Kim

This review of Heaven is For Real for Kids by Todd & Sonja Burpo is LONG overdue but I still wanted to share it because of the impact the story has had on my life. So here we go!

Have you ever wondered what Heaven is like? Will you really see those you have lost? Colton Burpo had the trip of a lifetime when he was just a boy. His parents share Colton’s experiences in this kid-friendly book about going up to Heaven. With beautiful illustrations and real questions about Heaven, Colton shares all he encounters and more in this powerful book.

I love that there is a kids’ version of this powerful and hopeful story. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Colton to go up into Heaven and have the most interesting conversations with God and those in Heaven. As someone who volunteers with Kids’ ministries, I love books that are broken down for kids to understand. The pictures are so helpful and the story is one that everyone should hear. There are so many people that have questions about Heaven and the after life. The Bible is not always clear about specifics but getting a first hand account is so precious.

I definitely recommend this book for families. Every one should read this story and experience hope. Rating: 4/5.

I received this book for free from BookLook Bloggers but was not required to write a positive review.

Because I thoroughly enjoyed reading first book in the series, Once Upon A Prince, I preordered the Kindle version from Amazon, even though I received an advanced copy via NetGalley. That’s how much I wanted to read this book! Every gal needs a little fairy tale magic in her life. So enough talk – here’s the review…

Meet Regina Beswick. She’s just started a new business as a restoration specialist for classic cars. She couldn’t be happier with her decision to leave Corporate America. She’s got a steady guy friend and she’s happy doing a job she loves.

Enter Tanner Burkhardt, Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg. He is on a quest to find the last living relative of the Hessenberg royal family. He cannot fail nor return without the princess. After much research and a bit of luck, he’s located the last heir in America. He must make her see that she has an obligation to restore Hessenberg to its rightful place, to become its own country again.

Regina is stunned and somewhat intrigued after learning about her family’s history. She must find the courage within herself and in God to face her true destiny and the legacy of her family. She feels the weight of what she must do and she must unravel the mystery surrounding her long lost relatives.

When another threatens to take over the throne, Regina and Tanner must work together to save Hessenberg. But does Regina believe she is the best choice? Wouldn’t it be easier if she just gave up her place and allowed a different government to form? Is this really where God wants her? And what’s Tanner’s place in her heart? How did he get there? Can Regina learn to love and follow her heart, her destiny?

What can I say about Rachel Hauck’s Royal Wedding Series? You have to read it! I absolutely could not wait for this book to come out. Hauck has a way of writing that just draws the reader in and makes you care about the characters. They are not without their faults and fears, but they are full of faith and courage. I felt everything that Regina felt. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is a must read in my opinion. Even though it’s part of a series, you don’t have to have read the first book. Some characters return from Once Upon A Prince, but it is not confusing and does not take away from the overall story.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales. I rated this book a 5/5 and I can’t wait to read the next book.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an impartial review.

As I was browsing on the internet yesterday looking for some more books to read (like I don’t already have enough on my “to-read” list), I came across Katherine Reay’s Dear Mr. Knightley. I vaguely remembered hearing about the book through NetGalley but I don’t believe I was able to get a copy of it ahead of time. It’s been out for a while now and I’ve pretty much heard only great things about it. Since I love all of Jane Austen’s books, I was intrigued and wanted to read this book. I noticed on Amazon that I could get a copy of the book for FREE by signing up for their Kindle Romance newsletter ($9.99 value) so I said to myself, “Why not?” Haha. I decided to start reading last night and basically, I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up all night, but I had to know what happened at the end. So here’s my review…

Samantha (aka Sam) Moore grew up in the foster care system after being abandoned by her parents outside a post office. Constantly switching from the group home, Grace House, to multiple foster families, she grew up trying to escape the harsh realities of her life through reading, through her books. Her favorites, of course, were her classic romances, but Father John of Grace House also introduced her to mysteries. She is incredibly well read and intelligent. Through a grant, she has the opportunity to attend the prestigious journalism graduate program at Northwestern University; however, she must write letters to her anonymous benefactor going under the pseudonym, Mr. G. Knightley. She was fired from her last job after being told she wasn’t able to connect with her colleagues – as a foster child, she had gotten that same comment when she failed to connect with her foster family. Through her letters to Mr. Knightley, Sam is able to bear her heart and discover the strength to overcome her fears of letting people in. Her professor challenges her to write from a more personal point of view since she seems so distant, even in her writing. When she’s in defense mode, she starts quoting lines from her favorite classics (mostly Austen) and envisioning herself as the different heroines (or heroes); she hides behind her beloved literary characters without exposing who she is. Sam must learn who she is and who she can trust to let inside her life. She meets some amazing characters challenge her views on life – who give her hope while scaring her to death. Ashley, a fellow graduate student, becomes her best friend and potential Emma. Josh, her new boyfriend, is one she believes is her Colonel Brandon. Retired Professor Muir and his wife take her in as their own daughter, having never had children of their own. Kyle, a fellow foster kid, becomes her running partner and the one who gets her to open up and write about her true feelings. Alex, the famous mystery author, becomes a friend and confidante. Mr. G. Knightley, the anonymous donor, becomes one of Sam’s dearest friends. Will Sam succeed in opening her heart? Can she find a way to write in a more personal way? Can she find a way to trust when she’s been hurt all her life? Can she find the One who heals and makes whole?

Seriously, I loved this book. Sam is full of amazing quotes from some of my personal favorite classics. She expertly has quotes for every situation, every retort. She is brilliant but also uses those quotes to distance herself from those who would be her friends. As the reader, I’m brought into her world from the first person point of view. At first her letters were a little hard to get into, but I found the groove and couldn’t stop reading. I guessed the ending before I was halfway through but I had to read to the end to see if I was right. For being Katherine Reay’s first novel, it’s beautiful. I loved every second. The characters were flawed and so real. I definitely cried a few different times. My heart went out to Kyle and his struggles. I got so caught up in Sam’s world I didn’t want the book to end. The religious thread is subtle, in my opinion, and I don’t think it would offend anyone; however, the thread is beautifully woven throughout the story.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the classic romances. You won’t be disappointed. Rating: 5/5.

Here’s the book trailer for the book: