About the Book

Book:  The Other 3:16s

Author: Malinda Fugate

Genre: Christian Living

Release Date: May 12, 2020

“For God so loved the world . . . “

Many of us could finish that sentence in our sleep. John 3:16 is a beautiful Scripture that neatly and simply sums up the message of the Gospel. But what do all the other 3:16s in the Bible have to tell us?

The words of the Bible weave a tapestry of love, particularly the love that our Heavenly Father has for His children. But a love so deep and so wide cannot be contained in one memorized phrase. It takes multiple authors of sixty-six individual books to begin to explore the mystery of God’s care for us.

The Other Three Sixteens by Malinda Fugate examines each third chapter and sixteenth verse in the Bible and invites a fresh, new perspective to help readers uncover surprises or remind them of forgotten truths of a faith that has become routine.

Through Genesis to Revelation, we can soak in its depth, wonder at its intricacies, and be moved at how much the Lord truly does lavish upon us. Together, we discover God’s love under the weight of Eve’s sin in the garden. It’s there in front of Moses, burning in a bush that is somehow not consumed. God’s love sits in the dark with Job, rebuilds a wall with Nehemiah, and encourages a young pastor named Timothy. Together we will find a deeper understanding of the way our Heavenly Father cares for each of us today.

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

I remember Sunday School so well as a child. My dad was a pastor so I was at church every time the doors were open. The one scripture that I memorized first was John 3:16. It was the focal point for every thing that was taught to me in church. The foundation of my Christianity was that one scripture. When I started reading this book, I saw a new perspective of 3:16 that could be  found in other Books of the Bible.

I like how the author goes methodically through the Bible and directs readers attention to little gems that are often passed over.  I really liked so many of the scriptures that it was hard to pick out my favorite. The book travels from Old Testament to New Testament showing  us how God’s Word is truth. One of the things I discovered was that the scriptures all lead back to the one thing which is how much God loves us. We may go through trials, but God is always  there. “He doesn’t rush into punishment, but instead gives His children plenty of warning and time to repent and reverse course.”

I liked when the author pointed out that God “is the Prince of Peace.” He doesn’t like chaos but rather loves us enough to surround us with joy, love and peace. When we are in crisis, He doesn’t ignore us. He wants us to cry out to Him to find comfort. Throughout the book, the author reminds us that God does love us and gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we would be free. 

This will be a book that I will go back to often and refresh myself with God’s words. I did take lots of notes in my journal because I love to go back and read things that really stood out to me in books I read. The author does a good job of breaking scriptures down and showing us that there is more 3:16s to gain wisdom from.

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

About the  Author

Malinda Fugate grew up in children’s ministry. Now, after two decades of dedicated volunteer service, she now serves full-time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California. Malinda studied communications and theatre at Azusa Pacific University, then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA. Her writing includes The Other Three Sixteens, Bible Time for Active Kids, commercial copywriting, various faith-based stage and screen plays, as well as co-producing A Single Girl’s Guide To, a lifestyle blog and web series. Her lifelong study of God’s Word continues to reveal more about the Lord every day. She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi. 

More from Malinda

It’s the first verse many of us memorized in Sunday School and perhaps the most familiar to any Christian: “For God so loved the world….”

In one sentence, we celebrate the incredible love of God and the amazing gift of salvation that Jesus gave through the cross. John 3:16 is a beautiful Scripture to keep in our hearts and minds.

Of course, John did not assign chapters and verses when he penned his gospel. Those were added later to help us reference as we study. Yet, years of reciting John 3:16 have etched these lines into our brains, making it an easy combo to remember. What if we looked at the other 3:16 verses in each book of the Bible? What treasures would we unearth hidden in our well-worn pages?

We find Adam and Eve in their last days in a garden paradise, dealing with the consequences of a terrible decision.

There is a young boy training to be a priest who suddenly hears the audible voice of God.

A king’s cup-bearer journeys to his homeland to lead a massive construction project despite adversity.

We sit next to Job in his darkest days, crying out to God for answers.

We meet a young pastor named Timothy, experience miraculous healings, and witness the baptism of Jesus Himself.

Most of all, in every verse, we discover the immense love of God. We learn that it cannot be contained simply in one phrase; such a great love is too full of rich detail. Most of all, we find that His love is alive and active in our very own lives, right this minute.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 4

Texas Book-aholic, September 5

Inklings and notions, September 6

deb’s Book Review, September 6

For Him and My Family, September 7

Hebrews 12 Endurance, September 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 9

Artistic Nobody, September 10 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 11

Sara Jane Jacobs, September 12

For the Love of Literature, September 13

Mary Hake, September 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 14

Lights in a Dark World, September 15

Splashes of Joy, September 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Malinda is giving away the grand prize package of A John 3:16 glass water bottle and a signed copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/fffc/the-other-3-16s-celebration-tour-giveaway

Willow Hollow is a fictional town in Kentucky. Each of our heroines will be working for the same library but they each have their own story to tell. 

Amanda Tero: Facebook and Website
Faith Blum:Facebookand Website
A.M. Heath: Facebook and Website
Alicia G. Ruggieri: Facebook and Website

 Lena Davis is the daughter her mom never wanted.

But she survived. Through stories. Because books didn’t judge. Books weren’t angry she was alive. Books never expected her to be anything but who she was.

As she grows up, her beloved library becomes her true home.

So when the library is designated part of President Roosevelt’s Packhorse Library Project, Lena is determined to get the job of bringing books to highlanders, believing she’ll finally be free of her mom forever.

But earning the trust of highlanders is harder than she imagined, and her passion for books might not be enough to free her from her chains.

Her heart is in the right place…

Bored with her life in Castle Town, Montana, Lillian Sullivan follows her friend’s suggestion and joins the horseback librarian program in rural Kentucky. Not only does she anticipate sharing her love of books, but she also wants to spread the gospel among the mountain people.

However, Willow Hollow presents her with one trouble after another and she struggles to step outside her shyness to share the gospel.

What will it take for Lillian to share her love of the Best Story? Can the power of the gospel overcome the shyness of her own heart?

Can two lonely people find more than a fleeting friendship or will a prejudiced town keep them apart?

When Ivory Bledsoe left the city to minister to the people of the rural mountain town of Willow Hollow, she never expected to be shunned rather than welcomed. Seeing the town as a lost cause, she’s eager to return home, but when the bridge leading out of town is washed away during a flood, she finds herself stranded in the last place she wants to be.

Ben Thrasher was content with his quiet life until he met the new librarian. He can’t help but be drawn to the friendly and lively Ivory Bledsoe, despite her being at the center of the town’s latest superstition. It’s only a matter of time until she captures his heart, turning his world upside down in the process.

Has Ivory gotten God’s plan for her all wrong or is there still a way she can serve these people? And can Ben ask her to stay in a place where so few are willing to embrace her?

MY REVIEW of Hearts On Lonely Mountain

This story was so refreshing and gives readers a look at what it was like in 1936. It was very interesting  to read about librarians who traveled to people who couldn’t come to the library. How fun it must have been to deliver stories that would encourage, bring joy and explore their world. 

Ivory is excited to be in Willow Hollow, Kentucky. I don’t think she expected the greeting she received when she arrived though. People didn’t want to talk to her, avoided her and called her Moon Witch. Poor Ivory was so upset that no one liked her. Can you imagine coming to a town where everyone thought you were evil? I loved Ivory’s sweet spirit and how she never gave up. 

Ben and his nephew were a great combination to help Ivory feel a lot more at ease in the town. I loved how Gerrit took to Ivory right away. He didn’t care what other people said about Ivory and I thought how sweet it was that a young boy showed the town that you should treat people the way you would want to be treated. The author weaves a romance in the story that takes time to grow. Ben is faith filled , knows scriptures and ignores the entire town and their suspicions of Ivory. It is a great lesson in trusting God and following the call that God has on your life.

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

The mountains have imprisoned her long enough.

Edna Sue O’Connell came back to the Kentucky hills out of duty and can’t wait for the chance to escape again. Her work as a horseback librarian in rural Appalachia provides enough income for her invalid father to survive in the midst of the Great Depression, but it affords her with little else.

When an opportunity arises for Edna to take on an additional book delivery area, she spies a glimmer of hope that she might find a way out of Willow Hollow after all… and that she might actually make something of her life apart from the tragedy that has filled it thus far.

But the new routes give Edna more than she ever bargained for. Slowly, she finds that the mountains contain many valuable secrets – if she has the grit to meet them.

Bio: Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.

Links: 

I’d love to hear from you. You can visit me online on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Bookbub, Pinterest, and my blog. *Note: I’m most active on Facebook and my blog.

Whether you’re on social media or not, you can ensure that you never miss one of my sales, giveaways, or new releases by signing up for my newsletter. I’ll send you a direct link to your email anytime something big happens. http://eepurl.com/dDbVNz

Website: https://christianauthoramheath.net/

Blog: https://christianauthoramheath.net/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHeathfanpage/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8302606.A_M_Heath

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aheath2257/?eq=a.m.&etslf=5672

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAMHeath

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-m-heath-41b54829-fb8c-469e-a96f-52efe9efacb1

Ben’s Love Song (Fri 9/4 Deana) #8

One of the ways I connect with my characters and their story is through song.

Ben is a quiet sort of man. He feels deeply, but he says so very little. It’s always a joy when a character “claims” a song. While it isn’t a perfect fit, it does capture the heart of this mountain man.

I hope you enjoy! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXv4w-cm3U

Secret Code #8: needed to 

Tour Stops:
Aug. 31:
Becky @ Blossoms and Blessings: Review and
Anne @ The Naptime Author: Review and

Sept. 1:
Amanda @ With a Joyful Noise:

Sept 2:
Nyla @ Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess: Review and
Julie @ Bizwings Blog: Review and

Sept 3:
Tarissa @ In the Bookcase: Review and

Sept 4:
Hannah: *blog link error
Deana: Texas Book-aholic: Review and

Sept 5:
Kaitlyn: *couldn't access blog

Sept 6:
Debbie: Debbie's Dusty Deliberations: Review and

Sept 7:
Tara @ Tower in the Plains: Review and
Jana @ Reviews from the Stacks: Review and

Sept 8:
Vicky @ Vicky Sluiter: Review and

Sept 9:
Connie @ Older and Smarter: Review and
Loretta @ Just Writing: Review and

Sept 10:
Robbie @ Captive Dreams Window
Abigail @ *double check blog info

Sept 11:
Virginia: Bigreadersite: Review and
Karen: Karen Sue Hadley: Review and 

About the Book

Book:  Swift

Author: RJ Anderson

Genre:  Christian Fantasy

Release Date: August 18, 2020

To save her people, a wingless girl must learn to fly.

As a piskey girl born without wings and raised underground, Ivy yearns for flight almost as much as she misses her long-lost mother. But the world outside the Delve is full of danger, and her dreams seem hopeless until she meets a mysterious faery who makes her an enticing offer: If Ivy helps him escape the Delve’s dungeon, he’ll teach her how to fly.

Freeing Richard could cost Ivy her reputation, perhaps even her life. But when her fellow piskeys start to disappear and her beloved little sister goes missing, Ivy has no choice but to take the risk.

Deadly threats and shocking revelations await Ivy as she ventures into a strange new world, uncovers long-buried secrets about her family’s past, and finds that no one—not even herself—is entirely what they seem.

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW

What an exciting adventure awaits readers in this story. I loved reading about Ivy and what a piskey was. Losing her mom had been hard for Ivy. Not knowing what really happened to her has caused Ivy to wonder if perhaps she was kidnapped. I don’t think I would have trusted Richard at all when I first met him. The promises he makes to Ivy sounded good but did he have an agenda that  would endanger Ivy? 

The author gives us a place where strange creatures abound and a theme of good vs evil. I like when Ivy tries to pass off as human in order to go look for her mother. Her friend Molly seemed eager to help her and I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead for them.  There is so much detail in the  book that I felt like I had slipped into the book and was right beside Ivy. The story delivers a fantasy story that will captivate readers and keep them entertained throughout the book. There is a bit of blood in the story that may trigger some, so be cautious when reading it to younger children. I didn’t find the story scary but it does deal with magic and power. 

The story has a theme of trusting that puts several characters in danger. I was surprised at some of the twists in the story and it kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. I can’t wait to read the next in this series to find out if my questions have been answered. 

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

About the Author

Born in Uganda to missionary parents, R.J. (Rebecca Joan) Anderson is a women’s Bible teacher, a wife and mother of three, and a bestselling fantasy author for older children and teens. Her debut novel Knife has sold more than 120,000 copies worldwide, while her other books have been shortlisted for the Nebula Award, the Christy Award, and the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Science Fiction. Rebecca lives with her family in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

More from R.J. Anderson

FEAR, FAITH AND LEARNING TO FLY

What would you give to feel safe? If you could hide from all life’s dangers and anyone who might harm you, and spend your whole life in a beautiful, comfortable home surrounded by friends, family and all the necessities of life, would you?

That’s the kind of place that Ivy, the teenaged heroine of Swift, has grown up in — a glittering underground complex called the Delve, where safety and protection are paramount, and young girls especially are warned not to take foolish risks. Like climbing the wall of the Great Shaft that leads to the surface, for instance. Or going outside for any reason, except for two special nights of the year. In the world of modern-day Cornwall, the converted tin mine where Ivy and her fellow piskeys live is their only refuge from scheming faeries, greedy humans, and their deadliest enemies of all, the spriggans. And since Ivy’s mother was stolen by the spriggans six years ago, Ivy knows all too well how dangerous the outside world can be.

But as Ivy discovers when she stumbles on a mysterious Shakespeare-quoting prisoner in her people’s dungeon, safety isn’t everything. If “Richard” is telling the truth about what happened to Ivy’s long-lost mother, there may be more going on in the Delve — and outside it — than Ivy ever guessed. How far will she go to find the truth?

When I first started writing Swift, one of the ideas I wanted to explore was how much our prejudices and false perceptions limit us. Ivy’s been taught to fear everything and everyone outside the Delve, and that her poor health and lack of wings means she will never be worthy or whole. But when she starts to ask questions and search for answers, Ivy discovers that much of what she’s always believed is a lie.

What I didn’t realize until I’d finished writing the whole Flight and Flame trilogy is that in many ways, Ivy’s story parallels that of Moses in the book of Exodus. Like Moses when God first called him, Ivy doesn’t think she has anything to offer her people, or any chance of convincing the stern, suspicious piskey queen to set them free. But when Ivy learns to look beyond her fears and self-doubts and step out in faith — even if she’s not sure yet what it means or where it will lead her — extraordinary things happen and her world begins to change.

We all crave safety and security. But if we refuse to step outside our comfort zones or ever question our prejudices, our lives and hearts will stagnate. It’s only when we open ourselves up to truth and act on it, even if it’s hard or unpopular to do so, that we can truly soar.

I’ve loved writing Ivy’s story. I hope you’ll love reading it, too.

— R.J. Anderson (www.rj-anderson.com)

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, August 31

Blogging With Carol, August 31

Through the Fire Blogs, September 1

Pause for Tales, September 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 2

Worthy2read, September 3

Texas Book-aholic, September 4

The Book Chic Blog, September 4

For Him and My Family, September 5

deb’s Book Review, September 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 6

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 7

Mia Reads, September 7

Artistic Nobody, September 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

For the Love of Literature, September 9

Daughter of Increase, September 9

Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 10

Simple Harvest Reads, September 11 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Vicky Sluiter, September 11

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 12

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, September 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, R.J. is giving away the grand prize package of a signed and personalized bookplate, two bookmarks, and two beautiful blank-inside notecards with artwork by Kirk DouPonce and Rory Kurtz!!

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/fff5/swift-celebration-tour-giveaway