Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Shimmer & Shine: Devotion for Today by Katie Fowler


Daniel 12:3 

Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

There it was shining so bright in the sun against the dark asphalt. A single penny. Growing up, my PawPaw always stopped to pick up a penny, so from the oldest to the youngest of my family, we all think of him when we see a penny lying on the ground. But in that painful moment, as I picked that penny up, the testimony of the man my PawPaw was reminded me of the eternity with Jesus I have to look forward to, and the pain of that moment melted away. 

Dear one, every day moments can be hard, a lot of times a breaking point, and that’s ok. As humans we live moment by moment that may be disciplining our toddler for the 100th time, waking up in the face of depression, or dealing with a passive-aggressive coworker. Eternity is near impossible for any human to comprehend in the midst of these moments, yet we know our God is eternal. 

2 Cor. 4:18 very simply states, “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen aretemporary, but the things which are not seen areeternal. “ 

A few years ago, my nephew showed a lot of interest in art, so my sister decided to take him to the community center for a special class. Upon speaking with the teacher, my sister realized that this woman had diametrically opposed political and world views to her. In that moment, she made a decision to listen to that woman’s beliefs in a spirit of genuine kindness. My sister found herself embraced in a tearful hug by this woman she barely knew all because of the kindness she had shown. Was she lead to the Lord that day? No, but she saw a glimpse of the Eternal One,Jesus, and His light shining from that one small act. 

Being perfect or being a doormat for others to walk all over is not the answer I found, nor feeling like a failure if others reject Jesus when I share with them. The answer I did find was that no matter the struggle of the moment, I can ask the Lord to help me embrace moment by moment in light of the joy awaiting me in eternity with Him. Even more still, I can ask the Lord to help me respond to others in the knowledge that each person has an eternal choice to make for themselves. Each of us can ask. Each of us can surround ourselves with Scripture and mentors that lead us back to the truth of eternity. From that, each of us will naturally shimmer and shine just like the stars in the sky full of the light of the Eternal One, and others will plainly see their need for that same light only found in Jesus. 

So shine bright in the light of the Lord, dear one. Shine bright. 

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Jewel's Gold by Caryl McAdoo


About the Book


Book: Jewel’s Gold
Author: Caryl McAdoo
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: July 20, 2019

 Can a tangled web snare two hearts and point them true north? A Papa’s girl from the start, Jewel Jones remembers all the things he told her. Wealthy, but far from being a snob, she finds Boaz Branson both irritating and intriguing. How can she know if the handsome confidence man truly turns from his wicked ways, or if his interest only in her gold?

Papa said let God’s peace lead her. Only by God’s grace can Boaz escape the deceptions he plans to perpetrate on the beautiful heiress. While his head wants to flee the entanglement, his heart bids him stay. Are Jewel and Boaz building on sinking sand, or have they found the golden nugget they seek?



Click HERE to grab your copy.  




My Review

I always enjoy that our author is able to give us such a faith-filled book while still making the read fun, adventurous, and not overly preachy. I really felt the themes of redemption, hope, and trust. A trip to Alaska to find gold in this time frame certainly made for an intriguing backdrop, and our hero and heroine certainly grew and blossomed separately as well as in their love for each other. While the plot was a steady pace, I have to say the dialogue was a bit choppy, and the climaxes to action were frequent without enough buildup making a lot of the action seem sudden and out of place. I've read quite a few of our author's books, and I can't say this is my favorite, but I still feel that she does some of the best truly faith and gospel filled fictions I've ever read without being judgmental. I recommend this read for the historical fiction reader, romance reader, adventure reader, or those looking for a faith filled read.



I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own. 



About the Author


Award-winning, hybrid author Caryl McAdoo prays her story gives God glory! That is why she writes, why she breathes. Her forty-fourth novel has just launched, joining her best-selling title list! Besides writing, she loves singing the new songs the Lord gives her. (Listen to a few at YouTube.) Ron, her husband of 50+ years shares four children and eighteen grandsugars—life’s best blessings, Caryl says. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.  


More from Caryl

Jewel’s Gold, my July release and book four in the Gold Diggers Collection, begins in San Francisco in 1895 and moves quickly north to Alaska on Troublesome Creek where Jewel’s papa has a gold mine. My husband Ron was on Troublesome Creek in 1993 seeking the Lord. While there, he also did a little prospecting. To mention gold is to speak of wealth as gold is the most sought-after metal in the world. It’s found on every continent, and I’ve discovered it can be located our bodies as well! Mostly in our blood! Small traces have also been extracted from eucalyptus leaves, a favorite snack of Koala bears! Jewel Jones is the daughter of Joshua Jones, son of Moses and Lanell introduced in SINS OF THE MOTHERS, book three in the Texas Romance Family Saga. Truth be known, little Joshua was in fact a Wheeler, not as Jones, though Moses reared him as his own son. His real father was Caleb who married Mary Rachael Buckmeyer and talked her into running off to California. So, this book may also be classified as a ‘Companion Book’ to that highly acclaimed historical romance series. Ron has always wanted to go back and show me Alaska, and one day we most likely will go north . . . but only in the summer! Who doesn’t love leaving Texas for northern, cooler temperatures in the summer? This story has a little mystery along with the romance and history. When we drove the Oregon/California Trail last December, we visited the site of Sutter’s Mill where the gold rush of 1849 was born. That last place we went before turning south and east back to Texas was an unexpected stop. On the American River, the park and museum offered an amazing place to visit, and knowing this book was on the schedule made it all the more interesting! I also believe that place will add to the genuine feel of Jewel’s Gold.




Blog Stops


Power of Words, August 14 (Spotlight)
Emily Yager, August 16
Simple Harvest Reads, August 20 (Spotlight)
Texas Book-aholic, August 22
janicesbookreviews, August 23
Artistic Nobody, August 24 (Spotlight)
A Reader’s Brain, August 25




Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter the giveaway.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Meghan's Choice by Donna L.H. Smith

 

About the Book


 Book: Meghan’s Choice
Author: Donna L. H. Smith
Genre: Christian Historical Western Romance
Release Date: November, 2017



 Meghan Gallagher complies with her father’s demand that she work on her own for a year by choosing to tutor eight children in a wild Kansas railroad town. But she had no idea just how wild it was until she was rescued by a local dance hall the day she arrived, and soon after hit by a stray bullet. In short order, she meets a dark, handsome cowboy and a wholesome, attractive doctor who both vie for her heart. As things heat up around town, Meghan’s love life catches fire as well. Is she scandalous to allow both men to court her at the same time? And—how close a relationship with God does Meghan want? Will she draw near? Meghan’s Choice (pre-published) was named a semi-finalist in the 2014 Operation First Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins and an honorable mention for the Golden leaf Award in 2015. Since publication, Meghan’s Choice was a Selah Award finalist and also in the Will Rogers Medallion Award. Published in connection with Hartline Literary Agency, serving the Christian book community. Visit us at www.hartlineliterary.com




Click HERE to grab your copy.  




My Review


So, I felt like the western backdrop of Meghan's Choice was well portrayed and transported us to another day and time. I think the journey of Meghan from having a more posh, privileged type lifestyle to having to work her first job, and take a hard look at herself and what being an adult means was an endearing premise, along with the sweet romance. However, as complex as Meghan was, I was disappointed that all the other characters in the book were lacking in that arena. I also felt the plot took a little time to get into, and the wording seemed choppy at times. Also, the story fell a little short for me because it just seemed too predictable. All of that said, I enjoyed the thread of faith, the western backdrop, and the soul searching journey Meghan embarks on along with the sweet romance. If you enjoy a sweet romance in a historical backdrop, I suggest this one for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own. 




About the Author


Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds two college degrees, both B.S. and M.A. in Mass Communication. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. Her debut novel, Meghan’s Choice, made the finals of both the Selah and Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Rose’s Redemption, the sequel, was just released. She blogs, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. Recently, she took on the role of Managing Editor of Almost an Author.com, and serves as ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Mid-Atlantic Zone Director. She is also a member of AWSA’s Protégé program (Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association).  


More from Donna

Back in 2012, I wrote “Zorro” stories for Fan Fiction. I had an awful lot of fun with them, and people seemed to really like them. So, the thought came, what could I write for ‘real?’ I contemplated, prayed, and after a couple weeks or so, an idea came floating across my brain. “Gunfight at Hyde Park.” Huh? I thought about it, and realized it was an obscure history lesson from my hometown in Kansas. I had Google it to get the details. I thought, well, I’m not gonna write a Christian romance novel just about a series of gunfights that killed and wounded more people than the OK Corral. But I did think that the beginning of the gunfights could be the climax of the story. Now, who should my heroine be? And the hero? I started with that and took Christian Writer’s Guild’s Craftsman and the novel was completed in 2013—but only published in late 2017. I’m proud of Meghan’s Choice. Pre-published it made the semi-finals of the last Operation 1st Novel that CWG held and placed in a couple of smaller contests. Last year, it made the finals of the prestigious Selah Awards for published books through the BRMCWC, and the finals of the Will Rogers Medallion Award. My hope is that you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.



Blog Stops

Moments, August 14
Godly Book Reviews, August 15
Emily Yager, August 16
Vicky Sluiter, August 18
mpbooks, August 20
Pause for Tales, August 21
Older & Smarter?, August 22
Texas Book-aholic, August 23
A Reader’s Brain, August 24
janicesbookreviews, August 25



Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Donna is giving away the grand prize of a copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

The Faith of Mike Pence by Leslie Montgomery


About the Book


Book: The Faith of Mike Pence
Author: Leslie Montgomery
Genre: Biography, religious, political
Release Date: August 6, 2019

Several books have been published about Vice President Mike Pence, but none have touched upon what may be the most fascinating aspect of our nation’s second in command: his deep faith.
The Faith of Mike Pence offers an intimate look at the man who calls himself “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.”
Author Leslie Montgomery details Pence’s spiritual journey and examines how the vice president’s commitment to Christ has been a key component in his life as a husband, father, and public servant. Montgomery examines Pence’s encounters with politicos and evangelistic leaders such as James Dobson and Charles Lake. She shows the role of Pence’s faith in running for various offices, implementing faith-based initiatives, and responding to 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the infamous Anthrax scare in Congress that directly affected him.

The Faith of Mike Pence is a powerful account of one of the most conservative vice presidents in American history, with exclusive interviews and insightful commentary from friends, family, and colleagues. It is a serious and moving reflection about one of America’s most admired and respected politicians.



Click HERE to grab your copy.





My Review

So, no matter where your political views lie, you have to admit Mike Pence is a unique, interesting guy if for no other reason than his seemingly untouchable calmness in all situations. I really admire that he and his family seem to really live out their lives based off their personal relationship with Christ, and don't just use religion as a political power play like most politicians do. What I really liked about the book was it showed Mike Pence as an average guy, and showed another side to him when he wasn't the guy we know now, and how he made mistakes along the way. The book is presented from many printed sources and also from interviews including family members, friends, other politicians, and even those that aren't particularly religious, but had been impacted by Mike Pence. I know with politics being so divisive today, it can be hard to pick up a book like this, but I was really refreshed that it wasn't a book set out to really put Mike Pence on a pedestal, but just show how the Lord has led him and continues to lead Him to be involved in our country's leadership in some way or form. I think regardless of political beliefs, the quality of writing and relatability of this man that is now our Vice President makes for an interesting read. The book is also written in an inviting and smooth flowing way rather than presenting a lot of facts. At the end, I didn't feel like the book was a political manifesto, but rather an interesting and in depth look at an average man that happens to now be our Vice President. 



I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own. 




About the Author


Leslie Montgomery is the author and ghostwriter of over a dozen books. She is best known for writing the spiritual biography, The Faith of Condoleezza Rice, when Rice was serving our nation as secretary of state in the George W. Bush administration. Leslie has been a writer for Focus on the Family for more than twenty years and is the former director of publications for the American Association of Christian Counselors. She is also the founder of Yeshu’a Ministries, with the goal of helping people gain a better and closer relationship with the Lord through her writing, speaking, and teaching ministry. She has traveled to churches and conferences around the world through her evangelical ministry, sharing the Word of God. Leslie has four children and six grandchildren. She resides in Boise, Idaho


More from Leslie

In 2006, I wrote and released The Faith of Condoleezza Rice, know-ing it might be years before I published another book. My husband and I were undergoing fertility treatments and vowed that if I got pregnant, I’d take a few years off of working outside the home to raise my children until they were in school full-time. Well, I did get pregnant and we had two children in the span of two-and-a-half years.

In early summer 2017, with two kids getting ready to start school again, I prayed and asked God to send me a new book contract; it was time to get back into the thick of things. Two weeks later, I dreamt that I was to write The Faith of Mike Pence. The truth is, neither he nor his faith were even on my radar. I got out of bed and began doing a little research. I wrote a book proposal for different publishers and began to accumulate a list of people I hoped to interview.

My overall goal with this book is not to set the vice president up as a spiritual hero, but to show the heart of the real man—as a Christian, husband, father, and politician. In doing so, I tried to allow his own words and those of his family, friends, and colleagues tell his story while I served as a conduit to weave it together. My prayer is that it inspires, encourages, and challenges you.    —Leslie Montgomery






Blog Stops




Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Leslie is giving away a grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card, hardcover copy of The Faith of Mike Pence, and Faith and Freedom Adult Coloring Book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries. Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/e805/the-faith-of-mike-pence-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The Awakening of Miss Adelaide by Linda Brooks Davis


About the Book


Book: The Awakening of Miss Adelaide
Author: Linda Brooks Davis
Genre: Historical
Release Date: July, 2019

Orphaned as an infant, Oklahoma heiress Adelaide Fitzgerald has enjoyed every advantage. She possesses a unique gift for music and has excelled on the opera stage in Italy. As a philanthropist, she’s adored from America to Europe. But Miss Adelaide is about to awaken in a 1918 nightmare. The Great War—and the Great Influenza—knock, and Adelaide finds her uninvited guests more than unwelcome. They threaten her life and alter her identity and purpose. Snatched from a quiet life in an Italian villa, Miss Adelaide is thrust into conflicts others have created. What battle scars will she sustain? And where will love lead her? In The Awakening of Miss Adelaide, war and peace, laughter and heartache, love and loss come together to ignite a fresh fire that reveals one woman’s hidden needs and potentials.  What will gaining a fresh understanding of herself require of the Angel of the Opera?  





Click HERE to grab your copy!


 



My Review

I have enjoyed more than one book by our author, and The Awakening of Miss Adelaide is no exception. One immediate draw was the cover, and the name Adelaide- it just has such a richness to it. Inside we find well-researched history in regards to the aftermath of WWI and the soldiers and families lives after the war. We also find history in regards to treatment of women in mental facilities, and the women's suffrage movement. Along with all these themes we learn about the influenza epidemics that obliterated nations. Among all this rich history, we find Miss Adelaide, an opera singer and orphan, finding her way and love. Along the way, each character develops beautifully, and a thread of faith strengthens each character as well. There is heartache, humor, love, and faith all woven together seamlessly. I recommend this book obviously for the historical fiction reader, but also for those looking for a well written inspirational fiction.



I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own. 



About the Author



Linda Brooks Davis was born and reared, educated, and married in Texas. Her children and six grandchildren were born in Texas. She devoted the bulk of her 40 years as a special educator in Texas schools. But her mother and grandmother hailed from Oklahoma, the setting for Linda’s 2015 debut novel, The Calling of Ella McFarland, which won the 2014 Jerry Jenkins Operation First Novel Award and the 2016 American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. Linda continues to write from her home in San Antonio, Texas. She and her beloved husband Al worship and minister at Oak Hills Church. Linda enjoys chatting with readers through her website www.lindabrooksdavis.com.       

      

More from Linda

Awakening Miss Adelaide begins with my mother’s cedar chest, which bore an unwritten warning: Hands off! Priceless treasures resided in its depths. My parents’ wedding suits. An old tattered quilt. Mother’s felt hat with a jaunty feather at the rolled-up grim. Bible notes. A stained tablecloth. Equally stained ladies’ handkerchiefs. And old, crocheted, scorched pot holders.

 My paternal great-grandmother wrote letters and created intricate, painstaking handwork while she was committed to an asylum in Terrell, Texas. They represent the dearest items in the cedar chest. Incalculable are the times over the years when a family member would comment Great-granny didn’t appear insane at all. I often wondered how it was she resided at a state mental hospital from 1900 until her death in 1948. How could an insane person write coherent letters and create such handwork? Mystery shrouds those answers as surely as Great-grandmother herself. Family legend developed around her. Stories varied from “She wasn’t crazy. Her husband wanted to get rid of her” to “She was an Indian who chose the name McFarland to avoid White bias against the indigenous people.” The truth hides somewhere amid the deadfall of her tragic life. Sometimes research for a novel can feel like digging up bones. In a way, it is.

  One such “bone” I got my teeth around and refused to let go was an article in a 1913 edition of Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It described a murder committed in the lobby of the Metropolitan Hotel. This violent act occurred in connection with an adulterous affair. Consequently, heightened emotions, lowered common sense, and the control males exerted over females resulted in one man’s murder and the murderer’s acquittal. The “offending” woman’s husband dragged her home kicking and screaming and committed her to a mental asylum for “emotional insanity.” wondered if the “offending” man had been treated in like manner. Hardly. How could I NOT include this morass in a novel? Someone ought to write a book about that was often said around our family reunions. My interest in doing just that developed little by little over the years.

The Women of Rock Creek series deals with some of the ways in which women were denied equal rights when they were denied the vote. Such realities presented an ideal platform for illustrating some women’s plight in the hands of unscrupulous men–inequality in education, the courtroom, and even in mental health care. With an abundance of love and respect for my great-grandmother; her daughter, my grandmother; and her grandson, my father, I offer this imaginary story. It contrasts two different women: one with a voice heard around the world and the other with no voice at all. offer The Awakening of Miss Adelaide to the Lord to do with it as He sees fit. May this story inspired by the agony experienced by my great-grandmother serve to lighten someone else’s load.





Blog Stops

Bettimace, August 10
Godly Book Reviews, August 10
Connect in Fiction, August 11
Mary Hake, August 11
Genesis 5020, August 12
Bigreadersite , August 15
Blessed & Bookish, August 16
Emily Yager, August 16
CarpeDiem, August 17
Pause for Tales, August 20
Texas Book-aholic, August 21
janicesbookreviews, August 22
A Reader’s Brain, August 22
Simple Harvest Reads, August 23 (Spotlight)




Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of her book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.