Monday, February 29, 2016

The Prophetess; Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith

Outspoken and fearless, Deborah has faith in God but struggles to see the potential her own life holds. As an Israelite woman, she'll marry, have a family, and seek to teach her children about Adonai--and those tasks seem to be more than enough to occupy her time. But God has another plan for her. Israel has been under the near constant terror of Canaan's armies for twenty years, and now God has called Deborah to deliver her people from this oppression. Will her family understand? Will her people even believe God's calling on her life? And can the menace of Canaan be stopped?




About the Author

Jill Eileen Smith is the author of the bestselling The Crimson Cord and the Wives of King David series, along with the Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, and The Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.
http://www.jilleileensmith.com/





My Take~

I am a huge fan of biblical fiction and this one is Jill at her best. Her imagination along with superb research has created a story that takes you back to Israel when the Israelites where worshiping the gods of Canaan. I felt as if I was right there among them as Deborah judged and they went to war to defeat Sisera. One of the reasons I love biblical fiction so much is that it draws me to the story in the Bible.
I highly recommend this book!



Thursday, February 25, 2016

Robin by Julane Hiebert

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Robin
Wings of Hope Publishing Group (November 15, 2015)
by
Julane Hiebert


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julane is first of all a child of God. She is also a wife to Bob, mother to two living sons,Kip and Rob, two daughters in heaven, two wonderful daughters-in-law, Becky and Tami, and grandmother to six perfectly wonderful grands, as well as an additional three ‘other grands’. She lives with her husband in a wee cottage by a small lake nestled in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas.

Though encouraged by many to pen the story of raising two daughters with an incurable disease, she has chosen to incorporate the lessons learned into the lives of her not-too-perfect characters. Her passion is to present the promises and hope found in God’s Word in down-to-earth, everyday experiences through her stories.

Julane loves reading, decorating, junking, antiques, and chocolate! No particular order, but one would be safe to insert chocolate between all other interests.



ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1877 the Wenghold sisters inherited an overwhelming debt with their father’s passing. An uncle they’ve never met offers a solution—come help on his Kansas cattle ranch. The oldest sister, Robin, agrees to go.

Ty Morgan has suffered through a year of misery after being jilted by the town beauty a few months before their wedding. But a tornado whirls an unexpected breath of hope into his heart when he rescues Robin, his neighbor’s newly arrived niece, and a small boy who was orphaned by the storm.

Robin’s crippled leg prevents her from being a real help to Uncle John, but she seems to be exactly who Ty needs to heal his broken heart. Until his former fiancĂ©e returns and a mysterious, elusive stranger casts worry over the entire community.

A woman determined to honor her obligations, a man entangled in a long ago-made commitment, an orphaned child in need of security . . . Can God guide these three souls to peace and fulfillment together?

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



Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar

Before Christ called her daughter . . .

Before she stole healing by touching the hem of his garment . . .

Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father’s textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left.

No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body . . . and soul?


 Tessa Afshar was born in a nominally Muslim family in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She survived English boarding school for girls before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her mid-twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDIV from Yale University where she served as co-Chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last seventeen years in full-time Christian work in New England and the last fourteen years on the ministry staff of one of the oldest churches in America.

 
 
 
 
 
My Take~
 
The story of the woman who bled for 12 years is my absolute favorite miracle in the Bible. In her fifth book Tessa takes what little is known about her prior to being healed and creates a life around her, gives her a name, Elianna which means favored by God. She is the only one called Daughter by the Master. When she touched the hem of His garment she was healed physically, and spiritually. The writing was so visual that I felt as if I was in Galilee watching from above. 
This story is special to me for another reason, I played this woman in a Christmas play one year and I fell more in love with the story, and when I had brain surgery I told God the night before that while I was in surgery I would be touching the hem of His garment. 
Don't miss this book! I guarantee you won't be sorry!





Friday, February 19, 2016

The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples by Al and Lisa Robertson

With the ongoing popularity of A&E's Duck Dynasty, the much-loved Robertson family has more to share about family, faith, and love than ever before. Alan (the beardless brother) and his wife Lisa have created a devotional combining their hard-won wisdom about love and marriage to help bring couples closer together and closer to God.

Alan and Lisa Robertson had a failing marriage. But with unwavering faith and the unconditional love of their ever-present family, they got through the tough times and rekindled their love. Now the Robertsons want to share what they've learned. Combining the spiritual with the practical, The Duck Commander Devotional for Couples has a simple purpose: to bring couples closer to God and to each other. Designed with busy couples in mind, this devotional encourages husbands and wives to set aside time weekly to enhance their relationship. Spending spiritually meaningful time together every day is often impossible, but Al and Lisa arranged this devotional with realistic goals, allowing you to experience success and the desire to meet together regularly.

Each devotional includes inspirational messages, relevant scriptures, thoughtful questions, and prayer suggestions. Whether you are happy in your marriage or struggling to hold it together, setting aside time to focus on each other and deepen your connections will improve your relationship and bring you closer to God.


My Thoughts:

Al is the oldest brother of the Robertson brothers, he is referred to as the beardless brother. He is also the Pastor of the church that all the Robertson's worship at.
In this couples devotional both Al and his wife, Lisa share their hearts each day and give you the chance to respond in the devotional. I think this devotional would be perfect for couples who are engaged and still learning about each other. 
Recommended!


 

Monday, February 15, 2016

The Pharaoh's Daughter by Mesu Andrews

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Pharaoh's Daughter
WaterBrook Press (March 17, 2015)
by
Mesu Andrews


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mesu Andrews’ deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers. She and her husband, Roy, enjoyed fourteen years of pastoral ministry before moving to the Pacific Northwest, where Roy now serves as Academic Dean at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. Mesu writes full-time, snuggled in her recliner beside a cozy fire on rainy Northwest days. The Andrews’ enjoy visiting their two married daughters and a growing tribe of grandkids. Mesu loves movies, football, waterfalls, and travel.

Biblical fiction is her favorite genre to read and write. Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011), tells the story of Job and won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author.

ABOUT THE BOOK
“Fear is the most fertile ground for faith.” “You will be called Anippe, daughter of the Nile. Do you like it?” Without waiting for a reply, she pulls me into her squishy, round tummy for a hug.
I’m trying not to cry. Pharaoh’s daughters don’t cry.
When we make our way down the tiled hall, I try to stop at ummi Kiya’s chamber. I know her spirit has flown yet I long for one more moment. Amenia pushes me past so I keep walking and don’t look back.

Like the waters of the Nile, I will flow.

Anippe has grown up in the shadows of Egypt’s good god Pharaoh, aware that Anubis, god of the afterlife, may take her or her siblings at any moment. She watched him snatch her mother and infant brother during childbirth, a moment which awakens in her a terrible dread of ever bearing a child. Now she is to be become the bride of Sebak, a kind but quick-tempered Captain of Pharaoh Tut’s army. In order to provide Sebak the heir he deserves and yet protect herself from the underworld gods, Anippe must launch a series of deceptions, even involving the Hebrew midwives—women ordered by Tut to drown the sons of their own people in the Nile.

When she finds a baby floating in a basket on the great river, Anippe believes Egypt’s gods have answered her pleas, entrenching her more deeply in deception and placing her and her son Mehy, whom handmaiden Miriam calls Moses, in mortal danger.

As bloodshed and savage politics shift the balance of power in Egypt, the gods reveal their fickle natures and Anippe wonders if her son, a boy of Hebrew blood, could one day become king. Or does the god of her Hebrew servants, the one they call El Shaddai, have a different plan—for them all?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Pharaoh's Daughter, go HERE.

My Take~

I grew up knowing the story of Moses, I not only knew the story, I Bible quizzed on Exodus and was even a Bible quiz leader when my girls were younger and they were studying Exodus. In fact one of their favorite movies is The Prince of Egypt.  We know the story from Moses' point of view, the baby put in a basket to float the Nile river that was infested with crocodile's who was saved by Pharoah's daughter and raised as an Egyptian Prince. We don't know Moses' story from Pharoah's daughter's point of view. In true Mesu style she brings us Anippe's story, Pharaoh's daughter and what she may have gone through. Her insight and knowledge of the scriptures comes through in volumes, and The Pharoah's Daughter is a beautiful story of Anippe and Moses. I felt like I had been transported back in time to Egypt as I read this book. Once again Mesu has taken us back in time, and given us a story for the ages. I highly recommend it!



New from Terri Blackstock: ‘If I Run’ and a Fitbit Giveaway

Casey knows the truth. But it won’t set her free.
Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they have failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.
But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up. Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?
Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.
Learn more and purchase a copy.




{More About Terri Blackstock}

Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of “Intervention,” “Vicious Cycle,” and “Downfall,” as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series.
Find out more about Terri at http://www.terriblackstock.com.



 Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer . . . but her DNA is all over the crime scene, and she's now a fugitive. Don't miss Terri Blackstock's next page-turner, If I Run. Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than Dylan has, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. But as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.




Join Terri in celebrating her new book with a Fitbit giveaway and a special $4.99 digital pre-order deal!





if i run-400 



One grand prize winner will receive:



Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on February 16th. The winner will be announced February 17th on the Litfuse blog.




Plus don't miss out on the special $4.99 digital pre-order pricing, now through February 15. Pre-order the book through your favorite e-book retailer; details here.





if i run - enterbanner



My Take~


It has been awhile since I've read a book by Terri Blackstock whether it's been awhile or not, she doesn't miss a beat with suspense, keeping the reader not only on the edge of their seat but also turning pages as fast as they can. Fear and trust led Casey to run, learning to trust will save her life. 
The characters were ones you cheered for, and cried with. A great read!


Highly recommended!




Friday, February 12, 2016

Soul's Prisoner by Carla Luecht

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Soul's Prisoner
(WhiteFire Publishing (December 15, 2015))
by
Cara Luecht


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Word from the Author:I never planned to be a writer. In fact, it took me a while to finish college. But I did, and here I am. And I now I can’t imagine not being a writer. By day, I am an English Instructor for a local college, mother to four amazing children, and wife to an eternally patient and supportive husband. In the evening, when I can squirrel away some quiet time, I read and write historical fiction. I have a B.A. in English Lit. from UW Whitewater and an M.F.A in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ. If you have a question for me, or if you are local and would like me to stop by your book club or writer’s group, please drop me a line via the “Ask the Author” tab. I always love the opportunity to meet with others who share my love of books.





ABOUT THE BOOK

She'll fight for her future...but can she escape her past?
Chicago, Winter, 1891
Rachel is in danger. She s seen too much.
She creeps along the cement walls through the dank underbelly of the asylum. She d never planned to leave her quiet farm life, never thought she d find a place in the city, never imagined she d be in the kind of danger that would have her cowering in Dunning s cold, labyrinthine basement.
Jenny has finally found her place. After a childhood of abuse, she has friends, a real job, and her only wish is to give her adopted son the kind of life she never had.
A life of stability, without the risk and uncertainty of a father.
But when Jeremy, Rachel s brother, stumbles into their warehouse, asking for help to find his missing sister, Jenny s carefully constructed life begins to crumble.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Soul's Prisoner, go HERE.

My copy just arrived so I haven't had the chance to crack it open. Review to come.


Tuesday, February 9, 2016

The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen


Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It's where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she's beautiful.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother's neglected duties. Home on leave, he's sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter's daughter. He's startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him--one of Wesley's discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.

Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she'll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family's estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?


 About Julie:

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her books, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Midwest Book Award, the Minnesota Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award, and been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards and ACFW’s Carol Awards. She blogs at http://www.inspiredbylifeandfiction.com.
Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.  



My Take ~

Absolutely Amazing! This is Julie at her best! Sophie's story is rich in character that keeps giving as you read, you want to continue reading because the story pulls you towards it. Finishing it was sad because I loved the characters and didn't want it to end, on the other hand it was like eating a really good meal and you just want to savor it. That is how I felt as I turned the last page. 
I highly recommend this book!


 

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Day 6/366 of Days of Words



Once again her mother burst into her room. “Gianna Louise get up now! You have an appointment with Doctor Rivera in thirty minutes.” Gianna sat up and rubbed her eyes. Yes, Mama, it won’t take me long to get dressed.” “Fine, I’ll meet you downstairs at the car.” Gianna didn’t answer she let her getting up and dressing speak for her. Her mother got the hint and stormed out of the room. Gianna had never been able to figure her out. She was angry all the time and her anger seemed to always be directed at her. If anyone had a reason to be angry at someone it was her, her mother never believed her and it was always her fault.


Friday, February 5, 2016

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner

Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind  ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie…

Los Angeles, 1938.  Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her  dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide.  What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future. 



About Susan:


Susan Meissner was born in San Diego, California, the second of three. She spent her childhood in just two houses.
Her first writings are a laughable collection of oddly worded poems and predictable stories she wrote when she was eight.

She attended Point Loma College in San Diego, and married her husband, Bob, who is now an associate pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves, in 1980. When she is not working on a new novel, she is directing the small groups ministries at The Church at Rancho Bernardo. She also enjoy teaching workshops on writing and dream-following, spending time with my family, music, reading great books, and traveling.



My Thoughts:

This story took my breath away. I am a huge Gone With the Wind fan, as well as a avid reader of Susan's books. I was transported to the set of Gone With the Wind, I felt as though I was right there with Vivian Leigh along with Violet and Audrey.  The friendship between Audrey and Violet was a true picture of a friendship, that I was able to watch ebb and flow as all true friendships do. 
This book is a beautiful book of friendship, Hollywood in the golden age, it will sweep you away to another place and time, and never want it to end.

Highly recommended!!!





 

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Day 3/366 Days of Words



Gianna’s alarm went off at six thirty that morning and the last thing she wanted to do was get out of bed, however if she didn’t a doctor’s appointment would be waiting for her and the last thing she wanted to do was to go to the doctor. She felt nauseous just rolling over and turning off her alarm, how she was going to make it through a full day of school she had no clue. Her door flew open, she took in a breath, and her hand flew to her chest as her mother entered her room. “Good morning, Gianna, how are you feeling? I trust better than earlier.” Knowing her answer would end in a doctor’s appointment she shook her head no anyway. “I am sorry to hear that, I will call Dr. Rivera and see if I can get you an appointment today, hopefully this morning since I have volunteering at the church this afternoon.” Gianna nodded, it was taking everything she could not to roll her eyes, it seemed like when it came to her mother she always came last. On a positive note she would be able to go back to sleep until her mother made an appointment.

All words are the property of Andrea Tubbs and cannot be used without permission.

 

First Line Friday Featuring Riot (A Breed Apart: Legacy #3) by Ronie Kendig and JJ Samie Myles

  Happy Friday!! Welcome to the weekend!!! Today I am featuring one of my favorite authors, Ronie Kendig. I loved A Breed Apart series and I...