Package From Santa Review

Dear Parents... Why a Personalized Letter from Santa?

Do you want your child's face to light up in amazement when they get a personalized letter from Santa Claus? Of course you do!

Some of my fondest childhood memories of Santa Claus are extremely vivid and bring me happiness and joy to this day.

My parents actually took the time to create a Santa letter, trying to create it to look as authentic as letters from Santa Claus should look. They even took the time to make Santa's signature look real and use a green envelope. All for the love of witnessing my joy as I received the Santa letter in the mail.

Yes, I remember it like it was yesterday. Just the fact that I received mail was a huge thrill! But the fact that it was from Santa Claus made it just too good to be true. The Santa letter even mentioned my name...wow! It was a priceless moment for my parents as they watched the fantasy of Santa Claus unfold.

The experience and memories of a good Santa letter can last a lifetime, for both the child and the parents.

Every child WANTS to believe, but let's face it, the kids today are much smarter and often demand more proof than just simple letters from Santa. Even if letters from Santa Claus did work, the time it takes just to create one, get the envelopes, paper, stamps, and ensure it's properly mailed can be more time than the average parent even has. Believable Letters from Santa can be a ton of hard work.

What if there was a simple, inexpensive way for today's parents to ensure that Santa Claus remains a strong belief in everybody's heart...young and old?

MY REVIEW

This is a super cute way to brighten your kids day. When we got the package they were so thrilled. The packaging is unbelieveable. There are so many different letters that you can choose from, preview it before you purchase it and everything that comes is high quality. 

The boys were so happy when they opened it. They had been having a bad day and were thrilled to know they were still on the nice list. 

This will be something that I will order every year. It will become a Christmas tradition. 

I received this product courtesy of www.packagefromsanta.com and through the USFamilyguide blogger network. All thoughts are my own. 

Order:: HERE

Ellie Claire Journey Review

Recently I had the opportunity to review three beautiful Ellie Claire journals. I was thrilled for the opportunity. I had not heard of Ellie Claire before this. They are beautiful journals to help you engage deeper in your spirital walk. 

You can see the full selection: Here

Faith & Lettering Journal

The perfect resource to discover and develop your own personal style for lettering and illustrating your faith.

New from professional letterer Krystal Whitten! With guides, instructions, and tutorials, this is a fun and inspiring way to create beauty with words. It is the perfect place for journalers to practice Bible journaling, lettering quotes and verses, or decorating a page with original thoughts and plans. Exploring your God-given creativity has never been so rewarding.

MY THOUGHTS: 

This is a beautiful journal. It helps guide you step by step how to create beautiful lettering. I am not an artist by any means. I can barely draw stick figures. However this journal helped create beautiful letters. I liked that there was alot of space that you can practice on. Another positive thing that this journal has is that it lays flat. Which made it a lot easier to practice. Sometimes with books when you get close to the center you can't make it as nice. 

The Illustrated Word: An Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal 

Glorious illustrations from ancient manuscripts recreated as line drawings for the reader to color.

Create your own masterpiece with this journal that has forty glorious illustrations from ancient manuscripts that have been recreated as line drawings. Just as medieval monks brought Scripture to life through intricate inked illustrations in handwritten manuscripts hundreds of years ago, you can now create your own stunning keepsake that will be treasured for years to come.

MY THOUGHTS: 

This journal is breath-takingly beautiful. It has lined pages and colored pictures that are pulled from the Museum of the Bible. The pages are so beautiful that you do not want to write in it. I used this journal for my morning quiet time. I like writing out what God is teaching me and it gave me plenty of space to write it all out. 

Illuminate Your Story Journal

Use this almost-lost art of illuminating letters to enhance your writing, Bible journaling, or sermon note-taking. Rich illustrated manuscripts in the Museum of the Bible's collection inspired these gorgeous letters. Easy to follow instructions, practice pages, and encouragements guide you through the creation of amazing start letters, flourishes, and more.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Cloth spine opens for lay-flat journaling; Elastic pen loop on spine; High-quality, non-bleed paper; Uplifting, inspirational quotes sprinkled throughout; Drawing guides, grid background practice pages, plus lined pages for journaling; Ribbon marker, pocket, elastic band closure

MY THOUGHTS: 

This is another beautiful journal that will help you develop skills to expand your journaling. I really liked the color fonts and the ability to practice what they are showing you. This is a great tool if you want to dive deeper into it. I did have to practice on other paper first, since I am not a expert journaler. This would make a great gift for anyone that loves to journal. 

Disclosure:

I received the journals from Worthy Publishing through FlyBy Promotions. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Review: Bodyguard for Christmas by Carol J. Post

About the Book:

Someone’s after his little boy. 

She has one chance to save them both.

When his young son is nearly kidnapped, assistant district attorney Colton Gale needs a Christmas refuge—and a live-in bodyguard. Though former military police officer Jasmine McNeal fights to shield them 24/7, she refuses to get attached. But growing close to the little boy and his father might be her only shot at keeping them alive—and becoming a family beyond the holidays.

About the Author: 

From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol’s resume reads as if she doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She currently pens fun and fast-paced inspirational romance and romantic suspense stories. Her books have been nominated for a RITA® award and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award.

Carol lives in sunshiny Central Florida with her husband, who is her own real-life hero, and writes her stories under the shade of the huge oaks in her yard. Besides writing, she works alongside her music minister husband singing and playing the piano. She enjoys sailing, hiking, camping—almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of a fat and sassy black cat and a highly spoiled dachshund.

Find out more at her website: HERE

My Thoughts

WOW. That is what my reaction was when I finished this book. This book is the 3rd in this series, but can be read as a stand alone. In this story, you meet Colton a widower with a young son. He lost his wife and is raising Liam on his own. Liam has stopped talking. Colton is a assistant district attorney who given the nature of his career, has made some enemies. SO much so that someone has tried to kidnap his son. Enter Jasmine. She is a former military police officer. She has a hurtful past. She does not have a relationship with Jesus.

This book is such a great reminder of how God will always protect us. How God never leaves us or forsakes us. 

This book is a story filled with twists and turns. It had me on the edge of my seat. The author has created well written characters. You can feel their pain. I have been a fan of her book's for awhile. 

I received a copy of this book through the author, all thoughts are my own. 

REVIEW: BELOVED Teen Devotional

About the Book:

Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women is a topical devotional that uses the inspiring stories of girls and women in the Bible—such as Ruth, Esther, Mary, and Abigail—to encourage faith and confidence as well as provide insight into topics like relationships, inner beauty, and chasing your dreams.

Each day features an easy-to-read, relevant devotion paired with a scripture verse about a Biblical girl or woman, as well as journaling space to help readers reflect on the day’s message. With honest, poignant, and sometimes humorous text, every page will speak to the pressures and changes girls face, giving them real-world applications to find God in their hearts and in their lives. Perfect for everyday use, Beloved will resonate with girls searching for truth and guidance.

My Thoughts:

When I received a copy of this book I was thrilled to go through it with my 17 year old daughter. We had been looking for a good devotion for her. This was a great book to read and discuss. We both would read the days devotion, pray over it and discuss it through out the day. Each day is a page long. It starts with a verse or two and gives a great and valuable lesson. I love that this teaches young women their self worth in Christ and not the world. This is such an important message for today. I would say that this book is geared toward 16-19, but was enjoyed by all women. I know that I enjoyed each day

I receieved a copy of this book courtesty of the publisher and FlyBy promotions. All thoughts are my own. 

Buy it here: Here

Book Review and Giveaway. The Amish Midwife’s Secret by Rachel J Good on tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: The Amish Midwife’s Secret

Author:Rachel J. Good

Genre:Inspirational Amish Romance

Release Date: November 27, 2018

“A beautiful story of forgiveness and second chances.” -Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times bestselling author

They won’t see eye-to-eye until they meet heart-to-heart…

Kyle Miller never planned on becoming a country doctor. But when he’s offered a medical practice in his sleepy hometown, Kyle knows he must return… and face the painful past he left behind. Except the Amish community isn’t quite ready for Kyle. Especially the pretty midwife who refuses to compromise her herbal cures and Amish traditions with his modern medicine…

The more Leah Stoltzfus works with the handsome Englisch doctor, the more she finds herself caught between the expectations of her family and her own hopes for the future. It will take one surprising revelation and one helpless baby in need of love to show Leah and Kyle that their bond may be greater than their differences… if Leah can find the courage to follow her heart

 Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Inspirational author Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. The author of several Amish romance series, she grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for many of her stories. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.

Rachel’s Amish series include Sisters & Friends (Charisma House/Harlequin), Love & Promises (Grand Central), Hearts of Amish Country (Annie’s Book Club), and Surprised by Love as well as several anthologies—Springs of Love, Love’s Thankful Heart, Plain Everyday Heroes—and the Amish Quilts Coloring Books.

Guest Post from Rachel

The Amish and Herbal Remedies

As many of you know, my Amish novels are based on real life. I get ideas from hanging around Amish friends, hearing their stories and observing their lives. I’d never invade their privacy by telling their stories exactly as they happen, but the things I learn trigger plot ideas.

I’ve always been fascinated by the way the Amish approach healing. Once thing I’ve learned is that, although they’re usually willing to visit doctors, they don’t always take the medicines that are prescribed. Instead, they often substitute herbal remedies. That, and several visits to one of my favorite Amish natural products stores, gave me an idea for one of the conflicts in The Amish Midwife’s Secret.

Leah, an Amish midwife, prefers herbal remedies. Of course, that puts her in direct conflict with Kyle, the new Englisch doctor in town, who only believes in science and traditional medicine. Put the two together and lots of sparks fly. Of course, some of those sparks are also of a romantic nature.

Leah is not only a midwife, but her family owns a natural products store. She knows the best herbs for healing. Rather than sending a small boy to the hospital for pneumonia, Leah covers the baby’s chest with a warm mixture of onions and other herbs and spices (some Amish friends prefer raw onion for congestion), and she feds the baby fresh pineapple juice for his cough.

As a doctor, Kyle is horrified. He wants to admit the baby to a hospital at once. And he expects the old country doctor he’s replacing to back him up. Instead, Dr. Hess informs Kyle that many of the Amish go to doctors for a diagnosis, but then rely on herbal treatments rather than prescriptions.

Kyle, who’s been debating about whether to stay in Amish country or move to a big-city hospital, decides to remain in Lancaster and make it his mission to prevent the Amish midwife from harming newborns and their mothers. He certainly doesn’t expect to have his eyes opened to other ways to handle illnesses. But he has to admit, Leah’s methods do seem to work. When a crisis comes, they soon discover that it takes both of them to save a baby.

***

A extra little secret: Those of you who get my newsletter already know this, but Kyle in The Amish Midwife’s Secretappeared in two earlier books. The Midwife story stands alone, but if you want to know more about Kyle and Emma’s past, you can find it in the Sisters & Friends series, Book 1, Change of Heart, and Book 2, Buried Secrets.

My Thoughts

Wow. What an amazing story. I love the way that this author writes .She always creates great and unique characters. She also has a way of crafting one of a kind story lines. This book is filled with forgiveness, faith and family. This is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone .

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program .

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, November 27

Christian Bookaholic, November 27

KarenSueHadley, November 27

The Avid Reader, November 28

A Baker’s Perspective, November 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 28

Genesis 5020, November 29

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 29

cherylbbookblog, November 29

Because I said so- adventures in parenting, November 30

Bigreadersite, November 30

Quiet Quilter, December 1

Blossoms and Blessings, December 1

Bibliophile Reviews, December 2

Britt Reads Fiction, December 2

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 3

Captive Dreams Window, December 3

Cafinated Reads, December 4

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, December 4

Carpe Diem, December 4

Maureen’s Musings, December 5

Christian Author, J.E. Grace, December 5

Janices book reviews, December 6

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 7

For the Love of Literature, December 7

Inklings and notions, December 8

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 8

Moments, December 9

Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, December 9

Texas Book-aholic, December 9

Miss Tinas Amish Book Review, December 10

The Becca Files, December 10

Vicky Sluiter, December 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a grand prize package of two faceless Amish dolls and an autographed copy of The Amish Midwife’s Secret and Plain Everyday Heroes!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d66f/the-amish-midwife-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway

Book Review and Giveaway: Lost Christmas Memories By Dana Mentink on Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Lost Christmas Memories

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense/Christmas

Release Date: November 1, 2018

A witness with amnesia

Can she trust this Gold Country Cowboy with her life?

Tracy Wilson witnessed a murder—but after a head injury, she can’t remember what she saw. Now someone plans to silence her for good, and only cowboy Keegan Thorn believes her. With a killer after her at Christmas, Tracy is running out of time to remember…and falling dangerously hard for the cowboy who could break her heart.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over thirty five titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Harvest House. Dana was thrilled to be a semi-finalist in the Jeanne Robertson Comedy With Class Competition. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, a chubby box turtle and a feisty parakeet. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com.

Guest Post from Dana

Writing this book was bittersweet for me. It was lovely to finally be able to tell youngest Thorn brother Keegan’s story, but I sure am sorry to say goodbye to this series! It was such fun to write about these four kinsmen and the family bonds that held them together through all manner of murder and mayhem! Here at Mentink Manor, we have recently sent a bear cub away to college for the first time. It feels like I have lost a limb now that my Boo Boo is gone! Fortunately, we will enjoy having her home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Though it won’t be a cozy country Christmas like it is for Keegan (we live in a city of 80,000 here in Northern, CA) we will be thrilled to have all our family home to celebrate together (Mama Bear, Papa Bear, two cubs, a naughty terrier, and a senior citizen box turtle!) I hope you enjoy this last installment in the Gold Country Cowboy series. I am sending along our best wishes for a blessed holiday season, from our Mentink household to yours!

My Thoughts

NOOOOOOO I do not want this series to end. I have read the entire series and I am so sad that it is over. This one has been my favorite of the whole series. Keegan finally gets his story and BOY is it filled with a lot of twists and turns. If there is one word that sums up this author's writing it is: Unpredictable. You think you start figuring out where the story is going, and BOOM something else happens. This book also starts out with a bang... Tracy witnesses a murder, but noone believes her except Keegan. As always the characters are well written, has a captivating storyline and can be read as a stand alone. (Although I would suggest that you read the whole series). 

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging Program. All thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 22

Christian Bookaholic, November 22

Among the Reads, November 22

Inklings and Notions, November 23

Just Your Average reviews, November 23

Blogging With Carol, November 23

Because I said so -adventures in parenting, November 24

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 24

Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide, November 24

Moments, November 25

Simple Harvest Reads, November 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 25

Genesis 5020, November 26

SusanLovesBooks, November 26

Remembrancy, November 26

Kat’s Corner Books, November 27

Pause for Tales, November 27

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 27

Quiet quilter, November 28

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 28

Book by Book, November 29

A Rup Life, November 29

To Everything A Season, November 29

Older & Smarter?, November 30

Have A Wonderful Day, November 30

Cafinated Reads, November 30

KarenSueHadley, December 1

Lighthouse Academy, December 1

Daysong Reflections, December 1

Bibliophile Reviews, December 2

A Baker’s Perspective, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 2

Janices book reviews, December 3

Bigreadersite, December 3

Texas Book-aholic, December 4

Carpe Diem, December 4

Godly Book Reviews, December 5

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away a grand prize of a copy of Lost Christmas Memories, a $50 Amazon gift card and this cute reading charms necklace!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d626/lost-christmas-memories-celebration-tour-giveaway