Dangerous Mercy

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Dangerous Mercy David C. Cook (October 1, 2011) by Kathy Herman



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.



She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.



Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added sixteen more titles to her credit, including four bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, and The Right Call.



Kathy's husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. —Matthew 5:7



When eighty-five-year-old Adele Woodmore moves to Les Barbes to be near the Broussards—and her namesake, their daughter—she wants nothing more than a comfortable, quiet life. Employing men from Father Vince’s halfway house for the homeless to do odd jobs and landscaping, she delights in the casual conversation she has with them, the fledgling friendships, and the idea that she is helping them get back on their feet.



A series of murders in Les Barbes has cast a pall over the town and, in fact, one of Adele’s handymen becomes a person of interest to the police. But Adele cares for these young men, she knows them, and continues to show them kindness in spite of her friends’ concern. And then one day a murderer walks through Adele’s defenses, sits down at her kitchen table...and they begin to talk...



If you would like to read the first chapter of Dangerous Mercy, go HERE.

Sifted

A Biblical encounter that will first challenge you, then comfort you, then leave you changed.

Discouraged by life's difficulties - both the life-shifting catastrophes and the drip-drip-drip of your daily troubles? Dissatisfied with the same old pat answers about God's role in our hard times? Rick Lawrence takes you on a surprising - even dangerous - journey into the deepest recesses of God's heart toward us. To get there, he drills deep into the single Scripture snapshot (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus tells Peter he's about to be "sifted like wheat" - shaken hard, beaten, and pitched into despair until he's separated from the person he always thought he was.

Satan's going to do it. And Jesus is going to allow it. But why? Jesus makes no mistakes with His metaphors, and sifting offers a brutally honest picture of God's goodness at work on behalf of our freedom. Sifted is a rigorously honest, deeply challenging, yet powerful redemptive exploration of the trials that beat us down, the good God who allows them, and the incredible beauty sifting can reveal in us.

I received the book, Sifted by Rick Lawrence, compliments of B & B Media Group for my honest review and for some reason, came at just the right opportunity for our family to use this as a study into what is meant by being sifted, what the purpose is in our life and how we can become better Christians in spite of the process.

Rick Lawrence uses many real life examples to illustrate how the sifting process works. One such example is the death of Steve Curtis Chapman's daughter, who was killed in an accident by one of his sons backing out of the driveway and hitting the small girl. In the midst of this time, the Chapmans underwent their own "sifting process" and what came out the other side has not only helped them in their grieving process but also helped others by watching how they weathered that storm.

This helps us to explain the question "why" even though during the process we can't always see the benefits of what things happen to us but this book helps the reader weather the time that passes and enables them to help others through life's "sifting" process of their own. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and think everyone should have a copy in their home.

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

Sifted by Rick Lawrence

Bridge To A Distant Star

Three families are about to find themselves united in an expected way and their lives will never be the same again.

On a foggy morning as the clouds began to thunder overhead, a weary captain leered out of the windows attempting to see just how far from the pillars of the Sunshine Skywall Bridge in Tampa Bay he was. Keeping in between the buoy markers would help steer his empty cargo ship in the safety of deeper waters. Even as the lightning struck overhead at times lighting up the dark skies, it still wasn't enough to aid the captain on his journey. Before it was too late, disaster would strike and there wouldn't be anything he could do except look into the dark murky waters for survivors.

Maureen Roberts is struggling to find herself within her marriage and to find a way to happiness in serving her family. When her close friend Emilie tells her and two close friends over lunch that her marriage is on the rocks and her husband is leaving her, Maureen begins to feel her own walls closing in around her.

Charlie Thomasen is a bright young soccer hopeful for his high school team and one who is trying to live up to all the expectations his over enthusiastic father has in mind for him. A believer of never give up and push through the pain, his father pushes Charlie to the literally breaking point before he will see what he has been sacrificing all along.

Michal McHenry has been deemed a MK or a missionary kid. Leaving her parents behind in Ethiopia she has been attending boarding school hoping to learn enough so she can join her parents as a missionary as well. But since arriving, she's been having nightmares about returning. Finding solace in her studies and in her friends, Michal prays for God to show her the path He has in mind for her. Not sure if she should date, she visits her Aunt Sarah for clarification on summer break. What she finds there may not answer the question she really needs an answer for.

In the latest novel Bridge to a Distant Star by Carolyn Williford, she takes the story from an accident that occurred in May 9th of 1980 and creates a cast of characters and immediately immerses us into their lives. We become such a part of them that when they face tragedy head on, it's as though they are a part of our family and we grieve for them. It's what happens at the very end that will tie the meaning of deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me to the very core of each of their lives.

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and David C Cook for my honest review and was hooked from the prologue. Not knowing the direction this author was taking me, I inhaled most of the story, not wanting to put it down until my eyes couldn't stay open any longer. This book is that great, worthy of 5 out of 5 stars and one, you won't want to miss out on. Care to take a sneak peek?

Then read on for more information on the author, the book, and a sneak peek into a book that you will no doubt want to pick up for yourself.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Bridge to a Distant Star David C. Cook; New edition (June 1, 2011) by Carolyn Williford

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carolyn Williford has authored seven books, including Jordan's Bend, Devotions for Families That Can't Sit Still, and Faith Tango, as well as numerous articles. She and her husband, Craig, live in Deerfield, Illinois, where he serves as president of Trinity International University. They have two children and four grandchildren.



ABOUT THE BOOK

It All Comes Tumbling Down

As a storm rages in the night, unwary drivers venture onto Tampa Bay’s most renowned bridge. No one sees the danger ahead. No one notices the jagged gap hidden by the darkness and rain. Yet when the bridge collapses vehicles careen into the churning waters of the bay below.

In that one catastrophic moment, three powerful stories converge: a family ravaged by their child’s heartbreaking news, a marriage threatened by its own facade, and a college student burdened by self doubt. As each story unfolds, the characters move steadily closer to that fateful moment on the bridge. And while each character searches for grace, the storms in their lives loom as large as the storm that awaits them above the bay.

When these characters intersect in Carolyn Williford’s gripping and moving volume of three novellas, they also collide with the transforming truth of Christ: Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Bridge to a Distant Star, go HERE.

Pause For Power

Join Dr. Warren Wiersbe for a Personal Bible Study with a revised version of Pause for Power: A 365 Day Journey in the Scriptures. This daily devotional will allow you to explore fifteen different books of the Bible with wisdom and insight gleaned from Wiersbe's best selling commentaries.

This devotional offers insight and encouragement, this devotional touches on real-life themes that include contentment, integrity, patience, joy, hope, ministry, love and peace. Each day's devotional includes a brief Bible passage, an excerpt about that particular passage from Dr. Wiersbe's commentaries, and questions for personal reflection. A brief prayer ends each day's Scripture Meditation and purposefully commits the reader's heart and mind to God's direction.

Here is an example:

Day 2 - Devoted to Devotions

Read Colossians 4:2 - "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get our will done in heaven, but to get God's will done on earth. Prayer is not telling God what to do or what to give. Prayer is asking God for that which He wants to do and give, according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). As we read the Word and fellowship with our Father, we discover His will and then boldly ask Him to do what He has planned. Richard Trench (1807-1886), archbishop of Dublin, said it perfectly: "Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, it is laying hold of His willingness."

Of course, it is possible to pray in our hearts and never use the gift of speech (1 Sam. 1:13), but we are using words even if we don't say them audibly. True prayer must first come from the heart, whether the words are spoken or not.

SOMETHING TO PONDER

As you pray, in what ways are you "watchful"? In what ways are you "thankful"?

The devotional is perfect to pick up at any date since it's labeled by Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc instead of specific dates for those that want to start today! The book is a hardcover, 5 by 7, and comes with a ribbon to keep track of your place. Its short enough that you can use these each and every morning to get a great start to your day.

I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group and David C Cook, for my honest review and love this devotional for my husband, since its small and compact. I would easily rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for our fast paced world where we still need God's divine inspiration to get us started on the right path for our days.

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

Pause for Power by Dr. Warren Wiersbe

Stronger

How would you handle any of these situations:

**A distraught mother watches her teenage son storm out of the house in anger, not knowing what to say or do and wondering when or if she'll see him again?

***A discouraged father of four who lost his job, has been evicted from his home, and is so deeply in debt that he doesn't see a way out?

***The terrified little girl who is sexually molested by her "uncle" when Mom isn't home and is told to keep quiet about it or "else?"

***The lonely wife who thought she was marrying a soul mate and is desperate because she can't get her husband to talk to her?

***The sullen fourth-grader who repeatedly gets teased and bullied by a sixth-grader on the way home from school?

***A worried single mom whose son is being recruited by a neighborhood gang?

***A shocked fifty-year old who has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer?

***The husband who can't forgive himself for an affair?

It's hard enough to put aside the struggles and weaknesses of family, friends, coworkers and neighbors. It's harder still when the hurting man, wife, mother, father, little girl, young man or grandparent is us. So just how do we get through it? What does it really mean when someone is going to pray for you?

In his latest book, Stronger, by Jim Daly of Focus on the Family along with James Lund, he takes you through so many heart-wrenching situations and you are left wondering just how will they get through this with their faith intact, yet so many do just that. This isn't a book showcasing miracle situations, but real-life, eyes looking upward, questioning "Why God?"thoughts and stories and showing it's not just about getting through the situation but what it looks like on the other side. This book shows you how to trade brokenness for unbreakable strength!!!

I found this book so inspiring with so many situations in our lives that leave us wondering just what is going on in our day to day lives. I find with reading this book, you have a direction to begin heading on, along with prayer and the Bible, we can weather the storm, beaten down but not broken. We can make it through anything with God's help. I would highly recommend this to any family as a great resource to get you through a difficult time or even counseling someone who is.

I received this wonderful book compliments of B & B Media and David C Cook for my honest review and am so glad I didn't pass this one up. What a treasure I would have missed in the process. This one hands down rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author or where to pick up a copy of this book, click on the title below:

Stronger by Jim Daly with James Lund

It's No Secret

Do you often wonder if there is a secret decoder ring necessary to understand some of the secrets of the Bible? Much like the parables that Jesus shared during His personal ministry here on Earth with people who often asked Him many questions is there something more that we are missing when reading the Bible or trying to know God more?

In the book, It's No Secret by Rachel Olsen, I found myself drawn to the comparison she makes between the parables Jesus shared and the deeper meaning found within them.

" I have to admit at times that I've felt like one of those people who prompted Jesus to teach in this manner. I'd listen to what the Pastor said on any given Sunday, but forget about it days or weeks later, never integrating it into my life. Occasionally a passionate Bible teacher or a troubling circumstance would motivate me to read the Bible on my own, but often I felt I got nothing out of it. I'd read a few paragraphs, look up, and wonder what I was supposed to be learning. I'd close my Bible and go on with life until the next time someone or something motivated me to try again.

I've always been a good student, so why couldn't I understand more of the Bible? Did God give out secret decoder rings? Had I somehow failed to get one?" (excerpt pg 20).

This sounds so much like me at some many points of my life, so I was super excited to get to the bottom of this profound mystery in my life. In this book, Rachel Olson takes you through uncovering how you can learn more about God and the true person He really wants you to become.

Here's a sample of just some of the things you will learn:

How to overcome challenges and competitive urges that leave you lonely.
Accepting help from others.
Embracing your need for rest.
Discovering God's surprising source of spiritual beauty and strength

I received this book compliments of B & B Media Group and David C Cook for my honest review and found this book to be a wonderful resource in strengthening my personal spiritual walk and gaining intimacy with God. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and thinks it's a must have in every woman's life. This book includes a Bible Study within that would benefit a women's Bible Study in some of those areas mentioned above.

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy for yourself, please click on the title below:

It's No Secret

The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook

Too often we, as parents, have a difficult things that are appropriate for young babies or even toddlers. I have located a perfect gift just in time for Christmas. It's called the Baby Bible Christmas Storybook by Robin Currie.

This beautifully illustrated board book is perfect for those long car rides, school, nursery and child care groups to keep baby busy and this book does so beautifully in telling the Christmas story. Each page has an illustration on one side, beautifully done and on the adjoining page a simply story outlining the Christmas story of Jesus' birth that special night that you can show your baby or toddler and have them join in with the story-telling in this interactive book.

For example:

A Quiet Night - Luke 2:8

Out in the fields it was very quiet. (Put your finger on your lips. shhhh.)
The dark sky was full of stars. (Wiggle your fingers above your head.)
The sheep were all asleep (Yawn.)
The baby lambs were sleeping too. (Rest your head on your hands.)

Dear God, I'm glad for the stars and quiet nights. Amen.

I received this amazing book compliments of B & B Media Group and David C Cook, for my honest review and honestly wish I would have had something like this when my kids were younger. It truly is a treasured keepsake and one your kids will enjoy over and over as you read and play together. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author or where you can purchase this book, click on the title of the book below:

The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook