Thursday, September 26, 2019

Review + GIVEAWAY: Stitches in Time by Suzanne Woods Fisher

About the Book

Book: Stitches in Time
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Contemporary Amish fiction
Release Date: October 1, 2019

Detachment had worked well as a life strategy for horse trainer Sam Schrock. Until he met Mollie Graber . . .

New to Stoney Ridge, schoolteacher Mollie has come to town for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke Schrock, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she’s the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child’s heart and knit them back together.

Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights. What the 11-year-old twins bring to her home is anything but. Visits from the sheriff at midnight. Phone calls from the school truancy officer. And then the most humiliating moment of all: the girls accuse Mollie of drug addiction.

There’s only one thing that breaks through the girls’ hard shell–an interest in horses. Reluctantly and skeptically, Sam Schrock gets drawn into Mollie’s chaotic life. What he didn’t expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches in his own heart . . . just in time.

Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the little Amish church of Stoney Ridge for a touching story of the power of love.

Click here to get your copy!

My thoughts

Suzanne Woods Fisher has become one of my favorite authors and any one of her books is a gem. I’ve always said that, due to their complexity and timeless message, the appeal of Fisher’s novels extends beyond the Amish genre, and that has never been more true than with this newest release, Stitches in Time. Character depth, spiritual and emotional growth, relevant issues, and humor seamlessly blend together in this enjoyable and memorable story.

Ah, the community of Stoney Ridge! If you’ve read earlier books Stoney Ridge books, you will undoubtedly remember Luke and Sam. They captured my heart as young boys with difficult family circumstances that would negatively impact their lives. Luke is now a young man of faith and married to Izzy – but as Luke is often painfully reminded, the Amish have long memories. This story also focuses on Sam and the budding attraction between him and schoolteacher Mollie. However, nothing could make for a better storyline than someone nominating Luke for deacon and his drawing of the lot.

Stitches in Time has many strengths, but two elements especially resonated with me. First is the way relevant social issues are featured – infertility, parental abandonment, troubled children, foster care – all so effectively handled with the author’s trademark grace and humor. Foster care touches many lives – from Luke’s efforts to fulfill a promise and Izzy’s closed-door treatment of this subject, to Mollie’s desire to foster and Sam’s insight and help.

Also impactful is the Good Shepherd theme woven throughout. I loved Izzy’s bond with the sheep and how she was surprised to learn of the Bible’s numerous shepherd passages. Stitches in Time is a beautiful reflection of Christ as our Good Shepherd, making this “I Am” Scripture, as well as Psalm 23, come alive for readers.

Stitches in Time is a “best of the best” read for me, very highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Carol-award winner Suzanne Woods Fisher writes untold stories about inspiring people. With over one million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction, ranging from Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World to the historical novel Anna’s Crossing.

More from Suzanne

Have you ever felt the tug to become a foster parent?

On any given day, there are nearly 438,000 children in foster care in the United States. Most states have a critical need for more foster parents, and the number of children placed in foster care increases yearly.

There are plenty of assumptions about having foster children, but most are incorrect. The media has a tendency to focus on the negative, but from all the research I conducted to write this book, for every bad news story, there were two good ones. Good stories just don’t make the news.

Below are some of the most common assumptions about foster care, with corrected information that is applicable across the United States (but keep in mind that each state has their own requirements).

Myth: Kids in foster care are bad or troubled.
Truth: Children in foster care are good kids taken out of a troubled situation. They need a caring foster parent who is patient and understanding. When given the opportunity, most of these children begin to thrive.

Myth: To be a foster parent, you need to be married and own a home and be a college graduate.
Truth: You don’t need to be married or to own a home or even be a college graduate. That means if you’re single or renting, you can be a foster parent.

Myth: I can’t afford to be a foster parent.
Truth: There are monthly reimbursement rates for children in foster care based on the level of care you provide. Medical and dental care is paid through state Medicaid programs.

Myth: Most kids in foster care are teenagers.
Truth: The average age of a child entering foster care is seven years old.

Myth: Most kids are in foster care because their parents have abused drugs.
Truth: Now, this one is not a myth. It’s true. There are fifteen categories that can be responsible for a child’s removal from a home. Drug abuse from a parent has had the largest percentage increase.

Myth: Fostering could require a commitment until the child turns eighteen.
Truth: Generally, children remain in state care for less than two years. Only six percent spend five or more years in foster care.

Myth: It’s too hard to give a child up to his biological family.
Truth: Most children are in foster care for a short time, returning to their biological families. Reuniting a child to his family is the ideal situation. Foster families provide a safe haven for a child. Healthy grieving is to be expected, but it’s for the right reasons. It’s healthy.

Myth: You can’t adopt foster children.
Truth: In 2016, more than 65,000 children—whose mothers and fathers parental rights were legally terminated—waiting to be adopted. Also in 2016, more than 20,000 children “aged out” of foster care without permanent families. Research has shown that those who leave care without being linked to a “forever family” have a higher likelihood than the general youth population to experience homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration as adults.

Is there room in your heart and family for a child in need? There are many ways to get involved, some that do not even require foster care. One recommendation: volunteer with The National CASA Association (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children. You can find out more information here: www.casaforchildren.org.

Or consider small ways to connect to children in need—after school tutoring at your public library. Volunteering at a community center. Buy Christmas gifts for a family in need through an Adopt-a-Family program with a local church. Support a family who does provide foster care with respites—babysitting or meals. There’s many ways to get involved to care for children in need. And every little bit makes a difference.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of her book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the image above or the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ec6a/stitches-in-time-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, September 26

The Becca Files, September 26

SusanLovesBooks, September 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 26

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 27

Through the Fire Blogs, September 27

Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife, September 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 28

Inspiration Clothesline, September 28

Texas Book-aholic, September 28

Book bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, September 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 29

Blogging With Carol , September 29

Hookmeinabook , September 29

The Avid Reader, September 30

Mia Reads, September 30

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 30

janicesbookreviews, October 1

My Devotional Thoughts, October 1

Maureen’s Musings, October 1

CarpeDiem, October 1

For Him and My Family, October 2

Stories By Gina, October 2

Activating Faith, October 2

A Reader’s Brain, October 3

EmpowerMoms, October 3

Wishful Endings, October 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 3

Carla Loves To Read, October 4

Pause for Tales, October 4

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 4

Inklings and notions , October 5

Quiet Quilter, October 5

Vicky Sluiter, October 5

Hallie Reads, October 5

Blossoms and Blessings, October 6

For The Love of Books , October 6

For the Love of Literature, October 6

Bigreadersite, October 7

By The Book, October 7

She Lives to Read, October 7

Moments, October 8

Southern Gal Loves to Read, October 8

Girls in White Dresses, October 8

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, October 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 9

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Review + GIVEAWAY: Letters from Jesus by Chris Palmer

About the Book

Book: Letters from Jesus
Author: Chris Palmer
Genre: Religion / Biblical Studies/History & Culture
Release Date: September 10, 2019

“In Revelation 2:2, Jesus tells the church in Ephesus something intimate—Google Street View intimate. He says, ‘I know your works’ (Oida ta erga sou). Four words don’t seem like much, but in the Greek, it packs a punch.… Jesus chooses the Greek word oida, which expresses total, comprehensive knowledge. It is intimate knowledge that comes from being up close and personal. This knowledge isn’t hazy on the details. It doesn’t struggle to remember. It preserves the particulars. In the mind’s eye, everything is sharp and clear, like a well-taken photograph.” —Chris Palmer

Letters from Jesus: Studies from the Seven Churches of Revelation explores Christ’s warnings to the seven most prominent churches in Asia Minor in the book of Revelation. These letters date back to 95 A.D., but they help us make a fascinating discovery about civilization: life hasn’t changed that much over the last two millennia. Author Chris Palmer illustrates the truths contained in the Letters from Jesus using modern, everyday day examples. The host of the popular podcast Greek for the Week, he unpacks Greek words and phrases in these verses from Revelation with humor, joy, and biblical scholarship.

Why study Greek, even just a little bit? As Chris explains, looking at the New Testament in the original language in which it was written can offer us some beautiful insights into God’s Word. “It’s like reading the Bible in high definition,” he says. Also, “studying God’s Word in the original language forces us to approach it with reverence and awe, humbling ourselves to obey what it says, whether it’s something we want to hear or not.”

Click here for your copy.

My thoughts

Letters from Jesus: Studies from the Seven Churches of Revelation by Chris Palmer is a jewel. The word “Greek” on the cover might be a little off putting to some, but nothing could be more personable and down to earth than this study. Palmer is a skilled and knowledgeable communicator, and the topic – Jesus’ letters to seven churches in Asia Minor – couldn’t be more relevant for us today.

I took a semester of Greek while in Bible college many years ago – not long enough to fully grasp a wealth of learning that would last a lifetime, but long enough to comprehend how vital a knowledge of the original Greek language is to our clear understanding of God’s Word. Greek is a formidable language; Palmer makes the meaning of key words and phrases not only easy to understand, but interesting. There’s often a sharper meaning than that conveyed by our English words.

The book’s topic is one that I’ve always found fascinating, but never actually studied in depth. (One of my college classes was called James to Revelation, but we never made it to Revelation.) Even if you’ve never studied Jesus’ letters, I’m pretty sure you’ll recognize some of these passages from them …

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4)
“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:4-5)
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline…” (Revelation 3:19)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

The book is laid out in seven main sections, each one addressing a particular church. Chapters are four pages in length, ending with a short prayer, reflective activity, and Scripture references for additional insight. Each chapter begins with a phrase from the letter, with certain words highlighted, and the study delves into the Greek meaning behind those words.

Palmer points out in the introduction that we might find a lot of ourselves in one of the churches, or a little of ourselves in all the churches – and he’s exactly right. I learned a lot from this book and a lot about myself. Letters from Jesus would work well for personal study or in a small group setting. I had to read at a steady pace for review purposes but look forward to digging deeper very soon.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

The Rev. Chris Palmer is the founder and pastor of Light of Today Church in Novi, Michigan, and founder of Chris Palmer Ministries. He is host of the popular podcast, Greek for the Week, seen on several Internet platforms.
Chris began in full-time ministry in 2006 and began to preach internationally in 2009, helping many congregations grow, flourish, and expand. His desire for missions is to train and educate pastors, encourage congregations, support the vision of local church, and show the love of God to the culture. He has done this successfully for a decade in over forty nations of the world in Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean, working with both traditional churches and the underground/persecuted church.
Chris earned a B.A. in Pastoral Studies from North Central University and an M.A. in Exegetical Theology, magna cum laude, from Moody Theological Seminary. He is a sought-after Greek scholar for his ability to make God’s Word come alive in a unique way from the Greek. Chris is often invited to present Greek and hermeneutics workshops at Bible and ministry schools.
He recently began working on his Ph.D. at University Wales, Bangor, in the area of Johannine Literature, particularly the book of Revelation. His previous self-published books include Living as a Spirit: Hearing the Voice of God on Purpose, The 85 Questions You Ask When You Begin a Relationship with God, The Believer’s Journey, and Escaping the Haunting Past: A Handbook for Deliverance.

More from Chris

Experience the Bible in high definition and learn some Greek with fun, easy lessons from pastor/scholar Chris Palmer.

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Chris is giving away a grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card, copy of LETTERS FROM JESUS, copy of HEBREW WORD STUDY!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the image above or the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/e808/letters-from-jesus-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 14

The Power of Words, September 15

Through the Lens of Scripture, September 16

Godly Book Reviews, September 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 19

My Devotional Thoughts, September 20

Mary Hake, September 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 21

For the Love of Literature, September 22

Retrospective Spines, September 23

Texas Book-aholic, September 24

A Reader’s Brain, September 25

A Diva’s Heart, September 25

janicesbookreviews, September 26

Inklings and notions , September 27

Spotlight + GIVEAWAY: As the Light Fades by Catherine West

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for As the Light Fades by Catherine West, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: As the Light Fades

Author: Catherine West

Release Date: September 10, 2019

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Sometimes we’re placed in the strangest of circumstances for the most important reasons.

After her carefully constructed life crumbles, Liz Carlisle finds herself back on Nantucket, picking up the pieces. With the family estate under renovations, the solitude she craves seems out of reach.

Matthew Stone intends to steer clear of his new tenant. She’s carrying a load of baggage, but as long as she pays the rent, he’ll let her be. He’s got enough to deal with caring for his wayward niece, Mia.

Liz doesn’t have time for teenagers and her track record with men is abysmal, but an unlikely friendship forms between the three.

When her former boyfriend is charged with assault, Liz is called to testify against him. But he knows the darkest secrets of her life—secrets she’d hoped to keep buried forever, and he’s ready to reveal them. Telling the truth is the right thing to do, but it may cost her everything she’s worked so hard for, and all she’s come to love.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon

EXCERPT:

She’s here again. The pretty one. Can’t remember her name, although I think I said it earlier, when she arrived. They told me this morning it was Sunday, and she always comes on Sunday. We sit in the day room, where they have the television turned so loud nobody can hear themselves think.
Ha.
Considering the nut-jobs around here, that’s probably a jolly good thing.
“Did you have a good week, Dad? How was your lunch today?” Always full of questions, this one. She’s agitated, winding her blond hair around her fingers the way her mother used to do. Her blue eyes search my face, pierce through me, and I have to smile. She’s so much like her.
“Diana.” I say it loud, this little victory. This snatch of memory that will be gone in another instant. “Your mother. You look just like her.”
She stares at me like I’ve stood up, hand over heart, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Which I never bothered to remember even when I had a mind that worked. My British pride wouldn’t allow it.

Excerpt From: Catherine West. “As the Light Fades.” iBooks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine West is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband reside in Bermuda, and have two adult children and two beautiful granddaughters. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew, 2017 and Where Hope Begins, 2019, and a Carol Award Finalist for Where Hope Begins. Her latest novel, As the Light Fades, releases September 2019.

Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com

CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $75 Amazon gift card from the author!

Be sure to check out each stop on these tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour shown below. Giveaway begins at midnight September 11, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Review + GIVEAWAY: A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly

A Night’s Tail
By Sofie Kelly
Magical Cats Mystery #11
Berkley, 2019

Summary

Librarian Kathleen Paulson’s brother, Ethan, and his band, The Flaming Gerbils, are spending some time in Mayville Heights. Ethan and his band-mate, Derek, are giving a song-writing workshop at the St. James Hotel when they stumble upon the body of Lewis Wallace. The former football player was considering the town for the site of his newest business venture.

However, not everyone was a fan of the brash ex-athlete, who had a failed business, some disgruntled customers, and several lawsuits in his past. Did he make a new enemy, or did Lewis Wallace’s past finally catch up with him? It’s up to Kathleen—with some furry assistance from her talented cats, Owen and Hercules—to figure out who was trying to settle the score.

Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Indiebound

My thoughts

There’s so much to adore in A Night’s Tail, Sofie Kelly’s charming new release in the Magical Cats series! I quickly became immersed in this story and enjoyed every minute spent with Kathleen and her “special” cats, Hercules and Owen. Characters are well drawn, the writing flows smoothly, and the cats have me wrapped around their little paws. I hope there will be many more stories to enjoy in this series.

Kathleen is an intelligent, caring leading lady, easy to connect with. I love her strong network of family and friends. Her brother, Ethan, plays a large part in this story, as does his band. There’s lots of characters – and suspects – but I was able to keep them straight, even without having read every one of the previous novels in the series.

I loved two things that are different from most other cozy mysteries that I read. One, Kathleen’s boyfriend, Detective Marcus, never gets upset at her involvement in the investigative process. Kathleen is smart, thinks before acting, and there’s a mutual respect between them in addition to some sweet chemistry. Secondly, Kathleen doesn’t act foolishly and put herself in dangerous situations. All this makes for such pleasant reading!

The action begins when several characters are gathered for an evening out at The Brick and witness a drunk attacking a Veteran’s service dog. The drunk, later a murder victim, turns out to be a man who is planning on opening a business in their lovely town of Mayville Heights, Minnesota. Shady business practices might be involved, as well as a past history. Kathleen’s involvement stems from her concern that Ethan might have some connection to the events. The mystery theme is logical, well-paced, and I enjoyed watching everything unfold.

While I don’t usually care for fantasy, it works well in this story. Kathleen talks to her cats; I talk to my cats! And a cat’s movements are so quick and unexplained that Owen’s disappearing in front of your eyes and the ability of Hercules to walk through walls don’t seem all that far-fetched. I also loved that Marcus has adopted a kitten that just might have some “special” ability as well.

A Night’s Tail is thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to many more adventures with these characters – and Hercules and Owen, of course.

Recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

Sofie Kelly writes the New York Times bestselling Magical Cats mysteries that feature librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two very special cats, Owen and Hercules, who have a magical knack for solving crime. As Sofie Ryan she is the author of the New York Times bestselling Second Chance Cat mystery series. She lives on the east coast with her husband and daughter.

Website

GIVEAWAY

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Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Review + GIVEAWAY: Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook

Buried in the Stacks
By Allison Brook
A Haunted Library Mystery #3
Crooked Lane Books, 2019

Summary

Librarian Carrie Singleton is building a haven, but one of her neighbors is misbehavin’. Can resident spirit Evelyn help Carrie catch the culprit who made her a ghost?

In winter, the Haunted Library is a refuge for homeless townspeople. When a group purchases a vacant house to establish a daytime haven for the homeless, Carrie offers the library as a meeting place for the Haven House committee, but quickly learns that it may be used for illegal activities.

As the new Sunshine Delegate, Carrie heads to the hospital to visit her cantankerous colleague, Dorothy, who had fallen outside the local supermarket. She tells Carrie that her husband tried to kill her–and that he murdered her Aunt Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost, six years earlier.

And then Dorothy is murdered–run off the road as soon as she returns to work. Evelyn implores Carrie to find her niece’s killer, but that’s no easy task: Dorothy had made a hobby of blackmailing her neighbors and colleagues. Carrie, Evelyn, and Smoky Joe the cat are on the case, but are the library cards stacked against them?

Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

My thoughts

Buried in the Stacks is an entertaining cozy mystery and I am glad to have discovered the writing of Allison Brook. Setting plays an important part in the story – the small New England town of Clover Ridge, Connecticut for one, but especially that of the town library. Many of the recurring series characters work there – and then there’s the library cat, Smoky Joe, and the library’s resident ghost, Evelyn. Although I’ve not read the previous two books, enough background is given so that this story can stand alone.

I loved how a relevant and compelling social issue is featured, that of the homeless. Winter in Clover Ridge causes some homeless individuals and families to seek daytime shelter in the library, which can lead to tension with library patrons. The author does a good job at helping us see this group as individuals with some background stories and I appreciated that the community was willing to work toward a solution.

Carrie is a strong, caring and appealing leading lady. Her cat, Smoky Joe, adds a lot to the story, and even contributes to the murderer’s capture toward the end. The murder victim in this story, Dorothy, was not well liked due to her abrasive personality – and then there was her habit of snooping around, gathering people’s secrets, and proceeding to blackmail them. Obviously, there were several potential suspects! And then there was Haven House – a local facility meant to provide daytime shelter for the homeless, but was not all that it seemed as criminal elements were discovered.

I’m not sure how I feel about Carrie’s romantic relationship with Dylan, which has been slowly progressing through the series. I didn’t sense much chemistry between them and Carrie seems to feel insecure in the relationship, especially as Dylan makes a major career decision without involving Carrie. I’d kind of like for Dylan to fade out of the picture because Carrie deserves so much better.

Buried in the Stacks comes to a satisfying conclusion, with the ending nicely setting up the next book, which involves Carrie’s mother. Their relationship seems strained to say the least, so we should have some good storytelling to look forward to.

The only negatives for me … I would have liked a little more character depth on the whole, and the occasional use of mild profanity was a disappointment. Still a good read overall, one that cozy mystery fans should enjoy.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

Allison Brook is the pseudonym for Marilyn Levinson, who writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. She lives on Long Island and enjoys traveling, reading, watching foreign films, doing Sudoku and dining out. She especially loves to visit with her grandchildren on FaceTime.

Website │ Amazon │ Facebook │ Goodreads │ Twitter │ Pinterest

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Monday, September 9, 2019