Unglued Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst

How many times have you picked up a new devotional and felt disappointed after the first 2-3 days because the book just felt like another devotional cliche?  It is full of devotionals that convey truth, sure, but don't challenge or come across as very relate-able.  I had given up on devotional books years ago but, for some reason, decided to give this one a try.  What a refreshing change from the dry devotional books I was used to!

Unglued Devotional is written in such a way that it doesn't feel like the author is preaching to you or talking down to you.  I would describe it as reading an encouraging, challenging daily blog post from someone who is going through the same sort of days that you are.  She often shares her own experiences and shares how she is working on life, just like the rest of us. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is DONE with the typical boring devotional book.  Each day's reading has a verse from the Bible, a quote and a short (1-2 page) reading from the author.  It is easy to get through for those with busy schedules and give you something to think about for the rest of the day.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze blog review program.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

The Southern Foodie by Chris Chamberlain

The Southern Foodie is an interesting addition to any cookbook collection.  It would also be a fun book to have on hand while planning a vacation traveling across the states listed in the book! 

This book lists some noteworthy places to eat across 13 of the southern states.  The book is broken down by state.  Within each state is listed an average of a half dozen places to eat that are worth pulling off the freeway for.  Listed under each restaurant is the address, phone umber, email address, a brief description of what makes the place worth stopping at, a description of the cuisine and atmosphere, its specialties, and an insider tip (whether or not to make a reservation, etc).  Then, each restaurant has shared one or two recipes from their menu for you to try! 

As far as the recipes go, I found that many of them had ingredients that I'd either never heard of or don't ordinarily stock in my kitchen.  This was not a huge surprise to me as I stock a fairly simple, down-home kitchen with mostly just the basics and I know that.  But I'm not sure that I will get much practical cooking use out of this book without adapting the recipes to use ingredients that are either available in my town or that I already have on hand.  That said, there were some yummy looking dishes (from appetizers, main courses, and side dishes, to salads and desserts)!  I will be sure to try at least a few of these tasty treats in my own home!

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze blogger book review program and am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Night Night Blessings by Amy Parker

Night Night Blessings by Amy Parker is a great option for a children's bedtime story.  It goes through a child's night time prayer thanking God for things from throughout their day.  I look forward to reading this story to my son when he is old enough to sit through a story.  It is especially wonderful because it shows kids that they can be thankful for absolutely everything, even their pets' slobbery kisses.  It is also a good reminder for adults to be thankful for even the little things.  I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a bedtime story that shares God's love and the importance of being thankful with your child.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program but am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Thank You, God, for Blessing Me by Max Lucado

ADORABLE!  That is the first word that comes to mind when I read this book.  Geared toward toddlers and preschool age children, this book hits the mark.  It has a good rhyming flow and colourful pictures.  It's message is to be thankful for all the blessings that God has given such as food, shelter, and friends and family...I especially appreciated that the book mentions that being kind and obeying are ways of telling God that we're thankful.  I highly recommend this book for anyone with young children or anyone who reads to young children!  And even if you have no young children to read to, it may be a good book for everyone to add to their shelf as a reminder to be truly thankful God's blessings!

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program and am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Hermie, a Common Caterpillar by Max Lucado

This is a beautiful story about a caterpillar, Hermie, who just feels like he has nothing that makes him stand out from the crowd.  He feels like he's just common, like he has nothing special.  Whenever he was feeling especially "common", he would hear God telling him that God loved him just the way he was and that God wasn't finished with him yet (a message we all need to hear, yes?).  Well, one day Hermie finds out what God meant when he said he wasn't finished with him yet.  It was beyond his wildest dreams.  This book is a good reminder to children and parents that just because we don't always feel like we have anything special to offer the world, that God isn't finished with us yet and we just need to be faithful and patient.

Knitting Knee Highs by Barb Brown

I have always been intrigued by the idea of learning to knit.  Recently, I bought myself a few sets of knitting needles and taught myself to knit.  Knit socks are always the warmest and most comfortable so when this book became available to review, I grabbed it!  Knitting Knee-Highs is full of beautiful pictures and clear instructions.  If you love the look of knit socks and have the time/energy to put in to make the socks, this book is a great option for patterns.  There are intricate designs and the author clearly explains how to make the socks to fit your feet/legs perfectly.  I highly recommend this book!

I received this book free from the Booksneeze book reviewing program and am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Sabbath by Dan B. Allender

In his book, Sabbath, Dan B. Allender does a wonderful job of challenging us to keep the Sabbath holy.  And, as if we need yet another person in our lives telling us what we "should" be doing, he does it in such a way that makes it something that we want to do.  Because, after all, the Sabbath is a gift from God, given for our own enjoyment and restoration.  Allender's writing style is easy to follow and the book is a moderately fast read.  Allender lays out what he believes the Sabbath to mean (with biblical references of course) and gives helpful suggestions for how to transform the Sabbath into what God intended it to be.  If you feel that you could be getting more out of your Sabbaths or wonder if there's just anything more to this holy day, I recommend this book.  At 194 pages, it is not overwhelmingly long, plus it has a study guide in the back, making it a good choice for both personal study as well as group studies.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program and am under no obligation to provide a positive review.