Glory Days

I don't believe there is one Max Lucado book that I've read that hasn't changed my life in some way or another. They all just seem to speak to me in the moment that I am experiencing and offer hope to what I am dealing with, almost as if God is speaking to me, through the words Max shares between the cover. Glory Days is certainly no different. It is a book that deals with getting us out of the hum drums of our lives and into seeing all the blessings and goodness that come from realizing who we are in Jesus. Taking along the for the journey, the Book of Joshua, each chapter walks us through two very different scenarios from the Bible. The first chronicles what went wrong with the Israelites as they followed Moses through the Exodus from Egypt. How they whined and complained along the way, at times following God and other times, defying Him. They would not see the promised land that they spent 40 years wandering around looking for.

On the other hand, Joshua who took up after Moses died, did in fact not only cross over into the promised land God had spoken of, but Joshua followed God without any doubt. It is this same scenario that showcases how we are either held back by our own insecurities, doubts and fears, like the Israelites or through our rock solid faith, we push forward, believing in the unfailing promises of God and move on to our Glory Days in this life. As always Max illustrates each chapter in our spiritual walk of faith or doubt with classic stories that bring the reader right into the chapter with things we can relate to, pet ownership, raising children, dealing with loss, illness and even watching the events of 9/11.

This book is amazing because not only does it walk us alongside a practical example from modern day life, but Max also shares a section from the book of Joshua in how the people were successful based on what they were doing, how they were living their life at the time, and even how God can use someone with a less than perfect past like Rahab, to bring about the salvation of her family when the entire city was leveled, simply for having the faith to believe in a God she hadn't seen before, but knew existed by the reputation of what He had done up to this point. Stories go a long way, and remember that all Joshua had to go by were the first 5 books of the Bible, with the last in the process of being completed, but he relied on it, body, mind, heart and soul and received the greatest reward in his life for it.

I received Glory Days by Max Lucado compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity 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. This book will show you how to have the life you always wanted as a Christian, to learn to live your life fighting from victory and not for victory for the battle has already been won by Jesus. How to live a life knowing that better days are ahead and how to overcome rejection by understanding what it means to be a child of God. This book also teaches you how to change those negative mindsets we often make permanent in our life and how to understand the right voice to listen to instead of the wrong one. It leads us to make better choices in our spiritual life and leads us to a great fulfillment of the future God has laid out just for us, if we are only willing to take that first step of faith. Well worth all 5 out of 5 stars and the perfect gift for anyone struggling with self worth or self esteem issues.

For more information about Glory Days, Max Lucado or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Glory Days by Max Lucado

You can find Max Lucado on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on Glory Days, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


Are you stuck in the wilderness known as midlife misery? Can you name the day you became a Christian but can’t remember the last time you defeated a temptation or experienced an answered prayer? Find encouragement in Max Lucado's new book, Glory Days. With God’s help you can close the gap between the person you are and the person you want to be. Like Joshua and the Israelites, you can move from a wilderness existence into a promised inheritance.

Now through August 31, 2015, pre-order Glory Days and receive free gifts!

 

There are two pre-order options:

Option 1:

Pre-order one copy of Glory Days (any format), and receive a free digital download of the abridged audio version of In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado.

After you've pre-ordered, please claim your free gift by submitting your email and proof of purchase at GloryDaysBook.com.

Option 2:

Pre-order one copy of Glory Days (any format) AND one copy of God is With You Every Day (Max's brand-new, 365-day devotional—any format), and receive both the abridged audio version of In the Grip of Grace and a paperback copy of Traveling Light by Max Lucado (U.S. addresses only). 

After you’ve preordered, please claim your free gift by submitting your email and proof of purchase at GloryDaysBook.com.

Pre-order today and get your free gift by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the offer ends on August 31, 2015.

Heartbreak Trail

No matter how hard Andrea Carter tries to fit in, she's like a square peg in a round hole. Growing up among her brothers on the Circle C Ranch, she wants to be just like her brothers, but at the same time struggles with what her mother, sisters and unfortunately most of her brothers want, which is for Andi to grow up and learn the things women are supposed to. To live a life in preparation for starting her own family and finding a suitable match. But no matter how hard she tries, she has a deep fondness for learning all about ranching and this time, she wants to be a part of the cattle drive.

Luckily for her, with her 15th birthday just around the corner, she might have an edge to getting what she wishes. Her mother and older sisters want her to begin planning her quinceaneras, her mother poses the question what would she like to do, and that provides just the opening that she wanted in order to try and convince her mother to let her go. She has even backed up her case with newspaper articles about other women who have bypassed the traditional roles for women and taken part of becoming ranchers and even blazing their own cattle drives. Even her own mother at one time, did just that, but she wants a much different life for Andi than what she has now.

Nevertheless, she gets her mother's approval to take this one final challenge and hopefully set all those ranching dreams to rest, once she understands and sees that being a part of a cattle drive is a far cry from what she is imagining it will be and her first lesson begins with the fact, she won't be riding, her own horse, but instead be offering to help the Cook with riding in the wagon and preparing all the meals along the way. That is just fine until she learns a certain handsome new cowboy is about to join the cattle drive and he has his eyes set on impressing Andi at all costs. Will this be a dream come true or simply a wake up call for Andi as she gets her birthday wish?

I received Heartbreak Trail by Susan K. Marlow compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review aside from a free copy of the book and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is the second book in the Circle C Milestones series and once again chronicles the life of Andrea Carter as she is making the transition from childhood into adulthood by being a part of the Circle C Ranching operations. It's a coming of age story in a different manner than most because of the crossroads that Andi finds herself at. Still struggling with understanding her own wants and then realizing the bigger picture her choices play in what she wants to do, impact more than just herself. This is an exceptional series for young teens and I know it would have been one of my favorites growing up with a love of horses and a bit of the old west along the way. For this reason I'd give this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Heartbreak Trail, Susan K. Marlow or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Heartbreak Trail by Susan K. Marlow

You can find Susan K. Marlow on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Heartbreak Trail, please visit Kregel Publications website. 

Hope Harbor

The one thing about our pasts is that no matter how far we try and run from them, they still remain. Such is the case for Michael Hunter, a man searching for answers in a world that seems to have spiraled out of control. He heads to Hope Harbor along the Oregon coast hoping to find a fresh start for his busy charitable work in Chicago. After losing his wife, he is hoping that Hope Harbor lives up to its name. However when he arrives, he finds that his lodging accommodations have been changed due to an unexpected fire and just when he thinks he will have to move on further up the coast, things change. Call it a coincidence, luck or just simply God's way of remaining anonymous, when long time recluse Anna Williams offers Michael a room to rent. Seems she doesn't talk to anyone and Michael has provoked a long seated emotion that has been locked away for decades.

Just when things are beginning to look up, Michael quite literally knocks Tracy Campbell off her feet or off her bike, when he steps out on the street in front of her causing her to crash and lose some of her groceries and sustain minor injuries. Giving Michael a bit of well placed advice to watch where he is going, she rushes away before she has to speak with him any longer than necessary. The news she has for her Uncle Bud about their family business Harbor Point Cranberries. It seems unless they can find a way to infuse more money into the business they might have to sell to companies that are more efficient and can turn a bigger profit than what her and her family have been struggling to do for years now. If only there was a way to find the answer to keeping the family business quite literally afloat.

I received Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon compliments of Revell Publishing and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review outside of a complimentary copy of the novel and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I think my favorite quote from this novel is simply this, "You know what they say about coincidence - it's God's way of remaining anonymous." This is so true for each of the characters that are joined together from Charlie, the lunch truck driver who doles out Scriptures along with his world famous fish tacos, to Anna Williams who rescues animals she meets along her walks in town, to the unlikely couple found in Michael and Tracy, who are both grieving from their past relationships and looking for a future that God seems to be masterfully orchestrating. Come home to Hope Harbor, where hearts heal and love blooms! This is the first novel in the Hope Harbor series and I can't wait for more, this one deserves a 4.5 of out 5 stars in my opinion and will be checking out Irene Hannon's other novels as well.

For more information about Hope Harbor, Irene Hannon, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon 

You can find Irene Hannon on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hope Harbor, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliances book tour page. 

Apologetics Study Bible For Students - Review and Giveaway

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 HCSB compliments of Propeller LLC and Holman Bible 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 Propeller LLC, 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.

4. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

I will notify the winner of this giveaway on August 21st, 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.

There is even an incredible Confident Faith prize giveaway happening you can enter daily for a Free Bible, mini Apologetic library or a trip for two to hear some great Christian thinkers at the NCCA conference.

Through Waters Deep

One of the things I most enjoy when reading any novel from Sarah Sundin, is her attention to detail and keeping the accuracy of her historical novels genuine. Some of my favorite have been her WWII novels and Through Waters Deep is the debut novel in the Waves of Freedom Series. It takes me back a bit in my own life as we see the main character, Mary Stirling, a Boston Navy Yard secretary referencing her love of Nancy Drew novels growing up. I too, was a girl detective at heart. Mary's ability as a secretary is the perfect skill she needs not only to complete her job but while she is taking reports, she is also talking with the men who are working on the building of our Navy's fleet. It seems that at the launch of their latest vessel, the champagne bottle used to celebrate the official launch was tampered with, and instead was filled with gasoline.

Mary was the first to notice that something was amiss with the bottle's appearance, but her boss thought nothing of it. However, she feels that her tasks at walking around the navy yard gives her access to the men who work there, and she is bound and determine to use everything she has to discover if there is a saboteur in their midst as the nation prepares for war. What she doesn't expect to discover is that her childhood friend from school, Jim Avery has grown up and had now enlisted to serve as navy officer in charge of escorting British convoys across the North Atlantic. Jim feels there is no chance of any chemistry since he usually goes for the bubbly blonde type not the quiet reserved brunette that is Mary.

But the more time they spend together as Jim waits for the USS Atwood to be prepared for deployment oversees, they begin to realize that they have more feelings for one another than they had hoped for. Only they realize it just as Jim is about to be shipped out. Will they have a second chance at seeing where those feelings might develop if given the opportunity or will the sabotage take a toil on one of their lives before love has a chance to gain hold?

I received Through Deep Waters by Sarah Sundin compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Revell Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the book for my honest review and the opinions are strictly my own. I love the story of these two characters that come together after some time, to see how they have each grown in different ways. Not like an Officer and a Gentlemen, this one felt real to me as both of my parents served in the Navy and subsequently fell in love much like these two do without solving a mystery along the way. Perhaps that is why I could relate to this one so much and saw these characters taking the place of my own parents in a different time from the past. Absolutely LOVED it and well worth all 5 out of 5 naval stars in my book. At the conclusion of the novel are some notes from Sarah about the story as well as some group discussion questions.

For more information about Through Deep Waters, Sarah Sundin or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Through Deep Waters by Sarah Sundin

You can find Sarah Sundin on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

For more reviews of Through Deep Waters, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


strong>Dive into Sarah Sundin's explosive new series, Waves of Freedom, with book one, Through Waters Deep. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them in the midst of their budding romance.

Join Sarah in celebrating the release of Through Waters Deep by entering to win an Anchors Aweigh prize pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Through Waters Deep
• A nautical tote bag
• A set of compass rose notecards
• A "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• A Boston Tea Party earl grey tea set
• A Through Waters Deep apron
• A set of nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. The winner will be announced August 25th on Sarah's blog.

The Curse of Crow Hollow

When I hear the name Billy Coffey when it comes to novels, I am immediately engaged and know I am in for something amazing, and unique. So when the opportunity came about to review his latest novel, The Curse of Crow Hollow, I knew this was definitely one I did not want to miss out on. I've been enamored with his uncanny Southern writing style from his novels, When Mockingbirds Sing, The Devil Walks in Mattingly and In the Heart of the Dark Wood. He takes readers into places no one really wants to go, but you find yourself traveling there somehow by a supernatural power. I liken his novels to that of such notables as Stephen King, because he takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary.

We all know places in the woods that seem to beckon us to stay clear, to stay away. Billy would call them holler's or as the title implies Hollows. They are the places where rumors and stories are birthed by a persons too active imagination and over time, they sprout roots and take on a life of their own. In this case, the reader is transported to a place known as simply Crow Hollow, by the locals who live there. They are quite a cast of characters that will not be forgotten. They believe in a form of law in which they take care of their own and rarely need the assistance of a sheriff from the nearby city of Mattingly. One event springs to life a kind of evil that can't be explained but needs to be experienced as only one can through this novel.

Cordelia Vest takes it upon herself to meet her friends Scarlett Bickford and Naomi Ramsay up at the old mines where a locked gate normally keeps out all the locals. But tonight it is Scarlett's birthday and they wanted to meet for a private celebration instead of gathering with the local teens at Harper's Field instead, where all their parents believe they are supposed to be. The girls have other plans, including Scarlett's idea to get John David, Cordelia's brother to notice her. Cordelia brings along her mother's diamond bracelet to make Scarlett's a bit more attractive for John David to notice her. She isn't the most self confident and lacks self esteem based on her looks. The only thing Scarlett had going for her besides the fact her daddy is the mayor but she is also one of the wealthiest families living in the Hollow.

Somehow the lines get crossed when John David shows up clearly upset that any of them have trespassed on private property and wants them all to leave. But when Scarlett takes it as rejection and runs off into the woods, the others know they have to find her. What they didn't plan on coming across was Alvaretta Graves who is a recluse living alone in the Hollow. But she isn't really alone. Legend has it she is a witch and when she runs into the four teens, she brings about a curse that will impact the teens first, and then the whole town. Trust me, you're in for a long night with this novel.

I received The Curse of Crow Hollow by Billy Coffey compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. You will want to carve out some weekend time to thoroughly enjoy this one. It's dark, it suspenseful and Billy takes his sweet time getting to the good stuff, there is no need to rush here, which is why this novel works so well. So many writers take so much time with back story or character development that by the time you are nearing the end, it comes as such a rush. Billy builds slowly, just like what begins to happen slowly one at a time to the people who live in the Hollow. Is it an evil curse from hell or it is something a whole lot more sinister? You'll have to pick it up to find out and in my opinion, it is worth every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars. Mr. Coffey, you are like fine wine, your writing only gets better with each novel.

For more information about The Curse of Crow Hollow, Billy Coffey or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Curse of Crow Hollow by Billy Coffey

You can find Billy Coffey on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

For more reviews on The Curse of Crow Hollow, please visit Thomas Nelson Publisher's website. 

A Sapphire Season

Who doesn't love a great novel of a romantic love that simply can not be because of circumstances that prevent the two ill fated from becoming a couple? Much like a Jane Austen novel right? One of my favorites being Pride and Prejudice. In A Sapphire Season, from author Lynn Morris, we get a sneak peek into the lives of Lady Mirabella Tirel who is searching for just the right prospective suitor now that she is of age. Never does she ever consider the feelings of her close friend, Sir Giles Knyvet, her childhood friend because that is not a match that either her parents or even Giles for that matter would consider. But the heart knows what the heart wants, and as much as it pains Sir Giles, he must take a back seat and do what he can to ensure that Mirabella finds just the right man in her life, wishing that is was him instead.

Soon the two childhood friends find themselves pulled in opposite directions as three possible suitors appear on the horizon with the hopes of catching Mirabella's heart, while Sir Giles can only stand by the sidelines and watch. He on the other hand has to deal with an outstanding debt of his own family and thus the reason why he can not pursue Mirabella. It is something that demands his full attention if he is to ever have any hope of convincing her to marry him instead, but will he have enough time to right matters before Mirabella makes a decision over whom to marry. Now that she is turning twenty- two, Mirabella knows if she doesn't find someone soon, her hopes for finding a successful match will simply be out of the question. No one will want to marry her if she continues to wait any longer.

Since having her heart broken once before, she has long given up hope that one can ever hope to marry for love, so she hopes that if she can find a suitable match, she might learn to love the man she marries one day. This comes at a time, where society and social standing is what is important and even though Mirabella's parents support her choices, they also have to do what is best based on the time period in which this novel is written, a far different one from the world women have today.

I received A Sapphire Season by Lynn Morris compliments of Faith Words. a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest opinion. I did not receive any monetary compensation outside a copy of this novel for my honest review and the opinions expressed are simply my own. Fans of traditional regencies will love this novel. It was a first for me from author Lynn Morris and I look forward to more novels from her in the near future. In my opinion I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and even fans of Dowtown Abbey would enjoy this one as well! There is a group reading guide at the conclusion which is perfect for book groups!

For more information about A Sapphire Season, Lynn Morris or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Sapphire Season by Lynn Morris

You can find Faith Words on Facebook to stay up to date on all their latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Sapphire Season, please visit Faith Word's website.