Same Kind of Different As Me - FREE Movie Ticket Giveaway!

A simple act of kindness can change everything.

In the upcoming movie slated to hit theaters on October 20th, this is a movie you won't want to miss. Long gone are those "cheesy" Christian movies most of us have seen in the past, and this one will be one that will undoubtedly provoke a change in your own life if not in your own heart. Based on the New York Time's Best Selling book by the same name, this is a movie that will live in your heart long after the credits roll.

An all-star cast featuring Greg Kinnear, Renee Zellweger, Jon Voight and Djimon Hounsou, viewers are taken into the lives of Ron Hall (Greg Kinnear) who is an international art dealer that seems to be too busy for his wife, Deborah (Renee Zellweger) and that places a strain on their marriage. She spends her time, caring for the kids and house, managing things so life is easy for Ron, even managing to find time to volunteer at the inner city rescue mission where she meets Denver, a homeless man, she has dreams about. The Hall's literally have more money than they need, and what they need is some help with their troubled marriage. She feels that she must find a way to befriend this man because he holds the answers to her problem with Ron somehow.

As arguments grow more heated between Ron and Deborah, she learns of Ron's unfaithfulness she gives him the ultimatum to leave. She will only allow him to stay if he spends some time doing something other than taking care of himself and thus the challenge to help Denver out, even if it means the possibility of losing his status with the elite people in his life. If he can accomplish that task, Deborah will consider making a go of their marriage again, but perhaps more than just the marriage will be saved in the end. Denver's motto: "Nobody can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody" is the theme of this incredible movie.

Now for the best amazing part. Thanks to the generosity of Pure Flix Entertainment and Lev3L Digital, I am giving away 2 movie ticket codes in time to see this incredible movie. Here is all you need to do to enter the giveaway.

1. Use your social media expertise to generate some interest in this film. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, you name it. The more you share, the greater the chances of winning a pair of these tickets. Each time you post, grab that link and share it back here under the comments window. Enter as many times as you want, post every day from now until the release date. Just make sure to come back here and post those links so we can track the response of your social media campaign.

2. Winner's must be in the US only at this time.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a pair of tickets to see this and who you plan on taking. You will receive the codes before the release date and the codes can only be used for this film. You will have some time to view it if you can't make it on October 20th.

4. Provide an email address in the comments section below. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols if you wish. Without an email address, I have no way of contacting you if you're the lucky winner.

You can even get pictures, trailers, ticket information and details from the film's website, Same Kind of Different as Me. 

Same Kind of Different As Me by Pure Flix Entertainment and Paramount Studios.

You can find more incredible information about the movie on the movie's Facebook as well. 
 

Gideon's Gift

Karen Kingsbury's inspiration for writing The Red Glove Series was based on what she saw modeled by her father, how on one Thanksgiving, he loaded up a plate of leftovers and headed out to find the first person in need and pass the plate of food on to them. It would create such a lasting impression of the very nature of what God implied when He asked us to care for those in need, those that are hurting and ones we can lessen the burden for in unremarkable ways. Gideon's Gift begins the series and shares with us the store of how one little eight-year-old girl named Gideon who was struggling with finding a Christmas miracle in light of hoping her leukemia this year might go into remission.

She truly believes in the message she has heard that Christmas miracles come to those who believe. As she and her father, Brian Mercer made their way to the hospital, they stopped like they always did while waiting for the blood tests and shared in a rare conversation, "What is their own idea of the perfect Christmas?" Little did Gideon know how God was listening to one girl's request to have the perfect Christmas just once, one that would blow the doors off any ordinary miracle and one that would change not only her life, but the lives of the people she would touch this year.

Earl Badgett had hoped that all his years of living on the streets might one day take his life, but it looks like this is not going to be that day. As he makes his way into the local mission to get a hot meal, he holds on to the only hope that keeps his heart from growing cold. A single pair of red gloves hand-knitted by his wife Anne, two years ago for his Christmas present. It was almost two years to the date when he would once again find himself remembering that fateful night that claimed the life of his wife and daughter and would also claim any remnant of the Earl that once loved them. Now he spends his days and nights hoping this will be the night that he will join them in heaven, but one encounter with Gideon at the mission will change them both forever and show how powerful prayer can truly be to those who believe in God.

I received Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such an amazing inspirational novel that would make a great Christmas gift that you can read together as a family, a chapter each night, to gain a true meaning of God's power and that of prayer. How God can change a hardened heart and show the amazing power of sacrificial love for another. There is even a section at the conclusion of the book that shares ways you can extend the gift of service to others this Christmas. I can highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something to stir the real reason behind Christmas and put you in the perfect Christmas Spirit and easily give it a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Gideon's Gift, Karen Kingsbury or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury

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

To read more reviews on Gideon's Gift, please visit Faith Word's website. 

The Sign Painter

Looking around almost everywhere, you see homeless people. While some may chose this sort of life as a scam and a way to earn money, there are others that find their way into this situation through a series of unforeseen circumstances. I am so glad that Davis Bunn decided to utilize this as the backdrop of his latest novel, The Sign Painter. It does more than highlight the homeless, it shows us that hope is possible and most simply want the opportunity to get out of it as fast as possible and often times, children and families are impacted the most. Their stories are worth getting to know.

In The Sign Painter, Amy Dowell is struggling to find a way just to keep her head above water. After the death of her husband two years ago, she has watched her world as she knew it slowly slide into an oblivion. First the loss of income her husband provided, then the loss of health benefits, then she had to declare bankruptcy and finally had to watch her home go into foreclosure forcing herself to where she is today, living with her young daughter Kimmie in her husband's old truck with a camper shell.

Now with the prospect of a job on the horizon, she hopes she can convince the local Methodist church to consider her position and let her daughter into their day care program, long enough to make some money. But what Amy gets in return is far more than expected and puts her back on the grace of God. Just in time, the church offers her and Kimmie a small apartment that she can stay in for 9 months, as long as she remains drug free and finds employment. In return, they will take care of Kimmie during the hours she has to work. Now if she can begin to find trust in the people she finds herself surrounded by again, she might find more than she is hoping for. Her job as a sign painter for Denton Chevrolet will allow her a small cushion to live on until she can find another free lance assignment, but there is more going on at the car dealership than the owner is even aware of, or is he? You'll have to pick this one up to find out how it all ends for Amy and her daughter Kimmie.

I received The Sign Painter by Davis Bunn compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I've been a fan of Davis Bunn since my first encounter with his book, The Black Madonna and continue to be amazed out how diversified his novels are. This one offers readers insight into the lives of a single mother who finds herself in the direst of circumstances while the neighborhood she is working and living in, is being plagued by drug dealers and criminals moving into the houses nearby. It shows how difficult it can be living in the midst of crime while trying to find a way out. Once again Davis Bunn engages his readers through capturing their heart without them realizing it and taking them along for the ride of their life. An unforgettable novel that will have you rethinking the homeless people you see on the street the very next time. I would rate this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars and there is a great discussion guide and author Q and A at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about The Sign Painter, Davis Bunn or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Sign Painter by Davis Bunn

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

To read more reviews on The Sign Painter, please visit Howard Book's website.

Paper Angels - Giveaway and Review

Kevin Morrell is a forty-three-year-old husband and father who runs a successful design and marketing firm that's crashed into the suffering economy. Attempting to navigate the chaos of the mall at Christmas, Kevin is humbled when he stumbles across The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program. Later his wife insists that he take a paper angel from the tree.

The name on the ornament is that of Thomas Brandt, a fifteen-year-old still reeling from the implosion of his family - from years of verbal abuse from an alcoholic father to a mother who finally left him behind, only to find herself and her children penniless and struggling. The only thing that has allowed Lynn to survive is her faith. Thomas shares that faith, but he also wonders why God has seemingly abandoned them.

This is the bases for the inspired true story told in a fictional account about a man and a boy one December: a man whose life is changed by a simple expression of kindness, and a boy who takes that expression of kindness and shows the true meaning of Christmas in the novel Paper Angels by Jimmy Wayne and Travis Thrasher. I received this book compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review and found myself receiving the most unexpected gift in return. It's a gift that can't be measured in a dollar amount or even exchanged for something better, because it is priceless. Its the gift that God gave us when He provided His son for the ultimate gift of grace and salvation on a beautiful and blessed night so many years ago.

This story will move you in the most unexpected ways. You can see yourself on both sides of the story. You get to feel the pain and loneliness of Thomas when he arrives at school with only the clothes on his back. Rejected by the basketball team since being a new transfer, he is unofficially "benched" til next year. However when a bully from the team, Vic West, finds Thomas' clothes and lack of food something to tease him about in front of the entire school, the tables will be turned in the most unexpected ways. I would rate this story a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and wish everyone could pick up a copy of this book just in time for Christmas, just to see what a difference it would make in everyone's heart. For more information about this book, the authors and where to pick up a copy of this book, click on the links below:

Paper Angels by Jimmy Wayne and Travis Thrasher

To learn more about the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program click here. Jimmy Wayne: Started his Meet Me Halfway campaign in January 2010 to raise awareness for youth who "age out" of the foster care system and face serious life problems such as homelessness and poverty. Please visit www.project.MMH.org to see how you can help.

Thanks to the generous folks at Howard Books, they are offered a gift in the form of a giveaway copy of this book to one lucky follower of my blog. Here are your guidelines to enter:

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

2. Tell everyone you know about this, Tweet It, Blog About It, Link It, even Facebook it. The more that learn about this book, the better we'll all be in the end.

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

4. Leave me a comment, telling me what winning this copy would mean to you along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on November 30th and I will notify the winner at that time via email. In addition, a copy of this book will be provided to a homeless shelter in hopes that it will bless the lives of those that read it.

Who Is My Shelter?

To say that Philip Fairbanks is having a bad day would be an understatement. He's been mugged just outside his penthouse and is now recovering in the hospital. He has a broken arm, half his head has been shaved to allow for a railroad track of stitches to cover his scalp and a broken nose. At least he is alive.

His estranged wife, Gabby is still dealing with being kicked out of the penthouse after Philip wanted nothing to do with her or being married and sent his sons PJ and Paul off to his parents house until Gabby could find suitable housing.

He wants out of the hospital but with no one really to come to his aid, he is befriended by Will Nissan who is visiting his nana and offers him a lift home. What Philip finds waiting for him at home, is more of the men he owes money to pay off his gambling debt. The loan shark turns out to be a cop by the name of Fagan who isn't about to let Philip off the hook without paying up.

Gabby is trying to make it on her own now developing a halfway house for homeless women and their children called House of Hope. Struggling with dealing with running this home, and navigating the unseen waters with her husband Philip who now comes to the realization that he acted a bit too hastily in wanting out of their marriage and wants another shot. To make matters even worse, Philip's partner in business wants to buy him out since he's found out that Philip's been borrowing money to satisfy his gambling urges.

In the book, Who Is My Shelter by Neta Jackson, we see Gabby standing at the crossroads of her faith with God, not quite knowing which direction she should turn in. Will she give Philip and her family a second chance? Will she commit to her decision to run House of Hope and provide a second chance to the women and their families to get off the street? To find out, check out this book of second chances and see the path that God has in store for Gabby!

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for my honest review and LOVED it. It is the fourth book in the Yada Yada House of Hope series and will be one you'll want to begin at the very first book. It's that good! This book is available as a paperback and eReader format and rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

Here's even more great information about the book, author and even a first chapter glimpse!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Who is My Shelter Thomas Nelson (March 1, 2011) by Neta Jackson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Neta Jackson is the author of the popular novel series, *The Yada Yada Prayer Group*, and a spin-off series called *The Yada Yada House of Hope.* These novels were inspired by a real women's Bible study and prayer group that, as Neta says, "God has used to turn my life upside down and rightside up." Neta and her husband, Dave, are also an award-winning writing team, best known for the Trailblazer books--a forty-book series of historical fiction for young people about great Christian heroes (see www.trailblazerbooks.com). The Jacksons are members of a multi-cultural church in the Chicago area, and the parents of three grown children, including a Cambodian foster daughter, all with families of their own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In Jackson's fourth Yada Yada House of Hope Christian evangelical novel, Gabby Fairbanks is now settled in her new apartment at the House of Hope. But she is being pulled in several directions at once and has some hard decisions to make.

Philip, her estranged husband, is in a lot of trouble with a rogue cop from whom he borrowed money and also with his partner at the commercial development firm after he takes company money to cover his gambling losses. Lee Boyer, the Legal Aid lawyer who has become a friend to Gabby, now wants to be more. Gabby must decide whether to give Philip another chance, as their sons, Paul and PJ, hope, and she turns to the folks at Manna House, where she works, and the Yada Yada Prayer Group to help her discern God's plan for her.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Who is My Shelter, go HERE