Hit ~ Review

Hit
By Lorie Ann Grover

Sarah seems to have it made.  A scholarship to Mills College.  A loving family.  A great friend.  And a secret crush. But in an instant it could all come to an end.  And everyone involved with Sarah all too soon realizes what they may lose

Taking place over several days Hit is told through the viewpoints of both Sarah and Mr. Haddings. Which makes for a fuller story - a more complete picture.  This is a story that will appeal to teens and tweens who are, like Sarah, trying to determine what their future should be and how it will look.  Even when everything appears darkest there is hope.

If you have read Lorie's previous books - one can agree with me when I say Lorie is not stuck in a genre when it comes to writing.  But the quality remains high which is one of her draws.

I was provided an uncorrected ARC (advanced review copy) in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

After receiving a scholarship to Mills College, Sarah’s future is clear … until she walks into a poetry class led by Mr. Haddings, a student teacher from the nearby University of Washington. Suddenly, life at UW seems very appealing, and Sarah begins to use her poetry journal to subtly declare her feelings for Mr. Haddings. Convinced he is flirting back, she sets off for school in the rain with a poem in her back pocket—saying how she really feels.

Mr. Haddings has been noticing Sarah’s attention, and he decides to end all speculation that morning. But everything changes when he feels a thud on his front bumper and finds Sarah in the street with blood pooling beneath her.

Never Ever Give Up ~ Review

Never Ever Give Up
The inspiring Story of Jessie and her JoyJars
by Erik Rees with Jenna Glatzer

Sometimes someone is an inspiration without ever trying and Jessie Rees was just such a person.
In February 2011, eleven year old Jessie Rees started displaying some odd symptoms - double vision and an odd head tilt.  Little did anyone suspect these were symptoms that were about to alter the Rees family forever.

On March 2, 2011 the Rees family learned that Jessie had a rare cancer for which there was no known cure.  The next 10 months were filled with their fight to bet the odds, to be the less than 1% who survive.

But this isn't just a cancer story.  No, this is Jessie's story and story of seeking to help others in spite of her own struggles and daily battles.  Jessie, who went in for treatments saw children who couldn't leave the hospital.  Feeling blessed that she was able to go home and stay with her family, Jessie wanted to reach out to these other children.  She wanted to give them the gift of caring and as a result JoyJars were created.

But Jessie wanted to reach out to children everywhere who had cancer and through her love and caring NEGU (knee-goo) was born.  NEGU was Jessie's motto Never Ever Give Up!  Her caring was inspirational and in the ten months that she had she made an impact that touched lives all over the world.

This is an inspiring and heart-touching book.  You will shed tears as Jessie has moments of triumph and as her friends and family say goodbye.

In conjunction with September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month I was provided a copy of this book through Handlebar Hub in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:
It started with a simple question: How can we help them? 
It became an international movement called NEGU: Never Ever Give Up. 
When Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 11, she chose to focus not on herself but on bringing joy and hope to other children suffering from cancer. During the ten months she battled cancer, she and her family worked in the "Joy Factory" (originally their garage) making JoyJars.--packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer. Jessie first handed them out personally at the hospital where she was being treated, but the effort blossomed quickly and there were soon thousands of JoyJars. being distributed across the United States and to over fifteen countries. 

Today, more than 100,000 kids have received JoyJars., and they continue shipping each week to kids in over 200 children's hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses. Jessie lost her battle with cancer in January 2012, but her message lives on in the Jessie Rees Foundation, which has become a beacon of hope for families fighting pediatric cancer. 

CSFF Blog Tour September ~ Rebels Day 1

Welcome to the September CSFF Blog Tour

This month our book in Jill Williamson's Rebels

the final book in The Safe Lands trilogy

To start off the tour I want to take a look back at the first two books in the series.

First up Captives

Levi is the favored son of Justin of Elias.  He is to marry for love. He is a hunter.  He can go on scavenging trips to Denver City. And he has earned the respect of his father, something that his younger brothers cannot do no matter how hard they try.  Mason has decided that trying to earn his father's respect and trust is an impossible tasks though he tries his best to please him.  But Omar is determined to win it no matter what the cost, but does he know how much he is going to pay?

The Safe Lands were designed to protect the people from a plague, but what was to be a safety has turned into an even greater danger.  The city is the plague and there is no way to stop it or to save the city without drastic measures.  And Omar and the people of Glenrock may be the Safe Lands last hope.

Omar in an act of betrayal destroys Glenrock and rips Jemma and Levi apart just days before their marriage.  Can Levi find a way to get within the city and free those who have been taken against their will?  

The ease of life in the Safe Lands is a powerful draw, but is the loss of their freedom and the chance of becoming infected a reasonable trade?  But the Safe Lands is home to people whose wild ways may have lead to the plague's spread through what was suppose to be a fortress of safety from the plague.   

Mason has been put in a position within the Safe Lands where he is able to study the problem of the plague up close.  Can he use the skills he developed in Glenrock and stop the plague?  Can he bring hope where there is none or will it merely be false hope? As Mason struggles to cure the plague and to save the people of Glenrock from forced surrogacy, Levi is working on a plan of escape.  Meanwhile Omar is falling into all that the Safe Lands has to offer in an attempt to hide from his guilt over what went wrong with his grand plan.    

Outcasts:
The Captives from Glenrock have taken refuge within the Safe Lands with a group of rebels, but these rebels have goals that are at odds with those that Levi has prioritized for the survivors of Glenrock. After all who cares about the people who call the Safe Lands home?

To Levi's annoyance his brothers Mason and Omar both have cares about the Safe Landers - and Mason may have developed an attraction to the doctor under whom he works.  Mason is determined to find a cure for the disease that afflicts the Safe Landers and Omar.  Meanwhile Omar is determined to make the Safe Landers aware of the true state of their world.

When the rebels demands threaten the safety of those closest to him Levi moves everyone to a new location with the assistance of Zane.  This move gives everyone a glimpse of Papa Eli that had not yet known and adds more to the history of Glenrock.  (Hoping for a prequel - all these little tidbits are just so tempting!!!  Kind of like having a box of your favorite chocolates and knowing you can't have them yet.)

Subterfuge and deception reign supreme in the Safe Lands and a master illusionist is firmly in control. Questions for which there seem to be no answers may be of utmost importance.  What is liberation?  Is it truly the end of life or is it something more sinister.  Can this disease be cured and why is noone allowed access to the data about it?

Mason, Omar, and Shaylinn are determined to make a difference in the Safe Lands, but it may cost them more than they were expecting.  But sometimes doing the right thing is worth the cost even if it means liberation.  And someone is about to pay the ultimate price for freedom....

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Day 2 and be sure to visit the other tour participants who will be sharing their thoughts throughout this 3 day tour (September 29 - October 1, 2014)

Julie Bihn  Thomas Fletcher Booher  Beckie Burnham  Jeff Chapman
Vicky DealSharingAunt  April Erwin  Carol Gehringer  Victor Gentile
 Rebekah Gyger  Jeremy Harder
Jason Joyner  Carol Keen  Shannon McDermott  Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews  Rebecca LuElla Miller  Joan Nienhuis
Nissa  Writer Rani  Audrey Sauble  Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis  Elizabeth Williams

Star of Deliverance ~ Review

Star of Deliverance
By Mandy Madson Voisin

Emi was born a slave simply because she is Savian - her mother executed for treason minutes after her birth.  She's spent her life with Cen the healer of her village and she has been trained in the healing arts.  But when an long forgotten disease makes its way into her village Emi and Cen are powerless to stop it.

With her last hope of a cure lying within the palace gates Emi sets off on a journey that is about to change her life.  The palace is heavily guarded and impossible to access, until Emi stumbles upon a procession of young women preparing to walk unimpeded through the gates.

When she manages to slip into this group of young women Emi discovers that she has just joined a select group from which Prince Corban of Deshan will choose his future queen.  Worse Emi will be locked within the palace grounds for one year unless she can find a way to escape.  But how can she find the cure for a dreaded disease and escape in time?  Emi is determined to figure it out, but in the meantime she needs to learn how to behave and think like a queen while hiding her true identity.

But what Emi discovers in a plot to destroy her people, a plot that could result in her immediate execution if her true identity is discovered.  And then there is Prince Corban the man whose heart she is suppose to be trying to win.  But can she keep her own heart safe?  Can she save a people for whom she is the only hope?

Star of Deliverance is a beautiful story based on the life of Esther.  Never read the story of Esther? You will still fall in love with this story of love and sacrifice!

I was provided a digital ARC of this book by Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review and tour particpation

About the book:

Born a slave and outcast, the young healer Emi discovers an ancient disease spreading among her people. Desperate, she races to the Capital for a cure and unwittingly finds herself in a competition to win over the Crown Prince’s heart. Staying in the game provides time to search for a cure, but it may cost Emi her life—or her heart.

About the author:

Mandy Voisin is a wife, marketer, and author. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English. Her parents told her she’d never make a living with an English degree, so she’s dedicated the rest of her life to proving them wrong. She loves poetry and babies and her sisters. Mandy currently resides in Phoenix, Ariz., with her husband Kevin who is a sleep deprived medical student with a heart of gold and the world’s best smile. Together they chip away at their dreams.

Jim Greene's Unlocking Your Spiritual Greatness Book Blitz and Giveaway

  Title of Book # 1: Unlocking Your Spiritual Greatness

ISBN:  978-1-105-46980-0

Genre: Spiritual Maturity, Christianity, Discipleship Training

Publisher: LuLu Enterprises, Inc.

Publication Date: 2005, 2011

Just like there are specific physical exercises that are good for physical conditioning, there are specific spiritual exercises that are good, in fact, essential for our spiritual conditioning and growth. If you want to grow spiritually, you have to do spiritual exercises. (1Timothy 4:8)

This book looks to Jesus for “duplicate-able” activities for the model for our growth. For years Christian writers have identified specific activities regularly evidenced in his earthly life and called them Spiritual or Christian Disciplines. I believe that if it was useful for Jesus to be disciplined in his worship and praise to God, then it is useful for us as well. Further, I believe that the inclusion of Christian Disciplines in our lives, or what I call the Disciplined Training Approach places us in obedient submission to God and that is where we are supposed to be. 

Book excerpt:

God has outlined a plan for living that when followed will bring us into a closer fellowship with Him. All the treasure in the world will not purchase it, but God will provide it for free to whosoever really wants it. No matter how worthless you may think you are, you can become one of the greatest treasures in the world.  You can become the person God wants you to be, equipped with all the supernatural power for the Kingdom work He wants you to do!   

Simply put, if you hear what God tells you, trust that He will not lead you astray and do what you’re told to do, you will experience the peace God planned for you. More than that, the consequences of ignoring God can be anxiety, frustration, depression and even eternal separation from Him.

People, however, are not simple.  In fact, we go to great lengths to take something simple and complicate it.  Our relationship with God should be personal, based on the time we spend with Him.  We can’t manufacture a relationship with Him, but we can come to know him based on our personal experiences.

If you want to be blessed, comforted or reassured in a small way, then exercise a small amount of faith.  If however, you need your life changed... it may take more. It starts with regular prayer, regular meditation and regular listening. It continues when we do things outside our comfort zone and that’s exactly where faith begins.

Your life will change when you realize God’s ability

zone is greater than your comfort zone.

Purchase at:

Jim’s website    Lulu    Amazon

  Title of Book #2   God’s Answer, Praying the Scriptures Back to God

God gave us the Bible as a constant reminder of His love and plan for us. More than a historical document, it is truly alive. As we read His Word and become heart-linked with Him, a supernatural transformation begins to take place in us.  God’s Word is alive and we can’t comprehend it all at once. That explains why you can read a passage several times over weeks or months and receive a different message from the same verses.

God gave us prayer as an avenue or vehicle that He designed for us so we could be in constant communication with Him. God’s Answer seeks to bring you to His Throne of Grace, where prayers are answered, (Hebrews 4:16) so that you can claim the promises God makes about today’s problems. That’s a tall order, so let’s look at what He said about prayer in His Living Word, the Bible.

Several times He promises us that He will hear and in fact, answer our prayers. It would be great to think that we always get what we want or that we could just name it and claim it, but that simply is not the case. What we can claim is the promises God makes and we will be exploring those. Let’s examine a few passages and see what they reveal beyond God hearing us and answering our prayers.

Purchase at:  Jim’s website  WestBow Press  Amazon

  Title of Book #3        A Place of Faith, When There is No Place Else to Go

What or where is the place of faith?  Is it a physical location? No, it is where we are when we step out into the unknown in a blind, yet obedient faith because that is all we have left.  Our Christian vocabulary is filled with ideas, quotes and even promises from God that are meant for comfort and reassurance. As real as God’s Word is, what happens when all has been recalled and rehearsed and we still find ourselves alone at the place of faith. A Place of Faith defines faith from a real and practical viewpoint, then develops it’s progression from a measure of faith, to a step and then a leap of faith.  Most importantly, time is spent on the Enemy of Faith and the Trial of Faith and finally, The Results of Faith. Each chapter concludes with a hymn that reinforces the points made in the chapter and a few reflection questions.

Purchase at:  Jim's website   WestBow Press   Amazon

  

   Title of Book #4  Living on the Dark Side of Faith

While faith has two sides, they are both sides of the same thing. The word faith cannot be substituted for the word belief or theology. It is more than a collection of thoughts about religion. It is more than simply believing in the existence of God, the demons in Hell do that. The faith we speak of is in God and how, though we may not see how, He will provide for His beloved. The faith we have is certain; it is the evidence of things to come. It begins with a measure and increases with experience and that often means a trial or test of our faith. </ div>

Purchase at:  Jim’s website  Lulu

About the author:

Jim Greene makes his home in Knoxville, TN in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. An avid backpacker, his countless hours in the outdoors have often blessed him with many topics to write about.

As a layman Sunday School teacher, he challenges himself and his class to strive for and enjoy a closer relationship with God. Each of his books look to God as the ultimate authority in our lives. He is the author of Unlocking Your Spiritual Greatness, God’s Answer, A Place of Faith, When There is Nowhere Else to Go, and Living on the Dark Side of Faith. His next book is entitled, When Waiting isn’t Working.

Jim feels God speaks to him personally through journaling and his books primarily came to answer a question in his life. They may just help you too.

Pump Up Your Book and Jim are teaming up to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms and   Conditions:

Winner will be contacted via email on October 1, 2014.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unlocking Our Spiritual Greatness Book Blitz Schedule

September 2

Cheryl’s Christian Book Connection

September 3

Lori’s Reading Corner

September 4

The Writer’s Life

September 5

The Busy Mom’s Daily

September 8

As the Pages Turn

September 9

Review From Here

September 10

The Book Connection

September 11

Rebecca’s Writing Services

September 12

Beyond the Books

September 15

My Devotional Thoughts

September 16

Little Shepherd</ div>

September 17

Putting Words Down on Paper

September 18

Between the Covers

September 19

Christian Children’s Authors

September 22

Literarily Speaking

September 23

The Book Rack

September 24

Blooming with Books

September 25

Broowaha</ a>

September 26

Maureen’s Musings

Love's Fortune ~ Review and Video

Love's Fortune
The Ballantyne Legacy 3
By Laura Frantz

Rowena Wren Ballantyne has lived the first 25 years of her life unaware of the power and wealth of her family.  Her life has been lived in Kentucky far from the Ballantyne empire that is based in Pennsylvania.  But when an urgent summons from New Hope calls her father Ansel back to his childhood home, Wren is about to find herself in a world of which she has no understanding.

Ansel is returning home to help run the family business after a plea from his mother due to the failing health of both his father and his older brother Peyton.  His one regret is have kept Wren away from her family though it was done out of fear for her life as much his own.

Wren has lived in a sheltered world in which society had no hold - in fact it was unheard of.  What Wren believes will be a short visit is in fact a permanent move.  Can she find a place for herself within this new world that is to be her home?  And will society in Pittsburgh accept this Ballantyne who has spent her life far from its rules and restrictions?

Shortly after her arrival tragedy strikes and the Ballantyne family is thrown into turmoil.  With her father away tending to business her Aunt Andra and Cousin Bennett convince Wren that she has a duty to the family to marry soon and marry well.  She is to have a season and she has weeks to prepare for it.  And Andra is just as uncaring as to the feelings of others as she was in Love's Awakening.

Can Wren discover where her heart lies and where her heart truly is before it is too late?

In my opinion this just may be the best book in the series.  I really enjoyed it and it was a delight to see the generations all together - Silas and Eden with their children and grandchildren.  Unfortunately the various family thorns are also present - one from each generation.  You don't have to read the previous books before reading this book, but it will greatly help you to understand the history of the family.

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




About the Book:
Sheltered since birth at her Kentucky home, Rowena Ballantyne has heard only whispered rumors of her grandfather Silas's vast fortune and grand manor in Pennsylvania. When her father receives a rare letter summoning him to New Hope, Rowena makes the journey with him and quickly finds herself in a whole new world--filled with family members she's never met, dances she's never learned, and a new side to the father she thought she knew. As she struggles to fit in during their extended stay, she finds a friend in James Sackett, the most valued steamship pilot of the Ballantynes' shipping line. Even with his help, Rowena feels she may never be comfortable in high society. Will she go her own way . . . to her peril?

With her signature attention to historical detail, Laura Frantz brings 1850s Pennsylvania alive with a tender story of loss, love, and loyalty. Fans will cheer for this final installment of the Ballatyne saga.

Candle Prayers for Kids ~ Review

Candle Prayers for Kids
By Claire Freedman
Illustrations by Jo Parry

For some reason many people are intimidated by the very thought of prayer.  I mean think about it your asking God to notice you  and what you care about.  But prayer doesn't need to be the monster under the bed for you or your children anymore.

In Candle Prayers for Kids there are a variety of prayers for various topics - including praising God, family and friends, times of thanks, and for different needs.  The book ends with the prayer Jesus said when He taught His followers how to pray.

Prayer is a conversation with God that need not be a scary experience and this book will help both you and the children with whom you share this book to discover the simplicity of this truth as you learn together how to pray.

The cry of the early followers was teach us to pray and this book is an excellent guide to gift and share with the children in your life.

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


About the book: 
A delightful companion prayer book to the popular Candle Bible for Kids. Jo Parry's distinctively bold and vibrant illustrations complement a combination of traditional and modern prayers by Claire Freedman, author of the Benjamin Bear series. Candle Prayers for Kids helps to bring prayerand talking to God into the life of every child.