Summer of Joy ~ Review

Summer of Joy
By Ann H. Gabhart

1964 is drawing to a close and Jocie Brooke has an English teacher who seems to have it out for her and she has no idea why.  Christmas is just around the corner and Jocie wants to have some special touches added to the Christmas program, but you can't mess with tradition in Hollyhill.

Wes, still recovering from his and Jocie's tangle with the tornado, is the understanding and sympathetic ear always willing to help Jocie through her problems.  But the past is about to come for a visit to Hollyhill and Wes and Jocie are about to have their lives turned upside down yet again.

But there are also periods of joy as her father and Leigh move closer to marriage and all of Hollyhill is looking forward to the big news if and when it happens.  And then there is Stephen Lee, Tabitha's sweet baby is the family's pride and joy - even Aunt Love's!

And Hollyhill is a typical small town with the gossip that spreads and if you've read the previous Hollyhill novels you will just get a real laugh out the juice bit of gossip Zella finds herself caught up in.  Get ready to enjoy some small town charm, as you get swept up in the simple innocence of what was.  And get ready for a Summer of Joy - 1965 looks to be a pretty good year, though Jocie does have a few bumps along the way.   I also like that the book doesn't shy away from the difficult issues that both the country and the individual characters are facing.

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

About Summer of Joy:

As summer draws to a close Jocie's world seems serene--but is it just the calm before a storm?
Unbeknownst to Jocie Brooke and her family, two people are making their way to the small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky. One everyone thought was gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of. Still, one thing is sure--they promise trouble. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy strong relationships that everyone has simply taken for granted.

The summer of 1964 may be winding down, but the controversy in this little community where nothing ever seems to change is just heating up.

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you to Hollyhill for a story both exciting and enduring that will stick with you long after you turn the last page. 


Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl,Scent of Lilacs, and Orchard of Hope. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Find out more at www.annhgabhart.com.

Rich in Years ~ Review

Rich in Years
By Johann Christoph Arnold

Finding Peace and Purpose in a Long Life

Often we suffer under the delusion that age will imprison us, causing us to be forgotten just as we forget.  But life doesn't need to lose its purpose just because we age.

Life and its length are a blessing from God.  And if you doubt this look to the Bible - the child of promise was given to a couple hitting the century mark.  But they weren't alone in being up there in age and yet fulfilling God's promises.

We need to remember that the seen is temporary and unseen is eternal, yet we seek to stay time holding onto a youth that cannot be recaptured.  Our culture tells us to push back the clock, to deny that we are aging.  But aging is a blessing in that we gain wisdom and knowledge that we can share with the younger generations.

The biggest reason aging is feared is because aging is associated with death.  We fear losing those around us and fear giving up this life.  But we need to realize that there is something more and death is our doorway into another world and it leads us into the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus!

Aging is a preparatory step to make us willing to leave this life stage for the next - next stop Eternity.  When God calls us to step through the doorway that He is holding open for us we are willing and ready to be made anew.

Rich in Years is a book that will open your eyes to the untruths we have been lead to believe about aging and life in general.  This is one book you will want to share!

I was provided a copy of this book through Handlebar Central by the publisher The Plough in exchange for my honest review and my participation in this blog tour event.

 Why shouldn 't growing older be rewarding? 

Johann Christoph Arnold, whose books have helped over a million readers through life's challenges, wants us to rediscover the spiritual riches that age has to offer. Now in his seventies, Arnold finds himself personally facing the trials that come with aging. But he knows, from decades of pastoral experience, what older people and their caregivers can do to make the most of the journey. In this book, he shares stories of people who, in growing older, have found both peace and purpose. 

Unassuming yet outstanding, this is the best book I know on the godly ripeness that aging can bring in a Christian's life. Elderly folk will find the warmth that it radiates wonderfully invigorating. --J.I. Packer, professor of theology, Regent College 

On these pages are wonderful words of hope. Savor them. As I sing in a recent song, What we do now, you and me, will affect eternity - God's counting on me, God's counting on you. --Pete Seeger, musician. 

The Author: Johann Christoph Arnold is a writer known for making crucial spiritual issues accessible to both religious and non-religious readers.  A pastor with an uncommon wealth of experiences and personal insights.  He has counseled thousands of individuals over the last forty years, including married couples, children, and teens; addicts, prison inmates, and law enforcement officers; educators, students, and the terminally ill. 

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.