New Testament Tracing Bible New King James Version Review and Giveaway

 

New Thomas Nelson Publishers New Testament Tracing Bible

I absolutely love this NKJV New Testament Tracing Bible from Thomas Nelson. I've wanted to write out the entire Bible since reading about it on social media and how it really helps with retaining more of what you read, because you are actually tracing over the letters on each page. The large 17-point font makes it incredibly easy to read, which is especially important for longer study sessions and daily devotional time. The text is clear, crisp, and beautifully laid out. I love how easily the Bible lays flats so you can access both sides of the Bible to trace. The gray scale makes it easy to see the faint words on each page, plus there is still plenty of room for your own note-taking in the margins. 

What sets this Bible apart is the tracing paper pages. As someone who enjoys journaling, highlighting, and creatively engaging with Scripture, I appreciate being able to trace and reflect on God's Word in a unique and meaningful way. The pages provide a wonderful opportunity to slow down, meditate on Scripture, and create keepsakes that deepen my faith journey.

The NKJV translation remains one of my favorites because it maintains the beauty of traditional Bible language while remaining easy to understand. The quality of the Bible is excellent, and it would make a wonderful gift for Bible study groups, creatives, artists, journalers, or anyone looking to connect more deeply with God's Word.

If you're looking for a beautiful, easy-to-read Bible that encourages creativity and Scripture engagement, I highly recommend this one. It has quickly become one of my favorite resources for personal Bible study. I would easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Bibles/HCCP for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Now for the amazing part of this book review, I am giving away a copy of the New Testament Tracing Bible (Gray Scale)  along with a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky person to leave a comment about why you would LOVE to win a copy of this amazing Bible! Giveaway winners must be US residents who have not won via another blogger’s giveaway for this campaign. Winner will be announced on June 8th, 2026 by email. Check out the video of the Bible here. 

If you would love to know more about this New Testament New King James Version of the Tracing Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers, you can click on the link below: 

Purchase your copy of the NKJV New Testament, Tracing Edition, today! 

If you would love to order a copy of The Tracing Bible today from Amazon, click here: 

#NewTestamentTracingMIN

#TraceTheWord

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The Ledger by Steven Manchester

A lot of people write fictional based novels based on choices and most of those are good and kind. Very few novels take a reader down the walk of a different set of choices, one of a darker side of your menu of life's many options. Not everyone chooses well and when they don't their life spirals into a chaos of consequences void of mercy, forgiveness and redemption. I love that Steven Manchester, has decided once again to use his gift of literary brilliance to take readers into that very life behind the walls of a prison in his latest novel The Ledger, book two in the Menu Series. 

In the Ledger, the novel opens where we can some insight into the ways our lives are created by God as a nameless spirit is given a book in where they can choose from a list of Menu options and every choice that is made features an equally opposite conscience, a price to be paid for each of them. The reader is never told who that character is and we will be introduced to several in the novel. I didn't realize that until I got to the end. The characters are required to account for each line in their "Ledger" the choice they make during the life they will lead and when their life is over, they will meet once more with God to discuss their eternal life choices. Now is where the novel accelerates! 

I never really thought much about the lives behind the walls of a prison before, I just knew I never wanted to wind up there, so I make sure my life choices keep me from that. I never considered however the life of the corrections officers that work there. I always thought about things from the life of an inmate. I never considered things on the level that Steven writes about through the lives of fictional characters, both inmates and prisoners and it really horrifies you when you consider that this is a work of fiction, but that it is also based on truth. I was struggling to identify with any one of his characters because they were all so flawed in how they lived out their daily lives. I found myself questioning their decisions and wondered if I faced those same situations how I would handle it, would I have compromised anything I feel now. That's what makes an exceptional writer is when the lines between truth and fiction become blurred. It's easy to pick the character I despised the most, but it is the others that make it hard to choose. So many great lines to capture from the novel but I find I loved this one the most, "Some of the badges are definitely tarnished. Most officers are good but not all. There are those few who could have just as easily been assigned a con number instead of a page."

I love it when they can get you so immersed in their world that you can't put the book down, each page is turned with faster anticipation on what is going to happen next. Then again sometimes you don't want to turn the page to prevent yourself from dealing with another unimaginable raw and unfiltered horror between played out on the pages of a novel. At the conclusion of the novel, I had a new found appreciation for those that work there and that not all lives are spared both the good and the evil. I don't think I will look at a prison the same way again, which conveys just how powerful this novel is and articulates once more a great gift at writing. 

I had the pleasure of reviewing The Ledger by Steven Manchester at the request of the author for my honest review. If you have never read any of his novels, please just pick up any of them, because you will be introduced by his unique writing style that will transport you to whatever venue he has selected for his novel and you will arrive. This novel is another of his award winning books to grace my forever bookshelf. See I keep the ones I love to read again and again, because they have impacted me in ways I never thought possible. My only hope is that there will be a third book in this series and that once again I will find my life forever changed by simple letters on a page, another 5 stars Mr. Manchester, well done! 

If you would love to learn more about the novels of Steven Manchester, please visit his website here or you can find him on Facebook by clicking here. 

If you would like to read his first book in the series, The Menu, please click here.

Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle by Michael Keane

 

I love it when you get a behind the scenes glimpse at anything, whether it is a movie scene, how a concert is preparing for its debut, how a home goes through a remodeling process and even how a great beloved children's animated movie like a "A Charlie Brown Christmas' captivates the world even decades from its debut. 

In the book, Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle by Michael Keane, the reader is taken to a private place to gain a deeper understanding to what went into bringing the gospel message found in a scene from Linus about what the true meaning of Christmas really is as he enlightens poor Charlie Brown who has been caught up in commercialism until that point. In the midst of so much going on in the world at the time, it seemed like America too have delved too much into commercialism of its own. We began to sterilize the one thing that all of us looked forward to each year and that being Christmas. But was there something we were all missing like Charlie Brown? 

It is hard to imagine that A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never was after taking a calculated risk at putting the Bible on national television. What would the sponsors say, even nationally recognized ones like Coca-Cola? There is so much in this small book at the behind the scenes look at Charles Schultz, who was also a World War 2 veteran, who shared with us all in the daily comics printed out in newspapers, characters with personality flaws very much like we find in ourselves. Is it any wonder why this movie still changes hearts today? Could it be that like Charlie Brown, we all want more to believe in at Christmas time that things can change and be better? If like me, you love to know more about the story and details behind the beloved Christmas movie, you will love reading Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle by Michael Keane. For me, this one is a 5 out of 5 stars! 

If you would love to pick up a copy of this book, you can find it available on Hachette Book Groups website by clicking below: 

Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle by Michael Keane

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention them on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 

You Will Be Called Peter by Jerry Lathan and Steven H. Manchester

Have you ever considered for one moment, the lives of each of the apostles of Jesus Christ? What they were doing before Jesus called any of them to follow Him? 

In the latest book from Steven H. Manchester and Jerry Lathan, the reader is taken directly into the life of one of the most popular apostles, Simon, who would also be called Peter by Jesus. We know only what the Bible tells us in each of the 4 major gospels, but we also can glean that there was far more that happened in their lives during the three years that they followed Jesus. 

I think for most of us, we can identify with the life of Simon. A fisherman by trade, he understood the hard work required in order to not only provide for him and his wife, but in working with his brother Andrew, their day to day income wasn't a guarantee. Sometimes they didn't catch enough to pay what they needed and many times they needed to go back in the evenings as well. As most Jewish men during that time, he was familiar with the promise of the coming Messiah, who they believed would rescue them from the Roman restraint that felt like a yoke upon all of their necks, not only to live under their self imposed rules, but also to pay the taxes Roman required to expand their ever growing empire. 

So when Simon heard from his friends John and James, fellow fishermen, that they met Jesus who they believed to be the Messiah, the One that they had been waiting for, he couldn't wait to see how Roman occupation would fall under his hands and restore the Jewish people to the place of prominence in the eyes of the world, as God's chosen people. Even his wife was supportive of the task of following Jesus.

"You haven't only been called, Simon, you have been chosen. Your true path is before you." Simon considered his new place in the world. After all that's happened, of course, I need to follow him. He grinned. No matter where it takes me."

But the reality of Simon's journey is an honest and human one as the reader is taken along the journey with the other apostles as Jesus begins his ministry from turning water into wine at a wedding they were invited to, to being an eye witness to everything Jesus did from miracles, healing and the wisdom of His sermons. 

What I love most about this book, is that we get a sense of what Simon Peter had to struggle with, wanting Jesus to be the answer to taking down the Romans, and then coming to terms when he missed out on what the Bible had promised first, that Jesus would not only die, but that Simon would be the one to deny he knew Jesus after He had told him he would. Simon Peter had to deal with his own faith challenges. So many questions, and often times, the answers would come through his own walk of faith on the water of a storm. "Maybe I just need to believer without having to understand how or why?"

As the reader continues into the journey, you find yourself asking many of the same questions Simon did, "As they continued on, Simon was left to wonder about his own place in history. What is all of this for...the blisters, the haters and the zealots, their threats? The uncertainty. Missing my family. No longer fishing and being out on the water I love. He looked around at his ragtag band of fellow travelers, before his eyes reached Jesus at the head of the park. Will any of this make a difference? Will we be remembered? Simon feared what all mean fear-being forgotten. Only time will tell I guess." 

I have had the honor of reviewing every book that Steven H. Manchester has even written and the one thing that is constant in all of his novels, is the ability to transport the reader right into the heart of the story. In this novel, we are Simon's friend, part of his family. The reader is taken along with his personal struggles of what he believes and what he is witnessing. His own faith struggles as he follows Jesus on his ministry and what will happen afterwards. I couldn't wait to read this one and was captivated by how heart wrenching Simon's life must have been from his humble beginnings to his triumphant restoration of faith in Jesus' ministry. He is a life that is forever changed as is every reader who picks up this novel. I can easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. 

You can find more information about his books and more on his website by clicking below: 

Steven H. Manchester

If you're on social media, you can find him on Facebook here: 

Interview With the Antichrist by Jeff Kinley Book Review

 The Antichrist! We have heard that name echo through the annals of history every single time we see someone rise to power that condones evil in the name of good. From Stalin to Hitler and everyone before and after, the antichrist spirit prevails in men like that, but there is one coming who will make all their actions mere child's play to the evil awaiting the coming world. 

In the book, Interview with the Antichrist by Jeff Kinney, he pairs what the Bible shares into a fictional story with a possible prophetic look at what could be coming on the world in  rapidly, unfolding chilling events we see playing across our globe even now. 

Up and coming new journalist, Julian De Clercq is looking for that breakout story to make him a national headliner. Since the recent disappearance of millions of people all over the globe, the world is spiraling out of control with no apparent confirmed reason where they all went. Some believe that aliens took them, others believe a virus or medical reason may have caused people to simply vanish overnight. Still others believe what the Bible has always said would happen, the Rapture of the believers in Christ. 

The world is screaming for order, peace and leadership and finally someone shows up and begins to systematically restrain the defaults on the worlds banking system, curbs the growing violence and rioting all over the globe, and once and for all restores the temple grounds back to the Jewish people so they can rebuilding the Temple in their land. But does this person truly have the worlds best interests at heart or is he merely a person with his own agenda to ultimately control the world? 

I purchased Interview with the Antichrist to once again remind myself and others what awaits us in the not so distant future of our world. With global pandemics, to the banking and financial crisis looming in every corner of the globe, to the threat of a nuclear war and possible world war 3. The world is looking for some way to regain a sense of peace but is that even possible any longer? What I love is the way Jeff overlaps biblical truths in a fictional story that portrays what the future may look like. Call it the white spaces between the pages of the Bible and you have an unforgettable and daunting look at our future. I easily give this a 5 out of 5 stars and even fans of the Left Behind series will love this new look at a possible world event. One thing that I love, is the 30 questions at the conclusion of this book that shows where in the Bible all of this is found. A chilling reminder that the clock is ticking and the future is almost here. 

You can purchase a copy of Interview with the Antichrist by Jeff Kinley at your local book stores or online at Amazon. I love purchasing directly from the author themselves to support what they do! 

You can do that by click on the link below to visit Jeff Kinley's website. 

You can also follow him on Facebook by clicking here to stay up to date on all the biblical world events coming soon. 

Joyce Meyer's latest book, "The Answer to Anxiety," is a compelling and practical guide for anyone struggling with anxiety. Meyer, a well-known author and speaker, draws from her own experiences with anxiety and provides readers with a roadmap for overcoming this challenging emotion.

The book is divided into three parts. In the first part, Meyer discusses the causes of anxiety and the importance of understanding the root of the problem. She emphasizes the role that negative thinking plays in anxiety and provides practical tools for changing thought patterns.

In the second part of the book, Meyer offers practical strategies for managing anxiety, such as prayer, meditation, and self-care. She also emphasizes the importance of seeking help from a professional if needed.

The final part of the book focuses on the role of faith in overcoming anxiety. Meyer shares personal stories of how her faith has helped her manage anxiety and provides practical advice for readers on how to incorporate faith into their own lives.

Overall, "The Answer to Anxiety" is an excellent resource for anyone struggling with anxiety. Meyer's writing is engaging and relatable, and her practical advice is easy to understand and implement. Whether you're looking for strategies to manage anxiety or seeking guidance on incorporating faith into your life, this book is sure to be a valuable resource. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

If you want to purchase a copy of this book, you can click on the link below from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Answer-Anxiety-Tyranny-Anxious-Thoughts/

If you'd love to learn more about Joyce Meyer, you can visit her website here.

Unleash Your Inner Creativity with the "Day by Day Guided Journal" by Jess Conte!

 

"Day by Day Guided Journal" by Jess Conte is a fantastic tool for anyone looking to tap into their inner wisdom and boost their personal growth. The journal is designed to be used daily, with prompts and quotes to encourage self-reflection and introspection. The format is straightforward and easy to use, making it an accessible tool for anyone looking to increase their self-awareness.

One of the strengths of this journal is the breadth of topics covered in the prompts. From gratitude and mindfulness to goal-setting and daily habits, the prompts are thought-provoking and encourage users to delve into their innermost thoughts and feelings. Conte's writing style is warm, gentle, and encouraging, making the journal a joy to use. The daily format is incredibly convenient, making it easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules.

Another standout aspect of this journal is the quality of the design and construction. The journal is well-made and has a pleasing, eye-catching cover that makes it a pleasure to use. The prompts and quotes are well-written and inspiring, and the layout is clean and simple. The journal is perfect for anyone looking to add some structure and focus to their self-reflection journey.

In conclusion, "Day by Day Guided Journal" by Jess Conte is a fantastic tool for anyone looking to tap into their inner wisdom and boost their personal growth. It is an excellent tool for anyone looking to increase their self-awareness and explore their inner thoughts and feelings. The journal is well-designed, well-made, and full of inspiring prompts and quotes. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their self-reflection journey.

If you're interested in purchasing a copy of this journal, please click on the link below:

Day by Day Guided Journal by Jess Conte

Lawn Darts and Lemonade by Steven Manchester

Country Time Lemonade, Bomb Pops and ice cream trucks, Magic 8 balls and Blockbuster Video stores. What 80's kid doesn't have a fond memory of enjoying those during summer vacations from school? If you are looking for a great summer book, I highly recommend Lawn Darts and Lemonade from Steven Manchester! 

This is the second book in his series and even if you haven't read the first one, Breadbags and Bullies, you can easily understand this one. However I would highly recommend you pick them both up and it will easily take you back to those 80's summers of bike riding, staying out til the street lights come on and trying to find something to do to occupy your summer days. 

I've been so blessed to have read everything he has written and once again this was a book, that when I picked it up, I was not able to put it down. I had to know how it would end. Once again readers are taken back to the 1980's with three brothers, Wally, Herbie and Cockroach, who at the opening of the book are dealing with the loss of their father. As the family begins sharing those favorite and special moments, the brothers are transported back to those times where they are transported back to their Summer of 1984. 

There are so many great references in this book, from the video game arcades at the mall, to those summer jobs which would enable us to get candy and sodas at the local corner store. Mom stayed home and of course, made sure the boys were outside all day until the street lights came on where the family would once more gather around the dinner table to share their adventures, while Dad gave the boys all that fatherly wisdom that only dads could dispense along with classic one liners known as Dadisms! 

I would highly recommend this book as the perfect Summer read and easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! Anyone who has ever lived in the 80's will LOVE this book. I received this book from Steven Manchester for my honest review and received no paid compensation to offer a favorable review. 

You can purchase a copy of this book from Amazon at the following link: 

https://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Darts-Lemonade-Tackling-80s

If you would love to know about other books written by Steven Manchester, please visit his website by clicking on the link below: 

http://www.stevenmanchester.com

Dad by Steven Manchester

 

There is no greater need in anyone's life like that of a Father. Whether it's in the role of a grandfather, dad or simply a future dad in the making, there is a sense of leadership and authority that comes when you think of a man in that role. A nurturing. A legacy in the making. A protector. The head of the household. 

I've been so blessed to have had the unique opportunity to be asked once again to review the latest book from best selling author, Steven Manchester. The one thing I always know even before I know what the book is about, is that it will be life changing. It will cause me to reflect on things in my own life and make comparisons from what I am reading to what I know to be true in my own life. I also know that it will never disappoint and undoubtedly be a great book. One that I will probably recommend to someone looking for a great book too! 

I also have learned whenever anyone reads a book review before deciding if this is one they should review, I won't give it all away but simply convey my own personal thoughts on this book. So if you have read the review, thus far, I can save you the time of reading any further. Read the book. Buy the Book. Yes, it is that great! 

I've been a book reader for as long as I can remember back to my childhood and love the way a book can transform your life and give you a reprieve from where you are at in your life. A virtual vacation if you will. A way to get lost between the pages and delve into a storyline that will make you lose track of time. One you won't want to put down, unless you have to, but also one that will call you back to the pages to pick back up where you left off and finish the book. This IS that book. 

Just by the title alone, you will know it will involve a dad, but in this book it takes us into the lives of three generations of men from the same family, who are at different chapters in their own personal lives. Struggling in ways we can't begin to understand unless we have been there ourselves or in this case, read about Robert, the patriarch of the family, who is dealing with the fact he is getting old and time is running thin. We walk through the life of Oliver, who has the relationship I believe most adult children might have with their dads. As long as things are going well, they don't talk about what is going on in their lives. Oliver is struggling with his marriage, and he understands that things go through phases, he doesn't want to lose his wife. However as the book opens we find him working with a therapist to help him work through things. His own son Jonah at 19 is on the brink of leaving behind his childhood and about to face the pressures of what being adult is about to bring. 

For me, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as a woman, we don't often glean what men think and this book gives me the insight to see what all three men are thinking and going through. How that plays out in the roles they are walking through and also how their lives intersect. It's not seamless, and there is a struggle each one faces as they move through those phases. It must be a heavy weight men bear on their shoulders as the world far too often doesn't understand the burden they must carry. It has made me look at the life of my own father, husband and brother in my life, with new clarity. I understand what they face and also what they may need but never ask for. It's something I hope I can change while I might still have time. This novel has given me new perspective and once again, I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this novel and can highly give it a 5 out of 5 stars, in my opinion. I was not paid for my review and this is solely based on my own insight on what I take away from the book, without giving it all away to the reader. Trust me, it's worth the read. 

If you would like to pick up a copy of this novel, you can click on this link below to purchase it from Amazon. 

If you would like to read about all the novels written by Steven Manchester, and trust me, you will want more, click on this link to visit his website. 

Fear is Not the Boss of You

 

 

 I was looking for a faith based business coach for the longest time, who would not leave Faith at the door when it came to business. Then I found Jennifer Allwood. I can't even remember how I found her but her coaching for my business was a huge lifeline for me. I knew when she announced she was writing a book, it would be a great one.

Then CoVid hit and the world was thrown off its axis. Who knew that God would use this time to launch, Fear is Not the Boss of You? I mean who wouldn't want to grab this book in the midst of uncertainty. Like so many other women, I found her words in this book to be healing. Coming from a generation where my parents divorced early on, I had to face to many uphill battles alone. Even now in my own business, I have let the fears of the unknown drive some of my own insecurities and make me question certain decisions. 

I knew I had to break free from the fear that puts faith on the back burner. I needed words from a great friend who has walked those valleys to help me reach the mountaintop together with God. What a breath of fresh air this book has been for me. Jennifer is our modern day Esther. She was placed in our lives for a time such as this. To help us to break free from our fears, our thoughts, how we were raised, that all influence how we react to any situation we may face in life. 

It won't mean that I won't be afraid when I make my appointment with a dermatologist to face what I believe is skin cancer. My own father constantly reminded me that every imperfection I had was cancer, from simple breakouts to allergic reactions and those have caused me to fear going to the doctor for fear of being told I was going to have cancer. Jennifer's words of wisdom are like a balm to a hurting and wounded soul. I have since picked up several copies of this book to give to my daughters because I know at some point in their life, fear will try to steal their faith that they can do whatever they want. I want them to have that same voice telling them it's okay to still do it scared, but just do it. 

I highly recommend, Fear is Not The Boss of You by Jennifer Allwood and have received no compensation for a positive review for this book. I truly believe that healing lies beneath the cover for those that simply can't move forward in whatever aspect of your life because of fear and I am confident that you will find the courage to challenge those very fears head on. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. This is a must read for every woman! 

For more information about Jennifer Allwood or to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below: 

Fear is Not The Boss of You by Jennifer Allwood

You can find Jennifer Allwood on Facebook.

The Menu - Book Review

If you had a chance at doing your life over again, just one part you wanted to go back and change, would you?

What if you simply wanted to find that soul mate? True Love? Deeper Faith? Wisdom to make different choices? Most of us, don't understand those questions, because in our minds, we still have time left to make those choices. It's not til we get to our death bed, that those questions would be answered with deep conviction and certainty. Yet what would you give up to have those do overs?

In his latest book, The Menu, author Steven Manchester invokes a sense of searching our hearts and questions how we have lived our lives to this point. Through the character Phinn Reed, who sits in heaven with the possibility of choosing from a list of life desires, to get a second chance at something he never had. A menu of possibilities but also the cost you will need to endure to gain that life. Once a choice is made, all memories of heaven and your past is completely erased.

"This is your life. Order whatever you wish, but keep in mind - whatever you choose to taste, you have to finish," He told Phinn before sending him into the world. God reminds Phinn that he will encounter others that have also chosen changes, and he is likely to encounter them during his time on earth. God also reminds Phinn that with each choice, a price must be paid to obtain it. If you choose compassion, you can have it but not before experiencing pain and suffering. You can have commitment and wisdom, but not before conquering trials and tribulations. Courage after overcoming fear, honor after facing shame, success after much failure."

I absolutely LOVED this direction that this author took with a concept of second chances, because its not a simple Happily Ever After novel. There is a payment to acquire that which we all seek and while most of us just want the menu item, we don't want the price necessary to achieve that even in our lives today. We all want the results, but not what it took to get there. This makes us re-evaluate our lives a bit and take into account what we not only achieved but what we had to pay to get it.

I would highly recommend The Menu by Steven Manchester, and I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest review of this novel. I have to say this is a really great read and I think there is some wisdom to be gleaned through this fictional novel. As a believer, you can appreciate the ideas behind this fictional book, with understanding it is fiction novel with a point. I would easily give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

If you would like to get a copy of this book, please click on the link to Amazon. 

To find more novels from Steven Manchester, please visit his website.

Three Shoeboxes

I've been a huge fan of Steven Manchester's novel since I read my first one. I guess what draws me to continue to read anything he writes is his ability to cut to the core of what we all feel deep down inside ourselves. Those are often places we hope we never have to visit in our lifetime and being exposed to them from a safe place allows us to see things from different perspectives and wonder if we were in the same situation, how might we deal with what the characters face.

In his latest novel, Three Shoeboxes, Mac Anderson, is living the dream. He has a successful career as an ad executive, a wonderful home, loving wife, three wonderful children and the support of those in his community. Yet he would never have expected that the one night as he was driving home from an anniversary dinner with his wife, that this would be the catalyst that would change everything and strip it away piece by piece.

As he begins to experience what can only be described as panic attacks, Mac refuses to let anyone into what he is dealing with. Perhaps that is that manly pride that as the head of the house, one needs to hold it all together at all times. Even though his wife Jen can clearly see he is dealing with issues, he continues to keep her at bay. As each of these attacks grows more frequent and out of control, Mac finally relents to getting some personal help. Yet even the therapist can seem to grasp the sudden turn around in his life and be able to help him deal with things.

So Mac gives up and tries to resolve the issues on his own, becoming more and more hostile, argumentative and even resorting to alcohol to put this attacks to rest. Only it just drives a deeper and widening gap between his family until he loses control one night and from then out out, even is family no longer wants anything to do with him and now he faces the loss of his job, the support of family and friends and now living on the street he faces his demons alone. Is it all lost? Can he find his way back home? Or is he just one bullet shy from ending it all? You'll have to find out by picking up this novel.

I received Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant. This is an emotional story that could face anyone at anytime, and makes us all understand how precious moments are in life and how quickly it can all change. It makes the reader reassess what it the most valuable things in your life and how you might face the challenges Mac faces. Does he have the faith in himself to fight his way back to the man he used to be? I'll let you decide when you pick this one up. For me, again a stellar 5 star novel in my opinion.

For more information about Steven Manchester, Three Shoeboxes or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester

You can find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date his latest novels.

The Heart Between Us

When you think about it medical technology has come a long way in the way of being able to offer patients the ability to have a heart transplant. The one thing sustaining life within all of us can at any time and without any reason, suddenly stop working. There isn't a reset button or the ability to power cycle a human being like we can with technology but to take a once beating heart from one person and transplant it in someone else is truly a miracle in of itself.

Megan Jacobs is just such a person. Struggling with growing up her entire life watching the life she wished she could have be lived out in her twin Crystal. She had to be the one carefully watched by not only her friends but her family who understood the implications of living with a weak heart. Who could fault any of them for wanting to make sure she didn't overexert herself trying to play sports, the one who spent most of her time in hospital beds than her own. Who could even blame Megan for wanting everything she felt denied to her all because of something she was born with and couldn't change.

This would be a pattern that would set itself up for both girls during their adult life as well. Megan would remain the secluded single girl taking the only job that offered no health risks, a librarian while her sister gets the perfect life of following her dreams and starting her own family. Yet when she is given the opportunity of a life time to receive a donor heart from a young girl named Amanda, she wants to make a connection to know who the girl was that lost her life so she could have a chance at another one for herself. Amanda's parents gift her with a journal in which Amanda wrote a Bucket List of all the things she wished she could have done but unfortunately never had the time to do. Megan finds that she can gift them both by following her dream to travel and visit the places Amanda always wished she could go. But will she be able to convince her parents to let up on the tight reins that have kept over her life to allow her to live the new one God had blessed her with?

I received The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel compliments of TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson Publishers. I absolutely LOVE this novel because it conveys so many of the emotions one can feel being on both sides of the fence. To love a daughter enough you'd do anything to keep her safe, and for the one who wants to experience all life has to offer even if it only lasts just one more day. Will Amanda's heart heal more than just one person in the process at giving Megan a new start at a life she could only dream about before? Pick this one up to find out. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion.

For more information about The Heart Between Us, Lindsay Harrel or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

You can find Lindsay Harrel on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on The Heart Between Us, please visit TLC's Book Tour page. 

The Man He Never Was

There is only one novel of James L. Rubart's I haven't read and I will correct that very soon. However to understand his style of writing, it is not going to be something you can easily figure out like most novels. Most of his take the reader on a journey that may have not been expecting and with that I believe comes a greater understanding that we share similar qualities with the characters he pens to life in his novels.

The Man He Never Was is exactly like that. You have the main character Toren Daniels who mysteriously wakes up in a hotel room with no recollection of why he is there. He believed he went bed beside his wife in his own home, but that is not what has happened, nor will he like what he is about to discover. Eight months of his life have completely vanished without a trace. He has no memory other than the rage he used to have to contend with is no longer present in his life, leaving his with a calming peace in places where only there used to be burning rage and anger. His only clue is a mysterious package that arrives, telling him that the anger that has robbed him not only of his chance with the NFL but also with his family.

He vaguely remembers that anger as it seems that he is looking outside of the former person he was and all he knows from those he talks with is he apparently wrote a suicide note, and vanished into thin air, leaving people to believe he followed through on his threat. Even his wife and children have moved on and his wife is now in love with someone else. Through vague recollections and pieces of what might have occurred he struggles to get back what he has lost, without losing himself to the former man he was. Using the examples of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, along with the Hulk, Toren believes he may have been experimented on, giving some kind of mind altering drink but as he feels that peace and contentment slipping away, he knows he is running out of time and the dark beast within is threatening to become unleashed again.

I received The Man He Never Was by James L. Rubart compliments of TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson Publishers. There are so many spins in this novel that unless you are familiar with James' work you might just get lost before you settle in and wait for the outcome. Most often than we'd like to admit, there is a bit of darkness in all of us. Some can make peace with it while keeping it under control and there are others that allow it to dominate the person they become and in the process are lost like children who can't find their way home. "Henry Jekyll says that he and every other man and woman is not truly one, but truly two, and he sees the human soul as the ultimate battleground of our lives - one part of us an angel and the other a demon, both struggling for mastery and destruction of the other." You'll have to see what you get from this when you finish, but for me, another well done masterpiece. There is even a reader's discussion guide included which would make this a great novel for book clubs. For me, another well deserved 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Man He Never Was, James L. Rubart or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Man He Never Was by James L. Rubart

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

To read more reviews on The Man He Never Was, please visit TLC Book Tour page. 

High Cotton

What do you think when you hear the word "Family Reunion?"

For some, it might be the opportunity to get together with those wonderful members of the family that are separated by the miles on rare moments like a family reunion.

For others it might be cringe worthy. Those are the times when you know family drama is about to become a full-blown theatrical production and that is just what Shay Henke has on her mind when she receives another invitation to the Bucklin Family Reunion. It seems like her family is always finding a way to bring everyone together even though its not all that it is cracked up to be. But then again, it's probably like that for most families. Time to reunite, share some beloved family memories and traditions and leave the drama hopefully in the closet for now and just smile and get along right?

Well if you have read any of Debby Mayne's novels, you know you are about to join in, whether you're ready or not to join in with the Bucklin clan. So grab a glass of sweet tea and sit back and unwind as all the wonderful characters she has created in her latest novel High Cotton is unveiled in the first of her series, the Bucklin Family Reunion! This is truly all about bringing a bit of the South and all it's traditions, sayings, accents and more to those who have never been privy to such a family affair. And you just know its not going to go off without a hitch either.

Just the cover alone is what got me wanting to read this, besides the premise of a wonderful drama filled family reunion that doesn't involve me personally and being a fan of anything Debby Mayne rights just makes me pick it up without having to know if it's going to be good or not. That's the thing with exceptional authors that write books that take you into the story line transporting you right in the middle of things. You've got those well-meaning elderly women who are wondering when you are going to find the right man and settle down before one becomes an old maid, the men in the family who would rather be doing anything but attending another one of these lively events and those in the family who believe it is their job to be a personal savior to anyone needing help.

I received High Cotton by Debby Mayne compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Gilead Publishing. I can't wait to read the very next novel Fit to Be Tied coming on the heels of this one, but as all exceptional series are, they are never soon enough for those of us that want even more. This is a wonderful summer novel and one I highly recommend and that is why I am giving this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. If this is your first Debby Mayne novel, you will want to check out everything else she has written, they are all wonderful novels that would definitely make it to my summer reading list.

For more information about High Cotton, Debby Mayne or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

High Cotton by Debby Mayne

You can find Debby Mayne on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on High Cotton, please visit Gilead Publishing's website. 

Adverse Possession

It takes a lot to scare me and make me want to not turn off the lights.

Especially books lately because I am very selective on which ones I will review or read anymore. This excludes most of the best selling authors because they don't line up with the same spiritual values that now dictate my reading choices for the most part. However with that being said, Jess Hanna, managed to do just that.

In his second book, Adverse Possession, the best way I can describe it is the Exorcism with a Christian twist. If that doesn't peak your interest I don't know what will and trust me this book gives it all to you in just the right doses to make you reconsider whether you should finish it or not. Not because it isn't a great book, but the suspense, thrill factor is on steroids. Finally an author who gets it. Gives it to you in small amounts so your mind begins to wonder what could it be and what is going on.

Andy Forrester is a buy it and flip it investor who finds a house he might just promise his family that will finally be their forever home. Lately what has been happening is that the family will stay in on of his latest fixer uppers long enough for the work to be done, before its time to move out so that can be sold. But he realizes that this isn't the kind of life for his wife and two small children, Jonathan and Alexis. So he really chooses a fixer upper in a small isolated part of town where the house has been sitting vacant and unsold for some time. (Clue 1).

As the construction gets underway the first accident occurs when a construction worker has his fingers severed while standing next to a power saw. He claims it just started itself and soon he is rushed off to the hospital, but not before Andy attempts to clean up the blood, and realizes the only place it remains is on the saw. (Clue 2).

While the family attempts to live in the home, a random power outage occurs in the home, twice a day and both at the same time. 10:27am or pm, the power will go out and resume at exactly 10:28 am or pm. There is nothing they are doing and it replays itself like on an endless loop every single day and night. The family just passes it off and old wiring in the house since it is causing any harm. Yet will the beginning of the families complacency attitude be just the thing that leaves the door open for even more chilling things to come? Have the family moved into a haunted house or something even more sinister? You'll have to pick this one up and find out.

Adverse Possession by Jess Hanna is a powerful book that reminds us all of the power of complacency in our own faith and how much the power of God can do and can't do when it is wielded by those who know Him and those who don't. For me, this one really spooked me pretty well as it should because people far too often don't realize how innocent activity in their own life can open the door for other spiritual beings to make themselves quite at home. No pun intended. For those of you that LOVE your books to be a bit on the edge of your seat, don't read it alone, keep the lights on kind of fiction? This is it! I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars because it did what it was intended to do.

You can find more information about Adverse Possession, Jess Hanna or how to pick up a copy of this book today, by clicking on the links below:

Adverse Possession by Jess Hanna

You can find Jess Hanna on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

The Road to Hell

I don't know how I passed this book up?

I kept coming across fellow Book Reviewers that I know, that said how amazing this book was for a first time author, Jess Hanna and for those that love supernatural and spiritual warfare fiction genre's this was a must read. To say that it got my curiosity up was a bit of an understatement. I was even willing to pay for this one since I respected the opinions of my fellow peers not to steer me wrong. Thankfully, I had uploaded it some time ago, along with the second novel when it was offered FREE and never had the time to fully dedicate some time to reading it. Last night I finished it and so glad I did.

First of all if you love that supernatural, spiritual warfare novels like from such greats as Frank Peretti's Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. It focuses on the life of one man Lucas Stone, who has made a name for himself working for Valiant Public Relations and never really considered at any point in his career he would find himself jobless. But that is just what happens to him, caught up in thinking he would skate by with another client who wanted to be "served" by Lucas but was left high and dry instead. It was the straw that broke the camel's back with the agency.

Now jobless and without any future prospects the drive home that day would forever change his life when he gets into an accident he failed to see coming. In an instant both is physical mobility and his spiritual outlook on life would change in a heartbeat as he fights both for his physical life and his spiritual one as well, when he finds that instead of taking that journey into the tunnel of light, he is pulled down into the vacuum of hell only to realize what a tragic mistake he took. After a handful of days in the hospital enduring physical therapy, he now is faced with mounting medical bills and no way of paying them. God sends him a man named Mike that would teach him about unconditional love and what a true Christian walk looks like with human skin on.

Throughout the book, Lucas' life is moved with other characters that have crossed his path and will play a pivotal role in the culmination of the purest evil known to man in the physical world as Lucas is once again faced with a public relations nightmare when one of his clients seeks him out to help him launch his career as an author who has written a controversial book on what the real definition of hell looks like. Is it the same as the one Lucas experiences or it this a wolf in sheep's clothing. For me, this is a phenomenal novel and one I couldn't wait to finish. It is well worth all 5 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion and now I can't wait to read his other novel Adverse Possession. 

The Road to Hell by Jess Hanna

You can find Jess Hanna on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

Beneath the Bellemont Sky

Sometimes the best way we can understand our future is to spend some time looking through the past. For America, a lot changed when we entered WWII, and as thousands of husbands, brothers, and fathers left to serve, women stepped up in a role not familiar to them to pick up in factories where the men left off, their way of helping in the war effort.

As the war ended, and some men returned home, often times with less than they had before, with disabilities, missing limbs, and dealing with PTSD, women were again challenged to step into the roles vacated to help those returning home. Then again, there were those women who married before the war, and were notified that their husband, was killed and would not be returning home. This set the stage for the beginnings of the women's right movement as men returned to go back to work, women who enjoyed working were now faced with resuming the role of a full-time wife and mother, and wanted the respect and recognition that they got in working that was missing in their domestic roles.

That is the stage set for Beneath the Bellemont Sky by Raneè S. Clark. For the Larsen family, having a farm is what helped them to get by during the war and now that the men are beginning to return home, the women in the family are looking forward to having the men take over the farm tasks. Vera and her four children have moved back home after learning her husband wouldn't be coming home after all and a way to help make ends meet. The hardest part for any of them is learning to move forward into an unknown future when all they have known is their past. As the town attempts to resume normal life, Andrew Larsen returns with a French wife and now the town's socialites have decided to snub her at every attempt, partly because one of them had hoped that Andrew might return to marry her instead.

Vera knows she has to find a new start for her life and finds solace in the new teacher that comes to town, Dominick Whitaker, who is finding starting over in a small town might just be what he needs but also brings its own share of problems as well. Vera and Dominick hit it off as friends being in similar places in their futures and find an instant connection in their conversations, one that lasts beyond the time they spend with each other. Will Dominick be ready to take on a ready made family or will something in their pasts keep them apart despite their growing affections for one another?

I received Beneath the Bellemont Sky by Raneè S. Clark compliments of Covenant Communications. I truly LOVE the novels set among the war time because so much was forced to change to help benefit everyone both in serving in the war or supporting those who left behind those empty places. Change was forced whether one embraced it or not. And in a small town of Wyoming, one can only imagine that everyone knew everyone else. When the war came to a close, some women wanted to stay working, and raising a family and not everyone wanted to return back to their former lives, especially when things we so different. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and give it a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Beneath the Bellemont Sky, Raneè S. Clark or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Beneath the Bellemont Sky by Raneè S. Clark

You can find Raneè S. Clark on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Beneath the Bellemont Sky, please visit Amazon's website.

The Stars Above Northumberland

I have to admit it. I'm guilty.

Guilty of being hooked on what some might label the genre as Traditional Regencies! Fans of Jane Austen's novels and fans of Downton Abbey understand exactly what I am saying. It is a genre like any other because of the social implications for women back in the 1800's. Women had little to say in the way things were handled and often time had very little to do except accept what social standards dictated at the time.

For Meriwether Sturgess, that was a life of seven years to a mean man whom she married that had one persona on the outside and another in the quiet confines within his home and in their marriage. That is why it came as no shock when the man died quite unexpectedly leaving her not only a widow and single mother to their two children, but also the large financial inheritance she would assume or rather oversee until her son Crispen was old enough to assume the responsibilities of running the Sturgess finances and holdings.

But for Meri, she simply planned carefully for the last seven years, holding back a small fund from her husband's allotment of her monthly expenses to keep up appearances for both herself and the children. Along with the jewelry he bestowed upon her, she kept it all hidden until the day she could change both her own circumstances and that of her children. She shared no affections for her husbands family and couldn't wait to leave the estate under the guise of needing to get away and be with her family to deal with her grief. There was no turning back for Meri.

Now she has returned to live with her Aunt Annabel at the Rosewell Manor and finds a bit of a surprise to learn that her childhood friend, Elliot Rosewell has returned as well and he hopes to find a second chance at love with Meri and her two children, something he has deeply regretted for those same seven years, watching her go and marry another man, while he had to deal with his own broken heart. But like all great romances, there are bound to be complications which work against our dear couple in an effort to keep them apart but will these secrets truly be the ones that keep their love from full blossoming?

I received The Stars Above Northumberland by Anita Stansfield compliments of Covenant Communications. I absolutely LOVED this entire novel, although at the beginning there are parts of the novel that appear repetitive as though you just read the same pages previously. Once you get pass those however, you find yourself ever rooting for our beloved couple and know that Meri's quick departure will not be a lasting one. No one can ever truly run from their pasts. I have loved reading Anita Stansfields novels and now anxiously await each new one she pens. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Stars Above Northumberland, Anita Stansfield or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Stars Above Northumberland by Anita Stansfield

You can find Anita Stansfield on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Stars Above Northumberland, please visit Covenant Communications website. 

A Light on the Hill

One of my favorite new genres is biblical fiction. It is taking factual events from the Bible, and creating a bit of a backstory to the characters we know about, but not everything about. It might even use a major biblical event as the setting for the novel, such as Connilyn Cossette has done brilliantly in her series, Cities of Refuge. The first novel in the series is A Light on The Hill, and takes the readers back just after the fall of the walls of Jericho.

Back to the lands filled with the idol worship of false gods, where temples were built to commemorate and worship those idol images. Moriyah was a young girl when she was kidnapped and branded on her face as a temple prostitute even though she never was violated in that manner. It would be a brand she would forever face discrimination and rumors about what those who knew of her perceived her to be. It would also make finding a suitable husband for her, almost an impossibility. What man would want to deal with a wife who had to remain covered by a veil whenever she went out in public. Yet even that did nothing to prevent the stares or public shame she had to endure.

When Moriyah learns that her father has found a suitable match for her, she believes God has finally heard her prayer. She believes the young man she meets on the night of a festival is the same man promised to marry her. However she soon learns that he is simply the youngest of the brothers, her father has arranged to marry her. He is not the one. The man she is forced to marry is the oldest brother and the only desire he has for her, is her dowry that her father has promised to any man who will marry her, vineyards beyond riches. She faces her own challenges dealing with not only her potential future husband, but he has vowed she will remain forever veiled so no one will ever look at her and see who she really is.

I received A Light on The Hill by Connilyn Cossette compliments of Bethany House Publishers. This is such a wonderful novel in that during my own Bible reading, I have read about the horror stories of the people who lived behind the walls of Jericho and the things they did they flew in the face of the God of the Bible. We see glimpses of that with Joshua and how he brought down the walls, and of the prostitute Rahab that hid the men of God who would have been killed had they been discovered. It was the same favor that saved the life of not only her but her family as well. This picks up after that has occurred and shows the fall out of the life of those trapped behind those walls that now have to deal with the repercussions of that lifestyle, even if they didn't agree with it. A wonderful discussion guide is included at the conclusion of this novel that makes for a great book club selection. For me, I can't wait to read the remaining novels that will follow this one, and thus the reason for giving this one a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about A Light on The Hill, Connilyn Cossette or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Light on The Hill by Connilyn Cossette

You can find Connilyn Cossette on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Light on The Hill, please visit Bethany House Publisher's website.