They Almost Always come Home by Cynthia Ruchti

Read to the end of this post there is a giveaway.

(Wausau, WI) – At the foundation of each relationship resides the need to know love can survive even when feelings fade. In Cynthia Ruchti’s debut novel, They Almost Always Come Home, readers feel the desperation of this foundational yearning in a marriage clearly pulling loose from its moorings. Compounded by other issues—an unrewarding career and mismatched dreams—it’s enough to drive a man into the arms of the Canadian wilderness. When Greg Holden doesn’t return home from a wilderness canoe trip, his wife Libby wrestles with survivor guilt, a new layer of grief, and the belief that she was supposed to know how to fix her marriage. She planned to leave him—but how can she leave a man who’s no longer there? He was supposed to go fishing, not missing.

Libby has to find him before she can discover how their marriage ends. She plunges into the wilderness on an adventurous and risky manhunt, unsure what she will do if she finds him…or if she doesn’t. She expects to meet hardship, discomfort, and danger in the wilderness. She doesn’t expect to face the stark reality of her spiritual longing and a faint, but steady pulse that promises hope for reviving her marriage. If Greg’s still alive.

They Almost Always Come Home provides a glimpse into common, however uncomfortable, marital conflicts. Cynthia weaves a page-turning story, suspense building scene by scene. Her characters mirror ordinary people, living real-to-life situations, allowing readers to relate and sort through a myriad of emotions and life decisions. If fiction can contain adventure, riveting self-awareness, and romance all between the same covers, this is the book!

My Review:
I loved this book. I say two thumbs up for Ruchti's first novel. It kept me wanting to know more; definitely a page turner, attention keeper. Loved the way Ruchti tooks the reader from Libby's view of things to Greg's. The transitions were smooth and not choppy. However, most of the book is written from Libby's perspective. I'd say the theme of the book was perseverance. I can't wait to read more of Rachti's books.

1. How would you describe your book?

The tagline for the book is “She’d leave her husband…if she could find him.”

When Libby’s husband Greg doesn’t return from a two-week canoe trip to the Canadian wilderness, the authorities write off his disappearance as an unhappy husband’s escape from an oatmeal marriage and mind-numbing career. Their marriage might have survived if their daughter Lacey hadn’t died and if Greg hadn’t been responsible. Libby enlists the aid of her wilderness-savvy father-in-law and her faith-walking best friend to help her search for clues to her husband’s disappearance. What the trio discovers in the wilderness search upends Libby’s assumptions about her husband and rearranges her faith.

It’s my prayer that this fictional adventure story and emotional journey will reveal its own hope-laden clues for those struggling to survive or longing to exit what they believe are uninspiring marriages. How can a woman survive a season or a lifetime when she finds it difficult to like the man she loves?

2. How were you different as a writer and as a person when you finished writing They Almost Always Come Home?

This book changed me in a profound way. It forced me to take a more honest look at myself and my reactions to crises so I could write Libby’s character with authenticity. Libby is a composite of many women. I haven’t experienced what she did, but I identify with some of her struggles and longings, as I hope my readers will. I see my friends in her eyes and know that her tears aren’t hers alone. Her shining moments feed my courage. Libby speaks for me and for many others when she discovers that she is stronger than she realized and weaker than she wanted to admit.

Writing her story was a journey for the author as much as for the character.

3. What did you feel the tug on your heart to become a writer?

My journey toward a lifetime of writing began by reading books that stirred me, changed me, convinced me that imagination is a gift from an imaginative Creator. As a child, I read when I should have been sleeping…and still do. I couldn’t wait for the BookMobile (library on wheels) to pull up in front of the post office in our small town and open its arms to me. Somewhere between the pages of a book, my heart warmed to the idea that one day I too might tell stories that made readers stay up past their bedtimes.

4. What books line your bookshelves?

My bookshelves—don’t ask how many!—hold a wide variety of genres. The collection expands faster than a good yeast dough. I’m a mood reader, grabbing a light comedy one day and a literarily rich work the next. Although I appreciate well-written nonfiction, I gravitate toward an emotionally engaging contemporary women’s fiction story.

Cynthia Ruchti writes stories of “hope that glows in the dark.” She writes and produces The Heartbeat of the Home, a syndicated drama/devotional radio broadcast, and is editor for the ministry’s Backyard Friends magazine. She also serves as current president of American Christian Fiction Writers. Cynthia married her childhood sweetheart, who tells his own tales of wilderness adventures.

Something Extra From the Author's Heart

Ten years ago, my husband almost didn’t come home. His canoe adventure with our son Matt soured on Day Two when Bill grew violently ill from what we presume was either pancreatitis or a gall bladder attack. He’s an insulin-dependent diabetic, so any grave illness is a threat. One in the middle of the Canadian wilderness is morgue material.

With no satellite phone with which to call for help, Matt took turns caring for his father and watching the shore for other canoeists happening past their hastily constructed campsite. The few other canoes were headed deeper into the remote areas of the park, not on their way out. None had a satellite phone. And none of them were doctors.

As my husband grew sicker, his diabetes went nuclear. He couldn’t eat, yet needed insulin because his liver thought it should help out by dumping vast quantities of sugar into his system. Even in a hospital setting, the situation would have been difficult to control, and the nearest hospital was light years away across vast stretches of water and woodland, through peopleless, roadless wilderness.

Our son stretched a yellow tarp across the rocks on shore and wrote S.O.S. with charcoal from a dead fire. He scratched out countless notes on pieces of notebook paper torn from their trip journal:

Send rescue! My dad is deathly ill.

Read the rest of the story at the KCWC BLOG

Blog Tour Giveaway Includes:

North Pak 20 inch cinch sack (lime)
Day Runner journal
Canoe Brand wild rice
Canada's brand blueberry jam
Coleman 60-piece mini first aid kit
Wood canoe/paddle shelf ornament
Six original photography notecards from video trailer
"Hope" hanging ornament
Mini Coleman "lantern" prayer reminder

One commenter's name will go into the drawing for the above prize. Please leave me a comment telling me if you like to go camping? what is your favorite part of camping? Where do you like to go? Favorite anything about camping I don't care, a tip something. Drawing will be held on June 18th. Be sure to leave a way of contact. Please US residents only.


A copy of this book was provided for this review by KCWC.

This blog tour is through:

Watcha Reading ~ The Time Pirate

This is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works this week...

Go to page 1 type in the first sentence. If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something).

Link up over at Busy Moms Who Love to Read

Book I'm reading is The Time Prate by Ted Bell

The godforsaken isle took its name from the thick pea-soupy fogs that persistently haunted the place.

A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Today I'm sending you over to my new web site to view this book tour.

Head over to Scraps of Life here take a look around, but know that it is new site just opened. I'm moving there from Lighter Side. add it to your favorites and be sure to stop by often.

Bodacious Award

This has been the week for awards. I received three of them in three days this is my third one thanks to
Knits and Reads.

Here is how it works: If you are given this award you must first accept it by leaving a comment on the post you were nominated on. Then copy and paste the post and add it to your own blog (you can click the award image to get the code). I want you to list the 5 things that prove you are addicted to books/reading! Then nominate your own award winners! Sharing in the love is so much fun!

...And here are my 5 admissions of book addiction!

1. I have more books than I can read in my life time
2. I love entering book giveaways
3. I have books on shelves, setting in piles on the floor and staked in boxes in the spare room.
4. I have a book within arms reach most of the time.
5. It's hard for me to giveaway a book, especially if I love it and I love most books.

I am now going to pass this award on to 5 other bloggers, who must do the same! Make a list of their 5 admissions of addiction and pass the award on to 5 other bloggers (no backsies). Also identify the blog which you received the award from, that would be me! and don't forget to tell them they have a blog award, my nominees are:

K.Dawn Byrd
Rundpinne
My Reading Room
Reading to Know
She Reads

..go on and spread the fun!

Versatile Blogger award

detweilermom @ A Room without books is Empty awarded this to me

According to the rules, I'm supposed to share seven things about myself, then pass the award on to fifteen blogs I've recently discovered.


1. I was born in Indiana
2. I was on my High School year book staff
3. I love ice cream
4. I have a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education
5. I have my ND state teaching license
6. I substitute taught in the Dickinson, Valley City, Stanton and Devils Lake Public school systems (all in ND)
7. I have homeschooled both my girls. (this fall: one will be 2nd hear College, the other 2nd year High School)


Now the blogs I am going to give this too are:
Bluerose's Heart
Olga's Home @ Garden
Esther's Blog
Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot
Southern Sassy Things
TC & TBC
The Book Connection
Knits and Reads
Mom's the Glue
The Wormhole
Busy Moms Who Love to Read
Frugal for my Friends
Clipping, sipping and beautiful chaos
Mommy's blessings
Mon Cheri
My new site: Scraps of Life

Beautiful blogger award

bluerose_shelnut @ Bluerose's Heart sent me this award way back at the beginning of June. I'm just now getting around to posting it. Thanks Bluerose for the Award.

"The rules to the award are: link to the person who nominated me for this award; share seven interesting things about myself; and nominate seven other beautiful bloggers."

Seven interesting things about me:
1. I'm obsessed with books if you haven't figured that out by now
2. I love chocolate, but that might not be interesting because who doesn't love chocolate
3. I am the first girl on my dad's side in three generations; the last girl and I have same birthdays now how weird is that.
4. I have duke blood in my dad's line.
5. I love to sew.
6. I never gained weight during my two pregnancies actually lost weight. I think it was because I was over weight as it was.
7. I have a personal fun blog too @ Scraps of Life

I'm passing this award on to:
The Mommy-Files
Susanne @ Living to tell the Story
Linda @ 2nd cup of coffee
Katrina @ Callapidder Days
Jamin @ Just call me Jamin
Heidi @ Handmade by Heidi
Bobbi @ Crafty Vegas Mom

author Stephanie Wincik speaks

What Does Pro-Life Mean Anyway?
by Author Stephanie Wincik

Over the past several decades, a great deal of political rhetoric has been focused on the often heated debate between those who identify themselves as “pro-life” versus those who embrace a “pro-choice” philosophy. But what does it really mean to be pro-life? Can one choose life in some circumstances but not others? Despite what many believe is a simple black-or-white, for-or-against issue, I for one struggle to decide which side I am on, or if I even need to choose a side.

As a nurse in the field of developmental disabilities, over the years I have cared for countless children and adults who were born “imperfect” by society’s standards. Until relatively recently, the typical advice for parents who produced a disabled child was to simply institutionalize the baby and “try again,” since the child was unlikely to survive longer than a few weeks or months anyway. Contrary to these dire predictions, however, many such children grew to adulthood despite their overwhelming physical and cognitive impairments.

I have often wondered, as a medical professional caring for these children, if perhaps we have done them a disservice by prolonging their lives. Particularly for those who are non-verbal, how can we know for sure that if given the choice, they would choose life for themselves? Or, if faced with the prospect of life in an institution, constantly undergoing painful medical procedures and hospitalizations designed simply to keep them alive, would they rather their parents had instead chosen abortion and thus spared them from a life filled with indignities? On the other hand, is it possible that these individuals are happy with their lives despite the hardships? Certainly many non-disabled people suffer serious, often prolonged, illnesses during their lifetime and still consider life well worth the trouble.

The answer, of course, is that nobody knows the answer, and this uncertainty is precisely why I find it impossible to take a firm position on either side of the abortion issue. However, if forced to make a choice, I would tend to opt for life in nearly all situations, and the reason is simple—nature has been in the business of selective abortion since the beginning of time, an advantage that trumps our meager experience as humans any day of the week. Children who are not meant to be born, won’t be—the naturally occurring process of miscarriage makes that decision for us.

If a child makes it into the world, then lacking any valid means to make a judgment call ourselves, I believe we must assume that he or she arrived here for a reason, even if our limited vision does not allow us to see it from where we currently sit.

Visit Stephanie's web site here.

See this books tour and my review here.

A copy of this book was provided for review by Virtual Book tours
Visit Virtual tours here

Teaser Tuesday ~ Too Soon to say Goodbye

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!

People grieve differently. There is no right or wrong way, only what comforts and fits the personality of the mourner.

Read my review of the book and giveaway here.

p. 71; Too Soon to say Goodbye by Osborn, Kosman & Gordon

Making a Case for Life by Stephanie Wincik

My review of Stephanie Wincik's book Making a Case for Life.

I offered to review this book because I have a niece with downs and a few close friends that have downs children. Wincik does a wonderful job making a Case for those with disabilities; downs, autism, and others. For the most part she discusses those with Downs Syndrome. There are so many misconceptions world wide concerning those with disabilities. Wincik shares a brief history, misconceptions and myths concerning Down Syndrome. Stephanie shares an interview that she had with a DS adult and the mother of the adult. You'll find how this DS adult is working as an advocate for those with disabilities. You'll see how they can get an education, hold a job and live a normal life. They can live a full productive life and have gifts to share with the the world. The author also explores eugenics in this book. For more information about this book you may visit Stephanie's web site here.





Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or newly pregnant, you know that most prospective parents hold high expectations for their offspring. Superior intelligence, physical beauty, excellent health, and outstanding athletic ability are just a few of the qualities we dream our children will be born with. Since contemporary society tends to value these qualities above all others, it is only natural for us to hope our children possess the attributes that will provide them with the greatest opportunity for a successful life. But what if your child arrives with a different set of qualities—a combination of traits that the world views as a disability? What if you are told that your child will have Down syndrome? What happens to your dream of producing the perfect child? Nothing need happen to your dream. You only need to alter your definition of perfection.
In this book, we will explore the myth of the perfect child, along with a number of popularly-held yet erroneous beliefs about the negative impact of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. At the same time, we will begin to develop a new perspective on which characteristics are truly the most desirable in a changing world. As our society becomes increasingly self-absorbed, materialistic, and violent, the new human beings entering the world will need a fresh arsenal of personal qualities if our planet is to survive and thrive.
If we hope to reverse what appears to be a downward spiral for humanity, then kindness, generosity, compassion, gentleness, tolerance, and good humor—attributes, by the way, observed with remarkable consistency in people with Down syndrome—must surpass physical perfection in terms of the enviable traits we dream of seeing in our children. With only a slight shift in our perception, we can clearly see that the extraordinary individuals dismissed for centuries as “disabled,” actually have a vitally important role to play in the world, and indeed may even hold the key to our positive advancement as a human family.

For example, one of the most frequently cited reasons given for the termination of a Down syndrome pregnancy is that the birth of a disabled child would cause undue stress and hardship for the parents. But—and this may come as a surprise to some—first-hand accounts shared by parents of these individuals suggest that this scenario is rarely the case. In fact, the vast majority of families report that living with an individual with Down syndrome is a decidedly positive aspect of their lives.
Ongoing medical problems for the person with Down syndrome is another common concern. Many believe that every individual with Down syndrome is destined for a lifetime of sensory deficits, cardiac disease, dementia, and premature death. However, advances in medicine in recent decades have dramatically improved the health of these individuals throughout their life span, and in turn their life expectancy has significantly increased as well.
From a human rights standpoint, when considering rationalizations for the termination of fetuses with Down syndrome, we must contemplate the possibility that the widespread extermination of an entire class of people essentially for the convenience of those who are considered “normal,” is coming dangerously close to the practice of eugenics. Although eugenics is a broad term that varies widely in its definition, in the narrowest sense of the word, it constitutes the improvement of human beings’ genetic makeup through selective breeding. We will discuss the subject of eugenics as it relates to individuals with Down syndrome later in this book.
When advocating for the rights of disabled persons, it is sometimes easy to slip into emotional descriptions of the positive qualities these individuals possess, particularly those with Down syndrome who tend to display unusually charming personalities. A number of wonderful books, most written by the parents of children with Down syndrome, are available for those who wish to gain insight into the many joyful aspects of living with Down syndrome. For the purposes of this book, however, we will instead focus on the primary reasons for the startlingly high percentage of Down syndrome pregnancies that are currently being terminated, dispel common myths and misconceptions, and offer an alternate perspective on the place individuals with Down syndrome hold in our modern society.

Stephanie Wincik is a lifelong resident of Erie County, Pennsylvania. A student of Civil War history, Stephanie is president of the West County Historical Association in Girard, Pennsylvania and the author of six books: Ghosts of Erie County, More Ghosts of Erie County, Heroes in Disguise, Reaching Through the Veil: Ghost Hunting in Erie County, and a time-travel series for children, Northern Lights and The Journey: A Northern Lights Adventure. Stephanie has published articles about Girard history in Pennsylvania Magazine, and writes a column, Local History Corner, for the West County News Journal. She speaks frequently about local history, legends, and ghost stories in Erie County, and often appears as a guest on area television and radio programs.
Stephanie graduated summa cum laude from Penn State University in 1977 with a degree in Nursing, and has worked in the field of developmental disabilities for over twenty- five years. Certified in Developmental Disabilities by the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association in 2000, Stephanie’s current position is Associate Director of Nursing/Health Services at Erie Homes for Children and Adults in Erie, Pennsylvania. She has recently published a new book about Down syndrome, Making a Case for Life: A New Definition of Perfection.

Visit Stephanie's web site here.

Read guest article by Stephanie: What does Pro-Life Mean anyway? here

A copy of this book was provided for review by Virtual Book tours
Visit Virtual tours here

Mailbox Monday ~ June 7, 2010

Join Mailbox Monday meme
@ The Printed Page

Perplexed I need creativity

Sofas are a good place to ponder when perplexed. Why am I perplexed today? Well, I have been contacted by the CSN stores on-line to post a product review. Which one do I want to review??? They have thousands of products to choose from and how can I be creative and tie it in with books???? Now that's the hard one. Actually they are both hard things that I must ponder. I'm in a predicament and need your help.

Here is what you can do while you wait for me to post my product review.

CSN stores are many and are easy and on-line there are actually over 200 stores in every category line. Sofas are one of the pieces they sell along with loveseats and beds, household items and clothing also. However, sofas are not what I'm going to review.

Check out their sites here and then leave me a comment as to what you think I'll review.
If your guess it correct, I'll put your name in the hat 5 times for a CSN stores $40 giftcard. If you'd like more tries for the giftcard check out my Lighter Side site where this giveaway is posted. Click here to go to the Lighter Side CSN Stores' contest.

My review for this product will come in a few weeks. Maybe even as late as July. I must get the product first and put it to use.

Absolutely Chocolate

Who can resist chocolate??? If you have a chocolate addict in the house then you need this book. Oh, the things you'll find in this book; very hard to resist recipes.
From bars to cookies, cakes, fun desserts, frozen desserts, bread, sauces and drinks, plus more. All you need to know about chocolate is in this book. It'll take you from the cocoa bean to the bar. You'll learn about chocolate styles, which chocolate is right for baking and which for snacking. How to store and keep chocolate, best way to chop chocolate and what to look for when buying chocolate. There are tips on how to make chewy or crisp cookies, and how to make perfect cookies every time. The recipes will even tell you if the item is fit to make ahead and freeze or the best way to store the item.
Other things you'll find in this book:

• tips on smooth cheese cake
• good methods for melting chocolate
• tips for perfect pots de creme
• keys to luscious mousse
• tips for making chewy-crisp pavlova shell
• flaky baklava layers
• perfect eclairs
• tips for handling and storing strawberries
• equivalency charts
• and so much more

There is even a bonus for secret ingredients for a good cook. This book is a chocolate lovers dream.

More information about this book here.

A digital copy of this book was provided for this review through

summer reading fun 4 kids

Wow Borders has a new Summer Reading Program called Double Dog Dare. If your kiddo is 12 or under, reads 10 books, fills out the form, and takes the form to their local Borders Store, they can they can score a select book for Free.

To download the form and see the selection of Free Books go HERE.
*Be sure to read the form for all the details!

Morning's Refrain by Tracie Peterson

Oh, this was a wonderful sequel to Dawn's Prelude. The Manipulation, devious acts of the Gray family continuous in Morning Refrain. Dalton now on the brink of manhood finds out what his real father and brothers and sister truly are like. He learns the dark secrets of his family. He finds that it is best to be content with where God has placed him. Tracie has sprinkled humorous scenes in this sequel. It is a joy and breath of fresh air as you are surrounded by Alaska's open spaces. Again you won't be disappointed by Tracie's book Morning's Refrain. Can't wait to get my hands on book #3 Twilight's Serenade in August. My teen daughter will be excited too. She loves Tracie's books.


For more information about this audio book click here.

A copy of this audio book was provided for review by

Deceit by Brandilyn Collins

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Deceit Zondervan (June 18, 2010) by Brandilyn Collins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e..."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.

In addition, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Final Touch, third in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Skip Tracer Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed his second wife---and Joanne's best friend---seven years ago. But Jackson, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man.

The police tell Joanne to leave well enough alone, but Joanne is determined to bring Jackson down. Using her skip tracing skills, she sets out to locate Melissa Harkoff, now twenty-two, who lived in the Jackson home at the time of Linda Jackson's disappearance.

As Joanne drives home on a rainy winter night, a hooded figure darts in front of her car. In her headlight beams she glimpses the half-concealed face of a man, a rivulet of blood jagging down his cheek. She squeals to a stop but clips him with her right fender. Shaking, she gets out of her car in the pouring rain. The man will not let her see his face. Before he limps off into the night he warns her not to talk to police.

As Joanne tries to find Melissa, someone seems to be after her. Who was the man she hit on the road. Is Baxter Jackson out to silence her? Or is some other skip she's traced in the past now out for revenge?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Deceit, go HERE

The Silent Gift by Michael Landon, Jr. and Cindy Kelley

I was so excited to get to review this book. However, somewhat disappointed after getting into reading it. For me it just didn't grab my attention to draw me back to it so it took me some time to finish the book. I don't know what it was about the book that turned me against it. I can't say it was the worst book I've ever read. I guess it wasn't my genre. The theme brought out in the book is unyielding love. To keep with my words code (see my code here) I must say to my surprise there are curse words used in the book. The book did have many different twists and turns.




The decade of the thirties was a time of enormous uncertainty-for the world, for America, and in particular for one lonely, struggling mother and her disabled son. But then The Gift appears...where has it come from, and why? How can a young boy who cannot communicate provide comfort and direction to seekers who learn of the special ability Whatever the source, its presence brings a single shaft of light and hope to Mary and her beloved son, Jack... Will it be enough?



With over ten million DVDs sold of the hit Love Come Softly movie series, director Michael Landon Jr. is known for his ability to capture characters and themes on film. A feat he couldn't do without the help of his longtime screenwriting partner Cindy Kelley.

Now they bring their creative teamwork to the world of books. A bittersweet story of hope in the midst of suffering, The Silent Gift follows the story of a devoted mother and her disabled son trying to survive the Great Depression-and the discovery of the boy's unusual gift.

"We wanted to tell a story to illustrate that one's worth isn't dependent upon what society deems valuable, but that our intrinsic worth comes from our Creator," said Landon Jr. and Kelley.

Yet the book explores another theme-one that isn't often found in the pages of fiction. And one that the authors didn't take lightly.

"The uniqueness of this story is that it focuses on a child who is both deaf and mute, but everyone believes has a gift of prophecy, " said the authors. "It was intriguing to delve into the spiritual gift of prophecy and its own unique implications."

With prophecy as a hot-button issue with some denominations, Landon Jr. and Kelley wanted to give an accurate but thought-provoking portrayal of this special gift. As a result, they conducted in-depth research as well as interviewed some of the top theological minds of today.

"The challenge was trying to find clarity between actual prophecy and what we typically call 'psychic' today," they said.

With research balanced by story, Landon Jr. and Kelley weave a beautiful narrative of love and enormous sacrifices that lingers long after the last page has been read.



You may find more information about this book here.

This book was provided for review by Edify Media

Teaser Tuesday ~ English Trifle

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!

Sadie's mouth went dry as she considered her present circumstance-standing behind a partially open door to a staff member's bedroom. How on earth would she explain her way out of that? Her eyes darted around the room, looking for a place to hide but seeing nothing. Even the bed-a favorite hiding place of hers in the past-was too close to the ground to afford her an opportunity. Not daring to shut the door, lest it capture the attention of whoever was in the hallway, she pulled as far to the side of the door as she could and did the only thing she could think of, close her eyes and hold her breath while thinking invisible thoughts. The footsteps stopped and she felt the hinge moving against her arm as the door was pushed open.

p. 224, English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack


Read this book's tour and my review here.