Eyewall - Giveaway and Review

An eyewall, better known as nature's nightmare, is the engine room of a hurricane - a circular wall of massive clouds and brutal squalls. - Captain Karlyn Hill, aboard the Air Force Hurricane Hunter

What people expect of their weather forecasters is a simple yes or no to the type of weather that they call for. They want to know if it's going to rain or isn't it? Are we going to get a foot of snow or not? Is the hurricane going to hit here or there? No one is infallible. Nobody in the weather business is. The fact is, their never certain, which is why they think in terms of probabilities. That's the only honest way to forecast. But the public won't stand for it. They think of it as a cop out. - Dr. Nicholas Obermeyer, meterologist at the Natural Environment Center, formerly the Weather Channel.

Danger looms in the dark clouds over the small island community of St. Simons Island, just off the southern coast of Georgia. It's been more than a hundred years since a hurricane has impacted this area, so when Hurricane Janet is predicted as a category one hurricane, some of the residents are less than excited at the prospect of leaving over the Labor Day weekend. So when Trish and Alan Grant, hear the winds pick up and the rain begin to fall, she questions whether they should leave the island. Upon waking their children Lee and Sandy up for breakfast, they learn that Sandy has left with a boy she met on the internet. Not knowing anything about him, the family leaves in search of her while the hurricane grows near.

Until the Air Force Hurricane Hunter, can report back the precise readings from Hurricane Janet, the weather centers will only report what they can learn from Doppler radar and ground tracking systems. It isn't until they begin to reach the outer bands of Janet, that they will learn the ugly dark secrets she is keeping behind her black and cloudy storms clouds. What they will learn will put all of their lives in danger and in for the ride of their lives.



In the suspense thriller, Eyewall by H.W. "Buzz" Bernard, the reader will be left hanging on every word as they turn the pages faster and faster. You will NOT be able to put this one down until the very end. Taking The Perfect Storm and The Day After Tommorow, you will be left with the biggest hurricane to ever hit the eastern coast, riveling Katrina and Andrew as younger siblings. This is an edge of your seat, thrill ride that will keep you up long past your need for sleep just to see it through the end.

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Bell Bridge Books for my honest review and would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves great disaster stories with a twist. The characters are believable and true-to-life and you won't be disappointed. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and would LOVE to see this one come to life on the big screen. This one just acquired a permanent home in my library!

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

Eyewall by H.W. "Buzz" Bernard

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (April 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161194001X
• ISBN-13: 978-1611940015
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Price: $ 14.65

You can visit Eyewall's official Facebook page by clicking here.

Thanks to the generous folks at Bell Bridge books and Pump Up Your Books tours, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog. Here are your guidelines:

1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. You must be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. I must have a way to contact you, so please be sure to include your email address with your comment. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Leave me a comment and let me know why you would love to win a copy of this book. The giveaway will end on June 25th and I will notify the winner via email.

Dying Memories

No one could have ever expected their daily lives would be changed in such a dramatic turn of events as they headed to work.

Gail Hawes looked like your average woman, dressed in a black and white checked coat, apparently waiting for someone looking a bit lost. She waited until she saw him and completely emptied her gun, seven times, into Kent Foster killing him in Post Office Square. When police arrived and took her into custody, all she could say was that she was glad he was dead. He finally got what he deserved. He apparently had raped and murdered her eleven-year old daughter Jenny. The odd thing was that Gail didn't have a daughter or any children for that matter.

Bill Conway had just received the tip of the century that would put his story on the front page of the Boston Tribune. He was the lead reporter working the Post Office Square shooting. Even his best friend, Jeremy Brent, who used to work at the Tribune, two years ago, was envious. However what he will uncover will be that there is no link between Gail and Kent Foster other than, she knew who he was and where he worked.

When mysterious, untraceable emails begin to show up addressed to Bill, they provide a clue to another unsolved killing between Trey Megeet and Tim Zhang, a MIT professor who supposedly murdered Trey's wife in a hit and run accident. Trey swore to police that he himself witnessed Tim Zhang behind the driver's wheel, however when questioned by police, Tim Zhang was attending a medical conference in California that day. He could not have committed the murder.

The only link that will tie the two together is ViGen Corporation. A company that is conducting research on the immunology. When Bill gets too close, he himself is about to find out that this is one story that someone does not want published.

In the latest sci-fi thriller, Dying Memories by Dave Zeltserman, the reader will not believe just how complex some people will go to test their experiments and what risks they are willing to take. This one held me captive from the first page and I couldn't put it down until I finished the final page. Highly recommended, explosive and action packed from beginning to end, I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for something a bit different in your suspense thrillers, then this is the book for you. This book is available as an eBook reader.

You can find out more information about this book, the talented author and even where to purchase your copy by clicking on the link below:

Dying Memories by Dave Zeltserman

I received this eBook version compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review!

Unconventional

The greatest and most inspiring achievements are not produced by those who conform to society’s idea of normal, but by those who courageously adopt the unconventional.

That is exactly what James Frost believes. He will strive to not be like the normal but will go for his dreams no matter what anyone else believes he should do instead. James feels his life’s calling is to write, starting with poetry and then on to fantasy novels where he can use his imagination through writing to give people a break from their otherwise mundane lives.

Will James have what it takes to see his dream come fulfilled or will the constant comments from family and friends around him wear him down to the point where he finally accepts their comments and falls into a conventional lifestyle?

In the novel Unconventional by J.J. Hebert, we meet James Frost, an aspiring hopeful writer who currently spends his days writing and working as a janitor. Despite what people say at times, James struggles to maintain a positive attitude and work hard at making his dream come true. Along the way, people judge him not only by his appearance, his current employment position, and even where his future is headed. Instead of not judging a book by it’s cover, it seems apparent at times that’s all most people will do. Will he have the drive to stay on his path towards his dream or will the voices of reason call him back to reality? Will his faith be enough to sustain him in the storms he will weather or will he simply give up and fall in line?

I received Unconventional compliments of J. J. Hebert and Pump Up Your Book for my honest review and believe that anyone who is looking to grab the proverbial brass ring, should read this book and go for it. This book will inspire us all to reach for our dreams once more and who knows what the future holds if we are only willing to try, no matter what. This book rates a full 5 out of 5 stars! This debut book is available in paperback and eReader formats.

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

Unconventional by J. J. Hebert

You can also find J. J. Herbert on Facebook by clicking here.

Paperback: 332 pages
Publisher: Mindstir Media (July 10, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 098196480X
ISBN-13: 978-0981964805
Price: $14.99 paperback / $2.99 for eBook

Contingency

Chuck,

I'm meeting Chad and Michelle for drinks at Baker Street Pub at 6. Can you join us? My whole evening is free again. "wink"

--Tracy

Bobbi Molinsky stared at the email. Yes, it was addressed to her husband. Yes, it was automatically forwarded from his account at the law firm since he was out of town again. But it didn't make any sense.

Her fingers hovered over the mouse as she grasped for the "logical explanation". Chuck never mentioned a Tracy. Who was this woman, and why was she inviting Chuck to a pub, when he didn't drink? Why would Tracy say 'again'? Unless... (pg 1).

Bobbi can't believe what she has found after being married for the last twenty years. Worse yet, she begins to question all the events in her and Chuck's life for the last few months to see if there was a sign at all to point to where this was leading. She believes there is a reasonable explanation for this and yet the fear inside is making her sick.

In confronting her husband, Chuck, she learns that he has been having an affair for the last few weeks with a co-worker at the law firm. Being a Christian, she knows for certain she doesn't want a divorce, but how can she be sure her husband still wants to be married to her? How will this affect their two sons? What will this do their relationships with friends and family once they find out? How could God allow this to happen?

In the Book One of the Covenant of Trust Series, Contingency by Paula Wiseman, takes us on the most difficult battle in marriages, an affair of the heart. Not knowing if her marriage will survive, Bobbi calls her pastor to ask for advice. What Phil and his wife offer Donna is a workable plan for the next month to see if the marriage can be healed. This is the story of challenge that not only Bobbi and Chuck face, but also their children, their employers, friends and family who will not only ally themselves with the couple but in some cases turn away from them as well. This book showcases just how an affair affects everyone besides just the husband and wife. This book provides hope that despite this problem, God can heal a broken marriage!

This book is about as real as it gets in dealing with the loss of trust, betrayal, anger, hurt and sadness that threatens marriages today. This book teaches us the warning signs that are often overlooked and just how often we ourselves fail to safe guard our own marriages from falling victim. I would highly recommend this book to any Christian couple either dealing with issues in their marriage or even as a tool to guard against the probability to dealing with these issues at some point. This book rates a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to re-read this over again. It now has a permanent place in my personal library!

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book for my honest review and would highly recommend this one! I look forward to future books in this series by Paula Wiseman! This book is available in paperback and eReader formats.

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

Contingency by Paula Wiseman

You can also find Paula Wiseman on Facebook by clicking here.

AfterImage

Probably one of the most difficult challenges to weather in this life is the loss of someone very close to you and even worse watching them battle for a win in their life against a disease that will ultimately claim them.

In the novel After Image by Carla Malden, we get to share in her personal memoir of dealing with the loss of her husband Laurence to cancer at such an early age in their marriage. The story is so touching and real for me because I couldn't imagine a life without my husband in it and it was difficult for me to read Carla's words as she takes us through her journey of dealing with finding out her husband is diagnosed with cancer and the subsequent battle she faced in trying to beat it.

Nothing can prepare the reader for Carla's words come through as though you are sitting with a close friend who is walking through her grief. We get to see "snapshots" of Laurence's life so we are getting to know both of them in the process. Carla's memoir is about as real as it comes for anyone who has ever dealt with grief or even facing the unknown turmoils and challenges that cancer can bring. From dealing with all the unknown's going through your mind as you try to search for an answer that may defeat cancer, to walking through the minutes and weeks of chemotherapy hoping against hope that no matter how positive you remain, in the back of your mind doubt and fear still peers it's ugly head.

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book for my honest review. This book rates a 5 out of 5 stars for me. It offers a different perspective of dealing with a loss of a loved one so great that you wonder if life will ever be the same again. The only thing that grieves me is one statement in the beginning of the book where the author quotes, "But cancer was the villain in our story, and while I emerged from this year with no glimpse of God, I began to wonder toward the end, if, in fact, the devil does indeed exist, and if we were not battling him mano a mano." (pg 3). I personally believe that God is present in everything we go through even though it appears that at that time, God was silent as this happened. You will definitely need a box of tissues to go along with this one. It grabs your heart and makes you really appreciate the time we have with the ones we love!

For more information about the book, the author and where you can purchase a copy of the book, please click on the link below:

AfterImage by Carla Malden

After Image

Probably one of the most difficult challenges to weather in this life is the loss of someone very close to you and even worse watching them battle for a win in their life against a disease that will ultimately claim them and take them from us, thus two lives will be lost.

In the novel After Image by Carla Malden, we get to share in her personal memoir of dealing with the loss of her husband, Laurence, to cancer at such an early age in their marriage. The story is so touching and real for me because I couldn't imagine a life without my husband in it and it was difficult for me to read Carla's words as she takes us through her journey of dealing with finding out her husband is diagnosed with cancer and the subsequent battle she faced in trying to beat it.

Nothing can prepare the reader for Carla's words come through as though you are sitting with a close friend who is walking through her grief. We get to see "snapshots" of Laurence's life so we are getting to know both of them in the process. Carla's memoir is about as real as it comes for anyone who has ever dealt with grief or even facing the unknown turmoils and challenges that cancer can bring. From dealing with all the unknown's going through your mind as you try to search for an answer that may defeat cancer, to walking through the minutes and weeks of chemotherapy hoping against hope that no matter how positive you remain, in the back of your mind doubt and fear still peers it's ugly head.

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book for my honest review. This book rates a 5 out of 5 stars for me. It offers a different perspective of dealing with a loss of a loved one so great that you wonder if life will ever be the same again. The only thing that grieves me is one statement in the beginning of the book where the author quotes, "But cancer was the villain in our story, and while I emerged from this year with no glimpse of God, I began to wonder toward the end, if, in fact, the devil does indeed exist, and if we were not battling him mano a mano." (pg 3). I personally believe that God is present in everything we go through even though it appears that at that time, God was silent as this happened. You will definitely need a box of tissues to go along with this one. It grabs your heart and makes you really appreciate the time we have with the ones we love!

For even more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

After Image By Carla Malden

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: skirt!; First edition (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762763825
• ISBN-13: 978-0762763825
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Price: $ 16.47
  

Surrendered Balance Giveaway and Review

If you missed part 1 of my guest post with the author of Surrendered Balance, Hermina Krista Pettiford, then click here.

Speaking from personal experience, I know that I have stressful days. That seems like such a mild statement, but honestly there are days where I sit back and question how will I make it through the end of this day, and I haven't even gotten out of bed yet. Being a wife, a mom of two teenage girls, a homeschool teacher, and a busy blogger/book reviewer, I can have days where I simply can't manage to organize my thoughts let alone my home and the worst part is that some times I am so busy I keep telling God, I'll be with Him in a moment. Ever have days like that? Feel like we are kindred spirits or share the same issues?

Hermina Krista Pettiford, wrote an amazing book for busy moms and Christian women just like me and you, called Surrendered Balance, and it walks you through just how to get back the balance that is missing from our super busy, time managed, over scheduled and committed lives.

She covers every topic from Family Life, Making Healthy Dinners, Nourishment for our Souls, Knowing Our Self, as well as my favorite Rest and Revitalize. Each one reminds us what it takes to maintain healthy balances in each of those areas as well as perfect scripture references from the Bible. She even has included a weekly plan to help you maintain in each of those areas for 52 weeks so you can see how far you have come and what areas you need more work in.

I received Surrendered Balance by Hermina Krista Pettiford compliments of Pump Up Your Book for my honest review and love how simple it is to work on the areas of my life to help me gain control when life tends to slip away from me. This one is a must have for any Christian woman! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about this book, the author and where you can purchase a copy of this book, click on the link below:

Surrendered Balance by Hermina Krista Pettiford

Thanks to the generous folks at Pump Up Your Book and Hermina Krista Pettiford, they are offering a copy of this book to one lucky winner of my blog. Here are your guidelines when leaving a comment:

• Leave a comment on either Monday or Tuesday

• Leave your email address

• Optional to subscribe for email updates

• A winner will be picked on May 16, and will be notified by email

• The winner of the contest will be announced on this blog

• You will receive a copy of Surrendered Balance 1 – 2 weeks after the winner is announced

You can also follow Hermina Krista Pettiford on her tour by clicking here.

Surrendered Balance Guest Post and Giveaway

Giveaway Contest – Win a Copy of Surrendered Balance, by Krista Pettiford

Today we are starting the month with a book contest. Our guest author is Krista Pettiford, author of Surrendered Balance and she is on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. Krista will be visiting today and tomorrow. We will be giving away a copy of her book at the end of her book tour.

To become eligible to win, all you have to do is leave a comment either today or tomorrow. One lucky reader who comments with their email address is put in a pot to win the book.

To recap:

Leave a comment on either Monday or Tuesday

Leave your email address

Optional to subscribe for email updates

A winner will be picked on May 16, and will be notified by email

The winner of the contest will be announced on this blog

You will receive a copy of Surrendered Balance 1 – 2 weeks after the winner is announced

About Surrendered Balance

Do you live a fast paced and hectic life? Is your relationship with God suffering because of it? Imagine living a life of balance, in the flow of God’s will even while you’re always on the go. It is possible to flourish and have fulfillment in both your spiritual life and natural life without feeling as if you are neglecting either one. It comes by way of surrendered balance.

Hermina Krista Pettiford, in her first book connects with modern the Christian woman, giving fresh ideas and insight for balancing the responsibilities of modern-life while maintain an intimate relationship with God. In her personable style she gives practical solutions and applicable tools for women to make a life of surrendered balance no longer just a dream but a reality!

A modern Christian woman is someone who balances all of her responsibilities - family, career, friendship, ministry to others, and caring for herself all while keeping the Lord at the center of her life. If you are a modern Christian woman this book was written for you.

Proverbs 31:16 (AMP) says, “She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.”

As modern Christian women we balance so much: time with the Lord, family, friends, work, staying fit and healthy, making time for ourselves without feeling too guilty, church and ministry.

God has a plan for each one of us that will bring about a proper balance between our spiritual and natural life. It is through the path of surrender and making time for Him that we find this plan. As we allow God to order our lives, not taking on more than we can handle or are called by Him to do, but rather, like wise women considering all of our choices in the presence of God before we proceed, our lives are bound to come into a state of surrendered balance and make room for all the needed things.

However, because of modern-day busyness, living a surrendered life and creating a constant balance is not always easy, even for those who have lived the Christian life for many years. The disciplines and principles in this book may not be new to you, but I believe the strategies and ideas will give you a fresh way of looking at how to balance your daily living as a modern Christian woman.

This book has two parts. The first part lists and discusses seven disciplines of a balanced life for the modern Christian woman. The second part is designed to help you implement these disciplines into your life without boxing you into just another system that will never work because it doesn’t fit your life. This book was written to help you keep track of your time, so that you will have time for all the needed things without getting overwhelmed.

The strategies and ideas I will share are those that God gave me when I was in a stressful time of life with more work and responsibilities than time and energy in a day. They still work for me and they will work for you if you apply them.



About Hermina Krista Pettiford

Hermina Krista Pettiford is the women’s ministry leader in her local church - New Covenant Tabernacle located San Diego, CA where she lives with her family. She has a B. A. in Biblical Studies from Southern California Seminary. Her belief is that the Spirit of God and the Word of God work together to create dynamic power for living the Christian life, thus, she ministers with a solid Biblical message and with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Her desire is to see women and families strengthened through God’s Word and their relationship with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. She has written out of her own life experiences, and her gift and love of writing to and for the Lord.

You can find Krista Pettiford at her website; www.surrenderedbalance.com

Follow Krista’s tour at Pump Up Your Book.

Krista,

In writing your book, Surrendered Balance how did you come up with the inspiration from your book? Was it through daily struggle, an idea, another’s struggle and/or family struggle? Was there a person (s), event or anything else that became your inspiration for the book?

Going through the series of events that led me to surrender my path and plan to God and find balance in the midst of the busyness of my daily life I realized that other women could benefit from what the Lord taught me. When I became a Christian my life changed in more ways than one. I became a single parent of four young children, with a full-time job, and all responsibilities of raising a family on my own soon after my conversion. Before that time I was a stay at home mother and wife with not many cares or responsibilities. It was going through that time in my life of being a new Christian who was hungry for the things of God and being thrust into a world of work and responsibility that I cried out to God for help in handling it all in a way that I wouldn’t lose my intimacy with Him.

I actually started writing the book back in 2006 and put it down several times. I was trying to write a Christian book that would be accepted by everyone. Not only that but I wasn’t sure how to make that work. Finally after submitting the project to the Lord and truly being willing to let Him have total control of the book by giving up my desire to write what I thought would be acceptable, the book and the title came together, and then I could see it forming into something special. In the end I came away with something that is very true to who I am in Christ, and is also very well suited to bring those that may know about Christ but don’t know Him intimately a more genuine view of Him. I shared Christ in my experiences very openly, yet I think that anyone can relate and find answers and help for balancing all the busyness of modern-life in a way that brings peace and rest to the soul.

Join me tomorrow for my personal review on Surrendered Balance and don't forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway for Krista's book!

The Face of God

In the Old Testament, God divided His people into twelve tribes. Each one represented by a colored stone worn in the breastplate woven in gold that the high priest would wear as he entered the Holy of Holies, the sacred temple of God where the Ark of the Covenant was kept and where he would atone for the sins of the people of Israel.

Pastor Daniel Lawson is touring Istanbul with his wife Jill as their church is visiting Israel. When stopping to purchase some honey and ground sesame seed at a local stand, the merchant stops talking to Jill and sees a man begin approaching. In a hushed voice he wraps up a package and hands it to Jill and her husband and begs for them to leave. He is abruptly taken by the police and dragged off. Only a man remains staring at Jill and her husband.

When they return to their hotel, they discover there isn't any honey and sesame seed in the package, but a brilliant palm size emerald with Hebrew writing on it. As they get ready to depart their hotel, Jill rushes back in to get a shawl to cover her shoulders. When she is delayed a bit too long, an aid comes to get Daniel from their bus. When they return to their room, Daniel finds his wife has been stabbed and is dying leaving him a few words of a dream she had that will alter his life forever.

Ibrahim el-Magd is a man to be feared. A devote follower of the Qur'an, he is planning what he believes with be Allah's Day of Wrath, an unleashing of a jihad that will leave millions of non-believers dead. After 9/11, this will be the final battle of the infidels and will be Allah's final word. Now with everything set to go with biological and chemicals weapons awaiting his words, he is waiting on the Voice of Allah to confirm his timing. With four of the stones in possession, he is tracking those that have the remaining 8 stones. Legend has it that whoever possess those 12 stones, will hear the voice of God and be able to know the future outcomes of any war. With it he will begin his jihad on the world.

Doctor Helen Zimmerman has been working with the Israeli government to excavate more land to search for missing artifacts in hopes of finding the Ark of the Covenant that she believes the Knights Templar were in charge of protecting. When a colleague tells her that she is to go to America and befriend a Pastor who seems to be in possession of a great archaeological find, one of the 12 stones of the Tribes of Israel If she doesn't, all of her permits to uncover treasure will be pulled.

In the novel, The Face of God by Bill Myers, we follow a rag-tag team of hearty adventurers much like ourselves in search of the God's truth and His purpose. Much like a modern day Indiana Jones, Pastor Daniel Lawson has visions from God defining his purpose in searching for the stones of the tribes of Israel. Following the predictions from his dying wife, he believes if he finds them, he will hear the Voice of God and rediscover his lost passion.

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book for my honest review and once again, Bill Myers doesn't disappoint. You find yourself, living in the hottest desert climates, searching underwater caves, and blinding sandstorms while slowly discovering God's secret for all of us along the way. Action packed by the page, this book rates a 5 out of 5 stars. It's left me wanting even more and can't wait to pick up the next book from Bill Myers. For those of you that love action, adventure, mystery and Bible artifacts and treasures, than this book is for you.

For more information about this book, the author Bill Myers and where to pick up a copy of this book, click on the links below:

The Face of God by Bill Myers

You can also visit Bill Myers at his website by clicking here

You can also follow him on Facebook here