Whatever is Lovely

I've reviewed numerous coloring books over the past few months, but this one has most definitely been my favorite! "Whatever is Lovely" is a book by Waterbrook Press, and it includes Bible verses and quotes by some amazing Christian speakers. The pictures are absolutely beautiful, the wording on the page looks like calligraphy, and there are quotes from some of my favorite authors/bloggers such as Lisa Jo Baker, Becky Thompson, and Rachel Held Evans! 

This is the kind of book that will get my day started out right! It's a mini devotional with relaxing pictures to color. My girls even loved this one, so I imagine we will be coloring and framing many of these! The pages are not perforated so I am not sure how difficult it will be to tear the pages out, but I suppose they can always be cut out. 

There are 47 pages to color included. Scenes include animals, nature, trees, flowers, foliage, outer space, fish, and some are just beautifully written words. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys coloring. These would also be fun to color and to give as gifts. They are really something! I rate this book as 5 stars.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books inexchange for my honest unbiased opinion. 

Every Little Thing

"Every Little Thing" Coloring book by Payton Cosell Turner is the perfect coloring book for 80's kids everywhere! Most of the pages included are mirror images with fuzzy bears, pineapples, elephants, typewriters, dated cell phones, and all of your favorite junk food.

The book includes a dust jacket, which is very nice when giving a gift, but I usually just throw them away if I'm keeping it. It was kind of cool that you could actually color the dust jacket if you wish.

My kids and I had a lot of fun coloring these pictures. Amazon says it's aimed at kids ages 10 and up, but even my younger two children enjoyed it. The only thing I found to be disappointing was that the pictures weren't drawn realistically. I am not much of an artist, so I can't be too harsh, but this is probably not a book I would purchase. If you like a lot of kitschy artwork, then you will probably enjoy this very much. It just wasn't for me.

I rate this book as 3 stars. I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

Like Father Like Son by Pete Alwinson

What do men need in the twenty-first century? There are so many opinions–some think the answer is a masculine to-do list. Others give detailed directions on how to become a “real” man. Those things can be helpful, but do they get to the core of the identity issues that men are facing today? You can’t know who you are and who you are meant to be without knowing the love of your Father–that is, your Father in heaven. Without knowing the Father’s love and acceptance, men are adrift looking for identity in imperfect relationships or cultural norms about manhood. But knowing God’s fatherly love changes everything. A man who is forgiven and accepted by his heavenly Father is free to become like him. Living out of the love of God the Father changes everything for his sons.

Instead of telling men how to recover and reclaim their masculinity, Pete Alwinson invites men to recover and reclaim an intimate, growing relationship with their heavenly Father and live out of that identity in their particular calling as sons, fathers, brothers, friends. Using personal stories and anecdotes from his many years of men’s ministry, Pete shows men that the way forward in life and relationships is through their growing relationship with their heavenly Father.

My Review:
"Like Father, Like Son" by Pete Alwinson dives into the extraordinary importance of a father's role in his child's life. In one chapter, Pete uses the story of a young boy would was born from an affair and whose father wanted nothing to do with him. Fathers leave a profound impact on their children whether they want to or not. It's terribly important for fathers to be a positive influence because it will shape who our sons become. 

The author also explains how God becomes our Father and how we need to find our identity in Christ. I think Pete Alwinson does an amazing job of explaining the subject at hand. He thoroughly did his research in this one. 

I also think it's worth noting that this book is not terribly long. It can easily be read in a matter of a few nights, and would even work as an excellent Bible Study. 

I would definitely recommend it to fathers of boys. I rate this book as 5 stars. I received this book for free from Litfuse, in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion. 

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

I love a good fairy tale with beautiful princesses and dashing dukes! In "The Golden Braid" by Melanie Dickerson, readers get to experience an untold story of Rapunzel. Mother (Gothel) has always protected Rapunzel from the things she thought could hurt her daughter. Including becoming suspicious of any man who shows any interest in Rapunzel. When a young man shows Gothel his intentions of marrying her daughter, she decides to return to Hagenheim to start a new life together to protect Rapunzel. 

Along the journey, the two women end up meeting Sir Garek, a noble duke. After saving each other's lives, Sir Garek agrees to teach Rapunzel to read. She knows her mother would never allow it, and despite the fact that Sir Garek is rather arrogant, she desperately wants to learn. She devises a plan to sneak out of Mother's house everyday in order to meet Sir Garek. Along the way, Rapunzel learns a secret that turns her entire world upside down. She will need to be rescued from the person she has trusted the most. 

I must admit, I was rather giddy to get this book in the mail. I may or may not have done a little happy dance when I opened the package. :) This is the fourth book I have read by Melanie Dickerson and I was NOT disappointed! I love the way she brings the characters to life. The story is a bit different from most fairy tales you will hear, but I think that is what makes it so much fun to read! Also, I love the way the story and characters tie in from her previous books. 

This is one of those books that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! It is a beautiful love story, with a little bit of mystery all rolled up into one amazing book! I would highly recommend it, especially if you love a good fairy tale! I rate this book as 5 stars.

I received this book for free from Litfuse in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion. To purchase a copy, please visit  http://bit.ly/1NZuPiD

About the Author: 

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a Bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.