Finding JESUS: Faith, Fact, Forgery

Finding JESUS: Faith, Fact, Forgery is a 6-part series premiering on CNN on Sunday, March 1, 2015.
I was given the opportunity to preview the first part which focuses on the Shroud of Turin.  The Shroud has an intriguing history - a history which may or may not have a place in the burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Is the Shroud indeed a proof of the existence and the death of Jesus or is it a forgery from the Middle Ages when relics of significance were in demand?  Is the Shroud proof of the brutality of the suffering Jesus underwent before and during the Crucifixion?

Can science answer these questions or will it prove inconclusive?  This is a powerful and compelling series premier as various experts, authorities, and scientists weigh in on the Shroud and the final moments of the life of Jesus.

Check it out and weigh in with your opinion for a chance at a copy of the companion book (US mailing addresses only) Finding Jesus by David Gidson (an award-winning journalist and filmmaker who specializes in covering the Catholic Church) and Michael McKinley which was released February 24, 2015.

View the series trailer here

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Small excerpt from the book's introduction:


Introduction

Who Is Jesus?

The question must be posed in the present tense because, for
believers, Jesus is God and he exists in the here and now every
bit as much as he ever did: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,
today, and forever,” as the New Testament says. To be a Christian
is to have a relationship with a Jesus who is alive in heaven and
with us at every moment of every day.

Yet Jesus is also profoundly present for today’s agnostics and even
die- hard skeptics, who are engaged with Jesus of Nazareth, in their
own way, almost as devoutly as Christians are.

Just look at the reaction to any new artifact excavated from the
Holy Land, or every scrap of papyrus that emerges from the sands
of Egypt or the sometimes shadowy antiquities markets that oper-
ate throughout the West. Each is accompanied by astounding claims
and a wave of boldface headlines, and each prompts a new round
of global fascination with a man who died two thousand years ago,
crucified by the Romans on a dusty hill near Jerusalem.

It was a fate inflicted on countless others deemed enemies of the
state. Yet Jesus was different. For believers, he rose from the tomb
on the third day, on that first Easter morning, bringing a message
of eternal life and galvanizing a small band of followers who would
go on to create a church and spread a faith that would reach every
corner of the globe. Those who dismiss such claims must contend
with the reality of Jesus’s afterlife in this world, with the historic
forces he unleashed, forces that remain undiminished even in
this supposedly secular age. It’s not surprising that the entry
on Jesus in the open- source encyclopedia Wikipedia is the fifth-
most- edited page among the more than thirty million articles on
the site.

Everyone seems to have a stake in who Jesus is, and in what we
should believe about him— but to prove their claims, they have to
know who Jesus was.

Mist of Midnight ~ Review and 2 Giveaways

Mist of Midnight
Daughters of Hampshire
By Sandra Byrd

Mist of Midnight is truly vintage Gothic romance and one you won't want to put down!  A delightfully chilling book filled with intrigue and danger and a mystery woven throughout.

Rebecca Ravenshaw is the sole heir to her family's estate, or so she thought. Returning to England following the death of her parents Rebecca is shocked to learn that a young woman impersonating her has been installed in her home (as her!). Worse the young woman died in a suspicious manner and the estate has been turned over to a distant cousin, a Captain Whitfield.

With no one to verify her identity, Rebecca is unable to lay claim to her home or her inheritance.  Her knowledge of her parents work as missionaries in India is her only hope, but it could take months to validate her.

More puzzling is the identity of the young woman who took advantage of the Indian Mutiny from which Rebecca barely escaped and which claimed the lives of her parents.  How did this impostor know enough to fool those around her.  And even more troubling how did the young woman die? Was it natural causes or was it foul play as has been suggested and implied?  And what role did Captain Whitfield play in the entire situation?

Mist at Midnight is the perfect way to spend the waning hours of the night - mystery, betrayal, intrigue all wrapped in the possibility of romance.  Sandra Byrd has woven yet another masterful tale drawing upon historical fact, her ability to craft fiction and to create characters that have both depth and dimension.

I am excited to see what comes next in this series that has captured my attention with this first offering.  Fans of Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney will enjoy this Victorian era Gothic romance,
And fans of clean romance will enjoy this book with no need to blush.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Howard Books in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.

Synopsis

In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real impostor. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.

About the author:

Sandra Byrd is a best-selling author and has earned Library Journal's Best Books of the year pick twice, in 2011 for To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn, and in 2012 for The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr.  She's twice been a Christy Award finalist, for To Die For and for Let Them Eat Cake: A Novel. Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I published April 2013.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lace bookmark giveaway open to US Residents runs February 25th through March 4th! Winner must respond by March 7th with U.S. mailing address or an alternate winner will be chosen.

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Sandra is hosting an amazing giveaway including an Amazon Kindle Voyage, lace bookmarks, a copy of Mist of Midnight, among other fabulous items through March 31st.
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The Lazarus Game ~ Review

The Lazarus Game
By Stephen J. Valentine

The perfect game.

The key to immortality.

The ultimate price.

It all started with trying to impress Sidney Locke by capturing the Russian gangster who shot her father.  After all Carter Chance is a genius (which he's more than happy to tell you) and when Carter decides to do something it gets done (usually).

But what Carter and his friends saw that night was just the beginning. This was the first time they were aware of the Lazarus Game Shop.  A game shop that was about to have an unexpected impact on not only Carter's life but the lives of everyone in Merewether.

When Carter is offered the chance of a lifetime to work for Geoffrey Chaucer, owner of Lazarus Game Shop - he does what every 15 year old teenage guy would do - he uses the opportunity to try yet again to impress Sidney (his girlfriend, he hopes).  But there's just one problem - some Hobo Warrior with a big axe thingy! And Hobo Warrior (Carter's name for this guy) isn't afraid to use his axe thingy.

Can Carter determine the truth before it is too late?  Dealing with a family life that is barely there Carter is more than eager to help Chaucer bring about a new world and he knows he possess the skills and genius know-how to bring The Lazarus Game to the next level.

The Lazarus Game is told from Carter's point-of-view and his opinion of himself is anything but humble.  This book will appeal to both tween and teen boys and at just over 300 pages would be a perfect choice for a book report (free choice, science fiction, or thriller).  This is clean reading so parents and grandparents don't need to worry about what horrors lurk between the covers.

I was provided a copy of this book by Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.


About the book:An amazing new video game has the power to resurrect the brightest minds of the past and see what they’d create in the modern world. There’s just one catch—it requires another person’s soul. Carter Chance, who is a teenage genius, must find a way to stop his generation from exchanging their souls for a computer-generated fantasy. This action-packed thriller delves into the enticement and dangers of virtual reality.

About the author:
Stephen J. Valentine received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Utah State University. He is Senior Program Manager for Family Search International, responsible for the online publication of billions of historical records. Stephen loves history, hiking, cooking, reading, and traveling, especially to Disneyland. Stephen resides in Utah with his beautiful wife, talented children, brilliant Schnauzer, and massive J.R.R. Tolkien collection.

Veggie Tales - Noah's Ark ~ Review and DVD Giveaway

Veggie Tales
Noah's Ark

The last year has seen many offerings of Noah's Ark in both book and movie format. Well, Veggie Tales has joined this list with this, their newest DVD offering.

Bob (a tomato), Larry (a cucumber), and Roger (an elephant) introduce us to Larry's imaging of what Noah, his family, and the Ark were like.  With a variety of songs the story is told.

Shem (one of Noah's sons) is the main character in this version and he's not the happiest veggie on the boat (make that Ark).  He's just gotten married and is looking forward to a life with his new wife when literally there is an Ark in his life.  We see Shem go from arguing with Noah just what God's will is to having absolute faith in God's will and His timing.

The people are portrayed by the Veggies while the animals are animals and the elephants
and zebras are absolutely adorable!  And then there is Mr. and Mrs. Hamster who have a
bit of a separation thanks to some of Shem's earlier impatience before he learned that God
has a time for everything.

There is a little side video in the midst of Noah's featuring a Silly-Song "My Golden Egg".
Think Indiana Jones meets an Easter egg hunt and you'll have an idea of what it's all about.

I was provided a review copy of this DVD in exchange for my honest review.

"Noah and his family along with a zoo full of animals take an adventure aboard an orange slice ark. After 40 days and nights of rain, everyone’s faith has been tested, and they’re ready to jump ship. Will they chart a new course, or will they remember to trust God’s promises? Grab your umbrellas and find out in this Veggie Tales re-telling of the beloved Bible story!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In NOAH'S ARK, Brady, the multi-Emmy® award-winning host of one of TV’s most famous game shows, Let’s Make a Deal, and star of Whose Line Is It Anyway, brings to life Noah’s son Shem, who first questions, then learns to embrace, his father’s direction from God. Christian singer, actress and radio host Jaci Velasquez co-stars as Shem’s wife, Sadie.

“Saying ‘yes’ to VeggieTales was a no-brainer – my daughter’s a fan and I love the music and messages,” says Brady, who performs seven original songs in NOAH’S ARK. “The best part is, Bob and Larry are down to earth and they never let the ‘I’m a global Veggie superstar’ thing go to their heads.”

Adds Velasquez: “Every parent searches for entertainment that’s both wholesome and imparts valuable life lessons, and with Noah’s Ark, VeggieTales serves up a delicious dish on both counts. The story, the music and the visuals are perfect for the entire family.”

In NOAH’S ARK, Shem and Sadie return home from their honeymoon to find that Noah (played by Pa Grape) has begun, at God’s direction, to work on a massive ark, which his wife Naamah (played by Madame Blueberry) and sons Ham (played by Larry) and Japheth (played by Bob) are helping construct before the start of 40 days and 40 nights of rain.

But Shem doesn’t understand Noah’s unshakable faith in God, particularly when animals start arriving two-by-two – while the rain is nowhere to be seen. When the deluge does come, Shem begins to understand Noah’s determination to preserve humanity’s future … and the importance of trusting in God.

NOAH’S ARK also features a brand-new “Silly Songs With Larry” segment, in which Larry dons a safari outfit as he goes on a quest for a gigantic, golden egg.

Less than three weeks after the DVD and digital download release of NOAH’S ARK, the VeggieTales excitement continues when five all-new episodes of VeggieTales In The House, the hit animated series, debut exclusively on Netflix – bringing the total of VeggieTales In the House episodes to 15 as the series continues its first season.

To learn more about NOAH’S ARK, and to pre-order the DVD, visit the official VeggieTales website at http://www.veggietales.com, or call the toll-free VeggieTales Hotline at (844) 2-VEGGIE (U.S. callers only).

Carrots meet cubits as VeggieTales builds an ark filled with fun, adventure and important lessons about trusting God in NOAH’S ARK, its first Bible-themed production in more than four years. Starring Wayne Brady and Jaci Velasquez, along with Larry the Cucumber, Bob the Tomato and a whole crew of Veggies, NOAH’S ARK will be available March 3 on DVD and digital download.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of this DVD

Open to US mailing addresses only.

Runs February 25th through March 3rd!

Winner will be contacted and have until March 6th at noon

to reply or an alternate winner will be chosen. 

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Lift the Flap Bible ~ Review

Lift the Flap Bible
Text by Karen Williamson
Illustrated by Louise Anglicas

New from Candle Tiny Tots is Lift the Flap Bible for ages 10 months and up. Eight favorite Bible stories are simply shared making this the perfect Bible story book to share with your littlest one.

This book is in a board book format, so as to withstand little hands that have a tendency to stick to pages.  Each of the stories is told on two pages with three to four flaps to help tell the story.

Old Testament offerings are Noah's Ark, baby Moses, Daniel in the Lion's Den, and Jonah.  From the New Testament we have Jesus's birth, Jesus feeding the crowd, the parable of the lost sheep, and Jesus healing the man who was lowered through the roof.

This is nice introduction to the Bible and children will love the flaps that further tell the story. This is perfect for a new baby gift or for a first birthday.

I was provided a copy of this book through Kregel in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.  

About the book:

What's under the flaps? Find out in this collection of eight very simple Bible stories in a large cased board book format. Each story is told across a double-page spread and there are flaps on every page. Bright, quirky illustrations full of wit and color from Louise Anglicas are perfect for this engaging introduction to Bible stories.

Stories are: Noah and the Ark, Moses and the Bulrushes, Daniel and the Lions, Jonah and the Great Fish, Born in a Stable, Boy with Loaves and Fishes, The Lost Sheep, and Man Lowered Through the Roof.

The Crimson Cord ~ Review

The Crimson Cord
Rahab's Story
Daughter's of the Promised Land - 1
By Jill Eileen Smith

Rahab, one of four women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus, is a woman not expected to be in this lineage.  She was not Hebrew by birth.  She was a harlot in a city brought down by God when the Children of Israel retook the land given to Abraham.

But who was this woman who received such notice?  The Crimson Cord is her possible story.  A story of slavery that brought safety to the spies of Israel and new life to both her and her family.  This a story of mercy and redemption.  A story of promise.

The basics of this story are well-known to most people who attended Sunday school.  But Jill Eileen Smith takes it beyond the basics, bringing humanity to this woman.  A woman who would have been disdained for her situation and yet was in demand.

The Crimson Cord looks into the heart and mind of Rahab.  A woman sullied and unclean by even her own examination.  A woman who viewed herself unworthy of mercy, of grace.  A woman confused by the God of Israel - a God who demands blood for sin and yet offers life to one such as her.

Though a work of fiction, the story that portrayed is entirely plausible and believable.  A woman whose husband's debt has forced her into a life of servitude - a life of prostitution.  A woman who sees that these spies of a wandering people are a way out of a despised life.

This is a book that will open your eyes to the ancient world of the Old Testament and the blood sacrifices.  This is a book that will touch your heart and bring empathy for this woman who was redeemed.

I was provided a copy of this book by Revell through their Blogger Program in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:
Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls-- or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

Under Jill Eileen Smith's talented hand, the familiar story of Rahab bursts forth in high definition. Immerse yourself in a world of dark and dusty streets, clandestine meetings, and daring escapes as a mysterious biblical figure claims her full humanity--and a permanent place in your heart.


Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of the Wives of King David series, the Wives of the Patriarchs series, and The Desert Princess, first in the Loves of King Solomon series. 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.

Click here to view an excerpt of this book

Midnight Runner ~ Review

Midnight Runner
   By Marilee Jackson

      Moira and Isobail are running -
               one from her past,
                     the other to her future.

Moira hasn't known love or kindness since her mother's death 12 years ago.  But Moira refuses to put up with the abuse and mistreatment any longer.  She's planning her escape and the new life she will live in Allail. And Moira is determined that nothing will keep her from achieving her dream.  But is the price she'll be asked to pay too much?

Isobail has known only love from her parents.  Her plans for the future are anything but grand.  Someday marriage and home much like she has always known.  But when offered an opportunity to serve as a lady's maid Isobail has a choice to make.  A choice that would take her away from all she knows and all whom she loves.

Midnight Runner spans nearly 30 years as two lives unfold not so differently and yet vastly different. The difference being love.  This book is both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time as love is discovered and lost.  Though the book is complete, I would love to see a sequel that furthers the lives of these characters.

Compelling characters that one can connect with.  A story that will touch your heart. Just a couple of reasons why you should give this debut novel your full attention.

I was provided a copy of this book by Cedar Fort/Sweetwater Books in exchange for my tour participation and my honest review.

About the book:

Mistreated for years, orphaned Moira dreams of building a new life in the royal city. Little does she know that her dreams will cost more than just her own fate. This medieval tale of romance, mistaken identities, and long-sought redemption will change how you feel about villains and heroines, loss and love.

About the author:

Marilee Jackson is an avid reader and has dabbled in writing since the third grade. She stays home and chases her four rug rats around. She lives in a tiny Arizona town (don’t blink you’ll miss it) with her amazing husband and their four children. Midnight Runner is her first novel. Follow her on her blog at http://jacksonjacket.blogspot.com/