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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Jesus and the Children

Zondervan (January 15, 2010)

***Special thanks to Pam Mettler of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***

Andrew is the creator, writer, and illustrator of the Lost Sheep series. Way back in 1989 as a young Bible college student, Andrew was asked to give the dreaded “children’s talk” at a large church. Andrew possessed one talent: he could draw sheep. He bought some overhead projector sheets and drew up the story of Cecil and the Lost Sheep. T he congregation loved it, so Andrew continued to draw stories to use with kids and adults. Other students, pastors, and teachers started borrowing the stories.

Product Details:

List Price: $4.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (January 15, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031071947X
ISBN-13: 978-0310719472

ISLAND BREEZES

This Cecil and Friends book is based on Mark 10:13-16.  It’s presented in a way that children ages 4-7 can understand and relate to.  Be sure to read Cecil’s page before reading the book to your child.  It’s very helpful.

I’m sure they will also enjoy the illustrations as well, but I’m not too crazy about all the bug-eyed people.  As for the disciples, I understand the two fishermen, but who is the thug with the shades and long pointy hair? Please share who you think he is in the comment section.

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Motorcycles, Sushi, & One Strange Book

Zondervan (April 16, 2010)

***Special thanks to Pam Mettler of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***

Nancy Rue has written over 100 books for girls, is the editor of the Faithgirlz Bible, and is a popular speaker and radio guest with her expertise in tween and teen issues. She and husband Jim have raised a daughter of their own and now live in Tennessee.

Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (April 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310714842
ISBN-13: 978-0310714842

ISLAND BREEZES

She has some major issues.  He calls the girl Crash, and I’m not going to tell you why.  You’ll have to read the book to find out.

On top of her ADHS, she has to deal with her bipolar mother while trying to hide both these illnesses from others.  Then her “dead” father pops up and she ends up being stuck in Florida with the guy.

During her trip to Florida, she has “the book” thrust upon her by an old geezer in the airport waiting area.

RL once again enters the life of a teen girl trying to deal with life’s issues.  I guess I shouldn’t say once again.  This book is actually the first in the Real Life series.  I read it second, but it really doesn’t make that much difference.  Each book stands on it own.

BTW, the pages didn’t flutter for Jessie.  If you want to know what that means, you need to read the second book.

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  How much better to get wisdom than gold!  To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their way preserve their lives.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the Lord.

The wise of heart is called perceptive, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.

Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it, but folly is the punishment of fools.

The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 16:16-24

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

and the book:

Boyfriends, Burritos & an Ocean of Trouble (Real Life)

Zondervan (April 20, 2010)

***Special thanks to Pam Mettler of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***

Nancy Rue has written over 100 books for girls, is the editor of the Faithgirlz Bible, and is a popular speaker and radio guest with her expertise in tween and teen issues. She and husband Jim have raised a daughter of their own and now live in Tennessee.

Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (April 20, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310714850
ISBN-13: 978-0310714859

ISLAND BREEZES

Oh, man!  What a heavy subject.  It seems that abusive teen relationships are becoming more common.  This subject is handled truthfully and respectfully in this Real Life book. 

I was drawn into the story immediately.  Of course, a setting in an emergency room will always suck me in right away.  It didn’t end there.  I just wanted to keep on reading.  I shouldn’t have started the book when I was in the midst of preparations proceeding a trip to the mainland.

I’m spending a week with Consumer Man, so I had to force myself to put the book down.  Even after I hit the road, I didn’t make it over the bridge before stopping for lunch and another read.  It took an hour before I got serious about the drive.

I arrived late after my husband had already left for work.  I only partly unloaded the car and didn’t unpack a thing before curling up in his recliner and reading for several hour before falling asleep in the chair.  The next thing I knew, he was home and telling me it was bedtime.

Finally, after breakfast we both did the comfy bit and I got to finish the book.  I can’t wait until I read the next one.  I don’t know why I read the second in the series before the first, but it really doesn’t matter.  Each book is about a different girl who ends up with a magical book in her possession.

Yes, magic.  I was wishing I had a magic book like Bryn’s.  Then I realized I do.  You can read about Bryn’s struggle through this abusive relationship and discover her magic book yourself.  Just give yourself lots of time.  You won’t want to put this book down.

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Did you know that Psalm (1 is known as the “Soldiers Psalm”?  Neither did I.  I’ve read it and have always liked it, but I didn’t really comprehend all that I was reading.

This book takes you through the psalm verse by verse, explaining it in detail.  It’s easy to see why this psalm would be claimed by our military men and women.

Included in the book are testimonies of people, both civilian and military, who claimed the promises of this psalm. 

I will be buying a bunch of these books for family and friends.  Psalm 91 is an excellent way to share God’s love and blessings with others.

Suffering.  Why do some of us have to live with it?  Why doesn’t God just make it all go away?

A person can suffer in many different ways including physical pain, mental anguish and spiritual torment.  This small book can help you understand the purpose for your pain and how to get through it.

As a nurse I’ve seen a lot of suffering.  Especially while working as a hospice nurse and now as a mental health nurse.  I want to make the suffering go away and at times have wondered why. 

Some people bring pain and suffering upon themselves.  Others don’t, but still have to endure the pain.  Why?  To Those Who Suffer helps bring understanding.

What a very special mailbox!  Just who is the Kindred Spirit who guards the mailbox and it’s precious secrets?

This book takes us through both the past and present of two people and the secrets that are shared with the Kindred Spirit.  This is a book I didn’t want to put down.  I wanted to know what kind of secrets Lindsay and Campbell have.

Will they be able to overcome the heartache of the past?  It seems as if it will be very difficult.

Who is the Kindred Spirit?  I kept changing my mind about who I thought it might be.  You’re going to have to read this for yourself.

You know, don’t you, that this is a real mailbox?  I want to go to that beach and experience it for  myself.  How about you?

This is definitely a yummy book!  It takes me back to my grandmother’s when she lived on the farm.  This was the first farm.  My grandparents later moved into town for a spell before moving back to a different place in the country. 

Those days in the country created many memories and lots of good food.  Ms Moore knows that and shares some wonderful memories with us.  And the food – she shares that as well.

Okay, so she doesn’t share the food.  But she does share some wonderful recipes so you can get in the kitchen and find out what good eating is all about.  There are so many I want to try out.  I take exception to only one recipe.

The blackberry cobbler my grandmother made always had a bottom crust and a top crust.  Are we the only ones who make two crusted cobbler? 

This book will feed your mind as well as your tummy.  After you read it, let me know which recipe is your favorite.  I couldn’t find a favorite.  I found a bunch of favorites. 

Okay, now I’m hungry.  A snack and a book is sounding good right now.  I think I’ll have to read some more of these recipes that are in Way Back in the Country Garden.

  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

A gentil tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

A fool despises a parent’s instruction, but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; no so the minds of fools.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

The way of the  wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.

There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way, but one who hates a rebuke will die.

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, how much more human hearts!

Scoffers do not like to be rebuked; they will not go to the wise.

Proverbs 15:1-12

Happy Independence Day.  May you be blessed as you celebrate with family and friends today.  Here is one of my favorite patriotic recordings.  Spend a few minutes really listening to the words.