I'm not so sure....

Okay, I heard from a few people how much they enjoyed the NIV translation of the bible; it was enough to make me curious. So I chose the NIV bible for teen girls by Zondervan. I wasn’t sure what to expect.

 As I said before I really was not sure what to expect from this translation, but others who had reviewed this particular Bible seemed to really enjoy it and liked the devotionals inside. I did too, and not just for teens, woman, but some I recommended that parents should read to their children, boy or girl, it will be really helpful.

The NIV Teen girls Bible introduces each book kinda like a few study bible I have seen before, telling about what time the book took place, listing who is in the book, and what verses you might recognize, along with explaining what it is about. This is really helpful to teens that wonder what’s the point in reading this part of the bible, giving just a small explanation to encourage them to go on.

Now here is where I have a little trouble with this Bible. While comparing some verses to see how it sounded against my NLT version I found that a few verses sounded really off, making them confusing to the reader. Such as Mark 3:24-27. I will give you an example of what I mean be putting the NIV and the NLT versions of this verse on here

“A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” Mark 3:24-27 NLT

“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.” Mark 3:24-27 NIV

Maybe I am being a little too nit picky, but this was one of the verses that just really bugged me when I was reading it. And there were others verses in this version that made it sound like if you repented of your sins and was baptized then you were saved, which we all know isn’t right. This happened a few times throughout this Bible. It’s like pieces of a puzzle were obviously missing, and when you’re a teen you need a clearer picture of what the Bible is trying to teach you.

I am not saying this translation is all bad, but it is not a version I would go for to read on a daily bases. In the end it is up to you, but when getting a Bible for your child or a teenager in your life read it for yourself before you buy it.

I guess that is it for now folks, Kaitlyn W. signing out.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day

I received this Bible in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

We're going on a Trial Run

Time is almost in the eye of the beholder, and for everyone all over the earth it means something a little different. In Trial Run we get a new look at time and what it could mean for so many.

This isn't my normal choice for a book, but trust me if you had read the description for it you'd find yourself hard pressed not to pick it.

Two teams are after the same thing, controlling out of body experience and defying time itself, but for two very different reasons. Reese, a member of U.S. government wants her program to succeed to gain secrets and power. Gabriella and her team wish to find truth about out of body experiences and what it could mean for man kind to control them.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to make of this book, it honestly seemed too much like a book for science geeks then for a romantic like myself, but I was happily surprised to find out I was very much wrong.

Love is not excluded from this book of action and mystery. Gabriella has someone pinning for her, wishing to show her a love she has never known, but things get complicated from the very start and for the poor guy is seems almost hopeless, but he still doesn’t give up on her. Trent, our grad student thrown into the maelstrom of our story is brought together with a young woman named Shane, and though she is weary of his intentions they become business partners and find a more then just mutual friendship is growing between them.

Reese Clawson is not your typical fictional villain. Most are cold and give no regard to human life whatsoever. Reese is different. Thomas Locke has created a character I am unsure what to do with. She is still the bad guy, and what she is doing is wrong, but I see these glimpses of humanity in her and I have to wonder what Tomas has planned for her. It is so very hard to say, but even if the rest of the book had not held my interest I would have kept reading just to see what happened to Reese and her team.

Luckily for all you readers out there the book in its entirety was amazing. I did wonder where the Christianity was in this book, but the pieces fell into place (sort of) near the end of the book, and I am hoping book 2 will reveal more to us readers.

If you enjoy a well balance between Romance, action, and mystery then I suggest picking up Trial run and buckling yourself in for one wild ride.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book an exchange for an honest review, which I have given

Finding a heart's Home

We have finally reached the last book in this series of six novellas, and what a good finish it was. Colleen Coble has given us another historical series that will surely be put into our collection of books.

Okay, if you guys are reading this review then you must have read the others that came before it, so you know what’s going on with Emmie and Isaac. I was so excited to see what happened after how book five left off, it looked like things were going to turn out alright for our two main characters...then Jessica tries to stick her nose in it.

If you have read any of the previous books you all know who I am talking about and are probably groaning “Oh no” right about now.

Jessica has been a thorn in our side from book two, but Emmie made a point about the young woman I think we don’t see often enough. She said that Jessica must have gone through a pain in her past that shaped her into the woman she is now. That is the case most of the time, and now I am wishing Colleen Coble might make a book about Jessica so we can get to know the real woman and see if she has a redemption story. Kinda like how I want a third book to the “Under Texas stars” Series about Lucy’s cousin.

Anyways, back to the book review now. In the previous two books Colleen Coble had kept a good pace, and did not rush the story along like in the first set of three books. Sadly that changed in this one. Too much was happening too fast, points were made, but they were never seen through.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Such as Emmie promised to tell Isaac about their marriage, and made several attempts and promised to talk about it later, but it never happen. Not even in the epilogue was it mentioned!

*END OF SPOILER*

In the end this was a really good book and a great ending to a series. Though a little rushed at some points it will a set of books worth putting in your Colleen Coble Collection

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

Hope Harbor

Hope Harbor becomes a place of healing for three weary souls in this tale of regret, romance, and God’s grace.

I really need to stop getting more books, but the description of Hope Harbor drew me in. Though honestly the description even on the back of the cover does little justice for it.

The story begins with a widower named Michael Hunter trying to find some solace in the place his wife had loved so much, Hope Harbor. When he arrives he the only hotel in town is closed. Frustrated, lonely, and depressed Michael wonders through town trying to think of a plan. Along the way he run into our two other main characters Tracy, a twenty some odd year old woman running a cranberry farm, and Anna, an old woman with a heart hardened by her past.

I did not except to be so captured by the book within just the first two pages. Irene Hannon has an exceptional writing style that flows and keeps a well pace, keeping you interested in each chapter as you pass by. I did feel quite a few were a little long, not a book you can read a chapter or two before you go to bed.

The story takes many unexpected turns not just for me but for the characters too. Showing God’s hand in many of their situations. Such as Tracy trying to help her uncle Ben to keep the cranberry farm afloat, only to have him catch a cold later on.

Or Anna and Michael, neither expected the bitter older woman to offer him a place to stay. Yet still she did.

After chapter 5 it does slow down a little, which made it hard for me to read, but it does pick up latter on. It has some of these slow spots throughout the book, but that is really a minor thing and the book is still extremely enjoyable.

With secrets kept within the crypts of the hearts of our three main characters you will find yourself not wanting to put the book down for most of the day. I will admit I wanted to skip forward several chapters just so I could find out why Tracy kept her heart locked up so tightly. Irene will bait you with little tid bits here and there, more then enough to keep you reading.

 I enjoyed this book and if it sounds like your cup of tea I hope you guys and girls will pick one up too.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given