Book Review: The Promise by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

Title: The Promise (Book 2, Restoration Series)
Authors: Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley
Publisher: Revell 

About the book: One home, two hearts, and the power of a promise kept . . . 

For the last five months, Tom Anderson has been without a job, a fact he's been hiding from his wife Jean--and everyone else. He leaves each morning, pretending nothing has changed, and spends his disheartening day rotating through coffee shops and the library, using their wifi to search job listings online. The stress of keeping this secret is beginning to put serious strain on his marriage.

But Tom's not the only one hiding something. Jean Anderson has a secret of her own--one that will seriously complicate their situation. Will the promises they made on their wedding day hold firm?

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Purchase Links: 

 

My thoughts: This is my fifth book that I have read and reviewed on Books and Needlepoint by Dan Walsh.  (You can find all my reviews here. ) I continue to be touched and renewed while reading his books.  This latest, the second in the Restoration Series is no exception.  I would recommend reading The Dance first though as you get some background information that not knowing won't detract from the story, but I felt it gave me a better understanding of the family dynamics.  

I enjoy these books because the foundation for the restoration is based in God's love and forgiveness.  This is portrayed though, without being preachy and in-your-face.  It is simply a story, that could be anyone's story, about things that disrupt a marriage, a family, and the importance of communication and prayer. These books have touched me on a deeper level the last couple of years as my family has faced some trials where communication and understanding have played a very big role.  For awhile the communication was lost and it is just coming back to the level where it used to be.  The difference that it has made in our marriage and in our family is tremendous.

So, whether or not your family is whole, struggling, on the brink of disaster - I am sure that you will take something away with you after reading them.

~I received a complimentary copy of The Dance from Revell Book Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the author: Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Dance with Gary Smalley, The Discovery, and The Reunion. He has won three Carol Awards, and two of his novels were finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year for 2011 and 2012. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Author Links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

About the author: Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury and The Dancewith Dan Walsh. Gary and his wife Norma have been married for 49 years and live in Missouri.

Author Links: 
Twitter 

Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong (Book Review)

Title: Welcome to Last Chance
Author: Cathleen Armstrong
Publisher: Revell Books

About the book: The red warning light on her car dashboard drove Lainie Davis to seek help in the tiny town of Last Chance, New Mexico. But as she encounters the people who make Last Chance their home, it’s her heart that is flashing bright red warning lights. These people are entirely too nice, too accommodating, and too interested in her personal life for Lainie’s comfort-especially since she’s on the run and hoping to slip away unnoticed.

Yet in spite of herself, Lainie finds that she is increasingly drawn in to the dramas of small town life. An old church lady who always has room for a stranger. A handsome bartender with a secret life. A single mom running her diner and worrying over her teenage son. Could Lainie actually make a life in this little hick town? Or will the past catch up to her even here in the middle of nowhere?

Cathleen Armstrong pens a debut novel filled with complex, lovable characters making their way through life and relationships the best they can. Her evocative descriptions, observational humor, and talent at rendering romantic scenes will earn her many fans.

 

Purchase Links:

 

 

 



My thoughts: I really liked the way this book started out, with Lainie dragging into Last Chance in a car that dies in the first parking lot in town.  For the first few days, she doesn't know whether she is having good luck or bad luck with the things that are happening.  Before she can blink, though, she has a place to stay and a job - just no car. 

She has been on her own for so long that she doesn't recognize it when someone cares about her and is not just ordering her around.  She has had her fill of being ordered around, but because of situations in her past, can't quite feel comfortable anywhere.  She is afraid that her ex is going to come looking for her, and she can't let him find her.

I loved Lainie.  When she discovered that she was in a situation that she didn't like - rather than staying to try to change her boyfriend - she packed up and left.  Something I think not a lot of young girls would do.  Especially ones that didn't have anywhere else they could call home.  When she arrived in Last Chance, she was cautious, but she was not afraid of work.  She was a good person who had just not had a perfect life.

Like the people of Last Chance, this book was warm and welcoming and presented the gospel in a very laid back way.  For them it was just a fact of life - something they lived every day.  They did not need to rub your face in it.   Now don't get me wrong - Last Chance had some characters that weren't living the life they should, and even had some Christians whose heart was in the right place even if what came out of their mouths sometimes wasn't.

I thought it was a very strong debut novel and will happily read whatever Cathleen Armstrong comes out with next.

 

~I received a complimentary copy of Welcome to Last Chance from Revell Blog Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~

 

About the author: Cathleen Armstrong lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, but her roots remain deep in New Mexico, where she grew up and where much of her family still lives. Her debut novel, Welcome to Last Chance, has already won the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction.

 

The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Book Review and giveaway)

Title: The Letters
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell

About the book: Welcome to a place of unconditional love and unexpected blessings.

When widow Rose Schrock turns her Amish farmhouse into a bed and breakfast, she expects there might be problems.  The reaction of her cantankerous mother-in-law for one.  Disapproval from the church for another.  But what she doesn't expect is that the guests at the Inn at Eagle Hill will spill their problems into her life and into her heart.  She also never expects the kind of help and support she gets from Galen King, the quiet and rugged horse trainer next door.  Love, Rose discovers, can bloom in the most unexpected ways.

With inspiration from a true story and her signature plot twists, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge for a fresh story of simple pleasures and strong faith in a complex world.

Purchase Links:

My thoughts: I like Suzanne's books (reviews) because they have a strong faith based storyline, but they do not "shove" religion in your face.  This one contains all the elements I like in a book - strong family ties, romance, a little mystery, and believable characters. 

Rose might be Amish, but her children are just like anyone else's.  Bethany is trying to discover who she is and is falling in love.  Mim is becoming a teenager with feelings of her own.  Luke and Sammy are as rambunctious as two little boys should be.  Tobe, the oldest, has runaway and we don't learn much about him.  I am hoping there is a book coming that will introduce us to him, as I am sure he has much to share.

Rose is a very strong woman and mother, with her strength coming from God.  She still struggles with the problems that life throws at her though, and can be too stubborn to see things that are right in front of her.  Her first guest, Delia, brings her own set of problems to Eagle Hill, but at the same time, she brings some answers to Rose's prayers.  It is refreshing to read a book where you see God orchestrating chance meetings.

About the author:  Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace.  She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp.  Suzanne is a Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award finalist.  She is the host of internet radio show Amish Wisdom and a  columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines.  She lives in California. 

Author Links:

Website /  Twitter /

Enter Today - 8/1 - 8/17!

A Simple Song by Melody Carlson (Book Review)

Title: A Simple Song
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher:  Revell Books

About the book: In her newest young adult novel, bestselling author Melody Carlson takes Katrina Yoder somewhere few Amish teens have been: reality TV.

Katrina Yoder loves to sing, but her Amish parents view singing as vainglory and a sin. Katrina's best friend, Bekka, is convinced Katrina should try out for American Star, a televised singing competition that Bekka has been secretly watching. Katrina resists the temptation until her father's health worsens. He desperately needs a surgery the family cannot afford. Katrina decides she must go against her parents' wishes to win the money needed to help her father. But how will she handle herself as an Amish teenager out in the world?

Teen girls will be swept into the excitement as Katrina ventures out of her quiet Amish world to become a reality television star. Will she be successful? And will she be accepted back into her community when it's over?

Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


My thoughts: This was a fun, light read and did a nice job of combining both the Amish and the English worlds while also helping to define the differences between them.  Katrina loves to sing, but was admonished once as a child for singing too loudly, so has been conflicted ever since about her joy of singing.  When she discovers that her grandmother once sang in a folk trio in the sixties, before coming back to join the church, she continues to wonder why her singing seems to trouble her parents.

Being left an old transistor radio from her grandmother, she covertly learns some songs from a Golden Oldies station.  During group singing, the other teens convince her to sing them a song.  One song leads to another, and then to a handful as they are all enraptured by her voice.  Bekka, her best friend, claims she sings better than the performers on American Star, a show she watches on her family's work computer when she is supposed to be working!

Her dad had been hurt in a tractor accident and his pain has gotten so bad that there are days he cannot get out of bed.  Fearing that his older brother (due to his nagging wife) might cut them off from the farm that sustains them, and knowing that her father could benefit from a surgery they cannot afford, Katrina decides to apply to American Star.  She knows that her family might cut her off, but is convinced by her friends (and brother and sister) that if she has a chance to win some money that could pay for her father's surgery, then she should do it.

I liked the way the author allowed Katrina to remain true to her Amish roots while competing on this English show.  Whenever she felt she had compromised her beliefs, she would come back stronger than ever to stay true to her beliefs.  She was able to make and help her new friends, and still be quite competitive just by being herself.  The producer also made it possible for her to meet one of the trio that sang with her grandmother all those years ago - so even though her grandmother had passed away, she was able to learn a lot more about her.  I think this also helped her to make some of the decisions that she did.

If you have a daughter who is convinced that she is the next "Voice" or "American Idol" then I think she would enjoy this book. While I am sure that it doesn't come close to the 'behind-the-scenes' of the real show, it might give them something else to think about as to why they want to compete, and what they are willing to compromise to get their dreams.

 

~I was provided a complimentary copy of A Simple Song from Revell Books in exchange for my unbiased review.~

Couponing for the Rest of Us by Kasey Knight Trenum (Book Review and Q&A)

Title: Couponing for the Rest of Us
Author: Kasey Knight Trenum
Publisher: Revell

About the Book:  Founder of Time 2 $ave Shows Busy Women How to Save Big Without Spending Hours a Week Clipping Coupons

Couponing expert Kasey Knight Trenum will be the first to tell you that she does not like coupons.  But she does love saving money. Faced with mounting bills after her husband was downsized five years ago, Trenum turned to coupons to plug the hole in their savings account.  She spent hours researching how to use coupons effectively and easily reduced her family's weekly grocery bill 75 percent.  "I've learned how to balance savings with having a life and without it becoming an obsession," says Trenum.  "I've never woken up singing the praises of a coupon; I've just sung the joys of saving a ton of money."

Trenum shares the ins and outs of couponing and all the secrets she's put to good use over the years in Couponing for the Rest of Us: The Not-So-Extreme Guide to Saving More. With her help, readers will discover ways to hundreds of dollars every month and ultimately improve their family's finances without letting it take over their lives.  Couponing for the Rest of Us shows readers:

• Where to find coupons for what your family eats
• How to make the internet do the work for you
• How to find sale cycles and store match-ups (and what those terms mean!)
• How to reinvent your shopping strategy and toss your lists
• How to make grocery shopping less stressful -- even fun!
• How to turn money saved into money shared
• Make couponing fit your life not become your life

"If you're worried that your not a coupon kind of girl, don't," writes Trenum.  "You don't have to be in love with coupons.  You don't have to compute math in your head. And you don't have to set aside hours each week just to work on your coupons. I can't stress enough -- balance is the key to making couponing work for you.  You have to figure out how to make it fit into your world; it cannot become your world."

After shoppers started following Trenum to her car to find out how she was getting such good deals, she realized she had a lifestyle solution she could share.  She began teaching couponing workshops. In 2009, she cofounded Time 2 $ave, a frugal and couponing blog, to help others discover how to make couponing work for them.  The silver lining to her savings from coupons became an empowering focus on giving to others. She has helped thousands improve their lives and become purposeful givers.

My thoughts: I think this book will be good for anyone who would like to save a little or a lot of money.  The important things that I took away from it were things like what it means to stack coupons (use a store coupon and a manufacturer's coupon); where to find a store's policy on coupons; why shopping at a drugstore is different from shopping at a grocery store.  

It is organized very well, though I must admit that I thought it got a little long in the beginning before we actually got to the ins and outs of couponing. There are some great resources in the back of the book as well, such as a glossary and inventory sheets for taking stock of your pantry and for beginning your stockpile.  

She stresses the importance of taking it slow and not letting it overwhelm you, even giving you some baby steps to try out as you begin the journey of couponing. I think it would overwhelm me if I let it, so I am probably going to start small - by really looking at my store ads for those things that I could use for my stockpile rather than those things that I need for day to day.  I have already bookmarked her website www.time2saveworkshops.com and signed up for her email.  You can find all kinds of coupons on their as well as links to store ads and other coupons.

I am very glad that I signed up to tour with this book and want to thank Revell Blog Tour for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. 

Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Purchase Links:

~Amazon~     ~Barnes and Noble~

Q&A with Kasey Knight Trenum
Author of Couponing For the Rest of Us

Q. I’m already busy, and couponing looks like a part time job. Do I really have time?
A. I hear your pain. If anyone thought she didn’t have time to coupon, it was me. I didn’t even consider it as a remote possibility. Time or no time, I couldn’t afford not to use couponing as an avenue to save. Soon I began to see how the benefits outweighed my investment. It was worth it to have several hundred dollars a month back in our budget, especially when our other household expenses weren’t going down. Will couponing take some of your time? Yes, but not much. I’ll show you the ropes so you can save both time and money.

Q. I have a small family. I don’t see how using coupons could help us much since our grocery bill isn’t that high.
A. The size of your family doesn’t matter. Whatever your grocery bill is, there is usually room to save. Even if you only spend $50 a week, wouldn’t you like to cut that down to $20 or $30? Aside from the numbers, when you shop ahead of time to buy what you use, it takes the stress of having to go to the grocery store out of your life.

Q. This seems like a lot of work, and I’m not an organized person. I don’t think I can keep up with all this!
A. Oh my! If you look up “unorganized” in the dictionary, you’ll find my picture. I really (really!) want to be organized, and I have tried to help myself in this area more ways than I can count. But you know what? I was not created that way. You can imagine my struggle with organizing my coupons. I had to find a way that worked for me (and didn’t consume my life), and that I could stick with for the long haul. Remember, couponing isn’t all-or-nothing. It’s what fits into whatever season of life you are in right now. What works for one person might not work for another; we are all unique. Be patient as you figure out what makes sense and works best for you.

Q. I’ve seen where couponing revolves around stockpiling and having massive amounts of food in your house. I don’t think I can (or want) to go there.
A. Fabulous! That makes two of us. My goal is to teach you how to save your family money and open up doors to give. It’s all about simplicity here; couponing isn’t an all-or-nothing deal. Couponing success isn’t measured by the size of your stockpile. I’d much rather be known for giving.

Q. I’ve always thought people who use coupons end up purchasing things they don’t need just because they have a coupon for it.
A. Guilty! I did it. Most people do, especially in the beginning. However, you’ll soon figure out the items that your family uses and what items make good donations. Beyond that, I’ll save you some time here. If you can’t donate it, even if it’s free or cheap, it’s not worth it. In some states you will still have to pay tax on the full purchase price before coupons. My mission has been to simplify; if my family doesn’t use it and I can’t donate it, then it’s just going to take up space in my home. You can always share your coupons with friends, schools, military programs and so forth.

Q. I’ve never been good at math—Can I do this?
A. Don’t worry, I was never good at math and you don’t have to be either. Besides, who said you can’t use a calculator? Throw one in your purse or use your smartphone

Q. How many grocery stores do you shop each week?
A. Lately I am happy to make it to one. I have been asked this question more times than I can count. It is not necessary to shop more than one store, or even to shop every single week for that matter. Whether you save 5 percent or 70 percent, you are still saving. Couponing has to fit into your life, not become your life.


Couponing for the Rest of Us
Publisher/Publication Date: Revell, May 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8007-2206-7
192 pages

Book Review: Taylor's Gift by Todd and Tara Storch

Title: Taylor's Gift
Authors: Todd and Tara Storch with Jennifer  Schuchmann
Publisher: Revell

About the book: It was the last run of their first day on the slopes, the beginning of another great family vacation for Todd and Tara Storch and their three children.  But when thirteen-year-old Taylor's life was tragically cut short in a skiing accident, the Storches were overcome by the devastating loss of their daughter.  Still in shock, they were asked a question no parents ever think they will hear:  "Would you be willing to donate Taylor's organs?"

Their answer would change their family's lives forever and provide comfort during their darkest moments.  It would also save the lives of five desperate people anxiously waiting for a heart, a liver, a cornea, a pancreas, and a kidney.

Taylor's death could have destroyed the Storches -- and in some ways it almost did.  Instead, her gift of life brought them strength, knowing her heart was continuing to beat.  Taylor's Gift is more than Taylor's story, or even Todd and Tara's story.  It's the story of a nurse who can now be an active mom and fully present for her kids, a cowboy who now has the strength and ability to give back to the community, a biker who can now give of himself completely, and a teenager who can now see her future for the first time.

It's a story of finding strength in God and creating good even in the darkest times.  It's a story of hope.

Through the Gift of Organ Donation, Tragic Death of 13-Year-Old Taylor Storch Brings Life & Hope

“The prayer of this book is this: may good continue to happen. May this story bring hope to anyone who has suffered tragedy. There is life after loss. It comes after a monsoon of tears. But it comes.”

- Max Lucado

On what was supposed to be the family trip of a lifetime, thirteen-year-old Taylor Storch's life was tragically cut short after a horrific ski accident two years ago. As Taylor lay unresponsive in the ICU, Todd and Tara clung to any shred of hope that they would see their daughter smile again. Devastated and still in shock about the accident, they were asked a question no parents think they will ever hear: “Would you be willing to donate Taylor’s organs?”

Their answer would change their family’s lives forever and provide hope during their darkest moments. It would also save the lives of five desperate people anxiously waiting for a new heart, a new liver, new corneas and a new kidney.

Now Todd and Tara Storch, with New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Schuchmann, share their heartbreaking, yet inspirational story, shining a light for those enduring their own ocean of grief. Todd and Tara share the ugly side of their grief. Todd’s impulse to bury himself in work and even worse, to just leave. Tara's inability to come out of the fog of grief for months. Taylor’s death could have destroyed them. Instead, her gift of life brought them hope, knowing her heart had never stopped beating.

Taylor’s Gift: A Courageous Story of Giving Life and Renewing Hope is more than Taylor’s story or even Todd and Tara’s story. It’s the story of a cowboy who has the strength and ability to give back to the community; a nurse who can be an active mom and fully present for her kids; a biker who can give himself completely; and a teenager who can see her future for the first time. It’s the story of finding strength in God and creating good even in the darkest times.

It’s a story of hope.

“The greatest gift we’ve received on this journey didn’t come from Taylor,” writes Todd and Tara. “It came from God. Her death is not the end of her story. God is sovereign, and he is still writing.”

After discovering their home state of Texas had the second lowest organ donation registration rate, Todd and Tara created the Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising organ donation awareness. The Foundation gave them a way to celebrate Taylor’s life and to use their story to encourage others to register to be an organ donor. In less than two years, they have spoken to thousands of people across the country have helped contribute more than two million registered organ donors in Texas and over 12 million nationally.

Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

My thoughts:  Taylor's Gift is an amazing story about a beautiful girl and the unselfish response that her grieving family gave when asked if they would donate her organs.  Through the book, you learn how caring Taylor was for her family and friends, even though she was only 13 when she was killed.  There were times while reading the book that I could hardly see the words through my tears.  But this isn't just a tear jerker.  There were also times when I was amazed at how God was working through the tragedy to bring hope to so many people. How God kept His presence known in so many ways and let them know His purpose behind Taylor's death. 

The Storches struggled with their grief. They got angry with God. Tara withdrew to her room for months while Todd had to stay full of activity.  But through it all they came together to create Taylor's Gift Foundation .  This is an organization working to inform people about the huge need for organ donation.  While a story like this has to touch everyone on some level, I love that -- as it says above -- it is a story of hope.  That even in the darkest of times, you can find strength in God. 

Loved it.

~I received a complimentary copy of Taylor's Gift from Revell in exchange for my unbiased review.~

© Frank Marott, Pixels–Coppell, TX

About the Authors: Todd Storch is a successful consultant, public speaker and community leader. After the death of his daughter, he began to pursue his new God-given mission to promote organ donation. Todd is cofounder and president of Taylor’s Gift Foundation, where he and his wife, Tara, work tirelessly to help those who have been touched by organ donation. Todd is honored to lead the foundation that has helped contribute to the registration of millions of new organ donors and is still changing the conversation about organ donation.

Tara Storch is first and foremost a mom, but she is also a sales and marketing professional, is active in her church, and is a community leader. Along with her husband, Todd, she cofounded Taylor’s Gift Foundation. She leads the marketing

 efforts of the foundation with the mission to “increase organ donation to Regift Life, Renew Health and Restore Families.” She loves helping others recognize the beautiful gift we all have within.

Todd and Tara have shared their story on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and other national media. They are the parents of Taylor, Ryan, and Peyton and have made their home in Texas.

Jennifer Schuchmann specializes in collaborations with celebrities and newsmakers. Among her many books, she is coauthor with Kurt and Brenda Warner of the New York Times bestselling First Things First; with Dan Woolley of Unshaken, the only book written by a survivor of the Haiti earthquake; and with Jim Cymbala of Spirit Rising.

Book Review; The Dance by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

Title: The Dance (Book 1, The Restoration Series)
Authors: Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley
Publisher: Revell

About the Book: After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife.  Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs -- a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home om, an enviable collection of stuff.  Everything, that is, except what really matters:  love.

After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough.  she longs to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it.  Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons -- something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.

Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage.  With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back.  What he doesn't anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him -- starting with himself. 

Combining the literary talents of bestselling author Dan Walsh and the relationship expertise of bestselling author Gary Smalley, The Dance is the first novel in The Restoration Series. Readers will get caught up in these flawed but sincere members of the Anderson family as they rediscover genuine love and start a transformation that ultimately affects all of them. Based on the principles behind Smalley’s bestselling The DNA of Relationships, Walsh expertly weaves proven relationship advice to restore a marriage into this powerful novel.

In The Dance, readers will meet the Anderson family amidst crisis. Jim Anderson is a successful businessman, and his wife, Marilyn, is the perfect wife. Jim never expected to come home one day and find Marilyn gone. What will it take to restore their marriage before their problems shatter the entire family?

Smalley previously collaborated with New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury on the wildly successful Redemption Series introducing her readers to the beloved Baxter family. After seeing the impact those characters continue to have with readers, Smalley partnered with Walsh to create powerful storylines that transcend words on a page and begin to impact readers’ marriages and relationships.

“I’ve learned what a tremendous impact novels can have on the real relationships of readers,” says Smalley. “And when I read Dan Walsh’s work, I knew—this was a guy who can tap into the needs of the heart.  I’m thrilled we could work together to create the story of the Anderson family.” 

Other novels in the series will following the Anderson family as Walsh and Smalley continue to draw from The DNA of Relationships as well as several other of Smalley’s bestselling books on marriage and family relationships.

Walsh’s writing is known for enthralling the reader and creating emotional connections with his characters. In a review of his last novel, The Reunion (September 2012), USA Today’s Happily Ever After said Walsh has a “… gift for pulling the heartstrings and encouraging a slow build of tears within his reader.” Similarly RT Book Reviews wrote, “Walsh is so gifted that the reader becomes a part of his stories.”

Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

My thoughts: This was a wonderful book! It really hit home learning that a Christian marriage and family can also have misunderstandings to the point that a person doesn't feel loved.  Marilyn was so strong to finally walk out, after who knows how many months or years of trying to get her husband's attention.  She moves in with a single christian woman and starts working at a local gift shop.  One day at lunch, she meets an elderly woman, Audrey, who used to own the local dance studio.  It is because of this meeting that she decides to take dance lessons.

Meanwhile, Jim also meets Audrey one evening after a confrontation with Marilyn outside that dance studio. Audrey talks to him a little about his troubles with Marilyn and convinces him to let her give him private dance lessons.  Jim hates dancing so much, he wouldn't even dance with Marilyn at their wedding!  Audrey uses these dance lessons to also start to teach Jim about relationships.  The Dance is very much a metaphor for life and how we relate to other people.

I enjoyed this book so much, that I order The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley this afternoon.  I can't wait to share it with my husband.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the authors: Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of several books, including The Discovery and The Reunion. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. For more information about Walsh and his books, visit his web site at www.DanWalshBooks.com and follow him on Twitter at @DanWalshAuthor.

Gary Smalley is one of the country’s best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of more than 60 books. He has spent over 40 years learning, teaching and counseling, speaking to over 2 million people in live conferences. Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Extra and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 48 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children, all in full time ministry to families, couples and orphans, and they enjoy their wonderful relationships with their ten grandchildren.

The Dance

Publisher/Publication Date: Revell, April 2013

ISBN:  978-0-8007-2148-0

352 pages

Book Review: Scent of Lilacs by Ann H. Gabhart

Title: Scent of Lilacs (Hollyhill, Book 1)
Author: Ann H. Gabhart
Publisher: Revell

About the Book: After the summer of 1964, life for Jocie Brooke will never be the same.

Life-changing events rarely happen in quiet Hollyhill, Kentucky, and when they do, they are few and far between.  But for young Jocie Brooke and her family, they happen all at once during the humid summer of 1964.  though on the surface things are just fine, it seems like everyone in Jocie's life has something they're not saying, something they're hiding from her -- and from themselves.  As Jocie digs into her family's past, she stirs up a whirlwind of discoveries.  Will she find the answers everyone so desperatley needs? Or will her questions lead to truths better left hidden?

Combining unforgettable characters, true-to-life struggles, and the perfect dose of humor and nostalgia, this riveting story from bestselling author Ann Gabhart explores the very essence of new life and love.

Purchase Links

~Baker Retail~     ~Amazon~     ~Barnes and Noble~     ~Christianbook.com~

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My Thoughts: I was raised in a small town in the midwest and could really relate to Jocie and the pace of Hollyhill.  Even though the book is set in 1964, they have many of the same struggles that people have today.   Jocie is so innocent when the story starts.  Her two biggest prayers are that God will bring her a dog and will bring her sister Tabitha home.  

Seven years earlier, when Jocie was only 5, her mother left in the night, taking Tabitha, her older sister, with her.  They receive letters from Tabitha, usually asking for money so she can come home and visit, but she never does.  Jocie prays everyday that Tabitha will come home, and she prays for a dog as well.

One day out in the woods, a dog finds Jocie.  He follows her home and she is smitten.  She names him Zebedee or Zeb for short and sees that God has answered her prayers.  Since he answered the prayer about a dog, she surely believes He will bring Tabitha home.  And sure enough, within a few days, after being away 7 years, Tabitha shows up on their front porch - no longer a young girl of 13, but now a young woman of 20. 

Jocie has always been full of questions, but now she starts to question what she knows to be her family's history.  As the truth starts to come out, will it make things better to know the answers, or should some secrets stay buried.  

This book was originally published in 2005 and was rereleased with a new cover.  I found it to be very engrossing and read it in one afternoon.  It was a good lesson to me that even Christians can make mistakes, but we need to grow from every decision that we make, whether it be good or bad.  I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

~I received a complimentary copy of The Scent of Lilacs from Revell Blog Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~

Scent of Lilacs

Publisher/Publication Date: Baker Publishing, March 2013

ISBN: 978-0-8007-3080-2

345 pages

Book Review: Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

Title: Love in a Broken Vessel (New Treasures of Love from Old Testament Tales)
Author: Mesu Andrews
Publisher: Revell
 
About the Book: Hosea has been charged by God with a difficult task--marry a prostitute in order to show God's people the nature and depth of his love for Israel. When Hosea goes to Israel to proclaim God's message, the prostitute God tells him to marry turns out to be his childhood friend Gomer. He finds her broken and abused, unwilling to trust Hosea or his God. But when marrying Hosea becomes her only choice, Gomer does what she's good at--she survives. Can Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel heal Gomer's broken spirit?

With her potent combination of in-depth research and masterful storytelling, Mesu Andrews brings to life a complex and fascinating biblical story of the power of love and forgiveness in the face of utter betrayal.

My thoughts: I really enjoy reading biblical fiction.  While there is no better source than the Bible itself, reading biblical fiction allows me to retain the story and the message that God was trying to give in an easier fashion. 

Love in a Broken Vessel is based off the book of Hosea and helps explain why God had wanted Hosea to marry Gomer.  Gomer was representing Israel and the fact that Israel had turned away from God.  Gomer was a childhood friend of Hosea, but when he shows up, she turns her back on him and doesn't want to have anything to do with him.  Having no other choice, she relents and marries him, only to go back to her old ways.  Hosea shows enormous faith and character in taking her back again.  In much the same way that God was faithful to Israel, even though they turned away from Him - and as we struggle in our day to day walk with God, and may turn away, He is forever faithful to us as well.

It is a beautiful love story and the author does a great job in bringing the characters to life.  It was easy to become immersed in the story and to feel the pain and betrayal, as well as the forgiveness and love that both Hosea and Gomer felt.  This is the third book in the series, New Treasures of Love from Old Testament Tales, and I am looking forward to reading the first two that I missed!

 

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my unbiased review.~

 

About the author: Mesu Andrews is the author of Love Amid the Ashes and Love's Sacred Song. She is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.

 

 

If you have any questions for Mesu Andrews, or just want to say hi, Revell is hosting an Author Café, an hour chat with Mesu, on Wednesday March 20 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT . Join the party on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/revellbooks)! Plus get a chance to win a signed book!

 

 

 

Love in a Broken Vessel is available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 

Purchase Links:

~Amazon~     ~Barnes and Noble~     ~Christian Books~

 

 

Love in a Broken Vessel

Publisher/Publication Date: Revell, March 2013

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2169-5

448 pages

 



Book Review: Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith

Title: Rebekah (Wives of the Patriarchs, Book 2
Author: Jill Eileen Smith
Publisher: Revell

About the Book: Can love heal the rift between two souls?

When her beloved father dies and she is left in the care of her conniving brother Laban, Rebekah knows her life has changed forever.  Though she should be married by now, it's clear that Laban is dragging his feet, waiting for a higher bride-price to line his pockets.  But then Rebekah is given a chance to leave her home to marry Isaac, a cousin she has never even seen, and her hope for the future is restored.  Little does she know what a wondrous and heart-wrenching journey she is beginning.

As Rebekah experiences the joy of young love and the bitterness of misunderstanding and betrayal, her resolve is tested.  When the rift between Isaac and her grows so wide it is surely too great to be mended, can she trust the God of Isaac's father Abraham to bridge the gap?

Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

My thoughts:  I really enjoy Biblical fiction books.  They give you the basic gist of the Bible story, but also bring the story to life - so while it might be hard to understand or see the timeline in the original Biblical text - you get a feeling for the who the person/people of the story were in real life.  Knowing that there have been some liberties taken to flesh out the characters, it is the big events in the characters lives that you remember.

In Rebekah's case, this would be her marriage to Isaac - the journey, both physically and spiritually to get to that point in her life.  The birth of Jacob and Esau and the betrayal with the blessing when they were older.  You are given some background into Isaac's childhood, and his relationship with Abraham and Sarai.  Something I had never really thought about before was how I would feel if one of my parents would be willing to sacrifice me if they thought they were following God's will.  Imagine what that does to a young child's relationship with their father - and how it affected the relationship between Abraham and Sarai. 

While a lot of this is conjecture on the author's part, it makes these Biblical stories not just stories any more, but makes you realize that these were real people.  They had the same struggles we do today with following God's will, betrayal and forgiveness.  I have really enjoyed this series so far and am looking forward to the third book, Rachel.  (Click to see my review of Sarai)

 

~I received a complimentary copy of Rebekah from Revell Blog Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~

 

 

Rebekah

Publisher/Publication Date: Revell, Feb 2013

ISBN: 978-0-8007-3430-5

312 pages



 

 

Book Review: A New Home for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher

Title: A New Home for Lily (Book two of The Adventures of Lily Lapp)
Author: Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher:  Revell

About the book: The second novel in the charming Adventures of Lily Lapp series, A New Home for Lily gives children ages 8-12 a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Amish with lots of fun and laughter along the way. It combines the real-life stories of growing up Amish from Mary Ann Kinsinger and the bestselling writing of Amish fiction and nonfiction author Suzanne Woods Fisher. With line illustrations throughout, this series is sure to capture the hearts of readers young and old.

Lily Lapp is moving with her family to Pennsylvania to join a new Amish community. In this small town where changes – and newcomers – are greeted with suspicion, Lily must adjust to a new school, new friends and Aaron Yoder, an annoying boy who teases her relentlessly. Still, there are exciting new developments, including an attic full of adventure and a new baby brother. But why, Lily wonders, can't God bring her just one sister?

“Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

My thoughts:  This book picks up where the first one left off, but it does very well as a stand alone.  Lily and her family are getting settled into their new house in Pennsylvania.  She is sad because of all those things that she feels was left behind in New York - Like her cousin Hannah and having her own bedroom.  In the new house, her bed and dresser are in the hallway at the top of the stairs.  She is excited to be going back to a real schoolhouse though.  She just hopes that her new teacher is nice.

Lily grows up a little in this book - it covers her 2 - 4 grades.  In this time she experiences the birth of another baby in the family and also death.  She discovers that no matter where you live there are mean people, and that different doesn't always mean bad.  The chapters in the book are like individual little stories that give you glimpses into the life of an Amish child.  It sort of reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie books - Amish style.  I can't imagine any little girl who wouldn't enjoy meeting Lily and learning about her life.

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the authors: Mary Ann Kinsinger was raised Old Order Amish in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. She met and married her husband, whom she knew from school days and started a family. After they chose to leave the Amish church, Mary Ann began a blog, A Joyful Chaos, as a way to capture her warm memories of her childhood for her own children. From the start, this blog found a ready audience and even captured the attention of key media players, such as the influential blog AmishAmerica and The New York Times. She lives in Pennsylvania.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, The Keeper and The Haven, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award finalist. She is the host of internet radio show Amish Wisdom and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

A New Home for Lily

Publisher/Publication Date: Revell, Feb 2013

ISBN: 978-0-8007-2133-6

272 pages