The Red Door Inn

The Red Door Inn 

(Prince Edward Island Dreams – book 1)

Revell / March 2016

Marie Carrington is running from a host of bad memories. Broke and desperate, she’s hoping to find safety and sanctuary on Prince Edward Island, where she reluctantly agrees to help decorate a renovated bed-and-breakfast before it opens for prime tourist season.

Seth Sloane didn’t move three thousand miles to work on his uncle’s B&B so he could babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her. He came to help restore the old Victorian–and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart.

The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just a couple months will take everything they’ve got. Can these two wounded souls find hope, healing, and perhaps a bit of romance on this beautiful island?

Step into the Red Door Inn, a lovely home away from home tucked along the fabled north shore of Prince Edward Island. It’s a place where the wounded come to heal, the broken find forgiveness, and the lonely find a family. Won’t you stay for the season?

My Thoughts: On its back cove The Red Door Inn is categorized as a contemporary romance but it's more. It's a story of friendship, faith, trust, starting over and beyond. It was obvious that Marie and Seth would become a couple but I loved reading the ins and outs of how they managed to get to that point. In addition, there was another romance and a fatherly love, thelove of the Inn, and Prince Edward Island. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book along with other promotional items in exchange for my honest review.

Ishtar's Odyssey - A Story for Advent

About the book:

A new Advent family devotional from the author ofJotham's Journey! Fourth in a set of Advent adventure books for families, Ishtar's Odyssey follows the ten-year-old son of a Persian wise man as their caravan follows a star across the desert. Ishtar would just as soon stay in the comfort of the palace, but slowly he learns that there's much to see, do, and learn in this world that can't be experienced in school. He eventually meets Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha as he follows his father and uncles in their search for a newborn king.

Arnold Ytreeide's family advent devotionals have become a much-loved Christmas tradition, enjoyed by multiple generations. With over 100,000 in print they includeJotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels.

My Thoughts:

Another great book by Ytreeide to read aloud to your children during Advent. I love that there are now four books so that families can rotate through the various titles from one year to the next. This would also work great in a classroom setting as each day's reading is probably no more than a 10 minute read-aloud. 

This book was provided to me by Kregel Publications; I received no monetary compensation for my honest review.

The Methuselah Project

About the Book: 

Nazi scientists started many experiments. One never ended.

Roger Greene is a war hero. Raised in an orphanage, the only birthright he knows is the feeling that he was born to fly. Flying against the Axis Powers in World War II is everything he always dreamed--until the day he's shot down and lands in the hands of the enemy.

When Allied bombs destroy both his prison and the mad genius experimenting on POWs, Roger survives. Within hours, his wounds miraculously heal, thanks to those experiments. The Methuselah Project is a success--but this ace is still not free. Seventy years later, Roger hasn't aged a day, but he has nearly gone insane. This isn't Captain America--just a lousy existence only made passable by a new-found faith. The Bible provides the only reliable anchor for Roger's sanity and his soul. When he finally escapes, there's no angelic promise or personal prophecy of deliverance, just confusion. It's 2015--and the world has become an unrecognizable place.

Katherine Mueller--crack shot, genius, and real Southern Belle--offers to help him find his way home. Can he convince her of the truth of his crazy story? Can he continue to trust her when he finds out she works for the very organization he's trying to flee?

Thrown right into pulse-pounding action from the first page, readers will find themselves transported back in time to a believable, full-colored past, and then catapulted into the present once more. The historical back-and-forth adds a constantly moving element of suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

My Thoughts:

I usually don't enjoy books with flashbacks or alternating storylines but this one was an exception. I loved both storylines and especially loved how they intersected about two-thirds into the book. I don't want to risk any plot spoilers. 

I think this book will be enjoyed by those that like stories of adventure, suspense, historical fiction, science fiction, romance and more. It will be enjoyed by both male and female readers. Although this book is promoted as Christian fiction, I think people of all faiths will enjoy this story.

This book was provided to me by Kregel Publications; I received no monetary compensation for my honest review.

90 Minutes In Heaven - Review, Preview & Giveaway

Releases in theaters everywhere September 11, 2015

Rating: PG-13 (for intense accident and injury images) 

Starring Hayden Christensen (Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith), Kate Bosworth (Remember The Titans, Blue Crush) Michael W. Smith, Fred Thompson, Dwight Yoakam, and Jason Kennedy, 90 Minutes In Heaven is based on the inspiring New York Times best-selling book that has sold 7 million copies.  

About Giving Films:

Giving Films is passionate about sharing hope-filled movies and donating ALL of their profits to charities and ministries who serve those in need.  Beginning with their first film, 90 Minutes In Heaven, Giving Films is allowing all of us to be a part of making a difference.  Anytime you go to a Giving Films movie in theaters, visit http://www.givingfilms.com and select which charities you want to receive the profits from your ticket.  Their charitable organizations are Christian Alliance for Orphans, Faith Bridge Foster Care, Hire Heroes USA, Hope International, LifeWater, Street Grace, and World Vision.

About the book:

Pastor Don Piper died January 18, 1989 when a semi-tractor truck crushed his car.  Declared dead by the first rescue workers to arrive on the scene, Don's body lay under a tarp for the next 90 minutes.  Don's soul, meanwhile, was experiencing love, joy, and life like he'd never known before.  Don was in Heaven.  

When another pastor's prayers helped bring Don back to life, he became a living miracle!  Yet this is one miracle Don wished never happened.  Heaven's bliss was replaced by excruciating pain and emotional turmoil.  With the support and prayers of his beloved Eva, their three kids, and friends near and far, Don clings to his faith in God and fights to regain a semblance of his previous life.  The Piper family's incredible true story of perseverance and overcoming the challenges of life - and death - will bring hope and encouragement to all who see it. 

My Thoughts:

     90 Minutes in Heaven was a great book to read on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It's a book of hope, inspiration and a glimpse into heaven. Even though the author only spends a short time describing his experience in heaven, it is clear to the reader that it is beyond anything that we can imagine as wonderful and spectacular. It certainly makes one look forward to that day with joy instead of fear.

     Most of the book focuses on Don's recovery from the horrendous accident and his ministry. Although a minister prior to his "death", the experience of heaven gives his ministry a new focus. The new edition of the book includes a new preface, an update from the author, Don Piper as well as an additional chapter of Stories of Encouragement. Although the original book was published 11 yrs ago and the accident occurred over 25 yrs ago, the story is timeless. You can view the movie trailer here. 

Please leave a comment and a way to contact you and I will have a giveaway for a copy of this book on Monday September 14th.

    Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opininos are 100% my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for ths review and post.
     Only one entry per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

The Perfect Son

Description

From a distance, Felix Fitzwilliam, the son of an old English family, is a good husband and father. But, obsessed with order and routine, he’s a prisoner to perfection. Disengaged from the emotional life of his North Carolina family, Felix has let his wife, Ella, deal with their special-needs son by herself.

A talented jewelry designer turned full-time mother, Ella is the family rock…until her heart attack shatters their carefully structured existence. Now Harry, a gifted teen grappling with the chaos of Tourette’s, confronts a world outside his parents’ control, one that tests his desire for independence.

As Harry searches for his future, and Ella adapts to the limits of her failing health, Felix struggles with his past and present roles. To prevent the family from being ripped apart, they must each bend with the inevitability of change and reinforce the ties that bind.

My Thoughts:

I am glad that I went looking for this book based upon the recommendation of a friend. The Perfect Son was a great summer read as it was captivating but not fluff. It kept my interest but didn't require deep thought.

I found the family very believable as they each struggled with the changes in their relationships. The speed at which the family adjusted was accelerated but that's only to be expected so as to not drag on a novel.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me the opportunity to read and review this title.

Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?

Witty and thought provoking, two Vatican astronomers shed provocative light on some of the strange places where religion and science meet.

“Imagine if a Martian showed up, all big ears and big nose like a child’s drawing, and he asked to be baptized. How would you react?”                                      – Pope Francis, May, 2014

Pope Francis posed that question – without insisting on an answer! – to provoke deeper reflection about inclusiveness and diversity in the Church. But it's not the first time that question has been asked.
Brother Guy Consolmagno and Father Paul Mueller hear questions like that all the time. They’re scientists at the Vatican Observatory, the official astronomical research institute of the Catholic Church. In Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? they explore a variety of questions at the crossroads of faith and reason: How do you reconcile the The Big Bang with Genesis? Was the Star of Bethlehem just a pious religious story or an actual description of astronomical events? What really went down between Galileo and the Catholic Church – and why do the effects of that confrontation still reverberate to this day? Will the Universe come to an end? And… could you really baptize an extraterrestrial?
With disarming humor, Brother Guy and Father Paul explore these questions and more over the course of six days of dialogue. Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial will make you laugh, make you think, and make you reflect more deeply on science, faith, and the nature of the universe.

My Thoughts: 
I have to admit this book got lost in the shuffle of life (and my tbr book basket) for quite some time. I chose to pick this book up again during the heat of summer and found it to be much more readable than the first time I attempted. There are six chapters; each is a discussion between Brother Guy and Father Paul trying to explain the answer to readers. There is LOTS of science and theology along with humor; some is comprehensible and some is way over my head (just the science and theology; not the humor).
My favorite chapter was "What Happened to Poor Pluto?" I am one of those school children who memorized our solar system's 9 planets (My very educated mother just served us nine pizzas) and was not happy about Pluto's demotion. While I am still not happy about the situation; at least now I have a better understanding.
My least favorite chapter was the one about Galileo. It just didn't clarify things for me to understand what happened between Science and the Church. If anything, the chapter confused me even more. It may be this chapter is one I need to read again while taking notes and highlighting but that was just not something for enjoyable summer reading time.
Living in a town full of rocket scientists in the south, I know many folks that will better understand this book. I know one in particular to whom I will be passing along this book before sending to my daughter in Washington.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Journey of a Soul

     Journey of a Soul is the autobiography of Pope John XXIII, It is over 400 pages long and I'm sorry to say not my cup of tea. I tried reading this on multiple occasions but it just didn't capture my interest. The book is comprised of personal letters, spiritual notes and meditations gathered by Thomas Cahill and it's just too deep for my brain to wrap itself around.
   I imagine a more scholarly reader would enjoy this book.

 "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."

A Worrier's Guide to the Bible

     

     A Worrier's Guide to the Bible: 50 Verses to Ease Anxieties written by Gary Zimak is a book for all of us since despite what Scripture teaches, many of us still fall into worry over past events, the present and most especially the future.
     When I requested this title, I expected to receive little more than a folded pamphlet but Zimak was able to take the topic of worry and find so much in scriptures to produce a book of over one hundred pages to guide us toward peace in our lives. There are eight chapters: Confusion, Despair, Doubt, Fear, Persecution, Sickness, Trials & Tribulation and The Secret Weapon. Each chapter begins with an introduction followed by multiple Scripture verses, explanations (in many ways a devotional) and finally a prayer. The reader can go from page one until the end or jump around to a specific topic that speaks to one's heart. There is something in this book for everyone.
   Although I have yet to read all the entries, I have found nuggets of wisdom in each entry I have read. I was reminded that 'the most important lesson for us is that we should always turn to the Lord in times of confusion" and that "if something is in accordance with God's will, you'll often experience a feeling of peace and contentment".
  This book is one that would be perfect to leave in a doctor's office, a hospital waiting room, or even just on a park bench. Worry is such a constant presence in our lives and we all need the reminder that we are to turn to Him at all times in all situations.


I wrote this review of A Worrier's Guide to the Bible for the free Catholic Book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods. Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore. I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

ENOUGH - Book Review and Giveaway

You are beautiful. You are valuable. You are enough.

In a book based on her run-away blog post “Ten Things I Want to Tell Teenage Girls,” which garnered more than 2 million views in two weeks, Kate Conner calls us to action in Enough. We all have teenage girls in our lives who we love, whether it’s a sister, friend, or daughter. Kate has identified 10 things these girls need to hear today from someone who loves her.

Peppered with wit and laced with grace, Kate’s list tackles relevant issues like Facebook, emotions, drama, tanning beds, modesty, and flirtation. Woven into each chapter is a powerful message of worth that transcends age, and will touch the souls of women, young and old alike: You are beautiful. You are valuable. You are enough.

A former youth-worker, wife to a college minister, and a young mom in her twenties, Conner stands squarely in generational gap, the perfect place from which to bridge it. Conner offers herself as a translator, helping you to speak your teenager’s language and equipping you with a fresh perspective from which to engage your teenage girl—one that may enable her to truly hear your heart (and your wisdom) for the first time since puberty.

My Thoughts:  I requested Enough as I have two teen daughters as well as one young adult daughter. Not surprising I didn't find anything I hadn't told my girls but I can see how this book could be useful to a new mom of a tween daughter. I especially liked the chapter on modesty and the approach the author took towards this topic. I was hoping that there would be more guidance on how to discuss these topics with our daughters but it was limited. I did discover that the author has written 10 Things for Teen Girls; I'm hoping the topics match. This book is an easy read and one you'll want to have your highlighter out to mark the author's gems such as: "Teach her to use modesty as a tool to pursue that which is greater: admiration, respect and love."

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment about why you want to win a copy of Enough. For a second entry, comment with your best piece of advice to moms of teen daughters. Winner will be chosen by random drawing on August 1, 2014.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

The Girls of August

About the Book: Every August, four women would gather together to spend a week at the beach, renting a new house each year. The ritual began when they were in their twenties and their husbands were in medical school, and became a mainstay of every summer thereafter. Their only criteria was oceanfront and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. They called themselves the Girls of August. But when one of the Girls dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together are brought to a halt. Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to come together once again on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. There, far from civilization, the women make startling discoveries that will change them in ways they never expected.

My Thoughts: The Girls of August was an easy summer read but not a top notch book. I felt that the story was too contrived. WHY would these women go on vacation with this newcomer when their tradition had always been as long time friends? It just didn't make sense to me. The three friends treated Babe worse than a pesky toddler; I felt they were taking advantage of her for the free use of the beach house.  I also felt like I was left hanging with the ending; I need to know more in order to feel satisfied with the story lines.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley. 

The Power in Your Hands Writing Nonfiction in High School

     Year after year I am on the prowl for a better writing curriculum; it is definitely the weak link in my teaching repertoire. I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to review Sharon Watson's The Power in Your Hands - Writing Nonfiction in High School which is designed for those in grades 9-12. This writing program comes with both a large Student Text and a Teacher's Guide. The text provides the instruction as if the instructor were talking directly to the student. Some assignments can be completed in the text but a 3 ring binder with plenty of loose-leaf would be helpful to keep assignments organized.
     I spent quite a few hours reading through many lessons to be sure this would be worth attempting in the new school year and much to my daughter's dismay, Theresa will be using this program for the upcoming school year. This program doesn't spend time working on sentence writing but we focused a good deal on that this past year so now we can turn our efforts to more essay writing from a variety of persuasive essays to compare/contrast. I love that some more practical aspects of writing are included such as condolence and thank you letters while at the same time providing college prep writing experiences such as a position paper and literary analysis.
     The Teacher's Guide shows more clearly to the parent the major writing assignments of which there are twenty-one which might be more than one needs for an academic year but that leaves one free to leave out those that are least beneficial to the individual student. For instance, we will probably skip learning how to write a devotional and a testimony as those are not as academically focused nor something that would interest my daughter. There are over 30 pages devoted to assisting the parent in grading writing assignments; included are various evaluation forms, examples of A-F essays, and practical info about editing, proofreading and reluctant writers.
    Want to see more for yourself? There are samples available from both the Student's Book and the Teacher's Guide. Not only is this a top notch program it's reasonably priced at under $60 for both volumes (or under $50 if you buy from a discount curriculum company).

Product Info Summary:
The Power in Your Hands Writing Nonfiction in High School @ writingwithsharonwatson.com
$39.98 Student Book & $14.98 Teacher's Guide

You can read more reviews of this product as well as those of a middle school writing curriculum and fiction writing curriculum here.

Legacy of Love

 Legacy of Love is the fourth book in Kimberly Hahn's Life-Nurturing Love series based on Proverbs 31. In this title, Hahn focuses on parenting teens and young adult children as well as reaching out beyond our family. Like the third in the series, Legacy of Love is divided into six parts focusing on various verses from Proverbs 31 starting with verse 20 and ending with verse 30.
The book starts out with "she opens her hands to the poor". Hahn shows readers a multitude of ways to reach out to the poor even if you are not wealthy, Then 'she looks well to the ways of her household" and "does not eat the bread of idleness" while teaching us how to better parent our teens. Part four provides us with guidance for dealing with adult children in the home and transitioning them to marriage which then leads into the fifth part about being an in-law. She wraps up the study with instruction pertaining to being a witness to the world while still balancing our priorities.
This is not a typical Bible study as there are not extensive readings from Scripture. There are questions for each book part but they are tucked away in Appendix B. They are divided into two sections: questions for group study and questions for personal reflection. As a personal preference, I wish the questions were placed immediately after each chapter.
Kimberly Hahn is a very accessible writer that teaches Catholic truths in a non-threatening manner; her writing style will appeal to the ordinary mom in the church pew. This book will be of great value to the individual reader, but I think even more could be gleaned if used in a small group setting. An ideal group would be a mix of moms of young teens through those with adult children so that younger moms could be mentored.
I wrote this review of Legacy of Love: Biblical Wisdom for Parenting Teens and Young Adults for the free Catholic Book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods. Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore. I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Hope Runs

She went to Kenya to climb a mountain. But God had other plans.

     When Claire Díaz-Ortiz arrived in Kenya at the end of an around-the-world journey, she decided to stay the night, climb Mount Kenya, and then head back home. She entered an orphanage, seeing it as little more than a free place to spend the night before her mountain trek.
     Sammy Ikua Gachagua had lost his father to illness, his mother to abandonment, and his home to poverty. By age ten, he was living in a shack with several other children and very little food. He entered an orphanage, seeing it as a miracle with three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, and clothes on his back.
     Hope Runs is the emotional story of one American tourist, one Kenyan orphan, and how one day became one year that would change the course of both of their lives forever. It's about opening your heart to outrageous possibilities. It's about what it means to hope for the things you cannot see.
     It's about how God can change your life in the blink of an eye.

Claire Díaz-Ortiz is an author, speaker, and technology innovator who has been named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. Claire was an early employee at Twitter, where she still works, and over the years has been called everything from "a mover and shaker" (Mashable) to a "force for good" (Forbes). She is the author of several books, includingTwitter for Good: Change the World One Tweet at a Time. She is a frequent international speaker and writes a popular business blog at www.clairediazortiz.com.
Claire holds an MBA from Oxford University and a BA and an MA from Stanford University. She is the cofounder of Hope Runs, a nonprofit organization operating in AIDS orphanages in Kenya. She has appeared widely in major television and print news sources such as CNN, BBC,Time, Newsweek, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Fortune, Forbes, Wired, and many others. Find her on Twitter @claire.

Samuel Ikua Gachagua was born in rural Kenya in 1992. After losing his parents at a young age, he struggled to survive until he was placed in an orphanage in Nyeri, Kenya. In 2009, he received a full-ride scholarship to Maine Central Institute, granting him a rare US visa and the chance to begin his sophomore year of high school under the guardianship of Claire Díaz-Ortiz. After graduating from high school, he spent a year serving in Ecuador as a fellow for Global Citizen Year. He is an up-and-coming motivational speaker and can be found on Twitter @sammyikua.

My Thoughts:

     Hope Runs is one of those books that restores one's faith in mankind. It's always heartwarming to know that there are folks out there that truly do make a significant difference in someone's life. Mother Teresa said "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." Claire is an example of someone doing those great things and is an inspiration to me to keep doing small things with great love.Hope Runs was a page turner that was difficult to put down when life called; I hope that Samuel (or Claire) will write another book as he does great things in his life.

This book was provided to me by  Baker Publishing Group; I received no monetary compensation for my honest review

St. Peter's Bones

     In 2006 the author, Thomas Craughwell, went on a tour of the excavations below St. Peter's Basilica in Rome where he saw the bones of St. Peter through a glass door. This lead him to his research for St. Peter's Bones. He didn't have to go far to begin in that several works by the excavation archaeologists were available as English translations at a university library just 30 minutes from his home.

     I found St. Peter's Bones to be a fascinating and fairly easy book to read. It was written for the common man in the pew to understand the history behind what has happened over the past 2000 years to the remains of our first Pope - St. Peter. In addition, we learn Roman history, Church history and enjoy a real life mystery.

    I suggest you read the first chapter for yourself. I will be adding this one to my library as I believe my young adult children will find it fascinating as they too have been to Rome.

About the Book:

   In this fascinating account of the search for the remains of the world's first pope, none other than Peter, the chief apostle of Jesus, Thomas J. Craughwell takes us on one of the most exciting archaeological finds of the twentieth century.
   In 1448 a team of architects and engineers brought Pope Nicholas V unhappy news: the 1,100-year-old Basilica of St. Peter suffered from so many structural defects that it was beyond repair. The only solution was to pull down the old church--one of the most venerable churches in all of Christiandom--and erect a new basilica on the site. Incredibly, one of the tombs the builders paved over was the resting place of St. Peter.

   Then in 1939, while reconstructing the grottoes below St. Peter's Basilica, a workman's shovel struck not dirt or rock but open air. After inspecting what could be seen through the hole they'd made in the mausoleum's roof, Pope Pius XII secretly authorized a full-scale excavation. What lay beneath? The answer and the adventure await. In this riveting history, facts, traditions, and faith collide to reveal the investigation, betrayals, and mystery behind St. Peter's burial place.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Highway to Hell

About the book: 

A child is sold for sex every ten miles on Brazil's BR-116 motorway. This 2,700-mile road is "The Highway to Hell" for the thousands of children, some as young as nine, who are trapped in sophisticated child prostitution rackets organized by businessmen and politicians.

An experienced journalist, Matt Roper has witnessed the extent of the trafficking firsthand. Highway to Hell documents his journey on this road. He meets the girls and hears their stories; he interviews truck drivers, pimps, brothel owners, and traffickers; and he talks to the brave souls who are trying to make a difference.

Part documentary, part personal memoir, Matt honestly shares his struggles to understand what his Christian faith has to say about the things he encounters and how God wants him to respond.

My Thoughts:
     I thought I would love this book, not that the subject matter is anything to love but I thought it would be a captivating story of how one man discovered the travesty of child prostitution and came to the rescue of hundreds of young girls. 
     On one hand Matt Roper did learn much about the devastation of child prostitution along a Brazilian highway and he did start a foundation that is rescuing girls from this destructive lifestyle but it just didn't captivate me.
     Despite the less than stellar writing style, I would still recommend Highway to Hell as I had no idea this was happening in Brazil as I suppose it is happening in more places than we want to imagine.

This book was provided to me by Kregel Publications; I received no monetary compensation for my honest review

Who's the Slow Learner?

Who’s the Slow Learner? offers the parents of special needs children information and tools for ensuring inclusive education..

Author Sandra Assimotos McElwee, an advocate for unborn babies with Down syndrome, was inspired by her son, Sean, to pen the book, which chronicles his sometimes harrowing educational experience and the steps she and Sean’s teachers took to help facilitate his acceptance and success. McElwee discusses frankly and openly the challenges faced by her son, and other children with intellectual disabilities, including the difficult transition from elementary school to secondary school as educators failed to meet Inclusive Best Practices and even violated Sean’s civil rights.

Who’s the Slow Learner includes creative examples of accommodations and modifications for special needs students. It is the first book that chronicles a student with special educational needs from preschool through high school graduation. It is a story of triumphs and successes, losses and failures.

With his mother’s insight and assistance, Sean McElwee was included in all aspects of the elementary mainstream educational experience: He learned to read, excelled in math and performed in school talent shows. Most important for Sean, he forged many meaningful friendships. Sean thrived and graduated from high school at just 17. Now 20, Sean McElwee speaks openly and publicly as an advocate for inclusive education for children with special needs. And with World’s Down Syndrome Day approaching on March 21, Sean and his mother continue to speak out any way they can, including Sandra’s blog atwww.whostheslowlearner.com .

My Thoughts: As a former Elementary Education and Special Education teacher, I was impressed with the lengths the school district took (because the author pushed for inclusion for her son) to ensure inclusion for the author's son. At first I thought I would not want her son in my classroom as it would be lots of extra time and work without extra monetary compensation but the district actually had someone else who was responsible for modifying the curriculum. It was obvious from the IEP goals listed at the beginning of each chapter that Sean was not at the same educational level as the students but he was being exposed to age appropriate curriculum and social opportunities. With determination and the right people in her path, the author was able to provide full inclusion for her son in elementary school; unfortunately the obstacles were too great once he entered middle and high school - the worst being the administration and teachers.  This book would be of value to any parent of a child with special needs to see what can be done if one is willing to fight for it --- which one shouldn't have to do. I also think that all school administrators and educators could learn a great deal from one family's experience. 

This book was provided to me by Bostick Communications; I received no monetary compensation for my review. 

Ideas for Valentine's Day (and beyond)

You can read my article about St Valentine here.

Taste of Home Recipes Across America

Taste of Home Recipes Across America features 735 reader recipes from across our nation. The cookbook is divided into five sections: Northeast, South, Midwest, Southwest and West. Each section includes recipes for Main Dishes, Side and Sweets.  There are two indexes to aid the chef - one is an alphabetical listing by recipe names and the other provides options to find a recipe by ingredient (almonds, oats, or veal), region, or type of food (appetizer, quick breads, or stews).

Recipes Across America is going to take some time to explore because it's so much more than a cookbook since each section also features snapshots of landmarks and food festivals as well as food trivia. Did you know that the first muffuletta was created by a grocer in New Orleans? Neither did I but now I even have a recipe for this iconic sandwich.

Recipes Across America  would make a great gift for a new bride or a housewarming gift. I look forward to trying many recipes from this collection.

Thank you to Leyane Jerejian of FSB Associates for providing me with a copy of Taste of Home Recipes Across America to read and review.

Little Book of Great Dates

My Thoughts: 
     Have you made a new year's resolution to spend more time with your spouse? This book will provide with you with 52 weeks of ideas for dates. No need to go in order, just read until you find the date that is right for you as a couple in the upcoming week or so. There are a mix of dates from free to those that cost money, from volunteering to recreating a date from your past and even a special date for your anniversary. 
     The important part is to reclaim couple time especially if you have children. I see too many couples spend all their free time with their children and rarely with just each other. Children need to see that their parents are invested in one another. When our kids were young, 8pm was a strict bedtime for our kids. Why? Because that way we had time alone that didn't require a babysitter or spending money. I guess it's paid off since we celebrated our 25th anniversary this past July. 
     Little Book of Great Dates is a beautiful blue leatherlike-bound edition that would make a great gift for Valentine's Day or for a wedding gift. 

About the Book:     
The Little Book of Great Dates will help build romance and fun into any marriage with its creative ideas for a year’s worth of weekly affordable dates. This book—a simpler, gift version of Focus on the Family’s The Date Night Challenge campaign—will help couples to proactively and intentionally build their relationship, showing how everyday activities can become “dates” that strengthen the marriage relationship. It includes plans for special-occasion dates, such as the couple’s anniversaries (first date, engagement, wedding), birthdays, etc. Couples can get to know each other better by sharing fun times and discover dating again in their marriage with this great little book of ideas!


Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of Little Book of Great Dates for my reading and review.

A 40-Day Spiritual Workout for Catholics

A 40-Day Spiritual Workout for Catholics begins with an introduction by the author. Bob Rice is now your personal trainer for a spiritual workout that will last forty days. He talks about the who, the what, the why, the where, and the when of this workout. He even provides you with a short "how to" on reading the Bible; who doesn't need a refresher?

When the workout begins, you are provided with Hydration (drinking the living water; aka reading Scripture) and Reflection (quotes from the Saints) - need to start out easy. On Day 6, a Cool Down (simple prayers) is added and on Day 8, Rice adds in a Stretch (spontaneous prayers of blessing and adoration). The bar is raised on Day 16 with the addition of Fat-Burning (examining one's conscience). Day 22 brings on Muscle-Building (prayers for not only your needs but those of others in accordance with God's will); we all want to grow stronger in our faith while Day 28 the final addition to our workout - Cardiovascular (prayers of thanksgiving and praise). 

This book is a small size making it easy to throw in a purse, backpack or briefcase so one can exercise at any time of day and in any location. I plan to keep A 40-Day Spiritual Workout for Catholics by my bedside for my Lenten reading or near my recumbent bike for a full workout of body and spirit.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A 40-Day Spiritual Workout For Catholics. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.