book review

The Price of Valor by Susan May Warren – Review

October 6, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Former Navy SEAL Hamilton Jones thought that the love of his life was dead. But when a girl claiming to be his daughter shows up with a dire message from his wife, Ham knows he will stop at nothing to find her and bring her home.

Kidnapped by rebels while serving as an interpreter in Ukraine, Signe Kincaid has spent the past decade secreting out valuable information about Russian assets in the US to her CIA handler. Fearing for her daughter after being discovered as an operative, Signe sends her to Ham for safekeeping. She’s ready to give her life for her country, and she can hardly expect Ham to rescue her after breaking his heart over and over.

When Ham discovers the reason Signe has kept her distance, he must choose between love for his wife and love for the nation he has vowed to protect. Will he save the many? Or the few?

Pin this image to share this book with your friends! You won’t want to miss The Price of Valor by Susan May Warren.

Susan May Warren’s books keep getting better, and The Price of Valor puts the cherry on top of the Global Search and Rescue series sundae! While each one was fantastic, there’s something about this plotline being woven through the entire series that just makes this one explode off the page.

That’s why I love how full of action this book is – you’re sucked in from the very first page. Hamilton Jones is the perfect character for this as he’s built for battle and literally has the resume of a military superhero. To contrast this, he’s hopelessly in love with his long-missing wife and enthralled with the daughter he just found, and these gooey feelings are the perfect complement for his many muscular endeavors.

Jones doesn’t leave his team behind, though, and their adventures in Italy are the perfect showcase for what people can do when they’re brave, fit, and prepared to work together for good. I love their determination to be there for each other no matter what – that’s something I think our society needs to do more, and I love books and shows that put this quality into action.

With high-quality friendship and a long-term kind of love battling for first place in this plot, The Price of Valor stands out among other books touting the benefits of romance. The action that keeps you guessing as you tear through the story will make your guy friends just as interested in this story as you are.

Though it was hard for me to relate to Signe’s choices, it was fun to read about a new breed of female lead. I appreciate the way that Warren designed her differently and broke the mold of the stereotypical woman.

Finally, while it’s been a hard year for all earthlings this year, Americans have had extra issues piled on our plates: with the coming election, civil unrest, political uncertainty, and racial riots, there’s been a lot going on. Reading a story where people were unwaveringly loyal to the country that gives them the freedom to disagree with itself was awesome. I enjoyed the getaway to an America that recognizes that issues exist but works hard to allow for those same freedoms to be enjoyed.

The Price of Valor was the perfect ending to the Global Search and Rescue series. It ties up loose ends while ending on a bang. Now, Warren, can you just release some more books in this series anyway, please? This series is too fun to end so soon.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

Read my reviews of the other books in this series by clicking on their titles below:

The Heart of a Hero

A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanne M. White – Review

October 3, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Zivon Marin was one of Russia’s top cryptographers until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee to England after speaking out against Lenin, Zivon is driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits. But never far from his mind is his brother, whom Zivon fears died in the train crash that separated them.

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and re-creating photographs. With her father’s connections in propaganda, she’s recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove if she ever found out.

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily that soon takes over their hearts. But both have secrets they’re unwilling to share, and neither is entirely sure they can trust the other. When Zivon’s loyalties are called into question, proving him honest is about more than one couple’s future dreams–it becomes a matter of ending the war.

A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

I’m not sure how Roseanna M. White’s books keep getting better, but they do! A Portrait of Loyalty was my favorite in the Codebreakers series. While each book features strong characters and female leads breaking gender barriers of the day, something struck me about Lily in this particular one.

Lily is a photographer who does artistic work involving photos for the war effort. Not only is she gifted at her craft, but she excels at finding the best in any situation – both visually and literally. As we live in this global pandemic that has changed everything about our lives, I appreciate the spiritual lessons that parallel this gift more than ever. White these lessons seamlessly into the story, making them both important and relevant.

We’re not the only ones enduring a pandemic, either. The Flu Epidemic of 1918 takes a starring role in this story and greatly influences the second half of the story. If anyone else has been stressed about our current sickness, you may find this element as fascinating as I do. While that period was certainly scary, reading about how people handled their fear was encouraging to me.

Zivon’s character amazed me. He faces intense persecution and betrayal in this this story, yet the way that he handles the hard feelings that accompany these is inspiring. I appreciate the way that White includes these difficult lessons in her story. She doesn’t shy away from hard events or intense emotions, even though they must be difficult to write, and that creates emotional, moving scenes for the reader. We can also learn from Zivon’s experiences just as he does, and while we hope never to endure those same things, they do provide examples that we can follow.

A Portrait of Loyalty is the perfect ending for The Codebreakers series. I mean, I don’t want it to end, but if it has to, then White has certainly ended it on a high note. If you like exciting historical fiction, then this must be on your TBR list.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

Check out my reviews from the other books in The Codebreakers series!

On Wings of Devotion

The Number of Love

Take the Lead by Shelley Shepard Gray – Review

September 8, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Growing up in foster care, Officer Traci Lucky had a rough start to life, but things are looking up now that she’s found a place in Bridgeport with two sisters she never knew she had. One night while on the job Traci finds Gwen, a pregnant teen caught up in a dangerous world of drugs, and takes her straight to the hospital. There Traci encounters the oh-so-charming Dr. Matt Rossi, who surprises Traci with his compassion—and his movie-star good looks.

A busy ob-gyn with a huge, meddling Italian family, Matt Rossi hasn’t had much time for love in his life. All that changes when he meets the beautiful Officer Lucky. He’s intrigued by her strength and the kind heart she tries to hide beneath her tough exterior.

When Matt confides that he needs to learn to waltz for his brother’s wedding, Traci reveals that her sister happens to be a ballroom dance teacher. Next thing they know, Matt and Traci are juggling busy careers, helping young Gwen with her pregnancy and personal safety, and learning to waltz together. But when Gwen’s escalating problems threaten to put all of them in danger, they wonder if they’ll ever find time for a little romance too.

Shelley Shepard Gray excels at telling stories with heart and truth. Her new series, the Dance with Me series, is about three sisters reunited as adults. Take the Lead releases today, and it’s a compelling look at how we should treat people around us who may appear to be different than we are.

This book brings so many questions to the surface: what role should our families play in our relationships? At what point does danger trump our ability to help other people? What informs our identity, and can we change it? What is a family?

These are all crucial issues in today’s turbulent times, but Take the Lead isn’t a heavy book at all; instead, Gray addresses these questions with her signature sweetness and care. The story certainly invites readers to ponder their own reactions to these issues, but at no point does it feel scary or overwhelming. Despite the seriousness of the plot, Gray keeps the plot moving and the reader invested without bringing the mood down.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book – and the one that kicks off the series, Shall We Dance? They’re really fun, lighthearted romances – perfect for the stressful days we’re living in. I love how the sisters are learning to bond and relate to each other all while making a home together and in their new relationships.

Take the Lead is a bit different than the other books by Gray that I’ve read, however, and I feel that I would be remiss in not sharing how. This one is published by a secular publisher, and while there are still references to prayer, faith, and God in the story, major life lessons are without named spiritual lessons. Also, several characters are often reaching for alcoholic beverages and some, being romantically involved, reference spending the night together – in ways that mean that they haven’t but aren’t opposed to the idea. Both of these references are kept light, but it is a departure from Gray’s other scripture-filled stories.

I can’t wait to read Save the Last Dance, the final story in the series, though. If it’s as good – and as timely – as the two that came before it, I’ll be pre-ordering it as soon as possible. If you’re looking for sweet, romantic, lighthearted reads, perfect for a fall getaway or a pandemic distraction, Take the Lead is the perfect choice.

To read reviews of Shelley Shepard Gray’s other books, click here.

I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

“To Love a Prince” by Rachel Hauck – Review

August 11, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Would you want To Love a Prince?

Daffodil Caron is not a princess, even though she once dreamed of being one. After all, she grew up as a playmate to royal princes, running through the halls of Perrigwynn Palace in the North Sea’s Lauchtenland. But the day she stumbled upon a royal secret, everything changed.

Flash forward eighteen years, and Daffy’s living a sweet, non-royal life. A skilled art curator for the Royal Trust, she has friends, a flat in the heart of the capital city, and a handsome, successful boyfriend. The last person on her mind is Gus, the prince she once called her best mate.

HRH Prince Augustus is no longer “Prince Pudgy,” as caricatured by the press—he’s charming and gorgeous, possessing a world-famous smile. But after he’s jilted at the altar, then dumped by his second fianceé, the spare heir to Lauchtenland’s ancient House of Blue finds solace on a Florida beach.

A year as a regular bloke allows him to rethink his purpose. He’s half decided his calling is to pour pints at a tiki bar rather than serve his country and the Family.

But a wild Frisbee toss down the beach changes his destiny.

Despite his long hair and beard, Daffy recognizes her prince. She reminds Gus of his heritage and assures him that he’s needed in Lauchtenland.

When Daffy and Gus find themselves on assignment at Hadsby Castle in preparation for his brother’s wedding ball, their friendship blooms into affection.

Then secrets are exposed, and Gus must choose between his past hurts and his future hope. And Daffy must trust her heart to forever love a prince.

Rachel Hauck’s Royal Romances are the BEST! To Love a Prince is no different. I LOVE the way that she creates a complete fantasy world, melding the best of the British royals with her own Brighton Kingdom. Although you don’t have to have read her other royal books, you’ll be thrilled if you have, because a few of the main characters pop in to make appearances in these.

Lauchtenland springs to life in Hauck’s words and creates the perfect backdrop for this sweet love story. The ancient villages melding with the tech-friendly cities sound fascinating to me. It’s definitely a place I’d love to visit.

That’s all just happy background, though. The real beauty is where Daffy and Gus come in. They’re so real but vulnerable and just plain likeable that I wanted to slide into a seat at the pub with them and talk for a while. That’s what really makes the story, I think: sure, they’re beautiful successful people, but they have real hang-ups and insecurities and problems, just like the rest of us, and they need to figure them out. Sure, it’s a fantasy royal series, but the problems are real. It’s not about which-tiara-should-I-wear-today, but things you can relate to. Job problems. Family dramas. It’s hard work, and even though it’s a book (so you have your fingers crossed for a happy ending) you just can’t be sure. Can they work through all the problems and obstacles? Will love win out?

Hauck masterfully pens stories in which the characters learn their lessons in amazing, revelatory ways. She creates real A-HA moments both for the character and the reader. In To Love a Prince, not only are those moments special, but they often involve Emmanuel, a special character who drives home the spiritual lessons of the story. Those lessons aren’t as abundant in this story as in others, but they are very real and important. Hauck also based story elements on scripture, and the way that she manifested this is really cool.

I’ve read several of Hauck’s series – not just books – and there’s not a bad one in the bunch; but the royal romances are my favorite, and To Love a Prince has the potential to top the whole list. I can’t wait for the next installment! Please, write fast!

Are you new to Rachel Hauck’s books? Click here to read my review of her story How to Catch a Prince. It’s another winner!

I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

“Don’t Keep Silent” by Elizabeth Goddard – Review

June 30, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

What’s the new Don’t Keep Silent all about?

Investigative reporter Rae Burke will do anything to find her missing sister-in-law, even if it means facing Liam McKade, a man who almost lost his life saving hers. A former DEA agent, Liam thought he could find peace at his Wyoming ranch, but he just doesn’t feel at home anywhere anymore. When the reporter who blew his cover on an important investigation inserts herself back into his life, he’s less than thrilled. But Rae’s keen investigative skills have led her down the right path–and directly into the dragon’s mouth–leaving Liam no choice but to protect her. As the danger increases, the past they both tried to flee catches up to them, along with the feelings they once had for each other.

Elizabeth Goddard’s Don’t Keep Silent is the perfect ending to the Uncommon Justice series! With stunning mountain backdrops setting the scene and hunky cowboy law enforcement types, there’s excitement on many levels in these books.

Goddard knows just how to keep the suspense building in Don’t Keep Silent, too. Every time I thought I had the plot and the players figured out, she’d throw another wrench into the works. I enjoyed the way she spiraled the action deeper and deeper, keeping the intrigue fresh and the reader wondering.

Zoey’s character drew me in from the very beginning. You can’t help but feel bad for a sad girl wanting her missing mommy and the hurting husband who’s trying to keep things together for her. I wanted everything to work out well for them both, but that seemed less and less likely as I read deeper into the story. I love the red herrings that Goddard threw out there to keep the reader guessing – Don’t Keep Silent definitely ruled the series in that regard.

Rae and Liam were complicated characters, and that’s part of what made them so great. They’re both fighting their own demons, and those demons have some similarities. Add that to the fact that they have a complex past together, and they make for deep story leads. I would have liked a flashback scene since their past influenced this story so much; that would have helped me to understand their past and it’s forward connections more fully. Of course, then Goddard couldn’t have dribbled out information in quite the same way, so maybe this way is best, but I do love those pieces that really grab the reader and superglue the two plot lines together.

Don’t Keep Silent was one of those stories that made me simultaneously want to read faster and slower as I neared the end; I couldn’t wait to find out what happened but didn’t want the story – and the series – to end. I’ll definitely be rereading this one.

Although the preview that Goddard included of the first book in the next series sounds amazing. If you like mystery/suspense stories where the setting plays a key role, you’ll want to get the first book in her new Rocky Mountain Courage series pre-ordered as soon as possible!

All in all, if you’re a fan of suspense, you won’t want to miss Elizabeth Goddard’s Don’t Keep Silent. With lots of action scenes, likeable characters, and as many plot twists as the ski slopes it features, it’s the perfect pandemic read.

I received a free copy of Don’t Keep Silent from the author. All opinions are my own.

“The Heart of a Hero” – Review

June 2, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

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What’s The Heart of a Hero all about?

Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. Now he can’t get her out of his head, and when he hears she is in the path of a hurricane down in Key West he can’t help but jump on a plane to rescue her.

Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Now driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn’t been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he’s also dangerous, and she’s already lost one person she loves. She can’t bear it again.

It’s not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?

Susan May Warren outdoes herself with The Heart of a Hero! You’d better clear your schedule, because once you turn the first page, you won’t be able to put this book down until you turn the last one.

The contrast between Jake and Aria from the first book to this one is huge – but stellar. I loved seeing the way that their wild and chaotic meeting in the first book transfers to ‘real life’ – only real life turns out to be anything but calm. This creates conflict we can all relate to.

That conflict turns into suspense and action from the very beginning. The drama starts out high emotionally and then kicks into gear in every other way – while emotions continue to run high, there are physical and criminal subplots that create tension with high stakes. This all translates into page-turning action for the reader!

Warren knows exactly how to write characters that draw you in. While both Jake and Aria are heroes with jobs that few of us can probably relate to, their fears, flaws, hopes, and dreams are different. They’re the kinds of things we all deal with and that makes them seem like the best possible version of the people next door. Her characters become people you want to be and people you want to know – and you can’t help but cheer them on with every obstacle they face. I love the way that Warren pits characters with traits that they both desire and fear, and the way that they face those obstacles makes for a fascinating story.

Warren ends this book with a TOTAL cliffhanger! It’s the kind of ending that finds you yelling at the book in your hand, insisting that more pages magically appear. She set up the next story well, though, and I can’t wait to read it!

Warren’s books are the ones that I make sure to put on my Goodreads ‘want to read’ list as soon as the date is released, but this next one might just have to be put on my paper calendar, too. I don’t want to wait a single day more than I have to wait to read the next installment.

If you like high-octane action, suspenseful stories, and heroes with heart, The Heart of a Hero is totally the book for you.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

“Unveiling the Past” by Kim Vogel Sawyer – Review

May 3, 2020 by Amy 1 Comment

Newlyweds Sean Eagle and Meghan DeFord are no strangers to pain and loss. As cold-case detectives, they know intimately the anguish family members endure after the murder or disappearance of a loved one. But when a new case hits too close to home, it threatens to pull loose the fragile cords of their young marriage.

Sheila Menke was just a girl when her father left for work and never returned. An investigation revealed he had embezzled enough to start a new life elsewhere, but Sheila could never accept the court’s criminalization of her father. Meghan reluctantly takes the case, secretly fearing it will stir up buried feelings about her own biological father. And while Sean investigates the mysterious death of two young brothers, he longs to start a family. But Meghan worries that with a negligent mother and an absentee father as her parenting examples, she might never be fit for motherhood.

As they delve deeper into the past, both Meghan and Sheila must choose to either stumble along the road of bitterness and resentment or walk the difficult path toward forgiveness and healing. When the cases begin to break wide open, these young women are poised to discover that while earthly fathers may fail, there is one in heaven who is a father to the fatherless.

Sawyer brings DeFord and Eagle into a new story in a fantastic way! I love the fresh look at how each character has grown since they were introduced back in ‘Bringing Maggie Home,’ but Sawyer builds on their weaknesses again and creates a compelling story of faith and how your past affects the vision you have for your future. I enjoyed the parenting advice, the stories of personal responsibility, but especially the idea that we need to look beyond people’s actions to see the person underneath – the one whom God created. Our actions often don’t reflect our intentions, and this is important to understand. Sawyer shades in layer upon layer for each character, developing a real and dynamic cast of characters that are truly fantastic.

I loved the way that Sawyer wraps such deep truths in funny anecdotes. Each character had a bit of comedian in him, and that brought much needed relief to the weightiness of the story.

That humor, along with their determination to advance despite fear or uncertainty is why I’d like to know these characters. They seem like really great people, and they pick fantastic places to eat! I was wanting to go to DeFord’s favorite pizza place throughout the whole book! Seriously, though, their caring and compassionate nature would make anyone lucky to have them as friends, and I love reading about great friendships.

It would be tough to say which book I liked better, “Bringing Maggie Home’ or this sequel; but they’re definitely my favorite Sawyer stories thus far. If you haven’t read her books or are looking for your next meaningful read, give ‘Unveiling the Past’ a try. It won’t disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Curious about the book that started it all? Read my review for Bringing Maggie Home here!

Book Club, Sherlock Holmes Edition: “Death Cloud”

April 17, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

My Big Helper is a freshman in high school now, and finding good books for her to read with her friends – who range in age by a few years on either side of that – has been increasingly tricky. I look for challenging yet interesting stories in a variety of genres, and oddly, mystery stories have been especially difficult to find – at least until I found Death Cloud.

A book named Death Cloud may not seem the type to have a positive message, but it’s a fascinating story on many levels! Written by Andrew Lane, this book is the first in a series about Sherlock Holmes as a teenager. It’s also the only book (series) approved by the family of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – and with the wealth of Sherlock spin-offs out there, that says something.

Death Cloud is a YA book for obvious reasons. It includes fights, death, murder, weapons, first crushes, and more, but it does not glorify the violence. Instead it concentrates on the ways that young Sherlock defends himself and his friends against it, on the lessons that he learns from his mentor, and the ways that he takes a stand for what he believes is right. There are moral and ethical dilemmas within that make for great discussion, and the vocabulary alone makes for a challenging read.

Best of all, though, Lane nails the essence of the famous detective. He proves that even at the age of fourteen he has the ability to make amazing observations and enough scientific knowledge to draw wise conclusions from them. These situations make the reader want to cheer Sherlock on and propel the reader through the story.

For all of these reasons, I was excited to choose Death Cloud as our book club pick for February. We started out by discussing the story and many of the ethical dilemmas within. Is it ever okay to lie? Does truth ever trump obedience? To what lengths should you go to defend yourself? Your friends? What is a friend?

I was really excited about our second activity – an escape room! My kids love to pit themselves against characters from their favorite stories, so I created an escape room-style challenge based on this book.

With only four girls in attendance that day, they opted not to split up but to solve the puzzles together. I love seeing how happy they are to stick together!

Although it was February, the weather was mild, so we held our meeting outside. One puzzle required the pieces to be hidden, so I hid them around our yard for the girls to find.

After collecting all the pieces, they moved to the deck, where they worked to put together all the pieces. In the end, they were able to solve the whole thing – but just a few minutes late!

Finally, as marionettes play a role in the story, the girls each crafted her own. They brought long-limbed stuffed animals from the local dollar store and used craft sticks and string to create a simple puppet.

It was a lot of fun, easy to do, and they each got great results!

I really enjoyed making the escape room challenge for Death Cloud, and so I’ve added it to my TpT store here. It’s completely printable and utilizes skills and information from the story. There’s a vocabulary challenge, math puzzles, a bee puzzle, literary elements from Charge of the Light Brigade, and more. Check it out!

What are you reading right now? Do your students like escape rooms? Let me know in the comments!

“Kings Falling” by Ronie Kendig – Review

April 10, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Leif Metcalfe and his team, dubbed Reaper, need to recover the stolen, ancient Book of the Wars if they hope to stop the Armageddon Coalition and their pursuit of global economic control. But their attention has been diverted by a prophecy in the book that foretells of formidable guardians who will decimate the enemies of ArC. While Iskra Todorova uses her connections in the covert underworld to hunt down the Book of the Wars, Leif and Reaper attempt to neutralize these agents but quickly find themselves outmaneuvered and outgunned.

The more Reaper tries to stop the guardians, the more failure becomes a familiar, antagonistic foe. Friendships are fractured, and the team battles to hold it together long enough to defeat ArC. But as this millennia-old conspiracy creeps closer and closer to home, the implications could tear Leif and the team apart.

Ronie Kendig is the MASTER of suspense! Kings Falling starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up; instead, she ratchets up the action with each chapter.

I love the premise in this series; that the Book of the Wars mentioned in the Biblical book of Numbers has been found. Governments around the world are hunting it down. It’s fascinating to think about the information that book might contain.

This next chapter in Iskra’s story is really exciting. She’s a character who is full of contradictions. That will keep you on your toes as you try to figure out what she’s up to. She’s not the only character to fall in that category, either.

Leif, on the other hand, is just off the charts. Every time I thought I had a handle on his backstory I later decided I was wrong. He’s the most awesome kind of male lead: strong, protective, decisive, smart, and yet vulnerable in critical ways. That vulnerability causes him to struggle with himself as well as the main conflict.

With multiple antagonists who take the search for The Book of the Wars world-wide, Leif’s team crisscrosses the globe tracking down clues. Kendig keeps you guessing here, as well, as she dribbles out new information expertly. I love stories where I can’t figure out the details before turning the last page, and they’re hard to find. Kendig kept me in the dark the whole time, though!

I loved this book and I read it in a single sitting – I couldn’t put it down. Kings Falling is the kind of story you think about long after you finish it. You’ll be contemplating the characters and the action and wondering what will come next. Unfortunately, I’ll be wondering for several months until the sequel releases – but I’ll definitely be first in line to read it when it does.

If you like suspenseful, high-action, prophetic-type stories with likeable, hunky characters, you have to read this series. (Pssst! Don’t start with Kings Falling. Start with Storm Rising because it’s too good to miss.) Grab your copy today!

I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

The Action Bible Anytime Devotions – Review

March 19, 2020 by Amy Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

I love being able to share devotions and scripture with my kids in a variety of ways. There’s nothing more important! That’s why I was excited to review the Action Bible Anytime Devotions by David C Cook.

This book contains 90 devotions – that’s a lot! If you use one per day, you’re set for several months – and I like being able to establish a routine and settle in. The length of this book works well for that.

You don’t have to work your way straight through this book, though. It’s organized a bit differently than many devotionals: instead of random lessons, these are titled and organized. The titles are listed in the table of contents in the front of the book, and many of them are situational, so that you could choose a devotion based on what’s going on in your child’s life.

Each devotion is structured similarly. It starts out with a scripture verse, upon which the whole thing is based. Then comes the devotion itself. It’s short – just a few paragraphs – and is succinct and to the point.

Then comes the connection point. The next few points are made in bulleted paragraphs, and the first one connects the scripture and devotion to a child’s life. This is super important! It spells out clearly what all of the above means in a personal way. Kids need to know how the Bible is relevant to them, and this paragraph does this for all 90 devotions.

The next paragraph contains a sample prayer. For kids who might not have a history of praying, this is crucial. It’s an example of what one might want to say to God based on the lesson in the devotion. This part might not be necessary for kids who have strong mentors demonstrating prayer for them, but other kids might need this. It also restates the lesson and helps to put it into action, so if the reader didn’t understand the lesson before this, it provides another opportunity.

The next part is my favorite! It’s an action step. Now that you’ve learned the lesson, connected it to you, and prayed about it, how can you apply it? Some of these ask students to think or talk about something, but others are more concrete. Some ask students to memorize scripture, draw pictures, make cards, or help others. This part is really great – it’s all about faith in action!

There’s one last section. It’s not really a part of the devotion itself, but more like a bonus cut or extra helping. This part asks the reader to take the lesson further by looking up another related scripture passage and reading it. This is a great way for kids who have a solid background with scripture to go deeper.

The devotions are great for kids. I love the structure and how real and applicable each part is. The pictures, though? The pictures add an element of fun to the whole thing.

The Action Bible has illustrations that are very comic book-like, and this devotional has been created in a matching style. The illustrations have bold black lines and bright colors. They stand out and are very appealing to kids who love comic books, especially. I enjoy this element – I think it gives them a wider audience appeal, and it’s definitely different from the norm.

The Action Bible Anytime Devotions is a great devotional for middle grade kids – but don’t take my word for it. Check out other reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew here.

The Action Bible Anytime Devotions {David C Cook Reviews}