For an action-packed revelation on how to live a satisfied life with Christ, every page of this book highlights the truth of God and His desires for us.
About Steps to Knowing God
For an action-packed revelation on how to live a satisfied life with Christ, every page of this book highlights the truth of God and His desires for us. It is filled with spiritual nutrients and helpful tools that will transform and change lives for the glory of God, thus giving us the ammunition needed to withstand the evil one Gaining a better understanding of God and developing spiritual qualities that will deepen your devotion to Him and will steadily transform you into His likeness.
Correna R. Barzey is a mother of four, born on the tiny island of Montserrat in the Caribbean. She was brought up in the church from a young age by her grandmother and is a devoted christian who delights in God and His Word. Correna knew she had a passion for writing as she began to write inspirational poems for friends and loved ones, however, looking at this world desperately in need of Christ, she decided to write this book to give others a clearer understanding of Christ.
I loved to paint as a child and still enjoy this hobby in my adult years. I find it relaxing, it calms my mind and helps to re-focus my mind when I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It is one of my go to activities in my toughest moments. I have always encouraged my children to be creative, to get their hands dirty with paint and to let their creative side flow when they paint. While they may not have developed the same passion for art and art history as their Mom, they love to paint for fun.
The only drawback? The mess!
Kids have this amazing way of spilling paint, spilling water, dripping paint on the table – I could go on with this list but I am sure you know this story? And then there is the set up of the entire paint station and then the clean up! It can sometimes take more time to set up and clean up a painting session for your child then the actual time they have actively spent painting. I know at times this has deterred me from whipping out the paint and getting creative with my kids because let’s face it, who has all of that extra time?
The Paint-Sation Easel was designed in mind for busy families who want to encourage their child’s creative side but want to eliminate the amount of time they spend setting and cleaning up and the mess in between. We all want to have fun and paint but between work, school, extra-curricular activities, we may not have the time nor desire to put into activities that can be messy for young child. This easel eliminates all of that – the set up is easy and there is NO mess.
The easel breaks apart into two halves and was quite easy to assemble – it was a simple connection on both the left and right side that our youngest child could pop together on his own. The paint pods attached to the sides of the easel (it can hold up to five) but it did not throw off the weight of the easel or make it tilt or fall to one side.
The paint pods themselves are the real miracle workers, they are completely drip and spill free. Yes you heard that correctly – drip and spill free! I was amazed by this, I couldn’t quite figure out how they contained that much paint but it never dripped out even as we had it attached to the easel and at an angle that any other painting pod would have spilled everywhere at. The pods almost appeared to have bristles in them that helped hold the paint in but we weren’t entirely sure what they were (and trust me we tried everything to figure it out!). It did not affect our child being able to get enough paint on his paintbrush in order to paint which I thought may happen as it is designed not to drip or spill.
The Paint-Sation Easel was a huge hit in our house both for our son and for us as parents. We were a little anxious at first and still put paper under the easel but not one drop was spilled from the pods or from the easel onto the paper. It made cleaning up a dream – the pods were covered back up, easel broken down into its halves and back into the box it went for his next paint session. We have never had such worry free, easy and fun painting time together before.
The Paint-Sation set is every artistic parent and child’s dream come true!
Learn more about the Paint-Sation Easel on the Goliath Games website. Make sure to follow them on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with the newest activities, games and more.
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Do you have fast fingers and enjoy a watery blast? Do you have a passion for competition? Then Hydro Strike from Pressman Toy is the game for you!
Hydro Strike originally made its debut in the 80s and has made a brand new come back for the holiday season in 2018.
The game is played with two players (it is recommended for ages seven and up but I think an advanced motor skills child at the age of five would love it) where the goal of the game is to be the first person to score five goals. Participants use the pinball like pieces on the bottom of each side of the game to shoot the ball at their opponents net. If they score, their opponent gets a splash of water in the face.
Our kids LOVED this game. Not only was it full of action and competition, if they scored their brother was squirted with water (the ultimate goal in their minds!). Bear in mind, it isn’t a face full of water (so please don’t be worried about soaked floors and tables) but a small stream that you aren’t expecting and the boys loved it. If by some chance it didn’t go off, they made sure they got each other!
The actual game piece is made of strong plastic with a see through blue middle that almost reminds me of a skating rink. On each end the players have to squeeze the handles in order to shoot the balls in pinball style to the other side. We had the kids play on the floor because they would get super competitive and would shoot the balls so hard that the game (and them) would slide back and forth across the floor.
The kids had all of us engaged and laughing with this game, it is hands on and encourages you to talk, laugh and even tease each other. Our dog was even getting involved in the action as she couldn’t figure out what they were doing and loved cleaning up the water on the floor (again it wasn’t a lot, you could easily wipe it up with your sleeve and not have a soaked sleeve). This game was a definite hit with all members of our family, young and old.
Do you want to learn more about Hydro Strike (and other exciting new games), head over to the Pressman Toys website. Have a child or grandchild that this would be perfect for this holiday season? You can purchase this game at Amazon and Target.
Make sure you follow Pressman Toys on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with all the newest toys and games.
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned game in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
College can be a real killer! Tamiko’s world completely changes when a chance meeting develops into romance and her Mother’s unexpected encounter with a mysterious figure could destroy everyone in her life.
About Coming of Age in Berkeley
Romance is the furthest thing from Tamiko Gashkin’s mind when she drops her copy of the Brothers’ Karamazov on the path through Faculty Glade on the Cal Berkeley campus. Imagine, then, how stunned this almost 16-year-old brainiac athlete is when she’s instantly beguiled by Alec Burns, the shaggy-haired college senior who not only retrieves her book, but pledges his affection. But how is a high school girl who has never been kissed to cope with a far more sophisticated older guy given that almost everyone in their world disapproves, especially Tamiko’s protective single mom, Amy? Indeed this modern fairy tale might have been squelched right there were it not for the appearance of Max, a demonic psychopath from Amy’s past ready to destroy everyone in his way. But with survival now the overwhelming priority, can there suddenly be room for Alec and Tamiko to be together?
My Thoughts
Tamiko is not your average fifteen, almost sixteen year old. She is extremely smart to the point where she takes courses at university, has pretty much completed high school and has a memory that can recall little facts which will serve her well throughout the novel. She is still in her tomboy phase and while mentally more advanced than her peers, socially and emotionally she is not ready. She hides behind her baggy sweaters and avoids boys advances at all costs.
This all changes when she meets Alec in a chance encounter.
It was love at first sight for both of them. You can feel the attraction off the pages of the book. The only problem? Alec is almost seven years older than her. While this age gap may not seem like much in your twenties, thirties and beyond, many people have a problem with this relationship – especially her mom Amy!
Alec brings Tamiko to life, she wants to embrace the part of her womanhood that she has left hidden out of possible fear or maybe even being unsure of herself? She finds a happiness with him that so many people spend their life searching for. Her Mother is dead set against their relationship – and a firm no touching and no being alone rule is put into place and the two are trying to find a way to make things work.
Just when you think you are focusing on the development of their relationship in this not so ideal but possible scene, all of this is thrown out the window when a murderous, revengeful man from Amy’s past surfaces. He wants nothing more than to hurt Amy and will use Tamiko to do so. The story takes a swift turn and we are led on an adventure that is terrifying and keeps you on your toes. Our surprising hero? Alec – who would do anything to protect Tamiko but will they be alive at the end of the story to be able to embrace their relationship?
This is a fun, sexy and adventurous novel that I loved every moment of. It does have sexual scenes and language in the story but I feel it would be appropriate for young adults.
Jake Warner is the author Murder on the Air (with Toni Ihara) as well as a number of children’s stories including Sheriff Daisy and Deputy Bud, The Tibbodnock Stories, and Clem, the Detective Dog. He is also the co-founder and longtime publisher (now retired) of Nolo, America’s leading source of consumer law information. Warner lives in Berkeley, California with his wife, Toni Ihara.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Not every leading lady finds love, gets married and sustains a domestic life. What about the
ladies who were never swept off their feet? Do they take matters into their own hands?
About Kiss Me at Christmas
Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf abhors Christmas. Caroling and holiday cheer only remind
him of a dark time. When a close friend calls on him for help, Daffin is happy to capitalize on the distraction. But when he learns the lovely Lady Regina is the one in danger, he’s to become
bodyguard to the captivating woman.
Regina has one mission: to find a night of passion in the arms of a gentleman. Considered firmly
on the shelf, Regina has given up on marriage—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be denied the
pleasure married ladies experience. Daffin has long captured her attention…and when a threat
calls him to her side, the sparks between them ignite. But how can a hired bodyguard find his
way into Regina’s reserved heart?
My Thoughts
Kiss Me at Christmas follows the bright, young and independent Regina who is a Lady of the ton and as such has many expectations placed on her. This includes marrying a man that she does not love and does not make her heart do a leap. What she wants to feel is the way she felt when she met Daffin, a family friend in the summer. He was fun, exciting and full of adventure but more importantly he made her feel attractive, loved and appreciated. A complete opposite of the man she is supposed to marry, who makes her want to hide in her room!
The only problem that exists? Daffin has quite the family history (one we only come to realize near the end of the book) and is well below Regina’s social status, thus making any relationship between the two doomed before it even begins. He is also a man of morals and while he is attracted to Regina, he is also friends with her cousin and would never do harm to her reputation and relationship with her family
When Regina approaches him with her bold proposal, he doesn’t even know how to respond. She asks him to make her feel loved and special for one night before she is set to spend the rest of her years in a loveless marriage. Thinking of her, he denies and the two part ways, thinking this would be the last they would see of each other.
But fate has a funny way of making things happen! Regina and Daffin are brought together again as someone seeks to murder Regina and we watch on the edge of our seats as the mystery unfolds and secrets from the past are brought to light. Through it all, you keep rooting for these two – that Regina will have a family that will support and defend her decision and that Daffin can realize despite his social status, he is the perfect man for her.
Love, murder, family secrets and more is what you will find in Kiss Me at Christmas, an exciting, don’t put the book down read that you will read over and over again.
VALERIE BOWMAN grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge
supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English
with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie
now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzer, Huckleberry. When
she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy
reality TV and PBS. She is the author of the Secret Brides series and the Playful Brides series.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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