About the book:
Everyone loves to receive a gift.
And God has given us many, such as his grace-the gift we don't deserve and can never earn. Promises from the One who declares we are already loved, already accepted, already created in his image. The question becomes, will we truly receive that gift? Will the reality of it actually change the way we think and notice and reach out?
God's Word will stand forever, in any season of life. These truths prompt us to respond with compassion and courage.
Through inspiring devotions, Lucinda Secrest McDowell reveals biblical blessings that remind us that: God's promises give us strength, God's grace can be most evident at our weakest points, a proper response to our abundance of blessings is simply gratitude, and the "more" we are all looking for is the same abundant life that Jesus came to give us.
Would you like to receive these gifts of ordinary grace? Join Lucinda in focusing on one word a day through devotional readings and short benedictions for any and every season to explore the many facets of Grace, Strength, Gratitude, and Life.
About the author:
Lucinda Secrest McDowell is passionate about embracing life - both through deep soul care from drawing closer to God, as well as living courageously in order to touch a needy world. A storyteller who engages both heart and mind, she offers "Encouraging Words" to all on the journey. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, Cindy is the author of 13 books, including "Ordinary Graces," "Dwelling Places," "Live These Words," "Refresh!," "Quilts from Heaven" and "Role of a Lifetime." Whether co-directing the "reNEW - retreat for New England Writing," mentoring young moms, or leading a restorative day of prayer, she is energized by investing in people of all ages.
Find out more about Lucinda at http://EncouragingWords.net.
In “Ordinary Graces” there is page after page of encouragement through scripture, prayer and personal stories. I love how the book is broken up into sections on Grace, Strength, Gratitude and Life. As I read through the book, I found words that gave me hope, encouraged me and helped me to live a more joyful life. We can get weary from struggles and feel like we can’t go on. With this wonderful devotion, you can find scriptures that lift you up as you soak in the Word.
I loved the topic she shared on Battle. As I read the pages I slowly understood exactly what “their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle.” Even though I may be going through something, I can turn my weakest moment into strength. I can stand strong and face my battle and know that He is right there beside me.
I have to share this one because it really hit home. The chapter talks about baggage. I know that subject very well. I have carried baggage all my life. I have let it way me down, discourage me and believed hurtful words said about me. After awhile that baggage gets heavy and the lies start to take over. I loved how the author encourages us to, “fix our eyes on Jesus.” It’s time to leave the past behind, stop looking in the rear view mirror and move forward.
This book will be close by at all times so I can go back to it when I feel down, need encouragement and be filled with hope, strength and grace.
I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion.
Are you ready to receive gifts of ordinary grace and abundant life from God and His Word? Join Lucinda in focusing on one word a day through devotional readings and short benedictions in her new book, Ordinary Graces. God has given us many gifts, such as his grace—the gift we don’t deserve and can never earn. Promises from the One who declares we are already loved, already accepted, already created in his image. The question becomes, will we truly receive that gift? Will the reality of it actually change the way we think and notice and reach out?
Celebrate the release of Lucinda's new book and grace your holiday season with a $75 Etsy gift card giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 24. The winner will be announced November 27 on the Litfuse blog.
Blog Tour Schedule:
11/1
Amanda | Inklings and notions
Heidi | Buzz4Mommies
Amy | A Day of Small Thing
Kathryn | MysteriesEtc
Stacey | Books,Dreams,Life
11/3
Wendy | Wall-to-wall books
Becky | In the Pages
Dianna | Savings in Seconds
11/6
Crystal | Our Perfectly Imperfect Life
Carrie | Reading Is My SuperPower
Amanda | The Talbert Report
Tina | Divine Encouragement
11/7
Callie | The Heart of the Matter
Kristie | Moments
Cassandra | Cassandra M's Place
Penny | Hope for Today's Heart
Lisa | A Rup Life
11/8
Jeanne | The Stream's Edge
11/9
Joan | Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
11/10
Julius | The Little Friar
Leslie | Did YOU hear about the Morgans
Rachel | Smart mom Smart Ideas
11/1
Kelley | Kelley Mathews
Ramona | Create With Joy
11/13
Sherry | My Journey Back
Paphapin | Feeling in Red
Julie | More Of Him
Michelle | New Horizon Reviews
Meg | The Gritty Pearl
Rebecca | My Ink Dance
11/14
Jennifer | A Peace of Mind
Cortney | Unveiled Graces
11/15
Jennifer | Mother of Three
Kim | Window To My World
Laura | Once Upon a Storyville
11/16
Mindy | A Room Wihtout Books is Empty
Deana | Texas Book-aholic
Andrea | The Young Girl Who Loved Books
Sue | Thoughts from Mill Street
11/17
Denise | The Help Meet Wife
Alexis | God is Love
Urailak | Fruitbearers
Carrie | Farming On Faith
April | Dixie n Dottie
Molly | Cafinated Reads
Mary | The Mary Book Reader
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Thursday, November 16, 2017
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Love’s Thankful Heart Kick-Off Package
About the Book
Author: Laura V. Hilton, Rachel J. good, Thomas Nye
Genre: Amish Thanksgiving Collection
Release Date: November 1, 2017
Gingerbread Wishes
As Thanksgiving approaches, Becca Troyer finds herself overwhelmed with an abundance of winter squash and pumpkins that she isn’t a bit thankful for. Desperately trying to sell them at a farmer’s market so she won’t have mountains to can, she’s surprised when a mime drops to his knee in front of her and proposes marriage.
Yost Miller is helping the volunteer firefighter raise funds at the city park when he notices his long-time crush Becca selling vegetables. Drawn across the grass, he spontaneously proposes marriage. But afterward, Yost isn’t sure how to proceed to show her that his feelings are real.
Just as he begins to find solid footing, confidence is yanked away, leaving him floundering. Will he lose Becca to another man? Or will this Thanksgiving be a season of blessings and wishes come true?
Thanksgiving Strangers
Faithe Beiler believes God wants her to feed the poor at her family’s restaurant, but when she mistakes Crist Petersheim for a homeless man and gives him a free breakfast, he’s offended. Yet he can’t help being intrigued by this pretty waitress with a giving heart.
Crist blames God for the tragedies in his life, so the last thing he wants is to get involved with an Amish girl, who trusts God in all circumstances. He fears for Faithe’s safety, though, when she invites every homeless person in the neighborhood, including drug dealers and criminals, to a free Thanksgiving dinner. Street savvy, Crist risks his life to protect her from danger.
As Crist’s heart softens toward God, Faithe finds herself falling him. Then she discovers his deception, and her world is shattered. Can she ever trust him again?
The Thanksgiving Frolic
Monroe has the prettiest girl and the fastest horse— but pride goes before a fall.
Monroe’s girlfriend, Rosemary, and her family organize the ThanksgivingFrolic, a service project to help Amish folks who have fallen on hard times. Monroe wants to go along but his dad won’t let him. Furthermore, Monroe’s dad thinks Rosemary’s family should clean up their own messy farm before they try to help others. Will the contrast between Monroe’s and Rosemary’s families end their relationship for good? Rosemary’s grandpa tries to offer words of wisdom, but people don’t take him seriously. The Thanksgiving Frolic heats up to a fever pitch, before a moment of silence changes everything.
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Authors
Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.
When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.
Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster, PA, the setting for many of her Amish novels. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends special time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events. Rachel is the author of several Amish series, including Sisters & Friends (Charisma), Love & Promises (Grand Central), and two books in the Hearts of Amish Country series (Annie’s Book Club). In addition, she has two Amish Quilts Coloring Books as well as stories in several anthologies, including Springs of Love (CelebrateLit).
Thomas Nye writes novels about horses and Amish life, with a touch of romance, and a foundation of faith in Christ. He and his wife, Shari, live on her family farm where they raised five children. Their six grandchildren love to visit Karma and Karla, a team of draft horses which Thomas purchased from an Amish friend. Walking a mail route for the U.S. Postal Service keeps Thomas close to nature and affords him many quiet hours which he uses to dream up novels. Over three decades of friendships with Amish neighbors has revealed a simple wisdom that he weaves into his writing. To find out more, visit: amishhorses.blogspot.com
This is a wonderful collection of stories by three amazing authors. They each have their unique style of writing which give readers a variety of charming stories to enjoy. I love these authors and know that each time they write, it is with compassion and warmth. Thank you for giving readers stories that give us hope, make us smile, to be thankful always and remind us that love is unconditional.
Gingerbread Wishes by Laura V. Hilton
I loved Becca right away. She was sweet and a hard worker. As many young women do, they yearn for a young man to notice them. Becca is unsure of herself at times and has a hard time believing someone would want her. Yost has been in love with Becca for so long. He wants to marry her, but he has self esteem issues. He has a hard time trying to convince himself that Becca would want to be with him. I loved the story because it talks about seeing someone as Jesus does. When Yost is in danger , Becca doesn’t hesitate to pray for his safety. Will they learn to trust God ? Can they find happiness with each other. The ending is beautiful and it made me feel so content.
Thanksgiving Strangers by Rachel J. Good
We have all seen homeless people walking along the road in threadbare clothes and unkempt hair. How many of us have ignore them , while at the same time judging them? Crist feels embarrassed as he goes into a restaurant to stay warm. As his waitress comes over, he can sense her caring attitude but still feels uncomfortable. Faithe is compassionate and brings Crist more food than he ordered. I loved how the author talked about pride and how it can get in the way of letting someone help you. Faithe has such a big heart and wants to help everyone. Crist is starting to be more friendly when he sees Faithe, but he is angry with God. What has caused Crist to become bitter?
I really enjoyed the intrigue in this story. It kept my attention and I loved learning about Crist’s brother. The pain that Crist has experienced in life has caused him to not trust anyone. The story is filled with love, danger and a time of thanksgiving that will warm your heart.
Thanksgiving Frolic by Thomas Nye
Rosemary and Monroe like each other and want to be married someday. There is an obstacle that they will have to overcome for that to happen. In this story the author talks about pride and how it can make a person turn against others. Monore’s father has always had the perfect farm and made sure his boys did their chores. He hated things out of place. What I liked most about this story was how pride was shown as a way to judge others and not feel you should lend a hand to your neighbors in need. My favorite character was Monroe’s father. Joe has worked hard to have a very well maintained farm. He is guilty of shying away from families that don’t take pride in their farms. When asked to help a few families who are struggling, he says no. He feels he must continue keeping his farm in perfect order. What happens that softens Joe’s heart? Will he be able to let God remove his pride and allow himself to ask forgiveness. I loved the story and how the characters had flaws but were willing to ask forgiveness, Have you ever dealt with pride? What was the hardest thing about letting go of pride?
I received a copy. Of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Blossoms and Blessings, November 4
Quiet Quilter, November 4
Avid Reader Book Reviews, November 5
Carpe Diem, November 5
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 6
Karen Sue Hadley, November 6
Pursuing Stacie, November 7
Mommynificent, November 8
The Fizzy Pop Collection, November 9
Blogging With Carol, November 10
Bibliophile Reviews, November 11
Splashes of Joy, November 11
proud to be an autism mom, November 12
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12
A Baker’s Perspective, November 13
Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 13
Texas Book-aholic, November 14
Mary Hake, November 14
Bigreadersite, November 15
A Greater Yes, November 15
Vicky Sluiter, November 16
Pink Granny’s Journey, November 16
Janices book reviews, November 17
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 17
Giveaway
To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a Kindle Unlimited 6 month Subscription!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c403
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Book Info
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 The control freak. The angry man. The lazy guy. The unteachable guy. The promiscuous man. The unbeliever. The lone ranger. The unchurched guy. The new convert. The commitment-phobe.
For any woman who has struggled with failed relationships, this may seem like a familiar list. These are the men your friends and family have in mind when they think, "she's with the wrong guy." And while the reasons women choose these types of men are complicated and varied, ultimately, they will all let you down.
In She's Got the Wrong Guy, Deepak Reju offers a different kind of dating book, discussing the types of guys women should not marry and offering biblical reasons why they aren't suitable spouses. Writing from his years of experience as a pastor and counselor, Reju shares with women his perspective on how to assess a relationship's strengths from the beginning, how to identify possible pitfalls, and how to have the courage to wait for a relationship that will be a blessing for both of you. Using stories that single women can relate to and highlighting contemporary issues in the modern world of dating, Reju gives readers clear, biblical direction on how to have positive, life-giving relationships with members of the opposite sex.
With a strong, Christ-centered focus, women will better understand why they "settle" for less than what God intends for their romantic relationships and learn to put their hopes and find their happiness in Jesus, not marriage.
Deepak Reju, MDiv, PhD, serves as the pastor of biblical counseling and families at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, as well as president for the board of directors of the Biblical Counseling Coalition. He is the author of several books and articles, including "Great Kings of the Bible: How Jesus Is Greater than Saul, David and Solomon," "The Pastor and Counseling," and "On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church." Deepak and his wife Sarah have been married since 2001 and have five children.
Find out more about Deepak at http://stores.newgrowthpress.com/.
I am so happy that I am married and don’t have to deal with all the stress of dating. When I was dating, I would meet guys from church or through friends. In fact my husband and I met through friends. At first we didn’t like each other at all. I thought he was very quiet and worked a lot. He thought I was rude and outspoken. We began our marriage with a lot of baggage from our past and left our a very important part in our marriage. We forgot to include God in our marriage and had difficult times in our marriage because of it.
It is not uncommon to hear that a couple met online and are now dating. It can be a bit unsettling when you meet for the first time. You can be anyone you want to online, but in person your personality comes out. I have often wondered why a single woman at church is looked at differently. Some women like the idea of being single and are content to have a career and spend time with God. Others like the idea of marriage and sometimes it is hard to find the right person.
The world has become so obsessed with looks that it puts a lot of pressure on people. Men want a wife who is beautiful and thin. Women are looking for a good looking man who is a provider. With all these criteria, it looks like God has been left out. I loved how the book gave great examples of why women are settling instead of waiting for the right man who puts God first. Are women feeling pressured to marry? Do they think it defines them as more successful in life if they are married? When you settle, problems arise and your happiness is left behind and God is not first anymore in your life.
The bottom line I got from the book is to trust God, and know that He wants the best for you. Remember to put Him first and follow his direction. I think the book is a good tool to use for single women who want to have wisdom when looking for their mate.
I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion.
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Hope Toler Dougherty's 'Rescued Hearts' Blog Tour and Kindle Giveaway
BLOG CODE:
Her personal safety isn't the only thing in jeopardy-so is her heart. In Hope Toler Dougherty's new novel, Rescued Hearts, children's clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball's soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Discovering the kidnapped woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Brett forsakes his three-month mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind . . . and then Mary Wade's safety is threatened once more.
Cozy up this fall with Hope's new book and enter to win a Kindle Fire!
One grand prize winner will receive:
Cozy up this fall with Hope's new book and enter to win a Kindle Fire!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A copy of Rescued Hearts
- A Kindle Fire 7
I loved the twists the author cleverly puts in throughout the story to add an element of intrigue . Mary Wade is out for a bike ride when she discovers a kitten trapped . She can’t just ignore it, so she goes to help it. Unfortunately she stumbles upon a place that may look deserted, but is surprised when someone kidnaps her and throws her in one of the rooms of the abandoned house. The minute Mary Wade realizes she is in danger, I could feel her heart beating faster and faster. The men who have her are not very friendly and horrible things run through Mary Wade’s mind. I did like that she was a very strong and intelligent person. She didn’t seem to ever really panic and I loved that the author didn’t make her a helpless woman.
I did like the surprise of the third man who seemed to be the leader. Brett is not happy at all that there is a strange woman tied up in the house. It does complicate things for him since he is an undercover agent. Brett was a very well written character with determination and a knack for getting out of tough situations. Will he risk blowing his cover to rescue Mary Wade? The action is good and kept my attention. I liked the references to their faith and especially liked Brett’s grandmother. She is a feisty woman who secretly plays a little matchmaking between Brett and Mary Wade. The story will definitely keep your attention as Brett and Mary Wade try to keep one step ahead of the men who kidnapped her. I did find the ending a bit of a surprise. There seemed to be another plot going on at the end that didn’t really fit with the overall story. The book was good, but a little disappointing to add the extra story at the end.
I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion
Landing page:
Blog Tour Schedule:
10/24
Colleen | ColleenRichman.com
chantal | this chattanooga mommy saves
Debra | 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
Mary | Maryandering Creatively
Stacey | Books,Dreams,Life
10/25
vicky | Deal Sharing Aunt
Margaret | The World As I See It
10/26
Rachel | Empowermoms
Gayle | BOOKS REVIEWS ETC
Wendy | Life at Rossmont
Kelly | Leafy Not Beefy
Kav | Best Reads
Janice | Janices book reviews
Julia | Christian Bookaholic
10/27
Rachel | Reader's Cozy Corner
10/28
Carol | centraleast2
Lady | LittleLadyPlays
10/29
Nicole | The Christian Fiction Girl
10/30
Connie | Gccbookworm
Paphapin | Feeling in Red
Amy | A Nest in the Rocks
Dianna | Savings in Seconds
Nancy | sunny island breezes
Pamela | Daysong Reflections
10/31
Cassandra | Cassandra M's Place
Joan | Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
11/1
Loraine | Loraine D. Nunley, Author
Nicki | Confessions of a Teenage Bookworm
Andrea | The Young Girl Who Loved Books
11/2
Linda | Brice's Mice Christian Book Reviews
Lisa | seeking with all yir heart
lisa | Lisaannphillips
Erin | For Him and My Family
11/3
Kristie | Moments
Amy | Pause for Tales
11/5
Mark | Thoughts of a Sojourner
Leah | As We Walk Along the Road
Amanda | amandainpa
Lisa | A Mid-Western Girl & Her Books
11/6
Angela | A Busy Mom of Two
Debi | 2014 and Beyond!
11/7
Becky | Living Outside the Lines
Maureen | Maureen's Musings
11/8
Tarah | Literary Time Out
Sherry | My Journey Back
11/9
Terra | Heck Of A Bunch
Karen | Karen's Korner
Carrie | Reading Is My SuperPower
11/10
Andrea | Two Points of Interest
Rick | Revews From A Man's Perspective
Lisa | A Rup Life
Amy | Seasons of Opportunities
11/11
Kelly | Simply Kelina
Molly | Cafinated Reads
Amanda | The Talbert Report
11/12
Mindy | A Room Without Books is Empty
Deana | Texas Book-aholic
Mary | The Mary Reader
Michelle | Our Little Corner of the World
Barbara | I'm Hooked on Books
Missica | Through the Open Window
Jennifer | Jen Around the world
11/13
Keri | My Table of Three
Bethany | The perfect beginning
Lena Nelson | Lena Nelson Dooley
Beth | For The Love of Books
Lori | Red Headed Book Lady
Kathleen | Reviews From The Heart
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