Chasing The Sun

Author Tracie Peterson has launched a new series of Christian Historical Westerns with the Land of the Lonestar Series and the first book, Chasing the Sun. Set in 1863 in Texas, the reader finds herself with the main character Hannah Dandridge who has received news that her father has been taken prisoner by the Yankees by her father's business and law partner Herbert Lockhart. Even though Hannah doesn't believe her father has done anything wrong by merely going to Mississippi to bury his mother and Hannah's brother Benjamin who died when the Yankees attacked Vicksburg. Thanks to the rapid response in receiving the news two months after their deaths. Now her father is missing and she doesn't know what has happened.

Now the sole responsibility of caring for the ranch her father had recently acquired and since Hannah's doesn't know how long it will be before her father returns, this is a great burden to bear. Not only does she need to care for the upkeep of the ranch but also for her two siblings, Andy who was eight and Marty who was five. How could she possibly keep the news from them about the whereabouts of her father? Now Mr. Lockhart wants to extend his partnership to include Hannah and she is considering the possibility if her father never returns. Hannah sees no other prospects at 24 and saddled with her current burden until William Barnett shows up wounded at the ranch.

Thus the storyline begins to unfold with the intentions of both Barnett and Lockhart ultimately trying to win Hannah's affection. Yet just who will Hannah chose and what will become of the ranch and her father?

I received, Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and have to say I loved it. Even though you can probably predict the outcome by the end, the story that Tracie weaves allows the readers to root for the good guy and boo for the bad one! Another winner for those who love western romances with a Godly message blended in. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my book.

For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

You can also find Tracie on Facebook by clicking here.

The Ocean and The Hourglass

The Mariner could be the next great superhero, or could it possibly be the Prodigy? My mind travels to far off lands and oceans where the characters jump to life with every page I turn. I want to reach inside of the book and take care of the main character, Nicholas Miles. He is only a teenager, but one who has been delivered a hard life! With no father to guide him, and a mother who can only find peace through the bottle, Nicholas attaches himself to the only thing he finds real, The Mariner! A comic book about a man who is one with the ocean and has remarkable superpowers. Nicholas finds himself in the only reality he finds comforting, his comic books.

As he gets to school, he is confronted by the school bully. Mark and his gang of high school thugs are always on the hunt for easy prey to pick on and Nicholas is usually the target! With his favorite comic book torn to shreds, and tears running down his face he finds the strength to stand up, gather his thoughts, walk out school to the place he knew he could order another Mariner Comic, the Library! Finding his way to the library in the freezing cold is no ordinary feat! He has challenges along the way and once he gets there, he finds Mr. Thompson, the librarian, asking questions why Nicholas is not in school again. Of course, Mr. Thompson knows better and has been one of the few friends Nicholas has! Nicholas dodging explanations quickly asks if he can order another comic book, but the librarian has a better idea! As he leads Nicholas to private section where special and rare books are held, he tells Nicholas of a book that is so special that it has rules attached. Seeing the hourglass next to the book Nicholas asks what it is for and Mr. Thompson explains the 5 rules of the book. Nicholas promises to follow the rules and starts reading once the librarian has left the room. What adventures await him as he quickly finds himself immersed within its pages.

The rest you will have to find out for yourself as I would not want to spoil the adventure! I found this book extremely exciting, exhilarating, and action packed with adventures at every turn of the page! Dan O'Brien has a great writing style that does not confuse the reader with overly difficult character development, but with a grace that engulfs you into believing every character in the book picturing in your mind what each one looks like. I loved this book and would definitely recommend not only to young adults, but to reading audiences from children, school systems, science fiction, to adult readers as well.

I received The Ocean and The Hourglass compliments of Dan O'Brien for my honest review and I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars! Would definitely recommend to my children and others to read! Thank you Dan for coming up with an original book that I can only somewhat compare to The Never-Ending Story, written by Michael Ende. The Ocean and The Hourglass, a wonderful Book with twists and turns abound within its pages for all to read!

For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

The Ocean and The Hourglass by Dan O'Brien

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels A Love Story

When Ree Drummond thought of her perfect life, she never imagined it would be the complete opposite of everything she would do and be. Living the life of a city girl in a home that bordered the golf course, her days consisted of country clubs, dancing, and socializing with her girls friends over shopping trips until the day she looked across the bar and saw the cowboy.

The complete opposite of all the previous men she had dated in the past and just at the time she was considering a move to Chicago and terminating a long standing relationship, she met Marlboro Man. He was a handsome cowboy wearing cowboy boots, Wranglers and salt and peppered hair. She found herself captivated in so many ways and when she walked over to talk to him, her life would change forever.

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond is her personal story of the love story between her and her husband that she affectionately calls Marlboro Man. For those of you who have never heard of The Pioneer Woman, then you need to read this heart warming love story of life on a cattle ranch and all the horror stories that went hand in hand with winning over her heart.

Before I read this book, I knew Ree Drummond from her successful blog, The Pioneer Woman wear one will find anything from home schooling tips, to photographs of her life on the ranch, to the most mouth watering recipes anywhere in the world. But a world of caution, once you begin your journey, Ree will become your new best friend. She is a mix between Ethel Merman, Lucille Ball and a little spice from the South all mixed together for a perfect blend of fun loving lady underneath it all. As you read through her latest novel, you feel like your sitting with your friend over cinnamon rolls and coffee on her porch overlooking her cattle ranch as she tells it like it is, no holds barred, and that's what you will love. The same as her readers and fans from all over. She's a real down to earth lady with a heart of gold.

I received The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and just know that every woman that reads this will find a connection with Ree. The best part is that the book contains some of her infamous recipes that you can enjoy and fall in love with. This one rates 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and for those of you that love a good romance with a whole lot of laughs along the way, then this is perfect for you.

For more information on this book, the author and where you can purchase this book today, please click on the links below:

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story by Ree Drummond

You can also find her on her Facebook Page by clicking here.

Check out her website and blog by clicking here

Oil: A Novel

Just what do you think would happen if all the countries that supply us with oil, suddenly found their supplies at risk? There has been talk lately of the recent natural gas find in Israel and some believe that oil may lie within that country as well. If it were in fact true, Israel would move to the top of the super power list for supplying not only natural gas but oil as well.

However, if that were to happen then the countries that have become Israel's biggest enemies would really find ways to destroy and wipe her off the face of the map as so many countries have already stated their threats.

Now in the latest novel by Jeff Nesbit, Oil: A Novel, set this up as the underlying premise of this story. Iran, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and China have a vital stake in trying to vie for the top position as an oil supplier to the world. The main problem with finding oil has been its difficult extraction for the shale in which it is located. Environmentalists want to make sure that the land and resources are not harmed and when a process is discovered that will allow that to happen, everyone wants a piece of the shale.

Now power begins to shift by those that want it the most and using the legends from the Middle East of the prophecy regarding the Twelfth Imam and the Mahdi, they will make sure that all signs point to the rise of these figures and shift the balance of power in the Middle East forever. Now whatever peace has been achieved up to this point will now be placed on the table and what role will Israel have in it all?

I received this book compliments of Summerside Press and Guideposts for my honest review. Even though the story takes awhile to develop you eventually understand why it's necessary when you see how detailed the process is by the climax of the book. There are many players involved in making this storyline happen and I think Jeff Nesbit does a wonderful job at building up his characters. It appears that a sequel is forthcoming as the book does leave the reader at a bit of a cliff hanger ending and things are not quite resolved. I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to any future books that Jeff will breath life into. For those that love a bit of mystery and suspense with potential current world events then this one is perfect for you.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book as soon as it releases, please click on the link below:

Oil: A Novel by Jeff Nesbit

Illusion

My all time favorite author just released his latest book, so what do I do the moment it arrives? I inhale it, slowly like my all time favorite meal. Why? you ask would you read it slowly, because it may be a long time before another novel this great comes out again, so I want to savor it and make it last as long as I possibly can. So who is this great author that has inspired me to write in this same type of genre since reading his first book, This Present Darkness? Well that would be Frank Peretti!!!

He's the Christian equivalent of Stephen King, master at words and being able to draw the reader in slowly and keeping them engaged until the final page is turned and you sigh. Not because you are finished but because it was that good and you want to read it again.

Illusion is the latest novel by Frank Peretti and it was just as great as anything he has ever written, after all this time, like fine wine, it's only gotten better.



Illusion is a story involving a couple of twisted but masterfully woven story lines, the foremost begins in the first chapter and Mandy Collins, the fifty-nine year old wife of Dane Collins and the second half of the magic act, Dane and Mandy, is in a horrible car accident. While the accident has left Dane battered and bruised, Mandy is burned to bad to recover and so he is making final preparations to say good bye to his partner and wife as she's about to be whisked away for organ donation. It is here that the story begins and starts to twist.

As Dane tries to understand how his life will go on without Mandy in it, she miraculously appears at a county fair only now she is nineteen. She believes the year is 1970 but in reality its 2010 and she has lost 40 years of her life. Disorientated and feeling lost and wearing only a hospital gown, she struggles with reality until she is picked up by concerned citizens at the fair who turn her over to the police. Not knowing what to tell them, she tries to explain what she knows but that only ends up making her more confused and the police believe she is a mental patient and thus put her in hospital to determine her mental condition. Trying to find a way out of the mental ward, she begins to see an image of a farm, with white picket fence and three aspen trees as though she can see through the walls. Upon walking toward that scene, she realizes that no one can see her and she slips quietly out of the hospital. It is then she realizes she has unusual powers and is drawn back into the world of magic where she feels she has lived a life before.

Dane is released from the hospital to make funeral arrangements from his wife along with the warning from Dr. Kessler that due to his post traumatic stress disorder after losing his wife, and being on strong pain medications and muscle relaxers, he should call her if he should find himself thinking he has seen his wife. However normal it might feel, she isn't real.

I received Illusion by Frank Peretti compliments of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review and can't tell you just how great it is. A combination of suspense, magic and romance, Frank Peretti could have ended this novel any number of ways and I am so thrilled he chose the ending he did. This one rates a permanent home in my personal library and give it the highest rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I have to tell you once this arrived in my home, it was a struggle to be the first to read it in my family, now I must regretfully turn it over to my daughter who will fall in love with this story within the first chapter and will be held captive in the world of mystery and wonder of magic.

For more information on this book, the author and where you can purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Illusion by Frank Peretti

You can also find Frank Peretti on Facebook by clicking here.

Miami Vineyard Live - CD Review and Giveaway

Miami Live from Vineyard Resources on Vimeo.

What do you think you'd get if you fused together Black, Anglo, Latino, Caribbean, and Cuban voices together for some worship and praise music?Well you'd have an amazing blend of some music that will make you want to get up and dance. This music reminded me of Gloria Estephan and the Miami Sound Machine if you're at all familiar with that type of music. Love that? Then I just know you are going to love this one.

Holy Spirit Come is the opening song on this 15-song Christian CD and is geared to make you want to stand up, sing and dance! It's that great!

Gloria A Dios Solo (With My Whole Heart) is more slow worship with a sax added to jazz this up! Coupled with Spanish Lyrics, it shows you just how diverse this mix is going to be.

Lord Reign in Me, had to be without a doubt of my 13-year-old's favorite as I sit here listening to it, she's getting her Latin groove on and dancing on by! I mean how you could not fall in love with a CD that can't help but put you in a great mood and get you dancing at the same time.

Miami Vineyard Live is a collection of some of the funniest praise and worship songs I have had the opportunity to listen to and review. Among the 2000 people that attend Miami Vineyard Community Church, there are over a hundred singers, instrumentalists, and songwriters that make up it's eclectic worship ministry. For one night, 20 of these musicians joined together in worship and invited the church to document the sound that is uniquely Miami Vineyard Live.



I received this CD compliments of Vineyard Music and Propeller for my honest review and have to say, I LOVE IT! It's completely different from anything I have ever heard and am so excited to be able to share this with you. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Now for the exciting and best part, thanks to the generous folks at Vineyard Music and Propeller, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here's all you need to do to enter:

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

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address.

3. Leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this CD along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. I will be notifying the winner of this giveaway by email when it ends.

This giveaway will end on March 10th and I will notify the winner at that time via email.

For more information on this CD, or where to purchase it, please click on the links below:

Miami Vineyard Live (Latin, Gospel, Island and Funk Worship)

You can visit their official website by clicking here.

For Facebook fans, you can click here to find them on Facebook!

Ruby Dawn

She was named after the way the morning sky looked on the day that she was found, a beautiful Ruby Dawn. She was only eight when she believes her life began because she doesn't remember the life she had before that. Living in foster home after foster home until the one person who was going to promise her a new life, died tragically in a car accident. Now she spent the remainder of her time in Dresden Heights Detention Center until she could begin life outside on her own instead of being a ward of the state.

Ruby is now working as a doctor trying to keep her medical clinic alive despite threats from a local gang that wants to use her clinic to filter drug operations through. When she refuses, the threats against her become more violent until her life hangs in the balance. When she finds a man injured in a dark alley, she learns that the man who broke her heart ten years ago, she is about to find out what God's plan has been for her all along. If only she can manage to stay alive long enough to find out.

Ruby Dawn by Raquel Byrnes is the second book in the Shades of Hope series that I received compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I didn't have an opportunity to read the first book but after this one, I know I'll be checking that one out. This is truly a book about forgiveness, second chances and unconditional love as the author weaves her readers through a dangerous thrill ride to the very end. Slowly the story weaves together and you can see that no matter how far Ruby tries to run from God, He still has her in His sights to bring her back to Him. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Ruby Dawn by Raquel Byrnes