"The Rose Princess and the Special Gift" Book Review

"The Rose Princess and the Special Gift" Book Review

The Rose Princess and the Special Gift
Written by: Mike de Vetter
Illustrated by: Travis Orams
Published by Fish Pond, a division of Deep River Books

Here's a short description of the book, found on the back cover:

Not far from here lives The Rose Princess in a kingdom ruled by her father the King. One morning she awakes to find a splendid package at the end of her bed full of gifts and a card from her father encouraging her to use the gifts wisely. Unaware of what lies ahead, the princess sets out on a journey of learning and adventure where she meets several people who are in need. Suddenly she realizes that the gifts she has received can help the others, and that she has to make a choice...keep the gifts to herself, or help others by giving the gifts away. 

In The Rose Princess and the Special Gift, children embrace the heart of generosity and begin to make conscious decisions to share and give people who are in need. They learn that they have the ability to lead and influence simply by being a positive example.


I loved reading this book! It is still a little wordy for my 9 month old, but it was a really quick read for myself that I completely enjoyed. I would say that this book is perfect for girls ages 5-10.  Not only is the book well written and easy for a child to understand, it also has bright colorful illustrations. This book is great to teach your child(ren) the importance of generosity and sharing. 

You can purchase this book on Amazon.com by clicking here!

*I was not paid for this review. I only share my honest opinions. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review item.*

The Place of Belonging- a memoir

The Place of Belonging

By Jayne Pearson Faulkner

ISBN# 1935265458

Retail: $13.99

Buy It! Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, Deep River Bookstore

Description: This elegantly written story is told from the eyes of a child of a single mother, set in the 1940's in Big Sky Montana. Humorous, yet bracingly honest, The Place of Belonging stirs out basic feelings of wanting to belong somewhere and to someone. Beautifully and simply told, The Place of Belonging takes the reader on an unforgettable step back in time, a place many will recognize.

Anyone who has ever tried to fit in and belong will understand both the mother and child in this narrative and will see that separation and loss can sometimes be the very encounters that will ultimately bring wholeness.

Review: After reading the works of Jayne Pearson Faulkner, I feel like I have actually been to The Place of Belonging. It's as though I know each person she describes, and that by reading this book I have been invited to sit in the house where she grew up. When I close my eyes I can see the sky, a soft evening lavender with streaks of gold and orange, and the wheat fields running away to the edge of the green velvet hills. I imagine sitting in the living room's overstuffed chair that smelled of tractor oil and hired men, while Mom is humming cleaning the floor, as the faded linoleum seems to come to life again, its yellow and gray rectangle shapes dancing beneath her scrub rag.

The book brought peace to me as I read it, while making me laugh at the memories of being a child. The style is not just that of a narrative by a grown-up thinking back upon their life, instead it is told through the eyes of a child remembering every detail with innocence in full color. It's like Junie B. Jones for big people. Weaving descriptive words and lines, Jayne Pearson Faulkner paints a vivid picture on each page that draws you into the reality of her life on the farm. I want to sit down with brushes and paint every picture I just saw.

I laughed, I wondered, and as I read the last lines I cried, as this child, who was always on the verge of belonging, found that she did fit it, and it was right there in the middle of the farm which she now called home. This is absolutely beautiful, and is a book I will read again and again. 

By Rhonda Funk, Publicist and owner of Bring It On! Communications, Singer/Songwriter, and author of the Pookster and Bub™ children's series (Fish Pond Kids, 2010)

The thoughts expressed are simply my own.  You may or may not feel the same after reading this book, but we should would love to know! Get the book-read it-give us your best review-we can handle the truth!  

Book Review: The Real Prince Charming By Michelle Raftery

Book Review: The Real Prince Charming By Michelle Raftery

I've always been a hopeless romantic and I love sappy love movies. My heart skips a beat when the guy does something romantic but there isn't anything more romantic than finding your 'Real Prince Charming.'

Michelle Raftery wrote the book 'The Real Prince Charming,' discovering God's plan for a lifetime of fullfilling romance.

The Real Prince Charming
by Michelle Raftery
VMI Publishers
Deep River Books
2010
100 pages

God has an amazing love story for each and every one of us! Michelle Raftery helps you discover your 'real' prince charming. We've all been in relationships that don't work out. Why waste your time on mr. wrong when you can live your own daydream.

from the cover 
An entire generation of young women are being consumed by today's dating trend; immersing them in various dating relationships. Over and over again these young women struggle with purity, the lack of self confidence and security in God to stand up for their beliefs and values. The long for a fairytale ending and cling to unrealistic expectations, past hurts and guilt, turning most toward romantic pursuits. However, the secret to finding The Real Prince Charming is becoming the woman that He longs to have an intimate relation with you.

Why would you settle for less when you could have God's best?

Facing common dating pitfalls, author Michelle Raftery points out that when you ask the Creator Himself, you learn what a special and unique place God has for women!

My Review

Michelle Raftery did a great job writing this book. This book is geared towards young Christian women. Whether your a teenager, college student or young single women you will really enjoy this book. Dating can be so hard when your caught up in looks and emotions pushed by movies. In The Real Prince Charming, Michelle gives direction for realistic expectations in a christian relationship.  

Even in a short 100 pages, she managed to communicate everything you should look for in a biblical way. She doesn't just tell you that you need to save yourself for marriage but she expands on that from a fairytale perspective using the glass slipper, white horse and happily ever after analogies. I wish that I would have had a book like this growing up. With having girls, this book will be a great help as they grow up.

BUY IT: You can purchase this book in most book stores or on Amazon for $12.99

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of The Real Prince Charming through Bring It On Communications. This is my honest opinion.

Hot Read! The Key To The Kingdom

I have to admit, I wondered what The Key To the Kingdom by Jeff Dixon would hold.  The book, based on the dreams of Walt Disney and actual facts/Disney trivia, had me wondering if this could possibly be an exciting novel, and after ripping through the book in about 2.5 days it was an adventure I'm glad I took!

Grayson Hawkes ventures off the beaten path to meet a long time friend in a dark cottage (which inspired the movie Snow White), where he is given a mysterious key and a message to use the key wisely.  That night, his friend disappears and Hawk must use his knowledge of Disney trivia along with a string of clues left behind by his missing friend Farren Rales to bring him back.  Hawk, a pastor of a local church, finds himself running all hours of the day and night trying to find the next clue.  It's an adventure extreme, as Hawk lands behind the scenes, searching for clues where visitors are not allowed to go.   Somehow he has to determine who is helping him, and who is against him. As the cover says, "In this world, Disney trivia is no game...and the ancient key is the only way out."  

I could not put the book down! If I had taken the Evelyn Woods speed reading course I would have certainly applied it here!  The only hope I had was to drink more coffee and to stay up late, just so I could get to the next chapter! I even read while I was driving.  Don't worry, my husband had a hold of the wheel.   Dixon does a great job of incorporating Disney facts while adding in a flair of his own brilliant imagination to make The Key To the Kingdom come to life. 

What I loved the most is that it was a mystery full of suspense that is written in such a clean form that I could pass the book on to my pre-teens.  And I love how the story kept twisting and turning, right up until the last page.  This is a must read for anybody (any age) who loves Disney facts, and for anyone who doesn't!

Disney.....if you are listening this book should be your next big adventure movie and theme park ride!  I find that I am planning my family adventure to Disney World, just so I can see what is real and what is not!  I am instantly fascinated beyond my limited knowledge of how the parks were created, WHY each themed area was created, and how each intricate detail of the park has a story to tell.

Nice work Dixon!  You may have just landed yourself a new movie and ride! 

Retail: $15.99
EAN: 9781935265245
ISBN: 1935265245

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Publisher: Deep River
Pub Date: December 1, 2010
You can pick up this hot book at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, CBD and other fine retailers.  This book should be on the shelf of a Barnes and Noble near you-I suggest that you not only buy it, but tell them to order more!!!!!

This review is by Rhonda Funk, publicist (Owner of Bring It On! Communications) and author (Pookster and Bubs™ book series).  All views expressed are my own. And, I would love to hear your view!  Please, read the book, and give us your best shot-We can handle the truth!

Be on the Lookout...

You know how some books beckon from the bookshelves, willing you to read them? Well, I have one book that is just dying to have a place on your nightstand...

A few of you already have this beautiful book...

As for the rest of you...be on the lookout to read what they thought!

 The Place of Belonging: A Memoir

(Deep River Books, 2010)

written by Jayne Pearson Faulkner

ISBN: 1935265458

Quick Overview

A warm and endearing, yet heart-wrenching memoir. The Place of Belonging is about a child of a single mother in Big Sky Montana that is beautifully and simply told. It is an unforgettable step back in time, a fresh understanding of loss and belonging. Reading like prose, this elegantly written and emotionally satisfying story is told from the eyes of a child of the 1940’s.


Anyone who has ever tried to fit in and belong will understand both mother and child in this narrative. . . and will see that separation and loss can sometimes be the very encounters that will ultimately bring wholeness.

New Children's Book for 2011!

We have a new Children's book to bring in the New Year!

Temba and the Dream Giver (Deep River Books, 2010)
written by Pam van der Merwe

ISBN: 1935265512







Temba is a boy who has many dreams. Owning a bicycle, and living in a safe neighborhood are two of his dreams. Temba's favorite dream is to visit the ocean. He longs to hear the sound of the crashing waves and to taste the salty water. One day he enters a contest. The prize is a trip to the seaside by train! Temba believes in the Dream Giver; but as with any dream, he learns that obstacles may arise that threaten to steal a dream away.

Embark on a journey of hope as Temba finds out how dreams do come true, and that it's never the end.

"As a person thinks in his heart, so is he." (Is 4:1)

Temba encourages children of all ages to pursue a dream.

 

 

Beating the Marriage Odds Book Review

Bring It On Communications sent me Beating the Marriage Odds by William R. Campbell to read and review. It is published by Deep River Books in Sisters, Oregon(I didn't even know there was a city named Sisters) in 2009. After reading my review, if you're interested in getting a copy of this book for yourself, here's the ISBN number: 1-935265-03-2. It is available from Amazon.com for about $11.

Beating the Marriage Odds can be for an engaged couple, an already married couple who needs to review some marriage basics, or for a Christian counselor to use as a pre-marital counseling guide. Each chapter focuses on different aspects of marriage and ends with a principle to sum up the chapter and Scripture references to back it up. Also, throughout the book, the author references several other books that you can go to for additional help on a specific topic or principle. The end of the book has a review of all of the principles from each chapter, and review questions and answers for each chapter. There is also a wedding planner form and an outline for a counselor to use, broken into four counseling sessions.

There are several things that I liked about this book. I like that a lot of his examples of situations that other couples have gone through are usually taken from real couples, including the author and his wife. I like that Chapter 4 "True Love" includes a section on salvation, because any time someone is presenting Christian principles is a great time to talk about salvation! Chapter 6 is about communication and it includes a running example of a fictional couple - I found this chapter very helpful. I also liked Chapter 13 "Advice for Troubled Times," when the author explained the different types of counselors available and where you can find them. He doesn't just tell you to get help and leave you hanging, he actually gives you practical resources.

There is only one thing about the book I didn't like. Several times within each chapter, the author refers to a previous or future chapter for additional info. on a topic he mentions. I didn't like that because I don't want to keep flipping back and forth in the book to find out what the author is referring to. I'd rather be able to just read through it all the first time, and then go back to whatever topics peaked my interest.

Overall, I thing Beating the Marriage Odds is a great book. I've been married 15 years and I found some helpful advice in it, but I think the book is best for engaged couples and a great resource for pre-marital counselors. If you would like to look at the book from the publisher's website click here.