Books Read/Spotlighted/Reviewed in October

          I read and spotlighted a lot of good books this month!
Using Picasa because PicMonkey wouldn't work for me.  A randomly spaced Mosaic.  

Coming soon. Links here to all the reviews and spotlights.  Can't wait?  You can visit My Journey Back to read the reviews.  Click on my Book Reviews tab for a list of the reviews. 

Linking with Create With Joy, The Art Of Homemaking, Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life, Blue Monday

Mine 2 by J Kahele Blog Tour

                   Excerpts: Mine 2 by J Kahele

Welcome to my tour stop of Mine 2 by J Kahele.  The tour runs from August 24-28 and you can follow the tour here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Andrew Carington falls in love with Jenna Kramer, he takes on the emotional and physical ghosts that haunt her past. He believed he was the cure for Jenna and love could get them through anything. But her controlling and abusive ex-husband Ben Kramer will never let her go and Andrew finds himself plummeting into a world of hate and fear. The only way Andrew will find his happy ever after with Jenna, is to rid Ben Kramer of their lives—permanently.

Goodreads | Amazon

TRAILER LINK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZq8TcXaD_c

EXCERPTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am a proud mother of three daughters who are my absolute complete existence. I write to relieve the scattered thoughts that stream through my mind, constantly. My biggest downfall is that I am a huge procrastinator, which makes my life at times hectic!

Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Website | Blog

Cold -Case Christianity For Kids-Review-Spotlight

Starting with .  . . This book received  resounding applause and
  huge thumbs up!  I wish I had this book when our 16 year old grandson was younger!  Just the title gets the young reader interested!
Here's what the book is about (provided by Litfuse)...
In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children’s companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. Includes author illustrations and links to a website where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit.

Here's a little peek inside . . . 

There are a lot of  illustrations one on every page!   And they are great!  It reads a little like a comic book in that there are so many illustrations.  

I liked the Detective Definitions in the boxes on the margins.  The definitions contained great resources. The CSI Assignments made the book interactive with activities leading the reader to additional scripture and causing him/her to think about they are reading and learning. 

I did feel though that an additional journal or work book might be effective.  Although I think the 

Definitions, CSI Assignments and The Detective Bag are great additions I felt the printing was too 

small.  There are questions and the area where the reader is to write is way too small for a young reader to fill in the blanks. 

There are down loadable questions available but I would be more interested in a printed journal or 

workbook. 

At the end of the book is a certificate of achievement.  I thought this was great.  My 8 year old grandson will love receiving the certificate!  

This was an excellent book that I recommend for everyone! 

Parents, homeschooling parents, and church leaders.  Great gift item!

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse. 

This review is posted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBC and Goodreads.

A Sister's Wish-Book Review and Giveaway

A Sister's Wish-Shelley Shepard Gray-Review/Giveaway

                                                                 Click Here To Enter

About the book... (provided by Litfuse)

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get… but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past…unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

And I thought...They keep getting better!  A Sister's Wish is book 3 in the Charmed Series.
And well I think it was my favorite!

 I loved the being reintroduced to some of the characters from the first two books.  But I really 'fell in love' with Simon and his story and plight.  His struggling childhood that lead to bad mistakes as a younger adult brought him to where he is now.  A strong man that has realized his faith is worthy and he is worthy.

I loved the introduction to his sister Tess and their plans to help other people.  Women and children and families that have struggled with family abuse.

Abuse is not a topic that you would expect in this type of book/story.  Shelley does a fabulous job of weaving together a story that keeps you spellbound.

I really enjoyed A Sister's Wish and look forward with some sadness to reading the last book in the series An Amish Family Christmas

                                               Do they really have to end?
                                             Please Shelley say it 'Ain't So'!

Here's a little peek into An Amish Family Christmas . . . 
   

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love. 

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.

But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true…

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually…perhaps even sharing her life with him.

Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together…in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

For information about the Author please visit her website.

I received a complimentary copy of A Sister's Wish from Litfuse.

The review of A Sister's Wish is posted at Amazon,Barnes and Noble,
 CBC and Good Reads.

Life Creative-Book Review With Giveaway

                                           The Giveaway is all the way at the bottom!
About the book (provided by Litfuse)

Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom(Kregel, September 2016)

What was God thinking when He created you creative and then gave you children?

Creative moms often feel as though they must lay their passions down. But God had something special in mind for the creative woman during this intense season of mothering.

In this Pinterest age of handcrafted children's parties, Instagram photos of beautifully decorated homes, and blogs filled with poetry and prose, it is clear that we are in the midst of a brand new artistic renaissance. Not one born in Italian cathedrals or Harlem jazz clubs, but rather in kitchens, nurseries, and living rooms around the world. Mothers, working in the cracks and crevices of each hectic day, are adorning the world with their gifts, and they're showing all of us the beauty of this Life Creative.

In this book, you'll learn:

-Why the world needs your art

-How this Life Creative begins at home

-When art can turn a profit

-Your part in this modern day Renaissance

Life Creative paints the stories of moms, just like you, who are fitting their inspired lives into the everyday, ordinary places of motherhood. Women like home decorator Melissa Michaels and jewelry designer Lisa Leonard, author Angie Smith, recording artist Ellie Holcomb, and many more.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2bDsqfz

About The Authors:

Wendy Speake is a trained actress and heartfelt teacher. She ministers to women's hearts through storytelling and life applications, utilizing drama, comedy, poetry and the study of God's Word. During her career in Hollywood, Speake found herself longing to tell stories that edify and encourage women. She is the author of Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses (BRU Press, 2015). Speake is a wife and homeschooling mother of three boys. 

Kelli Stuart is a writer and a storyteller at heart. She has written for several websites including The Huffington Post, 5 Minutes for Mom, The MOB Society, (in)courage and Compassion International. She is the author of three books, including Like a River from Its Course (Kregel Publications, 2016) and a noted speaker. Stuart her husband live in Florida with their four children.

                                                                              Website | Instagram

And I Thought...
A book filled with helpful inspiration for women.  Although the target audience is busy moms
I think that all women could enjoy it and get a great deal of encouragement.
I think we as women no matter what season we're in can use a little encouragement.
However I feel that the target audience could be bogged down a little.
The book is filled with stories, poetry, quotes and scripture.
I liked the illustrations between parts there were drawings of different things like:
as stand mixer, a whisk,  a music note, a paint pallet, a feather, a camera and more.
The lovely paisley cover design is repeated on every page of the book.
I point these features out because I thought the book was long. It was a lot to read.
The addition of the artwork just makes it longer.
Each chapter is over 10 pages long.  An actually is a lot to read.
It isn't the type of book I feel you can enjoy when you only have small snippets of time in your schedule.   I know when I was young mom and even now with  the busy schedule that I have that I prefer a book that is written with shorter sections to read.
There is great content.
                   

                             Click here to enter the Giveaway

The Captive Heart--Michelle Griep-Book Review

About the book...(provided by Christian Book.com)

Escaping a cruel employer, English governess Eleanor Morgan must settle for the only reputable option available to her in the colonies---marriage to a stranger. Meanwhile, woodsman Samuel Heath is a hardened survivor who's determined to find a mother for his daughter. But no upstanding woman wants to marry a murderer. Will Eleanor be the exception? 

Editorial Reviews (provided by Barnes and Noble)“The Captive Heart is filled with heart-tripping action and romantic tension between a half-Cherokee frontiersman and a proper English governess. Quickly engaging, fast-paced, and set on the American frontier, the novel reminded me of The Last of the Mohicans in all the right ways. Well done, Michelle Griep!”

-Julie Klassen, bestselling author

“Bold and captivatingly beautiful, Captive Heart is a book destined for accolades. Fans of the movies The Patriot and Last of the Mohicans have found new characters to love in Samuel and Eleanor. A masterpiece, from first page to last.”
-Elizabeth Ludwig, author of Tide and Tempest

“Reminiscent of the wildness, adventure, and romance of The Last of the Mohicans, Captive Heart sizzles on every page. This is Michelle Griep's best book yet and one that played out before my eyes like an epic movie I kept wanting to watch over and over.”
-MaryLu Tyndall, author of the award-winning Legacy of the King's Pirates

“I am adding Michelle Griep to my list of favorite authors!”
-Laura Frantz, author of The Mistress of Tall Acre

Oh, wow! Not enough praise can be given to Michelle Griep’s The Captive Heart. This riveting, action-packed adventure set on the American frontier will leave you breathless with its beauty and power. By far, my favorite book of the year.
—Margaret Brownley, author of Left at the Altar

And I thought...

The Captive Heart was my introduction to the works of Michelle Griep.  And; to this era of history.  

I found the story interesting.  I was captivated from page 1.

As I continued reading I was drawn looking forward to the ending.  (in a good way)  This was a fast and easy book to read.  The kind I like.   
I enjoy a good romance.  And a good suspense.  

This book is both.  It is suspenseful from the beginning.  

The Captive Heart is a stand alone novel and not part of a series.  I would like to see more of some of the sub characters in the story.  Eleanor's friends traveled from England as indentured servants and ended up in service in the same town.   

I wasn't captivated by the hero Samuel.  Although he had a personality that was intriguing.  He was closed mouthed and secretive.  

Upon meeting Eleanor he was abrupt and demanding forcing her into marriage.  

The author left this reader a bit annoyed as the intricacies of Samuel's past, present and future unravel.   Although he means well Samuel is allusive, mysterious and closed mouthed.  

Eleanor becomes a  strong woman from her experiences.  
She is honest and open and becomes somewhat fragile once she realizes that she has fallen in love with Samuel.  

Although Samuel and Elanor enter into a marriage of convenience they end romantically involved toward the end of the book.     

Overall The Captive Heart was an great read.  A very good story for any audience.  There is no violence or bedroom scenes.  

I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Books in
exchange for my honest review.  

This review is posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBC
and Good Reads. 
This review will also post on My Journey Back and will be linked at the following blog parties:
The Art of Homemaking, Create With Joy, Share Your Cup,
Share It One More Time, Thursday Favorite Things.