About the Book

Book: Pure Joy: 90 Devotions on the Book of James

Author: Anita Higman

Genre: Christian Devotional Book

Release date: February 27, 2024

Pure Joy is a profound 90-day devotional that delves into finding joy through suffering amidst life’s challenges. In the Book of James, we’re challenged to embrace our trials with “pure joy,” understanding that they lead us to a point of lacking nothing. But how can we truly embody this spirit of joy in the midst of adversity? This daily devotional takes you on a transformative journey through James’ enigmatic teachings, encouraging you to discover the profound change that occurs when we accept Christ’s power in our anguish, confusion, discontent, and hardship.

Click here to get your copy!

 

 

About the Author

Anita Higman—an award-winning and bestselling author from Texas—has authored or coauthored fifty-plus books, and she has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. A few of Anita’s favorite things are fairytale castles, antiquing, exotic teas, gardening, and laughing with her family and friends! Her latest book, Pure Joy, is a collection of devotions inspired from the Book of James in the Bible.

More from Anita

Life is broken. We keep trying and trying—and trying—to make something worthwhile out of life, but no matter what we do on our own, it’s still a hopelessly shattered mess. When we allow Christ to love His way into our lives, we discover this miraculous thing called grace. He can take what is fractured by sin and refashion it into a magnificent work of art. And He gives us a new lightness of heart and a livelier step. Best of all, paradise has been regained! Yes, that is us—when we journey humbly with Him.

It has been said that some of James’ inspired writings have similarities to the Book of Proverbs. So, I am hopeful you will also enjoy—Pausing for Proverbs—the little inset devotions, which are enfolded into this work.

May these ninety devotions and your journey with James flood your life with hope, ripen your faith, and transform you into a woman who knows how to dance in God’s light and His wonderful ways of joy…

MY REVIEW

Beautifully crafted and easy to read, this devotional was a pleasure to read. Each chapter is a different topic with scripture and personal stories or those from the Bible. I liked the chapter on joy because it clearly defined the term with a scripture. We all go through trials but of course we aren’t thrilled with it. We grow stronger from those trials and it gives us a way to share with others. When we talk with someone about their struggles we can relate to them if we have overcome what they are facing now. 

Based on the book of James each chapter gives us hope, joy and encouragement. In between some of the chapters we find “Pausing for Proverbs.” This was refreshing to read and reminds us “be among the wise, and acknowledge flow from us like spring water.”  This would make a wonderful gift for someone. Grab an extra copy to bless someone with this nice devotional to help them find joy. 

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

Blog Stops

Godly Book Reviews, November 8

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 8

Inspired by Fiction, November 9

Because I said so – adventures in parenting, November 9

Sylvan Reads, November 10

Faith, Fiction, & Fairytales, November 11

Labor Not in Vain, November 11

She Lives To Read, November 12

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 12

Girls in White Dresses, November 13

Its Mama Safe, November 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 15

Older & Smarter?, November 16

Texas Book-aholic, November 17

Mary Hake, November 17

Lights in a Dark World, November 18

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 19

All-of-a-kind Mom, November 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 20

Lots of Helpers, November 20

Cover Lover Book Review, November 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Anita is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and two copies of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5490

About the Book

Book: Francine’s Foibles

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 12, 2023

She’s given up hope. He never had any. Will they find it together?

World War II is finally over, and America is extra grateful as the country approaches this year’s Thanksgiving. But for Francine life hasn’t changed. Despite working at Fort Meade processing the paperwork for the thousands of men who have returned home, she’s still lonely and very single. Is she destined for spinsterhood?

Grateful that his parents anglicized the family surname after emigrating to the United States after the Great War, first-generation German-American Ray Fisher has done all he can to hide his heritage. He managed to make it through this second “war to end all wars,” but what American woman would want to marry into a German family? Must he leave the country to find wedded bliss?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

Francine O’Malley is a secondary character in Estelle’s Endeavor, and I decided she deserved her own book. The idea for Francine’s Foibles sprang from the stories my mom told me about her time working at Fort Meade processing discharge paperwork for returning servicemen. Because my grandparents lived in a small town near the base, I’d driven past countless times, but it was fun to research what it was like during World War 2 and the years immediately following. The Laurel Historical Society was a wonderful resource with lots of information and photos from “back in the day.”

Initially opened in 1917 and called Camp Annapolis Junction, the base is located in Maryland about twenty miles southwest of Baltimore and twenty miles east of Laurel. The name quickly changed to Camp Meade but in 1928 was redesignated Fort Leonard Wood. According to www.home.army.mil, Pennsylvania congressmen were so angered at the removal of the name of their native son they held up appropriations until the army agreed to name the new permanent installation Fort George G. Meade, in honor of the Union general.

During World War 2, the base was used as a recruit training post and more than 3.5 million men past through its gates. A small portion of the facility was also used as a POW camp for Japanese, German, and Italian prisoners.

Mom was still single during her time at Fort Meade, and I loved imagining her as a wide-eyed young woman doing her part for the war effort and greeting handsome soldiers as they set foot back on American soil.

This one’s for you, Mom!

Linda Shenton Matchett

MY REVIEW

I have noticed that this time period has one thing that I have always been curious about. It seemed to be very important for young women to be married at a young age. If they were not, they were called a spinster and some looked at them in pity. There is also true for the 1800s as well. How times have changed. Today if you are not married at a certain age, no one looks at you differently. In some instances most wait till later in life to marry and have children. I find this to be very unique that the emphasis during some time periods were about women  marrying young to be a status symbol for young women. Now let’s move  on to the review. 

I adored Francine and how dedicated she was in helping servicemen   returning home. She wants to make their transition to be as easy as possible. She is good at her job but I think I would have been a little bored doing it everyday. Francine has this quality that   makes others feel at ease even during difficult moments. She is not worried about being single but she does at times want a relationship like her friends have. When she meets Ray things begin to change in her life. Has she found that special someone? 

Ray has returned home after being  in the service to begin a new chapter in his life. I loved the encounter he had with Francine as he begins his transition. He seems to find comfort in her easy going attitude. One thing that they don’t share in common is faith. Ray is angry at God and can’t bring himself to feel anything but bitterness. As he and Francine start a friendship he realizes that faith is a huge part of her life. His harshness comes out at a moment where Francine ends up getting hurt. Can he repair the damage he has done? 

The Fenneys  are a sweet older couple that fills the pages with hope and faith. When Francine and Ray find themselves both helping the couple  at their house, they both realize that time is short. As Ray explains to Francine, “ you can’t put things off. You might never get another chance.”  It is time for them to express their true feelings. This part of the story fills my heart with joy. Being  open with one another will hopefully open their hearts to forgiveness. 

Francine starts to see that maybe she feels the same way as Ray, but moving forward can’t happen until “he gets right with the Lord.”  Oh my do things turn bad when Ray once again lets his pride get the best of him. I see that what is really going on  is he is running from God. 

The story is a much needed reminder that we need to forgive others and not be bitter about things we have no control over. We also need to trust God with everything. Our main couple learn to let down the barrier’s they have put up to protect them but they also needed to let go of hurt. The ending is very sweet and I loved how the author shares faith in a beautiful story where two people  find that God forgives and happiness can happen.

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, November 14 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 15

Artistic Nobody, November 16 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 17

Guild Master, November 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 19

Fiction Book Lover, November 20 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 21

Back Porch Reads, November 22 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 23

Stories By Gina, November 24 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 24

Holly’s Book Corner, November 25

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 26 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Visa gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5497

 

About the Book

Book: Suddenly Umemployed –  52 Personal Stories of Hope & Encouragement through Financial Crisis

Author: Rebecca Krusee

Genre: Christian Living – Non-Fiction

Release date: July 12, 2024

Losing your job, home, financial stability, dreams and possibly more can be heartbreaking, lonely and difficult. Immediately, you’re scrambling for answers to questions like “Why me? Where will we live? What’s next?”

Rebecca understands firsthand what it’s like to be stripped of her 15 year management career in Silicon Valley manufacturing when her company outsourced her four departments overseas and, as a result, lost her beloved home among other necessities.

Suddenly Unemployed shares her family of four’s true-to-life personal stories and biblical passages to encourage you through whatever storm you’re facing.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Rebecca Krusee‘s stories appear in Love is a Verb by Gary Chapman, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Guideposts as well as other publishing. Rebecca lives in the majestic Santa Cruz Mountains of California where she enjoys spending quality time with her family, taking a leisurely drive along the Pacific Ocean and exploring her community.

More from Rebecca

I felt lead to write Suddenly Unemployed – 52 Personal Stories of Hope & Encourgagement through Financial Crisis describing our family’s experience with job loss and financial crisis. I know firsthand not having the concentration needed to read a novel while enduring a crisis. My focus was on the basics necessities of shelter, food and clothing. Hence, I wrote fifty two bite size stories that can be read one per week for a year and split the sixteen year jouney into three distinct sections of entering, navigating and exiting the crisis.

Although this time period was painful, my trust and faith in God along with personal character grew. These qualities helped navigate me through further trials such as a COVID world, California wildland fire, loss of parents, empty nest syndrome and more.

Some people hide their struggles from others. I chose to openly share our story with the hope it will encourage the readers as they read about God’s goodness woven throughout our book. Perhaps they will say to themselves, “If God carried the Krusees through the toughest storme of their lives, maybe He will carry me and my family too.”

MY REVIEW

This is a timely book that everyone should read. With rising cost of food, gas and essentials many feel the impact of how to survive. The author shares personal accounts of how her family went through job loss and found hope. God sees the battles we face and is there to help us. I enjoyed the stories and scripture at the end of each chapter. 

The book is encouraging and illustrates how we should never give up. I like how the author and her husband were united in their faith and prayed as they faced difficulties. The stories share honest and vulnerable times where the situations seemed hopeless. I found that the book reminded me that we should pray for each other and reach out when we see a need. 

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, November 7 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 8

For the Love of Literature, November 9 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 9

An Author’s Take, November 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 11 (Author Interview)

Batya’s Bits, November 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12

Blossoms and Blessings, November 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 14

Artistic Nobody, November 15 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 16

Stories By Gina, November 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 19

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 20 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rebecca is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and the winner’s choice of an eBook or print copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5489

About the Book

Book: Unfit to Serve

Author: Sandra Bretting

Genre: Inspirational Historical

Release date: August 16, 2024

When the United States military adopts a newfangled test from France called the “intelligence quotient test” during the first world war, no one expects the turmoil that follows. Thousands of immigrants fail it and are forced to return to homelands devastated by war, disease, and famine.

For Josephine Pembrooke, the shy schoolmarm at Camp Travis in Texas, the problem quickly becomes apparent. How can soldiers pass a test they can’t even read? So, Jo labors in secret to create a better test. Knowing all along it can’t save the one soldier she’d  hoped to help.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Sandra Bretting is the author of a bestselling cozy mystery series that ran for five years with Kensington Publishing, as well as three standalone mysteries and an inspirational memoir. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, she began her career writing for the Los Angeles Times, Orange Coast Magazine, and others.  From 2006 until 2016, she wrote feature stories for the award-winning business section of the Houston Chronicle.

The second book in her mystery series earned the rank of Amazon Bestseller. Since making the switch to historical fiction, Bretting has garnered accolades for her first title, Unfit to Serve, which released in August 2024. The novel explores how the U.S. military brought the IQ test to America at the start of World War 1.

More from Sandra

Most people don’t know this, but the IQ test we’ve all heard about came to America during World War 1. French schoolteachers originally created it for their students more than a hundred years ago. Then the U.S. military found out about it, and the top brass thought they could use it to test recruits for their battle-readiness. There was only one problem: thousands of men failed it because they’d immigrated from overseas and couldn’t read the questions. They were loyal to the U.S., smart as whips, and physically capable, but they couldn’t pass a test they couldn’t read. In real life, it took the military a whole year to see the problem and come up with a better version for foreign recruits.

A whole year!

I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to those men who failed it, and how it affected their families. The recruits had come from countries devasted by famine, disease, and war, and they couldn’t go back. From there, the story evolved. I brought in a brave schoolteacher who sees the problem and struggles to fix it. Of course, being the early 1900s, women are supposed to be seen and not heard (like children) so she’s stonewalled at every turn. But she doesn’t stop. Josephine (Jo) knows that God cares about justice too, and she looks to Him for help when everything falls apart.

On a different level, I loved exploring the relationship between Jo and her stiff-lipped husband, Albigence. I purposefully moved this urban couple from a sophisticated university setting to a hot, dusty military base in San Antonio. There, they’re forced to rely on each other for the first time and fight for their marriage. It’s an unconventional love story, but a love story nonetheless.

In all my books, I strive to show how people can change for the better—or worse—depending on the situation, and that the best path forward is to trust God and His timing. He’s always perfect, even when we’re not.  Thank goodness we can rely on Him!

MY REVIEW 

I was very intrigued by this test that was called “intelligence quotient test.”  It was started during World War I and brought to America. I have never heard about this test so I quickly set to read this story. 

Josephine is introduced to army life by being at a women’s meeting where some silly presentation about embroidery knots is the agenda . I giggled as I saw her utter confusion of why this is what the women’s group found important. The Red Cross is in need of socks for the men overseas so why aren’t the women doing this project?  Already you can see that Josephine is causing a little snafu in their plans. After all shouldn’t the focus be on helping the servicemen?  I couldn’t wait  to see how Josephine will fit in. Her husband will be in for a surprise when he returns to find his sweet wife has ruffled a few feathers. 

Albigence is having his own issues with bullying  going on. Even when he was younger he was made fun of. You would think grown men wouldn’t act this way. He takes his responsibility serious and wants to be well informed of the  material he needs to know. Being put on the spot the  instructor call Albigence to the front as a guinea pig. He must now take the test  he will give  to the soldiers when he returns to base. Underlining of this test is to weed out those who can’t pass or as some called, use”reverse psychology” on the hopeful soldiers. 

The story takes a look at immigrants and how they were treated. Some thought a certain group were lazy while other were thought to be untidy. Josephine explains to her students that just because someone from a different background is different doesn’t  mean the whole group is different. I liked how she explained that many came to America from boats where they didn’t have any way to bathe. But not everyone from that culture were dirty. A hard lesson for the children to grasp when their parents have said unkind things about immigrants in front of their own children. 

What transpires next is a hope that those who come to America can receive help by giving them lessons on how to speak English. People are set up for failure if they don’t understand what is being said to them. Prejudice is running rampant and the test the men have  to take  are difficult if they do not understand English. I began to wonder how many men were turned away with nowhere to go. Did they lose hope? 

Josephine tries to change how the test is given so immigrants have a fair chance of passing. I loved her heart that wanted everyone to be treated with dignity. She has this strength that could only come from God. As she is fighting for the rights of others her husband is fighting for the men who have fought in the war. Their battle scars can’t be seen yet they are deep. We know this illness as PTSD but during this time period it was called battle fatigue or shell-shock. It was hard to read about the treatments the men were given until Albigence comes to give  them hope. 

There is so much depth to this story and I could feel emotions spilling across the pages. This story will be something I will never forget. It is a realistic look at what men and women faced everyday as they served our country. I don’t want to ever forget the sacrifice that  was made for our freedom. 

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 11

Stories By Gina, November 12 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 12

Texas Book-aholic, November 13

lakesidelivingsite, November 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 19

For Him and My Family, November 20

Betti Mace, November 21

An Author’s Take, November 22

Artistic Nobody, November 23 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 23

Guild Master, November 24 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5494

About the Book

Book: Into the Sunset (A Western Light Book Three)

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: October 15, 2024

Will the sun set on their chance at happiness before they can seize it?

To finally escape the clutches of her controlling husband and the threat of being recommitted to an asylum, Ginny Rutledge enlists the help of her friends, Maeve O’Toole and Dakota Harlan. Fleeing their own tumultuous pasts, the group embarks on a journey to prove Ginny’s sanity. However, as they confront the shadows they wish they could forget, danger looms from unexpected places.

Maeve grapples with her mother’s impending remarriage and seizes a rare chance to escape her homestead–but that means reuniting with Dakota, the man she holds responsible for her father’s death, who is caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful family. As the two of them navigate their shared history and a dangerous mission, Dakota is forced to confront his deepest fears and fight for the woman who has unwittingly captured his heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise and The Lumber Baron’s Daughters and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

More from Mary

Into the Sunset is the third book in A Western Light series, and I always love the wrap up of a series. In this book I’ve got a deliciously evil villain, and I’ve worked that villain in and out of the characters lives at the end of each of the first two books, but he keeps coming back. This time, he really gets what’s coming to him. Anyway, it’s not a shocking thing to say: the bad guy loses. I’ll bet most readers of my work knew that was coming. It’s the HOW that makes it fun.

My heroine is one I really enjoyed: Maeve O’Toole—a red-headed, sassy Irish lass with a mild brogue. And my hero, Dakota Harlan, has interested her from the first moment she laid eyes on him. Except that moment was several years ago, and she blamed him for her father’s death on the wagon train Dakota was leading. Then life separated them as he went on to Oregon and her family turned aside to homestead in Idaho. Now Dakota is back in Maeve’s life again. She’s had a chance to see that her anger with Dakota was unfair and has discovered that Dakota has always admired her. He’d probably scoop her up and marry her, if it wasn’t for the men trying to kill him. He doesn’t have much room for a wife in the life he’s living now.

In this story, I bring back all the characters from the earlier two books. The villain who’s been harassing them all along reappears, and the men hunting Dakota show up, too. Ginny must go to court to break the hold her evil husband has over her, declaring her insane and locking her away. She’s been hiding ever since. But now she’s ready to face him in court, but a conniving, wealthy man like her husband never plays fair.

Into the Sunset is packed with love and action, adventure and danger. All play out against the hectic railroad town of Cheyenne, Wyoming a few years after Wyoming becomes the first state to give women the right to vote. And there are some tough, smart women ready to stand between Ginny and a cruel husband. And plenty of tough smart cowboys, too. I hope you love this story!

MY REVIEW

This story is gritty, tough and filled with lessons that will change many lives. Right away I knew that the women in this story were going to be strong, fearless and rooted in faith. During this time period changes were starting  to happen to give women more rights. I love the historical facts that are spread throughout the story. 

Ginny is the one character that  stood out for me. Her fight to be free from a man who treated her badly brings danger. I can’t imagine the cruel treatment she experienced being locked away in an asylum. She knew she didn’t belong there and now she has to fight to stay free.  

With a cast of stand out characters the author delivers a western story with action, danger along  with faith. I enjoyed reading how a relationship slowly develops while others find a new beginning from a life that was filled with pain. 

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9

Book Looks by Lisa, November 10

Devoted To Hope, November 10

lakesidelivingsite, November 11

Texas Book-aholic, November 12

For Him and My Family, November 12

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 14

Jeanette’s Thought , November 14

Betti Mace, November 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 16

Holly’s Book Corner, November 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 17

Stories By Gina, November 18 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, November 18

She Lives To Read, November 19

Cover Lover Book Review, November 20

Labor Not in Vain, November 20

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 21

Connie’s History Classroom, November 22

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card and a full paperback set of the A Western Light series by Mary Connealy: Chasing the Horizon, Toward the Dawn, and Into the Sunset!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5491