The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden* A Review

ABOUT THE ROSE OF WINSLOW STREET
The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.

When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past.

As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.

Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764208950
ISBN-13: 978-0764208959
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

She regularly posts about the joys of the book world at http://elizabethcamden.com/blog

MY REVIEW
My first book to read by Elizabeth Camden and I must say I love it. The Rose of Winslow Street is full of intrigue and suspense, but also compassion and forgiveness.
  Libby and her father live in a really nice big house, but she isn’t happy because she has tried to conquer something in her life and hasn’t been able to for as long as she can remember. Her father loves her, but can’t seem to forget that she isn’t perfect.
  Michael is from a different country, so why does he want to live in America and in Libby’s house. They (Michael and his family) take over Libby and her dad’s house while they are gone on vacation. So they hear about this and come home.
  You won’t believe all of the very interesting things that happen and my favorite part of the whole book is how Libby when the whole town turns against Michael and his family, Libby takes them food and befriends them as Christ wants all to do. It is hard for her because they invaded her home, took over everything she loves and destroyed one of the most precious things she loved.
  Why would this family come to America, take over something that belonged to someone else and change two families forever? You need to read this book The Rose of Winslow Street to find out.
  I highly recommend this book and think you would love to read it. Very interesting!

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Thank you to Bethany House 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 Mighty Macs DVD review and GIVEAWAY

From the inspiring true story comes the tale of one woman who just wanted to make a difference and wound up making history! When Coach Cathy Rush (Carla Gugino, Mr. Popper's Penguins) arrives at tiny Immaculata College, the women’s basketball team has no budget, no uniforms and no gym. Refusing to give up, Cathy finds help from a young nun named Sister Sunday (Marley Shelton, Never Been Kissed). Together, their relentless drive reignites the team's spirit and the Mighty Macs start conquering bigger and better-funded schools. As financial troubles rock Immaculata, the Macs charge into the championships against all odds. Can the Mighty Macs save their school with one last long shot at victory? You'll stand up and cheer for the heartwarming, incredible season that made the real Cathy Rush a Basketball Hall of Fame legend!

Actors: Carla Gugino, David Boreanaz, Marley Shelton, Ellen Burstyn, Lauren Bittner
Directors: Tim Chambers
Writers: Tim Chambers, Anthony Gargano
Producers: Beau Flynn, Bud S. Smith, Cary Toner, Howard Gensler, Jerry McFadden
Format: AC-3, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 21, 2012
Run Time: 99 minutes

MY REVIEW
 The Mighty Macs is a true inspiring story that I really enjoyed and watched several times. This story happened in 1971 to a very small Catholic college who wins the basketball national championship against some major universities.
  Cathy Rush is recently married and decides she doesn’t want to be a stay at home wife, but wants to see if she has it in her to become a coach.
  She faces many challenges besides going against huge universities, she learns the college has no gymnasium on campus, it burned down a few months ago, she doesn’t receive any support from the Mother Superior and the school is in really bad financial path. Another thing she doesn’t know if she will have enough players for a team.
  After all of the problems Cathy finds an assistant in a nun who helps her in many ways and gives her hope and inspires her.
  You need to watch this to see what happens, if the team wins, if the school crumbles, if her husband hates what she is doing.
  I really recommend this great DVD for family night. It is full of fun, inspiring, never give up scenes. Besides the wonderful movie on the DVD you will see deleted scenes, The making of the movie The Mighty Macs and a real segment from the ESPN network on real Mighty Macs. Also some of the nuns in the DVD were the real players from the first Mighty Macs team. Really loved this DVD, Christian movie at it’s best.


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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services 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.”

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Promised to Another by Laura V. Hilton * A Review

ABOUT PROMISED TO ANOTHER
Annie Beiler is a spunky, spirited schoolteacher, but she's struggled ever since the man she was promised to "jumped the fence" and left the Amish of Seymour. She needs a man who is committed to his Amish beliefs. And now, she's struggling to regain the trust of the school board members and the parents of her pupils for taking her class on an unauthorized field trip to a nearby Civil War battlefield. She's put on probation, and one wrong step could cost her the position permanently.

Joshua Esh of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, moved to Missouri ostensibly as part of the man swap meant to bring new blood into the community. Annie Beiler caught his attention the moment he arrived in Seymour, but he's disheartened to discover that she is promised to another man–Luke, who left the Amish but vowed to return one day and claim "his" Annie. So, Josh fills his social calendar with singings and frolics, taking a different girl home from every event–with the exception of Annie, since she is already committed to someone.

When Luke comes home, Annie pushes him away, and Josh Esh comes to her rescue. But the situation becomes awkward, since Josh is staying with Luke's family. An awareness of each other's attraction to Annie causes the awkwardness to escalate, and Annie's father soon invites Josh to stay with his family. But not all of the Beilers are happy about this new arrangement.

Soon, a buggy accident ends in a shotgun wedding after the bishop witnesses a kiss between Josh and Annie and insists they get married right away. The two protest, but the bishop is adamant. He later tells them why: he'd overheard some talk about a scheme Luke was launching to force Annie to marry him.

Marriage brings some dark secrets to the surface, and Annie and Josh must confront their issues and deal with the past if they plan on a future together.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Whitaker House (March 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603742573
ISBN-13: 978-1603742573

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura V. Hilton is a pastor’s wife, mother of five, author and book lover. Although for her formal education she studied marketplace issues -- she holds a degree in business -- reading is Laura’s lifelong passion, and writing a gift she’s developed to the delight of her growing fan base and to the glory of God. Prior to The Amish of Seymour Series for Whitaker House, Laura published two novels for Treble Heart Books: Shadows of the Past and Hot Chocolate. She’s also a contributor to the Zondervan’s It’s The Year Life Verse Devotional.

     While she did not grow up in an Amish community, Laura has become an expert in Amish customs and traditions, learning from her Pennsylvania Amish grandparents. She’s a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) for whom she reviews primarily Amish fiction for the ezine, Afictionado, Laura is also on staff at the Christian Suspense Zone and a professional reviewer for the Christian book market. She’s written for a wide variety of Internet sites including Dancing Word, Faith Webbin, A Romance Review, and Christian Review of Books. At last count she’d published over 1,000 reviews.

     A stay-at-home mom who home schools her children, Laura, her husband Steve, and their children live in Arkansas.  To read her daily book reviews go to: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com. For other Laura V. Hilton news: http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com.


MY REVIEW
  Promised to Another by Laura V. Hilton is the three and last book in the series The Amish of Seymour. Another excellent book and I especially liked the ending fourth of Promised to Another.
  I like the description of characters and of the countryside. Annie is a favorite of mine. She is very special because of her looks and also the way she loves children and is an excellent teacher, but she doesn’t believe she is worthy to have a special man in her life. She is also full of spunk and adventure.
  The buggy accident and shotgun wedding are especially interesting as are the secrets that come up. I couldn’t wait to finish this book and find out how it would all end. I’m quite happy with this wonderful book and the series. It’s a book that will be a great addition to your Amish collection. I really like Laura V. Hilton’s style of writing. She knows how to tell a story and keep you interested. Look forward to more of Laura’s work. I recommend this book and it will keep you reading until the last page.


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Thank you to Whitaker House 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 the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason* A Review

ABOUT WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS
As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she's involved with murder, arson--and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (February 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800720075
ISBN-13: 978-0800720070
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces

ABOUT LYNETTE EASON
Lynette Eason is the author of several romantic suspense novels, including Too Close to Home, Don't Look Back, and A Killer Among Us. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master's degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.

MY REVIEW
  I read Lynette Eason’s first series The Women of Justice series and thought they were great, but her new series  Deadly Reunions is even better. This book When the Smoke Clears is a fantastic book. It was just so hard to put down. I wanted to read it all at one time, but wished I wouldn’t get done reading it. Just love the characters and the action in this book.
  Alexia is one brave woman, she grew up with an abusive dad and learned how to hide her feelings. She was accursed of starting a fire that burned her dad and sister, but it was never proved. Alexia blocked it out of her mind, so she really doesn’t know what happened. As soon as she graduated high school she left, because she felt no one loved her or cared. She made a nice life for herself, but lost contact with friends and family. As the 10 year reunion was coming up she decided to go home.
  Things and events kept happening to cause the police to believe that she was behind it all, but one officer believed in her, Hunter. He was from her high school, but older than her.
  So many things happen and you will love how the story goes, but you won’t know what happens until the very last chapter.
Lynette Eason is quite a storyteller. I love her books and will highly recommend this one.

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I received my free copy from Donna Hausler from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group 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

Scream by Mike Dellosso*A Review

While talking to his friend on the phone, Mark Stone is startled by a cacophony of otherworldly screams. Seconds later, a tragic accident claims his friend’s life. When this happens several more times—screams followed by an untimely death—he is compelled to act.

Battling his failure as a husband and struggling with his own damaged faith, Mark embarks on a mission to find the meaning behind the screams and hopefully stop death from calling on its next victim. When his estranged wife is kidnapped and he again hears the screams as she calls from her cell phone, his search becomes much more personal and much more urgent.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Realms (February 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599794691
ISBN-13: 978-1599794693
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mike now lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their three daughters. In addition to his novels of supernatural suspense he writes a bi-weekly column for his local newspaper and is an adjunct professor of writing at Lancaster Bible College. He received his BA degree in sports exercise and medicine from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master's Graduate School of Divinity.


MY REVIEW
  I wasn’t required to write a review of Scream by Mike Dellosso, but after reading it I wanted everyone to know what an excellent book this is.
  This is the first book I’ve read by Mike Dellosso and I’ve found another favorite author.
  I just love this book; Scream is full of mystery, suspense and adrenaline rushing scenes.
  It is a book that makes you think and want to do something about all of the lost people you meet. Everyone is going to die, but they don’t have to be lost.
  The character Mark was brought up in a “Christian home,” but they were hypocritical, so Mark wants nothing to do with Christ or Christians. Then one day while talking to his best friend he hears some screams and they seemed to be from Hell itself. Not your normal screams, but hideous ones. Then his friend dies. This happens several times.
 Also this book is about a guy who kidnaps women and wants to make them pay for something that happened in his past. After a while these two stories intersect and you will find out what it takes to free and help others.
  This book is so well written, full of interesting ideas and suspenseful that you won’t put it down. I love this kind of book and so glad I have a new favorite author to read his books. A five star book. I highly recommend this book.
  Right now this book in the eBook format is free. So just go to Amazon and you should be able to get it.


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My Valentine for Jesus by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton * A Review

ABOUT MY VALENTINE FOR JESUS

This Valentine holiday book for young children will help parents of children ages 2-5 share the meaning of love. The rhyming text and delightful illustrations tell the story of a child's love for his family---and his special love for Jesus.

Reading level: Ages 4 and up
Board book: 10 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz; Brdbk edition (December 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310713331
ISBN-13: 978-0310713333
Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR LAURIE LAZZARO KNOWLTON
Laurie's first published work was a note passed to a boy in elementary school. You would have thought that this most embarrassing moment would have stopped her writing career. But instead, Laurie is the author of thirty five books and author/illustrator of two more. Laurie lives in rural Ohio with her husband and two daughters and loves writing surrounded by horses, cattle, dogs, cats, and five turkeys.


ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Buket Erdogan was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. After studying Turkish textiles, she moved across the ocean to New York to design children's clothing and illustrate children's books. She illustrated the Mouse's First series published by Simon and Schuster, three of which were New York Times bestsellers. She lives in Brooklyn with 'the most inspiring artist,' her daughter, Yagmur. Buket paints with bold colors of acrylic with lots of exciting textures of canvas.

MY REVIEW
  This is such a colorful, interesting, sweet book. The boy is talking about giving love, kisses and hearts to all of his family, but saving one for the most important, which is Jesus.
  I love this board book, for the wonderful rhyming words, colorful, bold pictures and enduring meaning.
We can give our hearts and love to all of our family and friends, but the most important is giving it to Jesus.
  This book only has ten pages, but isn’t a really short read. Each page has at least four or more lines and the rhymes are so sweet.
  This is going to make a wonderful Valentine present for my grandson and also you may want to get one for your child, grandchild or special friend. I highly recommend this sweet book.

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Thank you to Zonderkidz 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

Streams of Mercy by Teresa Slack * A Review

ABOUT STREAMS OF MERCY
On the day of her father's funeral, seventeen year old Jamie Steele discovers that her father was once the prime suspect in the disappearance of a local girl.

Paperback: 302 pages
Publisher: Tsaba House (June 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0972548653
ISBN-13: 978-0972548656
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces

ABOUT TERESA SLACK
Teresa D. Slack is a member of Christian Writers Fellowship Intl., Faith Christian Writers, and American Fiction Christian Writers, and is a highly sought after guest speaker at writersÂ’ conferences. Evidence of Grace is her fifth novel. She lives in Southern Ohio with her husband.
http://www.teresaslack.com/index.html






MY REVIEW
  This is the first book in the Jenna’s Creek series by Teresa Slack and I found it to be very good and very well written.
I was intrigued by the young girl Jamie who was seventeen. She found out on the morning of her dad’s funeral that he was suspected in a murder over twenty years ago. She was never close to her father, because he beat her mom and didn’t really seem to care for them, but she wanted to clear his name and try to bring closure to her feelings.
  I enjoy Teresa’s books because she tells many different stories in each book she writes. Besides finding out about the murder, this story is also about Jamie getting a job and making friends, about the different lives of all of the people who live in Jenna’s Creek.
  It was a very interesting book, full of many twists and turns and kept me interested. A very good book for everyone. Would recommend it.

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Thank you to the author 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