Create - A Girl's Guide to DIY, Doodles and Design by Zonderkidz

What a cleverly, attractive craft book!  But I found it to be so much more than what I thought it would be.  There are over 50 craft ideas with very specific instructions, lists of materials needed and photos of not only the finished product but the process of creating it.  Each project has a list of materials, numbered instructions for creation and then a box called "jazz it up".  The "jazz it up" box containers options or ulternatives to the original design.  I was excited to see so many every day items transformed into beautiful and useful gifts.  Gifts such a personalized pillow cases, plastic soap holders as prayer boxes, and even mint tins crafted to be mini emergency kits.  There are three sections to this book.  The DIY section with the crafty type creations.  The DOODLES section with drawings and how to create your own coloring pages.  The DESIGN section for jewelry, clothes handbags and other accessories.  The items to create are not "cheesy" at all.  They are well made and attractive to the eye.  This craft book is marketed as a faithgirlz/zonderkidz book.  But I wanted to say in this review that adults will find it just as fun and fabulous as the children will.  In fact I think this would be a great tool to use for family evening togetherness as the whole family could create gifts to give to others.  It also would be a wonderful tool for summer Bible camp or a girls club evening or sleep over party.

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

I don’t know how she does it but Beverly Lewis just gets better and better.  For an author who writes about one topic, Amish living, Lewis has such a variety of story lines and characters.  This book starts out with a tragedy but the story is anything but tragic.  It is full of love and romance and fun filled memories in the making.  Family ties are strong throughout this book.  The value of faith filled confidants is highlighted through the friendships that Lena Rose makes in her new setting in Lancaster County.  Throughout Lena’s journey through grief and adjusting to community far from her hometown the reader experiences the spiritual growth of one young woman.  Her courage, resolute trust in a Heavenly Father’s goodwill towards her and her determination to return to her siblings scattered amongst the brethren make for a fulfilling tale.

I received this book from Bethany Publishers but was not required to write a positive review.