Our Daily Bread for Kids: 90 Jesus & Me Devotions by Crystal Bowman & Teri McKinley

Book Details: 

Title: Our Daily Bread for Kids: 90 Jesus & Me Devotions 

Author: Crystal Bowman & Teri McKinley

Publisher: Our Daily Bread Publishing

Release Date: February 4, 2025

Pages: 112 

Genre: Children's Devotional Christianity Books

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Book Description:

Connect Kids to Jesus This Easter

This 90-day devotional encourages boys and girls ages 6 to 10 to recognize Jesus in God's big plan for the world and its people. Filled with beautiful, playful illustrations, each reading includes:

• Engaging stories from Genesis to Revelation
• Bible text from easy-to-understand versions
• "Explore More" reading suggestions
• "Talk to God" prayer starters
• Daily truths to remember
• And "Did You Know?" fun facts ranging through history and spanning the globe

Award-winning and best-selling authors Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley, along with illustrator Anita Schmidt, shine a spotlight on Jesus throughout the whole Bible—from His role at creation, to Old Testament prophecies and metaphors about the coming Savior, to the birth of God’s Son, to His present seat beside the Father.

Featuring selections from the popular Our Daily Bread for Kids: 365 Devotions from Genesis to Revelation, this edition makes a meaningful gift for the kids in your life at Easter, baptism, dedication, or any time! Children will discover for themselves God’s desire to be known and how He made a way through Jesus. 

My Thoughts: Perfect

I think this is a perfect devotional for children. The passages are a perfect length for children and include questions along the way to aid in discussion. Each story also has a Talking to God section that helps guide prayer. It also includes a Did You Know section that has a fun fact connected to the story. Each page is visually appealing, and the font is easy to read.

The suggested ages are 6 - 10, with the grade levels being Kindergarten - 3rd. However, with some of the vocabulary that is used, I feel the devotional is better suited for ages 7 - 11 and grade levels as mid to late 1st grade - 3rd. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

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About the Authors: Crystal Bowman & Teri McKinley  

Crystal Bowman is a bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 books for children and families. More than three million copies of her books have been sold internationally, with several titles being translated into foreign languages. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. 

Teri McKinley grew up in the world of publishing with her mother, Crystal Bowman, and is the coauthor of My Mama and Me—Rhyming Devotions for You and Your Child. She holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University and lives with her husband and two sons in east Texas.

With All Her Heart (Amish Calling Book 3) by Kelly Irvin

Book Details: 

Title: With All Her Heart 

Author: Kelly Irvin

Series: Amish Calling Book 3

Publisher: Zondervan

Pages: 381

Release Date: January 28, 2025

Genre: Amish Romance

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Book Description:

Elijah Miller is a quiet and painfully shy man with a talent for carving the handmade toys and furniture that tourists in the Amish shops love. The large, boisterous Miller family is anything but shy. With a thriving auction business, they want him to do what he hates most: taking the stage and calling the auctions. He loves his family and wants to support them, but will they allow room for Elijah to follow his own dream?

Bonnie Yoder began the Homespun Handicrafts with her friends, Sophia and Carol. Each has a physical disability to overcome but together they prove that wheelchairs and rollators will not stop them from building a business and a craft community. Bonnie, with her chestnut curls and pretty face, yearns for a husband and family of her own but fears her spinal condition will keep any Amish man from choosing a life with her. Can a man like Elijah see past her walker to the woman behind it?

With the support of his beloved dog, Slowpoke, Elijah finds the courage to bring in samples of his handcrafted toys for Bonnie to consider for display in the shop. Through her advice, Elijah begins to see a possible new life doing what he loves best. Bonnie, in reconnecting with this old school friend, fears that the hope for a relationship that she feels may be another disappointment.

Can Elijah and Bonnie help each other find the lives they want and the love they desire?

My Thoughts: Deeply Touching Story

This story is beautiful, touching, heartfelt, inspiring, and insightful. The author's description of the difficulties of dealing with illness and limited mobility is touching and sincere. This makes the characters that much more real, and I deeply feel everything about them: their challenges, their faith, their feelings, and so much more. 

The author also does a fantastic job of describing the difficulties and challenges faced when one cannot fully pursue what one's heart desires and one's talents dictate, especially when family logistics play a part. 

How those elements, along with faith, perseverance, and hope, played into Bonnie and Elijah's story is what makes With All Her Heart a beautiful and deeply touching story of love, faith, and God's will. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

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About the Author: Kelly Irvin

Kelly Irvin is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty novels and stories. A retired public relations professional, Kelly lives with her husband, Tim, in San Antonio. They have two children, four grandchildren, and two ornery cats. Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com; Instagram: @kelly_irvin; Facebook: @Kelly.Irvin.Author; X: @Kelly_S_Irvin.

 

With This Ring: A Sweet Small-Town Second-Chance Romance by Amy Clipston

Book Details: 

Title: With This Ring 

Author: Amy Clipston

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 314

Release Date: January 14, 2025 

Genre: Clean & Wholesome Romance/Contemporary Christian                          Romance

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Book Description:

Dakota thought she had left her dreams of happily-ever-after behind, along with the pain of a broken engagement to her high school sweetheart, Hudson. Now, as the proud owner of Fairytale Bridal Shop in the picturesque town of Flowering Grove, she’s built a life and a business on helping brides find their perfect dress for their own fairytale weddings. But running a small business is not for the faint of heart, and when her ex-fiancé unexpectedly returns to town with a mission—to put a stop to his sister’s wedding—Dakota’s problems go from bad to worse.

Hudson Garrity should be living his dream. After selling his software company, he’s single, handsome, and rich, but an unexpected call from his baby sister has him flying down to his hometown, determined to protect Layla from yet another big mistake. Though he’s single-minded in his effort to derail the nuptials, he instead finds himself thrown into family chaos and roped into helping his sister with her plans . . . bringing him once more into contact with Dakota Jamison, the one who got away.

For Hudson, coming home means revisiting his painful childhood, repairing a strained relationship with his sister, and coming face-to-face with the woman he never stopped loving. For Dakota, it means confronting the tender memories she buried deep within her heart. As Layla’s wedding date draws close, the two reunited lovers begin to question if what went wrong between them really happened the way they remembered it at all. Will they continue believing the lies they’ve told themselves, or will they remain forever entangled in the threads of what could have been?

With This Ring by bestselling novelist Amy Clipston is a heartwarming story that weaves together rekindled romance, rediscovery, and the transformative power of forgiveness. You’re going to love this standalone novel, which features a second-chance romance storyline, a billionaire hero, and a charming small-town setting—think The Wedding Planner meets a tale of reunited lovers. What sets this one apart is its sweet, clean romance; it delivers all the emotions and butterflies, leaving out the explicit scenes. And it comes with engaging discussion questions, making it a fantastic choice for your next book club pick!

My Thoughts: Heartfelt

I greatly enjoyed With This Ring, as it is a very heartfelt, sweet romance that deeply touched my heart. It is the story of Dakota and Hudson, two very wounded people whose previous shattered relationship left them deeply wounded. However, what got them there is a matter of opinion as each has a different opinion of how things went down. Those hurts and clouded memories bring much unpleasantness, anger, and sadness to their unexpected reunion. As they spend more time together, they each deal with buried memories that come to the surface and begin to bring a new light to their relationship. How they each do so is extremely heartfelt, and it sent me on an emotional roller coaster that included feelings that fluctuated between the likes and dislikes of certain characters.

Dakota and Hudson's story is a sweet, clean story of healing, self-reflection, and the effects of misguided goals and lack of communication. But most importantly, it is a wonderful story of the power of forgiveness and love.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

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About the Author: Amy Clipston

Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. You can find her on the web at www.AmyClipston.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks. 

Feliz Día de Reyes - Feliz Epifanía - Feliz Navidad Antigua

Muchos ya han guardado hace tiempo sus adornos navideños (si los tenían) y han dejado de pensar en la Navidad por completo. Pero hay muchos que aún no lo han hecho. ¿Un motivo? Hoy, el 6 de enero es celebrado por muchas personas en todo el mundo. Se lo conoce como la Epifanía, así como el Día de los Reyes Magos. Los Amish lo celebran como la Navidad antigua y la Epifanía.

“Este día celebra cómo una estrella guió a los Reyes Magos a visitar al niño Jesús después de su nacimiento. 'Epifanía' viene de la palabra griega que significa 'revelar', ya que fue cuando el niño Jesús fue 'revelado' al mundo. Es por eso que es posible que escuches a la gente decir que han tenido una epifanía cuando se dieron cuenta de algo".

                                       (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/42565054)

Mi familia también celebra la Epifanía, o como lo llamamos nosotros, el Día de Reyes. La tradición es que los niños coloquen heno o paja en una caja y la dejen afuera para los camellos de los tres reyes magos. Se deja un regalo para los niños como agradecimiento por la comida de los camellos.

Al celebrar este día, me recuerda que celebrar el nacimiento de Cristo no es algo que se hace en un día y ya está. A medida que transcurra el año, que cada día debe ser un recordatorio de su nacimiento y de todo lo que ha hecho por nosotros, y que vivamos cada día honrándolo y viviendo una vida que le agrade.

¡Feliz Día de Reyes/Feliz Epifanía/Vieja Navidad a todos!

Feliz Día de Reyes - Happy Three Kings Day - Happy Epiphany - Happy Old Christmas

While many have long since put their Christmas decorations away (if they decorated) and completely put Christmas out of their minds, many have yet to do so. One reason? Today, January 6th is celebrated worldwide by many people. It is known as the Epiphany, as well as Three Kings Day. The Amish celebrate it as Old Christmas and the Epiphany.

“This day celebrates how a star led the Magi - also known as the Three Kings or the Wise Men - to visit the baby Jesus after he had been born. 'Epiphany' comes from the Greek word meaning 'to reveal', as it is when the baby Jesus was 'revealed' to the world. This is why you might hear people say they've had an epiphany when they've just realized something.”

 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/42565054)

My family also celebrates the Epiphany, or as we call it, el Día de Reyes. The tradition is for the children to place hay/straw in a box and leave it out for the camels that the three kings travel on. A gift is left for the children as a thank you for the camels' food. 

As we celebrate this day, it reminds me that celebrating the birth of Christ isn’t a one-day-and-done deal. As we go through the year, may each day be a reminder of His birth and all He has done for us, and may we live each day honoring Him and living a life that is pleasing to Him.

Feliz Día de Reyes/Three Kings Day/Happy Epiphany/Old Christmas, everyone!

Texas Kidnapping Target (Texas Justice Book 1) by Laura Scott

Book Details: 

Title: Texas Kidnapping Target 

Series: Texas Justice Book 1

Author: Laura Scott

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense

Release Date: December 24, 2024

Pages: 207  

Genre: Christian Suspense/Clean & Wholesome Romance

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Book Description:

A child in jeopardy.

A lawman on a mission.

When an intruder attempts to kidnap rancher Mari Lynch's four-year-old son, she fears it's connected to her ex-husband's criminal past. Texas Ranger Sam Hayward's arrival confirms her worst fears—her ex has escaped prison, making her a target. And when Sam finds a dead body on Mari’s ranch, he suspects the incidents are related. Now Mari must depend on Sam to protect her little boy and catch the culprit. Will they be able to uncover the truth and stay alive, or will they become victims of a deadly conspiracy?

My Thoughts: Great Suspense

This is a wonderful, suspense-filled story. It grabbed me from the start, kept me on my toes, and kept me guessing the entire time. Along with the suspense, there is a blend of romance. However, the suspense and intrigue are the stars of the story. I enjoyed following the changes in Mari and Sam's relationship as proximity and unexpected events kept bringing them closer together, and Theo added a sweet touch to their story. This great suspense story with just the right amount of romance blended in should not be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

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About the Author: Laura Scott

Laura Scott is honored to write for the Love Inspired Suspense line, where a reader can find a heartwarming journey of faith amid the thrilling danger. A registred nurse by day and an author by night, she has more ideas than time to write! She lives with her husband of thirty-five years in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Visit Laura at www.laurascottbooks.com.

 

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter & Martha Bolton

Book Details: 

Title: The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits 

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter & Martha Bolton

Publisher: Barbour

Pages: 319

Release Date: January 1, 2025 

Genre: Amish Romance

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Book Description:

Why Are Baking Contestants Disappearing?
 
Mysteries have a way of following Fannie Miller, so when she makes it into the finals of the Tuscarawas County Baking Contest and contestants start disappearing, she calls on her old friend Foster Bates, a retired cop and part-time private investigator. Could it be that other finalists are somehow responsible for these disappearances, thinning out the competition? Like the couple on verge of divorce who need the prize money, or the three Beiler sisters, always in a huddle whispering. One thing is for certain—Foster and Fannie will stay on the case until the end, and everyone involved will have learned something important about baking contests, solving mysteries, and life.

My Thoughts: A Fun Read

This is a fun and entertaining read with a mix of mystery and intrigue blended in. I loved the quirky characters, which included a naughty parrot, that added moments of laughter to the story. Although the different characters had their own stories and backgrounds blended in, it was easy to keep up with each one and follow the threads of their stories as they added to the main plot. Plenty of great nuggets of information and faith quotes were a nice touch in the story and had me pause to reflect more than once. The great characters, the mystery, and everything else made this a fun and entertaining read one that should not be missed. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

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About the Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter & Martha Bolton

Wanda E. Brunstetter 

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Martha Bolton

Martha Bolton is a prolific author of 89 books, an Emmy nominee, a Dove Award nominee, and a co-author of three NY Times bestselling books. She was nominated for a Writers' Guild Award for her work on the Emmy-winning Bob Hope—The First Ninety Years. She was Bob's first full-time female staff writer and wrote for his television specials and personal appearances.