HCSB The Illustrator's NoteTaking Bible

Seems like the latest trend for Bible readers, is called Bible Journaling. It combines coloring and note-taking into one within your Bible. Rather than simply jotting down notes, readers are doing far more than simply drawing simple pictures in the margins of their Bibles and Bible publishers have taken notice.

I had the chance to review one such incredible Bible for those who love the coloring concept taking over the Bible trends but perhaps may be like me, a bit artistically challenged in defining what they might want to add to their Bible. HCSB or Holman Christian Standard Bible has created The Illustrator's Notetaking Bible. Filled with over 600 images including text designs, images and filigree patterns along with adjoining pages that still provide you the ability to create your own designs or utilize them for note taking as well.

These illustrations are done in a light grey allowing you to personalize them in any way with your own color choices or design elements. There are everything from famous scriptures verses, random doodles, florals or leaves, to detailed elements pertaining to a particular passage or chapter that anyone can design to their own personal artistic tastes.

The Bible comes in a brown leather like cover, with ribbon place holder perfect for keeping track of your daily Bible reading. The illustrations were done by Kristi Smith, an award-winning illustrator and hand-letterer at Juicebox Designs, a graphic design firm in Nashville, TN. Her work can be seen in their online porfolio and retail store, the Juice Bar, located at juiceboxdesigns.com.

The only downside I can see on this, is despite all the markers I have tried, they ALL bleed through even highlighters if used repeatedly, to say highlight a particular passage of Scripture and want to deepen the shade of the color. I would LOVE it, if I could find something that works with the quality of true marker colors and hues, but for now, the only thing that I would recommend is coloring pencils of any brand and maker.

The font size is 7 pt and comes with colored maps at the end, a presentation page if you were to give this as a gift to someone, God's plan of Salvation, Commonly Used Abbreviations, Bullet Notes, Daily Bible Reading Plan and a Concordance. Truly this would make a wonderful gift to anyone who truly loves God's Word and adding a bit of color to their Bible alongside their note-taking. The words of Jesus are not red-lettered and the edges are gold tipped.

I received HCSB The Illustrator's Notetaking Bible compliments of B and H Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside for a free copy of The Illustrator's Notetaking Bible in exchange for my personal and unbiased review of the product. Now all I have to do is manage to pick up another one of these because my 17-year old daughter absolutely has inherited this for her own and even takes along a package of coloring pencils for those times when you arrive early to church and need something to do. Well worth all of the 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There are two color cover choices, tan or purple so there is one for every member of your family who loves to color!

For more information about HCSB The Illustrator's Notetaking Bible, Kristi Smith or where you can pick up a copy of this Bible today, please click on the links below:

HCSB The Illustrator's Notetaking Bible

You can find Kristi Smith at the JuiceBox Designs on Facebook. 

To read more reviews on HCSB The Illustrators Notetaking Bible, please visit B and H Publisher's Facebook page. 

Illustrated Life of Paul

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could find a Bible that was illustrated in such a way that it gave you a sense not only of what life may have been like, but what it looked like as well? We read of some many towns and cities in the Bible but unless you have a Bible map and a modern day map, it is hard to trace where the locations of those cities or towns might have been. The Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L. Quarles does just that utilizing the letters that the apostle Paul wrote to many of the churches of the New Testament from the towns of Corinth, to Thessalonica, to even the cities of Ephesus and Smyrna.

Except for the Lord Jesus Christ himself, no person has been more influential in the history of the church than Saul of Tarsus who would later be renamed Paul. Paul's influence upon the early church's most cherished convictions is so clear and powerful that scholars debate whether Paul is a mere follower of Jesus or the actual founder of Christianity. Paul himself settled that debate when he described Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of the church and the head of the church. Paul insisted that Jesus has preeminence in all things, in both the church he founded by his death and resurrection and the creation he fashioned by his indescribable power.

Approximately sixteen chapters of the book of Acts focus on Paul's persecution of the church, his conversion, his missionary labors, and his arrest and imprisonment. Paul laid more bricks in the foundation of the church than any other apostle. He wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Nearly half of the New Testament documents bear his name. Although some of Paul's letters are brief compared to other New Testament books, his epistles comprise approximately 1/4 of the total volume of the New Testament. Paul's influence on the development of Christianity is without parallel. He was a highly effective Christian missionary and church planter and is a key interpreter of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and return. Except for Jesus of Nazareth, no man's life has been more fascinating. It truly does provide the reader more background detail about the cultures, the cities and towns as well as people surrounding the ministry of Paul along with some amazing photos throughout the books as each chapter is dedicated to a portion of Paul's life and travels along the way.

I received Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L. Quarles compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside of a free copy of the book in exchange for my personal and honest evaluation. I love being able to take this book side by side with the Bible and get a truly visual perspective of what is happening either through the book of Acts or even in the time of one of Paul's letters. We know that there is more than went on and this background is key along with the photos to give the reader a broader view of the urgency of the letters for example or what was happening in the day as the church began to grow and at times get divisive. For me this makes a wonderful visual commentary to aid me in my daily Bible reading in regards to the life and ministry of Paul and thus rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I would love to see these for all the books of the Bible!!! It makes it truly come to life in a more powerful way.

For more information about Illustrated Life of Paul, Charles L. Quarles or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Illustrated Life of Paul by Charles L Quarles

You can find Charles Quarles on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

You can pick up a copy of this book at your local Christian retailer or through Amazon.

The Devotional for Women

Every year I try to faithfully find a great devotional that I can read in just a few minutes that helps set my tone for the day. I believe it is what creates a foundation for how our day might play out. I found an exceptional one that might just be the perfect gift to give this Christmas to a special woman in your life. The Devotional for Women by Rhonda Harrington Kelley and Dorothy Kelley Patterson is just the right size to tuck in your purse, (measures 7.5 by 5 by 1) for some much needed faithful inspiration designed just for women in a purple leather book! It is designed to equip you to faithfully read God's Word daily and comes with 366 daily Bible devotions for women of all ages.

It really is friendly, and offers a quick-read format with a strong emphasis on what God has to say to women from Genesis to Revelation. It even includes a Bible Reading Plan and really places emphasis on biblical applications. What I really love besides the purple leather cover is that each of this daily devotions tries to focus on a woman from the Bible beginning from Genesis all the way to Revelation. Far too often we might not think women made much of an impact from the Bible, but as this devotional points out, there are more women than you might realize. They don't need an entire book of the Bible written about them to be important but even the smaller roles women played like servants, helpers, midwives and others show us how much value a women offers in the sight of God.

It profiles both named and unnamed women of the Bible and each day's message includes application and encouragement for you as the Lord writes His truths on your heart, molding you into His image, and using you as a conduit for glorifying Him in every aspect of your life. The single and married women who have written these daily commentaries come from different seasons of life and various geographical areas and several generational groups from a mother, a daughter and pairs of granddaughters in one family' several mother-daughter duos; a mother in love and daughter in love. There are teens in high school, college, and seminary students, young mothers and grandmothers. All are committed to women-to-women ministries.

The Devotional for Women has a reading for every day but it is undated. You can pick it up and begin your spiritual journey any day of the year. Each devotional stands alone. You can read the extended passage, or you can simply read the focus verse(s), printed for you as the devotional unfolds. Use the guide prayer pattern to approach the throne room of grace with your own petition and praise. Make your personal notes in the space for "Personal Reflection" as reminders of what God has been doing in your life. This is truly a remarkable devotional and one I am honored to share with you.

I received The Devotional for Women by Rhonda Harrington Kelley and Dorothy Kelley Patterson compliments of B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this devotional, in exchange for my honest and personal review. What I love about this devotional is that it is not dated, so you don't have to feel like you've fallen behind if you buy this at any time. You simply pick it up and begin. I also love the Personal Reflection section so that I can note prayer requests or answers to prayer in the space provided to see how God is working in my life through my spiritual journey of faith. For me, this one is well worth all 5 out of 5 stars and would make an exceptional gift to a special woman in your life.

For more information about The Devotional for Women, B and H Publishers or where you can pick up a copy of this devotional, please click on the links below:

The Devotional for Women by B and H Publishers

You can find B and H Publishers on Facebook to stay up to date on all their products.

The Apologetics Study Bible for Students

The Christian walk of faith is certainly one of that requires a lot of faith, but also a trust in a God that we, as a generation has never seen. The world for most students who are attending public school and colleges are those in whose faith will be put to the ultimate test, to stand for the truth in an ever changing world that is growing more hostile to the Christian faith. Will our generation of children be able to stand strong in the coming storm? Will they have all the answers they need to defend what they believe? Is there a tool that can help them with the challenging questions that will be asked of them? I believe there is!

Sean McDowell is the general editor for the Apologetics Study Bible for student, a tool I believe will be useful for answering those difficult and heartfelt challenges about their faith and the life that they have chosen. It is designed to help students be equipping them with the truths of Scripture that enables them to articulate their faith. A better way to think of it, is Christian apologetics 101, which isn't about apologizing for their faith, but helping them understand how to defend it in today's growing and changing world.

The HCSB or Holman Christian Study Bible edition offers them introductions into each of the sixty six books of the Bible along with some amazing study notes to provide evidence of the reliability and truthfulness of Scripture. There are also 120 articles scattered throughout written by today's leading Christian thinkers like Sean McDowell, Bayard Taylor, Daryl Rodriguez, Alison Thomas, Frank Turek, Steve Russo, Ryan Sharp, and many, many more that deal with such topics like "Why Are Some Christian's Hypocrites, How Can I Be Sure I am Saved, If God Made Everything, Why Shouldn't I Smoke Pot, Why Would A Good God Send People to Hell and so many others that deal with the kinds of questions being asked by people today that our children and teens deal with. What better way to answer them than with the right tools and scriptures to reference!

There are also those Scriptures that other religions and people try to twist to make us question our own understanding of the Bible, along with 50 Bone and Dirt features that highlight important archaeological discoveries with an apologetics value with quotes from influential people throughout history. There is also 25 tactics to equip students to withstand opposition to Christianity by outlining tactics and strategies for handling frequently heard anti-Christian arguments. Finally there are also 20 personal stories that will help encourage and strengthen readers in their faith by describing how God has worked dramatically in other people's lives and 20 Fast Facts that compare such differences as the Bible versus the Koran, Atheism, America's Christian Heritage, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Darwin's Evolution Theory as well.

This is the perfect gift for your middle school student and up because it is more than the Bible it is a tool that will enable them to stand up for what they believe in and know right where to go for the answers. A wonderful graduation gift for any student of the Christian Faith and one that I highly recommend. It comes with indented tabs to enable quick reference into the Bible, and my favorite is how it is written to appeal to students in each section such as "What is going on here?" helps them to understand why a particular book of the Bible was written and what had been happening in the land as it was addressed! My 16-year-old daughter LOVES having this Bible to use in her youth group and loves the videos that you have access to by picking up a copy of this Bible as well. They have encouraged her in ways reading articles would never reach her for defending her faith! I would rate this one a 5 out of 5 perfected stars and think every student should own one! I received The Apologetics Study Bible for Students compliments of B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review aside from a free copy of the Bible. The opinions contained here are my own. I think our generation of teens deserves the gift of a Confident Faith and this is just the right resource for them to find it! Now for the best part.

Thanks to the generosity of B and H Publishers, they are offering giveaway copy of the Apologetic Study Bible for Student to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. Be a resident of the US or Canada. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave me a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students and how you plan on using it. Don't forget to include your email address so I can make sure if you are the lucky winner, I have a way to reach you. You can even use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of this giveaway on October 12th, so make sure you include your email address with your comments below to be eligible to win.

For more information about The Apologetics Study Bible for Students HCSB, Sean McDowell or where you can pick up a copy of this amazing Bible today, please click on the links below:

The Apologetics Study Bible for Students

To access the Study Videos, simply click here and begin your own journey into Apologetics!

To purchase a copy of the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, please click here.

For more reviews on The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, please visit B and H Publisher's website. 

This Means War

You've got battles to fight - on your knees!

From the producers and directors of the movie, War Room, that is vastly becoming one of the most life changing movies to hit the big screen in years, comes a book designed for teens to enable them to see things in their own terms when it comes to the principles of prayer. This is a book designed to be used daily, written in and prayer over because it takes  teens through the process of understanding prayer, what it is designed to do for a believer, how to document prayers, making sure your prayers line up in the will of God, and how to even pray for your enemies, often one of the things we all struggle with the most.

It provides teens with some specifics we might not even consider, such as praying for your career while you are still in school. Each chapter is designed to develop a specific prayer along with some thought provoking questions like on the topic of prayer for your career, how might you generally pray for your career? Then it details and places the focus on what things interest you? What are you passionate about? What careers always looked appealing? What is your specific prayer for your future career? Praying strategically for your career involves, "What do you think is your involvement in this prayer? Whose involvement in this prayer can make a difference? Whose involvement might surprise you? What sorts of resources are needed? What is God's purpose for your career? What is God's strategic will for your career? Then you pray strenuously for a career which includes a place for dating when you started praying for your career? As well as places for date and comments to include what setbacks did you encounter? What progress did you see, when did you see this prayer answered, and finally what factors did you specifically, strategically and strenuously pray for that you saw occur?

The entire book is dedicated to 49 distinct issues facing our teens and how they can watch and document God's divine intervention in prayer. When you see things answered in ways you prayed for, ways that exceeded your prayers or often something you didn't see coming that have now impacted your prayer, it helps teens see that God is always working on issues we pray about and sometimes they are answered right away and often times, they take time to see them fulfilled. The importance of this prayer journal is that it shows teens in a completely different way that prayer does work and God does communicate with us in unique ways all through documenting prayers much like a commander or officer would do in planning for battle.

I received This Means War by Stephen and Alex Kendrick compliments of Icon Media Group and B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review aside from a free copy of this book and the opinions contained here are my personal and honest ones. I absolutely LOVED this book and it was given to my own 16-year-old daughter to begin using and she found it extremely useful She loved the places for dating the items she prayed about and loved the questions that caused her to really consider if the things she was praying for were what she wanted or what God may have wanted for her life. She loved how it helped keep her on track instead of just generally praying about a wide variety of issues and kept her more focused on the issue at hand. For us, we rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about This Means War, Stephen and Alex Kendrick or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

This Means War by Stephen and Alex Kendrick

You can find Stephen and Alex Kendrick on Facebook to stay up to date on all their projects and books.

To read more reviews on This Means War, please visit B and H Publishing Groups website. 

The Battle Plan for Prayer

There isn't one person whom I doubt hasn't heard of a story in which prayer changed the outcome of something that was being prayed for. A miracle for someone who was dying and now was going to live, the disaster that was averted by the faithfulness of a mother's prayer, the finances that came through from an unexpected source just at the right moment, or perhaps a marriage saved just when the divorce papers were about to be filed. On the heels of the movie, War Room from Stephen and Alex Kendrick, which focuses on the very powerful issue of prayer, The Battle Plan for Prayer, is the paperback companion. It helps readers focus on basic training for prayer, especially in light of how so many people are just not praying because they believe it doesn't work, or it requires a special place to do it, or the right words to say.

This takes things from basic training and moves it to targeted strategies for such things as our families, marriages, spouses, children, praying for the lost, for authorities and even for such things as revival in the churches and in the labors of the harvesters. It teaches you where we often make the mistakes and fallacies when it comes to prayer and how to make it much like that of Miss Clara Williams, a force to be reckoned with in the movie, War Room. We would all hope that some day our prayers would be as powerful, as bold, as confident and as effective as the ones witnessed in the movie.

This book teaches some amazing things like having a target prayer list, to pray for your top three areas in our life, three areas that would take a miracle from God to answer, and even some future goal setting that would benefit with the additional blessing from God to understand His will for our lives instead of struggling against our own will. How to make sure we line up with what the Bible teaches about prayer, that it is our most powerful weapon as believers in Jesus, and one we fail to use as a first response instead of a last resort. Prayer is our armored tank and our major assault weapon in battle. We learn how men and women in the Bible applied these principles to see mighty things happen in their life. Prayer can do anything. It can reach out and address any issue that anyone is facing anywhere on the earth. It can be silently engaged without the enemy ever hearing the life changing conversation going on in our heads and hearts with our Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ.

This is not just a harmless little church ritual we're talking about. Nor a pitiful beggar asking for a handout he's almost sure he won't receive. There's raw power here. There's access to God Almighty. There's a certainty of His sovereignty. There's boldness that no amount of enemy resistance can steal from us unless we give it away. And that only happens when we don't pray. I received The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen and Alex Kendrick compliments of Icon Media Group and B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review, aside from a free copy of this book, and the opinions contained here are strictly my own honest personal ones. For me, this book has dramatically changed the way I approach prayer, from a half- hearted request for what I need, to understand the power of coming before the very throne room of our Creator and God. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and have ordered this for the people in my prayer group so we can be as effective in prayer as God has designed prayer to be.

For more information about The Battle Plan for Prayer, Alex and Stephen Kendrick or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen and Alex Kendrick 

You can find the War Room on Facebook to stay up to date on all the latest prayer strategies to make your prayer life the way God has designed it to be.

For more reviews on The Battle Plan for Prayer, please visit B and H Publisher's website.

Fervent

Looking for a great book on the strategies of battle worthy prayer for women? Something like industrial grade survival gear to face off against the enemy instead of taking on friendly fire, or being defeated in yet another daily spiritual battle? How many more times we will risk falling victim to the enemies schemes to cause division in our homes, families, marriages, relationships and just about every area of our life, while he simply seems to get better at it? If you are ready to get serious about prayer, free from whatever is keeping you held down and held back, wanting to reach our destiny and experience God's promises in our lives, than I would encourage you to pick up Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer.

Inspired by the upcoming movie the War Room, Priscilla takes us deep into the heart of the very ploys that Satan designs us to fail in specific areas of our life and shows us exactly how he plans on doing that. It creates an eye opening look to what his plans are, what the symptoms look like, and how we can pray more boldly for victory each time an attack comes. She even designed tear out cards you can create to put in the place you pray most often so you can use that specific prayer when facing a particular attack in that area.

As long as prayer remains an afterthought, no matter how badly we may want it, without the confidence, meaning, clarity, and vitality needed in our prayers, we simply waste years doing a whole lot of other things. Things that thoroughly exhaust us but ultimately don't work. We end up, for all our trying, missing the point on what God intended, missing the whole heart of what really matters. This book is designed to help you create, plan and pray specifically and strategically with precision in areas like passion, focus, identity, family, our past, our fears, our purity, pressures, hurts and relationships. It will teach you that when you pray about the places where we seriously suspect the enemy is at work - that is how we keep our prayers focused, not only on particular situations, but on biblical truths that are consistent with maintaining victory in the midst of them.

I received Fervent by Priscilla Shirer compliments of Icon Media Group and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review aside from a free copy of this book, and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Priscilla Shirer is not only a best-selling author, but she is also taking part in acting in the upcoming movie the War Room. This book is so great at helping you format specific and powerful prayers in certain areas in your life, because it is the one weapon that truly works in those spiritual areas of our life that are impacting us daily. For me, this was a must read because my prayer life could use a revitalizing and I got exactly that through my reading of this book. I would easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out this month.

For more information about Fervent, Priscilla Shirer, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Fervent by Priscilla Shirer

You can find Priscilla Shirer on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Fervent please visit B and H Publishing Group. 

BASH and the Chocolate Milk Cows

Spending time on the farm is what most kids would dream would be a time of untold imagination and unlimited fun. Where the sky is the limit and staying outside lasts well past the time the sun goes down. When Raymond William Boxby, known fondly as Beamer arrives to hang out with his third cousin, twice removed, but not far enough in Beamer's mind, Sebastian "Bash" Hinglehob. Their adventures are only beginning when reports of a robber being spotted in town, leaves Bash wanting to capture him and Beamer, trying to stay as far away as possible.

Things begin as most would expect adventurous boys would, building boats large enough for them to fit in to gain access to catching frogs in the small creek on the edge of the farm, to helping set the stage for the largest April Fool's Day joke even on Bash's father. It will be the day that the dairy cows will give chocolate milk for the first time, and as every kid knows there is no better milk to drink than chocolate milk. Beamer isn't sure how Bash is going to pull this off, and he knows based on all his other pranks they have been attempting to pull off, they are likely going to be reaping the consequences of those actions for a long, long time.

In the book, BASH and the Chocolate Milk Cows by Burton W. Cole, young readers will gain an true appreciation to what life was like before technology kept kids from being outside and letting their imaginations run wild. What Bash and Beamer do along with all the other kids from surrounding farms, is redefine what fun really is. From blasting off in a pretend chicken coop to galaxies far, far away, to smashing eggs on the dairy cows noses as they attempt to win the battle of the Moovarians versus the Cluckorians. Even the names the boys give to the frogs that they raise from tadpoles are completely hilarious and remind us all once more of the precious days of childhood.

I received BASH and the Chocolate Milk Cows by Burton W. Cole compliments of B and H Publishing Group and Shelton Interactive for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I love the amazing illustrations that accompany the opening of each chapter. Just when you think the boys will finally stay out of trouble, they hatch another creative plot. It truly takes me back to my childhood days of catching frogs and trying to keep them at home, not a successful venture by the way, when they escape, and the unlimited ideas that come when two boys put their heads and imaginations together to fill their days when chores are done. The chocolate milk prank had to be my favorite one they manage to pull off but how they did it, will remain a secret until readers find out for themselves. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and reminds me a lot of the Beverly Cleary series of books I read growing up.

For more information about BASH and the Chocolate Milk Cows, Burton W. Cole, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

BASH and the Chocolate Milk Cows by Burton W. Cole

You can find more amazing books from Burton W. Cole by visiting his Facebook page. 

For more reviews on BASH and the Chocolate Milk Cows, please visit B and H Publishing Groups website. 

The Desperate Diva Diaries

For anyone who loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, but with a Christian twist, then you MUST pick up a copy of The Desperate Diva Diaries from Angie Spady. Written in similar format of the Diaries of the Wimpy Kid series, these are written from the perspective of Catie Conrad and her life in Middle School. Struggling with the same issues our teens face from secret crushes, bullying by the popular girls, struggling with school and life with her brother Jeremy who she refers to as Germ, the pest. it provides an outlet that teens can feel comfortable with.

This is the second novel, Catie Conrad: How to Become the Most Unpopular Girl in Middle School from Angie Spady. You don't have to read the first one to jump into this one and gain a true sense of appreciation from the things Catie struggles with. It's almost like a Christian version of Lizzie Maguire! Catie's help comes from her BFF, Sophie who is super smart and part of the Academic Team, who offers biblical advice when Catie has come to the end of her rope. While being far from perfect herself, Sophie struggles to deal with Miranda Maroni, the popular girl at school who never has anything nice to say to anyone who isn't in her click.

Even though Catie dreams of one day being a fashion diva through her many sketches of outfits and designing things from shirts to purses, she is your typical teen who has to deal with so many things on a daily basis. Her biggest challenge in this book is dealing with her younger brother, his pet skunk Rosie and just when she thinks it can't get any worse, he takes on the responsibility for caring for Dylan's bearded dragon when his family leaves to China to bring back their adopted sister. Now Catie has to deal with more pets than she can handle including her brother. Is there anyone who can understand?

I received The Desperate Diva Diaries: How To Become The Most Unpopular Girl in Middle School by Angie Spady compliments of Shelton Interactive and B and H Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions included here are strictly my own. I LOVE this series and have enjoyed reading them. I can see how young teens would benefit from sharing in the real life situations that Catie experiences, from failing a quiz, dealing with bullies, and trying to make a positive impression in her school and at home. This one even addresses volunteering and contributing to supporting the Compassion International program of helping out kids with monetary donations, but will the kids be able to part with their allowances? You'll have to read this one and see how it all turns out. The best thing I love about this is the Scripture references that Catie refers to when life is more than she can handle and how she attempts to live it out through her friends and family. Well worth a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Desperate Diva Diaries: How To Become The Most Unpopular Girl in Middle School, Angie Spady or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Desperate Diva Diaries: How To Become The Most Unpopular Girl in Middle School by Angie Spady

You can find The Desperate Diva Diaries on Facebook to stay up to date on all the latest books.

To read more reviews on The Desperate Diva Diaries, please visit B and H Publishers website.

An Honest Heart

Kaye Dacus is one of my favorite must watch authors since reading her first novel, Follow the Heart and she came back in a big way with An Honest Heart. Captivated in your traditional regency style, Kaye mixes this one up with a dramatic twist with the upcoming opening of the Great Exhibition just at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

In An Honest Heart combines two very distinctive love stories, the first being with Cadence "Caddy" Bainbridge, a seamstress who has made a life for herself opening her own dressmaking shop in the heart of Oxford, England in 1851. She uses her valuable skills not only to create the equivalent fashions of the higher end shops in London, but also incorporating those same skills to create attire for the lower class residents who also need clothing. She spends her free time teaching sewing skills to the women housed in the poor houses and prisons so that they can have a skill to fall back on much like she did. It's her way of simply giving back to the heart of the community. She was sent to a finishing school by her father who had connections with high end schools through his friendships with head masters as a way of hoping to raise her opportunities for marriage to a fine gentleman in the future.

She meets quite by fate and accident, Dr. Neal Stradbroke, the town's new doctor as he brings her mother home late one afternoon who has fainted on her daily walk. Dr. Neal Stradbroke advises Caddy that her mother has heart issues and needs to make sure she is taking better care of herself, but Caddy's mother sees a fine prospect for a husband in Neal instead and will stop at nothing to ensure that the two see what is right in front of their eyes.

The secondary story involves Edith Buchanan, a fine upstanding but often times cold-hearted wealthy women of a prominent family who is searching for a well deserved husband complete with a high end title. When her father arranges for Lord Thynne, a single viscount to arrive at their home in hopes of a possible connection for Edith, he instead has interests in her American cousin, Katharine Dearing, an heiress to a railway fortune instead of the Ice Queen. She plots to find a way for Katharine to do something that she can use to engineer her downfall and thus enable Lord Thynne to fall in love with her instead. She makes a bet with Oliver Carmicheal, Lady Carmichael's eldest son and future baron at Chawley Abbey that if neither of them secure a better match for themselves by the close of the Great Exhibition, they will agree to marry one another.

Yet Oliver Carmichael has his own sites set on Miss Bainbridge after making a bet with his close friends at a gentlemen's club when he is snubbed and dismissed by Miss Bainbridge. He believes he will have no problem in getting her to fall in love with him, since he has never been turned down by any female in his life and wagers 100 pounds that he can do it by the day the Great Exhibition opens on May 1st.

There are so many different twists and turns in this exceptional and wonderfully written novel, you truly feel like you're at the heart of something amazing as you watch things unfold between the different classes set in this novel. You are cheering that some will get what they truly deserve and you definitely have the good and evil characters in this one. I often found myself seeing the characters of Caddy Bainbridge played by the actress, Anne Hathaway and Dr. Neal Stradbroke by Hugh Jackman, while the opposing characters Mr. Oliver Carmichael portrayed by Billy Zane and Edith Buchanan played by Charlize Theron. I can't wait to see what Kaye Dacus comes up with next and this one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the second novel in the Great Exhibition Series.  For more information about An Honest Heart, Kaye Dacus or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus

You can also find Kaye Dacus on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on An Honest Heart please visit B and H Publishing's website. 

• Series: A Great Exhibition Novel
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: B and H Books (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433677210
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677212
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Snow Angel

For a women living in the late 1800's in a wealthy family the last thing anyone wanted was scandal. In order to prevent that Jane Greyson was forced against her wishes to give up her daughter out of wedlock as her father had instructed. He wasn't about to let Jane sacrifice her future plans of marriage to a affluent family in his world of politics and law. Despite all her begging, he sends Elizabeth away to an orphanage and keeps Jane locked up until she is unable to locate the child.

Now 18 years later, Elizabeth is struggling to find her way in a man's world in Alaska trying to find her own claim now that the gold rush is on. The last thing she had expected to find was an unexpected blizzard and her completely unprepared. With her last ounce of energy, she sees a fading light in the distance, if she can only make it a little further. She barely whispers a plead for help at what she believes might be the door to a cabin before she collapses into the snow.

Noah Wesley isn't sure what he hears while in his remote Alaskan cabin in the woods, but when he feels God's call on his heart to move to check it, he finds a women barely alive buried in the snow. As he attempts to save her against the elements, he wonders just who she is and why a woman would wander all alone in the wilderness so unprepared, but those questions will have to wait until Elizabeth is conscience. But will Noah be able to save her from not only the effects of the blizzard but from the past she is running from? Who is Elizabeth really?

I received Snow Angel by Jamie Carie compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are my own unless otherwise notated. This heart-warming novel takes a look at the Gold Rush in Alaska during the late 1800's as thousands moved west in hopes of seeking fortune and glory with the discovery of gold. For a woman to attempt to find her own claim during this time especially unmarried, but Elizabeth knows enough about gold mining to give men a run for their money. After the foster parents she lived with, she learned enough to help them find their own claim, but after discovering her father murdered the man whose claim he had stolen, she learned they were planning on pinning the murder on her. Now she has to fight harder to discover not only gold but who she really is in the process. For those that love historical romance, this one is definitely a 5 out of 5 star recommendation in my opinion.

For more information about Snow Angel, Jamie Carie or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Snow Angel by Jamie Carie

You can find Jamie Carie on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Snow Angel, please visit B and H Publishing Group's website.

Desperate Diva Diaries

For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries, comes a great alternative for girls in Middle School who want something with a spiritual message tucked inside. Desperate Diva Diaries from author Angie Spady is just for girls who can relate to the things Catie Conrad has to deal with in going to Middle School.

Her father supplied her with three journals, which he hopes she will find the love of writing her thoughts in them as much as he enjoyed writing for the newspaper, but Catie was hoping that he might have found a least a good zit zapper instead. However she finds that writing down what she is going through in school might not be so bad. Her best friend is Sophie, who is always looking out for her best interests and keeps her on the spiritual path while the two dream up spa inspired recipes for body lotion and bubble bath when they have sleepovers.

Catie is challenged to get along with her younger brother, Jeremy, whom she lovingly refers to as the "Germ." He has a pet skunk as a pet named Rosie he doesn't go anywhere without. Her nemesis in school is Miranda Maroni, who is the ultimate popular girl in school who has everything going for her including the same interest in Josh Henderson, the boy both girls are hoping will ask them to the upcoming dance. Catie dreams of one day becoming a big name fashionista and shares her ideas in her diary along with all her frustrations only a teenager girl would understand.

I received Desperate Diva Diaries-Catie Conrad: Faith, Friendship and Fashion Disasters by Angie Spady and illustrated by Channing Everidge compliments of Shelton Interactive and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. In exchange for a free copy of the book, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I only wish I had a book like this when I was younger. It reminded me of Beverly Clearly and the books about Ramona and Beezus, but this one has an uplifting message inside. While Catie struggles to put her faith in action, she remembers why it is necessary to pray for others and even serve in the mission field. It helps her understand how things like what dress you will get for the dance or even buying the latest smart phone relates in the bigger scheme of life. I can't wait to pick this entire series as it becomes available for my niece whom I know will absolutely LOVE this one as much as I did. Hands down a 5 out of 5 perfect stars!

For more information about Desperate Diva Diaries-Catie Conrad: Faith, Friendship and Fashion Disasters, Angie Spady or where you can preorder a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Desperate Diva Diaries-Catie Conrad: Faith, Friendship and Fashion Disasters by Angie Spady

Shadowed By Grace

"YOU HAVE ONCE CHANCE to make this fly." Bobby Hamilton leaned across his broad desk and stared her down." I had to pull more strings than I knew I had to get the brass to bite on sending a woman to Italy. Who sends a woman to a worn-torn country? Getting credentials? What a mess." The man waved his beefy hands down in a dismissive gesture. "Then getting you on the Queen Mary?" He chomped hard on his cigar.

Rachel perched on the chair in his crowded office as the Andrew Sisters belted out "Bogie Woogie Bugle Boy" on the small Kadette radio sitting atop a stack of papers on Bobby's overloaded credenza. She kept her back so straight her men's-style tailored blazer pulled her shoulders back.

She didn't blink, couldn't give a single sign of weakness. Her editor may have taken all those steps, but she'd had to convince him first, all while watching her mother waste away day by day.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Justice."

"I do." she put as much force behind the word as she could without shouting.

He leaned back in his chair, unlit cigar poised to punctuate a thought. "You've got talent. A way with that camera."

She stroked the case, feeling as if it naturally extended from her.

"Don't let me down. Send back photos that will wow readers." He didn't have to mention his bosses.

"Yes, sir." Rachel lurched to her feet and straightened her skirt's front pleat as she hurried from the room before he could call her back.

:There was so much to do. Too much before she could join the mass of soldiers and handful of civilians who would cross the Atlantic aboard the HMS Queen Mary. If she hurried, she could finish cleaning the apartment and still make it to the hospital before visiting hours ended. It was a stop Rachel had to make, yet dreaded. How could she explain to her mother what she was doing while hiding her secondary purpose?"(Excerpt.)

In the latest novel from best selling author Cara C Putman, Shadowed by Grace takes readers into the heart of Italy in 1944 following United Press photography Rachel Justice as she attempts to locate her father whom she believes can help provide the money to help her mother battle tuberculosis and get well. The only clue she has is her mother's journal and a sketchbook from an artist with the initials RMA.

Her only ally in the process is Lieutenant Scott Lindstorm who is assigned as an officer with the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Division to escort Rachel along the way to shot photographs for the division in need of good press. He was there to help shore up classic buildings that had stood since the Roman Empire that aerial bombings destroyed. Or locate priceless pieces of art created by the masters of the thirteenth century to ensure the fighting hadn't destroyed them. Or plan for the restoration of those that had been touched by the war. The tales that art disappeared behind the lines made it more important than ever that he leave the city for the locations where the sculpture, paintings and altarpieces were housed. He wasn't looking for a tagalong.

What ensues will cause them both to question their true purpose for being in Italy during WWII and in the process find a much deeper meaning into why their paths crossed after all!

I received Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman compliments of Litfuse Publicity and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This took me into a side of the war I never knew existed as a division of men know as the Monument Men, protected the culture of the country by guarding and locating precious works of art. This is based on true life events that transpired during the war along with a touch of romance to keep the story interesting. Being a huge fan of WWII history I absolutely LOVED this and wanted to know how it would all play out with WWII Italy being the backdrop. I was not disappointed and easily give this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Shadowed by Grace, Cara C Putman or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman

You can find Cara C. Putman on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Shadowed by Grace please visit the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour page. 

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (January 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433681781
• ISBN-13: 978-1433681783
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches 

Cara Putman is celebrating her latest historical suspense novel, Shadowed by Grace with a fun "Past & Present" giveaway! 

One winner will receive:

• A Polaroid Instant Camera
• A beautiful antique AFGRA camera (learn more here)
• Movie passes to see The Monuments Men movie (with George Clooney and Matt Damon)
• Shadowed By Grace by Cara Putman

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. Winner will be announced February 10th on Cara's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Cara's blog on the 10th to see if you won.

Gabriel's Bride

Choices, choices? But which is the right path to take? If only she had a definitive answer. Will God answer her prayers? Rachel Yoder is still dealing with the death of her only family member, her Aunt Katherine, she is now faced with finding a new place to live. Unlike most Amish families, her Aunt Katherine took out a reverse mortgage on her home and land. Now that she has passed away, the bank now owns the property and despite all of Rachel's pleas to make the payments, she has no other choice but to find somewhere else to move.

It seems her only option is moving to Ohio where her Katherine had some cousins that could definitely use her help raising eleven children. His wife has been ill lately and could use the help around the house if she is willing to come. But what other choice does she have? She can only pray that they might be willing to take her goats as well since she has been making a living with their milk and cheese. But Ohio? So far away.

"There is no one here that would take her in. No one who would help without needing something in return. For her to care for their children or cook their meals. No one who would understand how important it was for her to keep her goats and make her cheese. To understand how important it was for her to make her own way. Once again she was adrift. Alone in the world. Except this time she was twenty-six, not ten. This time she was an adult, though she still felt like a frightened child who had come here all the way from Florida to live with a maiden aunt after her parents had died in that awful accident.

"The district will have to choose a new deacon, and I'm putting your name in."

A dozen conflicting emotions swamped Gabriel. He wasn't worthy. He was a widower. He didn't need the responsibility while he was alone now and struggling to raise his children.

"I'll say that I'd rather you didn't." Being a deacon, or any of the chosen leaders, was no easy job. Aside from feeling like he wasn't worthy, he simply wasn't up for it.

""It'll do you good son."

Gabriel took a deep breath, slowing the mad thump of his heart. Just because his name went into the lot wouldn't mean he would be chosen. Only God knew the outcome.

"Course'n it'd be better if you were married."

He had no intention of getting married again. He'd been so blessed before, marrying a woman he loved with all his heart. Then the Lord had seen fit to take her home at the same time He gave them Samuel. Gabriel would never love like that again. Having experienced it once before, it wasn't fair to ask another to enter into a relationship that was not was wondrous. Oh, he knew that he'd had something so special with Rebecca, he couldn't settle for less. He's make do in his life, knowing that once he had held the world in his arms.

But the little voice whispered in his head. He no longer had a woman partner, someone - anyone - to help with chores and teaching the boys the ways of women. Katie Rose was getting ready to get married and Mary Elizabeth was gone, her love of animals and desire for an education pushing her into the Englisch world. His mother was doing well after her cancer treatments a couple of years back, but she was not as strong as she used to be. Gideon's Annie was going to deliver their first child soon. No, all the women in his life were busy living their own lives. Oh, they would help if he asked, but he didnt' feel that was fair, nor was getting married again. He'd just have to manage.

"I don't think - "

Esh shushed him with a wave of one hand. "You just be open to whatever God has in store for you."

There was no way to argue with that. "Jah, Deacon. I will at that." (Excerpt pg 13-14).

Welcome to Gabriel's Bride, the third book by Amy Lillard in her Clover Ridge series that has completed captivated my heart and soul! Both Rachel and Gabriel have pressing matters in which a marriage of convenience would work well for, but even though it seems like the perfect arrangement, neither of them are prepared for what lies in store for them. For Rachel she has to contend with trying to find a way to cook and clean when she appears to not be able to manage anything without burning or scorching something in the process. Gabriel has to battle the feelings that he finds stirring in his heart now that Rachel is living under his roof even though they have agreed to keep things platonic between them. It's the perfect recipe for romance and a whole lot of laughs along the way.

I received Gabriel's Bride by Amy Lillard compliments of B and H Publishing Group and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I have been completely charmed by this series because Amy creates a delightful cast of characters that keeps you coming back for more just to know what is happening in their lives. It's hard to believe that your simply reading a great novel and these characters only exist on the pages of this book and not in real life. They aren't perfect but have their own set of flaws much like we all do. I believe that is what makes readers sit up and take notice.  Congratulations Amy Lillard, you've hooked me and created such a craving for this series, I am officially addicted. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and it even includes a discussion guide that is great for book clubs!

For more information about Gabriel's Bride, Amy Lillard or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Gabriel's Bride by Amy Lillard

You can also find Amy Lillard on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Gabriel's Bride, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tours. 

For the Love of Pete

Ever since Bethany Hanahan moved back to Bloomfield after her husband Charlie passed away two and a half years ago, people have been after her to get rid of the clutter - first her mother Naomi and then a few other garden club members who meant well. But until recently, she didn't see it as clutter. To Bethany, it was all about the memories. Charlie had been a wonderful husband and father before he found out he had advanced stage prostate cancer. After he passed away, her mother had tried to talk her into returning to Bloomfield, but she decided to wait until Ashley finished high school before moving into the modest house Charlie's parents had left them.

Charlie and Pete both worked for their families' businesses part-time during high school, with the understanding they'd eventually go full-time until their parent retired. Bethany and Charlie hung around for a couple of years, but he grew tired of Bloomfield and the small-town quirkiness. Leaving her family and friends, she moved away with him as soon as he could find a job. She compensated for her homesickness by finding joy in Charlie's happiness.

Bethany once thought they might eventually move back to Bloomfield, but after Ashley was born, that changed. Bethany and Charlie didn't want to pull their daughter away from the church-based social life that kept her busy with so many activities. But now all of that changed with Charlie's death. If only she could find a way to part with the many knick knacks that now filled her small home literally to overflowing leaving no room for movement or cleaning. If only she knew a way to do that, she just might more than light at the end of the tunnel in moving on.

In the novel For the Love of Pete by Debby Mayne, Bethany Hanahan remains at the center of what her mother Naomi believes is best for her and trying to find a happy medium to keep her sanity in tack. She just isn't ready to part with the overflowing keepsakes from Charlie's mother, the gifts that Charlie and Ashley have helped her collect over the years they had with one another, but now it seems that everyone knows what's best for Bethany without taking her feelings into consideration. All except Pete, who has always carried a torch for Bethany since he and Charlie vied for her heart so many years ago. But Pete isn't sure when will be the right time to tell her how he felt even though everyone else in town can see it as plain as day. Is there hope for Pete to find a way into Bethany's already cluttered and overflowing life? Only time will tell!

I received For the Love of Pete by Debby Mayne compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I can understand the conflicts that Bethany is facing with each object that has filled her home. It carries with it the time and place of someone close to her, the day she got it and most importantly the love she feels by touching it and remembering. Her mother only wants to see her moving on with her life instead of remaining locked away in her home with only things from the past keeping her company. Pete is the perfect hero to come along at a time when she really needs a true friend! I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and love how well Debby Mayne put all the elements together to create a truly remarkable series readers will love.

For more information For the Love of Pete, Debby Mayne, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

For the Love of Pete by Debby Mayne

You can also find Debby Mayne on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on For the Love of Pete from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, click here. 

• Series: A Bloomfield Novel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (January 15, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143367730X
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677304
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches

God is Able ~ Giveaway and Review

"No matter who you are, however old or young, there's always at least one thing. That thing in your life you can't seem to - you know, escape or fix or solve. It's just...it's ...(Sigh.)

It's always there. Just when you think you've maybe figured out a little piece of it - how you might be able to handle it better, manage it, work around it, or get out ahead of it - it always seems to end up beating you, or at least keeping you awake in the wee hours of the night.

You've tried. (Oh, Lord, how you've tried.) You've prayed. You've asked. You've begged. You've fretted. You've calculated. You've eaten better. You've exercised more.

You've tried being gentler, then firmer. Louder, then more quieter. More assertive, then more submissive. You've admitted where you went wrong and refused to gloat when you were right. You feel like you've done everything you can think of. And honestly, you're starting to seriously wonder now if God can do this, if He can do...It.

You'd still like to think He can. And if you were to spout all your churchy rhetoric, it'd sure sound like you believe He can. But deep down - down where you soul pulses with doubt and uneasiness - you wonder about that circumstance, that life issue, that dilemma you're facing. God may be able to keep the stars in the sky, the earth tilted on its axis, and the heavens hung in glorious array. But can He do this?  It?"(pg 1-3)

In her latest book, God Is Able, Priscilla Shirer takes the reader into a look at what God is capable of through a personal look at her own doubts and unbeliefs when she was struggling. That no one has it all together no matter how famous or close to God they appear to be. She shows us that no matter how difficult our situations may be or how caught off guard they may have found you, they can carve out a deep foothold where doubt could settle in. But if you and I don't turn to face these things, we'd never come face to face with Him. And our God's not having any of that. She write is such a way you feel as if you're having a one on one conversation with a close personal friend, something I love when reading non fiction books.

I received God is Able by Priscilla Shirer compliments of B and H Publishers and Icon Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This is such an exciting book because as believers, we all find ourselves struggling to keep our head above the storm waters that threaten to consume us. Yet even in the heart of the storm, Priscilla showcases how God is Able to do the Impossible through her own personal experiences and using the scripture reference of "Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or think according the power that works within us to Him be the glory" found in Ephesians 3:20-21. She pulls apart those verses to encourage readers to see what God can do in their lives, in their situations to not only answer their prayers if it His will but more importantly to see God in what is happening. This is such a great resource for anyone who has ever struggled and wondered where God was in their life. For that reason I give this a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and this is one I plan on referring to quite a bit whenever doubt tends to creep back into my life about what God is able to do!

You can find out more information about God is Able, Priscilla Shirer, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, by clicking on the links below:

God is Able by Priscilla Shirer

You can find Priscilla Shirer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

Thanks to the generous folks at B and H Publishers and Icon Media Group, they are providing a copy of this book to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" it, simply leave me a comment telling me you stopped by as part of this giveaway.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US Shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment below telling me why you would LOVE to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email when the giveaway ends on December 27th, so be sure to include your email address with your comment.

Whispers of Hope ~ Giveaway and Review

At times in my Christian walk I know that the most powerful weapon we have at our disposal is our prayers. Yet far too often we utilize them in a final attempt to a situation we realize is out of our control. But I believe what is missing is why we pray. It isn't just geared for a "wish list" for God's blessings in our life, or as a last minute call to action for our Heavenly Father to intervene in our situations we find ourselves struggling with. Prayer is first and foremost our method of communication with our Father in Heaven. It's more than just asking for Him to help us, it's about praising Him for what He is and what He is doing and what He has done for us. It's about letting go of thinking anything we do in this life we have control over and instead gracefully bowing out and rendering complete control willingly to Him.

In Beth Moore's latest book, Whispers of Hope, a 10 week devotional geared to work on our prayer lives over the next 70 days. She encourages readers to journal their prayers using a PRAISE acronym to remind us what it's all about instead of simply asking for help. Each day of this journey encourages the reader in a devotional to complete a brief Bible reading assignment, a Scripture for the day, and thoughts for the day. A Daily Prayer Guide follows each devotional to record your petitions using the P.R.A.I.S.E. approach to prayer. There is also a place in the book for you to record the answers to your prayers in the Answer Log.

Beth even addresses how to utilize Whispers of Hope in a group setting for Bible or Women's studies. She gives tips on different ways to make the best of the information you discover as you take your journey to enriching your personal prayer lives. No greater priority exists for the believer than knowing Christ through the study of His Word and the intimacy of prayer. Each day's format should allow most people to complete their daily devotions in about 30-40 minutes. This book is offered to help you form a habit of prayer and she hopes that in using this time, you will discover a fresh supply of mercy every morning, but more than that, may you discover the Mercy Giver.

I received Whispers of Hope by Beth Moore compliments of B and H Publishing Group and Icon Media Group for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. I know for me personally I am loving having a guide to help me set aside some time each day and read about God through the Bible and utilize this time as a personal discovery into understanding more about God. I only hope that each day in using it I will grow stronger in my prayer life, much like anyone who practices their skill in anything only improves the more time they spend doing it. I easily give this prayer devotional a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. This is perfect for an individual, women's or group Bible Study.

For more information about Whispers of Hope, Beth Moore or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Whispers of Hope by Beth Moore

You can also find Beth Moore on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

Thanks to the generosity of B and H Publishers and Icon Media Group, they are offering a giveaway copy of this prayer devotional to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here's your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" it, simply leave me a comment telling me you stopped by as part of this giveaway.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US Shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment below telling me why you would LOVE to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email when the giveaway ends on December 26th, so be sure to include your email address with your comment.

Merry Humbug Christmas

This time of the year, I love it when you can find some really remarkable Christmas novels that are so good you know that they would make an incredible movie. There hasn't been any great Christmas movies in quite some time but Merry Humbug Christmas provides an outlet in that case. The novel from author Sandra D Bricker is a two for one that combines two unique characters and divides the novel into two separate Christmas tales with a flair for humor and laughter.

Once Upon a Jingle Bells takes Joss Snow into unexpected places for Christmas. Growing up with a formal name of Merry Christmas Snow, a play on words she says can be used in Wheel of Fortune's Before and After puzzle, she decided to change her name after her parents were killed during the Christmas season. Now she swears off of celebrating the season at any cost and has enlisted her best friend Reese in this endeavor until this year. Reese is now engaged and so Joss is on her own. She books a cruise to the Mexican Riviera that is supposed to be a Bah Humbug cruise and when the cruise is cancelled she finds herself rebooked on the 12 Fun Days of Christmas cruise instead with no way out. You can only imagine how this one plays on when your stuck on a ship with Christmas celebrations at literally every corner. Will she be able to avoid catching more than the Christmas spirit after all?

The novel concludes with Reese's story in It Came Upon a Midnight Deer where we find Reese and her fiancè Damian heading to his family's cabin in Sugar Loaf to celebrate Christmas and for Reese to meet the family. While Reese may have had good intentions on making the best impression on meeting her new in-laws, this tale takes a turn for the completely unexpected beginning with a car accident on the road to the family home in which they literally hit a deer. While the deer is injured, it is able to hobble off into the night leaving Reese and Damian stranded in the snow with no phone service and their only out is a two mile hike in the snow. The laughs only build from this point on when literally NOTHING works out like Reese wants and she soon wonder if she is really cut out to marry into this family after all.

I received Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra D Bricker compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This was truly a breath of fresh air and I LOVED every single moment of this story. I love how Sandra combined the two best friends stories into two separate ones but still felt the overlap in what happened to both during an unexpected change in their Christmas plans. This is one of my favorite Christmas stories this year because it adds humor and laughter to the joy of the season and we all know it doesn't always work out as planned. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. Can't wait for more novels from Sandra in the future.

For more information about Merry Humbug Christmas, Sandra D. Bricker or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra D. Bricker

You can also find Sandra D. Bricker on Facebook to stay up to date with all her novels.

To read more reviews on Merry Humbug Christmas from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance book tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433680750
• ISBN-13: 978-1433680755
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches

Greetings From The Flipside

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Greetings from the Flipside

B&H Books (October 15, 2013)

by

Rene Gutteridge

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Rene is the author of seventeen novels. She also has extensive experience writing comedy sketches, and worked for five years as the director of drama for a church. She has a degree specializing in Screenwriting, for which she earned the Excellence in Mass Communication Award, and graduated magna cum laude.


She is married to Sean, a musician and worship leader, and has two children. They reside in Oklahoma, where Rene writes full time and enjoys instructing in college classrooms and writers conferences.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope Landon has been rewriting other people's greeting cards since she was six years old -- there's always a funnier caption. She's all set to chase those creative dreams with her musician fiance in New York City until he leaves Hope at the altar, deciding he must not really love this girl if he can't write a song for her. That may give her something to write about . . .


Hope disappears alone on what was supposed to be the couple's month long honeymoon. Upon returning she learns of her funeral -- everyone in her life concluded Hope must have killed herself after being jilted. Needing a fresh start more than ever, she heads for the Big Apple only to discover it's not that easy to rent a place when you've been declared dead.

Taking shelter at the YWCA, Hope soon lands a job at a Christian inspirational greeting card company as an assistant to Jake, a guy who shut down his organization's humor department. She has lost her faith in love; he needs to find something or someone that will make him laugh.

Is there anything in the cards for these two? Find out in the truly original Greetings from the Flipside by authors Rene Gutteridge (Boo) and Cheryl McKay (screenplay for The Ultimate Gift).

If you would like to read the first chapter of >Greetings from the Flipside, go HERE.