Series Spotlight: Women’s Bible Studies by Rita Platt

14 Mar

The women’s Bible study I lead on Wednesday evenings is currently using Rita Platt’s 8 week study, An Undivided Heart:  Experiencing The Intimacy of Jesus’ Touch.   I have also taught from the other two books in the series:  I Am His (God the Father) and Step into The Waters (the Holy Spirit).  Each study is 8 weeks and includes scripture study, creative exercises and discussion questions to journal and is perfect for small groups.  If you are looking for a Bible study with a fresh look into the nature of God, I highly recommend you try one or all of these books.

 

I Am His:  Experiencing The Comfort of Abba’s Love.  Women, discover what it means to the be the daughter of a loving Abba Father! Inviting you to open up your heart, Platt’s 8-week study will encourage you to experience the comfort of dwelling in God’s tender, wise, and powerful embrace.

 

 

 

An Undivided Heart:  Experiencing The Intimacy of Jesus’ Touch.  Did you know that Jesus wants to know you intimately? With solid biblical insight, Platt explores how Jesus freely sacrificed his life to invite you into his embrace; and helps you become more fully and passionately wed to him. 

 

 

 

Step into The Waters:  Experiencing The Abundance of The Spirit.  Experience the abundant flow of Living Water! Offering opportunities for transforming and thirst-quenching encounters with the Holy Spirit, Platt invites you to immerse yourself in life-giving intimacy and deeper connection to God. 

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Book Review: House of Secrets

12 Mar

They vowed, as children, to be silent…

When her father orchestrates a surprise trip to the summer house of her childhood, Bailee Cooper is unprepared for what follows. What is intended to be a happy reunion for Bailee and her sisters quickly becomes shrouded by memories from the past.

Together again, the three sisters sift through their recollections of fifteen years ago…of an ill mother, and of their father making a desperate choice. One sister believes their silence must end and the truth be revealed. But they soon come to wonder if they can trust their memories.

Mark Delahunt arrives in the wake of this emotional turmoil. Determined to win Bailee’s affection, Mark becomes a strong fortress for her in this time of confusion, and what was once a tentative promise begins to take root and grow. Caught between the past and an uncertain future, can Bailee let God guide her to healing . . . or will she risk losing the chance to embrace love?

 

Excerpt

 

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana, and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie’s Web site at www.traciepeterson.com and her blog at www.writespassage.blogspot.com.

 

 

My Impressions:

House of Secrets is the first contemporary novel by Tracie Peterson that I have read.  But because of this reading experience, it certainly will not be the last. Peterson takes a normally taboo subject (mental illness), at least in Christian fiction, and handles it realistically.  There is no preachiness in this novel, or a call to get right.  Her portrayal of the heartbreak of dealing with a mentally ill loved one and the effects on the family is right on.

Bailee Cooper is the oldest daughter of a very dysfunctional family.  She and her three sisters believe they witnessed the murder of their mother at the hands of their father.  Fifteen years later, they are back at the summer house that was the scene of their mother’s death.  They are determined to uncover the secrets that have shadowed their family all their lives.

The characters in House of Secrets are well developed.  They deal with anger, guilt and shame  — emotions that have prevented them from pursing normal relationships.  Their actions to cover up or explain away circumstances also ring true. And their reactions to the truth behind the secrets are often hard to take, but seem very realistic.  The guilt Bailee feels and the blame that is directed towards her is wrenching.  But don’t worry, Peterson writes an ending that is very satisfying.

If you want an honest portrayal of a difficult problem that is handled with grace and compassion, then pick up House of Secrets.

Highly Recommended.

 

(I received House of Secrets from Bethany in return for an honest review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

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Book Review: The Rose of Winslow Street

9 Mar

In the small town of Colden, Massachusetts, Libby Sawyer leads a quiet, predictable life. Yet beneath the surface, she is haunted by a secret.

Newly arrived on American shores, Michael Dobrescu is far from predictable, and his arrival in Colden is anything but quiet. Michael’s shocking claim to be the rightful owner of Libby’s father’s house immediately alienates him from the appalled citizens of Colden.

Despite her own outrage, Libby is unwittingly fascinated by this enigmatic man who seems equally intrigued by her. As the court’s decision about the house looms and the layers of mystery surrounding Michael’s past are unveiled, Libby’s loyalties are tested in ways she never imagined.

Excerpt

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.

My Impressions:

I chose to read and review The Rose of Winslow Street because the back cover blurb sounded really intriguing.  How could someone come in and seize your house and still have a claim to it in the courts?  It sounded like a nice little historical romance.  But what I found was so much more.  Elizabeth Camden has written characters that really come to life — the much under-appreciated and misjudged Libby,  the proud, yet insecure professor that is Libby’s father, and the deeply wounded yet strong Mirela.   Even the minor characters are fleshed out. And the larger than life, grab life with both hands, Michael Dobrescu is a character you won’t soon forget.  (I kept picturing a much more sensitive Gaston from Beauty and The Beast.  *giggle*)

The struggle over the house is interesting, but it is the character development that really steals the show.  I felt so proud of Libby as she struggled to stand up to not only her father, but the whole town.  Despite her obvious intelligence and artistic gifts, she had been labeled, as her father put it, as a mental deficient due to what could only be a learning disability.  Michael is the first person in her life to see Libby’s value as the person God made her.  Camden handles this truth very well.

If you like historical romance, you are going to like The Rose of Winslow Street.  And if you like well-developed characters, a plausible plot, and a strong message of God’s truth without the preachiness, you’ll love it!

Highly Recommended.

(I received The Rose of Winslow Street from Bethany in return for an honest review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Downtown Green

9 Mar

When the highway bypass around Green opens with much fanfare, downtown dries up faster than cement on the roadway. Businesses close and the hospital becomes a clinic. While the road is progress to some, it seems to be leading Green toward a national trend–a town that is merely a shadow of itself.

With the town going backwards, Lois Barker Craig is determined to save Green while juggling life as a new mom and owner of The Green News-Item. But can her plan rescue the town from the path it’s on? And what about Dr. Kevin and her son, Mayor Eva, Coach Chris and other familiar Green faces? How does this affect them?

Author Judy Christie loves to help busy people slow down and enjoy each day more – in her series of novels about Green, Louisiana, and her Hurry Less Worry Less nonfiction books. Judy started her writing career as the editor of The Barret Banner in elementary school and has kept a journal since she was nine (and still has all of them). She likes strolling around flea markets, walking in the park near her North Louisiana home and visiting friends and family on her vintage green Kitchen Couch. Her most recent books are Downtown Green, fifth in the Green series, and “Hurry Less Worry Less for Moms.” For more information, see www.judychristie.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook.com | Abingdon Press

My Impressions:

I love small town stories.  I have not read one in a very long time — I just have not come across a book that has piqued my interest.  Until Downtown Green. Green is a small town in north Louisiana that is suffering from what a lot of small towns across the country are facing — a dying downtown.  Lois Barker Craig, owner of the local twice weekly newspaper loves her adopted hometown and the people who live there.  So she takes on the challenge of bringing Green back.  Not an easy task for a new mother, wife and business owner.  But Lois charges in full steam.

Green is filled with lovable residents.  But the town has had to face difficult challenges in the past, and more are one the horizon.  Change is inevitable, but Downtown Green portrays change as a chance to grow and grow up.  And just because Green is a small town, doesn’t mean big town problems like crime don’t show up.  But the residents of Green rally together to meet all that the world brings at them.

Downtown Green is a fun and faith-filled book.  And although it is the 5th(!) book in the Green series, I never once felt lost.  I  did, however, long to get to know the characters better, so I have the first couple of books in the series downloaded on my Kindle ready to go!  I now have another small town series to read!

Recommended.

(I received Downtown Green from Pump Up Your Book in exchange for a review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

__________________________________________

 

Monday, March 5

Book reviewed at Carlybird’s Home

Tuesday, March 6

Book reviewed at Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Wednesday, March 7

Book reviewed at 4 the Love of Books

Thursday, March 8

Book reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

Friday, March 9

Book reviewed at By the Book

Monday, March 12

Book reviewed at WV Stitcher

Tuesday, March 13

Book reviewed at Splashes of Joy

Wednesday, March 14

Book reviewed at Reviews by Molly

Thursday, March 15

Book reviewed at A Cozy Readers Corner

Friday, March 16

Book reviewed at A Book Lover

Monday, March 19

Book reviewed at Ashley’s Bookshelf

Tuesday, March 20

Book review & book giveaway at Libby’s Library

Wednesday, March 21

Book reviewed at Every Day Is An Adventure

Thursday, March 22

Book reviewed at Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Friday, March 23

Interviewed at Blogcritics

Monday, March 26

Book reviewed at A Word’s Worth

Tuesday, March 27

Interviewed at Examiner

Wednesday, March 28

Book reviewed at Mary’s Cup of Tea

Thursday, March 29

Book reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

Friday, March 30

Book reviewed at A Room Without Books Is Empty

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Book Review: The Search Committee

5 Mar

A mismatched team of seven hit the road in an Econoline church van on a mission to find a new pastor. They don’t agree on much other than the stops at Hardee’s for coffee and a biscuit. But they stick to the call, trying to slip undetected into worship services across the Southeast—all in hopes of stealing a preacher for their congregation. 

Each member is wrestling to balance their own busy life and personal struggles. And they’re trying to keep their issues to themselves. Forced to spend countless hours together, these very different personalities from different generations begin to bond. And their lives are profoundly changed as they love and support each other through the difficulties in each of their lives.

 

Excerpt

 

Tim Owens has a doctorate in environmental engineering and is the co-owner of an environmental engineering firm. He also holds three patents, is a Scoutmaster, and participated in disaster relief in Honduras and Mozambique as a water systems engineer. He currently resides in Summerville, South Carolina, with his wife and four children.

 

My Impressions:

The Search Committee, Tim Owens’ debut novel, is a book about a small church pastor search committee and its adventures both on the road and at home.  From the back cover, I thought this would be right up my alley.  And while I thought it was humorous in many places and poignant in others, it fell a little flat for me.

The odd assortment of church members — 4 women and 3 men — travel most Sundays across the southeast on the elusive trail of the perfect pastor for their small town Presbyterian church.  Their experiences vary from the ridiculous to the sublime, but they persevere in their mission to fill the pulpit.  Along the way, life definitely happens — a spouse dies, an affair is uncovered, and ghosts from the past show up.

I think the concept of the book is great.  And I liked most of the characters.  But their relationships didn’t really grow all that much.  In the end they do find a suitable pastor for their church, but that was a bit predictable.  So my final verdict on the book was that it was okay.  I will, however, keep an eye out for other books by Owens.

(I received The Search Committee from Tyndale in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

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Book Review: Beauty For Ashes

3 Mar

She’s a beautiful young widow. He’s a charming Charleston gentleman with a notorious past. Both need a place to call home.

After years of mourning the death of her young husband and longing for a family of her own, Carrie Daly has promised to wed bookstore owner Nate Chastain. But questions about his true feelings for her cause her to hesitate.

After years of mourning the death of her young husband and longing for a family of her own, Carrie Daly has promised to wed bookstore owner Nate Chastain. But questions about his true feelings for her cause her to hesitate.

Charlestonian Griffin Rutledge, scion of a low country rice planter, former blockade runner, gambler, and horseman, arrives in Hickory Ridge to collect an old debt before heading off to try his luck in Australia. Estranged from his family for years, Griff is a loner and likes it that way. Offered the opportunity to train a magnificent Thoroughbred for the local banker, he settles down . . . temporarily. But a chance meeting with Carrie triggers a chain of events that causes him to question his choices. Maybe God brought him to Hickory Ridge – and to Carrie – for a reason.

 

Before returning to her writing roots in historical fiction, Dorothy Love published twelve novels for young adults. Her work has garnered numerous honors from the American Library Association, the Friends of American Writers, the International Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and many others. The Hickory Ridge Novels mark her Christian fiction debut.

For more about Dorothy visit her website, www.dorothylovebooks.com or friend her on Facebook.com/DorothyLoveBooks.

 

My Impressions:

Do you like historical novels that have that authentic feel?  Then you should pick up Dorothy Love’s book Beauty For Ashes.  The second book in the Hickory Ridge series, (see my review for Beyond All Measure), this stand alone novel will bring you back to the hard times faced by many Southerner’s in the years following the Civil War.  Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, a small town in the Appalachians, is feeling the effects of the Depression of the 1870s.  Many businesses are closing. Men are leaving their farms and families to find work elsewhere.  Carrie Daly’s life is affected as well.  Along with financial struggles, the young widow has always felt at home on her family’s farm, but the introduction of a new sister-in-law with two rambunctious boys forces her to flee to a boarding house in town.  She wonders if she will ever feel at home again.  But Carrie feels the pull of duty over desire, a sentiment echoed by friends and family alike.  Then Griff Rutledge, a slightly disreputable gentleman, comes to town to settle a debt and is enticed to stay to prepare for a big horse race sure to bring back the fortunes of Hickory Ridge.  Carrie’s attraction to Griff goes against all reason, and her reputation suffers from the association.

Beauty For Ashes explores the struggle to do what is acceptable and the urge to follow the heart.  It also focuses on the overarching will of God in our life. Carrie’s struggles to meet obligations are very real.  It is easy to succumb to society and family expectations even when our heart yearns for something more — even when God longs to give us more.  The book also looks at life lived with regrets, and God’s desire to free us and bring us to an abundant life.

Dorothy Love’s characters are very real.  Her descriptions bring the small town of Hickory Ridge to life.  And if you like romance, you will love Carrie and Griff’s story.

Recommended.

(I received Beauty for Ashes from the publisher and LitFuse in return for an honest review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To read more reviews of Beauty For Ashes, click HERE.

 

LitFuse is thrilled to announce the fun giveaway Dorothy is hosting! First, she’ll be giving away a Kindle Fire (3/1-3/20), then on the evening of the 20th she’s inviting everyone to her Facebook Author Page for a fun Author Chat party! Don’t miss a minute of the fun … sigh.

One beautiful winner will receive:

  • A Brand new Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
  • Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love
  • Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/20/12. Winner will be announced at Dorothy’s Facebook Author Chat Party on 3/20. Come for an evening of chat, trivia, and a sneak peek at the next book in Dorothy’s Hickory Ridge series – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a stunning sapphire ring!

So grab your copy of Beauty for Ashes  and join Dorothy and friends on the evening of March 20th for an evening of fun.

Don’t miss Dorothy’s delightful giveaway and party. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!

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Book Review: Heart Of Ice

2 Mar

Elizabeth Avery is a stunningly beautiful woman. But her perfectly managed exterior hides the ice cold heart of a killer. She ingeniously manipulates everyone who crosses her path to do exactly as she wishes–from crime reporter Cassidy Shaw, who thinks Elizabeth is her new best friend, to a shy young man Elizabeth persuades to kill for her.

As Elizabeth leaves a trail of bodies in her wake, Federal prosecutor Allison Pierce and FBI agent Nicole Hedges must piece together clues from seemingly unrelated crimes. Can they stop her before she reaches her unthinkable, ultimate end-game?

Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most prominent trial lawyers and highly regarded commentators.  Currently, she is the legal analyst and reporter on the Fox News Channel and Bill O’Reilly’s sparring partner in the weekly “Is It Legal?” segment on The O’Reilly Factor. Prior to that she was O’Reilly’s co-host on the nationally syndicated show The Radio Factor.  She is also a Professor of Law at New York Law School.  Her column “Lis on Law” appears weekly on FoxNews.com.

Prior to joining Fox News Channel in New York City, Wiehl served as a legal analyst and reporter for NBC News and NPR’s All Things Considered.  Before that, Wiehl served as a Federal Prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s office.

Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland.

Wiehl is also the author of The 51% Minority, which won the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category, and Winning Every Time.

She lives with her husband and two children in New York.

About April Henry:

I write mysteries and thrillers. I live in Portland, Oregon with my family.

When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He took it to lunch and showed it to the editor of an international children’s magazine – and she asked to publish the story! (For no money, which might have been a warning about how hard it is to make a living writing.)

My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I’m very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 13 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into four languages, been named to state reading lists, and short-listed for the Oregon Book Award. And Face of Betrayal, which I co-wrote with Lis Wiehl, was on the New York Times bestseller list for four weeks.

I also review literary fiction, YA literature, and mysteries and thrillers for the Oregonian, and have written articles for both The Writer and Writers Digest.

In 2012, look for two books: The Night She Disappeared, a teen thriller, and Eyes of Justice, co-written with Lis Wiehl.

My Impressions:

Heart of Ice is the third book in the Triple Threat series that my book club has read.  The first two books were really good, but I think this one is my favorite. The Triple Threat series involves three friends that are connected to the crime scene in Portland, Oregon.  Allison is a federal prosecutor, Nicole is an FBI agent and Cassidy is a news reporter assigned to the crime beat.  These characters show the different points of view in the investigation of crime.  And while the characters’ personal lives are part of the story, nothing detracts from the progression of the plot.

In the first two books, the reader, along with the characters try to figure out who the villain is.  Heart of Ice takes another tack — the reader knows from the beginning about the sociopathic killer that has come into the characters’ lives.  I think this adds an added layer of suspense and tension to the novel.  Wiehl and Henry do a great job of getting into the mind of a sociopath.  The results are realistic and chilling.

If you like suspense, try Heart of Ice.  It can be read as a stand alone novel, but I recommend beginning with Face of Betrayal because all the books in this series are excellent.

Highly Recommended.

My book club will be discussing Heart of Ice next week.  We would love to hear your comments!

(Heart of Ice was a personal purchase.)

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Book Review: Without A Trace

29 Feb

The book assigned to me this month by my Roundtable group is Without A Trace by Colleen Coble.  One of her older books (2003), Coble’s novel is the first in the Rock Harbor series set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

 

When a plane crash claims her husband and son, Bree Nichols and Samson, her search-and-rescue dog, won’t rest until they recover the bodies. But quiet Rock Harbor is shaken by a violent crime, and Bree discovers links to her husband’s fatal accident. Would solving this crime bring her peace—or more incredibly, reunite her family?

 

Best-selling author Colleen Coble‘s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com. Twitter @colleencoble.

 

My Impressions:

I just read and reviewed Coble’s latest historical romance, Blue Moon Promise, and liked it.  My book club also read the first book in her Aloha Reef series, Distant Echoes, a few years back and we all loved it.  So I was excited to start Without A Trace.  I liked it okay, but I didn’t experience the book love I had with the other two books.

Bree Nicholl’s is a SAR dog handler in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.   But her life took a tragic turn a year ago when her husband and young child were killed in a plane accident.  The plane was never recovered, so Bree is obsessed with finding the crash site to put her grief to rest.  The murder of a friend sets her on the trail of a killer who may have connections to the  crash.

Coble reveals a lot to the reader that the characters are not aware of.  We know secrets that Bree doesn’t and much of the tension in the book is related to the uncovering of the clues by the characters.  As I said, this book was just okay to me.  I had trouble connecting to the characters.  But I would not hesitate to read the other books in this series.  I like Coble’s writing that much.  If you like romantic suspense, try Without A Trace.

 

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You Might Be Interested . . . . Growing Up Ziglar

27 Feb

Last week I received Growing Up Ziglar by Julie Ziglar Norman.  Not a book I requested to review, I thought that you might still be interested in it.  So here it is for you to decide:  

 

Julie Ziglar Norman often says her dad is the king of ‘doing life right’ and she is the poster child for ‘doing life wrong.’

For over a quarter of a century she lived every day with regret, shame, guilt, and depression. But she was the daughter of the motivator’s motivator, Zig Ziglar, and knew that she needed to be positive. So she gathered up all her negative self-talk and squashed it deep down inside where it couldn’t ruin the bright and practiced smile she presented to the world.

‘People might assume Zig Ziglar’s daughter would automatically grow up to have a positive attitude,’ Julie says. ‘For a large portion of my life, I was just positive I was miserable!’

Her powerful and heartwarming story will move readers to laughter and tears. Mostly it will renew their faith in God’s power to redeem all the wrong choices and bring them full circle to hope and healing. Julie urges readers not to settle for okay when God has true joy waiting for them. She shares tools to equip them to make the changes needed to find true freedom in every area of life.

I have not read Growing Up Ziglar (and not sure I will), so if you would like to read a review of this new book, I suggest you head over to Reviews From The Heart to get the scoop.

 

(I received a copy of Growing Up Ziglar compliments of Guideposts.)

 

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And the winner is . . .

24 Feb

Congratulations to

Gwen Hovorka

winner of Night Road

 

Thanks to all who entered my Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway.  Come back for a chance to win a box o’ books in the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop March 20-25th!

 

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