Being a super hero means facing challenges with a can-do attitude! In this game you will train to be a super hero by performing unexpected feats of skill! At any time you may be called upon to put your training to the test by battling the villainous Green Goblin! Have fun and discover all the new things you can do!

My Thoughts

The Marvel I Can Do That! game is the perfect antidote to bored children cooped up in the house too long! Getting the wiggles out and working on coordination skills are some of the benefits of this game. 

We had a lot of fun trying out all the different challenge combinations. There are three stacks of cards and you begin by flipping over the top one on each pile. The three piles give the player specific directions for their particular challenge. For instance the three cards may say, "Crab walk under the portal with Captain America's shield, under your chin!" 

This is one of those games that can just go on and on because you constantly shuffle the cards which gives you different combinations each time. When we played it with the little ones we just did the challenges. When the older kids were playing they kept score. Either way it was a fun way to spend an afternoon. 

Disney Frozen Where's Olaf? Game | Board Game Review

Disney Frozen Where's Olaf? Game

Ages:4+

2 or more players

A HIDE-AND-SEEK GAME

OF HOTTER AND COLDER CLUES!

Join your friends from Disney Frozen in a clever game of hide-and-seek! Players ask questions and use deduction to figure out where Olaf could be. Is he in a room with a tub? Is he in a room with a pillow? Each question gets a HOTTER or COLDER answer. When you get the chance to go look, see if you can find Olaf before the time runs out!

Playing is as easy as 1 . . . 2 . . . 3

1. One player hides Olaf somewhere in the house.
2. Ask questions and get clues about where he could be hiding.
3. Now hurry and find him!

My Thoughts

If you dread playing one more game of hide-and-seek with your kids then you need to get this game. I don't know if the developers intended this to be as hilarious as it was in our house but we (the adults) laughed ourselves silly.

Here's a bit of what we learned. If the 4-year-old is the one hiding Olaf an adult should witness where it is placed. Let's just say the concept of hotter and colder doesn't always make sense when applied by said 4-year-old. But the confusion can be absolutely hysterical.

I can't recommend this game highly enough. It is very kid-friendly and all adults as long as they are young-at-heart and willing to play along will enjoy it. We played it with kids, parents, and grandparents. On that note I should probably add that sneaky Poppy's should also be supervised when hiding Olaf!

Star Wars Eye Found It! Hidden Picture Game | Board Game Review

Star Wars Eye Found It!

Hidden Picture Game

2-4 Players

Ages: 6+

Blast off on a location-hopping adventure through the Star Wars galaxy, from Tatooine and the Death Star, to Jakku and more! Search the galaxy for over a thousand characters, starships, Droids, and artifacts in a quest to find R2-D2!

It's as easy to play as 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . .

1. Fly from planet to planet.
2. Search for hidden objects.
3. Find the most to win!

My Thoughts

If you are Star Wars nerds like our family you are going to love this game. We played it with three of us and the youngest was 8. With a thousand things to find this game is challenging yet easy to learn. We've now played it several times and I assumed that the fun would wear off . . . nope!

Even though the objects to be found stay in the same location the player that needs to find them changes. It really does become a memory game of trying to remember where you saw that particular object during the last round. The eight-year-old cackled gleefully when he knew where the object was but the adults didn't. 

I anticipate that this will be a game that we enjoy pulling out of the closet every few months to enjoy again and again. There are small pieces so I would be careful around little ones. It is definitely a fun game to enjoy with the kids.

Disney Pixar Finding Dory Bubble Science | Children's Game Review

Disney Pixar Finding Dory Bubble Science

Ages: 4-8 (with adult supervision)

Children's Science Experiments

Explore the world of science with seven bouncy experiments inspired by your favorite Disney Pixar Finding Dory characters! Follow the easy, step-by-step instructions to blow a bubble inside a bubble, create towering bubble sculptures, juggle a bubble and more!

My Thoughts

As a grandmother I perfer to get my grandkids gifts that expand their knowledge and imagination while still providing entertainment. Disney's Imagicademy products strike that balance so I have invested in several different products.

This time I chose Disney Pixar Finding Dory Bubble Science. It is designed for 4-8 year olds, but quite honestly we were all enamored with the different experiments. It was fun to gather around the table and try out the various activities listed in the guide book. We also enjoyed letting the kids experiment on their own. 

The whole thing was fun but I really appreciated how you can explain the experiment, let the child do the experiment, and then have them explain the results. It a much better way to help them retain what they are learning. Reading items in a book is great but getting to actually experience the activity is so much better.

I recommend this product to families that have younger children, especially those that homeschool. This would be a great indoor activity to fill those long indoor winter days.

Suspicion Board Game from Wonder Forge | Board Game Review

Suspicion
A Game of Secret Identity and Deduction

You’re invited to a masquerade party at the estate of art collector Baron Whitetooth. Little does he know, you’re a world-class jewel thief. And you are not alone. Keep your identity a secret as you maneuver through the mansion pocketing priceless gemstones. Observe the other guests and use deduction to unmask the other crooks before they catch you.

Ages: 10+
Players: 2 to 6

Promotes:
Deductive reasoning skills
Strategic thinking

My Thoughts
We enjoy family game nights at our house. Because of that we're always on the look-out for a fun new game to add to our collection. Recently we came across Suspicion. It's a game of deductive guesses that we thoroughly enjoyed.
The first time we played it there were just the two of us. The learning curve was relatively quick. We kept the directions out during the first play through and we were able to catch on fast. The next time we played we had six players. I will say that we enjoyed it with just the two of us but it really is a lot more fun with more players. The game lasts longer and it also increases the odds that you will be wrong. 
On a side note I should also add that Wonder Forge has added new rules for a two player game. You can download them on the Wonder Forge website. We played again with two players and it was much improved.
Once you catch on the game is relatively easy but it still requires you to use deductive skills. The game suggests that the players ages should be 10 and up. I think that's a pretty good estimate. We had a couple of younger players that paired with an adult and that worked really well.
I'd recommend this to families that like games that make you use a strategy rather than just rolling the dice and making a move. The more you play this game the more angles to success you'll find. 

A Very Blessed Christmas Coloring Book by Robin Mead | Adult Coloring Book Review

A Very Blessed Christmas Coloring Book

Robin Mead

Nonfiction / Christmas

There is no better way to get into the full spirit of the holiday season than by coloring more than 85 uplifting illustrations in this special volume: frosty winter scenes, carolers in the snow, trees trimmed in nostalgic trappings, ornate churches, angels, nativities--all reminiscent of cozy moments with family and friends and the sweetest, simplest blessings of the holidays. Each artist can rejoice with a grateful heart and be reminded of the ultimate gift God gave the world. Also included are illustrated Scripture verses and fun, holiday craft cutouts that everyone can use to create their own ornaments, Christmas cards, gift tags, and more!

My Thoughts

The coloring trend is such a relaxing way to spend time gathering your thoughts and being creative. A Very Blessed Christmas Coloring Book captures all the sentiments of the season and allows you to express the joyous feelings that surround our celebration of the birth of Christ.

The pages are sturdy and seem to hold up well even though the designs are printed on both sides of the paper. I mostly used colored pencils because it is my favorite choice for coloring books but I think with a little prep (use something like clear gesso) you could even paint the designs. 

I liked that the designs were a mix of very complex patterns and also larger more simple designs. This made the book enjoyable for myself as well as some younger members of the family. Another really fun element of the book is the crafting section at the back. There are several pages that are designed to be colored, glittered, and whatever else you would like to do, and then cut out and made into ornaments or bookmarks. Such a nice way to get the whole family involved.

This would make a wonderful gift for the artist on your list. By itself it is a simple gift or stocking stuffer, but if you add a set of colored pencils it could easily be a complete gift. We enjoyed spending time with it in our family and I think others will as well.

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A Royal Christmas to Remember (Princess Parables) by Jeanna Young & Jacqueline Johnson | Children's Christmas Book Review

A Royal Christmas to Remember

The Princess Parables

Jeanna Young & Jacqueline Johnson

Illustrated by Omar Aranda

Juvenile Fiction / Christmas

"You are true princesses, my daughters!

What is Christmas without sharing and giving?"

The most remarkable winter in years has arrived. Christmas is only a night away. Princesses Joy, Grace, Faith, Charity, and Hope are surrounded by glittering gifts, a huge Christmas tree in the parlor, sparkling candles, and a dramatic night sky with one star bigger and brighter than all the others. A sudden rap at the door of the castle puts the kingdom on immediate alert! Will a marauding band of outlaws ruin the princesses' perfect Christmas Eve?

My Thoughts
It can be a daunting task this time of year to keep young children focused on the true reason we celebrate Christmas. The decorations and pretty packages under the tree just add to the excitement of the season, but sometimes in all the hype leading up to the blessed day we lose focus.
That's just where the five princesses find themselves. The situation concerns their father the king but before he can do something about it a crisis in the kingdom arises and he must go and deal with it. Not surprising but that very crisis is what brings about realization that their priorities have been misplaced.
My granddaughters and I have been enjoying these lovely Princess Parables books. Through the use of a delightful cast of characters the writers bring to light an important portion of Scripture in a parable type of format. This time the reference is from Luke 12:15-21. In this portion of Scripture Jesus is reminding His followers to be on guard against all types of greed. 
My favorite part of the book is the ending where 'The Princesses' Journal' is located. It reminds the reader that Christmas is a time of giving. We are celebrating the fact that God was willing to give His one and only Son to be an atonement for us. The authors remind us that "Christmas is a time of giving and reflecting Jesus to others." What a great reminder for our children (and ourselves) that it is wonderful to celebrate this season, but we must always keep in perspective Who we are celebrating.
I highly recommend this and all of the Princess Parables books to those with young girls. They have a wonderful message packaged in all the wonder of being a princess.
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Finding Father Christmas & Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn | Christmas Fiction Review

Finding Father Christmas & Engaging Father Christmas

Father Christmas series #1 & #2

Robin Jones Gunn

Contemporary Fiction / Christmas

This Christmas, settle into a cozy chair by the fire and prepare

to be swept away to England in two unforgettable novels by

bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn . . . 

In FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS, Miranda Carson's search for the father she never knew leads her to England where she's welcomed into his family as a stranger to them. She quickly grows to love them but wonders if revealing the truth about her father will threaten the bonds they've built. One thing is certain: This Christmas will change the future for both her and the family forever.

In ENGAGING FATHER CHRISTMAS, Miranda Carson spends an English Christmas with her boyfriend, Ian, expecting that she'll soon find herself engaged and the charming village of Carlton Heath will be her forever home. But as word of Miranda's true identity spreads beyond the family, all her relationships are soon threatened. Will Father Christmas have a redeeming gift in store for them all?

My Thoughts
I originally read Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas in 2007 and 2008 when the books first came out. I fell in love with the beautiful story of a lonely young woman searching for her father. The stories were engaging and endearing but beyond that they were filled with the true meaning of Christmas.
This year the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel put out a film version of Finding Father Christmas. It was a combining of the two novels. There was nothing wrong with the movie, in fact it was a fun Christmas themed movie full of romance. Unfortunately it just didn't give me the same feeling that I had when I had first read the books. So I decided to re-read them. 
Oh my friends, you must treat yourself to reading these stories. Finding Father Christmas is so moving it brought me to tears at times. The story has the framework of Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Miranda is on a quest to find out who her father is. Not only does she find her father, she also finds the Father. 
Engaging Father Christmas continues the story of Miranda and her newly found family. It takes place a year later and even though there is a lot of happiness, due to Miranda's relationship with Ian, there is also a lot of tension because of who Miranda is. I loved this novel just as much as the first. In this story we see the power of redemption and the healing that it can bring.
I'm excited because there is a third book in the series, Kissing Father Christmas. I am just getting started on it so stay tuned for my reaction. If the first few chapters are a hint . . . it's going to be good!
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The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel by Mike Berenstain | Children's Book Review

The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel

Mike Berenstain

Juvenile Fiction/Christmas

It is almost Christmas and there is finally snow in Bear Country. Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear are ready to build a snowbear . . . until Honey Bear's snow angel gives the cubs a better idea. As they warm up later with some hot cocoa. Mama and Papa give the cubs a little lesson about some very special angels and the work they do for God.

My Thoughts
I love a good children's book that entertains with an engaging story but also has teaching elements for further discussion. That's exactly what you get with The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel. 
Snow has finally come to Bear Country and like all kids the Bear cubs are anxious to get out there and experience it for themselves. Once outside they decide they want to build a snow bear. But after some discussion the idea morphs into a snow angel. Soon they head inside to warm up and enjoy some hot cocoa.
As they are admiring their creation through the window Mama Bear takes the opportunity to tell her cubs about the appearance of angels at the birth of Christ. That Mama Bear is a smart one! 
This book would be perfect this Christmas season for showing your kids that we can have fun and keep things Christ centered. Not only does the story itself reference several instances of angels appearing but there is also a section on the back cover that lists six additional appearances of angels in the Bible.
I recommend this book to anyone that is looking to keep your celebrations Christ centered this year. It is a short read but sure to delight the whole family with the discussions that will come from the topic.
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Ready, Set, Find Christmas | Children's Book Review

Ready, Set, Find Christmas

Zonderkidz

Juvenile Nonfiction/Christmas (ages 4-8)

WHEN MARY AND JOSEPH CAME TO BETHLEHEM,

THE INNKEEPER SAID, "THERE IS NO ROOM."

WHERE WOULD THEY SLEEP?

Mary and Joseph are on their way to Bethlehem on

Christmas night. Jesus will be born soon, and they need

your help to find 48 hidden objects along the way!

Ready, Set, Find as you read the story of Christmas

in this interactive board book for young readers.

My Thoughts

Ready, Set, Find Christmas is an adorable board book designed especially for the preschool set. The story is compiled from the account of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and the events leading up to the birth of Christ and shortly after found in Luke 2:1-16 and Matthew 2:1-12. The story is brief so young attention spans will be able to sit for the whole tale.

What I really like is how the book incorporates interactive seek and find on each of the pages. Each time we have read through the book my grandson has enthusiastically said, "Again! Again!" You would think that it would almost be a one time thing but apparently not. In fact he just beams with pleasure as he's able to quickly point to each object. 

If you have a preschooler in your home I would recommend this cute board book for your Christmas story times. It is sturdy, colorful, short, and interactive, all the things that make reading a book to a wiggly little one a pleasure.

Christmas Quiet: Receiving The Gift Of His Presence: A 25-Day Devotional Coloring Book by Maisie Sparks & Lauren Younis | Advent Devotional Review

Christmas Quiet: Receiving The Gift Of His Presence

A 25-Day Devotional Coloring Book

Maisie Sparks & Lauren Younis

Nonfiction / Advent Devotional

Receive the gift of God's peaceful presence for Christmas 

while enjoying this uplifting devotional coloring book for 25 days.

In the 25 days leading up to Christmas you will deepen your awareness of God's loving presence and rejoice in the gift of your Savior by pausing daily to immerse yourself in these uplifting devotions, faith-building exercises, and peaceful coloring pages. Enjoy the true essence of the holiday as never before as you draw closer to God with this book.

Includes:

• 25 powerful devotions that can be read in five minutes and provide lasting inspiration,
• 25 reflective questions and thoughtful activities that deepen the experience of each devotion, and
• 25 gorgeous holiday coloring pages to enjoy whenever you like.

My Thoughts

I love the Advent season. For me it's a time to pause and reflect on the reason why we celebrate. But if I'm honest even the preparation for this blessed time can be overwhelming and create anything but peace. This beautiful devotional from Maisie Sparks and Lauren Younis understands the crazy that can come about in all of our well-doing.

Their book is designed to cut through all of the noise and allow our spirits to become quiet and focus on the reason for the season. There are twenty-five days of devotions and coloring pages. What I liked about the book is that the authors said right up front that it is okay to take more time with this book. It is meant to help you contemplate the miracle before us. If you need to take a few days to absorb one of the devotions, that's okay. 

The coloring page that corresponds with that day's devotion is printed on sturdy paper that should hold up well to colored pencils, markers, or even watercolors (as long as you don't over do the water!) The coloring page is one-sided so there is no problem with shadowing or bleed through. I have been cutting each coloring page out and displaying it in my home. It's a great way to continue focusing on the Scripture even after you've put the book away.

If you're looking for a way to quiet your spirit and focus on the One that the season is about I highly recommend this resource. 

The coloring pages make great wall hangings to help you reflect on the Scripture throughout your day.

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