"I Believe: The Meaning of Christmas and the Baby Who Started It All" by JoAnne Simmons

{Congratulations to Loraine E. for winning an e-copy of “The Fruitcake Challenge”! The Author, Carrie Fancett Pagels, will be in touch with you soon!}

{Also, fun note, this is our 200^th blog post on ‘Books for Christian Girls’!}

{Merry CHRISTmas everyone! Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday in honor of our Savior’s birth there’ll be a new Christmas book review! With a couple giveaways sprinkled in, it’s going to be so much fun! Hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas! I think I’m ready… ;)}

About this book:

  “Christmastime brings out the believer in all of us…

  Discover the many aspects of faith surrounding the holiday season as you dig deeper into the meaning of Christmas—how the Christ child fulfilled traditions around the world, stories behind beloved Christmas carols, and the history of treasured Christmas traditions.

  This year, take a moment to experience your faith rooted in festive, holy tradition and celebrate the baby named Jesus, the One who started it all.”


Series: Non-fiction.

Spiritual Content- 85 Scriptures are quoted; 60 Scriptures are referenced; ‘H’s when talking about God are capital; This while book is about Christmas & Believing in Jesus.

Negative Content- There are, of course, mentions of King Herod having all the baby boys killed (That Scripture is quoted and lightly hit on)

Sexual Content- There are, of course, mentions of the virgin birth & Joseph keeping Mary a virgin till after Jesus was born. (Those Scriptures are quoted)  

Non-Fiction

                                                        160 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

{Might be a little deep for this age; Best read with an adult.}

New Teens-

{Might be a little deep for this age; Best read with an adult.}

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating- 

This was a good, little book. But, it took me a while to finish it because I was looking up Scriptures, quoting & talking about different parts with my Mom and listening to carols that were talked about.

You’re probably wondering why I gave it four stars, let me tell you why. First, the author obviously doesn’t want to focus on herself (which I liked that part, the focus shouldn’t be on her but what she’s talking about) but because her name is only on the copyright page (and Goodreads page) it allows your mind to hear the writing in your head by a voice you can imagine saying it. (does that make any sense?) Second, at some points that “voice” reading this Non-Fiction to me sounded like Kirk Cameron. Which really wasn’t a good thing. I saw his new Christmas movie (my Mom wanted to support him, a Christian in Hollywood, which I understand.). As a YouTuber for almost five years now, I have a pretty good idea on Film & Videography. (Needless to say, I was cringing at the style of the movie and close-ups.) I also did not agree with anything he said, all of it came across as twisting & tolerance. But I digress; this is not a review for that movie.

I didn’t feel that way with “I Believe: The Meaning of Christmas and the Baby Who Started It All.” till near the end, when the author talked about the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” being a teaching tool of when the Catholic faith was illegal in England. Some of the tie-ins were kinda okay, but day eight made me scratch me head: (Eight maids a-milking represent how Jesus came to save everyone, even those in lowly positions like milkmaids {Which I have no doubt about but I’m kinda confused on why they picked it.}) The other ones make better sense.

I also am not a fan of NIV or ESV version Bibles because the ‘H’s when talking about God are not capital! (I use NASB, which is wonderful.) Because also every Scripture is NIV, that lowered my ratings as well.      

This was the last review of the Christmas Month! Wow! I hope y’all found some good, Christmas reads during this month! And just a notification, we will be blogging tomorrow! Yes, on Christmas! We have a fun post for y’all! :)

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"A Plain and Simple Christmas" by Amy Clipston

{Merry CHRISTmas everyone! Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday in honor of our Savior’s birth there’ll be a new Christmas book review! With a couple giveaways sprinkled in, it’s going to be so much fun! Let’s start!}

About this book:

  “Just in time, or just too late?

  In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston weaves this tale of Anna Mae McDonough—shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry a non-Amish man in Baltimore.
  Anne Mae has longed to return home the holidays, but she worries her visit will cause too much stress. With the help of a friend who believes it is God’s will for the family to heal. Anna Mae arrives in Lancaster just in time for Christmas. But is it too late for a miracle?
A book filled with love, the pain of being separated from one's family, and the determination to follow God's will regardless of the outcome, “A Plain and Simple Christmas” is an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next ... right to the very last page.”

Or also:

   “An Inspiring Amish Tale of Faith, Family, Forgiveness…and the Miracle of Christmas.

  Four years after being shunned for marrying an “Englisher” Anna Mae McDonough wants to reconcile with her Amish family. And what better time than Christmas? But when her surprise visit doesn’t go as planned, she begins to question her place in the family.

  Is Anna Mae determined enough to fellow God’s will so the family can heal?”

Series: This novella is connected to the ‘Kauffman Amish Bakery’ series and is the first book is the Christmas Stories line. You can see our review of the second book, “Naomi’s Gift”, Here!

Spiritual Content- Talks about God’s will, forgiveness & trusting Him; ‘H’s are capital; Prayers & Blessings over food; Bible reading; Scriptures are quoted.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘stupid’s. Keeping secrets.

Sexual Content- Not-detailed kisses & 6 barely-above-not-detailed kisses between married couples; Touches between them too (barely-above-not-detailed); Labor & pains (borderline barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed).

-Anna Mae McDonough

-Kathryn Beiler
                                         P.O.V. switches between them, David, Mary Rose & Kellan

                                                        178 pages (with a recipe!)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating-

While “A Plain and Simple Christmas” isn’t the best book for this age range on here, it really was a cute story with a good message of forgiveness.

See y’all on Wednesday with the last CHRISTmas review of this month!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery" by Beverly Lewis

{Merry CHRISTmas everyone! Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday in honor of our Savior’s birth there’ll be a new Christmas book review! With a couple giveaways sprinkled in, it’s going to be so much fun! Let’s start!}

About this book:

  “It's almost Christmas, and Eric Hagel is spying on the new neighbor. What's going on next door? Why is the house always flickering with candlelight? And what about the eerie flute music every morning at 6:00? When Mr. Tressler puts up a Christmas tree, Eric's eyes nearly pop out. The angel at the top comes to life! Soon, hundreds of angels are flying in the old man's house. Can Eric and the Cul-de-sac Kids solve the mystery? And who will be brave enough to take a Christmas gift to the weird house at the end of Blossom Hill Lane?”


Series: This is book #3 in the “Cul-de-sac Kids” series. {I have not read any other book in this series, but am looking forward to!}

Spiritual Content- A mention of the Bible verse that says to think about the good things {I wonder which Scripture that is… only the one this blog is based on. ;) }; The Kids talk about the first Christmas being a true mystery; The Kids think they saw Angels with Mr. Tressler, which leads to a couple discussions about Angels & the Christmas Play their Church is doing.

Negative Content- Jason likes scary mysteries & says so, when asked if they give him bad dreams he replies “Sometimes, But if I pray before I go to bed, it’s better.” {To which the Scripture above is mentioned.}  

Sexual Content- {This really isn’t Sexual, but I don’t know where else to put it- Dunkum is going to be Joseph in their Church’s Christmas play and when asked who Mary is, he replies the Abby is and he cheeks turn red.}

-Eric Hagel, age 8

                                                        80-ish pages (with 6 illustrations/pictures)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

(and a half)

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

{ Ratings are lowered as the girl gets older because of the simple plot & mystery. }

I thought this was an adorable mystery! I read it in less than 10 minutes, but it was a really cute mystery that had me curious! I think it would be fine for girls starting to read as well! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series! :)

  Our Giveaway ends on Monday night! Open World Wide!

See y’all on Monday with a new CHRISTmas review! Christmas is almost here! :)

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.