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Saturday, May 9, 2020

About the Book

Book:  Refresh Your Faith
Author: Lori Hatcher
Genre:  Devotional
Release Date: May 2020
Unfamiliar verses. Uncommon insights. Unlimited possibilities.
Move from biblical doldrums to dynamic discovery! While your favorite Scripture verses or stories may bring you comfort, if you’re feeling monotony in your time with God it’s time to shake it up a bit. Each of these 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions—one from each book of the Bible—spotlights an unusual verse or passage and takes only five minutes to read. If you have more time, you can dig a little deeper with an uncommon thought to ponder, unusual faith action step to take, and an unfamiliar passage suggestion that invites you to further explore the Bible’s hidden gems.
You’ll be challenged to think deeply, step out boldly, and grow dynamically, transforming your devotional time—and your life!
Praise for Lori Hatcher’s writing . . .
“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman

Click here to get your copy!

MY REVIEW

Finally someone has written a devotional where almost forgotten Books of the Bible are brought to the surface. How often do we hear anyone talk about the book of Micah or Zephaniah? We are all familiar with the story of Adam and Eve but what if we studied it with different scriptures? Would we then get to glimpse what the Bible was about? I love this devotional because it is not the typical scriptures  many of us are accustomed to. It gets us out of our comfort zone and helps us gather new insights that we have not studied before. 

The author takes us through the sixty-six books of the Bible  using little known Books of the Bible and scriptures to refresh us and deepen our knowledge. I loved how the author uses examples we can all relate to and at the end of every  chapter are sections called, Uncommon Thought and Unusual Faith. These are wonderful nuggets to feed our hunger for more truth and understanding of His Word.  As a bonus the author also includes specific scriptures or entire books from the Bible to study on our own.

Obadiah is a very unfamiliar book from the Bible. The author uses the book about being deceived.  “The pride of your heart has deceived you.” Obadiah 1:3.  
With only one chapter for this particular book of the Bible it nails what we all at one time have dealt with. The ugly word pride is exposed and guides us to the truth that will set us free from our doubt that God has never left us. I know this devotional will have a place close by me at all times as I become more acquainted with overlooked books from the Bible that share truth, hope, forgiveness and God’s unconditional love. 

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

About the Author

Lori Hatcher Head Shot
Lori Hatcher is a blogger, pastor’s wife, and women’s ministry speaker. She’s the editor of South Carolina’s Reach Out, Columbiamagazine, president of Columbia Toastmasters, and regular contributor to magazines such as Christian Living Today and websites like Crosswalk.com. Her book Hungry for God . . . Starving for Time, won the Christian Small Publisher 2016 book of the year. Find out more about Lori and her well-loved 5-minute devotions at lorihatcher.com.

Read a Teaser from Refresh Your Faith

The dirty little secret in Christian circles is that many of us are bored with our devotional time. We know we shouldn’t feel this way. It’s important to read our Bibles every day. After all, it’s God’s Word, the source of truth, and life, and hope.
While some have successfully built the discipline of Bible reading into their lives, others struggle. Even those who regularly read their Bibles find it a bit dry at times. Many of us also read devotionals, not to take the place of Bible reading, but to help us discover unfamiliar passages and stories and benefit from a godly writer’s perspective.
I wrote Refresh Your Faith because I was frustrated by many of the devotionals I read. They seemed to focus on the same basic verses I’d memorized with my children twenty years ago. John 3:16, Romans 8:28, Psalm 23, Matthew 3:5-6. Same with the Bible passages and stories. I treasure the familiar verses and stories. I’ve held them close to my heart during some of the darkest times of my life.
But I knew there was more to the Bible than these well-worn favorites.
I reached a point in my spiritual life when I needed something new. If something didn’t change, my spirit was going to wither up. My time with God shouldn’t be something I did out of duty. I wanted to delight in God and His Word.
So I asked God to help me. I needed something to refresh my faith and energize my Bible reading. Wow, did He answer. I’d been reading through the Bible every year for more than a decade, but all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to passages I’d never noticed before.
These uncommon verses sparkled like gems. The more I read, the more I spotted them, tucked into obscure stories and buried under genealogies and census reports. I found some hiding out in plain sight—golden nuances and nuggets in the shadows of the more familiar stories.
Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible is a collection of the treasure I unearthed during my year of searching. Each story-driven devotion contains an unusual verse, a real-life application, and an uncommon faith step.
I hope my book will energize your faith, inspire your devotional time, and make you say, “Wow, I’ve never seen that before!”

Blog Stops

Emily Yager, May 8
Mary Hake, May 10
God is Love, May 17
Marilyn Ridgway, May 18 (Guest Review on Lighthouse Academy Blog)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and autographed copy of Refresh Your Faith!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Thursday, May 7, 2020

About the Book

Book:  Rocky Mountain Redemption
Author: Lisa J. Flickinger
Genre:  Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: May 5, 2020
A Rocky Mountain logging camp may be just the place to find herself.
To escape the devastation caused by the breaking of her wedding engagement, Isabelle Franklin joins her aunt in the Rocky Mountains to feed a camp of lumberjacks cutting on the slopes of Cougar Ridge. If only she could out run the lingering nightmares.
Charles Bailey, camp foreman and Stony Creek’s itinerant pastor, develops a reputation to match his new nickname — Preach.  However, an inner battle ensues when the details of his rough history threaten to overcome the beliefs of his young faith.
Amid the hazards of camp life, the unlikely friendship growing between the two surprises Isabelle. She’s drawn to Preach’s brute strength and gentle nature as he leads the ragtag crew toiling for Pollitt’s Lumber. But when the ghosts from her past return to haunt her, the choices she will make change the course of her life forever—and that of the man she’s come to love.

Click here to get your copy.

MY REVIEW
 I liked the setting of the story about a logging camp. The author describes the place well with a group of men working long hours and barely  having time  to rest between shifts. I could see off in the distance the bunk house they stayed out and how cramped they were  living in close quarters. 
The story takes on a sensitive subject that I felt was done in good taste. The author introduces us to Isabelle who is forced to work at the camp in secret. The story will give readers details of why Isabelle was sent to work alongside her Aunt Lou so I won’t expand on that part of the story. I want to talk about Preach. He accidentally runs into Isabelle and immediately he is attracted to her. For some reason that really bothered me. I didn’t like him through the majority of the story because he acted a bit superior to others at times. He persists in getting to know Isabelle and I found him to be too pushy and judgmental when it came to Isabelle. 
Isabelle is young and felt  tossed aside by her parents as she is forced to live at the logging camp hidden so no one knows she is there. The traumatic event she endured was unthinkable and made my blood boil. I don’t think her parents gave her any time to tell her side of the story before she was whisked away. The demand her father makes on her is hurtful and I wanted to hug Isabelle and tell her that God loves her. She keeps all these feelings bottled up and it begins to take a toll on her. 
The story is good as far as how the author handled the attack on Isabelle. It is told in a way that readers can grasp what happened without too much detail.  Preach has a past that is briefly explained but  for me I didn’t feel like he was all that upset about how he use to be. Then to my dismay I realized that I had judged him and expected him to be brought in front of everyone to confess his sin. God had forgiven him so why was I still expecting him to confess  to the world? We as the body of Christ at times think people should be publicly shamed in order for us to feel satisfied. 
The book took a turn for me the more I read how the author used different people in the story to show different sins. Each character was pivotal to the story as their characters interacted and forgiveness was shown in God’s way. I loved the story more than I thought and was taught a good lesson on judging others. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.  

About the Author

Lisa J. Flickinger lives and writes from the cliff of a river along the majestic Rocky Mountains. When not writing or reading, you will find her scouring antique shops or sipping a maple latte with friends and family. To learn more about her other books, visit www.lisajflickinger.com


More from Lisa

I have a confession to make. I’m a square dancer, a real live square dancer who do-si-dos and allemande-lefts my way around a square every Thursday night. And lest you think it’s a room full of eighty year olds, our youngest dancer is a mere twenty-four.
It was on the dance floor I first met Larry. Logger Larry, the Paul Bunyan like soul who regaled me with tales of chopping trees in the Rocky Mountains. He told stories about grizzlies who hunted men for their next meal, brawls in the bunkhouse only the hardy could survive, and life threatening axe injuries when they had to carry the wounded through the forest for miles.
Larry’s stories provided a great background for a romantic novel and sent me on a mission to research late 1800’s logging camps. It’s at Pollitt’s Lumber, in 1898, where we meet our hero and heroine, Preach and Isabelle, and join their cautious journey toward love. It’s also where we meet a ragtag bunch of lumberjacks whose antics would get on anyone’s last nerve.
I fell in love with the characters of Rocky Mountain Redemption as they tromped onto the pages, and I’m thrilled to introduce them to you in Book One of the Rocky Mountain Revival Series.
Dear reader, enjoy!

Blog Stops

CarpeDiem, May 10
Hallie Reads, May 11
Betti Mace, May 12
Moments, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Posted by at 8 comments:

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

About the Book

Book:  A Life Renewed
Author: Olivia Rae
Genre:  Christian Historical
Release Date: April 2, 2020
In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason. 
But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived?
Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree to his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.
Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

Click here for your copy!

MY REVIEW

This has been a great look at what might of  happened if history could be changed. I didn’t know much about Lady Jane Grey. I found her story to be quite intriguing. The author does a  great job of exploring what turn of events could happen if Lady Jane had  survived. I was enthralled with Jane as she escapes death. Her travels were dangerous but God watched over her. Her journey lands her in a land where she must hide her  true identity. My heart would be beating out of my chest as I encountered people in the village. 

I was never  very trusting of the Prince who came to her rescue and found her a place to hide in plain sight. What is really good about this story is the history embedded in truth by an author who expertly brings twists to the book. I loved the mystery surrounding Asher as he is found critically hurt. He has come to find Lady Jane. Will he be able to carry out his mission? I came to really like Asher because he has a heart for truth and trusts God to guide him to do the right thing.  There is some violence in the story  but it is handled with little graphic details. 

What I really liked about the story is how the author combines truth with fiction and delivers a powerful story about faith, trust and freedom. Jane is admirable in wanting to lay  her life  down so others would be saved. Jesus did that for us and everyday we should be thanking Him for His sacrifice. The ending is perfect and gives readers a glimpse into the next story. I will be anxiously awaiting to continue the journey in this very promising  series. 

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

About the Author

Olivia Rae is an award-winning author who spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long, boring days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories by adding in what she’s learned as an adult living in a small town next to a big city. When not writing, she loves to travel, dragging her family to old castles and forts all across the world.

More from Olivia

The Challenge in Writing About a Real Historical Person
I like creating a story out of a kernel of information. The idea of my new book, A Life Renewed came when I took a trip to England and learned about the tragic life of Lady Jane Grey. Her life was so disastrous, I just wanted to give her a second chance at happiness. So that’s exactly what I did when she escaped her execution instead of dying as she did in real life.
My greatest challenge in writing this book was picking a heroine that actually lived. I had to do a lot of research in Lady Jane Grey’s life and her family. It was very interesting. Lady Jane was what we would call a progressive protestant. The conflicts between the Catholics and Protestants (The beginning of The Church of England) was very real and very deadly at that time. What many people don’t know is that Henry VIII was actually against many other Protestant religions (Calvinists, Lutherans, etc.). He feared their religious influence as much as he did the Catholic’s. His son Edward was more progressive, like Jane. If he would have lived, Jane’s outcome would have been totally different. After Jane’s death, Queen Mary went on a mission to turn England back to Catholicism. In her reign she killed over 300 Protestants. Hence later in history she was known as “Bloody Mary.”

Blog Stops

Betti Mace, May 12
Genesis 5020, May 14
Bigreadersite, May 15
Mary Hake, May 15
Emily Yager, May 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away the grand prize packaged of an autographed copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift certificate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Posted by at 18 comments:

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Mortal Sight FB Banner

About the Book

Book:  Mortal Sight
Author: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Genre:  Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Release Date: April 14, 2020
Mortal SightWhen Worlds Collide, Shadow Wrestles Light
Seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she can’t explain, Cera’s world turns upside down.
Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she’s not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?
In a race against time and a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protect those she loves?
Click here to get your copy!


 My REVIEW
This story is an interesting look at a world where a seventeen year old girl has gifts she can’t explain. Her mother knows what’s going on with her daughter but is keeping it from her. Every time Cera has a vision  it comes true. I though it was strange that her mother wanted to run each time Cera had these visions. 
Cera suddenly is thrust into a dark world that is different from anything she has ever witnessed. These people know she has a gift but I think Cera was fighting it a bit. She wanted to be something she was  not gifted as and I wanted her to embrace  what was placed in her trust. This poem kept coming up in the story called Paradise Lost by John Milton. I needed to know what this poem was about so I looked it up. I know it was important to this story and my curiosity had me finding the answer. The poem is about the The Fall of Man. It deals with the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The poet wanted to show how man fell and disobeyed God. It opened the door for satan  to come in. 
After learning this I had to know why Cera kept repeating this poem and what significance it was to her and her vision. The author really grabbed my attention with this mystery of a poem and I couldn’t wait to see where the story would travel to. Cera is in for the fight of her life as her visions become clearer and she has to act on them. The full meaning of the poem will come to light and it brings Cera peace and also knowledge that she will be hunted by those who want to stop her from seeing visions and stopping destruction. There is definitely a spiritual warfare going on and and her friends are in the middle of a battle that has been going on for centuries. The story kinda kept me wondering what happens next so I hope the next book comes out very soon. 
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. 

About the Author

Version 2Sandra Fernandez Rhoads is a Cuban-Colombian born in Queens, New York but currently lives in Dallas, Texas. Her previous experience includes earning a M.A. in her 17th century crush, John Milton, writing scripts and performance pieces, directing theater, acting, and running an employment consulting and marketing company. As an AFA-NIET National Finalist in Public Speaking, she welcomes an audience and dreams of playing the theme to Jurassic Park on her cello, named Lysander. Mortal Sight is her debut novel.

More from Sandra

I am so excited to share this story. The original story seed for Mortal Sight came from the premise: what if someone never felt like they belonged in this world because they really didn’t? They were born for a place they didn’t know existed, an unseen realm. And if so, what things in our everyday world would shout out this truth, point to this other world, and try to get their attention to let them know that the restlessness is intentional and they were called to something bigger than themselves. The use of art and literature throughout the story comes from my own love for art and the artist community. The unique way artists look at the world could point to this other realm. I chose Milton’s Paradise Lost, in particular because the poem speaks of things invisible and unseen wars. I have a deep love for artists and the creative community and love encouraging others to tell stories through art, whether it’s visual, music, poetry, dance, writing, etc. It’s in art’s narrative that we see broken pieces of ourselves. This story came from the idea that art could create common ground, kickstart community, and maybe even change the way we see ourselves, others or even the world.

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, April 30
Mia Reads, May 8
Genesis 5020, May 11
Emily Yager, May 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize package of Mortal Sight hardback with exclusive signed bookplate, plus bookmark/Sticker/Button, $30 Amazon gift card, hardback copy of Paradise Lost, and writing Journal of Pierre Auguste Cot’s The Storm!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Posted by at 5 comments:
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