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Saturday, March 28, 2020

draw me to your side

About the Book

Book:  Draw Me To Your Side
Author: Marguerite Martin Gray
Genre:  Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: February 25, 2020
Draw Me to Your Side frontWarships in the harbor explode with battle cries for freedom in the hearts of Charles Town’s Patriots.
 Charles Town, South Carolina, 1776—With the British war ships threatening his family and livelihood, Louis Lestarjette commits to aid Francis Marion, Christopher Gadsden, Silas Deane and other fiery Patriots with secret correspondences in code and in French. Although not convinced that the colonies can succeed in separation from Britain, he abides by his word—available with funds, his time, and if necessary, even his life.
 Louis’ potential volatile role leaves Elizabeth Lestarjette uncertain of the future. Add to that her impending confinement, the secret missions her friends embark on, and the ever-encroaching danger into her domestic world, and the cost of independence grows steeper with each passing day. How will her family survive the coming turbulence?  How will she survive not being an active part of it?  One thing is certain, she must draw to God’s side or lose heart altogether.
 Draw Me to Your Side… a prayer whispered against the coming destruction.

Click here to get your copy.
 MY REVIEW
I always look forward to reading a book by this author. She is able to capture the time period with precision that makes you feel part of the book. This story is rich in history and allows readers to visualize the uproar going on in the colonies. . It must have been so scary for Elizabeth to know her husband was in danger. I felt compassion for Elizabeth as she sees destruction growing closer to her. She feels left out as her friends engage in secret missions and her husband withholds information from her. 
This time period is especially interesting because it talks about the colonies and the fight to be free.  The secrecy that went on was intriguing as messages were delivered under fierce danger. The closeness of the colonies were apparent and as they come together to fight for freedom, a new chapter in history is written. I could understand the turmoil Elizabeth felt as she worried about the children. What kind of future will they have? I often thought the same thing as my three boys were growing up. Even today we have wars brewing and a future that at times seems hopeless. The faith factor in the story is excellent and I loved the scriptures the author uses. There is heartbreak, danger, secrets and a story that bring some  families together  while others are torn apart. I loved how the author lets us glimpse into Elizabeth and Louis’s lives as they try to keep their family safe. 
Each book in this series has been well written but I think this one has to be my favorite. It delves more into how a war affects relationships and gives an honest look at the struggles each character deals with. We witness a new life coming into the world that for a moment erases the horror going on in the country. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. 
“These are the times that try men’s souls. Tyranny is not easily conquered.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Marguerite GrayMarguerite Martin Gray enjoys history especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches Spanish and French and has degrees in Spanish, French, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She received her MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Presently, she lives in north Louisiana with her husband and rescue cats.

More from Marguerite

I have always loved history, probably because my father took me to every historical site he could find on our travels. As I listened to him tell the story of our ancestors to a group of tourists at our Antebellum home, I suddenly realized that he was weaving tales about my own blood line. Very soon after that I flew to Charleston, South Carolina and began my research. From that first of many trips, my Revolutionary Faith Series arrived.
Draw Me to Your Side is Book Four of the series. The titles play a very significant role in the series, each having a dual meaning. The human element is obvious. Although the series is more historical than romance, the titles offer a glimpse into a potential romance. The other element is spiritual. God is the one who weaves his love and hope into their lives.
If you love book titles as I do, as you read this series, see if you can determine the dual meanings of Hold Me Close, Surround Me, Bring Me Near, and now Draw Me to Your Side.
Happy Reading!

Blog Stops

Bigreadersite, March 25
Older & Smarter?, March 27
Betti Mace, March 29
KarenSueHadley, March 31
Emily Yager, April 1
Pause for Tales, April 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Card and a copy of the eBook!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

a chosen people FB banner

About the Book

Book:  A People Chosen
Author: Karen Engle
Genre:  Non – Fiction / Christian / Bible Study
Release Date: March, 2017
A Chosen People coverIs God finished with the Jewish people? Understanding Israel according to the Bible and not the media, political views, or personal opinion sheds incredible light on why Israel and the Jewish people exist today. God is not finished with the tiny nation and has a great purpose and plan for Israel that will impact the world. A People Chosen: God’s Purpose and Plan for Israel and the Nations is a self-guided eight-lesson Bible study. You will learn about the creation of Israel in Genesis, God’s promises to Israel and the nations, Israel’s scattering and current regathering to Israel, the return of King Jesus to rule and reign from Jerusalem, and why Israel is pivotal in God’s plan of redemption. It is a love story of faithfulness, mercy, and justice. It is the story of a people chosen by God to be a conduit for God’s blessings to all mankind. It is a weighty call, and it has not come without a price.

Click here to get your copy!


MY REVIEW

During this trying time we are going through right now, I eagerly look for books, Devotionals and Bible Studies to soak up the Word. This particular study is definitely one I am enjoying. I love the way it is set up and the many scriptures the author includes. This is not a study to rush through, but to slow down and absorb the beauty of God and His wisdom. I have not finished it because I am taking my time to get everything I can out of the book. 

I encourage everyone to do the assignments and absorb the richness of scriptures. The author has done a remarkable job of researching the topics and using scripture to show exactly what God has designed for us. I have always been a bit curious about prophecy and really enjoyed how the author tackles the subject. God has made many promises to Israel and have seen some already fulfilled. The study gives us an in-depth look at Israel and the Jewish  people that had me scrambling to learn more. I really enjoyed the Lesson Two which goes into detail about the history of Israel and what the Jewish people have gone through over the years. It is not an easy lesson to read, but does give a clear picture of what they have endured. 

There is much to learn in this study and is written in a way that everyone can follow. I love doing the assignments and have decided to take my time doing the study. I don’t think this is a book you want to rush through. Do it at your own pace and take a journey to discover what God  has planned for  His chosen people. 

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

About the Author

Karen EngleKaren earned a master’s in biblical studies from Western Seminary. She is an adjunct writing instructor with Moody Bible Institute, a copy editor for Faithlife Corporation, and owner of East Gate Editing. Her passion is taking study groups to the land of Israel, which she says brings the Bible from “black and white to technicolor.”

More from Karen

There is something peculiar about the Jews. They are one of the few ancient people groups that has endured into modern times, and their religion—Judaism—is one of the world’s oldest.

The Jewish people have been miraculously regathered together into a thriving nation after being scattered throughout the earth. Hebrew, Israel’s official language, was once a dead speech but has been revived and is now an active, living language with more than five million native speakers.

They have been the most persecuted people in history and as such their existence baffles historians and theologians alike. There is no logical rationale for the Jews’ existence. Considering the Holocaust alone, the Jewish people should not have survived. And yet, they do.
In fact, they have flourished and been a blessing to the world.

The narrative of the Bible is centered on this unique nation of individuals established by God thousands of years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. From Abraham to King David to Jesus, the story of the Bible is knit together with a common thread: the Jewish people. It is a love story of faithfulness, mercy, and justice. It is the story of a people chosen by God to be a conduit for God’s blessings to humanity. It is a weighty call, and it has not come without a price.

Yet, many people, even Christians, don’t give this a second thought.

About twelve years ago, God stirred my heart toward this tiny nation, and I subsequently spent years studying the history of the Jewish people and God’s purpose and plan for them according to Scripture. And it rocked my theological world. I was in the middle of seminary, and no one (outside of one professor, who is still my favorite) talked about Israel. And though there were books on the topic, I could not find one Bible study.

When I talk to people about Israel and its importance in Scripture and thus modern-day world events, there seems to be a disconnect—a lack of understanding as to why anyone would bring up the topic. Why should anyone care? What is so significant about Israel?
I wrote this Bible study to answer these questions. It’s a cross between a book and a Bible study and is designed to take participants by the hand and help them understand why God cares so deeply about this peculiar nation. It’s a culmination of many trips to the land and years of personal study—and I’m still learning. Heavy on Scripture, full of beautiful images from around Israel, and focused on Christ, the study will turn the black and white pages of your Bible to technicolor.

I hope that those who do the study will begin to see Israel as a beautiful example of God’s faithfulness to his Word.

Blog Stops

Blossoms and Blessings, March 29 (Author Interview)
Genesis 5020, April 1
For the Love of Literature, April 4 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, April 4
Artistic Nobody, April 7 (Author Interview)
SPLASHES of Joy, April 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of an Israel-themed basket: 6 copies of my book/Bible study A People Chosen, the movie The Hope on the rebirth of Israel in 1948, the book Your People Will Be My People, and a $25 gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The Blue cloak FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  The Blue  Cloak
Author: Shannon McNear
Genre:  Christian Historical/Suspense
Release Date: March, 2020
9781643523149Evil Incarnate Leaves a Trail of Destruction across the Frontier
Book 5 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
Rachel Taylor lives a rather mundane existence in 1797 at the way station her family runs along the Wilderness Road in Tennessee. She attends her friend Sally Rice’s wedding only to watch the marriage dissolve into horror has the groom, Wiley Harpe, and his cousin Micajah become murderers on the run, who drag their families along. Declaring a “war on all humanity,” the Harpes won’t be stopped, and Ben Langford is on their trail to see if his own cousin was one of their latest victims.
How many will die before peace can return to the frontier?

Click here for your copy.
MY REVIEW
I am really enjoying this series of books about historical true crimes. This story is a bit different in the fact that it is more along the lines of a western feel to me.  The story focuses on Wiley and Micajah in 1797. I haven’t read very many books about this time period so I was very intrigued by the book.  I could not believe that two men could cause such destruction in human life but they did it without remorse. They robbed, murdered, intimidated and showed no compassion for anyone. It was hard to read what these two men did to the three women they forced to stay with them.
The author portrays the characters with distinctive traits that jump off the pages. It was easy to sympathize with Sally because she is definitely a victim of abuse. I wanted to be there with her as she felt alone and unwanted. Her parents didn’t seem to care much and she felt that God had given up on her. I loved Rachel and how much compassion she had for Sally. Rachel never gave up on her and her prayers never stopped. 
I did find the story at times to be a bit graphic and thought it could have been toned down some. The unnecessary descriptions of some of the murders made the story almost too much for  me at times. I understand that the author wanted to present two characters that were evil but sometimes less is better. 
 I did like Ben and how he wanted to capture Wiley and Micajah. His faith was strong and I loved how he showed no fear. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to track these two men down knowing how dangerous they were. There is a very difficult part to read in the book about a baby. I heard myself gasp as the scene unfolded. I had to put the book down for awhile because I didn’t know if I could handle what was going to happen next. I will say the author does give details that are shocking and I wondered if I could handle much more.  The ending is bittersweet but one thing is clear throughout the story; God will never leave you nor forsake you. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

ShannonMcNearTransplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in Charleston, South Carolina, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s a military wife, mom of eight, mother-in-law of three, grammie of two, and a member of ACFW and RWA. Her first novella, Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, was a 2014 RITA® finalist. When she’s not sewing, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies. Connect with her at www.shannonmcnear.com, or on Facebook and Goodreads.

More from Shannon

How dark is too dark for a Christian to write?
That was the question I wrestled with when deciding whether or not to take on the story of the Harpes. The histories in Scripture itself aren’t rated G, but writing fiction requires a level of detail and depth of emotion I wasn’t sure would be wise, or helpful, to explore in this case. But as I prayed and sought the counsel of those whose discernment I trust, the answer came back, overwhelmingly …
Is God stronger than the darkness, or not?
Well, of course He is. And nothing in human history has ever escaped His notice, or taken Him by surprise.
So, was there something redeeming to be found in the tale of the Harpes?
For the first few weeks of research, I walked around in a state of shock at the horror of the historical accounts, but details surfaced that helped me shape my fictional characters Rachel and Ben. With Rachel working in her family’s trading post near the wild frontier town of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Ben a lawyer who recently passed the bar, the real-life Hugh Lawson White provided a handy connection point between them. Many other details fell together in ways I had not foreseen when I began developing the story. Sally Rice Harpe, however, rose to the forefront. This was more her story than anyone’s, but realizing I couldn’t properly write the book without using her point of view? That was scary. I knew the moments I’d have to visit, some of them in real-time.
Despite the tragedy, however, I could see an overarching story of spiritual warfare. Felt a growing conviction that prayer must have played a vital role in bringing the Harpes’ reign of terror to an end. So it is my hope that against the backdrop of one of the most chilling episodes of our country’s early history, the hand of God shows clearly, and that yes, the reader finds it redemptive.

Blog Stops

Emily Yager, March 25
Genesis 5020, March 26
Remembrancy, March 26
Among the Reads, March 27
Betti Mace, March 30
Older & Smarter?, March 30
Robin’s Nest, March 31
Stories By Gina, April 1
By The Book, April 2
Artistic Nobody, April 3 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Pause for Tales, April 5
Hallie Reads, April 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of The Blue Cloak and 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.
The Ministry of Heaing FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  The Ministry of Healing
Author: AJ Gordon
Genre:  Christian non-fiction, spiritual growth
Release Date: January 17, 2020
Ministry of Healing CoverClassic Christian author A. J. Gordon expresses curiosity about whether the healing miracles from the Middle Ages up to his day can be verified as a continuation of Christ’s Spirit in the church. Through deep study and inquiry of the established history, Gordon concludes that the power to heal followers remains with the church—there was no special era of miracle working. God and His powers remain the same in the modern era as they have right through human history. For Gordon, God’s intervention in the suffering and sickness of His followers is frequent; the will of the Lord however is variable—but He will not prolong the pain of someone whose illness is too great. Throughout this text, A. J. Gordon makes his argument from a biblical perspective, citing passages in both the Old and New Testament that support the continuation of spiritual gifts. Quoting testimonies of believers across the ages, he offers a convincing argument that the church ministry is, to this day, one of healing.

Click here to get your copy!
MY REVIEW
I was very much challenged by this book. It was hard to follow at times and other times I had to re read a paragraph several times to understand it. Having been written a century ago I could see the profound knowledge being delivered in the book. It was interesting to glance into a writing from a long time  ago and see how a man was passionate about  the working of Jesus. 
The book includes many scriptures that I took the time to look up. I started to use the book as a study tool  and delved into what the book was wanting to point out .  The book does detail some  miracles that were seen over the years and quotes people I am not familiar with. I did like the part about the elders using oil as they prayed over people. The book explains that the oil was not used for medicinal uses because doctors were not using it. The elders used it in addition to praying over someone. I loved the symbolic reference the book uses in  applying the oil. 
In the church I attend when it is time for prayer, the prayer team goes up front and they  pass the bottle of oil to each other before they welcome  people up for prayer. I have always felt that the oil was a representation of healing through God. Now I started to really get into the book more and appreciated the insight into healing. I did enjoy the book and realized it would be something I want to study more. There is a lot of information in the book and Biblical figures that I want to learn more about. It amazes me how long ago this book was written and how a man could decipher things with wisdom. This is definitely a book that should be read slowly and I will say it would be worthwhile to take notes as you read. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Adoniram_Judson_GordonAdoniram Judson (A. J.) Gordon (1836–1895) came to prominence in the United States as the evangelical pastor of Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston for more than twenty-five years. During his tenure there, he saw the church completely transformed into one of the most spiritual and aggressive churches in America, with an unsurpassed effort in missions. A missionary training school and publishing house were associated with the church, and Gordon preached at many of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Conferences, along with other notable preachers such as A. B. Simpson, A. T. Pierson, and R. A. Torrey. His training school eventually became Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He also founded Gordon College, in Wenham, Massachusetts. He wrote his most famous book, The Ministry of Healing, in 1882, but he also wrote at least fifteen hymns, including “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” as well as other books of Christian instruction.

More from Whitaker House

This classic Christian work has previously only been self published. Gordon is renowned as founder of Gordon-Conwell Seminary and Gordon College. His writings became foundational work for what later became the spirit-filled movement.

Blog Stops

Blossoms and Blessings, March 19 (Spotlight)
Artistic Nobody, March 21 (Spotlight)
Lukewarm Tea, March 23 (Spotlight)
Andrea Christenson, March 25 (Spotlight)
For the Love of Literature, March 27 (Spotlight)
Simple Harvest Reads, March 29 (Spotlight)
CarpeDiem, March 30

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Whitaker House is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Starbucks Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.