First Line Friday — Love You Forever

14 Sep

Happy Friday and Happy Birthday to my daughter Allison! This sweetheart has been such a blessing to our family. In honor of her, I am featuring a book all my children enjoyed, mostly because it made their mother cry! When I brought Love You Forever by Robert Munsch home all those years ago, I didn’t realize how much of an impact it would make on me. My kids were tiny, so all the stages the mom goes through were mere glimpses of my future. I’m not quite living the ending . . . yet 😉 , but my husband is with his own mom. Life is sweet and beautiful and sometimes hard. I’ll conclude now because the tears are welling.

Please leave a comment with your first line, then head over to Hoarding Books for more from fabulous bloggers.

 

 

A young woman holds her newborn son
And looks at him lovingly.

Softly she sings to him:
“I’ll love you forever
I’ll like you for always
As long as I’m living
My baby you’ll be.”

So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Since publication in l986, Love You Forever has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition (as well as hundreds of thousands of copies in Spanish and French).

 

Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including The Paper Bag Princes and Stephanie’s Ponytail. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied to be a Jesuit priest before deciding to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an MA in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, Munsch and his wife, Ann, moved to Guelph, Ontario. The Munschs have three children: Julie, Andrew, and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!).

Tags: ,

Book Spotlight — My Hands Came Away Red

13 Sep

 

I am excited to spotlight My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay. Lisa is re-releasing her debut novel this month. A product of her passion, this was a novel that Lisa says she needed to write. Check it out! Lisa has some more exciting news to share, so make sure you visit her sites (links below).

Right up until the day they burned the church, I thought I understood things. You know… God, people, myself. Life. Then, suddenly, I understood nothing except that we had to run. And that we might never make it home.

When eighteen-year-old Cori signed up for a mission trip to Indonesia she was mostly thinking about escaping her complicated love life, making new friends, and having fun on the beach.

She never expected a civil war to flare up on the nearby island of Ambon.

She never expected violence to find them.

And she never expected that seven teenagers would be forced to flee into the hazardous refuge of the mountains on their own.

Now, haunted by blood and fire, Cori and her teammates must rely on each other to survive.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as “fast-paced,” “thought-provoking,” and one of the “best novels of the year,” My Hands Came Away Red will take you deep into the jungle with Cori as she desperately searches for answers and a safe way home.

Lisa McKay is an author and psychologist specializing in stress, trauma, and resilience. She is currently living in Laos. You can connect with Lisa at LisaMcKayWriting, FB, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 

Tags: ,

Top 10 Tuesday — Hidden Gems

11 Sep

This week That Artsy Reader Girl is challenging bloggers to come up with a list of books they deem Hidden Gems — books we believe haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve. My list derives from books I loved, but rarely see mentioned/recommended in book discussion groups. If you have read these books, you will know why I think they are wonderful. If you haven’t, then I recommend you pick one and get reading! 🙂

 

 

Top 10 Hidden Gems

Before I Saw You by Amy K. Sorrells

Folks are dying fast as the ash trees in the southern Indiana town ravaged by the heroin epidemic, where Jaycee Givens lives with nothing more than a thread of hope and a quirky neighbor, Sudie, who rescues injured wildlife. After a tragedy leaves her mother in prison, Jaycee is carrying grief and an unplanned pregnancy she conceals because she trusts no one, including the kind and handsome Gabe, who is new to town and to the local diner where she works.

Dividing her time between the diner and Sudie’s place, Jaycee nurses her broken heart among a collection of unlikely friends who are the closest thing to family that she has. Eventually, she realizes she can’t hide her pregnancy any longer―not even from the baby’s abusive father, who is furious when he finds out. The choices she must make for the safety of her unborn child threaten to derail any chance she ever had for hope and redemption. Ultimately, Jaycee must decide whether the truest form of love means hanging on or letting go.

Center of Gravity by Laura McNeill

The truth could cost her everything.

Her whole life, Ava Carson has been sure of one thing: she doesn’t measure up to her mother’s expectations. So when Mitchell Carson sweeps into her life with his adorable son, the ready-made family seems like a dream come true. In the blink of an eye, she’s married, has a new baby, and life is wonderful.

Or is it?

When her picture-perfect marriage begins unraveling at the seams, Ava convinces herself she can fix it. It’s temporary. It’s the stress. It’s Mitchell’s tragic history of loss.

If only Ava could believe her own excuses.

Mitchell is no longer the charming, thoughtful man she married. He grows more controlling by the day, revealing a violent jealous streak. His behavior is recklessly erratic, and the unanswered questions about his past now hint at something far more sinister than Ava can stomach. Before she can fit the pieces together, Mitchell files for divorce and demands full custody of their boys.

Fueled by fierce love for her children and aided by Graham Thomas, a new attorney in town, Ava takes matters into her own hands, digging deep into the past. But will finding the truth be enough to beat Mitchell at his own game?

Ghost Heart by Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry

A brilliant transplant surgeon. A rogue organ broker. A ghost child. And the legend that could destroy them all. A brutal murder convinces surgeon Mia Kendall there’s more than she imagined to the mysterious spike in heart transplant rejections. Determined to find answers before she loses another patient, Mia gets sucked into a dangerous international medical web. With time running out for her youngest transplant recipient, Mia is forced to partner with a disillusioned ex-military pilot who flies brokered organs across East Africa. But searching for the truth will prove costly for the unlikely duo racing to stop a madman before he annihilates a rare and cursed bloodline. From best-selling author Lisa Harris and award-winning author Lynne Gentry comes a chilling, hypnotic medical thriller that will take you from the suburbs of Cincinnati to the jungles of Africa.

Grace in Strange Disguise by Christine Dillon

Physiotherapist Esther Macdonald is living the Australian dream, and it doesn’t surprise her. After all, her father has always said, “Follow Jesus and be blessed.” But at twenty-eight, her world shatters. Everyone assures her God will come through for her, but what happens when he doesn’t? Has she offended God? Is her faith too small? So many conflicting explanations. Will finding the truth cost her the people closest to her heart?

 

 

The Memoir of Johnny Devine by Camille Eide

In 1953, desperation forces young war widow Eliza Saunderson to take a job writing the memoir of ex-Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Devine. Rumor has it Johnny can seduce anything in a skirt quicker than he can hail a cab. But now the notorious womanizer claims he’s been born again. Eliza soon finds herself falling for the humble, grace-filled man John has become—a man who shows no sign of returning her feelings. No sign, that is, until she discovers something John never meant for her to see.

​When Eliza’s articles on minority oppression land her on McCarthy’s Communist hit list, John and Eliza become entangled in an investigation that threatens both his book and her future. To clear her name, Eliza must solve a family mystery. Plus, she needs to convince John that real love—not the Hollywood illusion—can forgive a sordid past. Just when the hope of love becomes reality, a troubling discovery confirms Eliza’s worst fears. Like the happy façade many Americans cling to, had it all been empty lies? Is there a love she can truly believe in?

Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse

There was another South in the 1960s, one far removed from the marches and bombings and turmoil in the streets that were broadcast on the evening news. It was a place of inner turmoil, where ordinary people struggled to right themselves on a social landscape that was dramatically shifting beneath their feet. This is the world of Valerie Fraser Luesse’s stunning debut, Missing Isaac.

It is 1965 when black field hand Isaac Reynolds goes missing from the tiny, unassuming town of Glory, Alabama. The townspeople’s reactions range from concern to indifference, but one boy will stop at nothing to find out what happened to his unlikely friend. White, wealthy, and fatherless, young Pete McLean has nothing to gain and everything to lose in his relentless search for Isaac. In the process, he will discover much more than he bargained for. Before it’s all over, Pete — and the people he loves most — will have to blur the hard lines of race, class, and religion. And what they discover about themselves may change some of them forever.

Lead Me Home by Amy K. Sorrells

Amid open fields and empty pews, small towns can crush big dreams.

Abandoned by his no-good father and forced to grow up too soon, Noble Burden has set his dreams aside to run the family farm. Meanwhile, James Horton, the pastor of the local church, questions his own calling as he prepares to close the doors for good.

As a severe storm rolls through, threatening their community and very livelihood, both men fear losing what they care about most . . . and reconsider where they truly belong.

Like A River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart

The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler’s blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little—known history of Ukraine’s tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the “killing ditch.” He survives, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda is sixteen when German soldiers rape her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Führer’s plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River from Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

Lost And Found by Ginny Yttrup

Jenna Bouvier and Andee Bell are at a crossroads. Jenna is in danger of losing her family and her wealth when her mother-in-law accuses her of having an affair. Andee has what she wants—fame, fortune, and Jenna’s brother—but she’s haunted by a dark secret. Will they follow familiar paths, or risk walking in faith?

 

 

 

 

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness . . .

Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.

But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.

Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectations.

 

What book do you consider a hidden gem?

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Book Review: Fit to Be Tied

10 Sep

The Bucklin family loves each other too much to stay away. . . but not enough to behave.

Being rich is fine, but when wealth comes from striking oil, it can make a slippery mess for a family who doesn’t know what to do with it. The Bucklin cousins are all together again, and this family reunion is shaping up to be another hot mess.

Coralee falls for the police officer who pulls her over. Sally has finally found a guy, but now she’s not sure a relationship is even worth the bother. No matter how hard Brett tries to avoid trouble, he somehow stumbles right back into the thick of it. And Marybeth and Bucky continue to fumble and bumble as they learn just how to handle being rich.

The Bucklin family is known for drama — and family drama knows no bounds.

 

Debby Mayne is the author of more than 60 novels and novellas that have received the “Top Pick” award from Romantic Times Magazine and been among the “Top 10 Favorites” in the Heartsong Presents book club. She writes family and faith-based romances, cozy mysteries, and women’s fiction. She has also written more than 1,000 short stories and articles as well as dozens of devotions for busy women. She has worked as managing editor of a national health publication, product information writer for a TV retailer, creative writing instructor, and copy editor and proofreader for several book publishers. She is currently an etiquette writer for The Spruce, one of the DotDash (formerly About.com) companies.

Debby grew up in a military family, which meant moving every few years throughout her childhood. Debby was born in Alaska, and she has lived in Mississippi, Tennessee, Oregon, Florida, Hawaii, and Japan. Her parents were both from the Deep South, so she enjoys featuring characters with southern drawls, plenty of down-home cooking, and folks with quirky mannerisms.

She and her husband currently live in the Charleston, South Carolina, area. To learn more about Debby:
Website – debbymayne.net
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/DebbyMayneAuthor
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/@debbymayne

 

My Impressions:

The first book in the Bucklin Family Reunion series, High Cotton, introduced readers to the over-the-top family known for its family reunion antics. Now author Debby Mayne is back with book 2, Fit to Be Tied, a novel that continues the family saga while delivering laughs along with familiar situations that all families encounter, even those without seriously quirky family members (are there any families out there without that uncle or aunt? 😉 ). Filled with deep South references this one is a fun read.

Fit to Be Tied is told through the first person perspectives of 5 members of the Bucklin family. The multi-generational points of view provide glimpses into what makes this family tick. I liked how each revealed a different aspect of this rambling family. Perhaps my (and your) family isn’t is as outrageous or contentious as the Bucklins, but I bet there will be plenty of things that you can relate to — how family members bear with each other, protect each other, and ultimately love each other. If you read book one you will recognize many of the characters, but some new family members are introduced as well. But don’t think you will get overwhelmed by all the Bucklin kin that make an appearance. The format of short chapters keep the doings of the family manageable for the reader. The five characters that share their thoughts on life, love, and family are real and relatable, and reveal the struggles that all face. I especially loved Sally who figured prominently in book one as well. Fit to Be Tied is filled with southernisms and mouth-watering food references that add an authentic feel to the novel. As in the first book, the family reunion is the climax of the book, but Fit to Be Tied is certainly not the end of the story. Be prepared for more fun in the third book in the series, Out of Pocket, due out in Spring 2019.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with the Bucklin clan. I recommend you start with book 1 to get the whole family experience. You might find yourself yearning for a family reunion of your own!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Gilead Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: , ,

The Cost of Betrayal Blitz Tour + Giveaway!

7 Sep

jr_costofbetrayal_banner

Welcome to THE COST OF BETRAYAL Blitz with JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

9780764231735Title: The Cost of Betrayal
Authors: Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: Novella Collection / Romantic Suspense

FAITH WILL BE TESTED. TRUST SHATTERED.
THREE BESTSELLING ROMANTIC SUSPENSE WRITERS REUNITE FOR NOVELLAS OF DEADLY BETRAYAL.

Dee Henderson – “Betrayed”
After serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she didn’t commit, Janelle Roberts is finally freed. But the truth is still waiting to be discovered, and a murderer is still at large. Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another act of treachery.

Dani Pettrey – “Deadly Isle”
Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer before they become the next victims?

Lynette Eason – “Code of Ethics”
When Detective Isaac Martinez lands in the ER with a gunshot wound, he pulls through thanks to trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John. But as the witness to a crime and possible corruption, Martinez is at risk from someone intent on silencing him–and those around him–forever. When he barely survives another attack while recovering, both he and Ruthie must flee, trying to outrun deadly killers while locating the evidence they need to end the danger.

LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | ChristianBook | Book Depository | Books-A-Million | iTunes

 

Excerpt from Betrayed by Dee Henderson

Good people committed murder. Paul had long since accepted that. He’d put a significant number of them in prison. But a good person didn’t often plan the murder in advance, requiring rapid decisions on what to do afterward, leading to mistakes, panic. Janelle had not planned what happened that night. That was what had clicked. Paul leaned back to ponder that thought.

Guilty people gave themselves away — sweating, minds racing, desperate to get rid of the evidence, establish an alibi, spin a story out to friends to cover the time period. Good people who committed murder were unable to walk away and show no signs of it. As an investigator, you didn’t make a decision based on behavior. You worked from the evidence. But the evidence backed up behavior. He had two people in this case file, and they were handling events very differently.

He accepted the bowl of ice cream from his wife, waited till she was seated. “Ann, your best evidence that Tanya — or someone else — did this murder is Janelle’s behavior. The patrol officer found Janelle at home wearing sweats, eating chocolate ice cream out of the carton, and methodically taking apart a scrapbook full of pictures of her with Andrew. The search of her home yielded some things of Andrew’s: jacket, CDs, and books haphazardly thrown together in a box in the hall. Janelle had been purging her apartment of her boyfriend when the patrol officer knocked on her door.”

He saw the surprise cross her face.

“I hadn’t thought about that specifically.”

“Character tells. It always does. Janelle isn’t guilty of this. The patrol officer knocks on her door, and she’s clueless that her boyfriend has been hurt, let alone is dead. If it was the detective who knocked on her door and saw for himself what she was doing, her shock and the tears, he would have kept pushing until he could find another answer.

“But by the time Janelle has been driven in the back of a squad car to the beach, has seen all the flashing lights and cops and medical examiner vehicles, she’s quiet and wound tight and confused, desperately trying to sort out what happened to the man she loves after she left him. The detective sees someone saying she didn’t do it, but missed seeing the physical innocence, that clueless expression that would have told him she was telling the truth. He knows they had a fight, there’s blood on her shoes, the knife she can’t produce is consistent with what stabbed Andrew—he had to go with what was there in front of him. The detective bought the frame.”

“You believe me?”

“Yes.”

Relief flowed across her face.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O’Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois.

CONNECT WITH DEE: website | facebook

pettrey_dani

Dani Pettrey is a wife, mom, grandma, and the author of the Chesapeake Valor series, and the Alaskan Courageromantic suspense series, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and Sabotaged. Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award nomination, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award, among others.

She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves—the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, a son-in-law, and a super adorable grandson.

CONNECT WITH DANI:  website |  facebook  |  twitter | pinterest  |  instagram

Author Image: Š Michael Pettrey Photography

14723Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Oath of Honor and Called to Protect, as well as the Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children.

CONNECT WITH LYNETTE:  website  | facebook | twitter

Author Image:  Š Mary Denman

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) Winner will win The Perfect Hideout JustRead Book Box!!! It includes a copy of The Cost of Betrayal and many more goodies!

For more info on the box or want one yourself, check out our Etsy Shop.

justread_Theme

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 4, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM EST on September 12, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Due to shipping cost, only US mailing addresses valid.  For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

TOUR SCHEDULE

jr_costofbetrayal_banner
For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.
(All stops expected to be live by 12:00 NOON EST)

Launch Post @JustReadTours
Launch Post @JustCommonly

Tags: , , ,

First Line Friday — Deadly Isle

7 Sep

 

Welcome to another First Line Friday hosted by Hoarding Books. This week I am sharing the first line from Deadly Isle, a novella by Dani Pettrey. Isn’t it great! Part of The Cost of Betrayal, this novella joins 2 others by authors Dee Henderson and Lynette Eason for fast-paced romantic suspense. Dani’s novella is available as an ebook as well. Make sure you check it out!

 

 

Now leave a comment with the first line of the closest book to hand and then head over to Hoarding Books for more fabulous first lines.

Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on revenge before they become the next victims?

Dani Pettrey is a wife, mom, grandma, and the author of the Chesapeake Valor series, and the Alaskan Courage romantic suspense series, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and Sabotaged. Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award nomination, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award, among others.

She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves—the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, a son-in-law, and a super adorable grandson.

TO CONNECT WITH DANI: website,  facebook,  twitter,  pinterest,  instagram, goodreads

 

 

Tags: ,

Book Review: Formula of Deception

6 Sep

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

Carrie Stuart Parks is an ECPA Christy Award and multiple ACFW Carol and Inspy Award–winning author. An internationally known forensic artist, Carrie draws on her extensive experience with actual criminal investigations to write authentic, true-to-life fictional suspense. Carrie lives in Idaho and travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada, teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals. She has won numerous awards for her fine art and is the author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting.

Connect with Carrie

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

My Impressions: 

Carrie Stuart Parks has given her wonderful character Gwen Marcey a break from mayhem and has written a novel with a totally different feel, characters, and setting, yet with all the wonderful suspense that readers have come to expect from Parks. Formula of Deception takes the reader on a wild ride into remote Alaska. So strap on your seatbelt, you will never know where this trip is going to take you. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Kodiak, Alaska is the setting for Formula of Deception. I’ve never been, but Parks descriptions of the town and its environs and the uninhabited islands nearby vividly filled my imagination. Main character Murphy Andersen is a wounded soul searching for her missing sister while dodging a serial killer. She finds herself in the middle of a crime investigation when she lies about her experience as a forensic artist. And she continues to lie her way through all the attacks and murders that cross her path. It’s not a coincident that deception is part of the book’s title. This novel confronts the reader with lies others tell us, lies we tell others, and lies we tell ourselves. While I loved the action and danger of the twisting plot, I was intrigued with the inner workings of Murphy’s mind. Be prepared to question every characters’ words and motives. Things are definitely not what they seem. But don’t worry about figuring it all out — this one provided surprise after surprise, even up to the end. I loved that! Parks incorporates Alaskan culture and history into the book to great effect. Her references to little known events from the WWII-era will have you scrambling for Google. The combination of historical fact and fictional conspiracy works very well.

While Formula of Deception is described as a standalone novel, I really hope Parks will revisit Kodiak along with Murphy. This could be the start of a great, great series. Sorry, Gwen! 😉

Highly recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: ,

Children’s Corner + Giveaway! — My First Book of Prayers

6 Sep

With ten short prayers, this introduction to the act of praying will fast become a family favorite. Now I lay me down to sleep and other classic prayers show children how simple and reassuring talking to God can be. Each prayer is written in soothing verse and is accompanied by Gillian Flint’s soft and comforting watercolor illustrations. Newly illustrated and reformatted from its previous edition to better suit today’s families, this collection of prayers is a timeless treasure. Ages 2-5 years.

To purchase, click HERE.

 

My Impressions:

My First Book of Prayers helps parents introduce their smallest children to the practice of prayer. Each of the 10 brief prayers from notable authors emphasizes gratitude for what God has created and the truth that He is present at all times. Your child will like the short rhyming verses along with the soft illustrations that feature kids just like them. I can see many of these prayers becoming staples at bedtime, meal times, really all during the day. This sturdy board book will withstand sticky fingers, soap bubbles, and the wear and tear of continuous reading. It is definitely a recommended addition for the home library.

Recommended.

Audience: children ages 2-5. 

(Thanks to WorthyKids for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

Giveaway!

The folks at Worthy are generously providing a copy of My First Book of Prayers to one of my readers. Leave a comment with who you will share this book. Giveaway is limited to the United States and runs through September 18, 2018.

 

 

Tags:

Children’s Corner — Forever with Jesus

5 Sep

In Forever with Jesus, the sea kids learn that Jesus died for their sins, and that by believing in Him they will live in heaven forever. The cousins visit their grandparents for Grandma Pinky’s 80th birthday. During their visit, their grandparents’ neighbor, Mr. Higgins, passes away. Grandma reads the Bible and tells her grandchildren how wonderful heaven is and how there will be no more tears, pain, or suffering. The children understand that they do not have to fear dying because Jesus is building a wonderful mansion for them and all who believe in Him as their Savior!

Award-Winning Children’s Author, Speaker, Adjunct Professor Lee Ann Mancini was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Aurora, Ohio. She graduated from Aurora High in 1976 and moved to Florida in 1978.

Lee Ann Mancini graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Regent University (1990), a Masters in Biblical and Theology Studies from Knox Seminary, Magna Cum Laude (2014), and a Masters in Christian Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Cum Laude (2014). Lee Ann also received her certificate of completion from the Ravi School of Apologetics (2011).

Lee Ann is currently an adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary. She is also an award-winning, Christian children’s author. She is has taught Bible Study for over 10 years and has been an active community volunteer/​leader for over 20 years: Representing children as a Palm Beach County Guardian Ad Litem, International Affairs commission Chair for St. Joan of Arc Council of Catholic Women, Community Support Chair for the Junior League of Boca Raton. Initiated and chaired the Auction for Boca Raton High School for six years, and initiated and chaired the PTSA for Boca Raton High School for two years. In addition, Lee Ann is involved in the Women’s Ministry at Spanish River Christian Church and is on board Alexandrian Forum under the tutelage of Dr. Warren Gage Th.M., J.D., Ph.D., seeking to bring a greater understanding of the Bible by hosting annual Typology Conferences in South Florida dedicated to the theme of Christ as the center of Scripture. In addition, Lee Ann speaks to women groups regarding the redemptive power of the gospel represented though the types of brides of the church.

Lee Ann is married and has two children. She loves to read, jog, and teach the Word of God.

http://glmpublishing.net
http://www.leeannmancini.com

My Impressions:

Forever with Jesus is the newest book in Lee Ann Mancini’s Adventures of The Sea Kids series. Featuring big and bold illustrations of fanciful sea creatures that kids can relate to, this book looks at what it really means to live forever with Jesus. As the young cousins gather to celebrate their grandmother Pinky’s birthday, they enjoy all of the things a young child would at a grandma or grandpa’s house. They also have a chance to learn more about a relationship with Jesus. Questions are asked and answered according to God’s word. The sea kids hear the truth of God’s plan, but also see it lived out. After a wonderful day of fun ending in a sleepover, they wake up to find that a neighbor has died and now lives with Jesus forever. The whole process of death and its beginning rather than end is experienced. I like that the author shows what it is like to lose a beloved family member and friend, and yet have peace and joy in the midst of the sorrow and loss. Forever with Jesus is a great way to teach your kids the true meaning of eternal life. It is also a great resource for parents in a time of loss in their family.

Recommended. 

Audience: kids ages 5- 8.

(Thanks to BookCrash for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: ,

Book Review: Homespun

4 Sep

 

Straight from the pens of Amish and Mennonite women . . .

Ever wish you could visit with a group of Amish or Mennonite women over a cup of coffee? In the pages of Homespun, Amish and Plain Mennonite women swap stories and spin yarns while we listen in. Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish, collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God. Hear from one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. Each woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community.

 Behind Amish romance novels and tourist spots and television shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. In Homespun, you get to hear some of them.

Editor Lorilee Craker is the author of thirteen books, including Money Secrets of the Amish; Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me; My Journey to Heaven with Marv Besteman; and the New York Times bestseller Through the Story with Lynne Spears. Connect with her at LorileeCraker.com.

You can also find Lorilee at the following: Facebook (@LorileeCraker)  Twitter (@lorileecraker)  Instagram (@thebooksellersdaughter)

 

My Impressions:

Homespun is a wonderful collection of essays from women — Amish and Mennonite women. You might think given these women live in insular communities that their thoughts would have no bearing on your modern lifestyle. Well, you would be wrong 😉 ! Just because their ways are simple and plain, does not mean they are simplistic. I was impressed with the depth of feeling and wisdom the 35+ essays portrayed. After all, women of faith can relate no matter their style of clothes or form of worship.

Lorilee Craker, a woman from a Mennonite background, has compiled a group of writings as varied as their authors. Practical advice, spiritual encouragement, and lessons in living well fill the pages of Homespun. Married and single, old and young from a variety of Amish and Mennonite traditions write about home, hospitality, faith, and life all from a perspective of a life lived in Christ. I loved the very personal and easy style of the essays. And I could definitely relate to what they shared. One essay in particular, The Lord Is My Rock, related the experiences of a pregnancy loss and how God was seeing the author through the terrible time. It brought back to me my own experiences of a stillborn son over 30 years ago.

Although Homespun is not a devotional guide, but rather a collection of personal stories, it could easily be used to supplement your quiet time, opening up new conversations with God. This book is great for fans of Amish fiction who want to have a glimpse at real life in these faith communities or for those who would like to find a fresh perspective on life.

Recommended.

Audience: adult women

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Herald Press for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →