Talking with Your Kids about Jesus: a tool to help guide conversations about Jesus

Talking With Your Kids about Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have by Natasha Crain is an in-depth guide to help parents have these important conversations. Many parents struggle to answer their children’s questions, worried that they will say the wrong thing or the answers in general. Talking With Your Kids is organized in a curriculum oriented way to provide a learning experience, each chapter asks important questions about Jesus from his identity, his teachings, his death and resurrection and the difference Jesus makes. Each topic is broken down into easy topics for conversations with children of any age. With discussion questions and tips and with skeptic’s questions and objections, historical and Scripture-answers, Talking With Your Kids about Jesus helps parents talk with their children effectively on a day-to-day basis. 

Many Christian parents leave the discussion of Jesus and the gospel to Sunday School. However, it is important that parents teach their children as God commanded. With a world that will challenge anyone’s faith, parents are often unsure how to or ill-equipped to talk with their children about the tough questions the world will ask. As a mom who talks often with my children about God and Jesus, I was afraid that I was still missing important information to help my children grow in faith. With this book, I learned so much. Talking with Your Kid about Jesus is a great tool to get started and open the door to these important conversations. Ms. Crain breaks down the basics of what Christianity is and who Jesus is. I highly recommend Talking With Your Kids about Jesus. 

Talking With Your Kids about Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have 

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Proper Scandal: a clean Victorian historical romance

A Proper Scandal is the first book in the Proper Scandal series by Esther Hatch. After her parents’ death, she was taken in by the vicar and his wife. Despite making herself useful, Grace Sinclair has been cast out of her home. As the vicar’s daughters are about to enter Society, Grace’s beauty is seen as competition. She is sent to her aunt’s home in London with hopes of a better situation. However, she learns it has only gotten worse. Grace learns that her aunt’s new husband is a despicable scoundrel who is after her sizable dowry. In order to protect her from danger and her husband’s schemes, her aunt orders Grace to find a husband. She has two weeks to marry or she will be turned out. With no clue how to attract a husband, Grace realizes that finding a worthy suitor isn’t so easy. 

A Proper Scandal is a clean Victorian historical romance. The story started off great as Grace lives simply and longs to stay in her hometown near her parents’ graves. Grace is unwilling to marry the cousin who inherited the family estate and she certainly doesn’t want anyone to know about her dowry. She is forced to find a husband. A typical historical romance; however, I did not care for Grace at all. Overall, I did not care for this story. I found it dull. The historical anomalies bothered me. In Victorian society, a woman with a dowry would be very well known. The exact amount probably not but that she had one would be. The dialogue used modern vernacular and didn’t feel like I was reading a story set in Victorian England. I will not be continuing the series. If you enjoy clean historical romances, you may enjoy A Proper Scandal. 

A Proper Scandal is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Bridesmaid: a second chance military romance

The Bridesmaid is the third book in the Brides of Beaufort series by Jess Mastorakos. Layla Robinson is always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Not that she is really looking for a partner after her heart was shattered three years ago. Zac Miller left three years ago with no goodbye, no explanation. Now he arrives back in town with a young son in tow. He is determined to make things right with Layla, to explain what happened three years ago. That is if she’ll listen. Avoiding Zac is difficult in a small town. Layla is reluctant to hear him out. After the urging of her friends and sister, she decides to talk with him, if anything, to find closure so she can move forward. What she finds is the old feelings are them, for them both. Can they start over? Or can she finally get the goodbye she wanted? 

I have enjoyed this series so much. This story was a tad different as it is a second chance romance with a painful past. At times, I thought Layla was a tad unreasonable as she scoffed at Zac’s attempt to explain; despite her questions. However, since I have never been hurt in the way she was, I didn’t judge her too much. I continued reading, hoping that she would seek the answers she asked herself for three years. I cheered when she started to soften toward Zac and listened to his explanation. Zac was wrong to ghost her so many years ago and he knows it. His explanation made sense, even if it doesn’t elevate the hurt. I really enjoyed his plan to win Layla’s heart. I smiled quite a bit. Overall, I enjoyed this story so much. If you enjoy second chance military romance, I highly recommend The Bridesmaid. 

The Bridesmaid is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Accidentally Yours: an enemies to lovers, surprise pregnancy romance

Accidentally Yours is the first book in the Little Sky series by Alexa Rivers. While pursuing a promotion, Aria Simons’s journalism career has gone up in flames. Now disgraced, she retreats to her lakeside hometown with the determination to redeem herself. She wants the scoop on millionaire CEO Eli Lockwood and the new property development he is working on. However, Eli hates the press and he is equally determined to stop her. Eli then realizes that Aria could help him with his troubled sister and they strike a deal. What they do not account for is their attraction and one night of passion leads to lasting consequences with one positive pregnancy test. Eli never put much thought in wanting to have children and Aria is still trying to figure out her life. Can they pull together for their ready made family? Or will they fall apart? 

The surprise pregnancy trope is usually one I avoid; however, I do enjoy a good enemies to lovers romance, so I decided to take a chance. I also enjoyed that it was set in a small town in New Zealand, which is new and different. However, from the very beginning, I did not care for Aria and Eli as characters or as a couple. The insta-lust was cringey. I didn’t see the attraction between them as all. I definitely didn’t like that Eli was so possessive after one kiss. The conflict of will they be together or not dragged on way too much and I wanted to scream at them to talk to each other and make a decision! The waffling back and forth is annoying. Overall, I did not care for this story and I will not be continuing the series. I do not recommend Accidentally Yours. 

Accidentally Yours is available in paperback and eBook

The Planner: a friends to lovers military romance

The Planner is the second book in the Brides of Beaufort series by Jess Mastorakos. Will Paxton is Paul Bristol’s best friend and his family has been Will’s family since childhood. His sister, Aria, is off limits. Not just because she is Paul’s little sister; but because she deserves better than someone like him. However, that didn’t stop him from falling in love with her. Will pushed his feelings aside and had become a master at hiding them from everyone. She’s fierce, feisty and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. It is getting harder and harder to hide. Now that he is stationed back home and they are spending more and more time together, it is getting harder and harder to hide his feelings. One desperate kiss brings those buried feelings up and he doesn't even want to hide anymore.  What does Aria feel? If he pursues a relationship, will he lose their friendship and the only family he has? 

The Brides of Beaufort series is so good and The Planner is a story of found family, love and finding purpose and worthiness in love. I loved Will’s character. Will comes from a broken family and has found love and acceptance with the Bristols, his childhood neighbors. He and Paul joined the Marines together and he has become a worthy leader of those in lower rank. He looks out for those who need help. I understand his concerns about expressing his feelings and losing the only family he has. I also loved Aria’s character especially after Will expresses his feelings and she expresses hers. She is the voice of reason and encouragement for Will. They worked so well together that they were surprised that the people around them were thinking they belonged together. Overall, I enjoyed this story so much and I am looking forward to continuing the series. If you enjoy friends to lovers, military romance, I highly recommend The Planner. 

The Planner is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The SEAL: a spicy former military suspense romance

The SEAL is the first book in the Black Hawke Security series by Juliette N. Banks. Josh Hawke is a decorated SEAL and co-founder of Black Hawke Security, an elite team of former special ops who offer protection. When Blaze Cartwright, a famous rockstar, hires him to protect his daughter, Josh thinks it’s just another job. What he doesn’t count on is Cassy Cartwright and the instant attraction between them. The last thing he wants is to mix business with pleasure. Cassy isn’t happy that the quiet life she has fought for is being interrupted with private security; but when a stalker escapes from prison and makes it known that he is on his way to her, she can’t deny it anymore. Vowing to never love again, Josh focuses on protecting his clients. What will he do when Cassy begins to breach his walls? 

I love stories about the military and former military. The Black Hawke Security series is a steamy private security romance with lots of spice and suspense. I was enjoying The SEAL as Josh is a tough, intimidating former SEAL and Cassy is a sassy woman who won’t be a shrinking flower. The problem was the spicy scenes. I can enjoy and even tolerate certain levels of spiciness. However, the level of spiciness in this story was too much for me. I think it got too spicy too quickly. There was no build up, no learning curve. It went full throttle right off the bat. Overall, I enjoyed the story but felt the spiciness was too much for me. I am unsure if I will continue with the series. However, if you enjoy steamy romance with lots and lots of spice and suspense, I recommend The SEAL. 

The SEAL is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Operation: Restoration: second chances, suspense and faith

Operation: Restoration is the first book in the Wayside Ranch series by Kari Trumbo. Junior works at a special ranch that helps rehabilitate victims of human trafficking. When his boss is challenged to fix his one regret, he challenges everyone to do the same. Junior’s one regret: Gabby. Desperate to see her again; but how can he explain that he is not the same man? Gabby Loftens has become a counselor when Junior calls out of the blue and asks for her help with a new patient. Gabby is skeptical, why now? However, she wants to help and maybe it gives her the opportunity to learn why Junior walked out of her life. Maybe she can move on with her life once she learns this information. But when a trafficker threatens her patient, the ranch and everyone there, Junior and Gabby must find a way to protect them all. 

When I read the synopsis of this story, I was intrigued and looked forward to a story of redemption, hope and maybe a second chance romance. However, from the beginning, I felt the story dragged on and it was very hard to get into it. I didn’t care for Gabby as she was annoying and made odd decisions. I felt more for Junior who obviously was dealing with deep emotional wounds. Although the sensitive issues like human trafficking and PTSD were dealt with care, I felt Junior’s story was discussed far too quickly without any depth. Overall, I did not connect with this story. The story didn’t feel like the first book in a series. I felt as if I started in the middle. I will not be continuing the series. However, if you enjoy a clean, faith based drama, you may enjoy Operation: Restoration. 

Operation: Restoration is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Into The Tide: a brother's best friend, friends to lovers romance

Into the Tide is the first book in the Cottonwood Cove series by Laura Pavlov. Lila James is Hugh Reynolds’ best friend’s little sister and completely off-limits. She comes home for the summer after graduating from college and her brother, Travis, asks him to hire her at his restaurant. Of course, Hugh says yes. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Lila or Travis. However, it becomes complicated when he realizes that Lila has grown into a beautiful woman and she asks for a favor of her own. She wants him to help her fulfill a summer bucket list including losing her V-card. She’s only here for the summer and promises she won’t fall for him. They can remain friends at the end of the summer and it can be their secret. With so much at stake, how can he agree? But then every man has his breaking point. How can he refuse her? 

From the very beginning, Into the Tide is filled with drama, flirty banter, laughs and smiles with plenty of spiciness. I enjoyed Hugh as the protective man who struggles to see Lila as his best friend’s little sister. While Lila is nonchalant about her request, Hugh knows better and yet is very tempted. I enjoyed Lila as a woman who is trying to break free from her family’s past and wants to show the town and the world that she is a woman who can stand on her own two feet. She has a fight in her and I cheered as she fought to be her own person. I also enjoyed their supporting characters and I hope to see their own love stories in the series. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy brother’s best friend, friends to lovers romance, I recommend Into the Tide. 

Into the Tide is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Proposal: a clean military friends to lovers romance

The Proposal is the first book in the Brides of Beaufort series by Jess Mastorakos. Paul Bristol has been friends with Shelby Thompson since grade school; however he fell in love with her in high school. However, she firmly placed him in the friend zone. He settled on being her best friend. Now as a Marine who jumps out of airplanes for fun, he is not afraid to take risks, except where Shelby is concerned. When his public proposal to his girlfriend ends with rejection, he learns that proposing to the wrong woman because you can’t have the right one is never a good idea. However, Shelby is hiding a secret. She loves Paul as well but living with a life threatening condition, she doesn’t want to be a burden. Shelby has always had Paul’s heart, can he convince her to trust him with hers? 

The Proposal is a clean romance with plenty of drama, banter and deep issues. From the very beginning, I enjoyed Shelby and Paul’s characters. Shelby is learning to deal with a life threatening condition. I had never heard of this condition and the author does a great job explaining the condition without being overly technical. I loved Paul as a man who knows what he wants. I love how he shows that he wants Shelby and that supporting her as she deals with her condition is not a burden. Together, they were sweet. I also enjoyed their supporting characters and hope they get their own stories in the future. The great gesture at the end is very sweet and romantic. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy clean military romance, I highly recommend The Proposal. 

The Proposal is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Commanding Sia: a second chance romance with military suspense

Commanding Sia is the first book in the NCIS series by Zoe Dawson. JAG Lawyer Lieutenant Ambrosia “Sia” Soto returns from an investigation aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. James McCloud, she comes face to face with NCIS Special Agent Christophe “Chris” Vargas. They have a past. He was involved in the F-18 fighter jet accident that took her brother’s life six years ago. They were also once lovers and the loss of her brother tore them apart. After a new series of accidents, Sia and Chris are teamed up together to investigate. Is it a series of unfortunate pilot error or is there someone sabotaging the pilots? Once aboard, they soon realize they have a serial killer on board but who? Sia must trust her instincts and suppress the feelings for Chris that come roaring back. Can they find the killer before it’s too late? 

I love books about the military and especially featuring JAG lawyers and NCIS agents. Filled with suspense and action, Commanding Sia is a second chance romance. I loved Sia as the tough as nails lawyer who will go toe-to-toe with anyone and will not back down without a fight. When a new investigation hits close to home, Sia is partnered with Christ, a man who ignited a passion in her that she never forgot and the man she blames for her brother’s death. I also enjoyed Chris who carries his own guilt and wounds about the accident that took his friend’s life. The suspense was good and the identity of the killer was a surprise. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. If you enjoy romance with military suspense, I recommend Commanding Sia. 

Commanding Sia is available in eBook

The Christmas Keepsake: a family's story careful told in Christmas ornaments

The Christmas Keepsake is the second book in the Love in Bloom series by Annie Rains. Mallory Blue’s beloved grandmother, Nan, puts on a Christmas play in her community theater that has become a beloved tradition. However, this year is different. Nan is in a memory care living facility and putting on the Christmas play has fallen onto Mallory’s shoulders. As Mallory struggles to put on the play, two things help her keep going. First, a journal written by Nan which explains the story behind each handmade ornament on Nan’s tree. And second, Hollis Franklin, a man who is trying to prove to their small town that he is no longer the rebellious boy from the past. As Mallory reads Nan’s journal, she sees her Nan in a whole new light. There was so much she didn’t know about her grandmother, her family and the past. Can Mallory and Hollis learn the key to holiday magic isn’t the gifts under the tree? 

From the opening chapter, Mallory is a woman stuck in the middle. Between preserving her grandmother’s legacy and the expectations of the town with the reality of how to do it all. I loved that she wanted to hold on to her grandmother and the closeness they shared. My heart broke for her as she watched her grandmother slip away from her. I also enjoyed Hollis’s character. My heart broke for him as a man who was still trying to belong and seek forgiveness for all he did as a wild teen. I liked that Mallory learns to see Nan as a person, as a flawed woman who made decisions and choices. Overall, I enjoyed this story. It had great drama with lots of emotions. While this story is a sequel to The Finders Keepers Library, but I do recommend it, readers do not need to read it to understand Mallory’s story. If you enjoy a holiday story with a bit of romance, I highly recommend The Christmas Keepsake.  

The Christmas Keepsake is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Overdue: a crossroad decision to renew or start a new chapter

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins is a story of the crossroad decision to renew or start a new chapter. Ingrid Dahl is a cheerful twenty-nine year old librarian in Ridgetop, North Carolina. She has been happily dating her boyfriend, Cory, for the past eleven years. When Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement after two years of dating, Ingrid and Cory feel the pressure. They decide to take a one month break, to pursue other people, and come back together and make a final decision about marriage. Ingrid has someone in mind: her charming, yet grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski. She has had a crush on Macon for years but her best laid plans go awry and the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they are not ready to resume their relationship and her crush on Macon turns complicated. 

I was pulled into this book by the gorgeous cover and I loved the double meaning of the title as an overdue book or an overdue relationship. Plus I love books where books and lovers of books are featured. Overdue is described as “a beautiful, slow-burn romance full of lust and longing about new beginnings and finding your way.” However, I did not see this description in the story. Overdue is slow, painfully snail slow, ramblings. There were way too many chapters which were way too long. I felt no connection to Ingrid as she tries to discover who or what she wants. I can’t imagine dating someone for eleven years and not have the “Where is this relationship doing?” conversation. I didn’t feel there was any real character development. I do not recommend Overdue. 

Overdue is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Marine's Marriage: a grumpy-sunshine romance with faith, hope and healing

The Marine’s Marriage is the first book in the Fuller Family in Brush Creek series by Liz Isaacson. After retiring from the Marines, Tate Benson has arrived in Nowhere, Utah in order to fix up his late grandfather’s house and join the local police department. Wren Fuller has her days filled with running the family’s cleaning company. While Tate calls and needs a maid for that morning, Wren decides to clean the house herself. She discovers that Tate is her new neighbor and behind his rude exterior hides a kind heart and a wounded soul. As Tate keeps his cool exterior, he and Wren can’t help but be drawn to each other. The Marine and the maid seem to be a match made in heaven. Can their new relationship weather the storms of past wounds and look to the hope of the future? 

The Marine’s Marriage is a grumpy-sunshine romance with hope, healing and faith. It is a fast read, fairly short. A perfect book for an afternoon of reading. I enjoyed the introduction of Wren and Tate. Wren is the quirky member of the Fuller clan who wears the shirts that irritate her mother. And Tate is the man carrying more than physical wounds. Their first meeting was funny with great banter as Wren goes toe-to-toe with grumpy Tate. The romance between Wren and Tate was good and I enjoyed their happily ever after. However, the sheer number of secondary characters was overwhelming and keeping track of them all was difficult. Overall, the story was good; however, I was not intrigued enough to read the rest of the series. If you enjoy stories of hope, healing and faith, I recommend The Marine’s Marriage. 

The Marine’s Marriage is available in paperback and eBook. 

Her Unexpected Cowboy: one birthday wish, a man with no memory and a web of danger

Her Unexpected Cowboy is the first book in the Unforgettable Cowboys series by Danae Little. Sydney hides out on her goat ranch, clinging to her loneliness and refuses to ask for help. While making a birthday wish, a handsome stranger shows up at her door, wounded with no memory. Sydney is torn between allowing him to stay in her barn or sending him on his way. When Jameson woke up on the side of the road, he came to the first house, he was struck by the beautiful woman who answered his call for help. As he struggles to restore his memories, he makes excuses to stay, to help her around the house all the while ignoring the warning ringing in his head. That is until the local sheriff comes to the ranch, Jameson recognizes his voice and a web of danger begins to close in. 

Her Unexpected Cowboy was my first book by Danae Little and I enjoy a good cowboy story. The beginning of the story was intriguing. I liked Sydney from the beginning. I liked her courage, strength and hard working attitude. She is lonely with only her pets and the goats on her ranch. She loves her life, the ranch but something is missing. Jameson was a man with no memory and the mystery around him was interesting. However, the story was slow. The suspense was okay. The resolution was a bit predictable. The author’s attention to detail was admirable but slowed down the story’s flow. The romance between Sydney and Jameson was sweet and their happily ever after was good. Overall, the story was okay; but, I will not be continuing the series. If you enjoy cowboy romance with a bit of suspense, you may enjoy Her Unexpected Cowboy. 

Her Unexpected Cowboy is a available in paperback and eBook

The Relationtrip: a vacation, friends to lovers romance

The Relationtrip by Elana Johnson asks the question: what do a reclusive author from Wisconsin and an outgoing real estate agent from Pittsburgh have in common? The answer is simply nothing. Logan Murphy is Sloane’s accidental best friend when one fateful choice brought them together on vacation five years ago. Every year since then, Logan and Sloane take an annual trip together. This year’s trip is to an adults only resort in Belize. When Sloane sees Logan at the airport for the final leg of their trip, she feels something, something that hasn’t happened for a very long time. However, Logan is hiding a secret as Sloane doesn’t know what he does for a living and she doesn’t know how he truly feels about her either. He wants more than a once-a-year trip with his best friend. He wants to be in her life every day. How will she react when she learns the truth? Will it be the end of their friendship? Or can it be the beginning of a happily ever after? 

The Relationtrip is described as a standalone, slow burn travel romance similar to Beach Read and The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, The Layover by Lacie Waldon, and The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. While I have not read the mentioned books, I know they are highly recommended. I was looking forward to friends to lovers romance; however, the story fell flat for me. Sloane is way too jaded about love and marriage for me. Her fiance left her at the altar and her parents ended their 33 year marriage, so her jadedness makes sense; however, I couldn’t connect with it. Also, I did not like her reaction to Logan’s secret about his real job or his true feelings for her; despite her own feelings. However, I did like Logan. He really tried to have a relationship beyond their current arrangement; but Sloane made it difficult. Overall, I was bored and not interested in their love story. However, if you enjoy the books mentioned above, you may enjoy The Relationtrip as well. 

The Relationtrip is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook