Easter 2015

Emily got a little too close to a swinging bat when the kids were playing outside

Day 2

Book Review: "The One O'Clock Miracle" by Alison Mitchell

John 4:46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour [That is, at 1 p.m] the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

This is the passage of the Bible that "The One O'Clock Miracle" is based on. The book is a creative retelling of this miracle. It is nice to have a Biblically based book to let my children read. I liked the "refrain" that is repeated throughout the book "he walked and walked - and sometimes ran- because he wanted to see Jesus". Obviously we don't know exactly how he got to Cana or what he was thinking, but this is an accurate idea of what I'd be doing! My kids really liked this story. One of them said it was "Amazing" and another said she liked the illustrations. The illustrations are bright and cartoon-y. I like how the text isn't all the same but is scattered across the pages to best fit with the illustrations and story. 

I would recommend this book to all with children in their lives.

• "The One O'Clock Miracle" is available in hardcover:
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: The Good Book Company (April 12, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1910307432
• ISBN-13: 978-1910307434
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches

I received a complimentary copy of "The One O'Clock Miracle" in exchange for reviewing and participating in a blog hop about it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book Review: "A Stranger's Secret" by Laurie Alice Eakes

"A Stranger's Secret" by Laurie Alice Eakes is set in 1813 Cornwall, England. Morwenna Trelawny Penvenan is deperate to bring prosperity to Penmara, her son's inheritance and the only thing she has left of his father. She could get help from her grandparents, but her pride won't allow her to do so. When wreckers are purposefully causing ships to run aground on her land, she sets out to prove she isn't the one behind them. What she finds is not clues but more questions when she discovers David Chastain nearly dead on her beach wearing a Trelawny medallion around his neck.

David Chastain is trying to solve the mystery of why his father emptied their family and boatyard's coffers and went to Falmouth suddenly and ending up dead. After attempts on his own life, the most likely suspect is Morwenna Penvenan.

Despite the fact that Morwenna knows that David is keeping secrets from her and David suspects Morwenna of trying to poison him, they find themselves growing more attached to each other. Can they find the true suspect behind the wreckers and poisoning before it drives them apart?

There are a few authors that when I see that they have a new book available, I know I have to read them. That is how I felt when I saw "A Stranger's Secret" by Laurie Alice Eakes. I read the first book in the Cliffs of Cornwall series, "A Lady's Honor", so I knew I wanted to read the sequel.  Since "A Stranger's Secret" is the 2nd in the series, I would recommend reading "A Lady's Honor" first so you can get Morwenna's background and where she is coming from in "A Stranger's Secret".  Laurie Alice Eakes has a good pace and flow to the story and I wasn't able to solve the mystery before the book revealed it. I liked David and how she told about his accent without having to write it out in the book. There weren't any parts of the book that took me out of the setting of 1800's Cornwall.

I would recommend "A Stranger's Secret" to those who like inspirational, romantic, historical mysteries! (or even if you like one or two on the list!)

"A Stranger's Secret" is available on April 21, 2015 in Kindle format:

• File Size: 1552 KB
• Print Length: 321 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0310333407
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 21, 2015)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00L0S6FDW

 paperback: 

• Series: A Cliffs of Cornwall Novel
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 21, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310333407
• ISBN-13: 978-0310333401
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches

and hardcover large print:

• Series: A Cliffs of Cornwall Novel
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Thorndike Press Large Print; Lrg edition (July 8, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410479420
• ISBN-13: 978-1410479426

I received a complimentary paperback copy of A Stranger's Secret from booklookbloggers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Horse Lovers Video Contest

Do your kids love horses? Have them film a short video telling why and you could win lots of really cool prizes from Breyer Horses! Follow the link here for more information.

Happy 9th Birthday, Emily!

Emily wanted a bottle of paint and paintbrush for her cake.

Emily is really into leopard print (see her skirt)

Emily's school birthday treat