Texas Book-aholic

Sunday, November 5, 2017

A TIME TO STAND by ROBERT WHITLOW

I’m trying to gather my thoughts after finishing this outstanding book. The story could be taken from the front page of any newspaper. A young black man is shot and a white police officer is responsible. This seems to be the hot topic right now as tension is high among people. The author wtites a story that shows both sides of this controversy and digs deep into your emotions.

I liked Adisa right away because she wanted to do right for her client no matter what race either one of them were. She knew there would be speculation from reporters why she was representing Luke, the police officer involved in the shorting. Being a black woman and defending Luke did cause some backlash, but her integrity was very impressive. The story is very tense at times and I loved how the author showed how someone can be unbiased no matter what race they are.

It was interesting to see how divided people were on this shooting and Adisa was determined to stand up for the truth. I loved how the author explored racism in a way that makes us think how easy we jump to conclusions just by looking at the color or one’s skin. I encourage everyone to read this book and examine ourselves. Are we guilty of being prejudice?

“If you want to stamp out prejudice, there has to be an admission that it exists.”

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

About the book:

Give your Christmas a makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior.

In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it's important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ's birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party.

Christmas is far more than a celebration of an event from long ago or a modern holiday centered around shopping. Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus provide encouragement and revelation concerning the love of God and his wisdom for us today.

In Total Christmas Makeover, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra provides a practical approach for you and your family to turn your attention toward God's grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering rituals, relationship, and rest to connect you more deeply with Christ this holiday season.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Melissa Spoelstra is a popular women's conference speaker, Bible teacher, and writer who is madly in love with Jesus and passionate about helping women of all ages to seek Christ and know Him more intimately through serious Bible study. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible Theology and enjoys teaching God's Word to diverse groups and churches within the body of Christ. She is the author of the "First Corinthians: Living Love When We Disagree," "Joseph: The Journey to Forgiveness," and "Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World Bible" studies and "Total Family Makeover: 8 Steps to Making Disciples at Home" book. She lives in Dublin, Ohio, with her pastor husband and four kids.

Find out more about Melissa at http://melissaspoelstra.com.

I remember the days when I first got married. Each holiday we went to my husband’s parents house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. After each meal, we then had to drive to his aunts house for dessert. I felt like I was gonna burst at the seams. All I wanted to do was go home and forget the holidays. My family didn’t do anything for holidays so it was hard to watch my husband’s family all cheery and bright. I have learned over the years that holidays are only as good as you choose to make them.

I really enjoyed this devotional a lot. I loved the stories she shares and how encouraging it is to know that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. I think about the Norman Rockwell paintings. I will never have the perfect table setting, or the perfect family Christmas photo, but I do have a family that comes together each year to make memories. I thought the authors idea about praying for the family or individual who sent you a Christmas card was awesome. I usually put mine on the mantle when I get them and forget about them being there. Now I can pray for one of them each day and thank God for bringing special people into my life.

On day twenty she talks about patience. That is something I am still working on. It is a great reminder for me to learn to be more patient with others and to thank Him for His patience with me. Make sure you check out the Questions for Reflection and A Practical Approach after each chapter. I loved everything about this book and encourage you to grab a copy.

I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion

.Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/MSpoelstra

Blog Tour Schedule:

10/19

Debra | 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!

Mary | The Mary Book Reader

Jennifer | A Glimpse of Our Life

Jalynn | A Simple Life, really?!

Stacey | Books,Dreams,Life

10/20

Gayle | BOOKS REVIEWS ETC

10/21

Michelle | To Everything A Season

Stacie | Pursuing Stacie

10/23

Paphapin | Feeling in Red

Lena Nelson | A Christian Writer's World

Laura | Lighthouse Academy

Cassandra | Cassandra M' s Place

Kathryn | MysteriesEtc

Kav | Best Reads

10/24

Sherry | My Journey Back

Michelle | Counselor Thoughts

10/25

Jackie | One Redeemed Mom

Karen | Karen's Korner

10/26

Alex | Inspiration Clothesline

Tami | This Mom's Delight

10/28

Amanda | Inklings and notions

10/29

Kristie | Moments

10/30

Terra | Heck Of A Bunch

Sarah | The Pajama Chef

11/1

Shondra | Give Me Today

Jennifer | This Gal's Journey

Erika | Pray Species

Julius | The Little Friar

Denise | The Help Meet Wife

Kelly | Leafy Not Beefy

Lisa | A Rup Life

Sarah | Running Through The Storms

Becky | In The Pages

11/2

Rachel | EmpowerMoms

Deana | Texas Book-aholic

Tima | Book Reviews by Tima

Carrie | Reading Is My SuperPower

11/3

Julie | More Of Him

Lauren | A Beautiful Inheritance

Emilie | Thinking Thoughts

Ramona | Create With Joy

11/4

Sara | SK Bell

Bree | Bibliophile Reviews

Penny | Hope for Today's Heart

Jennifer | Books, Bargains, Blessings

11/5

Jennifer | Jen Around the World

Amanda | The Talbert Report

Zac | Buy, Borrow, Skip

11/6

Beckie | By The Book

Kim | Kcreatives

Mindy | A Room Wihtout Books is Empty

Michelle | New Horizon Reviews

Kelly | God's Writer Girl

Mimi | Woven by Words

Missica | Through the Open Window

Laura | Once Upon a Storyville

11/7

Heidi | Buzz4Mommies

Keri | My Table of Three

Amy | A Day of Small Things

bethany | The perfect beginning

Nancy | sunny island breezes

Jill | I am believing God

Urailak | Fruitbearers

Leslie | Did YOU hear About the morgans?

Emilee | Sweetly Made (Just for you)

Randi | A Modern Day Fairy Tale

Savannah | The Modern Rules

Amelia | Rejoice Evermore

April | Dixie n Dottie

Crystal | Reflections of a Thankful Heart

Andrea | The Young Girl Who Loved Books

Carrie | Farming On

Sunday, October 29, 2017

THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS by
MICHÈLE PHOENIX

The book was mesmerizing and chocked full of history about France that kept my attention. There were times I think I was lost in the book but the author does a great job of bringing it all together at the end. What happens to Jessica at a concert was eerily close to something that happened just recently in the States. It was hard to read and I cried as I know many lost their lives that day. If only Jessica hadn’t given in and gone to the concert, things would have been so different for her.

The time she spent recovering was gripping and the trauma was hard to overcome. The author does a great job of detailing her recovery that leads her on an adventure that completely had me intrigued. What would you do if you found a document from a long time ago? Like Jessica, I would want to track down it’s origin and find out everything I could about it. The details of the Huguenot persecution was so hard to read and I could feel the pain and suffering of the people.

I really enjoyed when Jessica tracks down what the meaning of a piece of paper long forgotten means. To think that people suffered because of what they believed in was so heartbreaking. The story is well written and I was surprised at some of the twists the plot took. It is sure to keep you guessing. I love the way the story was filled with compassion and characters that I was able to connect with. What I loved the most about this book is the theme of being courageous , moving on and finding closure.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

THE QUILTING CIRCLE by
AMY LILLARD

The book is a wonderful setting where women get together to sew and fellowship. Each story is short but filled with so much emotion and a sense of family. I loved each one and didn’t want the stories to end. Amy knows how to put the right touches on a character to make them come to life. Readers feel like they are sitting in the ladies quilt circle listening to each other share their thoughts. I loved how characters from each story appear in the other stories to make a circle of sorts. They all are friends and share the good and the bad with each other. It is truly a Quilting Circle.

More Than Friendship

I loved this one because Clara Rose was genuine in her relationship with her best friend who happens to be a man. They have known each other forever . Obie is one of those guys you can’t help but like. He is always there to lend a hand and bring a smile to Clara Rose. What happens when Obie finds out that Clara Rose is getting married? Will he step aside and keep his feelings to himself? The story is chocked full of what ifs and trusting yourself. I loved how the author showed us that sometimes we do things thinking it will make us happy. We tend to rush into things without really thinking through how we feel. Don’t miss this lovely story of friendship and true love.

More Than A Promise

Mariana has just lost her husband and is trying to deal with what to do next. Her friends mean well, but sometimes you just need to be alone to grieve. Her friends at the Quilting Circle become concerned when Marianna faints. What secret is Marianna hiding from everyone? The news she gets from the doctor is quite a shock and now she has to have bed rest. How can she do all this on her own? The stress is dangerous for her health and her friends step in to help. I loved her friends and thought they were so supportive of Marianna. I thought her friend Rueben was such a great person. He was her husband’s best friend and I think he felt that he needed to step in and help her out. I cried when Rueben gave her a special gift. My heart went out to Marianna knowing that her road ahead would be hard at times but her trust in God was helping her cope. What I loved about this story is a decision that Marianna makes will have some people questioning her actions. Will Marianna find love again? Will her secret divide the community ? It is a great story about trust and finding happiness .

More Than A Marriage

Tess longs to have children with her husband Jacob. She feels lonely around her husband with him being on a cell phone all the time. I found it strange that he would have a phone but I guess with his work it was a needed item to have. The problem is Jacob spends more time on his phone than quality time with Tess. He seemed to be distracted a lot and Tess soon feels like she wants to go visit her family for awhile. How will Jacob take the news that Tess wants time away from him? When Tess sees how happy her friends are , she longs for the same in her marriage. This made me think that sometimes we run from our problems instead of staying and working them out. Will Tess realize she and Jacob need to communicate their feelings before it is to late? I love when Clara Rose tells Tess, “Don’t let pride get in the way of your marriage.” How many of us are guilty of staying mad because our pride gets the best of us? I really related to this story the most. I always thought things were greener on the other side. Guess what? They aren’t and I really had to swallow my pride and admit I was wrong. This story will give you hope and remind you that God and communication is the key to a good marriage .

I received this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Saturday, October 28, 2017

A DEADLY ECLAIR by
DARYL WOOD GERBER

What a wonderful start to a new series. The author has mesmerized me with her exquisite meals served at the beautiful restaurant our main character runs. The French Bistro and Inn was becoming quite the place to eat at. I found myself feeling like I was sitting at a table watching Mimi as she ran her business with precision. The way the author describes the menu makes you want to run in a French Bistro and order all the food in the book.

Mimi is a delightful character with strong opinions and has a backer that has helped get her established. Bryan Baker has had a special place in his heart for Mimi and wants to be sure she succeeds. He reminds me of a grandfather who has all this money and lavishes it on his favorite granddaughter. Mimi is like an energizer bunny and seems to take on a lot to make her business successful.

When a famous talk show host books her wedding at the Inn, everyone is on high alert. Mimi knows this wedding could put her on the map. The chef has to have the perfect menu and everything has to be picture perfect . Will the bride and groom be happy with the setting for their wedding? Can the menu the chef has prepared live up to their expectations?

Sometimes we don’t always get what we want and Mimi finds herself in panic mode when several guests get drunk and start to get out of hand at the evening party. As the evening winds down Mimi hopes to sleep and get a jump start on the next day. What she finds the next morning will put a damper on the wedding and make her a suspect. Her beloved mentor is found dead with an eclair stuck in his mouth. Ok I did find that a bit funny. That’s one of the things I like about the authors writing. She puts humor in her story at just the places to lighten up the mood a bit .

The story has some delightful characters that I found to be interesting. The list of suspects are many and poor Mimi is on the top of the list. Her sleuthing skills were very well thought out and I have to say she could easily get a job as a detective. Now the big question is who killed Bryan? He is very well off, and helped Mimi get her business off the ground. Does Bryan have family members that are willing to kill to get his inheritance? Or perhaps it is a jealous person that despised him for his success? The story is well written and kept me guessing till the end. Once again I didn’t figure out who the killer was. I love it when an author can write a mystery and fool her readers and surprise them at the end. I am looking forward to more books in this wonderful series.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Thomas Nelson's 'KJV Know The Word Study Bible' Kindle Fire Giveaway BLOG CODE: Diving deeper into God's Word can be easy and rewarding if you break it down book by book, verse by verse, or topic by topic with the new KJV Know The Word Study Bible by Thomas Nelson. The book-by-book series of notes leads you through the main points of each book of the Bible. The verse-by-verse notes help you to dig deeper into God's Word. The topic-by-topic articles, which cover 21 theological topics, guide you through a series of insightful notes and give you a thorough biblical understanding of each topic. With the beautiful and timeless text of the KJV translation, the KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers you choices of how to study Scripture and grow in your relationship with Christ.

This fall, become a regular student of the Bible and enter to win the Kindle Fire giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of the KJV Know The Word Study Bible
A Kindle Fire 7
A Kindle Fire case (winner's choice)

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 31. The winner will be announced November 1 on the Litfuse blog.

Gain a greater understanding of the Bible book by book, verse by verse, or topic by topic.

The study of God's Word can be easy and rewarding if you break down the Bible into easy-to-understand segments. The KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers three easy ways to begin studying Scripture and helps individuals transition from being a casual reader of the Bible to becoming a regular student of the Bible. You can choose to study the Bible book-by-book, verse-by-verse, or topic-by-topic; each path offers powerful insights that will help you develop a daily routine of Bible study.

The book-by-book series of notes leads you through the main points of each book of the Bible. The verse-by-verse notes help you to dig deeper into God's Word. The topic-by-topic articles, which cover 21 theological topics, guide you through a series of insightful notes and give you a thorough biblical understanding of each topic. With the beautiful and timeless text of the KJV translation, the KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers you choices of how to study Scripture and grow in your relationship with Christ.

Features include:

-King James Version Bible text
-Three easy approaches to study the Bible: 1. Book by Book; 2. Verse by Verse; 3. Topic by Topic
-Insightful introductions for each book of Scripture
-Words of Jesus in red
-Beautiful two-color interior page design
-Comprehensive list of theological notes
-Concordance
-Full-color maps
-8-point type size

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the publisher:

In business since 1798, Thomas Nelson is one of the oldest Bible publishers in the world and the largest publisher of the King James Version. Their mission is to inspire the world by using our talents, assets, opportunities, and influence to engage and equip people with Scripture and draw people to a deeper study and understanding of God's Word.

Find out more about Thomas at https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com.

I Love Study Bibles because they offer so much more than a regular bible. This one is sturdy and well organized. I loved the way they go deeper with some scriptures. They go further and give you a section called more insight. Oh how I love the words written in red. I don’t find that in many bibles anymore. Many of you have your favorite version of the Bible, but this review is only to tell you the extra features this bible has in store for its readers.

Be sure and go through this Bible slowly as you find nuggets of wonderful scriptures that allow you to see a clearer view of what it means. I was so excited to see at the end of the Bible , maps in beautiful color. Were you wondering about the route to the Kingdom of David and Solomon? You can find that answer as you take in the beauty of a map that is very detailed. I love how you can look at the map and think about what it might have looked like on the road to these amazing places.

One of my favorite books of the Bible is Romans. I decided to flip there and see what treasure I would find. It gives you an overview of how to study the Book of Romans in easy to understand terms. As an extra it also highlights some of the scriptures that represent the theme of the book. I can’t say enough great things about this bible. I’m glad I had a chance to look at it and it will be close to me at all times. There are several ways you can use this bible to study with as each one leads you to a deeper understanding of His word. I encourage everyone to get a copy and start your journey into this well designed bible.

I received a copy of this bible from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion.

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/TNelson

Tour Schedule:

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Hayley DiMarco's 'A Woman Overwhelmed" $75 Giveaway "A woman overwhelmed"-is this a phrase you can relate to? If you answered yes, you need to read Hayley DiMarco's new book, A Woman Overwhelmed. The best-selling author shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God's love and power. Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

Become a woman less overwhelmed by life and more overwhelmed by God and enter to win Hayley's $75 Merry Maids Visa Card Giveaway to help lessen your daily load.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of A Woman Overwhelmed
A $75 Merry Maids Visa Cash Card

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 3. The winner will be announced November 6 on the Litfuse blog.

"A Woman Overwhelmed" is a phrase with which many women can relate.

But what would happen if we could see the insanity in our pace and embrace our overwhelming God?

There is a reason they say that a woman's work is never done- because it isn't! As women, we often are overwhelmed by the demands and circumstances of life, resulting in stress, fear, worry, impatience, fatigue, frustration, and even depression. The truth is that we were created to be overwhelmed . . . not by life but by God! When we learn to be overwhelmed by God, the fruit in our lives goes from rotten to fragrant-filling our days with peace, hope, love, and joy

In A Woman Overwhelmed , best-selling author Hayley DiMarco shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God's love and power.

Be empowered to find freedom in becoming overwhelmed with who God is-by learning to focus on what we know about God so that we can hold onto faith even when it seems that all is lost. For it is when an overwhelmed woman gives up the mission of me and exchanges it for the mission of God that being overwhelmed becomes a good thing.

Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Hayley DiMarco is the best-selling author of more than 40 books, including multiple books in the God Girl line, "The Fruitful Wife," "Obsessed," "Die Young" and "Own It." As the founder

The author must have had me in mind when she wrote this book. I feel overwhelmed everyday. I am always asking myself did I remember to do this and oh yeah I need to do that errand before they close. Some days I’m so out of it, I see myself coming and going. This book is just what I needed. It is so refreshing to read that I am not alone in my thinking. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when the author said, “I’m overwhelmed simply because I’m not in charge.” Well of course that’s the answer to my problems. Let me be in charge of everything, then I know it will get done. Then I stopped and realized I’m the problem. I want to do everything to please others, make myself feel good and yes I forgot that God is in charge, not me.

The book is filled with wonderful insights that help women understand that it’s ok to make a mistake. We can’t do it all and God has given us spouses and families to balance everything out. I hated it when I was at work and would make a mistake and someone would point it out. I felt like a little child being scolded by my dad who I could never please. So I became a shell of myself. I slowly started to see myself putting a wall up so no one could get in. I didn’t invite the most important part of my life to help me. I walked away from God, but I didn’t feel worthy enough to be in His presence. What I needed to do was ask God to help me and work through what had transformed into anxiety.

The author has so many points that really helped me. I loved when she said, “I may never know why God slows me down when He does , but I want to find the strength to trust Him in those times.” I want to stop, smell the roses and enjoy my life. I love the personal stories the author shares and the humor she brings as she shares her life . There are so many nuggets of eye opening topics I decided to slow down and start taking notes as I read. I loved at the end of every chapter she provides a section called “ Thoughts To Ponder.” It summarizes what you just read and gives you questions to take your study deeper. I loved this book so much and it will be a book I refer back to along with the notes I made. This is a must read for every woman. We don’t need to be overwhelmed anymore.

“ God’s mission is never interrupted and is always completed; it’s just not always completed in the

ways we might expect.”

I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion.

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/HDiMarco

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