Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Holy Ghost is my Friend


Get ready to shine a spotlight on the Holy Ghost! This unique picture book shares everyday situations and simple stories that teach children how to recognize the influence of the Spirit. When you shine a flashlight through the illustrated pages, you can discover how the Holy Ghost protects, comforts, directs, and witnesses of true gospel principles. A fun and illuminating book the whole family will love!

My thoughts: We were thrilled to get this book in the mail today! Right away, my daughter wanted to stop and read it, since she was so excited. I love how the book is a shine the light one, where you can either hold it to the light or place a flashlight behind it to see the hidden pictures. I love how it explains the Holy Ghost in a way that helps children understand more about the comforter. This is an excellent book to add to your shelf!
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Gospel Centered Mom


It’s Time to Stop Trying to Be the Perfect Mom

You long to be the mom your kids need, but often you’re convinced you come up short. The label “not enough” seems to be stamped across everything you do—and yet parenting is the one thing you want most to get right.

What if the solution is simply to embrace the truth that you are not enough—but God is?

In Gospel-Centered Mom Brooke McGlothlin reveals how our entire approach to motherhood shifts when we stop chasing our vision of a perfect family and start full-out pursuing God. With refreshing candor, Brooke examines the daunting task of raising children in the light of God’s Word and challenges you to:

· embrace your moment-by-moment need for Jesus
· release the stress of believing everything is your responsibility
· learn to fight for rather than against your child
· believe that the story God is writing with your life is worth the sacrifice
· practice the daily disciplines that lead to Gospel-centered parenting

As you learn to anchor your life in the Gospel, you’ll find increased freedom, purpose, and joy in motherhood. And you’ll discover that Jesus is more than capable of meeting every need, for your children and for you.

My thoughts: This is a wonderful book for mom's in all walks of life. It reminds us that God is there in the trenches with us and can use those messy moments for His glory. I needed the reminder to fight for my children and God's purpose for me as a mother.
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, October 9, 2017

A Small Book About a Big Problem


How many times today have you been irritated? Frustrated?

While you might not think about it often, if you look closely at any day most everyone can find anger in their actions and attitudes. Something spills or goes missing, we get stuck in traffic or someone cuts us off on the road, or we feel like the people we live and work with are only making our lives more difficult. And while no one wants to get angry, what happens when our irritations and frustrations rise yet again?

Anger is so common—yet it also hurts. It not only leaves a mark on us, but it also leaves a marks on others. The wounds we inflict on ourselves and others because of anger—loss of intimacy, trust, security, and enjoyment in our closest relationships—give us compelling reasons to look closely at our anger and think carefully about how to grow in peace and patience.

But if you, like many others, have just gotten irritated for the umpteenth time today, you might wonder if change is possible. Can anyone truly find peace? The answer is yes, but you will need a plan. Biblical counselor and psychologist Ed Welch invites readers to take a fifty-day journey that unpacks anger while encouraging and teaching readers to respond with patience to life’s difficulties. Readers will also be introduced to Jesus, the key to any plan for change. Known as the Prince of Peace, he is the only one who can empower his people to grow in patience, peace, and wholeness.

My thoughts: This book is wonderful! When I first received it, I kind of wondered why I had put in to review it, since I wouldn't say anger is something that I particularly struggle with. And yet, this book does a wonderful job of showing the different ways anger can show up. Sometimes, it's easier to it manifested in others, but this book did a wonderful job of opening my eyes to how I can change my attitude. I especially appreciated the reminder that none of us know how many more tomorrows we get, so the time to change is now.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Take ten: top ten fallish covers/books that scream fall


1. The Memory of You

I love the colors on this one! Especially the orange.

2. The Woods Edge


3. Beastkeeper


4. Ravenswolde


5.The End of All Things


6. I'll Be Yours


7. Catching Heat


8. A Love So True


9. Embers


10. When Autumn Leaves

Thursday, October 5, 2017

The Grand Central Market Cookbook


Founded in 1917, Grand Central Market is a legendary food hall in Downtown Los Angeles that brings together the many traditions and flavors of the city. Now, GCM’s first cookbook puts the spotlight on unique recipes from its diverse vendors, bringing their authentic tastes to your home kitchen. From Horse Thief BBQ’s Nashville-Style Hot Fried Chicken Sando to Madcapra’s Sumac Beet Soda to Golden Road’s Crunchy Avocado Tacos, here are over 85 distinctive recipes, plus spectacular photography that shows off the food, the people, and the daily bustle and buzz. Stories about the Market’s vibrant history and interviews with its prominent customers and vendors dot the pages as well. Whether you’ve visited and want to make your favorite dishes at home, or are simply looking for a cookbook that provides a plethora of multi-national cuisine, The Grand Central Market Cookbook is sure to make your kitchen just a little bit cooler.

My thoughts: For years, my family had a booth at a local farmers market, so I have a bit of a soft spot for them.;) I love the variety of products, color, and people that you can find at a farmers market. This cookbook makes me excited to once again visit a
market and enjoy the culture and food. This book is a great one to pick up to get one excited about markets and CSA's! I highly recommend the flavorful recipes and lovely photography!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Deadly Proof review and Giveaway


 


Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book



 



Book title: Deadly Proof

 

Author: Rachel Dylan

 

Release date: September 5, 2017

 

Genre: Legal Romantic Suspense



Tapped as lead counsel in a corporate cover-up lawsuit against Mason Pharmaceutical, Kate Sullivan knows this case could make her career. What really drives her, though, is getting justice for the victims whose lives were ruined by the company’s dangerous new drug. But when a whistleblower turns up dead, it paints a target on the back of everyone involved.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James steps in to handle security for Kate. He’s still haunted by mistakes in his past and is determined never to let something like that happen again. But it soon appears someone is willing to do anything–even commit murder–to keep the case from going to trial.

As danger closes in, Landon can’t help but admire Kate’s courage and resolve–but will her determination not to back down become too great of a risk?

My Review: This is an excellent, intense story about one woman's bold case to help those who have lost loved ones to a big Pharm drug that had no business being on the market. I love that the story is told from a variety of viewpoints, and how it seems like an impossible case. I'm not big into legalese, but I did enjoy this story! I look forward to reading more in the series!
I received this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author




Rachel Dylan was a litigator in one of the nation’s most elite law firms for over eight years and now works as an attorney at one of the Big Three automobile manufacturers. She is the author of four Love Inspired Suspense novels and lives in Michigan with her husband. She is active on social media, and you can visit her website at www.racheldylan.com.


Q & A with Rachel Dylan

  1. The Atlanta Justice series is centered around strong, female lawyers who take on high-stakes cases. What made you want to write their stories?I’d have to say it’s personal! Having been an attorney for eleven years now, I love being able to pour parts of myself into the books. My everyday life as a lawyer isn’t that exciting and is definitely not as dangerous! But I’m able to draw on what I’ve lived through to bring life and authenticity to these characters.
  1. What type of research did you do for Deadly Proof?One of the great things about writing books related to my career is that I know lawyers who practice all different types of law. Deadly Proof focuses on Kate Sullivan, who is a plaintiff’s attorney taking on a big pharmaceutical company. I don’t do this specific type of plaintiff’s work, but I know lawyers who do, and I was able to talk with them. Also, I was able to relate to my characters on the defense side because I’ve done that work for years. It was really fun to write the perspectives of characters on both sides of the case.
  1. Is there a reason you chose Atlanta for this series?Yes! I’m from Georgia and lived in Atlanta, practicing law at a large law firm, for eight years. I wanted to pick a setting I was intimately familiar with to give readers an authentic Atlanta experience—sweet tea and all.
  1. Where do you think Kate’s passion for her work comes from?Kate truly believes that her life’s work is to help those who have been wronged. I believe a lot of her passion stems from her strong faith that has developed over the years. She’s not a lawyer to make big bucks but to change people’s lives for the better.
  1. What is the next book in the Atlanta Justice series about?Book two is about Kate’s friend Sophie Dawson, who we meet in Deadly Proof. Sophie is an Atlanta prosecutor. This story is exciting because it involves a completely different type of legal case than Deadly Proof. But I promise things get just as dangerous!

Blog Stops

Giveaway

To celebrate the tour, Bethany House is giving away four Suspense Novels and a $25 Starbucks Gift Card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Christian Scavenger Hunt


About the Author

Author of the Amazon bestselling Aggie and Past Forward Series, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave Desert. With dozens of books to her name, Chautona spends most of her time writing, but when she takes the rare break, she can be found reading, sewing, paper crafting, or sleeping and dreaming of finishing the dozens of books swirling in her overly-active imagination at any given moment.


Guest Post from Chautona Havig

They talked—my favorite Denny’s server and a guy she met. “Shanetta (she can’t get my name right to save her life) writes in booth 14 every night.”

“Writes what?”

Angela gave him a “duh” look. “Books?”

Again, the guy asked, “What genre.”

I’m sure she didn’t know what she was in for when Angela said, “Christian fiction.”

The man’s response? Priceless. “So, what, she makes up lies about Christians?”



As I said in THIS POST, I used to use Christian fiction as a general explanation of what I write but it wasn’t the “simple answer” that I’d expected. So, then I started saying, “Well, this one is…” and I’d fill in the blank. Mystery, romance, suspense, historical, contemporary, youth—you name it, I’ve probably written it. Well, except for erotica. And true sci-fi? Yeah. That probably won’t happen either. Horror? Not my thing.

Once I’ve explained my odd genre choice for this particular book, I tend to point out that most of my fiction follows under the general heading of Christian fiction. Inevitably the question follows, though. “Why Christian?”

It would be easier to answer why not. I could just say, “As a Christian, I find it almost impossible to leave my faith and worldview out of my writing.” It’s true, but I did manage. Once. Even then, if you look deep into the core of that little story, you’ll still find basic Biblical themes and truths. They’re just less overt.

But people never ask why not write something else. They ask why I write Christian fiction. So I tell them. I start with my purpose. “I write stories to point Christians to the Master Storyteller.” I write about Christians for Christians. I don’t write evangelistic fiction, although occasionally someone comes to Jesus in my books. The reason I do this is because I’m writing to encourage the body of Christ. If I wrote to introduce the lost to Jesus, I’d be writing mainstream to whet people’s thirst for the Word and the Lord.

But that’s not my goal. How I achieve my goal is my website’s tagline. “Christian fiction without apology or pretense—lived, not preached.”

In the books featured in this blog tour, you won’t find people, as a general rule, spouting sermons disguised as prayers. I show a faith-filled life lived… or not, as the story requires. I show you why Christians believe things that I may not even agree with. And I hope, that with each word, I create a desire for just one more minute in the Word.

Each of the bloggers involved in the tour were given different books to read and review, the book I was given is None So Blind.

Dani and Ella Weeks–two women who share one thing in common–the same life, the same family, and the same body.

When Dani wakes with no knowledge of who or where she is–no memories of her life at all–David and Dani Weeks discover that “til death do us part” takes on an entirely unexpected meaning. Practically speaking, Dani died. But she didn’t.

In a desperate attempt to separate the old life from the new, Dani insists on a new name–Ella.

Ella’s doctors can’t explain what happened. Her children can’t understand why she doesn’t know them, and her husband finds himself torn between admiration for the “new” version of his wife and missing the woman he’s known for over fifteen years.

Will Ella ever regain her memory? Why does their pastor suspect it’s one great hoax?

My thoughts: Chautona is an excellent writer who brings this unique story to life. I can only imagine what it would be like for a loved one to go through something like this, forgetting who they are and their relationship to you. This is a wonderful story about identity! I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
I received this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

For a complete list of the blog stops, please go here