About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Thursday, September 21, 2023

A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick by Sarah French & #iReadBookTours

 



Book Details:

Book Title:  A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick by Sarah French
Category:  Children's Non-Fiction (ages 3 to 8), 32 pages
Genre:  Children's Book
Publisher:  Sarah French
Release date:   Sep 2023
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.


Book Description:

The Christmas season is here, and you once again have to juggle the story of Jesus with good Ole St. Nick…

…but what if you didn’t have to?

This beautifully illustrated bedtime story teaches children the story behind St. Nick and how he was a follower of Jesus too! Children will learn about the birth of Jesus, the importance of giving, and the reason for many of our holiday traditions.

A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick will quickly become a family favorite. Parents love the values it teaches, and kids love the way it brings the real Christmas story to life! Make this book a Christmas tradition in your household so your kids will grow up understanding why we celebrate Christmas with certain traditions today. And don’t worry! We don’t give away any holiday secrets!
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N
add to Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS.....

This book is a great choice for anyone who wants their children to know the true story of Christmas but still experience the magic that comes from believing in Santa Claus. Author Sarah French tells the sweet story of a brother and sister who are told that the special baby that was born at Christmas was truly the greatest gift ever given. CJ and Blair learn that the birth of Jesus Christ was the inspiration for the gift-giving tradition that we still enjoy today. Saint Nicholas's desire to give gifts at Christmas may have started in Turkey, but it's now practiced worldwide. Santa Claus may be a symbol of this gift-giving tradition but the act itself is based on a noble idea!

A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick is truly a beautiful story for young people! There are gorgeous illustrations to capture their attention and an enjoyable story to keep them entertained, but there's also an abundance of Bible scripture that relates the true reason for the season. Perhaps it can even lessen the struggle of Santa Claus versus NO Santa Claus! I love this book and I believe that reading it as a family could become a new holiday tradition!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via iRead Book Tours. There was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meet the Author

Sarah French is a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. She is a broadcast news anchor for the NBC affiliate, WCNC Charlotte.

Sarah joined WCNC from WHDH in Boston, MA. She was the morning anchor there and joined the team in 2011. She was also the host of What's CookingHow to Help, and Backstage in Boston. Prior to WHDH, Sarah was the morning anchor at WTIC in Hartford, CT. Sarah began her career as a reporter for KOMU in Columbia, MO.

Sarah brings rich experience covering major world events. She was on the ground covering the Boston Marathon bombing, the destructive aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She holds three prestigious Emmy Awards. She also received the "Speak for Thyself Award" honoring community advocates and non-profit leaders, as well as Boston’s Most Exceptional Women Honoree.

Sarah is an inspirational champion for several notable causes, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She is also an advocate for domestic violence victims. After the tragic death of her friend and colleague, Alice Morrin, Sarah worked tirelessly with Connecticut legislators to pass a 911 texting bill after Alice's death.

Sarah is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In 2021, she went back to school and earned her Master of Journalism degree. After covering the Boston Marathon bombing, Sarah decided her research would focus on how to help journalists who cover traumatic events.

​Sarah is a member of Cherokee nation. She grew up in Arkansas and lives in Charlotte with her husband and two kids. They also have two dogs, Buddy and Teddy! Sarah is a huge fan of the theater and enjoys spending her free time with family. Sarah also volunteers in the children's ministry of her church.


connect with author: website

More With Sarah 
Christmas at my grandmother's
My grandmother encouraged me to publish A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick. She was my biggest supporter. I always loved Christmas at my grandmother’s house. She lived in a small home in Sallisaw, OK. And no matter what time of year it was, it was always Christmas at her house. She left her Christmas decorations up year-round! She had an incredible Santa collection and red trucks all around her Christmas tree. Her house was always so cozy! She didn’t have a fireplace, but it never really occurred to me when I was little how Santa always delivered those gifts. I still remember lying in bed and telling her I heard reindeer on the roof! Sadly, my grandmother passed away this year. I received her Bible after she passed, and it was filled with prayers for all of us. What a blessing she was in my life and so many others. Her favorite verse was John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” I quote this verse in the book. We realized after my grandmother’s passing that she had gone to be with the Lord on March 16th… 3/16. The same as her favorite Bible verse. My grandmother was such an inspiration for this book. I dedicated it to her, as well as my children. I hope when others read it, they walk away with the true meaning of Christmas and also feel the love behind the holiday that my grandmother always created for us in our home.  
Check out this Video!

Enter the Giveaway:
A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick Book Tour Giveaway




He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox

He Should Have Told the Bees
ABOUT THE BOOK

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary, until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business--one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she's never heard of, she's not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie's financial situation rather . . . precarious. She's sure she has no right to someone else's farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she's always craved.

As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets--and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.




MY THOUGHTS.....

He Should Have Told the Bees isn't a lighthearted read that you can read and set aside. It is, instead, a deep, thought-provoking book that deserves to be read again, slowly! Author Amanda Cox shares a story of love lost, hope regained, and the pain that comes from learning truths that have been hidden. Callie Peterson never knew who her father was and her life with her mother hasn't been happy or fulfilling. How will she deal with the knowledge that she has a half-sister she didn't know existed? Why is she mentioned in a stranger's will?

Cox has created complex characters who are victims of mental illness, alcoholism, and neglect, but she makes sure that they also experience points of light! I loved the references to beekeeping and the joy that Beckett Walsh derives from carrying on her father's life work. There are some suggestions of romance for both Callie and Beck but this isn't a romantic love story. This is a story of family, faith, and friendship, and there are many emotional moments that made me cry. I recommend He Should Have Told the Bees to all who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction and I will be placing it on the keeper shelf in my bookcase!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Revell Reads. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers.

Learn more at her Website     Facebook      Twitter     Instagram