Wednesday, September 2, 2020

About the Book

Book: Seven Sevens in the Gospel of John

Author: Sinikka Smothers

Genre: Nonfiction

Release Date: January 22, 2020

The number seven is significant in science and history as well as in the Bible. When a science educator applies the lens of seven onto the gospel of John, intriguing patterns emerge. Author Sinikka Smothers says, “God has a purposeful design for every area of His creation—including the use of numbers. God loves numbers, especially the number seven. He used mathematical algorithms to construct the matrix we call our universe. Mathematics is God’s language of creation.”

Discover refreshing insights into the life of Christ through this study of seven themes embedded in John’s gospel narrative. The author presents John’s message in seven parts, each one divided into seven sections. Revisit the familiar seven “I AM” statements of Jesus and other sevens that are not widely written about:

Seven signs and miracles Jesus performed
Seven witnesses that testify of Jesus
Seven ministries of the Holy Spirit
Seven life-changing conversations of Jesus
Seven women
Seven questions Pilate asked Jesus

This unique commentary includes rich historical details and paints a vivid portrait of Jesus the Son of God as Master, Savior, and Friend. Relevant stories and personal applications bring the familiar accounts of the book of John to contemporary contexts.

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

This book really intrigued me because I have always heard that the number seven was significant to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. I like the way the author broke down the chapters to reflect different accounts in John that are significant to the number seven. I have read John many times but I never considered how a particular number had meaning to the book of John.

Right away I realized that the story of five loads of bread and two fish were exactly what this book is referring to. Then I began to think about what other truths would I find as I read the book. It seems I have told the story about the feeding of five thousand but never connected that the number seven was right there in the story. I think I like the book because it points out stories where seven is used that we have probably read many times without connecting how the number seven flows through the book of John.

The personal stories mixed in the chapters were good and brought a light to the Gospel of John. I remember the story in one chapter where it talks about a mother who lost her teenage daughter to a car accident. Her daughter had been texting and driving. I loved what the mother said to a group of high schoolers; “Truth matters, and truth can change lives if it is received and not rejected.” The Bible speaks truth but it is our decision whether we follow that truth or ignore it. Just like Thomas in the Bible we doubt things we cannot see. We need to see it to believe it. “He will make Himself known to us when we sincerely seek Him.”

I enjoyed the book and think it was written well with scriptures and Biblical stories that reflect the book of John. It would be a good tool to have when reading John to dig deeper into God’s Word.

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

About the Author

Sinikka Smothers emigrated from Finland to Alabama to study after receiving a college scholarship. While her original plan was to become a missionary, meeting her future husband, Jim, in college changed the direction of her life. She worked twenty-five years as a science teacher with individuals who are visually impaired, and earned her doctorate in education from the University of Alabama. Recently retired, she enjoys teaching Bible classes and spending time with her husband of forty years, two children, and three grandchildren.

More from Sinikka Smothers

A mob of men, women, and children were climbing up the hillside by the Sea of Galilee. “There he is!” someone shouted from above. Those withing hearing distance turned quickly and began to hasten in the direction of the voice. The rest of the large crowd followed their lead, trapped in a current of motion. It was difficult for them to see ahead since the number of people had grown to more than five thousand. Mothers and fathers picked up their young children to protect them from the travelers pressing against them while trying to move ahead to the front of the throng…

Seven Sevens in the Gospel of John began with hand written notes overflowing the pages of my devotional journal. The journal led to several hundred typewritten pages of commentary on John’s narrative of the life of Jesus. After teaching two bible studies based on my emerging outline of seven sevens, I ran into Athena Holtz with Redemption Press. Athena connected me with an editor who condensed my tub-full of writing to a sleek 195 pages. The ten-year-long writing project reached its finish line in January 2020 when I received my “author’s copy”. I will always remember the joy I felt at the first sight of the shiny book cover featuring a summer sky above the gold colored pages of an old parchment. Indeed, if John’s gospel is the treasure map, the timeless treasure it points to is Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

Seven Sevens in the Gospel of John does not add anything to John’s masterful presentation of Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man who invites everyone to live in a personal relationship with Him. It merely offers refreshing perspectives and a novel framework for the reading and rereading of this well-loved gospel. Each of the seven themes in my book contains seven subtopics, totaling 49 chapters. The chapters include special anecdotes, personal stories, and information pieces that connect the themes to contemporary contexts. It is my hope that the reader will find the book useful as a Bible study companion, book study, teaching outline or a devotional reading.

After my book project was completed, something new and surprising began to rise up in my spirit: I became inspired to experiment in visual arts. I wanted my Facebook posts for my book to stand out and speak to diverse audiences; as a result, I constructed collages, used mystery photos from the Holy Land, searched through our family’s Google photos, and began to paint images on old wooden boards I found in our shed. This explosion of artistic expression has led me to rent a booth at a local antiques and crafts mall. If you visit Huntsville, Alabama, please stop by at the Top Key Market to see my booth, at the center of which stands a worn pulpit featuring Seven Sevens in the Gospel of John.

I inherited my love for words from my mother who always spoke the right words for every situation. She often quoted wonderfully quaint Finnish folk sayings that carried centuries of wisdom. I became an avid reader and writer at the age of 6. Academic studies occupied most of my professional life as a teacher, but after retiring four years ago, I have plunged into reading and writing to make up for the lost time. My husband and I have been married for 41 years. Our two children and four grandchildren live nearby and add a lot of fun to our weekly calendar. I look forward to writing a biographical book in the near future. The theme, of course, will include the number seven.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 29

Artistic Nobody, August 30 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Sara Jane Jacobs, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 1

Texas Book-aholic, September 2

Inklings and notions, September 3

For Him and My Family, September 4

deb’s Book Review, September 4

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 5

Writing from the Heart Land, September 6

For the Love of Literature, September 7

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

Mary Hake, September 9

Splashes of Joy, September 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sinikka is giving away the grand prize of a surprise piece of art by the herself!!

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/ffb8/seven-sevens-in-the-gospel-of-john-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

WRITING ABOUT THE AMISH by BETH WISEMAN

I loved this book so much and felt like I was traveling with the author as she visited Amish farms and restaurants. It surprised me about the gray areas that the Amish have with some laws they abide by. For instance, they don’t allow cell phones but can have one for a business. I thought that was strange but it is a way around being able to communicate faster.

When the author talked about her start into the publishing world I appreciated her honesty as she found her way into the genre that was special to her. The addition of Janet as her assistant is a blessing to her as well as everyone on Beth’s street team. She truly has a gift of administration and helps promote, plan and pray for Beth daily.

The pictures that are in the book really give us a glimpse into the Amish world. The author has made wonderful friends on her journey of writing Amish Fiction. It was interesting to know more about the places she write about and the people who found their way into her stories. It was a very interesting conversation between the author and an Amish woman named Lydia. The topic was about the book Plain Perfect. Lydia was not happy with the way Beth had portrayed the people in the community. I knew that communities had their own rules, but I thought they were all pretty much the same. The book is filled with wonderful memories of the author’s journey as she began to write Amish books, I loved the short story at the end and Beth I did notice the red suitcase in the book.

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

About the Book

Book: Trouble in the Ruins

Author: C.L. Smith

Genre: Biblical fiction

Release Date: September 2019

Return to the turbulence of ancient Canaan in Book Three of The Stones of Gilgal. Even the raging floods of the Jordan could not stop the Israelites from crossing the river and setting up camp near Jericho. Canaanite kings and kingdoms—even the Anakim giants—are in turmoil. Former enemies jostle for power in new alliances, united only in their determination to destroy the Israelite invaders.

When the massive fortifications of Jericho collapse, Salmon rushes into the ruins to save Rahab, the beautiful harlot who had rescued him and his fellow spy from certain death. But saving her from her own city is not so easy. And that is only the beginning of the trouble, treachery and devastating ruins they and their friends face as they settle into their new life in the Promised Land.

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

I remember the last book I read from this author and how much I enjoyed it. To say that I was excited about this book is very true. The author takes a Biblical story and makes it come to life. The way she describes the land, the people and what is going on heightens with each paragraph. I absolutely loved reading about the Passover and how it was described. The people were excited but a little hesitant about their future. I had a hard time figuring out how to say some of the names in the story. That is something I have always thought about. It is such a silly thing to ponder over but why are some of the names in the Bible so hard to pronounce? Well that went off on a rabbit trail but I was so captivated by this story that I wanted to know everything including the origin of names.

The excitement starts with the fall of Jericho and oh my does the author do an amazing job of making me experience each stone as it falls loudly to the ground as people ran for their lives. I loved when Salmon came in to rescue Rahab. He was fierce and without any hesitation sweeps her up to freedom. This is exactly what I like about the author’s style of writing. It is so vivid you can see the scene before you and watch as Rahab and Salmon run to safety.

The story is action packed and shines a light on a story I didn’t know much about. Once again I found myself digging in my Bible to see how parallel the two stories were. There is danger, secrets and much deceit that goes on and I couldn’t read fast enough. The Promised Land holds many new adventures and for some it is a big change from what they are accustomed to. There is a lot going on in the story and I did learn a few things. The laws that God had given His people were to be followed. It was hard for some to abide by them but in the end God is in control. He knows what is best for His people. I encourage readers to take their time as they read this account of a time in the Bible when chaos happened and people trusted in their faith to be safe.

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

About the Author

C.L. SMITH, former missionary, retired junior high English/history teacher, has captivated audiences around the world for years with the timeless thrill of biblical tales. Now her six-part Stones of Gilgal saga brings the mayhem and miracles of the book Joshua to life. Well researched and beautifully written, the author weaves her lifetime love of learning and people into the fabric of the biblical text, creating a tapestry of rich scenes and colorful characters the reader will not soon forget.

Learn more at www.stonesofgilgal.com

More from C.L. Smith

The Stones of Gilgal biblical novels follow the epic adventures of a group of ordinary young Israelites. As they battle evil together, they sink their roots deeper and deeper into the bedrock of God’s Truth and Love, slowly growing from a stand of saplings to a forest of giants.

Two of the seven young characters in my series have to deal with a lot of Trouble in the Ruins in this book. Lots of trouble. Lots of ruins.

Rahab the Harlot barely escapes the ruins of Jericho, but the ruins of her former life threaten to keep her ever an alien among the people of Yahweh.

Abihail is Acsah’s best friend from childhood, but she is also a fictionalized daughter-in-law of the biblical Achan. Her life is slammed with heart-rending trouble and ruin as that horrific Old Testament drama unfolds.

The Title: Trouble in the Ruins

The inspiration for this title comes from a couple of “plays on words” in Hebrew.

Trouble: The name Achan in Hebrew sounds very similar to the word Achormeaning trouble. The story of the biblical character Achan is forever tied to the word trouble at the end of Joshua 7 when the valley where he was stoned and buried under a “monument” of rocks received the name the Valley of Achor.

Ruins: Achan’s sin led to defeat at a little fortress known as Ai which means ruin. Some scholars suggest that the fortress was built on or near the ruins of a city destroyed in an earlier time. Following the glory of the crossing of the Jordan and the crumbling walls of Jericho—the Hebrew mind would find great dramatic irony in Israel being defeated by a “ruin.” The story jolts us out of complacency, underscoring the life and death consequences of obedience versus breaking covenant with God.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, September 1

For the Love of Literature, September 2

For Him and My Family, September 3

Sara Jane Jacobs, September 4

Emily Yager, September 4

Artistic Nobody, September 5 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 7

deb’s Book Review, September 7

Inklings and notions, September 8

Betti Mace, September 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 10

Batya’s Bits, September 11

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 12

Mary Hake, September 12

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 13

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, C.L. Smith is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!! (U.S. Only)

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/fff7/trouble-in-the-ruins-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, August 31, 2020

THE MOCKINGBIRD’S SONG by
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER

I am really liking this series so much and glad I was able to relax and visit the characters again in this book. The story finds us seeing how the family is doing after a devastating loss. I loved reading about the greenhouse and how the family works hard to keep it running. I am not good with plants but I enjoy looking at them. I admire people who have beautiful gardens and flowers that cascade around the yard.

Sylvia is still struggling with her loss while raising her two small children. It was nice to see how Sylvia and her younger brother took up birdwatching together. I have several bird feeders in my yard and get great pleasure watching them fly around while grabbing seeds. I think this hobby has brought Henry a little happiness in his life. He still feels overwhelmed at times but he is slowly dealing with his grief.

I loved the introduction of Dennis to the story. He has his own grief to deal with and his friendship with Sylvia is helping both of them. The author does a great job of slowly developing their relationship. If only Sylvia’s mother could accept the fact that Sylvia is ready to move on with her life. I was quite surprised by Belinda’s attitude toward Dennis. Perhaps she is not ready to see her daughter move on. Dennis is a perfect gentleman but he is beginning to feel that perhaps he shouldn’t pursue the relationship with Sylvia. I couldn’t wait to see where the author would take Sylvia and Dennis relationship. I so wanted them to get together.

There is a bit of mystery in the story that I hope to see come to an end in the next book. Who is trying to sabotage the greenhouse? I haven’t figured it out yet but I am anxious to discover who it is. I also liked reading about Virginia the neighbor. That poor lady is so desperate for friends. I laughed when she started spying on Sylvia and her family with binoculars. Talk about being a nosy neighbor. She reminds me of Gladys from a show that was on many years ago. I am wondering how Virginia will fit into this story. Will she let her guard down and become friends with her neighbors?

The story has a gentle feel of faith that is just the right amount to give readers a sense of peace. The story was one I didn’t want to end. There are lessons in the book about judging, forgiveness, grief and acceptance. I can’t wait to read the next book in this lovely series.

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

About the Book

Book: The Shopkeeper’s Widow

Author: Izzy James

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 21, 2020

Delany Fleet, a widowed former indentured servant living in the colonial port of Norfolk, Virginia, dreams of having an estate of her own where she will never have to compromise her freedom.

When the only man she ever loved shows up with a load of smuggled firearms, Delany is forced to leave her home and her livelihood to protect her family and property from Lord Dunmore’s raids and the conniving plots of a man who claims to be her friend.

Now, with her destiny forever altered, Delany must find a new way to happiness. Can reconnecting with her husband’s family and a former love be the path that God has for her?

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

I really enjoyed the setting of Colonial times in the book. It was interesting to get a feel for how it was and I liked how the author made it realistic. The story centers around Delany who is a widow who at one time was a servant. It doesn’t take long to realize how Delany feels about slaves. She doesn’t believe in them and in fact set hers free. Not everyone around her has the same mind set.

Field has a past history with Delany which dies bring up sparks between them. He has come to her for help. I thought it was a big favor he was asking of Delany . The mission is extremely dangerous and it does put their lives in danger. There is mention of slavery and women’s rights but the story really focused on Field and Delany’s relationship. I did think that Delany stood her ground when it came to her faith. She is adamant that she will not be with Field as long as he has slaves.

It is a nice look at how people dealt with topics we still struggle over today. I kept thinking about compromise. Sometimes it is necessary to compromise but not at the expense of your beliefs. That’s why I liked Delany so much. She was determined not to be unequally yoked to someone.

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

About the Author

Izzy James grew up surrounded by history and story in coastal Virginia. She still lives there with her fabulous husband in a house brimming with books.

More from Izzy

Hello! My name is Izzy James. My new book is The Shopkeeper’s Widow. It’s about freedom and second chances. I learned quite a bit of history while researching and writing this book. Did you know that the first showers began to appear in the early 1760’s? I gave Delany one of them in Shopkeeper’s just for fun. It is not likely she would have had a shower at that time, but it is fiction and as such I thought it would be a fun detail to add. We do know that some people did rig up for themselves a semblance of a daily shower by using a bucket full of water suspended above them.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 29

Inklings and notions, August 30

Texas Book-aholic, August 31

For Him and My Family, September 1

lakesidelivingsite, September 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 2

Artistic Nobody, September 3 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

deb’s Book Review, September 3

Connie’s History Classroom, September 4

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 5

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 6

Connect in Fiction, September 7

Batya’s Bits, September 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 9

The Book Chic Blog, September 9

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, September 10

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 10

HookMeInABook, September 11

Books I’ve Read, September 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Izzy is giving away the grand prize package of a a book, a can of tea and an Ingenuitea teapot!!

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/fff4/the-shopkeeper-s-widow-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, August 30, 2020

About the Book

Book: Joy After Noon

Author: Debra Coleman Jeter

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Release Date: February 26, 2019

Joy marries a widowed bank executive caught in an ethical dilemma and misreads his obvious frustration while struggling to integrate into her new family. This novel explores the challenges of second marriages and dealing with step-children during the crucial years of puberty and teenage angst. A college professor coming up shortly for the huge tenure decision, Joy finds herself falling apart as her career and her home issues deteriorate and collide.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Debra Coleman Jeter has published both fiction and nonfiction in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman, and American Baby. Her first novel, The Ticket, was a finalist for a Selah Award, as well as for Jerry Jenkins’ Operation First Novel. Her story, “Recovery,” was awarded first prize in a short story competition sponsored by Christian Woman; and her nonfiction book “Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson”: Tales of a Young Actor was a finalist in the USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several domestic and international awards. Joy After Noon is the first novel in her Sugar Sands series. She has taught at Murray State University, Austin Peay State University, and Vanderbilt University, where she is currently a Professor Emerita. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with her husband.

More from Debra

Joy After Noon

With most of my novels, several forces come together to compel me to tell the story. This is definitely true of Joy After Noon. I thought I’d share a few of those.

Carl Jung says: “The afternoon of life is just as full of meaning as the morning; only, its meaning and purpose are different.”Jung goes on to describe life’s afternoon as the time when we begin to shift away from the ego being the dominant force in our life and move toward a journey that has real meaning.

I also like the following quote: In the afternoon of your life, you don’t do life. You do what resonates with the callings of your soul. When does the afternoon of life begin? I don’t believe the afternoon of life begins at a particular age, or even stage of life. In JOY AFTER NOON, Ray has been pursuing career success and material acquisitions, and experiences a significant change of direction. Some fairly disastrous events in his workplace precipitate the change—events that threaten not only his financial stability but the core of who he is.

When I was a kid, I watched a movie called Joy in the Morning, starring Richard Chamberlain and Yvette Mimieux. This movie was about a young married couple, and the memory of it stayed with me for years. I remember thinking that whereas a typical romance ended when the couple got together or married, the really interesting story starts there. When I wrote Joy After Noon, I decided to focus on a couple that marry a bit later in life. He’s a widower with two teenage daughters. She’s an insecure college professor who has never been seriously romanced.

Initially, the idea for Sugar Sands Book 1 and the title of the novel, Joy After Noon, was that Joy’s life has been lonely (and joy has been elusive) since her parents died when she was sixteen, and she has about given up on finding love when she meets Ray. She comes into his ready-made family and, for a time, this seems like a mistake. However, in the afternoon of her life, she finds love and joy.

What inspired my characters:

There’s always a bit of myself in each of my characters from the least likable to the most. Here’s how I relate to some of the characters in Joy After Noon.

Joy Hancock

Joy is a college professor who has never been in love … until she meets the gorgeous widower Ray Jenkins. In the novel Joy struggles to adapt to her new family at the same time that she’s coming up for tenure as a college professor. I’ve been through the tenure process (with a husband and two kids at home), and I’ve seen a number of others struggle to balance career and family during this stressful process.

Ray Jenkins

Ray, seemingly successful banker, finds himself facing ethical dilemmas as his associates negotiate a dubious merger and then try to hide the undesirable financial consequences. I’ve taught bankers, and I have coauthored a textbook on mergers and acquisitions. I’ve also seen former students caught in ethical crises at work.

Marianne Jenkins

Marianne has aspired all her life to please her demanding perfectionist mother, even after that mother’s death. She cannot live up to her own standards of perfectionism, either as a ballerina or as a cheerleader longing for popularity. I have not studied dance or cheerleading, but I remember being a perfectionist as a child taking piano lessons. I wanted to play a piece with no errors, and I almost never succeeded.

Jenny Jenkins

Jenny, the younger daughter, knows she could never come near to the example set by Marianne, so why try? Jenny plays clarinet in band. As she practices for tryouts, she has a loose pad, causing her horn to squeak rather than play properly. I was a clarinet player, and had this exact experience myself. Jenny becomes friends with a wild girl named Claudia, who leads her to trouble. I had a similar friend as a teenager, and she was even named Claudia. Claudia is a tragic figure in the novel, but not an unsympathetic one.

Although Joy After Noon is part of a series, each book in the series stands alone.

Song of Sugar Sands

Sugar Sands Book 2, Song of Sugar Sands, has recently been announced as a Finalist in the Christian Fiction category in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

MY REVIEW

This book is one that really digs deep into the emotions that many of us deal with. I found the main theme of perfection to be at the center of this story. How many of us have strived to be perfect so we would get the praise we long for? The two sisters in this story have longed to get approval from their mother. When she passed away , they struggled with trying to still please their mother.

Joy and Ray both seemed to struggle in their marriage quickly. I can understand how Joy feels moving into a home that has so many memories for her husband and step-children. Joy wants so bad to please her new family that she starts to see her marriage falling apart. The communication between spouses are infrequent and they start to grow apart. I wasn’t quite sure what Ray was hiding but knew it was causing him to pull away from everyone.

I was frustrated that Joy and Ray didn’t open up to each other and allowed the enemy to start causing them to doubt each other. I don’t know anything about second marriages when one has faced the death of their first spouse, but I was surprised that Ray didn’t step up more and help Joy feel more at ease as a new step-mother. I did like that Joy found a Godly woman to talk to and that seemed to help guide her to depend on God more.

The sisters were still grieving the loss of their mother and I wondered why their dad spent so little time with them. I know he was having problems at work, but his lack of compassion for them made me upset. As the story develops the author starts to reveal a family who needs to deal with death, forgiveness, jealousy, a need to be perfect and insecurity. I enjoyed reading how realistic the characters are and even though I was frustrated at them I understood that they needed to communicate with each other. There is a lot of secrets going on that cause pain and misunderstandings. The faith element in the story is good and it shows how important it is to trust Him with everything. Overall I liked the story and how the author takes a fractured family and shows how insecurity and the need to be perfect can cause poor decisions to be made.

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