Write to the Point with Jody Day August 28, 2013

Today we get write to the point with Jody Day. Take a few minutes and read about her and then leave a comment to enter to win her book.

Tell us about yourself, family, where are you from, how long have you been writing?

I’m an east Texas girl, transplanted to west Texas in 2000. My husband is a minister and we have six grown children that we home schooled. We’re a family of musicians. We have seven grandchildren, but there will be nine by Christmas!  Seems that I’ve always loved writing. I wrote a poem in the fifth grade called “Happiness Is” based on the popular Charlie Brown cartoon at the time. I don’t remember much about it except it ended “and at schoolwork, doing your best.” I got to go to the office and print it on poster board to be displayed in the school foyer. Something about writing something that had an impact stayed with me. I didn’t seek publishing until about ten years ago.

How did you come to know Jesus as your Savior?

I was probably about four when a Bible salesman came to our house. I’d already been sent to bed, but I could hear him witnessing to my parents. My mother came to tuck me in after he left. I remember plain as day standing up on the bed and telling my mother I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. I didn’t fully comprehend it then, but the moment came with understanding as a fifth grader in a church in El Paso. There have been several rededications since then but it seems I’ve known the Lord all my life.

Tell us about your latest book(s). What do want your readers to take away after the last page?

My debut novel, Washout Express, released from Harbourlight Books in June. It’s the tale of a young woman who loses everything, home, job, and fiancé in a one day and so she runs away. She learns who she really is in Christ as a result of some very awesome people that she meets in a small community down a random highway exit.

How often do you blog and what do you cover in your blog?

My blog is called Love Colored Glasses. I post once a week with an emphasis on looking at life through the love of Christ. The blog chronicles moments in my life, highlights authors, and includes devotionals.

What are you reading right now?

That’s a loaded question! I have a stack going in just about every room of my house, on my Kindle for iphone, and at work. I’m children’s programmer at our public library, so I have access to books all the time. Many interesting books come across the counter, and I find I’m reading across many genres. I don’t always finish if it doesn’t interest or enrich me in some way. I just finished Janice Thompson’s The Icing on the Cake, and Bonnie Calhoun’s Cooking the Books. I’m halfway through Messages, by John Michael Hileman. I just started a biography of Robert “Believe it or Not” Ripley by Neal Thompson. There is always a volume of Lucy Maud Montgomery and Jan Karon near me somewhere. Those authors are my favorites and have influenced me greatly. I also read a lot of books about writing. Whew, told ya, loaded questionJ

Can you share with us a Genesis 5020 in your life?

Ah, hard to narrow down to just one. I guess the first, and perhaps most significant, Genesis 5020 for me is having chosen a lifestyle in young adulthood that made me a single mother. God gave me grace and forgiveness, and I determined to be the best Christian mother I could be, but I thought a life of ministry was over for me. One day I ran across this verse in Psalms 34:5. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”  (NIV) Suddenly the shame and discouragement fell away as I realized that God was not finished with me yet. My experiences have been a launching point for ministry for me, and I have lived a life of ministry in many areas with my husband and children. We serve an amazing God.

I love the verse as well and have clung to it many times.

Do you have a life and/or a ministry verse?

My life verses are Philippians 2:1-18.

Where can we find you on the web?

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Colored-Glasses/156212487791934

Blog: http://www.jodysdevotionaljournal.blogspot.com/

Email: jodybooks@faithwriters.net

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you would like to add?

I have an awesome agent, Terry Burns with Hartline Literary Agency, and wonderful publisher and editors at Pelican Book Group, Nicola Martinez, Barbara Early, and Fay Lamb. My local critique group, Critique Café, is very supportive. I’ve been blessed in the journey with wonderful friends and family, as well.

Thank you so much for having me, Melissa!

Thanks so much for sharing with my readers, Jody.

Readers, Jody is giving away a pdf copy of her book. Just leave a comment by Sept. 3rd at 5:00 pm to be entered to win.

Is Your Marriage Normal? August 27, 2013

Love to Stay

by

Adam Hamilton

From the back cover:

In this book, Adam Hamilton explores how, with God’s help, we can make love last. Drawing upon a survey of thousands of couples and singles, interviews with relationship and marriage therapists, the latest research in the field, and wisdom from the Bible, Hamilton looks at what it takes to create and sustain healthy, meaningful romantic relationships across the course of a lifetime. Contents include:  More Than a Piece of Paper; What She Wants; What He Wants; The Significance of Sexual Intimacy; Habits That Hurt, Habits That Heal; Clothe, Bear With, and Forgive; A Love That Lasts a Lifetime. A companion DVD study and leaders guide are also available.

My thoughts:

I am totally breathing a sigh of relief. Yes, my marriage is normal and yours probably is too.

After reading Love to Stay things make more sense to me now. I see that my husband and I are in the hardest years of marriage but if we can get through these the next stage should be easier, happier.

Now the author isn’t telling you to just get through the years. No, he admits that marriage is hard, one of the hardest things we will ever do but he encourages us to strive for better, for more of what God wants. Which is my heart’s cry as well.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t anything ground breaking but it was a good reminder of what it takes to make a marriage work. You can see actual graphs and percentages of what other people say regarding different questions in their marriage. I really liked seeing that clearly.

One of the many things that stuck out to me, and has challenged me, was to ask myself if I am the type of person my husband would want to date now if we were both single. I want to be that person, how about you?

At the end of each chapter are reflections, questions and prayers and even reflections for singles, so you don’t have to be married to read this book.

Overall, I highly recommend this book.

Grab a copy at your local book store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or Deeper Shopping.

Visit Adam’s website here.

A copy of this book was given to me by Abingdon Press through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Review and Giveaway: Dark Road Home by Elizabeth Ludwig August 26, 2013

Dark Road Home

by

Elizabeth Ludwig

From the back cover:

The nightmares of her past have found Ana Kavanagh an ocean away.

Ana Kavanagh’s memories of Ireland are mostly of fire and pain. As a girl she survived a blaze that left her an orphan, left her scarred, and left her angry at God. Now in New York, Ana finds a kindred spirit in Eoghan Hamilton, who’s struggling with his own anger. His twin sister, Cara, betrayed him by falling in love with his enemy.

Cast aside by everyone, Eoghan hopes to rejoin the Fenians, an organization pushing for change back in Ireland, by securing information against Rourke, the man his sister married. Ana, Cara’s friend, may be his best source, and despite the attraction he feels, Eoghan determines to use the girl’s sweet nature to his advantage.

Adding to the danger is a specter from Eoghan’s own past, one whose thirst for vengeance knows no bounds. Eoghan must choose which road to follow–bitterness or forgiveness–and where to finally place his trust.

My thoughts and giveaway:

I really liked this book. I was immediately drawn into the story. It begins with a very mysterious scene and some not-so-nice men. From there I had to see what would happen.

Of course I am a bit bias, since I am a woman who married an Irishman and then named her children Irish names. The main characters are Irish and I even had to look up how to pronounce Eoghan, the hero. (It’s Owen in case you don’t know like me) So all this Irish stuff had me loving the book.

Ana, the heroine, is hiding from her past, but it catches up with her when she meets Eoghan. The romance is on simmer for a while, just the way I like it, and the heat gets turned up gradually.

As things fall into place at the end, and you have the ah-ha moment, you get sweet satisfaction in a wonderfully put together ending.

This really is more of a historical romantic suspense book, not sure if that is the genre it is really under but that’s how I would classify it.

This is the second book in a series. The first is No Safe Harbor.  I haven’t read the first but I didn’t feel lost at all, however, this book does pique your interest in No Safe Harbor.

I highly recommend this book, it’s very well written and a great story with great characters.

Grab your copy at your local book store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com, Deeper Shopping, Books-A-Million or the publisher.

Visit Elizabeth’s website here.

Win a copy of your own by leaving a comment by September 1st at 5:00 pm. (U.S. residents only)

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Everlasting Arms August 23, 2013

The words “everlasting arms” has been coming to me a lot lately. There is a great scripture verse Deuteronomy 33:27 that talked about God’s everlasting arms carrying us and He shouts, “Destroy them.” to the enemy.

I started thinking about resting in someone’s arms. I remember falling asleep as a child in the car after a long drive and my dad carrying me into the house.  I loved that and I can’t even really explain what I loved about it. 

There were times I would even pretend to be asleep so my dad would carry me in.  I remember hearing him say “I think she is playing opossum.” And I was. I felt completely safe and relaxed in my father’s arms.

Now I have the opportunity to carry my children in the house when they fall asleep. I smile at those tender moments. I love carrying them in the house and putting them to bed.

For a while they fight it. Heads will bob and up and down, back and forth and they start to slip into the sweet peace of sleep. Finally, they give in and they find the rest they have been fighting for the last several minutes.

All of this made me think that if I love carrying my children when they need rest, how much God must love carrying us when we need rest.

Yet, we fight it, don’t we? We try to pretend we don’t need the rest, we can do everything on our own. Eventually we realize we do need rest and there is only one place to get it.

In our Father’s arms. 

And His arms are ready for us. When we are ready give to up the fight He will take over. We can fall into His everlasting arms and find rest. He will hold you close and shout, “Destroy them!”  to whatever enemy is trying to defeat you.

So my challenge to you is rest. Fall into His arms and rest.

If you’re a parent picture your own children sleeping in your arms. If you’re not a parent try to remember when you were all tired out and your parents carried you. Now picture yourself in Jesus’ arms, completely at peace, completely at rest. 

Allow Him to do all that He longs and stop fighting. He will fight for you, that’s what He has wanted all along.

The eternal God is our refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’ Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT

Have you been fighting God on anything lately? Why are you fighting? What are you fighting? Are you ready to rest in Him? Share with us, I would love to pray for you.

Review and Giveaway: Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden August 22, 2013

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Into the Whirlwind
Baker Publishing Group (August 15, 2013)
by
Elizabeth Camden

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After her father’s death, Mollie Knox takes over his watchmaking company and uses her head for business to solidify the good name of the 57th Illinois Watch Company. Her future looks bright until the night her beloved city is destroyed in the legendary Great Chicago Fire. With her world crumbling around her, Molly must do whatever it takes to save her company in the aftermath of the devastating fire.

Zack Kazmarek is an influential attorney with powerful ties to the political, mercantile, and ethnic roots of Chicago. His only weakness is Mollie Knox, a woman who has always been just beyond his reach. However, all bets are off after the fire destroys Chicago, and Mollie is in desperate need of assistance. Just as Zack finally begins to pursue the woman he loves, competition arises in the form of a hero from her past who can provide the help she needs to rise from the ashes.

While Mollie struggles to rebuild, the two men battle for her heart. One has always loved her, but the other has the power to save her. In the race to rebuild the city, can she survive with her business and her heart intact?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Into the Whirlwind, go HERE.

My thoughts and giveaway:

I loved reading about the Chicago fire and the aftermath of building the city back up. Elizabeth did a great job of showing the horror and desolation of the city and desperation of the people.

I definitely like Mollie Knox, the heroine. She is strong, yet kind and feminine with a soft heart towards others.

The hero, Zack, let’s just say I can picture those dark eyes of his with no problem and he is everything a hero should be.

The romance happens a little too quickly for me. It felt forced in the beginning, but then after the initial romance blooms everything falls apart and that is when it got more interesting for me.

Another character is introduced about halfway through the book and I kept wondering if he can be trusted or if he is playing a game. You’ll just have to read the book to see what I am talking about 🙂

Overall, a good book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romance.

Grab your copy at your local book store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or Deeper Shopping.

Win a copy of the book by leaving a comment by August 28th at 5:00 PM. (U.S. residents only)

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance in exchange for an honest review.

Write to the Point with Rebecca Carey Lyles August 21, 2013

I am very excited to have Becky Lyles back with us. I interviewed Becky a while ago but she has a new book out to talk about today. You can read her first interview here. To hear about what is going on in her life now keep reading. Oh…and she has a giveaway for you.

Tell us about your newest book.

Winds of Freedom features several characters from Winds of Wyoming, the first book in the Kate Neilson Series, and the action begins about a year after the WoW storyline ends. However, Kate and friends make new friends in the sequel and encounter more nasty villains. Also, much of the drama occurs in a large city as well as on the Wyoming ranch.

Here’s a teaser: Winter storms blast across the Whispering Pines Guest Ranch, and a cold wind blows through Kate Neilson’s soul. Despite her pain, Kate’s well-being takes a backseat to the needs of loved ones: her best friend, who’s been ensnared by evil; her failing great-aunt, whose dementia care keeps Kate guessing; and Laura and Mike Duncan, whose ranch and livelihood are threatened by a land-grabbing neighbor.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

At this time in my life, I have the fun of helping my daughter plan and prepare for her October wedding. I also volunteer with the women’s ministry at my church and for a faith-based women’s home/program that helps ex-inmates transition from prison to life on “the outside.” Plus, I love to walk, hike, camp, snowshoe, cross-country ski, bike and garden—anything (well, almost) that requires being out-of-doors.

Where do you get your ideas?

Like most authors, my ideas spring from real life. The first book in the Kate Neilson Series came from volunteering with a prison ministry in another state that provides Bible studies and mentors plus assists newly released inmates, who are ushered out prison gates with the clothes on their backs, $50 cash, and possibly a bus ticket. With such limited means to begin a new life, ex-offenders often return to the families who triggered their wrong behavior and/or the friends who led them astray or joined them on their downward spiral. I wanted to show that although release from prison is a thrill, the transition back into society is tough for those who’ve been incarcerated.

The idea for Winds of Freedom was sparked by a neighbor’s relative who walked into an airport restroom and never came out—as far as her husband and children knew. Although they didn’t see her exit the restroom, she must have snuck past them wearing a disguise, because they later learned she’d left them to start a new life. Several weeks after her disappearance, she returned to her home to pick up her clothing and other personal items. She didn’t tell her husband where she was living or what she was doing, only that she no longer had to clean house, cook meals, or care for their children. To add to the mystery, she was wearing a collar around her neck.

Do you outline or are you a seat-of-the-pants writer?

I’ve worked from a rough outline, and I’ve also used Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method. From those modest beginnings, I created rough drafts that changed dramatically with each revision. For the next Winds book, I’m hoping to develop a stronger “base of operation” than I had with the first two fiction books. Surely a more complete knowledge of where I’m headed with a story when I begin it will lead to fewer blind alleys and rewrites. In other words, I’m still learning. J I also recently purchased Scrivener, which should help me corral my thoughts and notes and enable me to visualize where the story is headed.

Are you like any of the characters in your book?

As the experts say, there’s a bit of the author in each of his or her characters. However, I have yet to picture myself as one of my characters while writing. When I wrote the first Kate Neilson book, our three children were in the same age range as the heroine and the hero. I tried to picture our daughter and two sons as I wrote but couldn’t do it. In my mind, Kate and Mike were not the same people as my kids. Yet, it’s quite possible that I subconsciously attributed some of my children’s qualities to those characters.

Are you working on a new project now?

I wish I could say I’m writing book three for the series—or even better, that I’ve already written the book (smile). The truth is, I haven’t written a solitary word of “Winds of Change” (possible title). I know a basic plotline for the story, and I’ve begun researching some of the more elusive details. I’m also planning to gather several short stories that I’ve written, smooth out the rough edges, and publish them in an inexpensive compilation.

Anything you would like to add?

Thanks so much, Melissa, for the opportunity to talk about my work on your blog. What an honor and privilege. Bless you!

Bio & Links

Rebecca Carey Lyles grew up in Wyoming, the setting for her Kate Neilson novels. She currently lives with her husband in Idaho, where she serves as an editor and a mentor for aspiring authors and as a coach for women transitioning from prison to life on “the outside.”

Want to connect with Becky? Click on the links below.

http://www.beckylyles.com

http://www.widgetwords.wordpress.com

http://www.amazon.com/Winds-Wyoming-Neilson-Novel-ebook/dp/B006SPP7G8

http://www.amazon.com/Winds-Freedom-Neilson-Novels-ebook/dp/B00EG7OY3M/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376519347&sr=1-2&keywords=winds+of+freedom

It was so nice chatting with you again, Becky and thanks for taking the time to share with my readers.

Readers, if you would like to win a copy of Becky’s book leave a comment for her by August 27th at 5:00.

The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone August 19, 2013

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Lost Medallion

B&H Kids; Mti edition (June 1, 2013)

by
Bill Muir and Alex Kendrick

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Bill Muir is a popular speaker, an international award winning film maker and a sought-after consultant.

Having completed his new novels The Lost Medallion and A Hidden Treasure, Bill has turned his creativity to his new Children’s novel, Howdy Neighbors.

When Bill isn’t writing a novel, he’s busy directing and producing movies. He recently spent four months in Thailand filming, The Lost Medallion: the adventures of Billy Stone. The movie will be in theaters this fall. When he isn’t working on movies, he’s having fun with his family working their farm.

Alex Kendrick is associate pastor of movie outreach for Sherwood Baptist Church. He is also an actor, writer, and director whose film credits include Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous. He and his wife, Christina, have six children.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Archaeologist Dr. Michael Stone looked for the lost medallion his entire life, and now his son Billy has taken up the search. Amazingly, the medallion ends up in Billy’s hands and a spontaneous wish in a precarious situation takes Billy and his best friend Allie, back 200 years to what they realize is a very different Aumakua Island.

When Billy and his friends are not jumping off waterfalls, avoiding animal traps, crossing the ocean, sneaking through caves or escaping a prison they’re facing their nemesis Cobra, who wants nothing more than for them all to disappear.

With no other way to get home, and the well being of the entire island resting on his shoulders, Billy must discover the key to reclaiming the medallion and its tremendous power. One way or another, this adventure will change Billy, and life on the island, forever.

Best-selling author and film director Alex Kendrick (The Love Dare, Courageous) and Youth for Christ veteran Bill Muir bring us this exciting novelization of The Lost Medallion movie.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Lost Medallion, go HERE.

My thoughts:

This book is a great read for your tween. I think boys and girls alike would enjoy this book full of adventure, tension and brave kids.

I have not seen the movie but now I would like to. The neat thing about this book is that there are QR codes throughout so the reader can scan it on their phone and then watch that clip from the movie. Very cool.

The book does a great job of showing where true strength lies, and who give us strength and courage. What a challenge for todays tweens as they are trying desperately to find themselves in a world that is telling them they have to be a certain way to fit in. I don’t know about you but I really don’t want my daughter to fit in with the world, I want her to shine with the love of Jesus and this book subtly shows kids that is what really matters.

If you have a tween I highly recommend this book. Read it with them so you can discuss what is happening and how they can apply it to their lives.

Grab a copy at your local book store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Christianbook.com.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance in exchange for an honest review.

Margie’s Story August 16, 2013

The lovely ladies at My Sister Song have agreed to let me post their stories here. I will pepper them between my devotions since I don’t have any other Genesis 5020 stories to share yet. I hope you will be blessed by their stories of hope.

Hi, My name is Margie and I was born and raised in Detroit and I’d like to share some of the reasons why I relate so much to those precious words “He who has been forgiven much, loves much”.

My Dad was present, but he wasn’t there. My Mom was young and beautiful and lonely. I am an only child. Because of a lack of parental discipline, I started going wild at about age 13. Because of a lack of respect for my parents, I was out of the house and out of control.

Drugs weren’t much of an issue yet but by the time I was 15 I got pregnant. When I was seven weeks along my parents had me on a plane by myself to New York. (Abortions were not yet legal in Michigan).

I no sooner got back and was pregnant again so I was put back on an airplane and well, there I went again.

For the next two years I spent every weekend at the Grande Ballroom & Garwood Mansion partying with my friends, crashing around town, and mainlining crystal meth.

By ’69 I was at Woodstock and met a girl I decided to hitchhike to LA with.  We left Detroit, went to Boston, to New York, and then out to L.A.

While in L.A., still searching and experimenting, I started noticing quite a few gorgeous boys on the Strip.  Soon enough I realized they were not boys… so of course I had to see what that was all about. We stayed in L.A. for two years and I stayed away from the girls that looked like boys. Arriving back in Detroit, I was far from tame.

The next three years were nothing but partying music and getting high. For a brief time I got involved in exotic dancing.

Always being a true nature child from the heart, I was a Hippy, Flower Child, skinny dippin’ at Woodstock kind of girl, not a shy person.  In light of that and my love for dance, the exotic dancing was not a stretch for me.

The thing was…when I got on stage in the club, I wasn’t outside in the sunshine with a huge buzz on surrounded by all of my single friends.  I was in a dark, smoke filled room, having to mingle with the customers so they would buy more drinks. This was not the “having fun dancing and getting paid for it” experience I was expecting.

It was a sad oppressive JOB and as I soon learned, most of the men there were married with families. The ugly truth hit me so I left the club.

Not long after I became friends with a gay guy and started going to the dance clubs that he went to.  I was able to have fun in an atmosphere where I knew I would not be bothered by any men wanting from me what I was not willing to give.

One thing led to another and the desire for the girls that looked like cute boys was starting to burn, so I fanned that flame.

Time passed and one day I was walking through the park and thought, “THERE HAS GOT TO BE MORE TO LIFE, THAN MORE OF THIS !”

Two weeks later I ended up at a Wednesday night church service.

I understand now that God was pouring out His loving kindness and seeking me out…I was so lost.  That night I asked Jesus to come into my heart…To be my Savior and my Lord. When He did, He told me something that will never leave me.  He said, “Everything you have done up until now you have just been looking for Love…and here I AM”.

The last 35 years my life have been an amazing adventure of growth and freedom.

My loving Father God gave me an awesome husband to love and care for me and this coming June we will celebrate 31 years of marriage.

After we’d been married 21 years, we still didn’t have any children, but our Father in heaven had other plans for us.  So just before I turned 50, my husband Michael and I became Foster parents and adopted a five month old baby girl and a five day old boy.

So for the two abortions I had all those years ago, God gave me Beauty for ashes. He restored to me what the enemy of my soul had stolen.  My God makes ALL things new!  He is waiting for you My Sister, My Friend.  Can you hear Him Calling you ever so gently…

Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds your hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, your power throughout the universe displayed……Then my soul sings…

YOU   ROCK   LORD !!!!

What’s your Genesis 5020? Share your story at: 5020genesisstories(at)gmail(dot)com

 

Review and Giveaway: Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering August 14, 2013

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Rules of Murder
Bethany House Publishers (August 1, 2013)
by
Julianna Deering

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).

ABOUT THE BOOK

Downton Abbey Meets Agatha Christie in This Sparkling Mystery

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.

Soon, financial irregularities at Drew’s stepfather’s company come to light and it’s clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer–and trying harder to impress Madeline–Drew must decide how far to take this game.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Rules of Murder, go HERE.

My thoughts and giveaway:

This book took my back to the old show “Murder She Wrote”. Anyone else remember that show? The regular, everyday writer solving all the mysteries.

I loved the time period this book is set in and I enjoyed the murder mystery as well.

Julianna had me guessing the entire time who could have committed the murders. She scatters clue throughout and feeds them to you just as you need them. Although, my brain never stopped trying to figure it out. From the start I wondered about something that happened earlier in the book but the author does a great job of distracting the reader and making you forget the things you do know.

The characters were very endearing. Drew is a charming hero with a great sense of humor and Madeline is a  strong,feminine heroine you will adore. The two together make a striking couple.

If you enjoy a good old-fashioned mystery you will want to pick up this book.

Grab your copy at your local book store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or Deeper Shopping.

Visit Julianna’s website here.

Win a copy by leaving a comment by August 20th at 5:00 PM. (U.S. residents only)

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance in exchange for an honest review.

Mean Girls August 13, 2013

8 Great Dates: Best Friends and Mean Girls

and

A Girl’s Guide to Best Friends and Mean Girls

by

Dannah Gresh

From the back cover of 8 Great Dates: Best Friends and Mean Girls:

One of the best ways to guide your girl toward healthy friendships and quiet the drama of teen relationships is to spend quality time with her yourself. The popular 8 Great Dates series from Secret Keeper Girl offers the most fun you’ll ever have digging into God’s Word with your daughter. (Think shopping sprees, slumber parties, ding-dong-ditching, and more!)

This book contains the plans for eight creative dates that will teach your daughter how to respond to friendship the way God designed. You’ll be set p to help your daughter tackle questions like:

* Why do I feel jealous of my BFF sometimes?

* What do I do when I face a mean girl?

* How should I act when I get left out?

* Is it okay to be boy-crazy?

* What might help me control my tongue?

From the back cover of A Girl’s Guide to Best Friends and Mean Girls:

Friends can make or break the life of a tween girl. That’s why bestselling author Dannah Gresh, popular speaker and creator of the Secret Keeper Girl events, and youth educator Suzy Weibel have developed this resource that targets the hearts of tween girls as they grow in and pursue friendships.

A Girl’s Guide to Best Friends and Mean Girls springs from the life and example of Jesus, a tween girl’s true BFF. It helps her explore questions such as

• Who should I choose for friends?
• How can I keep my friends?
• How can my parents help me?
• What do I do about jealousy and hurts in my friendships?
• How can I be Jesus’ friend, and how do I introduce others to him?

Christian moms and dads will be delighted with the biblical grounding and godly guidance that will help protect their daughters in friendships and help them understand what friendship really is.

My thoughts:

These books should be purchased together,inI my opinion. One you can read with your daughter the other you do with her.

First, with 8 Great Dates you get that quality time that is so needed with our children. My daughter and I have done other Great Date books by Dannah and we have loved them. It really gives us a chance to focus our conversations and talk about things that we might not otherwise take the time to talk about. And it’s always nice to have some girl time.

You can really talk about what it looks like to have good friends and so much more 🙂

In A Girls’ Guide you can choose to read this book with your daughter or let her read it. It is written to your daughter but I suggest going through it together. Dannah and Suzy do an amazing job of sharing how some girls can appear to be your friend but underneath it all they really aren’t.

Dannah and Suzy talk about what a real friend should be like, how she should treat you. They use Jesus as the prime example of how you should treat a friend and how Jesus choose His closest companions.

Grab you copies at your local book store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or Deeper Shopping.

Copies of these books were given to me by the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.