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Baby Bunco (Bunco Biddies Mystery #2) by Julie B. Cosgrove

Who would leave a newborn baby in the bathtub of a condo in Sunset Acres, a retirement community, and why?

And was a young woman slain behind the convenience store across the highway it’s mother?

Janie and the Bunco Biddies want to find out, but soon they discover sleuthing can get a bit dicey.

Amazon

About The Author

Winner of Best Religious Fiction 2016 by the Tx Assoc of Authors and Top 50 Writers You Should Be Reading by the Author Show, Julie is a member of Advanced Writers & Speakers Association, American Christian Fiction Writers, North Texas Christian Writers, DFW Ready Writers, DiAnn Mill’s Ripplers Group, The Christians Writers Group, and Christian Writers Fellowship International.

A freelance writer and professional speaker, Julie has published hundreds of web content and articles with secular and Christian themes, led retreats, workshops, and Bible studies, and writes regularly for several Christian websites and publications. She has also authored six nonfiction works, P.R.A.Y.I.N.G.: Bringing Power and Purpose to Your Prayers (2009), Song Notes: Devotionals from the Book of Psalms (2010), What Can She Tell Us? (2011), and Between the Window and the Door (2012), Squeeze More God-time Into you day (2013), The Present of His Presence (2015) Focused (2011), a contemporary Christian novel set in the Texas Hill Country, which follows a woman's journey to find God in her empty nest, was released in 2012. Her suspense romance trilogy- Hush in the Storm(2014), Legitimate Lies(2015) and Freed to Forgive (2015) are published through Prism Book Group, as well as two novellas Greener Grasses and Navy Blues (2016), Hill Country Home-Coming (2016) and a cozy mystery series: The Bunco Biddies Mysteries (2016-2017).
Contact her at www.juliebcosgrove.com.  

My Review

This is the first book I’ve read about the Bunco Biddies, but it sure won’t be the last, with a serious subject matter the author did allow for a few chuckles. I could just picture these seasoned citizens and their sleuthing, and they sure seem to get things right.
Almost made me want to live at Sunset Acres, with the friendships these folks have and they seem to be there for one another at all times. The story is fictional, but with some research I did find that Nepal does sell kidneys, how sad, and yet you could find yourself on the other side, desperately needing one. Of course, this is the perfect money making deal for criminals, and not the poor donors, just another reason why we should all become donors.
This was a great subject matter, and unfortunately it seemed so real, and to add the senior snoops was a wonderful idea, and although there are some really tense moments, the book had a great page-turning pace, a great topic for a book.
Thank you to Pelican Book Group for providing a complimentary review copy. These views are 100% my own and my review is voluntary. 

Lessons from Zachary: Turning Disability into Possibility by Sandy Scott

"There is no better story to role-model how a coaching mindset can transform difficult life situations into a radically fulfilling life."
- Marshall Goldsmith , World's #1 Leadership Thinker, #1 NYT Best-selling Author, Professor of Management Practice at Dartmouth Tuck
--
Sandy Scott had it all: a beautiful country home, a successful husband, and the freedom to be a stay-at-home mom. Then the news crashed down on her like a Tsunami: her infant son Zachary not only had severe brain damage but probably wouldn't live past his first birthday.
As denial gave way to despair and grief, Sandy looked out over the new, strange world into which her family suddenly found themselves thrown and wondered if they would ever know happiness again.But it was in the very challenges that Zachary's condition presented to her that she discovered her own hidden inner resources and a whole new level of compassion among other people. She eventually took on greater roles in the disability community and found her calling as a life coach.In Lessons from Zachary,
Sandy shares the knowledge and insights she gained through her own personal journey of discovery and overcoming obstacles, showing us how to use our strengths to navigate life's difficult situations to find meaning and lasting fulfillment. Scattered throughout her moving story are multiple useful tools from life coaching--Life Wheel, checklists, Miracle Question, and others--to help us develop our unknown potential.


About The Author

Sandy Scott specializes in helping physicians, healthcare executives, business leaders and non-profit directors develop themselves into thought innovators in a rapidly changing industry.  I speak, coach, and deliver signature programs in leadership development.  I help transform leaders from the inside out.... to find true motivation for their work and effectively lead change.

Her passion for healthcare began 25 years ago when my son Zachary was born with severe cerebral palsy.  Though he has never spoken, fed himself or rolled over; he is living a radically fulfilling life today, in large part because of the physicians and healthcare providers who personally impacted our lives.  Her work as a coach and author now is my way to pay-it-forward.
In my recently published book, Lessons from Zachary, I had the opportunity to share the insights I gained in my personal journey of discovery and overcoming obstacles, showing us how to use our strengths to navigate life’s difficult situations to find meaning and lasting fulfillment.
I have a strong yearning to accelerate past the noise preventing people from being their best .... so if you're ready for positive change, contact me today!"


My Review

This is the story of one remarkable family, their trials and successes and living with a child born with a sever disability. I can’t believe the accomplishments of this whole family unit, and things were never easy, but they have paved the way for so many others.
The story itself will bring tears to your eyes, but the amazing way Sandy found help, until, she didn’t answer questions correctly, and she was to blame, but could I blame her, no. The family unit here did become broken and Zachary’s dad did take a different path, although I think he tried, he could see his anger come out in how he accepted.
The perseverance here is awesome and the accomplishments of raising a child to adult is not easy, and yet to do it with a child with disabilities, and the success she had is wonderful. Putting myself in her shoes was difficult, we all want perfect, and yet things are not always as we picture, Sandy is a woman to be admired.
I received this book through the Cadence Group, and was not required to give a positive review.

The Dog Who Was There by Ron Marasco

No one expected Barley to have an encounter with the Messiah. He was homeless, hungry, and struggling to survive in first century Jerusalem. Most surprisingly, he was a dog. But through Barley’s eyes, the story of a teacher from Galilee comes alive in a way we’ve never experienced before.


Barley’s story begins in the home of a compassionate woodcarver and his wife who find Barley as an abandoned, nearly-drowned pup. Tales of a special teacher from Galilee are reaching their tiny village, but when life suddenly changes again for Barley, he carries the lessons of forgiveness and love out of the woodcarver’s home and through the dangerous roads of Roman occupied Judea.


On the outskirts of Jerusalem, Barley meets a homeless man and petty criminal named Samid. Together, Barley and his unlikely new master experience fresh struggles and new revelations. Soon Barley is swept up into the current of history, culminating in an unforgettable encounter with the truest master of all as he bears witness to the greatest story ever told.

Learn more and purchase a copy.


About The Author

Ron Marasco is a professor in the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. His first book, "Notes to an Actor," was named by the American Library Association an Outstanding Book of 2008. His second book, "About Grief," has been translated into multiple languages, and he is currently completing a book on Shakespeare’s sonnets. He has acted extensively on TV—from "Lost" to "West Wing" to "Entourage" to originating the role of Mr. Casper on "Freaks and Geeks"—and appeared opposite screen legend Kirk Douglas in the movie "Illusion," for which he also wrote the screenplay. Most recently, he has played the recurring role of Judge Grove on "Major Crimes." He has a BA from Fordham at Lincoln Center and an MA and Ph. D. from UCLA.



My Review

I loved this portrayal of the final days of Jesus, and we are there with Barley, the dog we get to meet eight years before.
We really are absorbed in the culture at the time, and I read the whole book with my heart in my throat, on the verge of tears. Guess I’m a dog lover, as if I didn’t know.
I found myself quickly absorbed in this story, even though I knew part of the ending, but all along rooting for the dog. The author did a great job of keeping my attention and page turning, and felt that this was a book that I could share with my older grandchildren, they are tender hearted too, with Easter coming I fell that this might be a good reminder of their faith.
I loved how the author incorporated one of the thieves that had become Barley’s master in the final parts of the book, and the death of our Lord. You don’t want to miss this one, but have the tissues handy.
I received this book through Lit Fuse Publicity Book Tour and was not required to give a positive review.

 

I Am A Reader Not A Writer Presents: Returned by Kimberley Griffiths Little – $50 Blast

Returned by Kimberley Griffiths Little After tragedy strikes on the day they were to wed, Jayden must support Kadesh as he ascends the throne and becomes king of Sariba. But with the dark priestess Aliyah conspiring to control the crown, and the arrival of Horeb, Jayden’s former betrothed, Kadesh’s kingdom, as well as his status as king, is at stake. Jayden knows that the time to be merciful has come and gone, and that some enemies can only be halted by death. Now she and Kadesh must prepare to fight not only for their love, but also for their kingdom. This is the final book in the epic trilogy that began with Forbidden and Banished. Jayden and Kadesh’s love will be put to the ultimate test as they fight a war to save their kingdom.



      


Praise for the Book   Booklist (starred review) “At its core, this is a romance, with all the push and pull that goes along with impossible love, and Little elevates the story by creating a perilous landscape, both outward and inward, as Jayden must deal with the hardship of desert life as well as her own desires. . . descriptions of the landscape are evocative in both desolation and in beauty. Just as good is the pacing, which gets the blood pumping for both characters and readers. This will heighten anticipation for a no-doubt exciting conclusion.”  


 Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Rich historical details are deftly woven into Jayden’s narration, and the dynamics of Jayden’s tribe are vividly drawn. Jayden’s story becomes as much about finding herself as it is about finding love.”   Reader: “This book took my breath away. I loved the immersive story and the rich setting of ancient Mesopotamia. The customs, traditions, and beliefs of the desert people were captivating and every time I set the book down I couldn't wait to pick it up again. I've never read anything like this before.”   Reader: “Forbidden was so captivating that I awoke early in the morning, while my family was still sleeping, so I could finish the last pages of this beautifully haunting tale.”

Excerpt:

A private garden had been created on top of the temple’s roof. Palm trees swayed along the perimeter. Life-size statues of the Goddess stood at each corner. A fountain sprayed, and the air was perfumed by beds of azaleas and exotic orchids along the brick pathways. Cozy furniture sat in groupings under pergolas for shade.

“It’s beautiful,” my handmaiden whispered, transfixed.

Racing to the railing, I reeled at the magnificent view. The rooftop garden sat on the southeast corner of the temple. I gazed at the ocean cliffs and the expanse of the city down below the sloping hills.

Running to the northwest corner next, I spotted the groves of frankincense orchards, banked against the valley of the Qara Mountains. I shaded my eyes, reeling at the sight of so many newly erected black-and-white tents in the foothills of those mountains.

My heart was in my throat. Too many tents to count. At least a thousand camels.

Hundreds of horses.

Horeb’s armies camped and preparing for battle.


  

   

Author Kimberley Griffiths Little

 Kimberley Griffiths Little is the author of ten award-winning Middle-Grade and Young Adult novels with Knopf, Scholastic and Harpercollins, including the Whitney Award, the Arizona/New Mexico Book Award, the SCBWI Crystal Kite, the Southwest Book Award, and others. ALA BOOKLIST named FORBIDDEN, the first book in her Ancient Mesopotamian historical fantasy a Young Adult Top 10 novel for the Historical category, Romance category, and Religious/Inspirational. Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell. She once stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland and didn’t sleep a wink; sailed the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria. She was born in San Francisco but now lives on the banks of the Rio Grande with her husband and three sons.



  

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 



Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/27/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author.

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Healing a Heart (Cattle Creek #2) by Amy Lillard

The author of Loving a Lawman invites you back to the ranch...
 
As cowboys, the Langston brothers of Cattle Creek, Texas, know it’s easy to mend a fence. Mending a broken heart, however, takes time...
 
Rancher Jake Langston prides himself on being the sensible type. But five years after the loss of his wife left him to raise their daughter alone, he indulges in a one-night stand with a sexy stranger. He thought he’d never see the woman again. Four months later, though, she’s standing in his drive with a big surprise.

Bryn Talbot wants nothing from the hunky cowboy who got her pregnant, but her Southern nature demands she at least tell him about it. When Jake’s family persuades her to stay for a while, she’s soon won over by their charms—and by Jake. But with the losses the two of them have suffered in the past, neither is sure if they’re ready to take the leap to forever.

About The Author





Amy Lillard is a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, and Squirrel Princess.
I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I’ve retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I’m from Texas. (?)  Rob and I have been married for over twenty years and have a son–a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!
I love homemade tacos, shoes, and romance novels–not necessarily in that order. I’m a big fan of country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I’m shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.
I  believe that God is love. I guess that’s why I adore romances.
I have always been intrigued with the Amish culture, their gentle ways and slower-paced lifestyle. (And I love, love, love the fact that they stay married for their lifetime.) But until recently I never thought to blend this interest with my penchant for romance. Okay, okay, I’m a bit old-fashioned and even enjoy the gender roles that are present in this culture.  I love to cook and take care of my family. Yes, that’s me June Cleaver with a laptop.
I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twlight series (I’ll get to it or I won’t, either way I’m good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I’m alone on this last one, and again, I’m good with it.)
Favorite movies–(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940′s movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven’t seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn’s and Audrey’s.


My Review

As this story opens I am reminded of the first book in this series, Loving A Lawman, and we met a rather unhappy Jake. Now these Langtson men sure must be some hunks, and now Jake has them dropping by his door, just hoping he will marry them, right!
So when Byrn shows up you can tell he wants her to hit right back on the road, but she has a good story for him, and her conscious wants her to share. To say he is flabbergasted is an understatement and he doesn’t seem to take the news very well, now it is his time to pay the piper, and our Bryn isn’t a shrinking violet, but she is very tenderhearted.
I loved staying at this beautiful Texas ranch, and I could just picture the surroundings through the eyes of the author, made me want to move there! There is also a precocious five years old Wesley, and she will melt your heart, and she does Byrn's.
These two have a lot to work out and a limited amount of time to do so, and they are both hurting, you have to hope that they will find love and new meaning for their lives in a very short period of time.
I received this book through Net Galley and the author, and was not required to give a positive review.

An Amish Home: Four Novellas by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Ruth Reid

A Cup Half Full by Beth Wiseman—Sarah Lantz always dreamed of the perfect home, the perfect husband, the perfect family. When she married Abram, she knew she was on her way to securing her perfect life. All of that changes in one moment when an accident leaves her unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair, dashing all of her dreams. As Abram starts to transform their home, Sarah begins a transformation in her spirit, and she begins, once again, to see her cup as half full.

Home Sweet Home by Amy Clipston—Down on their luck and desperate after they are evicted from their small apartment, Chace and Mia O’Connor reluctantly take Chace’s Amish boss up on his offer to rent them the daadi haus located on his property. They are certain they will never feel at home in the rustic cabin without any modern conveniences, and they start to blame each other for their seemingly hopeless situation. But with the help of their new Amish friends, Chace and Mia begin to enjoy their cozy cabin and realize that home really is where the heart is.

Building Faith by Kathleen Fuller—Faith Miller knows that carpentry is an unlikely hobby for a young Amish woman, but she loves the work and it keeps the memory of her grandfather alive. So when her cousin asks Faith to build the cabinets in her new home, Faith is only too happy to take on the job, even if it is the most ambitious project she has ever taken on. The only catch is that she has to work with her ex-fiance, Silas. As they work to build Martha’s kitchen, can they put the past behind them and start to build faith in one another again?

A Flicker of Hope by Ruth Reid—Fifteen years ago, Thomas and Noreen King were blissful newlyweds. Young, naive, and in love, life was rosy . . . for a while. Then trials and tribulations rocked their foundation, shattering them emotionally, and soon, their marriage was in shards. All hope for restoring their previously unshakable union seems lost. When fire destroys their home, Thomas and Noreen are left to sift through the rubble. As uncovered items from the remains of the house shake loose memories of the past, Thomas and Noreen begin to draw closer and a flicker of hope—and love—is re-ignited.


About The Authors

Award-winning, bestselling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but she has also written several successful contemporary novels, set primarily in her beloved Texas, including Need You Now and The House that Love Built. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth's The Promise is inspired by a true story. Website: www.bethwiseman.com Twitter: @bethwiseman Facebook: Fans-of-Beth-Wiseman

Amy Clipston is a native of New Jersey, I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I often joke that my fiction writing “career” began in elementary school as I wrote and shared silly stories with a close friend. However throughout school, I only considered writing a hobby, and I never dreamt of being an author.
In 1991, I graduated from high school, and my parents and I moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia. My father retired, and my mother went to work full-time. I attended Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, and I graduated with a degree in communications. I met my husband, Joe, during my senior year in college, a few days after my father had a massive stroke. Joe and I clicked instantly, and after a couple of months we started dating. We married four years later.
After graduating from VWC, I took a summer job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, which turned into an eleven-year career. I worked in the Public Affairs Office for four years and then moved into Planning as a writer/editor.
During that time, I continued writing for fun. It was something I did to escape stress and unwind. I didn’t share the stories with anyone except for a couple of close friends. In fact, I was even afraid to admit to my husband that I wrote.


Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including A Man of His Word and Treasuring Emma, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, The Mysteries of Middlefield. Website: www.kathleenfuller.com Twitter: @TheKatJam Facebook: Author Kathleen Fuller.

Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA bestselling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She's a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children. When attending Ferris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life. Visit Ruth online at ruthreid.com, Facebook: Author-Ruth-Reid, Twitter: @authorruthreid.

My Review

As the title of the first story “A Cup Half Full” suggests it is easy, especially under adverse circumstances, to look on the dark side of life.
A young couple and both blaming themselves, and yet life goes on in spite of tragedy, and how we approach it what this story is about.

Home Sweet Home will bring you to tears, and yet the people God led this young family to will reinforce the goodness of mankind. If it weren’t under such severe circumstances, I could find myself enjoying living in a daadihaus.
I had to wonder if this would be the catalyst that broke up this young couples relationship, or bring them closer together.

Building Faith really brings to light the fact that you might not really know the person you are close to. Wood is about the open a new door to this Amish couple, and we are going to watch them struggle, and argue, and we hope rekindle what they have lost.
We also meet dementia head on, or do we? Hiding illness because you are ashamed, and this isn’t limited to any community or ethnic group. I loved how this story brought this sad illness to light.


A Flicker of Hope. Is exactly that, when at first a tragedy that befalls this couple, and they don’t seem to be handling it very well, and as the story unfolds, we see where a lot of the heartache is coming from.
This is a sad story but I could see a light at the end of the tunnel, and with Amish there isn’t any divorce, so how can they work out all the problems they seem to have. A really sweet and page turning read here.

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