Promise Me This Blog Tour Information

Promise Me This Blog Tour
The following blogs are participating in a blog tour for

Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke.

Each day from February 1-March 16 will be a new stop on the tour.

 Hope you'll join us!

http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/PMTBlogTour.pdf

Wizard Quartet by Samantha Morgan

 I just couldn't resist bringing attention to a new author - Samantha Morgan.  She may be new to the writing scene but believe me, she's got talent!  I expect to see many more stories by this young author in the not-too-distant future.  The author is 13 1/2 years old, with an unlimited amount of imagination and creativity.  This is her first book.

Wizard Quartet is a story of four young adults who are "chosen" wizards.  The adventures they go on are quite fast-paced, often times quite comical, and very entertaining.  Someone is not who they portray themselves to be and it's up to the "Chosen Ones" to figure out who to trust.  Adventures, explosives and more will keep you turning the pages!  Interesting places include: Squirrely's Nuthouse, Chuck's Fish Market & Wedding Chapel, Happy Chipmunks Cruise Line and you'll never believe where the "evil" wizard's lair is located!
 

Please help support this young author in her first writing adventure! Follow the link below to purchase either your eBook or paperback edition!

M and M Publishing's Books and Publications Spotlight

www.lulu.com

Thanks M and M Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book and opportunity to help promote this talented, young author.

Trusting God - A Girlfriends In God Faith Adventure

This devotional faith adventure builds on the Girlfriends In God daily devotions found on crosswalk.com.  It's a 12 week devotional and bible study combined.

This book is growing in popularity as women begin sharing the book with their girlfriends about the devotional experiences.  Each week contains five devotions on trusting God, each one ending in a specific prayer.  Each week concludes with a bible study guide and journal page, for recording the insights gathered from the week's study.  This book works great in small groups of "girlfriends", as well as for individual study.

The most amazing aspect of this book, is that you don't have to understand God to trust him.  The phrase, "Just trust me", is something we hear just before something bad happens or just before a betrayal, so it's hard today to "just trust" anyone.  We live in a world where we're more comfortable taking control of our lives, yet we're constantly told to trust God and we say it, but do we mean it?  Do we really trust God?  What does trusting God look like?  Often times it's surprising what it really looks like.

The Girlfriends In God have all been there and share openly throughout the book about the ways in which they learned to trust God.  They share the ups and downs they've faced openly and honestly and as you journey along with them, you see the peace and power they found reaching out and trusting God.

 I highly recommend this "Faith Adventure" to everyone!  Way to go "Girlfriends"!  I'm proud to be part of the GIG Impact Team and have the privilege of interacting with these wonderful, godly women!

- Author Bio -

Sharon Jaynes is an author, a former VP and radio co-host of Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a frequent speaker for women’s events, television, and radio.

Gwen Smith, author and speaker, worship leader, and award-winning songwriter, has been featured on major television programs.

Mary Southerland is an international speaker, the author of books that help women who struggle with stress and depression, and offers a weekly online Bible study to 17,000 subscribers.

Together, Sharon, Gwen, and Mary share Girlfriends in God online devotions that are read by approximately 500,000 readers daily.

Join the Girlfriends In God here:   www.GirlfriendsInGod.com/TrustingGod

I wish to whole heartedly thank the Girlfriends In God for providing me a complimentary copy of this book for my review.

Madman by Tracy L. Groot

I've seen many great reviews of this book by other readers, but for me, I just found it hard to get into.  I lost interest in the story almost immediately and for me, it was a struggle to keep reading it.  Guess it's just me, as others found it riveting and couldn't put it down.  For me, this one just 'hit' me.  It was a dark story, of course it's based on the biblical account of the Gerasene demoniac, which isn't a pleasant story in itself.  I just didn't connect to the story, so for me, it wasn't enjoyable.  I seldom come across a book that I give a negative review to and unfortunately for me, this is one of them.


I wish to thank the people at Moody Publishing for the complimentary copy to review.

How To Interpret Dreams and Visions by Perry Stone

Perry Stone is an amazing prophetic biblical teacher and his books are wonderful.  It's great that he writes on topics that not many Christian authors cover, but each of his books has a solid biblical foundation.

There is no question that every person will have a dream at one point or another. Some will even have visions. But both experiences often leave people searching for interpretations. What did the dream mean? Is it a warning? Is it advice? Is it preparation for things to come?

How to Interpret Dreams and Visions was a must read for me because, for one I love Perry Stone's teachings, but this is a subject that I find fascinating.  Reading secular books about dreams can lead the reader down a dangerous path away from God. Perry Stone educates and informs the reader about what God is trying to tell us through our dreams and he educates us well.


Most people dream nightly so it seems fitting to own at least one book like this. Many books on this subject have a more worldly meaning, with much of the interpretation being bent toward psychic or generic meaning to symbolism. It's good to know it's okay to ponder and research dreams and visions as a Christian, without feeling like you are dabbling in the occult. Stone lets us know we need to be just as aware of evil spiritual life from hell, as we do spiritual life from God in heaven. Stone repeatedly refers to Job 33 though out the book. Job 33:14-18 "For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep falls on people, as they slumber in their beds. He may speak in their beds and terrify them with warnings to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword." 

The only drawback that I seen in the book is in the very back, Stone lists many dream symbols and their meanings but the list could have included more.  Several dreams I've had have included symbols that I couldn't find listed in the book and it would've been nice to know what they meant.

I wish to thank the people at Charisma House for the complimentary copy of this book for my review.

The Very Heart of Worship: Study Edition to Knowing and Believing God Is by Cypress Ministries

I read a lot of books and taken numerous classes, all devoted to knowing God more and I have to say that The Very Heart of Worship is among the best studies I've seen in getting into the heart of worshiping the God who created everything.  The author did a fantastic job in showing that God is who He says He is by studying some of the names and attributes of God found in the book of Nehemiah.  Everything written in this book is grounded deeply in Scripture - which is important when studying to deepen your understanding of God.  I took time to actually go through this study - doing the included devotional and workbook/journal sections, which added to the depth of understanding from the text.  I could easily see sharing this with my students.  This is the first self-published work I've read and aside from a few small typos and an oddly worded sentence, which probably would've been picked up during the editing process with a publishing house, this self-published book is excellent.  I would highly recommend it for anyone seeking to deepen their walk with the Lord.

When I review books, I seldom, if ever include the pre-written book description or information about the author, but I decided that it should be included.

Book Description

The Very Heart of Worship is a penetrating examination of what it means to know, believe, and worship the one and only God, who is truly available and able to help those in need of hope and healing. The book serves as a lighted path to spiritual healing and health for believers and other pilgrims struggling to make sense of life’s twists and turns. As it highlights several names of God, including Liberator, Counselor, Provider, Teacher, Healer, and Deliverer, readers are introduced to the many facets of God and His diverse personality. Perhaps contrary to popular belief, God is presented here as the One who desires and delights in a dynamic personal relationship with each and every one of us. Whether you are a longtime believer, a relatively recent convert, or simply someone seeking to learn more about the God of the Bible, The Very Heart of Worship invites you to dispose of your preconceived notions of the nature of God. For readers of all persuasions, it is a welcome invitation to know God and not simply more about God. This Personal Study Guide Edition includes the complete Devotional Study and is created in a workbook style with questions and journaling space in between each chapter to make for a more personal study.  Also includes 3 bonus sections of "A Worshiper’s Heart Bible Study Series" helping the reader go deeper in their study of God's Word and creating a personal journaling workbook to help you to grow in your personal relationship with God.

About the Author

First and foremost, Cypress Ministries is a worship ministry focused on helping others who are hungry for God's Word and thirsty for a deeper relationship with God the Father and the way of Christ. Our sole purpose is to help others who are seeking to grow in their daily walk with God, while listening to the leading of God's Holy Spirit who lives in us and to grow closer in Him. Stepping out and learning to walk with the Lord on the path that He would lead us. We see ourselves simply as His servants, working to make His Name Know, and honoring Him in all that we do. 

I wish to thank the publisher for sending me this complimentary copy for my review.

A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston

A Gift of Grace: Kauffman Amish Bakery Series #1

In this first installment of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, we're introduced to the Kauffman family of Bird-in-Hand, PA.  Life is turned upside down for Rebecca Kauffman when she becomes the guardian of her two English teenage nieces, after Rebecca's sister, Grace and her husband are killed in an automobile accident.  Grace, left her Amish life in Bird-in-Hand to pursue life among the English and go to college, knowing there was more to her life than just the plain Amish lifestyle.  Rebecca and her husband, Daniel, bring the teenage girls back to Bird-in-Hand from their home in Virginia Beach, VA and their life is forever changed.  Rebecca believes that through all the trials of raising these English teenage nieces is God's will and a way for her to finally be a mother (she's been barren for the entire 15 years of marriage to Daniel).  Jessica is rebellious and resistant to the change brought into her life, as well as the grief and guilt she's carrying about her parents' death.  She finds the plain Amish life way to strict and harsh for her liking.  Younger sister, Lindsay, settles into the Amish lifestyle much easier, but is caught in the middle, as her aunt's and uncle's marriage becomes strained.  Rebecca battles her own inner turmoils, as she wonders if she can be a good mother to these two girls, remain in her marriage to Daniel, and trust her faith in God to work things out for the good.  While most of the issues get wrapped up by the end of the story, there are just enough loose details to make you want to move on to the next book of the series.

Thanks to the people at Zondervan Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book for my review.

101 Bible Adventures: The Ultimate Quest for Truth

Publisher's Description: 101 Bible Adventures offers kids a high-energy, adventure-filled approach to reading, interacting with, and learning life lessons from the Scriptures. It takes 101 favorite adventure-filled stories from the New Living Translation and puts them into one amazing book. Each Bible story has a brief overview so kids can get a bird's-eye view of the story, a key verse that sums up its meaning, and a Read and Learn application section that challenges kids to make their faith active. 101 Bible Adventures gives kids a great way to explore the Scriptures while highlighting concepts such as building good character; the importance of having good role models; and themes such as forgiveness, love, and God's wonderful plan for our lives.

 The 101 Bible Adventures in this book are totally amazing!  It will make an excellent resource for any church's children's ministry.  The overviews are written in a way that children will get great background information on each story, there is a key verse for each story that sums up the meaning and the Read & Learn section will help kids activate their faith.  The kids will just love exploring Scripture with this companion book!

Thanks to the great people at Tyndale Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book for my review.

Sisters of the Quilt by Cindy Woodsmall

Sisters of the Quilt by Cindy Woodsmall is the entire Hannah Lapp trilogy in one volume.  The book is comprised of the following stories:

When the Heart Cries
This was an edge-of-your-seat, heart pounding story set among the Amish.  I was drawn into this book right from the start - it was a "sit down, hang on tight, roller coaster ride" through the entire story.  After 19 year old Hannah Lapp's secure Amish life is turned upside down after "the unmentionable" happens to her, all aspects of her life begin to spiral out of control.  Her parents turn on her, she loses the love of her life, her sister spreads horrible falsehoods about her throughout the community, and Hannah decides she needs to leave her Lancaster community behind in search of the aunt she never knew about until finding a letter hidden by her father.  I was so sorry to see this book end...and it left me on the train with Hannah Lapp, so curious as to what will cross her path in the next book of the series.


When the Morning Comes
Hannah's arrival in Alliance, Ohio isn't all roses.  The train depot for Alliance is basically non-existent anymore and without knowing anyone, she's left to find her own way into town.  After spending the night on the street, she's in desperate need of some medical attention.  She finally meets her estranged aunt and settles into Englisher life - training to become a nurse, falling in love with Martin, caring for her aged aunt...until she gets word from home that her life-long friend, Matthew is seriously injured in a fire.


When the Soul Mends
Hoping to help her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community she fled in disgrace more than two years earlier. When hidden truths are revealed about her former fiancé, she must choose whether to return to the Plain life or to the Englischer man who adores her in this captivating conclusion to the Sisters of the Quilt series. 

Without giving too much away about each story, I have to say of all the Amish fiction I've read, this series is my All-Time favorite!  There were just enough twists and turns throughout each individual story, that the ultimate outcome wasn't easy to predict, but I was happy at how it all turned out.  I highly recommend this book series.  Cindy Woodsmall is one of the best storytellers of Amish fiction I've come across!  She doesn't just focus on her main characters, but her secondary characters are so well rounded and fit into the story in ways that sure don't keep them in the shadows.  This was an incredible series!  Bravo, Cindy Woodsmall!

Thanks to the wonderful folks at WaterBrook-Multnomah, through their Blogging for Books program for the complimentary copy of this book for my review.