Three Hearts ~ DVD Review and Giveaway

How far would you be willing to go to risk saving your child's life? Three very beautiful lives were put to that test along with their families as they have been waiting, some for over ten years to have heart surgery that will save their lives. This is their personal journey through Samaritan's Purse as they take much needed children and bring them to the United States for a surgery that may save their life.

Join Cissie Graham Lynch, the granddaughter of Billy Graham as she begins her own journey as an intern working with Samaritan's Purse in Boone, North Carolina that finds children that need heart surgery. If they are eligible, they arrange for them to fly here and have surgery that will forever alter not only the lives of the child or teen but also their families and host families here in the U.S.

The three lives that are showcased here in this movie called Three Hearts, brings Otga, a 16 year-old boy who wishes to live as a herder in Mongolia but has had to drop out of school because he was teased because he couldn't keep up with his peers. His heart defect keeps him short of breath most days and he can no longer ride the horses he raises even though he dreams of doing it one day.



Uugna is 18 years old and has faced a life of living with the recent death of his father, now just him and his mother while he struggles just to make it through the day without dying.

Both boys are from Mongolia. 99% of children born with fatal heart defects such as Otga and Uugna have won't make it to the age of 15 and almost all of them die by the age of 25, so they are both literally living on borrowed time.

The youngest to make the journey is the breath-taking, adorable angel known as Toogi. She is three years old and most likely won't live to be 6. Coming from Mongolia in the Gobi desert, her family has struggled with trying to find a way to raise money to pay for her operation. Now she has hope.

This film will take you into their journey in hopes of a new life and in the process will find the love and faith of God along the way. This movie will tug on all your heart-strings and leave you laughing, crying, and restoring your faith in God above through witnessing their journey. A must see movie for the entire family and one I am so happy to be able to share, thanks to Propeller Films and Samaritan's Purse for the opportunity to review this movie for my honest review. This is an amazing "Life Changing Movie" as quoted by my 13 year old daughter who watched it with me and rates a hands down 5 out of 5 stars!



Now comes the really beautiful part, thanks to their generosity they are providing a giveaway copy of this DVD 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. Like my Facebook page at Reviews From The Heart and leave a comment.

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

4. Leave me a comment telling me what winning a copy of this DVD would mean to you along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on March 10th. The point is to spread the word, so the more people you tell, provides you with more opportunities to win and not only that, spreads the words about the Children's Heart Project through Samaritan's Purse so many more lives will be changed forever.

For more information about this DVD or the Children's Heart Project through Samaritan's Purse, please click on the links below:

Three Hearts DVD

Children's Heart Project Through Samaritan's Purse Website

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Pastor Evil

Robert McCabe feels he's been given a unique gift, a calling from God to rid the world of evil that no one else seems to be able to do. Using his talents he developed over his career as an IT specialist and programmer, he can track down criminals that are able to slip through the hands of justice and continue their reign of terror over the world.

However Robert has another supernatural ability to do this. He is able to utilize the powers of those who are truly evil to battle against them. Only these powers that evil men have are outside those most people would never consider. A friend he grew up with in the small town of Irmo, South Carolina, by the name of Michael who believed that the local pastor Reverend John Ford was out to get him. Ford was a man who was growing financial successful with acquiring more churches as well as a local car dealership. However Michael believed that Reverend Ford was pressuring people to the point of blackmail in order to continue to become a rich man. So when Michael was let go from his position at the car dealership Ford owned, he began to plot for a way to get back at the man he felt was responsible.

Only Michael himself has a unique ability, and that is to be able to move metal with his mind and with that power, he can murder at will and no one would be able prove he had done it, and that is where Robert comes in to play. He has to stop Michael regardless of the costs.

I received Pastor Evil by Robert McCabe compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and actually enjoyed this short novel. At 180 pages, the story line is unique and engages the reader. I would have loved to seen the ending a little more detailed instead of so short and quick after all the build up the reader gets to before it ends. I am looking forward to his next book Physician Evil which the reader is given a sneak peek at in the end of the book. This book is for fans of supernatural suspense thrillers and thus would rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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

Pastor Evil by Robert McCabe

A Sweethaven Summer

I love it when you get the opportunity to review a debut novel because it's either going to introduce you to an great new author or will leave you disappointed. This novel, A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh is the introduction to a fabulous new author I can't wait for you to meet.

In this novel you are introduced immediately to Suzanne who is in the process of sharing a bombshell secret that she has been compiling for the last five years in a scrapbook/journal she created along with her three friends, Jane, Lila and Meghan. In it, each of them added photos, ticket stubs or notes scribbled on scratch paper that they had gathered every summer since the eighth grade. Would her secret taint those memories? Even though she called the three girls their best friends they didn't even know the secret she'd carried with her on the road out of town. The pages in front of her begged her to come clean, to tell the truth, after all this time.

In the pages of this scrapbook we learn that Jane hated her body, Lila painfully recounted her relationship with an indifferent mother and that Meg confided about being the only nondrinker at a high school party last summer. Confessions. They were all nice girls. All except Suzanne. But they weren't kids anymore - and even their darkest secrets didn't compare to the bombshell she was about to drop. - August 1987.

Now we find Campbell Carter who is Suzanne's daughter and is dealing with her mother's funeral. Little over a week ago, her mother called and asked her to come over to talk about somethings she needed to discuss. She could tell by her mother's tone that she was nearing the end of her struggle with cancer and was squaring things away. Only she would never get to know what she wanted to discuss because when she arrived home, she found her mother lying on the floor. She would never wake up and thus Campbell would be orphaned at 24. If only she could know what her mother wanted to tell her before she died. She wouldn't until she came across the scrapbook her mother and her friends made and that is where the story begins.

I received this heartwarming and charming novel compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and have discovered a new treasure in Courtney's writing. You can't help but be swept away into the story and thus the reason for giving this debut novel a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait for the next novel by this amazing and talent author. Here's even more great information to share below:

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Sweethaven Summer Guidepost Books (February 7, 2012) by Courtney Walsh



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Courtney Walsh is a published author, scrapbooker, theater director, and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, will be followed by two additional novels in the series. She’s also written two papercrafting books, Scrapbooking Your Faith and The Busy Scrapper. Courtney has been a contributing editor for Memory Makers Magazine and Children’s Ministry Magazine and is a frequent contributor to Group Publishing curriculum. She works as the PR Manager for Webster’s Pages from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her husband and three kids, who range in age from 4 to 10. Courtney drinks entirely too much coffee.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Suzanne's daughter, Campbell, journeys there in search of answers to her questions about her mother's history.Suzanne's three friends-Lila, Jane, and Meghan-were torn apart by long-buried secrets and heartbreak. Though they haven't spoken in years, each has pieces of a scrapbook they made together in Sweethaven. Suzanne's letters have lured them all back to the idyllic lakeside town, where they meet Campbell and begin to remember what was so special about their long Sweethaven summers. As the scrapbook reveals secrets one by one, old wounds are mended, lives are changed,
and friendships are restored-just as Suzanne intended.



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Sweethaven Summer, go HERE.

Big G Star Wars Prize Pack Giveaway

What´s better than watching the epic first episode of the Star Wars Saga? Watching it in 3D with your fellow Jedis, of course! From the thrilling Podraces to the final lightsaber battle, you can enjoy Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace like you never have before. This February, General Mills Big G cereals want to help celebrate the 3D launch by featuring collectable Star Wars pens in-pack of participating cereals.

• Collect all eight exclusive Star Wars pens that feature iconic Episode I characters including: Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, Yoda, R2D2, C3PO, Jar Jar Binks and Darth Maul
• Participating Big G cereals include Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (12.8 oz.), Lucky Charms®(11.5 oz.), Reese´s® Puffs (13 oz.), Cheerios® (14 oz.), and Cookie Crisp® (11.25 oz)
• In theaters February 10, 2012 you can catch all the action and adventure and relive how the saga began in eye-popping 3D

You won´t have to go to a galaxy far, far away to bring the force to your breakfast table. Simply purchase any participating Big G cereal and begin your search for all eight collectable pens! Each Big G cereal is made with whole grain and is an excellent source of calcium, so your younglings will have everything they need to start the day off right!

Now thanks to the generous folks at General Mills and My Blog Spark, they are offering a giveaway package to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's what's in the prize pack:

• 2 Boxes of Big G cereal
• 4 Star Wars character pens
• Star Wars sticker sheet
• Star Wars magnets
  

Sound like it's out of this world, here's all you need to do to enter to win:

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

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave a comment on below telling me which General Mills cereal is your favorite along with your favorite Star Wars character, along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the actual symbols.

The giveaway will end on March 6th and May the Force Be With You! For more information about General Mills and The Whole Grain Nation, click here.

"Disclosure: Prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Downfall

Emily Covington, despite her past life of severe drug addiction, has turned her life around, committing her self to a yearlong treatment program and has been completely sober for a little over five years now. Despite her efforts though, her family still has trouble trusting her, always afraid that she may relapse; Emily has a lot to prove.

One morning as Emily rushes out to her car to make it on time for her college exam, she sets fire to her car by turning the ignition and discovers a homemade bomb duct taped to the underside of her car. Police cannot find to much evidence left behind by the assassin at the crime scene, and begin searching for possible suspects, having to dig through Emily's years as a drug addict to get to them. Who wants Emily dead and why? To make matters worse, the wife of one her friends was also murdered that same morning.

Emily, wanting to find the connection between her and the on going murders around her, frantically begins exhausting her resources to try and identify the killer and save the next potential victim. But with her past, no family support, and not knowing anyone in her new town, Emily finds this exceedingly difficult and is afraid that she may not be able to catch the killer in time.




Downfall by Terri Blackstock (An Intervention Novel) kept me hooked until the very end as do all of her amazing novels. Blackstock did a terrific job concealing who the murder was until the very last pages! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, and action/thriller novels!

I received this book compliments of Shelton Interactive and Zondervan Publishers for my honest review and would rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars. For more information about this book, the author and where you can purchase a copy of this, please click on the links below:

Downfall by Terri Blackstock

The Bronze and Brimstone

For any teens who is an avid fan of both time traveling and history, this is the perfect series for you. The Bronze and The Brimstone is the second book in the series by Lory Kaufman who delighted us with the story of three teens who came from the 24th century and were sent off to a History Camp, which is a realistic location that places people into a world just like the one they would have experienced if they were sent back in time. This time the three teens Hansum, Lincoln, and Shamira have been sent to Verona, Italy back to the 14 century as a means of punishment for acting out in school.

What should have been a two week punishment, the teens find themselves stuck in the 14th century for six months, and the only way they have managed to survive is thanks to Hansum smuggling in Pan, which is a virtual figure that can access anything from history, think a virtual computer figure. This is where the story begins with a brief re-telling of the synopsis from The Lens and The Looker. This is the perfect introduction to this book, especially if you haven't read the first one, so it can stand alone as it's own novel. However, once you immerse yourself in this one, you'll definitely want to go back and see where it all began.

Thanks to the innovations the teens shared in the 14th century such as the telescope, the cannons and black powder, some of the rich and well-to-do will do whatever it takes to keep themselves at the top of the political ladder of success especially when Hansum and his friends have made them very powerful and wealthy as a means to survive.

What makes the series so unique is the attention to detail from the historical eye, and Lory Kaufman does an exceptional job at making the 14th century Verona, Italy especially real for the readers and thus makes the book a real delight. This time the readers are in for a treat when they are reading a great story about time travel and the future and end up with a unique perspective on history as well.

I received The Bronze and the Brimstone compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and think that Lory Kaufman has really hit on something unique. A way to showcase the love of learning with a blend of story-telling that keeps the young reader engaged as they are learning about history. Another 5 out of 5 stars and will be looking forward to future books by Lory Kaufman in the future. He is keeping the love of learning and reading alive in his books.

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

The Bronze and The Brimstone by Lory Kaufman

Honor Redeemed

Honor Mackenzie has dedicated her life to honoring the sacrifice of her finacee John who died in the search and rescue efforts of 9/11 as a volunteer. Now Honor has taken up a similar task as a SARs trainer. Since she is the best, she is the one that is most likely to be called upon whenever someone goes missing. Today she is at the scene of a jumbo jet accident that has crash landed on a busy highway with subsequent debris falling miles away. Now searching in the national park, she comes across the tail section of the plane along with the wing and survivors still trapped inside. This is where her heart is, finding and rescuing survivors.

Matt Phillips is the roving news reporter that has been called the the scene of the biggest headline, a plane crash and he's there to make sure that he captures all the details and takes the first pictures to make it to the papers before the morning edition. Dressing like a first responder, he hopes to find a rookie member of the rescue team that will allow him to blend in and capture the story, what he didn't hope to find is a face to face meeting with Honor Mackenzie who loathes reporters of all kinds especially one dressed as a search and rescue team member.

Both Honor and Matt are struggling with learning to let go of their pasts and learn to move forward even though the costs might be greater than they had hoped. Both are dealing with the losses of people that they have loved and lost and now just when their are hopes of them falling in love, both of them gain a sense that the risk of losing someone they love again, keeps them at arms lengths apart. When tragedy strikes one of them, will they find a way to put their past behind them and finally admit they are ready to take a second chance at love?



I received Honor Redeemed, book two in the First Responders Series by author Loree Lough compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Abingdon Press for my honest review. Being a huge fan of Loree's since reading her first book in the series From Ashes to Honor, I knew that I would read this one the moment it came to print. Loree's writing style will hook you right from the beginning and genuinely make you love her characters. Designed to showcase the lives of First Responders, this one spotlights the actions of SARs or Search and Rescue responders and shows just how difficult and rewarding their lives can be as well as that of their canine companions. You will not be disappointed to read this one as a stand alone, but trust me, once you do, you'll have to go back and read her first book in the series as well where the story of Mercy and Austin first came to life. They are now supporting characters in this novel. I highly recommend this one to animal lovers, first responder fans and those looking for a great suspense romance and easily award this my highest rating a 5 out of 5 stars.

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

Honor Redeemed by Loree Lough

You can also find Loree Lough on Facebook by clicking here.

The Beautiful Wife

The Beautiful Wife is a book for the gloriously messy woman who has serious and not-so-serious questions about her role as a wife. It's a book for the woman who longs to develop deep relationships with real women who don't gloss over the dirty realities of life. It's book for the woman who wants to experience more fulfillment, passion, and meaning in her marriage.

It can be a difficult thing to understand the role of a wife in this day and age. As a matter of fact, it's always been a hard role to understand. After all, it's not a one-size-fits-all kind of job, and it may require tweaking with each new season of life. Your marriage is different than mine, and both of our marriages are different than your friend's. Recipe theology - living by a one-size-fits-all formula - leaves all women hungry. But there are answers that satisfy.

In the book The Beautiful Wife, you will find some of those answers. In fact the more you work through the book, the more you to turn God and talk vulnerably within a loving community of women, the more answers you'll find. The stories of imperfect women with imperfect marriages will refresh you and also challenge you to make changes in your role as a wife, which will improve your marriage. You can use this book with small groups of women, alone, or with a mentor and I truly believe it will change your marriage for the better and teach you that there isn't such a thing as a perfect marriage or husband.

I received the book, The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and this came at a perfect time for me. I'm always evaluating how my own marriage can be better and how I can improve as a wife. Just the first chapter alone was like a breath of fresh air to my heart and soul as Sandy explains her own personal struggle in her marriage and trying to find a better way to make it work. I felt as if her words were my own and could relate to her story, realizing I am not alone in my thoughts, actions and worse yet, words. However through simple instructions, I saw how I could improve my husband through my actions alone and not anything I say or try to get him to do.

The biggest eye opener for me was when Sandy taught about the unique differences and roles we each bring into the marriage, though we are equal, we are not the same. Clearly Adam needed something he didn't already possess or there would be no need for Eve. It's realizing what strengths each of us brings to the marriage and how we can use those strengths to build the other up and strengthen our marriage. Men need our strengths in encouragement, our ability to find solutions in the midst of storms and instead of us dwelling on all the things we find fault with in our husbands, we need to think about all the positives, (Philippians 4:8). I can wait to see what blessings our marriage will bring as we both work through building our marriage and work towards being the best we can be in our roles as husbands and wives.

I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to any woman who is currently married or considering marriage. It's also great for women's Bible Studies and for Couples Counseling as well. For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya, please click on the link below:

The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya

By the way there is also a Mentor Guide and Prayer Journal available by clicking here.

Growing Up Ziglar

If you were the child of Zig Ziglar, the world's biggest and most notable motivational speaker, wouldn't you think that you'd grow up feeling great and positive almost every single day? Well that is what Julie Ziglar Norman thought most people would think about her, if they knew who her infamous dad was, so she tried to keep it hidden as much as she could. However, when she could no longer hide it, she did the next best thing, she pasted on her best smile and kept all her negative feelings and emotions buried deep inside.

That is until the day God placed a call on her life that would change how people saw how she had grown up and what that would mean for those that would hear her story. In the book, Growing Up Ziglar, A Daughter's Broken Journey From Heartache to Hope, Julie candidly shares how difficult it was growing up trying to be the poster child of what she perceived to be perfect. She never once blames her father or anything he did or didn't do. In fact he set the bar quite reasonable, but Julie just never really understood the why's of why she shouldn't do things.

Her father understood that if drinking made you feel too good, that he should simply stop doing that, or if carrying on led people to believe that he was acting a different way than he should, he simply changed how that perception appeared. For example he never was alone with a woman who wasn't his wife or daughter for any reason. He didn't want rumors or gossip to spread even when there wasn't an ounce of truth in them so he didn't place himself in situations where people might get the wrong idea. While Zig set the examples by leading, Julie went in the complete opposite direction.

She lays bare all the things she did wrong growing up and hiding things from her parents, her self destructive behavior, drinking and getting caught staying out late, when the police had to bring her home. She tells from her point of view why she did these things despite her struggle to understand a relationship with God. She saw herself as a disappointment to Him, one that she couldn't measure up to when she failed and thus would end up spiraling right back into bad habits again. She shows readers how despite their lifestyle choices there is still hope and redemption in coming to God no matter how bad you think you might be. This is the story of her heartache and redemption back to God.

I received Growing Up Ziglar by Julie Ziglar Norman compliments of Summerside Press and Guideposts for my honest review. I think her honest and open story will really touch readers at the core of where they may find themselves and hopefully bring them back to God in the process. They will understand how deep and wide God's grace and forgiveness truly is and for that reason, I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

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

Growing Up Ziglar by Julie Ziglar Norman

Portrait of a Spy

Gabriel Allon knows what its like to live a double life. He's spent the better part of his life living the life of a Spy, sometimes working for Israel and sometimes working for the United States. Now he's being called upon again and the tranquil life he had been trying to live with his wife restoring paintings, is about to be put on hold.

Gabriel Allon is one of the top operatives in the field and when terrorist attacks begin popping up in Paris, Copenhagen and then Covent Garden in London, all timed around the fateful 9/11 bombings that happened in 2001, in their retrospective time zones, Gabriel knows that this is no accident. Another mastermind in the field of terrorism is on the rise and no one seems to be able to know just when he will strike next. Now Gabriel is called back in to Washington to help them find a paid CIA asset that appeared to be working for the United States but turns out was using the CIA to form a new network of terror all over the globe. Now that he's gone missing, they want Gabriel to use whatever means necessary to find Rashid and kill him before he has time to plan another attack this time in the United States.

The pawn in this plan is to utilize someone with terrorist ties to gain an inside foothold into the door of where they are operating and to locate just whose at the head of planning these new attacks. The only problem is that Gabriel killed her father while she watched and now they want her to be their inside contact into the world of terrorism. Will he be able to convince her to cooperate or will Gabriel turn out to be the pawn inside to get revenge on the man who killed her father?

In the novel, Portrait of A Spy by Daniel Silva, readers are taken into the midst of non stop action while bombs are exploding and people are dying to get to the root of the latest terrorist attacks aimed at the United States. This is my first book by Daniel Silva and certainly won't be my last. This borders on things that may occur at some point in the future and that's what makes this suspense thriller a page-turner to the end. I received this book compliments of Planned TV Arts and Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I loved it and rate it a heart-stopping 5 out of 5 stars.

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

Portrait of A Spy by Daniel Silva

Saying It Well

Public speaking is considered to be most people's biggest fears. Have you ever considered if there might be a simple way to get over the fear? I know I used to fear public speaking and even now know that perhaps I could easily improve on what I am talking about in order to make me a more efficient and well-liked public speaker.

In the novel, Saying It Well by Charles Swindoll, he walks you through how he has become a confident, successful and capable communicator through his step-by-step process. By using these tools found within the cover of this book, you can:

1. Make a strong first impression.
2. Position yourself as an expert in your field.
3. Speak with confidence.
4. Motivate people to action.

And even more than this, you'll also learn, and apply, three vital insights that will make a world of difference when you stand and speak with others:

1. Know who you are.
2. Accept who you are.
3. Be who you are.

Whether you are giving a speech, making a presentation, conducting a meeting, or simply talking one-on-one, these tried and true communication techniques are guaranteed to help you organize your thoughts and deliver your message - with confidence, style and great success.

I received Saying It Well by Charles R. Swindoll compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest opinion and being a huge fan of the down home manner of Charles Swindoll's messages, I just knew I would benefit from the reading of this book. Charles uses his own experiences as a service man in the Marine Corps and feeling the calling of ministry on his life, to show how these principles has led him to become not only a successful pastor but also a businessman and well-respected author in his field. His easy going manner comes across eloquently in this book and shows how this can benefit anyone in their life.

He also shows that this is not something that happens overnight, but as we begin to apply the methods in the book we become more comfortable in what we need to do, the best and first step in this is preparation. When we are not prepared, no matter what we are asked, we will fumble or fail in our delivery of what we wanted to accomplish. Now after reading this book, I know what steps I can use to help me be better prepared to delivery what I would hope would be an unforgettable message when I need to speak in public. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

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

Saying It Well by Charles R. Swindoll

Forged In Fire

What would you do if you woke up one morning after a the most real dream you ever had? What if one by one the events in your dream began to come true? First a fire at an abandoned warehouse, then your friend calls to talk to you about a divorce and finally you watch as the entire coach section of an airplane are shot to death one by one, the first class passengers held for ransom and then hi-jacked to a foreign country you've never heard of before? What would you do?

Well if you're like Beth Brown, an employee of PacAtlantic airlines, you will do everything in your power to ensure that no one is killed aboard one of the planes you work for, especially if really is going to happen.

When Beth shows up at the airport flying stand-by on Flight 2077, bound from Seattle to Honolulu, she waits to see if any of the people in the waiting area are the ones she remembers from her dream the night before. Slowly one by one, each person she looks at, she remembers in detail how they will die in a matter of hours if they board that flight. Even the three men talking among themselves against the wall are familiar but she feels compelled to tell someone what is going to happen but how.

When Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters and his friends Simcosky and Rawlings prepare to board a plane bound for a wedding, he gains a premonition that he is about to witness their deaths. Zane has a unique prophetic ability to detect danger to his team moments before it will actually happen, but he only gains a 2-3 second vision warning him of impending doom. As he tells his friends what is about to happen, all he knows is if they all get on that plane, they will die. Using his Navy Seal training, he begins to search the waiting area for details on who might be planning the attack.

When he comes across Beth Brown, their abilities connect in a way beyond what either of them would imagine. The men in Zane's family have been able to tell upon first glance who their soul mate and wife will be, and when he looks at Beth, he knows he's found the girl he's been searching for the last 10 years. Will they be able to set aside their personal feelings for one another to save the fated flight or will the terrorist plot to take over the plane present them with a new set of challenges to overcome?

I received Forged In Fire by Trish McCallan compliments of Trish and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I LOVED the storyline and characters and was immediately hooked. This is a fast paced, heart-stopping thrill ride that lasts until the final page. I think Trish did an outstanding job at conveying the believability of the connection between Zane and Trish especially in light of 9/11 events. I think I would have done exactly what Trish does and without realizing how much danger she puts herself in. Yet when you have a Navy Seal Lt. Commander falling in love with you, you know he will let nothing come between protecting your life at all costs.

As a warning some of my readers might be offended by the use of profanity and the strong sexual content found within this book and wanted to offer this disclaimer. For this reason I rate the book a 4 out of 5 stars, because the story is a completely amazing sizzling romantic suspense thriller. For those of you used to reading the old style Harlequin romances, this one is right on queue with those!

For more information on this book, the author, read the first chapter, or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Forged In Fire by Trish McCallan

Into The Free

A long black train scrapes across Mr. Sutton's fields. His horses don't bother lifting their heads. They aren't afraid of the metal wheels, the smoking engine. The trains come every day, in straight lines like the hems Mama stitches across rich people's pants. Ironing and sewing, washing and mending. That's what Mama does for cash. As for me, I sit in Mr. Sutton's trees, live in one of Mr. Sutton's cabins, sell Mr. Sutton's pecans, and dream about riding Mr. Sutton's horses, all in the shadow of Mr. Sutton's big house.

I can only guess where the boxcars are going and where they've been. I pretend they carry "limber lions, testy tigers, and miniature horse wearing tall turquoise hats.

"Where do you think it's going?" I ask Sloth.

"Into the free," he says.

I watch the train until it disappears completely. I don't know what Sloth thinks free looks like, but I imagine it's a place where nine-year-old girls like me aren't afraid of their fathers. Where mothers don't get the blues. Where Mr. Sutton doesn't own the whole wide world.

I climb higher in the sweet gum and hope the engineer will turn the train around and come back to get me. Take me away, to the place Sloth calls the free.

In the novel Into the Free by Julie Cantrell, the reader is taken into the depression era-Mississippi in 1936 where Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a 'nothing mama,' she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.

For answers, Millie turns to the gypsies who caravan through the town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key that unlocks generations of family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family's long-standing cycle of madness and abuse.

I received Into the Free compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I think Julie Cantrell does an exceptional job at keeping the reader engaged in difficult story of child abuse and shows how Millie has to learn to trust God again when she thinks He has abandoned her. I think this relates to many readers who mistake God's silence as abandonment instead of simply trusting God's timing in all things will bring about a greater good in the end, and how much forgiveness is needed more for the victim than for those that inflict the pain. It is a freedom that needs to be released so the healing can happen, otherwise bitterness and resentment only grow in our hearts. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

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

Into the Free by Julie Cantrell

Unbridled Grace

When Dr. Michael J. Normal answered an ad in the newspaper for a part-time chiropractor, he believed it was the answer to a prayer. Trying to find a way to supplement his current income in his private practice so his wife could stay home as a full-time mom and wife, he believed God had answered his prayers.

However sometimes we are in such a rush to take advantage of what seems to be a good thing, we miss all the tale-tell signs that are simply too good to be true. What enviably happened was that his current employers were using Dr. Norman's part time business working for them as a front in a Russian-Mafia scheme and since his name was listed as the primary doctor, they were also listed on all the business paperwork. It would be the ultimate cost to him and his family in finding a way out. It's not like he could just quit his job when confronted by insurance lawyers and facing federal indictment charges, now his family was at risk once his employers knew that their cover was blown.

How far would they be willing to go to make sure Dr. Norman kept his mouth shut? Would they threaten his current practice and family? Would God be able to provide a way out?

In the novel, Unbridled Grace, Dr. Michael J. Norman takes his readers on a remarkable journey into one man's nightmare and how God taught him valuable lessons he might have not learned any other way, through this true story about the power of our choices. In this book, Dr. Norman educates his readers through the retelling of his own personal crisis, exactly how God was with him every step of the way, and how many times He tried to intervene but since the choice remained with Dr. Norman, unfortunately not every choice is the right one to take and God is not to blame.

I found the book compelling to show readers how simple it is to blame God for everything that doesn't go right in our lives and sometimes it takes a turbulent storm to bring us back to the realization that we need to change direction and head for calmer waters. I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Sometimes we learn our best lessons through going through the fires and trials of life and in the end, God really does bring out goodness from the dark.

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

Unbridled Grace by Dr. Michael J Norman

The Realms Thereunder

Ross Lawhead has taken his first step in fulfilling a fantasy-genre fictional based storyline that I will no doubt have to read the next book called The Fearful Gates according to the advertisement at the conclusion of this book, even though his blog site states that The Hero's Throne is book 2 so on that part I am a bit unclear which will come out first.

In The Realms Thereunder, the first book in the Ancient Earth series, he has a great storyline that you can relate to regarding a secret history of England and the sleeping Knights who protect the realms of ancient Earth before, during and after of any evil doing. I found myself immersed in this book for the first few chapters. I found the characters of Freya and Daniel to be compelling and well written. However, after the first 4 to 5 chapters I found myself being confused on the storyline where Freya is once in a chapter with Daniel and 2 other knights, then is all of a sudden pregnant and has a different story line altogether. I found myself disconnected with how it switched from past to present, one realm to a different realm and one story to another very distracting! I found myself being very confused between which part of the story line I was at and had to skip either back or forward to find myself figuring out where I should be.

Better time frame negotiation and chapter development should be given to better straighten out the story as most readers I feel would be very confused in this book. I feel like Ross who although has a great storyline, needs to define the chapters and stories within stories to better give understanding of where each character is at. I think that while he definitely has a great premise for storytelling, I was let down on many occasions trying to figure out where the characters were going or coming from. Chapter formatting and development needs to be well written and chronological instead of fragmented the way this book is structurally put together haphazardly.Now don't get my wrong, some readers may love the way this book is written but since I process my thoughts logically, I found myself getting lost in what was happening several times through this book and had to go back and re-read sections to see where I might have missed something.

I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars for The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead.

For Ross’s first book however, he has a strong writing ability that will hopefully bring more fluidity and structure to his next series of books to come. It's also difficult to not be compared to your father's books and writing styles when you are just starting out as an author. Yet he has been published and I am quite confident that his books will only get better as he continues to write. I received this book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy for my honest review.

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

The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead

You can also learn more from Ross's website by clicking here.

Here are more reviews from readers participating in this book tour:

Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
Theresa Dunlap
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Rebekah Loper
Marzabeth
Shannon McDermott
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Joan Nienhuis
Crista Richey
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

All There Is

Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 40,000 interviews from more than 70,000 participants, each week airing one of NPR's Morning Edition. Love is perhaps StoryCorp's greatest theme, present in almost every interview and All There Is focuses on romantic love, collecting stories from around the country into three broad categories: Love Found, Love Lost, and Love Found At Last.

The touching personal narratives cover the widest range of couples - lifelong partners and newlyweds, long-distance relationships forged by e-mails and letters, and love stories that reach across wars, illness, and even death. Here are some of the stories you will find within the covers of All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps by Dave Isay:

Michael Fazio and Sonya Baker in Murray, Kentucky. Michael was a toll collector when he caught Sonya's eye during her regular commute. One day she asked Michael out to dinner, and they've traveled through life together ever since.

Leroy Morgan remembers his late wife, Vivian and they time they read a sign that said Successful Marrige that neither would ever forget that would contain six points to always to say to your wife or husband. Their marriage lasted fifty-three years, two months and five days and if he's able to enter into the pearly gates of heaven, Leroy will walk all over God's heaven until he finds Vivian. The first thing he plans on doing is asking her to marry him all over again.

My all time favorite was a story from Beverly Eckert, 55 who remembers her husband Sean Rooney and that last phone call she shared with him as he remained in the South Tower on the morning of September 11th, trapped on the 105th floor and tried in vain to escape but was not able. It would be a phone call she would never forget and also her life would be claimed as well in a plane crash in 2009.

If you are a romantic at heart or simply love great love stories that show love can outlast even death, then this is simply the collection of stories for you. I received this book compliments of TLC Book Tours for my honest review and fell in love over and over again. There were stories simply too good that once I finished them, I had to read them out loud to my husband. Those were the "Ah moments in our day." I can't recommend this book enough as a great collection for hopeful romantics, and a great anniversary or wedding gift. With that I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

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

All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps by Dave Isay

You can also view and listen to stories online at StoryCorps website by clicking here.

You can also find out more on Facebook by clicking here.

The Mighty Macs DVD Review and Giveaway

It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

THE MIGHTY MACS is based on the incredible true story of the 1971-72 Immaculata College team that started in obscurity but became the original Cinderella story in women's basketball. This team of pioneers went from barely making that inaugural tournament to the first dynasty in their game. And Cathy Rush, the woman that was ahead of her time, became immortalized when she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

THE MIGHTY MACS stars Carla Gugino as Cathy Rush; David Boreanaz as her husband, NBA referee Ed Rush; Marley Shelton as Sister Sunday; and Academy Award and Tony Award winner Ellen Burstyn as Mother St. John. The film was written, directed, and produced by Tim Chambers. The film's executive producers are Pat Croce, the former president of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, and Vince Curran, a successful businessman and former basketball star at Penn. Curran and Chambers are founders and partners of Quaker Media.

As a concerned parent, we are always looking for great movies that have a truth about them, a moral message to be gained from simply just heading to the movies for a night of family fun and entertainment, and it's such an honor to share this one with my readers. For those of you that are huge fans of family-feel good movies like Fireproof, Courageous or Seven Days To Utopia, then I know you will want to see this one. This movie is now playing in select theaters near you. I received this opportunity to preview this before it was released compliments of Propeller, Quaker Media and Affirm Films, and can't wait for you all to see it. Hands down another 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about this movie, click on the links below:

The Mighty Macs

You can also find them on Facebook by clicking here.

Twitter fans can find the Mighty Macs here.

Here's the best part, thanks to the generosity of Propeller, Quaker Media and Affirm Films they are providing a giveaway copy of this DVD to one lucky follower of my blog. Here are your details to enter.

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

2. Like my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart by clicking here.

3. Leave me a comment on my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart on the movie giveaway link. You may have to scroll down a few reviews to find it.

4. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O Boxes.

5. Leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win this DVD. Don't forget to include your email address so I can get in touch with you if you're the lucky winner. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on February 28th and I will notify the winner via email.

Shakespeare's Lady

For centuries, readers have debated the identity of the mysterious Dark Lady in William Shakespeare's sonnets. Emilia Bassano - lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and one of the first women poets in England could be the answer.

In Shakespeare's Lady by Alexa Schnee, Emilia is one of the most dazzling ladies at court when she meets the little-known playwright William Shakespeare. Shakespeare sees the world like no one ever has before, and despite all odds, they fall in love. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and these star-crossed lovers must fight for their love - and eventually their lives. Shakespeare's Lady explores grace, forgiveness, and the forbidden love between the greatest poet the world has ever known and the woman who may have inspired him.

I received Shakespeare's Lady compliments of Summerside Press/Guideposts for my honest review and found myself whisked back to the 16th century and residing in Greenwich Court through the enchanting words of debut author Alexa Schnee. Always knowing that women back in that time period were treated as little more than property to be shared while looking for heirs to the throne, I find it interesting how Schnee gets Shakespeare involved in her story.

While Emilia is struggling to find her way through a series of encounters with men in the Queen's court. She can't help but have such a love for writing and creating stories which she pens alone in her room and keeps hidden beneath her covers. Her relationship with Henry Carey, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, finds her appearance to be just like that of his mother, Anne Boylin. Now she finds herself a mistress to a man forty-five years her senior and wanting desperately to be free of the relationship, however since the Queen has approved it, her only way out will be if Henry dies or if she could conceive a child. This makes for an interesting tangled storyline and one that the reader will connect with through Emilia's eyes.

I rate this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars for the authenticity the author creates through her debut writing and enchanting to see how romance plays out in the heart of her characters she has so eloquently created. This book does show how life was like in the Elizabethan time period and it was condone for men to have mistresses. That being said, the book does not go into great detail about the act of adultery with Henry Carey and other men, but is simply stated it occurred. I applaud the author for keeping the book more about the storyline and skipping details that didn't need to be elaborated on which is why I rated the book a 4.5 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 link below:

Shakespeare's Lady by Alexa Schnee

Reasons for Hope in The Mosaic of Your Life

Sometimes the broken pieces of each our lives is there for a purpose. If would could share with people that times that God had used those circumstances to come into our life and make us better individuals and help us grow through our spiritual trials, we should be share those with people we come into contact with daily. Using those times of brokenness to connect with what God has done for each of us in our life.

This is what God had in mind for all those storms and trials in our lives. Those of us that weather through them can honestly say, we know what its like and we've been there and made it out the other side. Not only that, but here is what I personally learned by going through it. In the book, Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life by Carl Kerby, he shows people how we can get through life through sharing our trials with others. It helps show people what God's purpose is in our lives and how we can use that as a way to bring others to God. I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest opinion and think the author creates a fresh perspective on just how can witness to others through our personal pain. He shares his own struggles of being a son of professional wrestler and then trying to find his own way in life when so many doors seem to close. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and find his stories very related to what we encounter in life.

"Life is not always picture-perfect, and sometimes it is difficult to see God’s plan or purpose—especially during difficult times. Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life, by sought-after speaker Carl Kerby, researches the many aspects of faith that will encourage everyone looking for hope in today’s troubling times. With humor and passion, Carl answers questions about suffering, evolution, relativism, faith and more, strengthening his readers and equipping them to offer true hope to a broken world.

“In a mosaic, the artist arranges pieces of cut or broken stones or tiles to create a decorative pattern. We may struggle to grasp the overall design of a mosaic when we’re looking at the individual pieces up close, because what we see looks like a piece of junk, broken and useless. But when we step back far enough to view the entire mosaic, we get a new perspective, and we see the intricate beauty of the finished masterpiece. That enables us to grasp the original intent of the artist,” explains Carl Kerby. Reasons for Hope chronicles Carl’s rocky start as the son of a professional wrestler and takes readers from his difficult teen years and his military career to his stressful responsibility as an air-traffic controller at one of the nation’s busiest airports and ultimately to his ministry calling as a speaker. Carl reveals how God has created a beautiful mosaic from the broken pieces of his life, held together by the saving grace of the cross of Jesus Christ. As readers join in Carl’s journey, they will come to understand how the bigger picture of their own lives reveals a unique and beautiful mosaic.

Using his dynamic and infectious passion, Carl reveals God’s hand throughout his life, from childhood to adulthood, from unbelief to belief. No matter what the circumstances, God gathers up the broken pieces of life and forms them into something beautiful, all according to His purpose and plan. Carl’s story will not only give reasons for hope but will also encourage readers to share their only true hope, Jesus Christ. Readers will walk away knowing that the broken pieces of their lives are used by God to make beautiful and useful vessels for His work."

About The Author:

Carl Kerby is president and founder of Reasons for Hope (rforh.com), founded in 2011 as a response to a calling from God to proclaim the authority and authenticity of the Bible. He was previously a founding board member at Answers in Genesis for ten years and served there for over fifteen years. Before that he worked as an air-traffic controller at O’Hare International Airport. Kerby’s love for Jesus fuels a passion to engage the minds and hearts of youth and adults so that they can know the truth of God’s Word. He is a sought-after speaker both in the United States and abroad. Yet his most cherished accomplishment is his 29-year marriage to his wife, Masami, and his roles as father to his children, Alisa and Carl, Jr., and as grandfather to Trey.

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

Reasons for Hope: In the Mosaic of Your Life by Carl Kerby

Nameless

Many have heard the ancient Biblical tale of how a third of the angels rebelled against God's commands along with Lucifer and fell to the Earth. Do you often wonder if any of those "fallen" wish they had chosen differently, if they are able to reconsider their actions?

In the debut novel Nameless by Kyle Chais, this is the premise for the book. A fallen angel is finding himself bored with the same old routine on earth and wonders if angels can continue to fall from heaven to earth, is there anything they can do to get back into heaven again? Stuck in earth since that fateful decision thousands of years ago, a fallen by the name of Nameless wonders what it would be like to be a human.

Seeing an opportunity present itself in the form of a drunken failure of a man called Aurick Pantera, he slips into his body while sleeping to see what it's like to sleep since "fallens" don't get tired and need sleep. Soon his experiment to see what human life is like, lasts much longer than he expects, spending seven years in the body of his "host" before he realizes he has lost to ability to leave. Soon other "fallens" see what Nameless has been doing and some try to take advantage of the situation where Nameless is simply searching for a way back to his former life. Is there a way to use his situation to gain an entrance back into heaven or will he be forced to live the remainder of his years in the body of a dying man?

I received Nameless by Kyle Chais compliments of Gallery Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. At first the storyline was interesting until the drama of being stuck in the man's body dragged out a bit too long and I think left the idea of finding a way back into heaven on the back burner. There are times in the book where other fallens want to use Nameless in an effort to see what love feels like, even if the other fallens are male, and one I didn't care for. For those reasons I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.

If you would like to know more information about this book, the author or where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Nameless by Kyle Chais

Enemies of The Cross

Looking for a really great series of books guaranteed to leave you wanting to sleep with the light on, but written by an extremely talented Christian author? Then look no further than The Coming Trilogy Series by Greg Mitchell.

I got hooked on this trilogy after being a huge fan of such talented writers like Ted Dekker and Stephen King. You know the kinds of books that make you jump at noises while you're reading it, but it's so great you can't put it down?

This series is about the Bogeyman or as he is also known as The Strange Man. A presence so evil that he's been staking his claim in the small town of Greensboro since its introduction. That is where the legends and myths came from surrounding late night stories around the campfire, geared to scare you. Only this time, the Bogeyman is real and you're biggest downfall is believing he doesn't exist.

Picking up where the first book left off, Enemies of the Cross continues to struggle to understand what is happening to the small town of Greensboro. Now that a horrible murder has taken place and the town believes that the killer has been caught and is now awaiting his final trial for the death penalty, Pastor Jeff Weldon believes that his brother Dras is innocent. However he feels more than responsible. When Dras came to him that fateful night telling him of the Strange Man and the evil running the town, he didn't believe him. Now Jeff feels that he has to prove his brothers innocence.

Jeff's faith in God is about to be put to the final test as the evil surrounding the town realizes that he stands in the way. They aren't about to let their plans to control the town and bring about the Dark Hour be revealed by Jeff's persistent investigation. Now more than ever, the town believes that Jeff is letting his investigation to prove his brother's innocence cloud his responsibility to run the church and will stop at nothing to have him removed.

Meanwhile the Bogeyman's plans continue to grow darker by the hour as the North Woods surrounding the lake continue to consume all life that draws near and with that, the more powerful he will become especially if he can remove God from the equation.

I received Enemies of the Cross compliments of Greg Mitchell who was kind enough to send me a complimentary copy to review. Being such a huge fan of his first novel in the series, The Strange Man, when I saw that his next one was available in print, I knew I had to read it. Once again, I was not disappointed. Since this is a trilogy, the mystery will not be solved in this one, but will come to a climax in anticipation for the final book, Dark Hour, yet to be available. I LOVED this series and have to rate it a 5 out of 5 stars. Any book that can keep me glued to the pages, and reading it with the lights on, is a best seller for the suspense thriller genre in my opinion. That is what makes an excellent book.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up this book, please click on the links below:

Enemies of the Cross by Greg Mitchell

You can also follow Greg on Facebook by clicking here.

Mornings With Jesus 2012: Daily Encouragement for Your Soul

I had the most wonderful opportunity to spend my mornings with seven of the most delightful and beautiful women along with my coffee and get to know Jesus more this year. I received an opportunity to review a devotional entitled, Mornings With Jesus 2012: Daily Encouragement for Your Soul, co-authored by Judy Baer, Gwen Ford Faulkenberry, Tricia Goyer, Sharon Hinck, Keri Wyatt Kent, Erin Keeley Marshall and Camy Tang. What I discovered along with friendship and morning fellowship was a common ground as a wife and mother through this ladies.

Each day is broken down like your standard devotional with a scripture reference along with a cute story written by one of the seven ladies mentioned above, along with a closing faith step, designed to encourage you through your day with a challenge. Here's an example of what you will find inside:

Tuesday, January 24

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ." ~ Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT)

When I was in elementary school, star charts and contests motivated me. One summer I read more books than any other kid in our town and my picture made it in the newspaper. In Girl Scouts, I got a certificate and a stuffed animal for the boxes of cookies I sold. During Vacation Bible School, I won a board game for learning the books of the Bible.

It has been hard not to focus on rewards in my ministry. My attitude can change like the tide if I get a good review or a bad one. Sometimes I'm bummed if I've poured work into a project and others don't notice as I think they should.

I don't get a certificate or another trinket as I serve Jesus. An eternal inheritance is my reward. And Jesus, of course, doesn't put a star on a chart for the things we do right. Instead, He is the one who will shine bright in our lives now and for eternity. I need to remember that. I need to remember that He is the one I work for, and pleasing Him is enough.

Faith Step ~ When is the last time you worked hard and didn't get the reward you deserved? Think about the time and consider Jesus looking down on you with approval. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Write a prayer committing to Him your work and your desire to serve others for His approval. ~ Tricia Goyer

I received Mornings with Jesus 2012: Daily Encouragement for Your Soul compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and was more than blessed by the words and stories that are shared by these beautiful women. I was so encouraged because the words come out like conversations between close friends, even though I was reading a devotional. This is by far one of the best I've read and for that reason rate it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the authors and even where to pick up a copy of this book to encourage and bless your mornings, please click on the link below:

Mornings With Jesus 2012: Daily Encouragement for Your Soul

1222: A Book Review

The Scandinavian Phenomenon 1222

Described as Norway's #1 bestselling crime writer, Anne Holt had fashioned together a most intriguing story of deceit, mystery and murder. Her latest book, 1222, is written in a very unique fashion, eluding familiar concepts of strong writing and story telling. One example of this can be seen in her main character, Hanne Wilhelmsen.

Hanne is not your typical protagonist.

Having been paralyzed from the waist down in a police shoot out four years ago, she is wheel chair bound. As a lesbian, and a respected police officer, she finds herself very lonely and depressed, and is not much of a social butterfly, even more so since her accident.

On her way to see a specialist about her paralysis, Hanne's train derails in a snowstorm high above any settlement, and her and the other passengers are forced to take refuge in a hotel at the top of the mountain. As the storm continues to get worse, communication between them and the outside world is complete cut off. To make things even more interesting, a clergy man is found shot. With her crime investigation experience and knowledge, Hanne is shanghaied into the team that seems to be taking charge - a lawyer, a doctor, and the hotel manager. With the storm raging outside, and a murder amongst them, they truly do not have much time before the next body is found.

This book kept me hooked until the very end! Holt did a terrific job concealing who the murder was until the very last pages! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, and action/ thriller novels!

I received this book compliments of Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster Publishers for my honest review and would rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars. For more information about this book, the author or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

1222 by Anne Holt

American Sniper: The Autobiography of The Most Lethal Sniper in US Military History

He is the deadliest American sniper ever, called “the devil” by the enemies he hunted and “the legend” by his Navy SEAL brothers . . .

From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. The Pentagon has officially confirmed more than 150 of Kyles kills (the previous American record was 109), but it has declined to verify the astonishing total number for this book. Iraqi insurgents feared Kyle so much they named him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle earned legendary status among his fellow SEALs, Marines, and U.S. Army soldiers, whom he protected with deadly accuracy from rooftops and stealth positions. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

American Sniper: The Autobiography of The Most Lethal Sniper in US Military History by Chris Kyle

I received this book for my review only with no monetary interest provided by William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my written expressed review.

American Sniper is one story of just one man who had an incredible journey during the war in Iraq/Afghanistan. While I am so honored and proud of Chris Kyle defending not only Americans in Iraq and the surrounding areas, but other military members as well. I can’t help but read between the pages to see see his wife struggling to raise their first child by herself. With Chris contemplating a second tour and re-enlisting for another 4-5 years of being deployed back to Iraq, his Wife is left with a feeling of loss and anger towards her husband for not putting his wife and family first. Chris has done some amazing things by being a SEAL! Things that many of us Americans could not even fathom having to deal with. Chris has my utmost respect and admiration for helping to protect the American ideals that make our country great. What I don’t particularly like is how he put his country over his wife and children when coming up on his 2nd tour. With a wife and child at home and another on the way, he decides to re-enlist for another dangerous deployment that could end his life and leave his wife without a husband and his children without a father.

I have to take the side of his wife after his first tour that he should not have re-enlisted to be with his wife and family. He served his country with honor and saved many lives, while at the same time killing so many terrorists that threatened any type of life in Iraq. After his first tour however, he was plagued by thoughts of not being their for his fellow soldiers that he forgot the most important rule in life. To be a loving father and husband, for that is what is truly will be remembered by the ones you love and whom you will depend on in life. Yes he has many memories as a sniper and has remained very close to other SEAL’s throughout his life, but it is his wife and children that will make him the man that he is.

I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars. I would rate this book higher, but I felt that his patriotism truly leads his life over his family. God, family, country is how it should be. Thank you Chris Kyle for your service and your pride for America. Now take the time to have a happy and fulfilling relationship with your wife and children. God Bless you!