Monday, April 29, 2013

Limitless by Nick Vujicic

From limbless to limitless – anything is possible with God!

Nick Vujicic knows there is no greater hope than trusting in God’s plan for your life. Born without arms or legs, Nick has experienced both the peak of hope and the depth of despair. But he has overcome his circumstances and physical limitations by clinging to his faith and understanding the limitless love and power God has for every person.

Now he wants you to experience that same reassurance of hope and the power of God, everyday. In these fifty inspirational devotions, Nick shares his most compelling, hard-earned wisdom to help you face obstacles with confidence and courage and point you toward God. Whether you struggle with faith, relationships, career challenges, anger, health concerns, self-esteem, finding balance, or doubt in your dreams, Nick’s biblical encouragement and positive attitude will transform your life and show you that you can be limitless because God is limitless.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).


My review:

    Anything with Nick's name on it is worth reading. He is a very inspiring and encouraging guy. When I saw this book come up for review, I requested it without even reading about it. I knew it would be worth reading since he wrote it, and I was correct.

   This is unlike his other two books, though it does draw material from his other two books. This one is a devotional, though it is not for a year. It has 50 different devotionals in it. The subtitle of the book is "Devotionals for a Ridiculously Good Life."

   In this book, Nick has taken some of his most encouraging material, expounded on it, and came up with a short, but great devotional. For a guy who has overcome such overwhelming odds, he has a terrific outlook on life and an incredible faith in God, and that comes through in these devotionals. Reading them brings out a variety of emotions in me, including guilt at my complaining about my problems.

  This is an incredible little book. If you've never read any books by Nick, this one would be a great one to start with.

About the author:

Nick Vujicic is an international and New York Times best-selling author, evangelist, motivational speaker, and the director of Life Without Limbs, an organization that helps share the message of the hope in Christ to the entire globe. Nick is an inspiration worldwide with crowds and the media for his positive attitude towards overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams. A longtime resident of Australia, he now lives in southern California with his wife, Kanae, and son, Kiyoshi.


Limitless is available from Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing.

Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for the review copy.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Why I read mysteries

Ran across this great blog post. The lady who wrote it captured my thoughts and feelings why I read Christian suspense/mysteries in a better way than I could put into words: Why I Read Mysteries.

Monday, April 22, 2013

The Singing God by Sam Storms

God Delights in You

God loves us—with all our faults and failures, with all the secret sins no one else knows about. In fact, He rejoices over us so much that He breaks out in inexpressible joy and song as He thinks about us.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” —Zephaniah 3:17

 That’s how God feels about you! He looks at you, He thinks of you…and He sings for joy!

In The Singing God Sam Storms explores God's immeasurable love for His children. You don’t need to be different; you don’t need to be better. You just need to know that God loves you just the way you are now...today. When you truly believe this, you will find the strength and incentive to fight sin, experience freedom from shame, and walk in the fullness of all that God desires for you.
 
   My review:
     My pastor gave me a CD with a sermon titled The Singing God a while back, so when I saw a book come up for review, I was intrigued and requested it.
 
      I struggle a lot with believing God loves me, and that is what this book is about. It is written for people who feel unloved by God, who have a hard time believing that God loves them. I have read several books that addressed this issue, and this is one of the better ones I have read. It is easy to read and interesting, but it isn't light fluff. The author gets real and under the surface of the problem. He offers not quick fixes, but does offer real solutions and hope for we people who struggle in this area. This book has "meat".
 
   I tried to take my time reading it, and was so impressed by the book that I intend to go through it again and try to soak up more of it. The book didn't "cure" me, but it has definitely given me a lot to think about and if I can truly digest what I read and take it to heart, I am sure it will do me a lot of good in the long run. I would recommend this book to anyone who finds them self doubting God's love for them, or to anyone who just needs a reminder and a fresh look at God's love.
 
About the author:
 
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
 
The Singing God is available from Charisma Publishing.
 
Thanks to Charisma for the review copy.

The Gate by Dann Stouten

Every life is a story. Schuyler Hunt is about to come face-to-face with the author of his.

When a planned getaway with his wife turns into a shopping trip for the girls, Schuyler Hunt finds himself looking for something else to do. An ad for a vacation cottage catches his eye, and he sets off in search of a much-needed break. When he arrives, he finds something far different from the typical summer home experience. In fact, he may have found a little slice of heaven.

The proprietor-along with a number of unexpected and yet familiar guests-welcomes him with food, rest, and conversation, until what started out as an escape from everyday life turns into something much, much more . . .

“There is a real world all around us. We taste and feel it every day. There is also another world where God dwells and those who have gone before us live with Jesus. Dann Stouten helps us discover that these two places intersect more than we often notice. If we pay close attention, we just might see, smell, and learn to taste the goodness of a world beyond this one.”-Kevin Harney, author of Reckless Faith.

My review:
     I absolutely hated The Shack, and found it to be heretical and it dragged God down to a level He should not be dragged down to, not to mention the cursing in the book. Therefore, I am always leery of reading a book that is compared to that book, but so far have liked the books that are compared to it. This book was said to be reminiscent of The Shack, so I almost passed on it, but decided to give it a try. It is a little similar to The Shack, and possibly to The Five People You Meet In Heaven, which I have not read, but know the premise of.

  The main character, Schuyler, goes to check out a vacation cottage and it turns out be Heaven. He gets to spend time with Jesus and God the Father. Unlike the author of The Shack, I didn't feel the author pulled God or Jesus down to an improper level. I wasn't sure about the Holy Spirit being portrayed as a woman, and that kind of bothered me, although Scripture doesn't give a masculine pronoun to the Holy Spirit.

  I liked the book, really liked it. There are some nuggets of truth in this fiction novel that are sticking with me, such as "Christianity isn't about escaping the world, it is about changing it." And that it isn't our job to bring people on earth to Heaven. Our job is to bring Heaven to earth, to live in a way that makes people want our faith.

   This is one of those books that thought it is fiction, is more than fiction. It has a lot of things in it that make you think and desire your walk with God to be different and better. I'm sure there are those who might consider the book "preachy", as there are many who seem to think Christian fiction should just entertain. I disagree. The highest compliment that could be given to a Christian novel, in my opinion, is that it goes beyond entertaining and interesting, and either brings the reader closer to God, or convicts him or her to do better. This is one of those books. I would definitely recommend it. If you haven't read The Shack and are thinking about it, read this instead.

  I have never been a fan of the first person point of view in fiction, but some authors can make me like it more than others. This book was written from the first person point of view, and I actually feel it worked better for this book. Regardless, it is a great novel that has the possibility to change the reader for the better.

About the author:
Dann A. Stouten is senior pastor of Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, Michigan, one of the fastest-growing churches on the West Michigan lakeshore. After a highly successful career in the auto industry, Dann returned to school and earned his DMin in narrative preaching. This is his first novel.

Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Darkness Before Dawn by Ace Collins, and a 12 day giveaway

On the same night she discovers she is pregnant, twenty-eight-year-old nurse Meg Richards's husband is killed in an auto accident caused by a drunken teen. James Thomas comes from one of the most influential families in the community. He's a star athlete and glamour boy at the local high school. But the accident he caused will change his life-and Meg's future-forever.

Angered by her senseless loss and facing life as a single mother, Meg blames God for what has happened and considers a decision that could change her life even further. Enraged by the brutal trial and the court's decision, Meg starts down a frightening path of retribution. When the opportunity for revenge comes unexpectedly, will Meg follow through? Or will the remnants of her faith lead her in a different direction?
 
My review:
    Ace Collins is a very versatile author. He has written several books along the line of stories behind popular Christmas songs, Christmas traditions, etc. A few years ago, he tried his hand at fiction, and has done a great job at that. I think this is his first Christian novel that is not suspense, and I believe his best yet.

  This book is fictional, but deals with the very all too real issues of devastating loss, revenge, and forgiveness. I am a firm believer that God can use Christian fiction in situations where a person may not be willing to read a self-help book or hear a sermon. I was very moved by this story, and felt Ace Collins did a tremendous job of addressing the issues of revenge and forgiveness.

  Everything about this book was top notch. I liked the characters, even the teen aged drunk driver. The plot and setting was great, and the author really showed the anguish of the widow and her desire for revenge. Many of us will face circumstances in life where some one's actions cause us loss in some way. Most of us won't have the opportunity for revenge like Meg did in the book, but it is still something we all have to deal with. This book is a great reminder of how we should handle that. So, did Meg take the opportunity and enact her revenge on the boy that killed her husband, or does she forgive? Read the book to find out. It is worth reading.

About the author:

Bestselling author Ace Collins has written more than 60 books including novels "Swope's Ridge" and "Words of the Father", as well as the nonfiction "Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas"; and "Lassie: A Dog's Life". His books have become movies and network television specials. Ace Collins has sold more than 1.5 million books during his career and makes his home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Learn more about Ave at
AceCollins.com


Darkness Before Dawn is available from Abington Press.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.



In his latest novel, Darkness Before Dawn (Abingdon Press), Ace Collins leads readers on an emotionally charged ride from revenge to forgiveness.

fb-rafflecopter iconAce is celebrating the release of Darkness Before Dawn with a Retribution v. Redemption 12-Day Giveaway!

Go {HERE} or click the button for all the details. Follow along for a new giveaway each day. (Moleskin journal, books, Starbucks gift cards and so much more!)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Denali Dreams by Ronie Kendig and Kimberly Woodhouse

Catch a glimpse of Denali National Park through the eyes of four courageous women. Karon Granger beat cancer, but can she climb Mt. McKinley—the tallest mountain in North America? Is heiress Jolie Decouteau safe from the rugged terrain and an assassin? Will flightseeing tour guide Deline Tsosi uncover the sabotage that endangers her business—and find her heart melting for an Alaskan ranger? Can love conquer all when the past threatens the protective walls of Deanna Smith’s remote job? Will Denali spell disaster or dream-come-true romance?

My review:
   Barbour Book Publishing has been publishing these 4 in one books for several years, and they never looked like anything I'd want to read. For one thing, they are usually 100% romance, which I steer clear of.... if it is suspense/romance, I can handle that. And they always look like fluff and sub-par reading... no offense, Barbour, or any authors who write those books - they just aren't me.

  But then I found out two authors I really like were collaborating on one of these books, so knowing I'd be in for a good read, I bought it. Due to book review commitments, it sat for several weeks until tonight. I picked it up and read one of the stories, then the second, then the third.... and the fourth. Since there are four stories in the book, they are short, averaging 80 some pages in length, but all four are excellent stories. They are all written around Denali, a mountain in Alaska, and all four stories use the same characters, which was a nice surprise.

  One of the four was strictly romance, and I loved it as much as the other three, which were suspense. The first story had a great theme that compared leaving go of faith in God and blaming Him, to leaving go of a rope while mountain climbing and blaming the rope. Kim Woodhouse put it much more eloquently, and it was touched on in later in the book also, but it was a great message that is still sticking in my brain.

  This has got to be the best 4 in 1 novel Barbour has published. I really enjoyed the book and am glad I bought it. Kudos to the authors for putting together 4 great stories that flow together in such a great way.

About the authors:

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. She married a veteran, and together their lives are never dull with four children and two dogs--a Golden Retriever and a Maltese Menace. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters.
Since launching onto the publishing scene, Ronie's Rapid-Fire Fiction has hit the CBA Bestseller List, won the prestigious Christy Award, named to 2012 Bestselling Fiction by Christianbook.com, finaled in numerous contests and reader awards, including ACFW Carol Awards, RWA's Faith, Hope, & Love's Inspirational Readers' Choice Awards, Christian Retailing's Readers' Choice Awards, INSPY Award, The Christian Manifesto Lime Awards, and FamilyFiction's Readers' Choice Awards.

Ronie's titles include her debut title and spy thriller--DEAD RECKONING--the Discarded Heroes series (NIGHTSHADE, DIGITALIS, WOLFSBANE, FIRETHORN), the A Breed Apart series (TRINITY:MILITARY WAR DOG, TALON:COMBAT TRACKING TEAM, , the not yet released BEOWULF: EXPLOSIVES DETECTION DOG) and the upcoming (2014) The Quiet Professionals (RAPTOR 6, HAWK, FALCON). Ronie's writings are also in the 7 Hours direct-to-digital novella collection (WHOLE PIECES), Central Park Rendezvous novella collection (DREAM A LITTLE DREAM), and the Denali Dreams novella collection (DARING HEIGHTS, TAKING FLIGHT).
Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction), Twitter (@roniekendig), and GoodReads.

Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she's shared at more than 600 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family's story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel's Mystery ER. Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy, releases from Tyndale House Publishers September first. In addition to her non-fiction, she also writes romantic suspense and children's books. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and two children in their truly "extreme" home. kimberleywoodhouse.com
Find Kim on twitter and facebook:
twitter.com/kimwoodhouse
Her website: http://kimandkaylawoodhouse.com/

Denali Dreams is available from Barbour Books Publishing.

This review was done on my own, as I purchased the book myself.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A Cast of Stones by Patric W Carr

The Fate of the Kingdom Awaits the Cast of Stones.

In the backwater village of Callowford, roustabout Errol Stone is enlisted by a church messenger arriving with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Eager for coin, Errol agrees to what he thinks will be an easy task, but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty nears its end and the selection of the new king begins--but in secret and shadow. As danger mounts, Errol must leave behind the stains and griefs of the past, learn to fight, and discover who is hunting him and his companions and how far they will go to stop the reading of the stones.

My review:
    I rarely read fantasy, but had liked this author's page on facebook several months back, and the more he talked about his book, the more intrigued I became with it. When I saw it come up in an email of a list of books to review, I immediately requested it and was happy to find I was one of the people who requested it in time.

   The book is 428 pages, and I really had no intent to read it from cover to cover in one evening, but I did just that. It is a very enjoyable, interesting, and exciting read. This is the author's debut novel, but he truly has a gift with words and took me to all sorts of imaginary places that I could almost see because of his descriptive language.

  He created a great main character in Errol, a young teen boy that starts out the book a good for nothing drunk, but becomes the hero of the story by the end and shows that anyone can truly change. The book is filled with other colorful characters and settings that kept me quite spellbound til I finished the book. There was a lot of casting of lots in the book, which I found interesting, and which the story revolves around. I'm not sure of the time period the book is set in, but its long before any kind of modern conveniences and technology.

  I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is a very entertaining read that was far better than I hoped it would be. It shows that even the lowliest and most hopeless of men can be used by God and become totally opposite of what their life used to be. The author can be rightly proud of this debut novel. If it was a hit in baseball, it would be a home run. Great book.

  I'm giving the book 5 stars on Amazon, but do have one small complaint about the book: there were a lot of unfamiliar words and terms thrown around in the book, and a glossary would have been nice for some of the words that I never did figure the meaning of.

  This is the first book in The Staff and Sword series. Book two, The Hero's Lot, is due out in July of this year.

About the author:

Patrick W. Carr teaches high school math and makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his incredible wife, Mary, and their four awesome sons, Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Learn more at patrickwcarr.com.

Cast of Stones is available from Bethany House Publishers.

Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling by James McDonald, Bob Kelemen, and Steve Viars

Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling is a comprehensive guide that will equip God’s people to use biblical truth to change lives. More than that, this book will increase people’s confidence in the sufficiency and relevancy of God’s Word to address real-life issues in a multitude of counseling situations. Readers of this book will:
  • Understand clearly why they should embrace biblical counseling
  • Be encouraged to trust God’s Word to provide rich insight for living in the midst of even the most difficult challenges
  • Enjoy the relevant, pastoral, and theological teaching they have come to appreciate from such noted authors as James MacDonald, John Piper, Mark Dever, and Elyse Fitzpatrick
The 28 chapters blend theological wisdom and practical expertise. The first half of the book emphasizes a practical theology of biblical counseling; the second half highlights a practical methodology of biblical counseling.
Though accessible to all Christians, the book will especially appeal to pastors and church leaders, counseling practitioners, students, and educators.

My review:
    I do not counsel anyone and most likely never will, but decided to review this book anyway. It doesn't hurt anyone to get a little understanding in how counseling can work, and could even help the average person better relate to someone who is dealing with a tough situation.

   I've reviewed other counseling books before that dealt with specific things to counsel people about. This book doesn't do that. It is more of a "how to" counsel overview from a Biblical point. The authors discuss the "why" of Biblical counseling before they tackle the "how." It isn't a boring book. Of course, it isn't like reading a novel, but it is easy to read and the authors do a great job of showing why we need Biblical counseling, and then how to go about it. They do cover the power of confession, repentance, and forgiveness and how they have a lot to do with people getting help in counseling.

  This book would make a great tool for Christians who counsel, and especially for pastors who may not have any formal counseling training but due to the job, end up doing a lot of it.

About the authors: 

James MacDonald is senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, a multisite church in Illinois. In addition, his Walk in the Word broadcast reaches more than three million people weekly. James’s ministry also includes a biblical counseling center, a training center for pastors, and a Christian school.

Visit his website at James MacDonald.com.


Bob Kellemen, ThM, PhD, is the executive director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition (www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org), the executive director of the Association of Biblical Counselors’ Center for Church Equipping, and the founder and CEO of RPM Ministries (www.rpmministries.org). Bob has pastored three churches and has chaired the MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship department at Capital Bible Seminary for 17 years. Bob and his wife, Shirley (a kindergarten teacher), have been married for more than 30 years. They have two adult children, one daughter-in-law, and one granddaughter. Dr. Kellemen is the author of nine books, including Equipping Counselors for Your Church.

Visit his website at RPMMinistries.org.


Stephen Viars earned his DMin degree in biblical counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and has served as a pastor and biblical counselor for more than 20 years at Faith Baptist
Church and Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries in Lafayette, Indiana. He serves as the president of the board of the Biblical Counselors Coalition, the vice president of the board of National Association of Nouthetic Counselors, and is a frequent speaker at conferences, colleges, and seminaries in the United States and abroad.

Visit his website at faithlafayette.org.

Christ-Centered Counseling is available from Harevest House Publishers.
Thanks to Harvest House for the review copy.

Monday, April 15, 2013

When Jesus Wept by Brock & Bodie Thoene, and win an Ipad mini



Lazarus occupies a surprising position in the Gospel accounts. Widely known as the man Jesus raised from the dead, his story is actually much broader and richer than that. Living as he did at Bethany, near Jerusalem, Lazarus was uniquely placed to witness the swirl of events around Jesus. When Jesus Wept, the first novel in The Jerusalem Chronicles series by bestselling authors Bodie and Brock Thoene, unfolds the turbulent times in Judea during Jesus' ministry, centering on the friendship between Jesus and Lazarus. With rich insights from vineyard owners and vine dressers, the Thoenes explore the metaphor of Jesus as the True Vine, harvesting the ancient secrets found in the Old Testament. Weaving the life of Lazarus, who owned a vineyard, into the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ will help you understand it is the hand of Love Divine that holds the knife, that cuts and breaks with such tender and loving touch, and that we who have born some fruit, after the pruning, can bear much more.

My review:
     Anything that comes from the pen of Brock & Bodie Thoene is instant gold. I really enjoyed their A.D. Chronicles series and was happy to see they were starting another series. The Thoenes did an excellent job on their last Biblical fiction series, and this one promised to be as good from the sounds of it.

   As much as I was looking forward to reading the book, I had a hard time getting into it. Part of it may be the fact that it was written in the first person point of view. I could be wrong, but I think this is a first for the Thoenes. It isn't my favorite, but some authors can pull it off more than others. My personal opinion: The Thoenes should stick with the third person point of view. They excel with it, and I truly believe this book would have been better and flowed better with the third person point of view.

  That said, after a while, I did get into the book more and did enjoy reading it. The authors took some liberties with Lazarus, but it only added to the story and made his character more interesting thinking about what he may have done and been like. They try to fill in some gaps around the little we know about Lazarus, and do it well.

  I came away with a better knowledge and understanding of the story of Lazarus and new insight into why Jesus may have wept. The book was an interesting and enjoyable read, but I repeat my statement that I feel it would have been better if it had not been in the first person point of view.

About the authors:Bodie and Brock Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee) are bestselling authors of over sixty-five works of historical fiction. Their timeless classics have sold more than thirty-five million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards. The Thoenes have four grown children and eight grandchildren. They divide their time between Hawaii, London, and Nevada. 
 
Find out more about the Thoenes at http://www.thoenebooks.com/.
 
When Jesus Wept is available from Zondervan Publishing.
 
Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.
 
 
 
Celebrate the release of When Jesus Wept with the Thoenes by entering their iPad Mini giveaway and RSVPing to their {4/23} Facebook Author Chat party!

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One fortunate winner will receive:
  • A brand new iPad Mini
  • A book club kit - 10 copies of When Jesus Wept
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "When Jesus Wept" Author Chat Party on 4/23. Connect with the Thoenes, get a sneak peek of the next book in the Jerusalem Chronicles series, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be fun giveaways - gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of When Jesus Wept and join Bodie and Brock on the evening of the April 23rd for a chance to connect with the authors 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 today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Stress Test by Richard Mabry, and win a Nook HD

They may not have enough evidence to convict him, but they have enough to ruin his life.Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left his last shift in the ER have no such plans-they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt's only thought is escape. He does so, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he's being charged with murder.

Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors. But when Matt calls, she knows she can't walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.

Matt's career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he's a murderer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth-and the faith to keep going-will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.


My review:
    Richard Mabry is not a new author to me. He has written 4 books previous to writing this one, and I enjoyed each one that I read. With this book, he has changed publishers and I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but he hit one out of the stadium with this book. If his others had 4 star ratings, this one would get 10. Its that good.

  I loved this book and enjoyed every page of it. Mabry came up with a very likable main character and wove a teriffic plot around him. There was a lot of suspense in the book, and I never knew what was going to happen next. It wasn't very predictable, which is great. And though this is a great suspense novel, it can definitely be filed under Christian. No cursing or inappropriate content in itm which is not surprising after reading the author's other books.

  Mabry writes medical suspense novels, so his books are always set around hospitals and his main characters are always in the medical profession, but he does a tremendous job of using laymen's terms for medical procedures and makes the hospital and medical stuff interesting and easy to understand.

  This is by far his best book yet, and that is not to diminsh his others. He has just outdone himself with this one, and I can't wait to see what else he has in store.

About the author:

A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader's Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

 Visit his website at http://www.rmabry.com
 
Stress Test is avaiable from Thomas Nelson Publishing.
 
Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.
 
 
 Richard Mabry is celebrating the release of Stress Test with a Nook HD Giveaway! Enter today.


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One winner will receive:
  • A brand new Nook HD
  • A $15 gift certificate to BarnesandNoble.com
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 27th. Winner will be announced on 4/29/13 at Richard's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Tales of the Defended Ones by Beth Geckenberger, and win an Ipad mini

Ben and Joseph lose their mothers, but find a family looking just for them. Antonio is rescued from what seems like a hopeless situation. Caitlyn dares to trust that truth will set her free. Jorani is delivered from slavery into the arms of grace.
Follow these real-life stories as they take you on a journey to foreign places and extreme struggles. Travel through their challenges and see the hand of the great Storyweaver - our Defender God shielding and defending the defenseless in the amazing ways only he can. These are the tales of the ones left wounded and weak-ones made whole and strong . . . 


My review: 
    No offense intended, but this is an example of not judging a book by its cover. The cover of the book didn't really grab me, but it sounded worth reading, so I requested it. This is not a fictional title, and is labeled as juvenile, but I wouldn't necessarily consider it for that age.

   The book is a very interesting, sad, and also exciting read. It is sad because it shows the poor conditions facing so many people in other countries, and how hopeless it is for some of them. It is exciting because of the way God worked in the lives of the children whose stories are told in the book.

  It is obvious the author has a heart for kids like the ones mentioned in the book, and has done an excellent job of telling their stories. I enjoyed reading the book. It made me more thankful for what I have and made me wish I could do more. It isn't a long book, but it gives a great glimpse into life in third world countries and of what people are doing to reach the lost and hurting there.

About the author:

     Beth Guckenberger and her husband, Todd, are the founders of Back2Back Ministries. Beth travels and speaks regularly at women's and missions conferences, as well as youth gatherings and church services. Her topics include orphan care, missions, parenting, marriage/intimacy, and faith. Her story-telling style captures audiences, and she draws from her field experience as a missionary and parent for illustrations to biblical concepts. In addition to her latest release, Tales of the Not Forgotten (Standard Publishing 2012), Beth has written Relentless Hope (Standard, 2011) and Reckless Faith (Zondervan, 2008). The Guckenberger family lives and serves in Monterrey, Mexico where they have hosted thousands of guests on their ministry campus. Between biological, foster, and adopted additions to their family, Beth and Todd are raising nine children.

Learn more about Beth at http://www.bethguckenberger.com

Tales of the Forgotten is available from Standard Publishing.

Thanks to Litfuse for the review copy.


Beth Guckenberger is celebrating the release of her new book in the Storyweaver series, Tales of the Defended Ones, with an iPad giveaway and Facebook party {4/25}. 


Defended-Ones-giveaway300

 One fortunate winner will receive:
  • An iPad Mini
  • A Tales of the Defended Ones small group kit (books and DVD)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 24th. Winner will be announced at the "Storyweaver" Author Chat Party on April 25th. Beth will be chatting with guests, answering questions, and offering tips about beginning a dialog with children and youth about the orphans around the world, the basic needs of children living in poverty, and what we can all do to help. (It’s okay if you haven’t read the book – who knows, you might WIN a copy!) Beth will also be hosting a fun trivia contest and giving away tons of great stuff! (Gift certificates, books, and more!)

So grab your copy of Tales of the Defended Ones and join Beth and friends on the evening of the April 25th 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 today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 25th!


Monday, April 8, 2013

What's Your Mark by Jeremy Cowart

Who was Jesus? What was his story? What mark did he leave? What's your story? What will be your mark?Join celebrity photographer and social artist Jeremy Cowart as he presents 16 compelling stories of people who are making their mark today. Their stories are just a sampling of the stories that all followers of Jesus can tell---stories from those in all walks of life whose inspiration is rooted in the truths found in the Gospel of Mark. And you’ll be inspired to make your mark---whether through your occupation, your talents or your selfless love and giving to others. Your mark may be teaching children at a school or at home, helping the homeless, or providing food to the hungry. Your mark might be an accidental mark, a reluctant mark, or an intentional mark. Whatever your mark, you’ll be inspired by the stories inside this new book, What’s Your Mark?Become a mark-maker today, and make every moment of your life count.This book includes:* 112 full-color pages of Scripture, stories, and photography by renowned photographer Jeremy Cowart* 16 photos and stories of people---some names you’ll recognize, others not so well known---making their mark* Scripture text of the Gospel of Mark from the bestselling New International Version (NIV) Bible.

My review:
    I wasn't sure what to expect when I requested this book. It sounded like a book just full of pictures, but it is not. The book is pretty neat. It is easy to read, and is pretty much Scripture from the book of Mark and bios of ordinary people who are accomplishing something for God. I enjoyed reading it, and it should help those who read it to be encouraged that they can accomplish something also in life and make their mark.

About the author:

Jeremy Cowart is a celebrity photographer who has worked with clients including Taylor Swift, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Clive Owen and Britney Spears. He is the founder of the non-profit, Help-Portrait, a global movement of photographers using their time, gear and expertise to give free portraits to those less fortunate. He divides his time between Nashville and Los Angeles.


What's Your Mark is available from Zondervan Publishing.

Thanks to B&B Media for the review copy.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

The Dance by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

Love’s recovery starts with a single step . . .

After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife. Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs-a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mom, an enviable collection of stuff. Everything, that is, except what really matters: love.

After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough. She longs to experience some measure of happiness before she’s too old to enjoy it. Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons-something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.

Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage. With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back. What he doesn’t anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him-starting with himself.

My review:
   My favorite genre' of books to read is suspense/mystery. Dan Walsh's books do not fall into that category, but he has still quickly become one of my favorite authors. When I know he has a new book coming out, I cannot wait to read it and devour it in one sitting, just as I do with a great suspense book. This book was no exception. I did read it in one sitting.

  The Dance is the first book in the Restoration Series, a set of four books that will revolve around one fictional family and their relationships. This one dealt with the marriage of a couple who has been married for twenty-seven years. I'm not married, but I still loved the story and found it to be very moving. Dancing has a big part in the book, and I thought it was very neat how the authors compared a marriage relationship to dancing in quite an ingenious way. I really liked the characters and situations/plot they have come up with for this book series.

  With Gary Smalley's relationship expertise, this is more than a love story. Any married couple would benefit from reading this book, but especially those who are in a rut and one or both of them feel neglected or unloved by the author. I am firm in the belief that a story can often help and do good where a sermon or "help" book would not. And Jesus proved that with parables.

   Dan Walsh has hit another home run with this story. If it is an indication of what the whole series is going to be like, this series will be up there with the popular Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury. And might I add, Dan Walsh is giving her a run for her money. If you have never read his books, you definitely should, and this one would be a great one to start with. Awesome book, and a great message.

About the authors:

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of several books, including The Discovery and The Reunion. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.


Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of 16 books, along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling, speaking to over 2 million people in live conferences. Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Extra, The Today Show, and The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children and six grandchildren.


Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.















Monday, April 1, 2013

Landmarks by Bill Delvaux

 The well-worn rut that most of us live in is safe, comfortable . . . some would call it dead. By contrast, coming alive requires a willingness to journey into the unknown. Following Jesus is just such a path -- one that takes us deep into His death and then lifts us up into His resurrection.
There are some risks involved, and there are no point A to point B maps. But there are landmarks, places we must pass along the way if we are to keep following Christ into real life.

Landmarks describes these breakthrough places of the heart and mind in the general order in which they tend to show up. Long-time teacher and first-time author Bill Delvaux shares his landmark story and takes read- ers through nine different spiritual markers that must be encountered in order to live the full life that Jesus has planned for us.

Some of the landmarks include letting go of idols, overcoming scars, walking away from sexual sin, grasping your identity, fighting your battle, bonding with Christ, and choosing God first.

So, if you feel stuck out there on the highway of humanity and need some tried and true spiritual direction, look for Landmarks.
 
My review:
    This was a very easy to read book. I don't read enough non-fiction, but if all non-fiction was as interesting and easy to read as this, I would read more of it.
 
   The author takes nine landmarks in our life and gives each one a chapter each. He shows how each one affect us and our walk with God in either a positive or negative way. In addition to a lot of helpful advice and food for thought, the author also uses a lot of personal stories about him or others to prove his point. This is a book that can be helpful if you think about what you're reading, and is worth reading some sections over again.
 
About the author:
 
Bill Delvaux taught Men of the Bible classes for two decades at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. He holds degrees from Duke University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is now a full-time speaker and retreat minister. Landmarks is his first book.
 
Landmarks is available from Broadman & Holman Publishing.
 
Thanks to B&B Media for the review copy.
 
 
  

Scorned Justice by Margaret Daley

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Scorned Justice
Abingdon Press (April 1, 2013)
by
Margaret Daley


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold eighty-three books to date.

Margaret was the president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of Christia writers with over 2300 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community as well as serving on her church’s vestry.

On a more personal note, she has been married for over forty years to Mike and has one son and four granddaughters. She treasures her time with her family and friends.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Texas Ranger Brody Calhoun is with his parents in west Texas when an unexpected attack injures the brother of Rebecca Morgan, Brody's high school sweetheart. The local sheriff, a good friend, asks for Brody's help. At first, it seems like an open-and-shut case. However, as Brody digs deeper, he realizes the attack may be related to an organized crime trial Rebecca will be overseeing. With Rebecca's help, he compiles evidence which involves cattle rustlers, bribery, and dirty payoffs that shatter the entire community and put Rebecca directly in the line of fire.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Scorned Justice, go HERE.

My review:
   The only books I have read by Margaret Daley have been in this series. This book, which is the third, was the best one so far. I really enjoyed the plot and characters, and this story had some unexpected twists that I did not see coming. This book had plenty of mystery and suspense to make me happpy, and I did read it in one sitting. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. An excellent read.

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Guardian
Bethany House Publishers (March 26, 2013)
by
Beverly Lewis


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beverly's first venture into adult fiction is the best-selling trilogy, The Heritage of Lancaster County, including The Shunning, a suspenseful saga of Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman drawn to the modern world by secrets from her past. The book is loosely based on the author's maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, who left her Old Order Mennonite upbringing to marry a Bible College student. One Amish-country newspaper claimed Beverly's work to be "a primer on Lancaster County folklore" and offers "an insider's view of Amish life."

Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Beverly's tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, "Beverly's books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don't run across writing like that every day. I hope she'll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time."

A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and spending time with their family. They are also avid musicians and fiction "book worms."

ABOUT THE BOOK

When schoolteacher Jodi Winfield goes for a morning run, the last thing she expects is to find a disheveled little girl all alone on the side of the Pennsylvania road, clad only in her undergarments, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears. Jodi takes the preschooler home with her, intending to find out where she belongs. But Jodi is mystified when no one seems to know of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak a word of English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.

As the days pass, Jodi becomes increasingly attached to the mysterious girl, yet she is no closer to learning her identity. Then an unexpected opportunity brings Jodi to Hickory Hollow--and into the cloistered world of the Lancaster Old Order Amish. Might the answers lie there?

If you would like to read teh first chapter of The Guardian, go HERE.