Archive | October, 2017

#BookReview: KJV Know the Word Study Bible | Kindle Fire #Giveaway

30 Oct

I am really enjoying the KJV Know the Word Study Bible. This Bible offers a book-by-book, verse-by-verse, or topic-by-topic study of God’s Word. In addition to the insightful study paths offered, I also appreciate the concordance and maps that are included. I have utilized the verse-by-verse approach and look forward to continuing to implement the other approaches in my studies. While I haven’t studied this Bible in depth yet, I am aware that the commentaries it contains are based on opinion, and I will use discernment when reading these passages. Easy to read and understand, this study Bible provokes thought as it beckons readers to explore God’s Word.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

This fall, become a regular student of the Bible and enter to win the Kindle Fire giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of the KJV Know The Word Study Bible
  • A Kindle Fire 7
  • A Kindle Fire case (winner’s choice)

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 31. The winner will be announced November 1 on the Litfuse blog.

 

About the book:
The study of God’s Word can be easy and rewarding if you break down the Bible into easy-to-understand segments. The KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers three easy ways to begin studying Scripture and helps individuals transition from being a casual reader of the Bible to becoming a regular student of the Bible. You can choose to study the Bible book-by-book, verse-by-verse, or topic-by-topic; each path offers powerful insights that will help you develop a daily routine of Bible study.  The book-by-book series of notes leads you through the main points of each book of the Bible. The verse-by-verse notes help you to dig deeper into God’s Word. The topic-by-topic articles, which cover 21 theological topics, guide you through a series of insightful notes and give you a thorough biblical understanding of each topic. With the beautiful and timeless text of the KJV translation, the KJV Know the Word Study Bible offers you choices of how to study Scripture and grow in your relationship with Christ.
 
Features include:
-King James Version Bible text
-Three easy approaches to study the Bible: 1. Book by Book; 2. Verse by Verse; 3. Topic by Topic
-Insightful introductions for each book of Scripture
-Words of Jesus in red
-Beautiful two-color interior page design
-Comprehensive list of theological notes
-Concordance
-Full-color maps
-8-point type size
 

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#BookReview: Love Held Captive by Shelley Shepard Gray

24 Oct

Love Held Captive is a compelling story! The two storylines that converge tackle some tough issues, and Gray handles them with care. The occasional flashbacks provide readers with background information and details, and I really enjoyed these glimpses into the past. Ethan and Devin each face their own struggles, and they once again work together to seek justice and healing. An engaging blend of mystery and romance, I thoroughly enjoyed this historical Texas tale, as well as the preceding Lone Star Hero stories!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Major Ethan Kelly has never been able to absolve himself of the guilt he feels for raiding a woman’s home shortly before he was taken prisoner during the Civil War. He is struggling to get through each day until he once again crosses paths with Lizbeth Barclay—the very woman he is trying to forget.

Life after the war is not much different for former Captain Devin Monroe until he meets Julianne VanFleet. He knows she is the woman he’s been waiting for, but he struggles to come to terms with the sacrifices she made to survive the war.

When Ethan and Devin discover that their former colonel, Adam Bushnell, is responsible for both Lizbeth’s and Julianne’s pain, they call on their former fellow soldiers to hunt him down. As the men band together to earn the trust of the women they love, Lizbeth and Julianne seek the justice they deserve in a country longing to heal.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

17 Oct

Bringing Maggie Home is a story filled with angst and emotion. The mysterious disappearance of her sister during childhood haunts Hazel DeFord and forever impacts her life. Told from three different points of view, this story gently draws the reader in, and the varying perspectives of three generations offer a deeper understanding of each of the complex characters. A family drama laced with intrigue, Bringing Maggie Home is an enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year-old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year-old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Read what other bloggers are saying about Bringing Maggie Home.

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#BookReview: Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander

9 Oct

Christmas at Carnton is a wonderful novella that launches a brand-new series from one of my favorite authors! Set against the backdrop of the Carnton Plantation, Alexander once again brings Tennessee history to life and beckons readers to step back in time. I delighted in the richness and vibrancy of Aletta and Jake’s story and was captivated by their heartfelt journey. I love stories set during the Civil War era, and this tender tale is no exception. I can’t wait to continue the Carnton series!

I received a complimentary copy of this story through NetGalley. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

In the midst of war and the fading dream of the Confederacy, a wounded soldier and a destitute widow discover the true meaning of Christmas, the cost of love . . . and of loving again.

Recently widowed, Aletta Prescott struggles to hold life together for herself and her six-year-old son. About to be evicted, she sees an advertisement for the Ladies Aid Society Auction and applies for a position—only to discover it’s been filled. Then a chance meeting with a wounded soldier offers another opportunity. And friendship. But can she trust him? Is Jake Winston the man he appears to be? Having lost everything once, Aletta is determined to guard not only her own heart but also her son’s.

Captain Jake Winston, a revered Confederate sharpshooter, suffers a head wound at the Battle of Chickamauga. When doctors deliver their diagnosis, Jake fears losing not only his greatest skill but his very identity. As he heals, Jake is ordered to assist with a local Ladies Aid Society auction. He respectfully objects. Kowtowing to a bunch of “crinolines” isn’t his idea of soldiering. But orders are orders, and he soon discovers this group of ladies—one, in particular—is far more than he bargained for.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Many Sparrows by Lori Benton

8 Oct

Many Sparrows is a stirring story! Benton engaged my senses from the very beginning, transporting me into the rugged wilderness and bringing to life the characters who lived there. Clare and Jeremiah share a dramatic and emotional journey, and I was captivated by their heart-wrenching experiences. Rich in history, Many Sparrows is a poignant story of tragedy and triumph.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would. . . .

In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year-old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.

When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son . . . especially when her second child is moments away from being born.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do-be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Read what other bloggers are saying about Many Sparrows. 

 

About the author:

Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of “Burning Sky,” recipient of three Christy Awards, “The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn,” Christy-nominee “The Wood’s Edge,” and “A Flight of Arrows.”

Find out more about Lori at http://loribenton.blogspot.com.

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#BookReview: All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick

2 Oct

“Dreams delayed are not always dreams destroyed.”

All She Left Behind is a compelling tale! Based on a true story, Jane Kirkpatrick deftly weaves fact and fiction and beckons readers into the Oregon frontier. A woman of great dedication and determination to help others, Jennie Pickett faced extraordinary situations and lived a remarkable life. I enjoyed the historical depth and detail of the narrative and the palpable emotions of its characters. A richly layered and stirring story, All She Left Behind is a recommended read for those who enjoy historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Already well-versed in the natural healing properties of herbs and oils, Jennie Pickett longs to become a doctor. But the Oregon frontier of the 1870s doesn’t approve of such innovations as women attending medical school. To leave grief and guilt behind, as well as support herself and her challenging young son, Jennie cares for an elderly woman using skills she’s developed on her own. When her patient dies, Jennie discovers that her heart has become entangled with the woman’s widowed husband, a man many years her senior. Their unlikely romance may lead her to her ultimate goal–but the road will be winding and the way forward will not always be clear. Will Jennie find shelter in life’s storms? Will she discover where healing truly lives?

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson

1 Oct

The Christmas Blessing tugged at my heartstrings! I delighted in the nostalgic atmosphere of this story, as well as its characterization. Along her tumultuous journey, Amelia Richards endeared herself to me, and my heart ached for her and her struggles. This touching tale is one of love and loss, hardship and hope. I look forward to Melody Carlson’s heartwarming holiday stories each year and am happy to add The Christmas Blessing to my collection.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.  

 

About the book:

When she receives the news in late 1944 that her baby’s father was shot down in the South Pacific, Amelia Richards loses hope. Jobless and broke, she has nowhere to turn for help but her infant’s paternal grandparents. The only problem is, they don’t know that she–or their grandson–exists. When Amelia discovers that the family is wealthy and influential, dare she disclose the truth of her relationship with their son? Or could the celebration of the arrival of another unexpected baby nearly two thousand years ago be the answer to her dilemma?

Learn more about the book and the author. 

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