Here's Lily -Review

 

 Here's Lily by Nancy Rue 

A big thanks to Tommy Nelson Publishing for letting me read this wonderful book. 

Summary from Amazon: 

Grow with the spirited, sometimes awkward, but always charming Lily as she learns what real beauty is.
In this fun, entertaining story, readers meet awkward sixth grader Lily Robbins who, after receiving a compliment about her looks from a woman in the modeling business, becomes obsessed with her appearance and with becoming a model. As she sets her sights on winning the model search fashion show, she exchanges her rock and feather collection for lip gloss, fashion magazines, and a private "club" with her closest friends. But when the unthinkable happens the night before the fashion show, Lily learns a valuable lesson about real beauty.
This best-selling, biblically based fiction series for girls-with a fresh new look and updated content-addresses social issues and coming-of-age topics, all with the spunk and humor of Lily Robbins as she fumbles her way through unfamiliar territory. As readers come to love Lily and her stories, they'll also benefit from the companion nonfiction books that will help them through their own growing pains.


Review:
I can't say enough about this wonderful book that helps young girls realize more than their confidence but helps them discover " God-confidence".  Lily learns throughout the book just what it means to be truly beautiful , that God created each of us differently but he finds each of us beautiful. Lily also learns that what we say  can also be used to bring about beauty or to dim that beauty. I really enjoyed how Lily's parents encouraged her to find God in all the things she did , such as the Modeling Show . It's so important to remember that God needs to be apart of everything we do , and that with him in our lives we can do anything , even face the bullies in the world. I also really loved how Lily became and example to other girls. Lily began to over come her lack of confidence  and others were able to see it . Over all, I would recommend this book to any young girl who needs to be reminded how wonderful she is, that God created her to be a uniquely beautiful  and that God is with you no matter the situation.

Come back tomorrow to check out The Beauty Book ..the companion book for Here's Lily

* I was given this book in exchanged for this review . I was in no other way compensated.


- This review can be found on Goodreads, Amazon, FB, And the blog

Guest Review -Author Nancy Rue

Check out the Guest Post by Nancy Rue   

Stay tuned for a review of Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

posted later today :)

By Nancy Rue

Author of more than 100 books, including the Lily series

Lily Robbins, of my Lily series, was “born” back in 1998 at the request of Women of Faith founder Stephen Arterburn who wanted to start a Young Women of Faith Library. “I’d like to see a series about an eleven-year-old girl named Lily,” was the direction I was given. And it was all the direction I apparently needed because almost immediately, a gangly, precocious mini-woman with out-of-control red hair came into my heart and stayed there. I only had to listen to find out that everyone else in her family had a “thing”—a passion that defined them—but she was just sixth-grader Lily who had one best friend and was the brunt of every joke class clown Shad Shifferdecker could think up. She was bright, well-spoken, and wasn’t afraid to remind absurd little creep boys that they weren’t just breaking the rules—they were demolishing them. What self-respecting middle school smart alec could resist that? I knew that once Lily found her “thing” she would go at it 150%, as tween girls so often do, and that she would form a close group of friends (the Girlz Only Club) who would be right in there with her. But I also knew that it was going to take several growing-up years for Lily to discover who she truly was. That meant that each fiction book could star Lily in a new role—aspiring fashion model in book one, developing doctor in book two, and so on.

But early on I decided that since Lily’s fellow mini-women were going through many of the same things that Lily was enduring (such as a new interest in appearance, a changing body, and issues with peers), they might benefit from a non-fiction book to accompany each of the fiction titles. I wanted those books to be interactive and fun with plenty of concrete material that would help readers navigate the tween years.

What delighted me the most about the Lily project was that I was free to show Lily’s spiritual development along the way and to be even more upfront about that in the non-fiction books. Kids in the formative 8-to-12 age range are no longer just coloring pictures of Noah’s Ark in Sunday school; they’re discovering that they can have their own relationship with God and they have questions about how that works and what it means in their young lives. My greatest joy in writing these books has been receiving emails and letters that say things like, “I never knew exactly how to pray until I started a ‘Talking To God Journal’ like Lily did,” and “Lily shows me how to be a Christian in school without, like, preaching to people.”

I couldn’t be more jazzed that the Lily Series is getting a new face and an opportunity to reach yet another generation of mini-women. I’m in touch with Lily’s fans on my blog, “Tween You and Me” as well as on my website – www.nancyrue.com – and through mother/daughter events where we spend an afternoon working through some of Lily’s—and the daughters’—biggest tween challenges. I so appreciate this chance to talk to you, the moms and dads who have challenges of your own in raising your precious daughters in a very tough society. Blessings on all you do.

In God for your girls,

Nancy Rue

The Forgiven Duke Blog Tour

    

THE FORGOTTEN CASTLES SERIES in Six Words

 

1.     Abandonment – Alexandria has been raised mostly by servants on the wind-swept, craggy island of Holy Island in England. When her parents disappear for longer than usual she is determined to rescue them and finally win their love.

2.     Ireland/Iceland/Italy – The three countries Alexandria travels through over the course of three books for clues to the whereabouts of her missing parents.

3.     Surrender – What Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, struggles with as he endures physical afflictions which breaks through his ennui and brings him to his knees.

4.     Love – What Alexandria and Gabriel find when they decide to trust each other with everything.

5.     Treasure – the mysterious object that Alexandria’s parents have been hired to find that will change the world forever.

6.     Purpose – God’s plan for Alexandria and Gabriel coming to fruition exactly as He created for them from the very beginning.

The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie is now available on bookstores and online stores nationwide. The Forgiven Duke is the 2nd installment on The Forgotten Castles Series. Check out my  review of the first book The Guardian Duke to get you ready for The Forgiven Duke .

    Title:The Forgiven Duke

 Author: Jamie Carie

Series: The Forgotten Castles Series

Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

Release Date: July 1, 2012

Summary/Blurb from The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carrie ( 2nd book in the series)

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon - the path of least resistance - Alexandria Featherstone sets off toward Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. A glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton - the path less traveled by - on Dublin’s shore still haunts her.

Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone motto Valens et Volens: “Willing and Able,” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.

The powerful yet wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.

About the author:

Jamie Carie writes novels about fierce, passionate women; their dreams; their fears; their triumphs. Her deepest desire is to see her readers find that same passion as they follow their destiny and discover deeper intimacy with Jesus.

She lives in Indianapolis with her husband and three sons.

Here is your chance to win  a signed copy of BOTH books that's right  both..  go go enter enter 

US/CAN

A signed paperback copy of the Guardian Duke and The Forgiven Duke (Forgotten Castles # 1, #2)

to one winner -  go check out the blog tour to increase chances

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MIA and my Book Life

Hey just wanted to apologize for being MIA of late ... been really sick and bogged down by my college course . I have a bunch of great reviews lined up so please hang on a bit longer . if I can get life to calm down a bit things will be coming back to normal while you wait for me to return, I thought I would just give you an idea of what my shelves look like .. feel free to share what your book life looks likes :)

 this is a picture of my nightstand ..and the books that I am currently reading :)

 This is my little shelf there are only two books on their that I have read ..the rest are TBR

And lastly this shelf is just one of the many book shelf's that hold books that I have read ...I have two more  bookcases in other rooms full of books.

so here is justa bit of what my book life looks like :) Enjoy...

Big Girls Go Potty and Big Boys Go Potty- Review

 

Big Girls Go Potty by Marianne Richmond
 Ages 1 and up
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 
Published: April 1, 2012





















 Summary from Goodreads:


Marianne Richmond's charming prose and cheerful illustrations bring a familiar look to the potty training experience. A warm, reassuring story showing your little one just how successful she'll be at going potty, Big Girls Go Potty features Marianne's trademark nuanced emotions and strong connection and offers a poignant teaching experience. Sure to become a favorite practical book with fans who adore Marianne's artwork and insightful prose, this book speaks directly to the little one, giving her an extra hug and big smile.

Review:
I read this book with my 2 year old and let me tell you she loved it . she takes Big Girls Go Potty, with her every time she goes to the bathroom ( we are in the middle of potty training so let me tell you this book came at the right time).  This book follows a little girl named Emma and her stuffed animal named Bear , as Emma is learning to use a big girl potty. The book was easy for my daughter to follow and very straight forward . You learn that Emma got to pick out big girl panties , and that when she goes to the potty like a big girl she gets stickers. My daughter loved the sticker part because we are using the same thing to reward her as well. I was really glad when it was explained that accidents happen and are a part of potty training . It was also wonderful to see that Emma's parents were proud of her as well in the end when she learned to go like a big girl. 




If you have a little boy that needs help with Potty training never fear .. Marianne Richmond has also put a book out for boys called Big Boys Go Potty 





Review:
Big Boys Go Potty follows a little boy named Daniel and his stuffed animal Lion. Like Emma ,Daniel   gets big boy undies and stickers for going to the bathroom . Daniel also learns that accidents sometimes happen and that you just have to keep trying . Through determination Daniel in the end learns to use the potty and his parents are so proud of him for being a big boy.

Both of these books I would highly recommend for any child who is learning to potty train . It was a wonderful addition for us. the illustrations were quite wonderful and straight forward, easy for any child to follow.

This review can be found on Netgalley, Amazon, Goodreads, FB,and the blog.

Follow Friday

                             Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison can Read

 

Today's Father's Day inspired Question is.....

 Who is your favorite dad character in a book and why?

My Choice would be Luke Garroway or Lucian Graymark  for the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Though Luke is not Clary's real father he is her father figure and I love how he steps into the role .Luke has strong leadership skills...helloooo leader of a pack of werewolves.  He would do anything for Clary and is a better father than of course her read dad .. after all her real days is evil .

 

So share share who would you pick?

5 Floptastic Finds

5 Floptastic Finds

Floptastic Finds are books that you have either heard wonderful things about , everyone loved that book , or you were so excited to read a certain book only to find out that it was not Fantastic .. it was a Flop

       This book was a flop for me because honestly it was more about racial and biracial ties that the actual secret that was being kept . Half the time I wanted to slap the main character and tell her to get a grip on herself.  This could have been a great story but like I said the issues were not interrogated well and took over the secret part of the book.
If I Tell

  Another book that could have been great , I wanted to like this book but when you through in random issues , you ruin if for me. In this case the brother was homosexual , fine , great wonderful for him but don't make it seem like a random after thought. :( all in all this book for me was forgettable ..but to be honest I will check out the next book in series in hopes the author can pull me in. I believe in second chances.
The Way We Fall

Romance , Romance , Romance .. where art thou Romance?  Great idea , a bit of a flop on the follow though. This book just felt lacking for me , like it was missing something. maybe to much focus on just the religion factor and not enough filler in other parts? don't know it was just a dislike for me. 
Struck

  I can honestly say I did not finish this book. It sounded like a great book, murder, romance , intrigue all of that would have been great if it hadn't felt like I was reading a history book. Don't get me wrong I know that this book needed some of the history after  all they were deciphering out texts and letters but it needed a better balance.  I hardly ever not finish a book but this one just bored me ..sorry.
The Book of Blood and Shadows

 I am so very sorry to see this book on my list. I nagged and nagged on NetGalley to get this book ( so I will be reviewing it in full later) , and I loved the rest of the series, which is why I was so upset at this book not being great like I expected it to be. The love triangle was lacking , all the other books built it up and then if fell short in this one. I mean come on give me some romance for crying out loud . I love how author Carrie Jones intertwines lore and myth but in this book I felt like I was watching a rerun of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in fast forward. I will say though to end on a happy note .. this book had some great quotable moments.
Endure

I will end this Floptastic Finds with say.. don't just take my opinion and never check out these books for what you may like is different than what I like. Always enter reading with an open mind and find out if the book is for you or not .

Feel free to let me know your thoughts ...did you like any of these books did some of them flop for you too? .. Share Share