Thursday, December 1, 2016

This Road We Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick A Review


ABOUT THIS ROAD WE TRAVELED
When Tabitha Brown's son makes the fateful decision to leave Missouri and strike out for Oregon, she refuses to be left behind. Despite her son's concerns, Tabitha hires her own wagon to join the party. Along with her reluctant daughter and her ever-hopeful granddaughter, the intrepid Tabitha has her misgivings. But family ties are stronger than fear.

The trials they face along the way will severely test Tabitha's faith, courage, and ability to hope. With her family's survival on the line, she must make the ultimate sacrifice, plunging deeper into the wilderness to seek aid. What she couldn't know was how this frightening journey would impact how she understood her own life--and the greater part she had to play in history.


Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800722337
ISBN-13: 978-0800722333
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
If you'd like more information about me, please come visit my website at www.jkbooks.com and click on my blog. My dog also has a blog and you can find out what it's like to be Bodacious Bo, too. A monthly newsletter called Story Sparks is my way of sharing books about authors I enjoy as well as commenting on life and love. You'll find out more about me than you probably ever wanted to know!

One item not listed on my lists of books is my selection included in an anthology called "Crazy Woman Creek: Women Rewrite the American West" published by Houghton Mifflin I also have a piece in Storytellers II, a book published a few years ago by Multnomah Press and a few short selections in Daily Guideposts of a few years back. My first novella, "The Courting Quilt" is part of a collection that made the New York Times bestsellers September 2011 in a collection called Log Cabin Christmas. The rest of my writing, as they say, is history. Or it was until my first contemporary came out this fall. Called Barcelona Calling, it's the story of a writer who loses her way as she seeks fulfillment thinking she'll find it with fame. It's a laugh out loud book according to reviewers. I hope you'll enjoy it.


MY REVIEW
This is a story about a family who decided to move west, but didn’t want to take their mother Tabitha Brown. They said she was to old and crippled. Didn’t make sense to me because she was only in her 50’s and still could walk with a cane. Anyway she talks them into letting her go and she writes of her adventures.
  They took a different path than the Donner party, but also had trouble with steep trails, no food to gather or hunt and many other difficulties.
  The story was really interesting as it told of the older woman and her daughter and granddaughter. Also of several others in this remarkable story.
  I recommend this if you like adventure and perseverance.

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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble A Review

ABOUT TWILIGHT AT BLUEBERRY BARRENS

“I need you to keep these girls safe . . .”

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family’s blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she’s forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living.

Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won’t be enough. When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it’s almost too good to be true. And maybe it is—because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family. The more time Kate spends with Drake and the girls, the more difficult it becomes to hide her attraction to him. But a family crisis isn’t exactly the ideal time to pursue a romance.

Meanwhile, Kate learns that her uncle—in prison for murder—has escaped. Add to that a local stalker who won’t leave her alone, and Kate is looking over her shoulder at every turn. With threats swirling from multiple directions, she wonders if her blueberry fields will ever flourish again . . . or if this twilight is her last.

Set on the beautiful coast of Maine, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens brings together suspense, romance, and the hope that one day new life will come again.

Series: A Sunset Cove Novel
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 20, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401690300
ISBN-13: 978-1401690304
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

MY REVIEW
  Book three in the Sunset Cove series. I read book one and book three. Book two just slipped by me. Anyway each book can be read separately, but it really helps if you’ve read the whole series.
  I love the way Colleen Coble writes. She is very realistic and has such an interesting way with words.
  Kate has been through so much with her Uncle and Mother being in prison and her twin sister being kidnapped when they were very young.
  Mysteries keep happening. Now a man’s brother and his wife are dead. The police say it was murder/suicide, but he doesn’t believe. So now Drake has two nieces to raise. He goes to the place where they were mudered to find out all he can. He stays at a cottage Kate put up for rent and she agrees to watch his nieces.
  This book is full of danger, suspense, love, forgiveness and believing in yourself.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I receive books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program/BookLook. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express are my own. This is true of any book I review for any publisher or author; I will not review books where a positive review is required and I will always express my own opinions of each book received and read.

When Calls the Heart complete season 3 DVDs


ABOUT WHEN CALLS THE HEART COMPLETE SEASON 3

Journey to the Canadian frontier where Elizabeth Thatcher and Jack Thornton face trials in their relationship---and in their town. Can Hope Valley endure a tragic mining landslide, a gang of outlaws, and more? Boxed set includes the Hallmark Channel episodes plus special features, including footage from the Hearties Family Reunion and a trivia game. Closed-captioned. 10 DVDs.

My Review
Season three of When Calls the Heart is just amazing. The titles of the shows are:
It Begins With Heart
Troubled Hearts
Heart of a Hero
Forever in my Heart
Hearts in Question. That is just the beginning of what’s in this wonderful 10 DVD collection of season three When Calls the Heart. You get wonderful bonus features and a terrific slide show. You will also get the Hearties Family Reunion. A exciting question and answer section with your favorite actors/actresses. A neat trivia games and what’s your Hearties IQ.
  You will have many hours of fun, romance, suspense and excitement with this fantastic DVD collection of season three. I highly recommend this set. A wonderful Christmas present for your special someone or for yourself.

Format: NTSC
Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars
ASIN: B01LX170T1

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one of the products  mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friday, November 4, 2016

Choose and Choose Again by J. Kevin Butcher A Review

ABOUT CHOOSE AND CHOOSE AGAIN
In Choose and Choose Again, the reader will encounter story after story of different people, most of whom are from Hope Community Church of Detroit, where Pastor Butcher has been sharing the healing love of God for thirteen years. They represent men and women, African American, Caucasian, Latino, and Asian, urban and suburban, professional types and prostitutes, clergy and addicts, drunks and lawyers and convicts—wounded human beings who have found themselves empty, dying, and longing to be filled.

The stories are not only about their own healing and restoration but also about how the love of God heals. Butcher hopes that readers will find before them a path of healing that they feel compelled to embrace. He begins with his own story of emptiness and despair, and his journey to healing, but the ultimate power of his message is that this healing journey is for anyone who is willing to own his or her emptiness and hold one’s heart out to God, who is desperately longing to love each person all the way home.

File Size: 1871 KB
Print Length: 269 pages
Publisher: NavPress (October 1, 2016)
Publication Date: October 1, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01CYRNO72


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. Kevin Butcher is the lead pastor of Hope Community Church of Detroit, a messy fellowship of human beings from every racial, economic, and educational background imaginable—with one thing in common: They own their emptiness and pursue healing through the love of God in Jesus Christ. Butcher has written numerous articles and has spoken around the world about the love of Christ. He is married to Carla and has three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.


MY REVIEW
  Choose and Choose Again by J. Kevin Butcher is a very good book. He tells stories of all different kinds of people in all different kinds of lives. All are lonely and searching, every if they have everything here on earth they still are searching for the mighty love of our Father in heaven.
  You will read and experience how they lives have changed when they realize that God loves them and is always with them. Some of the people grew up with horrible lives, horrible parents and horrible things happened to them, but some grew up with seemly normal, happy lives. They all are lacking the love or understanding of a parent, both mothers and fathers. All children need that and when they don’t have it they don’t know how to react to God the Father the lover of all.
  Very interesting read and I recommend it.

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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Everything is Possible by Jen Bricker A Review

ABOUT EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Born without Legs, She Inspires Others to Overcome

Jen Bricker was born without legs. Shocked and uncertain they could care for her, her biological parents gave her up for adoption. In her loving adoptive home, there was just one simple rule: "Never say 'can't.'" And pretty soon, there was nothing this small but mighty powerhouse set her sights on that she couldn't conquer: roller-skating, volleyball, power tumbling, and spinning from silk ribbons thirty feet in the air.

Everything Is Possible is her incredible story--a story of God working out his plan for her life from before day one. Readers follow Jen from the challenges of growing up different to holding captive audiences numbering in the tens of thousands. Everything Is Possible shows readers what they can accomplish when they remove the words coincidence and limitation from their vocabulary. Filled with heart and spirit, as well as Jen's wit, wisdom, and no-holds-barred honesty, this inspiring true story points the way to purpose and joy. Foreword by Nick Vujicic.

Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Baker Books (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0801019303
ISBN-13: 978-0801019302
Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1 x 8.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jen Bricker is an author, aerialist, and motivational speaker. A state champion in power tumbling, she has traveled internationally with Britney Spears's Circus Tour and appeared as a headliner at the prestigious Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, New York's Lincoln Center, the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai, and the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. She has been featured on numerous news shows, including HBO's Real Sports, ABC's 20/20, Good Morning America, and ESPN's Versus. She is currently living in Los Angeles and has added a successful international speaking career to her list of accomplishments, including a TEDx talk and speeches in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and elsewhere.

Sheryl Berk is a New York Times bestselling author several times over. Soul Surfer, her #1 bestseller with Bethany Hamilton, was made into a major motion picture.

MY REVIEW
  Everything is Possible by Jen Bricker is an amazing book. Jen was born without legs and her parents left her at the hospital. She was adopted by a wonderful family who said Never say can’t. So Jen did everything everyone else did she didn’t let anything hold her back.
  Jen really loves the Lord and clings to Him for everything. She has done many things already in her young life and has big plans for the future. She is such a funny, wise girl and you will love her outlook on life.
   It’s an amazing thing how Jen found her sisters and Mom and how they now love each other.
  I recommend this book, because it will lift you up from your everyday life. Very good.

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“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC;s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”) : Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive this book in exchange for this review and post.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

A Review-Living With No Excuses by Noah Galloway

ABOUT LIVING WITH NO EXCUSES
Military hero and beloved Dancing with the Stars alum Noah Galloway shares his life story, and how losing his arm and leg in combat forced him to relearn how to live--and live to the fullest.

Inspirational, humorous, and thought provoking, Noah Galloway's LIVING WITH NO EXCUSES sheds light on his upbringing in rural Alabama, his military experience, and the battle he faced to overcome losing two limbs during Operation Iraqi Freedom. From reliving the early days of life to his acceptance of his "new normal" after losing his arm and leg in combat, Noah reveals his ambition to succeed against all odds.

Noah's gripping story is a shining example that with laughter, and the right amount of perspective, you can tackle anything. Whether it be overcoming injury, conquering the Dancing with the Stars ballroom, or taking the next steps forward in life with his young family - Noah demonstrates how to live life to the fullest, with no excuses.


File Size: 23754 KB
Print Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Center Street (August 23, 2016)
Publication Date: August 23, 2016
Sold by: Hachette Book Group
Language: English
ASIN: B01922I1B6


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sergeant Noah Galloway was assigned to the first of the 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Three months into his second tour of duty, he experienced a life-changing injury. After a long stint in recovery and rehabilitation, Galloway became a motivational speaker and fitness activist. A father of three, He currently resides in Alabaster, Alabama.




MY REVIEW
  Living With No Excuses by Noah Galloway is a very intense, realist book. It shows how you can overcome the most horrible tragedies if you don’t give up. How you can live life and be happy.
  I love to read Biographies of people that have been through horrible things and how much they have suffered and still made it out of the pit of despair.
  Noah Galloway lost his arm and leg in combat. He almost died, but he fought back. Noah also was a very depressed person at first and all he did was drink. Then Noah was inspired to exercise and get into a fitness business.
  Besides though positive things you will see Noah’s journey through three relationships and how they failed, but he loves his children and cares for them almost daily.
  I did like this book and think you will if you like to see a person strive to do things that most people wouldn’t do. I recommend this book.


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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

A Review~ A Time to Rise~by Nadine Brandes

ABOUT A TIME TO RISE
What more can you sacrifice than your life?

Parvin Blackwater is dead.

At least that's what the Council and the world thinks. But her sacrifice tore down part of the Wall long enough to stir up hope and rebellion in the people. Now she will rise again. Strong, free, and fearless.

Parvin and Solomon must uncover the mysterious clues that Jude left behind in order to destroy the projected Wall once and for all. Meanwhile, the Council schemes to new levels of technology in its attempts to keep the people contained. Can a one-handed Radical and a scarred ex-Enforcer really bring shalom to the world?

File Size: 2827 KB
Print Length: 399 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Enclave (October 14, 2016)
Publication Date: October 14, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01IJVQ06E


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nadine learned to write her alphabet with a fountain pen. In Kindergarten. Cool, huh? Maybe that’s what started her love for writing. She started journaling at age nine and thus began her habit of communicating via pen and paper more than spoken words. She never decided to become a writer. Her brain simply classified it as a necessity to life.

Nadine is a stay-at-home author and writes stories about authentic faith, bold living, and worlds soaked in imagination. She lives in Idaho with her husband and works as a freelance editor. When she's not writing, editing, or taste-testing a new chai, she is out pursuing adventures. A Time to Die is her first novel. Visit Nadine at www.nadinebrandes.com



MY REVIEW
    A Time to Rise by Nadine Brandes is such an incredible book. It is book three and the last in the Out of Time series. I wish this series would never end. I have enjoyed each and every one of these stories. I so looked forward to hearing what Parvin, her family and friends were up to.
  These books were not fluff and silly adventures that some books give you, but the Out of Time and this book A Time to Rise were amazingly mature and had hard issues to resolve.
  The characters are so very likable and the villains are so devious and horrible.
  In the last book Parvin died or so we thought. It was something when she came back and the things she had to go through to bring peace to the people.  That’s all she wants is for the people to have peace and for them to go where they want and not be shut out by the wall.
  In the end you will be astonished at who finally helps Parvin and Solomon. A Time to Rise is one exciting, suspenseful, intriguing book. I can’t say enough about how wonderful this series is and how beautifully the story ended. Magnificent isn’t a strong enough word for how much I love this book. Highly recommended.

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Thank you to the  Author/Publicist  for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255


When Calls the Heart-Hearts in Question A Review


ABOUT HEARTS IN QUESTION

An air of discord settles over Hope Valley when Jack’s spirited mother, Charlotte, pays an unexpected visit… and stays with Elizabeth. While Charlotte "helpfully", critiques Elizabeth's skills as a housekeeper, pie-maker and teacher, Rosemary has become a bit of a taskmaster herself for those helping with her imminent wedding to Lee. Meanwhile Gowen comes under suspicion for "irregularities", in the bank’s bookkeeping, and as he and Nora prepare to leave town, Bill and Jack must contend with a violent storm, rising flood waters and the collapse of the Silverton mine!

Actors: Daniel Lissing, Erin Krakow
Directors: Neill Fearnley
Format: NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated:
 Unrated
 Not Rated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: October 4, 2016
Run Time: 84 minutes


MY REVIEW
  When Calls The Heart-Hearts in Question is another amazing DVD in this Hallmark series. So many things happen on one  show. It doesn’t just have one story line, but several and I love that.
  Jack’s mother comes and tells Elizabeth how to cook food, wash clothes and do the things that Jack likes.
  Rosemary and Lee are putting together there wedding. Everything has to be more than perfect for Rosemary, but she learns some valuable lessons.
  Will Gowen’s bad practices catch up with him? Nora and Gowen leave town and you can imagine why.
 All of this si going on and a very violent storm brings floods, collapse of the Silverton mine. So much action and adventure. The ending is just magical, but some have to go through horrible heartaches.
  Really a thrilling show that will make you want to watch it again and again. Highly recommend this fantastic series.

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one of the products  mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Baby, Baby by Diane Stortz A Review

ABOUT BABY, BABY
A sweet, colorful board book that appeals to a baby's interest in looking at other babies
Babies enjoy books, looking at other babies, and their own flowering abilities. This short rhyming poem combines all three in a sweet and happy way, while introducing babies to God's love for them. The simple words are paired with colorful images of babies engaging in familiar activities, allowing the book to be used as an introductory concept book as well. And it ends with a reminder that Baby is always loved by God.

Board book: 20 pages
Publisher: Worth'; Brdbk edition (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0824919882
ISBN-13: 978-0824919887
Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.6 x 6.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diane Stortz is an author, editor, mother, and grandmother. Her professional achievements include creating Sunday school curriculum and working as an acquiring editor and editorial director at Standard Publishing. Diane has published more than a dozen books, including two titles for women, but her heart belongs to children's books. Diane says that more than anything else, she hopes to make God's wonders known to the next generation.

MY REVIEW
  Baby, Baby by Diane Stortz is just an amazing book. It has short poems that rhyme. The pages tell what a baby can do, how God loves them and has a delightful mirror in the back. We know all babies love to look at themselves.
  Each page has the most precious, colorful pictures on them. Any baby would smile and enjoy looking at these sweet babies.
  One reason I like this book is because it talks about God and how He loves babies.
  Highly recommended. Excellent book for mothers, grandmothers or friends to give to their favorite babies.

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one of the products  mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Second Opinion by Hannah Alexander A Review

When widower Dr. Grant Sheldon moves with his teenaged twins to Dogwood Springs, Missouri, they are still reeling from the death of his wife--their mother. He's hoping the idyllic setting of this small town will help ease the transition. He discovers too quickly that even this isolated place of beauty isn't free of all the problems he left behind in the city.

Experienced ER nurse, Lauren McCaffrey, arrives in Dogwood Springs hoping for a fresh start in her career--and her family's humiliating pressure for her to find a husband.

When the community's tranquility is threatened by a mysterious epidemic and an antagonist with a lust for money and hatred for authority, Grant and Lauren find themselves and their new friends racing the clock in a desperate search for answers.

Second Opinion combines emergency medicine and small-town America in a story of loves discovery and a faith that lasts.

File Size: 1362 KB
Print Length: 345 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Hannah Alexander Books (December 3, 2015)
Publication Date: December 3, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B018YCCVYS



Their novels have won multiple national and international awards, including the Christy Award, three Holt Medallion Awards, two Reader’s Choice Awards, and Library Journal’s Top Five Christian Novels of the Year. They have been nominated by Romantic Times Magazine for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hannah Alexander is the pen name for the writing collaboration of Cheryl and Mel Hodde. They chose the name "Hannah Alexander" to incorporate their two names into one. To them, Hannah means hope in the Lord and Alexander means servant of mankind

Mel and Cheryl live in the Missouri Ozarks, where they like to set the majority of their books


MY REVIEW
  Second Opinion, book one in The Healing Touch by Hannah Alexander is a fantastic book that I love. I’ve read many books by Hannah Alexander and love them all.
  Dr. Grant Sheldon and Nurse Lauren McCaffrey are two very impressive characters. You just feel like they are real people and that they can be trusted.
  Grant lost his wife two years ago and he hasn’t talked to God since then. He has teenaged twins who are so very opposite of each other, but love each other dearly.
  Lauren has a fantastic parents and siblings, who are all married. Lauren feels like she is in a trap, everyone fixing her up with eligible men. So she decides to move to a different town to get on with her own life and leave the matchmaking behind.
  Put all of that together with a mysterious epidemic  going around. people dying, drug lords and you have a novel worth reading.
  Highly recommended. Love this book.

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I own this book and was not required to write a review.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

The Deer Effect by Susan Wingate A Review


WINNER OF FOUR BOOK AWARDS IN 2015! WINNER in the 2015 USA Best Books Award for religious fiction (finalist), 2015 eLIT Book Awards for religious fiction (winner), WINNER in the 2015 Pacific Book Awards for Christian fiction (winner) and a finalist award-winner in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for inspirational fiction.

A Fantasy Thriller for fans who enjoy reading books by James Patterson, Sue Monk Kidd, Frank Peretti and Alice Sebold.

Once in a while a story comes along that resonates with the very essence of what we call "humanity," and speaks to readers of every age. The Deer Effect is that story - a phenomenal #1 Amazon bestseller lauded for its artistic touch, its tender tapping at emotion, and its mesmerizing ability to speak to the hearts of readers around the world.

"ONE BRITTLE LEAF FOUND ALONG our usual path proved the days had gone wintry. Papery thin as onion skin--blanched from frosty temperatures and yellowing like the pages of an old Bible, the leaf’s long slender shafts, crooked and dry, painted my world. The blue sky dragged me out that Sunday in December—December 5, 2010, if you must know—when the temperature rose to only forty-two Fahrenheit. What was I thinking?

Hold on. Wait a second. Let me back up just a tad. For your information, I'm dead. Although I speak of myself, make no mistakes. I died this day..."

So the story begins about Hannah Demsey who is found dead near the body of a fawn on the side of the road. Rod, Hannah's husband, sets out on a journey to find the killer. With his faith waning, all truths change when Rod comes face-to-face with the only person who can tell him how his wife really died.

THE DEER EFFECT is a story of loss, redemption and forgiveness.

File Size: 538 KB
Print Length: 346 pages
Publisher: Eye of the Needle Press (November 5, 2014)
Publication Date: November 5, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00MRPKZ2O



Susan Wingate is the author of the young adult romantic fantasy and paranormal books found in Troubled in Paradise and The Deer Effect.

If you want to read clean, award-winning, fiction steeped in suspense and sometimes set in mythical lands, or books with mystery and thriller elements, you will enjoy reading Susan Wingate’s books. The twists and turns of her stories and her likable, touching characters are always unique. Some of her work even harkens back to the fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia written by C.S. Lewis and also to the superhero Spider-Man series–books with unforgettable heroes and fantastical worlds readers can escape to. Susan's work has been compared with Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven to James Patterson's Lake House. Her mystery novels are riveting stories like JD Robb and Sue Grafton and her fantasy novels ring of The Golden Compass and A Wrinkle in Time.

MY REVIEW
  The Deer Effect by Susan Wingate isn’t worth reading. Since I got it free I don’t feel bad. I thought it would be really a great read since it won four awards. Just goes to show you that you can’t believe everything you read and we all are very different in what we like.
  This book is told from a dead person’s point of view. It almost seems sacrilege to me. The dead woman talks about her dog more than her husband. She misses her dog so much. She goes along spreading fairy dust and thinking of a big bowl of popcorn and it appears.  She, Hannah also came back as a child spirit, which I believe it completely wrong.
  It really seems like a childish kind of book to me except for Rob, the husband’s feeling of loss and hurt. He was deeply sorry for what he said to Hannah right before she was killed.
If the whole book would have continued in the way Rob felt and left all of the silly, girlish coming back out it would have been so much better.
  Another thing I didn't like Hannah died at the same time as a deer so it jumped around the skies with her.
  I do not recommend this book at all. Just to silly for me. Life and death isn’t a joke or to be taken lightly.

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This is my book and I wasn’t required to review it.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Review~Saving My Assassin by Virginia Prodan


 ABOUT SAVING MY ASSASSIN
"I should be dead. Buried in an unmarked grave in Romania. Obviously, I am not. God had other plans.”

At just under five feet tall, Virginia Prodan was no match for the towering 6' 10" gun-wielding assassin the Romanian government sent to her office to take her life. It was not the first time her life had been threatened—nor would it be the last.

As a young attorney under Nicolae Ceausescu’s brutal communist regime, Virginia had spent her entire life searching for the truth. When she finally found it in the pages of the most forbidden book in all of Romania, Virginia accepted the divine call to defend fellow followers of Christ against unjust persecution in an otherwise ungodly land.

For this act of treason, she was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, placed under house arrest, and came within seconds of being executed under the orders of Ceausescu himself. How Virginia not only managed to elude her enemies time and again, but how she also helped expose the appalling secret that would ultimately lead to the demise of Ceausescu’s evil empire is one of the most extraordinary stories ever told.

A must-read for all generations, Saving My Assassin is the unforgettable account of one woman’s search for truth, her defiance in the face of evil, and a surprise encounter that proves without a shadow of a doubt that nothing is impossible with God.

File Size: 2505 KB
Print Length: 331 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1496411838
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (June 7, 2016)
Publication Date: June 7, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0198U69XO


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Virginia Prodan is an international human rights attorney, an Allied Attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom, and a sought-after speaker.

As a young attorney under Nicolae Ceausescu's brutal communist regime, Virginia had spent her entire life searching for the truth. When she finally found it in the pages of the most forbidden book in all of Romania,Virginia accepted the divine call to defend fellow followers of Christ against unjust persecution in an otherwise ungodly land.

For this act of treason, she was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, placed under house arrest, and came within seconds of being executed under the orders of Ceausescu himself. How Virginia not only managed to defeat her enemies time and again, but helped expose the appalling secret that would lead to the demise of Ceausescu's evil empire is one of the most extraordinary stories ever told.

Virginia Prodan's compelling story of courage in the face of intimidation and even death on behalf of others is a testament to her unwavering faith in a God who delivers.
Exiled from Romania since 1988, Virginia currently resides in Dallas, TX. She has two daughters, Anca and Andreea, and a son, Emanuel.

Visit Virginia's Author website: http://www.virginiaprodanbooks.com ;
or on twitter @virginiaprodan
Facebook: facebook.com/virginia.prodan.1
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/virginia-prodan/1b/458/24


MY REVIEW
  Saving my Assassin by Virginia Prodan is a powerful novel of her life. Virginia was born and raised in Romania during the rein of Ceausescu which was a communist rein. Where religion was not outlawed, but they had so many strict rules that you couldn’t take talk about Jesus or have any Bibles or movies of the Bible in your home to show to other people. You would be arrested and you would then disappear.
  Virginia became a lawyer and defended these people with bringing up the law and usually always winning. She became much hated with the leaders and police. She was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, placed under house arrest, and came within seconds of being executed under the orders of Ceausescu himself.
  Virginia had many friends in the US embassy and the Voice of America radio show. Many times they helped her through trials and difficulties. Of course they and the churched prayed for her.
 One part of this book is amazing how a very evil man was sent to kill her and she told him about Jesus. That man just left, but wait until you read what happened to him.
  Just an amazing book. That is highly recommended. I know this is something you want to read. A book to keep and read again.

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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

The Alliance by Jolina Petersheim A Review

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

When Leora Ebersole sees the small plane crash in her Old Order Mennonite community, she has no idea it's a foreshadowing of things to come. Soon after the young pilot, Moses Hughes, regains consciousness, they realize his instruments were destroyed by the same power outage that killed the electricity at the community store, where Englischers are stranded with dead cell phones and cars that won't start.

Moses offers a sobering theory, but no one can know how drastically life is about to change. With the only self-sustaining food supply in the region, the Pacifist community is forced to forge an alliance with the handful of stranded Englischers in an effort to protect not only the food but their very lives.

In the weeks that follow, Leora, Moses, and the community will be tested as never before, requiring them to make decisions they never thought possible. Whom will they help and whom will they turn away? When the community receives news of a new threat, everyone must decide how far they're willing to go to protect their beliefs and way of life.

File Size: 15811 KB
Print Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (June 1, 2016)
Publication Date: June 1, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0198V4LL0

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jolina Petersheim is the bestselling author of The Midwife and The Outcast, which Library Journal called "outstanding . . . fresh and inspirational" in a starred review and named one of the best books of 2013. Her writing has been featured in venues as varied as radio programs, nonfiction books, and numerous online and print publications such as Reader's Digest, Writer's Digest, and Today's Christian Woman. Jolina and her husband share the same unique Amish and Mennonite heritage that originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but now live on a solar-powered farm in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin with their young daughters. Follow Jolina and her blog at jolinapetersheim.com.


MY REVIEW
  I usually don’t like to read Mennonite or Amish books, because it’s usually the same old thing, but The Alliance seemed different to me. Also I’ve read several books this year about a huge power outage that takes the whole world {must be the year for that} and how it affects everyone and how food would run out along with not having any cars/trucks that would work because of how cars are made now.
   The Alliance tells how the Mennonite don’t believe in wars and fighting back and how some Englischers got stuck in their community and how they worked together to protect each other.
  Leora and Moses are so different, but so alike in many ways.
One thing I didn’t see as natural is the romance in the middle of a crisis. A lot of people would disagree with me, but I don’t see it happening.
  This is the first book I’ve read by Jolina Petersheim and it won’t be the last. She writes a good story, but some of it was hard for me to believe. So much of it just seemed like the characters were pretending.
  I will however recommend it and most people will enjoy it.


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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Kill Devil by Mike Dellosso A Review

ABOUT KILL DEVIL
Jed Patrick is convinced he’s doing all it takes to keep his family safe—new names, new location, new identity. But just when he thinks he finally has his life back, trained men claiming to be CIA agents break in and threaten his wife and daughter, proving once and for all his family will never truly be safe until he eliminates the agency dead set on hunting him down.

Not knowing if Karen and Lilly are better off by his side or in hiding, Jed is determined to protect them while finding a way to use the classified information that he possesses to dismantle the Centralia Project. But he soon learns that eliminating Centralia may require compromising his own values. As danger escalates, Jed isn’t sure whether there’s anyone or anything he can trust—including his own senses

File Size: 5039 KB
Print Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (June 1, 2016)
Publication Date: June 1, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0198UC0DM


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike is the author of nine novels of suspense and several short stories. He also writes family dramas under the pseudonym, Michael King. In addition to his novels he's written for periodicals, websites, and is a regular conference teacher and speaker. Born in Baltimore, Mike now resides in Pennsylvania. He is also a colon cancer survivor and speaks often about dealing with suffering. Find out more about Mike on his website, www.MikeDellossoBooks.com.

MY REVIEW
    This is book two in the Jeb Patrick series. I remember book one was amazing. I wasn’t as thrilled with this book because to me it just seemed like more of the same.
  They are running and hiding, but get caught, go through horrible tests, try to escape, get shot at and finally at the end they are all together as a family. I like this kind of book if it happens in one book, but not if it keeps happening with the outcome the same.
  It’s a good suspenseful book, but to much of the same kind of suspense.
    If you didn’t read book one it is O.K. to read this book. It is good as a stand alone, but you get more out of it if you read book one.

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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

A Review 365 Pocket Morning Prayers by David Veerman

ABOUT 365 POCKET MORNING PRAYERS
Each morning when you arise, take a moment to talk with God about the day ahead. Ask Him to prepare your heart so that you can be ready to face any challenge that comes your way. 365 Pocket Morning Prayers can guide this time of life-changing conversation and help you express your needs and concerns to God. Don’t worry about what the day will bring. Instead, release your troubles and concerns into God’s care by reading and meditating on the prayers featured in 365 Pocket Morning Prayers. Begin your day in joyful anticipation, trusting that God is in control of your life and wants only the best for you.

Leather Bound: 320 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum; Lea edition (September 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1496413342
ISBN-13: 978-1496413345
Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1 x 6 inches

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Best-selling author David Veerman was one of the senior editors of the Life Application Bible. In addition to his work on the Life Application Study Bible (Gold Medallion winner 1988-1991), he also contributed 16 titles of the Life Application Study Guides (series Gold Medallion winner 1990). David helped produce other Tyndale House favorites, including the Student's Life Application Bible, Kid's Life Application Bible, Eager Reader Bible, Vietnam Veterans Bible, Bible Animals, and One Year with Jesus.
His prolific writing career has yielded dozens of articles in popular Christian magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Campus Life, Leadership, Youthworker, Group, Christian Parenting Today, Moody Monthly, and Marriage Partnership. David has conquered a variety of family-oriented topics and devoted 16 of his titles to youth ministry. His youth titles include Reaching Out to Troubled Youth, Youth Evangelism (Gold Medallion winner 1989), Reaching Kids before High School, Serious Fun, Small Group Ministry with Youth, and the 7-volume Any Old Time. Some of his other best-selling titles include 101 Questions Children Ask about God, How to Apply the Bible, Getting Your Kids to Talk, Getting Your Husband to Talk, From Dad with Love, Parenting Passages, Reality 101, and Understanding Your Teenager.

David received his B.A. in Bible from Wheaton College and an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He worked with Youth for Christ/USA in Illinois and Louisiana for 26 years, eventually serving as the National Campus Life Consultant. He is currently a partner and vice president of The Livingstone Corporation in Carol Stream, Illinois. David and his wife, Gail, have two daughters and make their home in Naperville, Illinois.

MY REVIEW
  This is a most amazing little book full of inspiration and devotions. There are 365 daily readings to help and encourage a person. During your Bible readings each day read one of these little prayers. Each one has something profound and meaningful to tell us.
  Some of the topics are: Spiritual Guidance, Confidence, Forgiving, Growth and so on. Just every topic from A to Z.
  The book is a very nice trim size. The cover is very soft with a palm tree and seagulls flying over. Also has a beautiful silk bookmark.
  This amazing book can bring you or a loved one great comfort and encouragement. Highly recommend this stunning book.

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Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Gratitude:A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal A Review

ABOUT GRATITUDE A PRAYER AND PRAISE COLORING JOURNAL
Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal invites you to bring creative journaling and the calming act of coloring into your quiet time with God. This beautifully designed interactive prayer book from Tyndale’s Living Expressions collection helps guide your thoughts as you pray about concerns such as health, overcoming stress, personal relationships, and more. Gratitude gives you a way to celebrate and give thanks to God for the many blessings he provides. Filled with over 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling and sketching, and 40 needs-based prayers, Gratitude helps you express your devotion to God with your whole heart!

Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Momentum; Clr Csm edition (September 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1496415795
ISBN-13: 978-1496415790
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 8 inches


MY REVIEW
   Gratitude:A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal is amazing. It is hard-bound and the pages are so full of pictures and beautiful verses and words of encouragement. You can use colored pencils, markers or crayons on these beautiful quality stock pages.
   One page talks about our powerful and creative God, another page is about this day the Lord has made.
  This journal has lots of space for writing out your thoughts also. It would be an amazing gift for that person in your life that is special or for yourself. Full of love, peace and tenderness.
  Really beautiful. Highly Recommend this book.



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Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Remembering Dresden by Dan Walsh-A Review

ABOUT REMEMBERING DRESDEN
Remembering Dresden (Jack Turner Suspense Series Book 2)

Young history professor, Jack Turner, takes a retreat at a lakeside cabin just outside of Culpepper, Georgia to work on his doctoral dissertation. The cabin is owned by an ambitious state senator, an inheritance from his father. Inside, everything is exactly the way it was when the old man died ten years ago. While taking a break from his research, Jack snoops through the father’s books and finds an old photo album filled with black-and-white pictures of orphaned children. Intrigued, he continues searching and finds what appears to be evidence of murder and an old leather journal, handwritten entirely in German. Rachel Cook, Jack’s girlfriend, translates the journal for him. What it reveals instantly puts both of their lives in mortal danger.

File Size: 828 KB
Print Length: 282 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Bainbridge Press (May 1, 2016)
Publication Date: May 1, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01DOEPPKS


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of 16 novels and 1 nonfiction devotional, including The Unfinished Gift, The Reunion and When Night Comes. He has won 3 ACFW Carol Awards (finalist 6 times), 3 Selah Awards, and 3 times his novels have been named as finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Novel of the Year.

For those who haven't read Dan's books, reviewers often compare him to Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans. Although more recently, Dan has also started to pen suspense novels (like, What Follows After and When Night Comes). Dan has been writing fulltime since 2010. He and his wife Cindi have been married 39 years and have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren. They live in the Daytona Beach area, where Dan grew up. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter, read his blog, or preview all his books by visiting his website at http://danwalshbooks.com.

MY REVIEW
Remembering Dresden by Dan Walsh is book 2 in the Jack Turner Suspense Series.  Usually Dan didn’t write suspense novels, but I’m sure glad he started. Love these books.
  In this book Jack rents a cabin of a famous senator (a gift from his father)  and uncovers quite a story. He noses around in the photo albums and ever under a loose floor board.
   Under the floor board he uncovers a safe with a journal. It is written entirely in German. Jack’s girlfriend translates it and what they find out is horrible.
   The things they find out puts Jack and his girlfriend Rachel in harms way. When you are a senator and want to stay one you will do almost anything to keep the secrets hidden.
  Really good second book in this series. You don’t need to read book one to enjoy it, but it does help you to understand the characters much better.
 Highly recommended.

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This is my book and I wasn’t required to write a review.