Star! Stable! Saviour!

When 'Star! Stable! Saviour' arrived I opened it and then lost it. Mary took it. Read it and said "This is great for us to read to our grandchildren." Mary loved the way the letter 'S' took you through the story.

I wanted some of my Grandchildren to pass their comments on the book by Cameron Semmens.

Serena aged 8 said "I really liked the rhyming, my favourite part. It was weird to have scientists, rather than the wise men come to see Jesus. I thought it was a nice book."

Clint aged 10 said "Nice, cleverly set out book. I really liked the rhyming. All together a good book."

Adam aged 6 read some of it and had some read to him. He enjoyed it, especially the pictures. He did say the letter 'S' was used a lot and it was fun.

All in all, this is a well produced, easy and fun to read for children about the most wonderful event of Christmas. Even better, according to Mary, is to read it to the young children.

Highly recommended by those for whom it was written. Also, by we who would read it to them.


About the Author

Cameron Semmens is a poet, entertainer and poetry educator with 15 books to his name. He makes his living through words: performing, running workshops and book design. He lives in the Dandenong Rangers with his wife and two children.

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This book was received by me from ACRBA for reviewing purposes.
You can check out there website for further information.
This book is published by Wombat Books. Should be available in Christian bookshops.
See Wombat Publishing website

1st - 5th September 2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

Is Introducing

Rebecca's Dream



(Even Before March 2014)



By



Carol Preston

About the Book

Rebecca Oakes is thirteen years old when her mother, Suzannah, dies in the small town of Marengo, New South Wales, in 1873. With her older brother and sisters soon involved in their own lives, Rebecca is left alone to care for her ageing father. But Rebecca has a dream for her own life. She wants to make a difference to the world around her; a world where it is hardly possible for a woman to get an education, where women have no rights, no vote, no voice. Rebecca will have to fight the systems of her time if she is to achieve her goals. She must find the courage to stand against sexual and religious prejudice, and resist the pressures of even those close to her, in order to make her way towards her dream, influenced by one man who hates her, who will do anything to thwart her plans, and another man who loves her, and will do anything to make her happy.

Rebecca’s Dream is the second book in the Oakes Family Saga. Background notes and discussion questions are available for book clubs.

About the Author

Carol lives in Wollongong with her husband, Neil. She is a psychologist and has a part time private counselling practice, as well as being an author and speaker. Carol enjoys spending time with her children and four grandchildren, as well as bushwalking, gardening and holidaying overseas with her husband. One of her hobbies over many years has been family history research. It was this research which started Carol on the journey of writing novels.

Her first trilogy is about the Oakes Family; Suzannah’s Gold, Rebecca’s Dream and The Price of Peace, which takes the reader from 1838 when her great great grandmother, Suzannah Casey was transported from Ireland, through to the end of the First World War when Suzannah’s children and grandchildren are involved in the battle, not only to survive the war but to survive the waiting at home. The first two of these have recently been re-released by EBP. Carol’s fourth novel, The Face of Forgiveness, is about two young women who are transported to Australia in 1839. The most recent of Carol’s novel is a series based on her mother’s family, which begins with the First Fleet of convicts to Australia. These include Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets, and Truly Free.

For more information about Carol’s books and her other interests she can be contacted on her website: www.carolpreston.com.au, on her Facebook author page: www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

or her Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

All in 2 Night

By Lynne Burgess. Printed by EBP.

Reviewed This 140 page book is designed with activities for Christian families.

So why am I reviewing it? I’m retired and have a small cottage with my wife Mary. We are however grandparents! Therefore such a book can be a useful resource for when the children visit or stay for an extended period.

Also, I cheated a little! I gave it to my Daughter–in –Law. Rachelle and Craig have six children. Rachelle told me she appreciated this one even better than the first one (which I haven’t read). She found one or two sections very helpful.

For me I appreciated the first chapter. It was a simple and frank sharing of the author’s heart and the motivation for developing a program for her children. (This has since spread and been used by a wide cross section of people and a school program).

Chapter two is an honest account of her life’s journey. I found it both sad and reassuring. Sad because of her experiences which far, far too many have experienced. Encouraging because it put before the reader the grace and faithfulness of Jesus Christ along the rugged road!  I’m sure that many will be blessed by just reading  ‘The Importance of Breaking the Generational Cycle.’

Lynne is unapologetic as she encourages stay at home mums to be comfortable with their calling. She does add however ‘I would encourage any stay at home mums of babies or preschoolers to have other interests in their lives.’ Lynne then offers some ways by which this can be achieved. (Page 17)

I liked the following quote: ‘Jesus collects all the pieces of our lives and makes sure nothing is wasted. It is like looking at a stained glass window. It’s just a bunch of fragmented pieces of glass but,  when viewed through the sunlight, it becomes an amazing tapestry of colour and beauty. God wants to take the broken fragmented pieces of our life and create something beautiful with each of us.’ (page 19)

For those with young families this book will be a fine resource. There are suggestions for 40 weeks, one ‘time out’ per week. However, it isn’t a book of magical prescriptions. To make it work will require more than good intentions. A husband and wife must agree to share in it and persevere for many it will be new territory. However the outcomes hold much family enjoyment, memories and gratitude from the children as they grow in a family nurtured by love, faith and fun.

Ray Hawkins author of ‘Children –God’s Special Interest; From Eden with Love (on Marriage). http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

15 - 19 July

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is Introducing

All in 2 Night

(Even Before Publishing March 2013)

by

Lynne Burgess

available at Light the dark

About the Author

Lynne and Chris have raised five children who are now adults. Lynne's practical experience comes from the quality time spent with her own children. She successfully implemented her All-In Night for over 16 years using simple yet productive activities that included the whole family. She now shares these ideas at speaking events and through her book.

About the book
All-In Night is a family routine. For one night of the week everyone stays home. By spending ten to twenty minutes together, you can learn and talk about the things that matter. Following on from Lynne's original book this set of new activities is designed especially with Christian families in mind. An activity or discussion point each week. The book includes 40 weeks of activities, designed as 1 per week of the school year.Activities include love languages, listening for God, self-esteem, the fruits of the spirit and many more. These fun and simple family activities provide an opportunity to grow values, goals, hopes, feelings and the foundation for a Christ led life. All-in Night works with two kids or ten. Let it become the heart of your family's life.

ACRBA Tour Back To Resolution by Rose Dee

3 - 7 December

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance 

is introducing 

Back To Resolution

(Even  Before Publishing November 2012)

by Rose Dee

Available from Light the dark this week for $12.95 

About the Author:

Rose Dee

Rose Dee was born in Ingham, North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel.

Rose, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, decided to try her hand at writing two years ago. The result of that attempt is her first novel, 'Back to Resolution'. 

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women.

Rose’s other releases include, 'Beyond Resolution' - the second book in the 'Resolution' series. And ‘A New Resolution’ – the final book in the series.

Rose has also co-written a novel in conjunction with three other outstanding Australian Authors; ‘The Greenfield Legacy’.

Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.

Book Description:

Back to Resolution

Bay Anders is lost. She enjoys every privilege a wealthy upbringing affords, but the void in her soul refuses to be filled.
Her mother's dying revelation drives Bay to the brink of self destruction, before a move to Australia changes everything. She embarks upon a search for her father that leads her to his island home, into a hazardous melting pot of hostile locals and a mystery – her father's disappearance.
The only person who can help her is a strong, selfassured and intensely magnetic man. Bay must fight an overwhelming attraction to stay focused on her goal.

Flynn McKenna is hiding from the world. A past filled with mistakes drove him to withdraw from society and live in seclusion. But the arrival of a woman he cannot avoid
shatters his solitary existence. As the search for Bay's father unites them, can he resist his desire for her?
It becomes a race against time as developers try to take over the island.

From the glittering streets of LA, to the beautiful
Daintree forest in North Queensland, to the idyllic island `Resolution', Back to Resolution is a romantic mystery that shows how far a little faith can go.

Website - http://rosedee.com/