Book ReviewL NIV Essentials Study Bible

I was able to snag an ebook review copy of this study bible, the NIV Essentials Study Bible. As an ebook, this has a really nice layout.  There are many menus in the front, including lists of links to the different kinds of helps and devotionals. The books of the Bible are linked as well as each chapter for easy access, which makes using this as your only Bible during sermons much more possible. This would be a good Bible for beginners to ebook Bibles as well, as the introduction includes a brief tutorial on how to navigate to specific passages and supplementary materials. One thing I really like about this version is that the supplementary materials are not interspersed throughout the chapter as they are in a typical printed Bible.  Rather, they are in a section at the end of each book of the Bible and hyperlinks are included in the readings.  So one can easily read their chosen passage without distractions, and then go back and use the hyperlinks to see applicable supplemental materials.  Or if you prefer, you can jump to them during your reading.

There is an excellent introduction to each book of the Bible as well, and I appreciate the simple layout.  Rather than one long introduction of several pages of info, which can sometimes be hard to follow and read, this Bible's introductions are short and simple, with various sections such as Key Concepts, About the book, Key Verses, Key Teachings, Key Terms, and People to Know. These sections are often simple bulleted points or short descriptions of key terms or people. The supplemental helps seem to be explanations and devotionals to really help one understand the text and explain common questions and cultural differences the text might bring up.

I'd definitely recommend this Bible for those seeking to deepen their faith and study of the Bible. The helpful commentaries and easy to navigate layout make it an excellent choice for an e-Bible.

I recieved an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Tried and True

Tried and True by Mary Connealy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I really was interested in reading this book after reading the promo. Kylie, who is honorably discharged from service in the Civil War where she enlisted disguised  as a man, is now homesteading also disguised as a man. The land surveyor, Aaron, quickly realizes she is far from a man when he inspects her property and meets her. He gets caught up in investigating and protecting her when someone tries to scare her off her property.

Most of the novel was interesting, and enjoyable to read. Its a easy, noncomplicated adventure of sorts. The main part of the mystery is wrapped up easily and that is where it was kind of ruined for me... the rest of the novel seems like they just tacked on the there to round out the story, and that part of the storyline comes out of nowhere. There were several inconsistencies, such as the fact that their indian friend Sunrise, first touted as the best tracker there is, doesn't hear someone sneaking up on them yet the entire group quickly finds them for the rescue. There is hardly any talk of faith throughout the book, yet at the end they are suddenly extremely spiritual.  The entire ending was odd to me and didn't fit the book well at all.
I imagine readers of Christian fiction would enjoy this book, however the ending section really spoiled it for me.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


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