I'm giving away two books to one blessed reader today! Here's more about the two books I'm giving away so you'll know what you will be winning: Children these days are drawn in to gaming, television, iPods and iPads, and YouTube. Will they show an interest in reading the Bible with their family? I believe the answer to that question is: YES! We began reading little Bible books with our children when they were just tiny - probably around 8-9 months old. One of them LOVED to be read to, even though we knew she didn't fully understand what was being read. She loved the snuggle time and couch time with both her mommy and her daddy each evening before bed. The other daughter was an active, energetic little one, and it was more difficult to encourage her to sit still for a few minutes of prayer and Bible time with Mom and Dad and sister. Even though it was tougher for our energetic bundle of joy, our expectations as parents were the same for both girls. We just knew that it would take longer for one of the girls to learn to settle down and begin to enjoy reading Bible events with us. And that was okay. We were willing to teach her how to sit and focus for a few minutes at a time when she was very young. It's an important skill anyway, right? ☺ I've been taking a look at The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook for children ages 4-8. While my daughters are past this age, I love to share with you some of the new Bible resources for handing our faith in Jesus down to our children! I would love to use this with future grandchildren some day. Here are some details about The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook:
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The purpose of The Big Picture of What God Has Always Wanted is a kid-friendly, Reader's Digest version of the Bible for children. Eighteen kid-friendly pages summarize the Bible and God's purpose for His will in our lives - that we would all become Christ-followers and share Christ's message of love and salvation with others in our lives. |
Video introductions to these books:
Time for our giveaway of these two books!
The giveaway for these two books, The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook and The Big Picture of What God Has Always Wanted ends on Tuesday, February 24th, 2014 at midnight Pacific time...
...and please read the requirements for entering. If you're randomly selected as the winner, and you said you completed a step, but didn't, I'll need to select a new winner instead. U.S. entries only, please. Thanks!
Entrants must be 18 years or older; only U.S. residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.
I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).
I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid. In the past several months, multiple potential winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription. An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive. That will validate your entry. Thank you! :)
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Summary of the book:
Shannon McNamara has exciting plans for the summer--getting her driver's license, a job, and more--and she can't wait to dive in. But her ill mother has plans of her own: to relocate them both to the heart of Amish country in Ohio where she has relatives who can help her.
Turns out a "simple" life is actually a lot of hard work. But when a hot young Amish guy named Ezra enters the picture, Shannon's ready to get an Amish makeover and even consider making it a permanent change. Will these plans come crashing down around her too? Or can she really make the jump into a whole new way of life?
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Jan:
Shannon’s mother is very ill, and Shannon does not know what is wrong with her, other than she cannot get along without her pills. Summer has come, and she wants in the worst way to get a driver’s license, a job, and a tattoo. Well, that is simply not going to happen! Her mom needs more care than she can give her, so she and her mother are sent to - of all things - back to her mother’s roots, her Amish parents. So much for Shannon’s dreams for the summer. And she didn’t even know that her mother’s parents were Amish!
This is an excellent story with important lessons that Shannon learns about family, God and what she wants for her life.
I strongly recommend Melody Carlson’s newest series of books for teen age girls, especially My Amish Boyfriend. Even an older reader such as myself was caught up in Shannon’s story and enjoyed reading it.
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, the Life at Kingston High series, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com. |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
I wouldn't say I'm exactly "starstruck"...or these days - as my girls would say, part of an Ann Shorey fandom, but I do feel blessed to have met author Ann Shorey in person. She attends church with me, and several years ago, she was gracious enough to host a dinner at her home and provide a teaching/Bible devotional for younger women in our church. It was a blessing to get to know her just a bit - and to hear that she was going to be releasing her first published book to the fiction world! We were all so excited for her!
That was back in the winter of 2009, and her first published novel would be released to the public the following August.
Since that summer, it's been enjoyable for me to read each of Ann's books as it becomes available. I feel blessed!
Tonight, I'll be attending a small book signing/dessert event in our community as Ann celebrates her latest novel, Love's Sweet Beginning.
I think I'll bring along something chocolate to share. Seems fitting, right? Sweet = chocolate? ☺
Here's a little summary of Love's Sweet Beginnings by Ann Shorey:
What will it take for a once-privileged young woman to make her way in the world?
It isn't Cassie Haddon's fault that she has reached the age of twenty-five without possessing any useful skills. Until the War Between the States, she always had servants. Since then, she and her mother have been forced to rely on family to care for them. But now the well of human kindness has run dry, and Cassie must find work to support them.
Unfortunately, leaving the past behind is easier said than done, and Cassie must summon all of her courage and wits to convince local restaurateur and grocer Jacob West that she's exactly what his business needs.
With her signature sweet romance, Ann Shorey weaves a tale of two people from different backgrounds finding common ground and the hope of a bright future together.
Joy In Our Journey's review, by Julie:
The story takes place in Missouri, beginning with a widowed woman, Eliza Bingham, and her grown but yet unmarried daughter, Cassie Haddon. Cassie has been raised as a lady, never having had to dirty her fingers with any kind of housework or imagining she would have to learn how to provide an income for both herself and her mother. Unfortunately, this is the very circumstance in which they find themselves. Cassie determines she will learn how to provide as they face this very difficult crossroad in their lives.
Cassie succeeds at the job she applies for in the small town’s grocery/restaurant. Much to everyone’s surprise, she actually becomes very successful at it. Her mother never gets over being horrified that her daughter would have to stoop to such a low life, and is even more disturbed as Cassie falls in love with her employer, Jake.
Many surprises are revealed throughout this story having to do with every character presented. It becomes somewhat complicated to figure out all the “mysteries” but needless to say, it eventually all turns out well. A good read!
About Ann Shorey:
Ann Shorey is the author of the At Home in Beldon Grove series, Where Wildflowers Bloom, and When the Heart Heals. She has also published selections in the Cup of Comfort series and in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul. Ann and her husband make their home in southwestern Oregon. Learn more at www.annshorey.com. In addition to writing, Ann has won many prizes for her culinary skills. Her recipes have appeared in Country Woman magazine, and in several national cookbooks, including Taste of Country and Taste of Home. Recently author Patti Hill included one of Ann’s recipes in her Garden Gates Cookbook, available on Patti’s web site. Ann has been privileged to present cooking demonstrations to young women from her church as part of the Apples of Gold mentoring program. Ann and Richard share their home with a loveable Belgian Shepherd named Amber. |
The Giveaway:
To celebrate the novel, author Ann Shorey and Revell Publishers are pleased to present the SWEET BEGINNINGS Sweepstakes, and your chance to win one of three marvelous prizes, all closely connected to the story.
GRAND PRIZE: our Grand Prize winner will receive a 6-month Pie of the Month Club Membership to the Grand Traverse Pie Company!
SECOND PRIZE: Our Second Prize winner will receive a prize pack filled with some of Cassie's favorite things: a delicate, rose-colored lace shawl, a pewter pen and ink set, and a bath set filled with lavender and lilac soaps and lotion!
THIRD PRIZE: our Third Prize winner will receive a complete, signed set of the Sisters at Heart series!
Winners will be selected Friday, February 21, 2014, and announced at AnnShorey.com.
Ann's other books:
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Book Summary:
But the past comes back to haunt Jacob when he finds himself on the receiving end of treachery and the victim of a cruel bait and switch. The man who wanted only one woman will end up with sisters who have never gotten along and now must spend the rest of their lives sharing a husband. In the power struggles that follow, only one woman will triumph . . . or will she?
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Julie:
Reading this novel as a very detailed account of that love story has been agonizing and frustrating. Jacob’s life began with deception with him referred to as a schemer, a deceiver, because he grabbed his twin’s (Esau) heel as he followed him at birth. As a young man, influenced by his mother, Rebekah, he persuaded Esau to give up his birth right for a bowl of stew, then later deceived his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing of the firstborn. From that point, his life was shrouded in guilt and fear, though he was also aware of his special blessing from God Himself (Elohim).
Jacob fell in love with Rachel the moment he first saw her. He made an agreement with her father, Laban, to work for seven years to pay her bride-price. When the time came for Jacob to receive his bride, Laban cruelly tricked Jacob into marrying Rachel’s older sister, Leah, instead and thus began the unthinkable struggle to obtain what was rightly his. Jacob did receive Rachel as his wife, but she became the second wife, and he had to work an additional seven years for her.
The struggles in this family situation are so immense and intense that it is nearly impossible not to sympathize with each of the characters. None of them would ever have imagined the outcome of the decisions that were made. Each of them suffered and felt cheated as they pursued individual goals. Jacob faced many decisions through his life but the one to love Rachel (his first love) never wavered.
This story brings to light the many seemingly impossible conflicts which eventually lead to more common-sense conclusions: love, forgiveness, support of one another, understanding---but also grief and despair. A very human story with divine consequences. A story that is very emotional in its conflicts and conclusions. We can never look too far ahead when making life decision.
The Wives of the Patriarchs is a three-book biblical fiction series set in ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, and ancient Canaan. Each story is a fictional rendering of the biblical account, focusing on one or more of Israel’s four matriarchs. Enter a world where love isn’t always what it seems, and sincere longings can lead to devastating choices. Meet Sarai, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah, all amidst a backdrop of deceit and control and a struggle to make a united family. Sometimes we must be careful what we wish for, as many of these matriarchs discovered much too well. |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? If God is good, why is the world full of death and suffering? If God is great, why does evil exist? Why do bad things happen to good people? There are only three possible answers to these questions:
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Our view of God affects our view of people and suffering in the world. Many folks say, "How can a loving God allow so much suffering in the world? If there is suffering, there must not be a God."
But God's plans and purposes include:
...good news for the afflicted
...healing for the brokenhearted
...liberty for the captives
...sight for the blind
...comfort and gladness for the mourning
...favor for the rejected
...beauty for those in the ash heap
...strength to show His beauty in places of barrenness
...honorable work of restoration to that which is ruined and devastated
(Isaiah 60:1-4)
Those who fixate on Fortune and Destiny will be sadly mistaken. (Isaiah 65:11) Delighting in and following selfish ways bring consequences that the participants would rather blame God than take responsibility for their actions that lead to the suffering of others.
Want to right the wrongs in the world? Then clothe yourself with God's righteousness, aligning your heart and mind to His truth. He will direct you to the people and places that are ready and prepared to receive His healing and comfort and liberty.
And the Creator of these precious people will show Himself beautiful as He rights the wrongs of suffering...
...through His people
...in His time
...according to His ways
Lord, give me a bigger picture of You - the saving, redeeming, mighty God. Give me a burden in my sphere of influence for the brokenhearted, afflicted, rejected ones that You have prepared to receive Your healing, encouragement and favor. May You receive all the glory; may others know You, the Beautiful God.
Amen.
A special "thank you" to my friend, Colleen G., who took the time to write out her thoughts and prayer about suffering in our lives.
In UNSTOPPABLE, a brand-new documentary, Kirk takes you on a personal and inspiring journey to better understand the biggest doubt-raiser in faith:
"Why?"
Kirk goes back to the beginning — literally — as he investigates the origins of good and evil and how they impact our lives ... and our eternities. Reminding us that there is great hope, UNSTOPPABLE creatively asks — and answers — the age-old question:
"Where is God in the midst of tragedy and suffering?"
Over 270,000 people packed sold-out theaters to see UNSTOPPABLE when it opened the night of September 24, 2013. It was the number 1 movie ticket sold on movietickets.com.
My family's view of Unstoppable?
It was gritty, emotional, dark at times; it was violent and graphic at times. It isn't the usual "Don't Worry - Be Happy" kind of film; this is a documentary.
Did it answer the question: "Where is God in the midst of tragedy and suffering?"
Yes, we believe that it did. I think you will, too.
*NOTE: I would encourage parents with children younger than 13 to preview this movie first to determine if their own children are mature enough to watch this DVD due to the violence, blood, and graphic scenes depicting true biblical events.
- Written by and starring Kirk Cameron
- approximately 65 minutes in length
- Presented by CamFam Studios and Liberty University
- Includes Special Features and Information About Kirk's Current Projects
- Learn more by Visiting the Website www.unstoppablethemovie.com
- Connect on Facebook, with Twitter, on YouTube, and Instagram
To enter this giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter widget below.
The Unstoppable DVD giveaway ends on Sunday, February 16th, 2014 at midnight Pacific time...
...and please read the requirements for entering, below, because if you're the winner, and you said you completed a step, but didn't, I'll be checking up on you! ☺ U.S. entries only, please. Thanks!
Entrants must be 13 years or older; only U.S. residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.
I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).
I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid. In the past several months, multiple potential winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription. An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive. That will validate your entry. Thank you! :)
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Facebook and Pinterest are in no way connected or responsible for this giveaway and are held blameless of all legal responsibilities. Winning entry will be selected through Rafflecopter using Random.org and will be notified by email. If the winner has not responded within 48 hours, another winner will be selected.
Summary of the book:
But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is stalking her.
Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife, a tragedy he believes he could have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.
Join the chase as this determined duo search the murky shadows of the past for the keys to unlocking the present and moving into a future filled with new hope and love. Readers will be swept into the sultry South in this debut novel from a promising and already award-winning writer.
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by my friend, Jan:
Taylor Martin is a criminal profiler and psychology professor. She has a deep desire to find the father who abandoned her when she was a child. She is sure that he would never have left her or her mother, but where could he be and why hasn’t he come home? Is he the reason she is having these very frightening dreams?
Nick Sinclair is a mystery writer whose wife has died and he is sure that he will never get over this loss. When his brother Scott is accused for his part in the attacks on Taylor, Nick steps in to keep him from being arrested. He is interested in Taylor, but cannot understand why she is so convinced that Scott is the one who is trying to kill her.
Shadows of the Past is a book that deserves a second read to see if you can follow all the twists and turns in the story. It will be hard to wait for the second book in Patricia Bradley’s Logan Point series. This book kept me guessing “who done it” until the satisfactory end.
About the author, Patricia Bradley:
Patricia Bradley is a Romantic Suspense writer living in the Deep South. Her short stories have been published in Woman’s World, and she has just completed one book, Shadows from the Past, which is set in Memphis and the surrounding area. It has won several awards…the 2008 Maggie (Inspirational Category)…1st Place in the 2012 Touched By Love and Daphne du Maurier contests…finaled in the 2012 Genesis…bronzed in the Frasier. Currently, Patricia is working on a second book, Shadows of Love, set in the same area but featuring different characters. She's also doing the unthinkable–writing a straight romance–who would’ve thought it’d be such fun? Patricia is also an abstinence/healthy relationship speaker and has spoken to many students and adults. When she's not writing or speaking, she throws mud on a potter's wheel and tries to make something beautiful. |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
I was in a couple of stores around town right after Christmas...on December 26th through 28th, and as I walked around doing some shopping, I heard the following type of conversation twice, between different women in different stores:
"How was your Christmas?"
"It was nice. But I'm sure glad that it's over! How was your Christmas?"
"We enjoyed it, but I'm so glad it's over, too. Whew!"
I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed Christmas this last December with my family. However, I think I'll enjoy it even more this coming December because of some of the strategies I read about recently in the new book, Christmas with Strategic Shopping by Candy Foote. She gives some incredible, month-by-month ideas on which months are the best time of year to purchase a variety of gift items and practical household items. While I knew a few of her tips, there were many that I wasn't aware of. Candy Foote is a mom of twelve children, so she sure knows her stuff when it comes to shopping frugally and saving money year-round. I was impressed! |
| Candy also wrote another great book on how to save money while out and about, grocery shopping and buying the other essential items for the family: Strategic Shopping. Again, many great ideas are in this book. I learned a lot! I highly recommend that if you're needing to reduce your spending budget, these two eBooks are great reads! Guess what? Candy is having a Facebook party on Tuesday, January 28th at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 Pacific. In support of her Facebook party, she is giving away some fabulous prizes to those who come by and participate in the Facebook party. Check out all of the fantastic prizes that will be available: |
Who's ready to party, save some $$$, and win some awesome prizes? Candy Foote is celebrating the release of her new book, Christmas with Strategic Shopping and the re-release (with a new low price!) of Strategic Shopping, with what looks to be a rockin' Facebook Party!
Here are some of the prizes you could win! Build a Menu: She will be giving away a one-year membership to this awesome, money-saving meal planning program. In three easy steps you can select the store you like to shop at, pick your recipes and print your customized shopping list. You’re done menu planning for the week! You can choose recipes... from any of these categories to create a menu that’s perfect for you family:Family Friendly Trim Healthy Mama Low Carb Gluten Free Low Fat/Sensible Portions Allergy Friendly (No gluten, dairy, nuts) Vegetarian Slow Cooker Soups On Crowd Pleasers Manly Meals
To learn more about Build a Menu, go here.
Molly Green Magzine/Econobusters has donated for 2 giveaways during Tuesday's party-- (3) one-year memberships to Molly Green Magazine, which includes future issues as well as back issues, as well as a bundle of 5 eBooks!Total Value of these giveaways is more than $265!
To learn more about Econobusters with Molly Green, go here.
Did I mention that one of you could win more than $100 in Paypal Cash or an Amazon Gift Card (winner's choice)? There's also an awesome bundle of ebooks up for grabs, from wonderful folks at Hal & Melanie Young, Phyllis Sather, and Tabitha Philen. Not to mention Candy's books!So, what exactly is a Facebook party? It's a fast-paced, fun-filled hour and a half where Candy will be answering your Strategic Shopping questions, asking you some fun trivia questions, and best of all, giving out prizes.
Everyone who attends the party will receive FREEBIES just for showing up! Your first step is to RSVP on the events page over here. The actual party will not be on the events page though. It will be on Candy's STRATEGIC SHOPPING page. Throughout the party, watch for new status posts every 5 minutes with trivia questions, giveaway offers, and more fun. Leave comments, ask questions, and have fun! Refresh the page often so you don't miss out on new posts! See you there! Candy Foote is a Christian, wife to one, momma to 12, and grandmother to 4, so far (Number 5 is due in May!) She is a homeschool veteran of 21 years. As a homeschooling mother of a mega family, Candy has learned many Strategic Shopping tips that have allowed her to stay at home while her husband, Jud, was the only breadwinner of the family. Candy runs a website filled with free information on how you can become a Strategic Shopper. She also enjoys going into people's homes and teaching them through her Strategic Shopping workshops. Candy considers it her ministry to help other families learn how to live a quality life, while keeping money in their pockets. |
Candy Foote is a mother of twelve, which has given her a great incentive to learn how to save! With each new baby, she became a better shopper. Now, she teaches others how to do the same through her website, http://candyfoote.com/, her classes, and her e-book, Strategic Shopping.
Strategic Shopping is a step-by-step guide that teaches both the novice and the experienced shopper how to save big at the stores. It teaches that strategic shopping is all about having a plan and knowing when to buy.
By having a strategy, Candy is able to get rock-bottom prices, FREE items, and even has the stores pay her to shop! Strategic Shopping is a 143-page eBook that will show you how you can do the same.
In Strategic Shopping, you'll learn:
- the exact details for how to use coupons for ultimate savings
- the strategies Candy uses to get rock bottom prices and FREE items
- how to shop so that the stores pay YOU!
- how to save at least 50% off at your grocery store
- how to buy "real' food on a budget, foods like eggs, butter, cheese, milk, bread, organic produce, meat, and more!
- the purpose of pantry
- the difference between stockpiling and hoarding
- how to feed a mega family without living on beans and rice!
Strategic Shopping even shows you how to get the best deals on prescriptions, how to find military discounts, and finding senior citizen discounts! With the knowledge gained with Strategic Shopping, you can quit buying generic brands and fill your pantry with all brand name items at deep, deep discounts.
If you are tired of reading Christian fiction books because of the repetitive themes and shallowly explored characters, you will enjoy Stones for Bread.
If you are sick of "Christian" romance books that cross that line of appropriateness for Christ-followers to read, you will enjoy Stones for Bread.
If you are looking for a fiction story that involves your emotions at a deeper level than normal, you will enjoy Stones for Bread.
The drawback to sticking with mostly Christian fiction books is that many of the themes are repetitive. Same 'ol, same 'ol.
So when I come across a Christian fiction book that has incredible depth and meaning to it, I'm very pleasantly surprised!
Stones for Bread is definitely a "keeper." ☺
The irony? Due to health reasons, I'm not supposed to eat bread. So I guess I'll just drool while looking at these photos of delicious artisan bread. Ha!
Summary of "Stones for Bread":
Liesl McNamara’s life can be described in one word: bread.
From her earliest memory, her mother and grandmother passed down the mystery of baking and the importance of this deceptively simple food. And now, as the owner of Wild Rise Bake House, Liesl spends every day up to her elbows in dough, nourishing and perfecting her craft.
But the simple life she has cultivated is becoming quite complicated. Her head baker brings his troubled grandson into the bakeshop as an apprentice. Her waitress submits Liesl’s recipes to a popular cable cooking show. And the man who delivers her flour—a single father with strange culinary habits—seems determined to win Liesl’s affection.
When Wild Rise is featured on television, her quiet existence appears a thing of the past. And then a phone call from a woman claiming to be her half-sister forces Liesl to confront long-hidden secrets in her family’s past. With her precious heritage crumbling around her, the baker must make a choice: allow herself to be buried in detachment and remorse, or take a leap of faith into a new life.
Filled with both spiritual and literal nourishment, Stones for Bread provides a feast for the senses from award-winning author Christa Parrish.
Joy In Our Journey's review by Julie:
The story is not actually about just bread, but much more of the life of the young woman whose obsession in life has become her own bakery and what she produces there; it is of her life and journey from girlhood to womanhood, her emotional and spiritual adventures along the way, her attempts to keep private and self-contained thoughts and feelings, her slow awakening of her need for human love and compassion, her relationship with the fabulous personalities who surround her in her bakery, and most of all, her realization of how a living God has enhanced her life and surrounds her and enriches her with the Bread of Life.
The truths illumined here are life-sustaining. The author’s use of Scripture and assurance of God’s love in Liesl’s life are true to any person’s needs for direction and comfort. This is a fabulously rich lesson on love and forgiveness, even redemption for thoughts and actions which may not seem forgivable; many beautiful lessons to be learned through the reading of this story.
This reader had to go to her kitchen and make a loaf of bread when finished reading—though not from a culture that has been fed and cared for by generations before—still a lovely reward and reminder of how good it is to know a loving God who cares even about the crumbs we have with which to sustain ourselves, and to be thankful for what we are given.
Bethany Schrock's love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending hot summer days wading through a lifetime of accumulation at the home of five elderly Amish sisters. She's not sure what she wants out of life, but she knows that she's not finding it in Stoney Ridge. Then a new guest at the Inn at Eagle Hill ropes her into volunteering in a community project for down-and-outers. Reluctant at first, Bethany starts to feel a bit of joy and satisfaction again. But not so much that Jimmy Fisher, adorable and impossible, can woo her affections with his winks and tricks. Well, maybe a little. When a figure from her past reenters her life, Bethany must decide: What does the past mean to her future? Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the quiet community of Stoney Ridge: The Calling. |
About the author, Suzanne Woods Fisher:
Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction, and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine. The Waiting was a finalist for a 2011 Christy Award. The Choice and The Search have been finalists for Carol Awards. Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World and Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life were both finalists for the ECPA Book of the Year (2010, 2011). |
Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. She has an underlying belief in her books–you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles into your life: simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily, trusting in God.
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Jan:
Bethany is living under the difficult stigma of a mother who abandoned her family. Not only that, but her father’s business has failed and he has died and all because of the man she thought was ‘The One’ was dishonest. Her step-mother’s inn has attracted a lady reverend who is recuperating after being fired from yet another church because she is a woman and she just cannot preach. Her younger sister has taken a job as an advice columnist for the newspaper and she is only 14. Can life get any more complicated?
It can because she has now undertaken the job of cleaning out the home of five sisters, who have not thrown out anything for at least the last 60 years. What a mess that is! She finds a trunk with not only one skull, but two!
Have I awakened your interest to the second book in Ms. Fisher’s new series The Inn at Eagle Hill, The Calling? I hope so because it is really a delightful, interesting book.
Oh, did I mention the Community Garden and the Soup Kitchen? They are there also, as is a really interesting young man named Jimmy. 'Nuf said, excellent book for an interesting read; I think that you will agree.
I like reading a wide variety of genres of literature...but I have one main concern: that the books I read are not filled with swearing and inappropriate content.
It's nice to know that some authors, like Lynette Eason, are writing faith-based suspense fiction that doesn't contradict my values for the books that I choose to read.
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by my friend, Jan:
One of my favorite authors, Lynette Eason has just published the first novel in her new series Hidden Identity: No One to Trust. For fast paced action and characters that move from one seemingly impossible situation to another dangerous problem, this book has it all!
Summer is a newly married lady, and her husband is now missing. When she finds him, to her dismay she discovers that he is not Kyle, but David, and has a life completely different than what he has told her. She is both hurt and angry as could be expected.
But wait! Doesn’t she still love him? After all, she married the man, not the name. The story proceeds from dangerous situation to deadly situations, and soon Summer and David are fleeing for their lives. This fast paced book keeps the reader in suspense and turning the pages as fast as they can read to see what impossible problem they are going to face next.
There is a satisfactory ending to this book, but I would not recommend it for younger readers as life seems to be cheap, and the way to solve your problem is to either go to work for the bad guys or to kill whoever is causing you the problem. There is some reference to a spiritual life, but the wrong way to deal with your problem is the main emphasis.
In spite of this, I enjoyed reading the book and feel No One to Trust by Lynette Easton is the first of another of her interesting and fun to read books.
Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. Even as a young girl, she knew she wanted her life to reflect the love of Jesus Christ. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a business degree she used for a very short time (sorry, Mom and Dad!), she moved to Spartanburg, SC to attend Converse College where she obtained her Masters degree in Education. During this time, she met the man she would marry—the boy next door! She is married to Jack Eason, who speaks, leads worship, and consults with ministries around the country. They have two children. Lynette’s books have appeared on the ECPA and CBA bestseller lists and have won several awards. |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Hi! I'm Julieanne!
You'll find me in the kitchen
trying new Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters.
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