I wanted to take a moment to step away from Christian Romance to recommend a GREAT book that I’ve found for children. It’s called the Read and Share Bible
.  I can’t say enough good things about this one!  My three year old loves it!  It is a “bible” that is written for children, yet sticks strictly to the scripture.  The illustrations are fantastic and the stories flow in a way that keep the child’s attention.  When we sit down to read it, we have to read at least three stories at a time it’s so enjoyable.  One of the great things about this bible is that they’ve created DVDs to go along with the stories.  We will read a few stories and then watch them on the dvd.  My three year old is retaining so much information by doing it this way.  There are four volumes of dvds and then there are extra dvds for the “special” stories…for example…”Christmas”, “Easter”, “Life of Jesus”, and “Miracles of Jesus”.

Here are some links to the Bible and DVD titles:

Read and Share Bible	DVD Volume 1	DVD Volume 2
DVD Volume 3	DVD Volume 4	The Jesus Series: Christmas

So, if you are a parent or grandparent looking for a Christmas gift or “anytime” gift, I HIGHLY recommend the “Read and Share Bible”.  I hope your children will enjoy it and learn as much as my child is!

Falls Like Lightning
by Shawn Grady

When I first started reading this book I was frustrated by the use of lingo that I didn’t know or understand.  The main character is a smokejumper and I know nothing about that.  A few pages in, author Shawn Grady, does a great job of weaving a storyline that draws you in and makes you forget about the confusing lingo!  I felt like it was a story set in reality without a lot of “fluff”.  I highly recommend this read if you enjoy romance, and suspense.  Although the characters didn’t really go through great spiritual growth, there is a “reliance on God” that is refreshing.

The main characters are Silas and Elle.  Silas is a smokejumper going where the fire takes him.  He has no ties to any town or person.  He loves his job and is working on advancing up the chain.    Elle is a mother and pilot.  She flies and drops the smokejumpers wherever they need to go.

In this story Elle is struggling with being a single parent to a child with medical problems.  She is gone all the time flying and the rest of her time is taken up with doctors and medical tests.  When Elle and Silas end up on the same plane, sparks are rekindled.   A record breaking fire starts and they are both needed to help combat it.  Can they survive this fire when the other smokejumpers have an agenda that is both dangerous and sinister?  They have to live through quite an adventure before it will be possible to be together.

This book was a great read…part mystery, part adventure, and part romance!

A Log Cabin Christmas Collection
by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Margaret Brownley, Kelly Eileen Hake, Jane Kirkpatrick, Liz Johnson, Liz Tolsma, Michelle Ule, Debra Ullrick, Erica Vetsch

This book is what I call a “bathtub book”.  It’s a book that you can curl up in the tub with and read while taking a good soak.  If you want a little help getting into the Christmas spirit, this is a good read.

It’s a collection of nine love stories all set around Christmas.  I really enjoyed reading them until i got to the final pages of each story…I felt like they were wrapped up way to quickly.  I didn’t get a real sense of resolution at the end of each story.

If you’re looking for a “bathtub book” like I was and aren’t expecting really in-depth story lines, then it’s a good read.  I was hoping for something that had some Christian romance and Christmas spirit and this book has both!