When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette - Giveaway and Review

We, as believers, know that Jesus exists in the world, but He might not be as we would imagine Him to be. For some, He might show Himself as a homeless man in need of a new pair of shoes, He might be a pastor of a church who is dying from cancer despite all the prayers of his congregation, and He might even be a green-eyed brunette. It isn't Jesus really, as you might think, but it is the Spirit of Jesus living inside someone that shows us what Jesus is.

He isn't religious but has come to have a loving relationship with us. Some people get all caught up living their lives under such a microscope of scrutiny of God that they know they will never be good enough. That is living under legalistic rules of a religion and not what Jesus came more than 2500 years ago to do and that is establish a personal loving relationship with each one of us. Grace is what we all need more of and Max Davis' latest book, When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette, shows us everyday how we fail to see it when it does come in the smallest of things that happen to us. He shares intimate stories of how seeing Jesus at work in the lives of others transformed who Jesus was to him. In doing so, it changed how Max would live out the rest of his life and connect with others along the way to change them.

There are moments in this book when you will laugh and others that have you on the edge of your chair ready to cry and I believe the message is different for each one of us. It will be a personally journey of your own to see where in your life you need more of Jesus' love and grace and how it can open you up to new freedoms in your walk of faith with a deeper more intimate relationship with Jesus. There are so many amazing quotes and stories that they will all inspire more reading I'm sure in the future but more importantly it will wake you up out of your spiritual slumber. As Davis puts it, "Jesus is very much alive today and still does incredible things - sometime supernatural things - through us!"

I received When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette by Max Davis compliments of Worthy Publishing and FlyBy Promotions/Propeller LLC. I love how this book weaves personal stories of people's faith in Jesus showing up in ordinary people that reveals to us that He knows us and is fully present in our every day circumstances, especially in our difficulties. Perhaps a quote from John Bunyan (The Pilgrim's Progress) sums up the book best, "In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God." For me, this was a breath of fresh spiritual air and well worth a 5 out of 5 stars. This will be a permanent part of my personal library, one I know I will reference often.

Now for the best part, thanks to the amazing blessed generosity of Worthy Publishing and Propeller LLC, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's all you need to do to enter.

1. Be a follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart, or "Like" my Facebook page. 

2. Be a resident of the US and please no P.O. boxes.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book, along with your email address. I will be contacting the winner by email so don't forget to include it. You can even use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. If you are on social media instead of a blogging follower, leave me a comment why you'd love to win a copy of this book. I will private message you if you're the winner and you can contact me to provide your mailing information.

I will notify the winner by email once the giveaway ends on December 16th.

For more information about When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette, Max Davis or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette by Max Davis

You can find Max Davis on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

To read more reviews on When Jesus Was A Green-Eyed Brunette, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

2 Chairs: The Secret That Changes Everything Giveaway and Review

Where would you turn in your time of crisis? When the floor falls out from underneath you? Perhaps the unexpected death of a family or friend? The loss of the only job that is keeping a roof over your head? A medical illness that threatens your very existence? You name it, but where would you turn? Would you turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to help you cope? Would you seek a family member or friend, perhaps a counselor or church?

Many people are living on borrowed time not believing or praying that nothing will happen this bad to them. But it will catch them when they least expect it and not every situation warrants a desperate plea for help, but often times help is needed. Where would you turn?

In the book, 2 Chairs, by Bob Beaudine, he offers you the opportunity to sit down for a heart to heart, one on one with Creator God. Don't believe it's possible? What do you have to lose? What if there was a 1 % chance He would show up, wouldn't you try?

Then comes the question of what would you say, if God was sitting in a chair next to you or even across from you. Bob Beaudine's mother gave him those three questions, that help put it all into perspective and allows you to hear from Him. Being a believer, and strong in my own prayer life, I thought, what did I have to lose? I mean to dedicate my mornings and spend a few minutes or more talking with God might open up a strong interpersonal relationship between me and God and I want more of God than what I have been experiencing, especially since a close friend is dealing with cancer for the third time and doctors believe she has less than a year to live. I mean how could I lose right? What insight might God have that will help me to help her deal with this. My personal experience with this was beyond what I could ever imagined or dreamed of and now it is the one thing I look forward to more than anything in my day.

I received 2 Chairs by Bob Beaudine compliments of Worthy Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside, from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my unbiased and personal opinion. For everyone who tries this, be prepared for something unexpected and unexplainable but life changing. What God has to say to you will be different than what He will say to anyone else. For me, my first conversation resulted in tears, then encouragement and finally a peace, I can't put into words but I know that conversation between God and I was as real as a conversation between you and anyone you could have. All it takes is two chairs and three simple questions coupled with the valuable insight Bob Beaudine offers in this book to help you in their personal journey to a closer relationship with Jesus than you could ever imagine. I would easily give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about 2 Chairs, Bob Beaudine or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

2 Chairs: The Secret That Changes Everything by Bob Beaudine

You can find Bob Beaudine on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

To read more reviews on 2 Chairs, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

Now the best part. Thanks to the generosity of Worthy Pubishing, they are offering TWO giveaways of this book to TWO lucky winners. Here are your guidelines to enter:

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

2. "Like" Bob Beaudine's Facebook page.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. If you don't include it, I can't notify you if you're one of the lucky winners.

4. You must be a resident of the US or have a U.S. mailing address. No P.O. Boxes please.

The winner will be notified on October 12, 2016, when this giveaway ends by email. Don't forget to include it with your comments.

Happy Birthday To You

Birthday's are a special time and more importantly, there are a special time for a young girl or boy. Who can't forget that unmistakable song that we all sing when the cake comes out, the candle are lit and the birthday girl or boy, makes a wish and blows out the candles? Now there is a great gift idea for that special child along with a wonderful option of playing that song again and again with the press of a button, along with a photo pocket to capture that special moment!

Happy Birthday to You by Michelle Medlock Adams is the ideal first board book for the birthday girl or boy. It is study, durable and comes with wonderful illustrations on every single page written in a fun rhyming style that will make this a favorite of your child's to remember that special day. From waking up that morning and realizing it's their birthday, to seeing their guest arriving, and placing hats on their dog and cat too! But what fun is a birthday without games, pinatas, before the special time of cake along with the singing of the birthday song!!! Blow out the candles on your cake, but first, you have a wish to make. Then it's time to open the presents but none more important than a special birthday prayer followed by a dedication page along with a photo pocket for that special photo commemorating that day or even your favorite one of your child! A large push button can be played throughout the book as it contains a special precut section in each of the board books colorful pages. The best part is that the batteries can be replaced so the book is as new as the first day it was given to your child.

I received Happy Birthday to You by Michelle Medlock Adams with illustrations by Sandra Rodriguez compliments of Worthy Kids/Ideal Books, a division of Worthy Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any kind of monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of the book. I wish I had these books for my kids growing up but the fun is sharing them with your family and friends children or even a special birthday boy or girl at church! This is such a wonderful interactive book that will keep those special memories alive! I easily give this board book a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Happy Birthday To You, Michelle Medlock Adams or where you can pick up a copy of this board book today, please click on the links below:

Happy Birthday To You by Michelle Medlock Adams

You can find Michelle Medlock Adams on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Happy Birthday To You, please visit Worthy Publishing Group's website. 

God Made You Just Right

Hard to believe I'm starting my grandchildren's book collection already since I have passed along my children's books to both of my daughters while they were growing up to my niece and nephew and love when I get the opportunity to continue to review children's books like God Made You Just Right by Jill Roman Lord. This is a beautifully illustrated board book just perfect for first time readers that conveys the message of how important we are all created in God's eyes.

The book continues to self esteeming message of how God created us each to be perfectly and uniquely made just the way we are, and that there is no one else just like you! It goes on to self affirm things like our individual sizes, laughs, what makes us happy, our ticklish spots, our hair color and kind, how we can make special uses of our hands to make sand castles or cookies, to throw balls, hold cats or give hugs! How we use our legs to run and play and even how God has blessed us with the ability to make someone's day, through our gentle hearts, kind words,  and our thoughts and dreams.

How God designed us each individually to fulfill the tasks He has in mind for all children that only they can fulfill, further helping to establish a sense of self worth no matter what we see on the outside, God knows that there is no one else who can do the job ob being you like you can! The book ends with a reminder scripture of Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." All of these pages are designed using simple, rhyming text and whimsical illustrations, that are welcome reminders for little ones that God created each of us in just the right way.

I received God Made You Just Right by Jill Roman Lord compliments of Worthy Kids, a division of Worthy Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased and fair review of this book. The best part of board books is their durability! You can wipe them clean and they stand up to the wear and tear of children who are just beginning their first books. I love the value that are placed on individuality of each child because we are all created to serve a purpose only God created us to fulfill and this encourages that in your child through this book. For this reason I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about God Made You Just Right, Jill Roman Lord or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

God Made You Just Right by Jill Roman Lord

You can find Jill Roman Lord on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

You can find more books from Jill Roman Lord by visiting her website.

The Valley of the Dry Bones

"It has become my sad duty to inform you that your federal government has finally, officially, been forced to declare the entire state of California a disaster area. Due to the impossibility of rebuilding her great cities on unstable ground under the unrelenting onslaught of the sun, we have sadly deemed it, "Uninhabitable, irreparable, and verboten to citizens."

Hard to believe that the once glorious and lively state of California would be declared uninhabitable, but after 14 years of drought and earthquakes, it resembles the desert landscapes so prevalent in the east like the Mohave and the great skylines are now nothing but rubble. The increasing heat is doing nothing more but burning up what remains of the golden state and now it resembles nothing more than ash and dust.

There are a few that have given up their rights to stay in the state simply because they are unable to leave due to finances or illness and these are the very people that a band of rag tag holdouts feel is their ministry to help reach them for Jesus. Led by Reverend Robert Gill who along with his wife and 14 others have taken an underground bunker and turned it into a self supporting facility to house them and provide for all their needs. However when Pastor Bob reveals that his wife Jennie is dying of stage 3 cancer, they feel they need to move on to spend what time she has remaining in the company of family and friends in other states. That leaves an opening for the next person to step up to lead the group. It will take a vote of those who are eligible to see who that will be.

Ezekiel (Zeke) Thorppe Sr has been hearing strong voices from God calling him to be His voice to the people. But Zeke isn't sure if he is prepared to do what God tells him and knowing just what to say when called. In the midst of upheaval in their group with Pastor Bob's news, how will the group deal with the fact that God is speaking directly to him. Won't they simply believe he is trying to gain an upper hand in the vacancy that Bob is leaving? Or does God have a different plan in purpose that overlaps the ancient prophet Ezekiel from the Bible?

I received The Valley of the Dry Bones by Jerry B. Jenkins compliments of Worthy Publishing and Net Galley for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a eBook copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and personal evaluation. The premise for this novel is amazing considering the ongoing and increasing drought in the state of California currently. It makes for the perfect background for the novel as you consider what would happen if California continues to experience no rain and loses the ability to make water? What would that do to the entire infrastructure of those living in the state? The only disappointing thing I have to say regarding this novel is how much time was spent on the build up of the story only to rush the ending into a small epilogue. As a reader, this is such a disappointment when I had hoped for so much more than it delivered. It's like getting your hopes up and then offering little in the way of a great and climatic ending one would expect from Jerry B. Jenkins. In that case I can only give this one a 4 out of 5 instead of a full 5 stars.

For more information about The Valley of the Dry Bones, Jerry B. Jenkins or where you can pick up a copy of this novel that is available in May of 2016, please click on the links below:

The Valley of the Dry Bones by Jerry B. Jenkins

You can find Jerry B. Jenkins on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Valley of the Dry Bones, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

Let Food Be Your Medicine

Is it possible that the very foods we eat are not only contributing to the many diseases and illnesses that are taking our lives before their time, but the foods we crave are what is feeling things like cancer, dementia, heart disease and diabetes? Not only is it the types of foods but also when we eat them, in what amounts and that the very "good" foods we grew up on have been so genetically modified, our government and FDA no longer have to provide disclaimers for the products we find our own shelves. It is no wonder that obesity and disease are running so high here in America while other countries are refusing to offer these types of products or even incorporate them into their diets at all. What if there was a way to drastically change your medical prognosis simply by giving up the food that is killing you? Would you be willing to do it?

Sadly most are not willing to give up certain foods like wheat, dairy, cheeses, salts, sugars and other foods for the sake of not only possibly eliminating things like diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, ADHD, mental illnesses, along with getting healthier, losing weight and living longer. In Let Food Be Your Medicine by Don Colbert, MD, offers some advice in this book on how simple dietary changes have been proved to prevent or reverse diseases like the ones mentioned above and provides some great tips along the way such as which fruits should diabetics avoid and which ones they should eat. This is exactly what this book is all about, living a healthy lifestyle that both treats and prevents disease. And that is living life to the fullest and I am so excited to begin my own journey.

We all know that anytime you make an appointment to see a doctor, most of the time, all you walk home with is a prescription to treat the symptoms of what you went in to see them for. "Most of what doctors learn after graduation is taught to them by pharmaceutical reps, so it is really hard to fault the doctors completely for this. They are bogged down, and don't have the time, money or resources to do what I did. I don't fault the doctors but I do fault the system. Doctors are so busy treating patients, doing paperwork, and figuring out how to bill for services, much less be paid, that we have come to rely on training from the pharmaceutical world. Doctors need to take continuing education classes every two years to stay licensed. Imagine if all medical doctors took just two classes on preventive health. That would transform things." (pg 21-22).

After my own husband suffered a massive heart attack, in meeting with his cardiologist, we learned some surprising and chilling facts, that most men and women who are having cardiovascular issues are doing so much younger and younger than ever before, and he firmly believes that diet is the root cause. There are some incredible tips and food plans inside this easy to read book and Dr. Don Colbert used his own medical issues to come up with the ideal prescription that all of us need if we want to rule out these illnesses, diseases and live much longer. Learn what foods relieve ADHD and Autism and which ones contribute to it, learn how inflammation plays a key role in causing so many of the life threatening diseases and illness today and how some simple diet changes can improve your life and thus eliminating all those prescription costs. If it is so simple, then why aren't people willing to give it a try?

I received Let Food Be Your Medicine by Don Colbert MD, compliments of Worthy Publishing 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. What a great way to begin 2016, with a healthy lifestyle, living longer, having more energy and eliminating such things like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity while doing so! I highly recommend this book and can't wait to learn more from Dr. Colbert who specializes in anti-aging through the things we do, eat and how we manage our life. For me, this one easily garners a 5 out of 5 stars. It is simple to read and keeps you engaged that you can read it in one sitting.

For more information about Let Food Be Your Medicine, Don Colbert MD, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Let Food Be Your Medicine by Don Colbert MD

You can find Don Colbert MD on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest information.

To read more reviews on Let Food Be Your Medicine, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

The Real Force

I don't think there is anyone who hasn't see or heard about Star Wars. From those of us that were fortunate enough to see it play on the big screen back in the 70's to being able to share it with a new generation, there is something played out on the big screen that applies to all of us. A sense of good overcoming evil in the world and author Paul Kent takes readers into a 40 day devotional in his book, The Real Force.

In this book, he takes readers to 40 different devotions that begin with a famous quote from one of the six movies and then takes readers back to that particular part of the movie. He teaches us what happened in that poignant moment and how we can apply those same principles in our daily lives in a contemporary sense. As Master Yoda might say: "Inside this book, the answers are. Read it, you must."

An example of what you will find is Day 27 - I Hear Voices. "Mind what you have learned. Save you it can." ~ Yoda from the Empire Strikes Back.

"Everyone, it seemed, wanted Luke Skywalker's ear. Uncle Owen either barked out orders or begged Luke's help, depending on the day. Newly purchased from the Jawas, C-3PO kept up a barrage of questions and commentary. Han Solo cautiously probed Luke's thoughts on Princess Leia: "You think a princess and a guy like me - " Luke's quick "No" brought an end to that conversation.

The Jedi master Yoda taught, shamed, and cajoled Luke. Darth Vader shared shocking news that he was Luke's father - then urged the young man to join him on the dark side, suggesting they could rule the galaxy as father and son. The emperor coaxed Luke, over and over again, to give in to his aggression and hatred....

At times, we all need some affirmation and guidance. It would be great to have that in an authoritative, audible voice like Obi-Wan Kenobi's. God, however, tends to speak to Christians in different ways. In the Bible, He did sometimes talk directly with people. "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11), and Jesus, after His ascension to heaven, got a proud Pharisee's attention by shining a bright light and asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4).

God's voice may never be as clear to us as Obi-Wan's was to Luke.But if we keep our ears tuned for God's "gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19:12) and confirm what we hear by God's Word, we will know exactly what He wants us to know.

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11 (excerpt pg 111-113).

This is truly a must have for any Star Wars fan as well as a firm believer who wants something unique in the way of devotionals that taps into that side of their life. How they can relive those famous moments in Star Wars films as well as get a bit of back story from the novelizations of those characters as well along with an applicable Biblical side we can apply in our lives today.

I received The Real Force by Paul Kent compliments of Worthy Inspired for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. This would make a great Christmas gift for any Star Wars fan especially in light of the new movie that comes to theaters in December this year. My family and I even had fun trying to guess who said the famous lines and from what movie they were from as part of our morning devotion. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Real Force, Paul Kent or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Real Force: A 40-Day Devotional by Paul Kent

You can find Paul Kent on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on The Real Force: A 40-Day Devotional, please visit Worthy Inspired's website.

Empire's End

Okay, I must first open this review with a couple of disclaimers and all of which are my own personal opinion which you can take with a grain of salt if you wish, but when I search for a book to purchase, I often sort through the reviews, the good and the bad to help decide if I really want to pick it up and read it, however if it is by an author I love, I will pick it up regardless.

Since I've been a huge fan of biblical fiction, I gravitate towards that whenever possible. I love how some creative authors will take what the Bible story is and add to it, provide filler in order to help us fully understand the role this person may be played in the context we read about them in the Bible. I also understand this will not be your typical re-telling of a Bible story and some liberties will be taken.

Second, I've been a huge fan of Jerry B. Jenkins since his co-authorship of the Left Behind series and countless others, so I naturally wanted to pick this one up. That being said, I was a bit disappointed by his latest novel Empire's End, the story about the life of Paul the Apostle or Saul of Tarsus as he was formerly known. I had thought the television series A.D. was a bit disappointing by their own interpretation of events after the death and resurrection of Jesus, so I was hoping for a bit more than what I found.

The novel opens as a journal-like text from Saul/Paul as he conveys his story of his journey apart from what we gain from the Bible. It picks up with a brief overview of Saul's initial conquest as persecutor of Jesus follower's beginning with Stephen, and his subsequent conversion on the Damascus Road where he lost his eyesight and discovered Jesus in a vision. The majority of the book tells about his journey after being lowered down the wall of Damascus as those there sought his arrest for being a follower of the Way, or Jesus Christ. He flees on a horse that is spiritually led across the desert by interaction from a conversation with God to arrive at a Bedouin camp in the Arabian desert when he encounters the family of the very man he persecuted.

This is where the story is a bit confusing for me, because it deviates from the Bible in such a manner that a believer in Christ would find this one a little hard to swallow. (Sorry Mr. Jenkins, but I truly LOVED all your other novels). To think that perhaps Paul had come to terms with the widow of Stephen and spent time there while awaiting God's next instruction, was hard to come to terms with. I would have preferred if the story stuck to the role of Saul/Paul's life from the Bible instead of deviating so much from the original. It truly wasn't what I was hoping for, nor what I found. in fact more than half the book was about this spiritual journey of Paul's as he studied under the guidance of morning inspirations and visions of God where he was staying.

I understand that this is strictly a fictional story and was hoping for a bit more knowing how much Jerry Jenkins follows the Bible in past novels but in my opinion this was not the case here. There is no record this didn't happen in Paul's life, but then again, there is no record it did either if we are to take the Bible at its face value. I think that is perhaps what has disappointed so many readers of this book was the expectation it would follow some road map of Paul's life from the Bible with some filler added in to make it seem more alive. For me, this one didn't hit home.

I received Empire's End by Jerry B. Jenkins compliments of Worthy Publishing and Icon Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions contained here are strictly my own and others might feel quite differently about this novel over what I did. I would rate this one a 3 out of 5 stars. The book I, Saul was the precursor for this novel.

For more information about Empire's End, Jerry B. Jenkins or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Empire's End by Jerry B. Jenkins

You can find Jerry B. Jenkins on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

You can read more reviews on Empire's End by visiting Worthy Publishing's website.

Hacker

"One fragile moment - that's all it takes for a life to be unmade, to shatter into a million pieces that will never fit together the same way. Hard as you try to change it, you'll find - just as I did - that some things, once broken, can't be fixed.

Some things have to re-created completely.

Some people too.

The ancient book says that it took God seven days to create the world. It took him only three days to shatter my little life and remake it in a way that I would've never chosen for myself. It's always like that - one story ends; another one begins.

This is my story, and I couldn't have possibly known how hard it was going to be.

None of us could've known." (pg 1).

In the latest novel in the Outlaw Chronicles from best selling author Ted Dekker, Hacker takes readers where no one has imagined going. Inside the human brain. To say that Nyah Parks is your average seventeen-year-old would be a mistake. Nyah is far from ordinary. After losing her father and brother in a car accident that left her in the hospital with a tell tale scar, and her mother dying a slow death, she utilizes her unique talent for numbers and math to develop her ability to hack into virtually anything. It's the one thing that has enabled her to pay for her mother's ongoing medical expenses, hacking into companies and helping them find the loop holes in their cyber security.

There is only one option to save her mother and that is an experimental treatment that has shown some amazing results, and the only draw back is the need to gain $150,000 as soon as she can. Taking on one of the world's largest corporations BlakBox, she finds a way to infiltrate their system long enough to download a handful of files and then convince them to hire her for just that sum. The only drawback is that it will take working from inside the building and utilizing the talents of her accomplice known simply as Pixel. But it won't turn out half as easy as she expected when she realizes what she has uploaded and they are none to happy to have that happen.

I received Hacker by Ted Dekker compliments of Worthy Publishing for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. Being a huge Ted Dekker fan, I was hooked on this one from start to finish. I can honestly say this one takes hacking to a whole new level. Just when you think there is nothing left for him to dip into, he masterfully does it once again. The writing style is superb and will definitely keep young adult readers engaged. I can only hope that this one makes it to the big screen! It is pure adrenaline, heart-stopping action  from the very first page until the chilling end. Hands down for me a 5 out of 5 stars,  and one of my favorites from Ted Dekker. This is just one of the novels in the Outlaw Chronicles with Eyes Wide Open, Water Walker and Outlaw joining the bunch! Check out Ted Dekker's interview on Hacker below:

For more information about Hacker, Ted Dekker or where to pick up a copy of this novel , please click on the links below:

Hacker by Ted Dekker

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

To read more reviews on Hacker, please visit Worthy Publishing's website.

      1. Your main character in Hacker, Nyah, makes a living by cracking the firewalls of major corporations. What role does technology play in her development as a character?

TD:  Nyah roots a great deal of her identity in technology. In doing so she defines who she is by what she does. She even says so at the beginning of the book. I am a hacker. We all do this. For her, technology is what she knows, it’s what defines her, and provides the comfort zone. But it’s also her prison, which she comes to discover later.  

2.       2. How does personal loss affect Nyah’s view of God?

TD: When we meet Nyah, we find her in a place of great suffering especially for someone her age. That colors everything, just as it does for everyone else. For Nyah, the inescapable question is, “Why is there such suffering in the world?” Or more to the point, “Why is all of this happening to me?”  That offense, that feeling of injustice and unfairness, feeds her entire view of the world, including her view of God as a distant, uncaring creator.

  

      3. Why do you consider Hacker a modern-day parable?

TD: Parables are meant to re-frame the world differently so we can experience it again for the first time. Hacker takes a simple concept that many people already believe, that there’s another reality so near to us that we’re unaware of its presence most of the time, and puts it center stage. The story doesn’t have a moral or try to make a point per se, because that’s not what parables are for, but it does ask you to look at the world through new eyes—Nyah’s.

4.       4. The central question in each book in this series is, “Who am I?” What prompted you to explore that question?

TD: The question of identity is central to all of life and, in fact, most of my own striving and struggle can be traced back to it. We define ourselves, almost without thinking much of it, by what we do. I’m a mother, a father, a man, a woman, a writer, an accountant… The list is neverending. But strip that all away, as death will one day for all of us, and what remains? Are you, at your core, really a mother or a father or an accountant? Or are you something far more and we’ve only bought into the notion that this costume, which we call the body and our careers and talents, is really who we are?

5.       5. The series so far includes a 17-year-old who claims she has been buried alive, a 13-year-old orphan with no memory, and a 17-year-old genius computer hacker. What are the similarities between these characters?

TD: [Laughs.] You’ll have to read the books to find out for yourself. Ultimately, they are all forced to take a journey that begins in the valley of the shadow of death and ends on the other side of it.

6.       6. What role does the unseen play in your books?

TD: An enormous role, because that’s how it is in real life even in a literal way. Physicists tell us that the visible universe is a miniscule slice of what actually exists, we just can’t see the rest. But just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s non-existent.

7.       7. What makes your characters in this series “outlaws”?

TD: It’s their journeys, which lead them “out of the law” of death and suffering into the light. It’s the same journey we all get to take, and which we’re called to. 

8    8. You grew up as a missionary kid among cannibals in Indonesia. How do you think your unusual upbringing affects your writing and your faith today?

TD: My upbringing gives me a unique way of looking at the world. Understand, I grew up among people for whom spirituality was integral to life. It wasn’t tacked on or part of life… There was no separation. They believed in the unseen, they witnessed its powers, and lived as though the seen and the unseen were woven together in a beautiful, mysterious way.

 

Prime of Life

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." ~ Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

If you're looking for an exceptional book that has just a little bit of everything tucked just inside the covers, humor, kindness, reflection, humility and a powerful message that ties them all together, than look no further than Prime of Life by P. D. Bekendam. The is a treasure just waiting to be discovered and I promise you, that you will NOT be disappointed when you get to the end.

It takes place at Heritage Gardens, a retirement home for seniors where we meet our main character, who simply goes by the name of Ben. He works as a janitor not only as a way to earn a living but to escape his past that refuses to stay in the past. When one of the retirees, the Professor, discovers that Ben used to be a doctor, he sets out to discover just why Ben would give up a high paying career saving lives to spend it cleaning toilets for a bunch of old folks.

Soon you will find that in Heritage Gardens, humor abounds in the unlikeliest of places. Frank and Marvin have grown up trying to out do each other since they were children and it hasn't changed now that they reside in the same senior home. It's a never ending job for Ben cleaning up each others messes as each one tries to get back at the other. When a younger woman named Betty Boestra, who been nicknamed Betty Boop, moves into the home, suddenly Frank and Marvin try to out do one another seeing who can attract her attention first.  The elderly ladies in the home, spend their time gossiping about Betty or spend their time in the beauty shop trying to look better for all the men who suddenly seem interested in the newest resident.

It's really to story of Ben that readers will find themselves drawn to as Ben becomes a bit of an obsessive compulsive person addicted with numbers, especially prime ones, and everything he does revolves around how many tiles he walks over to how many steps he takes getting from one place to another. It all has to end in a prime number. He refuses to wear anything with zippers and even his striped polo shirts or ties, have to have a prime number of stripes or he won't buy them. Yet along the way, you can't help but be drawn in to Ben's past and how it will soon resurface in a way he never imagined and his life will become full circle.

I received Prime of Life by P. D. Bekendam compliments of Worthy Publishing 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. I love how this story concludes and probably the highlight for me when you see how it all comes together kinda of like a hidden treasure. What you don't realize is the whole time, clues are being given which you miss until the end. It's then you have that "Aha!" moment and discover what the whole thing has been about. Truly a brilliant author who uses his god-given talents without being overly religious to get his meaning across in an unforgettable way. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars for this heartwarming debut novel that feels a bit like Grumpy Old Men meets Cocoon! The best part is proceeds from his writing go to help fund his activities in developing countries as he works to bring cataract surgery to the needlessly blind!

For more information about Prime of Life, P.D. Bekendam or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Prime of Life by P. D. Bekendam

You can also find P. D. Bekendam on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Prime of Life, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Worthy Publishing (February 4, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1617952273
• ISBN-13: 978-1617952272
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches

Bounce Back

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." ~ Albert Einstein

Most women desire to be women of faith, with spiritual depth and maturity, but how can you do that when dealing with pain, anger, sadness, discouragement, hopelessness and desperation? Why can you find encouragement while life hands you a truck load of lemons? How do you push past the emotions that are longing to keep your bound to your current lot in life when all you want to do is leave it all behind and move forward?

How do you overcome dealing with a spouse that has walked away from your marriage, leaving you a single mom with responsibilities of dealing with bills, the house, kids and going back to work?

How do you deal with losing someone you loved to death or disease when you know God could have healed them?

How do you push past the pain from abuse in your childhood that happened decades ago and now are having to confront the nightmares and emotions even though you thought you left it all behind?

How do you deal with a spouse that has walked away leaving you holding the bag while they move on with a women half your age and now years later he wants your forgiveness while you are still holding on to the bitterness and resentment?

How do you deal with the fifth miscarriage in your life while hoping to fill your home with the sounds of a family and children and are now told you can't have any more?

Do any of these terms describe you or perhaps all of these?

• Overstressed

• Overworked

• Underappreciated

• Underpaid

• Burnt out

If you are like most women, you can lay claim to one or more of these terms even if you don't want to. Most of us simply don't know how to break out of being burdened, in bondage or carry emotional baggage that is too heavy for one person to carry. We realize we are broken but don't know how to fix it.

We want to be set free, to break out and to bounce back!

That is the reason for the book, Bounce Back from Julie Clinton, that has been written to show you how you can not only break free but to bounce back and see your life from a completely different perspective, using stories she has gained from women going through those very things mentioned above. She shows you how to have hope again. That God does love you and He wants a better life for you. He does have a way for you to move from where you are, to the better life of your future and that you can bounce back from what has been holding you back.

I received Bounce Back by Julie Clinton compliments of Worthy Publishings for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I think every woman at some point in her life can look back and see times where her own set backs have held her back more than she wanted. Julie's book not only shows you that God is with you every step of the way, but through the stories she shares of what other women went through and got through, you can share in the hope we can bounce back and move forward through our circumstances no matter how difficult. They are all 100% survivable! I easily give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Bounce Back, Julie Clinton, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Bounce Back by Julie Clinton

You can also find Julie Clinton on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Bounce Back, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

A Walk One Winter Night

I know most of you can relate to the busyness of the Christmas Season. With shoppers rushing around, people pushing and shoving and the commercialism that stems from the retail shopping, we lose that sense of wonder that comes with the true reason for the Christmas season, the birth of Jesus Christ. Too often we feel that since the story happened so long ago it hold little in the way of how we should handle this time of year. We find that at the end, we are barely rushing through things to have time to attend church or read the biblical account of the birth of the Savior in the Bible.

I think author Al Andrews has accurately captured just that overwhelming sense of stress that comes to a climax one winters night in his latest book, A Walk One Winter Night. The story takes place with an unknown man who finds he has lost the Christmas spirit and sense of wonder being caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle. He finds that taking a walk in any weather or any time of day is just what one needs to gain a sense of perspective. He finds just that when he happens upon a nativity set and gains a whole new insight on what happened that night through the eyes of Mary, Joseph, the Wise men and even the baby Jesus. What you learn might just change the Christmas season yourself and I'd almost guarantee you will never look at a nativity set the same way again.

I received A Walk One Winter Night by Al Andrews compliments of Worthy Publishing 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 a great inspirational book because of it's simplicity in delivering a much needed to hear message inside in 96 pages. The illustrations are perfect because it isn't about the pictures its about the real meaning of Christmas instead. I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. This would make a perfect gift for those that lose sight of what the real meaning of Christmas is despite all the holiday stress that comes instead. For more information about A Walk One Winter Night, Al Andrews or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Walk One Winter Night by Al Andrews

You can find Al Andrews on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on A Walk One Winter Night, please visit Worthy Publishing's website. 

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Freeman Smith (October 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605875287
• ISBN-13: 978-1605875286
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches