Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas ~ book review

Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas
Seven Traditions to Lead Us Closer to the Savior
by Emily Belle Freeman
96 pages, paperback
$9.73 (Paperback)
$9.13 (Kindle)

About the book:
Discover how each figure of the nativity can lead your family closer to Christ this Christmas season. Learn the tradition of the tinkling bell, whip up a batch of French cocoa, create a tender mercy tree, and find ways to make your gift-giving more meaningful as Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas guides you through 7 meaningful traditions inspired by the nativity setting. These simple experiences will give you an opportunity to escape from the frantic busyness of the Christmas season to spend time reflecting on the savior and the miracle of His birth.

My thoughts:

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love the careful planning of gifts that match each person's personality, the decorating, baking cookies, going out to see the lights and music - if only we could see & hear carolers again! (It's been over 20 years since I last saw Carolers - or participated)

A Christ-Centered Christmas is a welcome book designed to teach your family (mom & dad too) about what Christmas is really about. Emily Belle Freeman carefully introduces a new way to lead your family to Christ. She began this tradition with her own family by introducing a new character from her Nativity each week and then she would teach her children about the true meaning of Christmas through carefully prepared activities. You have the choice of doing the traditions in the order you prefer - let 1 child each week pick out a character and then match up the activities or follow the book from beginning to end. You may choose to do 1 or more of the suggested activities.

I have a small daycare and I would love to do this with the kids - it's would be a great way to teach them about Jesus. I'm just trying to figure out how to do the Nativity around a 11 month old baby that is into everything! Any ideas?


About the author:
Emily Belle Freeman ~ a coach's wife, mother to 4 children, author of several bestselling books & sought-after inspirational speaker. Her days are spent watching over teenagers, her flock of pampered chickens and a rabbit that she adores. She finds great joy in studying the life & teachings of Jesus Christ. Her deep love of the scriptures comes from a desire to find their application in everyday life. For a few minutes every day Emily forgets about the laundry, leaves the dishes in the sink, and writes. She coauthors a blog that is a stopping place for hearts seeking all that is good.

Dislaimer: I was offered a copy of A Christ-Centered Christmas to read and review on GivingNSharing in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to have a positive review & no $$ exchanged hands.

Adult Review: Fairer Than Morning (Book Tour)

Enter 9/1-9/20!

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
Series: The Saddler Legacy (Bk 1)
ISBN: 978-1595547859
Thomas Nelson Publishing
Order on Amazon for $10.76

About the book:
Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.

On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann's dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.

Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker's apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann's compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann's father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendous adversity.

When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?

My thoughts: 
Both heroes in Fairer Than Morning are strong individuals. Both have a will to survive and know what they believe although it's not apparent necessarily at the beginning. I truly enjoyed the strength of Will, an 18 year old indentured servant learning the trade of saddlery. The book takes place in the 1820's, Will has a cruel "master" who enjoys beating on his apprentices and "lording" his power and right to hurt them and take his frustration out on them. It was really nice to see him retain his faith during the years he is indentured to this man and to see his prayers asking God to help him get through it.

Ann is the heroine of the book. Her father is a circut minister and saddler who travels frequently and Ann is left to care for her 2 younger sisters that she is more or less raising on her own. Her life revolves around her family and the various suitors who ride up to her house and take her riding or to dances. Ann's character is very strong and it was nice to see that in a historical novel.

I didn't notice Ann's faith as much as Will's who has obviously leaned heavily on God and his knowledge of scripture which his father instilled in him before he died when Will was 10. I found it kind of surprising that Ann's didn't seem as strong (visibly) as her father is a minister but there doesn't seem to be any scenes of her getting into the word much/nor praying as much as Will did (granted his was praying for strength just to get through his day).

An outstanding book with strong characters. There were several plots through out the book, all are very well thought out and completed with no loose threads by the end. I personally don't recommend this book for kids under 16 probably. In fact if you want to make it available to them you may want to read it first. The subjects covered throughout include slavery, premarital sex, branding, disfigurement and there are also a few graphically described scenes (that are tastefully done if that's possible). There are discussion questions and it's a good opportunity to see life from another's eyes and to see how God helps those who call on him.

Be sure to watch for Book 2, Sweeter Than Birdsong, coming February 2012. I really looking forward to reading it!

About the author:
As the child of a career military man, Rosslyn Elliott lived in four states and two foreign countries before she graduated from high school. She attended Yale University, where she earned her BA in English and Theater Studies. After five years working first in corporate New York City, then as a schoolteacher, she entered the Ph.D. program in English at Emory University and finished her dissertation in 2006.

Her study of American literature spurred her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction. Rosslyn lives with her husband and daughter in the southwestern United States.

Much thanks goes to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse for sharing a copy of Fairer Than Morning with me to review. I have found a new favorite author and I look forward to reading more of her works. No money exchanged hands and I was not required to write a positive review.

FaceBook Party Announcement!

To enter just click one of the icons to the left. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn's Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning & historical fiction, testing your trivia skills, and giving away books and gift certificates (Amazon, iTunes, Starbucks). She'll also be giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections! 

                                              Don't forget: Sept 1-20!