The Christmas Tree Keeper by Tamara Passey A REVIEW

ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE KEEPER
Though Angela Donovan is out of work and needs money for rent, she yearns for her eight-year-old daughter to have a carefree holiday. The last thing she wants is the pressure of her daughter expecting a miracle. But when they pick out a Christmas tree at a cozy Massachusetts tree farm that’s exactly what happens when they learn the trees might be miracle trees.

Mark Shafer is soon to be the new keeper of the Christmas trees when he inherits the family farm. He’d like to run it with a family of his own, but his girlfriend wants nothing to do with farm life. He makes plans to sell so he can propose to his girlfriend and pursue a career in music. Then he meets an unforgettable customer and her daughter, and an anonymous gift compels them to learn the truth about the trees.

With a buyer willing to pay top dollar for the land, Mark has the fate of the trees in his hand. Will he be able to see what and who is most important? And will Angela give the miracle of love a chance?

File Size: 3633 KB
Print Length: 170 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Winter Street Press (November 22, 2014)
Publication Date: November 22, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00PTHBF5I

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tamara Passey, author of the The Christmas Tree Keeper: A Novel, was born and raised in Massachusetts around a large family, one that has served as inspiration for most of her writing. She was named Arizona Young Mother of the Year in 2013 and contributes marriage and family articles to FamilyShare.com. Mothering through the Whirlwind is her fist work of non-fiction. She loves most creative endeavors and when she isn't writing or re-writing, you can find her baking or cross-stitching or walking--though not all at the same time. She lives with her husband and three children in Arizona.

You can find her online and read her speech given at the AMI Convention at TamaraPassey.com

She also blogs at WhyIGetUp.blogspot.com and FivePagesOfSomething.blogspot.com


MY REVIEW
 This is the first book I’ve read that was written by Tamara Passey. I was very glad I got the chance to read The Christmas Tree Keeper.
  Angela and Mark learn what family is really about in the novel and also you can’t always trust everyone you meet.
  It all starts when Angela takes her young daughter to a Christmas Tree Farm to get their tree. They meet Mark and his grandfather. The strange thing is the grandfather said that the tree they took is a miracle tree all you have to do is believe. Angela is almost past believing.
  Mark is thinking about selling the tree farm and getting a lot of money to buy a house and go into the music business.
  You won’t believe all of the coincides that bring the two of them together. It seems they are always running into each other.
  In The Christmas Tree Keeper we read about believing, not giving up, mending broken families and the one best thing Love. Highly recommended.

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Thank you to the  Author/Publicist  for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson A REVIEW

ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS JOY RIDE
 Miranda did not put adventure on her Christmas list, but thanks to her eighty-five-year-old neighbor Joy, that's exactly what she's getting this year. When Joy tells Miranda that she plans to drive an old RV decked out in Christmas decorations from their Chicago neighborhood to her new retirement digs in Phoenix--in the dead of winter, no less--the much younger Miranda insists that Joy cannot make such a trip by herself. Besides, a crazy trip with Joy would be more interesting than another Christmas home alone. Unemployed and facing foreclosure, Miranda feels she has nothing to lose by packing a bag and heading off to Route 66. But Joy has a hidden agenda for their Christmas joyride--and a hidden problem that could derail the whole venture.

No one captures the heartwarming fun of the Christmas season quite like Melody Carlson. Fasten your seat belt, because it's going to be an exciting ride!

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800719670
ISBN-13: 978-0800719678
Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

MY REVIEW
  The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson is just a delightful read. Combine Christmas, a very giving woman and a woman who has lost everything and doesn’t know what to do next makes a fantastic story, but when you put going across country in an RV in the mix anything can happen and usually does.
   Eighty-five-year old Joy has to go live with her sons. She lives in Chicago and they live in Phoenix. She decides instead of flying to Phoenix she wants to take her RV. The reason  being is on her blog she had a contest and asked people who needed Christmas. So Joy wants to give them some Christmas Joy. She’s chosen several places to stop and will decorate their place and give them things they need.
  Miranda her young friend thinks she’s crazy, but won’t let her elderly neighbor go alone. Maybe this trip will give Miranda a reason to live and give her some joy.
  I really liked all of the lessons in this book. About being positive, never giving up and the biggest one we can always help someone less fortunate than us.
  Melody tells a wonderful story about what Christmas is really about. Read this wonderful book to see if Joy can make such a long trip, what will happen if her sons find out and also how Miranda fits in this whole Christmas scene. A very wonderful book that I highly recommend.

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I received my free copy from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

When Others Shuddered Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up BY Jamie Janosz A REVIEW

ABOUT WHEN OTHERS SHUDDERED:EIGHT WOMEN WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP
When Others Shuddered: Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up is the story of eight women called to serve God and who, in doing so, changed the world. They lived at the turn of the century, rubbing shoulders with the well-known men of their time, like John Rockefeller, Marshall Field, and Dwight Lyman Moody.

These women—Fanny Crosby, Mary McLeod Bethune, Nettie McCormick, Sarah Dunn Clarke, Emma Dryer, Virginia Asher, Evangeline Booth, and Amanda Berry Smith—were unique. They were single and married, black and white, wealthy and poor, beautiful and plain, mothers and childless. Yet, each felt called to make a difference and to do something—to meet a pressing need in her world.

These women wanted to live lives less ordinary. Their stories inspire us to follow God’s calling in our own lives. They teach us that each individual person can make a difference. These eight women will show you how God can use your life to change the world.

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (February 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802410782
ISBN-13: 978-0802410788
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jamie Janosz is a wife, mother, writer, and follower of Jesus Christ. She enjoys "everything old" - and can often be found poking around dusty antique shops in search of treasure. She is a contributing author to Moody Bible Institute's daily devotional, Today in the Word. Jamie and her husband have been married for 21 years and live in the Chicago suburbs with their teenage daughter. Visit her blog at http://jamiejanosz.blogspot.com/

MY REVIEW
  When Others Shuddered Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up by Jamie Janosz is an interesting book. It’s not an entertaining book, but one that tells about the lives of eight different women who didn’t follow the normal things in life for their time period.
  Each chapter follows the life stories of these ladies, Fanny Crosby, “Emma” Emeline E. Dryer, “Nettie” Nancy (Fowler) McCormick, Sarah Dunn Clarke, Amanda Smith, Virginia Asher, Evangeline Booth, Mary McLeod Bethune. They all grew up in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.  All of these ladies knew and worked with at times D.L. Moody.
 Fanny loved to learn even though she couldn’t see. As we know she wrote hundreds of Hymns.
  Emma helped people after the Chicago fire and got things in order to start a Bible school.
  Nettie became very rich, but gave so much away and helped so many people. She didn’t let her riches make her any better than the poorest person she helped.
  Evangeline helped to get the Salvation Army into many countries and put others above herself.
  All of these women put God and others ahead of themselves. Many of them didn’t even marry because their work and God meant so much more than their own happiness.
  It’s remarkable what they accomplished for being women in that time period. Really interesting. Recommended reading.

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Thank you to Moody Publishers/River North for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Precious Moments 5-Minute Bedtime Treasury A Review

ABOUT 5-MINUTE BEDTIME TREASURY
Create a Bedtime Tradition in Just 5 Minutes. Delight your little ones with these sweet Precious Moments® characters as you share beloved Bible stories and comforting bedtime scriptures with them. The five-minute format helps parents create a meaningful bedtime. With paraphrased stories from the International Children's Bible®, you'll nurture a love for God's Word. Take five minutes before bed to create a special connection with your precious child.

Age Range: 3 - 7 years
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 13, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0718043197
ISBN-13: 978-0718043193
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 1 x 11 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds

Since 1978, Precious Moments has grown into an evergreen brand recognized worldwide, with more than 12.5 million books and bibles sold through Thomas Nelson.

MY REVIEW
  Precious Moments 5-minute Bedtime Treasury is certainly a treasure book.  At the beginning of the book is a small family tree, a section about the child, a place for handprints and the child’s church record.
  There are over 40 Bible stories, from creation to when the Lord comes again. Such wonderful stories as Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Noah’s Ark, Joseph sold into slavery, Jesus’ birth and the Wise men, The empty Tomb and on and on. After each story is a Bible promise for your child.
  Many, many pictures of your favorite Precious Moments children which will become favorites of your child. The pictures are big and colorful.
  Just so special and sweet. Full of the most brilliant stories in the Bible and included are the wonderful Precious Moments children. What more can you want?
Highly recommended.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I receive books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program/BookLook. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express are my own. This is true of any book I review for any publisher or author; I will not review books where a positive review is required and I will always express my own opinions of each book received and read.

Rescuing Finley by Dan Walsh A Review

ABOUT RESCUING FINLEY
Amy Wallace has made plenty of mistakes in her young life, but she didn't see this one coming. Chris Seger is a marine serving in Afghanistan. His life is forever altered by a single, fateful step. A mother of another Afghan war vet suffers a devastating loss, which changes the course of Finley's life for good. Finley is a mostly golden retriever, who suddenly finds himself alone and confused in a dog shelter. Later, he's brought to a prison to be trained in a special program for female inmates. Could this prison actually become the place where Finley finally finds freedom? Rescuing Finley tells the story of how one rescue dog powerfully impacts three tragic lives and puts all of them on a road toward redemption and healing.

File Size: 2641 KB
Print Length: 250 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Bainbridge Press (November 19, 2015)
Publication Date: November 19, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B017C6IAVA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Walsh is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 15 novels, including The Unfinished Gift, The Reunion and When Night Comes. His books have been highly reviewed by USA Today and in magazines such as Publishers Weekly, RT Book Reviews and Library Journal. Dan and his wife live in the Daytona Beach area where he's busy writing and researching his next novel. They have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren.




MY REVIEW
  Rescuing Finley by Dan Walsh is just a wonderful book. In this first book of the Forever Home series it tells about the life of three different characters. Finley the dog, Amy a young lady who made a lot of mistakes in life and Chris a marine who served in Afghanistan and suffered greatly.
  Before we get to Amy or Chris, Finley’s story starts as being a dog to a wonderful young man who loved him greatly, but they also lived with the young man, Chaz’s mother. She wasn’t a dog person. So when Chaz went to war and didn’t come back, Finley got taken to the shelter.
   Amy was in prison and joined the dog training for Vets program. She never owned a dog, but always wanted to. Chris made it back from the war, but was emotional scarred. Would a dog help him? Follow the lives of these three amazing characters. Each one struggling in their own way. Can they find happiness together or not?
  This book is highly emotional, fantastic story from an excellent author. Look forward to reading the other books in this series. Recommended to anyone who loves animals, Vets and stories of people who made wrong decisions.


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Thank you to the  Author/Publicist  for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

When Calls the Heart Complete Season Two 10 DVD Collection

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
From celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Lori Loughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls The Heart, "a beautiful story with roots in relationships, self-empowerment, and the enduring power of love" (Common Sense Media).

Elizabeth Thatcher (Krakow) is a strong-willed teacher who has foregone the life of the big city and found a job, a home - and a bit of unexpected romance with a handsome Mountie named Jack - in the small frontier town of Hope Valley. But life on the frontier can hand you many tough turns, and so it is for Jack and Elizabeth as they face their very different upbringings, the pressures put upon them by family, rival suitors and even various criminal counterfeiters and kidnappers in their quest to find their place in this remote and rugged land.
10 DVD Collector's Edition includes
Season 2 - 10 DVD Collector's Edition includes the following:

Disc 1: Trials of the Heart (Movie Version)
Disc 2: Heart and Soul (Movie Version)
Disc 3: Heart of the Family (Movie Version)
Disc 4: Heart and Home (Movie Version)
Disc 5: Follow your Heart (Movie Version)
Disc 6: Episodes as aired on the Hallmark Channel
Disc 7: Episodes as aired on the Hallmark Channel
Disc 8: Special Features Disc
Disc 9: Journey to Jamaa (short film by Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird)
Disc 10: Instrumental CD

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 10
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Run Time: 840.00 minutes
ASIN: B016V982FS

MY REVIEW
  When Calls the Heart Complete Season 2 is amazing. If you are a Heartie or just love this series you need to buy this 10 DVD Collectors Edition set.
  I’m amazed at all of the content in this special set. The five episodes in the movie version, all of the episodes that were shown on the Hallmark channel, a fantastic Special Features Disc. ( will talk more about the special features later), Winter in Hope Valley instrumental CD, and a special short film Journey To Jamaa (True story) produced by Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird. That CD Journey To Jamaa should get a review all on its own. Amazing story.
  The extra features DVD has the life stories of Janette Oke and Michael Landon Jr. Which are just remarkable in themselves. Get to know what and who formed their lives. Trailers of course, The stars talk about the Hearties, Get to know the stars of the show and behind the scenes. Every feature is just incredible. I really love getting to know these wonderful people and of yes, so many fantastic pictures.  This 10 DVD edition is well worth the price. What Heartie or just anyone wouldn’t love this?  Highly recommended. Wish I could recommend it more.

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one of the products  mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”