Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Litfuse Publicity Tours Presents: Practicing the Presence of Jesus: Experience the Gift of His Friendship by Wally Armstrong

Experience the Gift of His Friendship

Do you want to experience Jesus as real? When we look at Jesus’ life on earth, we see Him calling people to simply know Him. He made no demand on them to believe theological propositions. “Follow me” was the invitation which they accepted. They got to know and communicate with the real person. There is a big difference between believing something is true and experiencing it as real. This is the story of how Wally Armstrong learned to communicate with the real person of Jesus in his everyday life. Armstrong experiences Jesus up close and personal and introduces readers to the same experience. In a conversational manner, he explores what it is like to have a relationship with Jesus as if He is sitting right there next to us. He keeps an empty chair ready and imagines Jesus sitting beside him as they talk.

About The Author

Wally Armstrong is a professional golfer, teacher and dynamic life coach who has competed in over 300 PGA Tour events, including the British Open, the US Open, and the Masters, and was awarded a lifetime membership in the Tour. In his first Masters appearance, Wally finished in fifth place, setting a rookie record for the lowest tournament score of eight under par. As a golf instructor and clinician, Armstrong has taught golf all over the world and has produced more than twenty golf instructional videos and DVDs covering every area of the golf game. He is the author of seven books, including the bestselling In His Grip (with Jim Sheard and Billy Graham) and The Mulligan (with Ken Blanchard). He resides in Maitland, Florida, and has been married to his wife, Debbie, for forty-one years. Together, they have three children and seven grandchildren. Armstrong invites readers to visit his website, www.oldprobooks.com, for more insights about the wonderful opportunity each of us has to know Jesus as the real person that he is.

My Review:
Wally Armstrong has presented a beautiful insight into his personal relationship with Christ.
I especially loved the story of the old Scotchman, he had a chair in his room just for Christ to sit it. It reminded him to keep Christ close and have ongoing conversations with him. When he passed away his hand was on the chair....he traveled along with Jesus! There are many pictures of this empty chair throughout the book. A reminder to keep the conversations going.
I think maybe the Amish or Amish Woman wearing their reminder of a prayer cap is an excellent reminder...keep talking to God.
This book is a good reminder that our Lord is looking at us as Friends...he gave us his ultimate gift. The Author is sharing a wonderful gift with us. Enjoy, and savor.

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

Revell Presents: A Flight of Fancy by Laurie Alice Eakes

Her head is in the clouds. His feet are planted firmly on the ground. Can love cover the distance?

Cassandra Bainbridge may be a bit of a bluestocking, but when Geoffrey Giles is near, love seems a fine alternative to passion for Greek and the physics of flight. With his dashing good looks and undying devotion to her, the earl of Whittaker sets Cassandra's heart racing with his very presence. It seems his only flaw is his distaste for ballooning, the obsession that consumes so much of her thoughts.

When a terrible accident compels her to end her betrothal, Cassandra heads for the country to recover from both her injuries and her broken heart. With time on her hands and good friends to help her, she pursues her love for ballooning and envisions a future for herself as a daring aeronaut. But when Lord Whittaker slips back into her life, will she have to choose between him and her dream?

About The Author
Bestselling, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories with others; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, five books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that takes her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.

Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.

A Flight of Fancy
By Laurie Alice Eakes
978-0-8007-3467-1
$14.99
Paperback
368 pages
Pub Date: October 2012

My Review:

I had a hard time getting into this book. I felt the character Cassandra was quite self centered. She did refer to her dusty bible, so she was not following where God wanted her to go.
There were some horrific accidents??? Or attempts on either Cassandra or Geoffrey lives.
I found Lord Whittaker with a lot of compassion, he cared deeply for Cassandra, his Mother, and the workers at his factories. He seemed to realize the plight of his workers, and hoped to help them. Some interesting facts come out about the Mills vs home looms. When the men were at home and their wives saw them all day, there wasn't the tendency to stop at the Tavern on the way home and spend their wages! There is a lot of action going on and a lot "fires". We also have shootings and stabbings. Interesting read that will surely keep you entertained.

I received this book for Revell Publishing and was not required to give a positive review.

Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Monday, October 29, 2012

Revell Publishing Presents: A Love Surrendered (Winds of Change #3) by Julie Lessman

Orphaned in Iowa, Annie Kennedy moves to Boston to stay with her spinster aunt. She longs for romance to fill the void left by her parents' death. But when she falls hard for Steven O'Connor, the man who broke an engagement to her sister, Annie is worried. Will he break her heart too when he discovers who she really is?

About this author
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and winner of 14 RWA awards, Julie Lessman was voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, #1 Historical Fiction Author, #3 Author, #4 Novel #3 Series and Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction. Julie resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. You can contact her through her website at www.julielessman.com, where you can also read excerpts from each of her books.

My Review:
A book I was enjoying so much, I didn't want it to end. The third book in this amazing series, and there is enough information presented to read it alone, but don't deny yourself and read the other two!
Annie [Susannah] as she now wants to be called, and now wants to leave her good girl image behind in Iowa. She wants to experience Boston like her sister Maggie did. She has made some very worldly friends, and ends up being rescued from one of her bad choices by FBI Agent Steven O'Connor. She becomes smitten with him, only to find out he is Maggie's former beau.
Loved looking at Prohibition time Boston, a glimpse of Speakeasies and bootlegging. Enjoy your time visiting with the O'Connor family, yes they are still at it. Such love and fun, and now getting bigger, and above all a Great Love of God. They have such a faith centered life, and share it! I get such a warm feeling spending time in Marcy and Patrick's home, and how they love each and everyone in their family. There interaction at times is hysterical...they know each other so well.
I fear this is the last book in this series, and hope it isn't true! Be sure to savor this one!

I received this book from the Publisher Revell and their Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.

Litfuse Publicity Tours Presents: The Memory Jar (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors, #1) by Tricia Goyer

Book One in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series

Every year, 30–40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive ‘resident’ status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love.

Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she’s also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she’s met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

About The Author
Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

Purchase a copy here.

Make Your Own Memory Jar

My Review:
This is the story of Sarah Shetler and her healing and finding a new life. As a little girl her family moved from Kentucky to Montana, where she is befriended by Patty. Patty and Sarah share so much of their youth together and create so many memories. When we begin this book there has been a tragic accident and Sarah's Dear friend Patty has been killed. For Sarah, Patty was that perfect "almost Sister" type friend. They shared so many memories...as we travel through the book we are given glimpses into there happy moments. They each had a memory jar...little tokens of a special memory. How awesome...we all carry these precious thoughts, but to touch something that brings us back to those moments. Wonderful!
I feel Sarah's pain and how hard it must have been for her to find peace and feel those happy times now that her friend is gone. Along come Jathan, he has come to search his heart, and spend time in the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana. Every year bachelors come to go hunting in the mountains.
When they find an attraction to one another, Sarah lets down her guard and starts sharing Patty with him. He also lets her know his Mam owns a Bakery! Sarah's passion is making incredible cupcakes....I want her recipes! YUM!
When Jathan is called back home after is Daed had had a stroke will it be the end for them?
This is a story of finding oneself, and peace at our decisions, and following what is God's plan.
This is the first book in this series, and am anxious to read more of this heart warming stories!

I received this book through Litfuse Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
Celebrate with Tricia by entering her Amish Kindle Gift Pack Giveaway and RSVPing to her Facebook party on November 7th. (And be sure to catch the fun video trailer or try your hand at one of the simple, keepsake crafts Tricia has put together on her website.)

”"

One fortunate winners will receive:
  • A brand new Kindle Fire
  • Custom-made Memory Jar Kindle Cover
  • Amish-made decorative items {Wall hanging, horse/buggy and Amish houses}
  • The Memory Jar {Be swept away by this captivating series.}
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 6th. Winner will be announced at the ”Memory Jar Author Chat Party on 11/7. Connect with Tricia for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, and a live video chat! There will also be a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of The Memory Jar and join Tricia on the evening of the November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)
”"”"”"

Don’t miss a moment of the fun, RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Book 3 of The Jamieson Legacy: Free From Guilt by Pat Simmons

Book 3 of The Jamieson Legacy It’s salvation round-up time and Cameron Jamieson’s name is on God’s hit list.

The two-degreed MIT graduate thinks he’s in need of nothing. He’s satisfied with his career, social calendar, and good genes. But God sends a beautiful messenger by the name of Gabrielle Dupree to show him that he’s in a spiritual deficit. Cameron struggles with the notion that the wisdom of man is like foolishness to God. For every philosophical argument he throws her way, Gabrielle is equipped to sway him with scriptures that make him question his worldly knowledge.

A tenth generation descendant of a royal African tribe, Cameron is accustomed to being part of a close-knit family. But one by one, Cameron witnesses each of his older brothers and cousins’ girlfriends, who eventually become their wives, lead them down a path of Godly repentance and righteous living. Cameron is absolutely determined not to go down without a fight, even if Gabrielle is unquestionably the most desirous and beautiful woman he’s ever met. She can match him wit for wit. And there’s one more thing. His heart won’t let her get away.

About The Author

Pat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about digging up the dirt on her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven years old.

She has won numerous awards for her previous novels and was voted the Best Inspirational Romance for 2010. She was also a nominee for the African American Literary Award’s best Christian fiction award. Pat is best known for her Guilty series. The Jamieson Family Legacy trilogy: Guilty by Association, Guilt Trip and Free From Guilt is a continuation of first three Guilty Series books and the of the story of the much-loved Grandma B.B character and her new sidekick, Mrs. Valentine.

Pat and her husband live in Missouri and have two children

My Review:
I have read the other two books in this series and this one is just as good. You also don't have to read the other books to enjoy this one, but do yourself a favor and enjoy all of them.
The first book started with Cameron meeting the Jamison cousins in NY. With this book we are introduced to a lot more of the family...some distantly related and some half siblings.
This story is Cameron's and his desire to be with Gabrielle. She is attracted to Cameron, but she lets him know in no uncertain terms that for her "Jesus is the ONLY way".
Both come from such strong and loving families. You feel the pull that God has actually placed Gabrielle there to help bring Cameron to him. Satan doesn't like letting go, and puts people and worldly things in the way.
What a tremendous story Pat Simmons has written. I so enjoyed this book and felt the kinship with this family. Once I began my journey I could not put this book down, and finished in less than a day.

I received a copy of this book from the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Pump Your Book Publicity Tours Presents: Sandwich, with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips

Sandwich represents hope for twenty-year-old Maddie Buckner and Kyle, the eleven-year-old brother Maddie wants to spring out of foster care. Then she loses her new job after less than a day on the clock. It’s all Reuben-the-Jerk’s fault, and she’s determined to make him right the wrong.

He does so, reluctantly, by giving her a job at his restaurant, The Sandwich Shop. Then crazy things start happening at the restaurant, and Kyle’s foster parents apply to adopt him. To stop it all, Maddie must learn the art of humbling herself and accepting the help God has arranged, risking her heart to Reuben in the process.

And she’d rather eat a million corned-beef on rye sandwiches than do that.

About The Author
KRISTA PHILLIPS is a debut author and owner of the popular blog, One Woman’s Dream. She lives with her husband and four daughters in Middle Tennessee.

Her latest book is the Christian fiction romance, Sandwich with a Side of Romance.

Visit her website at www.KristaPhillips.com.

Connect with her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kristaphillips.

Friend her at Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorkristaphillips.

Pick up a copy of Sandwich with a Side of Romance at her publishers website: http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?id=163&pageid=701

Pick up a copy of Sandwich with a Side of Romance at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sandwich-Side-Romance-Krista-Phillips/dp/1426745923/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346858324&sr=1-1&keywords=sandwich+with+a+side+of+romance




What a fun read, lots of chuckles! It is such a warm hearted and we begin to pull for her right from the beginning. Maddie Buckner is beginning her new life at Sandwich, IL...but getting fired on her first day wasn't in her plans.
Reuben Callahan is one drop dead gorgeous man, and he becomes Maddie's first customer at the beauty salon. Thus he is responsible for getting her fired. Reuben has a heart for the Lord, and has compassion...well kind of...and hires her to be a Waitress. Calamity Jane has nothing on Maddie...she is now fired again!
In the end Reuben hires her to be his Assistant..and she is marvelous at this job. Only problem?? Her name is Livy...and she is Reuben's long time girlfriend.
The compassion and Grace shown by Reuben's family will make you feel good about the human population. Such a kind and God loving family. They rally around Maddie, and she has a hard time accepting their kindness.
Maddie is a relatively new Christian and has a very checkered past. She now trying so hard and is succeeding in her Love of The Lord. She want to gain custody of her only brother Kyle, before his foster family is able to adopt him.
Enjoy this fast pace read, and travel along, with the sparks of romance, sabotage, and forgiveness.

I received this book Pump Your Book Virtual Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

Litfuse Publicity Blog Tours Presents: A Merry Little Christmas (Songs of the Season) by Anita Higman & Giveaway

Fall in love with this cozy story about two people from different worlds.

Franny Martin is an Oklahoma farm girl who’s preparing to spend the holidays alone…again. Then Charlie Landau shows up one day, all wealth and polish, and offers to buy Franny’s farm. Franny has no money to speak of, but she is clever and spirited, and she’s more than happy to sell the farm and move to the city.

As Sinatra croons from the radio and Christmas descends upon her charming farm, Franny teaches Charlie the curious and sometimes comical ways of country life. In the process, they unearth some discoveries of the heart—that sometimes love comes when you’re least ready for it. Will the holidays bring their most impossible dreams within reach?

About The Author
Anita Higman is a CBA bestselling and award-winning author. She has written or co-authored 30 books including fiction and non-fiction for adults and children as well as plays. And she isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Higman has six books coming out in the next two years.

Even though she’s written in many genres, Higman does have her favorite. “I love inspirational romance. There’s just nothing else like it for writing and reading. It naturally makes you want to curl up on an overstuffed couch and read the day away.”

There’s something about writing Christmas stories for Higman. Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe (co-written with Irene Brand) made two bestsellers lists for Christian fiction. Her novella in the compilation, Once Upon a Christmas Eve, was given a four-star review in Romantic Times Book Reviews. Her latest release, A Merry Little Christmas, is sure to be a favorite of shoppers and readers this holiday season.

Higman has won two awards for her contributions to literacy and has raised thousands of dollars with her book, I Can Be Anything, while serving on the board of directors of Literacy Advance of Houston.

In addition to writing books, Higman has written for radio, e-zines and advertising. She also cohosts a monthly blog talk radio show at www.InFaithNetwork.com which is a part of Reader’s Entertainment Radio. She has a BA degree combining speech communication, psychology and art from Southern Nazarene University and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, as well as The Writer’s View.

She loves good movies, exotic teas and brunch with her friends. Higman and her husband live in Houston, TX.

Readers can keep up with Anita Higman by visiting www.anitahigman.com, becoming a fan on Facebook or following on Twitter.

Author Anita Higman invites readers to kick off the season with a spirited holiday tale. Anita is spreading the Christmas cheer by giving away FIFTEEN COPIES of the book.
To enter to win A Merry Little Christmas, just head over to THE CONTEST PAGE at Anita’s website and fill out the short form. Be sure to put BLOG CONTEST in the Subject Line. That’s it.
Winners will be announced on the Litfuse blog (and notified by email) on 11/9.

My Review:

Experience a time in the early 1960's in Oklahoma. Once you being you won't be able to leave this sweet story. Fanny Martin is quite a spunky girl, who has had a wonderful Childhood, until her parents were both killed in a storm. Enter Charlie Martin, who comes from a wealthy family, quite without a lot of love.
We travel through this story, which reads like a movie, with the words creating pictures in our minds. Charlie buys Fanny's farm, and Frannie stays and helps for three weeks. Can't you just picture this city slicker birthing pigs??
I loved how Frannie stood up for the persecuted people of color. We meet a wonderful Godly woman named Noma who stops and helps her out of a mud puddle! We find sparks flying between Charlie and Frannie, but such different backgrounds!
A lot of this story is wrapped up in a few pages at the end...more like TV. I did like this book, and read it in an afternoon.

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.


Thursday, October 25, 2012

First Wild Card Book Tours Presents: My First Handy Bible by Cecilie Olesen

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card author is:

and illustrated by:
and the book:

Hendrickson Publishers (January 31, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson for sending me a review copy.***

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

My First Handy Bible aims to communicate God's character and His love to the youngest of children, ages one to three. Beautifully illustrated in bright full color, My First Handy Bible has a cheerful padded hardcover with 61 child-friendly hardback pages and a handle and clasp that make it easy for small hands to tote and manipulate. The timeless stories are retold in simple sentences by author and artist Cecilie Olesen, illustrated by author and illustrator Gustavo Mazali and designed by Ben Alex, a C. S. Lewis Gold Medal winner author and designer.

Website for Book


Product Details:
List Price: $12.95
Hardcover: 61 pages
Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers (January 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 8772473045
ISBN-13: 978-8772473048


AND NOW...SOME SAMPLE PAGES (Click on images to enlarge):








My Review:
First this is darling, right sized Bible for little hands. They cannot hurt it, it is nice and chunky. The cover is full of bright colors to draw them in. It has a bright yellow clasp and handle ...to drag it around!!
The pages are thick cardboard, with wonderfully illustrated little stories. You are able to hold the little one on your lap and they can point and hold the book as you share the verses.
What a great gift this would make some happy little one.

I received this book through the First Wild Card Tours Publicity Program, and was not required to give a positive review.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Adventures of Zeppi - #2 Circus by C.K. Omillin

Book 2

Circus

Now living in Alesdor’s teepee in the garden, Zeppi is overjoyed when a circus parade comes down the street. It’s so much fun, until he realizes some animals are caged. Have his parents wound up in cages at the circus? Zeppi decides to find out.


The Adventures of Zeppi series

A penguin named Zeppi makes a boy’s wish for a special friend come true. When young Alesdor finds Zeppi amongst the flowers in the garden, they adopt each other and grow in The Adventures of Zeppi series.
Zeppi and his friend have fun and discover a lot about friendship, tolerance and generosity. As Zeppi adapts to his new life with ecological-minded Alesdor, he will learn about taking care of the planet too.

About The Author
Charlotte K. Omillin
After a career in the corporate world, Charlotte decided to dedicate her time to writing and illustrating stories for children. She's the author of The Adventures of Zeppi series.
A lover of nature and the environment, Omillin interweaves the ecological theme in her series. In it, Zeppi the penguin and his friends learn how to take care of our planet. Over the years, C.K. Omillin has attended several Academies of Arts.

My Review:

This is the second book in this series that my Grandson and I have read together. He really seems to enjoy it, with several good chuckles. He really didn't have a problem reading most of the words, and got engrossed in the story. He was worried that Zeppi wouldn't make it out of the circus.
The book also has a few really cute illustrations, and he is looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I think the author did a really good job presenting this story for this age group. The reading was challenging and yet it was at his level. It was not to long and he was able to finish the story.

I received this book from the author, and was not required to give a positive review.

Pump Your Book Virtual Tours Presents: Autumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard

The leaves are falling and there’s a chill in the air in Willow Ridge, Missouri, the quaint, quiet Amish town where love, loyalty, and faith in the Old Ways are about to be put to the test …

AUTUMN WINDS

Winds of change are blowing through Willow Ridge, and they’re bringing a stranger to the Sweet Seasons Bakery. At first, widowed Miriam Lantz has misgivings about Ben Hooley, a handsome but rootless traveling blacksmith. But as she gets to know the kind-hearted newcomer, she wonders if his arrival was providential. Perhaps she could find love again—if only there weren’t so many obstacles in the way. With Bishop Knepp relentlessly pursuing her hand in marriage and the fate of her beloved café at stake, Miriam must listen to God and her heart to find the happiness she longs for and the love she deserves.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE HUBBARD
I’ve called Missouri home for most of my life, and most folks don’t realize that several Old Older Amish and Mennonite communities make their home here, as well. The rolling pastureland, woods, and small towns along county highways make a wonderful setting for Plain populations—and for stories about them, too! While Jamesport, Missouri is the largest Old Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River, other communities have also found the affordable farm land ideal for raising crops, livestock, and running the small family-owned businesses that support their families.

Like my heroine, Miriam Lantz, of my new Seasons of the Heart series, I love to feed people—to share my hearth and home. I bake bread and goodies and I love to try new recipes. I put up jars and jars of green beans, tomatoes, beets and other veggies every summer. All my adult life, I’ve been a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and we hosted a potluck group in our home for more than twenty years.

Like Abby Lambright, heroine of my new Home at Cedar Creek series, I consider it a personal mission to be a listener and a peacemaker—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls. Faith and family, farming and frugality matter to me: like Abby, I sew and enjoy fabric arts—I made my wedding dress and the one Mom wore, too, when I married into an Iowa farm family more than thirty-five years ago! When I’m not writing, I crochet and sew, and I love to travel.

I recently moved to Minnesota when my husband got a wonderful new job, so now he and I and our border collie, Ramona, are exploring our new state and making new friends.

To find out more about Charlotte, please visit her at www.CharlotteHubbard.com.

Visit her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1

On Goodreads at:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53342.Charlotte_Hubbard



My Review:

What a wonderful read. I wanted to start baking and become one of Miriam's family. This is the second book in this story, and I have not read the first...sure want to now. You do not have to read the first book to enjoy this one, enough information is provided to let you know what happened.
Miriam has triplets that are 21, and one, Rachael is getting married. She also owns Sweet Season's Bakery, where she is early one morning when Ben Hooley literally drops in.
Ben brings so much love of family into this story. He brings his brothers from PA and his delightful Maiden Aunts...Jerusalem and Nazareth. Be ready for a beautiful and loving journey with this family.
Bishop Knepp is in for quite a ride here, he wants Miriam for his wife. He is quite persistent is his desires. He seems to rule with an iron hand. Love how he is about to meet his match in this story! Yeah!
You will not be disappointed in how this story unfolds, and will not want to put it down. A really wonderful, Christian read!
As an additional treat, many of the mouth watering dishes that are mentioned have recipes included at the end of the book.

I received this book through Pump Your Book Virtual Tours, and Net Galley, and was not required to give a positive review.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Guest Post "Blue Monday" by M Thomas Long Presented by Pump Your Book Virtual Tours

Matt McAllister is the pastor of the fifth largest church in his state. He was a very public opponent of the lottery. When he accidentally purchases a ticket, he is stunned but his children are elated.His plan: throw the ticket away, protect his position as a minister and avoid wrestling with the very real temptation to take the money and run…even if the odds are millions to one. His children’s plan: rescue the ticket from the trash, wait for the drawing and start deciding on cars, vacation homes, and travel destinations.

Long before the drawing takes place, Matt struggles to deal with the responsibilities and challenges of being a pastor, a father, and a husband as he deals with a long list of people and circumstances ranging from eclectic and funny, to frustrating and sad.

Matt begins each day determined to put the situation with the ticket behind him. The harder he works to deal with it, the bigger it gets. Every effort to avoid the potential damage the situation could cause makes it spin out of control even faster as new circumstances unfold.

Then the drawing takes place.

Suddenly, there’s at least 186 million reasons, some hilarious, some tragic, that Matt’s life, family, friends, and church will never be the same.”

ABOUT M THOMAS LONG

M Thomas Long has been a writer, speaker, and trainer for over 20 years. He and his wife of 32 years live just outside Nashville, TN. He has one daughter, and as of last spring, a son-in-law.

Blue Monday marks his entry into the world of fiction writing, something he will tell you has been on his life list for many years, but he just never took the time to make it happen. During a near fatal incident, one of the main regrets he felt was that he never wrote the books that were inside him wanting to be written.

In Blue Monday, his first fiction novel, he draws from a rich and varied background that includes designing and performing as a concert stage lighting designer with Grammy award winning artists, working alongside many pastors and celebrities, and traveling the country working as a Microsoft technical trainer.

His hobbies include reading, golf, motorcycles, drawing, running, guitar (ok, a little guitar), songwriting with his daughter, and traveling with his wife.

Visit M Thomas Long’s site: http://www.mthomaslong.com.

Guest Post Neil Diamond, Bob and Writing

According to Bill Murray in the movie “What About Bob?”, ‘there are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don't. My ex-wife loves him.’

It was just a few minutes before Neil took the stage at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum in Birmingham, Alabama a few years back when the power of artistic creation hit me in a way that I had never realized before. There was an aura of excitement and anticipation in the air that surrounded you, even soaked into you…whether you were a fan or not.

As I sat in the upper deck, I looked around the arena and thought about exactly what I was experiencing. The audience of over 18,000 ranged from young teens to men and women in their 70’s, all wearing similar Neil Diamond merchandise. Some had signs. Women in the first few rows down on the floor had bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals and other gifts that they planned present to Neil once the show started and they could get his attention for a few seconds.

Suspended above the stage was over 100,000 pounds of lighting and sound gear worth at least half a million dollars
.
Then the most fascinating, incredible aspect of the entire scenario occurred to me. Everything I was seeing and would soon experience was the product of one man’s imagination. More specifically, his art. A seed had been planted in his soul and he had exercised the courage to water it, face the vulnerability to expose it to the light, care for it, prune it and allow it to grow and mature.

Whether you side with Bob or his ex-wife concerning Neil Diamond, you owe it to yourself to experience his classic song ‘I Am…I Said’ in a live setting. The power, the emptiness, the longing and the painful struggle of self-assertion move you in a way that you just don’t experience very often in this life. It moves you. The force and range of emotion you experience is not what you could have imagined just a few minutes earlier looking at inanimate instruments on a dark stage.

That’s why we read fiction; more importantly, it’s why authors write it. The very same experience is what we both are looking for, and it comes from the same place that a Neil Diamond show originates.

It’s where all art comes from that reaches us. Painting, music, film, sculpture, photography, writing and many others all originate in the imagination of an eternal soul inhabiting a body on a journey through this life. Asking questions, finding answers, seeking solutions, sharing, laughing, hurting and healing.

A single person with an idea, a belief, a story, an experience, and a blank canvass. The brush can take many forms; chalk, oils, a chisel, or words...in the hands of an artist, anything can become a brush.

When a person decides to face the vulnerability and pick up his or her personal brush and make that first stroke, indescribable beauty and power can be unleashed. For a writer, it is often a story that reveals us to ourselves.

For the reader, it’s that feeling you get when you hit page 20 and realize that this one is speaking to you…yes, this one is special. By page 50, you’re a part of a situation, a town, a life, a challenge that calls you back every time you leave to take care of necessities like work, relationships or buying groceries. It’s not just some character in a book who falls in love, wins the lottery, loses a loved one, meets someone special…it’s you doing those things and it’s hard to distinguish where the character ends and you begin.

All the emotion, the introspection, the sheer glee of breaking through, solving the problem, reaching the goal…it all takes place in a most unique, incredible medium.

No words have been spoken. There was no music or special effects to guide the senses. Often, the characters and towns never existed in our world in a physical sense. The writer silently writes or types and the reader silently reads. Only silence and intimacy, and the world changes.

That’s why we write; it’s why we read.

The Adventures of Zeppi - #1 New Friends by C.K. Omillin

The Adventures of Zeppi

A penguin named Zeppi makes a boy’s wish for a special friend come true.

When young Alesdor finds Zeppi amongst the flowers in the garden, they adopt each other and grow in The Adventures of Zeppi series.

Zeppi and his friend have fun and discover a lot about friendship, tolerance and generosity. As Zeppi adapts to his new life with ecological-minded Alesdor, he will learn about taking care of the planet too.


New Friends – Book 1

When Zeppi’s cage falls off a truck, he’s found by
a kind boy named Alesdor, who teaches him that
compost piles are plant food and not penguin food.

About The Author

Charlotte K. Omillin

After a career in the corporate world, Charlotte decided to dedicate her time to writing and illustrating stories for children. She's the author of The Adventures of Zeppi series.
A lover of nature and the environment, Omillin interweaves the ecological theme in her series. In it, Zeppi the penguin and his friends learn how to take care of our planet. Over the years, C.K. Omillin has attended several Academies of Arts.

My Review:
This book was read to me by my Seven year old Grandson. He was enthralled with it, and read along beautifully. He only need occasional help with a few words.
He said he really enjoyed the story, and the illustrations are really cute. He is now looking forward to reading the second book in this story.
It is really a story geared for his age group, and the story made him want to continue reading. Very cute and entertaining read, and helped with his learning new words.

I received this book from the author, and was not required to give a positive review.

TLC Book Tours: Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus by Mary E. DeMuth

Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus Read

Readers discover exactly what it takes to grow in Christ and become like Him.

"I don't write this book as a condemnation or as a sermon. The last thing I want to do is provide a 'how to be the best Christian in ten easy steps' guide. I pen these words as a fellow struggler who is learning that what we think about God matters, how we allow Him to reign in our hearts matters, and how we obey Him in the moment matters. It "all" matters. Everything."

Author and speaker Mary DeMuth has been abused, foreclosed, abandoned, and betrayed. She has been pressed and drained till it was too much . . .

But it was just enough to bring her to a place of surrender, piece by precious piece. In that surrender, she found the freedom of giving "everything" to God. And through Scripture, community, and the work of the Holy Spirit, she gives it all over again, every day.

In this gentle "and" challenging book, DeMuth describes the process and the nuances that shape us to be more like Christ. Her words are clear, vulnerable, and thought provoking, and every chapter is infused with Scripture.

Most of all, DeMuth provides personal and practical evidence that there is no greater pursuit than Christ. We must surrender everything, but it does not compare to the "Everything" He is, the "Everything" He gives.

About The Author
Mary E. DeMuth loves to help readers turn their trials into triumphs. Her books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), Watching the Tree Limbs, Wishing on Dandelions (NavPress, 2006), and Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House 2007). A mother of three, Mary lives with her husband Patrick and their three children in Texas. She’ll have three novels and one memoir releasing through Harper Collins in the next two years. Look for Daisy Chain in December 2008 and Thin Places summer of 2009. You can learn more at www.marydemuth.com.




Everything on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Everything-What-Give-Become-Jesus/dp/1400203988/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345046288&sr=1-1&keywords=everything+mary+demuth

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryDeMuth

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaryDeMuth
My Review:

What a book to devour, and I've underlined a lot of it...sometimes twice!
Question? How do we know what God thinks? Gets your mind going!
Thank you Mary for this down to earth book, that makes you feel closer to God. I loved how you related the story of your daughter. How she asked Jesus into her heart and the evil voices stopped.
There are Eighteen Chapters that are divided into three sections: Head - What We Think, Heart - Who We Are, and Heads - How We Live. There is even an Epilogue: The Everything Life.
I loved the Six lettered word that changes everything...Gospel...oh how true! At the end of each chapter there are Questions for Reflection and Discussion. This book will be kept and reused and reused.

I received this book from TLC Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Present: Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate: A WWII Tale of Political Shenanigans and Snookery (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by Elaine Faber

  Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate: A WWII Tale of Political Shenanigans and Snookery (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by ...