I receive all kinds of Christian romantic fiction to review here on Joy In Our Journey. Some of it is well written and clean; some of it is well-written, and some of it is clean... Do you know what I mean? It's difficult to find Christian historical fiction that is written in a worthy manner, crafted by a literary artist, and still presentable so we're comfortable with our junior high or high school-aged daughters reading the books. In When the Heart Calls, Ann Shorey has combined many hours of research about the antebellum time period - following the Civil War - with a gentle love story. Not just about the love between a man and a woman, but about the love between God and those who are hurting - emotionally and spiritually, and in need of a lot of tender, loving care. Here's a quick summary of When the Heart Calls: Courageous and unconventional, Rosemary Saxon served as a nurse during the Civil War, a service that has caused most women in town to regard her as unfeminine and even downright vulgar. Although she would like to put that part of her life behind her, she needs to support herself. She takes a nursing position with Dr. Elijah Stewart, but whenever they are together, they always seem to do or say the wrong things. When someone threatens Rosemary, will she find the courage to stand, or will she leave town - and Elijah - forever? Since it had been some time since Ann's first book was released in the Sisters At Heart series, I decided to go ahead and read book 1 first. I just love this series! These two books very clean, appropriate, and written so well that I could hardly put them down! They covered several topics about post-Civil War times of which I wasn't aware, so I found that to be very interesting. While I haven't spent a lot of time with Ann, she is known throughout my church to be a gentle soul, one who offers a smile and a kind word to everyone. Her books are just like that, full of gentleness, healing, and a kind word. Ann Shorey is having a giveaway! Click below on the photo graphic to learn more about the giveaway and enter the contest! I received one copy of When the Heart Calls in exchange for my honest review of this book. No other compensation was provided.
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I love-love-love children's books! One of my favorite classes in college, to become an elementary level school teacher, was my children's literature class, taught by the college's head librarian, who was also my boss. Fun to look at the depth and wisdom found between the covers of so many children's stories. Fool Moon Rising is a children's story based on the following verse from First Corinthians 4:7 (the Bible): What do you have that God hasn't given you? In Fool Moon Rising, the moon has decided to tell a tale of his pride - but in the end, learns to be humble by recognizing from where his power comes. Publisher's summary: Fool Moon Rising tells the tale of a crime of cosmic proportions: the moon, blinded by pride, fails to see the source of his abilities—the light provided by the sun. He boasts of his ability to shine, to change shape throughout the year, and to swell the sea. One day, overwhelmed by a piercing ray of sunshine, the moon repents of his pride and changes his ways. From that point on, he is happy to reflect the sun’s light. The author/illustrator team: Kristi and T. Lively Fluharty live in Prior Lake, MN, with their five daughters. T. Lively (Tom) is an illustrator whose artwork has appeared in numerous publications. Kristi holds a BA in technical journalism and currently homeschools their children, teaches Sunday school, and teaches swimming lessons. |
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First, I've just got to let you know about Goodbye to Yesterday, Part 1 of 6 of The Discovery (A Lancaster County Saga). At 121 pages in length, the only thing that would have made this book even BETTER would have been to extend it to around 400-500 pages! (But that's what Parts 2-6 are for, right?)
I enjoy reading books about the Amish culture, even when they are fiction works. While I enjoy my life very much with my family and the way of living we have chosen, there are some aspects of the Amish lifestyle that are delightfully sweet and beautiful.
Goodbye to Yesterday was like this - sweet and beautiful. Except for how it ended - in a very hard spot in which to end a book. I can't wait to receive the other parts of the book to read!
Much of Part 1 (Goodbye to Yesterday) focuses on the recent marriage of Luke and Meredith Stoltzfus. Their love and concern for each other is just delightful. The little things they do for each other to say "I love you" with their actions is such a good example for all marriages. Meredith loves to prepare delicious meals for her husband, considering this a way to bless him rather than looking at meal-planning and preparations as drudgery like so many modern wives consider cooking. Luke is quick to make certain that things are working well on their property. He wants their home to be safe and free of maintenance worries so his wife can easily go about her daily tasks.
There are many aspects of their marriage that are an encouragement to me - as well as a few reminders that we need to continue to make our marriage a priority despite how busy we may be. If you enjoy reading Amish fiction, you'll enjoy Goodbye to Yesterday by Wanda E. Brunstetter.
Here's how to enter the online scavenger hunt giveaway for a Kindle:
At the end of the hunt, you’ll have ten words. Unscramble the words to form a question about what happens in Goodbye to Yesterday, book one of the Discovery Saga. (The answer to the question can be found by reading the sample chapter here on our Facebook page).
Email the question and your answer to [email protected] with DISCOVERY SCAVENGER HUNT in the subject line by midnight on Monday, Feb. 18. All correct answers will be put into a drawing. One winner will be selected to receive a free Kindle e-reader, loaded with Wanda Brunstetter favorites--including the second installment in The Discovery Saga: The Silence of Winter.
Email the question and your answer to [email protected] with DISCOVERY SCAVENGER HUNT in the subject line by midnight on Monday, Feb. 18. All correct answers will be put into a drawing. One winner will be selected to receive a free Kindle e-reader, loaded with Wanda Brunstetter favorites! Thanks for participating and good luck!
Click here to read Chapter 1 of the Discovery Saga! | |
File Size: | 102 kb |
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Yesterday, February 5th, began the Discovery Saga Online Scavenger Hunt!
Each day - for the next 10 days - there will be a different blog that posts about the hunt with a clue word (in capital letters). All you need to do is collect the clue words and follow the directions given on the last day!
One of the greatest things about winning this giveaway is that the Kindle will be filled with Wanda E. Brunstetter's books! This scavenger hunt is in honor of the newly released book, Goodbye to Yesterday, the first book in The Discovery Series by Wanda E. Brunstetter.
If you are ready to play along, you can start off with the first blog at Mudpies & Tiaras! It will only take a brief amount of time each day to find the clue word. Just jot it down on your calendar or a piece of paper, and save it until the last blogger of the ten of us shares the last clue and the final directions.
For full details on the hunt and how you can participate (and sign up to win an Amazon Kindle) please go to http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-discovery-saga-by-wanda-e-brunstetter/the-discovery-saga-scavenger-hunt/578312088851156
The Solomon Bunch is the story of five children who set out to learn as much as they can as children in order to avoid making mistakes as adults. They turn to the writings of Solomon, the wisest man who every lived, in order to learn everything they need to know. The subsequent journey is a bumpy ride filled with mistakes and adventure. And boy, howdy, do the adventures get a bit on the wild side! They learn so much. The friends ultimately discover many valuable life lessons including the harm that comes from judging others and the importance of always doing your best.
The Solomon Bunch focuses on the meaning of Proverbs 18:13 - “He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him,” but the children don’t fully understand it until they discover their own mistake in judging what they thought was a criminal plot. It is definitely a family-friendly movie just because it's told from the children's point of view, giving some great laughs. The Solomon Bunch will be a great opener for families to talk about the difference between being smart and being wise, and the danger of assuming something is true - when it may not be.
To go along with the movie, the producers have created a study guide to help your children learn more about Solomon as well as including some fun activities related to the movie.
Let's giveaway three copies of The Solomon Bunch to some of our readers on Joy In Our Journey.com!
This giveaway will end on Friday, February 22nd, 2013 at midnight (Pacific time).
Therese Heckenkamp contacted me recently about reading and reviewing her newly published book, Frozen Footprints. She mentioned that it was a suspense. My gut reaction was, "No!" But I asked her to email me with passages from her book from the two most graphic scenes. After reading through her second email, I agreed to read and review her book.
Therese Heckenkamp, author of Past Suspicion and Frozen Footprints, was born in Australia but grew up in the United States as a homeschooled student. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two children and is currently working on more Christian suspense novels from a Catholic perspective. | New release by Therese Heckenkamp! |
Frozen Footprints is written with characters that are believable and realistic. Even the sick, twisted Abner is insanely realistic. At first, it was hard for me to relate to the main characters, though. I related to the TWIN component in this book, because I'm an identical twin, but the wealthy, rich family is a completely different world than from where I come, so it took me a little while to get involved in the characters' ways of thinking and lifestyles. Some of the descriptive phrases seemed a bit overdone or overthought. But then - the story of a kidnapping and uncaring grandfather began to pull me in.
I read Frozen Footprints in a few hours. Yes, it was suspenseful, a type of story I wouldn't normally read. But it was not overly graphic, gory, or descriptive where it shouldn't be. It did contain swearing (the d**n word 3x), but no other inappropriate language or content that I wouldn't let my teen daughters read - and I'm picky about things like that.
My only regret about reading this book? It ends just a bit too soon. After all, I don't get to read if...oh, I shouldn't tell you, because it will be a spoiler. Maybe this will be the lead-in to a second book in a series!
Frozen Footprints is written from a Catholic perspective. If you are not Catholic, I don't think you'll find this offensive. I'm not of the Catholic persuasion, yet I didn't feel uncomfortable reading Frozen Footprints.
It's time for a giveaway!
Use the Rafflecopter form, below, to enter the giveaway in the various methods of entry you wish to use. Leaving a comment in the "comments" section, below - but not clicking on the Rafflecopter form - will not be considered a method of entry...just so you know. I will be validating the winning entry, to confirm that the entrant completed the requirements of the giveaway method he or she chose. If you choose to enter one of the entry methods by subscribing to an email subscription from Joy In Our Journey, please check your email inbox/spam folder for a confirmation email from Joy In Our Journey/Feedburner to confirm that you have indeed signed up as a free subscriber. You'll need to click on that email link to confirm that you are now a subscriber. Email subscribers will want to click back to the original post to enter the giveaway.
This giveaway will end on Sunday, February 16th, 2013 at midnight (Pacific time).
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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