Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Review: Fatal Exchange by:Lisa Harris

 Fatal Exchange (Southern Crimes #2)
About the Book:
 Emily Hunt might come from a family of cops, but she never goes looking for an adrenaline rush. She lives the quiet–well, relatively quiet–life of a teacher and thrives on making a difference in the lives of her students. But she’ll have to draw on a well of strength and savvy she didn’t know she had as student Rafael Cerda takes her class hostage for ransom money to save his brother’s life.
Undercover cop Mason Taylor has been working with Rafael to find his brother and bring the cartel thugs who hold him to justice. Can he talk Rafael down from his impulsive actions? And is there something more sinister at work here than he realizes?

Fatal Exchange draws readers into a complex matrix of intertwining lives and unraveling secrets, where every answer creates more questions. Romantic suspense fans will hardly want to come up for air.


About the Author:
Lisa Harris is a Christy Award finalist and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. The author of more than twenty books, including Dangerous Passage, Harris has spent over ten years living with her family as missionaries in Mozambique, where she leads a women's group and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.

My Review:
 After the murder of her brother, Emily Hunt had a real hard time recovering. Working as a high school teacher, she has finally found happiness in what she is doing. It seems she finally has her life on track, but that's when Mason decides to walk into her life. The man that she never wanted to see again, the man that was involved in her brothers murder. But now he shows himself and he wants help from her and her students.

 Mason is an undercover cop, and he finally has a lead on one of the biggest cases of his career. But he had no clue he would have to ask Emily for help and that he would have to count on them for this lead to go anywhere. Mason isn't to sure she will even agree to help him and he desperately wants her to say yes.

This book is full of mystery, action and laced with some romance!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Revell.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Review: Caught In The Middle by:Regina Jennings

 Caught in the Middle (Ladies of Caldwell County, #3)
About the Book:
The train to Garber, Texas, is supposed to bring life's next victory to Nicholas Lovelace. Instead, it gets held up by robbers who are thwarted by the last person Nick ever expected--Anne Tillerton from back home in Prairie Lea.

Anne’s been hiding away as a buffalo hunter. She’s only in Garber to find their runaway cook, but the woman flees--leaving Anne with her infant son. With Nick the only person Anne knows in Garber, the two form an unlikely team as they try to figure out what to do with the child.

But being in town means acting and dressing for polite society--and it's not going well for Anne. Meanwhile, Nick's work is bringing new pressures, and being seen with a rough-around-the-edges woman isn't helping his reputation. Caught between their own dreams, a deepening relationship, and others' expectations, can the pair find their way to love?


About the Author:
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of Sixty Acres and a Bride and Love in the Balance. Regina has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.

My Review:
 Anne hiding out as a male buffalo hunter is in search of a runaway cook, but she meets trouble along the way. Between hold ups and strange meetings, Anne doesn't think she will ever get home, thinking she has found the cook, she runs right in. Only to find a frightened and scared child, who is alone and frightened. Anne must find the hild's parents before they are long gone, but she can't do it alone.

 Nick traveled this far to get a suitable job, but after having a gun shoved in his face, he's ready to get busy and stay busy. As soon as he starts his new job, up pops Anne knocking on his door with a slight problem. This lost or found child, however you choose to view it and Anne neither of which having a place to stay Nick knew he would have to intervene somehow. I really don't think he knows what he is in for. This book was truly an adventure!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.

Review: A Shining Light by:Judith Miller

A Shining Light
About the Book:
The kind people of Amana have been her guiding light, but her greatest trial is yet to come...
West Amana, Iowa, 1890
After Andrea Wilson receives the devastating news that her husband has been lost at sea, she returns home to Iowa with her young son, Lukas. But what she finds there causes more heartache: The family farm has burned and her father has died, leaving Andrea with nothing.

Andrea must rely on the kindness of the people from the nearby Amana village who invite her to stay with them for a time. She discovers much generosity and contentment among the Amanans--especially from the tinsmith, Dirk Knefler, who takes her son under his wing. But is the simple, cloistered life in Amana what Andrea wants for Lukas's future? Is she willing to give up the comforts and freedom of the outside world? And when yet another round of shocking news comes her way, will Andrea ever be able to find the serenity and hope that have eluded her for so long?


About the Author:
Judith Miller is an award-winning writer whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. She is the author of the popular Daughters of Amana and Home to Amana series, which explore the closed communities of the Amana Colonies. Judy makes her home in Topeka, Kansas. Learn more at www.judithmccoymiller.com.

My Review:
 Just when Andrea Wilson, was trying to move on with her life, she is consequently dealt another blow. She and her son Lukas, hear uncomprehendable news about her husband that he has been lost at sea. She decides to return to her parents home in Iowa only to be given the news that the family farm has burned to the ground and her father has died, leaving her destitute.

 But when God is in control he takes whats left and He mends us. Soon the people in Amana hear about Andrea's & Lukas and the loss that they have suffered. Not a moment too soon that aide the two of them by providing a place to stay. Soon she and Lukas capture the attention of Dirk Knefler, the local tin smith and things start looking up or do they?

 Third in the Home To Amana series, A Shining Light is a page turner and instant hit! Finally when you think you have the story all figured out another surprise pops up.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Review:Spoken For by:Gunn/Bethke

Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are
About the Book:
Say Yes to the Love Story of Your LifeA great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?

In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences,   these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.

You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.

Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.

About the Authors:
Robin Jones Gunn, best-selling author of the much-loved Christy Miller Series and co-author of Praying for Your Future Husband, has had more than 4.5 million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her frequent speaking engagements have taken her around the globe. Robin and her husband live in Hawaii and have a grown son and daughter.

 Twenty-six-year-old Alyssa Joy Bethke is a popular blogger and a newlywed. She serves with her husband—speaker, author, and spoken word artist Jefferson Bethke—as they travel the world sharing God’s lavish grace. Alyssa lives in the Pacific Northwest with Jeff and their yellow lab, Aslan, and enjoys reading, hiking, paddleboarding, and, of course, coffee.

My Review:
 Isn't it great and just plain freeing to know that we are unconditionally loved&cared for? We are God's children--we belong to Him, that was His intent and purpose for creating us. How anyone could walk away and not want Him to be the center of their life, is beyond my comprehension. Spoken For, addresses this and so much more. My favorite chapter in the book-Chapter 5 "You Have Been Called," discusses how He pursues us and we in turn want to be in His will. But for some reason we constantly over and over again tend to go our own way all the while knowing that we shouldn't.

 Through their different experiences, the authors show us Biblically how we are to be open to the pursuit of our God but also how we should pursue Him as well. Choosing to follow God's will for our lives is just that--a choice. It is a choice that we should always keep at the forefront of everything we do in our lives. After each chapter of loving, Christ centered commentary, there are questions to keep you deep in the thought of strengthening your relationship with God. Built on Biblical principles and sound in site, Spoken For will remind you of who you belong to and your purpose for being His.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Blogging for Books.

Review: The One Jesus Loves by:Robert Crosby

 The One Jesus Loves: Grace Is Unconditionally Given, Intimacy Must Be Relentlessly Pursued
About the Book:
The felt need of most Christians is the desire to grow closer in relationship with God. In "The One Jesus Loves," Bob Crosby shows readers how to deepen their personal relationship with God by considering Jesus' "circles of intimacy"--especially those who walked closest to him.

All of us want to feel connected, a part of the circles in which we run. We don't want to feel like the odd man out. Jesus had an inner circle. As a matter of fact, he had several circles of relationships around him. While many filled the outermost rings of spectator and acquaintance, only a few followed all the way to the most intimate places. 


Jesus was constantly and winsomely working to bring people closer to himself, calling them out of the far reaches and toward the inner circles. This was his passion. In an age that is desperate for God, how do we press in to become like the two disciples who asked if they could sit right next to Jesus, at his right and at his left? 


Can we join God's inner circle? How can we make sure that we are on the closer path?


About the Author:
Dr. Robert C. Crosby is a conference speaker, writer, and pastoral leader. He has pastored churches in New York, Boston, and Ohio and served as a university vice president. He is the professor of practical theology at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He writes for Christianity Today, Patheos.com, Leadership Journal and the Huffington Post. He and his wife, Pamela, are the founders of Teaming Church Conferences and Resources.

My Review:
 Many believers start out on their journey at a pinnacle point, the point of "the beginning." There is a freshness and newness at the beginning that many times over and throughout our walk can not ever be duplicated or done again, probably because it is like a "honeymoon" period. While that moment is such a precious time of learning and getting close to our Saviour is is something that is quickly diminished and we must be looking onward and upward to gain a closer look and feel of our Lord.

 Robert Crosby, describes 6 "Rings of the Lord" or "Circles of Christ", these our described as rings or circles around of relationship to Jesus. Those rings are listed below:

1) The Crowds
2) The Five Thousand
3) The Seventy (sometimes described as Seventy-Two)
4) The Twelve
5)The Three
6) The One

Each of these are described in detail by who they were and what their relationship was to Jesus and how each helped or hindered the process of gaining followers. The One Jesus Loves, is an excellent commentary that will cause you to dig deeper to desire that closeness, that oneness that we all should desire from Him.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Look. 

CFBA Review: Paige Turned by:Erynn Mangum

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Paige Turned
TH1NK (April 1, 2014)
by
Erynn Mangum


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



A few things about her:

So, if we were having this conversation in person, we would probably be hanging out at Starbucks or one of the cute coffeehouses in town. I’m nuts about all things coffee, I’m crazy about all things pink and girly, and I love, love, love the Food Network! I’m married to my best friend and the most amazing guy ever, Jon. He is amiable toward coffee, does not like anything pink or girly and tolerates the Food Network. So, we make a good match! In July 2010, we became parents to one of the funniest, cutest, sweetest little guys in the whole world (and nope, we aren’t biased at all!), our Nater-Tot, who is legally known as Nathan. Most days, I’m cleaning up messes, making goofy faces, trying to fit some writing in, and just LOVING the life that God has given me!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Despite her valiant efforts, Paige Alder seems stuck in chaos. Her new job as youth intern keeps her hopping from coffee shop to coffee shop all summer long, but at least she’s loving the one-on-one time she gets to spend with the girls. The unfortunate side-effect is that now, four weeks of laundry fills her apartment. Plus, she barely has time to help her sister and best friend with their weddings! And even worse? Something is definitely wrong between her and Tyler. She apologized for what he thought he saw happen with Luke. Can’t they move past it? Or could there be something he’s not telling her—something that could change everything?

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Paige Turned, go HERE.

My Review:
Paige life has become very chaotic and odd. Her boyfriend isn't his happy-go-lucky self anymore, he has been acting very weird around her. He also seems to avoid her, but that's not the only thing she has to worry about. Her new job keeps her running around, she never even seems to have time to even breath. With that she also has very little time to help her friends with their weddings. And in the middle of all this she has to find time for herself and God.

When things become harder, Paige doesn't know what to do. Paige turns to her closest friend, who in turn talks to her over a steaming cartoon of orange chicken. She can't do anything to fix anyone, when she herself is having trouble living. She must find a balance in it all. But how? She has no one to help her or even stand by her. God, she needs a little help here.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Review: No More Dragons by:Jim Burgen

No More Dragons: Get Free from Broken Dreams, Lost Hope, Bad Religion, and Other Monsters
About the Book:
Becoming a dragon is a dangerously subtle process.

You make a long chain of bad choices. The chain gradually wraps around you. Layer by layer, it begins to take on the aspect of scales. One day you glance at yourself in the mirror and a monster is staring back at you. You aren't who you used to be. You aren't who you want to be. You're not who you were created and designed to be. Instead, you're a dragon.

When Jim Burgen was nineteen years old, he realized how easy it had been to become a dragon. He knew he didn't want to be one anymore . . . but how? "No More Dragons" is the story of our common, hopeful journey from dragonhood back to personhood.

As Pastor Burgen narrates the remarkable process of reclaiming himself from himself, he implores modern church goers to shake off the trivialities of churchiness in favor of the substantive questions that make a spiritual transformation:

"Is Jesus the only one who can undragon people?"

"Why don't I like most churches?"

"Where is God in difficult times?"

"How do you shed decades of gnarly scales?"

Some choices will lead you to a better life. Some will kill you. Some choices will add a new layer of scales to your dragon, and some will slough them off. "No More Dragons" is about asking Christ to deliver you and learning how to obey him.


About the Author:
Jim Burgen studied Bible and Sociology at Milligan College. He spent the first twenty years of his ministry working with high school and college students in Kentucky. He has been the lead pastor of Flatirons Community Church in Boulder County, Colorado since 2006. He also serves on the board of SOZO International, an NGO focusing on holistic community empowerment in Afghanistan.

My Review:
 The author simply states in his phenomenal book, No More Dragons, that it comes down to this--grace and truth. He says its simply better to hold on to both. If you prefer for God not to tear away the scales from your life, you are actually  going to lead a more difficult life. As we Christians we know all to way that the insults, accusations, and ridicule never seem to end. Jesus knew when He made alot of the controversial statements He made that were going to be met with accusations and persecution, but He still taught His followers what they were going to have to do and have to give up in order to walk with Him.

  The author offers in sight into the fact that many of us are becoming or will become dragons if we are not very careful. We need to hold sight to the fact that we all are broken people and in order to stay close to God we need to remain humble and never forget how broken we truly are. We are a hopeless, broken people that need Jesus and the church will have to always remember that if we are to ever keep winning souls for the Kingdom.

 No More Dragons, is a great book to keep us all in check!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Look.

Review: One Perfect Spring by:Irene Hannon

 One Perfect Spring
About the Book:
 Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.
As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.
Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.


About the Author:
Irene Hannon is the best-selling author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine and the Daphne du Maurier Award for mystery/suspense. Irene and her husband make their home in Missouri, USA. Irene invites you to visit her at her website, www.irenehannon.com

My Review:
Being a single mom is hard work and Claire feels she has done her best by her child. She works as hard as she can to take care of her young daughter. Little does she know, her daughter has a little something up her sleeve. Her daughter wants to help someone in need. Though Claire sometimes feels she has failed her daughter, maybe everything is going to be okay.

Keith is well known workaholic, his only focus is his job and getting it done. That is until he is visited by a small little girl, with a request. A request to help her find her neighbors long lost son. Though he wants to turn the little girl down, there's something in him that feels he should help her no matter what it takes. But Keith finds a few things he never knew, that could change his life forever.

A great romance filled a little mystery!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Revell.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Review: It's A God Thing by:Charles L. Roesel

 It's a God Thing (The Powerful Results of Ministry Evangelism)
About the Book:
He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise (Luke 3:11 NKJV).

A bold leader decided to follow Jesus’ teachings, resulting in a powerful ministry that has every member in his congregation serving the poor, the downcast, and the naked. Through this obedience to Scripture, his church grew from a small fifty-member congregation to a thriving, life-filled body of Christ-followers that is active in an astounding seventy ministries today.

Learn how your church can follow Jesus today, no matter your budget or how stale your current ministry “programs,” and in spite of opposition. Dr. Roesel overcame the overwhelming odds and proved that Jesus’ teachings are still valid today.

In this book:
• Dr. Roesel’s ministry – an incredible testimony of Ministry Evangelism
• Importance of discipleship – Jesus knew how to build a good foundation
• Leadership first – leaders must be pioneers, examples, and overcomers
• Money matters – how to avoid letting finances trip you up
• Getting started – ministry ideas that take off 


About the Author:
Dr. Roesel’s rich past includes being the recipient of the Southern Baptist Distinguished Service Award. In addition to all other ministries, Dr. Roesel had a television ministry reaching out to four million homes each week. In 1973, he was chosen as Florida’s Urban Pastor of the Year by Stetson University.

First Baptist Church of Leesburg, Florida, thrived under Dr. Roesel’s thirty-year leadership and is now considered the model for Ministry Evangelism. In a town of 15,000 with over ninety churches, the church grew by transformation, baptizing over 7,000 people.


My Review:
 First of all, WOW! This book is an excellent book on teaching those starting in sort of ministry, how to go about situations you may find yourself in concerning the church. The author has listed several items to help struggling ministries and churches advance. He also gives us some insight on how he believes certain things should be handled such as tithing. I really enjoyed reading about the growth his church had taken as well as how when they decided on a goal they would choose the biggest thing that seemed completely out of touch through human hands. It's a God Thing, is a good encouraging book to help those of us that have struggling ministries, it's encouraging, uplifting and inspiring.

 Many times you just want to throw in the towel because those around you don't have the same vision that you do. But God says not so fast! Don't be so quick to say that I can't or won't show you just how powerful I am. The author has led many successful ministries that by God's grace have exceeded his own goals to meet up with God's destiny. Believers KNOW who is on their side through this whole thing and we should do everything physically possibly to line up with His will to bring His full glory to the eyes&ears to those that need it!

If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can do so through this link.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Life Sentence Publishing.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Review: Two Mothers and Their 60-Year Secret by:Nita B. Rogers

 Two Mothers and Their 60-Year Secret
About the Book:
Childless couples in the twenty-first century have a number of options when they choose to adopt, but in 1936, options were fewer. There were few counselors who could help advise those wanting to adopt. So Tommie and Minnie Brock set out to find a baby on their own and told only one person, their family doctor. The doctor connected them with a well-educated, bright, young woman, pregnant and willing to consider adoption. Then my adoptive mother and birth mother pledged in an oral pact to keep my adoption secret. For many years, no one spoke to me about my birth and adoption, and all I could find out was through some grapevine gossip. 

This book recounts the sequence of events in my life that led me to full disclosure of that agreement between my two mothers. My life with all its unanswered questions has been blessed beyond measure, showing that God is in control of our lives. I still know nothing about my birth father, but I am certain I have a heavenly Father, Who has made me His child by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and has adopted me into His family with full rights of son-ship. 


About the Author:
Nita Brock Rogers was adopted at birth and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. She earned her B.A. in Biblical Studies from Luther Rice Bible College & Seminary. Nita was secretary for the 1973 Billy Graham St. Louis Crusade, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Evangelism for Florida Baptists, as well as being widely known as a speaker for women’s conferences and retreats. She led a women’s seminar on prayer and spiritual awakening for the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

My Review:
 I feel for this author who is also the person that the book is written about, she had to endure alot of senseless drama. The drama was concerning her and where she came from. I was so shocked and apalled at the behavior of the women involved in this secret. I gasped alot while reading this book, but above all I felt so bad for the author. Its just a really sad story that took 60 years to come full circle.

 Nita was brought up like all children that she grew to know during her life, or so she thought. She never realized in her hometown there was a secret, a 60 year old secret that would shake her foundation to its core. Something so traumatic that noone would even speak about it. More frustrating than anything were the dead ends in the process that she would be faced with again and again. She met each blow with grace only a Father could give until finally she met it full circle.

 I think among all the bad luck she had during this whole process, what stood out to me the most was her strength, resolve, and unadulterated grace. She had so much grace during all the wrong turns that I am not sure if I had been in the same situation could of done as she did. She is truly an inspiration and strong encourager for anyone going through the adoption process whether you are the child, biological parent, or adoptive parent.

If you are interested in purchasing this book you can so at this link.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Life Sentence Publishing.

Review: The Pelican Bride by:Beth White

 The Pelican Bride (Gulf Coast Chronicles, #1)
About the Book:
It is 1704 when Genevieve Gaillain and her sister board a French ship headed for the Louisiana colony as mail-order brides. Both have promised to marry one of the rough-and-tumble Canadian men in this New World in order to escape religious persecution in the Old World. Genevieve knows life won’t be easy, but at least here she can establish a home and family without fear of beheading. 

But when she falls in love with Tristan Lanier, an expatriate cartographer whose courageous stand for fair treatment of native peoples has made him decidedly unpopular in the young colony, Genevieve realizes that even in this land of liberty one is not guaranteed peace. And a secret she harbors could mean the undoing of the colony itself .

About the Author:
Beth White's day job is teaching music at an inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama. A native Mississippian, she is a pastor's wife, mother of two, and grandmother of one--so far. Her hobbies include playing flute and pennywhistle and painting, but her real passion is writing historical romance with a Southern drawl. Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award. Visit www.bethwhite.net for more information.

My Review:
Genevieve Gaillian and her sister are headed for the new world and a new life. Her only hope is maybe there is a man worthy of marrying, but she has had no luck finding him. That is until she see's Tristan, a handsome Canadian man. He seemed to be so close but so far away, she knew that there was something about him, he even liked to keep secret. But what?

Tristan Lanier doesn't feel he is ready for another relationship, even if this woman was the most beautiful thing he has ever lay eyes on. Tristan's life had changed over the past two years, and he wasn't sure he wants it to change again. But the woman stumbled into his life the minute she stumbled from the the ship that brought her to this foreign land. She is a mess of a woman, what's he gonna do with her?

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Revell.

CFBA Review: The Amish Groom by:Clark/Meissner

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Amish Groom
Harvest House Publishers (April 1, 2014)
by
Mindy Starns Clark
and
Susan Meissner


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Mindy Starns Clark Mindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of the inspirational Million Dollar Mysteries, the Smart Chick Mysteries, and three standalone mysteries, as well as the nonfiction books The House That Cleans Itself and A Pocket Guide to Amish Life. Her novels include A Penny for Your Thoughts, Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels, A Dime a Dozen, A Quarter for a Kiss, The Buck Stops Here, The Trouble with Tulip, Blind Dates Can Be Murder, Elementary, My Dear Watkins, Whispers of the Bayou, Shadows of Lancaster County, and Under the Cajun Moon, plus other books!

Mindy is also the author of numerous plays and musicals which have been performed all over the United States. She has written textbooks, articles, short stories, and more than 75 computer software manuals. A former singer and stand-up comedian, Mindy lives with her husband and two teenage daughters near Valley Forge, PA. She enjoys speaking to churches, civic groups, and libraries across the country. Her unique blend of humor and insight make her an audience favorite.

Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker, and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include The Shape of Mercy, named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Novels of 2008 and a Carol Award winner. She is a pastor’s wife and the mother of four young adults. When she's not writing, Susan writes small group curriculum for her San Diego church. Visit Susan at her website: www.susanmeissner.com, on Twitter at @SusanMeissner, or at www.facebook.com/susan.meissner.

ABOUT THE BOOK

New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Groom (Book 1 in The Men of Lancaster County series) explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives.

Born to an ex-Amish mother and an Englisch father, 23-year-old Tyler Anderson was raised as a military kid until the age of 6, when his mom passed away. His dad, shipping off to yet another overseas post, placed Tyler in the care of his Amish grandparents, an arrangement that was supposed to be temporary. It lasted a lifetime.

Rachel Hoeck is the young woman waiting for Tyler’s proposal. She senses that though he loves her and wishes to make a commitment to her and his Amish beliefs, part of him still wonders whether an Amish lifestyle is truly for him. When an opportunity to connect with his father unexpectedly arises, a visit to California causes Tyler to question everything, including a future with Rachel. Will the new girl in his life, Lark, cause him to remain in the Englisch world? Or will he choose to be an Amish groom after all?

A poignant novel of hoping for romance and searching for identity, set in a beloved Amish community.


If you would like to read the first chapter of The Amish Groom, go HERE.

My Review:
 This book, number one in The Men of Lancaster County series is all about between torn between two different worlds. Tyler Anderson has to choose between the life he now leads and the one he left so long ago as a result of his mothers death. But choosing isn't going to be so easy when there are two women involved in how he will decide. There is Rachel in his Amish life and then there is Lark an Englischer. 

 Sometimes I wish God would speak just as plain as you and I, but sometimes its not that simple. The truth is we just don't know His will or how things will turn out for us in this life. So in this book, The Amish Groom , you really feel the struggle that Tyler is enduring and pressure of the decision he must make.

 Both authors have done an amazing job introducing us to this series and I can't wait to be introduced to the rest of the Men of Lancaster County. It already proves to be a good series with lots of twists and turns.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Review: Get Your Teenager Talking by:Jonathan McKee

Get Your Teenager Talking: Everything You Need to Spark Meaningful Conversations
About the Book:
Are you and your favorite teenager having too many conversations like this?
""How was school?""
""Fine.""
""Soccer practice?""
""Same as always.""
""Anything interesting happen today?""
""Nope.""
""Nice talking with you!"
Let's face it. Teenagers have a PhD in one-word answers . . . if we don't ask the right questions.
In this book, veteran youth expert Jonathan McKee shares 180 creative discussion starters to help teens open up about issues that matter. You'll also find tips for interpreting their responses and follow-up questions. From light-hearted to more serious, these conversation springboards will encourage even the most reluctant teen to talk about friends, school, values, struggles, and much more. 


About the Author:
Jonathan McKee is an expert on youth culture and the author of more than a dozen books, including The Guy's Guide to God, Girls, and the Phone in Your Pocket and The Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide for Teenagers. He has twenty years of youth-ministry experience and speaks to parents and leaders worldwide. He also writes about parenting and youth culture while providing free resources at TheSource4Parents.com. Jonathan, his wife, Lori, and their three kids live in California.

My Review:
 I have a 16 year old and by now I have learned that they do indeed answer you with very little feedback from their day. It is so frustrating getting a straight answer from my teenager, so I totally understand the need for this book. The mastermind behind this book entitles Get Your Teenager Talking---author Jonathan McKee gives us 180 very creative, very different conversation starters to guide us through the impossible task of conversational dialogue with our teenagers.

 Many of the tips he gives you in the book I have definitely found to be the right way to go such as never ask yes or no type questions or don't ask dull questions. You have known these children for a long time and just as toddler have an attention span of about 5 minutes so does the typical teenager, they don't want to talk more than they have to. Each conversation starter begins with a statement or question then the author has listed several follow up questions and many additions that can be added to further enrich the talk with your teen. This book contains simple yet perfect conversation starters for any teen/adult conversation.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.

Review Coobie Seamless Bras


About the Product:
Coobie Seamless Bras are ultra comfortable and versatile without sacrificing style. These affordable, stylish bras are seamless, one-size (comfortably fits 32A through 36D), available in 7+ styles and 50+ fashion colors and patterns. There is also a full size version fitting up to a size 42D. They are perfect for every day wear, yoga, pilates, new and nursing moms, sleep wear, and more! Coobie Seamless Bras also has a large following of mastectomy patients that love the soft comfort and pad pocket to insert a form. This line is truly a fit for all women!

My Review:
 Upon receiving a sample of the Coobie Seamless Bra, I was a little skeptical because I thought there is no way that this bra could give me enough support. But I was very pleasantly surprised. I am a full figured women so I was given a full size version that is created to fit someone with fuller breasts. The colors that I received were a black one and a pretty blue colored one. Both were full size but one was v-neck where the other one was the Coobie scoopneck.

 The scoopneck version is plain but will fully support you with no gaps and has smooth lines. The v neck version has a lace detail added around the type of the bras edges. Both are very comfortable and come in a variety of colors. Anyone can wear the Coobie bra even woman that have special needs such as breast augmentation. Coobies are great for teens, college girls, moms and basically everyone from 16 to 60+.

 To learn more about these bras, visit this link. These bras even come with removable pads. The Coobie Store also offers other products, if you are interested you can go to this link to learn more. 

**Disclosure** This product was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the Coobie Store and US Family Guide/Moms Connect.

Review: My Telephone Number Is...Single Release by:Genevieve Goings

 
About the Product:
Genevieve is releasing the first single "My Telephone Number Is" on April 22 from her
upcoming solo album "Do you Know?" scheduled to be released June 3, 2014. The
album focuses on teaching pre-school FUN-damentals in her funky, cool, kid-friendly
style.



About the Artist:
Genevieve Goings has spent 10 years teaching toddlers fundamental fun. From her
debut on Playhouse Disney as the hip singing train conductor on the educational
interstitials known as “Choo Choo Soul with Genevieve”, through her remaking Classic
Disney sing-alongs again with Choo Choo Soul, and voicing the learning bumpers
featured on the new Disney Junior network. Genevieve is now welcoming a second
generation of viewers and listeners with the release of her first solo album doing what
she does best - teaching and entertaining children.


“Do You know?” is a new presentation path for learning for young children age 2-7
year old. It features songs and videos aimed at helping preschoolers learn their phone
number, telling time, putting themselves to bed, and the more personal things like
hygiene and dealing with potty training in a dignified manner. This new inspiring set of
songs is fun for the whole family and will have you, as parents and teachers, singing
and dancing along.


Get to know her better by visiting her throughout social media, available through these links: Twitter: @ChooChooGirl Facebook: Facebook.com/GenevieveGoings Instagram: Instagram.com/GenevieveGoings

My Review:
 Anyone who is anyone knows all about Genevieve Goings, my 3 year old son LOVES her. I got the chance to review her upcoming single release, My Telephone Number Is, for her first solo album entitled, Do You Know?. The single, My Telephone Number Is, is a fun, perky way to teach our youngsters the importance of knowing their phone number. It is an upbeat, colorful song sure to delight your child while teaching them something very important---their phone number.It's release date is set for April 22nd, so that's today and it's available for purchase here. The album release is set for this summer, June 3, 2014.

 Genevieve has an app on iTunes, called Sing With Genevieve that you are welcome to download, its available here. Album release date is June 3, 2014. If you pre-order the album (available for pre-orders
in early May), fans will receive instant access to the albums next single “Gotta Do My Business”.

**Disclosure**I was sent the single of "My Telephone Number is" by Genevieve Goings to review as a influencer with Entertainment New Media Network.  I have been compensated for this post but my thoughts and opinions are always my own.


 

Review: Bible Revival by:Kenneth Berding

 Bible Revival: Recommitting Ourselves to One Book
About the Book:
Bible Revival passionately explores why the Bible needs to be the single most important book in the Christian's life--and how to make it so. Unlike most books about the Bible, Berding digs deep to uncover the motivations and distractions that keep Christians from engaging with the Bible as richly as it can. But he does more than just point out the problems; he lovingly offers solutions in order to learn, value, understand, apply, obey, and speak the Bible.

About the Author:
Kenneth Berding is professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He is also an overseer at Whittier Hills Baptist Church in Whittier, CA. He is the author or co-editor of numerous articles and books, including Workbook in Romans: Arranged According to the History of Redemption, Sing and Learn New Testament Greek, What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About, Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, and What Are Spiritual Gifts? Rethinking the Conventional View.

My Review:
 We are starving ourselves, literally death by not doing as our ancestors once did, and meditate on the word of God almost minute by minute each day. In our daily world times, trends, and technology have taken the place of daily Bible reading, we are just simply too busy to make it a priority. As the author points out that in our day and time many people find that the Bible is no longer sufficient or that it lacks clarity. I know in my household the reason we don't meditate on it fully is because it is not made a priority. The responsibility falls squarely on our shoulders.

 I for one, get up every morning and read my devotional&a chapter out of my Bible. If I don't do this at least 5 days a week, I feel like I have been disobedient. In Bible Revival, the author points out what he feels is the reason for our disengagement and shows us how to overcome something that will only hurt us in the end. Along with questions at the end of most chapters these are questions to help you go over the material and contemplate the message. Reading our Bible shouldn't be drudgery work that seems like it will never end. It should be a time of living, learning and an enjoyable time to spend with our Savior.

**Disclosure** This was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Cross Focused Reviews.

Review: Tani's Search for the Heart by:Keith Egawa/Chenoa Egawa

 Tani's Search for the Heart
About the Book:
Heartbroken over the loss of her beloved grandmother, Tani, a Native American girl of the Coast Salish people, remembers her grandmother's parting advice to journey into the forest to search for "the heart of all things." Not knowing if she will recognize the answers she seeks, but certain she must abide by her grandmother's wishes, Tani embarks on a quest through the wilds of the Pacific Northwest; unexpectedly finding her way into a world of Coast Salish legend, tradition and self-discovery.

About the Authors:
Keith and Chenoa Egawa are a brother and sister writing and illustrating team of Lummi and S'Klallam Indian ancestry. Keith is a published novelist with experience in education reform and social work. His extensive work with families has provided him with both inspiration and insight into his subject matter. In addition to literary readings for adult audiences, Keith has conducted writing workshops for Native youth throughout the US. Chenoa has worked as a professional illustrator, international indigenous human rights advocate, actor, and is a traditional ceremonial leader, storyteller and singer.

She was a fellowship recipient from the Institute of Current World Affairs, and traveled throughout Central and South America facilitating communication between indigenous peoples to protect and preserve traditions, languages, and homelands. Chenoa has also worked in the public school system to create programs that teach Native American culture and history, empowering Native youth, and inspiring a broader appreciation for the wealth of traditional knowledge from the First Peoples, to benefit all people of today’s world.

My Review:
 Precious Tani, knows what it feels like to feel broken. Over the loss of her grandmother, she realizes there are things that she has yet to accomplish. The feeling inside her and the drive within compel her to seek the things that her grandmother advised her to look for--the heart of all things. In the story she relies on animal friends to help guide her towards the answer she seeks, all along not knowing where or what she may find, she continues on.

 Through her journey of self discovery she was able to finally find that which her grandmother instructed her to look for residing inside her heart all along. And I believe it was through this difficult loss that this young child will go on to be a help and inspiration to those around her just as her grandmother was.

 This story was a very tried and true type of story, it could really help any child suffering from the loss of someone dear to their heart.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.

Crossreads Book Blast for Amy von Borstel


About the Book:

If you knew that your prayers could change the lives and futures of your children or grandchildren, would you pray regularly? Prayers of a Mother’s Heart: For a Chosen Generation is a hope-filled resource for those desiring a life of prayer and for those seeking God for miracles. In the Prayers of a Mother's Heart eBook, there are several personal stories that reveal the power of prayer, a collection of heartfelt prayers that address a wide range of concerns many mothers have for their children, along with over ninety-five Scriptures, simple guidelines for preparing the heart for prayer, a chapter on prayer journals, and a chapter on the importance of generational blessings. Be inspired by Prayers of a Mother’s Heart to begin trusting that Jesus truly holds the answers to the challenges in your children’s lives. Jesus promised He would do the impossible if only we would believe (Mark 9:23).
Amy 2014Amy von Borstel is a passionate follower of Christ, a wife and mother of two—one adult child and one teen. She attributes her twenty-eight year marriage and happy home to the love of God and living a life of faith-filled prayer. She’s been a writer since she was a little girl, writing poetry and keeping journals as a way to find peace and rest in her soul. Her first published short story, A Divine Hair Appointment, was released in the 2013 Thomas Nelson book, When God Makes Lemonade. She is passionate about helping orphans and seeing people find abundance through an intimate relationship with Christ.
Follow Amy von Borstel

Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter below to enter a $50 Amazon gift card, sponsored by author Amy von Borstel! a Rafflecopter giveaway This book blast is hosted by Crossreads. We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Review: Leaving A Legacy by:Garrett/Woodruff

 Leaving a Legacy: Sustaining Family, Unity, Faith, and Wealth
About the Book:
A sobering statistic: For centuries 70 percent of family wealth has dissipated by the second generation, and 90 percent is lost by the third generation. It has nothing to do with taxes, economies, or cultures. It is the failure of families to transfer leadership and values to succeeding generations.

About the Authors:
DAN T. GARRETT is a popular speaker and coach for professionals, families, and individuals on matters of stewardship and the preservation of faith, values, and wealth over multiple generations. Recent national audiences include the American Council on Gift Annuities, The Heritage Institute Faith-Based Academy, and the Practical Planned Giving Conference. Dan presently serves as Vice Chancellor of Abilene Christian University and president of the ACU Foundation. Dan and his wife, Donna, reside in Abilene, Texas, and have three married sons and four grandchildren.

TIM WOODROOF has been a pastor for thirty years and approaches this important subject with a pastor's heart. He now serves churches as a consultant and interim minister, working with congregations across the nation. He speaks internationally, and is the author of ten books, several of which have been translated into Russian, Italian, and Spanish. Tim and his wife Julie live in Nashville, Tennessee.

My Review:
 When you come to the end of your life, you should consider that you have finished the race to arrive at your final destination. Many times we get so side tracked by life that we forget to plan for our futures--the part of our futures that are hard to plan for once we get there. To provide  a lasting legacy for our families is what the book, Leaving a Legacy, is all about. Leaving a Legacy, is a book that can be used to guide you through the process of taking care of your final arrangements.

 Based upon Biblical principles, the authors have taken the steps to gracefully prepare you for those items at the end of our lives that could seem very overwhelming to a person that has not adequately prepared for the final events in their lives. There are several survey type questions throughout the book to help you plan everything, as well as checklists to make sure you get everything taken care of. A one of a kind book to help you leave your family with the very best of you, so they won't be burdened with doing it on their own.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from ACU/Leafwood Press.

Review:Jenny's Choice by:Patrick E. Craig

 Jenny's Choice (Apple Creek Dreams, #3)
About the Book:
In the concluding novel to the Apple Creek Dreams series, Jonathan and Jenny Hershberger are happily settled in Paradise, Pennsylvania on the farm Jenny inherited from her grandfather. But when a tragic accident takes Jonathan's life, Jenny and her young daughter, Rachel, return home to Apple Creek, Ohio to live with her adoptive parents, Reuben and Jerusha Springer.

As Jenny works through her grief and despair, she discovers she has a gift for writing. A handsome young publisher discovers her work and, after the publication of her first book, Jenny is on the verge of worldly success and possible romance.

But when a conflict arises with the elders of her church, Jenny must ask herself how far she's willing to go to pursue her dreams.

A touching story of devotion and triumph over adversity. Book 3 in the Apple Creek Dreams series.


About the Author:
Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. He spent the next twenty-six years as a worship leader, seminar speaker and pastor in churches, and at retreats, seminars and conferences all across the Western United States. After ministering for a number of years in music and worship to a circuit of small churches in Northern California, he is now concentrating on writing and publishing both fiction and non-fiction books.

My Review:
 Patrick E Craig, is an excellent writer! His characters are warm, tender hearted people that you will fall in love with. This novel, Jenny's Choice being the last in the Apple Creek series is by far the best of the lot, in my opinion.

 After careful consideration, Jenny decides that after the death of her husband she must move into her parents home. It will be for them to help raise the daughter that she shared with Jonathan, but mostly to help her get past such a tragic event in her lift---the death of her husband. Even though their daughter, Rachel wants to stay in the home their shared with her beloved father, in the hopes he will return. Jenny tells her that they must move on to a new home because it is too much for Jenny to bear.

 I really thought after that scene, I would be a puddle of tears but the following one when she and Rachel left their home and she turns back and sees Jonathan waving was enough to give me chill bumps. The author does an excellent job of being very descriptive so much so that its a little scary, but in a good way. This book has a few twists and turns and I can't believe the ending. Wow, didn't see that coming at all!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Harvest House.

CFBA Review: A Promise In Pieces by:Emily Wierenga

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Promise in Pieces
Abingdon Press (April 15, 2014)
by
Emily T. Wierenga


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the Author:

I’m Emily, and I’m honored and humbled to meet you, friend. We’re all stumbling along on this journey and you can approach me about anything okay? I’m an open book, with dog-eared pages and a worn cover.

I’m mama to two boys, ages two and four, and married to a farm-boy-turned-math-teacher. We live in a small Dutch hamlet with three churches, one Co-Op and no stop lights. There are a lot of fields out here, there’s a lot of space and sky for breathing and running and writing.

We foster two boys in addition to our own two, and before I had kids, I took care of my Mum who had brain cancer. She fought back and has recovered, all glory to God, and my pastor-father still holds her hand while they go for daily walks.

I battled anorexia nervosa as a child, and then again as a newly married woman, and I write a lot about body image now and have a passion for women to learn to love themselves.

My husband and I have battled infertility and are currently trying to adopt our third child through the local Alberta government.

I hurt for the church, and believe in it, and pray for it, as I’ve grown up inside its walls and have heard its groanings.

I have a heart for Africa, particularly Uganda, and went there in January on a bloggers’ trip with World Help.

My favorite things to do are read literary novels, play guitar, snowboard, paint with oil and acrylics and hug my babies.

I am the author of two books on eating disorders, a novel releasing this spring, and a memoir coming out this summer.

I hope you’ll connect with me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/emilytwierenga, or if you prefer, Twitter: @emily_wierenga. I’d love to have a virtual glass of wine, or cup of coffee, with you.

Peace to you friends,

e.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After the end of World War II, Clara Kirkpatrick returns from the Women’s Army Corp to deliver a dying soldier’s last wishes: convey his love to his young widow, Mattie, with apologies for the missed life they had planned to share.

Struggling with her own post-war trauma, Clara thinks she’s not prepared to handle the grief of this broken family. Yet upon meeting Mattie, and receiving a baby quilt that will never cuddle the soldier’s baby, Clara vows to honor the sacrifices that family made.

Now a labor and delivery nurse in her rural hometown, Clara wraps each new babe in the gifted quilt and later stitches the child’s name into the cloth. As each new child is welcomed by the quilt, Clara begins to wonder whatever happened to Mattie—and if her own life would ever experience the love of a newborn. Little does she know that she will have the opportunity to re-gift the special quilt—years later and carrying even greater significance than when it was first bestowed.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Promise in Pieces, go HERE.

My Review:
 Named after the famous Clara Barton, Clara recalls the events from over fifty years prior and begins telling the story of her life during World War II. I was captivated by the journey her life had taken. She recalls the story with such vivid detail you can imagine it right then as you read it, this is a sign of an excellent writer--I believe. As Clara retells the story of how she came to be a military nurse against her parents wishes and all that this amazing journey brought her through, I would laugh or cry depending on the feelings the authors words were trying to convey.

 Through her amazing words you can really feel the emotion that Mattie felt hearing about Garreth's last words and the sweet, loving sentiment he left to his bride. In the book, there is a blend between today and that time during Word War II. I really enjoy books that take you back in time to a place unknown that you have never encountered. The book is a page turner for sure, because you have to keep going to see what will happen next. This book is an instant hit!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.

Review: Numb by:John W. Otte

 Numb
About the Book:
Save the girl...or his soul?

Crusader is numb. He feels neither emotion nor pain, a divine gift that allows him to be the Ministrix's best assassin.

Whether it's heretics from within or heathens from without, Crusader is the sword in the True Church's hand. And if he remains obedient to his superiors, he will be able to let go of his guilt.

But then he's ordered to kill Isolda Westin. It shouldn't be a problem. A target is a target. When Crusader sees Isolda's image, though, something strange happens. He experiences a moment of panic, a wave of emotions--the first he's felt in as long as he can remember.

In that moment, he realizes he can't fulfill his mission. He can't kill Isolda Westin, even if it means he'll be condemned as an enemy of the Ministrix.

Soon Crusader and Isolda are on the run. Will they be able to learn why the Ministrix wants Isolda dead? Or will they both soon face the harsh justice of the "True Church"?

 
About the Author:
John W. Otte grew up in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. When he was younger, he dreamed of being a superhero, fueled by reading collections of Superman and Batman comics. Instead, he attended college at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he majored in theatre. He graduated summa cum laude in 1996 and then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received his Master of Divinity in 2000. He now serves as a pastor in South St. Paul, Minnesota, where he lives with his wife and two sons.

He has published short stories in The Leading Edge Magazine and Dragons, Knights, and Angels in 2006. He was a ACFW Genesis Contest Finalist in 2008. His debut novel, Failstate, was a finalist for the 2013 Christy Awards. He is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and participates in the Speculative Faith blog.


My Review:
 Crusader is numb, which in a way makes him a good assassin but his life is filled with dullness. He never feels remorse for his victims or even show them mercy. He has a job to do and a job he's very good at. He soon receives yet another mission, one for a pretty woman. She was soon to be gone from this world, because of the sins she had committed. That's what his job was all about, taking out the sinners, showing glory to God by getting rid of the bad. Though it seemed kind of twisted, Crusader didn't question it. Then he saw her.

 Isolda has always tried to do right by people. She tries to help everyone the best she can. Now she is being told an assassin is after her. One who disposes of the sinners, one thing she has tried not to be. The only thing keeping her safe is a mysterious man and her wits. But when Isolda lays eyes on him, she finds him quite stunning. With his dark and sharp features, she can hardly believe he is an assassin and here for her life. Join us as we follow along on this adventure, sure to leave you guessing!

**Disclosure** 
In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Friday, April 18, 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Giveaway Hosted by Pea of Sweetness Co-Hosted by Deals of Sweetness

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Giveaway Hosted by Pea of Sweetness

Co-Hosted by Deals of Sweetness

Spider-Man 2 Family Discussion Guide
We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2™, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead. The discussion guide for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a great, Biblically based resource for families to discuss a range of important themes that include the relationship between personal choices and destiny, living a life that counts, sacrificing yourself in service to others, and the nature of power. This guide will help parents start (or continue) conversations with their children that will inspire them to think outside themselves and challenge them to live lives that matter. The conversations that will result from using this guide will reveal that even the most explosive summer blockbuster can leave lasting, positive impacts on its young viewers.

 Emilee from Pea of Sweetness has a house full of Marvel fans that are eager to see The Amazing Spider-Man 2. She is excited their family is armed with a great perspective on these important themes. Read her review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Family Discussion Guide. One winner will receive The Amazing Spider-Man 2 prize pack including the Family Discussion Guide, t-shirt, and mask. This giveaway begins on 4/18 and ends on 5/2 at 11:00pm (times are Central) and is open to US and Canada (void Quebec) ages 18+. Many thanks to Propeller, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Please refer to the full terms and conditions in the Giveaway Tools.
  Disclosure: Emilee from Pea of Sweetness and Deals of Sweetness received free product in exchange for an honest review. Participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Litfuse Review: Mom Seeks God by:Julia Roller

Mom Seeks God: Finding Grace in the Chaos
About the Book:
The first months and years of motherhood can be the most challenging and disorienting of your life and faith. When you re surrounded by the happy chaos of children, how do you spend quiet time with God if the only quiet time you get is while you sleep? How can you demonstrate a solid spiritual life to your children if you don t have time to pursue one yourself? 

When Julia Roller discovered that her spiritual growth had been stunted by the busyness of life with her toddler, she embarked on a yearlong journey through ten spiritual disciplines: prayer, fellowship, submission, study, simplicity, silence, worship, fasting, service, and celebration. As she focused on each discipline, she discovered practical ways to observe them even in the chaos of her every day.

About the Author:
Julia Roller is an author and editor. Her books include Mom Seeks God,  A Year with God (with Richard J. Foster), A Year with Aslan, and  25 Books Every Christian Should Read. Working with Renovaré, she has also co-authored four spiritual formation guides, including Connecting with God, Learning from Jesus, Living the Mission, and Prayer and Worship. She has written study guides for authors such as Desmond Tutu, Richard J. Foster, Henri Nouwen, Jenna Bush, and Rob Bell. Her articles have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, Street Spirit, Group, Rev.!, and Children's Ministry. She and her family live in San Diego, California. Visit her online at juliaroller.com.

My Review:
 Being a mom  is the hardest job I have ever had. Separating our love for our children from our responsibility to parent them is an ongoing battle of wills inside ourselves. I am having to constantly remind myself after an intense moment with my children that it is for their own good, and that's only after I just told them that and that one statement brought on tears. God, as our Father models the behavior that we have to take with our own children. And I imagine it is equally hard for Him to raise us as well. But He loves us and that is something I want my children to know and feel. I want them to know that unconditional love that a relationship with Him brings.

 Mom Seeks God, is a book written to help us on the trek of raising our children to follow "The Light". It gives us mom an outlet to pursue our faith more fervently in the hopes to lead our children to Him as well. It all begins at home is a popular phrase in our home. My husband and I believe that it all begins with us leading our children to a God that will forever love them.

 The author has included tips from her own experiences and through the experiences of others to teach us how to faithfully live out our faith in front of our children. She has even provided tips to help us achieve our goals.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Litfuse Publicity.

Litfuse Review: A Sensible Arrangement by:Tracie Peterson

A Sensible Arrangement (Lone Star Brides, #1)
About the Book:
Marty Dandridge Olson is a widow looking for a way out of Texas. Widower Jake Wythe has secured a job as a bank manager in Denver, only to discover that the bank board wants him to be a married man. With Texas in his roots, he advertises for a Lone Star bride, and Marty answers the call. They both agree they are done with romance and love and will make this nothing more than a marriage of convenience. Marty works to carve out a new life in high-society Denver as Jake works to guide the bank through a collapsing economy. 

But when money goes missing at the bank and accounting discrepancies point to Jake, he must find a way to prove his innocence. Yet all he wants to do is go back to Texas and own his own ranch. Marty, on the other hand, owns a ranch–one she’s never told her husband about. She hates Texas because it represents the losses in her life. But as the couple grows closer and love begins to bloom, Marty realizes she needs to tell Jake the truth. Can she come to terms with the past and her anger toward God in order to make room for love?

About the Author:
 Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 90 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Belgrade, Montana. Learn more at www.traciepeterson.com.

My Review:
Marty became a widow after ten years of marriage. Having never been able to carry children, she was left alone with only her brother and his family. Mourning had seem to have gotten the best of her, that is until she received a letter from a man wanting to marry for stability. She would never have considered it in her younger days but she needed to get away. A place to go to get away from the pain, the memories. A place for a new start.

 Jake could help to feel something for Marty the minute he wrote to her, after agreeing to marry him made the deal even sweeter, even if the marriage was just for convenience. Of course his job called for him to have a wife, even if he couldn't find a wife he was in love with. Luckily she agreed, so he could keep his job, she was just there if he needed her for an appearance, but he promises she'll be taken care of. But soon starts having feelings for  her, and no matter how much he brushes it away, he still feels it.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Litfuse Publicity.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Review: Confessions Of A Boy-Crazy Girl by:Paula Hendricks

 Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl: On Her Journey From Neediness to Freedom (True Woman)
About the Book:
Sound familiar?
1. You spot a cute boy (we'll call him Boy A).
2. You dream about Boy A.
3. You do whatever it takes to make Boy A notice you.
4. Even though Boy A doesn't pursue you, you hang on to your dream of Boy A until he (a) moves to the North Pole with no access to a cell phone or computer, (b) dies and is buried or cremated, or (c) begins dating another girl.
5. You mend your broken heart by hating Boy A and finding another cute boy (Boy B). You replace Boy A with Boy B and begin all over again . . .

Paula has gone through an entire alphabet-and more-of boys over the years.

As she shares her journal entries and stories-the good, the bad, and the ugly-you'll be encouraged to trust God with your love life and buckle up for the ride!

Written for teen girls, Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl will help you on your own journey from neediness to freedom.

 
About the Author:
Paula Hendricks lives in southwest Michigan where she no longer tries to catch guys' attention by swallowing live goldfish, arm wrestling, and jumping down flights of stairs. Instead, she blogs for teen girls and women by day and journals her adventures by night. She's worked at Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss for nearly nine years (whew!), where she currently serves as Writing and Editorial Manager. Catch more of her writing at PaulaWrites.com .

My Review:
 How do you see yourself when you talk about boys? Is it just a casual talk or is it the modern day fangirling? Depending on your answer, that will tell you how boy-crazy you truly are. But your not alone, there is millions of other girls like that out there, including Paula Hendricks, the author. She knows how you feel on the whole boy subject. She not only will tell you of her own experiences but also how she ended up dealing with each guy. From innocent crushes to lustful relationships, Paula has a story for them all. Along with God's help, Paula shows you how her life went for many years and who she came to marry.

 In Confessions Of A Boy-Crazy Girl, you will find tips on how to handle typical and not so typical situations with boys. The author shows you just how common your thoughts and feelings are amongst other girls in the same age group. She has also written the perfect book for teen girls because I know several and they all have had some of the same experiences.

 My daughter seems a little boy crazy, I think all teenage girls have some of that boy craziness in them. The authors insight and experience lead us all to rethink those crushes and relationships with the male gender.  My daughter has skimmed through the book and she agrees there is alot of helpful advice to value and learn from. If you are interested in purchasing this book for the boy crazy girl in your life, than you can find out more here.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from MP Newsroom.

Review: Spiderman 2 Family Discussion Guide (digital)


About the Product:
The discussion guide for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a great resource for families to discuss a range of important themes that include the relationship between personal choices and destiny, living a life that counts, sacrificing yourself in service to others, and the nature of power. This guide will help parents start (or continue) conversations with their children that will inspire them to think outside themselves and challenge them to live lives that matter. The conversations that will result from using this guide will reveal that even the most explosive summer blockbuster can leave lasting, positive impacts on its young viewers.

About Spiderman:
 We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2™, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

My Review:
 As alot of people know the upcoming movie, Spiderman 2 will be hitting theaters this May and in saying that, I had the chance to review a great little addition to the movie, The Spiderman 2 Family Discussion Guide. This guide will help to initiate conversations concerning the movie and what this reveals about the child or family member themselves. Taking the discussion of the movie to a whole other level, this guide can be used to help bring better awareness to our family. And show us how the actors in the movie along with their actions could lead us down a better path of living for Christ and doing whats right.

 In an effort to expand upon the movie and discussion concerning it, a family discussion guide has been created. I like this guide because it shows my children that they are living in such a way just as the characters in the movie. Each day as an individual we have to make choices that will ultimately drive us to be a better person or an evil one, and that choice is up to us. Biblically based this is the perfect guide for Christian families as well as non-believers. My children enjoy anything "Spiderman", so the discussion guide was a HUGE hit with them and it really got them to thinking. They never realized just how much their lives and the lives of the characters in the movie are similar.

 The sponsors of this post have graciously offered a Spiderman 2 prize pack to my readers. The prize pack includes:
- AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2 Prize Pack (t-shirt, paper mask and phone case)
- Special edition: The Amazing Spiderman 2 Family Discussion Guide (electronic)
Hurry and get those entries in!!! 
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification."

 

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

CFBA Review: Lip Reading by:Harry Kraus

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Lip Reading
David C. Cook (March 1, 2014)
by
Harry Kraus


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from Harry:

I started writing my first novel during my last year of surgery training at UK. I was a chief resident, and started writing Stainless Steal Hearts in a call room at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lexington. It was a crazy time to write! I had a very demanding schedule, often spending days and nights in the hospital. I had two sons at that time, and I recognized the wisdom in my wife's urging: "Now doesn't seem the right time for this dream."

My experience as a writer is far from typical. Having received my formal training in biology and chemistry and medicine, my only preparation for a writing career was a love for reading. The longest thing I'd written before my first novel was a term paper in undergraduate school. My first novel was accepted by Crossway Books and published in 1994, and it wasn't until after I had FOUR published novels that I even opened a book of instruction about the craft of writing fiction. This is not what I recommend to others! Yes, I was successful, but I was bending the "rules" without knowing it. I had a natural talent for plotting, but I realize my initial success may have stunted my growth as a writer. I'd have made faster progress if I'd have gone to the fiction teachers sooner.

I have three sons: Joel, Evan, and Samuel. Look closely in all of my books and you'll see them there. My lovely wife, Kris, provides the basic composition for all those beautiful, athletic, dedicated women in my novels.

ABOUT THE BOOK

She Could Save Millions, or Save Herself

She just needs a little longer. She’s really close. Dr. Rebecca Jackson, a medical researcher, stands on the verge of a breakthrough that will transform medicine. But she soon discovers the reason behind the miraculous progress in her research, and it leaves her with a nearly impossible choice . . . and little time to decide. More than her research is at stake. And more threatens it than this latest revelation. Something she’s tried hard to cover up. There is a high cost to some things in medicine and it’s not always the patient who pays. Can Rebecca find the faith and wisdom she needs to make the right call? The clock is ticking and the pressure is on.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Lip Reading, go HERE.

My Review:
 The life of a medical researcher, I imagine is not all that easy especially when you are this close to a breakthrough, and this was exactly where Rebecca Jackson found herself in this very intricate storyline. Sometimes we as a child of God are called upon to make a choice or decision that could go really well or really badly depending on what we decide. We have to decide if we will be the bigger person and do what God wants us to do. More often than not we will be placed in a position where it will seem easier to just do the thing that is actual in the end the wrong thing to do. Rebecca Jackson is faced with a similar situation in which she will come to a crossroads where she will in fact have to make a decision to do whats right.

 I have never really enjoyed any type of medical fiction but this book, Lip Reading has an easy to follow storyline that was quite enjoyable!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from CFBA.