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Saturday, October 10, 2020

 

Cross Addicted (1)

About the Book

Paula was broken, traumatized, and bound by many addictions, but today she is free. And that is God’s desire for you, too!

Paula Jauch’s life was controlled by trauma and addiction. Born into neglect and addiction, she inherited self-destructive patterns and emotional prisons she could not escape She experimented with crack at age thirteen, became pregnant at fifteen, was initiated into a Hispanic gang, and bore her second child by the time she was eighteen. Starved for acceptance and worth, she began cutting her body, and developed a near-fatal disorder for twenty years.

Cross Addicted follows Paula’s raw, stumbling journey toward freedom. You will find renewed hope and practical steps of recovery.

  • Recognize that there is nothing wrong with you.
  • Learn how to forgive yourself and others.
  • Understand addiction and trauma and the healing process through recovery.
  • Find freedom by understanding what Jesus did on the cross.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

Reading this book was difficult for me because of personal reasons. I appreciate how the author was very open with all she went through. It is easy to understand how trauma and addiction can cause your life to spin out of control. It’s a vicious cycle of trying to run from the pain yet wanting someone to love and accept you. For some of us we feel damaged and therefore not good enough for a healthy relationship. 

Like the author, I feel like I missed my childhood. Oh I remember every detail of it, but it was far from a normal happy childhood. I’m not sure  I totally agree with this statement from the author, “Children, who have experienced trauma in their lives from any kind of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or who have grown up in addiction are usually confused about what they have seen or what has happened to them.”I have never been confused about what happened to me so I think that statement is more of a broad one that is something she believes. I do know that our mind protects us from trauma that is very difficult . It is a way to protect us from reliving a very traumatic event but at some point it will come out. That is when we need to be prepared. 

I did like how the author uses scripture to guide readers to the Word and help heal our broken hearts. Survivors of abuse and addiction heal in different ways. We may seek out professional help, group support or other resources. Theses are all good and help us realize we are not alone.  The author writes a book with great encouraging  words and through her testimony will reach others who feel hopeless and alone. 

As I finished the book I stopped to pray. I wanted to pray from this woman who has exposed an ugliness the world tries to hide and shares God with us as a  place of refuge and hope.  Her prayers at the end of each chapter are good and I like that she suggests we seek help so we can heal. The enemy would like nothing more than for us to stay where we are, but God wants to heal us and set us free from bondage of our past. 

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



About the Author

Paula Jauch’s life experience enables her speaking and writing to empower people from all walks of life. She shares her inspirational story all around the world through speaking and radio. Her goal is to carry this message to the forefront. She loves encouraging and motivating her audiences to live a life of freedom in Christ. She is a happily married mother of four and a proud Nana. In her spare time, you might find her at a favorite Mexican restaurant. Paula lives in West Michigan.

Paula’s work experience led her to realize she needed healing from childhood trauma after growing up in abuse and addiction. After she graduated from an alternative education high school and had two children by age eighteen, her heart was drawn to jobs to help children like herself. She worked seven years at the Juvenile Court Schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, and five years at the Clark County Department of Family Services, as a juvenile service assistant, working with troubled teens. In 2004 she relocated to Terre Haute, Indiana, where she worked for two years at Gibault Inc., as a youth specialist, working with teen boy sex offenders. After leaving the Gibault home, she worked a few months at the Vigo County Courthouse as a bailiff, but decided to leave her job when it became uncomfortable, because her family name was well known in the court system.

What she learned through all of her work experience is that if these kids didn’t get the proper help they needed, they would get involved in a gang, addicted to drugs or alcohol, land in prison, or even face death. Paula knew she was being called to take a step of faith and action and get the help she needed so she could help others who experienced similar childhoods.

Even though Paula’s story and passion centers around youth, men and women of all ages will be inspired by her story of restoration. Connect with Paula www.paulajauch.com or follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @paulajauch.

 

More from Paula

Why did you write the book?

 

After graduating from an alternative education high school and having two children by the age eighteen, my heart was drawn to jobs to help children like myself. I started out by working seven years at a Juvenile Court Schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, and five years at the Clark County Department of Family Services, as a juvenile service assistant, working with troubled teens. In 2004, I relocated to Terre Haute, Indiana, where I worked for two years at Gibault Inc., as a youth specialist, working with teen boy sex offenders. After leaving the Gibault home, I worked a few months at the Vigo County Courthouse as a bailiff. However, I eventually decided to leave my job within a few months because it became uncomfortable since my family name was well-known in the court system. My work experiences led me to start asking questions and made me realize I needed my own healing from childhood trauma after growing up inabuse and addiction.

 

What I learned through all of my work experiences and my own life struggles is that if kids don’t get the proper help they need, they will either get involved in a gang, become addicted to drugs or alcohol, end up in prison, or even death. I knew God was calling me to take a step of faith and action to get the help I needed, so I could help others who experienced similar childhoods.

 

Trauma may be the greatest mission field of the 21st century, and the most misunderstood issue of our day.

 

My healing journey began when I could no longer pretend everything was okay. After being stuck in my trauma and my own addictions for years, I knew I needed to write a book and let others know there is a way out. My book was birthed out of my healing process. Cross Addicted: Breaking Free from Family Trauma and Addiction offers a hopeful path to recovery for those who are hurting and traumatized.

 

One in four U.S. students will witness or experience a traumatic event before the age four, and more than two-thirds by age sixteen.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 10

For Him and My Family, October 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 12

Simple Harvest Reads, October 13 (Author Interview)

Captive Dreams Window, October 13

Inklings and notions, October 14

Through the Fire Blogs, October 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 16

Artistic Nobody, October 17 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 18

deb’s Book Review, October 18

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 21

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 22

Splashes of Joy, October 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Paula is giving away the grand prize of 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/101f5/cross-addicted-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, October 9, 2020

 

Texas Holiday Hideout Banner

About the Book

Book:  Texas Holiday Hideout

Author: Virginia Vaughan

Genre:  Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date:  October 1, 2020

Texas Holiday Hideout CoverWhen her identity’s exposed,

hiding on a lawman’s family ranch is her last hope.

After her mother is killed, Melissa Morgan’s shocked to learn she’s spent her life in witness protection. Now it’s US marshal Miles Avery’s job to keep her and her little boy safe. And with a mole in his agency, the only way to evade the killer is to hide Melissa on Miles’s family ranch…and pretend she’s his wife for the holidays.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

I love books that are intriguing, adventurous and weaves faith in the story like this book does. The author is very gifted in giving readers an edge of a seat story filled with surprises and characters that are relatable. What would you do if you suddenly found out your life growing up was a lie? Melissa  is shocked to learn that her mother had been in the witness protection program and raised her all these years without even once telling her the truth. 

Melissa is a very easy to like character with her faith and love for her child. I was shocked at what she witnessed and knew from that moment her life and her son’s was in danger. The author does a great job of allowing Melissa to work through her trust issues. It is hard for Melissa to believe anything she is being told as the Marshall’s whisk her off to a safe place. 

Miles is a man with many secrets. It is not because he doesn’t like to share anything, but because his job as a Marshall has him in charge of witnesses who are in immediate danger. I thought is was interesting that he could keep his job a secret from his family. I loved his family and how close knit they are. They welcomed Melissa and her son into their home with open arms. Well it could be because they think Melissa is Miles’s wife. 

The secrets, lies and deceit start adding up and everywhere Melissa turns, she feels less secure. I liked how Miles put his life on the line and slowly started to treat Melissa  and her son more than just a job. The story is very well written with a good flow and kept me interested till the very end. I couldn’t wait to find out who the mole was and how they were able to continually track Melissa. The author does give a very subtle hint that I totally missed. I can’t say what it is, but I was so angry at myself for not figuring out how Melissa could never keep the people hunting her away. 

If you have never read this author, I will say that you are doing an injustice to yourself. I love how she is able to write intrigue with a hint of romance without missing a beat. Make sure you read the author notes on this blog where she gives details about the Witness Protection Program. I learned so much  from her research and now have a better understanding of the program. 

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

About the Author

virginia-vaughan-HR-2Virginia Vaughan is a multi-published author of inspirational romantic suspense. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, Virginia utilizes her criminal justice background with her love of writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger.

 

More from Virginia

What if one day you discovered you were in the Witness Protection Program and didn’t know it?

This is the premise for my October book, TEXAS HOLIDAY HIDEOUT, which releases this month. My heroine, Melissa Morgan, learns she and her mother entered the program when Melissa was a child. Her mother never told her and, when Melissa witnesses her mother being murdered, she becomes the assassin’s next target. US Marshal Miles Avery steps in to protect the single mom and her son from a killer, but a leak in WITSEC leaves him with little options except to take his witnesses to his family’s ranch…and pretend she’s his wife for the holidays.

So, in celebration of TEXAS HOLIDAY HIDEOUT releasing this month, here are 10 things about the Witness Protection Security Program (or WITSEC) I learned during my research for this book.

  1. The program is voluntary. No one can be forced to enter.
  2. You can leave the program at any time—although it is not recommended.
  3. No person in the program, who follows the rules, has ever been killed.
  4. People entering WITSEC sometimes keep their same first name and/or initials so that if they mess up and start to sign their name, they have time to correct.
  5. Since WITSEC is a federal program, many states have their own programs to protect witnesses of gang or street-level crimes.
  6. If you get married while in WITSEC, you must lie to your new spouse to protect your true identity in the event the relationship doesn’t last.
  7. Protected witnesses are mostly criminals. Only about 5% are innocents despite the popular trope in movies and fiction.
  8. Local law enforcement may or may not be notified when a protected witness is relocated to their jurisdiction.
  9. Divorced, non-custodial parents have had their children hidden from them and now must agree to allow their children to enter the program.
  10. WITSEC protected witnesses are expected to eventually become self-sufficient. They do not get to live off the government for the rest of their lives.

Did any of these facts about WITSEC surprise you? I’d love to hear which ones. I had a lot of fun researching WITSEC for TEXAS HOLIDAY HIDEOUT. I hope you enjoy Miles and Melissa’s story! Look out for the next book in the series—middle brother Navy SEAL Paul Avery’s story—coming in TEXAS TARGET STANDOFF in March of 2021.

Blog Stops

Through the Fire Blogs, October 8

Genesis 5020, October 8

Hallie Reads, October 8

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

Through the Lens of Scripture, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 9

reviewingbooksplusmore, October 9

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 10

deb’s Book Review, October 10

The Cafe Scholar, October 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 11

KarenSueHadley, October 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 11

Older & Smarter?, October 12

Inklings and notions, October 12

Simple Harvest Reads, October 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

She Lives To Read, October 13

Hebrews 12 Endurance, October 13

For Him and My Family, October 13

Betti Mace, October 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 14

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 15

lakesidelivingsite, October 15

Lighthouse Academy, October 15

To Everything There Is A Season, October 15

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 16

Blogging With Carol, October 16

Book Love, October 16 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 17

Batya’s Bits, October 17

Emily Yager, October 18

Labor Not in Vain, October 18

HookMeInABook, October 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 19

Mary Hake, October 19

Daysong Reflections, October 19

For the Love of Literature, October 20

Bigreadersite, October 20

EmpowerMoms, October 20

Blossoms and Blessings, October 21

Splashes of Joy, October 21

Pause for Tales, October 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Virginia is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of Texas Holiday Hideout!!

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/101f3/texas-holiday-hideout-celebration-tour-giveaway


Wednesday, October 7, 2020

 

About the Book

Book:  Truly Known

Author: Jayne Martin Patton

Genre:  Christian Nonfiction/Christian living

Release Date: March 9, 2020

Knowing God—really knowing God—often seems like an impossible endeavor, especially when we hardly know ourselves. Jayne Patton saw that truth firsthand after ministering to women at a maximum-security prison. And soon she realized that women everywhere—even sitting in the church pew next to her—were living in emotional, spiritual, and mental prisons within their own hearts and minds.

Truly Known invites women of all ages and stages to discover the life-altering freedom that God richly provides them, so that they no longer have to live within their own prisons but can be transformed in the presence of Jesus. Readers will be asking “So now what?” as they are empowered to snatch each moment and each day that God gives them to make a difference in the lives of others.

All proceeds from Truly Known will be donated to Samuel’s House, an orphanage in Venezuela that seeks to feed, shelter, educate, and evangelize children, bringing life to their souls.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 MY REVIEW 

This is a nice collection of inspiring devotions that are encouraging and filled with God’s Word. It is a short book but I would recommend taking your time as you go through it. I pulled out my journal to take notes so I could remember things that spoke to me. There are several chapters that really stood out to me. 

I liked the chapter “When Jesus Qualifies You“ because God has prepared you for what He is called you for specifically. I don’t know how many times I have thought I could never teach Sunday school, yet God appointed me Children’s Pastor over a large church. He equipped me to minister and I knew I was in the right place. It was a blessing to be around the children and watch their faith grow. 

“Steadfast Love” was another chapter I really liked. I grew up in a home where I experienced violence and abuse daily. The words “I love you,” was never said by my parents. How could I believe that God loves me? I’m not anyone important, in fact I felt unloveable . I really like how the chapter talks about God “always looks upon us  through the eyes of love.” How comforting  that is for  me to know. He is the one constant in our lives. I have come to accept that God loves me unconditionally and has always been there watching over me. 

The book has many subjects that I enjoyed reading. I do wish the chapters were a bit longer and more in-depth though. It would make a nice gift for someone who needs encouraging or just to give to someone to add to their daily Bible study. 

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

About the Author

Jayne Patton loves crossing over denominational divides to bring the gospel to others in a way that is powerful and relevant. With over twenty years in women’s ministry, she has previously served as a women’s ministry director, worked with government officials in the plight of persecuted Christians worldwide, ministered to women behind prison walls, and more. Jayne is a popular speaker at churches, women’s events, and MOPS groups. She and her husband, Mike, have three children. Jayne loves to read in her spare time, can always be bribed with Mexican food, and never turns down a double-stuffed Oreo. Learn more about her at www.alteredministries.com.

 

More from Jayne

Let’s be real, prison ministry was never on my women’s ministry vision board. I didn’t lay in bed as a little girl and dream of going behind bars. I didn’t grow up knowing a single incarcerated person, my modern-day world didn’t include those who had been incarcerated, and I never thought it would be the thing that would change my entire life. Until 2017. In the fall of that year, I was given the opportunity to begin ministering weekly at a maximum security women’s prison in Missouri and remember thinking at the time how much it would bless those inmates if I would teach them the word of God. I couldn’t have gone in with the worst motivation. You see, it was the Lord who was bringing me there to be blessed and taught by them!

 

I soon discovered that Jesus was working hard in the hearts of those women and they were being transformed into Christ’s likeness unlike anything I had ever experienced within the church walls. In fact, I was so dramatically impacted by what I was experiencing, the Lord prompted me to launch a women’s conference style ministry entitled “Altered Ministries”. My ministry team and I began hosting women’s events at local churches sharing the same messages we were bringing to the women in prison. It was remarkable what God began doing! Lives were being restored, addictions were being shed, and relationships were being renewed!

 

As Altered was moving full speed ahead, I began writing short and pointed daily devotionals for those just beginning their walk with Jesus. Those short devotionals are what soon became my devotional book entitled “Truly Known”.  Why that name? Because God is the One who truly knows all the parts of us that we try to hide, and yet still desires that we draw close to Him. I could see His heart for not just the women sitting in church pews often held captive in prisons of their own making, but for the ones that were held behind very real bars. Jesus came to set all of us free.  My prayer is that “Truly Known” serves as daily encouragement that is easy to understand for the beginner and serves as a sweet reminder for the scholar.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 7

Texas Book-aholic, October 8

Inklings and notions, October 9

For Him and My Family, October 10

Rebekah Reads, October 10

deb’s Book Review, October 11

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 12

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 15

Mary Hake, October 15

Artistic Nobody, October 16 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 18

SodbusterLiving, October 19

Splashes of Joy, October 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jayne is giving away the grand prize package of a signed book and $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.

https://promosimple.com/ps/101f2/truly-known-celebration-tour-giveaway