Love and the Silver Lining (State of Grace, #2) by Tammy L. Gray

ABOUT THE BOOK

Darcy Malone's dreams of mission work are dashed on her eve of fulfilling them: The Guatemalan school she was to teach at has closed. Devastated because she's already quit her job and given up her apartment, she also loses the perfect escape from the aftermath of her parents' divorce. Stuck in her worst-case scenario, Darcy takes an unexpected offer to move in with Bryson Katsaros's little sister, despite the years of distrust that's grown between her and Bryson, the lead singer in her best friend Cameron's band. As she meets those close to him, Darcy realizes that Bryson is more than she believed.

Struck with the need to find a purpose, Darcy jumps at the chance to care for and train a group of dogs, with the aim of finding each a home before their bereaved owner returns them to animal control. But it's Darcy herself who will encounter a surprising rescue in the form of unexpected love, forgiveness, and the power of letting go,

MY THOUGHTS.....

Love and the Silver Lining alternates between laughter and tears, between happiness and heartache, but isn't this true in all of our lives? Darcy Malone feels that she's being bombarded with so many changes and so many disappointments. Is it any wonder that she questions why God would allow all of these setbacks to enter her life?

I loved this book and I loved Darcy! She's fun and she's genuine, and her decision to find shelter for a group of abused dogs sealed the deal...I want to be Darcy's friend! Bryson Katsaro isn't so bad either, and he's the perfect example of looking beyond a person's outward appearance. He is caring and sincere, and watching Darcy and Bryson discover each other romantically is a sweet experience, but seeing their personal growth as Christians is a joy indeed! Sounds promising, but what about Darcy's best friend, Cameron? How does he feel about Bryson?

Author Tammy L. Gray knows how to plumb all of the human emotions, and she has written a beautiful story of hope, faith, and learning to let go. She also shares a perfect reminder that not getting what we ask for may be the biggest blessing of all! I highly recommend Love and the Silver Lining to all who enjoy contemporary Christian romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include 2017 RITA award winning, My Hope Next Door, and show her unending quest to write high quality, culturally relevant stories with relatable and flawed characters.

When not taxiing her three kids to various school and sporting events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry all while sharing the messy, yet remarkable journey that is a faith-filled life.

For all of Tammy's latest info, visit her       Website     Facebook     

                                                    Twitter     Instagram     Pinterest

Check out my thoughts about Love and a Little White Lie, the 1st State of Grace novel!

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The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander: Review & Giveaway with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

The Cryptographer's Dilemma

Author: Johnnie Alexander

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release date: August, 2021

A Code Developer Uncovers a Japanese Spy Ring

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

FBI cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent letter about dolls. Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head oversees when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of coded defense coordinates related to dolls should be easy, but not so when the Japanese Consulate gets involved, hearts get entangled, and Phillip goes missing. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?

 

Click here to get your copy!

MY THOUGHTS.....

There are so many reasons to love this book! It has interesting facts about WWII, it is filled with danger and suspense, and there is also a sweet romance. Author Johnnie Alexander uses the true facts of Velvalee Dickinson, an American woman convicted of selling information to the Japanese government during World War II, and combines them with fictional details to create a fascinating story. I enjoyed learning about coding and the art of deciphering message, and I loved the many references to the WWII era. As cryptographer Eloise Marshall and FBI agent Phillip Clayton travel across the country to uncover clues, there are many mentions of popular movies, and even their budding attraction to each other is reminiscent of 1940s courtships. Alexander's plot is intriguing, the characters are well-developed, and I especially enjoyed her interpretation of Velvalee's thoughts and actions.

I was drawn into this story immediately and my attention never waned. This is the first book of a new series, Heroines of WWII, and I look forward to the books that follow. I recommend The Cryptographer's Dilemma to all who enjoy historical Christian romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. There was no obligation to post a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars 

About the Author

Johnnie Alexander creates characters you want to meet and imagines stories you won’t forget in a variety of genres. An award-winning, best-selling novelist, she serves on the executive boards of Serious Writer, Inc. and the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference, co-hosts Writers Chat, and interviews other inspirational authors for Novelists Unwind. Johnnie lives in Oklahoma with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at www.johnnie-alexander.com and other social media sites via https://linktr.ee/johnniealexndr.

 

More from Johnnie

American Traitor in WWII

 

Not all secret messages involve substitution codes where random letters and numbers replace the original letters and numbers. Velvalee Dickinson, a doll collector who owned a doll shop on Madison Avenue in New York City, used jargon code to pass along information to the Japanese about the U.S. ships that had been damaged at Pearl Harbor.

 

Here’s an excerpt from one of the letters (as originally written):

 

The only new dolls I have are THREE LOVELY IRISH dolls. One of these three dolls is an old Fisherman with a Net over his back—another is an old woman with wood on her back and the third is a little boy….I can only think of our sick boy these days. You wrote me that you had sent a letter to Mr. Shaw, well I want to see MR. SHAW he distroyed Your letter, you know he has been Ill. His car was damaged but is being repaired now. I saw a few of his family about. They all say Mr. Shaw will be back to work soon.

 

Velvalee, who the FBI nicknamed The Doll Woman, wrote this letter on her Underwood typewriter. She used the return address and forged the signature of one of her regular customers, Mary Wallace of Springfield, Ohio. Then Velvalee mailed the letter to an address in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

Unknown to Velvalee, the Japanese had abandoned the Buenos Aires address as a drop point. The letter was marked “return to sender.” When Mrs. Wallace received it, she turned it in to the Post Office Director in Springfield who passed it along to the FBI.

 

Cryptographers determined that the letter was written in jargon code. To the casual reader, the letter is about dolls. But the intended recipient would have understood it’s about much more than that.

 

In this example, only one of five letters given to the FBI between February and August of 1942,

cryptographers decoded the message as follows:

 

• Old Fisherman with a Net over his back ~ refers to an aircraft carrier which has anti-torpedo nettings on its sides.
• Old woman with wood on her back ~ refers to an older battleship, one made of wood.
• A little boy plus our sick boy ~ a damaged ship.

 

Cryptographers believed that the words Mr. Shaw and Your were purposely capitalized and that the word distroyed was purposely misspelled to draw attention to them. Mr. Shaw referred to the USS Shaw, a destroyer (distroy + your = destroyer).

 

The remainder of the letter says Mr. Shaw is ill but “will be back to work soon.”

 

The ship was in dry dock at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. As the heroine in The Cryptographer’s Dilemma explains, “About two weeks before this letter was written, it [the USS Shaw] was undergoing repairs in San Francisco.”

 

In the novel, Eloise Marshall is a naval cryptographer who teams up with FBI agent Phillip Clayton, to find the person responsible for forging the signatures on the letters. Their search takes them from Washington, DC to the Springfield, Ohio, to the west coast and back again. On their journey, Eloise will confront an unexpected specter from her past and Phillip will risk his life to save hers.

Blog Stops

Life of Literature, August 25

Where Faith and Books Meet, August 25

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 26

Reflections From my Bookshelves, August 26

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 27

Bizwings Blog, August 27

Daysong Reflections, August 27

Texas Book-aholic, August 28

A Baker’s Perspective, August 28

Inklings and notions, August 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 29

For Him and My Family, August 30

Simple Harvest Reads, August 30 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Older & Smarter?, August 31

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, August 31

Aryn the Libraryan 📚, September 1

Rebecca Tews, September 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 2

deb’s Book Review, September 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 3

Blossoms and Blessings, September 3

Mary Hake, September 3

Connie’s History Classroom, September 4

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 4

Sodbusterliving, September 4

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 5

Labor Not in Vain, September 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 6

Moments, September 6

Splashes of Joy, September 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 7

Pause for Tales, September 7

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1161a/the-cryptographer-s-dilemma-celebration-tour-giveaway

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The Chase (US Marshals, #2) by Lisa Harris

ABOUT THE BOOK

US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing--it's time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that's gone wrong--and things are about to get worse.

For these bank robbers, it's never been just about the money. It's about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else--someone close to them--gets hurt . . . or worse.

From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn't an option.

MY THOUGHTS.....

Are you looking for a thrilling suspense novel with sweet romance and strong human alliances? Do you appreciate a faith message woven into the storyline? ? This, then, is the book for you! Author Lisa Harris has written a story with everything needed for a good suspense novel: non-stop action, questions needing to be answered, clues that are sometimes misleading, and intense danger. There's also a chance to dig deeper into the thoughts and motives of the two main characters. Harris reveals their strengths and weaknesses, she offers a glimpse of their deepening feelings for each other, and she allows their faith and beliefs to be a part of the plot. I first met Madison and Jonas in The Escape, and I'm so glad that I could witness their personal relationship develop in this book.

'For now, she was going to have to take her own advice, pray and let God do the rest. Which wasn't easy for someone used to diving in and finding the solution on her own.'

I recommend The Chase to all who enjoy romantic Christian suspense.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a favorable review and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Click HERE to read my review of The Escape, the 1st book in the US Marshals series.

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. You can also follow her at 

Facebook     Twitter     Instagram

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An Amish Schoolroom: Three Stories by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, & Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE BOOK

Three charming stories of new school years and new romance. 

A Class for Laurel  by Amy Clipston 

Adventurous Laurel Weaver leaves Pennsylvania to answer a newspaper ad for a teaching position in Colorado. She stays with handsome Glen Troyer’s family, and they become close. However, she never intended to stay in Colorado, and his family worries Glen may choose to follow her back to Pennsylvania or be left with a broken heart. Now she can’t bear to think of leaving Glen and her beloved students, but she’s beginning to feel like she’s out of options. Will Laurel and Glen push through the obstacles and fight for love? 

A Lesson on Love  by Kathleen Fuller 

Priscilla Helmuth left her Amish community twelve years ago to pursue her dream of being a country singer, but she’s missed her faith and her family. Now, she’s moving to Birch Creek to be a schoolteacher. Micah Wagler recently moved there as well to put the past behind him. As the community comes together to build a new schoolhouse, Priscilla and Micah are thrown together. They bond over their love of music, but soon it appears that Priscilla’s dreams of fame just might be coming true. She has to give up something, and Micah worries that it will be their faith . . . and his heart. 

Wendy’s Twenty Reasons  by Shelley Shepard Gray 

Wendy Schwartz is used to people underestimating her, but she’s sure she can be a great teacher. Unfortunately, it’s a disaster not long after she starts, and soon her job is in jeopardy. To make matters more complicated, she worries that she’s falling for the son of the older couple she’s boarding with. Lewis Weaver knows he shouldn’t have a romantic relationship with a tenant, but he can’t help but be drawn to Wendy. When a dangerous ice storm traps Wendy in the schoolroom with her students, uncomfortable truths will have to be faced by the town that just might change the future for everyone. 

MY THOUGHTS.....

Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Shepard Gray. These names are synonymous with great storytelling, and this book has stories from all three! An Amish Schoolroom is a delightful collection about three young women who want to teach, but encounter many obstacles along the way. Each novella has different characters and different settings, but they all shine a light on the qualities that a good teacher should have: love, patience, dedication, and determination!

Reading these stories took me back in time, as I remembered my own anticipation of new teachers, new school years, and new beginnings! An Amish Schoolroom, however, presents the teacher's point of view, as Laurel, Priscilla, and Wendy experience their own new beginnings! Laurel has to leave her family and move to another state to fulfill her dream, Priscilla goes back to her Amish home after her original dream is altered, and Wendy has to prove that she is capable of teaching the Amish children in her community. Challenges indeed, but the biggest tests seem to be in their personal relationships. Glen, Micah, and Lewis are three exceptional young men waiting to sweep these Amish teachers off of their feet, but will they succeed?

If you enjoy reading about the Amish lifestyle, and you're yearning for love and romance, look no further. Clipston, Fuller, and Gray have filled An Amish Schoolroom with warmth, inspiration, and strong family connections. Three entertaining stories by three exceptional authors make this a perfect choice!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a favorable review. I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats. 

For more information, visit Amy's     Website                                            Facebook               Twitter            Instagram

With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the USA TODAY bestselling author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. 

Visit her Website    Instagram    Facebook     

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.  

Learn more about Shelley at her    Website     Facebook 
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Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong: Review & Giveaway with Read with Audra

ABOUT THE BOOK

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she's handed a strange present at the latest wedding--a 1950s magazine article of "ways to get a husband"--she decides there's nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can't get any more single, can she?

Her brother's roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love--Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it's an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she's looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

MY THOUGHTS.....

"#6. Sit in front of him at church. You're not trying to distract him from the good Lord. You just want to show him how bountiful God's blessings can be."

This is one of the suggestions in a list that Meri Newberg receives from her newly married friend, and who knew that a 1950s magazine article would have such an impact 70 years later? Certainly not Meri, but her brother's roommate Kai Kamaka views it in a different light. Why not do a YouTube program that shows Meri using these suggestions to help her find a husband? Meri Me becomes a social media success, and it seems like a great idea, until Kai realizes that he wants to be the husband that Meri finds!

This is such a witty, charming book, and author Angela Ruth Strong offers a unique spin on the classic 'friends to lovers' trope. It is Christian fiction, so it's certainly a clean romance, but watching Meri and Kai's relationship develop is special indeed. I found myself often laughing out loud, but there are also touching moments as Meri and Kai deal with their individual insecurities. If you're looking for a fun contemporary romance, look no further! Husband Auditions is the book for you.

I received a copy of this book from Kregel. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there's nothing else she'd rather write about.

She is the author of the Resort to Love series and the CafFUNated mysteries. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Finding Love in Big Sky was recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. Her latest release is Husband Auditions.

Strong also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

Learn more at www.angelaruthstrong.com, and follow her on Facebook Twitter and Instagram 

TWO GREAT GIVEAWAYS

The First Giveaway is for a copy of Husband Auditions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Angela Ruth Strong is also doing a big giveaway for a free roundtrip airline ticket on Allegiant Air.  Click HERE!

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So Long, Normal: Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith by Laura Story: Review & Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bible teacher Laura Story gets what it’s like to have plans altered and to surrender perceived security when faced with circumstances beyond our control. But she also understands the blessing of having a Father who loves you enough to take off the training wheels and place his beloved children in the best possible scenario for good and growth.

Building on Laura’s previous two titles, When God Doesn’t Fix It and I Give Up, So Long, Normal guides us to leave behind the idols of comfort, caution, and routine so we can live strong and well, even when life takes an unwelcome turn.

She says, “Jesus doesn’t just save us from hell in the next life; He saves us from our addiction to ‘normal’ lives this side of eternity. Our preference for cautious, ordinary lives is really rooted in a lack of faith and a failure to understand how much better His plan is than ours.”

In her confessional, conversational style, Laura weaves her own personal stories with examples from Scripture of characters whose lives were upended by unexpected (and undesired) change. Leaving, loving, or losing our “normal” is not the end of the world but the beginning of a new adventure with God who will change us forever.

MY THOUGHTS.....

"When things get back to normal."  How many times, in the past eighteen months, have you heard people say this? I know that I myself have said it far too many times to count! In this new book, So Long, Normal, we are encouraged to turn away from what we've known and to say goodbye to our normal. Author Laura Story offers compelling reasons why we should let go of our safe, ordinary lives and venture into a new, unknown adventure, and she promises that God will be with us all the way! So Long, Normal: Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith is divided into three parts: Understanding Normal, Saying So Long, and Saying Hello; and she uses scripture, personal thoughts, and the stories of other inspiring people to convince us. I especially like that the book concludes with a list of questions that prompt us to dig a little deeper. It's Your Turn inspires us to 'say so long to normal and hello to God's glorious unknown.'

'If we can believe that God is writing a greater story, we may be able to move ahead without definitive answers.'

Laura Story is famous for composing songs that strengthen and encourage, and this book is certainly no different. Reading it is like talking to a friend, so grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, make yourself comfortable in your favorite reading spot, and prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and challenged! You may decide that normal isn't what you want after all!

I received a copy of this book from the author via FrontGate Media. There was absolutely no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Story is a wife, mother, songwriter, worship leader, author, artist, and Bible teacher. Her songs—which have won Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and Dove Awards—include “Blessings” and Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable.” Her books and devotionals have also found a strong following: What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops?, When God Doesn’t Fix It, and I Give Up. So Long, Normal is her latest book.

Laura has a master of theological studies and a doctorate in worship studies, and has served as a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta since 2005. Her greatest joy is being a wife to Martin and mother to Josie, Ben, Griffin, and Timothy. To learn more about Laura, visit laurastorymusic.com/ and follow her on   Facebook    Instagram  Twitter

GIVEAWAY & PURCHASE LINKS

Click on this LINK for a chance to win your own copy of this inspiring book. 

Don't want to wait? Check HERE to purchase a copy and to qualify for some amazing freebies!

  

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Lethal Cover-Up by Darlene L. Turner

ABOUT THE BOOK

Some secrets are dangerous…

But uncovering the truth could be deadly.

Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim?

MY THOUGHTS.....

"They're after me!"

These aren't words you ever want to hear, and Madison Steele soon learns that her sister's frantic phone call has ended with the worst possible scenario. In her newest book, Lethal Cover-Up, author Darlene L. Turner uses these words and many unforeseen circumstances to send readers on a frantic, thrilling, and often dangerous ride. She adds a heroine and hero who are both strong and vulnerable, gives them a previous relationship that ended in pain and disillusionment, and then throws them together to try to stop a murderous drug ring! How can Madison and Tucker Reed ever hope to succeed, if they can't forget their past hurts and misunderstandings?

Lethal Cover-Up is hard to put down, because of its fascinating characters, family secrets, and unending twists and turns, and Turner also includes hope, faith, and a second chance at romance. I recommend it to all who enjoy romantic Christian suspense.

I received a copy of this book from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at http://www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

Darlene’s social media:

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Woy8dK

Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Qso27O

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/2UhbelT

BookBub: https://bit.ly/2QrdkhP

Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2x2Batz

Instagram: darlenel.turner

  

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Donkey Devos: Listen When God Speaks by Susan K. Stewart: Review & Giveaway with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Donkey Devos: Listen When God Speaks

Author: Susan K. Stewart

Genre: Devotional

Release date: July 15, 2021

 

Did you know the Bible mentions only two talking animals? Each of these creatures had a different message. The first to speak out was the serpent. This character certainly wasn’t a model. If God was using this snake for a test drive, I can see why he kept the mouths of the other animals closed. This snake in the grass spoke words meant for evil. Later God allowed another animal to speak—the lowly donkey. The beast of burden. This time the animal had words of wisdom.

Susan K. Stewart expected dogs, cats, and the occasional goldfish would be all the pets she’d need—until the day Susan met donkeys at a rescue center. A few years after that fateful visit, three donkeys became part of the Stewart family. Susan soon learned these humble creatures are still messengers of wisdom.

Donkey Devos is a collection of forty pearls Susan has learned from spending time learning about her equine friends and chatting with them. She uses her experiences, donkey facts, and Biblical donkey details to share the truths God has taught. The whole family will delight in the donkey tales with a message from God.

 

Click here to get your copy!

MY THOUGHTS.....

I've often heard the story of Balaam and his talking donkey, but this book has given me a new understanding of Numbers 22, in the Old Testament. Author Susan K. Stewart has a deep love for donkeys, and her experiences with them have shown her that humans and donkeys are very much alike. She tells what she's learned in Donkey Devos, a collection of forty devotions. These devotions are both touching and humorous, and at the end of each one, Stewart shares Bible scripture that is applicable to her thoughts and observations.

Devotionals are meant to enhance your worship time by deepening your knowledge, and Stewart has certainly accomplished this with this well-written book. I enjoyed learning more about an animal that is often considered a lowly part of God's Creation, but is, in fact, a very important part of Bible history! I recommend that you add Donkey Devos: Listen When God Speaks to your list of worship resources.

I received a digital copy of this book from the author via Celebrate Lit. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

 

About the Author

Susan K. Stewart didn’t expect to become a “donkey whisper,” as some of her neighbors say. One day God put her in a herd of donkeys, and it was love at first bray. Susan and her husband Bob live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, numerous chickens, and inspiring donkeys. They have three children and six outstanding grandchildren. Susan’s passion is to inspire readers with practical, real-world solutions and a few donkey stories.

 

More from Susan

I like to say, “I can’t not write.” I’m not even sure what event or who encouraged me to follow this pursuit. I do know my dream was to be a news reporter by day and a ballet dancer at night. God has given me the gift of teaching. I teach through written words.

Lois Lane was my inspiration. Seriously, in my teens I envisioned myself as a news reporter chasing after breaking stories around the world. I met my Superman, and Lois retired. But I began my own writing career with the help of friends and mentors.

Cecil Murphey has been a valued mentor and friend for nearly twenty years. His no-nonsense approach to helping this wanna-be writer pushed me forward to being able to call myself an author. And, Kathy Ide showed me I could be an editor. Her example and friendship have improved my writing as well

I grew up in a traveling family. (I went to fourteen different schools before graduating high school.) Of all the places my family lived, a rural ranch was not one of them. Pet donkeys and surly chickens were not part of my life experience or my bucket list.

Then it happened. I met a donkey nose-to-muzzle and a special bond was created. After my first visit to the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, I wanted donkey pets. Alas, our property was too small to meet the adoption requirements. When we made the move from California to Texas, donkeys soon became a part of the small ranch.

Caring for the donkeys turned into a friendship. Like all friends, my donkeys and I have had wonderful experiences. These goings-on became the basis for the stories in Donkey Devos: Listen When God Speaks.

I’ve written four books including the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. When I’m not walking and conversing with my donkeys, I tend a vegetable garden, track family history, and read everything from the great American novel to the back of cereal boxes.

Blog Stops

Girls in White Dresses, August 11

HappyWhenReading, August 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 12

For Him and My Family, August 13

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 15

Cats in the Cradle Blog, August 15

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 16

Inklings and notions, August 17

For the Love of Literature, August 18

Older & Smarter?, August 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 20

deb’s Book Review, August 21

Texas Book-aholic, August 22

Mary Hake, August 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 23

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 24

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/112db/donkey-devos-celebration-tour-giveaway

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