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Review: To Win Her Favor | Kindle Fire Giveaway

2 May

To Win Her Favor

To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1OYbn27

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He’s come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he’d wagered, especially when Maggie Linden’s father makes him an offer he shouldn’t accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance—and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder—Maggie’s father, aging, yet wily as ever, makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail—Maggie must marry a man she’s never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

 

My thoughts:

To Win Her Favor is a captivating love story!

Book Two in the Belle Meade Plantation series, To Win Her Favor reads as a stand-alone novel.  However, Book One, To Whisper Her Name, is another wonderful story and one I highly recommend.

Tamera Alexander’s writing is beautiful and vividly portrays the post-Civil War era.  Historical details and well-crafted characters also add richness and depth to this story.  As Maggie Linden and Cullen McGrath enter into a marriage of convenience, they must learn to rely on each other as they endure hurts and heartaches and cling to hopes and dreams.

Maggie and Cullen are such complex characters, and I really enjoyed their strength and determination, as well as their captivating love story.  I also enjoyed the racing aspects of the story and cheered for Bourbon Belle and her spirited rider.  Tamera Alexander once again brings Nashville and Belle Meade Plantation history to life and leaves me eager for the next book in this compelling series!

Please note:  This book contains topics of racial prejudices and injustices and marital intimacies.  For this reason, I do not recommend this book for younger readers or those who may be uncomfortable with these subjects.

I received a complimentary copy of To Win Her Favor through Litfuse Publicity.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and share my honest opinion.

 

Landing Page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/talexander

Celebrate the release of To Win Her Favor with a Kindle Fire and book giveaway!

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One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire HD 6
  • A copy of To Win Her Favor

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced May 11th on Tamera’s blog. Plus stay tuned for more opportunities to win after May 11 with a special Pinterest contest—more details coming soon!

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{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

 

 

Tamera AlexanderTamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don’t forget Jack, their precious—and precocious—silky terrier.

Find Tamera online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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Review: Bridge of Faith

28 Apr

Bridge of Faith 3-DBridge of Faith by Catherine West

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/1AbSnpY

Two lives taken down different roads – one enduring love – one shot at starting over. If only they believed in second chances..

Julia Connelly is finally free from twelve long years in an abusive relationship. Now able to live the life she’s longed for, Julia takes her two children back home to Vermont, hoping for peace and healing. The last person she expects to see is the man she eloped with at eighteen—who then abandoned her two months into their marriage, with little explanation. .

When an assignment in the Middle East ends in tragedy, popular news correspondent, Reid Wallace, returns to his hometown seeking answers and peace of mind. .

Confronting his past was not in the plan. .

Now he’s asking different questions. Like why the only woman he’s ever really loved still mesmerizes him. Why the haunted expression she wears reaches right into his soul. .

And why her twelve year-old son looks just like him. .

They say you can’t go home again. Sometimes you don’t have a choice.

 

BOF graphic (5)

 

Thoughts:

Bridge of Faith is a compelling story! When I started reading this book, I intended to read just a few chapters before bed. However, I soon found myself reading into the night and wanting to know how the story would unfold.

Julia Connelly and Reid Wallace are flawed characters and their dramatic story is real, gritty, and filled with emotion.  Catherine West has skillfully woven a complex love story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I certainly look forward to reading more from this talented author!

I appreciate the opportunity I was given to read a complimentary copy of Bridge of Faith and share my honest opinion.

 

Bridge of Faith graphic

 

 

Catherine West copy (2)Catherine West is an award-winning author writing inspirational stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. Her first novel, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, released in 2011, her second, Hidden in the Heart, in September, 2012. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, and is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com.

 

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Review + GIVEAWAY | CROSSROADS by Cathy Bryant

27 Apr

CROSSROADSCROSSROADS

a Miller’s Creek novel and Christian contemporary romance

A former soldier battles for the soul of a prodigal…

After a devastating divorce, a bitter single mom and atheist starts her own real estate company in the nostalgic and picturesque town of Miller’s Creek, Texas. Then her young daughter’s disturbing symptoms lead doctors to discover that her leukemia has relapsed. With her new life now turned upside down, Mara Hedwig struggles to keep her business afloat. And her daughter’s worsening condition forces her to rethink her beliefs about Carter Callahan and his God. Will Mara make the return to Christian faith in the face of life’s greatest challenge?

An ex-military operative struggles with the return to civilian life while coping with his rebellious teen-aged daughter. During a house-search, Carter meets Mara, a headstrong Realtor who wants nothing to do with his God. But when Mara’s little girl is diagnosed with leukemia, the clock begins ticking for him to convince Mara to return to a life of faith. Just as he seems to be making headway, circumstances beyond his control throw his efforts into a tailspin. Can Carter learn to rest in the sovereignty of God?

Buy from Amazon

Click here to read or download the first chapter of CROSSROADS. 

 

Thoughts:

“Crossroads are like that, aren’t they?
They force us to choose.  To make a decision.”

CROSSROADS is an emotionally charged story! 

Cathy Bryant welcomes readers back to the community of Miller’s Creek in Book 6 of her Miller’s Creek series.  While fans of this acclaimed series are sure to welcome its newest addition, CROSSROADS can also be read as a stand-alone novel.

I always enjoy visiting Miller’s Creek and its residents.  Cathy Bryant’s writing is wonderfully descriptive and filled with such depth and emotion!  In this complex story, Mara Hedwig and Carter Callahan are strong characters who are struggling with major issues in their lives.  As they face tremendous challenges, both physical and spiritual, they reach a crossroads and must make some important decisions.  Their journey through these trials and tribulations is heart-wrenching and heartwarming.  I really enjoyed this compelling drama and touching story! 

My thanks to the author for the complimentary review copy of CROSSROADS.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and share my honest opinion. 

 

CROSSROADS Giveaway

Cathy is graciously giving away a print copy of CROSSROADS to one lucky Buzzing About Books reader!  To enter, please leave a comment, along with your email address. 

This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends Monday, May 4 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.  The winner will be drawn and announced on Tuesday, May 5.  Good luck!!

To earn additional entries, you may do the following:

◦Follow this blog, Buzzing About Books
◦Share this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or email

Be sure and leave a comment letting me know what you have done to earn additional entries.

 

Recipes from Cathy Bryant and CROSSROADS:

Not only am I a foodie, but I married a foodie. And as a self-confessed foodie, I see it as my responsibility to tantalize my reader’s taste buds with lots of food descriptions in the course of the Miller’s Creek novels. (In writer’s lingo, it’s called sensory detail.) 😉

Anyway, I thought you might enjoy some of the recipes that the characters in the latest stand-alone book CROSSROADS enjoy. Bon appetite!

 

Carter Callahan
Carter, the brawny soldier-turned-policeman and hero of CROSSROADS, uncovers the heroine’s penchant for seafood. He creates this special seafood dip for a picnic lunch the two share.

Carter’s Crab Dip

INGREDIENTS:
1 8-oz. cream cheese and 1 3-oz. cream cheese, softened
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. lemon juice
2 T. mayonnaise
1/2 small finely chopped white onion
garlic powder and salt to taste
1/2 bottle of cocktail sauce on top (can substitute Tabasco sauce if you want the heat)
1 7-oz. can of crab meat
fresh or dried parsley
cocktail crackers

DIRECTIONS:
1. Blend the first six ingredients together well, and spread thin on a serving dish.
2. Spread the cocktail sauce on top as a sort of icing.
3. Garnish with fresh or dried parsley.
4. Chill in the refrigerator, and serve with cocktail crackers.

 

Mara Hedwig
 Mara, the bitter single mom, cynic, and heroine from CROSSROADS, knows full well that Carter Callahan is a meat-and-potatoes kinda guy. She fixes this meal when he and his daughter Chloe come over for dinner.

Mara’s Roast Beef

INGREDIENTS:
1 (3-1/2- to 4-pound) boneless chuck roast, trimmed
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 can beef broth
1 bay leaf
3 to 4 peppercorns
1 t. dried and crushed rosemary
1 t. dried thyme
1 t. garlic powder
12 French sandwich rolls, split
Provolone cheese
sautéed onion (if desired)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place trimmed roast in a 5-quart slow cooker. Combine soy sauce and next six ingredients; pour over roast. Add water to slow cooker until roast is almost covered.
2. Cook, covered, on LOW for 7 hours or until very tender. Remove roast and reserve the broth for dipping, if desired. Shred roast with a fork.
3. Can be eaten alone or with sandwich rolls. If eaten with rolls, place the roast on the open-faced rolls, add sautéed onions (if desired), and Provolone cheese. Place in your oven on high broil, until bread is toasty and cheese is bubbly.

Yield: 12 servings (or one hungry policeman).

 

Hope you enjoy these delightful delicacies from Mara and Carter, the hero and heroine of CROSSROADS.  To find out more about the book, please visit: http://www.CatBryant.com/Crossroads.

For more mouth-watering recipes from the back-roads Texas town of Miller’s Creek–where folks are friendly, the iced tea is sweet, and Mama Beth’s front porch beckons–snag this free PDF download of the Miller’s Creek Cookbook: http://www.catbryant.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Millers-Creek-Cookbook-1.pdf

 

CROSSROADS Launch Party

YOU’RE INVITED!

What: CROSSROADS Book Launch Party

Where: Facebook (from the comfort & convenience of your own home)

When: April 30, 2015 ~ 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Central time)

Why: To celebrate the book launch of CROSSROADS (a Miller’s Creek novel and Christian Romance by Cathy Bryant)

LOTS of Fun, Games and Prizes!

Prizes Include: Miller’s Creek pens, tote bags, t-shirts, mugs, digital books, autographed print books, Amazon gift cards, and
an Amazon Kindle Fire HD6!
Click here to RSVP and enter the Kindle Fire drawing.

CROSSROADS Kindle Giveaway

 

Cathy BryantAmazon best-selling author Cathy Bryant writes Christian fiction set in the heart of Texas. Her popular romance and romantic suspense novels take place in the fictional town of Miller’s Creek, where folks are friendly, the iced tea is sweet, and Mama Beth’s front porch beckons. All the Miller’s Creek novels have been on the Amazon Best-Seller list and are rated at 4.5 stars or higher on Amazon. Her debut novel, TEXAS ROADS, was a 2009 ACFW Genesis finalist. Since then five other stand-alone novels have been added to the series, one of which was a reader-nominated 2013 Grace Award nominee (PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE). Readers have compared her work to that of Karen Kingsbury and Nicholas Sparks.

A native Texan, Cathy currently resides in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico with her minister husband of over thirty years. She’s written devotions for The Upper Room devotional magazine, two devotional books in collaboration with other Christian authors, and for online sites. She also has released a Bible study book, THE FRAGRANCE OF CRUSHED VIOLETS. In addition to her writing, she enjoys thrift store shopping, romping in the great outdoors, and mini-farming. To learn more about Cathy and her books, visit her website at http://www.CatBryant.com or make contact with her in these places:

|Facebook| Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads |  Amazon | YouTube | Google+ |

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Review: The Inn at Ocean’s Edge | Kindle Fire Giveaway

23 Apr

The Inn at Ocean's Edge

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1PDMkED

Claire’s visit to a luxury hotel in Maine awakens repressed memories, threatening all she holds dear.

In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year—and until now, Claire didn’t even know she had ever been missing.

But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface . . despite her parents’ best efforts to keep them forgotten.

Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances—at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year.

With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire’s very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone-maybe everyone-is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

My thoughts:

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge is a complex, page-turning suspense! 

Memories begin to surface as Claire Dellamare arrives on the island of Folly Shoals.  As she steps into the Hotel Tourmaline, she realizes something terrible happened here.  What secrets are her family keeping?  Will the past stay buried? 

Colleen Coble kept me guessing with hairpin twists and turns!  Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the unexpected happened.  I loved the mounting suspense, drama, and danger and found myself turning the pages faster and faster with an eagerness to know how the mystery would unfold. 

The relationship between Claire and Luke Rocco was another element of the story that I really enjoyed.  I would love to read more of their story and hope to revisit them in future novels. 

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge is a wonderful blend of suspense and romance, and I can’t wait for the next book in this exciting series! 

I appreciate the opportunity to read The Inn at Ocean’s Edge and offer my honest opinion.  I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity.

Graphic- The Inn at Ocean's Edge

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble 

The minute she steps inside the grand Inn at Ocean’s Edge, Claire Dellamare knows something terrible happened there—and only Luke believes her. Colleen Coble’s new book, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, is a must-read for mystery and suspense readers. As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried. And some passions are worth killing for.

Celebrate the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!

oceansedge-400

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire
  • A copy of A Heart’s Disguise
  • A copy of A Heart’s Obsession
  • A copy of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen’s website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge! RSVP here!

oceansedge-enterbanner

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

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Review: A Horse For Kate | Horse Lovers Giveaway

22 Apr

A Horse for Kate

A Horse For Kate by Miralee Ferrell

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | DeeperShopping

A horse of her own would be awesome. But Kate figures that might be a long way away, especially since she had to give up riding lessons and move to her late grandfather’s farm. Besides, it would be a lot more fun to have a best friend to ride with. When Kate discovers a barn on their new farm that’s perfect for a horse, and a dusty bridle too, she starts to think that her dream might come true. Then she meets Tori at school, who is totally the best. So when they discover a thoroughbred that appears to be all alone, could it be the answer to her prayers? Maybe. If she can convince her dad … and figure out what’s going on with that horse.

My thoughts:

A Horse for Kate is a wonderful book! Not only is this story engaging and entertaining, but it also emphasizes strong Christian values.

I loved Kate’s personality, her love of horses, and her determination to have a horse of her own. I also enjoyed the relationships she shared with her younger brother and her best friend. Knowledge and awareness of autism is shared in this story, as are several valuable lessons, including the importance of honesty and obedience.

There are also several fun features included in the back of the book that I think young girls will love! The first is a note from the author, followed by a discussion guide. These discussion questions are framed as secrets for your diary and each one includes a note from Kate. A cake recipe is also included with step-by-step instructions on how to make a horse head cake like the one Kate’s mom made for her.

I am thrilled to know there are wonderful books like this available to young readers! I loved A Horse for Kate and look forward to more books in this special series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

 

Do your children love horses?

They could win a $150 Horse Lovers Prize Pack!
Click here for contest details, rules, and entry form.

HorseForKateGiveawayImage


Miralee Ferrell- headshot

Miralee Ferrell is the author of eleven popular novels, including the bestselling Blowing on Dandelions. She and her husband live on eleven acres along the Columbia River Gorge in Washington state, where she loves horseback riding on the wooded trails near her home. She also enjoys playing with her dogs, Lacey and Sophie.  To learn more, visit Miralee’s website. 

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Review: After a Fashion

20 Apr

After a Fashion

After a Fashion by Jen Turano

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | DeeperShopping

Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiance cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can’t make her fashionable. She’ll never truly fit into Oliver’s world, but just as she’s ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

 

My thoughts:

Hilarity ensues in this latest release from Jen Turano!  After a Fashion boasts a vivid setting, excellent characterization, and an engaging storyline.  I loved the host of quirky characters and their witty dialogue and often outrageous antics.  Miss Harriet Peabody’s adventures were such fun and her relationship with Mr. Oliver Addleshaw was quite entertaining.  Their story is delightful, as is the unexpected twist at the end.  I enjoyed After a Fashion and look forward to the next release in this new series!  

I received a complimentary copy of After a Fashion.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest opinion. 

 

Jen TuranoJen Turano is the acclaimed author of The Ladies of Distinction Series, published through Bethany House publishers. Her second novel, A Most Peculiar Circumstance was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Romance for 2013. Her fourth book, A Match of Wits, released in July, 2014, while a new series, A Class of Their Own, will begin hitting the shelves in early 2015. She is a member of ACFW and makes her home outside of Denver, Colorado with her husband and teenage son.

Author Links:
Website | Facebook

  

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Review: A Heart’s Obsession | Kindle Fire Giveaway

18 Apr

A Heart's Obsession

A Heart’s Obsession by Colleen Coble

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1PsjoPR

When Sarah Montgomery’s father succumbs to his long illness, Sarah is faced with a life-altering choice: submit to her brother’s will and marry the deceptive Ben Croftner . . . or escape through the dangerous American West to reclaim the heart of her beloved Rand Campbell at Fort Laramie, Wyoming.

My thoughts:

The journey continues in this second installment of Colleen Coble’s novel serialization.  As Rand Campbell leaves for his post in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, more drama ensues.  Family circumstances change for Sarah Montgomery and her younger brother Joel, and they decided to pursue a life out west.  After a difficult trip to the fort with their friends, their arrival does not garner the welcome they hoped for.   “Will Sarah’s journey west lead her back into the arms of the one man she can trust?”

Colleen Coble’s writing is descriptive and emotion-filled!  In A Heart’s Obsession, tension continues to mount, unexpected events occur, and the conclusion of the story leaves characters in jeopardy and readers desperate for more.  I enjoyed this short story and am eager to continue the journey in next month’s release, A Heart’s Danger. 

The Journey of the Heart serialization begins with A Heart’s Disguise and includes six installments that will release monthly from March through August.  These stories were originally published in two books, Where Leads the Heart and Plains of Promise.  

A complimentary copy of A Heart’s Obsession was provided to me through Litfuse Publicity. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest opinion.

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble

 
Can a woman held captive by her family make it back to the one man she knows she can trust? Find out in book two, A Heart’s Obsession, of Colleen Coble’s Journey of the Heart series.  Celebrate book two in Colleen’s A Journey of the Heart series by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!

heartsobsession-400

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire
  • A copy of A Heart’s Disguise
  • A copy of A Heart’s Obsession
  • A copy of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge (blog tour coming in mid-April)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen’s website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge! RSVP here!

heartsobsession-enterbanner

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

 

Colleen Coble Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble’s addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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Review: Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood

16 Apr

Walking with God

Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood
Melissa B. Kruger

Learn how God’s imprint on your heart can make a lasting impression on your children.

Being a mom usually means being busy. Really busy. Whether you’re zipping from your children’s piano lessons to their next ballgame or nursing a baby while comforting a toddler, life is brimming with activities. 

Yet one encounter can help shape every moment: time in the Word with Jesus. In Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood, you’ll learn how to nourish your own heart, mind, and soul with the wisdom you need to become the mother you long to be. 

As you spend time with God through this eleven-week Bible study, you’ll gain life-shaping insights to help you…
 ·         Understand and pursue your purpose as a mother
 ·         Live out your true priorities
 ·         Entrust your child to God
 ·         Bear the fruit of the Spirit in your everyday interactions
 ·         Recover from Perfect Mom Syndrome (PMS)

Each week offers four days of study geared specifically to a mother’s concerns, with the Bible passages already printed out for your convenience. The fifth day is a warm-hearted devotional reading to help you reflect on and apply the truths you’ve learned.

As your relationship with God deepens through prayer and studying His Word, you’ll discover how His imprint on your heart can make a lasting impression on your children.

My thoughts:

“In the beauty of God’s design, He is in the process of parenting us as we parent our children.”

What a wonderful devotional!  Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood is an eleven-week devotional Bible study that will encourage you as a mother and as a child of God. 

In the busy days of motherhood, we often fail to set aside time for our own spiritual growth and strengthening.  This book is specifically tailored for mothers and each week offers four days of Scripture study and a fifth day of reflection and application.  I really enjoyed each lesson and loved that each Bible passage was included in the book for convenience.  I also enjoyed Kruger’s own stories of motherhood and words of encouragement.  Other helpful resources include verses for memorization for both mothers and children, as well as a study guide to use in a group setting. 

I loved Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood!  Melissa Kruger has written an encouraging study that I will use again and again. 

“Daily time in the Word and in prayer provides the nourishment our souls need as we care for our families.  The specific application for different ages may vary, but each of us needs wisdom, prayer, patience, kindness, and love as we raise our children.  We never graduate from our need of His grace.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Blogging for Books and appreciate the opportunity to offer my honest opinion. 

 About the author:

Melissa Kruger teaches women at Uptown Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at conferences around the country. She regularly writes articles for the Gospel Coalition and Christianity.com, and she is the author of The Envy of Eve. Melissa’s most cherished roles include being a wife to Mike, president of Reformed Theological Seminary–Charlotte, and a mother to her three children, Emma, John, and Kate.

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Review: A Sparrow in Terezin + A Book-Inspired Giveaway

15 Apr

A Sparrow in Terezin

A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1a1Mk02

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection through one survivor’s story of hope in the darkest days of a war-torn world.

Present Day—With the grand opening of her new art gallery and a fairytale wedding just around the corner, Sera James feels she’s stumbled into a charmed life—until a brutal legal battle against fiancé William Hanover threatens to destroy the perfectly planned future she’s planned before it even begins. Now, after an eleventh-hour wedding ceremony and a callous arrest, William faces a decade in prison for a crime he never committed, and Sera must battle the scathing accusations that threaten her family and any hope for a future.

1942—Kája Makovsky narrowly escaped occupied Prague in 1939, and was forced to leave her half-Jewish family behind. Now a reporter for the Daily Telegraph in England, Kája discovers the terror has followed her across the Channel in the shadowy form of the London Blitz. When she learns Jews are being exterminated by the thousands on the continent, Kája has no choice but to return to her mother city, risking her life to smuggle her family to freedom and peace.

Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, these two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

My thoughts:

A Sparrow in Terezin is a beautiful story of hope and forgiveness!  Kristy Cambron once again shares her incredible storytelling ability in this poignant tale.  The present day story of Sera James and William Hanover continues in this sequel to Cambron’s debut novel, The Butterfly and the Violin, as does a historical thread that ties the two books together. 

While I was eager to continue the present day story of Sera and Will, I was even more excited about the historical aspects of this novel.  Excellent imagery brings war-torn Europe to life and I was immediately captivated by Kája Makovsky and her story.  There was such an authenticity to her character as she faced fear and offered hope in the face of horror. 

I loved the intricately woven plots and fascinating history of this heart-wrenching novel!  A Sparrow in Terezin is an emotional story that will leave an indelible mark in your mind and on your heart! 

I appreciate the opportunity to read A Sparrow in Terezin and offer my honest opinion.  I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity. 

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/kcambron

 

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection in Kristy Cambron‘s new book, A Sparrow in Terezin. Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

Kristy is celebrating by giving away a basket filled with goodies inspired by her new book!

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One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A set of poppy notecards
  • A poppy pin
  • A copy of I Never Saw Another Butterfly
  • A copy of the Mrs. Miniver DVD
  • Literary tea bags
  • Tumbler
  • A copy of A Sparrow in Terezin
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Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 28th. Winner will be announced April 29th on Kristy’s blog.

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{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

 

Kristy Cambron

Kristy Cambron has been fascinated with the WWII era since hearing her grandfather’s stories of the war. She holds an art history degree from Indiana University and received the Outstanding Art History Student Award. Kristy writes WWII and Regency era fiction and has placed first in the 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations and 2012 FCRW Beacon contests, and is a 2013 Laurie finalist. Kristy makes her home in Indiana with her husband and three football-loving sons.

Find Kristy online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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Review + GIVEAWAY: The Butterfly and the Violin

14 Apr

The Butterfly and the Violin

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | DeeperShopping 

Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl–a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.

In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover–the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul–who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting’s subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.

A darling of the Austrian aristocracy of 1942, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.

As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: the grim camps of Auschwitz and the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

Thoughts:

“A mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz–and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.”

I absolutely loved The Butterfly and the Violin!  It captivated me from the very first page and I was unable to put it down until the last page had been turned.  Kristy Cambron has woven two beautiful stories, one present day and one historical, together to create a literary masterpiece. 

Beautifully written with excellent characterization and vivid, historical details, The Butterfly and the Violin is a poignant story that stirred my emotions.  Its characters and spiritual messages won’t soon be forgotten!  I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fiction, especially World War II era fiction!

Tomorrow, I will be sharing my thoughts about A Sparrow in Terezin, the sequel to this spectacular novel.  I loved A Sparrow in Terezin and highly recommend it as well.  However, The Butterfly and the Violin remains my favorite of the two stories.

 

Giveaway- The Butterfly and the Violin

 I loved this book so much that I want to gift a Kindle copy to one lucky reader!  To enter, please leave a comment below and be sure to include your email address.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.  The winner will be drawn and announced on Wednesday, April 22.

Do you enjoy World War II era stories?
If so, what are some of your favorites?

To earn additional entries, you may do the following:

◦Follow my blog, Buzzing About Books
◦Share this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or email

Be sure and leave a comment letting me know what you have done to earn additional entries.

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