Why Do We Say Good Night? by Champ Thornton, Rommel Ruiz (Illustrator)

Going to bed and turning out the light can be a hard time for many children. Award-winning author Champ Thornton wrote this beautifully designed and illustrated book to help parents comfort their children with three truths about God. As a mother and her little daughter talk, they remember together that God made the night, he sees in the dark, and he watches over them just like a shepherd protects his sheep. Children and parents will want to start a new nighttime tradition of reading together about why we can say that the night is good.
In this important, engaging children's book, parents can bring comfort and encouragement to their children, reminding them Jesus is near.

Amazon


About The Author

Champ Thornton grew up in the Carolinas. He is presently an associate pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware. Beginning in 2003, he pastored in South Carolina and later served as director of SOMA, a ministry training school in Columbus, Ohio. Champ is also the author of "God's Love: A Bible Storybook," and of Bible curriculum for early and upper elementary-aged children. To learn more, visit the author's website: www.champthornton.com

Illustrator

Rommel Ruiz was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and moved to sunny Southern California to pursue his passion for creative expression and storytelling. An accomplished designer and illustrator, he incorporates influences from theater, film, animation, and mid-century design. His work includes animated visuals for Cartoon Network and the award-winning Luther documentary, as well as illustrations for books including Golly’s Folly, The Gospel in Color, and more. He is also the cofounder and art director of Patrol. He and his wife, Anny, live with their two joyful girls in Los Angeles.


My Review

First the bright colors of this little book draw your eyes in, and then the illustrations are delightful.
Getting your little one to settle down can sometimes be a difficult feat, but now there is a book to share that focuses of God.
So many cute sayings and I loved “just like a shepherd guards his sheep, the Lord protects when we’re asleep”. Highlighting our Faith and show that Jesus is always near.
What a great addition to our book shelf, and in touch with and encouraging our Christian Faith!

I received this book through the Publisher New Growth Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

Celebrate Lit Presents: Deadly Christmas Pretense by Dana Mentink

 About the Book

Book: Deadly Christmas Pretense
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre:  Christian Suspense, Mystery, Romance
Release Date: November 4, 2019

 

A cowboy to her rescue…but she’s not who he thinks she is.
Posing as her sister for Christmas is the only way to save her, but Maggie Lofton needs help—even if it means working with her twin’s cowboy ex-boyfriend, Liam Pike. But between the bull’s-eye on her back and the dangerous connection she’s forming with Liam, Maggie’s mission is harder than expected. Will their tenuous partnership be enough to shield her when the killer closes in?
Book #2 in the Roughwater Ranch Cowboys series

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Harvest House. Dana was thrilled to be a semi-finalist in the Jeanne Robertson Comedy With Class Competition. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the  nutty terrier, a chubby box turtle and a feisty parakeet. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

More from Dana

I just love Christmas, don’t you? In our area we have a lovely holiday train. It’s an old steam type train which is decked out in lights for festive holiday tours. I was so thrilled that this cover features just such a train. Of course, in the novel the train is the scene of hair raising danger! Maggie, our heroine in this novel, is a cook. She serves up some mouth watering dishes (when she’s not dodging a killer.) I thought perhaps you might enjoy a Mentink holiday family recipe! God bless you as we enter this holiday season!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 1

Among the Reads, November 1

Emily Yager, November 1

KarenSueHadley , November 2

Blogging With Carol, November 2

Batya’s Bits, November 2

Bigreadersite, November 3

My Devotional Thoughts , November 3

She Lives to Read, November 3

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 4

Genesis 5020, November 4

mpbooks, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Betti Mace, November 5

Quiet Workings, November 5

Blossoms and Blessings, November 6

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner , November 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 6

Older & Smarter?, November 7

Maureen’s Musings, November 7

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 7

Splashes of Joy , November  8

For Him and My Family, November 8

Moments, November 8

Christian Bookshelf Reviews, November 9

Simple Harvest Reads, November 9

EmpowerMoms, November 9

Through the Fire Blogs, November 10

Remembrancy, November 10

Pause for Tales, November 10

For the Love of Books, November 11

Hallie Reads, November 11

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 11

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 12

To Everything There Is A Season, November 12

Daysong Reflections, November 12

Texas Book-aholic, November 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 13

janicesbookreviews, November 14

Inklings and notions, November 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a  a book necklace, Amazon gift card, and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ed7d/deadly-christmas-pretense-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

This is a story that has non-stop action, and most you never see coming, and what is the cause, my guess greed!
The author drew me in with cars trying to push others off the road, falls, shots, and more!
Now this is the second book in this series that I have enjoyed, being pulled into the story, but they can stand alone with no problem.
We are given some sweet romance, but with some taboo, and then bombshells are dropped, and you might not see most of them coming!

I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

The Christmas Courtship by Emma Miller

An unexpected perfect match…

An Amish single mother with a secret past…Searching for a fresh start at Christmastime.

Caught up in a scandal in her Amish community, Phoebe Miller moves to her cousin’s farm in Delaware hoping for forgiveness and a second chance. The last thing Phoebe expects is to slowly fall for bachelor Joshua Miller. But Joshua doesn’t know the secret that made her leave her old life behind. Can their blossoming love survive the truth?

Amazon


About The Author

Emma Miller is a wife, mother and a grandmother who lives a quiet life in Delaware. She's the author of the Hannah's Daughter's series and is at work on her next Amish romance novel.


My Review

I really enjoyed this read, and at times I had my heart in my throat that there would be some violence, and in Amish country, but you need to read to see what happens.
A young Amish woman has been sent to another community to find a husband, and why? Well, she has sinned, and been offered forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean that all will live their faith!
This story involves a family that I would love to live with, they genuinely care about one another, and offer kindness and a home to a distant relative.
While the story does take place over the Holidays, keep reading to the second Christmas!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

Amish Front Porch Stories by Wanda E. Brunstetter Amish Front Porch Stories: 18 Short Tales of Simple Faith and Wisdom by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter , Richelle Brunstetter

Come and sit awhile as you enjoy 18 fictional short stories of love, joy, and the peace found in Amish country.

Amish Country is known for an atmosphere of peace and quiet, perfect for front-porch sitting with a good book. Join New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, as they share 18 heartwarming stories from Amish Country. These fictional short stories include journeys we can all relate to as we seek how to live led by love, joy, peace, patience, and other Fruits of the Spirit. Meet Anna, who struggles to show love to a cantankerous neighbor; Laura, who endures infertility; Nora, whose pride threatens to consume her life; and other women who walk in their faith each day.

Amazon 


About The Authors

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com

Jean Brunstetter became fascinated with the Amish when she first went to Pennsylvania to visit her father-in-law’s family. Since that time, Jean has become friends with several Amish families and enjoys writing about their way of life. She also likes to put some of the simple practices followed by the Amish into her daily routine. Jean lives in Washington State with her husband, Richard Jr. and their three children, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish communities in several states. In addition to writing, Jean enjoys boating, gardening, and spending time on the beach.

Website 

Richelle Brunstetter lives in the Pacific Northwest and developed a desire to write when she took creative writing in high school. After enrolling in college classes, her overall experience enticed her to become a writer, and she wants to implement what she's learned into her stories. Just starting her writing career, her first published story appears in The Beloved Christmas Quilt beside her grandmother, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and her mother, Jean. Richelle enjoys traveling to different places, her favorite being Kauai, Hawaii.


My Review

I loved these Amish stories, and actually most could be any culture, with life’s trials, and joys.
Written by three different, but related, authors, these short stories quickly drew me in, and although you quickly finish one, with questions answered, I found myself wanting more and moving on to another, and that quickly pulled me in.
This is a book that you could take eighteen days to savor, there are eighteen stories, or like me, I quickly absorbed these, they are that good!

I received this book through the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.
 

When I Close My Eyes by Elizabeth Musser

Famous author Josephine Bourdillon is in a coma, jumping across memory as her body fights to survive. But those around her are fighting their own battles: Henry Hughes, who agreed to kill her for hire out of desperation, is uncertain how to finish the job now, and her teenage daughter Paige is overwhelmed by fear. Can grace bring them all into the light?

Amazon


About The Author

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. Elizabeth’s highly acclaimed, best-selling novel, The Swan House, was named one of Amazon’s Top Christian Books of the Year and one of Georgia’s Top Ten Novels of the Past 100 Years (Georgia Backroads). Two Destinies, the final novel in The Secrets of the Cross trilogy, was a finalist for the 2013 Christy Award. The Long Highway Home was a finalist for the Carol Awards. All of Elizabeth’s novels have been translated into multiple languages and have been international best-sellers.

Website


My Review

What a gift you are about to receive as you turn the pages of this amazing read, tough subject, yes, but keep reading.
As we move along, your mind wants you to tell the character not to friend someone, but they don’t know the facts, and when the facts start to unfold, the hard thing for Christians begins, forgiveness.
We know who commits the crime, but who ordered it, and yes, I guessed wrong, and wrong again, but you will come to love this family, and in the end, I wanted more.
Often swept under the rug, depression is focused on here, and loved the author’s notes at the end.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Protecting Tanner Hollow (Tanner Hollow, #1-4) by Lynette Eason

Four nail-biting novellas in one!

Lethal Homecoming
Nolan Tanner never got over Kallie Ainsworth's sudden, unexplained departure. Now when he comes to her rescue after an attempt on her life, all the old feelings come rushing back.

Lethal Conspiracy
When professional fundraiser Lillian Maloney sees her father's campaign manager commit murder, she goes on the run from the men he hires to kill her. A close call brings firefighter Jason Tanner to the rescue, but the killer is closing in . . .

Lethal Secrets
Someone wants Honor McBride dead. When Eli Murphy helps her change a flat tire and discovers the danger Honor is in, he longs to help--but Eli has secrets of his own that could get them all killed.

Lethal Agenda
When Detective Derek St. John rescues a woman he's met only once before--and has never been able to forget--he finds himself falling for her. But he'll have to keep Claire Montgomery alive if they're to have a future together.

Amazon


About The Author

Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and then obtained her masters in education from Converse College. Author of twenty inspirational romantic suspense books, she is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In 1996, Lynette married "the boy next door" and now she and her husband and their two children make their home in Simpsonville, South Carolina."

Website


My Review

If you enjoy a book with non-stop action, full of suspense, and mystery, you’re in for a treat with four riveting stories.
What ties them together is the location Tanner Hollow, and a few characters that appear in each story, even if just a brief part.
When I finished reading, one I quickly got immersed in the next, and the book was finished before I knew it.
For me I loved all of the stories, but the last one reunited me with the St. John family, and wow, I wasn’t expecting it, but it made me happy!
I received this book through the Revell Reads Program, and was not required to give a positive review.

Deadly Deceit (Harbored Secrets, #2) by Natalie Walters

When journalist Vivian DeMarco's boss dies under suspicious circumstances, her only hope for finding the truth is Deputy Ryan Frost. The deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes, and someone called The Watcher forces Vivian to decide what she's willing to lose for the sake of a headline.

Amazon 


About The Author

My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.

Website


My Review

This is the second book in this series, and yes, it is as good as the first, but it can be read alone, previous characters do play a part in this story, but you won’t be lost.
A cyber-crime that is destroying lives, and where will it stop, and who will be next, and who is responsible? Answers are forthcoming, but past hurts have to be dealt with in order to get there.
We are also offered a sweet romance, but will either of these individuals be able to accept what is offered. Also, will they make it to the end, there are some hold your breath times ahead here.
I see we are given a teaser at the end and another friend is about to get their own book! Yes!
You don’t want to miss these captivating books!
I received this book through the Revell Reads Program, and was not required to give a positive review.