New Release- Grow Wild, My Child by Ainsley Arment (Children's Book)

 

Wander through the world's classroom to learn, play, discover, and make the most of childhood. In this lyrical picture book from Wild + Free homeschool-community founder and bestselling author Ainsley Arment, your family will be inspired to make every day a growing experience through wonder, curiosity, adventure, and connection.

In this poetic adventure, you will discover

• the delight of education through experience--exploring nature, reading great books, and pursuing new interests;
• that childhood is sacred, and children should be given the freedom to grow up slowly; and
• that alongside loving guidance, the wider world offers children room to grow, learn, and become who they were meant to be.

Grow Wild, My Child is perfect for . . .

• boys and girls, ages 4 to 8;
• families who enjoy nature and art, value giving their children safe spaces to make their own discoveries, and for those families who have chosen to homeschool; and
• gifts for birthdays, grade-school graduations, Christmas, and Mother's Day.

Inspire your family to get dirt between their toes, reach for the sky, welcome exploration, and follow where adventure leads.

To Order on Amazon

MY REVIEW

This is a wonderful book for children who are inquisitive about nature.  They will see the joy in climbing trees, splashing in a creek, and other adventures waiting.  Knowing you are loved and allowed to explore nature safely keeps a child eager to learn and builds confidence.  It also spurs children's creativity and what makes them stand out.

The rhyming lyrics give the book a sense of rhythm and is easy to understand. The beautiful illustrations are in bright colors to stimulate the eyes and will catch the attention of the young reader. 

This is a good book that will entertain your child and even bring back your own wild child memories.  I was also a wild child and enjoyed many trips in nature, so I can relate. You can share your experiences with your child as you read.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Have a blessed day!

Julie

What if the World is a Letter by Hilary Echols ( Christian Children's Picture Book)

Assure children that they are loved, worthy, and cherished with this lyrical picture book that celebrates the ways nature displays the depth of God's love. From each sunrise's declaration of hope to the wind's song of wonder and the mountains' echoes, love is woven into the natural world.

With What If the World Is a Letter?, children will understand

• nature is an expression of God's love for each of us;
• they are treasured, and they belong in this beautiful world;
• we are part of something bigger than ourselves, and each child matters; and
• the Creator's love is stronger than any storm they may face.

This book is perfect for

• gifts for special occasions, such as Valentine's Day, birthdays, christenings, and baby showers and dedications;
• reassuring children experiencing difficult circumstances that they are not alone;
• helping young children begin to grasp the power of love; and
• calming anxious hearts at nap time and bedtime.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0G1JSQ7PP

My Review

The title of this book was intriguing. I found the message of God's love heartwarming. The book is beautifully written with engaging text, and the illustrations are warm and colorful.

This is a lovely picture book that any young child will find irresistible and could become a favorite. The story reminds children that they are known, loved, and treasured.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Have a blessed day.

Julie

From Sea to Shining Sea: 50 Daily Devotions from Traveling to Every State in America by H. Eugene Frame & Marsha Frame

 

I have been fortunate to travel to quite a few states, and what I have noticed most is that I can find beauty in all of them.  I see God's imprint in creation and praise HIM for it.

In From Sea to Shining Sea, the authors have combined history, beauty, and reflection toward God from every state they visited. They continued that experience by adding a question for the reader, a Bible scripture, and some things to pray over.

In all the states covered, each Daily Devotion adds depth to the information.  By the time I completed the devotional, I felt I learned more about the states; their history, reflection on travel and more about their interests and experiences.  

I would recommend this devotional to anyone who seeks a closer relationship with God, and wants to experience the states and reflect on their beauty.

To Purchase

https://bit.ly/SeatoShiningSeaAmazon

 

GIVEAWAY- 15 Winners will receive a paperback copy!

https://www.blessedfreebies.com/from-sea-to-shining-sea-book-giveaway-683606.html

New Preorder, Publishes Aug. 4, 2026 Keeping Thessalonica: Persis' Story (Paul's Patrons Book 2) by Jenifer Jennings

In the face of prejudice, Persis clings to the promises of Jesus.

In the port city of Thessalonica, Persis, a daughter of Persia and a bondservant of Aristarchus, is forever changed when she encounters the teachings of Jesus and learns of His imminent return.

Surrounded by a community of believers and drawing strength from Paul’s letters, Persis discovers the power of hope while navigating the challenges of persecution and prejudice. Through trials and triumphs, she learns to embrace her identity as a beloved child of God and live out the radical call to follow Jesus.

Join Persis as she struggles to hold fast to the refuge of her newfound faith while uncovering hidden truths about her past. Dare to embark on a journey to discover the boundless depths of grace awaiting those who dare to believe as the letters of 1 and 2 Thessalonians come to life in Keeping Thessalonica, Book 2 of the Paul’s Patrons series.

To Order on Amazon

New Release: Journey Beyond Yesterday- A Victorian Time Travel Romance by J.E. Grace

 

Dr. Emily Mitchell, a devoted historian at London’s Riverside Museum, uncovers an intricately carved pendant hidden among a newly acquired collection. When a cryptic letter reveals the pendant’s impossible power, Emily begins to believe it may hold the key to the life—and love—she has always longed for.

Drawn by equal parts curiosity and longing, Emily activates the pendant and is swept into the heart of Victorian London. There she meets Lord Alexander Sinclair—a man she knows from the history books, but whose charm, secrets, and unexpected connection to the pendant make him far more dangerous to trust than she ever imagined.

But someone else is hunting the pendant—and will stop at nothing to possess its power. As danger closes in, Emily must choose between the man she has come to love and the history she may be destined to protect.

To Purchase on Amazon

A Christian Devotional Experience Unlike Any Other: He Calls You By Name!

I was impressed by He Calls You By Name when it arrived. I was surprised at the difference; just seeing my name printed within scripture made.  

The scripture is printed with a thoughtful design on high-quality card stock, with a base that allows it to flip to each scripture. The message stays on my mind and in my heart, as I read it several times a day.

He Calls You By Name is more than a devotional because of the personalization.  It made me feel confident that I am personally being seen by God. Rooted in scripture, it is faith-filled encouragement that I can count on to be before me daily.  

After receiving my own copy, I would highly recommend this as a gift for anyone you know. It will draw the reader into a deeper relationship with God's word and experience scripture more intimately.

Order Your Personalized Devotional

Below are photos of my own personalized devotional

To Order Your Own 

You Tube Video by Jim Barnes- How It All Started

Review of We Are Home When We're Together by Jean Stoffer and Grace Start

 

We Are Home When We're Together is a warm invitation to cherish memories, embrace change, and remember that whenever you're with family—you're home.

Acclaimed designers and mother-daughter team Jean Stoffer and Grace Start of The Established Home from the Magnolia Network show that the location of a family's most sacred space may change, but the foundation—love for one another—remains. This meaningful picture book helps children savor good memories and reassures them that new spaces can lead to beautiful new experiences as they trust God to help them navigate and settle into a new house with their family.

Moving to new houses, new schools, new neighborhoods, and other life changes can be unsettling, and We Are Home When We're Together is a reminder to look to God as your family adjusts together. This beautiful book

is for ages 4 to 8, includes stunning illustrations that feature interesting and diverse homes, helps parents and caretakers who are navigating moves or other life changes with their children, features ways to involve children in setting up home together, provides intentional ideas to savor memories and create wonderful new ones, and reminds families to rely on God, who is preparing our forever home, and rest in Him as they navigate change. 

This celebration of home and family is a lovely addition to your bookshelf, a wonderful story to cozy up to with your children, and a meaningful gift for children and families who are navigating new seasons of life.

To Purchase on Amazon

My Review

The importance of being together, wherever you live, is one of the themes of this beautiful book. Also, changes are not always bad. Moving forward creates the opportunity for new memories, and you always have the memories from your other home that go with you.

The illustrations are wonderfully done and represent the written words well. The children are also given a glimpse of the different house styles. We can have peace wherever we live when we follow God's path for us.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Review of An Amish Widow's Hope by Pamela Desmond Wright

Regrets from the past could lead to a chance for redemption…

After a terrifying break-in, widowed dressmaker Isla Stohl finds herself leaning on town sheriff Evan Miller. Sixteen years ago, Evan chose a law enforcement career over her and their Texas Amish community, and now he’s determined to make amends. Evan vows to keep Isla and her two children safe, but old feelings begin to arise once more. As he’s drawn back to his heritage and faith, he must decide if he can leave behind the life he built for himself in the Englisch world for the woman he’s never been able to let go of.

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness, and hope.

To Purchase

About the author

New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Pamela Desmond Wright grew up in a small, dusty Texas town. From the time she learned to read, books have been her passion.

A veteran of the e-book revolution of the late '90's, Pamela moved into traditional publishing, writing for Kensington and NAL/Penguin. Nominated 2 times, she won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2010. Pamela was also a founder of the scam publishers and agents website, The Write Connection, which was transferred to the SFWA through (then) vice-president A.C. Crispin to become Writer Beware. Her experiences with scam agents and publishers was documented in Professor Jim Fisher's book, Ten Percent of Nothing: The Case of the Literary Agent From Hell.

In 2013, Pam took a break from publishing. Unable to shake the story bug, she came back in 2019 with a new focus, fulfilling a promise to write wholesome books readers of all ages could enjoy.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK

A charming, emotional, yet suspenseful read. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. A story of a connected past between the Amish widow and Evan who turned away from his Amish roots to work as a local sheriff.

The characters had lots of layers, and I enjoyed reading as they were exposed. Lots of haunted past, a second chance at love, and faith in God to work everything out. I loved the ending and laughed at the antics of the rescued animals by Evan's aunt.

I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own and I voluntarily choose to review it.

Celebrate Easter with Zonderkidz Children's Books

• Jesus, Our True Friend is a heartwarming collection of seven stories from Jesus’ life that celebrate the good news—our Rescuer has come to heal God’s broken world, bring us back to Him, and show us the true meaning of Love. Created by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago, the beloved team behind the bestselling The Jesus Storybook Bible, these stories will fill you with joy as you discover just how deep God’s love for you truly is.  Gorgeous collection that will resonate with not only children, but also adults. The theme of not having to be worthy of God's love is found throughout the book's pages.  Readers will feel hopeful and joyful after reading. Beautiful illustrations.  

The Hey-O! Coloring Book offers over 90 pages of coloring fun, complete with tear-out pages for easy removal and display. It gives kids the chance to express their creativity while bringing their favorite Bible stories to life. Inspired by the popular YouTube videos and storybook Bible, this coloring book helps children grow in their faith while improving fine motor skills and sparking their imagination.  The first thing that made an impression on me was the size of the coloring book. It has large-sized illustrations depicting bible stories for children to color.  You can use this coloring book along with the Hey-O Bible for reinforcement of God's word deeply inside your child's heart.  The illustrations stand out and will hold the child's attention.  A fun way for them to learn about God's love.

• The idea of God’s image can be tricky for kids to understand, but The Glorious Image of God uses the story of Jesus to show how we can recognize God’s reflection in ourselves and build a stronger sense of spiritual identity and self-worth. 
• This book helps kids grasp the meaningful idea of being created in God’s image, inspiring a strong sense of spiritual identity and self-worth. It offers a solid biblical foundation, guiding children to understand their purpose and connection to God. 
• Emphasizing that every person is a beautiful work of art made in His image, the rhyming text and vivid illustrations make these biblical truths engaging and easy for young readers to enjoy.

Deep Breath, Little Whisper invites kids to explore the joy of talking to God in all kinds of moments through a delightful picture book about breath prayers. As they read, they’ll discover how each sincere praise, quick thank-you, and gentle request can bring peace and help them grow closer to their heavenly Father. The book’s beautiful illustrations pair perfectly with the words on every page, sharing a truly wonderful message.

This book encourages meaningful, deeper conversations among families. It teaches children how to pray in simple terms.  It is hopeful, brilliantly written, and illustrated.  It would make a wonderful Easter gift for any age.

To Order

•  I received a complementary copies from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Review of NLT Wide Margin Filament Bible: A New Bible Reading Experience

The Bible has a leather cover and gold leafed pages with a ribbon bookmark and provides you with plenty of room for journaling as you study God's word. Jesus' message appears in red.

At the back of the Bible, there is a full color visual overview including Paul's missionary journeys, journeys of the first Christian leaders, prophecies of the Messiah, the ministry of Jesus, the prophets, kingdoms of Israel, the twelve tribes of Israel, and the plagues of Egypt.  There is also a Tyndale Verse Finder.

With the new Filament Ap you can enhance your reading experience as never before. Easy to use and connects to every page. There are three windows: study, reflect, and maps.  The Filament Bible is available in various colors, sizes, text font, and styles. All with lay-flat, Smyth-Sewn binding cover designs. To access, scan the page number with your phone or tablet, after downloading the app.

https://bit.ly/NLTWideMarginFG

BACK OF BIBLE

FRONT OF PACKAGING

BACK OF PACKAGING

Inside of the Bible

ABOUT THE FILAMENT APP

A NOTE TO READERS

Review of The Good Book: Volume 1. The Gospel Story of Jesus and Acts of the Apostles by Paul S. Williamson

 

This book is a new way of presenting the New Testament, in current English that bring Jesus' words and actions to life.  It enables you to understand the essence of each area of Jesus' life.

As I read each passage, I recognized the scripture but had more insight as to the meaning. It's an easy way to get more in-depth knowledge of the intention of Jesus and his mission on Earth. It brought a new interest to the New Testament and helped me relate it to the traditions of the Old Testament before the new commandments of Christ and the church.

The Good Book is for anyone struggling to understand the Bible and wants a clearer understanding.  Studying scripture can help you realize Jesus' love for you and enable you to apply God's wisdom to daily living.

To Purchase

*I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Interior Pages of the Book

FROM THE AUTHOR

Why did I write this book?

My idea for the book, The Good Book: An Interpretive Reading of the Christian Scriptures, followed my translating the entire Greek New Testament after graduate school. I wanted to experience in detail what the authors were trying to tell us with such passion. While working on this project, I read a book on Shakespeare’s plays explaining the meaning of his archaic language and the cultural differences which clarified the obscurity of the plays. I realized that is exactly what the Bible needs. 

What is new and unique about this New Testament translation is its exciting new format. No more rereading of the older chapter and verse, book by book formats. For instance, repetition of the same story in several Gospels is eliminated by combining them into one. No need to pick up a difficult commentary to understand what it means, the text is accompanied by thought-provoking explanations. 

The tone is intellectually grounded yet accessible for the average reader, bridging sound, orthodox biblical scholarship with everyday relevance. The theological jargon found in most Bibles is avoided or defined. I am a Biblical scholar with a Protestant seminary background and a PhD (ABD) in theology and Biblical languages from a Catholic university. I am also a family physician whose career included private practice, serving as professor for two medical schools, and directing a family practice residency program. My background in both biblical studies and medicine gives me a unique perspective on the human condition and what is required for spiritual healing.

Review of The Nature of Change: Lessons of Determination, Resilience, and Hope from the Outside World by Rene' Marsh

 

The main theme of this beautifully written book is about growing strong despite hard times. It's about adapting to new situations and changes-learning from the changes and also realizing that sometimes certain things remain the same.

Taking a lesson from nature, Kit and Amal, find strength from trees, flowers and the forest around them. They use the opportunity to explore.

The illustrations are brightly colored and catch your eye immediately. They match perfectly with the text and help bring the story to life. A well written and illustrated children's book, I'm sure your child will enjoy. 

This book was written after losing her first child to brain cancer.  Rene' shows her readers how even the darkest moments can bloom beautiful things.  Her book certainly brings a light into the darkness.  

For readers ages 4-8

To Purchase

 https://amzn.to/4012fHF  

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.