• 15 stepped-out journal projects made from unusual materials and found objects, from tree bark to dismantled photo albums to tin boxes.
• Tips for seeking out materials for your journals in flea markets, garage sales, and in your own attic or trash can.
• Inspiring gallery projects from 9 contributing artists, including Susan Tuttle, Jen Osborn and Jill Berry.

My Review:


The Elemental Journal contains material lists and instructions, with pictures, for making journals from wood, plastic, paper, fabric and metal. There are also pictures of other journals to inspire you to be creative to make more.


You don’t have to be super crafty to make these journals, either. They’re are easy ones that even kids would be able to make.

These journals will be loved by all who keep a diary. I can’t wait to make some of these for Christmas gifts. I think these would be a great place to keep your to-do list, also. I know I would be inspired to pick one of these gorgeous and creative journals up to look at it. Some are small enough to carry with you, some are more suited to keeping on a desk or table. All are very decorative.

I have not made one yet, but I have read the directions, and looked at the pictures. All the directions are easy to follow, with pictures showing each step. A lot of them use items that would others consider to be trash. What a great, useful way to re-use something that others throw away. There are even projects using old toys!

The Elemental Journal is a great instructional book for making journals for yourself or as gifts.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookSneeze. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From the back cover:

He’d lost his zest for life. She was just lost. Will they find the healing and love they long for?


After a roaring night on the town, fun-loving flapper Lilly Margolis, dazed and disoriented, twists her ankle and falls into the backyard of a wealthy family where the effects of the Great War—over for more than half a decade—are still endured. Inside the walls of the Burnside mansion, Cullen Burnside, a disillusioned and disfigured veteran, and his widowed mother, Betty Ruth, who daily slips a little further into dementia, lead a lonely existence … until Lilly. Whimsical, lighthearted, and beautiful, she rejuvenates their sad, disconnected lives and blossoms in the light of their attention.


But Lilly, like Cullen, is hiding from a painful past. And when Cullen insists on returning her to her faraway home, their budding attraction seems destined to die on the vine. The resulting road trip becomes a journey of self-discovery—but what will Cullen and Lilly find at journey’s end?

My Review:


Last year, I reviewed Allision Pittmans’ The Bridegrooms. Lilies in Moonlight, and The Bridegrooms are 2 of the 3 books in the authors baseball books. They are not a series in that the story line is continued in the books, but all 3 books have baseball in the storyline. So you don’t have to read the other 2 books before you read Lilies in Moonlight.


Lilies in Moonlight tells the story of Lilly Margolis, and starts shortly after she leaves her mothers house to make it on her own. We see and hear about some of the things that Lilly has done in an effort to take care of herself. Things her mother wouldn’t approve of.

One morning, she is found in the backyard of a wealthy family. The son, Cullen, is a former professional baseball player with numerous problems of his own.  He tries hard to get her out of their house and lives, but his mother as fallen in love with Lilly. Because of his mothers illness, he tries to please her in every way, including letting Lilly stay at their house. Cullen eventually falls in love with Lilly, too, but he doesn’t want to admit it. Especially to Lilly.

To make his mother happy, Cullen takes everyone on a road trip. While on the road trip, Lilly realizes the mistakes that she has made, and tries to make amends with her mother. By the end of the road trip, Cullen comes to realize that he can not put his life on hold for his mother and confesses his love for Lilly.

Lilies in Moonlight is a story of love, forgiveness, and God always being there for us, not matter what we have done.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255“Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

MY REVIEW:


I had heard about Abby’s trip to be the youngest person to sail around the world solo and unassisted, while she was one it. I had found her blog towards the end of her trip. I wish I had known about it from the beginning of her sailing adventure.  Now she has told her story in Unsinkable A Young Womans Courageous Battle on the High Seas.

I found Unsinkable to be a fascinating book.  Abby’s story is told in 3 different voices. Abbys, the narrators, and the rescuers. It is not had to follow, though, when the book changes voices. Each voice is represented by a different icon. They put the icon at the beginning of the paragraph when the voice changes. I found it interesting to have the different voices. You don’t just get Abby telling her story, you get the narrator giving you background information, and the rescuers telling about their efforts.

Don’t worry if you don’t know any sailing terms, a brief guide to basic nautical terms is included in the back of the book. I found that very helpful. I have never been sailing, but I have heard several sailing terms before, so with the help of the guide, I had no trouble following along what was happening in the book.

There is a photo section in the middle of the book, where you can see photos of Abby from when she was little, all the way up to when she came home from her sailing adventure.

I think Unsinkable is a must read for teenagers. At a time in their lives when the world is telling them they can’t do anything except hang out with friends and mall hop, Abby shows them a different way. That if they work hard, they can make their dreams come true, even when they are teenagers.

From the front flap:


Life Without Limits is an inspiring book by an extraordinary man. Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic overcame his disability to live not just independently but a rich, fulfilling life, becoming a model for anyone seeking true happiness. Now an internationally successful motivational speaker, his central message is that the most important goal for anyone is to find their life’s purpose despite whatever difficulties or seemingly impossible odds stand in their way.

Nick tells the story of his physical disabilities and the emotional battle he endured trying to deal with them as a child, a teen, and a young adult. “For the longest, loneliest time, I wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was any purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation.” He shares how his faith in God has been his central source of strength and explains that once he found his own sense of purpose—inspiring others to make their lives and the world better—he found the confidence to build a rewarding and productive life without limits.

Nick offers practical advice for realizing a life of fulfillment and happiness by building trust in others, developing supportive relationships, and gaining strength for the journey. He encourages the reader by showing how he learned to accept what he could not control and focus instead on what he could.

From the back cover:

“I do believe my life has no limits! I want you to feel the same way about your life, no matter what your challenges may be. As we begin our journey together, please take a moment to think about any limitations you’ve placed on your life or that you’ve allowed others to place on it. Now think about what it would be like to be free of those limitations. What would your life be if anything were possible?”
—Nick Vujicic, from Life Without Limits




MY REVIEW:


Life Without Limits is subtitled Inspiration For a Ridiculously Good Life. In fact, the author is the creator of the Ridiculous Rules, which hold that every living , breathing person on the planet should be committed to doing something ridiculous at least once a day, whether it’s risking looking ridiculous to pursue a dream or simply having ridiculous fun. Sounds like a good rule to me!

In Life Without Limits Nick Vujicic tells his life story of being born without arms or legs. While one would think he would spend his life in a wheelchair, his parents help him lead a very different life. A Life Without Limits.


From learning to get in an upright position as toddler, to getting in a fight at school (and winning!) to traveling the world as an inspirational speaker, Nick shares his life with the reader. There is also a photo section, including photos from his childhood to present.

He goes beyond just telling his life story, though. He inspires everyone who reads this book to also live a life without limits. To not let anything, even a physical disability stop you from living a full life. From living out your dreams.

I have heard Mr. Vujicic speaking on television a few times, footage of his speaking engagements, I believe. I like listening to him speak. He is down to earth, and very encouraging to everyone. Always encouraging everyone to live a life of no limits. Always leading people to God. In  Life Without Limits, he continues to encourage, inspire, and lead to God.

I highly recommend Life Without Limits. Parts of the book made me want to cry, and others had me laughing out loud. If you or someone you know needs to be encouraged and inspired, Life Without Limits is the book for you.

You can visit his website, Life Without Limbs for more information about his speaking engagements, ministry and to watch videos.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

She lost everything she loved.
He had everything she needed.
But could she find the courage to trust him?


From the back cover:

Stepping from a battered coach on a rainy April eve, newly widowed Elisabeth Kerr must begin again, without husband or title, property or fortune. She is unafraid of work and gifted with a needle, but how will she stitch together the tattered remnants of her life? And who will mend her heart, torn asunder by betrayal and deception?


Elisabeth has not come to Selkirk alone, Her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, is a woman undone, having buried her husband, her sons, and any promise of grandchildren. Dependent upon a distant cousin with meager resources, Marjory dreads the future almost as much as she regrets the past. Yet joy still comes knocking, and kindness is found in unexpected places.


Then a worthy hero steps forward, rekindling a spark of hope. Will he risk his reputation to defend two women labeled as traitors to the Crown? Or will a wealthy beauty, untainted by scandal, capture his affections?


The heartrending journey of the Kerr women comes to a glorious finish in Mine is the Night, a sparkling gem of redemption and restoration set in eighteenth-century Scotland.

I love reading historical fiction. And Christian historical fiction? Well, it doesn’t get any better than that in my book.  Mine is the Night does not disappoint!

Mine is the Night is the sequel to Here Burns My Candle. You can read my review of Here Burns My Candle. Liz Curtis Higgs is a grand story teller, and you won’t want to put Mine is the Night down until you have finished it. I know I didn’t!

Marjory and Elisabeth’s characters are based on Naomi and Ruth in the Bible. You will recognize the story as you’re reading the book. Marjory and Elisabeth are both strong in their faith. Their faith is what gets them through the difficult times in their lives.

You can go here to read Chapter 1 of Mine is the Night.

Even though Mine is the Night is the sequel, it is a stand alone book. However, if you read Here Burns My Candle first, you will have a deeper awareness of where Marjory and Elisabeth came from, and what they must overcome in Mine is the Night.

I loved Mine is the Night and think you will, too!