Sunday, October 14, 2018

The next person you meet in heaven - Mitch Albom

A short but lovely story that should be on your must read list.

I can't resist books written by Mitch Albom. The story touches my heart and leaves me with thoughts to ponder.

Annie has much to learn. Eddie has much to share.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Everything She Didn't Say by Jane Kirkpatrick

Travel. Adventures. Carrie aka Dell experienced it all. But at what cost?

I read this book not realizing that there was a Carrie Strahorn. I was fascinated by her journey and her dedication to her husband, Robert. I wanted to throttle him but she was patient and accepting. I would have left him but she was faithful and supportive. I wanted to scream but she was caring and calm.

I had a very difficult time relating to Carrie. I wanted her to speak up. I wanted her to take a stand. But I had to remember that the book is based in 1877 to 1920s. Women and their roles in marriage are vastly different than they are today.

Jane Kirkpatrick is a gifted writer. She can paint a picture with her words. I recommend this to others who love historical fiction. I am so glad I was able to read this.

I received this free to review.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

The Fashion Designer by Nancy Moser

I love reading a story about women who work together, form friendships and support each other. Each woman in this book came together and made their dreams come true. There was no back stabbing. There was no jealousy.

I enjoyed the story of Annie and her struggles to fulfil her destiny. She never forgot her roots. She was thankful for her family....her friends. And most of all thankful for GOD and all of his blessings.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Christmas Prayer

Short but sweet story about faith and the miracle of prayer.

This story is an example of a prayer being answered during the Christmas season. I loved the story and the message. GOD has a plan for Cynthia. She must learn to trust that everything will work out.

Wanda Brunstetter always writes wonderful stories that transport you to another place or time. This is no exception. I enjoy reading anything she writes.

I am reading this in September but it is getting me in the holiday spirit.

I received this free to review.

About the Book

Book Title: The Christmas Prayer

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter

Genre: Historical Christmas Romance

Release date: September, 2018

Beloved, bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter takes readers on a journey in 1850 along the California Trail.

Only the brave—or foolhardy—would attempt a cross-country journey late in the season. Three wagons meet up in Independence, Missouri, in April 1850, and their owners decide to keep forging ahead despite many setbacks and delays. December finds them in the Sierra Nevada Mountains when a sudden snowstorm traps them, obscuring the trail.

Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and the man she has promised to marry. But as Christmas is upon them and they are hunkered down in a small cabin, she is forced to reevaluate her reasons for planning to marry fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California ranch and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she weighs her dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

New York Timesbestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Guest Post from Wanda

A cross-country journey in 1850 leads to high mountain danger—and romance.

Find out in The Christmas Prayer from NY Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter.

Try this Exclusive Bonus Recipe Found Inside the Book!

Cynthia’s Fried Apples

Instructions:

Without peeling, quarter as many tart apples as you would like. Lay apples close together, skin side down, in frying pan with salt pork fat or butter. Cover until well steamed then uncover and brown both sides, turning and watching closely to prevent burning.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, September 18

The Avid Reader, September 18

The Power of Words, September 18

Lighthouse Academy, September 18

Just Commonly, September 19

Carpe Diem, September 19

A Baker’s Perspective, September 19

Blossoms and Blessings, September 20

Britt Reads Fiction, September 20

Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, September 20

Connie’s History Classroom, September 21

Luv’N Lambert Life, September 21

Not Enough Time for Books, September 21

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, September 22

Lis Loves Reading, September 22

Literary Reflections Book Blog, September 22

Babs Book Bistro, September 23

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 23

Janices book reviews, September 23

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 24

Mary Hake, September 24

Two Points of Interest, September 24

Inspiration Clothesline, September 25

Inklings and notions, September 25

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 25

Fiction, Faith, and Fun, September 26

Girls in White Dresses, September 26

Book by Book, September 26

Splashes of Joy, September 27

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, September 27

The Morning Chapter, September 27

The Mimosa Blossom, September 28

Pause for Tales, September 28

Have A Wonderful Day, September 28

Miss Tina’s Amish Book Reviews, September 29

To Everything A Season, September 29

Cafinated Reads, September 29

Bibliophile Reviews, September 29

Quiet Quilter, September 30

Southern Gal Loves to Read, September 30

proud to be an autism mom, September 30

Texas Book-aholic, October 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 1

Bigreadersite, October 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Wanda is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a free copy of The Christmas Prayer with an autographed book plate inside!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d297/the-christmas-prayer-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, September 16, 2018

This is the Day

I knew Tim Tebow was a football player. I knew he was a Christian. But I didn't know Tim, the man. He allowed me to get to know him while I read this treasure of a book.

I found myself moved by his words. He touched my heart. This is a book that can make a change in many people's lives. THIS IS THE DAY. Four simple words but when together can make a huge impact.

Thank you, Tim. I will take the message of this book with me. I will make each day count. I will treasure what each day brings.

I received this free to review.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

The First Love

Do you remember your first love? Good or Bad experience? Did it change the course of your life? Maggie is the main character in this book by Beverly Lewis. She had a first love.

I loved Maggie's continued faith that GOD had a plan. It might not be in her timing. She was patient. Constant prayer and reading the Bible got her through her most difficult days. for

I enjoyed the story and loved reading about Maggie, her family and her love of GOD.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

The Patriot Bride

I loved everything about this book: the time period, the characters, etc. I have always enjoyed learning and reading about the Revolutionary War period.

Faith had courage and gumption. She was a strong female. She wasn't a weak female who waited for a man to save her.

Matthew was a man of integrity. He was the whole package. Swoon!

Great story. I really loved that Ben Franklin and George Washington were a part of this wonderful story.

I highly recommend reading this series "The Daughters of the Mayflower".

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Saturday, September 8, 2018

The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement

This might not be something I would normally pick up. I read numerous books but this one intrigued me. I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to read this book.

I have always believed that GOD has given me a gift of understanding and empathy. I landed up in a job that I didn't plan on but GOD knew it was the one I was destined to have. I worked 28 years as a juvenile probation officer in an inner city.

I retired six years ago from this emotionally exhausting job. I can reflect back and know that I was in the right position. I always prayed to have the right words and being able to say them at the right time. GOD was with me every step of the way.

Occasionally I have heard back from some of my clients. They thanked me and have given me assurance that I accomplished what I set out to do. GOD gave me the words. He gave me the tools. I was his servant...administering the way I could to my clients and their parents.

I appreciated this book and felt that Debbie Kitterman gave me a gift.

I received this free to review.

About the Book

Book Title: The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement

Author: Debbie Kitterman

Genre: Non-fiction, spiritual growth, charasmatic

Release date: August 21, 2018

Deepen your relationship with God and embrace a life of encouragement by sharing God’s words with others.

When people think of prophecy, they often think of individuals in the Old Testament or certain personality-driven ministries today. They may think more about the prophet than the message.

But Jesus showed us God’s intention for prophecy by living in two-way communication with the Father and by embracing a lifestyle of encouraging others, changing lives in the process. We can do the same.

Clearing away the confusion about the prophetic gift today, pastor and ministry leader Debbie Kitterman reveals the good news about the gift of prophecy in this practical, powerful book: We are all prophetic because we all have direct access to God. Prophecy is an ordinary part of the Christian life. In fact, it is God’s way for us to encourage and strengthen the Body of Christ.

So open your ears to hear God and break out of your comfort zone to deliver His messages to those who need them most. Act now—His words can’t wait!

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Debbie Kitterman is an author, a speaker, and the founder of Dare 2 Hear, a ministry that trains individuals to hear the voice of God. She travels to churches internationally and is the founder and teacher of d2htraining.com, an online course designed to equip the believer in releasing God’s heart. She is also an ordained Foursquare pastor, currently serving with her husband, John, as senior pastor of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. Learn more at www.debbiekitterman.com.

Guest Post from Debbie

If you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer never wavered. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a wife, a mother, and a writer. As a young elementary age girl, I always had my head in the clouds dreaming up different stories. In fact, every Sunday afternoon after church I would be found with my notebook writing creative short stories and poetry while pretending to watch old westerns or kung-fu movies with my dad.

I always dreamed I would write historical fiction stories with a splash of romance thrown in. I love historical fiction and it blends the two subjects in school that I loved, history and creative writing. However, through life’s circumstances and disappointments in college, I gave up on the writing dream. I let the dreams of one day being a writer slip away. I figured it must have been a little girl dream so I set it aside and moved forward through life.

However, when God has a plan, there is no running from Him. I felt a stirring in my heart to write again after taking a trip to Wyoming and meeting a well-known fiction author. I came home from that trip and started writing only to hit a wall … the dreaded writers block and an uncertainty of what to do. Then the busyness of life took over and I again shelved the dream of writing.

God let me go only so far, and then He began to stir me again. This time, He had other people confirm that yes, indeed it was time I stop running and start writing. I love how God is relentless and patient all at the same time. Never in a million years did I think that I would be an author of non-fiction books. The book “The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others,” shares my journey of faith leading me to a deeper relationship with God. God not only longs to have His children speak to Him, but He longs to speak to us. Real relationships entail two-way conversation.

God longs for His people to use all the gifts He has given them. This gift of prophetic encouragement is for everyone. It is simply sharing Holy Spirit-inspired words of edification, exhortation, and comfort to people as we go about our day-to-day life. Every Christ follower needs to follow the example of Jesus and operate in this profoundly encouraging gift. The Gift of prophetic encouragement breathes life, love and hope into the dry places of our lives.

I invite you to join me on an adventure as we go deeper in our relationships with Jesus and discover how God will use us as a gift of encouragement.

May we all rise to the challenge and dare to hear God today, so we can be a gift of encouragement to others.

Blessings,

Debbie Kitterman

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 30

Artistic Nobody, August 31

Luv’N Lambert Life, September 1

Mary Hake, September 2

Reading is my Super Power, September 2 (Interview)

proud to be an autism mom, September 3

Texas Book-aholic, September 4

Genesis 5020, September 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 6

Just the Write Escape, September 6

Janices book reviews, September 7

Bibliophile Reviews, September 8

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 9

Carpe Diem, September 10

A Baker’s Perspective, September 11

Bigreadersite, September 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Debbie is giving away

Grand Prize: $50 Amazon card plus a book and an INTENT bracelet inscribed with the words, “Be the Gift”, access to online training

1st place: An INTENT bracelet with the words “Be the Gift” plus book plus access to on line training

2nd place: Book plus access to on line training!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d19f/the-gift-of-prophetic-encouragement-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Dance with Jesus

A book that addresses the pain and grief we feel when we lose a loved one.

Susan B. Mead reminds us that they are not lost. We know where they are. They are Dancing With Jesus.

The questions at the end of each chapter are helpful and thought provoking. This would be a treasured gift for someone who is going through grief. Each Bible verse can bring comfort and a reminder that Jesus is "the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

John 1 1:25-26 NIV

I am comforted thinking my loved ones are Dancing with Jesus. How could you not smile and be comforted with this image.

I received this free to review.

About the Book

Book Title: Dance with Jesus

Author: Susan B. Mead

Genre: Non-fiction: Christian life, Bereavement, Grief

Release date: March 31, 2015

Grief hits each one of us and can come from so many different directions…

HAVE YOU LOST SOMEONE DEAR TO YOU? A brother, sister, parent, grandparent, family member, friend or a child? A relationship? A body part to cancer or an accident? Do you want to experience the joy of moving from broken to blessed? From GRIEF TO GRACE? Do you want God to take your hand and teach you to dance…with Jesus? Yes?

Then devour the words of Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace! Expect to laugh through the tears and experience a deepening of your faith.

Are you looking for a free mini-course to deepen your faith? Text DanceWithJesus (all one word) to 444-999, then reply with your email to receive 6 days of Biblical encouragement.

10% of the profit from Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace will benefit Water for LIFE to help dig water wells in remote locations around the world. People Matter!

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

A master storyteller and award-winning, bestselling author, Susan B. Mead leaves audiences motivated to live a life free of regrets even though she has done the hardest thing any parent can do – bury her youngest son, Kyle. With over 22 years in corporate America, 2 million airline miles under her belt, 1 eLit Book Award Gold Medal and 2 Christian Literary Awards on the shelf, an MBA and a Certificate of Ordination hanging on the wall, as well as a Doctor of Theology candidacy in process, Susan shares her expert teachings on business, grief, spiritual warfare and relationships.

Susan has been described as a solid, comforting voice in a messy world.Whether speaking to business professionals, women’s conferences, industry leaders or writer’s workshops, Susan’s insightful wisdom inspires audiences, empowering them to make healthy mental u-turns to help them find calm in the chaos.

Guest Post from Susan B. Mead

Why did I write, “Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace?” Such a funny story how that happened. I was in the midst of a Bible study by Henry Blackaby called, “Experiencing God” and one night a question asked, “What does God want you to do right now? Right now?”

I heard, sing my love song, and I laughed out loud and said, “Seriously, God, you’re going to have to send me a bucket because I can’t carry a tune, and you know that.”

Then that gentle spirit inside whispered, what’s in your hand? There was a pen in my hand because I was writing in a workbook. I swept the workbook away, got a journal out, put pen to paper, and the story simply flowed onto paper. At 5:30 a.m., I put the pen down and thought well that took more than the two lines provided (in the workbook).

The very first email I read later that day was from Proverbs 31 Ministries She Speaks, Speakers and Writers Conference. Writers conference, I thought? Seriously God, you want me to do something with this? Okay, and the story began.

That’s how I wrote the book, “Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace.”

And to think from that humble beginning, Dance With Jesus won TWO 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards from Christian Literary Awards. I stand in awe of our mighty God. When we turn to Him, God holds us close as He comforts and heals us, His children, simply because He loves us.

Lysa TerKeurst, Proverbs 31 Ministries President and New York Times Bestselling Author, shared, “Susan has personally experienced one of the deepest forms of grief. Yet she writes this treasure of a book from her point of grace not grief. I plan to give this book to any of my friends that find themselves crying and needing someone who deeply understands.”

May I ask you to give Dance With Jesus: From Grief to Grace as a gift to any friend who has lost a loved one or to yourself, if you too have loved and lost.

Video from Susan B. Mead

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, August 28

Josephine’s Thoughts, August 29

Carpe Diem, August 30

Multifarious, August 31

Simple Harvest Reads, September 1 (Spotlight)

proud to be an autism mom, September 2

Reading Is My SuperPower, September 2

Texas Book-aholic, September 3

Artistic Nobody, September 4 (Spotlight)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 5

Janices book reviews, September 6

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 7

Margaret Kazmierczak, September 8 (Interview)

A Baker’s Perspective, September 9

Bigreadersite, September 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Click the link below to enter. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0bc39d2b2/?

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The Struggle is real

The Struggle is Real. I read this book and many sections resonated with my journey.

The theme of this book is realizing that "GOD IS GREATEST. HE ALSO KNOWS BEST."

During my life, I felt confused and lost. I questioned why? Why did my parents divorce? Why did my Dad die so young? Why did I have to go through a divorce? Yes, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

My relationship with GOD has grown as I accepted that he knew best. He was there for me. He would not forsake me. A couple of sentences in the book state that if you follow the Lord, he will work it out. I know this is true. I trusted that everything would be ok. GOD knows what he is doing.

About the Book

Title: The Struggle is Real The Struggle is Real cover

Author:Nicole Unice

Genre:Non-fiction, Christian life, spiritual Growth

Release date: August 21, 2018

“It just shouldn’t be this hard!”

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a day where everything that could go wrong does go wrong—you lock your keys in the car while it’s running, lose control with your kids, make a mistake at the office that results in hours more work. And just when you think not one more thing could possibly happen . . . well, fill in the blank.

The struggle is real, friends. It may not be major stuff. Lives are not on the line here. But it makes us feel awful . . . and then we feel guilty for stressing when other people have “real” problems that are so much more serious.

Yet the fact remains: We live in a world that often feels harder than we think it should be. And so it can be easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves—that we’re doing it wrong, that we’ll be stuck in this place forever, that God doesn’t love us. We struggle to practice gratitude, to make godly choices, and to live our daily lives with confidence and contentment. So what can we do?

Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real . . . and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Realis an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Nicole Unice is a Bible teacher, author, and passionate communicator who delights in bringing God’s Word to life in a personal and relevant way. Her training as a counselor informs her work, as she emphasizes the importance of facing our own reality and embracing the transforming power of God’s grace.

Her heart belongs to Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia, where she serves as ministry director, leading discipleship and Praxis, a full-time ministry residency program for young leaders. In addition, Nicole co-hosts Hope Cast, a podcast on spiritual formation, leadership, and relationships.

Nicole’s invitations to speak have taken her across the world, and her books come to life through her popular video curriculum series found on RightNow Media. Her first book, She’s Got Issues, released in May 2012 and speaks to a fundamental question of faith: Is being a Christian supposed to change me? Also available is a companion curriculum, She’s Got Issues DVD Group Experience, a six-session journey that includes interviews, questions, and teaching expanding on the book. Her subsequent titles—Brave Enough and The Struggle Is Real—help people distill the complicated stuff of life into a simple and clear path to Jesus.

Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She loves creating a space for ministry and spiritual formation in the everyday rhythms of life with three children, two pups, one husband, and a whole community of twentysomethings who regularly raid her fridge.

Nicole is known for making friends in all corners of the world, especially via social media. Connect with her on Instagram, YouTube, or at nicoleunice.com—and hopefully face-to-face at one of her upcoming events.

Guest Post from Nicole Unice

There’s a question we throw around that I bet means a whole lot more than we would expect. How many times a week—or a day!–are you asked:

“How are you?”

I don’t know about you, but the answer I hear and give the most is something like …. ”fine”, or —“busy but good!”? It’s kind of the socially acceptable answer, right?

A friend asked me this question just this week as I walked into work. I was multitasking as usual while knee deep into a cell phone conversation about yet another problem. I didn’t answer her, because if I did—if I really stopped and answered—I might have started crying, right there on the spot. My lips formed the word “fine” when in reality, I was anything but—at least not in that moment. And life doesn’t always stop long enough to give a real answer….

But isn’t “fine” the socially accepted answer because it works….or does it?

The reality is, we are all struggling, to different degrees and complexity levels, each and every day. The Struggle IS Real, and when you add up both the little and big daily struggles, it’s easy to understand why this hashtag social media rockstar exists—over 3 million deep at #thestruggleisreal.

But if we dig a little deeper into this common complaint, we might discover a much more sinister root—and real help toward freedom and wisdom in Christ.

In my newest book, The Struggle is Real, that’s what I’ve done. I address issues like:

Life is much harder than I thought it would be, and I feel bad saying it.
There are some things about myself that I can’t change…it’s just how I am, and it frustrates me.
I really don’t know if God is interested in my life, and even if He is, I don’t know how to hear from Him.

(and if you are wondering how real your struggle is, I’ve included a Good Life Inventory on p. 14!)

I wrote this book because I know how real the struggle truly is—and I want us to discover the true source of the answer to these age-old problems. My hope is to take my readers through a journey into this gap between our “just fine” lives and the truly good lives we are seeking and are hungry for. To offer hope that we can live the best life we can, this side of heaven.

Yep, the struggle is definitely real. But the struggle can also start the story. It can motivate us to rewrite our lives into a new story. The struggles can lead us to a new source of hope and freedom, and somehow, even the worst of life can become a place of strength and growth. The struggle is real. And the struggle can be good.