100 Plants to Feed the Birds

 If you are a bird watching enthusiast, or maybe you just desire to have more birds in your yard, this is the book for you.  I enjoyed it so much and I have to mention that the pictures are absolutely gorgeous.  This could definitely be a coffee table book.  I would enjoy just flipping through the pages and admiring the photographs.  But beyond the photographs this book has so much more to offer.

This book touches on everything imaginable that will attract birds to your yard...flowers, trees, berries and more.  Pictures are included of each plant/fruit and the birds they will attract.  Along with the pictures there is plenty of valuable information on what zones and conditions the plant grows best in.  There's also lots of info on the birds and why they are attracted to this type of plant.

I learned so much from this book.  It's not only a good reference book for birds, but I learned so much about plants as well.  This would be a great addition to any nature lovers library. 

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Dog Behavior Answer Book

If you know me at all you know I am a huge lover of dogs, so I was very excited for the opportunity to read The Dog Behavior Answer Book:  Practical Insights & Proven Solutions For Your Canine Questions.  This book answers questions in story form which I found enjoyable.  It was interesting to read about other peoples struggles with their dogs and how they deal with them.  It's also the kind of book that you can read bits and pieces of it a little at a time.  This makes it an easy read.  

I didn't really fell like there was some great insight into training your dog or breaking bad behavior.  You would have to know very little about canines to not know the answers to the questions that were included.  Even though I didn't really learn anything I felt like it was an enjoyable read.  This would be a good resource for a first time dog owner, or maybe a gift for a young person who loves animals.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book through Net Galley.

Until Leaves Fall In Paris

When it comes to WWII historical romance Sarah Sundin is hands down the best Author.  Her impeccable research shines forth in her writing and I am always amazed at how she draws me into the pages as if I'm right there on the sidelines watching as the story unfolds. If you have a facebook you should follow her as well.  She posts some great pics and information about her research.  

Until Leaves Fall In Paris is my favorite book of hers yet. It is fast paced, heart-wrenching at times and oh the ending will have you near tears as it is just about perfect. 

As the Nazis march toward Paris in 1940, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape.  Lucie struggles to run Green Leaf Book Books due to oppressive German laws and harsh conditions, but she finds a way to aid the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books. 

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers.  As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory.  After they meet in the bookstore, Paul and Lucie are drawn to each other, but she rejects him when she discovers he sells to the Germans.  And for Paul to win her trust would mean betraying his mission.

Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Prince and The Prodigal

When it comes to biblical fiction Jill Eileen Smith is my favorite author.  She has a way of weaving true biblical truths with fictional details that make it easier to connect and understand what life was like during Bible times.  So often the Bible is short in its descriptions that we forget that they are real people with real feelings.  I think it's important to remember while reading biblical fiction that it's just that....a fictional account of a biblical truth.  

In The Prince and The Prodigal we get a closer look into the life of Joseph.  I enjoyed this so much and it actually changes my perception of Joseph.  I always viewed him as a bit of an arrogant, spoiled boy, but from this perspective I realized that maybe that was not necessarily the case.  Maybe Joseph didn't want to be singled out and favored by his father.  Maybe he just really wanted to fit in with his brothers.  I also enjoyed reading about his other brothers, with Judah being a main focus.

This brought a well familiar Bible story more alive than ever before for me.  As always with a biblical fiction read I feel the need to go back and read and study straight from the Bible after the fictional account.  I don't want to veer from the truth, but also want to be aware that there is much more than what is told in the biblical account.  

Christian fiction is always a plus to read if it challenges you to draw closer to God and read His Word more.  This was just such a book.

***Thanks to Revell Reads for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.