Twas The Evening Of Christmas

“The pigeons were nestled all snug in their beds; while visions of breadcrumbs danced in their heads. The cow closed their eyes and the oxen laid down; the doves cooed so gently; the lambs made no sound.”

Book: Twas The Evening Of Christmas by Glenys Nellist, Illustrated by Elena Selivanova, Zonderkidz 2017

Genre: Picture Book

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 4+

Subjects: Jesus’ Nativity

Summary/Notes: It’s a retelling of the “Night Before Christmas” that tells the real Christmas story! I was hooked from page 1! Absolutely beautiful illustrations and the wonderful rhymes that make you start memorizing it from the first read! I used to want to memorize “The Night Before Christmas” until I realized I was trying to memorize something that had nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas. This is a perfect solution! My only complaint is that like most every traditional children’s story about Jesus’ nativity, it has the wise men arriving at the manger and calls them 3 kings. Theologians and historians have pointed out the Bible doesn’t give a number, they probably arrived when Jesus about two, not that very night, and they were not kings, but astrologers. But again, nearly every single story does the same thing. It’s just tradition. It’s still a gorgeous book that focuses on the true story and I’ll eagerly share it with all my students! I do like the imaginings of how the animals could have responded. Did all of God’s creation leap to awareness when He was born? It’s fun to imagine what it may have been like!

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Enjoyment Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Isaiah 55:12 – You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Thank you so much to the publishers for the review copy! I think I enjoyed it even more than my students!

All opinions are my own.

His Steadfast Love

And although pushy wasn’t generally part of his personality, the service had taught him well that aggression was a necessary evil in war. And make no mistake, this was war. The misguided attraction that Cat OBryen wielded over him was way too dangerous for a casual hobnobbing type of relationship. No, he was going to have to stay on his guard in order to be the friend that Cat desperately needed, and he may as well start right now. “I don’t have to ply with compliments to get my way, Catfish,” he said in the no-nonsense tone he’d perfected in the service.

“I can just take it because I’m bigger than you.”

“I never figured you for a bully, Chase Griffin.”

“Yeah, me neither, but I guess you bring out the best in me, Catherine Marie.”

Book: His Steadfast Love by Julie Lessman, Self-Published, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Target Audience: Adult Women

Subjects: Faith, Forgiveness, Temptation, Friendship

Summary: She’s falling apart inside. Her family knows it. They can see clearly the hurt, but Cat refuses to let anyone help her. She’s bent on a course for self-destruction, claiming her need and right to be independent, even while part of her knows she’s making things worse for herself. Chase wants to help, longs to help, but he knows better than to get into a relationship where he’s unequally yoked. He’s a pastor for goodness sakes! He has no business pursuing romance with a woman trying her hardest to run away from God. But God is exactly what Cat needs. Now Chase merely needs to overcome his own fears long enough to resist the temptation of a romance with or rejection of the most stubborn woman he’s ever met in his life. But God (and chocolate) can do some mighty things when one surrenders!

Notes: His Steadfast Love is the third in the Isle of Hope series. The series features three siblings and their journey to love. Each book features one character who has either rejected their faith or not had a faith to begin with, and one character with a very strong faith who falls in love with the other one. There is also always a character wrestling with forgiveness.

In His Steadfast Love, Cat has to learn that God never rejected her or saw her as inferior to her sister. As with all of Julie Lessman’s books, there is a lot of passion – passion for God and passion for romance. Her characters are very passionate in their romances, but they are equally passionate about their faith. It is what drives them and is the standard they use to make their decisions. A Christian who enjoys romance will be absolutely delighted with this book!

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23

Thank you to the author for giving me a free e-book. I greatly enjoyed it!

All opinions are my own.