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Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama

The Shenanigans of a Bookish Mama journeying through Motherhood, Homeschooling and lots of Books!

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Kids Faith Krate ~ Review

May 21, 2022

 




My Thoughts


Who does subscription boxes for their kiddos? We’ll have I got good news for you! Check out the Kids Faith Krate.

When I was sent this for review I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I mean I’ve seen other types of subscription boxes but never one that helps parents disciple their children into God’s faith. The best way I can describe it is like having VBS in a box all ready for you with everything laid out so you can just do it! Everything is included. Lessons + crafts = timesaver!!!

As you scroll through the photos you’ll see there’s an:

✅ Overview for Parents
✅ 4 Weekly Bible Lessons
✅ 4 crafts to go along with the lessons

📦 Boxes are delivered at the beginning of the month so that you have all 4 weeks to walk through the material!

Have multiple kids? No problem! They have subscription boxes for up to 3 kids! And this is for ages 4-10.

We are planning to use our June box for our Bible Time during the summer since we take a lighter workload for the summertime! But this would be an awesome tool for Bible time during homeschool time!

Want to grab one?! Go to the link on my bio and use code “campinabox” to save $10 off your subscription! Let’s keep the kids busy, have fun and strengthen their faith in the process this year!!

@kidsfaithkrate
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The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright ~ Book Review



About the Book 


Book: The Souls of Lost Lake
Author: Jaime Jo Wright
Genre: Christian Mystery Suspense & Romance
Release Date: April 5, 2022
Publisher: Bethany House

Wren Blythe has long enjoyed being among the Northwoods, helping her father with programming at a youth camp. But when a little girl in the area goes missing, an all-out search ensues, reviving the decades-old campfire story of Ava Coons, the murderess, who still roams the woods. Joining the search, Wren stumbles upon the Coons cabin ruins and a rotting porcelain doll. But even more terrifying is seeing her name etched on the doll's foot like a sinister omen.

In 1930, Ava Coons has spent the last ten years carrying the mantle of mystery since she emerged from the forest as an eight-year-old girl, spattered with blood, dragging a logger's axe. She has accepted she'll never remember what happened to her family. When a member of the town of Tempter's Creek is murdered, rumors spread that Ava's secret is more malicious than previously imagined.

Both women discover that to save the innocent, they must face an insidious evil.




My Thoughts 


Wow, wow, wow!! I love Jaime Jo Wright books and I have read quite a few of them but I think this was the best one. I don't want to divulge too much because I don't want to ruin it for you so let's see what I can tell you. You know I have mentioned before that there are authors that master the craft of dual time writing and some that do not. Well, Jaime Jo Wright definitely does. She transports you to two different timelines and does it with complete ease. 

In this story you are transported back to the 1930's in a small town in which a horrible murder has occurred and the only living survivor is Ava Coons. A young girl whom everyone blames for this tragic occurrence but no one can truly prove. We also get transported to present time in a youth camp with Wren Blythe and her very interesting family. 

There is SO much to this story. I mean the twists and turns that I did not expect at all were mesmerizing. There was also a tender moment which I had to reach for the tissues. There is tons of mystery that captures you from the very beginning and has so staying up way too late to see what happens (with the light on of course!) There is romance and it is quite delightful! The best part of this story is the thread of faith that Mrs. Wright puts into this story. While all that is happening there is a story of forgiveness and redemption that is flawless and builds up in this story and I absolutely loved it. 

If you enjoy the kind of suspense that keeps you at the edge of your seat then this is definitely the book for you it is so good and you'll need to block some time off because you won't want to put it down.

My Rating: 5 Stars/LOVED IT!!!

I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review All views expressed are only my honest review. 








About the Author




Daphne du Maurier and Christy Award-Winning author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing suspenseful, mysteries stained with history's secrets. Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimewrightbooks.com! 
 

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To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano ~ Book Review

May 16, 2022

 



About the Book 


Book: To Disguise the Truth
Author: Jen Turano
Series: The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, Book 3
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: January 18, 2022

When a man arrives at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire them to find a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her . . . and that she may no longer be able to hide under the disguise that has kept her safe for so long.

Arthur Livingston's goal in life is to make his mark on the world as a mining industrialist, but after the man who could help him achieve his goal is murdered, Arthur feels compelled to seek justice for the family—but he's left with more questions than answers after the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency refuses to take on his case.

Desperate to conceal her real identity and avoid the irritatingly handsome Arthur, Eunice takes on a different case that requires her to go deep undercover and entangles her in one troublesome situation after another. When other secrets come to light, Eunice has no choice but to confront her past, hopeful that it will set her free but knowing it could very well place her life—and the lives of those she loves—in jeopardy.



My Thoughts 


Ever since the first book I have been wanting to know more about Eunice and I finally got to read all about her and it was so much fun! If you have read the series so far you will know that the character of Eunice was unique and a bit mysterious. I mean the gal wore all black and a gigantic veil to cover herself. She was constantly in mourning clothes but at the same time she started the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency to help others. So she has an adventurous streak to her and boy do we see everything revealed about her when Arthur Livingston shows up!

Goodness I loved their banter and tension they had. It made this story so entertaining and just kept you reading to see what was going to happen. But it's not all comedy, there is also a mystery surrounding this story and some twists I did not expect. I'm not going to reveal much of the story because it was so good and you should really read it for yourself. I will say that Jen really did a fantastic job with the characters. They were engaging and relatable. Although at first I did not know what to think of Arthur I absolutely loved him. He was the perfect leading gentleman. 

I will say that the ending felt a bit rushed but I think its just me and my greedy reading self. I wanted to know more about the other characters and feel like some could have their own stories. Despite my greediness the ending was good and it closed up the series well. I can't wait to see what her next book will be all about. I highly recommend you grab this one and although technically you could read this as a stand alone but I recommend you grab the first book so you get to know these characters better and get well acquainted with them. 

My Rating: 4 Stars/Really Liked it

I received this book from the publisher Bethany House. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.





About the Author


Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. Readers may find her at www.jenturano.com - https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoaut... , https://www.instagram.com/jenturanoau... or on Twitter at JenTurano@JenTurano.
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Potiphar's Wife by Mesu Andrews ~ Book Review

May 13, 2022

 




About the Book 


Book: Potiphar's Wife
Author: Mesu Andrews
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Publisher: Waterbrook
Release Date: May 24, 2022

The drama of the Old Testament comes to life as one of the Bible's most infamous women longs for Joseph, her husband's servant, in this riveting novel from the award-winning author of Isaiah's Legacy.

Before she is Potiphar's wife, Zuleika is a king's daughter on the isle of Crete, where the sisterhood of women rules in the absence of their seafaring husbands. Now that she's come of age, Zuleika knows she will soon be betrothed. Her father believes his robust trade with Egypt will ensure Pharaoh's obligation to marry his daughter.

But Pharaoh refuses and gives her instead to Potiphar, the captain of his bodyguards--a crusty bachelor twice her age, who would rather have a new horse than a Minoan wife.

Abandoned by her father, rejected by Pharaoh, and humiliated by Potiphar's indifference, Zuleika years for affection. But when her obsession with Joseph, the Hebrew chamberlain with the face and body of the gods, goes terribly wrong, she discovers the truth: Only the God of Joseph can heal her wounded heart.





My Thoughts


Typically Biblical Fiction is not the type of genre that I gravitate towards but when I read it by someone that truly knows how to capture it I am completely hooked. This is my first book by Mesu Andrews and it will definitely not be my last. We all know the story of Joseph but she managed to place my in Egypt and into a world that I could've never have imagined by myself. Now, let me re-state this is Biblical fiction so obviously she has taken liberties with the story however you can also tell that she has done extensive research and she even has author's notes at the end of the story where she tells you where information has come from and where she added her fiction flare to the story. 

It does however give you a "perhaps" or "what-if" thoughts regarding Potiphar's wife, Zuleika or Zully as she is known throughout the story. When reading the Bible story of Joseph we see her as this bad girl but really we don't even know anything about her. This story makes you see her in a new light and although we can't excuse her behavior the fact remains that we all fall short of God's grace. Lucky for us he is a forgiving God. 

I mean while reading you have to feel compassion for her. She is a princess who has just lost both her husband and mother in an earthquake. She sacrifices herself and is willing to go to Egypt and marry Pharaoh in order to rebuild her city which she loves. She gets to Egypt and instead of Pharaoh he gives her to Potiphar and although he is kind to her he doesn't know what it is to be a husband. His main job is to keep Pharaoh alive and although he is kind to Zully he leaves her to tend to his responsibilities. In the midst of all this her best friend Gaios betrays her and she becomes a shell of a woman. There is so much more that happens that I am not going to divulge because you should really read it but all I could see was a broken woman, searching for something that would take her out of the situation she was in. 

I want to believe that there was someone like Ahira and Joseph that may have shown her who Elohim truly was and that she repented and learned to serve Him but we will never know until perhaps our time in Heaven with out Creator where we can ask all the questions of the people in the Bible we have been reading about all this time. 

If you enjoy Biblical Fiction I definitely recommend this one. It will take you on a journey of forgiveness, redemption, mercy and faith. 

My Rating: 5 Stars/Loved it, could not put it down

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


 

About the Author


MESU ANDREWS is the Christy Award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Andrews lives in North Carolina with her husband Roy. She stays connected with readers through newsie emails, fun blog posts, and frequent short stories. For more information, visitMesuAndrews.com. 

Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011, the story of Job) won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) relates the poetic Song of Solomon in story form, and Love in a Broken Vessel(Revell, 2013) sets the story of Hosea and Gomer in biblical Israel. In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) displays God's sovereignty over Jezebel's daughter, Queen Athaliah. The Pharaoh's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015), unveils Moses' early years, and Miriam (2016) introduces Yahweh's prophetess during the ten plagues and the Exodus. Isaiah’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2018) introduces readers to the prophet Isaiah's captivating daughter, and its sequel, Isaiah's Legacy (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2020) , provides the redemptive end to her life and her son Manasseh's reign. To follow Yahweh's progression toward the Messiah, By the Waters of Babylon (August 2018) continues the story of the prophets and kings through the exile, and Of Fire and Lions (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2019) tells Daniel's compelling story. And The Reluctant Rival: Leah's Story tells of Leah, Jacob's neglected wife, and how God used her to change the course of history. And when Joseph's brothers sell him into a life of slavery in Egypt, Jacob's favorite son encounters one of the Bible's most infamous bad girls in, Potiphar's Wife  (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2022).
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The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart ~ Book Review

May 10, 2022

 



About the Book


Book: The Master Craftsman
Author: Kelli Stuart
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: April 5, 2022

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in The House of Faberge, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history--an unknown Faberge Egg that Peter Karl Faberge secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial Czar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance--and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

This modern-day treasure hunt from award-winning author Kelli Stuart transports you into the opulent and treacherous world of the Russian Revolution to unearth mysteries long buried.




 My Thoughts 


This is my first book by this author and when presented to me the summary sounded amazing and it is a dual timeline which is a favorite type of read for me.  Definitely a story that I could get lost in but sadly that wasn't the case for me. There is a lot to be said for this book but I will keep my thoughts brief. Let's start with the positives. I absolutely loved the historical part of this story. The timeline that takes place in Russia was definitely my favorite part of the book. You can tell that the author did extensive research on the Faberge eggs and Faberge himself which I found quite interesting. If she wrote a book solely on that time period I may take a chance on it. 

I know a lot of authors are trying this concept of writing dual timelines and I must say that after reading and reviewing quite a few of them some are more successful than others. I just felt like it was disjointed. The contemporary storyline was a bit slow and hard to get into. The characters were not relatable and I must admit that Ava just grated on my nerves. Oh, and the almost uses of mild cussing was just not necessary I also felt like the ending left some things unresolved which left me in a more blah mood about this book. 

This book had no faith element whatsoever. It had no mentions of anything relating to God whatsoever. I am no prude. I am no "holier than thou" person nor do I pretend to be. I do prefer to read Christian fiction or Clean Fiction that perhaps has nothing to do with religion. So I definitely don't expect every single book that I read to have some type of faith element. However, if a book is published by a Christian publisher I do expect to be some type of mention of God or anything relating to faith. Sadly, that was not the case here. 

Had it not been for her impeccable historical research this book would've been a 2 star for me but that alone brought it up to an almost 3. Obviously don't go by my thoughts, this is just my review of what I feel about the book. You may completely enjoy it so if you enjoy adventure, treasure hunt type books then give it a try and let me know what you think!

My Rating: 3 Stars/Very weak 3 stars...

I received a copy of this book through the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.




About the Author


Kelli Stuart is a writer and a storyteller at heart. A graduate of Baylor University with a degree in English Professional Writing, and a minor in the Russian language, Kelli has honed her skills in the written word through editing, ghostwriting, blogging, and traveling the world.

Kelli is the bestselling author of the novels Like a River From Its Course (2017 Carol Award winner for Best Historical Fiction), A Silver Willow by the Shore (2020 recipient of the IPPY Award for Literary Fiction and an NIEA winner), and The Fabulous Freaks of Monsieur Beaumont. Kelli co-authored It's a Wonderful Christmas, a collection of holiday novellas inspired by favorite Christmas films. In 2022, Kelli's fourth novel, The Master Craftsman releases.

Kelli is also co-author of the nonfiction book Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom with Wendy Speake.

Kelli currently lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband and five children.
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Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill ~ Book Review

April 29, 2022

 



About the Book  


Book: Counterfeit Love
Author: Crystal Caudill
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Series: Hidden Hearts of the Guilded Age, Book 1
Publisher: Kregel
Release Date: March 15, 2022

After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name--and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors' threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn't all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home--and the truth.

After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiancée is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career--but that's better than failing her twice in one lifetime.

They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there's no question they're both still keeping secrets--and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.







My Thoughts 


I love and hate when I fall in love with a debut author! I love it because I have found a new author that I can add to my list but I hate it because it means I must be patient until they release their next book! Bookish nerd problems am I right? This book was so good! I was immersed right away and I could not put it down. Crystal Caudill added all the elements needed to have me utterly captivated. 

The characters were so well written and developed. I loved getting to know Theresa and Broderick. You definitely feel the emotions in this story. Goodness, poor Theresa, I felt like nothing was ever going to go right for her. I mean she was clueless of her grandfather's shenanigans and was being the sole provider for the family. I just wanted something to go right for her. Then we meet Broderick, who just happens to be her former fiancee and goodness is he absolutely swoon worthy!! Ladies, let me tell you he is the perfect leading gentleman. You will definitely fall and root for him the entire time. 

The faith element in this story was superb. I really enjoyed seeing the growth in Theresa's faith  throughout the story and I love that it was her friend Lydia who made her truly see that God is always with her no matter the circumstance. Sometimes we need a wake up call and who better to give it to us than a bestie. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was well researched, had outstanding characters, great mystery and plot twists, action and a faith element that we can all relate to and have been through and swoon-worthy moments that are completely amazing! I would love to see more from these characters especially more of Nathaniel. I think he needs his own story but that's just me the reader hoping for more! 

 If you enjoy Christian Historical Fiction you need to make sure you grab this one and add this author to your list! I can't wait to read what she comes up with next!! (Now we patiently wait...)


My Rating: 5 Stars/ Absolutely Loved it!!

Swoon Worthy Level: 💗💗💗💗💗

My Favorite Quote:

" I know you've been struggling, but no matter what happens or what you think you've lost, you cannot lose God. He pursues you with an unstoppable passion. He wants to be with you, and sometimes it takes stripping everything away for us to realize how much we need HIm. If you have nothing left, then turn to the One you do have. He's there waiting."

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.






About the Author


Crystal Caudill is the author of "dangerously good historical romance," with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com

Website: https://crystalcaudill.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalcaudillauthor/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalcaudillauthor/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCaudillAuthor

 GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/crystalcaudillauthor

 BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3575838325 

Newsletter Sign-Up: https://bitly/CaudillNews 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/crystalcaudillwrites/

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Turn My Mourning into Dancing by Henri Nouwen - Blog Blitz

April 27, 2022

 


 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Turn My Mourning Into Dancing by Henri Nouwen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


ABOUT THE BOOK


Turn My Mourning Into Dancing Title: Turn My Mourning Into Dancing 
Author: Henri Nouwen 
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
Release Date: March 8, 2022 
Genre: Christian, Spiritual Growth, Grief 

How do you find hope in hard times? Why is it important to have hope during difficult times? Turn My Mourning into Dancing will help you survive the difficult seasons and learn how to live a full life in the midst of them and beyond. With practical advice, Henri Nouwen will gently point you towards a way of life that is grounded in God’s constancy and rooted within eternal hope. 

In this updated edition, Turn My Mourning into Dancing discusses five movements we experience during hard times: 

 • From Our Little Selves to a Larger World 
 • From Holding Tight to Letting Go 
 • From Fatalism to Hope 
 • From Manipulation to Love 
 • From a Fearful Death to a Joyous Life 

Healing begins with taking our pain out of its diabolic isolation and seeing our sufferings in communion with all humanity, and all creation. Nouwen teaches us that our little lives participate in something much larger. Turn My Mourning into Dancing is a must read for: 

 • men and women looking for growth and insight on life 
 • anyone going through the grief process and searching for real solutions 
 • anyone who has experienced a loss, betrayal, or hard times 

Everyone grieves differently. It is a process, not a science experiment. Mourning shouldn’t last forever. Do you want the kind of life that allows you to dance even in the middle of the darkest night? Get the answers and find hope within your hard times with Nouwen’s works on spiritual growth.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub





EXCERPT


From Holding Tight to Letting Go

For years I have loved watching trapeze artists. The love began when my then- eighty- nine- year- old
father came for a visit. Let’s go to the circus, we decided one day. That evening we watched five South
African trapeze artists—three fliers and two catchers. They danced in the air! The fliers soared and all
was dangerous until they found themselves caught by the strong hands of their partners. I told my
father that I had always wanted to fly like that, that perhaps I had missed my calling!

I am constantly moved by the courage of my circus friends. At each performance they trust that their
flight will end with their hands sliding into the secure grip of a partner. They also know that only the
release of the secure bar allows them to move on with arcing grace to the next. Before they can be
caught, they must let go. They must brave the emptiness of space.

Living with this kind of willingness to let go is one of the greatest challenges we face. Whether it
concerns a person, possession, or personal reputation, in so many areas we hold on at all costs. We
become heroic defenders of our dearly gained happiness. We treat our sometimes inevitable losses as
failures in the battle of survival.

The great paradox is that it is in letting go, we receive. We find safety in unexpected places of risk. And
those who try to avoid all risk, those who would try to guarantee that their hearts will not be broken,
end up in a self- created hell. C. S. Lewis wrote in The Four Loves,

To love at all is to be vulnerable…If you want to make sure of keeping [your heart] intact, you must give
your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries;
avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket of your selfishness. But in that casket— safe, dark,
motionless, airless— it will change. It will not be broken—it will become unbreak-able, impenetrable,
irredeemable…The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the danger of love
is Hell.

In so many ways, the more we insist on control and the more we resist the call to hold our lives lightly,
the more we have to deny the reality of our losses and the more artificial our existence becomes. Our
belief that we should grasp tightly what we need provides one of the great sources of our suffering. But
letting go of possessions and plans and people allows us to enter, for all its risks, a life of new,
unexpected freedom.

How can we live with greater willingness to let go? Another step in turning our mourning into dancing
has to do with not clutching what we have, not trying to reserve a safe place we can rest in, not trying to
choreograph our own or others’ lives, but to surrender to the God whom we love and want to follow.
God invites us to experience our not being in control as an invitation to faith.

Taken from “Turn My Mourning into Dancing: Finding Hope During Hard Times” by Henri Nouwen. Copyright 2001 Estate of Henri Nouwen. Preface Copyright 2001 Timothy Jones. Used with permission from Thomas Nelson Publishing. www.thomasnelson.com









ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Henri Nouwen 

Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996) was the author of With Open Hands, Reaching Out, The Wounded Healer, Making All Things New, and many other bestsellers. He was the senior pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Toronto, Canada, a community where men and women with mental disabilities and their assistants create a home for one another.


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive two print copies of Turn My Mourning into Dancing (one to keep, one to give!)!

Turn My Mourning into Dancing JustRead Blog Blitz Giveaway 

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 26, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 3, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


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

Turn My Mourning into Dancing JustRead Blog Blitz


JustRead Publicity Tours 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

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Shadows in the Mind by Janyre Tromp ~ Book Review + Giveaway

April 26, 2022

 


About the Book 


Book: Shadows in the Mind
Author: Janyre Tromp
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: April 19, 2022

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on--responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who's come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam's experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand--but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn't the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she's terrified he's going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam's mental wounds--or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?






My Thoughts


I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book but I knew I had to read it. I follow the author on Instagram and she seems to have such a sweet humble spirit about her that when I learned she was writing a book I knew I needed to read it and I am so glad I did. It definitely was not what I was expecting though but it was so good. There are few authors that can write two genres and make it into one storyline and that is exactly what Janyre Tromp has done in this story. She combined suspense, psychological thriller and historical fiction all into one amazing package and to think this is just the beginning as this is her debut novel!!

The author has written characters that are believable and you feel their emotions jump out of the pages. When we meet Sam, right away you can tell that this soldier has suffered a lot mentally and physically while away in war. All he wants to do is return home and see his family, especially the baby girl he has not seen yet. For me, that scene was beautiful and so heartwarming despite all the things that are ensuing in the story. Although Anne at times kind of grated my nerves, she was struggling too. She was happy her husband was back but she knew he wasn't the same man anymore and has an inner struggle within herself of wanting to help him and feeling anger towards him. 

There is so much to this story I will not giveaway but I will say this. It is filled with emotion, love, it deals with the topic of PTSD, it has some twists and suspenseful parts that I was not expecting and it was truly a great debut novel. If you enjoy Hitchcokian type stories I highly recommend you give this one a try. I believe you will truly enjoy it! I can't wait to see what else this author comes up with in the future!

My Rating: 4 Stars/ Really Liked it!

I received a copy of this book through I Read With Audra. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


 



Giveaway 

The prize pack includes:


- A copy of Shadows in the Mind's Eye,

- A custom made silver peach tree necklace inspired by the book,

- A "Light speaks through the broken places" t-shirt also inspired by the book.


Click the link to enter giveaway:

 https://www.audrajennings.com/2022/04/shadows-in-minds-eye-giveaway.html





About the Author


Janyre Tromp (pronounced Jan-ear) is a historical suspense novelist who loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and coauthor of It’s a Wonderful Christmas. 


A firm believer in the power of an entertaining story, Tromp is also a book editor and published children’s book author. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband, two kids, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. 


You can find her on Facebook (@JanyreTromp), Instagram (@JaynreTromp), Twitter (@JanyreTromp), and her website, www.JanyreTromp.com where you can download a free copy of her novella, Wide Open. 







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The Treasure of the Lost Mine by Gregory O. Smith ~ Book Review

April 20, 2022

 



About the Book 


Book: The Treasure of the Lost Mine
Author: Gregory O. Smith
Genre: Children's Fiction/Adventure
Series: Wright Cousin Adventures, Book 1
Release Date: April 8, 2022

Tim broke the nervous silence. “What—what was that?”“I don’t know,” said Robert. “But whatever it is, It’s been locked in there for over a hundred years...”

Meet the five Wright cousins in their first big mystery together. I mean, what could be more fun than a treasure hunt with five crazy, daring, ingenious, funny and determined teenagers, right? The adventure grows as the cousins run headlong into vanishing trains, trap doors, spooky gold mines and surprises at every turn. Have a blast with the Wright cousins as they team up to uncover the real TREASURE OF THE LOST MINE! A Family friendly book.







My Thoughts 


I love reviewing books but some of my favorite books for review are the ones I can share with my kiddos and get them involved in the review process. So whenever I get a children's book to review, I preview it first to make sure it aligns with our standards, and once that is done and is approved by this mama I introduce it to the kids. As soon as the kids saw the cover of this book they were intrigued and wanted to know more about it. It definitely kept them entertained during our morning read aloud time. They hated that the end of the chapters leave you into a cliffhanger, but I for one loved that since it kept them wanting more! 

This is definitely a great book for boys who love adventures! It has bad guys and good guys, family time, gold mines, adventures and even a military tank! My kids were definitely enthralled with the story and enjoyed every minute of it. They can't wait to read the rest of the series. 

As a mom I am looking for good books for my kids. We are pretty conservative in our beliefs so finding good books that align with that is getting harder and harder nowadays but then comes along an author I have not heard of before and my faith is restored, because there are good books for kids out there, we just have to dig a little harder. 

This is a very clean book and filled with a classic adventure that will remind you of the western movies of old times. I highly recommend this not only as a read aloud but definitely for kids ages 8 and up! My kids give it a quadruple thumbs up! 

My Rating: 5 Stars/ We really enjoyed it!

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.



About the Author


Gregory O. Smith enjoys the adventure of hiking to waterfalls, good family movies, driving trains, exploring the Old West. He likes making friends with people all around the world. Hamburgers, onion rings, and homemade ice cream are definitely favorite foods and he really, really likes building fun and useful things like adventure obstacle courses, ride-on railroads, waterwheels, and toys. Learn more about him at his website, GregoryOSmith.com
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The Barabbas Legacy by M.D. House ~ Book Spotlight + Excerpt

April 8, 2022

 




About the Book


Book: The Barabbas Legacy
Author: M.D. House
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Publisher: Independent
Release Date: December 2021

In this poignant capstone to The Barabbas Trilogy, the man called Barabbas—infamous former thief, murderer and prisoner turned Christian—and his wife Chanah continue their mission of spreading the gospel across the known world as cauldrons of political and military chaos boil across the Roman Empire. 


Nero is increasingly erratic, and it’s only a matter of time before the sharp knives of imperial politics finish him off. Various successors vie for position. Who will strike first, and who will come out on top?

Meanwhile, the rebellion in Judea has intensified, the Jewish zealots exerting great influence over the minds of the people. General Vespasian and his son Titus aim to put a permanent end to the insurrection. How many lives will ultimately be sacrificed on the great altar of Jerusalem? Can the Jewish nation survive the fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy? What will become of the Jewish Christians and the apostles and sisters who lead them? And where will Barabbas and his family find lasting peace?


The Barabbas Legacy once again brings the early years of the church into vivid detail, concluding the journey of those first saints who sacrificed everything to bring Christ’s message to the world.




 Excerpt 



From Chapter 11, the perspective of Marian, daughter of Barabbas and Chanah


“Fourteen today? Again?” Terisa, the amazingly gracious woman who, with her farmer husband Paerin, had kindly offered to give Marian a place to stay, admired the harvest gathered in Marian’s apron. She stared at Marian, shaking her head and smiling. “Those chickens really like you. They’ve never produced this much for me.”

Marian didn’t know quite what to say. “Oh, I don’t know. I think they’ve just had a couple of good days.”

Terisa clearly didn’t believe that. “Well, keep letting them see you a few times a day. The community could use the extra eggs. And we may have to increase the flock.” She winked, then turned to find a bowl in which to place the eggs. When she located one, Marian helped her unload, then smoothed her apron.

“Is there any mending I can do this morning? I’d start on some new children’s clothes, but I’m waiting on material.”

Terisa thought a moment. “No, I don’t think so. You can check with Catherine, though, when she gets back from visiting some farms a few miles north with her husband. You have time to do some writing. I know you enjoy it, and you’re good at it. I’ve already heard people talking about the stories you’ve completed. You have quite an imagination, grounded in faith.”

Marian lowered her eyes, embarrassed at the compliment. “I’m trying to follow my mother’s example. She inspired a lot of what I write. The apostle Paul, too.”

“I’d love to meet Paul,” said Terisa wistfully. “I doubt he’ll ever come here, but that’s okay. Apostles and sister leaders have visited before, and I’m sure more will in the future. We saw Joanna give a sermon once but didn’t get to talk to her. She was breathtaking. What a powerful woman she was … well, still is, on the other side now.”

Marian nodded agreement as she sat on a stool at their small table in the kitchen. Unsure of how Terisa would handle the revelation, she didn’t mention she had met Joanna, too. Terisa was preparing to make a stew, but Marian wouldn’t be much help at this point, as most everything was ready. It would simmer most of the day.

“Thank you for being so kind to me.”

Terisa looked up from the pot she was filling with ingredients. “You can quit thanking us so often. You’re a blessing. We’re happy to have you. And even if you want to wait a while to get married, that’s fine with us.”

Marian blushed. “It’s not that I don’t want to get married … well, maybe it is a little. I don’t know if I’m ready yet, and frankly, it frightens me to contemplate how I should go about finding a good husband.”

Terisa nodded knowingly. “Well, the really good ones are hard to find. I got lucky, I suppose. The Lord helped, too, I’m sure of that, even though we weren’t Christians yet. Just keep praying and doing good things. He’ll help you figure it out.” She started humming as she continued chopping up vegetables for the stew.

“Yes, I’m sure he will … but part of me wishes I knew the timing, while the other part is afraid to find out.”

Terisa gave her a kind smile. “Don’t overthink it. I know you writers tend to do that sometimes. Be happy, and let it come.” She winked, then turned back to humming and filling her pot.

“Thank you,” said Marian, rising. “You’ve just given me a couple of ideas. I need to write them down.”

Terisa laughed as Marian left the kitchen and headed for her room, where she had a small desk and a chair. Ink and parchment were a little harder to come by in Nazaretum than she was accustomed to, but she was making do. She sat down and began taking a few notes in tiny script. Overthinking things. She would write a story about a young woman who did that in humorously exaggerated ways … a young woman very much like herself.





About the Author


M.D. HOUSE is the author of The Barabbas Legacy, as well as the first two volumes in The Barabbas Trilogy, I Was Called Barabbas and Pillars of Barabbas. He also authored the science-fiction novel, Patriot Star. Before beginning his second career as a writer, he worked for twenty-five years in the world of corporate finance, strategic planning, and business development. Now, Michael lives in Utah with his wife, where he spends his time writing and enjoying his children and grandchildren. Learn more about Michael and his work at www.mdhouselive.com.


Learn more about M.D. House and The Barabbas Legacy at www.mdhouselive.com. The Barabbas Legacy is available on Amazon.



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