Andrew Smith's Blog

Book, Music, and Movie Reviews

Grow Movie Review and Giveaway




• Fall plans just got bigger. #GrowTheFilm is in theaters October  

17! Tickets are on sale now. https://growthefilm.com/




 

• Watch this fun fall film with your family - Grow is only in theaters starting October 17!  



 


• Buy tickets today to see Grow in theaters starting October 17!  




 

• A story of love that grows. At the heart of GROW is the touching bond between a prickly aunt and her spirited niece. Their journey shows that sometimes the family we need grows where we least expect it.  




 

• The most colorful cast of characters. From curmudgeonly farmers to over-the-top rivals, every character feels like they’ve stepped out of a cozy, autumnal fairy tale.  Charlie’s pumpkin “Peter” isn’t the only thing full of personality—the whole town bursts with quirky charm.  




 

• Pumpkin spice in film form. Opening October 3, GROW is perfectly timed for fall and Halloween season: cozy, funny, and a safe, whimsical alternative to scary movies.  




 

• “Wild gardening” meets whimsy. Charlie’s affinity for plants will inspire kids—and kids at heart—to dance to their plants and care for the environment.  




 

• Synopsis: In the Pumpkin Capital of the World, stoic farmer Dinah Little (Golda Rosheuvel) begrudgingly takes in her spirited niece, Charlie (Priya-Rose Brookwell).  But Charlie isn’t an ordinary child—she has a special knack for connecting with plants that quietly reflects her own longing to feel just as seen and loved. As the town prepares for the annual pumpkin-growing contest, Charlie sets her sights on winning. With the help of quirky Arlo (Nick Frost), plot and pumpkins thicken as rival growers pull every trick in the book. Will Charlie and Dinah’s unlikely entry stand tall against the fiercest competition the town has ever seen? As her pumpkin grows, so does her bond with Dinah, and together they learn the real prize is joy, laughter, and family.  




 

My Review: 

 

This movie features a fun filled cast enclosed with a Fall theme. The majority of the movie is watchers enjoying the journey of growing the giant pumpkin. There is completive competition among all kinds of age groups and this girl, Charlie has a dream she will become this year’s winner. She has a gift that allows her to connect with plants when she touches them. She able to feel and understand them and what they need. It was interesting to watch her connection with plants and it makes you think about the green thumb saying. The film also showcased the relationship between aunt and niece and how they were able to develop a deeper relationship. There is core message in the film and will remind us the importance of living our lives. There is a reminder that these days are the best days of our lives. We need to forget the worst times and focus on the positive. I really liked the film and how festive it was towards the Fall season. It doesn’t really cover Halloween even though it did have a pumpkin theme. This makes it very family friendly and could even inspire kids to have their own growing a pumpkin contest. 

 

 

Trailer: 




 

Downloadable Kids Activity Book: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IG_Wh-sjuhY95cGmKtv39ImyNETFxdHy/view




 

 

• Buy tickets today to see Grow in theaters starting October 17!  




 

 

Website/Buy Tickets: https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/grow/?cmp=ST_Fathom_extPangramEnt_Grow_GrowWebsite&utm_campaign=18923560-GROW&utm_source=PangramEnt&utm_medium=GrowWebsite

 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/growthefilm

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/growthefilm/

 

 

Disclosure:  

Many thanks to US Pumpkin Distribution, LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. 

 

 

Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard  

 

 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only.) 




Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential by Muriel M. Wilkins Book Review





In Leadership Unblocked, Muriel M. Wilkins explored the beliefs that are blocking us and preventing us from reaching our full potential. She begins the book by sharing how she had just taken a new job at a failing division. She was given 18 months to turn it around and make it profitable. She had always been a high achiever and she created a plan which they all disagreed with. She admits to breaking down and crying in her office because they wouldn’t listen to her. She discussed it with her partner and her man basically asked her if she was the problem and not them. It took her time until she got his words and then she realized that she was playing into the drama. She did end up quitting but has since become an executive coaching. She explored our beliefs and how we can uncover our interior monologue and discover the clatter going around in our heads. We need to realize what is limiting us and stopping us from moving forward. She shared how she believed that she had to succeed and had a reinforced belief that she had to do her best. If she did, she would be accepted and praised. She looked at hidden blockers such as, “I need it done right now, I’m right, I can’t make a mistake, I can’t say no”, and much more. She covered all of these in extreme detail throughout the chapters. 

 



 

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who is ready to get unblocked from their hindering beliefs. I loved how she included special sessions about coaching ourselves from blocked to unblocked and to action. There are also helpful charts showing the signs that we have this hidden blocker. She touched on potential costs of the hidden blocker. At the end of the book, there is a coach yourself worksheet in the appendix. 




“I received this book free from the publisher for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon: 




https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Unblocked-Through-Beliefs-Potential-ebook/dp/B0DRZ2GMVZ/ 

Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead) by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic Book Review





In Don’t Be Yourself, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic explored the topics of authenticity and stated how this key word has been searched on Google one million times in the last five years alone. It has been discovered that studies have found if you have a more authentic self-rating, you are likely to have more job and relationship satisfaction. He covered the four traps we are faced with such as always be honest with yourself, follow your heart, stop worrying about what others think, and bring yourself to work. He discussed career advancement and enclosed sample job interview questions and how to answer them. These included biggest weakness, where you see yourself in five years, how you handle criticism, and much more. He tries to help you align your experiences and traits positivity with your employee’s values and this could assist you in obtaining the job offer. He looked at leadership and how it affects our authenticity. He shared how the saying just be yourself can give us a false sense and provide us with a narcissistic mindset. He explained how a great leader will help other build and grow and develop their desire to more about the group instead of themselves. 

 




 

This book is an excellent look about the dangers of being ourselves and authenticity. I enjoyed the interview sessions questions and how he explored the different areas and types of them. I appreciated the covering of the topic of leadership and this a great reminder where people can improve their leadership styles and care more about others in the process. I liked how he touched on how management tends to hire more people who align with their own shared values. This book was very interesting to read about how to handle authenticity.




“I received this book free from the publisher for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon: 



https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Be-Yourself-Authenticity-Overrated/dp/1647829836/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title

Alexander Maclaren Study Bible Book Review and Giveaway




Purchase your copy of the Alexander Maclaren Study  

Bible today on Amazon! 

 

 

• Uplifting, Clear, and Christ-Centered Insights from the “Prince of Expositors”  

 

• Few preachers in the nineteenth century rivaled Alexander Maclaren. Called the “Prince of Expositors,” Maclaren was considered one of the best preachers of his era, acclaimed for offering remarkable biblical insights in a poetic style.  

 

 

• The Alexander Maclaren Study Bible invites you to learn from his powerful insights as you explore the Scriptures. Study notes drawn from his more than 1,500 published sermons illuminate every chapter of the Bible. Passage outlines based on his sermons guide you in systematic study of key texts. Short notes encourage you to apply the Bible to your life and see Christ’s relevance to all Scripture.  

 

 

• Who was Alexander Maclaren?  

 

• Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on February 11, 1826, Alexander Maclaren was the pastor of Union Chapel in Manchester England from 1858–1903. Heralded as the “Prince of Expositors,” he is considered by many to be one of the best preachers of the nineteenth century, The popularity of Maclaren’s published sermons rivaled that of Charles Spurgeon, helping him develop global acclaim for remarkable biblical insights delivered in a poetic style. Maclaren’s works continue to be read and studied due to their timeless relevance, verbal beauty, and profound freshness.  

 

 

• Features include:  

 

• Book introductions exploring each book’s background and key themes with insights from Maclaren’s work 

• 1,400 study notes that cover every chapter of the Bible  

• 380 Christ Connection notes showing the relevance of Christ to all Scripture  

• 380 Life Application notes to help you live out the Bible’s principles  

• 209 Passage Outlines based on Maclaren’s sermon outlines  

• 8 essays addressing major doctrines of Scripture, personal devotion to Christ, and how to properly apply the Bible to your life  

• Comprehensive concordance and index of features  

• Bottom of page study notes 

• Center-column cross-references  

 

 

My Review:

 

 

This Bible featured key lessons from Pastor Alexander Maclaren and it was very insightful and touched on life applications that can change your life. The Bible I received was a gray and black leather soft but there are different ones available. It was easy to read and the font was a comfortable print for me. It has two bookmark ribbons to make it easy to travel throughout the Bible. 

 

 

One of my favorites discussed if we have the light, then we should be the light. We will become like Him if we choose to live close to Him. We can arise and shine cause the glory of God has risen on us. See Isaiah 60:1. The Redeemer will come to Zion and this passage is talking about Jesus. This is the good news of salvation. I think this is critical to be remember right now with all of the uncertain and chaos we have seen in the last few days alone. There is darkness all around us but here is hope in the arms of Jesus. 

 

 

The Bible contained an introduction to the book of the Bible. It stated who the author is and if we even know who wrote this part of the Bible. There are sometimes confirmations in different parts of the Bible and it lists where we can gain even more clarification on who the author really was. It enclosed the time frame and key verses to watch out for. They had a section covering the theme of the book of the Bible and what readers will get to learn about. There is an inclusive concordance that was pages and pages of helpful information to make it easier for readers to find a specify topic. There were colorful maps and blue boxes throughout the Bible to make it more enhanced.

 

 

Bible Promo Clip to share: 

 

https://vimeo.com/inciite/alexandermaclarenpromo



An Interview:

 


https://vimeo.com/1104593690 

 

• Purchase your copy of the Alexander Maclaren Study Bible today on Amazon!  

 

 

Amazon Buy Link: 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Maclaren-Study-Bible-Christ-Centered/dp/1400335914/

 

Thomas Nelson Page:

 

https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/alexander-maclaren-study-bible/

 

 

Disclosure:  

 

Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. 




Giveaway: 1 copy of the Alexander Maclaren Study Bible  

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Light of the World Movie Review and Giveaway





This beautiful, 2D-animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of his young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection, LIGHT OF THE WORLD powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today! 

 

 


 

LIGHT OF THE WORLD opens in theaters September 5! 

 

 

My Review: 

 

 

This film is a brand new 2D film and it reminds me of my childhood 90’s and how illustrated those cartoons were. In my opinion better than the content today even though now we have 4K films. The illustration in this cartoon was just beautiful and well-drawn creations. The film paints John as a young teenager and he is very childish and irresponsible. He causes his dad to lose his tax collector’s money and he is at a high risk of being taken to prison. He upsets the Roman Empire and the main guard and he is determined to capture him throughout the film. What is in an interesting side piece is the real reason why he is so bitter and has hatred in his heart. At first, he is a character to dislike but later on you get to see his why and your heart will change toward him. 





 

 

The movie shows mainly the disciples as John, Andrew, Peter, and James. The others are present but they aren’t the main characters. The story takes watchers through the entire story of Jesus and shows his healings and ministry to his resurrection. I really liked watching the scene of the guy who couldn’t walk and how he was lifted down towards Jesus to receive his healing. How they covered this was John having the idea to use the roof and assist them. The turning water into wine was very touching and watching people begin to see and believe Jesus’ power was awesome. There were also doubters throughout the film and it was captivating watching some of them convert and change their minds after seeing the miracles in action. One of the humorous scenes was when John introduces his dad to Jesus and states how Jesus is the solution to the problem. Jesus just casually waves and says hi and it’s quite funny. 

 




 

 

I thought this cartoon was very well written and it helps children to get to see Jesus and His journey on Earth and how He loves us and died for our sins. I would rewatch this film again and again and it’s wonderful for children to lead the to Christ. At the end of the film there is also a QR code that will help watchers to accept Christ as their Savior and it takes them through a new believer video course. 



 

 Check it out:

 

https://newbelievercourse.com/the-simple-gospel-video-course/?qr=lightoftheworld

 



Check out the trailer: 




 

 

If you are a fan of the 1990s golden era of 2D, hand-drawn animation, you will love this movie. This is the first movie from Salvation Poem Project, a ministry committed to sharing Jesus with the world Director John Schafer was the producer of the beloved program Superbook. 

 

Director Tom Bancroft was a long-time animator with Disney who worked on The Lion King, Mulan, and Beauty and the Beast. 

 

 

Movie guide says, “It stresses faith, family and trusting in God’s plan.” and it's "beautifully animated and entertaining ... based entirely on the Bible” 

 

 

It truly is a family movie the whole family will love. 


You can learn more at www.lightoftheworld.com  

 

 

 

 

 

Momentum Influencer Network - Light of the World Interview with the Producer:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MreyQlPq-VQ


 

 




Check out Shane and Shane New Music Video for this Film:




 

 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Salvation Poem for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

 

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Stop Walking on Eggshells for Partners: What to Do When Your Partner Has Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder by Bill Eddy and Randi Kreger Book Review






In Stop Walking on Eggshells for Partners, Bill Eddy and Randi Kreger explored what a narcissist is and how they control and manipulate us. The book discussed personality disorders and how they are all different and affect our relationships. They stated how most of the time they won’t go to therapy unless they feel threatened that you would leave them. The book explored kids, custody, parenting, and also ending it with leaving the right way. 




 

 

One of the most powerful chapters was about changing your mindset. What we think about and believe becomes true for us. These thoughts create our future. We have to realize that we can’t control everything and we must recognize the things that we can change. They revealed what cognitive behavior therapy is and the power of our thoughts. They shared a story about someone running late to a job interview. In one scenario, our harsh inner critic puts ourselves down and tells us how messed up we are and makes us feel very intense. In another scenario, you call and explain to them what happened and why you are late. This helps us to deal with a forgivable mistake. They take it a step farther by exploring how this relates to our relationships. They looked at problems and the different things they can include. 




 

 

This book is an excellent resource to use in your relationships and it covered all sorts of information on how to stop walking on eggshells so to speak. This book was great in helping us make tough decisions that sometimes we must make once we hit rock bottom in our relationship. It touched on tips on improve our relationships and they can greatly change our relationships dynamic. 




“I received this book free from the publisher for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon: 



https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Walking-Eggshells-Partners-Narcissistic-ebook/dp/B0CVB56Z9S/


What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World by Prentis Hemphill Book Review





In What It Takes to Heal, Prentis Hemphill . She begins the book by sharing how she started working at a community mental health clinic when Trayvon Martin was killed. She wanted to create a safe space people could talk and discuss anything. She discussed different issues regarding Black Lives Matter and queers. She explored vision, healing, feeling the body, remapping relationships, and much more all related to change and making a difference. In the book, she touched on her health scare and how she ignored the chest pain. She was experiencing stress and they thought she had a small heart attack at age 36. She was busy saving her organization and she knew she should stop overworking herself. She described conflict and how we all try and control everything and we protect ourselves. She shared the power of vulnerability and what it can teach us about ourselves. We can in turn learn more about ourselves in the process.





 

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is ready to transform their lives and change the world around them. This book does a great job at looking at the injustice the world is facing and what we can do to bring about lasting change. It can assist you in healing the path of reconnecting to your body and mind and soul. 





“I received this book free from the publisher for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon: 


https://www.amazon.com/What-Takes-Heal-Transforming-Ourselves-ebook/dp/B0CF18C11N/

A Week Away The Series Review and Giveaway



About the Film: 


THIS MUSICAL SERIES follows a group of teens as they embark on a summer at Camp Aweegaway — a Christian camp filled with adventure, friendships, and unexpected self-discovery It’s an expressive and resonant story about identity, trust, and the courage to face what’s within. A Week Away: The Series offers a tender space for those burdened by doubt and pain to explore the possibility of hope and the power of a found family. 

 

 

The story follows a defiant foster teen who is dragged to church camp, determined to resist what he sees as the hollow promises of faith. But rejection gives way to introspection, and the walls he’s built begin to crack. As he discovers he’s not alone in the struggle against grief, anger, and the ache of belonging, he learns that healing can’t be forced— it must be chosen. A Week Away: The Series is fun and engaging, safe for family viewing, and honors faith-based principles without being a ‘lesson in Christianity.’ 

 

 

My Review:



This TV series has been compared to High School Musical and Camp Rock but with a Christian theme. I loved the High School Musical movie series and Camp Rock and thought they were excellent and had wonderful dancing songs. Christians get ready because we finally have a TV series that will compare to them. The director is Alan Powell and he was the star in The Song. Fans will recognize Leigh-Allyn Baker from Good Luck Charlie, Carlos PenaVega from Big Time Rush, David Koechner from Anchorman, and Antonio Cipriano from Pretty Little Liars. 

 

 

The TV series continues the story from the Netflix movie but with different characters. Like the movie there is tons of singing and even a remake of Amazing Grace and a popular Veggies Tales song cover. There are constantly church challenges and group competitions to compete against each other to see who will win. A lot of the message of the film is asking the question why we are here and what is our purpose. We see how a foster kid struggles with love and accepting what this church camp is about and more importantly what God is about. There is a redemption story that will later become back of his testimony. The film touched on pain and why God allows bad things to happen. There are also funny things in here such as the Who song and if God is for us who can be against us. People will laugh at this catchy saying and song. He ends this talent show with a power song about what we are made for and how we are made to love. I liked how there was a wide mix of emotional people will feel while watching this. It’s super safe for teenagers and even little kids. It really is safe for the whole family. This will have people clapping along and wanting to join in on the finale. The dancing was very energetic and the singing were fantastic and will make you want to get up and join in. It might even inspire you to go back to church and go on a church retreat or a camp. 

 

 

 

 

Now Streaming on Angel!

 

https://www.angel.com/shows/a-week-away-series





 

Angel is also are having a Labor Day sale going on right now if you decide to join this weekend. 

 

This TV series is executively on the Angel Guild. All of their films contain positive messages that are Christian based and that can spread the light. Becoming a member allows you two free theater tickets to upcoming shows, discount on merchandise, early access to steaming new movies, voting for your favorite projects, and much more. All the films are made in Angel Studios. Some of the movies enclosed, Young David, I Can Only Imagine, Homestead, The Last Rodeo, The Shift, Like Dandelion Dust, Green and Gold, Vindication, and with much more being released. 






 

 

Disclosure:

Many thanks to Angel for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

 

 

Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift card 




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The Short Game Movie Review and Giveaway

 



Synopsis: 

Jeremy Avery is vying for a college golf scholarship awarded to the winner of the State Championship, but his preparation and game are affected by family pressures and having to take care of his younger autistic brother, Ethan. These challenges, along with the pressure of carrying his team to State against an opponent who will do anything to win, leads Jeremy on a journey of discovery both internal and of his brother’s savant-like gifts, that if embraced can create an unstoppable pair. On the brink of his greatest victory, Jeremy is forced to make a life-altering decision, finally realizing his own personal dreams or standing by his brother. 




Go see this brand-new film in theaters on August 29th, 2025!






My Review:

 

This film is a touching story covering the topic of golf and how his young teenager, Jeremy has a dream of achieving his goal of a golf scholarship and making into the State Championships. The film showed the relationships of the brothers like brothers are and they typically fight sometimes and argue. This leads to conflicts in the movie. His younger brother, Ethan also has autistic. He is expected to help raise and watch his younger brother when his mom starts a new job. At first, he acts out and is very upset about the new responsible again. A tragic accident helps change his entire perceptive and outlook on life. His brother finally becomes his caddy after he was dead set against him being so. He soon realized that his younger brother has a special gift that he can help him in his golfing games. There are challenges against the other golf players and they try and get him banned. 




 

The film was very interesting and engaging. It shows how life can change in an instant and we can decide to either move forward or to stay stuck. We can choose to see something as a burden or a blessing. I loved how family friendly this film is and you won’t be seeing any bad language or content. There is even some humous scenes in the film. The film contains a lot of newer actors and actresses. The main person people may recognize is Brandon Potter from the Chosen, Mackenzie Astin, (The Pitt), and Katherine Cunningham (Yellowstone, Chicago Fire, Mind Games). The acting is great and they all did an excellent job in their roles and watchers will find them all enjoyable and relatable. 






Trailer Link:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=r8BiMoNHDhc

 





 

 

 

Giveaway: Enter to win $10 Amazon gift card 

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Work Happier: How to be Happy and Successful at Work by Mark Price Book Review




In Work Happier, Mark Price revealed how critical it is to discover and take charge of our own happiness at work. It isn’t our bosses responsible it’s our own. He stated how happier employees led to happier employees. He is the founder of WorkL that makes companies improve their own workspace. There is also a special test you can take online and he has seen that 70% of workers rank they are unhappy at work. He described how our personal lives will greatly improve too and how our families would prefer us to come home happier and more fulfilled and engaged at home. He lists our rights and our responsibilities. He stated how we must be ourselves in interviews and in our job that way we can display that we are a good fit. He covered tips on how we can become more empowered at work. One of the ways is by taking the initiative without being asked. He discussed favoritism and how to deal with it. He went over how to handle being disrespected at work and how to get respected. He goes over how to have difficult conversation with your boss. 

 

 

 

I would recommend this excellent book about workplace and how to become happier. This book contained tons of information about improving your happiness and taking back what is yours. I liked how he included tips on having deep conversations with your boss and to not live in fear of speaking up. I liked how he helped readers to gain control of their own happiness. We don’t have to rely on what our boss does or doesn’t do to dictate our happiness. I liked how he touched on a bad manager and how we can’t wait around for them to change their approach. Instead, we must set our own expectations and hold them accountable and how we can build a good relationship with them. He went over on how we can provide solutions to the work problems and to display our judgments and earn trust. 




“I received this book free from the publisher for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon: 



https://www.amazon.com/Work-Happier-How-Happy-Successful-ebook/dp/B0DWXYM7FG