Book Review || Where Dandelions Grow

Author: Lydia Howe

Series: None

Genre: Fiction 

Published: 2017

Publisher: Lydia Howe Publishing 

Pages: 120

Age Group: YA 

Cousins are forever, or at least they’re supposed to be.
What happens when your world falls apart and your dreams are mocked by those closest to you?
Destiny’s idyllic childhood full of laughter and cousins abruptly ended when her mom uprooted the family to move them across the country with strict instructions to never talk about Swallow Ridge again. Eleven years later Destiny moves back to her hometown, determined to find her cousins… and answers.
Plagued by generations of bitterness and manipulation, Destiny hides her life-long goal - unwilling to let anyone else trample her fragile dreams. But life in the cozy town full of dandelions teaches Destiny there’s more to life than what she’s been taught.
Is it possible Swallow Ridge not only holds the answers Destiny so intensely searches for, but also the hope?


Where Dandelions Grow follows Destiny, a budding young writer who returns to her childhood hometown after eleven years to take a job at a local bookstore. While there, she undertakes the task of locating and reconnecting with her three cousins- her childhood best friends- and discovering why the family ties within her maternal family are stretched so thin. While on this journey, Destiny discovers more than she bargained for about the importance of reconciliation, dreams, and most of all, faith.
Where Dandelions Grow is a sweet story about hope and second chances. Telling the story in first person suited it well, and it was told in a casual style of writing. The story did jump around a bit, being very detailed and imaginable at times, other times moving pretty fast and a lot harder to connect with the characters and events.
The message of the story is great, especially for such a short work, and I loved the piece Loss and Restoration included in the book. The picture it paints is beautiful.
In all, Where Dandelions Grow is a nice quick read with a great message attached. My rating: 4/5 stars
**I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

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As you may have noticed, there's a few changes going around on the blog recently, and I'm still in the process of getting everything in order. Some things are still a little out of place, so thanks for bearing with me! xx

10 Nonfiction Books Every Christian Teen Girl Should Read

I love reading. It's a fact, and anyone who knows me well knows that one of my favorite things is new books to read! :) A close second, however, would be finding someone who has a list of good books to recommend. Since I can't share my own favorites book list with you in person, I thought the next-best thing would be to share it with you on here. Below, I've listed my top 10 favorite nonfiction books for teen girls. The links go to Goodreads, where you can find my review of the book on the page if there is one. Enjoy! =)

Get Lost by Dannah Gresh

♥ This is probably my #1 favorite nonfiction book ever! EVERY teenage girl should read this book, and I promise- it will totally change the way you look at God, guys, and your relationships with both.

Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally

♥ This one is great for younger girls (I'd say ages 11 and up) to read. So many books on romance and purity are a bit too much for tween girls, in my opinion, but this one fits the bill perfectly, as well as being great for older girls as well. It's filled with biblical wisdom about relationships, dating, and waiting for the Lord's timing.

God Girl by Hayley DiMarco 

♥ This books has a ton of great quotes in it, and a lot of things to get you thinking about how to become a girl more like God- a God Girl!

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

♥ This book is amazing!! I hate to spoil it by giving away details, but just know that if you haven't read it, you need to. Get ready to be challenged and inspired!

Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy DeMoss and Dannah Gresh

♥ This book's title is based off of the original book Lies Women Believe, and is adapted for teenage girls. Full of truth, I can assure you that there's something in here for every girl to learn from!

Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot

♥ The first book I read by Elisabeth Elliot.... so good! Both girls and guys could benefit from reading this book, which is the story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot's relationship- with each other, and the Lord.

Secret Keeper by Dannah Gresh

♥ Can you tell that Dannah Gresh is one of my favorite authors by now? xD This is a really small book, only about 5 chapters, but it's one you won't want to miss! It explains the truths behind modesty in an amazing way, and there's some really great fashion tips in there too. ;)

Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy

♥ This is the only book by Leslie Ludy I've read so far, but it was amazing. Definitely recommend for teenage girls seeking to know the real truth about beauty!

Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot 

♥ A wonderful book about the meaning of biblical womanhood, written in the easy-to-read form of short  "letters" from the author to her daughter. A must-read in this age of radical feminism!

Hearts of Fire by Voice of the Martyrs  

 

♥ This book contains the stories of 8 modern women who are serving God in countries where people are hostile to Christians. It is extremely impacting! You can get a copy for free by clicking here and filling out your mailing info. It's legit, I promise! That's how I received my copy. :)

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How many of these have you read? What's your 3 favorite nonfiction books for teen girls? Please share below!

Book Review | 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart

Author: Liz Curtis Higgs

Series: None

Genre: Non-fiction

Published: 2016

Publisher: WaterBrook Publishers 

Pages: 224

Age Group: All ages

Here are the words of hope you’re looking for when your faith needs a boost or a friend needs encouragement. Chosen by more than a thousand women as their favorite verses in the Bible, each one is worth learning, worth sharing, worth remembering,
You’ll find verses you already know and love: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Others may be less familiar but are no less powerful: “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). All of them capture the truth of God’s goodness, mercy, and love for His own.

31 Verses is a really neat little book with a lot packed into it! It contains 31 different Bible verses from both the Old and New Testament, and a few pages on each that dive deep into each verse and explain them. I love how it included popular verses that almost every Christian knows, as well as lesser-known but still amazing verses that deserve to be known. Each verse is examined in detail, and several different translations of the verse are written, which was helpful in diving deeper into each one. It can be used as a devotional, reading on one verse a day for a month, or in a Bible study group (it includes a guide in the back). In all, I enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it! 

**I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review**

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A quick note to say thank you  to everyone to took my latest blog survey! I appreciate the feedback so much. If you haven't taken the survey yet, you can do so here. 

Thanks for reading, and have a great November!

//Emily 

Book Review | Story Genius

Author: Lisa Cron

Series: Wired for Story Book 2 

Genre: Non-fiction

Published: 2016

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Pages: 290 

Age Group: Teen and up

It’s every novelist’s greatest fear: pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into writing hundreds of pages only to realize that their story has no sense of urgency, no internal logic, and so is a page one rewrite. 
The prevailing wisdom in the writing community is that there are just two ways around this problem: pantsing (winging it) and plotting (focusing on the external plot). Story coach Lisa Cron has spent her career discovering why these these methods don’t work and coming up with a powerful alternative, based on the science behind what our brains are wired to crave in every story we read (and it’s not what you think). 
In Story Genius Cron takes you, step-by-step, through the creation of a novel from the first glimmer of an idea, to a complete multilayered blueprint—including fully realized scenes—that evolves into a first draft with the authority, richness, and command of a riveting sixth or seventh draft.


I dislike giving negative reviews of free books, but sometimes, unfortunately, it's necessary for an honest review. This book was one of those times. I thought Story Genius would be a good read to learn some tips about how to write a great novel. I was rather disappointed. The book was sprinkled with bad words, and the example storyline woven into the book was really strange, and also included some swear words. There were also many mentions of evolution in the parts where it talked about how our brains are wired. I know that this book is not from a Christian publisher, but I was very much disappointed. I have read a few non-fiction books on topics like this that were not specifically Christian, yet they were still good, so I know it's possible to write a book like this without the negative elements! With that said, I did gain a few pieces of helpful information about the novel-writing process from this book, but in my opinion, the cons outweighed the pros.  My rating: 3 out of 10 hearts. ♥♥♥

** I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review**



Sorry for the negative review today, everyone! :(  Do any of you have any good recommendations for writing help- type books? I'd love some good suggestions! Thanks for reading, and have a lovely day!

//Emily

Book Review | Where Hope Prevails

Author: Janette Oke with Laurel Oke Logan 

Series: Return to the Canadian West Book 3

Genre: Christian fiction 

Published: 2016

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Pages: 320

Age Group: 12 +

When Beth Thatcher returns to Coal Valley, she has much to be excited about. She anticipates Jarrick's proposal of marriage and perhaps a spring wedding. The mine is expanding, and there are more schoolchildren than ever. 

But the town's rapid growth brings many challenges. A second teacher is assigned, and Beth finds herself going head-to-head with a very different philosophy of education--one that dismisses religion and rejects God. Fearful for the children who sit under the influence of Robert Harris Hughes, Beth struggles to know how to respond. 

At the same time, Beth wonders if Jarrick is considering a position at her father's company simply for her sake. Should she admit her feelings on the matter? Or keep silent and allow Jarrick to make up his own mind?

Another lovely book by Janette Oke! I was so excited to read and review this book  that I didn't pay close attention to which series it was in- the last in a series that I *cough* haven't read yet. Where Hope Prevails is a sequel to the other 2 books in the Return to the Canadian  West series. Despite the fact that I have not yet read the previous books, I was able to enjoy this one as a stand-alone pretty well! It probably would have helped me understand things a little better, but I'm glad I could just dive in without having to read the previous ones first. I loved the setting, the story, and the characters. I also appreciate how Janette Oke's books are always very sweet and clean in the romance, if there is any. This one was not a disappointment. :) In all, I enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to read the others in the series! My rating: 9 out of 10 hearts- ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

**I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review**


Have you read Where Hope Prevails? If so, did you enjoy it?

Thanks for reading!

//Emily 

Book Review | Women in Science

Author: Rachel Ignotofsky

Series: None

Genre: None fiction, biography 

Published: 2016

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Pages: 128

Age Group: 9 +

A charmingly illustrated and educational book, Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. Full of striking, singular art, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about relevant topics such as lab equipment, rates of women currently working in STEM fields, and an illustrated scientific glossary. The trailblazing women profiled include well-known figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, as well as lesser-known pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon.  

Women in Science celebrates the achievements of the intrepid women who have paved the way for the next generation of female engineers, biologists, mathematicians, doctors, astronauts, physicists, and more!

The main thing that captured my attention about this book at first sight was the illustrations. And that's still probably my favorite part about this book! ;) Women in Science is a collection of short profile biographies about 50 various women who contributed to the fields of science. I love the book's layout, with the beautiful illustrations and the short but engaging biographies. I learned about several women scientists that I had never heard of, and new facts about ones I did know of! My main reason for rating it four stars is that I didn't appreciate the feminist undertone of the book. It certainly wasn't as feminist as it could have been, but it wasn't really necessary to keep saying over and over again how men had hindered women from learning about science and how women finally were able to "break the rules".  But there wasn't as much of it as I would have expected, and overall, I just overlooked those parts and enjoyed learning new facts about women scientists in history! 7 out of 10 hearts-♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

**I received this book from Blogging from Books in exchange for an honest review**

Oh, and I wanted to let you know that I updated my "Writing" page, and added some new poems. I'm going to try to keep that page updated with new things, so keep checking back! Also, all of my book reviews are at the top of the "My Bookshelf" page, if you want to see them all in one spot. :)

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

//Emily

Have you ever read this book? If so, how did you like it? Does it sounds like one you would want to read?

Book Review | Beauty Begins

Author: Chris Shook and Megan Shook Alpha

Series: None

Genre: Non-fiction

Published: 2016

Publisher: WaterBrook

Pages: 208

Age Group: 12 +  

Do you feel beautiful? 

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Others may tell you that you’re beautiful, but do you believe them? Why not? Don’t let another day go by without believing and knowing that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. 

It’s time for you to exchange society’s cookie-cutter suggestions for what is beautiful and instead discover and reclaim what true beauty looks like – and the One who created it.  In Beauty Begins, Chris and Megan Shook share with you their own experiences and struggles with appearance and body image, as well as equip you with the wisdom to distinguish what’s artificial beauty and what’s real. Filled with heartfelt encouragement, insightful challenges, and undeniable truth, after reading Beauty Begins, you’ll never look in the mirror the same way again.

Beauty Begins is an excellent book! At first, I was hesitant because I have already read quite a few books on the topic. But this one is unique. Written by a mother and daughter, Beauty Begins starts with the origins of true beauty and points us forward in the right way to a proper understanding of true beauty. One section talks about the difference between "beautiful" and "pretty". While what the culture says is "pretty" has changed drastically over the years, true beauty has remained the same. Truly "beautiful" comes from the heart, while "pretty: is simply an outward thing. I also appreciated how the book emphasizes how we are beautiful and treasured by God, but also while reminding us that it's not all about us and what we think! So many books leave that out, and while it's definitely important  to remember who we are to God, we also need to remember that we're only where we are by God's grace. Anyway, there's a lot more I could say about this book, but instead, I'll let  you go get Beauty Begins  and read it all for yourself. :)  I would definitely recommend this book to any girl or woman who who wants to learn more about how true beauty begins! 9 out of 10 hearts- ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥


**I received this book from Blogging for  Books in exchange for an honest review**

Book Review | Do Hard Things

Author: Alex and Brett Harris

Series: Do Hard Things book 1

Genre: Non-fiction

Published: 2008

Publisher: Multnomah

Pages: 306

Age Group: 12 +

                                           

A generation stands on the brink of a “rebelution.”

Written when they were 18 years old, Do Hard Things is the Harris twins’ revolutionary message in its most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.  Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact.Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of revolution already in progress challenges the next generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.                     

First off, let me just tell you that Do Hard Things is a life-changing book! I wish every teen and even older people could get their hands on this book at some point. You can't come away from it without wanting to do something with what you just learned. It's so nice to find a book for teens that is actually relevant for teens because it's written by teens! Each chapter is packed with important messages for young people living in today's culture. The inspiring yet simple message to rebel against today's low expectations for teenagers will certainly stir you to do something for God, because even "small hard things" are important! I thought it was pretty sad what the world expects from today's teenagers. People expect them to get and trouble and rebel and only do one chore a week. Seriously! Then the book points out that 150 years ago, 11 and 13 and 15-year-olds were responsible for so much more than many adults do today! The point isn't to make you feel guilty, it's to inspire you that you can rise above the world's ideals and meet God's ideals for your life, whatever they might be. This book definitely challenged and inspired me for the better. I would recommend it for teens and older people alike! 10 out of 10 hearts- ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

** I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review** 

Book Review | Shadow of His Hand

Author: Wendy Lawton

Series: Daughters of the Faith

Genre: Biography 

Published: 2004

Publisher: Moody Publishers

Pages: 160

Age Group: 10 +

Anita Dittman dreams of becoming a ballerina. It's not long until the reality of being a Jewish girl in Nazi-ruled Germany dashes those dreams. When her Aryan  father abandons his Jewish family, Anita's life becomes the stuff of nightmares. "Don't draw attention to yourself", her mother often whispered. "If they don't notice you, they'll leave you alone". But no one hides from Hitler's fury.
As the persecution intensifies, Anita and her family must leave everything and everyone they love- even each other. Will no one hide them from this Holocaust? In the midst of unimaginable suffering, Anita discovers that even when the whole world dissolves into chaos, her heavenly Father continues to hide her in the shadow of His hand. 

Books that capture my attention and force me to slow down and savor them always rank high in my opinion, And Shadow of His Hand, part of the Daughters of the Faith series, is just such a book. The first time I read it, I knew I'd found a keeper.

Shadow of His Hand tells the remarkable story of Anita Dittman, a young half-Jewish girl living in Germany just before WW II. Anita dreams of becoming a ballerina from the age of five, but she can't understand why her German father always disagrees with her Jewish mother. 

When her father leaves her, her mother, and her older sister, Anita's life changes. Now she must give up her dream of dancing and adapt a strange new life, one where she has no friends and lives in fear, ready to slip into the shadows at any moment.

When Anita visits a church on Easter Sunday and meets Jesus for the first time, her life is changed again--for the better. She now has  Friend how will help and protect her, hiding her under the shadow of His hand. As the years pass by, life is still very difficult for Anita--being rejected from school, telling her sister goodbye, and suffering from the many cruelties of the war.

 A bright spot for her is when her mother becomes a Christian--some time after which her mother is taken to prison. Now Anita must provide for her mother, until she herself is taken to a work camp. Thinking that everything is over, Anita must remind continually remind herself of the safety she has in Jesus Christ, despite when everything around seems to be crumbling to pieces. 

Even after the dreadful war was over, Anita never forgot the time when she was so vividly sheltered in the shadow of His hand. 10 out of 10 hearts-♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Have you read Shadow of His Hand, or any of the other Daughters Of The Faith books?  If so, did you enjoy them?