Book Review

About the Book:

Book: The Two-Cent Piece Audiobook

Author: Dennis Conrad

Genre: Christian 1800s Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 2, 2023

Anne wonders what secret her three older brothers are hiding. When she finds out they joined to fight with the Union Army and would leave the next day, she give them each one of her favorite two-cent pieces, and says, “I want you to take one of my new two-cent pieces. I learned these coins are the first with the word ‘In God We Trust.’ I just memorized Psalm 91:2. ‘I will say to the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God, in him will I trust.’”

Out of a heart of love, Ann gives six of her special coins away, hoping the message on the two-cent piece will strengthen each person’s faith.

My Thoughts:

I love the pictures in this book. They are beautiful! I also like the historical aspect of it; I had never heard of American two-cent pieces before. I remember two dollar bills when I was young, but never these coins, and I found it really interesting to learn that they were the first to contain the words “In God We Trust.” However, I did not appreciate that this book seems to promote Christians going to war. According to Matthew 5:39, Christians are not to resist evil, not to mention not going to war. For this reason, even though I like the portrayal of generosity, and the history included, I can’t recommend this book.

I read this book in January for a review, and now was asked to review the audiobook. It was well-done and easy to listen to. Each page turn is indicated by a “ding,” so this would be a great audiobook for little children who also have the hard copy. I know my little girl loves audiobooks like this when she also has the physical book to follow along in!

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

A former coin collector for over fifty years, Dennis combines his love for the Bible, children’s literature, and sharing stories about the history behind coins.

He retired as a professor of Speech Communications from Barstow Community College. He and his wife served as English and public speaking teachers ten summers overseas.

He became a life member of the Numismatic Association of Southern California in 1973. He is also a life member of the American Numismatic Association.

Dennis is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a Fellow of the National Writing Project.

Learn more about coin collecting. Dennis offers free resources for children on his website about coin collecting: https://dennisconradauthor.com/coincollecting4/

More from Dennis:

Collecting Coins Can Change Your Life! It Did Mine…

As a child, my friends and I wanted to know everything about coins.

We learned about coins through stories: Who was on each coin? What were coins made of? How were coins made? Where were they made? Why were some more valuable than others? and How could I start collecting on my limited budget?

Coin collecting is a hobby where collectors never stop learning! For example, when I started to watch coin prices, without realizing it, I was learning basic economics.

Over the years, I kept adding to my collection. Decades passed. I attended coin conventions, read books and articles about coins, and remembered where I had found and/or acquired each coin.

One day, my wife looked at me. “Will you ever sell your coins?”

“No.”

That is when I heard God’s still small voice.

God pointed out to me that my coins had become more important than Him. Without my realizing it, my coins had become an idol.

At that time, at the top of the market, I sold my collection without regrets, and used the money to pay off my home mortgage.

Now, God has given me the privilege of writing stories about coins, and encouraging others to embrace a hobby that has given me a lifetime of joy.

Blessings to you and yours,

Dennis Conrad

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book:

Book: Powerful Whispers: A 7-week Journey Discovering Who You Are To God

Author: Christa Joy Spaeth

Genre: Christian non-fiction, devotional

Release Date: February 22, 2023

Powerful Whispers gives you a glimpse of how awe-inspiring God’s whispers of His love are for you. He desires to capture your heart, to communicate personally with you, to encourage and strengthen you.

Each daily devotional offers God’s life-giving words, suggests powerful worship, and provides an activation step applying that day’s principe to your life. Let the Lord fill your cup to overflowing as you embark on this amazing 7-week journey.

Whether you’be been walking with the Lord for years or have been recently saved, you will discover in fresh new ways that: God Knows You – God Loves You – God Fights for You – God provides for You – God Chose You – God’s Peace is for You – God’s Powerful Whispers Can Change your Life

My Thoughts:

I have been reading this devotional for over six weeks now, and have appreciated a lot of the thoughts offered here. At the same time, I have been a bit disappointed. The main focus seems to be on what God does/can do for me, rather than on Who He is. While there is a place for talking about what God does for us, that tends to lead to a self-centered religion, rather than a God-centered religion. I would have preferred a devotional that pointed me more towards God rather than toward myself and what God says/does to/for me. There are some real gems in these pages, though. I appreciated the suggestion to transfer water from one glass to another, drop by drop, thanking God for a blessing from Him with each drop. Another day, I appreciated this quote: “Abundant life doesn’t mean it is an especially long life. Abundant life isn’t an easy, comfortable life. Abundant life is a life of satisfaction and contentment in Jesus.” I also liked the one about the glory of God, and one that talked about a way to study the Bible. However, in one place, the recommendation was made to have communion by yourself, and another day to say, “Holy Spirit” with an inhale and “Breathe on me” with the exhale. I am not comfortable with this kind of suggestion; I struggle to see it as Scriptural. So, while there is much good in this devotional, there are also a number of reasons that I am not interested in having a physical copy on my shelf.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Christa Joy Spaeth is the founder of Christa Joy Ministries. It was in 2022 when Minnesota-based author Christa received a compelling message from God. In a prayer cabin called “Whisper,” He prompted her to write a seven-week devotional.

Since then, Christa’s eyes, heart, and ears were opened to more whispers, so that she may start fulfilling her new purpose of helping the hurting and share the love of Christ.

This blessed wife, mother of two, and businesswoman is passionate about living up to God’s plans for her every day. So much so that in 2022, she stepped down from her decades-long career as a Registered Dietitian at a large food manufacturing company to pursue the promptings of the Lord and encourage others in Christ.

Today, Christa owns and operates Christa Joy Ministries where she publishes her own books, writes daily encouragements and God whispers on her social media accounts. In addition, she does guest blog posts for various social media accounts.

More from Crista:

One morning while I was away at a prayer cabin, the Lord laid on my heart that I was to write a book. My first thought was, “Oh, my!  Lord, I have never written anything other than work-related documents.  Where do I begin? What do you want me to write?”

I am so honored and humbled that the Lord placed amazing book experts in my path over the next year to launch this unique devotional book in a mere 55 weeks. This feat is spectacular as I didn’t know anything about the publishing business.

Two components of Powerful Whispers that my readers love are the suggested worship and the activations. After each devotional was written I searched for the perfect worship song. You will find several suggested indie artist songs and a few popular worship songs too.  Daily you will find an activation which engages your entire body to be able to get the daily truth deeper in your soul.

The Bible verse I read before I starting to write Powerful Whispers is found in James 1:5, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” God continually showed His faithfulness to me by providing wisdom to share with my readers.

My heart’s desire is that readers will soon learn through this daily devotional that God chose them, He loves them, and He wants to share His powerful whispers daily for their life.

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book:

Book: MOVING to The Peaceable

Author: Grami McAdoo (Caryl McAdoo)

Genre: Children’s Animals Picture Book

Release Date: December 22, 2022

Moving can be hard for any age, but the wise old hens might make it easier for the little ones in your life! Follow their journey!

My Thoughts:

The photography in this book is beautiful! My littlest girl enjoyed looking at the pictures and hearing the story read to her. She has no concept of moving, since she was born in this house, but I can see that this book would be a good resource to help children who will be moving to understand what is happening. Some pages tell the story of the move from the chickens’ perspective, and other pages contain dialogue from the author to the child reading the story. Here, she tells the story from her perspective and encourages and reassures them that change can be good, moving is an adventure, and they can trust their parents and God. 

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Award-winning, Christian author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory. Of her best-selling novels, readers love her historical Christian romance family sagas most, but also enjoy their contemporary cousins, Caryl’s Biblical fiction, her new historical mystery series, and tales for young adults and mid-grade booklovers. The majority of reviewers award her stories five-stars and praise Caryl’s writing style and the depth of her characters, feeling as though they get to know them well.

The prolific writer loves singing the new songs God gives her almost as much as penning new novels—hear a few at YouTube! She’s been married to Ron fifty-four years, and they share four children and twenty-four grandsugars. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl:

This is the story of how I became a Chicken Lady from start but not the finish! I have two more “chicken”! books planned based all on the true story! Before we had “backyard birds”—except mine are also front and side yard!—I called our back in the woods twenty acres in Red River County The Peaceable. After the chickens, I added “Farm & Bookery”

My husband of fifty-five years Ron and I now incubate purebred chicks and raise them to laying age—usually four to five months—then sell them. We both love being around our flock, and the supplemental income is nice as well. They grow so fast; watching them is both so much fun and also relaxing!

I know each hen and rooster by name, and they all are so affectionate! They come running whenever I head out the door (mostly because they want to see if I brought any food! ) I love thinking about what they are saying to each other with all their clucking and purring and cackling!

This is why the books are partially written from the hens’ point of view as our first animals’ series, The River Bottom Ranch Stories featuring horses and goats and dogs among other wild animal characters. And all those farm animals were real ones that we owned and loved, too—like the chickens!

This series ‘Grami’s Stories for Children’ also has a narrator’s story throughout, and that’s me, Grami McAdoo! I talk to the children through a few pages full of dialogue to teach them about poultry and things of God. In MOVING to the Peaceable, I talk about changes and how they can be scary, but God is always with us wherever we go.

The illustrations are photographs of our real chickens and The Peaceable Farm & Bookery. In the back of the book, there are a few pages of “Chicken Terminology” and fun “Chicken Facts” to teach the little ones more about the wonderful world of chickens!

I pray they will love the story and be blessed by it! 

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book:

Book: Legacy of Love

Author: Kathy Mills

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

Release Date: January 31, 2023

Legacy of Love is a heartfelt memoir that delves into the author’s personal journey of facing troubles and finding peace in the midst of adversity. Drawing from the powerful scripture of John 16:33, the author shares her experiences of praying for protection and blessings, only to realize that God’s answer may not always come in the way she expects.

When her husband Brad is diagnosed with cancer, the author’s faith is put to the test. She grapples with questions and doubts about God’s love, but eventually comes to understand that God’s presence and strength can be found even in the midst of difficulties. Through prayer and praise, she learns to rely on God in critical moments, discovering the true heart of God and experiencing His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Legacy of Love is a story of hope and courage, reminding readers that God’s love never wavers, even when faced with trials and tribulations. It encourages readers to shift their hearts from the temporal things of this world to the eternal love of God, and find peace in His unwavering presence. This memoir will inspire and uplift anyone who is going through challenges, reminding them that overcoming is possible through faith in God’s enduring love.

My Thoughts:

One genre I frequently request for review is memoirs. I have always liked to read true stories. However, I have learned that some memoirs are very easy to read, and others are not. My most recent, Legacy of Love, is one that is harder to read. I really appreciated Kathy’s honesty as she described her journey with her husband, Brad, through cancer and chemotherapy and other treatments. I really appreciated the way she pointed to God all the way through and gave Him glory. It was simply hard to read—mostly because of the subject matter! I do recommend this book for those who need to be able to see God at work in the hard times.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Kathy Mills is a former Flight Attendant who started her flying career at age 19 and flew for nearly 33 years before retiring in 2005 with US Airways. Traveling is still one of her favorite things to do.

Kathy is a member of Kempsville Christian Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where her husband Brad served as their church’s worship minister until his death in 2008.

To those who know her best, she’s an eternity-minded daughter of the King, who loves to share her message that with Jesus, there is nothing this world can do to a child of God, that God can’t use to empower them to bring Glory to God.

More from Kathy:

Comfort is found in God’s Love and Promises

My longing for more time with Brad is as strong today and will remain in me until I see Him again. I have not experienced one day since Brad’s death that I have not had at the least a moment (usually many moments) of longing for Brad to be with me still. I find comfort in knowing that God who knows my heart understands.

As Believers, we are blessed to have Jesus who understands firsthand the pain of separation that death presses into our souls. I have often felt Jesus sit alongside of me and just grieve with me when I am overcome. I believe Jesus hates death more than we do. I like knowing this. In fact, I need to know this; it comforts me. Our Father is always at work…and He has purposed for good to come from even the most heartbreaking losses. I would never say Brad’s death is good. Yet from the amazing and most gracious love of God, He lifts me up from my anguish and invites himself into my sorrow with His unique joy and transforms me.

God has brought good out of my sorrow. It took my sorrow for the good to be done. I wouldn’t have planned it this way, but I trust God’s plans more than I trust my ways. God will do no less with your sorrow. It’s one of His promises, and God keeps all His promises.

“He heals the brokenhearted. And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].” Psalms 147:3 (AMP)

God’s love tells us this: I have my heart set on you.

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book:

Book: A Little Christian’s 123s

Author: Lila Noffsinger

Genre: Christian Children’s Picture Book

Release Date: October, 2022

A Little Christian’s 123s is a fun and playful read that teaches kids numbers with rhymes and Bible stories. This charming bite-sized book is packed with Biblical truth, and children learn not only their numbers but also the foundations of Christianity!

Big, bold, colorful numbers help little ones with number recognition, and kids of all ages learn about key biblical stories in this endlessly re-readable book. The pictures are inspired by real, geographic places, and they give adorably illustrated glimpses of what Jericho, Mt. Siani, and the Sea of Galilee actually looked liked!

Kids love this charming book for the colorful and engaging illustrations, and parents love that it teaches numbers wrapped in Biblical truth, and that, with every read, their kids are reminded that Jesus loves them.

My Thoughts:

I read this book to my 3-year-old. She enjoyed it, and loved that she could recognize most of the stories referenced in it. Each two-page spread has just one sentence, written over a number and containing that number. The picture on the page illustrates a story from the Bible, which the sentence refers to. At the end of the book is a page which give the location(s) in the Bible in which each story can be found, as well as the pages on which the story can be found in two common Bible story books. While this picture book is great for 1-2-year-olds (my littlest is already a bit beyond it!), these references can be used to expand the book and make it even more useful. The pictures are delightfully cute! While they are slightly cartoonish, they don’t have the “bug eyes” that my husband hates.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Lila Noffsinger grew up in a lazy beach town and now lives in an energetic city with her husband and two daughters. She has always loved sharing her Christian faith through the written word, and she is now excited to share her debut children’s book.

In looking for books for her first daughter, she had difficulty finding options that were not only educational but also spiritually enriching and visually engaging. After having her second daughter, she had some midnight hours to let her mind wander, that wandering turned into what became A Little Christian’s 123s. She looks forward to publishing more books in the Little Chrsitian series, teaching preschool level learning concepts with Bible stories. A Little Christian’s Animals is currently in the works and expected to be available Fall 2023.

When Lila isn’t writing or researching what camel saddles looked like for a future book (true story), she is playing with her girls, cooking, crafting, reading, and adventuring with her family.

More from Lila:

My first daughter was a good sleeper. As an infant, she would wake up, eat, and 20 minutes later we’d be snuggling into our respective beds to return to dreamland. My second daughter was a different story. When she woke up and ate, it was only the start of our time together. To stay awake, I thought of traits of my family for each letter of the alphabet. My daughter is Adorable, Bubbly, Caring, and so on. After nights of this, it morphed into things from the Bible for each letter, and then later for each number. I enjoyed dwelling on these thoughts through the midnight hours.

Meanwhile, in the daylight hours, I struggled to find books I wanted to read to my 1.5 year old. We read and enjoyed a lot of books! But I desired to find a book that was cute, biblically enriching, and educational. We had plenty of books that met one or two of the categories, but I had this unexplainable urge to find a book that hit the trifecta.

Through God’s prompting and my own sleep deprivation, my nighttime musings and my daytime seekings merged into the idea of writing my own book: A cute, Bible-based book about numbers 1-10. The trifecta!

The book idea grew, and within the year people were reading published copies of A Little Christian’s 123s! I am eternally grateful to illustrator Lucy Shin, who took my awful sketches and pages and pages of historical and geographic reference pictures, and turned them into such cute and engaging art! Without her, the book may have been educational and biblically enriching, but I promise you that nobody would have wanted to look at it.

Since publishing the book, it has sold hundreds of copies and been enjoyed by kids all across the country. My daughter loves to tell me that Jesus loves her and that He is her friend, which she learned from the last page. I hope and pray that similar experiences are happening in other homes as well!

It is an honor to be on tour with Celebrate Lit, and to celebrate this tour, I hope that you will enjoy these coloring pages inspired by the art in A Little Christian’s 123s. Thanks!

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book:

Book: The Smell of Summer

Author: Mary Ann Hake

Genre: Picture Book

Release date: May 15, 2023

Explore the smells of summer with April, a blind girl, and her menagerie of pets.

Visit the county fair, the seashore, Grandpa’s farm, and the zoo, and camp with April’s family in the woods—each place has its unique fragrances.

“As summer thoughts stir in my mind,

I wonder what new smells I’ll find.”

The back of the book contains activities using the sense of smell.

My Thoughts:

A month or two ago, my girls and I enjoyed reading The Smell of Spring together. Now, we got to enjoy The Smell of Summer. They loved experiencing the season through the nose of a young blind girl.

 This book is written in rhyme, with each page having four lines of poetry. Each page has a different topic. One double page spread talks about the smell of various flowers, another has bees and the smell of honey, and on one page, the girl’s father is barbecuing meat, which she enjoys smelling. Some smells are not so pleasant, like when her dog gets all wet. She also enjoys the smell of the county fair, the beach, camping in the forest, and the fireworks on Fourth of July.

The pictures in The Smell of Summer are delightful. They show a girl who, although she is handicapped, enjoys life experiencing everything around her. This is a unique way to explore the world through a sense that is not normally talked about in children’s books. It is also a fun way to think about seasons. The only thing I did not enjoy about this book was that on one or two pages the rhymes felt forced and the rhythm was awkward. Otherwise, this book was a joy to read aloud and enjoy with my little girls. They loved looking for the girl’s pets, too; she has a variety of different animals.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Mary Ann Hake, author of the Smells of the Seasons picture book series, has loved learning, reading, and writing for as long as she can remember. She has scribbled stories and poems since she first learned to write and has published hundreds of stories, articles, poems, puzzles, devotions, and more for both children and adults plus written hundreds of book reviews. She loved working in a bookstore and as a librarian and enjoyed reading to children at story times and conducting summer reading programs. She has also taught writing to children and at writers’ conferences. In addition to writing, she continues to work as a freelance editor. Visit her website, www.maryannhake.com, and sign up to receive monthly activities for children and updates on future books.

More from Mary Ann:

My mother introduced me to books at a very young age. Mom read to me nearly every day—beginning with picture books then adding longer stories and poetry. I loved books and soon memorized the text of favorites so I could turn the pages and “read” them myself. (My own daughters did the same.) I could hardly wait until I went to school and learned to read so I could devour books on my own. In honor of my mom, The Smell of Summer’s release date is her birthday, May 15. I am her firstborn and her only summer baby. She always encouraged my writing.

My four-book Smells of the Seasons series are told in rhyme because that appeals to children. The Smell of Summer shares summer scenes from the life of April, a blind girl who uses her sense of smell to help her experience her world. The story includes elements that offer a fun companion text for connection to science including the senses, nature settings, animals, flowers, vegetable gardening, and other food. This is the second book in the series with April and her menagerie of pets.

Most people love summertime. This delightful picture book will stir up memories of summer experiences and offer some you may wish to enjoy this year. As the final page says:

I love the many summer smells.

So many stories each one tells.

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book:

Book: Guess How Much God Loves You

Author: Karen Ferguson

Genre: Children’s book (picture book)

Release date: July 19, 2022

Take a journey through the Bible with Lucy Lu, a colorful, creatively curious first grader who is starting to have serious questions about God.

Questions like: How old is He? Does He sleep? What does He do all day? And the biggest one of all – does God really love me?

After one very hard day, feeling like she doesn’t matter, Lucy sits with her Papa Joe who has promised to answer these questions and more, launching them onto an exciting journey to discover God’s never changing, never failing, never ending love.

What follows in this book series is a wild adventure through the Bible, where Lucy and her Papa find themselves in the middle of it all, on each page of the powerful story of God’s love and faithfulness for all people, throughout all history.

This first book is all about God’s Creation.

Guess How Much God Loves You is a vibrant, fun, and biblically based book that is sure to captivate young readers as it teaches them important Bible truths that will help them build a firm foundation in God and His Good Character – all through the lens of His unconditional love.

My Thoughts:

I read Karen Ferguson’s Guess How Much I Love You to my little girls (ages 8 and 3) yesterday. They both loved it (although, to be honest, there are few books they haven’t loved!). They both enjoyed the quirky pictures, and I hope they took in the message of the book.

Lucy had a question for her papa (her grandfather): “Does God really love me?” Of course, Papa Joe assured her that God does, and proceeded to show her how much. As he cuddled her, he told her all about the six days of Creation. Lucy kept her eyes closed and pictured herself there, watching everything appear on the earth. She learned that God loves her more than any person ever can, and how special she was to God.

The pictures are delightfully goofy. In some of them, Lucy is shown riding her Papa’s electric wheelchair through scenes from Creation. In one picture, she is riding a dolphin, and in another she is cuddled up with a lot of mammals, taking a rest. The pictures are done with pencil drawings, painted in with watercolors, and very pretty. I mentioned the paintings, and my artistic boy spent some time studying them.

I really appreciated the message in Guess How Much God Loves You, and the way it teaches children about the days of Creation. The one thing I didn’t like so much was the way the Bible glowed while they were reading it. At the end of the book is a page about Jesus, Who He is and how He wants to be your friend. There are also some discussion questions do discuss with your child.

I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.

About the Author:

Karen Ferguson is a freelance writer and small business owner with a background in K-8 education. A grateful wife, mom, and grandmom she loves words and the Word of God and is passionate about writing stories that grab and hold young readers’ attention, teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love for them.

Her first children’s book, Guess How Much God Loves You, was released in July 2022 through Ambassador International and is available wherever books are sold.

More from Karen:

Are you looking for God honoring books that will captivate your child’s imagination, teach them faith-building biblical concepts, and help them grow in their reading skills?

Then I have the perfect book for your young reader…Guess How Much God Loves You

This beautifully illustrated book introduces young readers to the Creation Account, through the eyes of seven year old Lucy Lu, a creatively curious first grader who is starting to have serious questions about God.

Questions like…

How old is He? Does He sleep? What does He do all day? And the biggest one of all – does God really love me?

After one very hard day, feeling like she doesn’t matter, Lucy sits with her Papa Joe who has promised to answer these questions and more, launching them onto an exciting journey through the Bible to discover God’s never changing, never failing, never ending love.

I wrote this book because I want every child to know their life matters. To know that the God of all things created them in His image, on purpose and for a good purpose.

Guess How Much God Loves You will have seven books in the series with each one covering an important Bible account critical to building an understanding of God’s character and His love for all people, including your reader!

This first book is about the Creation Account as recorded in the Bible. Future books will cover the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, the Exodus and more.

I want children to understand these are not just stories about fictional characters, but historical accounts about real people they can relate to. People who experienced God’s power, love, and faithfulness.

My greatest desire is to see this next generation trust the Bible and enjoy reading it. More than ever, young readers need to hear the message that they are valuable, loved unconditionally by the One who created them and gave them the best gift of all, His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

To purchase your copy, click here.