About the Book

Book: The Bright Unknown

Author: Elizabeth Byler Younts

Genre:  Historical Romance

Release Date: October 22, 2019

Two young friends embark upon an epic journey across 1940s middle America in search of answers, a family, and a place to call home.

The only kind of life Brighton Turner understands is the one she has endured within the dreary walls of a rural Pennsylvania asylum. A nurse has thoughtfully educated and raised Brighton, but she has also kept vital information from her in order to keep her close. Brighton befriends a boy whom she calls Angel—he doesn’t know his name—and as the two of them learn more about what lies beyond the walls they call home, they fight for their release and eventually escape.

However, the world outside the only place they’ve ever known is not what they expect. They have no real names, no money, and no help—and they must rely upon the kindness of strangers as they walk and hitchhike from Pennsylvania to Michigan to find their last hope of a home.

This heartbreaking journey, narrated in gorgeous prose, explores what it means to belong—and to scour the universe with fresh eyes for the brightness within.

Click here to grab your copy!

About the Author

Elizabeth Byler Younts gained a worldwide audience through her first book, Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Solace of Water and the Promise of Sunrise series. Elizabeth lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, her two daughters, and a small menagerie of well-loved pets.

More from Elizabeth

The Bright Unknown was born out of a seed of a true story that my husband’s grandmother, Gigi, shared with me. Gigi told me that when she was a young girl living in Oklahoma her mom had a friend who was a nurse. During one of her visits over coffee she would occasionally talk about her patients at the local asylum. One particular story really intrigued Gigi and even decades later she still remembered it. The story was about a patient who had a baby while at the hospital and while Gigi remembers nothing about the patient or the child, she knew that when she moved out of Oklahoma several years later that asylum-born girl was around eighteen and still living within the walls of that hospital along with her patient-mother.

That story stuck with me. This trapped girl and her mother wouldn’t let me go. I began to wonder over her and ask all sorts of unanswered questions. Slowly but surely my imagined story for her came to life. Layer after layer I learned about Brighton, my name for her. I also named two characters after Gigi, her first and middle, as an honor to her. This story was born from a memory but now these characters feel real and present in my life today and I hope you will journey with them in The Bright Unknown.

In the dark and dusty hallway of the asylum lives a mother and daughter. I felt shivers race down my arms as I began to read this story . It is hard to imagine what it was like long ago to be in a place where there was no where to go. Day after day you see your mother tortured by the demons in her mind. Brighton grows up in this place where only the forgotten and unwanted are. There is no way this story will not get into the crevices of your mind as you weep and applaud  the girl that wants to go beyond the four walls of a hospital.

There are so many secrets buried between the cracks of the hospital that it is frightening. Brighton overhears something about her friend Angel that shakes her to the core.  It was hard to read how Brighton was treated when she threatened to tell what was going on. A young girl tied to a chair and treated like one of the patients became a nightmare that was hard to wake up from.

I enjoyed reading about Angel and Grace. I think with them being there with Brighton it helped her to cope with her need for stability. It was interesting to go back and forth in time and learn who Nell was. Each chapter is intense and the book consumed me. It was dark at times but the author is able to shine hope and forgiveness between the pages.  Brighton wants so bad to live outside the hospital but knows it may never happen. You can feel her desperation to live a normal life as she accepts  that she is trapped in a world where people are dropped off and forgotten.

The power the hospital has over their patients in this story is unimaginable. What person thinks it is right to sterilize women to prevent pregnancy against their will? How can they justify medication to keep patients quiet and out of touch with reality?  This hospital is an example of what happened to people long ago when they knew very little about mental health. Trapped in their bodies were people needing love and compassion, but instead received cold shoulders and uncaring attitudes. 

I don't think I have read a story that is so realistic as this one. The author has a knack for weaving characters that tear at your heart while at the same time wanting to pray for them. I am impressed with how the story flows so easily from the past to present. Along the way secrets are revealed that I didn't expect. The faith element is not overwhelming but with the  perfect blend of hope. It is easy to get so caught up in the story that everything around you becomes a blur. The selfishness by adults in this book is deplorable. They were more worried about what others would think instead of accepting their own child. I have heard about getting lost in the system, but this became more of a cover up.

There is a big significance in the meaning of names in this book. I know that I have never liked my name because people usually pronounce it wrong. What if you have always been called by a particular name only to find out it was not your given name? This is a big part of the story which I was fascinated by. A name is one's identity and it stays with you forever. 

The journey the author takes us on is one I will never forget. I couldn't wait to see if Grace would ever be found or what happens to Angel. One decision  make by different people change the lives of three very important characters in this story. I admire the author for the way she is able to take words and create a story that gives you hope, forgiveness and most of all peace.

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

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, November 2

A Reader’s Brain, November 2

Living Life Free in Christ, November 2

The Christian Fiction Girl, November 3

Inspired by fiction, November 3

Fiction Aficionado, November 4

Genesis 5020, November 4

janicesbookreviews, November 5

Blogging With Carol , November 5

All-of-a-kind Mom, November 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 6

To Everything A Season, November 6

The Becca Files, November 7

Bigreadersite, November 7

A Baker’s Perspective, November 8

Connect in Fiction, November 8

Moments, November 9

Bloggin’ ’bout Books, November 9

Simple Harvest Reads, November 10

Betti Mace, November 10

Pause for Tales, November 11

Inklings and notions, November 11

Mary Hake, November 11

Texas Book-aholic, November 12

Hallie Reads, November 12

For the Love of Literature, November 12

Through the Fire Blogs, November 13

For Him and My Family, November 13

Remembrancy, November 14

mpbooks, November 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 15

Godly Book Reviews, November 15

About the Book

Book: Soul Mend

Author: Luann Dunnuck

Genre: Christian Non-fiction, Christian Personal Growth, Counseling

Release Date: April 12, 2019

Restore your emotional health!

Have you felt trapped in an endless cycle of fear, anger, guilt, and other negative emotions? Has depression, anxiety, fear of rejection, or the inability to let go of past hurts robbed you of peace?

No matter how hopeless or discouraged you feel, freedom is possible. It’s time to get to the root of your pain so you can heal. In Soul Mend: Discovering Spiritual and Emotional Health, author Luann Dunnuck shows you how to uncover the source of your emotional struggles and experience wholeness with the help of God’s Holy Spirit.

 See the connection between your mental and physical health. Find scriptural truths to help you work through emotional struggles. God has answers for you and declares in Jeremiah, “Is there anything too hard for Me?” Let Him do the impossible in you as you apply the concepts in this book, rely more heavily on God, and regain the joy of living!

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Luann Dunnuck is a conference speaker, author, and counselor. She has a heart for those who are seeking emotional wholeness and spiritual health. Luann earned her master’s degree in Christian counseling and a doctorate in theology, and is a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God.

Her message of hope and restoration has been heard on radio and television—including Words to Live By, produced by RBC Ministries, and Crossroads Magazine. She and her husband, Robert, have three grown children.

More from Luann

SOUL MEND was written to break people out of their emotional chains! I know first hand what such things as anxiety, strife, guilt, and unforgiveness feel like. I know first hand how devasting these emotions can be on the physical body. After walking through some of these issues and recovering from a debilitating diagnosis I decided it was time to go back to school, get my counseling degree, and help other people!  In SOUL MEND I cover the three sources of negative thinking and how they impact our emotional and physical health. There are chapters on; a broken heart, stress, guilt, self-reproach, anxiety, and anger/bitterness.  Each chapter contains study questions to help the reader identity and heal from toxic emotions. The book ends on a uplifting and encouraging note on how God created you to walk in His destiny and His goodness. There is always a purpose in your pain and the Bible is clear that what the enemy meant for evil God promises to turn around for God when we seek Him (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28). I am excited to go on this journey with you and help you discover the healing and destiny that awaits you

I don't know how many times I have said "Where is God? "Why is He allowing me to suffer?' Those questions haunted me all my life as I suffered from abuse . If God loves me so much, why is He letting me endure pain daily? I picked up this book and my answers started to come. "God is waiting to perform  an even greater miracle in our lives." Through all the things I have been through, God had a plan that I couldn't see.

What we don't realize is that God is trying to get to the root and make us stronger. As we deal with anger, depression, anxiety, bitterness , unforgiveness and rejection., He is there to help us.  We may be physically ill, but God wants to heal us emotionally as well.  I have wondered over the last several years why I seem to be ill a lot. I can pinpoint when it started but at the time didn't recognize it. My brother came to live with me about three years ago. It was a blessing because we were able to talk about our childhood and help each other with the pain we went through. He became a shoulder to lean on. I did start to see my anxiety pick up a little as the days went on. What God was doing was allowing me to finally open up all the hurt I had carried . He gave me a person who understood it and comforted me.

The book talks about how your emotional state can affect your physical state. Finally, I understood that all this emotional turmoil was making me sick. I wasn't imagining headaches, colds, aches or pains. The enemy tries to be clever and trap us emotionally and  before we know it we believe we have a dreaded illness that could be devastating. How many times have you gone from doctor to doctor trying to get answers? We keep seeking doctors waiting for bad news. God wants us to take a deep breath and allow Him to heal our thoughts.

I found it very interesting to learn about the three stages of stress. The author explains what they are and offers advice to overcome them.  Eating better, taking vitamins and exercising are a few tools we can use to overcome stress. Stress seems to be part of our everyday lives. We need to take steps to not let it take over and find ways to become more relaxed and less anxious. In a spiritual sense we can pray and read our bible. What better way to feed our soul then to fill it with His word.

One of the chapters I really liked was about anxiety and panic attacks. The author shares what they are and how to get to the root of what is causing it. For me it is the pain of my childhood. "When hurts are buried so deep in our soul it is almost a shock when that pain is exposed." One of the steps is to forgive. I can say that just in the last few months I have been able to say that I forgive the people who abused me. I can't tell you what freedom I felt as I honestly was able to speak those words. After all these years, I finally feel peace.

The author includes questions and a prayer at the end of each chapter. I liked the questions because it helped me get a better grasp of what I read. The book is easy to read and I think is very helpful. Our job is to take the first step to healing. Seek God and ask for his guidance. Allow Him to direct your steps and heal you from the inside out.

"When we surrender our heart and soul to God, He comes to our rescue."

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 7

Mary Hake, November 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9

Artistic Nobody, November 10 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 11

Texas Book-aholic, November 12

janicesbookreviews, November 13

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 14 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, November 15

BookofRuthAnn, November 16

A Reader’s Brain, November 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 18

Stephanie’s LIfe of Determination, November 18

My Devotional Thoughts, November 19 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, November 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Luann is giving away a hard copy of her book SOUL MEND, and a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble!!

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/ee22/soul-mend-celebration-tour-giveaway

CHECKED OUT by ELIZABETH SPANN CRAIG

The reason I wanted to read this book was because it was centered around a library. I worked at a library for over fifteen years and it was so much fun. The author describes the duties of a librarian perfectly.  You can feel yourself there among the stacks of books and the quiet atmosphere. I loved when the character described all the different services a library offers.

Ann is always at the library and her friends worry that she will never marry. Don’t you love friends that think everyone should be married in order to be happy?  I laughed at the rescue of the cats. Ann is drenched from head to toe as she tries to persuade two cats  that they would be safer out of their hiding place.

The story is easy to read and I was a bit surprised at how quickly a murder happened. I won’t say anymore because it would ruin the story. Ann is smack dab in the middle of the investigation. It is a fun story with a few laughs and a cat that steals the show in this intriguing cozy mystery.

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

About the Book

Book: Finding My Son

Author: Eric Odell-Hein

Genre:  Christian Memoir, Adoption

Release Date: February 21, 2018

Eric was perfectly happy being one half of a dual income, no kids family. Having the freedom to travel the world with his wife Christine, while indulging his hobbies and furthering his education and career, was a pretty sweet life.  

 Christine wanted to be a mom.  

 Though he was scared he didn’t have what it took to be a good dad, Eric wanted to fulfill his wife’s dream. After years of trying to conceive, however, the couple received a devastating diagnosis: infertility. 

 For Christine, adoption was the obvious answer. Eric wasn’t so sure. 

 In Finding My Son: A Father’s Adoption Journey, author Eric Odell-Hein offers an unfiltered view into the heart and mind of a man who has experienced the sometimes messy and often awkward process of becoming a father through adoption. Encouraging men to acknowledge the fears they don’t want to admit while advocating a thoughtful, deliberate transparency as the best approach to even the most unnatural, uncomfortable aspects of the adoption process. Eric shares his misgivings and mistakes with an honesty that does not deny his insecurities. 

  A valuable resource for any man considering growing his family through adoption—or anyone seeking to understand the process—this engaging memoir is a testament to the beautiful gift of adoption and a touching account of a father’s love. 

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Eric Odell-Hein (PhD, MDiv, MRS, ThB) is the president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. The teaching pastor at Summit Evangelical Free Church, he is also the author of Recovering Lost Treasure: Finding Christ in Ancient Myth, Symbol, and Ritual and Systems of Evil: A Study in Comparative Theodicy. Eric lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his wife Christine and their son Ephraim. All three are passionate travelers.

More from Eric

Adoption was a scary prospect for me. My mother and all her siblings are adopted, and the family dynamic for them was challenging. So when my wife decided we should adopt, I initially responded with a flat-out “no.” But my heart changed, and I am strongly convinced that our son, who joined us via adoption back in 2008 when he was just two days old, is the greatest child in the entire world. If you knew where I was emotionally prior to adoption compared with where I am now, you would marvel at the change. My adoption book is for people like me, particularly men, who struggle with the enormity of the choice to adopt and the constant challenges of the process.

On a lighter and more personal side, when people learn about all the various aspects of my life, they often have to stop and process the seemingly incongruous pieces. Some people know me as a guy who has spent more than two decades in software and entertainment, primarily in various aspects of behind-the-scenes video game technology and management. My entire family plays games, and more often than not, when I get back home in the evening, I find my wife and son online with other members of the extended family playing Minecraft. Sometimes we’ll all get in an online session together, each one of us at our own TV on our own Xbox, and take on bad guys together in one game or another.

Other people know my intellectual side, where I have earned several degrees in areas of theology and religion, including a Ph.D., as well as serving as president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. I previously published two books on academic topics (evil among world religions, religious symbology) and have more in various stages of development, the next one being a focus on the ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cosmogonic/chaos-order symbolism in baptism. As a teaching pastor, I have a reputation for sermons with an intense ANE contextual emphasis that are part sermon and part seminary course. Check out my most recent four-part series on the Odell-Hein Books Facebook page here.

I was born in Germany to an American family, and while my German-language skills have deteriorated, I love German music. I’m very excited that my favorite group, Juli, has a new album coming out later this year. It’s mild stuff compared to most of the rock or industrial music I listen to, but they’re good. Check out the first single from their upcoming album here. I’ll be one of the small handful of Americans who purchase the album on the day it first releases in the US.

When not working or playing games with the family, I read primarily academic ANE books. When we’re in the car, I love to subject the family to my go-to podcast, the Naked Bible Podcast. No, it’s not what it sounds like. If you want to hear a serious scholar tackle the ANE context for the Bible, start with Dr. Michael Heiser’s Exodus series (it begins with episode 255).

This is a nice book that takes us through the adoption process by a young couple. I like that we were able to get to know Eric and Christine as they shared their heartaches and triumphs along the way. It hasn't been an easy life for them as one deals with a health crisis. It was interesting to learn that Eric had been adopted. He sometimes was hesitant about knowing that sometimes disappointment and hurt can happen.  His wife was an emotional wreck at times when her desire to have a child didn't come to pass.

I appreciate the transparency throughout the book as depression, anger, frustration and heartache followed years of waiting on a child. I didn't realize how much red tape goes into the process and can see how overwhelming it could be.  It must have been very difficult for Eric and Christine to meet with the birth parents. The fear of the birth parents changing their mind was weighing heavy on Eric. Can you imagine the roller coaster ride of emotions just to get approved as adoptive parents?  What I liked was how Eric shared his inner thoughts and how how he struggled with the idea that he may have trouble bonding with the child.. What was nice to read was how Eric and Christine both grew stronger in their faith as their journey continued. 

The story is filled with many challenges and an inside look at a man's journey to finding his son. I think it would be a good tool for others to read as they consider the journey of adoption.

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

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6

Vicky Sluiter, November 7 (Author Interview)

Just the Write Escape, November 8

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 9

Simple Harvest Reads,  November 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 11

janicesbookreviews, November 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 13 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, November 14

Inklings and notions, November 15

By The Book, November 16 (Author Interview)

Book Love (Featuring Gail Hollingsworth), November 17

Through the Fire Blogs, November 18 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Eric is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon certificate and a signed copy of each of his three books!!

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/f00a/finding-my-son-celebration-tour-giveaway

ONCE UPON A DICKENS CHRISTMAS BY
MICHELLE GRIEP

Between the pages are stories that are exciting and breathtaking. Two of the stories have previously been published with the addition of a new story to complete this beautiful book. The author really captures the Victorian era and treats readers to a look at a time period that was intriguing and fun.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor

I enjoyed going to back in time to the late 1800s and finding very interesting historical facts scattered throughout the book. It definitely reads like a Charles Dickens story, but with a bit more flair of intrigue. The characters were quirky and somewhat hard to keep up with. I thought there was a lot going on in the book with so many characters. 

I did like the idea of a group of people ascending upon a manor house to spend Christmas. Their task was to be the last person there and be rewarded handsomely. Clara is not sure about the invitation, but with a promise for money to help her family, she decides to go. I’m not sure I would go traipsing off to a strange place so quickly. 

Ben is my favorite character. He has been wrongly accused of stealing from Clara’s family and sent to prison. It was no surprise to me that he would be one of the guests of the manor. There is friction between Clara and Ben when they first see each other. Clara believes Ben ruined her family business. Perhaps she was more upset by the fact that he had left her at the altar. It is a good story with emotions that run high at times , but overall a story that gives hope and peace to all.

A Tale of Two Hearts

It's another charming tale from a very talented author that takes us back to London in 1853. I loved how the author did a great job describing the time period. You can feel yourself there looking on as Mina shares her love of reading. I found that to be very endearing and made me love the character even more. She is quite a lovely person with a heart of gold. She how a sweet disposition and wants so badly to help others in need. However, her father has ideas on what Mina should be doing and it certainly isn't reading or lending a helping hand.

William Barlow seems to be a nice enough fellow but when he asks Mina to do something for him that is not really honest, I wasn't sure if he had her best interest at heart. William is getting a bit ahead of himself as he tries to deceive his uncle. Uncle Barlow was the star in this story for me. I chuckled at the things he had William and Percy do to win him over. They are so desperate to be declared his heir that they scheme at some questionable ideas. I kept thinking how Uncle Barlow must be enjoying their silly notions. 


The story is a wonderful journey through London as family members squabble over such meaningless treasures. Mina is torn between helping William because she has secretly loved him, and being honest and telling Uncle Barlow the truth. I loved how these characters experience forgiveness, being honest and remembering how important family is.

The Old Lace Shop

I really enjoyed this story because it takes an unlikely turn as Bella decides to keep one of her late husbands shops instead of selling it. The journey for her will be filled with resistance and an unexpected surprise waiting for her. What are the odds that Bella is now partnered with someone from her past? There is not a lot of joy when they meet again and this allows the author to explore a relationship that is fragile. The characters are easy to relate to and loved how they discover surprises, danger, and much more in this story that fills the pages with hope and forgiveness. 

Edmund is none to pleased to see Bella. Thoughts from the past creep up and he quickly tries to bury them deep in his soul. He is in for changes as he learns that Bella will be working beside him to grow the business. I don't think I would be overjoyed to see someone waltzing into  to my shop with an air of ownership. There is friction as Bella stands her ground and assures Edmund she is there to stay. It is a wonderful story of a woman who takes on a leadership role and a man who is not quite sure what his feelings are as the shop starts to change .

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.