When Others Shuddered Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up BY Jamie Janosz A REVIEW

ABOUT WHEN OTHERS SHUDDERED:EIGHT WOMEN WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP
When Others Shuddered: Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up is the story of eight women called to serve God and who, in doing so, changed the world. They lived at the turn of the century, rubbing shoulders with the well-known men of their time, like John Rockefeller, Marshall Field, and Dwight Lyman Moody.

These women—Fanny Crosby, Mary McLeod Bethune, Nettie McCormick, Sarah Dunn Clarke, Emma Dryer, Virginia Asher, Evangeline Booth, and Amanda Berry Smith—were unique. They were single and married, black and white, wealthy and poor, beautiful and plain, mothers and childless. Yet, each felt called to make a difference and to do something—to meet a pressing need in her world.

These women wanted to live lives less ordinary. Their stories inspire us to follow God’s calling in our own lives. They teach us that each individual person can make a difference. These eight women will show you how God can use your life to change the world.

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (February 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802410782
ISBN-13: 978-0802410788
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jamie Janosz is a wife, mother, writer, and follower of Jesus Christ. She enjoys "everything old" - and can often be found poking around dusty antique shops in search of treasure. She is a contributing author to Moody Bible Institute's daily devotional, Today in the Word. Jamie and her husband have been married for 21 years and live in the Chicago suburbs with their teenage daughter. Visit her blog at http://jamiejanosz.blogspot.com/

MY REVIEW
  When Others Shuddered Eight Women Who Refused to Give Up by Jamie Janosz is an interesting book. It’s not an entertaining book, but one that tells about the lives of eight different women who didn’t follow the normal things in life for their time period.
  Each chapter follows the life stories of these ladies, Fanny Crosby, “Emma” Emeline E. Dryer, “Nettie” Nancy (Fowler) McCormick, Sarah Dunn Clarke, Amanda Smith, Virginia Asher, Evangeline Booth, Mary McLeod Bethune. They all grew up in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.  All of these ladies knew and worked with at times D.L. Moody.
 Fanny loved to learn even though she couldn’t see. As we know she wrote hundreds of Hymns.
  Emma helped people after the Chicago fire and got things in order to start a Bible school.
  Nettie became very rich, but gave so much away and helped so many people. She didn’t let her riches make her any better than the poorest person she helped.
  Evangeline helped to get the Salvation Army into many countries and put others above herself.
  All of these women put God and others ahead of themselves. Many of them didn’t even marry because their work and God meant so much more than their own happiness.
  It’s remarkable what they accomplished for being women in that time period. Really interesting. Recommended reading.

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Thank you to Moody Publishers/River North 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

Feast for Thieves by Marcus Brotherton A REVIEW

ABOUT FEAST FOR THIEVES
A Rowdy Slater Novel
Marcus Brotherton

Sergeant Rowdy Slater is the most skilled-and most incorrigible-soldier in Dog Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne, an elite group of paratroopers fighting for the world's freedom in World War II.

Through a bizarre set of circumstances, Rowdy returns to the States after the war, turns his life around, and falls into the only job he can find-preacher at the sparsely populated community church in Cut Eye, Texas, a dusty highway town situated at the midpoint of nowhere and emptiness.

The town's lawman, suspicious that Rowdy has changed his ways only as a cover up, gives an ultimatum: Rowdy must survive one complete year as Cut Eye's new minister or end up in jail.

At first Rowdy thinks the job will be easy, particularly because he's taking over for a young female missionary who's held the church together while the men were at war. But when a dark-hearted acquaintance from Rowdy's past shows up with a plan to make some quick cash, Rowdy becomes ensnared due to an irrevocable favor, and life turns decidedly difficult.

Rowdy's a man used to solving problems one of two ways: with his rifle or with his fists. Will he be able to thwart his old friend's evil schemes while remaining true to his new higher calling?

This is a wild ride of a book bursting with a bank robbery, kidnapping, desperate prayers, and barroom brawls. Before the smoke clears, all sides just might end up getting exactly what they want.

ISBN: 978-0-8024-1213-3
Published: October, 2014
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 288
Weight: 0.66 lbs
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MARCUS BROTHERTON is the author or coauthor of more than twenty-five nonfiction books. Notable works include Shifty's War, A Company of Heroes, and the oral history project,We Who Are Alive and Remain: untold stories from the Band of Brothers, a New York Times bestseller. This is his first novel.www.marcusbrotherton.com.





MY REVIEW
   Feast for Thieves by Marcus Brotherton is an O.K. book. I did enjoy most of it, but wasn’t totally thrilled with it.
  Rowdy could either go to jail for helping to rob a bank or become a preacher in a town that was more involved in the saloon and unruly behavior. So of course he chose to become a preacher. I considered this book more of a comedy than an adventure or suspenseful story. It’s hard to believe that a man could get caught up in robbing banks and people when they don’t want to. Also I thought the author talked to much about the women’s forms under their clothes.  No one is going to let a man just come and be a preacher without him having knowledge and desire to be a preacher. The first sermon he gave he couldn't think of anything so he talked about skinning and gutting a squirrel.  This book just didn't make it for me. To much silliness and outlandish things.
  Just wanted to thrilled with the way the story moved along or how it wasn’t that exciting. It is a O.K. read if you want to take your time to read it.

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Thank you to Moody Publishers/River North 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


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Abraham and Sarah ~Book Review~

ABOUT ABRAHAM AND SARAH
A splendid exploration of faith against great odds and love that endures years of disappointment.
Abraham and Sarah is a masterful historical drama from the moment that Abraham strides into the pagan temple to rescue Sarah. The couple set out in search of the blessings God had promised: abundant fertile land and decedents more plentiful than the stars.
But years of wandering bring the couple to Egypt where once again Abraham convinces Sarah that as sister and brother surely they will pass safely through the territory. But Pharaoh takes Sarah into his harem where she befriends Pharaoh's daughter, Hagar. Together the three are ordered to leave.
Years of barrenness have embittered Sarah and she hatches a plan: Hagar must become the vessel for the child God has promised. Ishmael is born to Hagar and so is jealousy born in Sarah's heart. But God had a plan and He was right all along. This miracle unfolds with Historical authenticity leaving the reader with a better understanding of the ancient world and the life-changing faith of Abraham and Sarah.

ISBN: 978-0-8024-0957-7
Published: February, 2014
Format: Paperback
Imprint: Moody Publishers
Page Count: 272
Weight: 0.65 lbs
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Roberta Kells Dorr with her physician husband and five children served a medical missionary assignment in the Gaza Strip. For 17 years she studied and gained insights into ancient Israel. Dorr majored in creative writing and receiver her master’s in religious education.





MY REVIEW
  Abraham and Sarah by Roberta Kells Dorr is quite a good book. Only two things I didn’t like or agree with. The first is in the beginning of the book when Abraham left Ur. In this book it said they left because of a war, but in the Bible they left because God told them to. Another part in this book I don’t agree with is how Sarah is so bitter, spoiled and hard to get along. I know she did have a few faults as we all do, but not to the extreme this book tries to make you believe.
  I enjoyed the characters and also thought the author made Hagar really likable. Which I don’t believe that was how she was. It made an interesting read.
   The countryside, cities and plains were described to utter perfection. Enjoyed that about this novel.
  Abraham and Sarah did have a depth to it that I enjoy in books and it was entertaining. I recommend this book. Very good.



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Thank you to Moody Publishers/River North 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

A Perfect Pet for Peyton by Gary Chapman and Rick Osborne * A Review

ABOUT A PERFECT PET FOR PEYTON
This wonderfully imaginative children's hardcover book by bestselling authors Gary Chapman and Rick Osborne, featuring four-color illustrations (with hidden details!) by Wilson Williams, Jr., will help children learn the importance of love. Based on Gary's highly successful The 5 Love Languages®, A Perfect Pet for Peyton tells an entertaining and playful story of five children who each, with the help of Mr. Chapman and the unique pets at his special emporium, discover their own personal love language. Children and parents alike will experience firsthand the power of the love languages as they cuddle up and spend precious time together reading this book over and over again.

The cast of child characters in this whimsical story include:
Peyton, one of the birthday celebrants, loves to help others, and appreciates it when others do little things for him.
Penny, Peyton's twin sister, who receives love best when others spend quality time with her.
Jayla, one of Penny's close friends, is always saying nice things about people. Her love language is words of affirmation.
Kevin, one of Peyton's close friends, enjoys giving things to people.
Sofia loves to pet the animals, and to show her love for others with special hugs.

Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Northfield Publishing; New Edition edition (March 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802403581
ISBN-13: 978-0802403582
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 10.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GARY CHAPMAN, PhD, is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The 5 Love Languages. With over 30 years of counseling experience, he has the uncanny ability to hold a mirror up to human behavior, showing readers not just where they go wrong, but also how to grow and move forward. Dr. Chapman holds BA and MA degrees in anthropology from Wheaton College and Wake Forest University, respectively, MRE and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed postgraduate work at the University of North Carolina and Duke University. For more information visit his website at www.5lovelanguages.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RICK OSBORNE is a bestselling, award-winning author of both parenting and children's books. One of Rick's main goals is to create resources that help families develop loving relationships and peaceful, happy homes. Among the many children's books he's written and coauthored are, 'The Legend of the Christmas Tree,' 'The Legend of the Christmas Stocking,' and the '101 Questions Kids Ask About God' series. These have sold millions of copies and have been translated into many languages. Rick has coauthored books with Dr. John Trent, Josh McDowell, Larry Burkett, and Dr. Gary Chapman. He helped write and produce the booklet 'The Most Important Story Ever Told' which has had over 50 million copies distributed around the world. Find out more by visiting www.rick-osborne.com.




MY REVIEW
  A Perfect Pet for Peyton is such a wonderful book. It not only tells a wonderful story, but on each page you have search and find pictures. Like find all of the insects on this page or find all of the animals. This will really help your child become more observant.
This book is about Peyton and Penny as they celebrate their birthdays and go to a special place to find a perfect pet. It also is a book to help you find out which of the 5 love languages your child has. After reading the book several times there are questions in the back that will help you to determine which one best suits your child.
The 5 different love languages are:
Gifts
Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
Physical Touch
and Acts of Service.
This book is the perfect size 8 X 10 and has the most colorful, interesting pictures. Besides being very entertaining it is also very helpful in learning about your child. It’s like a workbook with a fantastic story to go along with. Your child will only enjoy the story and not know about the 5 different love languages. I highly recommend this book. So very interesting.


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Thank you to Moody 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

Lone Star Trail by Darlene Franklin*A Review

ABOUT LONE STAR TRAIL
The six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896 begins with Lone Star Trail.  Although a series, each book can be read on its own.


Judson "Jud" Morgan's father died for Texas' freedom during the war for independence. So when the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas (the Verein) attempts to colonize a New Germany in his country, he takes a stand against them.

After Wande Fleischers' fiancé marries someone else, the young fraulein determines to make a new life for herself in Texas. With the help of Jud's sister Marion, Wande learns English and becomes a trusted friend to the entire Morgan family.

As much as Jud dislikes the immigrant invasion, he can't help admiring Wande's character. She is sweet and cheerful as she serves the Lord and all those around her. Can the rancher put aside his prejudice to forge a new future?  Through Jud and Wande, we learn the powerful lessons of forgiveness and reconciliation among a diverse community of believers.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802405835
ISBN-13: 978-0802405838
Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin has recently returned to cowboy (and cowgirl) country--Oklahoma. The move was prompted by her desire to be close to her son Jaran, daughter-in-law Shelley, three beautiful granddaughters, and a long-awaited baby boy.. Her daughter Jolene has preceded her into glory.

Darlene loves music, needlework, reading and reality tv. Talia, a Lynx point Siamese cat, proudly claims Darlene as her person.

In the two years since Darlene has been writing full time, her writing career has exploded to where now she has seventeen books published/under contract. Several of those will also be repacked (Maple Notch Brides), reprinted (Beacon of Love with Thorndike Press), and put into e-book format (Lone Star Trail).

Dressed in Scarlet (from Snowbound Colorado Christmas) and A String of Murders both finaled in the Book of the Year contest sponsored by American Christian Fiction Writers.

Now that Darlene has moved away from Colorado, several books set in Colorado are coming out this year (a fact she finds amusing). All three are contemporary romances. Plainsong and Knight Music continue the story begun in her first book, Romanian Rhapsody; and First Christmas (from Christmas at Barncastle Inn) takes places in a Vermont B&B that specializes in recreating Christmases of the past.

Lone Star Trail is the first book in the Texas Trails series, written with Susan Page Davis and Vickie McDonough. Darlene is pleased to have her first "trade book" come out with Moody Publishers.


MY REVIEW
  This is the first book I’ve read by Darlene Franklin. The Lone Star Trail is book one in the Texas Trails Morgan Family series. I wanted to start at the beginning to see if I should read the rest of the series. I wasn’t that happy with Lone Star Trail. It is a fine story, but for me just lacked excitement until the very end where it got really good. I just didn’t think the story flowed together well enough. I love western books and the hardships that came with being some of the first people in the West, but this book just didn’t get it for me.
  What I did like about the book is the character that played the mother Mrs. Morgan. She was a strong woman who did the right thing and told her children just what she believed. I liked the settings and description of the area and homes also.
I don’t think I will read anymore of Darlene Franklin’s books unless she has a super good one. This is an O.K. book and you may love it.


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Thank you to Moody 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

Ruth's Redemption by Marlene Banks* A Review

Set in the 1800s, Ruth’s Redemption, is an unusual depiction of the lives of slaves and free blacks in pre-Civil War America.  Bo, was educated while a slave.  He was given his freedom and now owns a farm buying slaves for the sole purpose of giving them their freedom. Bo is also a man of God and widower whose life is destined to change when he meets the proud and hard-hearted slave girl, Ruth.

Ruth has known nothing but servitude and brutality since being separated from her mother at age thirteen. Purchased and sold primarily for breeding, her heart is filled with resentment and bitterness.  Ruth wants no part of Bo’s Godly devotion.  Yet Bo is unlike any man she’s known and her experiences with him will leave her forever changed.

A gripping slave era novel, Ruth’s Redemption is a story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Nat Turner Rebellion in Tidewater, Virginia, this novel shines the light of God’s unconditional love in the darkness of a culture’s cruel socially accepted inhumanity.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Lift Every Voice; New Edition edition (February 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802402178
ISBN-13: 978-0802402172
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces


MARLENE BANKS resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Along with being a prolific writer she has an associate degree in Theology from Rhema Bible Institute in Keysville, VA and is currently studying to initiate a Christian counseling ministry. Marlene is a member of Bethel Deliverance International Church in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Her work resume includes thirty plus years in nursing and over eight years in business as a coordinator and administrative assistant. She considers her writing a means of evangelizing and relating Christian principles through fiction. It is also Marlene's goal to bridge the gap between faith-based and secular literature.


MY REVIEW
 I really loved this book. Ruth’s Redemption is a story that is full of adventure, love, compassion and forgiveness.
  Ruth is a slave and she has had to endure some horrible things until she is bought by Bo, a free ex-slave.
  Ruth’s Redemption has some elements of history to it. You will find out what happened to some slaves, what could happen to some free men and women when slave traders didn’t care about their papers. How greed can change a person and make them evil.
  Ruth is searching for freedom and thinks freedom comes from not being a slave, but there are so many ways of being in bondage to many things, even to ourselves.
  You will read in this book how Ruth and Bo had many ups and downs in their lives and how many of them weren’t pleasant. I really like how Bo was so close to the Lord and took all of his decisions to Him and how the Lord was always there for him. Ruth was just the opposite, she thought the Lord could end slavery and pain if He wanted to, but Ruth didn’t  believe in God because He never seemed to care what happened to her.
  This book is very much worth reading. I love the ending to Ruth’s Redemption. It’s a book to keep.

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Thank you to Moody 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

My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay * A Review

ABOUT MY HANDS CAME AWAY RED

Cori signs up to take a mission trip to Indonesia during the summer after her senior year of high school. Inspired by happy visions of building churches and seeing beautiful beaches, she gladly escapes her complicated love life back home. Five weeks after their arrival, a sectarian and religious conflict that has been simmering for years flames to life with deadly results on the nearby island of Ambon. Within days, the church building the team had constructed is in ashes, its pastor and fifty villagers are dead, and the six terrified teenagers are stranded in the mountainous jungle with only the pastor's teenage son to guide them to safety. Ultimately, Cori's emotional quest to rediscover hope proves as arduous as the physical journey home.

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Moody Publishers (September 1, 2007)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0802489826

ASIN: B002PJ4P2S

Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces

ABOUT LISA MCKAY

Lisa still stumbles when people ask her about home. Raised in Australia, Bangladesh, the States, and Zimbabwe, she has also lived in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Croatia. She is currently living in Laos. 

(How she got to Laos is a long story that began with writing letters to someone in Papua New Guinea named Mike and ended in marriage about a year later.)

In Australia, Lisa worked as a forensic psychologist with the police, in a maximum security men's prison, and on a child death review team. In Croatia, Lisa worked with a development organization as a stress management trainer. In Indiana, Lisa earned a masters degree in International Peace Studies at Notre Dame University. In Los Angeles, Lisa directed the Headington Institute's training and education programs, providing psychological and spiritual support services to humanitarian workers around the world. In Laos, while Mike is hard at work for a humanitarian organization, Lisa lies in a hammock by the Mekong River and drinks mango smoothies.

Well, sometimes, anyway. The rest of the time she is writing or working as a consultant. Lisa's first book, my hands came away red, was nominated for a Christy Award. Her essays and articles have appeared in a number of different magazines. She is currently working on her second book.

www.lisamckaywriting.com

MY REVIEW

  This is the first book I’ve read by Lisa McKay and I really loved it. It was just astonishing. I was completely engrossed in My Hands Came Away Red. If I didn’t know better I would have believed this to be a true story. It was so captivating.  

  This book was published in 2007 and the next year it was a Christy Award Finalist. Even though it is an older book it still is of great magnitude and needs to be read.  It makes you think about your cozy little life and you realize so many people are fighting for their faith, for food, shelter and just life.

  My Hands Came Away Red is full of suspense, faith, never giving up attitude, friendship and such realism. It is an unforgettable story.

  I was quite moved by this wonderful novel and wish it didn’t have to end. I really became attached to the characters and they become friends. If a book does that than you know it’s super.

  My Hands Came Away Red is one of my favorites of 2012 and I will be looking for Lisa’s next book to read and review.

 I highly recommend this book and just love it. It will make a wonderful gift for yourself or someone else.

  

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Thank you to Moody 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 

Against the Gates of Hell by Mylow Young*A Review

He had always looked down on those who partook and pedaled drugs which claimed the lives of many in the streets. Now Kerby Wilson finds himself duped by his own pride and going down a very desperate path of his own. Distraught over the death of his parents and, the murder of a fellow police officer, Kerby alienates those closest to him, pushing them away¿his wife, brother, police force buddies and old friends. As the bottom falls out of his life and darkness consumes his soul, he sells all that he holds dear for an elusive state of peace.Herby, Kerby's identical twin brother is angry with Kerby for turning on his family, friends, and the police force and for going down this destructive path. As his heart hardens and he is caught up in his own battle of resentment and bitterness, he tries to shut Kerby out. But Rene, his God-fearing wife won't allow that to happen. Instead she continually appeals to his conscience, reminding him of God's unfailing love and Kerby's need for his help.When Kerby uses his past identity as a police officer to rob the biggest drug dealer in Philly, a price is put on his head. Learning of Kerby's latest antics, Herby, family and friends are challenged to push past their struggles to help keep him alive and break free of his addiction.This hope-filled story reveal the internal and external struggles of two men who find themselves in need of God's grace, love and forgiveness as they fight for their lives against the very gates of hell.

Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Lift Every Voice; New Edition edition (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802401694
ISBN-13: 978-0802401694
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds


MYLOW YOUNG is a native of Philadelphia and has struggled with drug addiction for more than half of his life. After several stays at Bethel Colony of Mercy and even serving in that same ministry, consistency in his life was not to be found. After totally surrendering his life to Jesus Christ and discovering his identity in Christ, he has found newness of life. Mylow and his wife Sondra attend The Connection of Statesville Church where Mylow serves as a Deacon. Mylow is available for speaking engagements at your church, youth group, Sunday school service or recovery group and can be contacted at gaitsofhell1@gmail.com.


MY REVIEW
  Against the Gates of Hell by Mylow Young is a book about the inside and outside struggles of life, drugs of twins. It is about police officers and how you can so easily get off of the right track. It also is about not judging anyone when we don’t really know what is going on in their lives.
  I really enjoyed this book. I’ve never read any books by Mylow Young before, but would gladly read any more of his.
  Against the Gates of Hell showed me what it is like to be an addict, but also how people may want to stop, but don’t believe anyone cares for them or is wanting them to be free.
  In this book Kerby was a police officer turned addict after some horrible things happened. Even after all of that he still had family who loved him, prayed for him and wanted him back. Even through all of that he still couldn’t believe he was worth anything, but God wouldn’t let him go. I can just imagine if an addict didn’t have anyone who cared how would they even get help or out.
  This is a very tender, touching story full of action, adventure, love forgiveness and real life situations. I really enjoyed all of the preaching and Bible verses mentioned in this book.  You won’t be sorry you read this book. It really gives you an inside look at how hard some people have it, but they can make it with the grace of God.
 I highly recommend this book. It will change how you feel about drug addicts and those people who are alone in life.


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Thank you to Moody 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

A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman * A Review

ABOUT A MARRIAGE CAROL
On Christmas Eve twenty years earlier, Marlee and Jacob were married in a snowstorm.   This Christmas Eve, they are ready to quit, divorce is imminent. Their relationship is as icy as the road they’re traveling and as blocked with troubles as the piling snow. They take a shortcut to get to the lawyer’s office, on a slippery, no-fault path. She thinks they need to stay on the main road. He disagrees. They fight. Story of their lives and they slam into a bank of snow , spinning, drifting, falling, out of control. Just like their lives. Reluctantly, freezing cold, hungry, scared, she trudges up the hill. Paul is nowhere to be found. Her ears frozen, fingers and hands red, she comes to a house on the hillside, built like a Bed and Breakfast, a green wreath on the red door and the door-knocker is in the shape of a wedding ring.

The red door opens and the first thing she notices is the fire in the room, blazing hot, a warm, inviting, friendly place and the voice of an old man welcomes her in. There are three golden pots on the hearth, shining, glimmering things. The old man claims that they are used to restore marriages. She laughs—and begins a journey through her past, present, and future that will test how she views her lifelong love. There are two futures available. Which will she choose?


Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 080240264X
ISBN-13: 978-0802402646
Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces


About the Authors
CHRIS FABRY is a graduate of W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and Moody bible Institute’s Advanced Studies Program. Chris can be heard daily on Love Worth Finding, featuring the teaching of the late Dr. Adrian Rogers. He received the 2008 "Talk Personality of the Year" Award from the National Religious Broadcasters. He has published more than 60 books since 1995, many of them fiction for younger readers. Chris collaborated with Jerry B. Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye on the children's series Left Behind: The Kids. His two novels for adults, Dogwood and June Bug, are published by Tyndale House Publishers. Chris is married to his wife Andrea and they have five daughters and four sons.




GARY CHAPMAN, PhD, is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The 5 Love Languages. With over 30 years of counseling experience, he has the uncanny ability to hold a mirror up to human behavior, showing readers not just where they go wrong, but also how to grow & move forward. Dr. Chapman holds BA and MA degrees in anthropology from Wheaton College and Wake Forest University, respectively, MRE and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed postgraduate work at the University of North Carolina and Duke Univeristy.


MY REVIEW
  My first Christmas book this year and it was so worth reading. A Marriage Carol is such a incredible, little book and I love it. I read it in only a few hours, it wouldn‘t have taken that long if I didn‘t have to interrupt my reading to get things done.
  A Marriage Carol takes a few sentences and has some of the same plots as the famous book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
  They are on their way to town to get a divorce and end up in a ditch. The next things they go through causes Marlee and Jacob to really think about what their life really is about and how they need, want to look at all parts of it.
  This book gives a person hope that everything isn’t lost and you always can try again. How we need to really put our spouses ahead of us and think of what they are feeling. How God made marriage and he wants us to keep working at it.
  I love the way the book brought about the feelings and heartaches of this couple. How one choice changes a life. How everything can work out if we just have hope and work very hard.
  This little book is really worth buying and keeping to read many times over. I know this book will be a winner of many awards. Highly recommending A Marriage Carol for one and all. Deserves much over five stars. Buy this book for yourself as a Christmas present. It'll be the best present you have ever bought.

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Thank you to Moody 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

Hawaiian Crosswinds by Linda Lee Chaikin*A Review

Torn between family loyalty and their deep affection for one another, Rafe Easton and Eden Derrington strike an agreement that will bring them together after one final year of pursuing their dreams. For Eden, those dreams involve dangerous medical research with her father, and spending time with the mother she never knew - a leper on Moloka'i.

Rafe's dreams are equally noble - managing the family estates and serving in the Legislature - until both begin to unravel. Revolution threatens the fragile calm of Hawaii's sovereignty, and the man who murdered Rafe's father now threatens the lives of Rafe's mother and adopted son. With love, danger, and political upheaval demanding his attention, Rafe must commit to a course of action without second thoughts.

Love, beauty, and blessing - the perfect "happily ever after" to a Hawaiian romance - unravel in the Hawaiian Islands of 1892. What will this mean for Rafe and Eden, caught in the Hawaiian Crosswinds?


ISBN: 978-0-8024-3750-1
Publish date: May, 2011
Page Count: 352
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25
Format: Paperback
Weight: .87 LBS

LINDA LEE CHAIKIN has written over thirty top selling books, including The Silk House series and For Whom the Stars Shine, a finalist for the prestigious Christy Award. Two of her novels have been awarded the Silver Angel Award for excellence. Linda is a graduate of Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and taught neighborhood Bible classes for many years. She and her husband make their home in Northern California where her favorite recreations are reading and taking vacations where the wind blows through lonely deserts and ghost towns.


MY REVIEWHawaiian crosswinds by Linda Lee Chaikin the second book in The Dawn of Hawaii series is such an excellent book with great substance. It isn’t one of those books that have only fluff and light-hearted content.
Hawaiian Crosswinds has many characters that aren’t fictional. Interlaced in this book of the Derrington and Easton families are real people who have been an important part of nineteen century history from Hawaii. I also love the family tree, maps and terms and words of Hawaii.
In Hawaiian Crosswinds you will read about two very powerful families and what they each want to get done politically to make Hawaii even better than it already is.
The main story is about Rafe and Eden who love each other, but both have their own interests that they want to pursuit first. Will doing their own pursuits make them draw apart or will they get closer?
In this gripping, page-turner that is full of political intrigue, murder, drugs turn out happily for all or will things happen that will bring great sadness?
I really love the way Linda writes; she has a wonderful way with words and paints such colorful pictures with her words. I’ve read many if not all of Linda’s books and plan on reading her next ones. Linda brings Christ and the salvation message into her stories so beautifully.
I recommend this book and will be keeping it for my bookshelf. It will be a great book to read again and again. I really love her work.


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Thank you to Moody 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

Author Interview*Tessa Afshar*Book Giveaway

A fantastic book that I love. Here is my review link http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2011/03/pearl-in-sand-by-tessa-afshar-review.html Welcome and Greetings Tessa! Thank you for having me on your blog, Trinity Rose. It’s a pleasure being here with you. How long did you write before you were published? I can’t answer this question with perfect accuracy, but I think I was contracted a little over two years after I started the first chapter of Pearl in the Sand, and the book came out eight months after that—a total of three years. It’s the only time as a writer I’m ever going to be spoilt with such an expanse of time. After the first book, the next ones have to be researched, written and edited within a matter of months! Tell us about Pearl in the Sand, the featured book Pearl is based on the story of Rahab, the Canaanite harlot who is famous for having saved Israel’s spies from death. I wrote this story because I love Rahab. A Canaanite harlot actually married one of the leaders of Judah—a man from one of the most distinguished families of Israel. As if this marriage was not in itself utterly astounding, the birth of her son placed Rahab in the lineage of Jesus. Think about that: some of the DNA of this former harlot swam in Jesus’ blood stream! Is there any person who has been a strong influence in your writing journey? I work with Moody Publishing and was privileged to have Paul Santhouse, now Director of Acqusitions, as my editor. Alongside him, I worked with Duane Sherman who helped me with publicity. I wasn’t even on Facebook when I signed my contract, so Duane had to teach me a lot. Both men were incredibly patient and encouraging teachers. I couldn’t ask for better. What message do you want to be clear to your readers? That our profound worth is rooted in the love of our Heavenly Father; a love that never gives up on us. What are some of your likes and dislikes? Your hobbies, interests? Where do you like to vacation? Send me anywhere with a calm, blue ocean, palm trees, warm weather, throw in lots of good books, and my closest friends, and I might never come back. Add some delicious food, and well, now you have me drooling. As to what I don’t like, lack of sleep and physical pain would be at the top of my list. Tell us a little-known fact about yourself that readers may not know. I’m only five feet tall, and I have to stand on tiptoes to reach the higher shelves in my kitchen. How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel? My novels take about a year, because my genre is historical and good research is time-consuming. I do try to set goals for a certain word count, but I don’t always meet them. What are you currently reading? The Mountains Bow Down by Sibella Giorello. She’s a pleasure to read. Do you grow flowers or vegetables? What are your favorite flowers? I grow flowers and herbs in my tiny boarder garden. I cannot possibly choose a favorite flower. There are so many ravishing ones. What are you writing now? The novel I am currently working on is based on a fictional character named Sarah who is the Senior Scribe to the queen of Persia. She is a genius who doesn’t know when to keep her mouth shut, which continuously gets her into trouble. She solves plots, marries a man who hates her, and finds out that there’s more to life than being good at your job. And by the way, she is Nehemiah’s second cousin. How can readers find you on the Internet? I would love for you to come and visit me on my author page on Facebook. Here is the address: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Afshar/337761827820?ref=ts Or you can join me on my website at: Tessaafshar.com And thanks for spending this time with us, Tessa. We wish you much success. Thank you so much. I enjoyed your fun questions. Tessa Afshar is offering her book Pearl in the Sand to one of you followers. Leave a comment with your name and email address. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address. Here are the ways to get extra entries: ~Be or become a follower +1 ~Be or become an email subscriber +1 ~Be or become a networked blog follower +1 Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. ENTRY DEADLINE April 30, 2011

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar* A review

ABOUT PEARL IN THE SAND

Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes. Pearl in the Sand tells Rahab’s untold story. Rahab lives in a wall; her house is built into the defensive walls of the City of Jericho. Other walls surround her as well—walls of fear, rejection, unworthiness. A woman with a wrecked past; a man of success, of faith …of pride; a marriage only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth and find healing in God.

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Moody Publishers;

Original edition (September 1, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0802458815

ISBN-13: 978-0802458810

Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TESSA AFSHAR was born in a nominally Muslim family in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She survived English boarding school for girls before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her mid-twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDIV from Yale University where she served as co-Chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last twelve years in full and part-time Christian work and currently serves as the leader of Women’s and Prayer ministries at a church in New England. http://www.tessaafshar.com/

MY REVIEW

Another new author for me whom I love. This book Pearl in the Sand is historical fiction and Tessa Afshar kept it close as she could to the account in the Bible. It is about Rahab with the spies and the capture of Jericho. Tessa really wrote a fantastic book, that is full of compassion, truth, heartaches and finding faith and hope. Historical fiction is really neat because most of the story you read is true, but with extras thrown in. Just reading this book helped me understand the life of the Israelites much better and how it must have been for Rahab. How she embraced a new kind of life in every aspect of her life and that wouldn‘t have been easy. I found it fascinating about the battles and how the Israelites when they prayed and stayed close to God that they always won, no matter the odds. I found the marriage and married life of Rahab and Salmone a very touching, precious thing. How Salmone was so caring and wanted to do the Lord’s will and save his marriage. I always look at the title of a book to see how it fits if it does with the story and Pearl in the Sand is so very, very important in this wonderful story. The author has such great insights about this story. It is such a fantastic book, that I really recommend it. I will be keeping Pearl in the Sand for my book shelf and would give it more than five stars if I could.

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Thank you to Moody 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

The Missionary by William Carmichael and David Lambert a review

Yesterday David Eller was an American missionary serving the poor in Venezuela. Today he is an international fugitive.
David Eller rescues impoverished children in Caracas, Venezuela, with his wife, Christie. But for David, that isn’t enough. The supply of homeless children is endless because of the massive poverty and the oppressive policies of the Venezuelan government.
When the CIA gives David an opportunity to do something more—to heal the disease rather than working on the symptoms—he decides to go for it. But little by little, he falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage, ending in a desperate, life-or-death gamble to flee the country with his wife and son.
Was he wrong to resort to political solutions?
And was it really the CIA that asked him to get involved?


Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers; 1 edition (March 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802455697
ASIN: B003E7EZCA
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces


ABOUT THE AUTHORS
William Carmichael, along with his wife Nancie, are the founding publishers of Good Family Magazines, which included Christian Parenting Today and Virtue. He is the author of several non-fiction books, including the bestselling Seven Habits of a Healthy Home. Books he co-authored with Nancie include Lord, Bless My Child and Lord, Bless This Marriage.

William has a Masters degree in Education from the University of Santa Clara, and degrees from Southern California College and Bethany College, as well as an honorary doctorate from Corban College. William has served on the board of directors of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association; the Board of Trustees of Bethany College; and is current Corporate Vice President of Assist International. The Missionary is his first novel.


David Lambert is the author of ten published books, including the gold medallion award-winning Jumper Fables, co-authored with Ken Davis. Four of the ten have been fiction for juvenile or young adult readers. His short fiction has been published in periodicals as diverse as TQ, The Chariton Review, Sand, Virtue, Moody, Guideposts for Kids, and Story.

David has an M.F.A. in fiction writing from the University of Montana. He has held a variety of positions in publishing, including managing editor of a youth magazine and founding editor of two others. He spent eighteen years as an acquiring editor at Zondervan, most of that time as Executive Editor for fiction. He is now senior fiction editor at Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. David also sits on the Editorial Board of Jerry Jenkins's Christian Writers Guild and wrote the Guild's fiction curriculum.
http://missionarynovel.wordpress.com/home/
http://www.missionarynovel.com/default.html



MY REVIEW
The first part of this book really caught my attention and makes you think about everything you do. Here are a few first sentences of “The Missionary”,
“Life turns on small choices. A last-minute decision to take a shortcut over a snowy pass. A shrugging dismissal of the odd-looking man in the long coat standing off to one side. A decision to postpone a physical exam till a less busy time. A word spoke with the best intentions.”
All of these we do every day and think nothing of them, but David Eller made a choice that cost him much.
David and Christie Eller are missionaries in Venezuela. The country is full of political unrest and drug cartels. They work with poor and sick children. David wants to somehow help more than he already is and this choice is life changing. “The Missionary” is very suspenseful and action packed. It shows how we sometimes can go ahead and make our own decisions without waiting on God's direction. David meets a stranger with a helping hand with the children and also with money for the clinic. A short time later the same man comes visits Hope Village. Where the Eller’s are working. The man says he is Carlos Edwards. He makes a deal with David that will make everything he has been working for well worth while. The president Armando Guzman is not well liked. Before David knows it, he is caught in a violent war, one that could cost him and everything he holds precious.
This was a really interesting, thrilling read. I would recommend “The Missionary” for a fast-paced, page-turning read.



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Thank you to Moody 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