4-1/2 Stars....

So, I have been introduced to a very awesome site for anyone who loves books....www.booksneeze.com. From this site, you can choose books that the publisher will send you free of charge if you will publish a review online. Well, what a dream come true! Not only do I get a book, but I also get to share my opinions.

The first book I have received is The Flowering Cross by Beth Ryan. I really enjoyed this book. It is a nice story about a little girl and her family who befriend their grumpy neighbor. It is full of scripture quotes that a parent can use with their children to instruct them on some key bible lessons. It is a wonderful conversation starter in this way. In addition and by far what I consider the book's greatest attribute, it includes an activity that can be done with your child or a group of children during Easter. I love that it includes an activity and that it give instructions including a blueprint. This is not found in many books.

Here is the other side. I must include a disclaimer. I LOVE books. I own 100's, maybe even 1,000's. I have everything from children's books to resource manuals. I like happy books and sad books, fiction to non-fiction, romance to sci-fi. That being said I am a pretty tough judge. So, I am going to be picky. The story was good, but I had a little trouble at the beginning. I had a little trouble getting into it because I wanted more backstory first. Yes, I know it is a children's book, but I wanted to get to know the neighbor and THEN get into how the family befriended him.

All that being said, I give the book 4-1/2 stars. Now, this is another bone I have to pick with the reviewing community. Why do they only give us 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 stars? I very rarely fit into those categories. I want more half stars. I just couldn't give this book 5 stars because it isn't on the level of the classic children's books. However, it is really good. It is way above just a 4.

Beauty to me...

A friend turned me on to a website that lets you tour through new books and experience new writers and artists and their blogs. When these books are presented to the group, they are often accompanied by a challenge. The most recent challenge is connected to a new release entitled Found Art by Leeana Tankersley. This challenge is directly related to photography and capturing unexpected beauty, but I found myself focusing more on the beauty and less on the photography. As I sat on my bed with my laptop surrounded by papers and files and books thinking about what I think is beautiful, I found myself drawn to a stack of my books because my love of reading is what led me to the The Blog Tour Spot website and the contest to begin with.

I love books. In this modern society we live in, so many people never touch paper much less a book. Now, don't get me wrong - I love trees, and I know we need to be conscientious, but there is nothing like holding a book, smelling it, touching the paper, flipping through the pages. As my photo shows, I have a lot of them. They may look in a disarray, but each one of them is special and a treasure to me. I know each one as if it was my child. Through my many moves to college, home, back to college, to a new job and beyond, my family has helped me move, and they can attest that a box of books weighs more than almost anything else, but I still would not part with even just one. With each move the number of boxes grew, yet there is still room for more. Their beauty goes beyond their physical existence; they house memories, bring stories to life, motivate, inspire, challenge and comfort. I will soon organize this pile and place them lovingly on the shelves they each deserve, but so very soon the pile with reappear with my new acquaintances and friends. They may just look like books, but the beauty each one houses is as unique as a sunrise, a flower, a shooting star or just about anything one person can dream up and commit to paper.