PRESENT DANGER by ELIZABETH GODDARD

Nothing gets my attention more than an explosive start to a book. A plane crash in the mountains opens up this fast  paced story and gains momentum as each chapter unravels. I love how the author has characters that are determined, fierce and a little history between them. The action is chaotic at times and keeps me bolted to my chair. I couldn’t wait to see what mystery I would try to solve.

It is easy to like Jack because he is the type that takes charge and never gives up. There is something in his past that distracts him at times but that just makes him a little mysterious at times. Maybe it’s the job he does that causes him to be so intense at times. 

Coming onto the scene is Terra. Now she is a little complicated as she has this thing about proving herself. Oh and did I mention that her and Jack have a past together. I really liked learning about artifacts and National Parks. It intrigued me to find out that there are people willing to go to great links to take valuable and historical items from their natural in-habitat. 

With a possible smuggling ring going on, bodies piling up and danger everywhere this is one of my favorite books from the author. I don’t want to give much detail because then you will know the whole story. I do know that the author throws in twists that had me shaking my head. I just knew I had figured out everything and bam she kicks it up a notch. Be ready for a few hours of intense drama that will leave you looking for more books from this very talented author. 

I received a copy of this book from The Librarything Early Reader Program and the author. The review is my own opinion, 

 

 

About the Book

Book:  Be More Than a Christian, Be a Disciple

Author: Pastor Oscar Walker

Genre: Christian Devotional

Release date: July 2020

Be More Than A Christian began as weekly devotional text messages to the members of Disciples Tabernacle Church with added thoughts of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and experiences of Pastor Oscar Walker.  Overtime, these devotional were transitioned to emails due to the abundance of information.  The devotions included in this book are revelations and illuminations given to Pastor Walker by the Holy Spirit.  These 52 devotions focus on 52 aspects of our journey with the Lord.  A thought and a devotion for each week of the year.  Pastor Walker believes devotions are mediation books. Something written in these devotions may lead you into prayer; however, the goal of this book is to lead you into meditation.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2).

One important problem among believers today who call themselves Christians is their poor witness in the world.  They present a weak commitment to living by the precepts and teachings of Christ and the Apostles.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22-23).

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Pastor Oscar Walker has been in ministry for over 30 years and is the founding pastor of Disciples Tabernacle Church in Houston, Texas. Prior to becoming a full-time pastor, Pastor Walker worked 35 years in the airline industry and for several years as a high school teacher. 

Pastor Walker surrendered to the call of ministry in April 1997 and has been running for the Lord ever since. In 2000, Disciples Tabernacle Church was founded and has birthed ministries, such as Ministers Training College, to help equip leaders and ministers for ministry work. Pastor Walker’s call is to make disciples who continue to make other disciples following his influence and his primary ministry assignment is to teach God’s people how to have a personal relationship with Him through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Walker has been married to his wife, Joyce, for 54 years and has 3daughters, 2 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, and 4 great granddaughters. His hobbies are auto mechanics, reading, gardening, and fishing. Now he tends to,“God’s garden”, and is a, “fisher of men.” 

 

More from Oscar

Need to connect with God on a deeper level? Want to have a relationship with Christ that is beyond the surface level? Be More Than A Christian, Be A Disciple was born out a desire to help fellow believers develop a deeper relationship with Christ through studying His Word and applying biblical principles to our everyday lives. Originally, the devotions in the book were weekly devotionals sent to our church membership for encouragement throughout the week. Over the years, the devotionals became a path to grow in your relationship with Christ and now a book. Each month focuses on an aspect of your relationship with Christ and each week takes you step by step through how to mature in your belief and faith. From the beginning of the year, starting fresh and focusing on Christ, through the middle of the year learning about the power of prayer and trusting God, to the end of the year setting your eyes on your destiny, the devotions are meant to spur your fervor and thirst for knowledge about Christ. My prayer is this book inspires you to be more than a Christian but a devoted disciple of Christ.

MY REVIEW 

I looked at the cover of this book for a long time. It really made me think about how we sometimes are a bit intimidated by being a Christian. We walk the walk but do we talk the talk? That is what grabbed my attention in the picture. We often are in the shadow when God is  wanting us to be bold . He wants us to step out and be disciples and spread His Word. 

This devotional is divided into a weekly study. It is not very long and easy to read. The author uses scriptures and prayer to reinforce his points. The Biblical illustrations help readers understand each topic and for me , it allowed me to dig deeper into the subject by looking up the scriptures and studying them more. 

I was drawn to the topic in July because it talks about anxiety. I have struggled with this for many years. The scriptures used are familiar to me and I liked when the author said, “turn your worry list into a prayer list.”  Let God know your  needs and He will lift  the burdens from you. The key to everything is prayer. I need to remember to pray and not get caught up in the enemy’s trap. 

I liked the book and think it would be a great gift to give anyone who needs encouraging or wants a fresh Word from God. It would make a great study for an individual or group. 

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 26

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 27

cats in the cradle blog, May 27

Lighthouse Academy Blog, May 28 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

deb’s Book Review, May 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 30

Inklings and notions, May 31

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 2

CarpeDiem, June 2

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 3

For Him and My Family, June 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 5

Spoken from the Heart, June 6

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 8

Mary Hake, June 8

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Oscar is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10c9f/be-more-than-a-christian-be-a-disciple-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Prairie

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fantasy

Release date: February 13, 2013

What if you could literally wish your life away?

My name is Jessa Davidson, and I awoke one day in the place of every dream I’ve ever had—the prairie.  I don’t know how I got here or where here even is, but I know one thing for certain. I can’t go home again. Ever.

If I’ve learned one thing being in this beautiful place, it’s that no matter how perfect it and its people seem, sin lives in the hearts of men and women in Prairie, too. The differences between Prairie and Pittsburgh? There are too many to count.

I grew up hearing the words of the Apostle Paul. “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Here in Prairie, they’re not a lesson. They’re a warning.

I’ve been given a gift—the greatest desire of my heart. A life in the place of my dreams, a chance at love and family, a sense of real belonging.

Can I hold onto it? Time will tell—time I may not have if I can’t learn to be content.

Prairie is the first book in the Journey of Dreams, a series of related but stand-alone contemporary Christian fantasy novels exploring truths in a whole new way.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

 

More from Chautona

When Your Novel Teaches You an Important Lesson

I’ve told the story before, but I’ll tell it again. Prairie began as a dream. For several days in a row, I fell asleep and found myself lost in the sway of prairie grasses undulating to the strains of “Theme from a Summer Place.”

It’s a bad habit of mine, but despite being in the middle of a writing project, I wrote down my thoughts—my impressions. Two strange things happened.

First, the story came out in first person. Folks, I don’t write in first-person perspective. Not my novels, anyway. I don’t enjoy reading it, and I really don’t enjoy writing it.

Jessa, however, demanded I let her tell her story… her way. So I did. And it’s one of the fastest novels I’ve ever written.

There’s irony in that.

You see, I didn’t know where that story would go. My dream only replayed the scene of Jessa waking up on the prairie and not knowing how she got there—only knowing she could never go home. Beyond that, I hadn’t a clue.

And though I wanted to rush through so I could see where the story would take me, and though I wrote at breakneck speeds, the story unfolded at its own pace.

The people of Prairie live a different life from anything you’ve ever seen—and yet it is mostly very familiar. One thing, however, sets it apart.

Time.

Only in Prairie does time not work as it does here, and that changes everything. The story begins slowly and for a reason. Line by line, observation by observation, step by step through the grasses and down rutted lanes, the story draws you out of the breakneck speed of modern life and into a world that, if you aren’t careful, will whiz by faster than is even possible.

Here in our world, that is.

There… you’d better watch out.

Has anyone ever warned you not to wish your life away? It’s just a gentle reminder that if you’re always eager for today to end in hopes of a more exciting tomorrow, you may find you never lived.

In Prairie? It might actually happen.

MY REVIEW 

If ever a book was meant for me this one is it. I can’t believe how on point this story is for me. I am a huge fan of Little House on the Prairie. I have always loved that time period where people lived in a small town and had farms. Neighbors helped each other and families spent time together. I have wished so many times that my life was different. How many times have you said that you wish your life  was different? Let’s unwrap this story  together as we step into a place where there is no concept of time. 

Jessa wakes up in a field filled with everything you would imagine from being on a farm. She has no concept of where she is and how she got there. Now I had to let that sink in. Did she just land Somewhere over the Rainbow?  My heart beat a little faster as I took in everything that Jessa did. She was in the place she thought her life would be better at. Meeting the people in Prairie  made her unsure of what was happening. Everyone helped each others out , they welcomed strangers yet seemed so removed from the world we know. 

The simplicity of this place was heartwarming. I loved when Jessa is talking to Graham about going to church. His explanation is so on track that it hit me in the  face. “How do you expect to eat at the Lord’s Table, feed on His Bread, and nourish yourself with one another if you never partake.” Well I think God just smacked me in the face with that statement. We need to surround ourselves with like minded people and fellowship at church. Why do we lose sight of God wanting to have a relationship with us? 

The story is one that awakens an urgency within me. I pray from this day forward that I trust God with everything in my life.  I want that childlike faith again and that hunger to be in His presence. Let Him settle my restlessness and be content where I am. Allow me to be joyful in the midst of a storm and give grace to others without judgment. Show me that the desires of my heart I have already received and remind me of the blessings of patience, family  and unconditional love. 

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

Blog Stops

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 28

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 28

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 29

For the Love of Literature, May 30

Blogging With Carol, May 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 31

Inklings and notions, June 1

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, June 1

For Him and My Family, June 2

deb’s Book Review, June 3

Spoken from the Heart, June 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 4

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 7

Pause for Tales, June 7

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 8

Lots of Helpers, June 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 9

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of the book & a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10ca2/prairie-celebration-tour-giveaway

OBSESSION by PATRICIA BRADLEY

As the title implies someone has an unhealthy attraction to someone. I can feel the shivers already as I recount the story. Emma is sometimes hard to understand. She is stubborn and wants to do things on her own. I was irritated with some of her decisions and thought she put herself in harms way unnecessarily. Now I did think her job was pretty unique. 

I liked the mystery and thought that Sam was a great addition to the story. There is plenty of action but I did figure out who the stalker was which made the story not as fun to read. There is a few things I did  like though. The lesson  on forgiveness was very well written in the story and I loved how the author used it to help a few characters deal with the past. 

The story is good but needed a bit more depth and less predictability. I do like the author and appreciate a book that has action. Overall not a bad story and I’m sure readers will enjoy it. 

I received a copy of this book from The Librarything Early Reader Program. The review is my own opinion. 
 

ACTIVE DEFENSE by LYNETTE EASON

If you are not familiar with this author you are missing out on action, danger and inspiration. In this story she delivers characters that you care for and want  to be there to help them. 

Heather is someone  who is fierce, determined and always aware of her surroundings. Coming home after a tour overseas she still thinks about the young boy who could have killed her. I held my breath as that boy stood there with a bomb strapped to him. His bravery is not lost on Heather. 

Have you ever had a feeling that someone is watching you? Heather senses something  is not quite right but withholds telling her friends. I think she thought she was protecting them but really she was placing them in danger. 

Travis is a good character who tries to help Heather but at times she pushes him  away.  When danger gets too close Travis knows he needs to find a safe place for Heather. I couldn’t wait to find out who was behind the staking. It is an action packed run for your life thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat as I couldn’t read fast enough. Get ready for an adventure that rivals the best at suspense. 

I received a copy of this book from the Librarything Early Reviewer Program. The review is my own opinion. 
 

 

About the Book

Book:  Windward Shore

Author: Sharon Hinck

Genre: Christian epic fantasy

Release date: May 11, 2020

The island world of Meriel faces an old adversary and a new danger. Will the reformed Order die before it has a chance to blossom?

Storm clouds loom on the horizon as Carya and Brantley struggle to overcome wounds of the past and build a future together. The fragile new Order is on shaky ground, with too few dancers and sparse resources. Then trouble erupts—and now an insidious rebellion and a new foe threaten their entire world.

When she uncovers an old enemy behind all the destruction, Carya realizes the past is not done with her. With conflict tearing apart the dancers and villages, rimmers are soon overrun, and Carya must unite her people by leading the battle to protect the very heart of her world … or lose it all.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Award-winning author Sharon Hinck writes “stories for the hero in all of us”—stories about ordinary women on extraordinary faith journeys. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include the groundbreaking The Sword of Lyric fantasy series and the imaginative new The Dancing Realms series, which began with the Christy Award–winning Hidden Current and was followed by Forsaken Island. Sharon’s writing has also been honored with three Carol Awards. For this latest series, she drew on her experience as a ballet teacher, dancer, and choreographer.

 

More from Sharon

Windward Shore is the final book in the Dancing Realms trilogy. In the earlier books, Carya and Brantley have already faced down a corrupt Order, a world that has forgotten truth, and a whole new island that has sold its soul. Yet in this new story, old enemies return—at the worst possible time. Confronting the past becomes a vital part of protecting their future.

 

We all face trials in life, seasons that are more challenging than we expected, opportunities to deepen our faith as we lean into God, times that test our courage. But I’ve found that sometimes the most difficult problems are those that I think I’ve already beaten—and then they rise up again. I drew from that experience to shape the new battles in Windward Shore.

 

Q: In the Dancing Realms series, the Maker has given dancers a special gift to serve their world. Why did you choose dance as a means for bringing provision or protection?

 

A: I was a dancer and choreographer for many years before becoming a writer. Dance is a means of communicating with the whole being—heart, mind, and body. So dance became a beautiful way for Carya to connect with her Maker and serve her world.

 

Q: What other interests shaped the series?

 

A: I’ve been studying cults and how people become trapped in lies, and more importantly, how they find freedom. So that concept helped me create the various traps that characters faced in all three books.

 

Q: What is a key theme in Windward Shore?

 

A: Although I write “Stories for the hero in all of us,” I recognize that we can’t always be the hero—at least not in our power. Our determination alone isn’t enough. Our Maker calls us to dependence on Him, and often He asks us to lean on others as well. That’s a key challenge that Carya faces in Windward Shore.

MY REVIEW 

Let me start by saying how descriptive the author is while writing this story. It is easy to visualize Carya and Brantley as they sweep across the pages. There is much depth to the story as I followed them to reach their mission. The Maker is very significant and Carya understood the lessons she was being taught. She likes to do things without thinking the plan through, but in this story she learns to listen and follow His guidance. I thought it was very intriguing to hear Carya say, “my only Lord is the Maker.” The Bible is very specific that there is only one God we should worship. Carya showed me how fierce she is by standing  up to those who had kidnapped her. 

Mixed with fantasy and truth is a story that stirs within us justice and freedom. The world is in chaos and an enemy  that has not been heard from in awhile wants to take what is not theirs. It is a battle of epic proportions and danger lurking nearby. I liked the lessons about learning to trust, forgiveness and unconditional love. For me the best part was reading  how much deeper a relationship Carya developed with the Maker. 

Those looking for adventure in a fantasy world filled with dancers, sea creatures and danger will enjoy this story. The author has given us a great series and I’m sorry to see it end. I would recommend reading the first two books in the series as they introduce you to a world like no other. 

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

Blog Stops

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 29

Worthy2Read, May 29

Texas Book-aholic, May 30

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 31

Mia Reads, May 31

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 2

Woven by Words, June 2

Inklings and notions, June 3

For Him and My Family, June 4

Blogging With Carol, June 4

deb’s Book Review, June 5

For the Love of Literature, June 6

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 6

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 9

Simple Harvest Reads, June 9 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 10

Through the Fire Blogs, June 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sharon is giving away the grand prize package of the first two books of the series in hardcover (personalized and autographed), along with a bookbag, several bookmarks (enough to give to friends) and an autographed bookplate to put in their copy of Windward Shore!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10ca3/windward-shore-celebration-tour-giveaway