Wednesday, September 18, 2019

About the Book

Book: Seeing Angels

Author: Joshua Mills

Genre: Religion / Christian Theology/Angelology & Demonology

Release Date: September 3, 2019

A recent study found that 57 percent of Catholics, 66 percent of Evangelical Protestants, and 10 percent of Jews have reported having a personal experience with a guardian angel. And 20 percent of those who identified themselves as having no religion also claimed having encountered an angel.

Seeing Angels is one of the most in depth examinations of angelic ministry by one of the cutting-edge charismatic leaders in the church today. Joshua Mills goes beyond the usual takes on angels regarding spiritual warfare and explores who they are, how to recognize them, and what they do.

Part I, Understanding Your Angels, is all about understanding who angels are, exploring why they are necessary and how different angels minister comfort, healing, love, prosperity. It reveals who they carry out specific geographic assignments for cities and nations, as well as the more unique and extraordinary assignments they receive.
Part II, Discerning Your Angels, explains how to become more aware of the unseen heavenly realm, as well as how to recognize divine intervention when it does reveal itself to human sight. Such manifestations include random strangers, visions, or signs and messengers that believers receive. Joshua also explains the way he has interacted with visions of radiant light, swirling colors, and what he describes as atmospheric shifts. All of this is intended to make believers become more aware of both invisible and revealed spiritual realities.
Part III, Working with Your Angels, deals specifically with how to minister alongside these heavenly messengers as they stand watch, provide protection, and administer strength and comfort. This includes recognizing their movements and how to effectively pray for angelic encounters to take place.

With a foreword by Patricia King, Seeing Angels is among the most comprehensive teachings on recognizing angelic beings and understanding how to partner with them in ministry.

About the Author

Joshua Mills is an internationally recognized ordained minister of the gospel, as well as a recording artist, keynote conference speaker, and author of more than twenty books and spiritual training manuals. His most recent book with Whitaker House was Moving in Glory Realms. He is well known for his unique insights into the glory realm, prophetic sound, and the supernatural atmosphere that he carries. For more than twenty years, he has helped people discover the life-shifting truth of salvation, healing, and deliverance for spirit, soul and body. Joshua and his wife, Janet, cofounded International Glory Ministries, and have ministered on six continents in over seventy-five nations around the world. Featured in several film documentaries and print articles, including Charisma and Worship Leader Magazine, together, they have ministered to millions around the world through radio, television, and online webcasts, including appearances on TBN, Daystar, GodTV, It’s Supernatural! with Sid Roth, 100 Huntley Street, and Everlasting Love with Patricia King. Their ministry is located in both Palm Springs, California, and London, Ontario, Canada, where they live with their three children: Lincoln, Liberty, and Legacy.

More from Joshua

Angels are a hot topic. A 2007 Baylor Religion Survey found that 57 percent of Catholics, 81 percent of black Protestants, 66 percent of Evangelical Protestants, and 10 percent of Jews reported having a personal experience with a guardian angel. And 20 percent of those who identified themselves as having no religion also claimed having encountered an angel.

None of us will always agree on what we think about a book. We each see a book in different ways and gleam different aspects from a book. I think this book may be one that each person will see differently. Angels have always been a topic that people feel strongly about. Some don't believe in them , while others do. As I read this book I sometimes wondered if I would be able to finish the book. I had a hard time understanding the examples the author shared about seeing angels. Then something inside me stirred and God reminded me of several times I experienced angels myself.

While you are driving down a road you see a car to your left coming upon a stop sign. You think nothing of it because the stop sign is there for cars to stop at. Suddenly you see the car moving at a high rate of speed coming right at you. In a split second the car is inches from hitting you and then stops. Was than angel looking out for you? Did the angel spare you from a horrible accident. We can interpret this example in many ways. I experienced this and I believe someone was watching over me that day. There have been several other close calls that have made me believe I truly have an angel watching over me.

I have never actually seen an angel like the author has described but it doesn't mean that they are not real. God gives us glimpses of things He wants us to see. For some we may never see an angel, but they are there watching over us, guiding us and protecting us. It was interesting to read about the different types of angels and what their function is. Each one has a specific task and are sent by God.

The author goes into detail about angels and uses scriptures to help us better understand what their purpose is. Some of the stories the author shares are examples of angels and their presence in our lives. This book is a great tool for those who want to know more about angels. I may not agree with everything said in the book but I do believe there are angels that walk with us everyday. Our experiences will be different and have different outcome than others, but in the end, " Dear friends, do not believe every spirit , but test the spirits to see whether they are from God." I John 4:1

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 10

CarpeDiem, September 11

Godly Book Reviews, September 12

Through the Fire Blogs, September 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 13

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , September 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 15

Vicky Sluiter, September 16

Spoken from the Heart, September 17

For The Love of Books , September 17

Texas Book-aholic, September 18

Retrospective Spines, September 19

Emily Yager, September 20

janicesbookreviews, September 21

A Reader’s Brain, September 22

Inklings and notions , September 23

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Joshua is giving away a grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card, copy of SEEING ANGELS, copy of Heaven and Angels by H.A. and copy of A Divine Revelation of Angels by Mary K. Baxter!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e806/seeing-angels-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, September 16, 2019

VOW OF JUSTICE by LYNETTE EASON

It is no secret that I enjoy reading suspense novels. This author is always one of my go to authors when wanting a book filled with intrigue. She writes characters that pop off the page with realism. I have been waiting for this book and couldn't wait to dive in.

When someone has done something wrong to us, we think for a moment how sweet it would be to get revenge. Of course we don't take action. In this fast paced story we find Special Agent Linc against the wall when he loses his partner. You can feel his anger and disbelief that someone was able to kill his partner.

I loved how Allie's past becomes the center of the story and the secrets that unravel as time goes on. There is more to Allie than Linc knew. Her secrets start to pile up and leaves Linc wondering if he really ever knew her. The plot is exceptional and intense with revenge as a real possibility for one of the characters.

Allie is in deep with undercover work and needs help to find her way to the truth. Her journey is one that is hard at times as she has to accept that it is not her place to take action against someone. Can Linc and Allie find a way to work together? The story is a roller coaster ride as we read how revenge can take over if they aren't grounded in faith. It is a wonderful story that I loved reading and was filled with many surprises.

I received a copy of this book from the Early Reviewers Program of LibraryThing. The review is my own opinion.

YOU BELONG WITH ME by TARI FARIS

I love reading debut books by an author. It is exciting to see how their writing is and get familiar with their style. In this story we are taken into a small town set in Michigan. The people are friendly and seem to help each other out. Hannah is a nice character that hasn't had the best life growing up. She has always wanted to belong somewhere and to feel the love of a family.

The author has written a story that is emotional and filled with great characters. We all want to belong somewhere and that is at the heart of this book. Luke is another example of overcoming his upbringing in foster care to a man who desires to have a family. There is some background on each character that is just below the surface which the author explores over the course of the story.

I loved the love triangle and thought it was written with realism. I know who I am rooting for and couldn't read fast enough to find out what happens. This is the kind of story you can get lost in and forget everything around you. I became invested in the characters and loved how real they seemed. Get ready for a surprise in the story that will make you say, "Oh my"

I am glad that I have a new author to read and look forward to the next book she writes. This book may be her debut but her writing skills far surpass many authors that have been writing for awhile. Get ready for an adventure filled with family, faith and hard decisions.

I received a copy of this book from the Early Reviewers Program from LibraryThing. The review is my own opinion.

About the Book

Book: Tidbits and Pearls

Author: Ladonna Shanks

Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian personal growth

Release Date: April 15, 2019

How often do you truly see that life is full of everyday blessings from God? Our Creator is present in our lives—even when we don’t realize it—and it is part of His plan that we have friendship and relationship with Him. So how does one live life with God, the omnipotent, omniscient Creator of all?

In Tidbits and Pearls, Ladonna Shanks shares incidents from her life, recounting them in a way that touches the heart and enriches the lives of those who read these personal stories. Her insights and lessons learned offer profound yet simple wisdom, gleaned from her seventy-plus years of life experience. Many of her essays focus on her family—her children and “grandgirls”—as well as her personal gardening business. Her faith shines through the narrative as a shining light for others to follow.

Humankind was created to have a relationship with their Creator, and everyday life presents the opportunities for that to occur. Tidbits and Pearls is one woman’s record of how God manifests himself in daily life, with the challenge to look beyond the physical and seek the spiritual aspect of life. So take the first step in this journey and be honest with yourself and with God, for you are His instrument, and without Him you can do nothing.

About the Author

Ladonna Shanks was born and raised in Oregon. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1962, married, and became mother to a son and three daughters. After more than thirty years as a stay-at-home mom, she began working in a garden nursery. That led to establishing her own gardening business. Now in her mid-seventies, she continues to operate the business as it enters its seventeenth season.

More from Ladonna

When people ask me how long it took to write Tidbits and Pearls, I usually tell them, “It took a lifetime.” As a senior citizen, I had to live it before I could write of it–of life and the living of it; of God’s desire for friendship; of His presence in everyday life; of the opportunities given to learn, to grow, and to experience Him.

Tidbits and Pearls began as a blog several years ago, based on my personal experiences as God walks with me and teaches me. My desire is to share Him–with those who believe and those who don’t; to those in a church and those who aren’t; to many, to but one. In this compilation of posts, my goal is to challenge the reader to think beyond the physical into the spiritual, to consider the brevity of this life when compared to the eternal, to think of things in a way perhaps never thought of before, to look Godward.

My walk with God began as a very little girl with no concept of the reality of Him and His love. As a seventy-something woman, He is a part of my daily life, my anchor, the foundation of my being. He is my reason for living.

I am honored to deliver His message—God is love; He created humankind for friendship and relationship; there is a point and purpose to all things.

Oh the struggles of having a relationship is something I tremble at sometimes. I'm not very good at making friends and find myself as a loner walking this earth. In this book the author shows us how to have the most important relationship you can have. That relationship is with God. I may feel alone but I'm never really alone as I continue to deepen my relationship with Him. He accepts us for who we are and loves us unconditionally. This relationship is far more valuable than any I could have.

I liked how the author shared stories from her life. One particular story hit home with me. My mother had Alzheimer like her mother did. Our family was very dysfunctional and still is today. When I found out about my mother, I didn't hesitate to step up and help with her care. It didn't matter that my parents abused me and never said they loved me. What mattered to me was that my mother needed me and I would do anything to grasp a piece of a relationship with her. I took a lot of hateful words from my dad as I stepped in to help but it never swayed me to walk away. When she passed away suddenly, two of my brothers and I were in the same place at the same time with our dad. We didn't immediately rekindle our relationship between each other, but it did make us realize how precious life is.

The stories the author shares are fun to read and give readers pause to think about all the relationships they have. We need to enjoy every minute and learn from our hurtful words or bad judgment. I loved getting to know the author and her family better. She shares triumphs and encourages others to not take anything for granted. She has a heart for others and finds ways to bless people. Her insights about her children and grandchildren are an example of a person who enjoys family and life.

Cherished moments are ones that touch you and give you fond memories. I loved how the author shares moments such as a hug from her child when they were young. I remember times when my boys were little. I treasure each moment I have spent with them and appreciate how they still give me a hug and say they love me even though they are adults now.

Each chapter is filled with wonderful, encouraging words that I couldn't get enough of. If you are feeling down, grab this book and get a lift from God. This book now has a permanent place on my bookshelf. I will take it down to reread again and be reminded to "leave an invisible mark , one not seen with the physical but with the spiritual eye, a mark that is eternal.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 4

Through the Lens of Scripture, September 5

Sara Jane Jacobs – Blog, September 6

Through the Fire Blogs, September 7 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 8

SusanK. Beatty, Author, September 9 (Author Interview)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , September 10

Wishful Endings, September 11 (Author Interview)

janicesbookreviews, September 12

A Reader’s Brain, September 13

A Baker’s Perspective , September 14(Author Interview)

Inklings and notions , September 15

Texas Book-aholic, September 16

Just the Write Escape, September 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Ladonna is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/eb97/tidbits-and-pearls-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, September 15, 2019

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH by JEN TURANO

After rolling on the floor laughing I am now able to collect my thoughts. Poppy is hysterical and so full of life that I would love to be her friend. She has a big task ahead of her to help her family out which proves to be a journey she will never forget.

The opening pages of the book set the tone for the delightful writing talent of the author. She is known for witty and charming characters. Poppy is hands down my favorite and she is written with pure inspiration and charm. I could picture Poppy as she and her dashing partner danced around the room. Leave it to Poppy to make a scene at a gala with important and influential people .

Reginald is a very distinguished gentleman who Poppy's grandmother sets her sights on to help Poppy. Oh what a deal Poppy is getting into because of her grandmother. The banter between Poppy and her grandmother is priceless. Two very determined women trying to get the upper hand on the other. The author has out done herself with this wonderful story filled with laughs, family values and faith.

As Poppy matures and becomes more refined I felt she finally realized how loved she was by many. Her grandmother wants her to marry for money. Poppy has admirers but will she do what her grandmother wants? This is one story that I couldn't put down because it was funny yet reminiscent of someone finding their place in life.

As with all her books, the author gives us wonderful characters and leaves us with a wonderful message that stays with you forever. I love the faith elements in the story and reading how a young woman named Poppy learned to believe in herself.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and author. The review is my own opinion.

About this Book

Book: Samson & Amish Delilah

Author: Thomas Nye

Genre: Christian Amish Fiction

Release Date: August 19, 2019

Everyone in America has fallen in love with Delilah, leading lady in a bestselling Amish novel. When media giants discover that Delilah is a real person, the pursuit is on. Dave joins the search not realizing that by finding her, he would fall into the story and become Samson.

About the Author

Thomas Nye writes novels about horses and Amish life, with a touch of romance, and a foundation of faith in Christ. He and his wife, Shari, live on her family farm where they raised five children. Their six grandchildren love to visit Karma and Karla, a team of draft horses which Thomas purchased from an Amish friend. Walking a mail route for the U.S. Postal Service keeps Thomas close to nature and affords him many quiet hours which he uses to dream up novels. Over three decades of friendships with Amish neighbors has revealed a simple wisdom that he weaves into his writing.

More from Thomas

Most authors agree that during the course of writing a novel, the characters seem to come alive and emerge with personality traits we ourselves didn’t originally plan to give them. Not only did the lead characters of Samson and Delilah take on a life of their own, they also pulled the story in a direction I never planned to go.

Samson and Amish Delilah is a book about a book. You will soon discover that the characters are reading along with you. They even try to guess the ending and have discussions about it. As I worked on the final few chapters, I could almost feel Samson and Delilah urging me forward, as though they needed me to write out solutions to the issues they were facing. I could almost hear them calling to me, “Please—finish this book—we want the world to hear our story.”

Maybe all of this is just me projecting my feelings on them. LOL. Either way, I’ve gotten to know Samson and Delilah pretty well and I’m sure they would want you to smile, laugh, cry, and learn about the power of forgiveness along with them.

Thomas Nye

P.S. It so happens that I feel Samson and Delilah nudging me forward with a follow-up novel. Wink, wink.

This book is a wonderful example of learning to forgive yourself for mistakes you have made in the past. We can’t change the past, but we can make the present better. In this book the two main characters each have a past as teenagers that they have regrets from. I loved the way the author brought them together in a story that spans from the teenage years to the present.

I thought the writing was good and Delilah was a wonderful young woman who has tried to overcome a mistake she made in the past. Living the Amish life can be difficult for young people and Delilah has lived with a secret for a long time. When a book comes out about an Amish girl named Delilah , people go crazy trying to find who the real Delilah is from the book.

Dave has been sent to find the Delilah that was written in the book and get a picture of her. Most of us know that the Amish don’t allow pictures taken of them but Dave is determined to succeed because he needs the money. I found it quite interesting how the author used Princess Diana in comparison with Delilah. The paparazzi were relentless in pursuing Princess Diana and the same thing was happening with Delilah. The fascination of this young woman was spreading rapidly and I could feel the tension when the paparazzi were getting close to identifying Delilah.

I liked the way the author tells a story of forgiveness loosely using a story from the Bible. It is easy to understand how something from your past can affect your future in this story of forgiveness and faith. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to overcome. I have found that when you do forgive, you feel a big weight has been lifted off your shoulder. I am looking forward to the follow up book that the author has hinted at.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 6

For Him and My Family, September 7

Batya’s Bits, September 7

Moments, September 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 9

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, September 9

Bigreadersite, September 10

Adventures of a Taveler’s Wife, September 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 11

Pause for Tales, September 12

Maureen’s Musings, September 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 13

Emily Yager, September 13

Older & Smarter?, September 14

Texas Book-aholic, September 15

Mary Hake, September 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 16

janicesbookreviews, September 17

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, September 17

Inklings and notions, September 18

For The Love of Books, September 18

A Reader’s Brain, September 19

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Thomas is giving away a Thomas Nye Gift Box, which includes four books by Thomas Nye: Samson and Amish Delilah, Under the Heavens, Amish Park, and Plain Everyday Heroes!! Along with bookmarkers and an Amish designed coloring book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ec39/samson-amish-delilah-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, September 13, 2019

About the Book

Book: Rose’s Redemption

Author: Donna L. H. Smith

Genre: Christian Western

Release Date: November, 2018

A Former Dance Hall Girl. A Handsome Young Doctor. Can Rose overcome her past? That’s Rose’s Redemption

Rose Rhodes changed not only her name after the tornado; she changed her outward appearance. No more was she Rosalie O’Roarke, former dance hall girl. She loves her new work as a nurse-in-training to handsome Doctor Scott Allison. As Scott and Rose’s relationship begins to change from professional to personal, they must deal with figures from Rose’s past who make life anything but easy. Rose is concerned that the town will discover her dance hall girl past, especially when Jake Thomas, the man who viciously beat her, asks all over town where Rosalie O’Roarke went. But both Rose and Scott are in for surprise encounters with Christ that will change their lives forever and help them see His plan for them. In fact, they will see God at work all over New Boston.

Rose’s Redemption won second place in the 2017 Golden Leaf Award at the Advance Novelist Retreat and was a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Phoenix Rattler Contest.

Click here to grab your copy.

About the Author

Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds two college degrees, both B.S. and M.A. in Mass Communication. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. Her debut novel, Meghan’s Choice, made the finals of both the Selah and Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Rose’s Redemption, the sequel, also made the Selah Award finals in 2019. She blogs, speaks at workshops and holds inner healing retreats. Although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. She served as Managing Editor of www.almostanauthor.com, an award-winning website for writers. She continues to serve as ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Mid-Atlantic Zone Director. She is also a member of AWSA’s Protégé program (Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association).

More from Donna

Rose’s Redemption is the second book in the Known by Heart series. There were interesting challenges to this book.

First, how to change a rascal of an antagonist from Meghan’s Choice, to the romantic hero of Rose’s Redemption.

Second, I serve a supernatural God, so I wanted to include a little something different. It’s not spec-fic, but I hope people will enjoy Rafe. Answer the question for yourself whether or not he is an angel.

Third, I included in Rose’s history a bombshell from her mother. That was personal to me, only I didn’t discover it until two years ago.

The point of Rose’s Redemption is that our faith or our change cannot just be external, as Rose tried to do by changing her name, her appearance, and her profession—but an internal change of heart, too.

God is in the business of change

I have been anxiously awaiting the next book in this series and am excited to tell you how much I loved it. The author takes a character that is tarnished, lets us witness her transformation and along the way give us a lesson in forgiveness and acceptance. I can't say enough good things about Rose. She had a background that was shall we say not ladylike and is determined to change her life. It is very difficult for her to accept the friendship of Meghan and I loved how Meghan looked past Rose's sins and showed her friendship. There is a lot to learn from this story of redemption. I can think of a few times I thought I would never be forgiven for things I had done.

There are a few graphic scenes where I wanted to cry as Rose was being beaten. I think in a way she felt like she deserved it because she was tainted as a woman. Jake is a nasty character and has no respect for women. His character is well written and gives us a look at what rage, jealousy and pride can do to a person. I admire the author for not sugar coating the story but be able to do it in a clean respectful manner.

Scott is a changed man from the first book and I loved his experiences he had with Rafe. They are very emotional and worth reading to find out what happens when Scott is faced with trying to forgive himself for his past.

There are eventful things happening in the book that deals with the railroad, an almost tragedy with Rose and faith that is felt throughout the book. I don't want to give the story away because it is one that needs to be experienced on your own. The author is gifted in showing characters that take a journey through forgiveness that was eye opening for me. Rose is the highlight of the story and she reminded me of the story in the bible about the woman that was accused of something. Jesus spoke up and said, "Ye without sin cast the first stone." It such a powerful statement and is very relevant to this story.

The author does leave a cliffhanger which entices me to anxiously anticipate the next book in the series.I highly recommend this series to everyone looking for a story strong in faith and shares how forgiveness is a choice and what happens when you open your heart to God.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.