Forever Friday

"Some great romances worth telling are never told, their lovers slipping silently between life's timeworn cracks only to be pitched with yesterday's trash. As owner of a small estate-sale business, I'd witnessed evidence over the years of various couple's love lives. So I'd learned to sift through the piles of forgotten memories. Learned to appreciate a second look...and perhaps ease my pain.

That was how I discovered the postcards.

Bargain hounds and treasure hunters pushed through the heavy front door of Gabe and Pearl Alexander's beloved home early before rushing away to their next classified find. Antique buyers, who were more savvy, missed the cards because they were camouflaged among several dozen identical photo albums. Inside their vinyl maroon covers, these albums held not the usual faded family snapshots, but hundreds of colorful postcards revealing six decades of married passion recorded in rhyme beside canceled postage stamps.

Surprised to find postcards poems instead of photos, I began reading them in between my dealings with customers. As a thirty-eight-year-old man who had once committed to "forever," I was intrigued. What was this couple's secret? In a fast food world of abbreviated relationships, what supernatural love potion kept Gabe and Pearl enamored with each other for more than half a century? I'm not sure I believed in love anymore, especially married love, but found myself becoming more entranced as each minute passed. Even though the Alexanders had lived together in the same house, the postcards were sent over the years from Gabe to Pearl, beginning in 1926. Each unique card was signed "Forever, Gabe," the poem connecting an episode of their love to the picture on the front.

My guess was Gabe died in the mid-1980's, because that's when the cards stopped." (pg. 1-2).

Move over Nicholas Sparks!!! There is an incredible new author I can't wait for you to pick up his debut novel, Forever Friday. For those of you that love "The Notebook," then you will love this one without a doubt. I was completely captivated and mesmorized by this heartwarming love story that spans across sixty years of a man who vowed to do what he could to show the woman of his life, his wife, just how much he loved her by sending her postcards with a poem penned from his heart every single Friday til he died. Now Adam Colby, who happens upon the postcards tucked away in a photo album while going through an estate sale feels that he has stumbled across something more, perhaps the secret to making love and marriage last through the story he uncovers researching Gabe and Huck Alexander.

I received Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis compliments of Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This book takes the readers back to the life of Gabe and Pearl, who you will learn loves to be called Huck instead, as they meet and spend sixty years of love together. You will learn the secret to defeating The Long Division that claims so many marriages today and how one man's undying love captivated not only Pearl's heart but also the reader's heart as well. I only hope this is the start to something wonderful with Timothy Lewis and I can't wait to see what comes next in his novels. By far, one of my favorite love stories this year and one that has a new-found permanent home in my personal library. Well worth every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars!!!! You won't want to miss this one!

For more information about Forever Friday, Timothy Lewis or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis

You can find Timothy Lewis on Facebook so you don't miss out on any of his novels.

You can also find more reviews on Forever Friday by visiting WaterBrook Multnomah's website. 

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307732215
• ISBN-13: 978-0307732217
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches

God Is Not Mad At You

Is God angry with you?

So many people steer clear of a relationship with God simply because of past experiences in dealing with someone who has hurt you with their anger or their response to something you have done in the past. Most often times, the older we get the more likely we are to avoid those situations in dealing with people who are angry with us, thinking that is a better way to deal with life, rather than moving forward in that relationship. However avoidance does nothing to improve your relationships with people. If we don't work through our conflicts, we will find very little people in our lives we can relate to, and God is the biggest one most people run from.

I believe most people like to think of God as someone that truly would rather not deal with because of the consequences of our actions might lead us to believe that some form of discipline is required for not doing the right thing. Yet God is all powerful, He is also all loving and has demonstrated the need for restoration with the human race. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God was already at work building a plan to restore the relationship He had with the humans He created through the birth and death of His son, Jesus Christ. God developed the plan that when you do something wrong, you need to find a way to seek forgiveness and make it right. When we sin, we need to repent, or turn away from that, seek forgiveness from God, and try and go about not doing that again. God doesn't ask for us to earn our way into His heart through some deed or hard work. He simply seeks our heart and words of repentance to restore the right order in our lives.

He is the perfect example of what unconditional love truly means. He gave His ONLY Son, that we might once and for all have a sacrifice of love and blood that would resolve that relationship between us and our Creator through belief in what Jesus Christ accomplished. The day that Jesus Christ died on the cross was for all the sins of the world and its inhabitants, past, present and future, that simply through believing in what He did, that we could restore that relationship with God once again and be assured that when our lives are done here on Earth, we will live forever in eternity with God.

Joyce Meyer once more takes readers through the different situations in our lives that show us that God is Not Mad At You so you don't have to avoid Him in your life. He isn't trying to control you, He's simply trying to love you, the way any father would their own child. But perhaps you don't have a great example of a loving father in your life to see that kind of relationship. Joyce addresses those as well using her own example of her father's abusive relationship to show readers how you can use these skills in every relationship you have and most importantly, how to restore the relationship with God in your life. Some may think that God will never accept them as they are; that they are not good enough for God, that God couldn't possibly forgive them or that even God is punishing them. All these issues and more are dealt with in Joyce Meyer style and one you can easily relate to in her book, God Is Not Mad At You.

I received God Is Not Mad At You by Joyce Meyer compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. If you find yourself struggling with issues from your past that are hindering your relationships with God and others, I would encourage you to pick up a copy of this book today. It will completely restore the issues that are holding you back and keeping you from building right relationships with people in your life. You too, can experience real love, acceptance and guilt-free living! I rate this book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and LOVE every book I've read of Joyce Meyers mostly because she relates to us right where we are at in our lives!

For more information about God Is Not Mad At You, Joyce Meyers or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

God Is Not Mad At You by Joyce Meyer

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

You can also find Joyce Meyer online by visiting her website, Enjoying Everyday Life. 

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (September 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 145551747X
• ISBN-13: 978-1455517473
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches

Made To Last

For those of you that love Home Improvement shows, you will love Melissa Tagg's unique twist on building a romance that lasts in her latest novel, Made to Last! In this heart-warming novel about healing and dealing with the pain in our pasts, Miranda Woodruff takes the lead role in her own home improvement show, From the Ground Up. Using all her experience from being a missionary in Brazil and working with her fiancè Robbie, she now hosts her own show teaching viewers everything from painting to plumbing, and everything in between. Only the one thing missing from her life is the romance and love from her now absent fiancè that left her high and dry with only a note telling her that he needs to move on. But it's the advice that Miranda or Randi keeps dolling out that has viewers tuning in week after week hoping to catch a glimpse of the love of her life behind the scenes. Only those who are close to Miranda know the true story and that she is missing that piece to her life.

Matthew Knox is searching for a way to make a comeback seeing as his writing career is bordering on a huge story. After being a little too energetic at making his big break in reporting on his own father's embezzlement which led to a colleague being fired and Matthews career taking a back seat when the allegations turned out to be false. Now Matthew has been assigned to do some dirt digging of a different nature into the background of up and coming celebrity Miranda Woodruff and just who the mystery man is in her life. But will Matthew run the risk he experienced in his past or will he offer up a different kind of story to aid in helping Miranda find a way to keep her show running for another season when the network threatens to pull it?

In the novel, Made to Last by Melissa Tagg readers are taken along for the journey through a publicity stunt to find a replacement husband for Miranda as a way to save her home improvement show and hopefully give her a new romance at the same time. But when a pesky assignment from her manager leads to Matthew Knox shadowing her every move for a week, how will she work out the knots in her complicated fake marriage to a man she barely knows but it a dead knock out for her former fiancè Robbie. For readers that love shows like Home Improvement, this is a wonderful twist to that television show that will have you crossing your fingers at Miranda's chance at true happiness and laughing with her unique brand of humor that comes across whenever her and Matthew interact.

I received Made To Last by Melissa Tagg compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are my own. I absolutely LOVED this debut novel and the fact that Miranda actually does possess the skills of a home improvement expert contrary to what both Matthew and the men in her life believe. She knows the differences in the types of wood and the power tools she uses on set and even uses her skills to help out those less fortunate in her lives make their home a better place to live. She truly does have a heart of gold behind her toolbelt. I easily rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read more novels from Melissa Tagg in the future.

For more information about Made to Last, Melissa Tagg or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

You can also find Melissa Tagg on Facebook so you don't miss out on any of her novels.

To read more reviews on Made to Last from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764211323
• ISBN-13: 978-0764211324
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches

Raw Edges

Grayson McDonough wished that they made something like bias tape to fix the raw edges in his own life. After spending more than a year dealing with the loss of his wife Jenna to Ovarian Cancer, he still couldn't find a way to move forward. It seems that it was easier for his young nine-year-old daughter, Sadie and reading the journal her mother left her with life lessons made those days easier to manage. Even though she missed her mother deeply, the words she penned in the journal offering snippets of wisdom, advice and even insights into her dad enabled Sadie to believe that her mother was still a part of their lives, if she could only get her dad to read it.

It seems like they need a door to open and the invitation came in the form of a quilting group through a cancer support group known as Ovacome. The young women running the project, Annabelle Curtis knows how much cancer can affect the family. Not only just the families dealing with the loss of a loved one, but also for survivors like herself. In Annabelle's situation her future was dashed when she learned she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had to undergo a hysterectomy that resulted in her fiancè calling off their wedding and also their relationship in favor of someone who could have children.

Now that Sadie has been drawn to helping put together a quilt of scraps of fabric from those who had loss a loved one to cancer and also those who are survivors, she forms a connection with Annabelle that helps her move forward in her own life, finding joy in the simple ways of simply spending time enjoying life instead of merely getting by. Slowly over the course of the novel, Gray has no choice but to get involved since Sadie needs transportation to get to the quilting meetings and soon finds himself working on a project to help benefit the sale of the quilt. Along the way, he realizes that even though life is hard to get through on some days, his wife Jenna left behind a legacy that will last forever.

I received Raw Edges by Sandra D. Bricker compliments of Abingdon Press and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is such a poignant story to read and you can't help but get emotionally involved not only in Sadie and Gray's situation but also Annabelle's story as a survivor. It really is about healing and dealing with the loss of broken hearts and shows that time will slowly allow those wounds to heal but those memories we create will truly last a lifetime. This is my first novel with Sandra D. Bricker and I will be on the lookout for more of her books. She invests the time to entice the reader to become a part of the story and for that reason I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. This novel is number 10 in the Quilts of Love Series and can be read in any order.

To read more about Raw Edges, Sandra D. Bricker or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Raw Edges by Sandra D. Bricker

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

To read more reviews on Raw Edges from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here.

• Series: Quilts of Love (Book 10)
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (September 17, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142675275X
• ISBN-13: 978-1426752759
• Product Dimensions: 0.1 x 7.3 x 9.5 inches

Fired Up

Glynna Greer is fired up! She is bound and determined after two failed marriages to men whom she thought would care for her and her two children, Paul and Janny, she has sworn off men once and for all. Thankfully her would-be rescuers this time were Regulators. Men who had sworn never to turn their back on a woman in need for that matter and after being married to Flint Greer who found enjoyment in using his hand to abuse her, she is glad that he is now dead. Now if she can only find a way to make a living for her children running the town's only diner, she might have a shot at a future.

But for Glynna the damage to her children from her previous marriage to Flint is already apparent in both of them. For Janny, she remains withdrawn and silent. She used to be the most talkative young girl but has since pulled her grief inside and that is where she remains. For Paul, trying now to be the only man in the family is a burden bigger than he is ready for. If he doesn't stand up for his mother and sister, men like Flint will always think that women are property and not the kind to be cared for and loved. So for Paul, he carries that anger around, ready to strike at the man who dares come near his ma.

For Dr. Dare Riker, it seems like all he does is attract trouble. If only he can find a way to pull himself away from the compelling gaze of Glynna's eyes and enable her to find a new life away from the man who threatened more than just her. Will Glynna be able to find a way to keep all men out of her life living in a town that is predominantly men? One thing is for sure, his business as the town's doctor is experiencing a boost to his practice now that Glynna has opened the diner. A talent for cooking isn't the one thing she can do well and one that is practically a necessity if you are running a diner. Yet Glynna seems oblivious to the poor food she is turning out when her diner remains full every day, thanks to the men who come not for the food, but for a glimpse at the beautiful owner instead.

I received Fired Up by Mary Connealy compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review but have to say that Mary Connealy is one of my all time favorite Christian Western Romance authors. I believe I've read almost every single novel she has written and it's like Christmas when I find out she has a new novel out. It's a time for me to escape back to the old west for a story of danger among the cowboys coupled with a strong and determined female who will undoubtedly fall in love before she knows what is coming. This is the second novel in the Trouble in Texas Series and I can't wait for the next one. Who knows which character Mary will pick up to continue the journey with. I highly recommend this series if you love a great western adventure with a heroic romantic twist and for that reason this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Fired Up, Mary Connealy, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Fired Up by Mary Connealy

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

To read more reviews on Fired Up on the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here. 

• Series: Trouble in Texas (Book 2)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209159
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209154
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches

Mary Connealy is back with the second book in her Trouble in Texas series. Fired Up and she's celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway and a LIVE author chat party on October 8th.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD
• Swept Away  and Fired Up by Mary Connealy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 8th. Winner will be announced at the "Fired Up" Live Webcast Event on October 8th. Connect with Mary for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Mary will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Fired Up and join Mary and friends on the evening of October 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!

When the Clouds Roll By

No one was anticipating the news more than families. Those looking for an end to the war were hoping that today would be different, and that they would receive news that it was finally over and the men and women would soon be returning home to waiting families and soon-to-be families. Yet not everyone was overly happy.

Annemarie Kendall knew things had changed over the time Gilbert Ballard has been serving in the war without ever speaking to him. The tone in his letters and what he wasn't saying, lead Annemarie to believe that Gilbert had changed. Sure she knew that he had suffered the loss of his leg as well as injured his arm but isn't love suppose to conquer all? Even war? Now facing him as she waits with her family and Gilbert's family to welcome him home, Annemarie is certain it will definitely be an unforgettable homecoming and one that will change the lives of them all now that the war is over. All Annemarie can hope is that she can show Gilbert that no matter what, she'll be with him all the way to the end.

Lt. Gilbert Ballard has been trying to imagine how he will manage now that he is half a man. Definitely not the man who conveyed his undying love and dedication to Annemarie before he left for the war. All he has been able to do it look at the faded photograph to help him remember what he had waiting for him when he returned back to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Not only a well-to-do family, but also the love of a woman who he had known his whole life. Beautiful beyond measure, she made sure to let him know how much she continued to love and support him, but how would Gilbert be able to provide for Annemarie now? He only hoped he could have enough courage to push past the pity she would feel for him and be grateful they hadn't married before the war.

Army Chaplain Samuel Vickary has been by Gilbert's side often fearing that the post traumatic stress disorder that is pulling at Gilbert will be able to be overcome when he reunites with Annemarie. He worried that during the long train trip home that Gilbert might find a way to take his own life without giving Annemarie a chance to show Gilbert that nothing has changed between them, even though in Gilbert's mind it has. If only he wasn't so drawn by her beauty and Gilbert's description of her kindness, he might be able to help more. But Samuel has his own war demons to face and one that has him questioning his own faith in God during the horrors he witnessed during the war. Would any of them be able to forget and move forward or will have the war changed them all forever?

I received When The Clouds Roll By by author Myra Johnson compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. My love for history coupled with an unforgettable romance between Gilbert and Annemarie as well as the love of Samuel to help his two friends while the war continues to consume lives even though it's long over. This one is poignant and compelling, making me turn page after page in wondering in anticipation if it would turn out as expected. I was not disappointed. This is the story of being lost and then found and what happens when we let our feelings gain control over what we really want deep down inside. There is courage to be found in facing what we fear the most and I believe Myra Johnson did just that in this novel. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! This is the first novel in the Til We Meet Again Series and one I will be watching for!

For more information about When The Clouds Roll By, Myra Johnson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

When The Clouds Roll By by Myra Johnson

You can find Myra Johnson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on When The Clouds Roll By, please visit Abingdon Press' website. 

Grain Brain

Are you experiencing any of the following signs:

Being overweight?

Being unable to change how your body looks, no matter how much you exercise?

Being unable to lose weight or keep weight off?

Constantly craving "comfort foods"?

Fatigue after meals?

Feeling consistently anxious or stressed-out?

Feeling hungry all the time or at odd hours of the night?

Having a tendency to snack after meals?

Having high fasting triglycerides, over 100 mg/dL - particularly when equal to or exceeding cholesterol levels?

Having osteoporosis?

Having problems falling or staying asleep?

High Blood Pressure?

Regularly craving sugar or stimulants like caffeine?

The presence of "love handles"?

If you're like me, you probably answered yes to almost all of these. But there is a common answer that can alleviate these symptoms simply without medication and by what we eat and what is in what we eat. Funny how the food pyramid is where most of us gain our information on what's good for us, but you'd be surprised at how wrong the information has been that has enabled our society not only to gain larger waistlines, but also smaller brains.

Did you know that the larger your waistline is, the smaller your brain really is? Not to mention that the risks of diabetes, obesity, dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, auto immune disorders and even brain disease is all being elevated now but what is in our food and what we are consuming? Evidence now points to those with risks of diabetes and are also overweight, studies have shown that degenerative brain cognition is now being proven that link the two together? If that doesn't shock you into awareness, I don't know what will.

In the latest book, Grain Brain, Dr. David Perlmutter takes readers into the heart of what our diets and eating habits are doing to our health. Now science is proving that gluten is linked to increasing the risks of common neurological ailments such as ADHD, anxiety disorder, Tourette's syndrome, mental illness, migraines and even autism. He discusses gluten's role in behavioral and movement disorders and shows you how simple dietary changes may make significant improvements in our overall neurological health.

He teaches you what's been happening and what we are doing that is literally killing us slowly. But there is hope, he shows you how to begin turning back the clock on some of these old habits and bring us closer to a healthier lifestyle without the need for medication or crazy fad diets. Learn the real secret behind high fructose corn syrup and even why eating fruit may be bad for you. He'll show you what supplements are worth taking, when and why, along with a great beginning exercise and healthy eating plan. He shows you what to eliminate from your kitchen and how to avoid those seemingly innocent food labels that fool you into thinking what you're buying is really healthy when its not.

There is simply so much great information that even Dr. Mehmet Oz has commented that this is"An innovative approach to our most fragile organ." This book is packed with easy-to-follow strategies, delicious recipes, and weekly goals to help you put the plan into action, along with real life stories of transformation to gain control of your life, regain wellness and enjoy lifelong health and vitality. 

I received Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter compliments of Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I've been working on my own healthier eating plan for three weeks and found the information in this book instrumental to aid me in my way to a stronger more well balance lifestyle. I already knew that grains were something most farmers feed their stock to fatten them up so it made sense that it would work on us as well. It's great to know that some of the things I was doing was great, but also the reduction of how much fruit I was eating didn't make sense until I read through the chapter on sugar, Chapter 4, Not a Fruitful Union -This is Your Brain on Sugar (Natural or Not). What I read literally shocked me and made complete sense. I would rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and plan on changing what I buy and what my family eats to ensure a healthier lifestyle for all of us.

For more information about Grain Brain, Dr. David Perlmutter or where you can pick up a copy of this amazing book today, please click on the links below:

Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter

You can even find out more information on Facebook by Dr. David Perlmutter's page.

To read an excerpt from Grain Brain, visit Hachette Book Groups site. 

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (September 17, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031623480X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316234801
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 6.3 x 9.5 inches

Second Watch

There's that case that lingers in the mind of every single cop. The one that will never go away. The one in which the victim can never rest. For Detective J.P. Beaumont, that is the case that happened forty years ago. The one that was simply tagged at the Girl in the Barrel. The only reason that it remains on J.P.'s mind is that while undergoing double knee replacement surgery, he's been haunted by the ghost of Monica Wellington, the girl in the barrel. She reminds him of the promise he made to her mother, Hannah, that they would never rest until the case was solved. And they hadn't solved it.

Like another cold case, this one torments the sleeping hours while J.P. recovers in the hospital. Taken back to that time period in rich detail through his dreams he remembers the case as if it just happened. Yet something besides the ghost of Monica is plaguing his sleep. It is why they were never able to solve that case. Taking into consideration, that things like DNA testing and technology were not as prevalent as they are today, he's hoping that he can finally solve the case and lay both Monica's spirit and his conscience to rest.

Now his only issue with not being able to walk or drive is how to reopen a case that was sealed forty years ago while he remains in the hospital? Just what would be his reasoning? He knew that sharing that the ghost of Monica was haunting his dreams wouldn't pass, so he opted for the case that was never solved that every cop wants to see come to a resolved end. J.P. only ghost however isn't just Monica, he's also seeing Lt. Lennie Davis or Lennie D as his friends referred to him. Lennie has something he needs J.P. to do and he can't rest until there is peace in his life, the one he never was able to return home to after serving in Vietnam. So J.P. is once more transported back to Vietnam and that fateful day that changed both of their lives forever.

I received Second Watch by best selling author J.A. Jance compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is a first for me, reading J.A. Jance's novels but I absolutely LOVED this one. It truly is a must read for fans of crime murder mystery's or shows like Criminal Minds. In fact while reading it I heard Jack Webb (Dragnet) as the narrator's voice so it really made the novel that believable for me. The flash backs into J.P.'s past were well done and gave you insight into what is the character's motivation to find have absolution and resolution in his life in each of this situations, with one being personal with his past in Vietnam, one he hasn't even shared with his wife and fellow cop, Mel. This is one of those novels that you will think about long after it's over primarily because it's that real. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading more from J.A. Vance in the near future.

For more information about Second Watch, J.A. Jance or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click the links below:

Second Watch by J.A. Jance

You can also read more about the novel through the publishers website as well as an excerpt from the novel by clicking here.

You can also find J.A. Jance on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Winter of Wishes

"You're interested in the position?"

There was a hopeful upturn in Andy Leitner's voice as it came through the phone. "I was wondering if the store owners had taken my note down."

Rhoda's heart raced. "Jah, I'd like to talk to you about it, " she gushed. "But ya should understand right out that I don't have a car, on account of how we Amish don't believe in ownin'-I mean, I'm not preachin' at ya, or-"
She winced. "This is comin' out all wrong. Sorry," she rasped. "My name's Rhoda Lantz, and I'm in Willow Ridge. I sure hope you don't think I'm too ferhoodled to even be considered for the job."

"Ferhoodled?" The word rolled melodiously from the receiver and teased her.

"Crazy mixed-up," she explained. "Confused, and - well, I'm keepin' ya from whatever ya need to be doin', so,-"

"Ah, but you're a solution to my problem. The answer to a prayer..."

Just like that Rhoda Lantz life would be forever changed when she answered the ad she found posted in the Zook's Market in town. With her mother Miriam now just a month from being married to Ben Hooley, she knew she was missing something in her life. Call it a need perhaps, but something to validate her life, and taking care of Andy's children as well as his mother just recovering from a stroke, may be just the calling she feels on her life.

But just how would Andy feel about her Amish ways? Being a busy single father while attending school for nursing, he faced challenging obstacles both at work and at home. It seems like he never can find peace between trying to stay organized, raising his two young children, and helping his mother recover. It seems just when his wife walked away, Andy's life had fallen apart. Is it possible that Rhoda can bring life back to his unhappy family or will this be too much for even a seasoned Amish woman to handle?

Once again, Charlotte Hubbard takes her readers back to Willow Ridge in the third novel in the Seasons of the Heart Series, with Winter of Wishes. Rhoda Lantz has found that working with her family in the Sweet Seasons Bakery Cafè just isn't enough for her now that everyone is moving forward in their lives with the exception of Rhoda. But God has bigger plans for this Amish woman and the English family she is about to assume care of. Will He be able to seamlessly blend two different cultures into one perfect family? You'll definitely want to pick this one up and find out.

I received Winter of Wishes by Charlotte Hubbard compliments of Kensington Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. I have fallen in love with their characters as well as the recipes that the women working at the Sweet Seasons Bakery whip up. I felt the change of the season in this book as Thanksgiving approached as well as the coming winter for the entire town of Willow Ridge. I love how with the advancement of time even some of the strictest religious beliefs are challenge by Miriam when her daughter is threatened by a bittered Bishop Hiram Knepp who's been under the Amish ban for keeping a car in his barn and driving it. Seems like Hiram is hiding more than his emotions under his harsh exterior while he lashes out to those around him, biding his time til he is returned back to overseeing the town and its residents again. Miriam has what I would call gumption and she isn't afraid to use it! I would easily rate this a 5 out of 5 stars and love all the recipes that are included in this book as well. Makes it twice as sweet to enjoy!

For more information about Winter of Wishes, Charlotte Hubbard or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Winter of Wishes by Charlotte Hubbard

You can follow Charlotte Hubbard on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Winter of Wishes from the Pump Up Your Book Tour, please click here.

• Series: Seasons of the Heart (Zebra)
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (September 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420121715
• ISBN-13: 978-1420121711
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches

Born of Persuasion

"Later, when I allowed myself to confront the memories, to dwell on the particulars, I realized my arrival at Am Meer marked the beginning.

Not the mysterious letters that drained the life from Mama.

Not her suicide.

And not the two men arriving at dusk, stomping mud from their boots in the foyer, bearing ill tidings.

Nay-not even the disconcerting news that I had a guardian, one who intended to keep me sequestered.

For those happenings were not my story. I was sinless there. They were the end result of events set in motion long before I arrived at the cottage. I could no more have stopped their unfolding than I could have prevented my own birth.

Those of you who were alive that year might well remember the early frost of 1838. My arrival coincided with the hardship faced by farmers that August. Though harvest hadn't quite begun, an overcast sky stretched over the rolling farmlands bringing a reminder of winter's cruel bite. How well I remember the coach jostling down the familiar lane, its wheels grinding through the familiar ruts. I felt no premonition of danger, only relief, sharp and undefiled. At Am Meer, home of my dearest childhood memories, I hoped to find that which I needed most-a respite between the past and my uncertain future." (Pg 1-2).

In the beautifully written novel, Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta, she rewards readers with an enriched journey back to the early 1800's in the first novel in the Price of Privilege series. The details and poetic writing style paint the story of the life of seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston. Now faced with an unknown guardian who controls her destiny, she finds solace back in her childhood home with her close friend, Elizabeth Windham and her mother for a time. She believes in the promises made between her and her childhood sweetheart Edward, a romance forbidden by her parents due to their social standings. When he proposed to her and asked her to wait for him, she believed that he was the only hope to her current situation.

If she were to be married to Edward Auburn, she would be released from the guardianship that now holds her future as a servant in Scotland with no family to speak of. However Julia soon discovers that Edward has made some changes of his own taking on the role of the town's vicar, something that goes against Julia's atheist beliefs she was raised on. She realizes now that her only future is to find someone to marry even if it means giving up the hope that she can be happy and marry for love. For Julia there simply is no other answer.

I received Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta compliments of Tyndale House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I was completely enchanted and swept away by this novel, rich in period details that I felt like a private observer in Julia's circumstance. This was a time, when women were considered nothing more than property and their rights were never considered. The only hope for most women was to secure a future with a wealthy family through marriage to the right man in a social standing. They were expected to maintain decorum and remain silent. However Julia's fortunate to have been introduced into society through a wealthy titled dowager that opens up a world of possibilities she never dreamed possible. But will she be able to escape her past to be able to move forward in her future or are their darker forces at work than meets the eye in this story? You'll have to pick this one up to find out. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next novel Mark of Distinction that you get a sneak peek at in this one. Also included are some great discussion questions perfect for book clubs. A must read for fans of Downton Abbey and Jane Erye!

For more information about Born of Persuasion, Jessica Dotta or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

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

To read more reviews on Born of Persuasion from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, please click here.

• Series: Price of Privilege (Book 1)
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (August 16, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414375557
• ISBN-13: 978-1414375557
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches

Eventide

There is something bittersweet that happens when a really great series of novels comes to a close in the final book and Eventide by best-selling author Shelley Shepard Gray is no exception. In her Days of Redemption series, we have followed the Keim family through a series of trials facing them as both Amish and English converts to the faith. In this conclusion to the series, Eventide wraps up some of the lingering questions that have plagued the family since the beginning.

Elise Keim is a twin who shares something that her twin doesn't. She is facing a degenerative eye disease that offers no hope of cure and will ultimately leave her blind. Seeing more than most, she just wishes she could have had the same hope for a future like all Amish women, the ability to fall in love, get married and have a family of her own. But Elise's family treats her like she is more disabled than she is, and finds herself fighting more with them internally than with her own struggle at losing her sight.

Thankfully Landon Troyer sees something in Elise her family doesn't. Her unique ability to face her fears head on with dignity and strength. She doesn't want to be treated any different than any other Amish girl and in order to try to make others see her that way, she fails to inform them just how progressive the loss of her eyesight is. But until Elsie can be honest to Landon and tell him what their future will look like, he believes she is like all other Amish girls and one that has completely captured her heart. Will she have the strength enough to tell him what the future really holds for him if he chooses to marry her?

I received Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gray compliments of Avon Inspired Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is such a perfect novel because it deals with the power of finding forgiveness even when it might just cost you the future happiness you hoped for. Sometimes life involves taking the biggest risk of losing it all in hopes of finally reaching the other side. The one thing I truly admire about the Amish is their sense of family and community and that no matter what obstacle any of them face, they never face it alone. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and bid a bittersweet farewell to the characters I've come to love and really appreciate in every sense of the word in this amazing series. For those of you that want to begin the journey, start with the first book Daybreak and then Ray of Light before closing with Eventide. There is even a Discussion Guide included for book clubs and a sneak peek at Shelley's next novel Peace at the end of this novel.

For more information about Eventide, Shelley Shepard Gray or where you can pick up a copy of this amazing novel please click on the links below:

Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gray 

You can also find Shelley Shepard Gray on Facebook to stay up to date with all her novels.

You can read more reviews on Eventide from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour by clicking here.


Shelley Shepard Gray is celebrating the release of the final book in The Days of Redemption series, Eventide, by giving away FIVE sets of the series. 

Five winners will receive:

• Daybreak, Ray of Light and Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gray

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 21st. All winners will be announced September 23rd at Shelley's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Shelley's blog on the 23rd to see if you won one of the book sets!

All-In 2 Night

Now more than ever, I think spending time with family members has gotten lost in the shuffle of our busy lifestyles. More parents are working outside of the home, dinners are often a grab and go when there is time to stop and kids are immersed in technology in virtually every aspect of their lives. Much of the time spent together doing things as a family is now becoming a thing of the past, but as we know, there is a danger in losing our connection with one another, especially family members. That is where author Lynne Burgess got the idea to incorporate what she calls family nights back into her home and she has shared her secrets in her latest book called All-In2Night.

In this book, Lynne shares how they instilled God's values into their children every week through All-in Night. It's not a very long or complicated book. When her kids were little and busy, she wanted books that were easy to read and got to the point. Some of the topics in this book include resilience, wisdom, purpose, a healthy self-esteem, pride, managing yourself, self discipline, plus so much more. Through every one of her All-In Nights, they wove God's beautiful acceptance of everyone, and they made sure that their kids knew He loved them unconditionally.

There are 40 topics in this book that Lynne shares with you not only her family's issues in that particular area such as fear. The section includes what the purpose of this week discussion will be about, in this case, to discuss scenarios where your child might feel afraid and teach them strategies to cope.

Then there are activities you work on together beginning with a verse from the Bible that you reward your kids for memorizing. In this case, Joshua 1:9 "I have commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help wherever you go. (CEV). There are some great conversation opening questions to discuss fear and situations that one might be afraid of. Next comes a fun family activity that solidifies the point to your family. In this case it's a new twist on Hide and Seek and Marco Polo in the dark.

The book is definitely among one I would highly recommend to new parents or even soon to be parents to gain a foothold on making learning valuable Godly lessons and behaviors not only fun, but ones that hopefully they will carry into their own family as they grow. I received All-In 2Night by Lynne Burgess compliments of Even Before Publishing and Book Crash for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. Hands down, this is such an excellent resource, I wish I would have had this when my children were much younger to create lasting memories and lessons that will enable them to be confident young adults as they grow. In my opinion, I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about All-In 2Night, Lynne Burgess or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

All-In 2 Night by Lynne Burgess

You can find out more information on the All In Night on Facebook.

To visit the All In 2Night Website, please click here. 

The Best of Daughters

While waiting on baited breath for Season 4 of Downton Abbey to begin, I was contacted with an opportunity to review a book that is a definite read for fans of the series. Best of Daughters by author Dilly Court takes readers into the look at the Lennox family living in Pimlico, London in 1912 just on the cusp of the future World War 1. As most aristocratic families of that time, the Lennox's hoped for a rich future through the marriage of their daughter Daisy and her childhood best friend Rupert Pendleton. Both families hoped that they would marry as they have been in one another's company for as long as they can remember, but like most women, Daisy had hoped to marry for love. She can't seem to see past Rupert as being anything more than her dearest friend.

However when her father's business partner runs off with money from his company, he is left to declare bankruptcy and relocate the family to their country house leaving London far behind. Unable to find the man, his family is left with nothing more than a roof over their heads and the rich and wealthy lifestyle is now something in the past, one her complaining and bitter mother Gwendolyn can't seem to forget. Her mother believes that with her marriage to Rupert, they will no longer have to struggle with doing their own chores and living below their means like the common villagers do, but Daisy can't bring herself to find the love Rupert so desperately desires from her. Especially when she finds heated passion in the eyes of the mechanic, Barnaby Bowman, who has been hired on to repair the family car.

Bowman is nothing more than a player of female hearts and he has his eyes set not only on conquering Daisy but also the only maid and friend Daisy has, Ruby. If he can't have Daisy, Ruby will be a great substitute, but no matter how much the truth confronts her, Daisy is drawn like a moth to a flame every time her and Bowman encounter one another. Now sitting on the brink of London going to war with Germany, life is about to change for Daisy is many unexpected ways when both Rupert, her brother Teddy and Bowman are all called into battle. Will her love for any of them make a difference or will Daisy wind up as an old maid on the spinster shelf?

I received The Best of Daughters by Dilly Court compliments of TLC Book Tours and Random House Publishing Group for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I would rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and would have given it a higher rating had the book not contain any profanity, but it does contain some thus the need to rate the novel according to my own review scale. However this is such a great inbetween meal to indulge in while waiting for Downton Abbey to pick back up and along the way gives readers insight not only into the issues dealing with the women's suffrage movement but also their involvement in the FANYs or First Aid Nursing Yeomanry which helped out in the war efforts. I can't wait to read more of Dilly's novels and this one even includes an interview with Dilly Court as well a sneak peek into her next novel The Workhouse Girl.

For more information about The Best of Daughters, Dilly Court or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Best of Daughters by Dilly Court

 To see more reviews on The Best of Daughters from the TLC Book Tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Arrow (March 18, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099562588
• ISBN-13: 978-0099562580
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces

Unforeseeable

The best part of the Road to Kingdom Series by best selling author - Nancy Mehl has been the unique blending of two of my favorite genre's to create something unforgettable in each of the novels that keeps me coming back for more. In this series of novels Nancy has taken your typical Christian Amish Fiction and twisted it so seamlessly with a great suspense murder, you think this is how all novels should be written. I think you shouldn't be able to tell the genre's apart and I think Nancy has created a unique nichè that is all her own.

While Unforeseeable is the third and final novel in the series, you can definitely pick this one up and read it as a stand alone and still gain the appreciation that fans from the beginning have experienced along the way. Callie Hoffman is the owner of town's cafè and works alongside her soon to be sister-in-law, Lizzie Housler. She is anticipating her upcoming wedding to the newly elected pastor, Levi Housler, Lizzie's brother, but some in the town of Kingdom believe he is far too young to take on the responsibilities of leading the church.

When the body of a woman is found just outside of town, soon the true nightmare begins. The sheriff comes to the local town gathering in the cafè to inform the residents that he believes that a serial killer has once again emerged and has begun to take his killing spree into the heart of Kingdom. He advises all women to make sure that they are with someone and never to venture outside alone. Pretty soon, like most small towns gossip gets the best of people and fingers are pointed into who may be the killer living among the small town of Kingdom. Just when you think you have it figured out, Nancy spins the tale into a completely different direction and soon you'll be left wondering just who is it and how many more lives of the women living in Kingdom will be claimed to the person responsible for committing the crimes just as a monsterous blizzard makes a direct path into town.

I received Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review. By far, this is my favorite of all three books in the series. Not only have I gotten the chance to know each of the main characters in the previous novels, I absolutely loved the elements that Nancy has twisted together to make this one work and compel me to finish the final page before setting it down. That to me, is a sign of a great book. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.

For more information about Unforeseeable, Nancy Mehl or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl

You can follow Nancy Mehl on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Unforeseeable from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 

• Series: Road to Kingdom (Book 3)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209299
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209291
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches

The Governess of Highland Hall

Little did Julia Foster realize how her time serving as a missionary in India would benefit her future as well as God's plans for her. Replying to an advertisement for a governess for two young children at Highland Hall, she hopes that securing this position will enable her to financial help her parents who have returned to London from India with her due to her father's failing health. Julia believes all the time spent running the schools and medical clinic while serving God is just the right experience to be a governess for the young children of Sir William Ramsey, who is at loss of finding just the right person to help.

On a fateful morning encounter, Julia comes across a well dressed man, she believes is the chauffeur who is struggling with getting the motor car running. She addresses the man and inquires if he might need assistance since she is on her way to an interview at Highland Hall, and they might be able to send someone to help. The man waves her off frustrated that no one will be able to help and it's only when she is sent to Sir William for the interview, she learns that man is the same one she ran into on the way into Highland Manor.

Julia's faith will be put to the utmost test when she learns that no other governess has last longer than six months, and both children have been grieving the loss of their mother and are a bit ill-mannered. Not only that but Julia is being asked to help William's deceased cousin Randolph's two teenage girls who have realized that the ownership of Highland Hall has now passed into William's hands. Having sold off his half of the business to his brother David, William learns that the financial status of Highland Hall is more than he bargained for when the death duties or taxes are due on the house in March and there is no hope for securing the funds necessary to pay for them.

Julia and William are struggling with their past issues when it comes to love, but neither of them could have ever come to expect the fondness and friendship that would develop between them, but with William's title, he could never marry someone of Julia's status. She has resolved to bide her time in the home helping out as much as she can to heal the wounds that have crippled not only the financial matters of the home, but also to the hearts of those that call Highland Hall home.

I received The Governess at Highland Hall by author Carrie Turansky compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This one resounded in my book lover's heart being a fan of traditional regency and historical fiction. It's like a blending of Sound of Music with Downton Abbey. What a spectacular novel and the best part is  that Carrie has decided to add this novel to the Edwardian Bride series with this being the first one. I can't wait to see what comes next as there are so many paths she could take with the characters we meet in this lovely and charming novel. I wholeheartedly give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and it has found a permanent home in my personal library. Warning: This novel releases in early October this year, but trust me, you'll want to preorder your copy now!

For more information about The Governess of Highland Hall, Carrie Turansky or where you can preorder a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

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

To read more reviews on The Governess of Highland Hall, you can visit WaterBrook Multnomah's website by clicking here. 

• Series: Edwardian Brides
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601424965
• ISBN-13: 978-1601424969

The Blood Solution Sugar Cookbook

Knowing how rampant the issue of obesity and how it affects our blood sugar, it's no wonder that today there are more diagnosed cases of Type 2 Diabetes than ever before and it's not only affecting older adults but teens and young children as well. So what can you do?

Dr. Mark Hyman offers a solution to help remedy the spikes in one's blood sugar and to aid in reducing our dependency on sugary foods in his latest book, The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook. It is the perfect companion book to accompany his earlier book, The Blood Sugar Solution. Having a mother-in-law with Diabetes and knowing that my husband and children are susceptible to possibly having health issues in the near future, I wanted to know what I could do now to eliminate the need for insulin shots later as well all know how important diet and exercise can play in reducing our dependency on drugs to treat diabetes.

In this book, Dr. Hyman presents more than 175 delicious and simply easy to make meals and recipes that support the Blood Sugar Solution lifestyle, allowing you to take back your health with wholesome, flavorful and simple meals. "We all know the cure for what ails us - both in our bodies and in our nation - can be found in the kitchen. It is a place to rebuild community and connection, strengthen bonds with family and friends, teach life-giving skills to our children, enrich and nourish our bodies and souls. Yet, in the twenty-first century, our kitchens (and our taste buds) have been hijacked by the food industry. In 1900 only 2 percent of our meals were eaten outside of the home; today that number is over 50 percent. " (pg 11).

We need a revolution to take back our kitchens and our homes. The solution is in our shopping carts, our refridgerators, and our cupboards - and on our dining room tables. This is where the power is. It is in the hundreds of small choices you make every day, choices that will topple the monolithic food industry. We have now raised the second generation of Americans who don't know how to cook. The average child in American doesn't know how to identify even the most basic fruits and vegetables; our kids don't know where their food comes from or even that it grows on a farm. Cooking means microwaving. Food comes in boxes, plastic bags and cans. Reading labels is supremely unhelpful in identifying the source of most foods - the ingredients are mostly factory-made science projects with a remote and unrecognizable lineage to real food.

This book gives you advice on what to keep and what to discard from your fridge, pantry, and shopping cart. It also provides recipes to delight your palate, stimulate your senses, and nourish your body and soul. The recipes are designed to be made, shared, and enjoyed with family and friends. In this one way, one by one, kitchen by kitchen, community by community - we will take back our health together.

I received The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook by Dr. Mark Hyman compliments of Little Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. Seeing as how this could definitely benefit virtually everyone I know and help them get back to maintaining a healthier lifestyle, I can easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars. This book shows you how to make plans now to get back to a healthy way of eating including how to having fun while cooking, what kitchen tools every kitchen should have and the recipes are geared by not only price but length of time to cook, so you can find something to please every single time management and financial situation.

For more information about The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook, Dr. Mark Hyman or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook by Dr. Mark Hyman

You can also find Mark Hyman, MD on Facebook to get more answers on your health issues.

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (February 26, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316248193
• ISBN-13: 978-0316248198
• Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 7.5 x 9.5 inches

Season of a Lifetime - DVD Review

When faced with the challenge of having to face coming to terms with being diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, headcoach of the Greenville Patriots, Jeremy Williams chose a different path than looking at his life with a definitive end point ahead of him. His story is now being captured in the DVD release from Word Films, Season of a Lifetime, showcases how he uses his faith to pull through what would be the end for most of us when faced with a terminal illness at such a young age.

Jeremy was showcased on Extreme Home Makeover and the viewers get a glimpse of that season's show as well as how he inspired the cast and crew in their own walk of faith as they prepared a home that would enable him and his younger son Jacob, who is was diagnosed with spinal bifoda which keeps him confined to a wheelchair to enjoy life more.He shares his life with his teenage daughter as well as his high school sweetheart he married.

What this DVD captures is much more than Jeremy's final season as coach for the Greenville Patriots, it captures the resilience of a man faced with a difficult disease that will claim his life all too soon, and how he uses that faith to motivate the men he coaches on his football team. It's pretty inspirational to watch how Jeremy never sees what happened to him as a crutch but as a tool to motivate others to never give up. It's simply over, when it's over.

I received Season of a Lifetime compliments of Word Films and Edify Media Inc for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This is not a fictional based movie but more along the lines of watching the last season in Jeremy's life as a coach and how he motivated his team not only to become a great football team but to become better people outside of the game. His goal is to inspire others and I think he does just that, not only with the members of his church family, but fellow coaches and players in rival teams. It truly does change your perspective in how will you face life when adversity comes your way. Hopefully we will all follow Jeremy's example and do it with grace, strength and dignity. I personally rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Season of a Lifetime, Word Films or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

Season of a Lifetime by Word Films

You can find out more information about the movie and Jeremy Williams on Facebook. 

Memory's Door

"There will come a day when you will train them - they will be four. The Song, the Teacher, the Leader, the Temple. Keep your eyes open to see, your ears open to listen, you heart open to feel, and your mind open to discern.

When the time comes, the Spirit will reveal each of them to you. You will teach them the wonders of my power they can't yet imagine. And instruct these warriors how to go far inside the soul and marrow.

They will rise up and fight for the hearts of others. They will demolish strongholds in the heavens and grind their enemies to dust. Their victories will spread across the nations. You will pour out your life for them and lead them to freedom, and they will turn and bring healing to the broken and set the hearts of others free.

And then the Wolf rises, the four must war against him and bring about his destruction.

Only they have hope of victory.

And for one, their vision will grow clear,

And for one, the darkness of choice will rain on them,

And for one, the other world will become more real than this one,

And for one, death will come before the appointed time."

For Reece, Brandon, Marcus and Dana, they are the chosen four spoken of in the prophecy about to be fulfilled in the second Well Spring Novel from best selling author James L. Rubart in Memory's Door. When we left the foursome in Soul's Gate, the first novel in the series, they had ventured into the souls of those people who have been held in bondage by their sin and their pasts as a way to begin the training that they will now have to utilize to war against what is known as the Wolf. They just have to figure out who or what the Wolf is before it's too late.

Now that the four have mastered the ability to travel within the souls of those needing healing and freedom from their sin that has held them in bondage, they are about to go head to head in an epic spiritual battle that I've only found in novels by Frank Peretti but this one will leave you shaking your head and wondering what is real and what is part of the spiritual deception played out by the demon they fought against in Soul's Gate, Zennon who has already robbed Reece of his sight. Will they be able to find a way to work together despite all the outside issues that are working against them being successful as the Warriors Riding or are these merely just another ploy of the enemy to cause division among the group?

This series combines some of the best genres together to create something that almost defies a clear explanation of what you are to immerse yourself in. Take Science Fiction, Supernatural Spiritual Warfare, Fantasy and add in the element of Suspense and you have briefly looked into the remarkable creation that only James L. Rubart can create. I received Memory's Door by James L. Rubart compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review. It took me much longer than I anticipated to finish Memory's Door, partly because it had been awhile since reading Soul's Gate that I had to spend some time refreshing myself with what had happened in the first book to be able to move forward in this one. This is definitely not meant to be a stand alone novel and I recommend reading Soul's Gate before picking this one up.

The other issue is that there is so much happening in this novel. It is packed with action and mystery with each of the four characters not only having to deal with their personal issues, Dana with her career, Marcus with his past decision that could destroy his marriage and family, Reece coming to terms that his vision might not ever be restored like he believes, and Brandon struggling with his music career. They must each find their personal freedom with what God has in store for each of them and be willing to let things go that they are grasping so tightly in this world before they can hope to master what awaits them in the spiritual realm. If not, it might just be the end of one or all of them.

I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and it's meant to take some time to gain a full grasp of what the meaning is behind this book. I found myself constantly looking at characters with fresh perspective because just when you think you might have someone's motives figured out, you realize you were so wrong. I believe James accomplishes his purpose by the time you get to the end and you find yourself reflecting on some of your own issues that may be hindering your own spiritual walk in growing closer to God. Ultimately the message is that Jesus is the only way to have freedom from sin that keeps you believing the lies of the enemy. That you can never change, you can never be forgiven, and there is no hope for a better life. Jesus can free you from all those lies and give you the freedom you seek.

For more information about Memory's Door, James L. Rubart or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Memory's Door by James L. Rubart

You can also follow James L. Rubart on Facebook and stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Memory's Door from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.


James L. Rubart takes readers deeper into the world he began in Soul’s Gate (a 2013 Christy Award winner) with Memory’s Door (Thomas Nelson), the second book in the Well Spring series.

James is celebrating the Memory's Door release with a fantastic Kindle Fire HD giveaway.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD
• Soul's Gate and Memory's Door by James L. Rubart

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 7th. All winners will be announced September 9th at Jim's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Jim's blog on the 9th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to his blog (enter your email in the blog sidebar) and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Threads of Change

For Elizabeth Bromont, her life has been as changing as the quilts she works so hard to create. Now at the crossroads of a new life for her and her three cousins as well as her young son Luke, she has made a decision to leave her family home in Louisiana and head out west to Fort Worth, Texas. She's strong and determined, raised that way by her grandfather Lucas Mailly after losing her husband Caleb in a logging accident. Lucas has managed to convince Liz that with the possibility of a war erupting in the South with the recent tensions surrounding slavery, their hope for the future lies in selling the family timber mill and taking everything they own and head to a new life and fresh start.

Liz and her three cousins, Emma, Abby and Megan arrange to pack up all the family's belonging into six wagons and take the journey west while her grandfather waits on the sale of the land and mill before joining them. He has managed to convince a couple of his best mill workers, John and Blue along with a close family friend, Thomas to join the women and ensure they make it through Indian Territory safe and sound. Thomas was Caleb's best friend when they first came to Lucas for work and it was due to his stubbornness that he sat back and waited too long, while Caleb stole the love of his life right out from under him. All these years he's sat back and waited for Liz to get over grieving for Caleb before telling him how he has felt all these years. He believes that is one of the reasons Lucas is so willing to allow Thomas to join the Mailly family on their trip to Texas.

However the trip isn't as smooth sailing as any of them would have liked the trip to go. From unexpected storms, being lost in the wilderness and being stalked not only by Indians but a wild and deadly panther as well, it is surprising that any of them manage to make it to Texas intact and in one piece. One thing is certain, life on the wild frontier in the mid 1800's was a wild as it comes and soon that future that the Mailly family had hoped for would soon undergo the greatest test of the family's faith yet.

I recieved Threads of Change by Jodi Barrows compliments of River North Publishing and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. Being a huge western romance fan, this one really spoke to my heart and soul of just how hard life was not only for people living in the 1850's but how difficult it was for a single woman raising a young son as well. We always wish for more simple times and often times forget just how hard women had to work back in those days and how young they were when death came to greet them. This is the first novel in the Quilting Series and I, for one, am thoroughly looking forward to reading the next one. This one rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.

For more information on Threads of Change, Jodi Barrows or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Threads of Change by Jodi Barrows

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

To read more reviews on Threads of Change from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 

• Series: Quilting Story
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: River North; New Edition edition (July 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802409377
• ISBN-13: 978-0802409379
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 5.5 x 8.3 inches