Tranquility: A Prayer and Refelction Coloring Journal | Re:View

Soothing, calming, tranquil. All perfect words to describe this lovely prayer and reflection coloring journal! 

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I simply love this coloring and prayer journal. Ever since I got the gratitude one I have loved the whole concept of these books. The reality is...sometimes I want to do my devotions differently. It's not bad to sit and just read through my Bible (obviously, that's a good thing) but the way in which I process what I read is important too. Sometimes, I want to try something different in the mornings and coming to a journal like this is the perfect thing!

If the cover is any indication (which it really is) this journal is stunning in its craftsmanship! From the thick panels of the cover and back plate (which make it super easy to color/write in) and the beautiful interior layout, I find myself fully engaged.

For every two pages, there is a prompt, or prayer, and typically a scripture to go along with that. Then there is a way to engage--whether it's drawing, journaling, or coloring in. What a fun idea, right? The best part is that you can focus your thoughts on what you've read (the prompt/scripture/journal entry) while you're coloring. Yes, coloring may be "easy" or possibly even "mindless" but with this journal, it doesn't have to be.

I highly recommend this journal to anyone who enjoys journaling, coloring, and reflective prompts. You will not only find encouragement in these pages but fun too!

My rating: 5*
Purchase: Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal

Book Description 
(from Amazon)

Tranquility: A Prayer and Reflection Coloring Journal invites you to mix creative journaling and coloring into your personal time with God. Prayers that focus on topics such as being thankful, dealing with stress and heartache, caring for yourself and others, listening for God’s leading, and waiting patiently on Him will guide your thoughts and calm your spirit. Filled with more than 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling, and 40 needs-based prayers, Tranquility will help you express your devotion to God with your whole heart.

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I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.  

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal from Tyndale | RE:VIEW

This colorful and imaginative prayer and praise journal will launch you into a creative devotional time with the Lord!

I'm seriously in love with this journal! From the moment I unwrapped it I was smitten with the colors, style, and creative appeal. First off, this beauty is well crafted with solid front and back boards that give stability to your coloring and journaling no matter where you take it.

Moving to the inside you'll find beautifully created pages that take you through devotional concepts with a fresh approach. There's room to draw, prompts for journaling, and, of course, pages for coloring! I love that some of the prompts even suggest drawing visual expressions of the verses.

I highly recommend this amazing journal for those who are looking to do devotions in a new and refreshing way. I also recommend this as a great gift option for friends in your life who like being creative or love coloring. It's not only relaxing, but it will also lead you to dig deeper in your relationship with the Lord.

My Rating: 5*
Purchase: Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Jornal

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

Girls Slimline Bible NLT from Tyndale | RE:View

This review will be a little different than my other book reviews. Though I have read the whole Bible, I didn't read all of this Bible though I have gone through it and looked at it from the perspective of a reviewer. Below are my thoughts on this slimline Bible for girls. 

Bright, fun, and creative! 

This Girls Slimline Bible in the New Living Translation is, in a word, funky! First off, the cover is soft and almost fuzzy with a velvety feeling. As shown, it's a pretty bright blue with a slightly more muted pink than what you see in the picture. The sides are also stained purple and inside the front cover it's bright pink with the verse, "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence." Ephesians 3:12. I think this is an excellent choice in scriptures, especially for young girls. What a great reminder of our boldness in Christ! In this same area there is a section for a dedication (to and from) with the date and space for a note.

Moving inside the Bible you have the regular table of contents, an alphabetical reference (which is nice), readers note, introduction to the NLT (which I think almost no young reader will look through...), translation team list, and then the start of the Old Testament. It's pretty standard as Bible's go. I would say I like the font they chose (I know, I'm probably the only one who would notice that). As for the rest of the Bible there are handy footnotes with some explanations of things though not an overabundance. A bookmark in bright orange is attached, and Jesus's words are in red.

At the end you also have: dictionary/concordance for helpful reference, "Great Chapters of the Bible", "Great Verses of the Bible to Memorize" (a handy feature), a 365-day reading plan, and some maps! On the back of the bible there is a small cross (pink with green outline) with the words "Bold Faith" below it.

My thoughts:

I think this is a super fun Bible for young girls. I would be hesitant to say that a teen girl would enjoy this (this is a general statement) because it seems a little young for that age, but I would assume this would be great for girls around ages 7 to 12. I really like the features that are included, just enough to give inquisitive girls things to explore but not so overwhelming as a full-on reference Bible. I also LOVE the theme of "Bold Faith". As someone who's worked with teens and youth for almost 10 years I think this is crucial. Tyndale couldn't have picked a better thing to focus on!

My Rating: 5*
Purchase: From Amazon | From Tyndale 

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

GIVEAWAY

I was so happy to receive this Bible from Tyndale and now I'd like to spread the LOVE! I'm giving away my review copy (very gently used for the purposes of my review). Enter below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Centralia by Mike Dellosso | New Novel News

Centralia 
by Mike Dellosso

Published June 1, 2015
Tyndale Fiction
Purchase: Centralia

Peter Ryan wakes up on a typical morning only to find his house empty, his wife and daughter nowhere to be found. His world is shattered after a phone call to a friend confirms the impossible: his wife and daughter died in a car accident he does not remember. Haunted by faint memories and flashes of details, Peter becomes convinced that something isn’t right and begins to question reality. When he discovers a note in his daughter’s handwriting, strange memories begin to surface that cause him to second-guess nearly everything he once believed. Suddenly armed men show up at Peter’s home, turning the mysterious puzzle of his past into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. On the run and unsure whom to trust, Peter has to discover what’s real and what isn’t . . . before he loses everything.

Get to know Mike...

Coffee or tea? 
I used to be a big tea drinker but in the past couple years I’ve fallen in love with coffee and now drink a couple cups every day.

If you could live in a fantasy world, who’s would it be? 
C.S. Lewis’ Narnia. I’ve been fascinated with that land since I was a kid. I want to go there!

Favorite season? 
Autumn all the way. I love the colors, the crispness in the air, the cool evenings. Everything about it.

::WINNERS::

Excited to announce the winner from last week for Ronie Kendig's book, Falcon. {Check out my review here}

Ann McPherson Badder

HOOAH! And congrats Ann - you will LOVE this book! I'll be in contact soon :)

Also, I completely forgot to announce the winner for Mary's book, See No Evil. 

Congrats to: Deanne Patterson

Pam Hillman {Writer Wednesday}

I am thrilled to have multi-published author in short fiction and non-fiction, Pam Hillman on the blog today. Please give her a warm welcome :)

A little bit about Pam...

Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel.

How to connect with Pam...

Website: http://www.pamhillman.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pam.hillman.7
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamHillman or @PamHillman
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5800307-pam-hillman
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/wrtnbyph/
Group blog: http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com
Personal blog: http://www.calicotrails.blogspot.com
Publisher: http://www.tyndale.com/Claiming-Mariah/9781414380964

Author Interview | Pam Hillman

You & Writing
Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I wrote in my head for years, from the time I was a child. Then eventually I started writing stories down. The dream of seeing my stories in print has kept me writing.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...My current release, Claiming Mariah, is a favorite. I’m just so pleased in how it turned out, and had the best time working with the copy editors polishing it.

Your Writing
Tell us a little bit about your book or what you’re working on currently? Why are you/did you write it? ...Several years ago, I read a novel where a bank robber tosses a sack of stolen money in the back seat of a hand-to-mouth college student’s car. She kept the money and eventually started a very successful business. She justified her actions because she anonymously created a charity to help destitute young women get back on their feet. But, as the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right, and that wasn’t quite right from a Christian’s perspective, was it? I based Claiming Mariah on the following question: “What would a Christian do if they found out their whole livelihood had been based on a lie?” Mariah does the right thing by writing to Slade’s father asking for forgiveness, but the consequences of her actions end up being way more than she bargained for.

Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...I enjoyed getting to know Mariah’s grandmother. Grandma Malone doesn’t dance around particulars or stand on ceremony. This line sums Grandma Malone up to a tee. She gave him with that peculiar look of hers that said she was old enough to say what she wanted and get away with it.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...I hope readers can learn to let go of bitterness toward someone who has wronged them. But on the flip side, I pray that someone who has committed a wrong would have the courage to offer restitution if God lays it on their heart to do so.

Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...Everywhere! Church. Books. Movies. Drinking coffee. (Oh, what a good idea. Be right back…) Watching ants crawl out of a flooded anthill. Boom! I immediately see coal miners fleeing a mine, or WWII soldiers climbing out of bunkers. Oh, sorry, you were asking…
...For Stealing Jake, my debut novel in 2011, Tyndale House Publishers used to publish 2 Heartquest anthologies a year. Tyndale has been my dream publisher from the beginning, and I submitted novella proposals several times trying to break in. Stealing Jake was one of those submissions. Tyndale put out guidelines for a Cowboy Christmas anthology, so the story had to involve Christmas and have a historical setting. Stealing Jake didn’t make the cut for the anthology, but I loved the idea so much that I went back to it later and turned it into a full-length novel. It just happened to be the novel my agent and I were shopping when word went out that Tyndale was launching the Digital First Initiative.
...I honestly can’t remember how I came up with the exact idea for the pickpocket theme, but it was the old adage of opposites attract. If she’s a thief, he’s a lawman. Okay, she’s a reformed thief…or is she? lol

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...First: Believe in yourself. I tamped down the dream until I was almost thirty years old because the author bios and the glamour shots on the back of the books in the bookstore intimidated me. Who was I to think I could compete with such poise, such sophistication, education, and competence? Surely those authors came from wealth and power. But sometimes that glamour shot might be an illusion, the bio polished a little too brightly. You, dear writer friend, are just as worthy as the next person.

...Second: If you’re writing Christian fiction, join ACFW. Develop friendships with other writers, not just connections, but true-blue, ask-me-anything, I’ve-got-your-back friends. It took me years to find those friends because I’m a fairly private person. I don’t open up to others very well, but those friends are the very reason I can be this candid with you today. Find them. Embrace them.

You
Would you prefer chocolates or flowers on Valentines Day??
...Definitely Chocolate.

On Valentines Day would you rather stay in (ie: home with a movie) or go out (ie: night on the town)?
...Generally, we stay at home, but this year, we went to our local steakhouse and enjoyed a delicious steak and shared a chocolate lava cake with ice cream. And we had chocolate covered strawberries waiting at home. Also from a local sweet shop. A very memorable day indeed.

Describe your ideal date.
...Going out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants and riding through the countryside. My son recently purchased a Polaris Rzr, and I can’t wait for us to get our hands on it so we can ride around on the weekends. I think I would enjoy it better than 4-wheelers. Easier to talk to each other and I won’t have to eat my husband’s dust!

About Claiming Mariah...

In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Fredrick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.

  To purchase Claiming Mariah click {here}

To celebrate her new release, Pam is giving away two eReaders!
(choice of Kindle Wi-Fi, 6" Display, or Nook Simple Touch)

Two Winners: One on Facebook. One through Pam’s Newsletter.
Facebook Drawing for Kindle/Nook
Pam’s Newsletter

Registering both places is not required but will double your chances of winning. Also keep in mind that you will receive updates more often being connected on facebook than through the newsletter. Just sayin’

Contest runs from January 1st until March 31st, 2013.


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Thank you so much for joining me on the blog today Pam!  It has been so great hearing from you and I absolutely love your advice to aspiring authors - I know I have struggled with feeling inadequate comparing myself to other writers, but your advice rings true, we are just as worthy as the next person. I look forward to hearing about new releases from you in the future :)