Glamorous Illusions... & the Intriguing Grand Tour

There isn't much more I can say after such an intriguing book trailer as that! Let me just say that Lisa Bergren's "Glamorous Illusions" totally swept me away. I loved it! The book isn't as predictable as most--there were many twists and turns I definitely didn't expect. The "Grand Tour of Europe" backdrop is also interesting; it's something I've heard bits and pieces about but I've never really researched it or read an entire series devoted to it.

The main character, Cora, is very likeable, flaws and all. She's a beauty who is swept from simple farmlife into grand European style.  She's trying to find herself in the midst of a quickly changing future, and she's finding God at the same time.  The faith in this book doesn't come across as fluffy or fake; it's real and genuine.

I am so captivated by Cora's story!  My only regret is that I have to wait months for the next book in the series! Thank goodness time flies. I can't wait to see what new and exciting twists and turns of adventure Miss Bergren has up her sleeve for the next two books in The Grand Tour Series.

Special thanks to the wonderful people at Litfuse and DavidCCook for providing me with this book to review.

"Peril in the Palace" from Adventures in Odyssey is AWESOME Kids History!

"Peril in the Palace" grabbed our interest from the first and it's full of great cliff-hangers!

This book takes place in 13th century China and is actually the 3rd book in the Imagination Station series from Focus on the Family. This book is about real-life explorer Marco Polo and Chinese emperor Kublai Khan.  The cover itself  gives an accurate description of the book: 2 kids, Beth and Patrick, end up going back to around AD1200 and getting mixed up in a perilous  adventure. "Peril in the Palace" delves into the Mongol history of China, the golden tablet of Kublai Khan and so much more... but you'll have to read it to find out the "more"!

You can get any of these books at Amazon.com for $4.99.  And if you're a mom, you can sign up for Amazon Mom for free and you'll get a complimentary, totally free subscription of Amazon Prime (that's free 2-day shipping on every order no matter how small)!   

You can also get Imagination Station books for free by participating in Tyndale's Summer Reading Program!

Unplanned: An Amazing, True-life Story of God's Grace & Faithfulness

Unplanned, written by former Planned Parenthood leader Abby Johnson, is an absolutely amazing true story! You might have heard bits and pieces about Abby on the news in the past, but her story is so much deeper than any news snippet.

In Abby's words:

"What I have told people for years is a lie. What if I'd known... and what if I'd told all those women?"  As a Planned Parenthood leader, Abby Johnson thought she was helping women in crisis.  She was about to learn the truth.  And facing the secrets of her past would be the toughest truth of all.

Unplanned is a pro-life story that will touch your heart!  The realities this book talks about are tough truths, but if Abby faced them, so can we.  It's very eye-opening and touching.  In the movie, those "tough truths" are surrounded by God's obvious intervention in Abby's life, truly amazing graced, and heart-rending stories of change. I believe every American, especially every American woman, should see!  Unplanned is also a DVD.  I've watched it and shared it with numerous people.  If you don't have time to read the book, I definitely recommend the movie.  It's very, very powerful.