Chonda Pierce: Unashamed

Chonda Pierce: Unashamed At select Cinemas May 7 & 9

This Mother’s Day week, May 7 & 9 at 7:00pm., you and your friends can enjoy a night of laughter and  truth as only top selling female comedian, Chonda Pierce, can deliver.  Chonda will make you laugh and think as she boldly proclaims the truth of the Gospel to a hurting world.  Chonda takes a journey into the hearts of the faithful as she engages some of the boldest believers in America. Mike Huckabee, Danny Gokey, the Benham Brothers and others tell their stories of speaking truth to our culture…no matter the consequences. Don’t forget to bring your moms, grandmas and every mother in your church for a night to remember!

Only Chonda can communicate deep and meaningful truth and make you laugh at the same time.  Chonda is unchained, unrestrained and UNASHAMED!

Enter the Giveaway HERE.

My Thoughts:

Unashamed is a unique blend of Chonda's comedy and her heart.  Tailored for women, Chonda shares her what life has been like after losing her husband four years ago and the journey to getting her creativity back after painful grieving.  The interviews are seamlessly woven into her comedy routine.  And, Chonda girl can sing!  Grab the women you love and enjoy inspiration, challenge, and lots of laughs!

*I received an early screener from the publishers.  All opinions are my very own.

Blessings,

Jennifer

The Heart Of A King: The Loves Of Solomon

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as the nonfiction book When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams.  Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.  Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.  Learn more at her website www.jillelieensmith.com.

Get swept away by a story of love, loss, and longing.

King Solomon could - and did - have anything he wanted, including many women from many lands.  But for all of his wealth and wisdom, did he or the women he loved ever find what they were searching for?

In this engrossing novel, find yourself whisked away to ancient Israel, where you'll meet four remarkable women:  Naamah the desert princess, Abishag the shepherdess, Siti the daughter of a pharaoh, and Nicaula the queen of Sheba.  As you experience the world of Solomon through his eyes and theirs, you'll grapple with whether this king's storied wisdom ultimately benefited him and those he loved...or betrayed them.

My Thoughts:
Smith first introduces readers to four of King Solomon's loves in a series of Ebook shorts...The Desert Princess (Naamah's story), The Shepherdess (Abishag's story), Daughter of the Nile (Siti's story), and The Queen of Sheba (Nicaula's story).  In her recent release, The Heart of a King, Smith brings these four loves of King Solomon together with the additional insight of what might have been going through Solomon's heart and mind.  The Heart of a King can be read as a stand-alone book, but reading the Ebook shorts listed above first will greatly enrich your reading experience. 
Smith's telling of King Solomon's story stays close to the biblical narrative and the artistic liberty she takes to fill in the gaps of what Scripture doesn't tell us is rich with historical and biblical research and preserves the integrity of God's Word.  Written in the third person, The Heart of a King is an enjoyable read that holds you captive with great dialogue and vivid descriptions.  Smith masterfully transports readers to another time and place and gives them a look into the life of the wisest but possibly most tormented man to ever live.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Joyful Surrender: 7 Disciplines for the Believer's Life

Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) was one of the most perceptive and popular Christian writers of the last century.  The author of more than twenty books, including Passion and Purity and The Journals of Jim Elliot, Elliot offered guidance and encouragement to millions of readers worldwide.

Finding freedom and happiness in divine surrender.

In our age of instant gratification and if-it-feels-good-do-it attitudes, self-discipline is often overlooked.  Yet it may be one of the most important lost virtues of our time.  In Joyful Surrender, former missionary and beloved author Elisabeth Elliot offers her understanding of discipline and its value for people of all times.  She shows you how to...

• discipline your mind, body, possessions, time, and feelings
• overcome anxiety
• change poor habits and attitudes
• trust God in times of trial and hardship
• let Him have control in all areas of life

Elliot masterfully and gently takes you through Scripture, personal stories, and incisive observations to help you discover the understanding that your fulfillment as a human being depends on your answer to God's call to obedience.

My Thoughts:

"There had to be evidence of faith.  The first baby step of faith is followed by a daily walk of obedience, and it is as we continue with Him in His word that we are assured that we were, in fact, called and have nothing to fear."

 "The conditions for discipleship begin with dying."

There are challenge and comfort in Elliot's words.  And, they can be trusted because they come from a life well-lived.  Elliot's exhortations are genuine and come from a long life lived close to God and His Word in faith.  The chapters are short digestible portions making this a book perfect for devotional reading.  I highly recommend this small but mighty book.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Happy Blessed Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

The Memory House and Giveaway

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.

Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.

At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.

A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.

She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.

For more information, visit www.rachelhauck.com, Facebook (@rachelhauck), Twitter (@RachelHauck) and Instagram (@rachelhauck).

When Beck Holiday lost her father in the North Tower on 9/11, she also lost her memories of him. Eighteen years later, she’s a tough New York City cop burdened with a damaging secret, suspended for misconduct, and struggling to get her life in order. Meanwhile, a mysterious letter arrives informing her she’s inherited a house along Florida’s northern coast, and what she discovers there will change her life forever. Matters of the heart only become more complicated when she runs into handsome Bruno Endicott, a driven sports agent who fondly recalls the connection they shared as teenagers. But Beck doesn’t remember that, either.

Decades earlier, widow Everleigh Applegate lives a steady, uneventful life with her widowed mother after a tornado ripped through Waco, Texas, and destroyed her new, young married life. When she runs into old high school friend Don Callahan, she begins to yearn for change. Yet no matter how much she longs to love again, she is hindered by a secret she can never share.

Fifty years separate the women but through the power of love and miracle of faith, they each find healing in a beautiful Victorian known affectionately as The Memory House.

Click here to read an excerpt!

My Thoughts:

Hauck's latest book, The Memory House, is an emotional journey of love, heartache, faith, and restoration.   With richly developed characters and a blending of past and present, Hauck offers readers much more than just another story.  Hauck takes readers on a journey that draws one in with the very first lines...

"She was never afraid of the dark.  But the light?  Now that terrified her."

The characters in The Memory House all find that the key to embracing their futures is found in remembering their pasts. Hauck gives readers the perspective of each character.  This coupled with genuine dialogue added a depth that kept me engaged from the first page to the last.  This is a story that will stay with me for a long time.  The emotion was palpable at times and I found myself engrossed with the characters as if I was in the middle of the story.  This was a book very hard to put down that now has a prominent place on my keeper shelf.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

The Edge of Mercy

Heidi Chiavaroli is a writer, runner, and grace-clinger who loves exploring places that whisper of historical secrets.  She is an ACFW Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist.  Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.

You can connect with her at www.heidichiavaroli.com.

Two women, three hundred years apart, must face the devastation of all they hold dear...

Suspecting her husband is having an affair, Sarah Rodrigues fights to appear unbroken while attempting to salvage her family.  Though distracted by her own troubles, Sarah is summoned to an elderly friend's deathbed for an unusual request...find a long-lost daughter and relay a centuries-old family story.

Determined not to fail her friend, Sarah pieces together the story of her neighbor's ancestor.  Elizabeth Baker, a young colonist forced into an unwanted betrothal but drawn to a man forbidden y society.

While Sarah's family teeters on the edge of collapse, her world is further shaken by the interest of a caring doctor and a terrible accident that threatens a life more precious than her own.

Inspired by the unconditional love she uncovers in Elizabeth's story, Sarah strives to forgive those who've wounded her soul.  But when light shines on the dark secrets of her neighbor's past and the full extent of her husband's sins, will looking to a power greater than herself rekindle lost hope?

My Thoughts:
Chiavaroli is a master at weaving the past and present in her stories.  While her previous books, The Hidden Side and Freedom's Ring, are exceptional, her recent release, The Edge of Mercy, may be her best yet.  

"The young woman smiled and opened the case that housed Elizabeth's journal.  'Hang in there.' She turned to me, 'I think sometimes we might not recongnize hope until we've been in the darkness.'"

Chiavaroli draws you in from the start with well-developed characters and rich dialogue infused with emotion and authenticity.  

"After my fingers turned raw and numb from sewing the shirts, I was given rest and read from the unstained pages of the Bible. I have read them before, but this time I clung to them.  I am drawn to the suffering of Christ. For the first time I feel a kinsip with this God of the weak.  I think of Caleb's sacrifice for me, of his love.  I am filled with shame.  Over and over I read, and yet one verse I have found my heart clings to, 'And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My power is made perfect through weakness.'  I read this and shed warm tears, for I cannot deny that the words are like sweet balm to my wretched heart. 'Tis nothing but this. 'Tis nothing but His grace and promise and finished work to see me through. 'Tis all I have left to cling to."

The portions of the story told through Elizabeth's journal entries and how they parallel the present day story of Sarah are nothing but pure genius and a writing gift.  Readers will be blessed by Chiavaroli's gift.

*I was given a complimentary early copy of the book.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Happy Reading,
Jennifer

 

Glory Road

Lauren Denton is the author of the USA TODAY bestselling novels The Hideaway and Hurricane Season.  She was born and raised in Mobile, AL, and now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham.  Though her husband tries valiantly to turn her into a mountain girl, she'd still rather be at the beach.
Connect with Lauren at www.LaurenKDenton.com as well as on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

The only thing certain is change -
Even in a pace as steady as Perry, Alabama.  On a street as old as Glory Road.

Nearly a decade after her husband's affair drove her back home to South Alabama, Jessie McBride has the stable life she wants - operating her garden shop, Twig, next door to her house on Glory Road, and keeping up with her teenage daughter and spunky mother.  Bur the unexpected arrival of two men makes Jessie question whether she's really happy with the status quo.
When handsome, wealthy businessman Summer Tate asks her to arrange flowers for his daughter's lavish wedding, Jessie finds herself drawn to his continued attention.  Then Ben Bradley, her lingering what-could-have-been from high school, moves back to the red dirt road, and she feels her heart pulled in directions she never expected.
Meanwhile, Jessie's fourteen-year-old daughter, Evan, is approaching the start of high school and navigating a new world of emotions - particularly as they relate to the cute new guy who's moved in just down the road.  At the same time, Jessie's mother, Gus, is suffering increasingly frequent memory lapses and faces a frightening, uncertain future.
In one summer, everything will change.  But for these three strong Southern women, the roots they've planted on Glory Road will give life to the adventures waiting just around the curve.
Glory Road tells the story of three generations of women navigating the uncertain pathways of their hearts during a summer that promises to bring change - whether they're ready for it or not.

My Thoughts:
Glory Road is the first book written by Denton that I have read.  As an avid reader, one of my greatest joys is discovering new to me authors.  In Glory Road, Denton captures small-town Southern life through the relationship of Gus, Jessie, and Evan...three generations of Southern women each at different stages of life.  Denton seamlessly gives us the backstory of each of these women over the course of the story.  I really appreciated getting the story through the eyes of all three women.  Glory Road is a story of love, family, hope, and second chances.  Denton is an author I will be following and catching up on all that she's written while waiting for her next book.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions stated here are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

The Rape of Recy Taylor

Recy Taylor, a 24-year-old black mother and sharecropper, was gang-raped by six white boys in 1944 Alabama. A common occurrence in the Jim Crow South, few women spoke up in fear for their lives. Not Recy Taylor, who instead bravely identified her rapists. The NAACP sent its rape investigator Rosa Parks to Alabama, who rallied support and triggered an unprecedented outcry for justice. 

THE RAPE OF RECY TAYLOR exposes the legacy of physical abuse inflicted upon black women and reveals Rosa Parks’ intimate role in Recy Taylor’s story. An attempted rape against Parks was but one inspiration for her ongoing fight for justice for countless women like Taylor. Parks’ 1955 bus boycott was the result of decades of activist work, not the beginning. More and more women are now speaking up after their assault. 

THE RAPE OF RECY TAYLOR shines a light on the black women who spoke up when danger was greatest; it was their noble efforts to reclaim control of their bodies that paved the way for today’s generation of activists. The 2017 Women's March and the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement are directly linked to their courage.



You can enter for your chance to win a $50 Fandango card and the screener of The Rape of Recy Taylor by clicking HERE.

With Women's History Month In March and Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, now is a powerful time to host a screening of The Rape of Recy Taylor and join our social impact campaign.   Screenings can be for a small woman’s group of 12 or a large school or church group.  Odyssey Impact provides all the materials and guidance you need to host your screening and lead a discussion after.
You can find more information about resources to help you do this by clicking HERE.

My Thoughts:
*I had the opportunity to view the screener of The Rape Of Recy Taylor provided by the producer.  All opinions stated here are my own.

The Rape of Recy Taylor is a tastefully done but very bold documentary.  The documentary incorporates interviews from Taylor's family members, photos and home video footage of her family, as well as historical video and pictures.  Also included in the documentary is commentary from a few people who have studied and analyzed the case of Recy Taylor and provide extremely useful insight.

The documentary gives historical context to this tragic incident in the life of Taylor and shines a glaring light on a piece of history many would like to forget.  This documentary won't let you forget.  And we shouldn't ever forget.  As far as I'm concerned it should be required viewing in every history class in our schools and universities.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Of Fire And Lions

Mesu Andrews is the CBA best-selling and award-winning author of Love Amid the Ashes and numerous other novels, including The Pharoah's Daughter, Miriam, and Isaiah's Daughter.  Her deep understanding of and love for God's word brings the biblical world alive for readers.  Mesu lives in North Carolina with her husband, Roy, and enjoys spending time with her growing tribe of grandchildren.

Exiles in Babylon.
Captives to deceit.
Will the truth set them free?

Belili wears her children's disdain like a heavy cloak.  The weight of their contempt threatens to crush her spirit, but she has perfected the art of survival.  She first learned it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took its finest young people as captives.  Years later she survived among idol worshippers and in King Nebuchadnezzar's court by donning an identity that shrouded her with guilt and shame.
She's kept secrets from Daniel, her childhood friend and the love of her life, but as the Medo-Persian Army invades, the thread of Belili's deception unravels and her tightly wound secrets begin to unfurl.
When tensions mount in the land of their exile, Belili will do anything to keep her family safe even though each step leads them closer to the truth.  Will Daniel die in a pit of lions before she can make things right between them?  Or will the God who rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego save her husband and replace her spirit of heaviness with a garment of praise?

My Thoughts:

"Stop badgering your weak friend on earth and start pleading with our powerful God in heaven."

"Yahweh created the heavens and the earth, He divided the waters of the Red Sea, and He summoned a fish to swallow Jonah.  I think he can reveal a king's nightmare to those who trust Him in Babylon."

Andrews' newest book, Of Fire And Lions, releases TODAY!!  With rich historical detail and careful attention to the biblical narrative, Andrews brings to life Daniel's story and the exile.  I so appreciate the richness of Andrew's novels.  In this book especially, Andrews fills in the gaps that Scripture doesn't reveal with her unique approach employing artistic liberty without compromising the integrity of God's Word as given to us in the canon of the Scriptures.  

"He placed his arm around Belili's shoulders and drew her near.  'We've seen Yahweh do impossible things, which has strengthened our faith to endure more impossible things.  We've grown spoiled and lazy in our freedoms, making us afraid to trust Yahweh for the uncomfortable."

"Can you give up your comfortable routine to live in the tension of God's uncharted plan?"

With lines like the ones above, Andrews poses questions within the story's narrative that jump off the page into readers' hearts engaging them in the story from beginning to end.

 "And last of all, I prayed Yahweh could somehow forgive me for surrendering my whole heart and then snatching it up again."

Andrews paints a vivid picture of Daniel's faithfulness and Belili's (his wife) growth in completely trusting God for all things.  Her journey is wrapped up in our journey of learning to completely lean on and rely on Yahweh; to surrender and not snatch up again, and to defend against an exile of our hearts.

Andrews writing drives readers to study the Scriptures for themselves.  I know I turned the last page of Of Fire And Lions with a greater hunger for a study of the Scriptures.  

*I received an advanced complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

How The Light Gets In

Jolina Petersheim is a bestselling author whose unique Mennonite heritage originated in Lancaster County, PA.  She and her husband now live in the mountains of TN with their three young daughters.  

Follow Jolina's blog at www.jolinapetersheim.com.

From the highly acclaimed author of The Outcast comes an engrossing novel about marriage and motherhood, loss and moving on.

When Ruth Neufeld's husband and father-in-law are killed in a bombing overseas, she travels to a Wisconsin Mennonite community with her daughters and mother-in-law to bury them, grieve, and piece together next steps.  They are welcomed by Elam Albrecht, her husband's cousin, who invites them to stay at his cranberry farm through the harvest.

Sifting through fields of berries and memories of a marriage that was broken long before her husband died, Ruth finds solace and healing in the beauty of the land...an also encounters the possibility of new love with Elam, whose gentle encouragement awakens hopes and dreams she thought she'd lost forever.

But an unexpected twist threatens the happy ending Ruth is about to write for herself.  On the precipice of a fresh start, Ruth must make an impossible decision:  which path to choose if her husband isn't dead after all.

My Thoughts:
Simply put, Jolina Petersheim is a genius! 
Not only has she written a book packed full of gospel-infused wisdom, but Petersheim has also shared with readers a heartfelt and genuine story of love, struggle, and sacrifice. Her characters are relatable and I love that we got the story from each character's perspective. Such depth here! I think I cried through the last 100 or so pages of the book. This story touched me in some of the deepest places of my heart.
With lines like, "In Elam, Ruth had found a refuge when she hadn't realized she was in need of shelter." and "Perhaps we mourn what we cannot have." and "For, yes, absence did make the heart grow fonder, but then, after a while, that shield of self-preservation grew thicker, and the heart forsook fondness for survival and all-consuming love for getting by.", Petersheim made me think and feel and offered me a clarion call to how I respond in my own relationships.
And the major twist...I didn't see that coming from any direction! This story of hurting and healing and how sometimes our hurts bring out greatest healing absolutely left me groaning and wanting better from myself. This book is going to be a game changer for so many.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Gospel of Matthew

Alabaster Co. has provided an exceptional resource in the Gospel of Matthew.  With stunning photographs alongside the New Living Translation of the Scripture, the Gospel of Matthew is an aesthetically pleasing and easy to read biblical resource.  The layout of the book allows for visual learners to engage with the Word of God in a unique way.  This would be a perfect gift for a new believer or for use in a discipleship setting.

*I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions given here are my own.

You can enter here for your chance to win a set of 4 books:

   

             

* indicates required

              Email Address  *

             

              First Name  *

             

              Last Name

             

             

                            

                            

             

   

   

   

   

Blessings,

Jennifer

Between Two Shores

Jocelyn Green is the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King and A Refuge Assured.  Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award and the Golden Scroll.  Jocelyn lives with her family in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

She has always moved between worlds, but now she must choose a side.

The daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father in 1759 Montreal, Catherine Duval would rather remain neutral in a world tearing itself apart.  Content to trade with both the French and the British, Catherine is pulled into the Seven Years' War against her wishes when her British ex-fiance, Samuel Crane is taken prisoner by her father.  Samuel claims he has information that could help end the war, and he asks Catherine to help him escape.

Peace appeals to Catherine, even if helping the man who broke her heart does not.  But New France is starving, and she and her loved ones may not survive another winter of conflict-induced famine.  When the dangers of war arrive on her doorstep, Catherine and Samuel flee by river toward the epicenter of the battle between England and France.  She and Samuel may impact history, but she fears the ultimate cost will be higher than she can bear.

My Thoughts:
Green is an author who caught my attention with her Heroines Behind The Lines (Civil War) series.  Previous to discovering Green's writing I was never a really big fan of historical fiction, but she made me a believer and I have read everything she has written since that series.
Green's latest release, Between Two Shores, is timed during the 1700's surrounding the Seven Year's War.  Green utilizes a bit of time-slip technique to tell Catherine and Samuel's backstory.  This adds such depth to the story.  And while Green does not focus on the romance aspect, Catherine and Samuel's history adds a richness to the overall arc of the story.

"What does it matter what what we are called, when God alone can judge the heart?  Catherine asked.  So she wishes to be called Thankful, the name her parents gave her.  It is all she has left of them.  It is a good name.  Show me the man who would deny her that, and I will show you one who grasps for what is not his to take."

I appreciate the depth of research that is apparent in Green's writing.  This story is told with rich detail in the era culturally, the history of the time period, as well as the thoughts, feelings, and struggle of the characters.

"You lie!"  He reeled the whip back over his shoulder.  Catherine turned her face to the wall, gritting her teeth.  She heard a menacing snap, then another, but felt nothing.  A sharp intake of breath sounded in her ear.  Sam's arms braced on either side of her.  He stood at her back, absorbing the blows that were meant for her.  A scream struggled up her throat but collapsed when another crack split the air.  Sam fell to his knees.  With one yank on her waist, he pulled her down, too, and arched himself over her curled-up form.  His limbs shook as they covered her.  "Stay downn," he whispered, while his blood spilled instead of hers."

So many parts of Between Two Shores resounded the gospel but the one quoted above has played over and over in my mind. Green's writing carries a depth for any lover of historical fiction.  And if you aren't a lover of historical fiction, Green might just change your mind!

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams: Hope for Today from 12 Women of the Bible

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, The Loves of King Solomon, and Daughters of the Promised Land.  Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.  Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.

Only God can heal our hearts.

Life is full of twists and turns.  Relationships falter, careers fizzle, health fades.  We may be faced with choices we never wanted to make or have situations pushed upon us we never expected.  Yet in all of it, God is at our side - even when He feels far away.
Drawing on her extensive research into women of the Old Testament, novelist Jill Eileen Smith turns her pen to what we can learn about trusting God from women like Eve, Noah's wife, Sarai, Hagar, Lot's wife, Rebekah, Rachel, and more. You'll discover what these ancient women did right - and what they did wrong - when faced with dashed expectations and deferred dreams.  And you'll come away with the confidence that God loves you and is forming you through your trials into the woman He longs for you to be.

My Thoughts:
I've been reading Smith's biblical fiction books for several years and so appreciate her writing gift.  I've also followed her on Facebook for some time and am inspired by the things she shares there as well.  When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams is Smith's first non-fiction book.  And it is apparent Smith has not only done her research but wrestled with many of the spiritual truths she shares in the book.  
The depth of spiritual truth and challenge Smith presents readers is a treasure.  The chapters are organized in an easily digestible manner.  Smith begins with an "If I were ___" section, moves through some devotional thoughts to an "Imagine With Me" section and ends each chapter with "Ponder This" and "Taking it Further".  I especially appreciated the "Ponder This" section and found it to be a great journaling prompt.  In "Taking it Further", Smith poses some great questions that motivate a deeper study of each biblical character presented.
The book could be read devotionally, as a character study, or would be a great small group study resource.  

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Be blessed,
Jennifer 

Never Let Go

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling author of more than thirty books, including the Carol Award-winning The Camera Never Lies.  Her Mountain Cove series books have been finalists in the Daphne du Maurier Awards and the Carol Awards.  Goddard is a seventh-generation Texan and can be found online at www.elizabethgoddard.com.

The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up.

Forensic genealogist Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from a hospital more than twenty years ago.  When someone makes an attempt on Willow's life to keep her from discovering the truth, help will come from an unexpected source.

Ex-FBI agent - and Willow's ex-flame - Austin McKade readily offers to protect the woman he never should have let get away.  Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget - and put Willow's tender heart at risk.

My Thoughts:
Goddard, a new to me author, has caught my attention with her recently released book, Never Let Go, and the first in her new Uncommon Justice series.  After reading this first installment, I am invested in this series and will be seeing it through to the end.
While the beginning started a little slow for me, boy did she crank it up by just a few chapters in with a steady pace full of twists and turns and an ending that left me thinking, "Wow, I DID NOT see THAT coming!"  Both Willow and Austin are characters that are endearing.  I loved how Goddard slowly gave their backstories like slowly blossoming petals of a rose...beautiful and multi-layered.  Austin's brother, Heath, is an integral part of this story and we get to see the focus on him in the next book, Always Look Twice. 
So, I highly recommend you purchase Never Let Go like right now and be on the lookout for Always Look Twice later this year.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

Still In The Game: Finding the Faith to Tackle Life's Biggest Challenges

Devon Still is a professional athlete, life coach, motivational speaker, and childhood cancer advocate.  Now known as "The Comeback Coach", Devon launched his company, Still In The Game, to teach people all over the globe his winning playbook on how to come back from life's biggest challenges.

Be proud of your scars.

They're signs that you survived whatever tried to break you.

For Devon Still, life has been a journey from one scar to the next.  From one challenge to the next, his is a story of pushing through pain and overcoming obstacles of all shapes and sizes  - of choosing to fight for the sake of his family, his community, and his faith.
Millions of people around the world have been inspired by Devon's tireless devotion in helping his daughter, Leah, learn how to "beat up cancer".  But in these pages, Devon takes readers behind the headlines to reveal the deeper story of what prepared him for that fight, including:

• growing up i the shadow of drugs and violence
• working through the pain of his parents' divorce
• overcoming injuries and scandal to shine as an All-American at Penn State University
• beating the odds to play in the National Football League
• using his newfound platform to raise both awareness and resources in the global fight against cancer.

Still In The Game is Devon's declaration that our challenges reveal our purpose, that our scars make us stronger, and that no loss is too great to stop our comeback!



My Thoughts:
Still's book, Still in the Game, is a genuine, transparent, and raw look at his journey and how the challenges he has face has shaped the person he is today and the way he tackles life.  Still's book reads like a conversation with a friend over dinner.  Still is genuine in that he lays his life open like a book inviting the reader into his most intimate life moments.  Still in the Game challenges, inspires, and will simply change the way you view difficulty in your life.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

The Curse of Misty Wayfair

Jaime Jo Wright is the Christy Award-winning author of The House on Foster Hill and The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond.  She's also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA best-selling author of two novellas.  Jaime works as a human resources director in Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and two children.
Connect with Jaime at jaimewrightbooks.com.

You can also connect with her on:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday.  Now grown, her search takes her to turn-of-the-century Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin.  When the clues she finds lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a postmortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coye in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within.  However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.
A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother - who is battling dementia - compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity.  When she catches sight of a ghostly woman haunting the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns - and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.
As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, they must overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined.

"She had to trust a greater purpose, one she didn't understand and maybe didn't even like.  But really, wasn't that what faith was?"

My Thoughts:
I became a huge fan of Wright when I read her debut novel, The House on Foster Hill.  While her books are in the genre of Romantic Suspense, they are so much more.  Wright is the queen of time-slip writing and her stories are probing with a bit of an eerie feel.  I dare you to read one of her books at night while you are alone!  With engaging characters and a steady suspenseful pace, Wright keeps you turning the pages.  It will be hard not to finish one of her stories in one sitting.
With vivid description and more twists and turns than you can keep up with, Wright's The Curse of Misty Wayfair is her best yet.  I especially appreciated how Wright focused on identity...for both present-day Heidi and Thea in the past and how she was clear in relaying throughout the story a biblical concept of identity.

"That while the past - the consequences of the past - might have a dire effect on me, it still doesn't change who I am.  We weren't created to find our identity in life.  We were created to discover our Creator.  In doing so, our identity is defined."

I also enjoyed Wright's handling of life in centuries-old asylums.  Her research and attention to detail are impeccable.  The suspense is palpable and the ending will leave you absolutely breathless.  I certainly did not see it coming.  So, go now and grab Wright's novels but do not miss The Curse of Misty Wayfair.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions here are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,
Jennifer

The Line Between

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, The House of Bathory duology (The Progeny and Firstborn), and the Books of Mortals trilogy with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker (Forbidden, Mortal, Sovereign). A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, playing video games with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband.

You can find Tosca hanging around the snack table or wherever bacon is served.

An extinct disease has re-emerged from the melting Alaskian permafrost to cause madness in its victims.  For former apocalyptic cult member Wynter Roth, it's the end she has always been told was coming.

When 22-year-old Wynter Roth is cast out of self-contained doomsday cult New Earth, a mysterious outbreak of rapid early onset dementia is spreading across the nation.  As she struggles to start over in a world she's been taught to regard as evil, Wynter finds herself face-to-face with the apocalypse she's feared all her life, convinced she's made a terrible mistake.  Until the night her sister shows up with a set of medical samples key to decoding the disease and Wynter learns there is something far more sinister at play.

Now, as the power grid fails and the country descends into chaos, Wynter must find a way to get the samples to a lab in Colorado.  Uncertain who to trust, she takes up with former military man Chase Miller, who has his own reasons for wanting to get close to the samples in her possession, and to Wynter herself.

My Thoughts:

Lee brings a unique gift to the writing world and avid readers should be grateful!  With crisp dialogue and action of a psychological, apocalyptic nature, The Line Between is a steady moving adventure that will keep readers heavily engaged from the first page to the last.  In typical Tosca Lee fashion, Wynter's journey as told in the book will make you think and consider our country's current state of affairs and will touch you in heart, soul, and mind.

Lee is a unique voice that should not be overlooked.  Don't miss anything she writes.

*I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions stated here are my own.

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer