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Friday, May 31, 2013

Loving the Way Jesus Loves by Phil Ryken




Phil Ryken gives the Love Chapter, I Corinthians 13, a whole new meaning in his book Loving the Way Jesus Loves.  At the close of the book there is a chapter by chapter study guide to go along with the book.  Ryken uses the life and ministry of Jesus to show us what love is and isn't.  This book is a very indepth exposition study of I Corinthians 13.  Ryken shows the reader the deep love of Christ so that the reader can in turn learn how to love more deeply. 

 For more information about this book visit here.

A copy of this book was provided for this review in exchange for this post by...

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Thursday, May 30, 2013

The Judgment Stone by Robert Liparulo

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Judgment Stone
Thomas Nelson (May 14, 2013)
by
Robert Liparulo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Former journalist Robert Liparulo is the best-selling author of the thrillers Comes a Horseman, Germ, Deadfall, Deadlock, and The 13th Tribe, as well as The Dreamhouse Kings, an action-adventure series for young adults. He contributed a short story to James Patterson’s Thriller, and an essay about Thomas Perry’s The Butcher’s Boy to Thrillers: 100 Must Reads, edited by David Morrell and Hank Wagner. He is currently working on the sequel to The 13th Tribe, as well writing an original screenplay with director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive).

When not writing, Liparulo loves to read, watch (and analyze) movies, scuba dive, swim, hike, and travel. He lives in Monument, Colorado, with his wife Jodi and four children: Melanie, Matthew, Anthony, and Isabella.

ABOUT THE BOOK

What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?

Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with the Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals called the Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.

Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.

By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.

Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?

In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Judgment Stone, go HERE.



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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Bike Riding Anyone? by Jayme Hull


Bike Riding Anyone?
By Jayme Hull

Lately, God and I have been discussing my need to control things. I read that a control freak never enjoys life. Woah! What a wake-up call. The one thing I treasure is experiencing joy and enjoying life. The second thing I treasure is sharing my joy with family and the women I mentor. God gave me a couple visuals that have been very helpful in dealing with this struggle. I thought I’d share them with you as well.

Consider the visual of riding a tandem bike. Of course, if you’re a leader you love sitting in the front. But God shared with me that He wants that seat. Am I willing to sit in the back seat and allow God to take control? Lately, this is the classroom I’ve been in with God. He teaches me how to give up control on a daily basis. I’m trying to learn and move on to the next lesson.

At times it seems I am not moving so I ask God, “why?”. In God’s goodness He showed me another visual.

Picture getting into your car on the passenger side and clicking on the seatbelt, ready to go wherever God desires. Many times I think I’ve given things over to God but I’m still not moving.

While sitting in the garage I reached into my pocket and realized that I had kept the keys to the car. No wonder I’m not moving. I told God to take control but secretly, I kept the keys. It is amazing, how patient God is with me. The lessons I am learning from Him are the exact messages I share with the women I mentor on a daily basis.

I’m learning slowly day by day that it is time for me to hand it, all over to God and share these God experiences with others.

Do you need to hand God your car, the driver’s seat and the keys?

Today is a new day and God can handle being in control of your life.





Jayme’s ministry is focused on mentoring others with a clear and strong biblical foundation. She is a graduate of New York University, and currently a Bible Study teacher, piano teacher and mentor to numerous women of all ages. She and her husband, John, currently live in Nashville, TN. Visit Jayme at: www.jaymeleehull.com/.



This article content is provided free of charge by the author through Kathy Carlton Willis Communications.





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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

A Heartbeat Away by S. Dionne Moore

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Heartbeat Away
Abingdon Press (May 1, 2013)
by
S. Dionne Moore

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

S. Dionne Moore started writing in 2006. Her first book, Murder on the Ol’ Bunions, was contracted for publication by Barbour Publishing in 2008. In 2009 she moved on to writing historical romances as an outlet for her passion for history. In 2010 her second cozy mystery, Polly Dent Loses Grip, was a 2010 Carol Award finalist and she was also named a Barbour Publishing 2010 Favorite New Author. In 2011 her first historical romance, Promise of Tomorrow, was nominated a 2011 Carol Award finalist.

Born and raised in Manassas, Virginia, Moore moved to Greencastle, PA in 1993, then to Mercersburg in 2009. Moore enjoys life in the historically rich Cumberland Valley where traffic jams are a thing of the past and there are only two stoplights in the whole town.

For more information, visit her Website at www.sdionnemoore.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @sdionnemoore
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sdionnemoore
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/sdionnemoore

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a band of runaway slaves brings Union-loyal Beth Bumgartner a wounded Confederate soldier named Joe, it is the catalyst that pushes her to defy her pacifist parents and become a nurse during the Battle of Antietam.

Her mother's mysterious goodbye gift is filled with quilt blocks that bring comfort to Beth during the hard days and lonely nights, but as she sews each block, she realizes there is a hidden message of faith within the pattern that encourages and sustains her. Reunited with Joe, Beth learns his secret and puts the quilt's message to its greatest test—but can betrayal be forgiven?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Heartbeat Away, go HERE.


Watch the video:
AHeartbeatAway - Medium from S. Dionne Moore on Vimeo.




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Teaser Tuesday - Always the Baker finally the Birde




I know I used this book last week too this isn't a goof,  I wanted to share the first Chapter and let you know I'm hosting this book tour with a giveaway.  So I thought I'd give you a 1st Chapter teaser today.  Yeah Me!!!!  


“A champagne flute of vanilla bean gelato topped tableside with a shot of espresso.”
            “Seriously?”
            “Chocolate chip bread pudding drizzled with warm caramel.”
            “Oh. My.”
            “Tiramisu lady fingers in coffee liqueur and cocoa.”
            Emma balled up the lapel of her jacket in her fist and whimpered. “Jackson. My heart.”
            Jackson leaned toward the waiter and clicked his tongue. “I’m thinking we should just move on to the sugar-free menu. She’s diabetic.”
            “Oh. All right.”
            The gentleman pointed at the other side of the dessert cart as Jackson interrupted. “But I’ll have that bread pudding,” he whispered.
            “Yes, sir. And for the lady, our sugar-free menu includes a warm berry tart with frozen vanilla yogurt.”
            “Oooh!”
            “A red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing sweetened with agave.”
            “You can stop right there,” Jackson told him. “You had her at red velvet.”
            “Not so fast,” she countered, and Jackson’s heart began to thump. “Go on. What else?”
            “Pumpkin spice cake with creamy buttermilk icing.”
            “Oh, that sounds lovely.”
            Perspiration puddled over his top lip, and Jackson wiped it away with his napkin. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “Red velvet is your favorite.”
            “Yes, but I can make my own sugar-free red velvet. The pumpkin sounds—”
            Jackson’s attention darted to the waiter and they shared a lingering exchange before the waiter offered, “The red velvet is our specialty. It comes highly recommended.”
            “Really?” she reconsidered. And by the time she nodded, Jackson’s heart had begun to pound at double-time. “Okay. I’ll try the cupcake.”
            “Very good.”
            “Coffee for me, and a pot of tea for my date, please,” Jackson said, leaning back against the leather booth with a sigh.
            “Are you all right?”
            “Hmm? What do you mean?”
            “I don’t know,” Emma replied. “You seem a little tense tonight.”
            “Oh. No. I don’t know. I guess—”
            Fortunately, the waiter reappeared so that he didn’t have to concoct some lame excuse. He stopped breathing as the waiter set the beautiful red velvet cupcake down in front of Emma. A shiny pink cupcake tin held the confection, and a ring of intricate white chocolate made to look like a crocheted doily surrounded it. The carefully-chosen diamond ring shimmered on top of it, catching the light from the chandelier overhead and reflecting the glint of recognition in Emma’s brown eyes.
She looked up at him, and those spectacular eyes of hers crested into turbulent waves of gold-flecked recognition. Her perfect lips parted, but not a single syllable passed over them. She blinked several times before glancing back at the cupcake, and Jackson knew this was his moment. He slipped from the booth and hit one knee beside her.
            “What…What are you…Jackson?
            He took her hand and grinned at her.
            “Are you serious?”
            “I’ve never been more serious in my life. You’ve changed me, Emma. You are the center of everything for me. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get here, but I can’t even think of living without you. Will you marry me?”
            And with that, she turned her head away from him and began to sniffle.
            “Are you crying?” he asked on a laugh. “Emma, this is not a night for tears.”
            “I can’t help it,” she chuckled, and he watched her struggle to pull herself together. “You’ve really surprised me here.”
            “In a good way, I hope,” he said, and he plucked the ring from the icing and gave it a quick lick.
            “Frankly, I thought the best part of this night was going to be the cupcake.”
            “Emma. Will you give me an answer, please?” he asked, wiping the ring clean with the corner of a napkin. “Before my legs go numb?”
            “Oh. Sorry.”
            He waited. “Is that a yes?”
            A mischievous glint betrayed her amusement. “Can I let you know after I eat the cupcake?”
            Jackson laughed. “I’d kind of like to hear it now, if you don’t mind.”
            “If you insist,” she told him, and she tilted her head slightly and smiled. If he’d been standing, he thought his knees might have gone weak under the weight of that sweet little smile. 
“You’re killing me here,” he said with raspy emotion. “But I adore you.”
“You do?”
“Oh, now you’re just messing with me.”
“You really do adore me?”
Jackson sighed, glancing at the floor.
Emma touched his jaw with one finger and nudged his face upward. “Yes, Jackson. I’ll marry you.”

Now that I got ya hooked would you like to win a copy of this book?  head over to my tour page and enter a chance to win this book.   click here



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought I would play for fun! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!  




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Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial day


Always the Baker, Finally the Bride by Sandra



In the first book, readers fell in love with Emma Rae and Jackson, and they’ve gotten more acquainted with them in the two books that followed. But now it’s time for the diamond to meet the road as Jackson fields an offer to sell The Tanglewood, a move that will uproot this high-flying family act once and for all. Get reacquainted with all of the lovable and quirky characters from the first three books as your favorite diabetic baker figures out if she’ll achieve her greatest goal of all: Will Emma, at last become FINALLY the Bride?

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE



I just love reading Sandra's books.  She loves to sprinkle them with humor.  She knows how to make romance and humor connect.  She's an awesome author and knows how to make you want to keep turning the page.  This isn't the first book of hers that I've read and it definitely won't be the last.  She knows how to write a clean romance book and that is important for me. 




Now how about a chance to win a copy of the book.  Visit Sandra's website and tell me in a comment another title she has written that you think you would like to read.  Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you.  This is open to US/Canada residents.  I'll draw a winner on June 8th. 

7657

follow Always the Baker, Finally the Bride Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule here for other blog with a giveaway.

 
Sandra D. Bricker was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for 15+ years. She is now a best-selling, award-winning author of laugh-out-loud fiction for the inspirational market, and the mastermind behind the Another Emma Rae Creation series that started with Always the Baker Never the Bride. As an ovarian cancer survivor, she gears time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics and a cure.

Visit her Web site at www.SandraDBricker.com and her blog at http://sandradbricker.blogspot.com.



A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by...






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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Mailbox Monday ~ May 26, 2013

(Note: Because I'm hosting this month this post will remain at the top of my blog for those to find it easier. Please scroll down to see new updated posts daily thanks Abi)


Join Mailbox Monday meme
@ The Printed Page

May is My turn to host Mailbox Monday.

June's host will be Bellezza @ Dolce Bellezza
be sure to join her.  Thanks for showing up here in May




Fear has a Name by Creston Mapes

Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade


What did you get leave a link on Mr. Linky below.  Thanks





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Friday, May 24, 2013

Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Undeniably Yours
Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2013)
by
Becky Wade

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for many years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it. Her first contemporary Christian romance, My Stubborn Heart, has been named a finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award. Her newest release, Undeniably Yours, is available now.

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Meg Cole's father dies unexpectedly, she becomes the majority shareholder of his oil company and the single inheritor of his fortune. Though Meg is soft-spoken and tenderhearted--more interested in art than in oil--she's forced to return home to Texas and to Whispering Creek Ranch to take up the reins of her father's empire.

The last thing she has the patience or the sanity to deal with? Her father's thoroughbred racehorse farm. She gives its manager, Bo Porter, six months to close the place down.

Bo's determined to resent the woman who's decided to rob him of his dream. But instead of anger, Meg evokes within him a profound desire to protect. The more time he spends with her, the more he longs to overcome every obstacle that separates them--her wealth, his unworthiness, her family's outrage--and earn the right to love her.

But just when Meg begins to realize that Bo might be the one thing on the ranch worth keeping, their fragile bond is viciously broken by a force from Meg's past. Can their love--and their belief that God can work through every circumstance--survive?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Undeniably Yours, go HERE.



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Thursday, May 23, 2013

When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti

Be sure to read to end of post to find out how you could win a copy of Cynthia's featured book.




For Those Who Have Rocked Me

The dedication page of When the Morning Glory Blooms reads, “For those I’ve rocked and lullabied and those who have rocked me.”

Having four younger siblings, a mom who worked on the obstetrics floor of the hospital almost her entire working career, and a long history as a babysitter, one would think I was prepared for the feel of my newborn in my arms. The baby girl who made me a mom rocked my world. The two boys who followed and five grandchildren since then did the same, in their own uniquely heart-tugging ways.

If I added up how many hours I’ve spent rocking babies over the years, it still wouldn’t seem enough. You may know the sensation too, whether they’re your own babies or they belong to someone else. To take a little one, squirming and agitated, and soothe it to sleep! And then to feel the utter peace as that once-crying child relaxes into your embrace, leans into the sound of your lullaby, nestles against your heartbeat!

Some of those babies of mine are in their thirties now. Figuratively I often long to hold them like that again, smooth their foreheads, whisper “Shh. There now. It’s going to be okay” and sing “You are so beautiful to me” or “And when Your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me.”

In a way, this book—When the Morning Glory Blooms—is a lullaby. No matter what angst and traumas agitate the heart of a child, hope waits to embrace, soothe, smooth, point out “There now. It’s going to be okay.”

We’ve often heard the phrase—A soft place to land.

Sometimes a book, a story, is a soft place to land.

As I wrote about Anna in the 1890s, I could almost feel her arms around me, her words speaking to my own troubled heart. I wanted to be a mom for Ivy in the 1950s, a woman who desperately needed one. And even though I knew full well Becky in the present day scenes was a product of life-mixed-with-imagination, I longed to befriend her, put my arm around her shoulders, and hug her while she figured out how to keep standing upright with all she faced.

I can almost hear the lullabies on the pages. And I see each character’s muscles—and soul—relaxing into the inexpressible comfort that is stronger and even more real than their problems.

As you read the story, please let me know if you can hear it, too. Through the tangled plot and intertwined conflicts, through the heartache and the unexpected joys, through yours, can you hear the story singing to you?



Cynthia Ruchti is an author and speaker who tells stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark through her novels, nonfiction, women’s events, and outlets related to the Heartbeat of the Home radio broadcast she wrote and produced for thirty-three years. She and her plot-tweaking husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five joy-giving grandchildren.

Her latest book is the Christian fiction, When the Morning Glory Blooms.

You can learn more about Cynthia and her writing and speaking at www.cynthiaruchti.com.

Connect with Cynthia:



Becky rocks a baby that rocked her world. Sixty years earlier, with her fiancé Drew in the middle of the Korean Conflict, Ivy throws herself into her work at a nursing home to keep her sanity and provide for the child Drew doesn’t know is coming. Ivy cares for Anna, an elderly patient who taxes Ivy’s listening ear until the day she suspects Anna’s tall tales are not just idle ramblings. They’re Anna’s disjointed memories of a remarkable life.
Finding a faint thread of hope she can’t resist tugging, Ivy records Anna’s memoir, scribbling furiously after hours to keep up with the woman’s emotion-packed, grace-hemmed stories. Is Ivy’s answer buried in Anna’s past? And what connects them to Becky?
Becky, Ivy, Anna—three women fight a tangled vine of deception in search of the blossoming simplicity of truth.

Purchase your copy:



How would you like to win a copy of When the Morning Glory Blooms?  now is your chance.  Leave a comment on this blog post telling me your favorite flower.  Be sure to leave a way to contact you if you are the winner.  I'll leave this open through the end of this blog tour, May 31st.  This giveaway is open to US/Canada residents.  


Want more chances to win a copy visit the blog tour here and find other bloggers that are offering a giveaway.  

This material and book giveaway was provided by...






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