Thursday, May 31, 2018

Book Review: Who the Bishop Knows by Vannetta Chapman

Who the Bishop Knows by Vannetta Chapman is a stellar end to a superb series.

In the final installment of Chapman's Amish Bishop Mysteries series, Henry Lapp and Emma Fisher are attending the rodeo when Jeremiah Schwartz is fatally injured. In the past, Henry's special gift has helped the local authorities solve mysteries. This time, however, he wasn't in the arena when Jeremiah was killed, so drawing what he saw won't work. When other members of his community are threatened, Henry will need to rely on his keen sense of human character and observation to crack the case.

I'm sorry to see this series end; but if it must end, I am so glad it went out in such a spectacular way. Beloved characters blend with new characters and a plot filled with twists and turns to create an engaging mystery. Chapman has always been talented in creating that vital sense of community that is indicative of the genre. Her books highlight the challenges and blessings of working alongside the Englisch members living nearby. This series has been as much about building bridges between the two worlds as it is in solving the mysteries.

Though this is a stand alone novel, I highly recommend starting with the first book, What the Bishop Saw. It's nice to watch the relationships evolve throughout the three books. Faith, friendship, and learning to accept our talents are recurrent themes. If you like Amish fiction and enjoy mysteries, you won't want to miss Who the Bishop Knows by Vannetta Chapman.


Series: The Amish Bishop Mysteries (Book 3)

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 6, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 073696651X
ISBN-13: 978-0736966511


I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

My Favorite..Children's Books


My Favorite.. is a weekly meme hosted by Maureen’s Books. In this meme we share every week something we love with each other. Because let’s face it.. The world can be a dark place and it’s time to share something positive. For more info and the upcoming subjects visit the My Favorite Meme.. page.

I've been wanting to participate in this meme for a while, but had no brain power to do it. Tired moms have a very limited supply of that. Today I am sharing my favorite children's books. I'm sure there are many more favorites considering all the reading I did as a child, but these ones stick out.


I can still recite some of these rhymes by heart.


Didn't you just feel bad for this little guy?


Taught me to persevere. 


Best book ever! 


Who doesn't love Pooh and friends?


Couldn't this crazy world use some Rhyme and Reason right about now?


Anne with an E has captivated many young girls. I appreciated the Anne books more as a young adult, but they will always be special since they were a gift from my sister for my eleventh birthday. 

What are some of your favorite children's books? 

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Worlds I’d Want to/Never Want to Live In



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is a fun one. Because I don't read a lot of fantasy or sci-fi where world building really comes into play, I'm tweaking it a bit so that I can come up with ten.

Bookish Worlds, Settings or Time Periods I’d Never Want to Live In



Live on an island that has an evil mind of its own with a reluctant vampire? Not really my cup of tea.


If you're familiar with this series, it starts off with people disappearing and those left behind trying to figure out what happened. This series brings you through the Book of Revelation, where Jesus has taken up His Church and those who are left behind must eventually choose who they will put their faith in. Way too scary of a world for me, thanks. 


I'm also happy to avoid worlds that pit their young people against one another in a death game that only has one winner and the people in power laugh and cheer as their youth die. 


Though this was a hilarious book, I'll skip encountering zombies in any shape or form.


What a sick world this became. A group of boys stranded on an island have to create their own society. While things go well for a while, unsupervised these boys give in to horrible behaviors that devastate them all. 


Vikings means ships. I get sea sick. Do I need to say more? Maybe just this: if I had to depend on my own instincts and cunning to survive, I would really be in trouble. 


I love the world that Laura Ingalls Wilder portrays in her books. The things I couldn't cope with: long winters that could kill you or your neighbors, starvation, no indoor plumbing, and only bathing once a week. 


I would definitely be down for sticking it to the king and seeking independence. Not so sure about all that necessary violence. 


Really loved this book, but not the world in which Cinder lives: robots, implanted chips, a dreadful disease... No thanks. I'll skip that. 



Wouldn't it be neat if you lived in a world where you could magically turn that lying, cheating boyfriend of yours into a toad? Sure, sounds like fun until you realize there is this crazy former student who has turned into the biggest, baddest guy imaginable who expects you all to do his bidding and he has this vicious, nasty snake. Yuck! 


What are some bookish worlds you would rather avoid?

Monday, May 28, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 28




It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.



Before anything else, I would like to thank all the brave men and women who have or are currently serving our country here and abroad. I would especially like to remember those who have sacrificed it all to protect freedom around the world.


Arizona Memorial, Feb 2018

I'm am currently about halfway through the final book in Vannetta Chapman's Amish Bishop Mystery series. As expected, I am loving it. 





Every year, residents of the small Amish community in Monte Vista, Colorado, look forward to the Ski Hi Stampede, the state's oldest professional rodeo. The rodeo is always good, clean entertainment for the hardworking farmers of the San Luis Valley. But this year, the Stampede turns deadly for one Amish man. Did rodeo fans see an unfortunate accident? Or something more sinister?

Amish bishop Henry Lapp is known far and wide for his uncanny ability to draw and remember the smallest details of anything he's seen, skills that have served him well in past investigations. He was at the rodeo that day. The problem? He didn't see Jason Scott's death.

With a murderer on the loose and members of his community being threatened, Henry must act fast. But can he solve a crime he didn't see? This time around, Henry will have to rely on his keen sense of human character and observation, skills he's honed in his role as bishop, if he hopes to crack the case.

What the Bishop Knows is a story of accepting our talents, putting one another first, and trusting that God will care for His children.

Not sure which book I'll be picking up next. In addition to the ones I owe reviews for, I would really like to at least skim through this one. I picked it up for research purposes.



The mother of a bullied first grader, popular blogger Carrie Goldman's inspiring true story triggered an outpouring of support from online communities around the world. In Bullied, she gives us a guide to the crucial lessons and actionable guidance she's learned about how to stop bullying before it starts. It is a book born from Goldman's post about the ridicule her daughter suffered for bringing a Star Wars thermos to school--a story that went viral on Facebook and Twitter before exploding everywhere, from CNN.com and Yahoo.com to sites all around the world. Written in Goldman's warm, engaging style, Bullied is an important and very necessary read for parents, educators, self-professed "Girl Geeks," or anyone who has ever felt victimized by a bully, online or in person.

What's your reading plan for the week?

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Book Review: Becoming Unconsumed by Lynne Britton

In this touching and insightful devotional for women, author Lynne Britton inspires those of us who have become all consumed with this world to step back, trust in the Lord, and spend time in the Word to build a better relationship with "ourselves, each other and, ultimately, God."

Becoming Unconsumed: A devotional for every woman struggling in today's all-consuming world, will refocus your attention on what really matters: family, friends, faith, and the Word of God. It helps you realize that living in this fallen world, we easily allow our attention to drift away as we get consumed with being everything to everyone.  It makes you stop and think about the messages you are listening to and what you're giving your life to each day.

The book designer, Meghan Mason Design, did a superb job of creating a beautiful and calming cover, complemented by a few carefully chosen fonts inside and out that work well together to create a meaningful reading experience; something I feel is truly important in a devotional. Each day starts off with a Bible verse, then a short reflection by Britton, followed by a prayer. At the end of each day is a page dedicated to any personal notes the reader would like to add.

Perhaps my favorite part of the book is that it grows with you. The first twenty days follow the format above, with the reflections deepening as you go along. On the twenty-first day, Britton invites the reader to reflect on her own. A Bible verse starts the day, and then there are blank lines for the reader to write out her own reflection and response. There are forty days to this devotional, just like the forty days and forty nights Jesus spent in the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil. The symbolism of our wandering in the wilderness here in Satan's world being tempted daily was not lost on this reader. But just like Jesus' journey was not over after those forty days, the reader's journey is not over either. Britton encourages the reader to continue the habits this devotional has inspired, offering another twenty days where she can choose her own Scripture, reflect and respond, because "In Messages, Prayers And Connection, We Thrive." This is Britton's lasting message to her readers, and it is a powerful way to end a devotional that can truly impact your life in many ways.

Becoming Unconsumed by Lynne Britton has already made an impact on my life. I pray it will bless many women around the world and they, in turn, will grow in their relationship with the Lord. I highly recommend it for women from all walks of life.

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Grace & Impact (April 24, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692089365
ISBN-13: 978-0692089361

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Book Review & Giveaway: Hot Mess: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized by Laurie Palau

Looking to get organized? Looking to free yourself from all types of clutter? Then pick up Hot Mess: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized by Laurie Palau.

In this fun and practical book, readers learn how to get organized and stay organized. Palau helps you identify your dominate clutter and other types of clutter that keep you feeling overwhelmed and disorganized. She gives you ideas on how to uncover your clutter pitfalls. Then she provides you with overall solutions and tips on how to get organized by room (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc.). Finally, she provides the reader with ideas on moving forward and a bunch of helpful resources to get organized and stay organized.

Organization has always been my thing. I credit it to those years in retail sorting clothes by sleeve length and colors. But life got hectic over the last few years and my house has become a jumbled mess of stuff. It doesn't help we are moving my mother-in-law in with us. Already, using just a few tips from Hot Mess, I have been able to make progress through cleaning up my in-laws house. With this book in hand, I'll be turning my attention to our house next to get it ready for her to move in.

What I appreciated most about Palau's approach is that she acknowledged our "emotional" clutter: our need to keep something because of our emotional connection to it. In my basement, there are boxes and boxes of projects my kids made and school work. Hot Mess made me realize I need to look at these things with a new strategy. The other highly motivating factor was admitting my "calendar" clutter: how I try to fit it in too many things. Isn't there a saying that if you want things done, ask a busy person? This busy person is eager to use Palau's tips for conquering calendar clutter to make life and all that other clutter more manageable.

For those of us struggling with clutter in any form, Hot Mess: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized by Laurie Palau may be the most important and helpful book we read all year.


Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher: zolopublishing (October 12, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0692921621
ISBN-13: 978-0692921623


I received a digital copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.


Excerpt:

We’ve talked a lot about organizing your stuff, but how about finding time in your day for you?  Calendar clutter, in my opinion, is the driving force behind so much of our daily stress, anxiety, and frustration.  So many of us run on autopilot, especially when the kids are small, or when we are busy taking care of ailing parents or building a career.  It’s easy to see how we can lose sight of making time for other things in our life that are important, like self-care.

As a society, we have a difficult time knowing how to unplug.  Life is filled with distractions, and unless you make a conscious effort to prioritize time for yourself, it will never happen.  Maybe you want time to exercise, join a book club, volunteer, or take up a hobby, but figuring out the logistics may seem impossible.

...Only when I took a step back to look at what my goals were, and actually wrote down what I had been doing, was I able to see where I needed to change. Note the key phrase: “I needed to change.”  I had to reclaim control over how I chose to spend my time.

GIVEAWAY 

Laurie Palau will be awarding a FREE 30 minute phone consultation to help address specific organizing challenges to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Monday, May 14, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 14




It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend and, for all who it applies, a lovely Mother's Day. The kids took me out to lunch after church, which was really nice.

Trying to catch up on reading while working my tail off makes for a hectic, but fun schedule. Finished these two this weekend:



Here's what I really should be reading next because all of these books are overdue reviews. 










What I want to read next is this one...


I would also like to finish this one now that I've found it....



Not sure which direction I will go yet. What are your reading plans this week? 

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Beyond the Books - Self-Care



Beyond the Books is a weekly feature hosted by Kissin Blue Karen. Beyond the Books is a weekly writing prompt where she throws out a topic (mostly non-bookish) and others blog about it.

I read this topic and just about fell out of my chair from laughing so hard. Self-care? Who has time for that? Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mom (though those terms are pretty much redundant), you are busy and self-care is the last thing that happens.

For me, I miss exercising. Never thought I would say it, but I felt so much better when I was working out. Haven't had the time or energy to do it in so long. Started a new devotional and I'm hoping it will clear my mind and recenter me. I'm only looking for three mornings a week for exercise. Can it really be that hard?

Sometimes I'll get  my hair colored or my nails done, but pretty much self-care in my world boils down to getting enough sleep each night...and that doesn't always happen either.

How do you handle self-care? Are you working toward it or are you already a pro?

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover (or In the Title)



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Top Ten Tuesday has to be one of my favorite memes. It is so creative, and I'm sorry to miss it so often. Today is a fun topic. I think everyone who knows me is aware that my favorite color is red. When I was a kid I used to dream of owning a candy apple red corvette. The closest I ever got was a maroon Camaro. I work for a company whose colors are red, black, and white. My iPhone is red. Many of my clothes are red. The only place you won't find much red is in my house decor. Not sure why, but it worked out that way.

Now, I get to share books with red on the cover or in the title. These might be books I've read, but they might not. I'm simply going for color.

Books With My Favorite Color On the Cover (or In the Title)



Read this. Loved it!


Read the whole series. Was so bummed when it ended.


Only had a chance to read the first book in this series. Need to order the next two.


Didn't know how I would feel about this book, but I ended up loving it all.


Enjoyed this one. I want to pick up her Watson Chronicles too.


Either I picked this up or someone gave it to me as a present.


Picked this up as a Kindle freebie. Read a bit and loved it, but haven't had time to dig back into it.


Met this author at a writers conference. Liked his style and bought a copy of this before I left. 


Bought this one a couple years ago. Haven't read it yet, but want to dig into it one day. 


Not my typical read, but I like to be unpredictable sometimes. Love the red purse. Haven't been able to find one in real life that looks as nice as on that cover.

What books are you talking about this week?