First Line Fridays - 9/30/16 - The Cautious Maiden

Who is excited for Friday??? I sure am! This weekend we have have cousins coming from across the state to visit us! Yay!!! 

This week Dawn Crandall's fourth book in The Everstone Chronicles releases! I am so excited for this book! Now being that it is the fourth book and releases on October 4th...I am going to share the first 4 lines with you...Because they are short and I want to give you a taste of the wonderful words within this book!

2016 Reading Challenge - Keep Calm and Carry On...to 2017

While I started the year with good intentions, I am afraid that my obsession with a few new releases overruled this Reading Challenge. However, there are books on this list that I really want to read. So, I will be carrying over the unfinished slots into 2017. I have completed 25 out of 38 so I am at 66%, which I don't think is very bad. Considering my overall count for the year is 61 books right now. This does include a few coloring books and kids books...But I have reviewed all of them. 

2016 Reading Challenge:

• A book based on a fairy tale
• The Golden Braid - Melanie Dickerson (Review)
• A National Book Award winner
• 
  
• A Young Adult novel

Can't Help Falling - Kara Isaac

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England.

Emelia Mason has spent her career finding the dirt on the rich and famous. But deep down past this fearless tabloid-reporter façade, there’s a nerdy Narnia-obsessed girl who still can’t resist climbing into wardrobes to check for the magical land on the other side. When a story she writes produces tragic results, she flees to Oxford, England—home to C.S. Lewis—to try and make amends for the damage she has caused.

Review & GIVEAWAY - VeggieTales Every Day with God: 365 Daily Devos

                                                 

My Rating

★★★★☆ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

Every Day with God is the latest 365-day devotional (one for boys and another for girls) from VeggieTales. The updated content and art offer the perfect opportunity for parent and child to share time together each day. Each entry includes a Bible verse, short devotion, Thought of the Day, and prayer. The content will help children learn more about God and develop a daily practice to keep Him close in their lives. The book is perfect for bedtime reading, family devotion time, or as a fresh way to start each day!

Celebrate Lit - November Celebration Box ON SALE!!!

November Celebration Box Spotlight

Celebrate Lit November Celebration Box

The November Celebration Box is here! 

First Line Fridays - 9/23/16 - Newton & Polly

I am happy to introduce a new co-conspirator in our First Line Friday fun! Please help me welcome Andi from Radiant Light! If you want to join in on spreading First Line cheer, let Carrie know from Reading is my SuperPower. 

I am so excited that it is OFFICIALLY Autumn!!! This is my favorite time of year! What is YOUR favorite season???

Newton & Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace - Jody Hedlund

My Rating
★★★★★★ - Heaven help me, you taste like Christmas! (More Info) (Updated after I created a new rating)









About the Book

Now remembered as the author of the world's most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father until the night he hears Polly Catlett s enchanting voice, caroling. He's immediately smitten and determined to win her affection. An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John's reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves? Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.

A Lady Unrivaled - Ladies of the Manor Book 3 - Roseanna M. White (Giveaway Link Included)

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

From the Back of the Book

Amid the Unforgettable Cotswolds, the Final Grasp for the Fire Eyes Diamonds Could Threaten Them All

Lady Ella Myerston can always find a reason to smile--even if it's just in hope that tomorrow will be better than today. All her life everyone has tried to protect her from the realities of the world, but Ella knows very well how the dangerous Fire Eyes diamonds have haunted her brother and their friends, and she won't wait for peril to strike again. She intends to take action . . . and if that happens to involve an adventurous trip to the Cotswolds, then so much the better.

Culturelle® Kids Regularity Gentle-Go™ Formula - Product Review

About the Product

Helping to Restore Regularity* 

When children have trouble staying regular, they often feel uncomfortable. Culturelle® Kids Regularity Gentle-Go™ Formula provides a safe, gentle and drug-free way to help restore regularity.* 

Keeping Kids’ Digestive Systems Running Smoothly* 

We’ve also included a box of Culturelle® Kids Packets Daily Probiotic Formula to help keep your kids healthy.* 

My Thoughts

My son has had ongoing issues with being "regular". Changes in diet, medications, fluids, etc. have all played a part in this. Per his doctor we were giving him the regular Culturelle daily. However, that didn't help with his regularity issues. I have spoken with his doctor and she was thrilled with Culturelle® Kids Regularity Gentle-Go™ Formula. She said to give him this daily, instead of the regular Culturelle. My son (2 years old) has been taking one packet daily for about a month now. Can you say "Yay!" for having a child who is now "regular". I highly recommend this product if your child is having regularity issues. Both my child and I think that this product works wonderfully! The ONE complaint I have, is that it doesn't mix well. In milk it didn't dissolve well and made the texture too grainy. In the purees, it is super chunky and takes quite the effort to make it all blend in. In both room temperature and refrigerated purees of both fruits and veggies.  

First Line Fridays - 9/16/16 - A Lady Unrivaled

Welcome to another Friday! I am so ready for this weekend! Never let me schedule 4 appointments in 4 days for my son again...That was a mistake. I also had to bring my 4 year old along, but he behaved so well. SO proud of them both. But now...All I want to do today is hide away in my nook and read! My first line is from A Lady Unrivaled. The last book in Roseanna M. White's Ladies of the Manor series. I am about halfway through and devouring every word. So without further ado...

Love's Faithful Promise - Courage to Dream Book 3 - Susan Anne Mason

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

If Two Wounded Souls Can Find Healing, Love May Not Be Far Behind.

Widower Dr. Matthew Clayborne is devoted to two things: his work with wounded soldiers and his four-year-old daughter, Phoebe. When Deirdre O'Leary, a feisty New Yorker, arrives in Toronto requesting he use his skills to help her stricken mother, he won't abandon either of these priorities to care for one older woman. However, when his daughter suffers a health scare and needs a respite, Deirdre offers a trade--they can escape to the peace of her family's farm, if he will care for Mrs. O'Leary.

Baby Orajel™ Naturals Nighttime Teething Gel + Tooth & Gum Cleanser - Product Review

About the Product

Baby Orajel™ Naturals Nighttime Teething Gel

With the soothing power of Chamomilla (commonly known as Chamomile) and passion flower, Baby Orajel™ Nighttime Teething Gel helps to relieve teething discomfort and calm the occasional restlessness that comes from teething, so your baby can get a good night’s sleep.

Baby Orajel™ Tooth & Gum Cleanser

Believe it or not babies can develop plaque on their teeth and gums. Baby Orajel™ Tooth & Gum Cleanser helps you to gently and safely remove plaque buildup in your little one’s mouth.

First Line Fridays - Week Twenty - Dance Over Me

Guess WHAT!!! If you have been following First Line Fridays here on Bookworm Mama, you will know that my husband has been building me a reading nook!!! Last week the bookshelves were installed and it took a few days, but all my books are in! And my "Twinkle Lights" are up! It shouldn't take a huge stretch of the imagination to guess where I have been holed up all week....In other news, WA State has decided to skip September all together and go straight into October. It has been cold and windy/rainy...And I LOVE it! 

Dance Over Me - Candee Fick

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Danielle Lefontaine, a fledgling actress raised to the lullaby of Broadway, searches for her long-lost brother and her place on the stage, but a jealous cast member and numerous fruitless leads threaten to drop the curtain on her dreams and shine a spotlight on her longing for a place to belong. Meanwhile, Alex Sheridan is living his dream except for someone to share it with. When Dani dances into his life, he hopes he’s found the missing piece to his heart but fears the bright lights of a bigger stage could steal her away.

Will the rhythm of dancing feet usher in their deepest desires or leave them stranded in the wings?

My Thoughts
Well, my first thought...is that I NEED to see 42nd Street!

Close to You - Kara Isaac

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info) One of the BEST books I have read all year!

About the Book

A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur chasing his future find themselves thrown together—and fall in love—on a Tolkien tour of New Zealand.

Allison Shire (yes, like where the Hobbits live) is a disgraced academic who is done with love. Her belief in “happily ever after” ended the day she discovered her husband was still married to a wife she knew nothing about. She finally finds a use for her English degree by guiding tours through the famous sites featured in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. By living life on the road and traveling New Zealand as a luxury tour guide, Allison manages to outrun the pain of her past she can’t face.

Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations - V. Joy Palmer

My Rating

★★★★☆ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

From the Back of the Book

Isabel "Izze" Vez, bridal consultant extraordinaire, has been helping brides find The Dress for years. She loves nothing more than helping make wedding dreams come true...but sometimes the happy endings grate on her. How many times can a girl discover someone else's gown without dreaming of the day it'll be her turn to wear one? When James Miles Clayton walks into her life, he represents everything Izze can't handle: change. He's determined to bring the Ever After Bridal Boutique into the black...and to prove to Izze that she should give him a chance. But if there's anything Izze handles worse than change, it's trust. She may have a few issues-fine, she knows she does. But will they keep getting in the way of any chance of her own Happily Ever After? She wants to trust God to give her those dreams of love and lace, but that's going to require some...minor alterations.

Time for Bed, Sleepyhead: The Falling Asleep Book - Daniel G. Amen, M.D.

My Rating

★★★★☆ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

Written by New York Times bestselling author and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen, this cozy bedtime book uses visualization techniques in the storytelling to encourage a child to stretch and even exhaust their imaginations to help them drift off into peaceful sleep.

My Thoughts

Time for Bed, Sleepyhead is a very unique book. Written by Dr. Amen, a child psychiatrist, it is specialized for winding down and getting ready for bed. My husband and I both found

First Line Fridays - Week Nineteen - Close to You

Hello and welcome to First Line Friday!!! *Deep inhale*  Do you smell that? Fall is in the air! And I am SOOOOOO excited! Fall is by FAR my favorite season (although Christmas is my favorite holiday). Yesterday I celebrated my birthday and was very spoiled by the hubs. And this weekend we will be putting the finishing touches on my reading nook! SOOOO excited!!! (There is a lot of excitement going on in this house right now hehe.) Here are a couple pictures of the current state of my nook:

Judah helping me dust.

Zach has to finish putting up a few
brackets before I can put my books on.

Ok...On to my First Line now...I came home with 28 NEW books from Christian Fiction Readers Retreat last week...Yes I will have a special post (hopefully this weekend) all about CFRR and ACFW. Bottom line...I had a BLAST. I decided to start Close to You by Kara Isaac on the way home. I LOVE IT!!! SO MUCH!!! Add it to Goodreads, request it from your library, order it on Amazon...Do whatever you need to do to get it into your hands! (Description and links below.) All I heard was New Zealand and Tolkien and I was sold!

"The pathetic state of Allison Shire's existence was perfectly summed up by the size-twelve prosthetic feet mocking her from the floor of the Mercedes minibus."

What is your first line? Post it below and then head over and have more First Line fun! And have a fantabulous Labor Day weekend!

Faithfully Bookish

Reading is my SuperPower

Singing Librarian

About the Book

A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur chasing his future find themselves thrown together—and fall in love—on a Tolkien tour of New Zealand.

Allison Shire (yes, like where the Hobbits live) is a disgraced academic who is done with love. Her belief in “happily ever after” ended the day she discovered her husband was still married to a wife she knew nothing about. She finally finds a use for her English degree by guiding tours through the famous sites featured in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. By living life on the road and traveling New Zealand as a luxury tour guide, Allison manages to outrun the pain of her past she can’t face.

Jackson Gregory was on the cusp of making it big. Then suddenly his girlfriend left him—for his biggest business competitor—and took his most guarded commercial secrets with her. To make matters worse, the Iowa farm that has been in his family for generations is facing foreclosure. Determined to save his parents from financial ruin, he’ll do whatever it takes to convince his wealthy great-uncle to invest in his next scheme, which means accompanying him to the bottom of the world to spend three weeks pretending to be a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan, even though he knows nothing about the stories. The one thing that stands between him and his goal is a know-it-all tour guide who can’t stand him and pegged him as a fake the moment he walked off the plane.

When Allison leads the group through the famous sites of the Tolkien movies, she and Jackson start to see each other differently, and as they keep getting thrown together on the tour, they find themselves drawn to each other. Neither expected to fall in love again, but can they find a way beyond their regrets to take a chance on the one thing they’re not looking for?

Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble