Where Courage Calls ~ Review

Where Courage Calls
A When Calls the Heart Novel
by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

Where Courage Calls is Beth Thatcher's time to become the woman that she was meant to be, but she had no idea it would be so difficult nor that the mining town would be so primitive.  Having been pampered and coddled all her life Beth is determined to prove herself as she spends the next year as a school teacher for the children of Coal Valley.

Beth, like her "aunt" Elizabeth Delaney, must find out who she is as a person as she confronts a world without luxury.  Think outdoor outhouse middle of winter, no running water (you want a bath you bucket in every single drop!). 

Coal Valley's school is not a school house, it is borrowed space from another business and her mother would not be happy to know about this total lack of everything.

I really liked watching Beth rise to the challenges that keep popping up.  The changes that take place over the year are believable and are worth-while.  If you've read the previous books in the When Calls the Heart series you won't be disappointed in this newest installment.  If you like romance there is a touch of it in Oke's clean sweet style that is so appealing and refreshing.  If you're in search of a good Mountie you're in luck with two who would like to be the one in Beth's life.

Sit back with a nice pot of tea and prepare to wile away a peaceful weekend afternoon (or a night in which you should be sleeping).

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review.

When new schoolteacher Beth Thatcher is assigned a post in a remote mining community, her courage—and her heart—will be tested in ways she never expected.

Storming the Black Ice ~ Review

Storming the Black Ice
Pacific Rim Series 3
By Don Brown

I was drawn to this book by the cover and when I read the back cover copy I was intrigued.  A vast untapped and newly discovered oil reserve beneath the ice of Antarctica.  A race against time and nations to claim this priceless resource is about to begin.

Alliances are forged in secret while military maneuverings mask hidden agendas.  Lines are about to be crossed and there may be no way to stop the threat of war from becoming a fact.

The first couple chapters seemed to drag just a bit, but it was setting the stage for what was to come, and believe me once the action starts it really rivets you, holding your attention until the last word.

I really like how the main characters are forced by circumstances to face the decisions that they have made over the years, decisions that have had an affect on others and not just themselves.  The current circumstances in which these characters find themselves open (in some cases) their eyes to God and their need to have a relationship with Him.  The question of what is really important in one's life is explored and it is a thought provoking book that is not preachy.  The characters changes of heart are believable and totally within the realm of possibility.  This is not a point A to point B to point C story, there are side-trips that have an effect that is the catalyst for change.

If you like action with flawed characters with whom you will connect you need to read Storming the Black Ice!  This is one book that won't leave you feeling adrift!

I received a free copy of this book through BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description

When British geologists discover the world's largest oil reserves under the desolate, icy tundra of Antarctica, Britain and Chile form a top-secret alliance for control of petroleum resources that will rival the economic power of OPEC. 

But when their discovery is uncovered by an Argentinean intelligence officer, a surprise-attack against a secret British outpost in Antarctica triggers a war. Britain and Chile are in a military standoff against Venezuela and Argentina, and when the war escalates, Britain asks America for help. 

For two couples separated by the battle, the outcome will be either love reunited or devastating heartbreak. 

For a young British boy living with his mother in London, his father’s life is on the line. 

And for Pete Miranda, an American sub commander detailed on a special military assignment to his father's homeland of Chile, will his fate be a crushing death under the icy-cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean, or a future of life, light, and a second chance for love?

The Big Picture Interactive Bible ~ Review

The Big Picture Interactive Bible

This is a Bible that is geared towards children with colorful illustrations throughout.  There are Big Questions which help focus attention on God.  Seeing the Big Picture condenses some Bible stories by focusing on the main points.

Verses to Remember are highlighted throughout the Scriptures (for example in Psalms 119 verses 11, 16, 34, and 105 are highlighted).

Then there are Big Words.  In Joshua 15 the Big Word is Dead Sea.  In Acts 2 the Big Word is Pentecost.  These words are defined and described so that they are understandable (this is one feature that would make this Bible great for someone who is seeking and unfamiliar with anything dealing with the Bible).

Each Book is introduced with the Who, When and Why stated and explained.  The main teachings of each book is listed with the corresponding verses.

And, yes, there is Red Lettering for the words of Jesus!  I know this is often a question that many people have about different Bibles.

As an added bonus if you have app capabilities (iPhone and Android)  you can bring the illustrations to life with narration.  I don't have either of these devices so I wasn't able to check out this aspect of this Bible.

I was provided a copy of this Bible B&H in conjunction with this blog tour in exchange for my honest review.

About The Big Picture Interactive Bible:
Are our children really getting the full meaning of the stories as we read the Bible to them? When we read the Bible to our children, the stories are often in bits and pieces and focus on "being good." But children should get the message of "being saved" from reading the Bible instead. The Big Picture Interactive Bible (B&H Kids) is the first children's Bible of its kind-the Jesus story from start to finish, filled with features and interactive elements that capture the true meaning and significance behind all of the verses and stories.

The Big Picture Interactive Bible has nearly a thousand features in full color throughout including pictures of key items so children can understand what they're reading. The B&H Kids Augmented Reality App (free and available for Android and iPhone) creates a digital pop-up book when used with full-color illustrations, bringing the Bible to life for each child. It features the full text of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, a clear, contemporary English translation that's faithful to the original languages of the Bible.

Other features included are:
Big Words - Colorful Bible Dictionary entry with photos, maps, illustrations and descriptions of key terms, right in the Bible text.
Big Questions/Big Answers - Kids always want to know why. This feature asks and then answers many of the common "big questions" throughout the Bible.
Christ Connection - This feature can be found from Genesis to Revelation and will help kids understand how each story points us to Christ and His work for us.
Introductions - Basic information about the books of the Bible will give kids perspective on the who, what and when for each book as well as "the Big Picture" from that book and key stories it contains.
Icons - Special icons are placed throughout the Bible to connect to the Gospel Project for Kids curriculum.
Memory Verses - Scripture memorization is much more than "saying the words." When a child memorizes a Bible verse and puts it to practice in their daily life, that child begins to learn how God can lead his life. The top 100 verses to remember are highlighted throughout the Bible.
Parent Connection - This feature is designed to help parents be empowered to engage deeper in the story with their kids.
Seeing the Big Picture - This feature digs into key Bible stories to help young hearts and minds grasp the meaning and provide parents with extra information to discuss the Bible with their kids

A Heart's Rebellion ~ Review

A Heart's Rebellion
A Regency Romance
By Ruth Axtell

Jessamine Barry had her heart broken when Rees Phillips fell in love with Lady Celine Wexham.  After loving Rees for years Jessamine is determined to capture London society and bring the eligible bachelors to their knees while stealing her heart against love.

Jessamine has captured the attention of Lancelot Marfleet, but how could a man with red hair ever capture hers?  And he is a vicar, reminding her of her father.  But Lancelot is determined to protect this young naive maid from the very society she seeks to conquer in her first season!

Can Jessamine discover what is truly important before she finds herself ruined in not only the eyes of society, but in her own as well?  A little harmless flirtation here, a glass of champagne there, and new gowns in the latest style can't be bad can they?  Jessamine is about to find out...

If you read Ruth Axtell's Moonlight Masquerade, which I did and totally loved, you will be delighted to read A Heart's Rebellion which introduces us more fully to Rees's sister Megan and the young woman he disappointed.

Take a step back in time to London's Regency period and all the grandeur and temptation awaiting the unsuspecting.  Botanical science is a delightful pastime/career which is presented as it would have been at this time in history.  All the while Napoleon is an ever present threat lurking in the background.

 I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.

About A Heart's Rebellion:

In a world governed by unspoken rules, one young woman is about to break them all . . . Dutiful Jessamine Barry is tired of waiting patiently for a man to decide her future. So even though Lancelot Marfleet, second son of an aristocrat, is taking an interest in her during the London season, she refuses to consider him as a suitor. Instead, she's ready to take fashionable society by storm--and finds a rakish young man all too willing to help her do it. 

Can Jessamine trust her heart to lead her to a love that proves true through thick and thin? Or will her rash actions close the door on the life she really desires?

Lose yourself in Ruth Axtell's sumptuous story of discovering one's true self and finding true love.

More Noah movie tidbits

Check out this just released video featuring clips from the movie NOAH 

and the thoughts of faith leaders who have seen it.

Houses of Common ~ Review

Houses of Common
By Derick William Dalton

When Ranyk is sent on a mission that he doesn't want, he had no idea what he was about to get caught up in.  Added to that he has a little bit of difficulty fully grasping the intricacies of human language and this is about to add to his problems.

But something even more sinister is beneath the surface and tens of thousands of lives are hanging in the balance and anyone getting close to the truth is in danger.

Houses of Common is a story that spans across the species and into space as humanity has begun colonizing the solar system with the help of alien races.  But the current effort has hit a snag and unless Ranyk can discover why someone is trying to stop his efforts lives will be lost.

This is an interesting book that should appeal fans of YA fantasy/futuristic fiction, but be warned this is but the first in a series.

I was provided a digital copy of this book in conjunction with this blog tour.

About HOUSES OF COMMON: 

In the 22nd century, pilgrims leave Earth for the nearby planets that terraformers have crafted to meet their needs. Ranyk is a smart-mouthed alien, the best of the world-builders employed by the US government--and he always completes his risky assignments solo, pushing to the deep recesses of space for the good of colonists and to avoid his growing fame.

Until he's handed an on-planet assignment in Ireland, of all places, as an undercover international student of aquaponics. His real plan? To pull scientists and their families out of a country careening toward civil war--and off earth to a world of their own before marital-law lockdown ends their ground-breaking discoveries.

Risking his life is no novelty for Ranyk. He's been battered by asteroids, nearly incinerated in volcanoes, and has out-piloted pirates. But political espionage on Earth is more dangerous that anything he's encountered before, and he's completely ill-equipped for such delicate matters. Now he must figure out who to trust and who to eliminate, or it will mean his freedom, the safety of forty thousand desperate colonists, and the lives of his friends.

HOUSES OF COMMON on Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon About Derick William Dalton: 

Mr. Dalton is a professional student who has taken an occasional hiatus for 

such frivolities as teaching high school science, residential construction, and 

treating patients as a physician assistant. When not speaking of himself in the 

third person, he hangs out with his wife and kids and a smart-mouth turtle. He's 

also planning a mountain biking trip on the moon. Connect Online: Facebook Blog Author on Goodreads Zazzle (t-shirts)

CSFF March Blog Tour ~ A Draw of Kings Day 3

Welcome to the Third and Final day of the March 

CSFF Blog Tour

I really enjoyed these books.  Errol isn't who most people would pick to be a hero.  A young man without a family, considered the scum of his village, and a drunkard when the series opened.  But he is a man of hidden talents, a man upon whom greatness is thrust.  Errol didn't decide I'm going to be a hero, he just was what was needed at a particular moment.

We all would do well in following his example.  He rose above the trials and unfairness that life gave him. How often we idolize people who sink to the depths and pull us with them.  Yet we villainize those who triumph over the temptations of life, who become more without compromising their integrity in the doing.

The heroes in The Staff and The Sword aren't perfect, but they are people struggling to be the best they can be under Deas and Aurea.   Can we do less in our own lives?  Can we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the leading of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

I was provided a copy of this engaging book by the publisher in conjunction with this CSFF Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review.

To purchase from Amazon click the following: A Draw of Kings 

And be sure to visit the Author's Website 

Thank you for stopping by and visiting during this tour!
See you next month for another great book - NUMB.

Be sure to check-out all of the tour participants over the tour March 17 -19.

 Gillian Adams  Jennifer Bogart  Keanan Brand  Beckie Burnham

Mike Coville  Pauline Creeden  Vicky DealSharingAunt 

Carol Gehringer  Victor Gentile  Rebekah Gyger  Nikole Hahn 

Jason Joyner  Carol Keen  Krystine Kercher  Jennette Mbewe 

Amber McCallister  Shannon McDermott  Shannon McNear  Meagan @ Blooming with Books

Rebecca LuElla Miller  Joan Nienhuis  Nissa  Writer Rani  Nathan Reimer 

Audrey Sauble  James Somers  Jojo Sutis  Steve Trower  Shane Werlinger

Phyllis Wheeler  Nicole White  Jill Williamson