Noah: A Wordless Picture Book ~ Review and Giveaway

I remember growing up and how much I really couldn't wait to be able to read. I would open each book I treasured and look at the pictures, trying so very hard to remember what the letters and words below each picture said or to remember how my mom read them to me. But no matter how much I tried, it would be quite a while before I would be able to put all those processes together of how letters sounded when combined with one another to form words and slowly over time, I grew to love reading so much that I now read more than I ever did before.

That is why I couldn't wait to share one of the most incredible books, I've been blessed to review with you. From Mark Ludy, he created a beautifully illustrated wordless picture book on the story of Noah. So why is this important. Because of what I just shared with you. As a child, just being able to look at the pictures without seeing the words, creates such a lasting impression and provides a level of encouragement to your child as you look at the pictures and create your own story in terms your child can relate to, to accompany the pictures of Noah in this book.

They will feel a level of confidence and satisfaction as they in turn, get to "read" this book back to you so you can understand what they are learning and where you can correct them on the details from the Bible. This one will never grow old. There is even an added bonus challenge in this book as well, to try to find Squeakers the mouse on every single page. You simply have to see this amazing hardcover book to understand how beautiful and vivid the story comes alive in these illustrations.

Mark Ludy has written or illustrated eight children's books including The Farmer, The Flower Man, The Grump, When I Was a Boy I Dreamed, When I Was a Girl I Dreamed, and Jujo the Youngest Tribesman. When he's not immersed in his sketchbooks, you'll find him in schools promoting art and literacy.

I received Noah: A Wordless Picture Book by Mark Ludy compliments of Propeller Consulting, LLC and Plough Publishing House for my honest review on this book. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. The hardcover book contains 64 beautifully illustrated pages for you and your child to enjoy as you go through the story of Noah together. It will be amazing to see just how your child will interpret the story just by looking at the pictures. I know it will be a book that they will LOVE "reading" to you night after night. I highly recommend this one and think Mark has captured the true essence of incorporating the love of books to children anywhere. Hands down it gets every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars in my book.

Now the best part, thanks to the generosity of Propeller and Mark Ludy, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's your guidelines to enter:

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

2. "Like" Mark Ludy's Facebook page and leave him a comment when you stop by.

3. Be a resident of the U.S. or Canada or have a shipping address for either country. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy. Don't forget to include your email address since I will need it to contact you if you're the winner. You wouldn't believe the number of people who would win, but without an email address, I have no way to reach you. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will email the winner once the giveaway ends on November 18th. You can enter as many times as you want.

For more information about Noah: A Wordless Picture Book, Mark Ludy or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Noah: A Wordless Picture Book by Mark Ludy

You can find Mark Ludy on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on this book and to find a retailer to purchase this book through, please click here.

"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.”

Becoming Bea

For Beatrice Zook it has always been about who will have the last W-O-R-D. To stay that her and Ben Rupp are competitive would be a sheer understatement. For as long as they were in school, the annual spelling bee determined who was the winner. At first it was all about studying definitions, spellings, and root meanings, but for as long as either of them could remember it was about so much more. Until the Amish district decided that there was too much pride in winning the spelling bees, and they were banned.

Last time Bea could remember, she was the final winner, but after all those competitions between her and Ben, it was tied. Since the Amish graduate at the 8th grade, that was where it ended. In a tie. Bea at one time had hoped for something more between her and Ben, but an argument between them ended things before they ever got started. And now, every time, they see one another, it's a contest of wits, words and emotions.

Bea believes her life is content keeping people at arms length and sees no reason to step outside her comfort zone to make friends, find a suitable husband or even venture outside her home. Between her books and taking care of her Mamm who survived surgery to remove a brain tumor, she believes her life is complete. Until her sister Molly arrives home from church and announces they are all planning a trip to Montana to visit her husband's family and to give the family a much needed vacation. That is the last thing Bea wants and the only way out of it, is to find a job before the start of the trip.

Lucky for her, Nan and Bob Miller have been looking for someone to help with the care of triplet preemies, as well as taking care of the house, cooking and anything else Bea can help with. Nan is still recovering from their birth and to say that taking care of three infants is more than a handful, would be an understatement. Not only that but Bob's business in cabinet making is taking on more business than he can handle and he's hired a few of the local boys to help out. One of them just happens to be Ben Rupp. But will Bea have the last word this T-I-M-E?

I received Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould compliments of Bethany House 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 absolutely LOVED this novel. I'd read Courting Cate quite some time ago and was anxious to get back to Lancaster County to see how things were going. I love that Bea and Ben still have that competitive edge and I found myself relating quite a bit to Bea because all through high school, I was what some would call a loner. So to see her trying to find her way in the world, while her sister believes she has Bea's best interests in mind was something I could relate to. It's a great reminder of just how the Amish community works together to help one another out when they truly have a need and families are always looked after. This one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my O-P-I-N-I-O-N! This is the fourth novel in the Courtships of Lancaster County Series.

For more information about Becoming Bea, Leslie Gould or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould

You can also find Leslie Gould on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To see more reviews on Becoming Bea, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

Leslie Gould is back with the latest book, Becoming Bea, in her Shakespeare-inspired series, The Courtships of Lancaster County. Don't miss the other books in the series, Courting Cate (retelling of The Taming of the Shrew), Adoring Addie (inspired by Romeo and Juliet), and Minding Molly (inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

Leslie is celebrating the series with a Kindle giveaway and a Facebook party on November 11th.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy each of the entire The Courtships of Lancaster County series: Courting Cate, Adoring Addie, Minding Molly, and Becoming Bea.

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 11/11. Winner will be announced at Leslie's 11/11 Becoming Bea Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Leslie and Amish fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

Live Original

In this day in age, we are constantly searching for positive influences not only in our own lives, but more importantly, in the lives of our children and teens. Bombarded by the media's influence of what is worthy in the eyes of the world, it's no wonder our teens are facing challenges with bullying, dating relationships, immorality, self esteem, and self worth. If we simply look at ourselves by the world's standards of what is worthy, we will all come up so very short.

That is why I am thrilled when I come across things that promote God's vision for our children and teens in a form that they can easily relate to. From dating advice, how to deal with haters in school, social media challenges, fulfilling and finding our dreams, self confidence, dealing with blame, promoting a strong positive force in school and social activities, working on random acts of kindness in helping others in any way we can, creating a respect for your family, friends and most importantly yourself, as well as dealing with situations you may find yourself in that can create awkward moments, dealing with stresses that only a teenager is faced with and living your life as the original masterpiece God has called each of us to be.

Sadie Robertson, Duck Dynasty, at the age of seventeen, has thought a lot about friendships, self-confidence, and being the one and only original God has made you to be in her first book, Live Original. She shares great biblical advice that teens can easily relate to in each chapter devoted to something your own teen may be dealing with. From issues on social media with negative messages or even posts, to how to make sure you set your Godly standards up front with your friends and potential dates to avoid having to compromise on your faith. At the conclusion of each chapter is a challenge section for teens with some questions to provoke further thought and a challenge to incorporate these ideas into their life. Each chapter opens with a great scripture and Sadie constantly refers back to all her ideas right back to the Bible, so teens can see that the answers to a lot of the issues they are dealing with are found in the Bible.

She incorporates the use of examples on how she has struggled in maintaining a Christian way of living in the world while often times being the only Christian in a situation from joining a Junior Olympic basketball team in Austria at thirteen and why her parents felt she was strong enough to go alone. She uses stories from her grandparents, her siblings and others to show just how important family values and Christian living can help us to define our choices in the world. Not to make things difficult by restricting us, but by helping us to choose those things that will help keep us pure and living for God.

I received Live Original by Sadie Robertson compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for my review and was offered a complimentary copy of the book and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I think this is a must have for any parent struggling to help teens live a godly life in an ungodly world. Sadie relates to teens on their level because she is writing from her own heart. From the challenges facing her in dealing with being part of the Duck Dynasty fame, she retains her essence of who she is despite of it. How she really tries to get teens to understand their purpose here on the world and how they can have a positive impact by beginning now instead of simply waiting until they are old enough. She's even designed her own line of "Daddy-approved" prom dresses known as the Sherri Hill line/Sadie Robertson collection. I highly recommend this book and think it would make a great resource for any teenager struggling with any of the issues I mentioned above. Hands down a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Live Original, Sadie Robertson, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Live Original by Sadie Robertson

You can find Sadie Robertson on Facebook to stay up to date on her latest books and resources.

To read more reviews on Live Original, please visit Howard Books website. 

Iesodo: Joy - Unto Us a Dove is Born

Iesodo (YAY-sa-doe) is a highly acclaimed Telly Award winning series featuring a cast of animated birds who live in a Cypress Tree on the shores of Galilee. Presented with cutting edge imagery, Iesodo, which means "the way of Jesus", is a wise and gentle dove that gives an allergory to the stories and messages of Jesus with "solid biblical teaching." (American Family Journal). With each and every story, he and his lovable feathered friends "present the essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a winsome, compelling way."(MovieGuide.org).

Zaya Toonz, the animation company behind Iesodo, assemble a collaboration of animation experts with the experience in both the children's and Christian markets. Directors for the series include Brian E. Ray who credits consist of the "Muppet Babies," "My Little Pony Tales" and "Ed, Ed, and Eddy," as well as Colin Brady, who credits include "Toy Story," "Toy Story 2" and "A Bug's Life." Brady also served as the former animation supervisor at Pixar Animation Studios. The Iesodo series features the voice of Erin Bethea ("Fireproof," "Amazing Love") as Maggie.

In Joy: Unto Us A Dove is Born, Iesodo and his feathered friends bring your favorite New Testament stories to life in a whole new way including the special re-imagining of the Nativity story. Let your heart take flight and tweet along to the holiday carols and all-new songs! Festivities are in full swing as the flock prepares to celebrate Iesodo's birthday! The Cypress Tree is decked out with holly berries and excitement is in the air. Everyone gathers as Rocky shares the incredible story of Iesodo's birth.

I received Iesodo: Joy - Unto Us a Dove is Born compliments of Capital Christian Distribution and Edify Media Inc for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and received a complimentary copy of the DVD in exchange for my review. This is such a beautiful series. The animation is top-notch and the songs are ones I know your children will be singing long after this DVD ends. I love how they incorporated the story of Iesodo's birth with the New Testament story of the Nativity. We get to see how important his birth is, just like understanding Jesus' birth is to believers. I love the Wise Owls who come riding turtles in search of the king. The animal characters they use to represent the various characters from the Nativity are well thought out and I know this is one that families will love to add to their home library collection. There are also some extras on the DVD such as Bible Connections with Pastor Tim, Christmas at Natalie's Nest, Bible Verses and a Christmas Sing-A-Long. I only wish this was available when my children were younger. By far, this one rates an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I would encourage you to pick up a copy in time for the perfect Christmas gift.

For more information about Iesodo: Joy - Unto Us a Dove is Born, Capital Christian Distribution, or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

Iesodo: Joy - Unto Us a Dove is Born

You can Iesodo on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest DVD releases.

You can purchase a copy of Iesodo: Joy - Unto Us a Dove is Born at Christianbook.com

The Promise

The one thing Mallory Hammond knows is that she vowed to save a life when the promise she made to her cousin at 17, was over rulled by her parents and left her cousin to die when they refused to let her donate a kidney. Now it is the first item on her bucket list and now that she is older, she can make those decisions for herself even if her parents object. When she tries to donate her kidney years later, she is determined to have a genetic disposition for pre-diabetes that once again robs her of the desire to help someone and fulfill the promise she made so many years ago. Tate Webber has hoped that some day he and Mallory might get married but until she is able to fulfill her promise she will keep Tate at arms length and refuse to make plans to get married.

When she learns that a child suffering from leukemia in Pakistan, a niece to the man she works for Ismail at his office, she believes this may in fact be the last opportunity to save a life. With little time left for Majida to get treatment to come to the United States, Ismail and Abdul are convinced the only way to expedite things in time is to find someone to marry Abdul in name only, and allow Majida and Abdul to be able to travel to the United States for treatment. Now if they can only convince Mallory. Fortunately Abdul knows just what will motivate Ismail to help convince Mallory to come to Pakistan and marry him and that will mean threatening his future fiance' Soraya with harm. It is a fear that Ismail has lived under long since leaving his own country, but the hand of his family and father can make it more than just a threat but reality as well.

When things between Tate and Mallory seem to go south in terms of their relationship, Ismail knows just the time to ask Mallory if she might consider helping Majida get treatment to save her life, since the medical care in Pakistan is limited and not likely to help her survive. For Mallory feeling like she has no options left to fulfill her promise agrees to talk to Abdul over the phone to see what they can work out and come to an agreement. Mallory knows if she tells her family or Tate what she is considering, neither of them will support her decision. So she decides to take a risk that may lead to more than she is bargaining for.

I received The Promise by Beth Wiseman compliments of Thomas Nelson 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. This novel is based on real life events from a friend close to Beth Wiseman who found herself in similar circumstances when she fell for an offer of marriage to a Muslim man and found herself being held against her will. It conveys how very different the two cultures are and how often women are misled to make the trip to foreign countries only to find themselves trapped and unable to return. A very chilling reminder to be a warning to women who may be considering the very same thing as Mallory. It conveys just how different it can be in two very different countries and just because you maintain citizenship in the United States, you lose much of that control being married in a Muslim country now controlled by your husband. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and applaud Beth for sharing this story that may help other women from making these same mistakes in their own lives.

For more information about The Promise, Beth Wiseman or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Promise by Beth Wiseman

You can find Beth Wiseman on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

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


In a daring new novel, Beth Wiseman jumps way outside the box. The Promise will take readers far away from Amish country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by actual events, this is the book Beth has been working toward for a long time.

Curious? Click here to read the reviews, and be sure to enter Beth's Kindle HDX giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• The Promise by Beth Wiseman

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced November 10th here.

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall

Ah sometimes the best places to visit are the ones best-selling authors take us to in their novels. For fans of Jane Austen or Downton Abbey, you will absolutely LOVE the Whispers on the Moors series from Sarah E. Ladd. I've been honored to be whisked away as an unseen voyeur watching the lives of the women who encounter life at Willowgrove Hall and the secrets that remain hidden beneath the stone walls there.

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall is the third and hopefully not final novel in the series and it takes us back to Willowgrove Hall once more into the lives of the Trent family who now reside there. Mrs. Trent has fallen ill and now that her lady's companion has gotten married she has requested a suitable replacement. Her letter finds her way to the Rosemere School for Young Ladies in Darbury, England. After spending five years there, Cecily Faire has been asked by the Mrs. Sterling to fulfill the role of the companion for Mrs. Trent. Cecily has been living at Rosemere since her father abandoned her there after learning of her plans to runaway with a man she had fallen in love with at sixteen. She was more than ready to begin a new life, but wondered if she might be able to find the family that had been stolen from her five years ago. Had her father forgiven her after all these years? Perhaps the answers lie within the walls of Willowgrove Hall.

Nathaniel Stanton, the steward of Willowgrove Hall has his own secrets that have been revealed to him by his mother. He has learned that the man he believed was his father wasn't and instead his father had been Mr. Trent who had long passed away. Since Mrs. Trent learned of her husband's indiscretions in their marriage, she had punished Mr. Stanton instead of her husband. That is why they have such a conflicting working relationship and why she condones having him working the estate she is living in. She knows Nathaniel should be the rightful heir, but it is something she had to keep hidden and allow the estate to pass to her nephew instead when she dies. Knowing she doesn't have much time left Mrs. Trent looks forward to spending time with someone instead of living the remainder of her years alone. Her nephew, while still part of the family, is planning his own wedding and is looking forward to the day when he will become the rightful heir to Willowgrove Hall.

I received A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd compliments of Thomas Nelson 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. Traditional regency romance fans will be thrilled at the poetic writing style that Sarah utilizes to take readers back to the early 1800's when romance was still something desired and dreamed about. I absolutely love that she utilizes flaws in Cecily and Nathaniel to make them more believable to readers. You find yourself rallying for both of them in spite of the odds against them. In the darkest places sometimes is where we find the light of hope again. I can only hope that Sarah will continue with the characters her readers have become fans of and this will not be the last novel in the Whispers of the Moors series. Truly worth 5 out of 5 royal stars in this readers heart!

For more information about A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, Sarah E. Ladd or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

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

To read more reviews on A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.

Award-winning author Sarah E. Ladd examines how to escape the clutches of a tainted past in the final installment of her Whispers on the Moor series. A Regency-era novel, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall cleverly shows that even though our pasts may be shameful or painful, God can take the darkest personal histories and turn them into the brightest futures.

Celebrate with Sarah by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 2nd. Winner will be announced November 3rd here.

Christmas at Tiffany's

For days, my blogging readers have fallen for the clues I have left behind thinking I have traveled to New York, Paris, Venice and London, but in reality I have simply been sharing some of the incredible insights I have gotten from Karen Swan's latest novel Christmas at Tiffany's. I found myself looking up interesting tidbits as I came across them to get a real feel for the places Cassie Fraiser finds herself traveling to. From the sparkling water drinking fountains in Paris, to the famous Kiss statue from Rodin, to the whispering gallery in St. Paul's cathedral, there is such romance to be found in the oddest of places in these iconic cities.

Cassie Fraiser got the shock of her life on her tenth anniversary to Gil. She found out that the life she had been living with him was a complete lie. He was sleeping with her best friend Wiz and fathered a son, Rory, three years before their 10-year anniversary party. Not quite sure what to do or where to go, Cassie has been officially adopted by her boarding school friends who each have vowed to take her for four months in the cities where they live. They will provide a roof over her head and a job for her while she figures out just where she needs to go after her failed marriage.

In each of these amazing locations, Cassie has willingly agreed to give herself up 100% to each of them, allowing them to pamper, spoil and torture her with their own select advice on moving forward in her life. She arrives on the morning after her disastrous anniversary party in New York with her best friend Kelly, who is as addicted to fitness as she is working all hours as a PR for the fashion industry at Harper Communications. She vows to do much more than get Cassie into shape and convinces her that the fast paced urban city of New York is just what she needs to keep her on her toes. She even makes her a Senior PR assistant at her company, but when she realizes she is in way over her heads, Kelly might be the one to take the fall.

She spends the next 8 months traveling to Paris, Venice and subsequently London all while taking on a treasure hunt/bucket list from her childhood friend Henry who is a bit of an adventurer who has traveled quite literally the world over and back and knows just the perfect places for her to see and people to connect with all while growing whatever seeds he sends her to grow. She struggles to figure out just who the real Cassie is, despite all the make overs her friends provide and the many jobs she gets to try on for size. After ten years, she needs to find out just who she is and who she wants to be, and she might be in for more surprises that she expects.

I received Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan 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 in this review are strictly my own personal opinions. I originally thought this was going to be a Christmas romance, based solely on the title and was thrilled to take a virtual vacation right alongside Cassie. I love the idea Henry had for giving her something to do while she was in each of these amazingly romantic cities, besides your normal tourist activity stuff and I can't wait to start my own. This is such a great novel that showcases how one woman and her best friends help her get over one of the most difficult chapters in her life, dealing with the loss not only of the man she thought she knew over 10 years, but her hopes and dreams for a future with children. At well over 580 pages, this one was worth taking my time to enjoy over a couple of days. I give this one a 4 out 5 stars based on my own rating scale. It does contain some profanity and adult content, that some readers might find offensive, that prevented me from rating it a full 5 out of 5! I absolutely loved the adventure, the lists from Henry and the language of flowers you find scattered throughout this novel!

For more information about Christmas at Tiffany's, Karen Swan or where you can preorder a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan

You can find Karen Swan on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Christmas at Tiffany's, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Real Science Proves the Bible

If you have noticed the number of paranormal movies that have been launched into theaters lately and the rise of shows that cast ghost hunting in a positive light, you may not be aware of what is really happening. There are simply so much those shows and movies don't convey to you and the reality is the danger involved in not only watching them, but taking them to a new level and emulating what they see on those shows and wind up with more than they expected.

Lisa Grace highlights the dangers of ghost hunting, demons, paranormal activities, and hauntings in her latest book, Real Science Proves the Bible. She backs up what we are being shown in regards the reality of the unseen world with what science is just beginning to back up in regards to appearances of angels, to quantum particles, from plasma and the supernatural to the unseen realm where angels and demons dwell. Science is just now beginning to understand through the use of instruments that measure temperature changes, voice recordings, electro magnetic devices, laser grid fields, and better detectors would soon be created with technology evolving to have a better understanding at what we are looking for.

The problem is that people are being led astray in believing they can communicate with the dead, that ghost exist, that houses can be haunted, and even that your loved ones still visit you from beyond the grave. What is really happening is that the fallen angels that have been cast from heaven due to their rebellion and now finding willing and open people here who want to develop connections with them, through the use of psychics, mediums, tarot cards or even Ouija boards. Trust me if you are willing to find them, they are more than happy to accommodate you. Once you open yourself up to their influences, you will have a difficult time getting them to leave.

Lisa backs up all her information from the Bible and shows how God purposely instructed us to not getting involved with the supernatural world. We aren't supposed to pray to angels or attempt to communicate with our loved ones who have died. The Bible expressly prohibits this, and there is good cause .Just like you caution your child not to touch a hot oven because you could get hurt, God's purpose is the same, we can get spiritual and in some cases physically hurt but dabbling in things we don't understand. In light of this, it is critical for believers to become aware to what is happening and to utilize both the science and biblical resources to dispel the lies of the enemy that are capturing our youth. She highlights the myths behind the Easter and Christmas celebrations as well as Halloween and is a contributing author at Eye on the Paranormal. 

I received Real Science Proves the Bible by Lisa Grace compliments of the author for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. As a Christian, I can look back at my earlier life and see the many times I too, dabbled in using Ouija boards, tarot cards and even had to do battle with shadow people and sleep paralysis on a couple occasions. As a parent, we can't be ignorant to what is happening right in front of us with horror and paranormal movies, books and television shows permeating our homes and society. We need to know what we are dealing with in regards to the truth and lies and be better equipped to do spiritual battle for the lives of those we love. The book includes scripture references from the Bible as well as factual and scientific links to further your own research on the subject matters.  I easily rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Real Science Proves the Bible, Lisa Grace or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Real Science Proves the Bible by Lisa Grace

You can find Lisa Grace on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

Finding Mercy

Mercy is still trying to figure out just who she is. After finding herself injured and suffering from amnesia, she learns from Captain Elijah Hale, that she served in the Civil War as a Confederate sharpshooter for the South. Knowing nothing more than what Captain Hale conveys to her, she struggles with coming to terms in finding out who she is. She clings to a mercy medallion she was wearing when she woke up, and now goes by the name Mercy. Captain Hale is aware of who Mercy was during the war, because the medallion she was wearing used to belong to him. As Mercy stood trial for the attempted murder of the congressman she was engaged to. After Captain Hale managed to convince the courts that Mercy was innocent of the charges, there were still those that believed she should have hanged.

Now why she pieces together clues from her past on where she might have been raised, she attempts to elude a group of bounty hunters who will stop at nothing to ensure they are paid to bring her back and see her hanged even though she is considered an innocent woman now. Traveling with Captain Hale and Issac, a young slave for a time, she manages to lose them in an effort so find her memories without involving the two people who mean the world to her. However, Mercy's troubles are far from over when she realizes that no one person is an island, and everyone needs help from those you can trust. Out of food and exhausted, Mercy stumbles into a slave camp and begs for something to eat. Since they are just as poor as she is, she consumes the leftover fish a boat tosses nearby. But that soon turns to food poisoning and the only help she can find is Fort Danielson, who is supposed to be manned by the Confederate army, but she is more than surprised to find the Union soldiers have now taken over the fort and its been quite a while since any of them have seen a woman, especially one in the condition she is in.

I received Finding Mercy by Michael Landon Jr and Cindy Kelley compliments of David C. Cook Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the sequel to Traces of Mercy and picks up precisely where the first novel left off. Fans of the American Civil War will appreciate the details in this historical novel from the hatred of the Civil War supporters, to the issue dealing with plantation slaves and their respective owners just trying to recover from the war, even though Abraham Lincoln had declared them emancipated and now free. Recovery was difficult for them all and soon Mercy discovers her long lost past isn't what she remembers at all. Will the picture of one man provide the clues she has been searching for or will it merely be another dead end? You'll have to read this one to find out. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and is the second novel in the Mercy Medallion Series. There is a great discussion guide for book groups at the end as well as an author note details the role women played in the Civil War.

For more information about Finding Mercy, Michael Landon Jr., Cindy Kelley or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Finding Mercy by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley

You can find Michael Landon Jr. on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels and projects.

You can find Cindy Kelley on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

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

When Calls the Heart - Change of Heart

As the series comes to it's close for the first season for When Calls the Heart on the Hallmark Channel, we find our favorite characters on the verge of making some tough choices. In the DVD release of Change of Heart, which includes episode 9 and 10 from the series, we find Elizabeth Thatcher and Jack Thornton finally being able to do what we, the viewers, have been hoping for all along, their first official date and the acknowledgment of those feelings we see just below the surface each time these two find themselves in close proximity of one another. Jack works with Abigail to make preparations to impress Elizabeth and show her just how fond he is of her and to let her know how serious he is about their courtship since their first date took place in the saloon. Jack has definitely stepped up his game and impressed Elizabeth.

But just as Jack believes his personal life is finally moving forward, he receives notice that his request for transfer that he put in when he first arrived in Coal Valley has been approved. Now he is unsure what to do. If he refuses the transfer, it may end his career as constable for the mounties, but if he takes the position, he is unsure how it will impact the courtship he has with Elizabeth and if she will even want to wait for him.

Elizabeth's sister Julie arrives on the stage as a surprise to Elizabeth in hopes of finding out what living out west is truly like. She wasn't planning on finding a wounded man, Nathaniel, in a cabin while out riding, in need of medical attention and secrecy to his condition. He convinces her that he's been trying to get away from being part of the Tolliver Gang that his brother has been forcing him to be a part of. He simply wants a better life away from being a wanted man and trying to start over fresh in hopes of starting a marriage and family if he can find the perfect woman.

Mr Gowan attempts to further his business partnership with Abigail Stanton who runs the cafe in town. Jack tells Abigail that he has discovered that the mining accident that killed most of the men in town, including her husband and son, may not been an accident. It may have been caused by Mr. Gowan cutting a few corners and he hopes to find the evidence to prove it. Abigail takes it upon herself to be the one to do it if she can find a way into Mr. Gowan's office. Soon all three paths will cross and fate may claim more than one life in the process, but it will forever change all of their lives.

I received When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart compliments of Word Films and Edify Media Group 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 has been one of my favorite shows on the Hallmark Channel this year and I love that it is available on DVD. Michael Landon Jr is executive producer on the series inspired by the novels of Janette Oke and is definitely one the entire family can enjoy together. It inspires us that in the face of adversity, hope can still be found in banding together with family and friends. If you LOVED Little House on the Prairie, I would encourage you to check out this series. For me this one easily claims a 5 out of 5 stars. This is the 5th in the series to date.

For more information about When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart, Word Films, or where to pre-order a copy of this DVD that release in December, please click on the links below:

When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart by Hallmark Channel and Word Films

You can find When Calls the Heart on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest information on the series.

To find out more information about When Calls the Heart, please visit Hallmark Channel's website. 

You can find Word Films on Facebook to learn more about the family entertainment they are providing.

Beauty and the Beet - Giveaway and Review

Taking a lesson straight from the Bible and putting it into terms that kids and even adults will love is what has made Veggie Tales so successful. In the episode Beauty and the Beet, Kelly Pickler guest stars as the voice of Mirabelle, the lead singer of a rising band called the VeggieTunes. As they are working hard at finding new and bigger places to sing, they finally get the break they were hoping for, singing in Vegetable Square Garden. Only in order to get their in time, they will need to take the tour bus on the road during a snow storm. Against their better judgment, they find the road conditions are too hazardous to continue and find lodging at the Alpine Sweets Motel.

When they arrive, they find that the motel is friendly enough but there is only one other guest in the motel. With dreary interiors, they decide to stay for one night but they can only afford one room for seven guests. Bob Tomato stars as the hotel cook who prepares a sumptuous feast but when the guest claim they can't afford it, the Beet, makes his conditions known. No one gets anything free in his motel. Unable to pay for the room or the meal, Beet agrees to let the band work to pay for their stay by cleaning the room and performing for the dinner show.

Along the way, sweet potato Mirabelle soon charms her way into the heart of the Beet, whose love for music helps calm the savage beast inside of him. Mirabelle tries to teach him to sing, but soon his temper gets the best of him, and soon the band agrees that it's time to leave. As they make their way to Vegetable Square Garden, Mirabelle feels like they still have some unfinished business to attend to with the Beet and even though he doesn't deserve it, they should still try and help him out especially when an undercover news team shows up in hopes of showing viewers what a low star motel the Alpine Sweets really is. Will Mirabelle be able to help Beet save his reputation? Or will his temper simply get the best of him again? You'll have to pick this one up to find out.

I received Veggie Tales: Beauty and the Beet compliments of FlyBy Promotions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Having raised my own daughters on Veggie Tales, I couldn't wait to watch this one. It teaches the value of unconditional love utilizing the idea the no matter how people treat us, we can still show them love just like God shows us. There is even another Silly Song with Larry, "Mac and Cheese" which tells the story of the invention of macaroni and cheese. There are 8 songs in this delightful and truly charming DVD from Kelly Pickler that you will find yourself singing long after the movie is over. Plus there are some great bonus features, a Behind the Scenes with Kelly Pickler, Sing Along Songs from the movie, A Very Veggie Jukebox, Downloadable activities and so much more. The DVD is approximately 56 minutes in length and something you know your kids will enjoy and want to watch over and over. I easily give this one 5 out of 5 Veggie Stars!

Now the very best part, thanks to the generosity of FlyBy Promotions and Propeller Consulting, LLC they are offering a giveaway copy of this DVD to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

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

2. "Like" Veggie Tales on Facebook.

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

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of Veggie Tales: Beauty and the Beet. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway via email when it ends on October 27th. Enter as many times as you wish just be sure to comment each time.

For more information about Veggie Tales: Beauty and the Beet, Big Idea Entertainment or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

Veggie Tales: Beauty and the Beet from Big Idea Entertainment

You can find Veggie Tales on Facebook to stay up to date on all their latest movies and fun.

"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.”

The Daughter of Highland Hall

For fans of Downton Abbey and Jane Austen, you might just want to pick up the latest novel to debut in the Edwardian Brides Series from Carrie Turansky, The Daughter of Highland Hall. I've been in love with the characters from this series since picking up the first novel, The Governess of Highland Hall, and had to patiently wait for this one to be published. I was not disappointed. In fact, I took my time with this one knowing the third novel might not be out until fall of 2015, so I had to make it last. Oh, I was in love again with the characters of Kate Ramsey, the cousin of William Ramsey who is the heir to Highland Hall. Readers of the first novel first met Kate as she struggled to rebel against Julia Foster who at the time was her governess. Now she is engaged to be married to William and for Kate, she has come to understand that despite all the appearances of wealth and notoriety, sometimes love is worth more than a title or an inheritance.

Now that Kate is finally ready for her presentation into society, her sponsor Louisa is doing all she can to ensure that Kate finds a suitable husband that will allow her a much sought after marriage to the right man. But as hard as Kate tries to appease what others think is the best for her, she can't help but to be drawn to Jon Foster, Julia's brother who is working on becoming a doctor in London's East End. Here life is the far extreme from anything Kate has seen, where the poor out populate the rich, and where orphans and widows struggle to find enough to eat and place to sleep at night. Kate struggles to understand the conflict within her heart as she watches those of elite spend lavishly on banquets and parties while those just blocks from them don't have enough to seek proper health care. Jon works with the local doctor to offer a light in this dark places at Daystar clinic, a place where you simply have to pay what you can afford to get seen by a doctor. In the time, that Kate volunteers there with Jon, she finds something that warms more than her heart. A calling on her life and one that goes in complete conflict with what her Aunt Louisa would desire for her.

When the family name is suddenly cast in an unfavorable light due to the actions of William's brother, David, soon Kate realizes how society views those who are related to the news. Even though Kate isn't the one involved, it is merely being judged as guilty by association and all of Kate's social invitations grow cold in the wake of the investigation. Will God reveal Himself to Kate in the presence of things that are transpiring in her life to put a call on her heart that is more than what she could dream for herself and her future? Only time will tell and the results just might surprise you in the end.

I received The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers and Litfuse Publicity 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 absolutely LOVED this novel in part because the characters are so believable. I found myself relating to Kate the most, and wondering how society would react if someone of her social standing suddenly walked away from it all for love. Carrie's writing is superb and gains the respect and favor of traditional regency fans! Now I will simply have to deal with waiting another year for A Refuge at Highland Hall. Not sure what Carrie has planned, but if these two novels are any indicator, it will definitely be a huge success. Hands down another stellar 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. Just what you would expect in any novel dealing with the Edwardian era, romance and high society among the elite.

For more information about The Daughter of Highland Hall, Carrie Turansky, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

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

To read more reviews on The Daughter of Highland Hall, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.

Keepers of the Covenant

When God brought the Israelites through the desert out of Egypt and eventually into the Promised Land, filled with milk and honey, He made a covenant with them. To abide and obey by His laws, the 10 Commandments and to live according to the ways He established for them. As long as they lived as He wanted them, they would receive God's blessings over their land and their lives. But if they failed and went back on their vow to God and instead began to worship the gods of their forefathers, God would lift His hand of protection from them and they would receive His judgment instead. Like their forefathers, the Israelite failed and instead took up the practices of worshiping the false gods and left their one true God. Now that judgment came to their lands and Babylon took possession of their promised land, the people have been exiled in Babylon.

When King Cyrus allowed for them to return to their homeland in Jerusalem, many instead decided to stay and instead continued in their practices of the worshiping of false gods and adhering to the ways of the Babylonian people. This is precisely where Keepers of the Covenant by author Lynn Austin begins. It is the second novel in the Restoration Chronicles and now follows the life of the prophet Ezra at the height of the Jewish people's planned execution by Hamon, the advisor the for King. A decree has been issued to eliminate the entire race of people and once the decree has been issued bearing the King's seal, it cannot be repealed.

Now Ezra is being asked to lead the Jewish people to find an answer for God in how they can survive the coming execution with little less than a year remaining before that happens. While Ezra attempts to search the ancient Torah scrolls for answers, the people begin to wonder just what they can do to ensure their survival. It will truly be a race war between the Jews and the Gentiles as both sides begin to prepare for a one day battle that will pit them against one another unless God, Himself, intervenes and remembers the promise of the covenant He created when He left a remnant of His people behind.

I received Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin compliments of Bethany House 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. This is such an exceptional book that follows the biblical books of Esther, Ezra, Jeremiah and Nehemiah in breathing life into the struggles that befell the Jewish people that were stuck in exile in Babylon when they refused to leave the first time. It takes you ground level into what it must have felt like on both side as Lynn creates characters to enable you to see things from their point of view, from Devorah and Ezra, Jewish people who love the law of God, and Amina, a crippled Gentile who struggles with finding a place in the city being cast aside by her own family and accepted by an elderly Jewish women Hodaya, who can relate to her in more ways than one. This takes those books of the Bible and expands on them as if you were literally there when it all happened. That is what makes this novel so amazing to read for me. It's historically accurate following the biblical outlines provide from the Bible and casting a set of characters for us to support and follow all the way to the end. Easily a flawless 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Keepers of the Covenant, Lynn Austin or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

You can find Lynn Austin on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Keepers of the Covenant, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


Lynn Austin is back with the next book in The Restoration Chronicles series, Keepers of the Covenant. Austin weaves together the struggles and stories of both Jews and Gentiles, creating a tapestry of faith and doubt, love and loss. Here, the Old Testament comes to life, demonstrating the everlasting hope displayed in God's unwavering love for His people.

Lynn is celebrating with a Kindle HDX giveaway and a live author chat webcast on October 21st.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 21st. Winner will be announced at the Keepers of the Covenant LIVE webcast event on October 21st. Connect with Lynn for a fascinating evening centered around God's unwavering love for His people. She'll be hosting a Biblical fiction book club discussion, giving away prizes, answering your questions, offering an exclusive peek at the next book in The Restoration Chronicles, and much more!

So grab your copy of Keepers of the Covenant and join Lynn and friends on the evening of October 21st 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 21st!

Land of Dreams

When I had the opportunity to review Land of Dreams by Kate Kerrigan, I really thought this would be a novel I would love. I love novels that take you back to fond times in our history, from WWII, to romance of the glory days of Hollywood in its infancy stages along with struggling to find ways to fit in for immigrants that had come to America searching for a better life. Even the back of the novel offered me a glimpse into something magical that fit the types of novels that I enjoy and find myself coming back to again and again. However this one for me didn't translate over from the premise to the actual story itself. There was a disconnect there I was searching for and never really found.

Being a huge fan of Kate Kerrigan's from Ellis Island, I was hoping for more than what I got by the end of Land of Dreams. Ellie Hogan has been through two marriages in her life time which has resulted in her being a single mother of two boys she didn't give birth to but adopted when their own birth mothers had abandoned them. Neither of the two boys, Leo and Tom were related either. She lives on Fire Island in New York where she makes a living as an Irish impressionist selling her works of art she paints from her time on the island or from her memories in Ireland. Tom, the youngest still lives with her while Leo has been sent to a Catholic boarding school.

She receives a phone call from the school telling her that Leo has simply left school and they fear is headed to California where he went with a schoolmate on vacation and found himself being lured into the magic of being the next rising star by a man he met there. Now Ellie, rushes off to find Leo in hopes of getting him to return home and back to school. When she arrives, she finds 16-year-old Leo in the company of Freddie Dubois, an upcoming agent finding new talent for the movie studios. He believes that Leo will be the next big star to make it to the big screen and has convinced Leo to audition. Ellie is torn between taking Leo back home and realizing that he already lost so much with the death of his father and abandonment of his birth mother, she relents and makes a temporary move to Los Angeles while he tries out. Upon her arrival she has now lost her drive to paint and instead immerses herself in being a full-time mother to Tom, supporting Leo in his career and making her own way in life with the men she meets. She knows she doesn't want to fall in love and get married again, but soon finds the charms of a man named Stan who comes to her aid more than once, a possibility. Soon war is declared and America is now involved with WWII and we see how that plays out for everyone involved including the internment of the Japanese Americans.

I received Land of Dreams by Kate Kerrigan compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my complimentary copy of this novel. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions included here are strictly mine. I was hoping for more than the novel delivered for me, perhaps dealing with Hollywood a bit more than just a gloss over when Leo was auditioning for the parts, but it was more along the lines of dealing with Ellie as the central character and what that meant as she transitioned to a life she never dreamed of and made the best of for the sake of her children and her friends. There were characters you got introduced to like Freddie, who seemed like filler instead of an actual character we could care about. We see bits of pieces of him through Leo's story but never understood his motivation or why he found himself in places he winds up. Even Leo's story is a bit vague considering Ellie uproots her entire life to chase after him, but he seems like a bit of a ghost in this one. I rate this one a 3.5 out of 5 stars and believe others may have different perspective than what I got. Being a huge fan of old Hollywood and WWII, I was hoping for more than what this one delivered.

For more information about Land of Dreams, Kate Kerrigan, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Land of Dreams by Kate Kerrigan

You can find Kate Kerrigan on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Land of Dreams, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Thunder

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Thunder (Stone Braide Chronicles)

Revell (October 7, 2014)
by

Bonnie S. Calhoun

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bonnie S. Calhoun is Owner/Director of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, owner/publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and the ACFW ‘2011 Mentor of the Year.”

She loves to write, but it doesn't make her happy unless there are the three B's...body count, blood, and blowing things up. She also has mad skills at coding HTML, and website design. And she lives in a log cabin in the woods with fifteen acres and a pond full of bass, though she'd rather buy fish at the grocery store. Bonnie shares her domain with a husband, a dog, and two cats, all of whom think she’s waitstaff!

Her sites are:

http://bonniescalhoun.com

https://www.facebook.com/bscalhoun

https://www.facebook.com/bonniescalhoun

https://www.goodreads.com/BonnieSCalhoun

http://www.pinterest.com/bonniecalhoun/

https://www.youtube.com/user/BonnieCalhoun



ABOUT THE BOOK



In post-apocalyptic America, Selah Chavez is crouched in long grass on a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and she is hunting, though many people refuse to eat animal flesh, tainted by radiation during the Time of Sorrows. What Selah's really after are Landers, mysterious people from a land across the big water who survive the delirium-inducing passage in small boats that occasionally crash against the shoreline. She knows she should leave the capture to the men, but Landers bring a good price from the Company and are especially prized if they keep the markings they arrive with.

Everything falls to pieces when the Lander Selah catches is stolen by her brothers--and Selah wakes up the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has suddenly appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bohdi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell.

With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of scientific advances, political intrigue, and wilderness survival, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a world more like our own than we may want to admit.


You can read Tremors, the prequel to the series for FREE on Amazon HERE.



If you'd like to read the first chapter of Thunder (Stone Braide Chronicles), go HERE

MEV Bible - Review and Giveaway

Growing up as a child, my first experience with reading the Bible was the King James Version. In a nutshell, it's like having Shakespeare translate the Word of God. You would find all the "thees" and "thous" throughout and often times, I struggled with understanding what I had just read. Now with the many different translations of the Bible available, I came across one I wish I had so many years ago. It is the MEV or Modern English Version of the Bible. To put it simply, it's just what it claims. It translates the King James Version with a more modern flair for what thee's and thou's really mean without giving up the quality most come to expect with the KJV.

It's perfect for those Bible Studies where a larger Bible would be a bit cumbersome. This one is less than an inch thick, and you can even get it in a variety of colors and styles to fit your own personality. There are some incredible full color maps at the end which make referencing, places and times in the Bible so easy to reference along with your reading. What I love is a Concordance is included to help make finding those favorite Bible passages easy to manage without having a separate book to tote along with you to church or studies. I know for me, this would be the perfect gift for my grandmother or parents who appreciate the tradition of the KJV without sacrificing the understanding of the language in the process.

I received The Holy Bible Modern English Version compliments of Media Connect, Inc for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and was provided with a free copy of the Bible. This version took well over nine years to publish as well as 47 scholars to ensure that the translation was accurate. I reviewed the Thinline Reference MEV Bible and can't wait to pass this one along to my parents. I know it will be something that they will treasure and use because of how much they value those time honored traditions that come from the King James Version and I absolutely love the size of this Bible. It would fit in a purse or briefcase with ease and without the addition of the weight of much larger Bibles. I would easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Holy Bible Modern English Version or where you can get a copy today,  please visit the links below:

The Holy Bible Modern English Version

You can find the MEV Holy Bible on Facebook through Passio Arts and Entertainment page.  

Thanks to the generous folks at Passio and Media Connect, they have offered a giveaway copy of the MEV Bible to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's all you need to do to enter: 

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

2. "Like" the Passio Facebook page. 

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

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of the MEV Bible. Don't forget to include your email address so I have a way to notify you if you're the lucky winner. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. 

I will notify the winner of the giveaway via email on October 31st when the giveaway ends. You can enter as many times as you want and please feel free to share this with your friends and family to enter. 

 

The Sea House

Sometimes in searching for the truth behind the legends we have read about we find more than we bargained for. In the debut novel, The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford, the reader is tossed between the past and the present surrounding those who have made the Sea House, their home. For Ruth and Michael a newly married couple just starting their new lives together, they dream of restoring this old home into a Bed and Breakfast nestled high above the ever present crashing Scottish sea. While they are in the process of removing the old floorboard, they discover a secret that has been buried beneath the house for more than a century. A small wooden box that bears the skeletal remains of what appears to be a child with fused together legs that leads Michael and Ruth to believe they have discovered what could be a mermaid child.

The image and knowledge lodge into Ruth's mind to uncover just who this child was and why was it buried beneath the Sea House. What stories are waiting to be told. It seems that as Ruth is going through the research on the child, she finds herself drawn very much into the parallel life of the child and her own missing family. The only knowledge Ruth has of her own family, is that her mother drowned one night leaving her to spend her childhood years being shuttled from foster home to foster home. Never knowing who her father was, Ruth can identify with the child she has discovered beneath her home. Perhaps in a way, if she can uncover who this child is, she can put to rest the haunting of her own past of not knowing where she came from as well.

What she learns takes her back to 1860 where she learns the Sea House belonged to Reverend Alexander Ferguson, the vicar for the small town in the Hebrides Islands of Scotland. The Reverend believed in the legends of sea people called Selkies, that his family originated from but there is no physical proof that has been discovered to prove the stories as true or simply the legends of the past. So he begins his own search looking for proof among the lives of the people who live among the island. He finds himself faced with his own personal dilemmas when his faithful maid, Moira faces the eviction of her own family under the land they live on owned by Lord Marstone. Since they are unable to make a living on what they can farm there because of the poor soil and harsh terrain, they are forced to buy food from Marstone. When he comes calling upon their payment of debts and they have no way to pay, he forces them to flee aboard a ship and takes what meager possessions of theirs as payment and burns the homes to the ground. 

I received The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford compliments of St. Martin's Press and Litfuse Publicity as a free copy for my honest review. I did not recieve any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I have to applaud Ms. Gifford on her first novel. This is truly the stuff you would expect to find when you read an exceptional novel. The writing style reflects both the language and dialog of the past and present in Scotland so it feels authentic. The setting and rich details of both the historic past and contemporary present are so well written, you can feel the salt air on your face, and hear the crashing waves on the rocks below the Sea House. It truly draws the reader in for something unexpected much like searching for mermaid legends and instead you find the truth you've been searching for all along. 

The characters are well written and I would have liked to have known a bit more about the history behind Lord Marstone a bit more than I got. Readers should be warned that there is some profanity in this one, but these are based on cultural differences between the literature in the US versus that of the UK as I've been told. It doesn't distract from the story in any way. This was truly had me captivated much like Ruth's character as she began to unravel the smallest details bit by bit. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to more novels from her in the future. 

For more information about The Sea House, Elisabeth Gifford, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below. 

The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

You can also find Elisabeth Gifford on Facebook to stay up to date with her latest novels. 

To read more reviews on The Sea House please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 

Don't miss The Sea House, a stunning fiction debut from the UK. Set in a house on the windswept coast of the Outer Hebrides, Elisabeth Gifford's haunting tale effortlessly bridges a gap of more than a century. Adeptly interweaving two tales involving residents of the titular house, Gifford sets up an absorbing mystery revolving around local lore and myths about mermaids, selkies, and sealmen. Stretching seamlessly back and forth through time, layers upon layers of secrets are slowly and effectively peeled away in this evocative debut (Booklist).

Celebrate with Elisabeth by entering her Kindle giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at Elisabeth's Blog.

Watch the trailer: