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 Hummingbird

I think we all take each day of our life for granted. I believe it's because we firmly believe that there will be a tomorrow and the day after that until we grow old. But the people I think truly appreciate what they have are those that have to face a terminal diagnosis, knowing that tomorrow is never a guarantee for any of us. Stephen P. Kiernan has written an unforgettable novel that showcases three very unique relationships in The Hummingbird. It is written in alternating chapters, one in the life of hospice nurse, Deborah Birch, and the story of the Sword she reads to her dying patient Professor Barclay Reed.

Deborah's relationship with the Professor is to help him see that even though time is running out on his life he still has a lot to offer. She promises that even though he has fired every single nurse in three different hospice care facilities, she will not give up on him. As the two work on coming to terms with how they interact with one another in the time that is left, the Professor asks her to read an unpublished book that he had written and at the conclusion of the story, to tell him if she believes it is true or simply a work of fiction. Along the way, the Professor's brilliant metaphors for life, help Deborah deal with her husband, Michael who after returning home from his third tour of duty is not the man she married. His violent outbursts have been a huge strain on their marriage and now they simply exist as roommates in the same home. Not the life she had ever imagined and not one she wanted to open up to the Professor about.

The Professor has written numerous volumes on the Pacific Theater and the Sword was the only one that never got published. As they read through the story together, the Professor helps Deborah understand the subtleties behind what Michael has brought home from the war. He uses parts of the story to help her gain insight into the clues he brings up that offer more than what she has been seeing all along. Deborah also finds that through each case she has worked with her patients, they all offer her the one thing that money can never buy and it's a gift she carries with her to each and every patient. She promises that she will do all she can to ensure that their death is peaceful, as painfree as possible and that they leave behind no regrets if she can help it.

I received The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. While this is NOT a book for my Christian readers, those who find an interest in hospice, WWII and PTSD, will love where these stories intersect and find such value for life, it kinda of changes how you move forward after reading this. There is some profanity, but taken in the context of the character of Michael, as a returning soldier from the war, it would be what one would expect dealing with the nightmares and issues he has. In my opinion, this one is worth 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Hummingbird, Stephen P. Kiernan, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Hummingbird from Stephen P. Kiernan 

You can find Stephen P. Kiernan on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Hummingbird, please visit William Morrow's website. 

The Splendor of Ordinary Days

I have learned a lot of these past years about some genre's of novels I thoroughly enjoy, they are the ones like you will find in Jeff High's Watervalley Series. It conveys the creation of a small town where quite literally everyone knows not only your name, but it is hard to keep secrets in a town like Watervalley, Tennessee. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to review, The Splendor of Ordinary Days, the third novel in this series. Along the way with each novel, you get an deeper look at some of the town's residents and in this case it is with Dr. Luke Bradford, the town's doctor who has slowly fallen in love with Christine Chambers, a schoolteacher. The best part of their relationship is the determination to discuss how they feel in regards to trying to keep things pure until they become married and I believe that is why this works so well. It is honest, heart-felt and you feel that the characters you meet in this novel are more than just fictional characters, these are real people.

When you pick this one up, Dr. Bradford still has not popped the question to Christine, partially because he wants things just perfect and he wants to make sure that the timing is right for both of them, not merely pressure from the residents in town to marry the poor girl. I love that they simply spend their nights sitting on the porch underneath the skies and talk about the things both in their past and hopes for the future. It seems to be the missing component in today's relationships, taking the time to truly getting to know one another before rushing into things. Part of what I truly love about this novel in particular is the characters of Luther Whitmore and Leland Carter. Both very different but have a sense of something more to them that draws you in wanting to know more about their story.

Luther is the owner of the town's newspaper and isn't afraid to take his personal opinions on anything pertaining to the town and publish them. In fact, he is one of the town's most grumpiest elderly men and also owns Moon Lake, but has erected a fence around the whole thing and no one is allowed in. In fact, Luther is so unfriendly, the signs posted on his front porch are enough to keep almost everyone away including any door to door sales like Girl Scouts. But Dr. Bradford begins to uncover clues from their brief conversations that he wonders if there is truly more to Luther than simply the willingness to be all alone. Perhaps somewhere deep in that hard heart was once a man who loved deeply but lost everything he truly cared about through a series of circumstances. Will Dr. Bradford be able to figure it out? Only time will tell and that is what makes this novel so worth reading.

I received The Splendor of Ordinary Days by Jeff High compliments of New American Library and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this novel, in exchange for an honest review and the opinions contained here are my own personal ones. I love the coming together of the community in regards to how they honor their veterans, not only those who died while serving in the various wars but also those who are alive and continue to pay the ultimate price with what they have to deal with on a daily basis. It seems that is what is missing in most towns in this country is the love of our military and also the ability to come together as communities when the need arises. Perhaps that is why I love small town novels like this one, because it gives readers an idea of how wonderful life can be when we all work together, and thus the need to rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I can't wait to go back and read the first two novels in the series to learn more about the amazing people who live in Watervalley!

For more information about The Splendor of Ordinary Days, Jeff High or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Splendor of Ordinary Days by Jeff High

You can find Jeff High on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Splendor of Ordinary Days, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.

When several military veterans’ emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley, Dr. Luke Bradford learns some important lessons in service, courage, love, and sacrifice in The Splendor of Ordinary Days by Jeff High. As Luke struggles to understand Vietnam War veteran Luther’s past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly.

Join Jeff in celebrating the release of The Splendor of Ordinary Days with a Kindle Fire HD 6 giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• Signed copies of all three Watervalley books
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 27th. The winner will be announced October 28th on Jeff's blog.

A Love Like Ours

There is a connection that surpasses what most people believe when you find a treasured friend from your childhood that you can still fall in love with twenty years into the future. That is precisely what happens between Lyndie James and Jake Porter, who grew up together and were simply the very best of friends one could ever hope to have. But like all best friends, they move away to begin a life someplace else and those feelings you had for someone at 12 are beyond your control to keep them by your side forever. So when Lyndie moved away to California, Jake stayed at home on the Porter Ranch in Holley, Texas.

Now twenty years later, both still feel strongly for one another. Where at first letter writing enabled them to keep that connection when Lyndie moved away, those letters grew less and less until they finally stopped altogether and they both moved on in their lives. Lyndie continued to help her parents take care of her sister Mollie, who struggled with a long term disability that required constant care from those in her family that were more than willing to give unconditionally for her, knowing she would never see their faces, speak words of love to them, or even walk outside of a wheelchair, but Mollie showed her love in ways people could never understand. Lyndie believes God has given Mollie the gift of healing.

Jake isn't at all thrilled to find out Lyndie has moved back to Texas and even worse she wants to apply for the exercise rider on his ranch working under him. After leaving his tour of duty with the Marines and suffering from PTSD, Jake's wounds go far deeper than the scar on his face. He will never see himself as anything less than what Lyndie needs in a man. He only hopes he can convince his heart to keep the distance between them, even though those old familiar feelings are calling on his heart to feel again. Perhaps Lyndie can work some sort of miracle on him because he is as bad as his thoroughbred Silver Leaf who has lost his own desire to run. Can love heal them both?

I received A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Growing up with horse racing most of my life and could relate to both Jake and Lyndie's situations. I love that Lyndie's determination to not give up on either Silver Leaf or Jake transitioned well in this novel. I have been head over heels with all the Porter boys stories since being introduced to them back in the first novel Undeniably Yours, and then in Meant to Be Mine, the second one. They are all uniquely different and truly tug at the romance lover's heart within us all to have that Happily Ever After ending. This one did not disappoint in any way and for that reason deserves all 5 out of 5 stars. A reader's discussion guide is included at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about A Love Like Ours, Becky Wade or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

You can find Becky Wade on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Love Like Ours, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Fall in love with Becky Wade's new book, A Love Like Ours, a story of healing, romance, and cowboys. A glimmer of the hope Jake thought he’d lost returns when Lyndie lands back in Texas, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

To celebrate the release of her new book, Becky is giving away a $100 cash card and a book-inspired prize pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 cash card
• A copy of A Love Like Ours
• A copy of the Secretariat DVD
• A scarf
• A dog-tag/cross keychain
• A pair of earrings
• A Scarf
• A Texas-shaped cutting board
• A Jake Porter mug

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 26th. Winner will be announced May 27th on Becky's site.

Gooseberry Island

If you have never read any of Steven Manchester's novels, you really need to pick them up. For fans of romance or simply wanting something that honestly puts you in the driver's seat when it comes to your novels, Steven's novels do just that and more. I am honored to review his latest novel Gooseberry Island and literally read it in one sitting. Not too fast to finish it before I wanted, because once I finish, it will be quite some time before another one comes out. Great novels are like that. You get excited when you see your favorite author has come out with a new book. You don't even have to read the premise because everything you have read by them has been amazing, so you will instantly pick it up and buy it. But it is also bittersweet because you know the writing will so intense and exceptional, you are flipping your final page without realizing it and then it's over. No more until the next novel is written. Kinda like exceptional movie trilogy's. Once the final one hits the big screen, it is bittersweet.

In Gooseberry Island, we meet David McClain, an Army Ranger back for his second tour in Afghanistan and is hoping at some point in his life to find someone just like him, who is ready to settle down and start a family. But lately all he keeps finding is shallow women who are interested in the one thing most men are and don't want any strings attached. He had hoped he might find a special someone he could write to while he was serving overseas but perhaps it is for the best. Who knows if he will make it home this time, and would hate to have started something only to leave their heart broken if the inevitable should happen.

Lindsey Wood knows first hand the horrors of PTSD. Caring for her father who is dealing with the implications of war and PTSD, if he isn't checked in at the veteran's hospital for her own well being, he is struggling to make sense of the nightmares he has when he is home. It isn't the first time that Lindsey has been on the receiving end of her fathers fists unable to awaken from the horrors he faced during the war. She knows it's not her father's fault but hopes that there is something that can be done, without having him committed to the hospital for both their benefits.

Lindsey and David fall for one another quite literally on the beach one afternoon, when Lindsey's dog trips David while running. The two of them immediately hit it off in more ways than one, but it is bittersweet because it is on the very same day that David has left before he ships out. It is hard to put their finger on it, but Lindsey and David know there is something more to their connection that they realize and vow to get to know each other more while David is away for the next year. But we all know war changes a person, but will David be the same person he was when he left Gooseberry Island or will the war take yet another casualty when he arrives home?

I received Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester compliments of the author himself and Story Plant Publishers for my honest review. Besides the complimentary copy of the book, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I absolutely LOVED this novel. The storyline was compelling enough to keep me engaged in both the characters and I didn't realize that more returning soldiers and veteran's die of suicide than the war claims! It is heart breaking, believable and pulls at your emotional heart strings because you are rooting for David and Lindsey the whole time. You are biting your nails wondering if David will make it home during his tour, and makes you realize how strong the ties are between soldiers who return from the war with their teammates. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

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

Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester

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

You can learn more about Gooseberry Island by visiting The Story Plants website.

The Sea House

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

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

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

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

Celebrate with Elisabeth by entering her Kindle giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

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

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Wake The Dawn

When a hurricane unleashes its deadly force upon the small town of Pineville, Minnesota, the small medical clinic run by Physician's Assistant Esther Hansen. Without adequate medical supplies or personnel necessary to handle the number of patients arriving as the rains and winds grow in intensity and in the back of her mind she can only hope she can keep it together long enough to treat those that need medical care. Thankfully she isn't going to be battling this alone. When U.S. Border Patrol officer Ben James brings an abandoned infant into the clinic for help, his own medical training will be called upon to help the growing number of patients that are growing by the hour.

Knowing how quickly things can get out of hand, Ben utilizes those in the clinic to help one another out until they can all be seen. He has one disable woman in a wheelchair with a broken leg, Hannah, help care for the infant who needs to be held and cared for. He utilizes a teenage boy, Gary, to clean up the three rooms so more patients can be attended to. It truly seems like everything is running smoothly despite the numbers of people that Esther can treat along with the growing number of wounded and dying that the local ambulance has to bring to her since the bridge is out. Now if she only keep calm despite the growing tremors of PTSD that seem to be lurking just on the edge of her sanity.

Ben understands how difficult dealing with PTSD can be as he himself has been going through it as well. When he lost his wife and unborn child due to an accident late one night, the only way he's been able to sleep is finishing off a bottle of his favorite drink. The one thing he has going for him is that he has never drank on the job but unless he gets a handle on the after hours binging, he might not have a job to go back to. Lucky for him, his patrol dog, Bo, gets him up in time for work. Now if he can only find something to live for once again, he might be able to make a new start for himself. 

I received Wake The Dawn by Lauraine Snelling compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Lately I've been blessed to have read so many of Lauraine's novels and she never fails to hook me right in the heart so I can't give up on her characters. You feel the struggle that Esther is facing trying to hide her PTSD while trying to care for the small town clinic as best as she can. Even her counseling sessions haven't been helping much and dealing with her perfectionist mother who can never see that she does anything right is enough to keep her from wanting to spend time with her family. Dealing with their issues in spite of the hurricane that is wrecking havoc on Pineville, shows the love of a small town that can come together to help one another out when the chips are really down. This comes across in every way through the supporting characters that Esther manages to help even though she can't save them all. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Wake the Dawn, Lauraine Snelling, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Wake the Dawn by Lauraine Snelling 

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

To read more reviews on Wake The Dawn, please visit Faith Word's website. 

Fiery Secrets

The one thing we can never hide from is God, yet so often times we try to convince ourselves that what we are attempting makes sense. No one will ever be able to judge if they don't know. That sounds fine, until that guilt begins to eat away at you bit by bit. Pretty soon however, what you are holding inside gets to be too much for you to justify any longer especially if those secrets can keep you from moving forward and finding true freedom. The enemy would prefer you keep that to yourself.

Such is the premise behind Stephanie McCall's novel Fiery Secrets. Grace Taylor became a doctor to aid in the care and treatment of her ex husband Kyle when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Instead of seeing that as a blessing Kyle found that his illness was an excuse to verbal and physically abuse her. His childhood became the backdrop to teaching Kyle that abuse was something he could use to get what he wanted in life if he wasn't given freely to him. But when Grace divorced him, Kyle began to take control any way he could by abusing alcohol and drugs. Now with having custody of their son Jacob being stripped from him as well as his $100,000 trust fund, he knows he has to do something to keep his addiction going any way he can.

Grace has been struggling with her own demons from the past. She too, became addicted to alcohol when she was married to Kyle in an effort to find a way to get along. The more they both drank, the less hostile he would be to her. But soon it would become too much especially after Jacob was born. But when her drinking cost her joint custody of Jacob, she resolved to become a better mom and put her entire past behind her and that included trusting men ever again. No one would ever be good enough for her and she would do all she could to win back Jacob no matter what the costs.

Now that Jacob has been struggling with his test scores feeling unworthy and stupid according the labels his father Kyle placed on him, he retreats further into himself in an effort to protect what little remains of who he is in the eyes of his mother and father. But when Chris Anderson, is assigned to him as a tutor, he excels and finds self esteem is found in those who believe in you and teach you to believe in yourself. Now if only Chris could take that same advice and apply it to his own life. Giving up his career as an exceptional teacher when a school shooting took the life of three of his students. Believing he could have done more to save them, he takes a tutoring position while he continues to deal with the effects of PTSD from that day as well as overcoming the drug addiction his doctor inadvertently put him through. What he didn't expect was to fall for both Jacob and his mom, Grace.

I received Fiery Secrets from Stephanie McCall compliments of Hope Springs Books for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is such an amazing story of hope amidst pasts that Grace and Chris believe will deem that as unworthy in anyone's eyes. We all have pasts we aren't proud of, but with God's grace and mercy we can find forgiveness and redemption. We can have a new chance at life, if we are willing to learn to take Jesus' advice and simply trust He can make good things come from all those past hurts and breath new life into each one of us. Stephanie utilizes this through this novel and shows us all what awaits us if we only are willing to try. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Fiery Secrets, Stephanie McCall, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Fiery Secrets by Stephanie McCall

You can find Stephanie McCall on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HopeSprings Books (July 2, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1938708164
• ISBN-13: 978-1938708169
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.4 x 8.4 inches