Revell Blog Tour - Faith And Family Reviews

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The Discovery Review

Posted by Theresa, Owner on April 14, 2012
in Books, Reviews

If you are looking to read an intriguing book, The Dicovery by Dan Walsh is one to read. This is a sentimental love story, fictional of course, but sweet with a hint of espionage and the lies that often come with being a spy.

I have to admit that I read all the portions written by the main character’s grandson first before I delved into “the discovery”. Not something I usually do, but for me it set the tone for the whole book.

Most of these books that I have been reviewing are not overtly preachy by any means. The Discovery is another novel that brings the main character back to God through life’s hardships. Most hardships people can relate to, however, the details of “Ben’s” story are hardly normal by any means.

I liked the sacrificial love Ben showed, as well as the lasting love and devotion of a couple in their eighties. I also liked the fact that when the grandfather knew he was dying he spoke to each member of his family about the terms of the will and what to expect; thus eliminating any money wars you often read about or see in the movies!

While the story was a bit surreal at times, it had all the elements of a good book and made me cry too. Two thumbs up from me.

“Available April 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Words Spoken True

Posted by Theresa, Owner on February 25, 2012
in Books, Contests

Set in 1855, Words Spoke True is about a young woman who was raised in her father’s newspaper offices in Louisville, Kentucky. Shunning cultural norm, she was a newspaper woman in a man’s world. However, due to her father’s expectations, political and financial woes he puts her in more danger than anyone ever expected. Amidst the danger and political unrest Adriane Darcy is attracted to an unconventional new editor….her father’s rival newspaper.

I really enjoyed this book. I was an entertaining, suspenseful novel with a romantic twist. It was far from your predictable romance, which you may recall I am weary of. Adriane’s romantic life is filled with more than just controversy and not what you would call a dream romance. More like a nightmare run wild, but that’s all I’m saying!

It was interesting to learn just a little about life inside the newspaper office. What is intriguing is the idea that years ago, printing stories that were true could cost not only subscribers but also your life. It makes me wonder if there is still that risk today? Do reporters focus on truth or a story that will sell? Hmmm…..

Adriane’s father seemed to have lost sight of what was important in his life when he began flirting with a politician. A politician whose wealth and position had “pull” shall we say. I just couldn’t imagine being under the thumb of someone who had the power to control what I said and did. What a scary thought.

I admired Adriane’s grit. She had courage, strength and talent, all of which she used for the good of “her” newspaper. And the loyalty shown to her and her father from their trusted employees is something to envy. Loyalty and honesty among friends are rare gifts not to be taken advantage of, but to be treasured and held like a prized possession.

Two thumbs up for Words Spoke True!

The author of this book, Ann Gabhart, is hosting a fun contest that you can check out here.

“Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Summer of Promise Blog Tour

Posted by Theresa, Owner on February 4, 2012
in Books

The next book up is Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot and thankfully not a predictable romance! It is romance with a little intrigue thrown in. I really enjoy Amanda Cabot’s books.

Summer of Promise is set during the summer of 1885, and Abigail Harding travels from her home in Vermont to the high plains of Wyoming to visit her sister.

I liked that this novel, while based at a Fort, focused on life inside not outside on a battle field. I have never really thought much about the kind of life soldiers lead while living at a fort. This story reveals the stark contrast between the service men on the battle field and those living at the fort.

It has it’s humorousre parts. On the spiritual side, the lesson that stood out to me throughout the story was the fact that knowing God’s will and following are two very different things. Patience is needed to wait for God’s leading, so this book was a very good reminder, especially as it relates to my businesses and other things going on in our life right now.

Sisterly love and devotion is another theme that was presented. I am looking forward to the second book in the series! Two thumbs up from me!

“Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Where Wildflowers Bloom – A Revell Blog Tour

Posted by Theresa, Owner on January 28, 2012
in Books

I read Where Wildflowers Bloom shortly after Christmas. It is a book in the Sisters at Heart series written by Ann Shorey.

Unfortunately my review isn’t going to give a stellar rating of this story. It was only ok. I found it a predictable, historical romance. I thought the main character, Faith Lindberg, was a bit flaky and did not make very wise choices because she was trying to run from her problems. Guess I am old enough now that I know running from problems only gives you more problems in the end!

On the other hand, I could understand Faith’s grief and wanting to run away from it because I have been there and done that. It is the realist in me, which is now on the other side of grief, that saw how useless her running away was ineffective against her healing.

I didn’t like the predictable story line. It makes for a rather bland book, in my humble opinion.

Ann Shorey is offering a giveaway that you may enter here.

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That’s My Girl: A Revell Blog Tour

Posted by Theresa, Owner on January 7, 2012
in Books, Family Stuff, Parenting

That’s My Girl is a book written parenting expert Rick Johnson, founder of “Better Dads”. This book maps out how dads can develop a healthy, closer relationship with their daughters, and gives moms insight into the important role a father plays in the life of their girls, including her relationship to her father.

The father-daughter relationship is very important in a girls life. According to Mr. Johnson, this is the one relationship that determines how she feels about herself, what kinds of men she is attracted to and how she expects to be treated by other men. I know as I read the pages of this book, I couldn’t help thinking about my relationship with my Dad, who passed away 6 years ago. He was a good provider, active in our lives as little girls (I have 3 younger sisters) but once we hit preteen and teen years he became much more distant.

I agreed with some of the things Mr. Johnson shared, but other things I didn’t. There are always exceptions to the rule and there is the God factor. I believe certain areas of my life could have been disastrous, were not because of God having my back so to speak. I loved the stories he shared about his teenager daughter. She was a character!

Mr. Johnson does a thorough job of showing Dads how to help map their daughters future. Overall I believe this book is a good resource for fathers especially, but mothers will benefit as well.

“Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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A Lancaster County Christmas – Revell Blog Tour

Posted by Theresa, Owner on September 24, 2011
in Books

As most of you know, the Amish lifestyle and community intrigue me. There is much to learn from them, imho (in my humble opinion). I love Suzanne Woods Fisher’s books. Not only are they entertaining but they appeal to the heart and A Lancaster County Christmas is no different.

Two young couples providentially meet just before Christmas. Outwardly their lives are world apart, but inwardly they have more in common than they would care to admit. During a “chance” snowstorm, these two couples have the opportunity to learn from each other – abandonment, grief, anger, bitterness, lack of trust and unhappiness rage through some troubled souls deep in Lancaster County.

I loved how Suzanne revealed the perception (or misconception) between the Amish and English. I loved the tenderness between the couples as they sorted through their difficult circumstances. What I enjoyed most was the portrayal of God’s love and adoption of us into HIS family in the relationship between Zach and the Riehls. What amazing love He has for us!

The anger Mattie and Jaime experienced in their relationship with God was something I could relate to as I, too, have faced difficult circumstances that made me blame God, rather than accepting them as a “gift” (or bump in the road of life). God’s love for us is all encompassing though and He never leaves us through those situations which test our faith. The friendship that blossomed between these two very different women was very endearing.

Misunderstandings and lack of trust are often hard to work through and this book shows us how two couples do just that during one of the most festive seasons of the year.

As usual, I cried in this book too. It was another heart warming story from Suzanne Woods Fisher!

Giveaway!

Enter 9/7-9/26!

Click the button above to go to the site hosting Suzanne’s giveaway. This giveaway ends on Monday, September 26, so enter now before it’s too late!

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Chasing Sunsets

Posted by Theresa, Owner on June 13, 2011
in Books

This weekend has been catch-up-on-book- review weekend with all of us being sick, well, most of the children are nearly well now. It’s my husband and I who have felt the worst, and baby has a touch of it. Lots of time nursing.

Chasing Sunsets by Eva Marie Everson is about life after divorce, but more than that, about letting go of control, family secrets and the grace to cover them. Not to mention a sweet romance of finding your first love again. After all, who ever thinks that will happen?

Now, I don’t know much about having my spouse leave me or divorcing me, but my heart went out to Kimberly, the main character in this book, as she maneuvers through a life that she did not count on experiencing. I can relate to living a life that is quite different from what I expected though.

I also understood Kimberly’s desire to control her life circumstances as I have that tendency – whether I like that trait in myself or not. I am a thinker and a fixer. If a problem comes about, I want to solve it. That’s good and bad because where is my trust in God if I am trying to figure everything out myself?

I enjoyed the story of Chasing Sunsets, but hated the cliffhanger of the second book excerpt the publishers included at the end of this book because now I have to wait to find out what happens! I think any woman who has experienced an altered life will appreciate and relate to the story within Chasing Sunsets.

“Available June 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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When You Can’t Find God

Posted by Theresa, Owner on June 12, 2011
in Books

The title of the book I recently read for a review was very fitting for what my husband and I have been going through for the past three years, “When You Can’t Find God.” It seems that more often than not when circumstances spiral out of our control that God seems to be far away from us. We got through reading the first three chapters together before I had to speed ahead to write this review. However, we both have enjoyed the insight that Linda Evans Shepherd offered in her new book.

From envying others, especially those who do not know God – ever done that? Believe that celebrities etc. have it all and we Christians are left with all the heartaches? Yep, me too.

Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has. ~ Billy Graham, quote that starts Chapter 1 of When You Can’t Find God

To our burdens that Jesus promises to carry, our hurts He promises to heal and our bitterness He promises to take away.

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. ~ Charles Swindoll, quote that starts Chapter 10 of When You Can’t Find God

Linda gives us hope with her words of understanding, scripture verses and stories of how God shows His presence amidst difficulties, with real life examples from the lives of others. Ultimately peace and joy are ours if we only allow Him to bring us to ourselves to receive it with His help and power.

Perhaps God brings us to the end of our resources so we can discover the vastness of His. ~ Neil T. Anderson, quote that starts Chapter 12 of When You Can’t Find God

This is a wonderful book that allows us to regain our focus as we walk through difficult circumstances. We highly recommend it.

“Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Angel Sister – A Revell Blog Tour

Posted by Theresa, Owner on February 24, 2011
in Books

Angel Sister is a sweet story set in 1936, the Depression era, and is about the Merritt family. This family is struggling with some serious issues. Then along comes Lorena Birdsong, a little girl abandoned on the steps of a church in the Merritt’s hometown. Lorena’s mother told her to sit and wait for an angel to rescue her.

This book is about family, about life during a difficult time but no matter the time warp it can resonate a powerful message to all of us. When the going gets tough, families stick together. A worn torn war veteran, an alcoholic, a struggling marriage, estranged parents, children and grandparents, quarreling siblings, power hungry men and dictators are all a part of this story. Who among us does not know someone in one of these situations?

Then along comes a god-fearing angel with childlike faith to live out scripture and capture the hearts of many. This endearing story will make you cry. I know because I did. Love, forgiveness and perseverance are once again popular themes.

“Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Author Leisha Kelly Passes Away

Posted by Theresa, Owner on January 31, 2011
in Books

I was part of a Revell blog tour last year of a book Leisha Kelly penned, The House on Malcolm Street, so I thought I would post the press release Revell sent this morning. So sad and tragic.

Grand Rapids, MI – Leisha Kelly, 47, was killed in car accident Tuesday night (January 25th) near Fowler, Illinois . Her son, 16-year-old Justice, was also killed in the crash. Kelly, a resident of nearby Clayton , Illinois , was the author of 11 books, among them a best-selling inspirational historical fiction series centered around the Wortham and Hammond families, set in Southern Illinois . Her most recent book, The House on Malcolm Street, was published by Revell in September 2010.

Kelly leaves behind her husband K.J. and a daughter, Hosanna. Kelly home-schooled her two children and served as a children’s ministry director and a youth minister at her family’s church. The couple had also recently become foster parents.

Vicki Crumpton, Executive Editor for Revell, who worked with Kelly since her first book, Julia’s Hope, was published in 2001 said, “I remember receiving Leisha’s first proposal in 2001. I read what her agent sent and called him that day to ask to read more of the manuscript. When I presented the proposal to our publishing committee, the team read the proposal and a few sample chapters. The first thing people asked was, “When can we read the rest?” And every time we received a new proposal from Leisha, people always asked, “When can I read more?” Leisha’s fans felt the same way. They always wanted to know when her next book would be out.”

“Leisha Kelly was an amazing talent. More than that, she was an amazing person, loved by family, friends, and her fans. Her unique writing voice will be greatly missed,” Crumpton said.

Twila Bennett, Senior Director of Marketing for Revell, remembers a story Kelly told her once. “She had a vivid memory of one of her first writing experiences that has stayed with me after all this time. She was young, it was the year that Mount Saint Helens erupted and she had heard the news stories about how the ashes might fall on other states. She felt a story burning in her and went out to her front porch and wrote and wrote. And then, the ashes from Mount Saint Helens really did indeed begin falling on her paper like snow.”

“I keep seeing that young Leisha now and look in wonderment at this girl, who overcame so much and gained the world on Tuesday with her son at her side,” Bennett said.

For more information on Leisha and her books, please visit www.leishakelly.com.

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