An Amish Picnic Celebrate Lit Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

Amish authors Amy Clipson, Kelly Irvin, Kathleen Fuller, and Vannetta Chapman have written novellas for An Amish Picnic.  This collection of four Christian Amish Romances is so sweet.  Each novella is a stand-alone and does not build upon any of the others.

Baskets of Sunshine, written by award winning author Amy Clipson, is the opening story.  It is fabulous and the perfect way to start this book.  This is the story of Phoebe Kurtz, Amish daughter of Freeman.  She assists her sister with her booth at the Amish Market and also helps at home.  She is a sweet yet feisty pretty teenager.  Kevin works for her father and is a couple of years older than Phoebe.  This beautiful tale shows that age difference in a relationship does not always matter.

Candlelight Sweethearts by Author Kelly Irvin is a cute story.  Esther Marie is a lovely Amish girl but has a stutter.  She works at Jasper’s family store and really likes him.  He notices her, too.  Showing that a speech impediment impacts person’s life, this tale is filled with faith, encouragement, and hope.

Author Kathleen Fuller offers Reeling In Love. Nina Stoll realizes that she is in love with her best friend, Ira Yoder.  They meet each week to go fishing.  Things become complicated when his cousin comes to visit.  Nina’s family coach her on what to do and the result is emotional and funny.  It is a tale of friendship turning into love and miscommunication.

Closing the book is author Vannetta Chapman’s Picnics and Prospects.  This is the tale of a Faith Troyer.  She suffers from claustrophobia and panic attacks.  David Lapp has a history with her.  Now he builds tiny houses and cabinets.  He wants to help Faith and make up for his past mistakes.  This is a story if healing, trust, forgiveness and redemption.

Each story in this Amish collection is encouraging, inspirational, and inspiring.  It gives a message of hope and healing.  I really enjoyed it.  Everyone will enjoy this sampling from four extremely talented authors.  All four stories and the collective book receive a 5 star rating.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own honest words.

About the Book

Book:  An Amish Picnic

Author: Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin, Kathleen Fuller, and Vannetta Chapman

Genre: Amish; Christian Romance

Release Date: March 3, 2020

From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four sweet stories about picnics and romance.

Baskets of Sunshine by Amy Clipston

Kevin Weaver has lived with his brother’s family since his parents passed away when he was young, but he craves a home and family to call his own. Freeman Kurtz owns a successful brick mason business, and Kevin takes the job as Freeman’s apprentice to pursue his own financial freedom.

Phoebe Kurtz is helping her sister with her booth at the marketplace when she notices Kevin, her father’s employee. Their friendship grows, but Kevin is convinced that the difference in their ages makes a relationship between them impossible. Amidst summer outings, Kevin and Phoebe must decide if taking a chance on love is worth the risk.

Candlelight Sweethearts by Kelly Irvin

Esther Marie Shrock loves her job at Valley Grocery Store where she’s worked for four years. Despite a stutter that has plagued her since childhood, she thrives filling orders from a steady stream of customers. Still, at 25, she and her family wonder if romance is in her future.

Jasper Cotter isn’t good with people, but he’s found himself obligated to take over day-to-day operations of the family owned grocery store—a store he doesn’t have the first clue how to run. Thrown together, Esther Marie and Jasper don’t exactly see eye to eye. One night, the store loses power, and the candles aren’t the only things shooting off sparks. Esther Marie and Jasper are suddenly forced to discover common ground when it matters most, and they might be surprised with love along the way.

Reeling in Love by Kathleen Fuller

Nina Stoll and Ira Yoder are just friends. Just friends and fishing buddies. Every Saturday afternoon, they have a picnic at their favorite fishing hole and see who can out fish the other. Until Nina starts to wonder if there’s more.

Her plans to share her feelings go awry, and circumstances seem destined to keep Nina and Ira apart. With both Nina and Ira confused and hurting, it’s going to take courage, some help from the community matchmakers, and a little bit of divine intervention for Nina and Ira to realize they’re each other’s perfect catch.

Picnics and Prospects by Vannetta Chapman

Faith Troyer is claustrophobic, and David Lapp builds tiny houses. They went on a date years ago with disastrous results. Now that they’re in their late twenties, their families and friends are beginning to wonder if either will ever find that special someone. When a picnic outing is diverted by the discovery of a package of letters dating back to the 1970s, they take it upon themselves to find answers to a mystery that causes them to rethink their past and consider their future.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

 

Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of amy-clipstonLancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston.

kelly-irvinKelly Irvin is the bestselling author of the Every Amish Season and Amish of Bee County series. The Beekeeper’s Son received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, who called it a “beautifully woven masterpiece.” The two-time Carol Award finalist is a former newspaper reporter and retired public relations professional. Kelly lives in Texas with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin. They have two children, three grandchildren, and two cats. In her spare time, she likes to read books by her favorite authors. Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com; Instagram: kelly_irvin; Facebook: Kelly.Irvin.Author; Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin.

With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the kathleen-fullerHearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com; Instagram: kf_booksandhooks; Facebook: WriterKathleenFuller; Twitter: @TheKatJam.

Vannetta ChapmanVannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of sixteen novels, including the Pebble Creek Amish series, The Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, and Anna’s Healing, a 2016 Christy Award finalist. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and has also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She was a teacher for fifteen years and currently resides in the Texas hill country. Visit Vannetta online: VannettaChapman.com, Twitter: @VannettaChapman, Facebook: VannettaChapmanBooks.

 

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt here.

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, March 6

Batya’s Bits, March 6

The Avid Reader, March 6

Older & Smarter?, March 7

For Him and My Family, March 7

For the Love of Literature, March 8

Bigreadersite, March 8

Texas Book-aholic, March 9

deb’s Book Review, March 9

Quiet Quilter, March 10

Through the Fire Blogs, March 10

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, March 11

Girls in White Dresses, March 11

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, March 11

Inklings and notions, March 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 12

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 13

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, March 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 14

The Collaborative Press, March 14

Splashes of Joy, March 15

janicesbookreviews, March 15

She Lives To Read, March 16

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 16

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, March 16

Blossoms and Blessings, March 17

Books, Life, and Chrst, March 17

Artistic Nobody, March 18 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Southern Gal Loves to Read, March 18

EmpowerMoms, March 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 19

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, March 19

His Unexpected Amish Twins Celebrate Lit Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

His Unexpected Amish Twins by author Rachel J Good is a delightful Amish Christian Romance.  This is book one in the author’s Unexpected Blessings Series, and it has started the series off with a fantastic book one.  I loved this sweet book that was filled with emotions.

This is the story of Hope Graber, a single Amish woman. She is driving home and happens upon an accident involving an Amish buggy.  Twin seven year old children are hurt, but their parents are immediately killed.  Hope comforts the children and even accompanies them to the hospital.

Micah Miller is their uncle and rushes in from out of town to care for them.  His parents are elderly and not up to travel.  By the time he arrives the twins have formed a bond with Hope.

It is a story of beauty from ashes.  The beginning is sad and heartbreaking.  I was immediately invested in the lives of the two little ones that had lost so much.  The book became a page turner.  I couldn’t put it down as I wanted to see what would happen next.

The author has a wonderful style of writing.  There were twists, turns, and surprises as I kept reading.  I learned things, road an emotional roller coaster, and cheered for the children.  This was a beautiful book that captured me and refused to let me go until the end.

I highly recommend this sweet story.  There are no group discussion questions in the back nor recipes.  In my opinion, both of those would have added to the book.  This can easily be read in one sitting if you put dinner in the crock pot that morning.  I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own, honest words.

About the Book

Book:  His Unexpected Amish Twins

Author: Rachel J. Good

Genre:  Amish Romance

Release Date: February 28, 2020

When Micah Miller’s brother and sister-in-law are killed in a buggy accident, he’s devastated, but he fulfills a promise to raise their seven-year-old twins, Abby and Isaac. While struggling to deal with the twins’ grief and Abby’s anger toward God, he discovers an Amish farm offering horse therapy for grief. And he’s thrilled to find the owner cares about and prays for the twins.

Hope Graber had to find a way to save the family farm after her daed’s unwise decisions. Even selling off many of the horses didn’t cover all the bills. After deciding to use the remaining horses for animal therapy, she brings on Logan Russell, an experienced trainer, to help her. Together they not only start paying off the debts, but they also make positive changes in children’s lives.

Hope loves helping each child, but she takes a special interest in the twins and determines to help them heal both emotionally and spiritually. As she gently guides Abby back to God and makes the little girl smile again, Hope also makes Micah’s life brighter. As he emerges from his depression, he longs to make them one happy family, but only God can overcome the many obstacles in their path.

 

Click here for your copy!

 

 

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author RACHEL J. GOOD writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. She grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her Amish novels. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.

Rachel is the author of several Amish series in print or forthcoming – the bestselling Love & Promises, Sisters & Friends, Unexpected Amish Blessings, Surprised by Love (2021), and two books in Hearts of Amish Country – as well as the Amish Quilts Coloring Books. In addition, she has stories in many anthologies, including Love’s Thankful Heart,Love’s Christmas Blessings,Plain Everyday Heroes, Love’s Truest Hope,and the forthcoming Amish Christmas Twins (Fall 2020) with Shelley Shepard Gray and Loree Lough.

 

More from Rachel

Phobias and Faith

 

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27b KJV)

In every book I write, I like the hero and heroine to experience character growth. I think it’s important that they change and become different. So, in His Unexpected Amish Twins, Micah faces several life-changing events. First, his life is turned upside-down when he becomes the guardian of his niece and nephew, seven-year-old twins. Although he loves the children dearly, as a young, single man, he isn’t quite ready to handle his lively, rebellious niece and his silent, withdrawn nephew, especially not when he’s grieving himself.

But with the help of horse therapist, Hope Graber, Micah puts aside his own pain to concentrate on caring for the twins. But Micah is also hiding a deep-seated phobia.

As a child, he had a terrible experience, one that scarred him for life. One that still haunts him and terrorizes him. One that may destroy his future relationship with Hope.

Getting over fear is never easy, and Micah prays for strength. But it isn’t until he’s forced to make a choice – give in to his fear or save a life – does he push past that fear.

Like Micah does, we often go through life hiding our fears. We make excuses not to do something that frightens us. When a fear turns into a phobia, it can become paralyzing.

For me, public speaking was my greatest fear. I managed to avoid it until I was asked to do a simple two-minute introduction each month for the Christian Women’s Club. I didn’t have to answer right away. They asked me to pray about it, and let them know my answer in a few days.

If they’d asked for an answer right away, I would have made an excuse. I had four small children and an ill husband. But the truth was – I was scared. Not just scared, but petrified. Petrified about even standing in front of an audience.

When I discussed this opportunity with my father, he suggested God might be giving me a chance to get over my fear because He had something greater for me to do in the future. My first thought was that it had better not have anything to do with public speaking.

Dad encouraged me to take a speech class, so I signed up for one. Eight people attended this informal course in the teacher’s living room. The first night we had to give a two-sentence introduction of ourselves. We didn’t even have to stand up.

I went last. My turn came, and my mind went blank. I couldn’t even remember my name. With prompting, the teacher got me to stumble through my name and hometown.

Our assignment for the following week was to prepare a three-minute demonstration of one of our hobbies. We could use notes and props. I mumbled through the speech, rushed out the door to my car, and vomited in the street. Yes, I was that frightened by public speaking.

I told my father I planned to quit the class, but he encouraged me to continue. And several months later, I stood in front of the women’s club. My eyes blurred, and I couldn’t see the people in front of me. I hurried through my memorized two-minute introduction clutching my note cards in case I forgot the words. I had no idea what I said, but several people mentioned that they liked it. And I went on to do it every month for two years.

And my father was right. God did train me for a future job. Wouldn’t Dad be surprised to know that, as an author, I speak in front of audiences around the country? He died before my first book was published, but I suspect he’s up in heaven cheering me on. And I could never have done it without God’s help.

Micah and I both had to learn to trust God’s promise: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 9 NIV)

Blog Stops

For the Love of Literature, March 4

Maureen’s Musings, March 5

The Avid Reader, March 5

Through the Lens of Scripture, March 6

Texas Book-aholic, March 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 7

For Him and My Family, March 8

janicesbookreviews, March 8

Inklings and notions, March 9

deb’s Book Review, March 9

Blossoms and Blessings, March 10

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 11

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, March 11

Vicky Sluiter, March 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 13

Splashes of Joy, March 14

Bigreadersite, March 14

Artistic Nobody, March 15 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Blogging With Carol, March 16

Genesis 5020, March 16

EmpowerMoms, March 17

My Devotional Thoughts, March 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize package of an autographed copy of the book and $25 VISA 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/f72a/his-unexpected-amish-twins-celebration-tour-giveaway

Her Rebel Heart Celebrate Lit Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

Her Rebel Heart by author Sharlene MacLaren is a Christian Historical Romance set in West Virginia during the Civil War.  It is an extraordinary book written by a master wordsmith.  This is not a book to be missed.

Throughout the book the writing style is consistent and easy to read.  The story easily grabbed my attention.  From page one I was invested in this smooth flowing tale.  This page turner had surprises along with twists and turns that made it difficult to stop reading.  I loved every part of it.

This is the story of Cristina Stiles, mother of two.  Her husband is off fighting Union soldiers while she is left at home to care for their children and farm.  It is also the tale of Union officer, Jack Fuller.  He is a strong Christian and soldier.  Jack takes a message to Christina, and their story explodes off of the pages.  Author MacLaren is a professional when it comes to breathtaking love stories.

Author MacLaren reminds readers that she is an award winning author with this book.  The characters are multi-layered and realistic.  Even secondary characters were lovable and detestable. Some of the horrendous things that happened during the Civil War are mentioned without going into details.  Her novel is well researched and extremely well thought.  It is so well written it was not difficult to travel back in time to West Virginia and feel like part of the story.

For me, conversation in a book is a major part.  Dialog in Her Rebel Heart sounded authentic and flowed effortlessly.  It was plentiful which added to my reading enjoyment.  I could picture the characters talking.  “My faith’s prob’ly smaller than that,” Cristina said quietly.

There are many life lessons to be learned in this riveting book.   Trusting God, having faith, forgiving, and second chances are all common issues with today and the past.   Author MacLaren does a beautiful job with each one of them. Faith is in the forefront without being hidden in her book.  That is refreshing because not all Christian fiction books do that.  Sometimes the inspirational message of faith and God is covered or subdued.

I enjoyed reading about and experiencing Christina’s faith journey.  Many of the words brought a smile to my face as I read them.  “Hearing the prayer, brief though it was, filled Cristina with a wonderful sense of peace and awe.”

I highly recommend this sweet, clean Christian romance.  It is a lovely story that would be beautiful made into a movie.  This would make an excellent choice for a reader’s club.  There is so much to discuss.  At the back of the book are discussion questions to assist groups.  An author page is also included.  I happily rated this book a 5 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own true words.

About the Book

Book:  Her Rebel Heart

Author: Sharlene MacLaren

Genre:  Christian Historical Romance

The Rebel HeartCristina Stiles is left to fend for herself and her two young children while her husband goes off to fight in the Confederate army. She also has to deal with two rogue Yankee soldiers who’ve beaten her, stolen her food, and keep coming back to cause more trouble.

Jack Fuller is a God-fearing Christian fighting for the Union. During a surprise encounter, he shoots and kills a Rebel soldier. In his final breaths, the Rebel asks Jack to deliver a letter to his wife—and he agrees. But when he arrives at Cristina’s small farm in West Virginia, she assumes Jack is one of the Yankee trouble-makers, trains her rifle on him, and fires. As he lies on the ground bleeding, he explains the purpose of his visit, and out of a sense of obligation, she decides to nurse him back to health.

What will happen when Cristina discovers Jack is the one who made her a widow? Will her rebel heart forgive him—or finish him off?

 

Click here to get your copy.

 

About the Author

SharleneBorn and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree in 1971, she taught second grade for two years, then accepted an invitation to travel internationally for a year with a singing ensemble. After traveling for a year, she returned to her teaching job, then in 1975, she reunited with her childhood sweetheart, and they married that very December. They have raised two lovely daughters, both of whom are now happily married and enjoying their own families. Retired in 2003 after thirty-one years of teaching, Shar loves to read, sing, travel, and spend time with her family—in particular, her adorable grandchildren!

Shar has always enjoyed writing, and her high school classmates eagerly read and passed around her short stories. In the early 2000s, Shar felt God’s call upon her heart to take her writing pleasures a step further, so in 2006, she signed a contract with Whitaker House for her first faith-based novel, Through Every Storm, thereby launching her professional writing career. With more than twenty published novels now gracing store shelves and being sold online, Shar gives God all the glory.

Shar’s novels have won numerous awards. Most recently, Their Daring Hearts was named a 2018 Top Pick by Romantic Times and her last book, A Love to Behold, was voted “Book of the Year” in 2019 by Interviews & Reviews.

Shar has done numerous countrywide book signings and has participated in several interviews on television and radio. She loves to speak for community organizations, libraries, church groups, and women’s conferences. In her church, she is active in women’s ministries, regularly facilitating Bible studies and other events. Shar and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan, with their beautiful white collie, Peyton.

 

More from Sharlene

Dark-haired, independent, and tough to the bone, Christina cares for her two young children in a ramshackle cabin in Ripley, West Virginia. When the Yankee who killed her husband pays her a visit, she has to decide whether to forgive him—or finish him off. Will this tough Southern woman find grace in her rebel heart?

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, March 4

My Devotional Thoughts, March 4

Genesis 5020, March 5

Emily Yager, March 6

Texas Book-aholic, March 7

KarenSueHadley, March 7

Christian Bookaholic, March 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 9

Rebecca Tews, March 9

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 10

For the Love of Literature, March 11

For Him and My Family, March 12

deb’s Book Review, March 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 13

Betti Mace, March 14

Blossoms and Blessings, March 15

janicesbookreviews, March 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 16

Artistic Nobody, March 17 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Bigreadersite, March 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sharlene is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card and a finished 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/f6fc/her-rebel-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Yours, Mine, & Forever

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

Yours, Mine & Forever by author Joanne Markey is a Contemporary Romance novel.  As I read it I had visions of a Hallmark movie. This book certainly has everything needed for a good one!

At first I was lost and floundered around trying to get my bearings in the story.  I did a little searching and found that Yours, Mine & Forever is Book 2 in the series by author Markey.  Once I finally put the pieces together, it was smooth and captivating story.  Book 1 is Dreaming of More and is on my list of books to read.

This is the tale of Norah, a sweet, kind-hearted woman wanting to adopt. She is very close to signing the adoption papers except someone does not want the adoption to happen. Norah will not allow anyone to stand in her way of making these special kids her own.    It seems the only way this will be able to happen is if she gets married.

There are such great characters in this book.  Each have unique personalities and are believable.  The author gives just enough detail without making the book boring.  My emotions ran up and down with Norah and the kids.  I really hope to watch this in a movie one day.

The author has included life and faith lessons in this book.  Lessons on loving others, forgiveness, making good choice, and turning to God for guidance.  Trusting and having faith in God is also included.

I highly recommend this book, but I believe you would benefit by reading book one first. This would make a great book club choice.  There is a lot to discuss in it.  I rate it a 4 out of 5.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book:  Yours, Mine, & Forever

Author: Joanne Markey

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 7, 2019

Yours Mine and foreverWhoever said the course of true love never runs smooth knew their business.

Especially motherly love.

Still, with adoption success just waiting for ink and paper to appear, Norah can focus on more exciting things, like Christmas, and figuring out how this marriage thing is going to work out! However, never underestimate the craftiness of an antagonist old woman determined to get her own way—or rather, stop Norah from getting hers. If it means resorting to underhanded means to ensure she comes out on top, then so be it. All it takes is a word in the right ear, a nudge here, a wink there, and the natural course of gossip and slander will do the rest.

When the dust clears, Norah’s heart is in tatters and her fledgling relationship is in ruins… Or is it? Will her hero’s patience wear thin, and is Norah’s faith strong enough to see her through whatever comes her way?

 

Click here for your copy.

 

About the Author

Joanne MarkeyOriginally from Australia, Joanne now lives in Ohio with her husband and seven children where she spends her days writing, wrangling children, and trying to determine which phrases originated in which country because she uses them all interchangeably, thereby continually confusing herself as much as those around her.

 

More from Joanne

When people find out I’m an Aussie living in the US and that I’ve written books, they immediately assume my books are set in Australia. I’m sorry to disappoint anyone, but, no, they’re not. You see, after almost 19 years of living in the US I’ve lost touch with the culture I was raised in. Things are done differently here than they are over there, and I’ve gotten used to this life.
When I moved halfway around the world, iPads, smart phones, and the like weren’t even a thing. The internet over there (in the places I lived) was something you knew about, but not everyone was online. My family didn’t even own a computer. When you went to town you lost cell phone coverage about 20 kms out. We lived in the bush, which technically falls between the coast and the outback. Not far enough from the coast to be “outback”, but far enough there wasn’t a town worth mentioning in any direction for a good two hour drive (roughly 170km, if memory serves me correct). So yeah, we lived out bush and while it’s hard to imagine a world without the electronics we depend on so much today, the Australia I know, the life I remember, had none of them. And I’m pretty sure things have changed since then!
That’s one major issue standing between me and writing books set in Australia. Another is the language. Half the time I find it almost impossible to remember where a phrase originated. I’m not talking about the “fair dinkums” or the “g’days”, they’re easy to identify. Its the little phrases, the ones that are so ingrained in my thinking I can’t identify their origin. At least, not until every person in the room looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I figure it out pretty quickly after that and usually have to scramble to translate to something they understand. Agreeing with someone by uttering a simple “yes” is a wee bit more effective here than the “too right!” I might use with my family.
Try adding in the whole dropping the R thing Aussies have a habit of doing, and then the clear pronunciation of the R which is pretty common among the people I know here…and yeah, it can get confusing. “Far” is a bad one. Simple word. I never stop to think about how I’m saying it, so part of the time I’ll drop the R without realizing I’ve done so. Then I’ll hear myself say “fah”, so I’ll quickly tack on the R… and it can become an issue.
Some expats might not have an issue with speech, this is just one problem I run into quite often so I ran with it in my book. Anyone who’s read the book will know who I’m talking about. Multiple languages, speech confusion especially when emotional. It’s a thing. Not everyone deals with it, but me… yeah. Sigh.
But that doesn’t mean I’ve turned my back on everything I once knew. My husband and our kids love a good damper, Aussie meat pies, and Vegemite. They turn their noses up at pavlova (where, oh, where did I go wrong?!), but little did I know when we bought some of my favorite Aussie music that it would become their favorite too. I love where I live now, but I also have a great fondness for the country I left behind, and my family too, of course. They all live over there. And this story… it originated in Australia.
I was looking for a something to write for NaNo in 2018 and my Mum had a dream to share, so she gave me the idea and I ran with it. I changed bits here and there—the setting, most of the story actually!—and finished it up mid-December of 2018. I sat on it for about six months, finally got around to sending it to an editor. And then two weeks before I hit publish, a friend heard how long it was and asked if I’d ever thought about splitting the story in two.
No, I hadn’t, but after hashing it out with my editor, we decided it was a good idea. Dreaming of More became the first half, and Yours, Mine, & Forever was born.
However, giving Dreaming an end meant I’d sort of wrapped up the main storyline I’d used in the entire 135,000 word manuscript. I needed something else because I hadn’t added the bow to the top of the package and without that, Dreaming kind of fell flat. It needed another book… So back to the editor I went and at 2am one morning we started brainstorming. Before I knew what was happening I was in the middle of rewriting the entire book. I didn’t need to follow the same storyline and because the slate had been cleared, I could add in whatever I wanted. So I did.
My friend apologized—she hadn’t meant for me to rewrite the entire book—but no apology was necessary. I loved being able to change things. New characters made it more fun and, as my youngest son would say, I got to add “all the stuffs”. The only thing I refused to change was the ending. I had to keep that because it was the one thing my Mum remembered the best from her dream. For her sake, I kept it. If you want to know what that ending is… it comes after all the other pages in the book. But if you skip over them, you’ll miss all the stuffs and they’re what make the ending worthwhile.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joanne is giving away the grand prize package of signed copies of Dreaming of More, Yours, Mine, & Forever, and Christmas Rose!!

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/f623/yours-mine

Vestige of Hope Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

Vestige of Hope by author Sara Blackard is a Christian Historical Time-Travel Romance.  I was not sure I would enjoy this fictional tale of a modern man going back to the late 1800s, but I really did.  The author did a great job.

Author Blackard has a nice style of writing.  It is evident she writes Christian fiction because she makes no attempt to disguise or hide it.  I love that.  Her book has inspirational lessons, scripture, and life lessons tied together with a captivating story.  I was immediately interested and soon found myself turning the pages as I could not wait to see what would happen next.

The characters were quaint, quirky, and unique.  Most were easy to love and the scoundrels equally easy to detest.  Viola Thomas and her feisty sister, Bea, were characters that became like friends.  I could picture myself having coffee or tea with them.  Modern man, Hunter, was a force to be reckoned with even though he was hurt.

I enjoyed watching the spiritual journey of some of the characters.  It was quite inspirational and uplifting.  This book has something for everyone.  It had drama, mystery, humor, adventure, romance, and a good Christian message.  

I highly recommend this book to anyone.  Even if you are skeptical about the time travel element, the way it is presented using scripture and God’s mighty power make it sound plausible.  I am eagerly awaiting book two.  It receives 5 out of 5 stars from me.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own, honest words.

 

About the Book

Book:  Vestige of Hope

Author: Sara Blackard

Genre:  Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: December, 2019

Vestige of HopeDoes his future lie in the past?

Thrown out of his element into a time not his own, he must overcome his doubts to save the life he never knew he wanted.

Soldier, Hunter Bennet, is always in control…

…control of his missions.
…control of his life.
…control of his emotions.
Until he hesitates on an important mission, leaving a child orphaned. Chased by the demons of failure, he finds himself thrown back in time. Why has God called him here?
Viola Thomas’s idyllic life in the new state of Colorado is shattered when her father fails to return from his winter trapping trip in the Rocky Mountains and a man tumbles into her life from the future. Threats from an unwanted suitor who has pestered her for years jeopardize all she holds dear. Now she must trust a man from a world far from her own.


Hunter must reach through the shadows of doubt to save his future but in doing so will he fail in the most important mission of all?

 

Click here for your copy!

 

About the Author

Sara BlackardI’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember being able to hold a pencil. In elementary school, I had journals full of short stories and poetry. While it’s always been a passion of mine, I didn’t think I could write for a living until I told my kids their only limit is the limit they put upon themselves. With that little piece of encouragement, I had to obviously show them I was right. Now I’m enjoying the adventure of writing and diving into the publishing world. I love to write romantic stories full of adventure and weaved with God’s message of love.

 

Between school and my launch into authorship, I’ve been busy having and homeschooling five children, moving to the wilderness of Tok, Alaska, serving in different ministries, building a house ourselves, and purchasing multiple businesses.

 

More from Sara

I’ve always had a fascination with speculating on how I would react if I suddenly ended up in another time. Growing up, I’d daydream about finding myself in a field of heather in medieval Scotland, waking in the back of a wagon traveling across the prairie, or walking through the wilderness with the colonials. I loved reading and wanted desperately to jump into the scenes I experienced while turning the page of a cherished novel. Of course, there’s no real way a person can time travel, so my dreaming was just that, dreaming … or was it?

A few years ago, I was doing a Kid’s Club Bible lesson at the local school about Philip and the Ethiopian and had my mind blown. In that event, God transported Philip to a town about twenty miles away. It was like Scotty beaming Kirk up and placing him where he was needed. I’d read that story before, but for some reason skipped right over that little nugget of information. Now here’s the part that got my mind spinning, if God could move someone in the blink of an eye across miles, why couldn’t He move someone through time? Time travel was now not only feasible, but God revealed a greater depth of Himself to me.

My mind started exploding with a story of a family in the middle of Colorado at the cusp of its statehood. What would cause God to throw a person in the middle of the wilderness? What would it reveal about the journey each person had to take to find their identities in who God created them to be? Hours, months, and years passed as the characters and story grew until they spilled upon the computer screen in a river of words.

One small sentence tucked within the middle of Acts opened my heart to a new dimension of God’s magnitude and released the dream of writing I had buried within me. I love how God does that, opens the well deep in us, nurturing the desires hidden there to reveal bit by bit who we are in Him. With Him nudging me along, my childhood fantasy of becoming a writer and transporting people to another time and place has become a reality with my debut novel Vestige of Hope, the first book in the three-book series Vestige in Time. My prayer is that my writing shows the traces of hope God leaves in my reader’s own hearts and lives. I pray God will ignite passions as He reveals himself one small sentence at a time through His word.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 26

For the Love of Literature, February 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 28

Betti Mace, February 29

Artistic Nobody, March 1 (Author Interview)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 2

Inklings and notions, March 3

For Him and My Family, March 4

Vicky Sluiter, March 5 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, March 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 6

Pause for Tales , March 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 8

My Devotional Thoughts, March 9 (Author Interview)

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour. Sara is giving away the grand prize package of a $30 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of Vestige of Hope & Vestige of Legacy!!

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/f5d2/vestige-of-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Does it take you some time to get your house ready for an important guest?  Maybe someone of importance is coming over or someone you love tremendously and you want everything to be perfect.  I know for me it takes days to prepare.  Things that are usually skipped are squeaky clean.  My oven sparkles like new even though no one is going to open the door to check.  Sound familiar?

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The same is true for getting our heart, soul, and mind prepared for Easter.  This time of preparation is called Lent and begins today on Ash Wednesday.  This is the first day many people from something.  It can be a food or drink such as candy or coffee, but it also could be a bad habit such as gossiping or complaining.

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Lent is a time of reflection and self sacrifice.  We deny ourselves or give something up to remind ourselves of what Jesus gave up for us.  Ours is a small token compared to the suffering and torture endured by Jesus.  Scripture tells us that when we fast it should be between us and God.  We shouldn’t boast about it.

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Lent is a time to draw close to God, to worship Him, and to repent of our wrongdoings.  Like Spring it is a time of newness.  We get rid of our dirt and cleanse ourselves with God’s help.  Ask Him to help us have a clean heart.  On Easter we celebrate our rebirth, our new selves.  Hopefully our transformation will last.

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I hope you have an amazing Lenten Season as you prepare yourself for Easter and the beautiful gift of salvation the  Lord has for anyone that just asks.  He is such a gracious, loving Father.  If you don’t know Him, I urge you to contact a minister and find out more.  He is so worth it.

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Hope for New Beginnings Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

Hope for New Beginnings by authors Dr. Howard Eyrich and Shirley Crowder is a Christian devotional.  It is filled with a plethora of topics worthy of reflection.  There are thirty one devotions included in this inspirational book.

Each devotion contains a scripture, scripture observation, devotion, prayer, interaction, notes, thoughts, and questions sections.  The lesson is in-depth and subjects vary from Grief and Hurt to Forgiveness and Hope.  I found certain days spoke to me more than others, but that is normal for any devotional.

These devotional encourage deeper study of God’s Word.  The journal section made it easy to review what I had learned.  This was a well written and organized book.

The only negative I would point out is the cover.  I wish it had a more eye-catching, pleasing cover.  The sunshine breaking through dark clouds is symbolic but very gloomy.

I recommend this enlightening book.  Devotions may be done individually or as a group study.  They also may be done daily or stretched out into a week.  There is so much to ponder in each one.  Each lesson draws readers closer to God.  It receives 4 out of 5 stars as a rating from me.  I received a copy from Celebrate Lit, and these are my own, honest words.


About the Book

Book:  Hope for New Beginnings

Author: Shirley Crowder, Howard A. Eyrich

Genre: Non-fiction / Religion / Devotional

Release Date: November, 2018

Hope for New Beginnings CoverHope for New Beginnings: Devotions for the Adventure – Stepping into any new beginning not knowing what is ahead, is exciting and unsettling at the same time. Our Hope, as Christ-followers, rests in knowing that we do not move forward in our own strength, but in the strength of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. We pray these devotions will help prepare your heart to learn from the Lord as He affirms His steadfast love that gives the strength and hope needed to walk boldly into whatever new beginning the Lord has in store for you. These devotions will guide your thoughts toward the biblical truths presented in the background and focal Scripture passages. Each devotional has exercises (you will choose at least one to do each day) that lead you to interact with the biblical truths presented and gain a deeper understanding of the truths in each devotion. Biblical Counselors, when you are ready to dismiss a counselee, this makes a great assignment for the next thirty-one days, then have the counselee come back for a final check-up.

 

Click here to get your copy.

 

About the Authors

Eyrich_picDr. Howard A. Eyrich’s career has spanned more than sixty years. He has filled various roles including seminary professor and president, Pastor and church planter. He retired as the Director of Counseling Ministries at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Alabama;

He has served on the boards of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, Birmingham Theological Seminary, Trinity Seminary, the Biblical Counseling Coalition, and The Owen Center, as well as various Presbytery and Presbyterian Church in America denominational committees to name some of major roles.

His publishing efforts include two books as solo author, three books with a co-author, and numerous chapters in significant volumes in the biblical counseling field, as well as articles for The Journal of Biblical Counseling and several other magazines.

Dr. Eyrich and his wife Pamela have two grown children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Retirement for him is a time for ministry. He writes, teaches, preaches, and travels for the Kingdom. He also enjoys the hobbies of model railroading, hunting, and shooting.

Dr. Eyrich is available to speak in conferences, fill pulpits, and for intensive marriage interventions, especially with ministries couples.

 

Shirley CrowderShirley Crowder was born in a mission guest house under the shade of a mango tree in Nigeria, West Africa, where her parents served as missionaries. She and co-author Harriet E. Michael grew up together on the mission field and have been life-long friends. Shirley is passionate about disciple-making, which is manifested in and through a myriad of ministry opportunities including: biblical counseling, teaching Bible studies, writing, and music.

She is a biblical counselor and is commissioned by and serves on the national Advisory Team for The Addiction Connection. Several of her articles have appeared in “Paper Pulpit” in the Faith section of The Gadsden Times, and in a David C. Cook publication. She also writes articles for Life Bible Study, Woman’s Missionary Union, InspiredPrompt.com and TheAddictionConnection.org. She has authored, co-authored, or contributed to six published books, and she has a four-book devotional series she co-wrote that is scheduled for publication over the next couple of years.

Shirley has spiritual children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren serving the Lord in various ministry and secular positions throughout the world.

 

More from Shirley

New beginnings are a regular part of life. Sometimes they are well planned, and we eagerly anticipate the future. At other times, we are reticent to move forward into the new beginning. As we think about new beginnings it is appropriate for us to look at the beginning of God’s Word—the Bible.

In Genesis 1:1 ESV, we read, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Here God is the subject, as He is the subject of the entire Bible. From this verse we learn something very important about God—He existed before the universe was created. God has always been, is now, and will always be, present.

Next, we learn that from nothing God created the universe and everything within it. He is the holy, sovereign, majestic, powerful, all-knowing God.

Every time I read these first few verses of the Bible, I am amazed that with just four little words, Let there be light (verse 3), the Creator God spoke into existence light that drove away the darkness. What astounding power! From these verses, we learn that God is the Author of light. Other places in Scripture tell us that God is light itself (1 John 1:5), and James calls Him the Father of lights (James 1:17).

Think about it: here we are today, many years since God spoke those four little words, Let there be light, and as John tells us, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5). The Light—God—brings clarity, order, and understanding, while darkness is seen as evil, void, and chaotic.

I watched the coverage of a solar eclipse on several websites. It was so interesting to listen as a myriad of scientists and others explained the wonders of the universe, and while the science behind it all was quite interesting to me, the coverage fell flat. Why? Because it was totally devoid of any mention of Creator God. Only one man explained the solar eclipse through the lens of God’s Word. As he explained the science behind the solar eclipse, he also explained that THE God of the Universe who created everything that we see, holds the entire universe in His hands, and controls everything that happens, including a solar eclipse.

In the midst of a new beginning or anything else going on in your life, the truths in these passages are wonderful reminders that we can step confidently into any new beginning as we trust in the God who was here in the beginning, is here with us now, and who will be with us always. And what a comfort it is to remember that the light of God dispels the darkness and chaos of sin.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 16

Older & Smarter?, February 17

Inklings and notions, February 18

For Him and My Family, February 19

deb’s Book Review, February 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 21

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 22

CarpeDiem, February 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 24

SPLASHES of Joy, February 25

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 26 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, February 27

Just the Write Escape, February 28

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Shirley and Howard are giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of the book and a $25 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/f5c7/hope-for-new-beginnings-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Fifth Avenue Story Society Celebrate Lit Book Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by author Rachel Hauck is a contemporary Christian romance fiction novel that has a delightful cover.  I wanted to not only press my nose against the window to peep inside, but I also want to glide in there and peruse those books.  Don’t you?

It took me a bit to become invested in this tale.  I would read a little here and there.  Finally after a few chapters everything came together for me to become enamored with this fascinating novel.  Author Hauck has a talent of taking an obscure yet believable situation and turning it into a beautiful book.

Here we have five New Yorkers that are brought together to form a remarkable group.  Each member has past baggage and is reluctant to share.  They meet each week in an old library where friendships, hope, and faith grow.

The characters are realistic with personalities that jump off of the pages.  They each have certain quirks, flaws, and redeeming qualities.  I enjoyed them.  Their conversation sounded real and the banter flowed freely.

Be prepared for each character to express a point of view in the writing.  The transition is done without a hitch and makes reading easy.  My heart stung when I read the hurt and heartache members experienced.  Issues were relevant and timely.  The author tackled loneliness, frustration, bitterness, anger, failure, ambition, and impatience on the negative side and love, forgiveness, success, friendship, marriage, family, and hope on the positive.  So many life lessons presented in one book.  It showed no matter what our past might be, God still has plans for our future, and that we all have something to give to help someone.

I found this riveting novel to be a treasure trove of enthralling stories.  The romance and faith messages were light but still there. I enjoyed the mystery as to why each member was chosen and invited.  I definitely recommend this book.  A reading group would have a lively time dissecting all of the characters and topics.  It gets a 4 out of 5 star rating from me.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book:  The Fifth Avenue Story Society

Author: Rachel Hauck

Genre:  Contemporary Romance/ Women’s Fiction

Release Date: February 4, 2020

The Fifth Avenue Story SocietyAn invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to bear their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.

 

Get your copy of the book here.

 

About the Author

rachel-hauck-LR-5Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.

 

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt here.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 10

The Avid Reader, February 10

Livin’ Lit, February 10

Genesis 5020, February 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 10

The Power of Words, February 11

A Baker’s Perspective, February 11

Rebecca Tews, February 11

All-of-a-kind Mom, February 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11

Older & Smarter?, February 12

Seasons of Opportunities, February 12

Texas Book-aholic, February 12

Inklings and notions, February 12

deb’s Book Review, February 12

My Devotional Thoughts, February 13

Just the Write Escape, February 13

For Him and My Family, February 13

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, February 13

CarpeDiem, February 13

Remembrancy, February 14

Christian Bookaholic, February 14

Connect in Fiction, February 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 14

April Hayman, Author, February 14

Robin’s Nest, February 15

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, February 15

Britt Reads Fiction, February 15

Just Your Average reviews, February 15

Blogging With Carol, February 15

Batya’s Bits, February 16

Bigreadersite, February 16

A Reader’s Brain, February 16

Worthy2Read, February 16

Stories By Gina, February 16

Back Porch Reads, February 17

janicesbookreviews, February 17

Literary Reflections Book Blog, February 17

Inside the Wong Mind, February 17

Mary Hake, February 17

Through the fire blogs, February 18

Mia Reads, February 18

Baker Kella, February 18

EmpowerMoms, February 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 18

Maureen’s Musings, February 19

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 19

Coast and Anchor, February 19

Spoken from the Heart, February 19

SPLASHES of Joy, February 19

She Lives to Read, February 20

By The Book, February 20

Wishful Endings, February 20

Moments, February 20

Simple Harvest Reads, February 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Andrea Christenson, February 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21

Pause for Tales, February 21

For The Love of Books, February 21

Lis Loves Reading, February 21

Reader’s Cozy Corner, February 22

Hallie Reads, February 22

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 22

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 22

To Everything There Is A Season, February 22

Godly Book Reviews, February 23

Daysong Reflections, February 23

SusanLovesBooks, February 23

Lights in a Dark World, February 23

Grandparenting with a Purpose Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

Grandparenting with a Purpose, Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren by author Lillian Penner is a must read for all grandparents.   Actually it is a great book for parents and others that love and pray for children.  Aunts and uncles, Sunday school teachers, and friends will benefit from this book on praying for children.

The author provides practical tips and tools for praying for children as well as scripture.  Her view is that praying for them and their parents is the best thing we can do for them.  As a mother of two, Gram of four, and aunt to many, I readily agreed.  I have been praying for mine since before they were born.

This book had me nodding my head in agreement and at times stopping my reading to pray.  It is easy to read and understand, and it will move you.  Scripture is freely used with examples of good parents and prayers.  The questions at the end of the chapters are for personal study.

There three sections in this book:  Grandparents Standing in the Gap with Prayer, Standing in the Gap with Intercessory Prayer, and Standing in the Gap for Grandchildren.  Each section has relevant lessons.  The end of the book is filled with a plethora of valuable information, worksheets, and reference material.  Do not miss it.

A small group of grandparents or soon-to-be ones would richly benefit from this inspiring book.  I will be purchasing it for shower gifts for grandparents.  This fills a void that in today’s world cannot afford to remain empty.  We must pray for our children and theirs.

I highly recommend this book.  It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me.  Every church library should have one in it.  Anyone that loves a child should read it.  If you do not know how to pray for someone, this is a great tool.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book:  Grandparenting with a Purpose

Author: Lillian Penner

Genre: Non-fiction / Christian family and relationships

Release Date: June 6, 2015

Front cover Grandparenting With a PurposeCulture tends to shape our grandchildren by what it presents as normal, which is very different from the normal in which we grew up. But through prayer and godly counsel, grandparents who love the Lord can stand in the gap and help their grandchildren and their parents navigate their world and cultural influences.

Being a grandparent is a blessing—the grandchildren are so sweet, and we love the hugs and pictures. But these days, many grandparents have the added responsibility of raising their grandchildren, while others are restrained from seeing their grandkids. Grandparenting: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren will share some insight into these difficult issues. And no matter your situation, God gives grandparents a sacred trust—an opportunity to imprint another generation with the message of His faithfulness.

From cell phones to photo prayer journals, you’ll find tools and Scriptures to pray intentionally for your grandchildren and their parents. Regardless of how far they live from you, your prayers can bridge the distance between you and leave your grandchildren with an inheritance more precious than gold.

 

Click here for your copy!

 

About the Author

Lillian Penner PicLillian Ann Penner is an author, speaker, and grandmother residing with her husband, John, in Portland, Oregon. They have been married for more than fifty years and have three married sons and nine grandchildren.

Penner is the national prayer coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN), and she writes about her passion of intentional praying grandparents for CGN’s website. She is involved in leadership in the women’s Bible study, the fifty-five plus group in her church, and leads a Grandparents@Prayer group.

She has been active in church ministry for over fifty years, led an outreach ministry for young mothers, a mentoring ministry for women, and various other church ministries. She has participated in short term missions in Ukraine and volunteered with several Christian ministries.

She and her husband enjoy traveling, but most of all, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

 

More from Lillian

Finding Joy in Praying for my Grandchildren

What a joy it is to have that precious little grandchild come running into your arm with hugs and kisses. The six-year-old calling to tell you she lost her first tooth or your seven-year-old grandson excited about making his first goal in his soccer game.

In addition to senior discounts, grandchildren are one of the rewards of growing older. Mary H. Waldrip says it well, “Grandchildren are God’s way of compensating us for growing old.”

I now have nine grandchildren, ages ranging from sixteen years to thirty-eight years, four are married, and we have five great-granddaughters. As a long-distance grandmother for many years, I was not fully aware of my grandchildren’s immediate needs. I prayed that God would bless them, give them good health and protection. Ultimately, I became frustrated and felt something was lacking with my vague and general prayers. I asked God to show me how to become more deliberate in praying for them.

After reading books about grandparenting and prayer full of practical advice, I was encouraged to use specific Scriptures in praying for my grandchildren. The books motivated me to pray regularly for their emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Best of all, praying God’s Word has enabled me to pray with His power, direction, and wisdom. As their grandparent, I can have a significant role in influencing their lives by praying for them during these turbulent years has given me fulfillment and satisfaction in praying for them.

The faith of our children is weakened in the classrooms; young adults raised in our hostile environment are walking away from God in record numbers. Hopelessness is prevalent, and our society is reeling from the opioid crisis, mass shootings, fatherlessness, divorce, and so much more.

Recognizing the urgent need for my grandchildren’s spiritual needs God gave me a passion of praying Scripture for my grandchildren. I felt God wanted me to share my passion with other grandparents so I wrote the book Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren about ten years ago. It has blessed and encouraged many grandparents. This past year I felt God wanted me to revise and expand the book, so I added the following chapters with a study guide for each chapter.

 

  • I have found there are many hurting estranged grandparents today with heavy hearts, so I am addressing that issue in a chapter. Is your grandparenting Painful or a blessing?
  • I include a section looking at a view of the culture our grandchildren and their parents are navigating today.
  • God’s Design for grandparenting plus several additional chapters and Scriptures to Pray for Teens and Scriptures for Grandparents to pray for themselves.

The book retails for $14.99. However, it is available for a discounted price of $15.00, including shipping and handling costs in the U. S. for a limited time.  A bonus of a Scriptural Prayer resource will be included with your purchase. The book is available in EBook format for $3.99 for those who would prefer the EBook format or live outside the U. S. to save on shipping costs.

This book will challenge you and give you resources for the spiritual battle with the enemy. It will show you how to be an intentional disciple-maker and prayer warrior to impact the next generation.

Blog Stops

Wishful Endings, February 10 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 11

Artistic Nobody, February 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 13

Texas Book-aholic, February 14

Older & Smarter?, February 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 16

Blossoms and Blessings, February 17 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, February 18

deb’s Book Review, February 19

SusanK. Beatty, Author, February 20 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, February 21

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 22 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, February 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lillian is giving away the grand prize of a signed copy of her 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/f5bd/grandparenting-with-a-purpose-celebration-tour-giveaway

Waltz in the Wilderness Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

My Thoughts

Waltz in the Wilderness by author Kathleen Denly is a Christian Historical Romance and book One in the Chaparral Hearts Series.  This is the first book I have read by the author and will not be the last.  It was a delightful story that caught my attention immediately.

Author Denly has an impressive writing style.  The story and characters drew me in from the beginning.  Descriptions made things come to life without being boring.  Her characters were likable, well rounded, and relatable.  She includes twist and subplots that kept me turning pages to see what would happen next.  Faith and God are not hidden in her novel.  That is important in a Christian book.

Eliza Brooks is a strong, feisty woman with a strong protective love for her father.  It is easy to live this character even with her flaws.  Many times I found myself nodding or shaking my head as I read this book at the things she did.

Daniel Clarke is preparing to leave California and return to Boston.  That is where he will be reunited with his family and fiancée.  Plans change when Eliza veers him off his course.

This book is such a great story.  It has danger, romance, mystery, history, and inspiration.  At the end, there are questions for discussion.  I love it when an author includes those.  There is also a sample of the next book.  I would highly recommend this captivating tale by author Denly.  I rate it a 5 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book:  Waltz in the Wilderness

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre:  Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Waltz in the Wilderness CoverShe’s desperate to find her missing father. His conscience demands he risk all to help.

Eliza Brooks is haunted by her role in her mother’s death, so she’ll do anything to find her missing pa—even if it means sneaking aboard a southbound ship. When those meant to protect her abandon and betray her instead, a family friend’s unexpected assistance is a blessing she can’t refuse.

Daniel Clarke came to California to make his fortune, and a stable job as a San Francisco carpenter has earned him more than most have scraped from the local goldfields. But it’s been four years since he left Massachusetts and his fiancé is impatient for his return. Bound for home at last, Daniel Clarke finds his heart and plans challenged by a tenacious young woman with haunted eyes. Though every word he utters seems to offend her, he is determined to see her safely returned to her father. Even if that means risking his fragile engagement.

When disaster befalls them in the remote wilderness of the Southern California mountains, true feelings are revealed, and both must face heart-rending decisions. But how to decide when every choice before them leads to someone getting hurt?

 

Click here for your copy!

 

About the Author

Kathleen Denly Headshot 3Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

 

More from Kathleen

As Valentine’s Day nears, stories of how couples met seem to be everywhere. Many of those stories share a common element: “The second I saw him/her, I just knew I would marry him/her.”

Every time I read or hear these stories, I chuckle. Not because I don’t believe them but because it reminds me of my own meet-cute.

“Not my type.”

These were the first words to enter my mind when I met the man who would later become my husband. In hindsight, they are hilarious because I know that God worked things out for our good. After more than eighteen years of marriage, I can honestly say that I am more in love with my husband than ever.

However, just a few months prior to meeting my husband, I’d suffered a terrible breakup with another man whom I thought had been considering proposing to me. I had no idea the breakup was coming and that left me devastated and confused. The truths we learn in hindsight don’t help much when we’re in the midst of such circumstances. When we think we know the future before us and something happens to upend those plans it can feel as though our world has turned upside down.

This is what happens to Eliza Brooks in the first chapter of my novel, Waltz in the Wilderness. Though not romantic in nature, a major shift occurs in her world that leaves her feeling betrayed and disoriented. She’s still struggling to right her world when Daniel Clarke enters her life in the worst way possible. Misunderstanding leads to a humiliating confrontation that sets these two at odds with one another before they have a chance to truly get to know each other. Fortunately for Eliza and Daniel, God works their foolishness for good just as He did in my own true love story.

This Valentine’s Day, whatever your romantic relationship status, remember that you are not alone. You are loved. And the God of all the universe loves you and has a plan for you—plans to prosper you and bring you hope.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, February 5

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, February 5

Pause for Tales, February 5

Texas Book-aholic, February 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 6

Older & Smarter?, February 7

deb’s Book Review, February 7

Reflections From My Bookshelves, February 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 9

The Christian Fiction Girl, February 9

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, February 9

Betti Mace, February 10

Through the Fire Blogs, February 10

Inklings and notions, February 11

Robin’s Nest, February 11

Remembrancy, February 12

For Him and My Family, February 12

My Devotional Thoughts, February 12

Maureen’s Musings, February 13

For the Love of Literature, February 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 14

Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 15

Blossoms and Blessings, February 15

Bigreadersite, February 15

Emily Yager, February 16

Blogging With Carol, February 16

Mia Reads, February 16

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impression, February 17

Janicesbookreviews, February 17

SPLASHES of Joy, February 18

Hallie Reads, February 18

Connie’s History Classroom, February 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a NEW Kindle Fire HD8, Proverbs 3:5 Paperback Lined Journal, Romans 8:28 Leather Bookmark, Proverbs 3:5 mug, and an Antique Silverplated Spoon made by 1847 Rogers Bros!!

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/f5b6/waltz-in-the-wilderness-celebration-tour-giveaway