Take Ten: books for your book club

It's kind of funny that this week's topic is books for a book club, since my aunt and I were just discussing this very thing. I'm not sure that I can stick to a list of ten books for a certain topic, but here are ten books that I would love to do with a book club and can recommend for just about any book club.

1. Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson

This one is fascinating, since it brings up interesting topics like raising a child with special needs in the 1950's when the world was all about stereotypes and pushing for women to be perfect housewives and mothers.


2. The Dandelion Field

This one is incredible! I love that it deals with teen pregnancy and some of the difficulties that accompany it.

3. The Hearts We Mend

This has been one of my very favorite stories from the past year, since it challenges the reader to over come prejudices.

4. Love Comes Calling

This one is a fun story that explores what it would be like to have ADD in the early 1900's. I thought it was well done!

5. Dear Mr. Knightley

I think just about every book club would enjoy this story, since it is chick lit at it's finest. Fun, cute, and whimsical without being cotton candy sweet.

6. A Broken Kind of Beautiful

This one is amazing, it kept me up late reading! I would love to discuss the themes in it with a club.

7. Invisible

This one is excellent! It deals with different facets of weight, from the overweight girl to the one fighting an eating disorder. I highly recommend this one!

8. The Tutor's Daughter

For those who enjoy a good Regency era story, I think this is one of the best I have read, since it is a wonderful combination of Gothic and romance.

9. Tackling the Field

This one deals with some weighty topics, like human trafficking and rape, but the author does a marvelous job at handling it. This one is another of my favorite books from this year.

10. The Giftsnatcher

I'm kind of surprised that I liked this book. While it is well written, the story is a bit dark, having to do with magic and Jack the Ripper. There are some great parts about family curses and redemption though!

Bonus:
11. Dysfunction Junction

This book is well written and such a fun story about a twenty something girl who finds love while following her dreams.

12. So Not Happening

Basically, if you need a good laugh with your book club, then I highly recommend Jenny's books! Her writing is just delightful.

I think it's kind of ironic doing up a list for a book club. While I love to read and would probably love to be in a book club of like minded readers, I have a terrible time with being told what to do when it comes to reading.;) I have gotten a bit better about being told what to read, on more of a schedule, since blogging, but I still get to choose the books I read and review. I think I would have to trust the other members in order to join a book club, since I hate being told what to read and when. lol.

The Devoted

Restless and adventurous, Ruthie Stoltzfus is right on the cusp of leaving her Amish home. Secretly, she’s earned her GED, saved her money—but she can’t quite set her journey into motion. Just as everything falls into place, along comes Patrick Kelly.

Patrick is a young man on a journey of his own. He’s come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to “everything Plain.” Time is of the essence and every moment is to be cherished—especially the hours he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

Ruthie’s next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock, is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong, defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back—and Patrick Kelly is in his way.


My thoughts: I love that we get the chance to return to Stoney Ridge in this book! Suzanne does a fantastic job of weaving past heroines and heros into the story, so it feels like catching up with old friends.
This book has a lot going for it! I love the mystery surrounding the strangers who come to town. It also brings up some interesting points with one character thinking of leaving the Amish world behind and another thinking to embrace the simplicity.
This is an excellent read whether you are a fan of Amish based stories or not, since there is so much going on!
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge for a story of dreams deferred—and the promise of hopes fulfilled.

About the Author

[Insert Author Picture Here]

 



Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author whose most recent novels include Anna’s Crossing and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Blog Stops

October 18: cherylbbookblog

October 18: Blogging With Carol

October 18: Mary Hake

October 19: Reading Is My SuperPower

October 19: Simple Harvest Reads

October 20: Singing Librarian Books

October 20: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

October 21: Seasons of Opportunities

October 21: Daysong Reflections

October 22: Back Porch Reads

October 22: Southern Gal Loves to Read

October 23: Lighthouse Academy

October 23: The Power of Words

October 24: Bigreadersite

October 24: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner

October 24: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

October 25: Artistic Nobody

October 25: Donna’s BookShelf

October 26: Pause for Tales

October 26: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

October 26: Bukwurmzzz

October 27: Splashes of Joy

October 27: Bibliophile Reviews

October 28: ASC Book Reviews

October 28: Vic’s Media Room

October 28: inklings and notions

October 29: Jeanette’s Thoughts

October 29: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses

October 30: A Baker’s Perspective

October 30: Book by Book

October 30: Quiet Quilter

October 31: Two Girls and a Book

October 31: Blossoms and Blessings

Giveaway

[Insert Giveaway Picture Here]

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a copy of The Devoted and an iPad Mini 2 16GB! Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/a60b

The Unsaid

About the book:

Maggie’s job as a heavenly curator of unspoken thoughts is pretty straightforward—for the most part. When Eric, her beholden, shows interest in the new girl at work, Maggie can’t help ignoring the rules to understand the wonders of mortality and love. But meddling in mortal affairs has consequences that Maggie couldn’t have ever imagined.

About the author:

Author of “The Land of Look Behind.” Born and raised in Arizona, Aaron is proud to call the desert home. He came of age in the suburbs of Sacramento, California, and as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jamaica, where he fell in love with the people and their culture, but he has always been drawn back to the Valley of the Sun. Aaron worked as a freelance sports reporter for The Arizona Republic for nearly 10 years, combining his love of writing and sports. When not working, writing, or serving at church, Aaron volunteers as a soccer and baseball coach for his children and enjoys chasing a small white ball around a golf course.

Christian's Hope

When Christian Hochstetler returns to the Amish after seven years in captivity, he finds that many things have shifted.

Captured as a child during the French and Indian War, Christian has spent much of his life among Native Americans, who cared for him and taught him their ways. Now that Christian is home, his father wants him to settle back into their predictable Amish life of farming, and Christian’s budding friendship with Orpha Rupp beckons him to stay as well.

Yet Christian feels restless, and he misses his adoptive Native American family—who raised him as their own son. When faced with a life-altering decision, will Christian choose the Amish identity that his father desires for him? Or will he depart from his family and faith community yet again?

Christian’s Hope tells the story of the younger brother of Joseph and son of Jacob, whom readers have come to love in the first two books in the Return to Northkill series. Based on actual events and written by a descendant of the Hochstetler family, Christian’s Hope brings the sweeping epic of the Return to Northkill series to a soul-stirring end.

My thoughts: While I haven't read the previous books in the series (which, I wish I had, since it is excellent!), I feel like the author does a wonderful job of having this story stand alone, even though it is somewhat of a continuation of the previous books. The series centers on an Amish family where the father and two of his sons are taken by the Native Americans, and then each book is about one of the characters. I love that this book is based on a true story! It was fascinating to read about Christian's transition back into life with his people. This is a fascinating read for history fans!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Martha Stewart's Vegetables

In this beautiful book, Martha Stewart—one of America’s best-known cooks, gardeners, and all-around vegetable lovers—provides home cooks with an indispensable resource for selecting, storing, preparing, and cooking from the garden and the market. The 150 recipes, many of which are vegetarian, highlight the flavors and textures of everyday favorites and uncommon varieties alike. The recipes include:


• Roasted Carrots and Red Quinoa with Miso Dressing
• Swiss Chard Lasagna
• Endive and Fennel Salad with Pomegranate Seeds
• Asparagus and Watercress Pizza
• Smoky Brussels Sprouts Gratin
• Spiced Parsnip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Martha Stewart’s Vegetables makes eating your greens (and reds and yellows and oranges) more delicious than ever.

My thoughts: We grow a lot of our own vegetables, so I was thrilled to get this cookbook to come help me come up with some more ways to cook and enjoy the variety that we grow. Especially since we started growing some of the less common things parsnips.;)
This cookbook has a wonderful array of vegetables, both common and those harder to come by, which makes it a fun cookbook if you garden or are part of a farmers market or CSA that offers a wide variety of vegetables. This book is delightful and a wonderful resource! I always enjoy Martha's recipes!
I received this cookbook from Blogging for books in exchange for my honest review.

Waves of Mercy

Austin Returns with a Multi-Generational Historical Novel

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she's asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

My thoughts: I love the way that these two heroines and their stories were woven together in this novel! Austen does a fantastic job of drawing the reader in when we meet Geesje and Anna. I love how Geesje is writing her story as one looking back, while Anna has come to a cross road in her life where she can discover who she is and what she wants to pursue. I feel like the end of the story was really the beginning of a new one for the characters and hope that there will be more to their story! The characters are enjoyable and I like stories like this one where there is a past and present story going on.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Good Fast Eats

Food that’s fast, but not Fast Food! These recipes are healthier, delicious, and easy to make. Featuring Beef and Potato Picadillo, Sweet and Spicy Chicken Black Bean Enchiladas, Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet, and Baked Breakfast Taquitos. You won’t have to spend a fortune or a lot of time cooking or cleaning up. Your family will love these fresh and perfectly balanced meals with amazing ingredients and spices. Cooking has never been simpler or more satisfying!

My thoughts: I love that this recipe book is all about healthy, quick options for meal time! It has a wonderful, wide variety of different dishes, set up in different categories like meatless, seafood, various meats, soup, and sweets. As the weather gets cooler, I am the most excited about the new soup recipes to try out.;) The Cauliflower Cheddar soup looks amazing! This book has such a fun variety, it makes the perfect addition to most kitchens, since we all have busy days where it is hard to plan a nice, healthy meal. This is the perfect cookbook to have on standby for those days!
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author:
Amy Flanigan is the founder of the popular cooking blog, Belly Full. Her recipes have appeared on Parade.com, in HERLIFE Magazine, The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, and all around the Internet.

Life Creative

What was God thinking when He created you creative and then gave you children?

Creative moms often feel as though they must lay their passions down. But God had something special in mind for the creative woman during this intense season of mothering.

In this Pinterest age of handcrafted children’s parties, Instagram photos of beautifully decorated homes, and blogs filled with poetry and prose, it is clear that we are in the midst of a brand new artistic renaissance. Not one born in Italian cathedrals or Harlem jazz clubs, but rather in kitchens, nurseries, and living rooms around the world. Mothers, working in the cracks and crevices of each hectic day, are adorning the world with their gifts, and they’re showing all of us the beauty of this Life Creative.

In this book, you’ll learn:

—Why the world needs your art
—How this Life Creative begins at home
—When art can turn a profit
—Your part in this modern day Renaissance

Life Creative paints the stories of moms, just like you, who are fitting their inspired lives into the everyday, ordinary places of motherhood. Women like home decorator Melissa Michaels and jewelry designer Lisa Leonard, author Angie Smith, recording artist Ellie Holcomb, and many more.

My thoughts: This is a great book for mothers of all ages! I enjoyed all the stories in this book and feel like it is a wonderful, easy read for busy women. It's a fun call to pursue your talents and make a home beautiful. I feel like I especially needed this book, since we have been doing a huge remodeling project with our home and have only just gotten to the point where I feel like I can actually decorate and put the little touches on our house that make it more of a home. This book helped to inspire me.;)
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

10 Myths of Teen Dating

Few topics are more difficult for parents to discuss with their daughters than dating and relationships. Due to their lack of knowledge about the world their teens face coupled with the scant dating information they received as teens, many parents feel ill-equiped to guide their daughters through the minefield that is teen dating.

In The 10 Myths of Teen Dating, this father and daughter team combines the latest scientific research with poignant, personal stories to help parents engage their daughters in wise conversations. Weaving in solid biblical truths with practical application and discussion starters, Daniel and Jacquelyn seek to equip parents to teach their daughters how to date for today … and tomorrow.

My thoughts: If you have a young daughter, then this book is for you! I love that the myths were compiled by a father/daughter team, both of whom teach, so they have a front row seat to watching teen dating in the present time. Really though, a lot of these myths are great for girls of all ages who are in the dating scene.
I like that they not only approach it from a dad's point of view, but also offering insight for the single mother too.
This book is an excellent resource to help your daughter develop her interests and character outside of dating, so as to help her make smart decisions when dating and to realize that she is worth so much more than whether or not she has a boyfriend.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

The Sound of Diamonds

In Reformation-era England, a converted rogue wants to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk Godfrey knows he has only one chance at redemption.
An independent Catholic maiden seeking refuge in the Low Countries finds herself at the center of the Iconoclastic Fury. Jaded by tragedy, Gwyneth's only hope of getting home is to trust the man she hates, and she soon discovers her poor vision is not the only thing that has been blinding her.
But the home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, will the saint and the sinner hold to hope...or be overcome?

My thoughts: This book is excellent! It starts off at a fast pace from the get go, with Gwyneth in the middle of the Iconoclastic Fury and in need of rescue. I didn't know a whole lot about this particular turbulent time in the history of Europe (during Queen Elizabeth I reign), but I feel like Rachelle does a fabulous job of helping the reader not get lost. This story is a perfect blend of historic events and personal growth. I love how Gwyneth has been raised Catholic but suddenly has questions about why there is such a struggle between Catholicism and the Protestants. While these questions and soul searching will be explored more in the following stories (I am sure), I like that some things are concluded in this story. I'm not a fan of series that leave you hanging after every book, so I appreciated this.
If you are looking for a well written, adventure filled historical read, then I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from the author as part of a blog tour. All thoughts are my own.

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood

Nourishment for a mother’s soul through 40 days of devotion and . . . doodling!

Wouldn’t it be marvelous if mothering came with a concrete set of instructions—an easy recipe we could follow? Instead, motherhood challenges women to find their faith, their true selves, and their family through daily doses of trial and error. It is a brilliant and healing time of life that is full of joy, pain, and beauty with a small side of crisis (and humor). What mothers do not know, they learn. And through this lifelong process of learning, they nurture and care for the most precious gifts on earth: children. In a modern society where moms often have a full and busy plate, these 10 minute daily devotions focus on six key topics of motherhood:

—Self-acceptance
—Self-care
—Reconciling with grief, hope and expectations
—Generosity
—Presence
—Forgiveness

In addition to the devotions, these beautiful pages are adorned with handmade illustrations to help you refresh from long days or even occasional sleepless nights. So, grab your colors and a little quiet time for yourself while doodling at the kitchen table. You will be grateful you did!

Learn more here

My thoughts: Part coloring book, part devotion, and a whole lot of fun, this book is an excellent resource for mothers! I loved the chance to stop and take time to read through the devotions. With a wide variety of topics, I found that most of them hit home. I needed this book, since I just had my second child this year and I am still learning to juggle everything that comes with a toddler and new baby.;) So, the reminder of taking care of myself as well as my family was timely.
I think that this book would make a wonderful shower present for a new mother!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Everything Beautiful

Open this coloring book and be reminded of splendor everywhere. Beauty abounds in the extraordinary and the ordinary…and even in the mundane. Whatever your circumstances, beauty is there, waiting to be noticed and cherished.

Allow yourself the time to stop and see the beauty our God has fashioned in creation, in one another, and in His grace.

Each perforated coloring page features an original design from one of nine different artists, beautifully illustrating an inspirational quote from hymns, Scripture, writers, preachers, and teachers.

So grab your colored pencils and your closest friends and take some time to relax and reflect on the beauty all around.

To help set the perfect mood for worship, contemplation, and creative expression, a link to the “Everything Beautiful” Spotify playlist is included.

#EverythingBeautiful

My thoughts: I have two other coloring books from WaterBrook, a patriotic one and then another one that is similar to this one. I love the combination of scriptures and quotes, along with the gorgeous coloring pages! This one has some of my favorite quotes, such as this one by Helen Keller: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.". If you are a collector of coloring books or just a newbie wondering where to start, I would highly recommend this one to you! It is wonderful for all ages. (My daughter tries to steal it!;))
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Ten character names I would use

Welcome to this week's Top Ten meme from The Broke and Bookish! The subject this week is to pick the top ten character names we would use to name a child, pet, car, etc. Since my husband is super picky about names for our children (which I suppose is good, since they will be stuck with their name for life unless they do something about it), I am sure that all my favorite literary names would be shot down in a heartbeat. So, here are the names I would use for pets. Or, the names I wish I could use for my children.;)

1. Atticus
Okay, so I have just read To Kill a Mockingbird, so this might change if I read Go Set a Watchman....

2. Hermoine
I love the character from the Harry Potter series, since I could totally relate to her when I was school age (though, I don't know that I ever left my nerdiness behind...). Not to mention, it is just a fun name.

3. Emma
I really wanted to use this name, since I love Jane Austen's character (even if people argue that she was a brat. We all have our bratty moments!) and it's a family name. It also seems to be quite popular in my circle of friends.


4. Knightley
I should name a dog this, since I can't imagine it as a first name for a son.;)

5. Elinor
As much as I love Sense and Sensibility, I can't say that I truly relate to either of the older Dashwood sisters. I do love the name Elinor though.

6. Amelia
I loved the Amelia Bedelia books when I was a kid!

7. Declan
This one isn't so much a book name as a movie name, since I just relate it to Leap Year. I love the name!

8. Shasta
From A Horse and His Boy

9. Lucy
I think this is such a sweet name, probably partially due to relating it to such a sweet character!

10. Peter

The Sound of Silver

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hello and welcome to The Sound of Silver birthday blog tour! I’m posting today about
Rachelle Rea Cobb’s second installment in the Steadfast Love series, an
inspirational historical romance set during the 16
th
century!
Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds, the first book in the series,
and a newlywed! This summer, she married a man with the same first name as the
hero of the series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Silver and
spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you
enter using the Rafflecopter form to win the lovely necklace pictured and your choice
of any of the Steadfast Love titles!
ABOUT The Steadfast Love SERIES
In 16th-century Europe, the Reformation rages between Protestants and Catholics.
Gwyneth, half-Dutch, flees from England to Holland to escape the man who
murdered her parents. When he follows her there and insists he came to rescue her,
will she trust this man called Dirk? When tragedy strikes, will their steadfast love
erode?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about
years long ago--her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance.
Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series during college. Five months after she
graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She's
a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her
dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as
her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://RachelleReaCobb.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/RachelleReaCobb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelleReaCobb
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/RachelleReaCobb/
Instagram: @RachelleReaCobb
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Rea/e/B00RZHIL1Q
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144149.Rachelle_Rea_Cobb
ABOUT The Sound of Silver
The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One fights for faith, the other for honor…
After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is
sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her
quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once
distrusted.
Giveaway Code*
*Required content.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please include this Rafflecopter code somewhere in your blog post where readers
can easily access it. I am including both the code, so you can simply plug in the
HTML, and the link, just in case you don’t like tinkering with HTML. Contact me with
any questions you have at rachelle@rachellereacobb.com. And do enter yourself!
Text for blog posts:
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to win a beautiful necklace created by
Baubles, Beads, and Stuff and your choice of any one of Rachelle’s three books
(the series begins in Book One, of course, but in case you have one or two of her
books already, Rachelle will gladly send you the next one to read!).
International friends, the paperback & necklace giveaway is open to continental U.S.
addresses only (sorry!). But do still enter, because one international winner will
also be chosen to receive an e-book.
Link: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e8cfa9569/
SAMPLE INTRO TO The Sound of Silver BIRTHDAY BLOG TOUR
Feel free to tweak this text however you like!
Hello and welcome to The Sound of Silver birthday blog tour! I’m posting today about
Rachelle Rea Cobb’s second installment in the Steadfast Love series, an
inspirational historical romance set during the 16
th
century!
Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds, the first book in the series,
and a newlywed! This summer, she married a man with the same first name as the
hero of the series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Silver and
spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you
enter using the Rafflecopter form to win the lovely necklace pictured and your choice
of any of the Steadfast Love titles!
ABOUT The Steadfast Love SERIES
In 16th-century Europe, the Reformation rages between Protestants and Catholics.
Gwyneth, half-Dutch, flees from England to Holland to escape the man who
murdered her parents. When he follows her there and insists he came to rescue her,
will she trust this man called Dirk? When tragedy strikes, will their steadfast love
erode?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about
years long ago--her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance.
Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series during college. Five months after she
graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She's
a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her
dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as
her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://RachelleReaCobb.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/RachelleReaCobb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelleReaCobb
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/RachelleReaCobb/
Instagram: @RachelleReaCobb
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Rea/e/B00RZHIL1Q
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144149.Rachelle_Rea_Cobb
ABOUT The Sound of Silver
The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One fights for faith, the other for honor…
After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is
sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her
quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once
distrusted.
Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his
choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father
God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth’s searching hearts ever sing the same
song?
Find The Sound of Silver on…
Amazon Paperback: http://is.gd/1HwJoi
Kindle: http://is.gd/EZ7DJ1
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc
Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2
Goodreads: http://is.gd/iBE2lJ

>> And if you want to learn more ABOUT BOOK ONE, The Sound of Diamonds
Her only chance of getting home is trusting the man she hates.
With the protestant Elizabeth on the throne of England and her family in shambles,
Catholic maiden Gwyneth seeks refuge in the Low Countries of Holland, hoping to
soothe her aching soul. But when the Iconoclastic Fury descends and bloodshed
overtakes her haven, she has no choice but to trust the rogue who arrives, promising
to see her safely home to her uncle's castle. She doesn't dare to trust him...and yet
doesn't dare to refuse her one chance to preserve her own life and those of the nuns
she rescues from the burning convent.
Dirk Godfrey is determined to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a
tortured past, Dirk knows he has only one chance at redemption, and it lies with the
lovely Gwyneth, who hates him for the crimes she thinks he committed. He must see
her to safety, prove to the world that he is innocent, prove that her poor eyesight is
not the only thing that has blinded her, but what is he to do when those goals clash?
The home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a
twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, the saint and the
sinner must either dare to hold to hope...or be overcome.
Find The Sound of Diamonds on…
Amazon: http://is.gd/7z9vls
Kindle: http://is.gd/EZ7DJ1
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc
Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2
Goodreads: http://is.gd/F7HILk

The Sacrament is for Me

The sacrament is the most important part of the Sabbath day-and our week. Teach your little ones about the sacred sacrament and how they can apply it in their everyday lives, from the playground to piano lessons. Help your children start each week right and understand the reason behind the reverence of Jesus's eternal sacrifice, love, and example.

My thoughts: This is a great book to illustrate to young children about the meaning of the sacrament and how it applies to each of it. I like how it talks about the most important part of taking sacrament, that we do it to remember the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ. While this is written from an LDS viewpoint on the sacrament, I was still able to use it to talk to my daughter about why we take part in the bread and wine once a month. Even if you aren't LDS, this book is a great one to use with your children, since it would help bring up some of the differences in different churches and yet some of the commonalities too.
The illustrations are cute and the text is fun to read, since it is lyrical. Over all, this is a great book for kids to spark discussion!
I received this book from Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

Wild Montana Skies

Bestselling Author's New Series Delivers Romance and Adventure as an SAR Team Searches for Others--and Finds Themselves
Search and rescue pilot Kacey Fairing is home on leave in Mercy Falls, Montana, twelve years after she joined the military to escape the mistakes of her past. With a job waiting for her as the new lead pilot of Peak Rescue in Glacier National Park, Kacey hopes to reconnect with the now-teenage daughter she sees only between deployments. What she doesn't realize is that someone else is also back in town.
Ben King has been building his country music career since the day Kacey shut him out of her life. Now all of that's on hold when his injured father calls him home to help run Peak Rescue until he's fully recovered. It doesn't take long, though, to discover his father's ulterior motives as Kacey Fairing walks into the house and back into his heart.
With Mercy Falls in a state of emergency due to flash floods, Kacey and Ben are forced to work together to save lives. But when floodwaters turn personal, can they put aside the past to save their future?

My thoughts: I was super excited to see that one of my favorite authors had a new series coming out! Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my hopes for it, though that is probably due to the fact that I just really enjoyed her last series and that this one just needs to grow on me. While I liked the main characters in this story, I felt like their story was just a bit stagnant in the middle. That said, I love the over all message in this book! I also really liked the side characters that will play a major part in the next book! So, I will be sticking with the series to see where it goes.
I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Discipline that connects with your child's heart

A Powerful Approach to Bringing God's Grace to Kids
Did you know that the way we deal (or don't deal) with our kids' misbehavior shapes their beliefs about themselves, the world, and God? Therefore it's vital to connect with their hearts--not just their minds--amid the daily behavior battles.
With warmth and grace, Jim and Lynne Jackson, founders of Connected Families, offer four tried-and-true keys to handling any behavioral issues with love, truth, and authority. You will learn practical ways to communicate messages of grace and truth, how to discipline in a way that motivates your child, and how to keep your relationship strong, not antagonistic. Discipline is more than just a short-term attempt to modify your child's actions--it's a long-term investment to help them build faith, wisdom, and character for life. When you discover a better path to discipline, you'll find a more well-behaved--and well-believed--kid

My thoughts: This book is an excellent one for busy parents to pick up, since it is chocked full of wonderful advise paired with real life stories to show how the advise is applicable. The four main principles of the book are to give your children a foundation that says they are safe with you, connect so they know they are loved no matter what, coach because they are called and capable, and correct by showing them they are responsible for their actions. While this book doesn't have all the answers, I learned a lot from it. I especially appreciated the chapters that dealt with showing your child unconditional love and understanding why a child misbehaves. This is an excellent book for parents of children from birth on up!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Sticker Girl

Sticker Girl is an adorable story about Martina Rivera who has a secret, he sticker collection comes to life! This book is imaginative as Martina's sticker collection helps her overcome her shyness and tackle public speaking. There is a sheet of stickers that is included in the book (which, my toddler was happy to take command of and put them in the book!), just like the sheet of stickers that comes to life in the story. This is a great book for elementary age kids! I love how Martina has to overcome something in the story. This one is a cute one!

Janet Tashjian is a middle-grade and young adult novelist who’s been writing books for children for fifteen years. Her first novel Tru Confessions was made into a critically acclaimed Disney TV movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. The Gospel According to Larry is a cult favorite and Fault Line is taught in many middle and high schools. Her novels My Life As a Book, My Life As a Stuntboy, and My Life As a Cartoonist are all illustrated by her teenage son, Jake. Their collaboration continues with Einstein the Class Hamster coming in August.

Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.

Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.

Download your free how to guide for bring your Bible to school day

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are preparing for Hurricane Matthew to hit. For students in hurricane-affected states who are facing school closures but still want to participate in Bring Your Bible to School Day, the alternate date is Thursday, October 20.




This brings about a good point: Any day can be a day you organize your friends to bring your Bibles to school together!




By signing up during the month of October for Bring Your Bible to School Day (even if you missed the official celebration), you can download a free how-to guide for teens, parents, pastors, and elementary students. It's full of helpful information that will help you organize a day to take a stand for religious freedom and bring your Bible to school with your fellow classmates.




(Sign-ups must be received by midnight (MT), Oct. 7, in order to be automatically entered into the Newsboys giveaway.)

Plus Bring Your Bible to School Comes to Adventures in Odyssey

 

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.




Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.

Take ten: books I have read due to recommendations

1. The Hunger Games
I remember not knowing anything about the series when I picked it up. Just that the librarian raved that it was one of the most popular books at the moment. I loved it so much, I had to pre-order the last one, something I rarely do.

2. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
This has to be one of my favorite fairy tale-ish books!

3. The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist
This one was going around on several lists for a while, so I gave it a go and loved it!

4. The Opal Crown
The sequel to #3.

5. The Wonder of you by Susan May Warren
I missed this one when reading the series and figured I would just skip it. When I read some reviews on it, I figured I should read it after all. It wound up being a favorite!

6. Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren
There was is a lot of hype about this book, so I picked up a arc copy and read it recently. While it has a great message, I didn't really fall in love with the main couple. That said, I like the couples in the next book that we're introduced in this one, so I will probably stick with the series.

7. I'll be Yours by Jenny B. Jones
Okay, so I haven't procured a copy, but it's one I really want to read, as I love the author and have heard good things!

8. The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall
This one is wonderful! No wonder why I kept hearing about it. I need to get back to the series..

9. The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Biscof
Another one I have yet to read, but have on my list due to the buzz it's created!

10. Ladies of the Manor series by Roseanne White
My sister told me this series is a must. She's right!
What books are on your list? What should I add to mine?

2 Chairs and a giveaway!

In this world you will have trouble. Count on it!
It might be something small or something big, but you know you don’t have an answer. You’ve come to a realization there is a limit to what you can do alone. For such times as these, 2 Chairs asks three vital questions:
-Does God know your situation?
-Is it too hard for Him to handle?
-Does He have a good plan for you?
Following these questions, Bob Beaudine offers seven practical steps to walk courageously, faithfully, and cheerfully through your trouble whether it is a minor issue or a major crisis.

My thoughts: I love the heart of this message, which is that God knows your situation, that He has it under control, and that He has a plan! It's easy to get caught up in the day to day grind, but this book reminds the reader of the importance of taking time out of the busyness and focusing on God and where He is leading one. Not just when things are rough, but all the time. I enjoyed the concept of this book, as well as how easy it was to read through. I enjoyed all the stories, both from Bob's life and those around him. This book is a wonderful reminder!
I received this book from Worthy publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway : Worthy publisher has graciously offered to do a giveaway for this book! Two copies are up for grabs. Just leave a comment about why this book sounds interesting! Be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you win. I will be drawing names in a week!

Cuba!

Cuba continues to captivate visitors with its vibrant culture, colorful cities, and incredible cuisine. Cuba! explores the magic of this country through recipes and stories that will set taste buds on fire and delight even the most well-seasoned traveler.

Brazen, bold, and colorful, Cuba is a country that pulses with life. Fascinated by its people and their endlessly delicious home-cooked cuisine, friends Dan Goldberg and Andrea Kuhn have been visiting this magnetic country, capturing its passion and vibrancy, for the past five years. Dan, an award-winning photographer and Andrea, an acclaimed prop stylist and art director, along with renowned food writer Jody Eddy, bring the best of Cuban food to home kitchens with more than 75 meticulously tested recipes. From Cuban-Style Fried Chicken and Tostones Stuffed with Lobster and Conch, to Squid-ink Empanadas and Mojito Cake with Rum-Infused Whipped Cream, this book offers a unique opportunity to bring a little slice of Cuba into your home and onto your plate.

My thoughts: I love how colorful this book is! While I haven't been to Cuba, it looks like this book gives a wonderful sampling of the culture and recipes that make up part of the country. The recipe of fried plantain (along with some of the other ones) remind me of my trip to Belize and what I have heard about some of the other South American countries. This is a fun book to experiment with and add some spice to your cooking and life! I think it is an excellent book for newbies or pros.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Union with Christ

Nothing is more basic or central to knowing and enjoying God than Union with Christ.

Have you ever had difficulty connecting what you know to be true about God with how you feel or how you live each day? Have you ever longed to change but just felt stuck?

The Bible makes a stunning claim: God has provided a way for your life to be united to Christ’s. What does that mean? Is it really possible for me, now? What would it look like?

In Union with Christ, Rankin Wilbourne makes union with Christ accessible and beautiful, for you. Union with Christ is not an abstract idea. It is a powerful reality. And recovering a sense of your union with Christ can change everything for you, like finally putting on a pair of desperately-needed glasses.

Discover how coming to see your life through the lens of union with Christ can help bridge that gap between your head and your heart, between your belief and your experience. Union with Christ is what we most need in order to know and enjoy God.

My thoughts: This book is excellent! More in depth then I originally anticipated, it is a great book for Christians from all walks of life to discover the way to

know and enjoy God

. I love how seamlessly the author works the quotes, scripture verses, pop culture, and his thoughts together. This is an enjoyable book that gives the reader a lot of food for thought. I appreciated the reminders of why it is so important and the benefits of unity. I think this is a book that most all Christians can learn from!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Crossing the Waters

The gospels are dramatic, wild, and wet―set in a rich maritime culture on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ first disciples were ragtag fishermen, and Jesus’ messages and miracles teem with water, fish, fishermen, net-breaking catches, sea crossings, boat-sinking storms, and even a walk on water. Because this world is foreign and distant to us, we’ve missed much about the disciples’ experiences and about following Jesus―until now. Leslie Leyland Fields―a well-known writer, respected biblical exegete, and longtime Alaskan fisherwoman―crosses the waters of time and culture to take us out on the Sea of Galilee, through a rugged season of commercial fishing with her family in Alaska, and through the waters of the New Testament.

You’ll be swept up in a fresh experience of the gospels, traveling with the fishermen disciples from Jesus’ baptism to the final miraculous catch of fish―and also experiencing Leslie’s own efforts to follow Christ out on her own Alaskan sea. In a time when so many are “unfollowing” Jesus and leaving the Church, Crossing the Waters delivers a fresh encounter with Jesus and explores what it means to “come, follow me.”

I thought that this book was an interesting mix, part memoir, part scripture. I enjoyed the correlation Leslie draws between her adventures as a professional fisherwoman who has raised her family in the business and the fishermen-disciples in the scripture. I've always been drawn to the thought of visiting Alaska, so I found it engrossing to read what it is like to be a fishing family. The book is set during the course of one fishing season, which made things interesting. I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words on this book!
One of my favorite things about this book is the study guide at the back.
Leslie's style flows well and is to the point. If you are interested in Jesus' call to the disciples to leave their nets, then this is an excellent book for you to pick up.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Unblemished

Eliyana has always recoiled from her own reflection in the mirror. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world existed where her blemish could become her strength?

Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a hideous birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her as normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird.

Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.

Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?

My thoughts: When I first saw this book and the synopsis of the story, I just knew it was one that I would want to read and review. It was right up my alley: parallel universes, and unlikely heroine, magical creatures. The story is quite engrossing, though I feel like I need to wait to see how the next book plays out to fully give a review. I loved the twists in the plot and getting to know El. I feel like some things could of been better explained, which I hope will happen in the next book, since at times I was like "What?". I like that the plot and world is imaginative and there is a lot going on. If you enjoy fantasy style stories, then I think this is one you will like!
I received this book through Netgalley.

Experiencing God through His names

What’s in a name?

Names are more than groups of letters that represent a person or identify objects. Names are powerful. A person’s character and destiny can be influenced by his or her name. God’s attributes and personality support His unique and distinct names. If we comprehend the meanings of His titles, we can know God more intimately. In Experiencing God Through His Names, Sheryl Giesbrecht walks with you on an exciting journey to discover and absorb the truth about God’s character. In the next 31 days, God wants you to get to know Him. Are you ready?

My thoughts: This book is a fresh way to delve into the names of God, which gave me a whole new perspective! The book is set up well to work as a devotional. I like that the style is easy to read and get into. The book is excellent! I like how it is a blend of scripture, personal stories, and insight. It made the perfect devotional for me.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Jesus and the Beanstalk

What if a fairy tale and ten Bible verses could free you to live an effective, fruitful life in Christ?

We live in unsettling, challenging times. Everywhere we look, we see giant problems: giant obstacles to sharing faith, giant barriers to peaceful lives, giant strongholds of fear. But what if you knew eight small secrets to unlocking a strength big enough to overcome whatever obstacle life may bring?

Using allegory and a bit of humor, Jesus and the Beanstalk explores a passage in 2 Peter 1 to uncover eight truths that will help you unleash a larger-than-life faith:

—Faith
—Goodness
—Knowledge
—Self-control
—Perseverance
—Godliness
—Affection for others
—Love

In this creative, refreshing perspective on spiritual growth, you will discover an unyielding strength when you tap the power of a God who is stronger than any beanstalk and bigger than your biggest giants.

My thoughts: We all have giants in our lives. You know, those things that we want to overcome but have a hard time doing so, or feel just too intimidated to know where to start. This book is an excellent source of encouragement! I love the element of fairy tale tied in with scripture and personal stories. It works excellent to read through or to use as a devotional. I enjoyed this book immensely!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.