The Legacy, by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley

Title: The Legacy

Series: The Restoration Series (Book 4)

Authors: Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley

Publisher: Revell

Date: April 7, 2015

Paperback: 336 pages








About the Book
For years, Doug Anderson has been drifting slowly but steadily away from both his family and his faith. His parents have been trying to reach him before he falls too far. His friend Christina hopes what she is seeing online isn't true. But sometimes you have to hit bottom before you're ready to grow up.

Just as things begin to settle down a bit, Doug's life takes a turn that requires every bit of faith and patience for both his family and Christina--whose growing feelings for Doug, a man who writes her off as not worth his time, keep her off balance. Will Doug's crisis finally clear his vision and help him focus on what he has right in front of him?


My Take

The Legacy is the 4th book in The Restoration Series. I didn't have the chance to read books one and two, but I did read book number three and found it to be a very good story. There is a connection between all of them and if you read them from beginning to end, it will make a lot more sense. When reading book #4, I had forgotten about the connection between #3. But after I realized what the connection was, it made it even more enjoyable to read. 

At the beginning of the book, you will find a text from Luke 15:20 about a father seeing his son and still having a ton of love for him as they approach each other. It kind of gives you an idea about what the story is going to be about. 

Doug is the youngest child in the Anderson family who is away at college but periodically comes home to visit. He does not have as strong of a relationship with the Lord as he once had or as his parents would want him to have. During some people's college years is when they are trying to find out who they really are and what they want to do with their life, and that is exactly what Doug was doing. There are things he is engaging in that he is trying to keep from his family, knowing that they would not approve of it, until he gets caught and has to truly examine the two lives he is trying to live. But sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom for people to realize what is truly going on in their lives and that is what happens to Doug. 

This was an amazing story. Like I stated before, if you read all four in a row, it will be even better, even though this one can hold its own. You will not want to put it down until you find out how it is going to end. I know that is how I felt. So, grab a blanket and a cup of tea and enjoy a great read.

About the Authors

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Dance and The Promise with Gary Smalley, as well as The Unfinished Gift, The Discovery, and The Reunion. He has won three Carol Awards, and two of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year for 2011 and 2012. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. Visit www.danwalshbooks.com for more.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of 16 books, along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling, speaking to over 2 million people in live conferences. Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Extra, The Today Show, and The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children and six grandchildren.


This complimentary book was given to me by Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Sand in My Sandwich, by Sarah Parshall Perry

Title: Sand in My Sandwich: And Other Motherhood Messes I'm Learning to Love

Author: Sarah Parshall Perry

Publisher: Revell

Date: March 17, 2015

Paperback: 224 pages

About the Book

You know that thing when you're in Walmart at noon before you discover you haven't brushed your teeth? Sarah Parshall Perry gets that. She also gets weird things showing up in her bed, her daughter requesting war paint, and her son crawling into a giant blue sock on Christmas morning. Sometimes, she gets that conflicted feeling of finding her kids hanging out in the dog's cage and realizing that, yes, dog cages are not for people, but . . . they have stopped getting into trouble.

According to Perry, "The hardest stuff is the quickest way to God." And if the systematic destruction of her carefully planned life is any indication, she's on the fast track to sainthood! A mother of three children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum, she has experienced plenty of ups and downs. But from the chaos of her "ordinary" life, she pulls truth packed with humor, poignancy, and a naked honesty that will make you realize you are not alone in this delightfully messy thing called motherhood. 

My Take

When I first saw this book, I figured it would be an interesting read. But what I didn't realize is how much I would enjoy reading it. Seeing how she has two kids with special needs, I thought that there were some things that I could relate with her. I personally don't have a child with autism, but mine does have ADHD and we have tons of moments like she does with her kids in this book. When I read her reaction to certain situations, I was like, "yes, I am not the only mother who reacts that way". It made me feel a lot better. Some of the things that her boys have gone through, my child has gone through and to read her emotional ups and downs and how she relies on God to get her through, gives me hope.

The one thing I like most about Mrs. Perry's style of writing is that it is very light. I love how she can find the humour in most ordinary things. It gives me a sense of relaxation. It makes me take a look at life in a different way. I also enjoyed how she places a Bible text at the beginning of every chapter. It shows her dedication to God.

I guarantee if you pick this book up, you will not put it down until you have finished reading it. You will enjoy it from beginning to end.

About the Author

Sarah Parshall Perry (JD, University of Virginia School of Law) is a wife and mother of three young children. She is the coauthor of When the Fairy Dust Settles (with her mother, Janet Parshall) and the author of numerous magazine articles, award-winning short stories, and poetry. Sarah has served in youth ministry for over ten years and is currently writing for www.ChosenFamilies.org where she encourages other families living with disabilities. She lives in Maryland.

This complimentary book was given to my by Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Anthony Ant Goes To Egypt, by Julie Bettendorf

Title: Anthony Ant Goes to Egypt

Author: Julie Bettendorf

Publisher: Outskirt Press

Date: November 30, 2014

Paperback: 31 pages

Genre: Juvenile Fiction/ Humorous Stories




About the Book
Where Will Anthony Ant Go Next?

Anthony Ant knows how to travel in style—since he’s so small, he can go just about anywhere, unnoticed! This time, he curls up in a suitcase and gets out in Egypt, ready for the fabulous adventure of a lifetime. Anthony Ant is in Cairo, Egypt…and luckily he meets an expert tour guide, Babu Beetle. Together they explore Egypt’s history, culture, and food, with adventures including a camel ride, and a visit to the famous pyramids…and more! The second book in the Anthony Ant series continues to introduce kids to the excitement of world travel, with an enjoyable companion who is ready to share his experiences.


My Take
This a really cute book. If your children like books that rhyme, which I am sure most children do, they will like this one. The story is about a little ant that travels through Egypt. While you follow the ant traveling through Egypt, your children will learn different things about the country. For starters, they will learn about the capital, different foods that can be eaten there, how they travel, some sights you would see, and what one would buy in the market place.

Another nice thing about this book are the illustrations. They are very colourful and the pictures will draw the attention of any child into the book. There are people of different nationalities in the book, which I fell will help children identify a little more with the story.

If you are looking for a nice book to cuddle with your child and read, this is the one.

This complimentary book was given to me by Bostick Communications and the author for an honest review.




About the Author
Julie Bettendorf is an enthusiastic world traveler, with a background in history and a degree in archaeology. Through her books, she shares the wonderful world of travel with children and their parents, as Anthony Ant teaches kids about other cultures, customs, and traditions. When Julie is not traveling with her daughter Erin and son Max, she lives in central Oregon.

Obama Confidential:Strange, Odd & Bizarre Letters to the 44th President , by Marc Berlin

Title: Obama Confidential: Strange, Odd & Bizarre Letters to the 44th President [Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]

Author: Marc Berlin

Publisher: Spoken Word Inc.

Date: December 1, 2014

Narrators: Jim Meskimen & Tamara Meskimen

Listening Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes





About the Audiobook
From celebrities as diverse as Warren Buffet, Bill Clinton, and Steven Spielberg, to anonymous everyday citizens like the minimum-wage waitress in Oklahoma and a dry cleaner named Al Kayda in Wisconsin,Obama hears it, and gets it, from everyone. And when you're the president, absolutely no subject is off-limits. An ex-student in Illinois is drowning in an ocean of debt; a harried housewife in Wyoming has dubious ideas about how to save hard-earned pennies; while a gun owner in Tennessee vigorously defends his right to bear arms. Obama, who's obviously a very busy man, sometimes answers with a brief innocuous letter of his own. Echoing another classic of U.S. history, Alex de Tocqueville's ; Democracy in America;, 'Obama Confidential' offers a vivid, consistently amusing snapshot of America in the second decade of the 21st century, with hilarious results.

My Take
This review is way overdue and I feel bad about that, but in my defense, I have this audiobook in my car and listen to it all the time. I love it and it keeps me laughing. The different letters that are "written" to the president are hilarious. They are very appropriate for the areas that they "come from". What makes it even better are the different voices that you hear along with each letter. To be perfectly honest, there were times when I forgot that it really wasn't the president or they were made up people. The narrator is very good at changing his voice and mimicking other people.

There are three different discs. All together it is about 3 hours long. This makes it perfect for when you are on a trip and you need to pass time. There are pictures of the president and his wife on the discs. It gives you more of a feeling that he is the voice that is answering the letters. The box set is nice and small and can fit in your glove box.

I don't tend to listen to a lot of audiobooks, but am glad that I had the chance to review this one. Like I stated before, I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. Granted, some of them are straight up political, but a lot of them won't be heard as super serious because of the different voices and storyline for all the letters.

About the Author

Marc Berlin is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, author, and satirist.

Berlin is the author of three books of humor, That Cloud Looks Like Jesus, The Skeptic’s Handbook and Obama Confidential.

He grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts and attended The University of Pennsylvania. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania he went to film school at Columbia in New York City for a year. He says he learned zero, so he went out to Los Angeles and became a script analyst. Among other things, his background includes comedy writing for Joan Rivers and being a script analyst for Jack Nicholson.

He and his wife, Heidi, live in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They have no pets.

I was given this complimentary audiobook by Bostick Communications and the author for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in... Peru: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in... Peru: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World

Series: If You Were Me

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: October 14, 2014

Paperback: 30 pages


About the Book
An exciting introduction to world cultures written for young readers ages three through eight, this new expedition takes kids to South America and gives them a colorful glimpse into what living in Peru is like. Highlighting a myriad of topics, including language, cuisine, climate, and history, this book teaches kids about diversity while also revealing to them the important truth that we are all connected.


My Take
As always, she has created another amazing book for children to learn about a new culture. The way she tells her stories keeps them coming back for each book that she brings out. The cartoon characters and colours are also another amazing thing about these books.

At the beginning of the book, you see where Peru is located on the globe and you also learn/see where the capital, Lima, is located. You and your children will learn the different names of some of the people in Peru, see all the colourful things they were and have. You will learn about the famous places, foods they eat (cuy, which is fried guinea pig), games they play and holidays they celebrate (Carnival in February).

When you get to the end of the book, you will find a pronunciation guide, which is reiterating all the new words that you and your child learned while reading the book.

I love this series and think that everyone should have them in their homes and feel as though all schools should carry them too. I know my daughter has learned from every single one she has read.


About the Author

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the much lauded children's book Captain No Beard: An Imaginary tale of a Pirate's Life. her experience as a former social studies teacher is wonderfully apparent in her popular If You Were Me and Lived in... series, which now includes more than ten books.

This complimentary book was given to me by Bostick Communications and the author for a honest review.

The Navy Girl Book, by Scott Erickson

Title: The Navy Girl Book

Author: Scott Erickson

Publisher: Azaria Press

Date: September 6, 2014

Paperback: 152 pages






About the Book
The Navy Girl Book is a collection of short pieces of surreal humor, absurdity, twisted dialogue, non sequiturs, incongruity, unabashed silliness, strange weirdness, and puns galore. 


My Take
Do you like reading funny things? If that is the case, then you should get your hands on a copy of Scott Erickson's book, The Navy Girl Book. It is filled with poems, stories, dialogues, etc. It will keep you laughing from the beginning of the book to the end. I was really surprised how funny a lot of it was. For example, under Today's Headlines he writes, Worm eludes early bird only to succumb to late sleeper. A lot of his stuff had me cracking up. I wanted to share some of it with my daughter, but she is too young for some of it. What about the part where he writes, The Surgeon General has determined that this warning label isn't going to deter you from smoking. Even though a lot of it is just for laughs, I found truth in a lot of the humour.

If you are a girl, keep this book in your purse and if you are a guy, keep a copy in your jacket pocket. If by chance you are having a bad day, pull it out and start reading your way to a better day.


About the Author
Scott Erickson is a writer of humor and satire. His pieces have been published in The Oregonian, The Portland Mercury, Bang!, and several humor websites. He is a two-time winner of the Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction. One of his stories was included in the book Laugh Your Shorts Off, a compilation of contest winners from the website Humor and Life in Particular.

A complimentary copy of this book was given to me by the author through Bostick Communications for an honest review.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be... a Veterinarian, by Wigu Publishing

 Title: When I Grow Up I Want To Be... a Veterinarian

Series: When I Grow Up...

Author: Wigu Publishing

Date: November 29, 2014

Paperback: 60 pages

Language: English

Age Range: 9 and up





About the Book
Sofia wants to care for all the animals in the world. But Mom does not think Sofia is ready for the responsibility of even one pet. Ready or not, when a hungry and sick-looking cat appears at the family's back doorstep, Sofia takes action. When Sofia is found feeding the cat, Mom gives in and agrees that a trip to the vet will tell them if the cat is healthy and not someone's lost pet. As the veterinarian introduces Sofia and readers to the important and wide-ranging work of animal doctors, Sofia learns how she might help all kinds of animals, including a little stray cat!


My Take
I must say I really love this series. I think it is one of the best ones out there for children to get a true understanding of what jobs are out there for them. I know my daughter gets very excited each time she reads one of these books. She gets to learn about a new career option. This particular story, about the veterinarian, was top of her list, as that is one of her options for when she grows up.


The cover along grabbed both of our attention. It is amazingly filled with bright attention grabbing colours.When you open the book, it has a list of saying from famous people regarding animals and how wonderful they are to have around. Next you find the Veterinarian Oath. This was nice to be able to read to my daughter and tell her that it will be something that she will have to uphold.


The story is a touching one. It shows how much love this young girl has for animals and how badly she wants to have one around. Even though most of the book is in cartoon form, there are pictures of actual people and animals. These sections give children a deeper understanding of what a Veterinarian does. Your children will also receive a deeper knowledge of cats, dogs, birds and reptiles. This book is filled with so much information that by time you are done ready the story, they will have a better understanding and know if this is the career for them or not. There is also two pages at the end that are dedicated to what makes and good veterinarian and pet owner.


About the Author
Wigu Publishing is a collaboration of talented and creative individuals working together to publish informative and fun books for our children.  Our titles serve to introduce children to the people in their communities who serve others through their vocations.  Wigu Books are unique in that they help our children to visualize the abundant opportunities that exist for them to be successful and to make a difference.  Our goal is to inspire the great leaders and thinkers of tomorrow.

This complimentary book was given to me by Wigu Publishing for my honest review.