About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Thursday, August 29, 2019

The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800 + Jokes by Carole P. Roman

The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes!ABOUT THE BOOK

Tons of jokes, tons of laughs, tons more time kids spend reading.
“Why do fish live in saltwater? Because pepper makes them sneeze!” The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids is brimming with over 800 knock-knock jokes, riddles, tongue twisters, and silly stats for endless hours of hilarious entertainment anywhere.
This illustrated collection of jokes for kids is inclusive and family-friendly, with knee-slappers that kids will be bursting to tell every chance they get (parents, you’ve been warned). The jokes also get more challenging with each chapter, so this book will tickle funny bones of all ages.
The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids is hysterical fun for anytime and anywhere:
Are we there yet?—Keep kids engaged and giggling at home, on the road, and beyond. Reading frenzy—The best way to keep them reading? Make it so much fun they forget they’re reading.Budding comedian—Kids will learn about setups, punchlines, and how to write some jokes of their own.
Keep them laughing and reading for hours with this massive book of jokes for kids.
MY THOUGHTS.....
The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes! by Carole P. Roman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'A duck waddles into the grocery store to buy a can of soda. The clerk looks down at him and asks "Would you like to pay with cash or credit?" The duck replies "Just put it on my bill."

This is just an example of what you can find in this new book from Carole P. Roman. The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids is filled with jokes, riddles, and lots of fun! There are knock, knock jokes, tongue twisters, puns, riddles, and even questions & answers. My five-year-old granddaughter loves jokes and riddles and even though some are too advanced for her to understand, there are still many that she can enjoy right now.

There is also a section called Longer Jokes and it is for anyone who loves jokes and wants to be able to tell them successfully, and if you want to write your own jokes, there are tips on how to do so. Yes, this is a book for young people but it is great for the whole family and it is suitable for all ages!

Carole P. Roman has written more than 50 children's books and this is just another example of her expertise in entertaining and educating children because young readers will be anxious to read this fun book on their own!

I received a complimentary PDF copy of this book but a review was not required.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children's books. Whether it's pirates, princesses, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children. She hosts a blog radio program called Indie Authors Roundtable and is one of the founders of the magazine, Indie Author's Monthly. She's been interviewed twice by Forbes Magazine. Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman. She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren and a new joke book called The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes!
She writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and is currently helping to create an anthology with her mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors. She lives on Long Island near her children and grandchildren.

Her series includes:
Captain No Beard
If You Were Me and Lived in- Cultural
If You Were Me and Lived in- Historical
Nursery series
Oh Susannah- Early Reader and coloring book
Mindfulness for Kids with co-author J. Robin Albertson-Wren
The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids; 800 plus Jokes!
Navigating Indieworld- with co-author Julie A. Gerber
Marketing Indieworld- with co-authors Angela Hausman and Julie A. Gerber
Adult Fiction under the pen name Brit Lunden
Bulwark
The Knowing- A Bulwark Anthology
 


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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Dear Grandchild, This Is Me: A Gift of Stories, Wisdom, and Off-the-Record Tales

Dear Grandchild, This Is MeABOUT THE BOOK

Preserving a family legacy can feel like a daunting task, but this new keepsake journal makes it easy for grandparents to capture memories, wisdom, and stories in one beautiful package.

Being a grandparent is an incredibly rewarding experience. Dear Grandchild, This Is Me--designed for any grandmother or grandfather to complete--will allow grandparents to collect these priceless memories in one heartfelt keepsake.

Special Features:
* Built-in envelopes to stash special, private letters for specific occasions in your grandchild's future.
* A sheet of adhesive photo corners to adhere photographs and special memories throughout.
* Off-the-record questions to prompt fun stories.
* A family tree to track your ancestry.
* Space to share your favorite recipes, or those passed through the generations.
* A world map to showcase your travels.

Within these pages you'll find a place to answer questions that speak to a grandchild of any age from the simple questions about favorite things to deeper questions about childhood memories, identity, and faith. This book will be a tangible way to keep a loved one close at all times.

MY THOUGHTS..... 

Dear Grandchild, This Is Me by Waterbrook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"There's no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are." Fred Rogers.

This is just one of the many quotes that are included in 'Dear Grandchild, This is Me', the new book from Waterbrook. I am an older grandparent and I realize that I won't always be in my five year old granddaughter's life so this book is the perfect way for me to share my life with her. It is a beautiful book, with soft colors, attractive illustrations, and a hardback cover for durability. There are many questions and idea prompts to help me record my memories and the pages are lined so that I can easily write them down. Some of the questions are the expected ones, such as Where were you born?, What was your given name?, and other questions pertaining to my early years, but there are also questions about my high school days, my wedding day, and even my personal thoughts on the major events in our country's history that have occurred in my lifetime, There are pages for pictures and envelopes that can hold special letters that you want your grandchild to have later and I especially liked that there is room to share favorite recipes, because some of my favorite memories of my own grandmother center around cooking in her farmhouse kitchen. The selected quotes and Bible scripture make it even more appealing!

I am so in love with this book and I am so glad that I will be able to leave it as a legacy for my granddaughter. I can see it as being a great Christmas or birthday gift for the other grandparent's in my life.

I received a copy of this book via the publisher but I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


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Shift Your Thinking for a Deeper Faith: 99 Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship with God, Others, and Yourself by Dean Del Sesto

ABOUT THIS BOOK

In the busyness of life, it's easy to get distracted and disconnected from the many promises God has made about who he is, the strength we find in him, and the abundance of spiritual tools, abilities, and assets we have at our disposal. These are not necessarily things we have to search out to acquire--they already exist within us. And Dean Del Sesto wants to help you access them every day.

With hard-hitting truths, memorable quotes, and powerful perspective shifts, Del Sesto helps you connect (or reconnect) at a deeper level to the power, potential, and purpose you already have so that you can live your life with greater freedom, resilience, and wisdom. Perfect for business professionals on the go, the busy student, the active parent, and anyone who needs a boost of spiritual strength at any time, this book promises to help you live your life from an internal resolve rather than in reaction to your external circumstances.
 

MY THOUGHTS.....

Shift Your Thinking for a Deeper Faith: 99 Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship with God, Others, and Yourself by Dean Del Sesto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'It's ironic that we trust God for our eternity but often question whether he'll handle the day to day issues we contend with in our life.' (p. 10)

Author Dean Del Sesto has written a motivational book to help us all strengthen and deepen our faith and to improve our relationships. As he suggests 99 ways to "shift our thinking" he shares Bible scripture, motivational thoughts, and a question at the end of each topic to spur more thinking. Some of the topics include our Christian witness, our relationship with family and others, and our true understanding of what God has done for us!


I recommend Shift Your Thinking For a Deeper Faith to all who want to increase their awareness of both God and others and to improve their Christian witness. I wouldn't call this a devotional but I believe that it is a book to read slowly and then read again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing and I am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts in this review.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dean Del Sesto runs Venthio (venthio.com), an award-winning branding and communications agency, and is a partner in Veracity Colab, a B2B and consumer-based video agency (veracitycolab.com). A popular keynote speaker, he is the author of Shift Your ThinkingShift Your Thinking for Success, and A Shift a Day for Your Best Year Yet. Dean lives in Southern California with his wife, Kittrena. Learn more at deandelsesto.com.




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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The Most Important Stories of the Bible: Understanding God's Word Through the Stories It Tells by Christopher D. Hudson, Stan Campbell

The Most Important Stories of the Bible: Understanding God's Word Through the Stories It TellsABOUT THIS BOOK

Most of us are familiar with the exciting adventures of David and Goliath, Noah, or Daniel in the lions' den, but we don't always understand how they fit together. We lack context, and so we sometimes miss the point.

The Most Important Stories of the Bible will give you a working knowledge of the key events in Scripture and how they flow into one big story. The book's 75 stories are compact, easy to read, and enjoyable. Each chapter includes a brief introduction that gives historical context to help you grasp the overall narrative of the Bible, and concludes with an explanation of why that story matters in our lives.

There's a reason most of the Bible is made up of stories. They speak to us in a deep way, helping us internalize God's message. And in the end, understanding the stories of God's Word will help us connect more closely to Jesus, the greatest storyteller of all.

MY THOUGHTS..... 

The Most Important Stories of the Bible: Understanding God's Word Through the Stories It Tells by Christopher D. Hudson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are so many stories from the Bible that we all have heard many times but there are others not as well known. Authors Christopher D. Hudson and Stan Campbell have corrected this by choosing seventy-five stories from both the Old and New Testaments that they consider to be the most important. Each of these entries include Scripture, The Essential Story and The Essential Truth about their selection. The first story is from Genesis 1 and each one after is in chronological order so by the time you have finished this book, you have been given a walk through the Bible.

The Most Important Stories of the Bible is easy to understand and it reinforces the fact that all of the stories found in scripture actually contribute to the One story that is known as The Holy Bible. Although this is a not a comprehensive study of Bible scripture, it offers enough information to pique your interest. Reading this book prompted me to go back to the true source and I consider it an excellent resource for my devotion time.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher but a positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Christopher Hudson has contributed to over fifty Bible projects, sixty study guides, and over a hundred books. He has also served as managing editor for best-selling Bibles such as: The Love Languages Devotional Bible with Gary Chapman (Moody), Inspirational Bible with Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson), and the Case for Christ Study Bible with Lee Strobel (Zondervan). He is a graduate from Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) and is an active teacher in his church for over twenty years. He is from Chicago, IL, where he resides with his wife and three children.

Stan Campbell holds communication degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and Wheaton College.He has authored dozens of bible-related books, primarily for youth and seeker markets, including the first three editions of The Complete Idionts Guide to the Bible. He and his wife, Kathy, live in the Nashville area.


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Sunday, August 25, 2019

The Healing Jar (The Prayer Jars #3) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

The Healing Jar (The Prayer Jars #3)ABOUT THE BOOK

What if you have waited to find love only to be rejected when it finally comes?

Lenore Lapp is an Amish schoolteacher in her late twenties still living at home with her parents and grandparents. She thought love had passed her by until she meets Jesse Smucker, a widower with a baby daughter. She quickly falls in love with them both and accepts Jesse's proposal of marriage, but Jesse breaks off their engagement when he realizes he can't marry only for convenience.

Resigned to living single, Lenore throws herself into caring for her elders. While working in her grandmother's garden, she digs up an old jar. Will Lenore find healing for her broken heart and solve long-buried family secrets by reading the note contained inside?
 

MY THOUGHTS.....

The Healing Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Healing Jar is the third and final book in The Prayer Jars series and it is a wonderful way to conclude the series. Author Wanda E. Brunstetter answers a lot of our questions by revealing the identity of the person who left all of the notes found in the canning jars and she also allows Sara to discover the name of her father. I must say that I was very surprised to learn who had written the notes and the circumstances surrounding Sara's parents. The main focus, however, is on school teacher Lenore Lapp as she deals with the possibility that she may never have her own home and family. As she struggles to accept her fate, she shares her thoughts in this prayer. "Dear Lord, please heal my broken heart and bind up my wounds. Help me focus on othes things, like helping Grandma and being a schoolteacher. If it's not meant for me to get married, then take away my desire for a husband and family."

The Healing Jar deals with life events that affect all of us: birth and death; home and family; change and acceptance; forgiveness and reconciliation, and through each occurrence, there are reminders that God's plan and His timing are always best. And as I read about the discovery of each of these prayer jars I felt the need to create my own prayer jar or prayer journal!

I have truly enjoyed this series and I respect Brunstetter's ability to create stories that both inspire and entertain. I admired the strong faith displayed by Mary Ruth Lapp as she handled her husband's ill-health and eventual death and I appreciated the reverence that their family showed both Willis and Mary Alice Lapp. It is apparent that Amish families truly take care of their elders.

This is a book that can be read alone but I believe that once you've read it, you will want to go back to read the first two! I recommend The Healing Jar and The Prayer Jars series to anyone who enjoys Amish and Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but I am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts in this review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website  Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest




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Friday, August 23, 2019

Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris

Deadly IntentionsABOUT THE BOOK

Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First, a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victim's husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.

Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes that the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team--and what their end game is--before it's too late.

In this nail-biting thriller, award-winning author Lisa Harris will have you believing that there's no such thing as random.

MY THOUGHTS.....

'How do I make them believe me, God?'

This is Detective Josh Solomon's thought as he finds himself being interrogated as a suspect in his wife's murder. The irony is that two men have already been convicted for this murder that occurred one year earlier but suddenly, after a series of questionable deaths, he and research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey have begun to wonder if these men are truly guilty. And now, Josh finds himself as the prime suspect in the murder of both his wife Olivia and his police partner Quinton Lambert.


Deadly Intentions is an exciting and intriguing tale that left me needing to learn more and I found it hard to put down as I searched for the cause of all of this madness. A deadly virus that could be used as a bio-weapon if put in the wrong hands appears to be the motive behind the many murders and now, in their race to find answers, Josh and Caitlyn are apparently the next targets!






Author Lisa Harris has an unique way of showing both the good and evil in mankind and I appreciate that she often shares a faith-based message in her books. In Deadly Intentions, Josh and Caitlyn both pray as they face the dangerous situations but Caitlyn struggles with her relationship with God. 'What was she supposed to do when she couldn't hear God's voice? When she had no idea what to do next?'


Deadly Intentions is filled with excitement, danger, and suspense and there is also the promise of a romance between Josh and Caitlyn. Readers who enjoy romantic suspense and Christian fiction are in for a treat!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and these are my own thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Award-winning author of nineteen novels and novellas, Lisa Harris lives with her husband and their three children in Mozambique, Africa, where they work as missionaries. 

When she’s not busy writing or home schooling, she loves traveling, cooking different ethnic foods, and photographing animals and birds in the African bush. Visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot...

Deadly Intentions is Available in digital ebook, paperback and hardcover:
Buy Deadly Intentions at Amazon
Buy Deadly Intentions at Christianbook.com

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Thursday, August 22, 2019

Meghan's Choice by Donna L. H. Smith: Celebrate Lit Blog Tour & Giveaway

 

About the Book


Book: Meghan’s Choice
Author: Donna L. H. Smith
Genre: Christian Historical Western Romance
Release Date: November, 2017

 Meghan Gallagher complies with her father’s demand that she work on her own for a year by choosing to tutor eight children in a wild Kansas railroad town. But she had no idea just how wild it was until she was rescued by a local dance hall the day she arrived, and soon after hit by a stray bullet. In short order, she meets a dark, handsome cowboy and a wholesome, attractive doctor who both vie for her heart. As things heat up around town, Meghan’s love life catches fire as well. Is she scandalous to allow both men to court her at the same time? And—how close a relationship with God does Meghan want? Will she draw near? Meghan’s Choice (pre-published) was named a semi-finalist in the 2014 Operation First Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins and an honorable mention for the Golden leaf Award in 2015. Since publication, Meghan’s Choice was a Selah Award finalist and also in the Will Rogers Medallion Award. Published in connection with Hartline Literary Agency, serving the Christian book community. Visit us at www.hartlineliterary.com.

Click here to grab your copy.  

MY THOUGHTS.....

You have to get a job and you have to live on your own for one year! This isn't what a spoiled girl wants to hear when she has been used to getting new clothes and new shoes any time she wants but it is the ultimatum that Meghan Gallagher hears from her father in March 1871. Fast forward about a month and Meghan has left her safe and luxurious life in St. Louis to work in New Boston, Kansas. Suddenly, in this railroad town, Meghan is exposed to saloons, bar fights, guns, and romance. She also gets shot soon after she arrives! When she catches the eye of two men who want to 'come courting' on Sundays she finds herself referring to her Sundays as either Scott Sunday or Duncan Sunday. Scott Allison is the town doctor, Duncan Wilcox is a handsome cowboy, and suddenly, Meghan is lonely no more!

Fans of westerns will enjoy this Christian historical romance that is set in 1871. There is excitement, danger, and even a tornado that rips through the town and there are several intriguing characters. Olivia Baldwin runs the boardinghouse where Meghan gets a room, Rosie is a dance hall girl who becomes Meghan's friend, and Duncan is like the cowboys that I grew up watching on TV, one of the good guys wearing the white hats! As for Dr. Allison: he proves to be both a contradiction and a complication! But most of all, this is the story of how Meghan matures. She becomes self-reliant and self-assured and she begins to experience a new relationship with God. Meghan has always known about God but it is through her father's challenge and Duncan's guidance that Meghan begins to KNOW God. She goes from believing that 'To her, God was judgement, hell to avoid, someone to believe in, but not really know' (p. 206) to realizing that 'Jesus loved her, died for her, and would guide her through life.' (p. 311).

Meghan's Choice is A Known by Heart novel from author Donna L. H. Smith and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys Christian romance and historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About the Author



Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds two college degrees, both B.S. and M.A. in Mass Communication. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. Her debut novel, Meghan’s Choice, made the finals of both the Selah and Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Rose’s Redemption, the sequel, was just released. She blogs, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. Recently, she took on the role of Managing Editor of Almost an Author.com, and serves as ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Mid-Atlantic Zone Director. She is also a member of AWSA’s Protégé program (Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association).  

More from Donna

Back in 2012, I wrote “Zorro” stories for Fan Fiction. I had an awful lot of fun with them, and people seemed to really like them. So, the thought came, what could I write for ‘real?’ I contemplated, prayed, and after a couple weeks or so, an idea came floating across my brain. “Gunfight at Hyde Park.” Huh? I thought about it, and realized it was an obscure history lesson from my hometown in Kansas. I had Google it to get the details. I thought, well, I’m not gonna write a Christian romance novel just about a series of gunfights that killed and wounded more people than the OK Corral. But I did think that the beginning of the gunfights could be the climax of the story. Now, who should my heroine be? And the hero? I started with that and took Christian Writer’s Guild’s Craftsman and the novel was completed in 2013—but only published in late 2017. I’m proud of Meghan’s Choice. Pre-published it made the semi-finals of the last Operation 1st Novel that CWG held and placed in a couple of smaller contests. Last year, it made the finals of the prestigious Selah Awards for published books through the BRMCWC, and the finals of the Will Rogers Medallion Award. My hope is that you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it.

Blog Stops

Moments, August 14
Godly Book Reviews, August 15
Emily Yager, August 16
Vicky Sluiter, August 18
mpbooks, August 20
Pause for Tales, August 21
Older & Smarter?, August 22
Texas Book-aholic, August 23
A Reader’s Brain, August 24
janicesbookreviews, August 25

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Donna is giving away the grand prize of a copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

The Great Jewel Robbery: A Front Page Mystery Book 1 by Elizabeth McKenna: Book Tour & Giveaway

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Great Jewel Robbery: A Front Page Mystery Book 1 by
Elizabeth McKenna
Category: Adult Fiction, 204 pages
Genre:  Cozy mystery
Publisher:  Elizabeth McKenna
Release date:   May 28, 2019
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is no profanity. There is drinking, desire, and a kiss.)

Book Description:

Mystery with a splash of romance…Chicago Tribune reporters Emma and Grace have been best friends since college despite coming from different worlds. When Grace is assigned to cover an annual charity ball and auction being held at a lakeside mansion and her boyfriend bails on her, she brings Emma as her plus one. The night is going smoothly until Emma finds the host’s brother unconscious in the study. Though at first it is thought he was tipsy and stumbled, it soon becomes clear more is afoot, as the wall safe is empty and a three-million-dollar diamond necklace is missing. With visions of becoming ace investigative journalists, Emma and Grace set out to solve the mystery, much to the chagrin of the handsome local detective.
Buy the Book:
Amazon.com 

MY THOUGHTS.....

I have long been a fan of girl-friend teams. Lucy & Ethel---Laverne & Shirley---Monica & Rachel. In this new book by Elizabeth McKenna, we get another great pairing with Grace & Emma. These young women became friends in college, they're both reporters for the Chicago Tribune, and during Grace's weekend assignment they become involved in The Great Jewel Robbery. This is a quick read that draws you in with its mixture of fun, mystery, murder, and even romance. There are also twists and turns that kept me uncertain, until the very end, about the identity of the jewel thief.

I truly liked both Emma and Grace and I look forward to watching them develop their crime-solving skills. In this book they offer assistance to a handsome detective and I believe that we may run across Ryan O'Mara again. He and Emma share a chemistry that begs for another story to allow us to see where their attaction may lead! There is a kiss and an ending that suggests that a great romance could be in the works!

The Great Jewel Robbery is the first book in the new series A Front Page Mystery and it is also Elizabeth McKenna's first attempt in the cozy mystery genre. I truly enjoyed this story and I recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy mystery and clean romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts in this review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Meet the author:

Elizabeth McKenna’s love of books reaches back to her childhood, where her tastes ranged from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys to Stephen King’s horror stories. She had never read a romance novel until one Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene). She combined her love of history, romance, and a happy ending to write the historical romance novels Cera’s Place and Venice in the Moonlight. Her contemporary romance novel, First Crush Last Love, is loosely based on her life (she eventually married her first crush)

The Great Jewel Robbery is her debut cozy mystery, and she hopes readers will like it as much as they have enjoyed her romances. Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two beautiful daughters, and a sassy Labrador. When she isn’t writing, working, or being a mom, she’s sleeping.

Connect with the author:   Facebook ~  Twitter ~  Facebook  ~ Instagram


BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:
Aug 19 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
Aug 20 - Fayed's Blog - review
Aug 20 - My Reading Journeys - review / giveaway
Aug 21 - Gwendalyn_books_ - review / giveaway
Aug 21 - Shalini's Books & Reviews - review
Aug 21 - A Page Before Bedtime - review / giveaway
Aug 22 - Older & Smarter? - review / giveaway
Aug 22 - Fantastic Feathers - review
Aug 23 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / giveaway
Aug 23 - It’s my Life - review
​Aug 23 - Books for Books - review
Aug 26 - Book Corner News and Reviews - review / giveaway
Aug 26 - Bookworm for Kids - review / author interview / giveaway
Aug 27 - Fur Everywhere - review / giveaway
Aug 27 - Sefina Hawke's Books - review
Aug 28 - Pause for Tales - review
Aug 28 - It’s All About the Book - review
Aug 29 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review / giveaway
Aug 30 - Amy's Booket List - review / giveaway
Aug 30 - Adventurous Jessy - review / giveaway


ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
Ends September 6, 2019
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Monday, August 19, 2019

Shame Off You: From Hiding to Healing by Denise Pass Blog Tour



ABOUT THE BOOK

Learn to recognize and process feelings of shame in a biblical way to restore God-ordained self-worth and hope.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 

Shame is an assault on the core of who we are. It assassinates our character, minimizes our worth, and dashes our hope. Like Adam and Eve, we often hide shame, but hiding never heals it. Left unattended, shame can develop into a crippling reality that paralyzes us. Like an infectious disease, shame impacts everyone . . . but not all shame is bad.

Shame can either be an oppressive and powerful tool of worldly condemnation or a source of conviction that God uses to bring his people back to himself. Having the discernment to know the difference and recognize shame in its many forms can change the course of one’s life.

In a transparently honest style, Pass shares of her experience dealing with shame after learning that her former husband was a sexual offender. Having lived through the aftermath, she leads you into God’s Word where you will see for yourself that God is bigger than your pain, shame, mistakes, and limitations.

Shame Off You shares how freedom can be found in choosing to break the cycle of shame by learning from the past, developing healthy thinking patterns, silencing lies, and overcoming the traps of vanity and other people's opinions.

Learn more at https://shameoffyou.life/the-book.


MY THOUGHTS.....


Shame Off You: From Hiding to Healing by Denise Pass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was born out of an exremely painful period in Denise Pass's life and she has chosen to share her experiences and her journey so that others can benefit. As I read about the traumatic circumstances that touched her family I was sickened that she and her children suffered so much and felt so ashamed. This is a book about shame but it's not with a 'shame on you' mentality; instead, this author is instructing readers how to get rid of those feelings and get the 'shame off you'.

I am very impressed with Pass's transparency as she shares her hurts, her feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, and finally her realization that God is bigger than all of this! In reading her book I recognized that all of us have experienced feelings of shame and the only difference is in the type of shame and the depth of our feelings about that shame.

There are so many reasons why I liked this book. The accounts of personal experiences, the devotions and the prayers at the end of each chapter, and the Reference Guide at the end of the book with its abundant supply of God's Word that is applicable to the different types of shame we experience.

Some of the subject matter in this book certainly isn't easy to read but Pass has made it easy to understand and she has been very honest about her feelings of failure and rejection. I believe Shame Off You will be a valuable resource for both personal use and church study groups. It offers support, encouragement, and confirmation that God and His Grace are truly the key to escape 'from hiding to healing'.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts in this review.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR.....

Denise Pass, author of Shame Off You, is an award-winning CCM recording artist and singer-songwriter, accomplished writer/blogger, speaker and worship leader at women’s conferences as well as a worship leader on staff at her home church. After a crushing discovery of her former husband’s hidden life as a repetitive sex offender, and surviving a painful divorce, she now shares an inspirational message through her ministry, Seeing Deep Ministries, about seeing the deeper truth in God’s word when life hurts. Denise also founded and directed a home educational co-op for 12 years and engaged in many educational pursuits, including forming and directing a classical children’s choir. A graduate from the University of Maryland, Denise now resides in Virginia, with her “Kinsman Redeemer” husband and five children.

Find her online at DenisePass.com.
www.facebook.com/deniseduboispass
www.twitter.com/thedenisepass
www.instagram.com/thedenisepass
                                                               

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Saturday, August 17, 2019

Take Back Your Time: Identify Your Priorities, Decrease Stress, and Increase Productivity by Morgan Tyree

ABOUT THE BOOK

Take Back Your Time: Identify Your Priorities, Decrease Stress, and Increase ProductivityWe all get 24 hours in a day--but it never seems like quite enough time, does it? Morgan Tyree wants to help you take back your time with her proven time management system. With energy and enthusiasm, Morgan shows you how to organize and manage your time using her simple three-color time zone system of green, yellow, and red--moxie time, multitasking time, and me time. She shows you how to

- identify your most productive times each day
- regulate between essentials and nonessentials
- schedule your three time zones
- match your time zones with your capacities
- welcome the season of life you're in
- set achievable goals that align with your values

If you've struggled to find balance and direction in your overloaded life, let Morgan's system help you discover the freedom of less hustle and more harmony.
 

MY THOUGHTS.....


Take Back Your Time: Identify Your Priorities, Decrease Stress, and Increase Productivity by Morgan Tyree
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stressing over getting everything done? Wondering how you can find more minutes and hours in a day? Well, all of us are given twenty-four hours each day but knowing how to manage these hours is the key and Morgan Tyree has written a book to help us get started. In her introduction she states that if we want to 'maximize time and minimize stress,  you are in the right place' and she also mentions our seasons and our walks of life. Well, I am now a retired librarian but it seems like I am busier than ever, so, Take Back Your Time is definitely a book I need to read!


Tyree offers so many tips and instructions in the nine chapters of this book. Each chapter has a creative title and each one begins with an interesting quote about time.  I was especially intrigued by suggestions offered in the three chapters labeled as the time zones chapters with the simple reminders that  Green (GTZ) means Go; learning to juggle our time and proceeding with caution in the Yellow (YTZ) ;  and taking time for our self-care and knowing when to stop in the Red zone (RTZ).

Perhaps the best tip is for the younger readers of this book  but it is one that we older readers should have already learned. 'Setting things down, saying no, or even changing your mind are all part of a good time manager. Embrace your season, your productivity, and your design.' And finally, Tyree reminds us that our time is 'a responsibilty, a privilege, and a gift.'




Morgan Tyree offers practical tips and suggestions that are easily understood and adaptable and she also shares some of her own experiences. It is clear that she has invested a lot of thought, time, and effort in the writing of this book and I believe that is will be a valuable resource to many people
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I received a complimentary digital copy of this book and I am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts in this review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MORGAN TYREE

Morgan Tyree is a Professional Organizer (chaos-calmer), Writer (list-lover), and Fitness Instructor (exercise-enthusiast). She has a desire to help women to be their best; to encourage and equip them in every season of life. Morgan believes that when life is more organized, life is more meaningful. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado with their three children (affectionately termed their ABCs). Morgan welcomes you to join her on a peaceful path to simplicity. Connect with her online at morganizewithme.com, FacebookTwitter and Instagram @morganizewithme. Her first book on time management, Take Back Your Time, will be released in August 2019.

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