The Perfect Stranger

The one thing that drew them together would be the one common thread that threatens to tear them apart. Known by their blogging names, PINK STINKS, BamaBelle, I'm O-Kay and The Boobless Wonder and PC BC, these bloggers are united by dealing with breast cancer. Some are in remission, others are dealing with new treatment options, and others believe its simply a matter of time before hospice is called and the countdown begins to the end. Even though most of them are sharing their feelings with family and friends, no one really understands what they are dealing with like someone who is dealing with it as well. That is what has allowed them to simply step outside the limits of their blogging friendship and form a bond outside that as well even though they have never met.

However when Meredith Heywood winds up the victim of a home invasion robbery, soon the clues begin to add up that it was merely a murder staged to look like a home invasion robbery. Is it possible the during all her blogging posts that Meredith shared too much personal information online that someone had simply took their time and began putting things together to uncover who Meredith really was and where she lived. All those times she shared spending time alone while her husband Hank was dealing with his aging mother and trying to locate suitable nursing care for her, provided the perfect window of opportunity for someone looking for one. At least Meredith didn't have to wait for the cancer that was raging her body for the third time, to take her life. She simply didn't see it coming and she died before she knew what hit her.

Now left dealing with the implications of who had murdered Meredith, her blogging friends finally meet for the first time and her funeral. Something she had always dreamed of doing and never thought that her funeral would be the one place they all finally got to meet. Landry Wells, a successful mother of two wonderful teens and wife of her husband Rob, a busy attorney, she was the picture of what people would call a true Southern Belle. Elena Ferreira, has been trying to find a way to manage her stress as a first grade teacher, and no family to speak of. She is more than thrilled to have these blogging women to fall back on for support dealing with her own cancer. Now if she can only manage dealing with that stress without drinking or dating the one guy in her school that is beyond persistent in wanting to date her. Kay Collier, dealing with the memories of losing her own mother and never feeling truly wanted as a child, her online friends are her only outreach in dealing with her cancer, and Jaycee, the only blogger who has never revealed anything about who she is has a reason for keeping her personal life a secret. If any of them found out just who she really was, her secret would be finally revealed.

I received The Perfect Stranger by Wendy Corsi Staub compliments of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. As a blogger for the last 6 years, this one really hit home for me. In light of all the issues with identity fraud and social networking stalkers, you begin to wonder just how some people can use technology to gain insight into your life you'd never dream before. Rob, Landry's husband is concerned about her "blogging post and friends" and wonders just how much information she is sharing online but never seeks to check it out for himself. If you are truly that concerned, you would think a simply internet browse would take care of that, but it also adds to the element of suspense to the novel and when you discover who did it, you'll be looking at the information you decide to share online anymore! I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and look forward to more novels from Wendy in the near future.

For more information about The Perfect Stranger, Wendy Corsi Staub, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Perfect Stranger by Wendy Corsi Staub

You can also find Wendy Corsi Staub on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Perfect Stranger, please visit Harper Collin's website. 

The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek

I have been in love with the Butternut Creek series from author Jane Myers Perrine since the first novel. The cast of characters she has so lovingly created that live in the small town are rich in humor, love and purpose. If you haven't read any of them, please start at the beginning with The Welcoming Committee of Butternut Creek, then The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek before picking up The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek.

In this small town, are a group of older women simply known as the Widows. Most of them are just that, widowed elderly women who have taken it upon themselves to help the town out wherever needs prevail. The leader, a woman known as Birdie or Miss Birdie is Birdie Macdowell. She is the voice of the entire group and is often strong willed and blunt but she means well in what she does. Her goal since the series began was to find their new minister, Adam Jordan, a wife. In a town this small, where the elderly greatly outnumber the younger, this poses a problem. Especially when Adam digs his feet in and kindly thanks the Widows for their well meaning intention, but he isn't interested.

When he met Gussie Milton, he wasn't interested in love, but over time, he found the perfect wife to be in her. But in the time he has taken to get to know her, the Widows feel he is dragging his feet and they firmly resolve to get them engaged, married and procreating to fill up the house the pastor is residing in. Now they simply need to make sure he understands just how committed they will need to be. Armed with more than good intentions the Widows of Butternut Creek are about to move their plans into the next phase and understand there is a wedding in the future. They just need to convince Adam it's time to propose and they intend on helping him do just that.

Now that Adam's sister Hannah has returned to Butternut Creek to heal from malaria while working as a doctor in Africa, the Widows have another plan in mind. With the high school basketball coach, Gabe Borden on the available list, they have just added another single woman to their list of eligible possibilities for Gabe. Only they don't realize that Hannah is no match for their "helpfulness" in finding her an eligible husband even if she is more than attracted to him. Oh but the Widows of Butternut Creek are about to have their work truly cut out for them in this novel and hopefully the right love arrows will be placed in the right hearts.

I received The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine 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 and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I love the entire town and the people like Miss Birdie and the Widows are ones I can relate to. They are struggling to find purpose in life after raising their own families, dealing with the loss of their husbands, and trying to find something to help pass the time. They are filled with love for each of the people who live in town and even Miss Birdie will find out just how much all of her efforts to help people out will come back when she needs help the most. All in all, I hope this isn't the last novel for the Butternut Creek series and hope to see what the Widows are up to next. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek, Jane Myers Perrine, or where to pick up this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine

You can find Jane Myers Perrine on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek, please visit Faith Word's website. 

In The Field of Grace

If you have read some of the stories of the Bible, you get a broad sense of what happened. But like so many times we are missing some of the finer points, the motivations and those are found in the details. My newest favorite genre this year is Biblical Fiction. Taking a story we all know and love straight from the Bible and enhancing the details of 'what could of been!' It is never meant to take the place of those beloved stories but simply a way I believe to draw you deeper. To bring you right in the forefront of the action and make you believe you are there actually witnessing the events.

This is my second novel from author Tessa Afshar, and with it comes the retelling of the story of Ruth. If you are familiar with the story than you know that Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, decides to return to Israel after losing both of her sons. But before deciding to uproot Ruth from her own family roots, she relives her of any burden to stay with her along her to journey back to her home. Ruth vows that no matter what happens in life, she will always stay by Naomi side and so begins their adventure to Naomi's home. We learn that the harvest has been plentiful and even gleaners, are having success with picking up enough left over grain that they will not go hungry. Ruth decides to venture out to take care of their needs and finds her way into the fields of Boaz.

She first has to learn how to glean and being a Moabite woman, she is considered an outcast in town. With no one to help her, she decides to linger behind and take the leftovers if she can find them. But soon she garners the attention of Boaz, the owner of the field, who is smitten with her looks as well as her quiet presence. When he learns she is the daughter of Naomi, his cousin, he realizes he must offer to help but not in the way to embarrass her. He warns his men to offer her protection while working in his fields and to ensure that each day, she takes home more than enough to feed them both.

While they are both learning lessons along the way, dealing with grief, accepting God's will in both of their lives, and slowly falling in love along the way, we can see the same example being laid out before each of us. How God so lovingly romances all of us and shows us in innumerable ways just how much He loves us. I love the part of the novel where Boaz it trying to describe what the world is like to an unborn baby and he gets a lesson from God in the process in dealing with the grief and loss Boaz feels when he loses his wife Judith and their unborn child.

"Then the Lord asked me, 'Do you think he understands? Do you think he knows what your world is like now?'
"No, Lord,' I replied, 'How could he? He only knows his mother's womb. His world is too small. I could use every word the world has to offer and he would still not perceive our world. He has to be in it to understand it.'
"'No more can you understand My kingdom,' He said to me. 'No more can you perceive where your wife and daughter and newborn son reside now. Yet that world is no less real than your own.'" (pg 124).

I received In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar compliments of River North Publishing and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. This is such a beautiful love story not only between Ruth and Boaz but also between God and us.. There are just so many wonderful take aways from this novel I simply can't list them all. For those that have experienced loss and are looking for answers, I would encourage you to check out this novel and then follow it up with the story of Ruth from the Bible. It simply is breath-taking and full of life in many ways. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to go back and pick up the other novels Tessa has written that I haven't been blessed to enjoy yet.

For more information about In the Field of Grace, Tessa Afshar or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar

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

To read more reviews on In Field of Grace, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page. 

The Traitor's Heir

 

 

Title: The Traitor’s Heir

Author: Anna Thayer

Series:  Book one of the Fantasy Trilogy, The Knight of Eldaran

Publisher: Kregel Publications

ISBN: 978-1782640752

 

My Review: 

A fantasy novel written in somewhat Medieval Times about a the main character by the name of Eamon Goodman, who for the right idea, pledged his service to The Master. Through his childhood, Eamon thought of being a chivalrous Knight or servant of The Hand, the illustrious right hand guard of The Master. Little did he know that upon pledging himself the day he was to become a servant and Ensign of The Master that things would never be the same. The cities and towns who fall under the protection of The Master are protected and kept safe by The Throned one, but are they under his protection or enslaved by his powers and armies?

 

His childhood friend, a girl by the name of Aeryn, who grew up watching him turn from a young boy with a harsh childhood into a brave young man warned him about accepting the Mark and swearing to obey The Master’s Commands. Wishing to prove himself worthy, he disregards his best friends advise and pledges himself to The Master. Will Eamon be lured over to the Dark Forces of The Master or will he reveal himself to be a King’s Man from a time before the Thrown was stolen!  The rest of the story will have to be read rather than reviewed!

 

Read for yourself the story of Eamon Goodman to see if he truly is a Traitor's Heir or if he makes his own history in this epic novel.

 

I received The Traitor's Heir by Anna Thayer compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 Stars! It has tales of old heroes and a plot that would rival the great King Arthur and The Knights of Camelot! This is the first book in The Knight of Eldaran Series Trilogy and a debut novel as well. I can't wait to read the next novel in the series, The King's Hand!

 

For more information about The Traitor's Heir, Anna Thayer or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below: 

 

The Traitor's Heir by Anna Thayer

 

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

 

To read more reviews on The Traitor's Heir, please visit Kregel Publication's website. 

 

 

101 Things You Should Do Before Going to Heaven

I'm sure you have heard of thing like "bucket lists" or "things to do before you die" but I found a much better book that offers you something more. It's a wonderful little gem tucked between the hard cover and provides you with more than simply a list of ideas of things you should accomplish before you go to heaven. This is definitely a book for believers in Jesus Christ, because there is only one way to heaven and that is found in Christ. Yet the book offers us a glimpse at some of the wonderful ideas we can do while we are still living here in this world.

I believe as adults, life comes at us too fast. We have responsibilities to manage, families to care for, jobs to perform and along the way, I feel we simply forget how to enjoy this life. God created it for us to enjoy while we are here and inside are a list of some amazing things to do. It offers you a chance at bringing back some of that fun and imagination we had when we were children. The best part is that you are more than welcome to bring your family, friends and children along for the journey and remind them life doesn't end once you've become an adult and some "playtime" is definitely par for the course at keeping us happy and healthy.

"If you are a Christian, you can look forward to a magnificent eternity in heaven and your arrival there will be an indescribable homecoming. A new beginning. A new body. A new intimacy with God. A new life - one without end. No more pain. No more tears. No more sun or moon, because God's own glory will provide enough light. Although God hasn't provided you with a crystal-clear picture of what your eternal home will be like, you can be sure it will exceed your wildest dreams. It will be what your heart has always longed for here on earth but could never quite touch. It will be paradise in every sense of the word. But you're not there yet.
This book is designed to help you make the most of every day God has set aside for you here on earth. Take hold of the wonderful adventure God has planned for your life. And if you have not done so, take hold of His grace, forgiveness and unfailing love. Then go out there and really live. There's a wild and wonderful world that's longing to catch a glimpse of God - and heaven - through you." (excerpt from Introduction.)

Some of the ideas listed in the book are:

Read the Classics
Do Something That Scares You
Celebrate a Traditional British Tea
Spend a Day Alone with God
Watch a Meteor Shower
Become an Undercover Encourager
Make Yourself at Home in a Cemetary
Greet the Dawn

There are simply so many great ideas and suggestions that do more than offer a place to go. Some suggestions offer ways of getting beyond your own wants and needs and help others. It's all about making the time you have here, worth while. It will be the one thing we can take with us to heaven are the memories we have of our time here. So if you're looking for something to do to make your life more meaningful or simply a great gift idea that goes beyond what you had dreamed, you might just want to pick this book up.

I received 101 Things You Should Do Before Going to Heaven by David Borden and Tom Winters 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 and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own, unless otherwise notated. Hands down, I can't wait to finish checking off quite a few of the ideas listed in this book and give it a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about 101 Things You Should Do Before Going to Heaven, David Bordon, Tom Winters or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

101 Things You Should Do Before Going to Heaven by David Bordon and Tom Winters

All I Love and Know

Once again I find myself in a difficult place reviewing a novel that I am questioning why I would have wanted to review this novel since it goes against my own personal religious beliefs on the side against gay marriage. So for my Christian blogging readers, I caution you against this novel based on the premise that is speaks about not only gay marriage being acceptable, but also for the fact that it does against the very core beliefs God speaks against. With that being said, let me outline what the novel All I Love and Know from author Judith Frank conveys. This novel is based on the relationship of two men, Matthew Greene and Daniel Rosen who are currently living together and find themselves dealing with the outcome of Daniel's twin brother and sister-in-law who have been killed in a bombing in Jerusalem, leaving the men to deal with what will happen to the couples children. It explores how each of the men approach the complexities now facing each of them in learning they have been asked to adopt the children and how it changes their lifestyles and relationship.

While I can understand the issues facing the two men, I can understand how even these issues would impact a traditionally married couple, a man and a woman, who themselves faced the same possibilities and that is how I tried to manage getting through the novel to provide an honest review. The circumstances are similar but not entirely the same and thus the reason for my providing the rating that I did. It's times like this that question whether or not you even want to share a review but honesty is why I chose to become a book reviewer. They all can't be good and everyone is entitled to their opinion. In my own personal case as a Christian, I can't give this novel a great rating because in doing so would compromise the beliefs I have and also convey that I accept the novel as it is written and again something I can't do to be fair with my own beliefs in God.

However, other people will provide a far different view on this novel and as such, I wanted to convey that in my review. While I tried to maintain a level of objectivity, I had difficulty when the subject of sex between the two men were discussed and how they would maintain their lifestyle in the presence of the newly adopted children. My review is simply to state what a reader will find when opening the cover and if this does not offend you than you will more than likely appreciate the novel as the author intended, but for me, I have to be honest and say I did not like the novel even though the premise of having a married couple dealing with the suddenly adoption of children into their lives and subsequent consequences stemming from those decisions is a great idea. In my opinion, I'd give this one a 2 out of 5 stars based solely on my own rating system.

I received All I Love and Know by Judith Frank compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable one. For more information about All I Love and Know, Judith Frank or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

All I Love and Know by Judith Frank

You can also find Judith Frank on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on All I Love and Know, please visit William Morrow's website. 

An Unwilling Accomplice

Since my first Bess Crawford novel from best-selling author Charles Todd, I've been hooked. Taking some of my favorite elements of fiction, World War I, women nurses, and murder mystery and you have to basic ingredients for what makes the Bess Crawford Series a true success. Bess Crawford has been serving as a battlefield nurse, thrust in the middle of taking care of the most challenging of patients. With medical marvels still years from being developed, she is right in the middle of action trying to save the lives of those she can, and holding hands, writing letters and simply being there for those she can't. It was truly a trying time in history for women to participate in doing their part while war raged all around them.

For Bess, she is the daughter of a famous Colonel who's own military success often times aid her in coming to terms with the war. Like most fathers, they want to do all they can to  protect their daughters when they have the opportunity and Bess finds herself paired with her friend Simon, a decorated Sergeant-Major. He comes to her rescue as often as he is able, most of the time helping her solve the latest crime using all his military resources to research potential motives.

Bess has been assigned the duties of caring for an ailing Sergeant Wilkins who is confined to a wheelchair after sustaining injuries in the war. She is to provide nursing assistance to Wilkins when his orderly is headed back to the battle lines and to ensure he is present at Buckingham Palace for the King to honor him with a medal for his courage on the battlefield. What she doesn't expect is for her patient to go missing when she leaves him at his hotel room for the night. Is this the very reason why she was assigned to Wilkins in the first place? It simply wouldn't be proper for a woman, even a nurse, to stay in the man's room overnight. Just when did he go missing?

Now with Bess' professional credentials being called into question, she faces scrutiny from her boss as well as having to answer to the local police while she simply has let a man go missing. Now she has to race against time to figure out just what happened to Wilkins because as it stands now, it looks as if Nurse Bess Crawford is more than simply an unwilling accomplice.

I received An Unwilling Accomplice by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. One of the best things I love about these novels besides trying to solve the crime before Bess does, is the historical feel to the novel that brings you right into the heart of the action. The sights and sounds are so vivid in detail you can't help but feel like you are really there as you take part in the journey alongside Bess. This is the sixth novel in the Bess Crawford Series and I honestly can't wait for more. I give this one a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about An Unwilling Accomplice, Charles Todd or where you can pre-order a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Unwilling Accomplice by Charles Todd

You can also find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on An Unwilling Accomplice, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Firewall

Sometimes whenever I pick up a novel I'm not sure it will be a great one or just an O.K. one. But then there are those so great that you simply can't put them down until the end. The action level in them is fast paced, heart-stopping and literally on the edge of your seat, that when life comes along, like doing dishes or laundry, you have to put those things aside. I mean honestly, how can you leave your character's lives hanging in the balance, while you wash and dry a sink full of dishes? Answer, you can't!

I am one of those readers that will take the time to read the comments posted about the novel or the author and then consider how accurate or completely wrong some may be. I mean, be honest, they all can't be that great right? In the case of DiAnn Mills latest novel Firewall, they really are! This one completely grabs your attention from the first few pages and immediately you are hooked. We meet a lovely couple just on the verge of celebrating their honeymoon. Taryn Young and her new husband Francis Shepherd are heading to the airport to begin their honeymoon on the islands of San Juan. Everything is perfect including putting away all of Taryn's technology so they can truly celebrate and spend time as husband and wife. Just before boarding their plane, Taryn makes a final restroom stop and a bomb goes off in the airport. Realizing she is lucky to be alive at all, she is immediately taken to the hospital for her injuries.

She certainly doesn't expect to be interrogated by the FBI when she wakes up. They believe that Taryn and her husband, whom she refers to a Shep, are responsible for the bombing at the airport. They have video footage that clearly shows Taryn heading into the restroom and Shep departing the airport in the same limo that brought them both there. Clearly she believes that they are making a mistake, because why would her husband be leaving the airport? They were leaving on their honeymoon and even if something came up, he wouldn't leave her behind. Right? But everything Taryn believes about the last three months of her whirlwind romance with Shep is about to be drawn into questioning and soon she'll begin to realize the man she married isn't who she thought he was after all. Even more troubling, he is out to find her at all costs and get the one thing he desperately needs that could be her entire country at risk for terrorist threats.

I received Firewall by DiAnn Mills compliments of Tyndale 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 contained here are strictly my own. I have to agree with those that commented, "Firewall is a gripping ride that will keep your blood pumping and your imagination in high gear. ~ Dani Pettrey" or "Firewall is an up-until-2 a.m. book...I had no idea who the mastermind was until the last two or three pages. ~Lauraine Snelling." I agree with them 100%. If you love a book that will keep you glued while life simply has to wait until you finish this novel, please pick it up. It's like Mission Impossible rolled together with a bit of Jason Bourne and a definitely a shot of sizzling romance on the side! By far one of the best action adventures I've read and thanks to DiAnn Mills for signing my copy with the word, "Expect an adventure!" That is definitely what I got and more. Well worth every one of the 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion! This is the first book in the FBI: Houston Series! Can't wait for even more action to come!

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

Firewall by DiAnn Mills

You can also find DiAnn Mills on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Firewall, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page. 

Remains of Innocence

Two murders in two cities, presents a challenge and a possible connection. When Liza Manchett, begins to go through her mother's house, she discovers something she can't explain. Growing up she lived in poverty with no electricity or hot water, yet in going through her mother's things after she has died, she discovers money in various places that amounts to a small fortune. Not sure what this means about the way her mother dealt with raising her and her step brother Guy, she is more than puzzled to come up with a valid explanation. Since she can't ask her mother, she tries to pieces things together as best as she can. She knows her father left them all for another women and died many years ago. Guy had no problem attending Harvard and John Hopkins to become a doctor but he earned it all on his own.

Now he refuses to have anything to do with Liza or helping her try to figure things out. When she attempts to renovate her mother's home to something that is suitable for sale, she receives a warning from a man at her mother's funeral. He warns Liza that people don't forgive and forget. One by one, people in Liza' life begin to come up murdered and she seems to be the only connection. Is it possible Liza is hiding something? Something she is keeping from the police? Is Liza responsible for the string of murders that begins to follow her everywhere she goes?

On the other end of the spectrum, Sheriff Joanna Brady struggles to come to terms with an apparent serial killer in the small town of Bisbee, Arizona. The man in question, Junior Dowdle, has the body of an older man, but mentally has the age of a young child. Combine that with the effects of Alzheimer's and it's no wonder that Junior has wound up missing. When all all out search reveals Junior has fallen to his death in an abandoned cave, they discover three mutilated animals beneath his body. Only on further investigation, do they find a small kitten that has escaped death but is injured beyond belief to even seasoned officers and yet managed to survive. How is Junior responsible? Did his mental capacity lead him to commit these horrible crimes when his parents were forced to lock him inside his room or is there another explanation?

I received Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I really enjoyed this novel due to the complexities of the two cases that eventually converge for Sheriff Joanna Brady and was more than surprised at who was responsible. Completely missed it on my end and so glad I am not a detective. This one rated a true 4.5 out of 5 stars and is a definitely must read for fans of criminal murder mysteries!

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

Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance

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

To read more reviews on Remains of Innocence, please visit William Morrow's website. 

 

101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home

Sometimes as we grow older we look back at our lives and remember fond memories of times spent with our family and our children as they grew. Those are often shared memories between our family as we reflect back on those times with admiration and love. Too often when life grows too busy, we forget to take time out of our day and plan for more of those memories we can share with our children or teens. We don't want to get to the end of our life and realize our time has run out and we never took the time to make plans. That is why I love the book, 101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home from David Bordon and Tom Winters.

Each page offers some suggestions to help us make time for some incredible activities that are bound to create a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of our children and perhaps create their own traditions that they will continue on with their own families. This book was written to help you map out those precious years. It's filled with ideas and advice designed to help you maximize your ability to send your children out into the world with all the tools they need to succeed, while making sure you and your kids enjoy every precious moment. Here are a few of the ideas you will find tucked inside this cover:

Plant a Family Tree

Make Your Kids All Home-Movie Stars

Conduct a Laundry Seminar

Thank a Soldier

Spend the Night in the Zoo

Pick Up Trash in a Park

Have a Paper Airplane Flying Contest

Organize a Search for Teddy Bears in the Dark

Trace Your Child's Silhouette

There are so many more great ideas and values to teach your children that when they grow older, they will appreciate the time you spent with them, helping them become better people and children of God. What a wonderful gift this would make for new parents, grandparents or even teachers or youth group leaders. There is a powerful message behind all the activities and provides additional time to reflect and open communication lines with our children now so that it will hopefully last in the future. Even though my children are almost grown, I hope to incorporate these ideas with my future grandkids or any children that I have time to spend with like my nieces and nephews. I am hoping that these will create so many great memories that they will take them with them when they arrive on heaven's doorstep! For me, this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars!

I received 101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home by David Bordon and Tom Winters 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 and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. For more information about 101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home, David Bordon or Tom Winters or where you can pick up a copy of this amazing book today, please click on the links below:

101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home by David Bordon and Tom Winters

Outlaw

Ted Dekker writes some pretty amazing novels. Stuff you don't even think about or consider but by the time you reach the end, you realize you've gone through something pretty amazing. Such is the case for the novel Outlaw. It defines the foundation for his series, the Outlaw Chronicles through even more novels. You need to understand the issues of what makes one an true outlaw. This is the real "Survivor" story and not like the reality series!(Spoiler alert below:)

The story behind Outlaw is one that Ted elaborates on in the conclusion of the novel where he shared his own experiences being the son of a missionaries. He traveled to some pretty remote locations where some tribal people that came upon didn't even speak the same language and their cultural differences allowed him some unusual insight to share with the reader. The main character Julian Carter grew up in Atlanta, Georgia in a prominent and wealthy family in t 1933. Servants were still employed and Julian grew up understanding how her parents treated them as such. Even though they were treated well, they were still considered hired help and had their place in society as well.

She dealt with life as best as she could being pressured by her parents to marry into a suitable family and bear her father a son to whom he could pass along his inheritance and wealth. During this time, Julian was plagued by dreams that she was in a jungle flying high over the tree tops being drawn to someone through a song. She never understood the significance but was puzzled by its meaning. After finally giving birth to a son that she loved more than life, her parents both passed away and her husband feel into a deep depression. When a group of missionaries can to her church sharing the news of their trips to remote locations to share the gospel. Julian felt compelled to go. Little did she realize how much her life would change after that.

Setting sail on board a small sailboat, Julian along with her young 2-year-old son, Stephen, get caught in an unexpected violent storm that threatens their very lives. After witnessing their captain attempt to save the boat and fall overboard, she now realizes it is up to her to save their lives. She hopes and prays that God will answer her prayers to keep them both alive until the storm passes. But the ship capsizes and Julian is injured. When she wakes, she finds herself floating among the debris and her son is no where to be found. Realizing her loss, she is captured by a tribe known as the Tulim who believe that all women are sub-species of pigs and treat them as such unless they can bear children. Now Julian's nightmare truly begins.

I received Outlaw from Ted Dekker compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I love the direction that Ted took this novel and like all of his books in a great series, you have to really get to the meat of the meaning behind them all. Outlaw does just that.. You learn about the meaning behind "deditio," Latin for unconditional surrender and how the corresponds to the life of Jesus Christ for believers. You realize as well that we are all outlaws in comparison to the world's views and are often treated as such by society that doesn't like that we uphold God's law and belief in the Bible as the absolute truth. We're not perfect, but when we can see things from that perspective it makes things so much easier to deal with when faced with persecution of any kind. I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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

Outlaw by Ted Dekker

You can Ted Dekker on Facebook to keep up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Outlaw, please visit Center Street Publishing's website. 

Penny Wise

I remember when I was a child growing up in a small beachside neighborhood. All the neighbors knew one another and we lived in a small cul-de-sac. Holidays were celebrated in a big way because we got outside and hung out with the people who lived around us. Even late at night, parents would keep an eye out for all the kids, not just there own. But it seems like we have forgotten those great times where we look out for one another. Call it being busy or simply not interested enough, but Neta and Dave Jackson take us back to an old Chicago neighborhood on Beecham Street in each of their novels in the Windy City Neighborhood Series. In the third book, Penny Wise, we meet the Jasper family. The hard working father, Jared works crazy hours as an air traffic controller so the time he does spend with his family is split between work, church and family obligations. His wife, Michelle carries the weight of raising three growing teens, Destin who loves basketball and wants to attend summer camp to enhance his skills for a potential scholarship when he graduates from high school. The twins Tavis and Tabby, are growing 13-year-olds who are desperately seeking their own identities and trying to stay away from the gangs and drugs.

Michelle attempts to hold it all together while working at Bridges Family Services, along with volunteering at Lifeline, a crisis pregnancy center that helps young girls deal with the implications of dealing with the emotions of abortion and teen pregnancy. When she isn't there or working, she is raising a growing, busy family alongside helping out when she can at her church. What the Jasper family is dealing with the most is finding family time again with everyone being so busy in their own personal lives. Sure Jared and Michelle have to work to pay the bills, but it seems as if they are spiraling out of control and unexpected expenses keep piling up when they least expect them, which adds to the pressure that their marriage has to deal with. It isn't hard to understand even in today's tough economic times, that we can all relate to the Jasper's situation. Just how they work it all out is the premise behind this novel. It will showcase just how important family and neighbors can be and by the time you get to the end, you hope that we can all get out and meet with our neighbors a bit more.

Your favorite neighbors that you have met in the first two novels are back, from fun loving, blunt and honest Estelle Bentley, to Christian singer Grace Meredith, and Mattie Krakowski finally makes it home from recovering from her hip injury to take residence in the Bentley's new town home. You gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses that Michelle and Jared face in their marriage and in how they choose to work things out. It challenges us in our own marriages and parenting situations to see things from a different perspective.

I received Penny Wise by authors Neta and Dave Jackson compliments of Castle Rock Creative Publishing and Litfuse Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained are strictly my own. I would recommend that even though you can read this as a stand alone, you would get more enjoyment reading this series in order, with Grounded being the first and Derailed following that one. I can't wait for the next one Pound Foolish to come out this fall that picks up the homeschooling family we meet in this novel and one I am sure I will relate to as well. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Penny Wise, Dave and Neta Jackson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Penny Wise by Dave and Neta Jackson

You can also find Dave and Neta Jackson on Facebook to stay up to date with all their latest novels.

To read more reviews on Penny Wise, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour page. 

Blink of An Eye

Imagine if you had the unique ability of precognition besides an IQ that was virtually higher than any human being had recorded, but in your mind you simply saw yourself as the average nerdy kind of guy that found college boring and were looking for something more out of this life? Then you would be describing Seth Borders, who maintains an IQ of 193, Einsteins was estimated to be 163 and only 1 percent of humans even have an IQ of 135, so you can see how Seth would be simply bored by most things. He simply thought ahead of what most people thought and can see things others can't. He has been offered a job at the National Security Association or NSA and can either be a huge asset or a huge threat depending on who's side of the fence Seth is interested in working with.

Just when he thought life couldn't get any more exciting, he encounters, Miriam, a beautiful Middle Eastern princess who is running for her life. He sees her a few minutes before even encountering her and knows that if he fails to act, she will die in the future he has seen earlier. Not knowing how or why he has received this uncanny ability to see into the future along with hundreds of possible outcomes, he is willing to take that risk and it is one that will forever alter both of their lives.

Miriam is running for her life quite literally, because she knew if she stayed in Saudi Arabia, she would be forced into a marriage to a man named Omar bin Khalid. He is one of the most powerful men in Saudi Arabia and he has plans to upset the balance of power in Saudi Arabia by staging a coup and providing a son of royal birth through Miriam which will ultimately give him the power to rule. But Omar is not without his faults and killing those who stand in his path of achieving his success is merely a fore thought. When he learns that Miriam has fled the country, he vows to punish her for making him look like a fool and will only keep her around long enough to provide a son to take over the existing throne in his country. Then she will not serve his purpose any longer and will be eliminated.

I received Blink of an Eye by best-selling author Ted Dekker compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Ever since my first Ted Dekker book, I've been hooked by his unique writing style to draw you in from the very beginning and before you know it, you're holding your breath, reading as fast as you can flip pages, to find out just what will happen next. This one is no exception and I've loved being a part of Miriam and Seth's journey from beginning to end. It conveys to readers just how difficult life for a woman living in the Middle East truly is when she is treated like property and lacking all the basic rights of a human being. Her life simply isn't worth anything but a means to an end. I can easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to add this one to my growing Ted Dekker library collection!

For more information about Blink of an Eye, Ted Dekker or where to pick up a copy of this amazing novel, please click on the links below:

Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker

You can also find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Blink of An Eye, please visit Center Street Publishing's website. 

Beneath a Navajo Moon

For as long as I can remember I love reading about the Native American people, their cultures and their love for the land and for the living things that dwell on the earth. Lisa Carter has taken this aspect, combining both contemporary and historical storylines to produce an amazing murder mystery and a bit of romance in her latest novel Beneath a Navajo Moon.

Cultural anthropologist Erin Dawson has been following the story of Olivia Thornton, from 1906 through her journal that captures a time from her life when she was taken captive by an Navajo Indian known as Silver Eagle. What she discovers is that this started out as a kidnapping but instead love was found. Despite the fact that Olivia's family tried to discourage her from reuniting with Silver Eagle, she made an attempt to find him at all costs when marriages between white women and Indians were frowned upon. Erin knows that there is more to this story that what is in the journal and she is going to do everything she can to unlock the mystery.

What she doesn't plan on is falling for tribal policeman Adam Silverhorn. He is in the process of investigating the murder of the chief of police in Cedar Canyon on the Navajo Reservation. Armed with a handful of clues he's been learning more about an undercover operation that has been threading its way through the police department and even he has his own secrets to hide. The one thing he hadn't planned on is becoming friends with Erin in the process and with them spending more time together, he has to remind himself where the boundaries of their relationship are, despite her uncanny ability to appeal to his appetite for a great meal!

I received Beneath a Navajo Moon by Lisa Carter compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable one. The opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such a great novel because of how Lisa has written this from two perspectives, one from Olivia Thornton's as she comes to terms with being kidnapped by a Navajo Indian who wants to learn more about the God she believes in and from Erin's perspective as she tries to figure out what happened to Olivia when she set forth to find the man she had fallen in love with despite the prejudices from both families based on their cultural differences. It is a great example of the power of love and how nothing can stand in the way. For anyone who loves a bit of mystery steep in Indian heritage, you will definitely love this one. I easily give it a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Beneath a Navajo Moon, Lisa Carter or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Beneath a Navajo Moon by Lisa Carter

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

To read more reviews on Beneath a Navajo Moon, please visit Abingdon Press' website. 

The Revealing

Things are finally coming to a close for the characters at Stoney Ridge in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, in Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest novel The Revealing. An appropriate title since so many of our questions,  for readers who have been faithfully following the series, will finally have answers and closure. At the heart of the entire series has been the investment scandal of Schrock Investments, a company created and ran by Rose Schrock's former husband Dean. When Dean died due to a believed drowning, embezzlement charges rose to the service that those who worked for the firm were stealing money from the investors.

Since Dean is dead, it leaves behind Jake Hertzler and Tobe Schrock. Jake has left and gone into hiding while Tobe is still serving a prison sentence. All believe that Jake knows more, but since no one can locate him, the questions remain. As we pick up in the Revealing, Rose is still struggling to make ends meet by running the Inn at Eagle Hill. Business has been picking up since people believe miracles happen to those that stay so she is thankful for that. Galen King has his heart set on convincing Rose to marry him, but she feels it's simply too soon with so many unknowns, wondering what will become of Tobe when he is released and how she will get out of the debt the scandal has cost her.

Galen's sister Naomi is hiding her own secrets, with secretly visiting Tobe in prison. She can't let anyone know especially her overprotective brother, because according to Tobe, once he is released from prison, he will be revealing more than anyone knows. He promises that he will right all the wrongs that he believes Jake is responsible for. The mystery still continues with why Jake has been so bent on finding the ledger books that are missing that shows someone was responsible for faking the account totals while skimming money. When two unexpected visitors arrive at the Inn, things will never be the same and more will be revealed than anyone thought that will involve both the King and Schrock families.

I received The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher compliments of Revell Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I love the way Suzanne didn't rush to fill in all the missing pieces of the puzzle that has been surrounding this scandal and in the end, we get the closure and endings we had hoped for. I can only hope this is not the end of my favorite characters from Stoney Ridge and that they will resurface in others series in the future. I would love to know how things work between some of the couples that eventually find happiness in the end in their own novels. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and includes a delicious recipe for lemon blueberry squares along with a discussion guide for readers at the end.

For more information about The Revealing, Suzanne Woods Fisher or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

You can also find Suzanne Woods Fisher on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews from The Revealing, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


In The Revealing, the riveting conclusion to the Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

Suzanne is celebrating by giving away THREE iPads!

  THREE grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• PickPocket Tablet Accessory Pouch (A stylish storage pouch designed to hold all your tablet accessories. Info.)
• The Inn at Eagle Hill series (The Letters, The Calling, and The Revealing)

Five second place winners will receive:

• The Inn at Eagle Hill series (The Letters, The Calling, and The Revealing) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 20th. All winners will be announced July 21st at Suzanne's blog. AND ... if you're looking for more in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, be sure to pick up the ebook novella, The Rescue, for just $1.99!

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
Suzanne is also giving away two 10-book mystery prize packs! 
One of the major themes of The Revealing is learning to trust your intuition and instincts. These are God-given qualities that we sometimes are too timid or unsure of to act on. For a chance to win one of the 10-book prize packs, leave a comment on this blog and share about a time when your intuition or instinct saved the day—or a time you ignored it and missed an opportunity. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 21st to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

The Perfect Summer - DVD Review

Moving from everything you know and leaving your past behind to start over is hard enough. Especially for 17-year-old Jake Reynolds. He has already lost his father just last summer and now his mother, Alyssa (Sydney Penny) has left their family home in Chicago to move in with her father, Lou Reynolds (Erik Roberts) in North Carolina. She thinks the beach town is the perfect place for Jake to find his roots and perhaps a fresh start at a new life. But Jake is pretty determined to stay resentful of his situation despite how welcoming his grandfather is. The one thing he isn't expecting is to learn that cell phone coverage and Wifi isn't something that is available and he will have to seek it out in town at the nearby surf shop and cafe owned by Cody (Jason Castro, American Idol).

Jake thinks he may have found something to interest him beside the internet when he meets Kayla, a beautiful surfer girl who seems interested in him. But things go from bad to worse, when Kayla's ex boyfriend Tyler seems to think that Jake better find a new interest and hurry. Kayla reminds him that they are no longer a couple and she can do whatever she wants with her time and see anyone she pleases. But like all good bullies, that only adds fuel to the fire. No matter where Jake goes, trouble with Tyler follows and soon he is shown just how forceful they can be when they beat him up and break the surfboard his grandfather has loaned him.

Ashamed and feeling less than worthy, Jake feels that moving back to Chicago might be better than trying to fit in with his grandfather. His mother has found an ideal job working as a travel agent and believes they are finally on the right track. But there is always hope in starting over and learning to never live with regrets, something his grandfather has learned after leaving his own daughter behind. He offers to teach Jake how to surf, but the one thing Jake never realizes is that his grandfather is a surfing legend until he learns to trust and accept things on his own terms.

I received The Perfect Summer compliments of Word Films and Edify Media for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a great movie because it focuses on handling issues within the family from bullying, to regrets, to sobriety and shows how God's grace can give us all a fresh start at life and to begin to live our lives without regrets. Everyone can have a second chance if we are willing to leave our past mistakes behind us! This is such a great DVD for the entire family and the surfing is amazing. I easily give this a 5 out of 5 stars and family approved by the Dove Foundation and Uplifting Entertainment as their original movie!

For more information on The Perfect Summer, Word Films or where to preorder a copy of this DVD today due out in early August, please click on the links below:

The Perfect Summer by Word Films

You can find Word Films on Facebook to stay up to date with all their family entertainment.

 You can find The Perfect Summer on UpTv in your area!

Forsaking Home - Giveaway and Review

"Food is freedom. Control the food, control the people. While a lot of people don't see it that way, if you think about our current situation, it really applies. How many people do you think have gone to camps because they are hungry? Humans lived for tens of thousands of years before grocery stores, but take them out of the equation and folks panic." (pg 23).

With the collapse of the power grid, communications, and food and water supply for reasons that continue to remain unknown, thousands of people are struggling to survive. It has truly become the survival of the fittest. Morgan Carter has been planning for something like this his whole life. Now that it has happened, Morgan has banded together a handful of his neighbors and close friends and moved to the safety of the woods near his former neighborhood. Not trusting the government to handle anything, Morgan is relying on all his survival skills and the stockpile of supplies he has managed to store and acquire along the way.

In the fourth novel in The Survivalist Series from A. American, Forsaking Home, takes us into the struggles facing Morgan Carter and his family and friends. Morgan continues to try and find more food in the woods surrounding their small encampment but with hunting and supplies running low, they have to venture out further and further away from camp. Now it seems that they have uninvited company staking them in hopes of gaining their supplies of hogs and chickens as well as anything else they can find. They will have to discover who it is before someone goes missing or someone is killed and Morgan will stop at nothing to protect his family.

Meanwhile at government-run refugee camp, Jess has taken matters into her own hands when she learns that this isn't really a refugee camp at all, but a work camp for detainees that the DHS or Department of Homeland Security has been rounding up and placing them in various FEMA camps all over the country. Those in leadership roles have taken it upon themselves to run the camp any way they see fit and that has lead to Jess being raped. Knowing that no one will believe her, she takes it upon herself to murder the man responsible which has now lead to her arrest and isolation along with two other women responsible. What they don't realize is that they won't be getting out of there alive. But Jess' former friends aren't about to let that happen and things begin to take shape to take back our country from those who seek to control it any way they see fit.

I received Forsaking Home from A. American compliments of Penguin Publishers and TLC Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. A chilling look into the future of what might happen should America fall victim of an EMP blast or nuclear threat in our own country. Where some will believe the government will help them, and yet others understand that their survival depends on what they can do until things get back to normal. This is the fourth novel in the Survivalist series and it for mature audiences only as is labeled on each of the novels. For this reason, I can give this novel a higher rating. It is one of the few that have warnings placed on the rear cover due to the subject matter contained within, strong language, violence and mature content places this rating at 4 out of 5 stars in my book. Truly a must read for fans of dystopian and apocalyptic fiction and is not a stand alone novel.

For more information about Forsaking Home, A. American or where you can pick up this novel today, please click on the links below:

Forsaking Home by A. American

You can also find A. American on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Forsaking Home, please visit TLC's Book Tour page. 

Thanks to the generosity of the A. American and TLC Book Tours, they are giving away the entire series to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your details to enter:

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

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

3. "Like" A. American's Facebook page. 

4. Leave a comment below telling my why you'd LOVE to win this entire SERIES  along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway once it ends on July 17th via email, so don't forget to include it with your comment.

The Survivalist Series from A. American
# 1 - Going Home
# 2 - Surviving Home
# 3 - Escaping Home
# 4 - Forsaking Home

When Calls the Heart: The Dance - DVD Review

If you are looking for an incredible family series that is appropriate for the entire family, then look no further than Hallmark Channel's When Calls The Heart! Based on the novels from best-selling author Janette Oke and combining the writing talents of Michael Landon Jr., you get an amazing story of life on the frontier for school teacher Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) in the small mining town of Coal Valley. Even though viewers know the feelings between Miss Thatcher and Canadian Mounty, Jack Thorton (Daniel Lissing) has been sparking since the very beginning both of them maintain their proper boundaries from one another.

In the DVD release of When Calls the Heart: The Dance, we know see the small town coming back to familiar routines and one of them being the Miner games, which is hosting by the entire town for the miners and their families. As the mine ramps back up to full operation since the mining explosion that killed most of them men and their sons in Coal Valley, a new load of miners arrives at the mine. We now see, Billy Hamilton, a charismatic and handsome miner take interest in Miss Thatcher and he isn't afraid to let her know his is interested, even quoting romantic poetry he claims as his own. Even though Elizabeth has reservations about his methods, she isn't about to wait on Jack forever to make his feelings known. But Jack warns Elizabeth not to be so trusting, without him investigation Billy Hamilton more fully. Elizabeth just thinks Jack is jealous.

Some of the other women in town seem to be interested in the miners as well. But when a string of robberies begin to hit the town, Jack feels that he knows who the criminal is and sets up a trap to capture Billy Hamilton in the act. He attempts to show Elizabeth that the information he has on Billy proves his is hiding something and if she doesn't watch out she may lose more than just her heart. So who is hiding the biggest secret of all in Coal Valley? Viewers of When Calls The Heart: The Dance, will have to pick this one up to find out!

I received When Calls the Heart: The Dance compliments of Word Films and Edify Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for an honest review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Not since Little House on the Prairie has there been a series until When Calls the Heart and if you loved the Little House Series or simply love a great family series set in the Old West, then you will LOVE this one. I easily give this a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next season to air on the Hallmark Channel. Fans of Love Come Softly will absolutely LOVE this one as well. The chemistry between Elizabeth and Jack is so strong it won't take much to light these two on fire and that is part of the appeal as well as the love Elizabeth brings to school the children of Coal Valley in the town's saloon to teach them there is more to life than working in the mines. This is the third DVD in the series.

For more information about When Calls the Heart: The Dance, Word Films or where to pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

When Calls The Heart: The Dance by Hallmark Channel and Word Films

You find When Calls the Heart on Facebook to stay up to date with the series. 

To read more reviews on When Calls the Heart, please visit Word Films' website. 

Ragamuffin - DVD Giveaway and Review

In the world of rising music stars and American Idols, I believe we fail to see the real people hidden behind the record labels and recording studios. The people who exist when all the lights and cameras are gone home for the night. When they are simply all alone with their thoughts. We don't always see the real people, the brutally honest insight into what goes on and what they are really feeling on the inside.

In the DVD Ragamuffin, which chronicles the life of Rich Mullins, you get to see past all the glitz and publicity to watch the rise of what it took back in the late 70s to gain the notoriety we see in our music artists today. Yet the one thing that sticks with you is the honesty in his life. Raised as a farmer who didn't quite possess the skills necessary to gain success in the eyes of his father, Rich gravitated to music in which he excelled naturally. Unfortunately he was seen as less than worthy in the eyes of his own father, which made understanding the love of God difficult. If God loves you, you should believe it. When Rich looked at that model in his own life no matter how many people told him that his real dad loved him, he found that faith hard to swallow.

Throughout the movie, however, Rich never losses his honest faith with connecting with the God of the Bible. His faith is genuine and the messages he shared when playing his music in churches connected with people on a level I don't think many can achieve even now. He wasn't looking for fame, wealthy or success. He simply was looking for a place to call home. He found it briefly when he met a girl named Jess, who provided him that unconditional love, we all need to feel a part of something bigger. But when Nashville called wanting to record his songs for artists like Amy Grant, Jess gracefully bowed out, even though Rich declined to go. She knew he was destined for more and the struggles he makes to find his way in the world, I think everyone can relate to.

I received Ragamuffin compliments of Millennium Entertainment and Flyby Promotions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. There are simply too many good things to say about this movie but most of all is that God is genuine and He is real. The story of Rich's life shows how desperately he wanted that connection he had with God to be manifested in human form. He shares how difficult and lonely life can be at times, and I think that hits home with so many. Our lives at times have their moments when we can simply feel all alone and wondering if our one life makes any difference at all. This story of Rich's showcases just how one life can impact and cause the ripples that span long after they begin and I believe that is the message behind it all. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Ragamuffin, Millennium Entertainment or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

Ragamuffin: Based on the Life of Rich Mullins

You can also find out more information about Rich Mullins by visiting Facebook to learn about the making of this DVD and more.

Thanks to the generosity of Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing a giveaway copy of Ragamuffin to one lucky winner of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

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

2. "Like" Rich Mullins Film Facebook page.

3. Be a resident of the US or Canada and please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this DVD. Don't forget to include your email address in the comment box as well. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway when it ends on July 16th by email. If I don't hear from you withing 72 hours I will select another winner. So be sure to include your email address with your comment.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Natchez Burning

"For nothing is lost, nothing is ever lost. There is always the clue, the canceled check, the smear of lipstick, the footprint in the canna bed, the condom on the park path, the twitch in the old wound, the baby shoes dipped in bronze, the taint in the blood stream. And all times are one time, and all those dead in the past never lived before our definition gives them life, and out of the shadow their eyes implore us. ~ Robert Penn Warren, All the King's Men."

The first thing that attracted me to pick up this novel was the review from Stephen King, of which, I've been a huge fan of his for quite some time. "Extraordinary entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful. I defy you to start it and find a way to put it down." So when he says that you will find a hard time putting this one down, I was immediately interested. This is not a novel for the faint-hearted as the first part of the novel deals with a group known as the Double Eagles, basically a step up from the KKK, who believes that the KKK is a poorly led group that hides behind their sheets instead of taking ownership for what they hope to accomplish. It reminds the reader by taking a trip back to the deep south in the 1960's in Natchez, Mississippi, just how far things have come in regards to the civil rights movement and we still have a way to go in some aspects.

The premise behind this novel is the murder of Viola Turner, an African American nurse who worked for a predominant white doctor Dr. Tom Cage who has been respected for decades. Video footage has been the evidence that is being used to convict Dr. Cage of the crime even though his son, Penn Cage, novelist and attorney believes that there is simply more to this than what the evidence shows and his father needs someone to do the digging necessary to gain the evidence necessary to prove his innocence. Penn struggles to understand that if his father is innocent of the crime, why won't he defend himself and takes it upon himself to do the digging. But there might be more deep dark family secrets than what Penn is anticipating as the novel toggle between the 1960's and 2005 as the investigation continues.

The Double Eagles is being led by Brody Royal, a man with the financial means to guarantee his groups success on master minding assassination attempts of notable political figures like Martin Luther King, Jr and Robert Kennedy. They know the only way to get to these men is to provoke them and bring them out in the open. The men in this group are solicited for their military background who know what needs to be done in order to ensure success at their endeavors. They lack the character and moral ethics and believe they are serving justice in all their actions. This is definitely a novel for mature audiences. It is brutally honest in it's portrayals of both heroes and villains and how little some have for the human life.

I received Natchez Burning by Greg Iles compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. There are three novels that precede this one that outline more about the characters you are introduced to here but having not known that prior to picking up this one, I was not at a loss. However that being said, I believe in order to gain an understanding of certain characters motivations and background, you may want to pick those up before diving into this one. It is certainly well written for 800 pages and will take some time to get through, but for those that love historical novels dealing with the civil rights movement and solving a murder from decades ago, you might want to pick this one up. I have to say, Stephen King was right, I was immediately hooked from the beginning and could not put this one down. I would rate this a 4 out of 5 based on my own rating system due to graphic adult content and profanity but overall an amazing novel.

For more information about Natchez Burning, Greg Iles or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Natchez Burning by Greg Illes

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To read more reviews on Natches Burning, please visit William Morrow's website.

Hope Deferred

This is a novel based on a set of twins June and July who are both trying to conceive. For June and her husband Toby, they struggle with trying to figure out why they can't have a baby alongside discovering just how far they can pursue things until their insurance fails to cover anything further. While Toby remains optimistic, he understands June's struggle and desire to have a baby, and offers to support her any way he can. When their doctor reveals she has done all she can for them, she recommends they seek more testing with an reproductive endocrinologist. But June knows, if they do they, the likelihood of the insurance company covering that will be almost 0% and they will have to pay all the costs to have further testing and treatment.

It doesn't make things any easier knowing the her sister July at least got pregnant but when they learned it was an ectopic pregnancy and threatening July's life, her husband Gareth was more than relieved when they miscarried. Now he is more than apprehensive to try again without knowing if July's health will be at risk. He isn't willing to risk the potential of having a child only to lose July in the process and leave him as a single parent. He is fine with the way things are right now, but July isn't. She just isn't sure how to convince Gareth to give it another try. When they find themselves at opposite ends of the playing field and arguing more than they are willing to talk things through, July gives him an ultimatum, either seek options to find out why they can't have a baby or get marriage counseling.

As both couples try to come to terms with having a child, they are pulling on opposites of the marriage spectrum. One is willing to work together to see what options they have while the other struggles to maintain the sanctity of their marriage. It is a difficult process and I think the counseling sessions that July and Gareth attend show how we can see things differently than through the eyes of our loved ones in difficult situations. While each of them struggles in uniquely different ways through the crisis, the twins try to rally their own level of support for one another while dealing with other couples and friends that are having no problems becoming pregnant and having babies.

I received Hope Deferred by Elizabeth Maddrey compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Hope Springs Books for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is the second novel in the Grant Us Grace Series and deals with the struggles of trying to have a child on various levels. It gives one insight into struggles of infertility and knowing what God's stand in the matter is, how to keep the lines of communications open between married couples and also how to be understanding around those who want a baby but all the options for them are simply not working. I think Elizabeth did an exceptional job at showing both sides of the coin in this situation and one I can give a 4 out of 5 stars for!

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

Hope Deferred by Elizabeth Maddrey

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To read more reviews on Hope Deferred, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page.