Each and every year, I decorate the front yard with decorations for Halloween Night, which includes an inflatable Frankenstein, Dracula, and a witch. I also put up a creepy cemetery, full of tombstones, skeletons and a few zombie groundbreakers! Last year, I added a fog machine, which went over well with the trick-or-treaters.

What new decorations am I adding to my yard this year?

Well, I'm adding a new groundbreaker called Pumpkin Man and a 5' Collapsible Coffin, which I received from Oriental Trading.

Pumpkin Man still in the packaging.

The box the Collapsible Coffin came in.

Oriental Trading is largest party supply store in the nation. Besides from party supplies, they also sell arts and crafts, school supplies, toys and novelties. They have a huge section on their website called the "Halloween Headquarters," which contains over 5,000 costumes, craft items, party supplies, candy, and decorations.

The Pumpkin Man!

The coffin lid.

All the Halloween Goodies I received.

Bethany House; 350 pages; $15.99; Amazon

Yes, I'm well aware that "The Proving" by Beverly Lewis only came out last month but I'm still going to feature as a "Review Catch Up Marathon!" post.

I'm not for sure what year it was, but the very first book I read by Beverly Lewis was The Covenant (Abram's Daughters, Book One). I received it through a book club. I remember I had to pick out one more book to buy in the introduction package before joining, and I just randomly picked The Covenant.

Anyhow, "The Proving" is a standalone novel that centers on Amanda "Mandy" Dienner, a young woman who had left her Amish lifestyle to live her life as an Englisher. Well, that's until she learns her mother has passed away and has left her an Amish bed-and-breakfast in Lancaster County.

Of course things aren't always as simple as they look, as there is a catch to her inheritance - Mandy has to successfully run the bed-and-breakfast for one year!

After some thought, Mandy goes back home to the face the family she'd left behind and to take over her mother's business, but there's one other catch - the bed-and-breakfast's guests expects their host to be Amish!

Sparrow Records; Buy Link

Now available from Sparrow Records (Capitol Christian Music Group) is the eleventh album from Christian singer & songwriter Jeremy Camp, titled "The Answer."

Jeremy Camp has won five GMA Dove Awards. Four of his albums have been RIAA-certified as Gold. He has been nominated for three American Music Awards, and his album Speaking Louder Than Before was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2010.







Songs/Tracks on "The Answer" album are:





   

I'm a new fan of Christian music, so I wasn't aware of Jeremy Camp's music until I received an advanced copy of his newest album "The Answer." Also, please take note that I have never been a fan of male singers. Don't sky me why, as I have no idea why I prefer female singers better. Anyhow, I had no idea what to expect when I put the CD into my laptop disc drive and pushed play. Let's just say that I was pleasantly surprised by the singer's strong vocals in "Word Of Life," which is the first song on the album. The song has a contemporary-rock vibe to it, as well as the rest of the tracks on the album (there are 11 total songs). The lyrics are well-written and each song has a wonderful rhythm to them. 

Overall, I enjoyed listening to the album. What's my favorite song from the album? That's a great question. Actually, I like all the songs from the album, but if I had to narrow it down, I would say my favorites are "The Answer," "Storm," "Word Of Life," "Never Stopped Loving," and "Carriers."

   

* I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

    Giveaway Details

Bethany House; 336 pages; $14.99; Amazon

The novel is written by Regina Jennings, which I believe I have read a few her titles in the past, but I could be wrong. (I read a lot books!) I do know that I signed up to review this book through the Bethany House bloggers program, just because I liked the cover art. There's something about seeing a young woman with a pencil/pen in one hand and a book in the other that appeals to me.

The novel is set in 1885 in Pine Gap, Missouri, and centers on Betsy Huckabee, a young woman who is working as reporter for her uncle's newspaper, and Joel Puckett, the new deputy.

Deputy Joel has a lot baggage on his shoulders, especially when he was somewhat forced to leave Texas and move to Missouri. Despite his past, he's determined to make anew and show the citizens of Pine Gap that he is the law in the town. Well, that's easier said than done, as a few masked marauders are giving him a hard time.

Betsy takes it upon herself to make the new deputy look like a dashing hero in her new serial. The articles/stories are mostly fiction, but they're being published in other newspapers far away, so there's nothing to worry about. Right?

Disney; 43 minutes; TV-G; Amazon

Now available on DVD from Disney Home Entertainment is Mickey Mouse: Merry & Scary, featuring the new television special "The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!" and last year's "Duck The Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special." There are no special features, but the DVD does contain five bonus shorts.

Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are trying their best to scare Mickey's nephews (Morty and Ferdie) and Donald's nephews (Huey, Dewey and Louie) in "The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!" by telling them the kids a very scary story. The problem is that no matter what story they come up with, the nephews are just not scared.

Like all other ducks, Donald always travels to the south for the winter, which means he always misses Christmas. Well, this year he decides not to migrate in "Duck The Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special," so he can spend the holidays with his pals Mickey, Goofy, and Minnie. Mickey tries his best to give Donald the greatest Christmas, but Donald quickly learns why Ducks migrate to the south for the winter.

The bonus shorts are:





 

Thomas Nelson; 372 pages; $15.99; Amazon

Yes, I'm well aware it's no longer summer, but here I am writing a review for anthology called An Amish Summer. I had signed up to review the book through the Book Look Blogger Program back in June. I read it right away, but my procrastination issues kicked in and I tossed the book to the sidelines. Well, that's until I decided to catch up on all the needs-to-be-reviewed books.

An Amish Summer features four romance novellas from bestselling authors Shelley Shepard Gray, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin.

Shelley Shepard Gray once again returns to the Pinecraft, Florida in "A Reunion in Pinecraft." The story centers on Sherilyn "Sherry" Kramer, who had attended a wedding in Shipshewana with her sister Sharon. This is where she gets a penpal named Graham Holland, and this is where the confusion begins. After sending letters back and forth, Sherry and Graham agree to meet in Pinecraft. However, after meeting, Graham realizes he has been writing to the wrong sister.

Amy Clipston brings us readers the romantic drama "Summer Storms." The story centers on Arianna Smucker, a young Amish woman who's counting down the days until he wedding to Jesse. Sadly, her plans for their future changes after Jesse's brother, Tobias, gets them all into trouble, which causes her father to end their engagement.

Kathleen Fullers spins together a classic romance story, titled "Lakeside Love." The story centers on a young Amish woman named Esther Coblentz, who has always lived in the shadow of her younger sister, Sarah. The only boy she has ever had feelings for only has eyes for her sister. Esther's life suddenly changes after meeting an Englisher, who is staying with relatives for the summer.

Kelly Irvin gives us a cute romance story, titled "One Sweet Kiss." The story centers on Martha Bryler, a young Amish woman who is given up on love in exchange for becoming the caregiver of her large family after her mother died. Everyone around Martha believes she would be the perfect match for Jacob King, well for everyone but Martha and Jacob, as both of them could care less about each other. Well, that is until they share a one sweet kiss, and then everything changes.