To Capture Her Heart and Giveaway

Rebecca DeMarino is the author of A Place in His Heart, book one of The Southold Chronicles, a series inspired by her ninth great-grandparents, Barnabas and Mary Horton.  She inherited her love of baking and gardening from her mother; a love of horses, reading, and writing from her dad; and the wanderlust gene from both parents.  Rebecca lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Tom.

You can connect with Rebecca and learn more about her writing gift at her website found at www.rebeccademarino.com.

In an uncertain time, she faces a choice that will change her life forever.

It is 1653 and Heather Flower, a princess of the Montaukett tribe, is celebrating her wedding feast when a rival tribe attacks, killing the groom and kidnapping her.  Though her ransom is paid by an Englishman, she is bound by her captors and left to die - until she finds herself rescued by handsome Dutch Lieutenant Dirk Van Buren.

Still tender from her loss, Heather Flower begins to heal in the home of the Hortons, English friends of her people.  Torn between
her affection for Dirk and her longtime friendship with Ben Horton, heather Flower must make a difficult choice - stay true to her friend or follow her heart.

My Thoughts:
Rebecca DeMarino has become a favorite author of mine.  Her impeccable research combined with a masterful gift of story shines through in her latest book To Capture Her Heart.
DeMarino captures the time period and history and seamlessly weaves those elements into a tender love story.  Her characters are well developed and have a genuine feel to them.  She has drawn me to a genre in which I would not normally invest time.
The writing in To Capture Her Heart is descriptive and DeMarino effectively transports her readers to another time and place in history.  Once you begin the first page, it is hard to stop until you have turned the last.

I love Heather in this story and DeMarino draws out her emotion and tension beautifully.  As a reader it is easy to feel what the characters are feeling.
You'll be blessed by this series.  The books can be read as stand-alones, but you will want to read all of them!

*I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.









Don't miss this giveaway!

https://gleam.io/TbXzj/to-capture-her-heart-book-launch" rel="nofollow">To Capture Her Heart Book Launch

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter In A Godless Culture / Giveaway!

About the author:

Dr. Larry Osborne has served as a senior pastor and teaching pastor at North Coast Church---one of the ten most influential churches in the country---since 1980. Dr. Osborne is the author of numerous books, includingAccidental Pharisees. He and his wife live in Oceanside, California. They have three grown children.

Find Larry online: website, Facebook, Twitter

About the book: 
Thriving in Babylon (David C. Cook, April 2015)

Meet a man forced to live in a fast changing and godless society. He faced fears about the future, concern for his safety, and the discouragement of world that seemed to be falling apart at warp speed.

Sound familiar? His name was Daniel, and with the power of hope, humility, and wisdom, he not only thrived, he changed an empire while he was at it. Though he lived thousands of years ago, he has a much to teach us today.

Even in Babylon, God is in control.

In Thriving in Babylon, Larry Osborne explores the "adult" story of Daniel to help us not only survive - but actually thrive in an increasingly godless culture. Here Pastor Osborne looks at:

-Why panic and despair are never from God

-What true optimism looks like

-How humility disarms even our greatest of enemies

-Why respect causes even those who will have nothing to do with God to listen

-How wisdom can snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat

For those who know Jesus and understand the full implications of the cross, the resurrection, and the promises of Jesus, everything changes---not only in us, but also in our world.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Maejf4

To see what others are saying about the book, you can visit HERE.

My Thoughts:

Thriving In Babylon is a timely message for the times in which we live.  Osborne uses the Biblical story of Daniel as the foundation of the thoughts he shares in the book.  

"We live in a world gone haywire.  Our moral fabric seems to be decaying at breakneck speed.  Things that were once shamefully hidden are now publicly celebrated.  The previously unimaginable has become common place.  In a few short decades our culture's response to Bible-believing Christians has gone from grudging respect, to a patronizing pat on the head, to a marginalizing indifference, to outright hostility. Yet Daniel steps into our confusion and fear with a book that contains the life-changing rebukes, correction, and training i righteousness we so desperately need. He offers us a model for not only surviving but actually thriving in the midst of a godless environment."

Osborne spends the nearly 200 pages of his book helping readers understand Daniel as a man of hope, humility and wisdom and how his example can help believing Christ followers have courage, credibility and perspective in the most troubling of times.

Osborne has lots of good and biblically sound things to share in his book.  I appreciated how his thoughts on almost every page were directly linked to Scripture in the footnotes so readers have the chance to go to God's Word themselves to see that Osborne's thoughts are lining up with Scripture.

The only real criticism I have is Osborne's writing style.  Much of what he shares is given in a very sarcastic tone, which for me was off putting enough to give the book 4 stars rather than 5.  I just felt his sarcasm at times took away from the serious nature of the very important points he was attempting to get across. If this type thing doesn't bother you, you will be greatly encouraged and equipped by reading Thriving In Babylon.

*I was given a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving this review.  all opinions are my own.

Leave a comment stating how you are personally attempt to stay "sane" in such chaotic times and you will be entered in a chance to win a copy of Thriving in Babylon.

Blessings,
Jennifer

The Wonder of You

Susan May Warren is the bestselling, Christy and RITA Award - winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She spent eight years as a missionary in Russia with her husband and four children before returning to Minnesota's north shore to write full-time.

You can connect with Susan at her website found at www.susanmaywarren.com.

Mortified after her year abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn't brave enough to embrace the adventures she's dreamed of.  The last thing she expects if for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness.
Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name.  Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running.  He'll do anything for a second chance - even contend with Amelia's old flame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.
While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark's continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her place mean leaving home behind?



Susan's Launch Video from July 1st:



My Thoughts:
I have loved Warren's The Christiansen Family series!  Each book in the series has highlighted one of the Christiansen siblings...The Wonder of You is Amelia's story.  The series will end with Owen's story in You're The One That I Want in the Spring of 2016.  There are four previous books in the series.
Amelia's story is ripe with her struggle to find her way in the midst of a large family and of her learning to trust God's plans for her life.  I can identify with Amelia in many ways; particularly in being afraid of failure.  The relationship tension and Amelia's own personal struggles are almost tangible.  Warren's characters jump right off the page and into your heart.  Without being "preachy", Warren masterfully weaves faith into her stories.  Her characters and their situations are genuine, not over thought or forced.
I love the letter written to each sibling by their mother, Ingrid at the beginning of the book.  It sets the tone beautifully for the story.  While each of the books can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the series all together beginning with Take A Chance On Me.  You will love Deep Haven and the Christiansens.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of giving this review.  All opinions are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

Passing Through: Pilgrim Life In The Wilderness

Jeremy Walker is a pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church in Crawley, England; author of Life in Christ and The Brokenhearted Evangelist, and coauthor of A Portrait of Paul:  Identifying a True Minister  of Christ.

You can connect with Jeremy and learn more about his ministry at:
Maidenbower Baptist Church
The Wanderer Blog
Facebook
Twitter (@peregrinus75)

Don't miss an insightful interview Shaun Tabatt conducted with Jeremy HERE.

Jeremy's Sermon - The Finished Work (Feb. 1, 2015):

As twenty-first-century Christians, we must relate to the world, but the question is, how do we relate to it?  Some Christians are scared, others are simply bewildered, and still others capitulate to the spirit of the age.  In Passing Through, Pastor Jeremy Walker presents the biblical perspective that Christians are pilgrims passing through this fallen world who must cultivate the spirit of holy separation alongside holy engagement as they serve Christ in all their interactions.  Unless we embrace this identity, we will lose our way.  Reminding us that we need "the Word of God as our map and and the Spirit of Christ as our compass," Pastor Walker clearly presents principles for holy engagement with the world and separation from it for pilgrims on their way home, seeking to glorify the God of their salvation every step of the way.





My Thoughts:
Jeremy Walker has written a very timely and much needed book for the perilous times in which we currently live.  How do we as believers in Jesus Christ and followers of the One True God engage with the world and maintain our "holy separation" while loving as He does and bringing glory to Him? Some days the task seems daunting.
In Passing Through, Jeremy helps readers work through that question within carefully presented Scriptural frameworks.  Jeremy is thorough when presenting his ideas and is diligent in helping readers to see the possibility of a life surrendered to God and the mission of Christ His Son in the world.
Some of my favorite quotes (There were many...too many to share here, which is why you would blessed to get your own copy of this book!):

"Whatever privileges we enjoy, whatever blessings we receive, whatever mercies have been bestowed upon us, they are fuel to the fire of praise, that God in His glory as the Deliverer may be exalted by us and through us in the world.  Our experience and existence declare that there is a God who saves.  Praising Him is no chore, no burden, to the Christian who has grasped what he has been made by God in Christ."

"Being precedes and determines doing."

"There are no men upon the face of the earth who darken the glory of God so much as those who profess to be followers of Jesus and yet live carelessly."

"Our Lord identifies Himself as the determining factor and the abiding paradigm for our relationship to the world...In John 17 the Lord speaks of Christians as those who, having been given His world, now sustain a relationship to the world that is conditioned by their likeness to and connection with Him."

Published by Reformation Heritage Books, Passing Through is a book I can highly recommend and one to be savored.  I know I'll be returning to it often in the days to come.

*I received a copy of this book from Cross Focused Media, LLC for the purpose of providing this review.  All opinions are my own.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Tattered and Mended: The Art of Healing the Wounded Soul

About the author:

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories "hemmed in hope." She's the award-winning author of sixteen books and a frequent speaker for women's ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.

Find Cynthia online: website, Twitter, Facebook

About the book: 
Tattered and Mended: The Art of Healing the Wounded Soul(Abingdon, July 2015)

A crumbling statue. A torn tapestry. A discolored painting. 

Artisans can reclaim exquisite beauty from the broken, frayed, and hopefully shattered---perhaps once thought beyond repair. But what about us? What of the wounds that keep us from living the life we want to live?

In Tattered and Mended, readers walk through a gallery of reclaimed and restored art as well as broken and restored lives of those who have gone before us. With a gentle touch and personable wisdom, Cynthia Ruchti shows how even the most threadbare soul can once again find healing and hope.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1H8k2LE

To see what others are saying about the book, you can visit HERE.

Visit HERE for a unique look at a day in the life of Cynthia Ruchti, the writer.

Cradle My Heart Radio will feature Cynthia the week of July 19th.

You'll be blessed by looking through Cynthia's Pinterest board with images and quotes from the book.  Also included are images of sashiko and boro mending stitches used in Japan.

My Thoughts:

Cynthia Ruchti's books earned a permanent place on my "keeper shelf" a few years ago when I read her book "When The Morning Glory Blooms".  Since that time, I have done my best to read everything she writes.  Cynthia has a special gift infusing hope in both her fiction and non-fiction books.

"How would you answer if Jesus asked, 'What do you want me to do for you?' Because Jesus is asking.  It is the Divine Invitation to mend."

In Tattered And Mended, Cynthia delves into the mending and healing ministry of Jesus to the broken.  Through personal story, research and a careful application of scripture, Cynthia offers readers a thoughtful look at the purpose of pain and a beautiful portrait of Jehovah-Rophe, "God your healer."

"Although God could and often did heal physical infirmities, this cherished, hope-giving name catapulted into the world as a result of the kind of mending we often most need - converting soul misery into something we can live with, wholeness where holes once dominated, raw edges sewn together expertly so they can't unravel again."

Cynthia speaks of "holy bandages presoaked in mercy" and the refinement brought about by the mending stitches themselves.  She reminds us of Christ Who "wastes nothing and uses everything".

Cynthia's writing is encouraging, inspiring and full of hope.  "The wounded made whole" is the theme of Tattered And Mended.  The end of the book includes three helpful sections:  Beyond the End, Mending Prayers, and Stretching to Mend.  Each of these sections provides readers with practical ways to lean into the process of mending by embracing The Divine Mender through prayer guidance and sound biblical encouragement.

Simply put...Cynthia offers readers a balm for wounded, broken and weary souls.



*I was given a complimentary copy of the book for the purose of this review.  All opinions are my own.

Blessings,
Jennifer 

Gone Without A Trace

Patricia Bradley is the winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award and a 2012 Touched by Love Award and was also a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award.  The author of Shadows of the Past and A Promise to Protect, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.  Bradley makes her home in Mississippi.

You can connect with Patricia at her website:
www.ptbradley.com.

The past is repeating itself - and time is running out...

It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point.  Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily.  When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator's missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances.  With self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she's finding this investigation an uphill battle.  But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she'll have to find a way to work with Alex - before it's too late.




My Thoughts:
I really enjoy Patricia Bradley's writing!  And it doesn't hurt that she's a Mississippi girl like me! Gone Without A Trace is the third book in Bradley's Logan Point series.  Her characters throughout the series have been endearing and Livy and Alex do not disappoint!
Bradley is a masterful storyteller of suspense and romance giving a perfect balance between the two. She runs themes of forgiveness and trusting in God's plan throughout Livy and Alex's story.  Gone Without A Trace is a page turner that will be hard to put down and definitely not one to start right before bed!  While the book is the third in a series, it can be read as a stand alone.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of giving this review.  All opinions are my own.

Happy Ready Ya'll,
Jennifer

Letters from My Father's Murderer: A Journey of Forgiveness

About the author:

Laurie A. Coombs is a passionate writer and speaker on the issues of forgiveness, redemption, and the hope that is found in Jesus. Her story was featured in Billy Graham's new film,Heaven. She is a featured writer and blogger for iBelieve and Crosswalk. Laurie and her husband, Travis, make their home in Nevada along with their two daughters.

Find Laurie online: website, Twitter, Facebook

About the book:

Letters from My Father's Murderer: A Journey of Forgiveness(Kregel, June 2015)

When her father was murdered, Laurie Coombs sought justice and found it.

His murderer now serves two life sentences with no possibility of parole. Yet, despite the swift punishment of the killer, Laurie found herself increasingly full of pain, bitterness, and anger she couldn't control. After coming to faith, she realized she was being called to seek something infinitely more difficult than justice: forgiveness.

This is an extraordinary true story of grace, mercy, and the redemptive power of God to change lives. The reader is swept along with Laurie as she undergoes the life-changing transformation of becoming a Christian. As she studies Scripture, seeing God redeeming losses and healing deep wounds time and time again, she starts to understand that her own healing would require her to love her enemy in a real, practical way.

Using her incredible correspondence with the man who killed her father, Laurie reveals a compelling journey of transformation, not only in her life, but in the lives of those whom many would call irredeemable.

Letters from My Father's Murderer is for any audience Christian or secular who

-Craves freedom from the inability to forgive those who've caused them harm 

-Wants to hear testimony of God's power in our obedience 

-Has experienced pain through other's sin against them 

-Needs to know healing is always possible

The real story here is not primarily about murder and its fallout, but rather about redemption and how far it can reach.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1g6sd4H 

To see what others are saying about the book, you can visit HERE.

My Thoughts:

Simply said, Letters from My Father's Murderer is a gift.  Laurie Coombs has given her readers a priceless gift.  Laurie has chosen to be transparent with one of the hardest periods of her life in order to give readers a clear picture of the power of the Gospel in the life of one surrendered to God's will.

Laurie writes as if she is sitting across the table from you sharing the details of a wound healed by the Great Physician.  She gives a modern day parable that happens to be a true story and in the process shares an amazing story of redemption.

From the preface by Laurie:

"The path toward redemption isn't easy, and it's certainly not pretty.  It requires us to lay ourselves down before God.  To take His commands seriously.  To not only read the Bible and agree with its precepts in thought, but to do the Word of God.  To do whatever it is God calls us to do, even when it doesn't make much sense at the time.  Even when it means we must sacrifice our will for His.  This, my friend, is where redemption begins.  The moment we lay down our fear, our pride, and our resistance - the moment we say yes to God - we begin to experience life as He intended, the life Jesus died for us to have.  A life marked by grace."

Laurie's life has clearly been marked by God's grace.  We are blessed that she has shared her story with us!  Her story will change you because it will point you to The Redeemer.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving this review.  All opinions are my own.

Blessings,
Jennifer