Me

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Saturday, December 31, 2016

Without Warning by Joel Rosenberg





Wow! It's hard to find the words to adequately describe Joel Rosenberg's latest thriller. J.B. Collins is back and the bad guys are still after him. The fact that Joel lives in the Middle East adds authenticity to his writing. The setting is described in such a way that you can imagine yourself there with J.B. and company. At times my heart was pounding with fear for the folks in the book. There is a depth to the characters that only comes from being a master storyteller. I expected to read a disclaimer at the end of the book stating that the names have been changed to protect the innocent.  Do yourself a favor and don't start this book until you have time to settle in for the great adventure.

From Amazon:
As he prepares to deliver the State of the Union address, the president of the United States is convinced the Islamic State is on the run, about to be crushed by American forces once and for all. But New York Times foreign correspondent J. B. Collins tells the president he’s dead wrong. With the Middle East on fire, the Israeli prime minister dead, and Amman in ruins, Collins fears a catastrophic attack inside the American homeland is imminent. He argues that only an all-out manhunt to capture or kill Abu Kahlif―the leader of ISIS―can stop the attack and save American lives. But will the president listen and take decisive action before it’s too late?

About Joel Rosenberg:
Joel C. Rosenberg (www.joelrosenberg.com) is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of eleven novels and five nonfiction books, with more than 3 million copies sold.
His books have been read and enjoyed by a wide range of U.S. and foreign leaders, including former CIA Director Porter Goss, former Delta Force Commander Lt. General (Ret.) Jerry Boykin, Sen. Marco Rubio, former Sen. Rick Santorum, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky, and former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.
Joel has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and TV shows, including ABC’s Nightline, CNN, CNN Headline News, C-SPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, The History Channel, the Rush Limbaugh Show, the Sean Hannity Show, and the Glenn Beck Show. His articles and columns have been published by National Review, FoxNews.com, CNN.com, the Jerusalem Post, World magazine, and the Washington Times, among others. He has been profiled by the New York Times, the Washington Times, and the Jerusalem Post.
Joel has spoken to audiences all across the U.S. and Canada and around the world, including Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, India, South Korea, and the Philippines. He has also addressed audiences at the White House and the Pentagon, members of Congress on Capitol Hill, members of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, and spoken at a conference held at the European Union Parliament in Brussels.
He is the founder and chairman of The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.com), a nonprofit educational and charitable organization he and his wife launched in 2006 to mobilize Christians to “bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, according to Genesis 12:1-3.”
Joel’s books, most of which are published in numerous languages, include
1. The Last Jihad (2002)
2. The Last Days (2003)
3. The Ezekiel Option (2005)
4. The Copper Scroll (2006)
5. Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future (2006, nonfiction; an updated version, Epicenter 2.0, was released in paperback in 2008)
6. Dead Heat (2008)
7. Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson & Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World (2009, nonfiction)
8. The Twelfth Imam (2010)
9. The Tehran Initiative (2011)
10. Implosion: Can America Recover from Its Economic and Spiritual Challenges in Time? (2012, nonfiction)
11. Israel at War: Inside the Nuclear Showdown with Iran (2012, nonfiction e-book)
12. The Invested Life: Making Disciples of All Nations One Person at a Time, written with Dr. T. E. Koshy (2012, nonfiction)
13. Damascus Countdown (2013)
14. The Auschwitz Escape (2014)
15. The Third Target (January 6, 2015)
16. The First Hostage (December 29, 2015)
He has produced two documentary films based on two of his nonfiction books, Epicenter and Inside the Revolution.
Several of his books have won national awards.
The Ezekiel Option was named by the ECPA as the Gold Medallion Award winner for the “Best Novel of 2006.”
He is a five-time winner of the Retailers Choice Award for best books of the year in fiction and nonfiction categories. These awards, presented annually by Christian Retailing magazine, are based on the voting of people working in the Christian publishing and music industries.
In 2007, Epicenter won in the Christian Living category.
In 2009, Dead Heat won in the Fiction: Mystery & Suspense category.
In 2010, Inside the Revolution won in the Social Issues category.
In 2011, The Twelfth Imam won in the Fiction: Mystery & Suspense category.
In 2012, The Tehran Initiative won in the Fiction: Mystery & Suspense category.
The Auschwitz Escape was a finalist in the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Historical Fiction, finishing in fourth place out of twenty-one contenders.
Several of his books have reached the top or near the top of national bestseller lists.
The Last Jihad hit #1 on the Amazon.com bestseller list.
Dead Heat reached #4 on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list.
The Third Target hit #4 on the Publishers Weekly hardcover fiction bestseller list and spent two months as the #1 bestselling work of fiction in the Christian market in North America.
The First Hostage was also the #1 bestselling work of fiction in the Christian market in North America.
Before becoming an author, Joel worked as an aide to U.S. and Israeli business and political leaders, including Steve Forbes, Rush Limbaugh, former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky, and then-former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also worked for the Heritage Foundation, Empower America, and Americans For Hope, Growth & Opportunity.
Joel was born in Syracuse, New York. His father is a first-generation American from a Jewish background whose parents and grandparents emigrated from Russia and settled in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, a Gentile, was raised in Rome, New York. When Joel was two, his parents moved to a community just outside of Rochester, New York. He grew up in the small town of Fairport and graduated from Fairport High School. He attended Syracuse University—spending one semester of his junior year studying at Tel Aviv University—and graduated from Syracuse with a BFA in film drama.
Joel married his college sweetheart, Lynn, in June of 1990. Together, they made their home in the Washington, D.C., area for twenty-four years. In 2014, they and their four sons—Caleb, Jacob, Jonah, and Noah—made aliyah and now live in Israel as dual U.S.–Israeli citizens.
For more information on conferences Joel organizes, please visit www.epicenterconference.com.
You can find his weblog at https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/.
You can sign up for his “Flash Traffic” e-mail updates at http://www.joelrosenberg.com/flashtraffic_form.asp.
You can follow him on Twitter @joelcrosenberg and Facebook (facebook.com/JoelCRosenberg).

My 12 Best Books of 2016

Most people are posting their 10 favorite books of 2016, I just couldn't narrow my list that far. I honestly could have done a top twenty! So here are my 12 favorite books in no particular order:












It has been an awesome year for books! Thank you to all of the authors out there for providing so many hours of enjoyment! Happy New Year! I look forward to all of the new books in 2017!
                                         Kris

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Paradise Protocol by Anna Zogg


The Paradise Protocol by Anna Zogg is a science fiction novel with a strong romantic theme. There is also an element of suspense. While I liked this book I would have liked a stronger plot. There is plenty of action, many strange creatures, and the vegetation is certainly not terrestrial. I will be reading the second novel to see if some of my questions are answered.

From Anna Zogg's webpage:
 THE PARADISE PROTOCOL

Submit to the director...
or forfeit your life!
Alone on a primitive planet light-years from Earth, bio-scientist Aric Lindquist believes she has been abandoned by SARC, the sponsor of her research assignment. In the five months since her assistant disappeared, she has struggled to survive Empusa III’s beautiful but hostile environment. Is SARC punishing her because she accused them of breaking protocol in not safeguarding the indigenous humanoids? After a new assistant finally arrives, Aric’s suspicions escalate.
When Sean Reese agreed to this mission, he expected to find a dangerous and possibly demented woman. Carrying out his orders would have been easy. But Aric is unlike anything he expected. Sean might find a way to save her life if she submits to the powerful director of SARC.
If she won’t, the director will use any means to silence them both...including murder.

About Anna from her web page:
What do you get when you cross an army brat, a police record, and an opera singer? Anna, of course! She’s been surrounded by the military (father, three siblings, husband and son), she was an exchange student in Denmark (where police records are mandatory) and she trained as a vocal major in college. With such a diverse background, she couldn’t help but become a writer.
After traveling the globe, she and her husband settled in Utah--a place they once swore they’d never live. Now they love it. With the towering mountains, nearby Great Salt Lake, high desert temperatures--she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Well, maybe...

Monday, December 26, 2016

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck



A Royal Christmas Wedding is Rachel Hauck's fourth and final book in her Royal Wedding series. Fans will be glad to visit with characters from the other three books and see how they are getting along. Avery believes she has given up all feelings for Prince Colin after he abandoned her at her high school prom. Now she is visiting her sister, Princess of Brighton, and Colin is there. Will they continue to follow their own plans, or will they seek G-d's will? I believe that the following verse applies to Avery and Colin's story; 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

From Amazon:
            Avery Truitt aches for true love—the kind she once shared with Prince Colin. Can she dare to hope for happily ever after, or is a fairy-tale ending beyond reach?

College volleyball star Avery Truitt has not seen her former flame, Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom, since he suddenly pushed her away five years ago. But now, the sadness of losing her father and the joy of her sister Susanna’s pregnancy have brought Avery back to Brighton just in time for Cathedral City’s enchanting Christmas season.

Avery knows she can’t avoid seeing Colin—now the Kingdom’s most eligible bachelor—whether or not her heart is ready to relive the pain. But seeing him again might bring her the closure she needs after all this time.

When Colin finds himself at the center of a centuries-old Brighton tradition, he must decide whether to follow the path laid out before him or follow his heart to the only woman for whom he would ring the Pembroke Chapel Bell.

Can Colin convince Avery to meet him at the chapel on Christmas morning—as tradition dictates—or will Avery run back to her St. Simons home and pursue a coaching career as planned?

In the fourth installment of the Royal Wedding Series, New York Times bestselling novelist, Rachel Hauck, weaves a charming story of holiday romance as two broken hearts seek the love they once knew.

About Rachel Hauck from Amazon:
   Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and two pets and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at rachelhauck.com Facebook: rachelhauck Twitter: @RachelHauck

I was given this book by the Fiction Guild for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Giver of Wonders by Roseanna White



 I have come to love Roseanna White's historical novels set in England. Her Ladies of the Manor trilogy are among my all time favorite books. It was interesting to read Giver of Wonders because although it too is a historical novel, the time period is the 3rd century AD. I fell in love with the characters and really enjoyed learning about a real person. Although some artistic license was used, it was clearly stated at the end of the book what was fiction and what was true. I loved learning about the true St. Nicholas, not the commercialized version that we are told. He was a man of G-d, not an elf, and he preferred to give in secret. A truly delightful novel about Christmas.

Cyprus was little more than a child when a fall left her paralyzed...and when the boy known as the wonder-worker healed her. Ever since, she has wondered why the Lord spared her, what he has in store for her. But her pagan father thinks she was spared solely so she could be introduced to the wealthy wonder-worker, Nikolaos.


Nikolaos has never questioned that his call in life is to dedicate himself to the church and to God. Never, that is, until he and his cousin Petros meet the compelling Cyprus Visibullis. For years he struggles with the feelings she inspires...and with the sure knowledge that Petros loves her too.

Petros knows he will never be good enough for Cyprus's father to consider him as a match for his favorite daughter not as long as Nikolaos is there. But when tragedy strikes the Visibullis family, he will do anything to save his beloved. Unfortunately, his beloved is determined to do anything to save her sisters ~ even at the cost of herself.

As the festival of lights bathes their Greek city in beauty, Cyprus, Petros, and Nikolaos celebrate the miracle of their Savior s birth together one last time. And in remembrance of their Lord's greatest gift, one of them will make the ultimate sacrifice for the others...and a centuries-long tradition will be born.

From Amazon:
about Roseanna White:
Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna has a slew of historical novels available, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at[...]

I was given this book by Celebrate Lit group in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Without Warning by Lynette Eason



         Lynette Eason, one of today's top Romantic Suspense writers, has created a unique group of bodyguards. Elite Guardians Agency is staffed by females and they are quite capable of keeping you safe. They come from various backgrounds and each has a distinct history and can bring different skills to the Agency. I enjoyed the fact that while good at their jobs all of the women show an all too human side. The characters are well developed and the plot is fast moving. This is book two and although I did not read the first book, I had no trouble enjoying this book. It can definitely be read as a stand alone novel.

 From Amazon:
 Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.

Daniel might be concerned, but he's not convinced that a bodyguard--and a female one at that--is necessary. A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats--before a would-be killer strikes again.

Witty dialogue and a simmering attraction will have readers flying through this tension-laced thriller. Eason exercises complete control of her readers' emotions as they race through the pages to discover the truth.

About the author from Amazon blurb:
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of an ACFW Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and she lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Baxter Family Christmas by Karen Kingsbury

A Baxter Family Christmas





                                                            I enjoyed having this chance to visit with                                                  the Baxter family and their friends. It was fun                                                 to see what their holiday traditions are and to                                                   see that they have moved on to the point that                                                   they can remember the joy that Erin's family                                                     provided. Anyone who has followed the                                                                  Baxters will welcome this visit.

Meet the Author


Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, and their five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti. Their actress daughter, Kelsey, lives nearby and is married to Christian recording artist Kyle Kupecky. The couple recently welcomed their first child, Hudson.
Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling n

Saturday, December 10, 2016

The Thorn Healer by Pepper Basham


           Bitter and broken Jessica Ross has returned home from the trenches in France. She hopes to settle into a quiet life with her grandparents and hopefully regain peace. But when she gets off the train she discovers that the war has followed her home in the form of a German internment camp.
              The Thorn Healer is book 3 in Pepper Basham's PennedIn Time trilogy and provides a satisfying conclusion to the series. Pepper has a way with romance that will thrill your heart while adding enough spice to her characters to make their lives interesting. She paints beautiful word pictures that bring her stories to life and make one wish to travel just to find places like the small chapel in the Appalachian mountains.  Jess and August are real enough that I could imagine walking down the street to have a chat with them. I have to add one of the nice features of a trilogy is that the characters that I have grown to love in previous books made a guest appearance in this book.


        about   Pepper Basham
Pepper Basham writes Blue Ridge romances sprinkled with grace and humor. She is a regular contributor of Christian Fiction Online Magazine and blogger at The Writer's Alley. A mom of five, speech-language pathologist, crazy-hat wearer, and lover of chocolate, you can find her chatting about life or giving book reviews on her personal blog, Words Seasoned with Salt. Pepper is represented by the fabulous Julie Gwinn from the Seymour Agency
Find Me Online

https://www.facebook.com/pepperdbasham/?fref=ts

I was given this book by the author for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Win an audio book!

http://elanajohnson.com/giveaways/snowaudio?lucky=16016

Saturday, December 3, 2016

The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser



I pretty much devoured this book! The Pattern Artist grabbed me and sucked me in. Annie was such an intriguing character who in the course of this book progresses from sheltered housemaid to an independent woman at the end. I enjoyed her growth and her growing reliance on G-d. As Annie states, she walks through the doors presented to her and the doors to the past close, there is no going back. She makes several friends and an enemy or two along the way. I suggest grabbing a hot cup of tea and settling in for a great read.

From Goodreads:
English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York in 1911. On her own for the first time working as a Macy’s sewing department clerk, Annie catches the eye of a salesman at the Butterick Pattern Company. Through determination, hard work, and God’s leading, Annie discovers a hidden gift: she is a talented fashion designer—an artist of the highest degree. As she runs from ghosts of the past and focuses on the future, Annie enters a creative world that takes her to the fashion houses of Paris and into a life of adventure, purpose, and love.

Nancy Moser
Nancy Moser: from Goodreads



Nancy Moser Goodreads Author
Born in The United States
Websitehttp://www.nancymoser.com
TwitterMoserNancy
GenreHistorical Fiction, Contemporary, Biography
Member SinceDecember 2007
URL https://www.goodreads.com/nancymoser
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Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of twenty-nine inspirational novels that focus on discovering our unique purpose. Her genres include both contemporary and historical stories.

Her latest historical novels are the Downton Abbey-inspired Manor House Series:"Love of the Summerfields", "Bride of the Summerfields", and "Rise of the Summerfields."

Also new is "The Pattern Artist" about Macy's and the Butterick Pattern company.

Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories:"Just Jane" (Jane Austen), "Mozart's Sister" (Nannerl Mozart), "Washington's Lady" (Martha Washington) and "How Do I Love Thee?" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.)

"An Unlikely Suitor" was named to Booklist's Top 100 Romance Novels of the last decade.

Nancy's time-travel novel, "Time Lottery", won a Christy Award, and "Washington's Lady" was a finalist.

Her contemporary books are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting. Some titles are "The Invitation", "John 3: 16", "Weave of the World", "The Sister Circle", "The Seat Beside Me", and "The Good Nearby".

Nancy and her husband live in the Midwest. She's earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She knits voraciously, kills all her houseplants, and can wire an electrical fixture without getting shocked. She is a fan of anything antique--humans included.

Find out more: nancymoser.com.
  I was given this book by the author, All thoughts are my own.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

From This Day Forward by Lauraine Snelling






It is always wonderful to come home to Blessing! Most of my favorite characters still reside there  with a few new faces thrown in. There are problems, but the folks always come together and make the most of things. Ingeborg, Kaaren and Pastor Solberg are there to help everybody through the twists and turns of life. Lauraine Snelling has created a saga with the Bjorklands. If you have never visited Blessing ND you can get started with: https://www.amazon.com/Untamed-Land-Red-River-North/dp/0764201913/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1480473273&sr=8-5&keywords=lauraine+snelling+red+river+of+the+north+series

From Amazon:
                                 From This Day Forward
        Revisit Old Friends in Blessing in This Heartwarming Series Conclusion

Deborah MacCallister, head nurse at the Blessing hospital, has loved Toby Valders since her school days, but she's had enough of their on-again, off-again relationship. Toby truly cares for Deborah, but he's never felt like he could commit to marriage or a family.

When Anton Genddarm, the new schoolteacher, comes to town, the young women of Blessing see a chance to force Toby's hand with a little strategic matchmaking. But real sparks fly between Deborah and Anton, and she finds herself in an even more complicated situation. The attention she gets from Anton makes Toby do some serious soul-searching, but is it too late?

Then Deborah receives an invitation to study the latest advances in nursing at a hospital in Chicago, and she faces a hard choice. To leave or stay? Should she give up on the dream of Toby and accept the interest of Anton?

About Lauraine Snelling from her Amazon page:
            Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has over eighty books published with more than 4 million copies in print.


Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Inspirational Fiction, the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.


As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Newton & Polly by Jody Hedlund


                   Amazing Grace has always been one of my favorite songs and it is great to finally know the back story to the man who wrote the song. John Newton was clearly not a saint but his life story reveals how G-d can redeem all of us, we only need to ask. G-d will allow you to hit rock bottom if need be to get your attention. I love how Ms. Hedlund brings historical characters to life. She does an amazing job of taking the bare bones of history and clothing said bones with rich details of what might have been. I always look forward with great anticipation to Ms. Hedlund's books. I am never disappointed.
                    I was given this book by Bloggingforbooks.com. All thoughts are my own.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found
Now remembered as the author of the world s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father until the night he hears Polly Catlett s enchanting voice, caroling. He s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.
An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?
Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe."

Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund Goodreads Author
Websitehttp://jodyhedlund.com/
TwitterJodyHedlund
GenreHistorical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Member SinceMay 2010
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Winner of the 2016 Christian Book Award for fiction and Christy Award for historical romance, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Time Tsunami by Danele Rotharmel





Excerpt from Timewave Dynamics 805
    What is a Time Tsunami? It is a phenomenon that is set in motion when a time counselor destabilizes a captured timewave causing it to split in half. When the two halves begin rushing toward the temporal shore, the fabric of time unravels. It is our responsibility to ensure that a Time Tsunami never occurs.
               Dr. William Ableman

The Five Immutable Laws
1) A case subject's past must be thoroughly researched.
2) A case subject must undergo extensive interviews before being selected.
3) A case subject's tipping point towards evil must be determined
4) A time counselor must never reveal his or her last name or personal history.
5) A time counselor must never be blinded by conceit or supposition.
             TEMCO Code of Conduct, 5th edition.

            Gil Montgomery, a cadet in the Temporal Counseling Program, can’t wait to pass her field exam and become a professional time surfer. The TEMCO program targets death-row offenders for time-based counseling while they’re children. For her exam, Gil will travel twenty-four years into the past to counsel ten-year-old Danny Winston before he murders his abusive babysitter, Rick Olsen. Preventing the stabbing should stop the chain of events leading to Danny’s eventual execution. Gil’s assignment seems simple until her advisor, Dr. William Ableman, learns that Rick is a serial killer targeting Danny’s mother. If Gil stays and protects the Winstons, she might not survive. William wants the woman he loves to be pulled from the field, but if Gil fails to complete her assignment, it will unleash a Time Tsunami and destroy the timeline. As TEMCO undergoes an emergency lockdown, and Gil’s fellow cadets try to figure out what’s happening, Gil and William learn the importance of faith and the price of true love. Everyone’s fate is resting in Gil’s hands, but does she have the strength she needs to defeat a ruthless serial killer intent on annihilating everyone in his path?



If possible I would give Danele Rotharmel's Time Tsunami 6 stars. It is one of the most engrossing and fresh books that I have read this year. The characters are for the most part realistic enough that I really cared what happened to them. I love the way Ms. Rotharmel treats time, and her theory on counseling children before they get into trouble is awesome. make sure you pay close attention to the various characters because not everyone is who they seem to be.

Danele Rotharmel grew up with a love of the literary word, and by age five, she knew she wanted to be a writer. However, her life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a low-level carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace in her home was slowly poisoning her. This poisoning triggered severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and partial amnesia.

During this time, the hardest thing she faced was a crisis of faith. She had to quit her job and stop going to church. She couldn’t write, couldn’t drive, and could barely remember who she was. To say she was upset with the Lord was an understatement. She began reexamining her faith in light of her illness, and eventually, she came to the firm conclusion that God is real, God is good, God is interested and involved, and God is trustworthy regardless of tragedy.

When her illness became even more severe, she was put into quarantine and could only talk to friends and extended family through the glass of a window. This quarantine lasted for seven years. During this time, she wrote the first six books in "The Time Counselor Chronicles." The first book in the series, "Time Tsunami," was published by Prism Book Group in January 2016. The second book, "Time Trap," was published by Prism in June 2016. The third book, "Time Search," is coming soon. Danele's books may be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and the iBook store.

Danele currently lives in Colorado where she continues to write. Although her journey back to health was long and difficult, it provided her with the opportunity to grow closer to God and to write her books. For that, she is forever thankful.

You can learn more about Danele by visiting her blog at https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

More information about "Time Tsunami" and "Time Trap" may be found on Prism Book Group's Website:
http://www.prismbookgroup.com

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Living in G-d's Army by Rabbi Moshe Laurie




I don't usually read non-fiction, but I enjoy Rabbi Laurie's television programs, so when I saw he had written a book I decided to see what he had to say. Living in G-d's army is short but to the point. He is as enthusiastic a writer as he is a teacher. The book was fast moving and quite interesting. His writing is a bit choppy but he does manage to get his message across. I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with how they fit in G-d's army.

About the Rabbi:Biography
Born March 23, 1944 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. For 39 years a practicing Orthodox Jew, always seeking the Messiah. Trained to become a Warrior of David. Served in the U. S. Marine Corps.
Lived in Israel for 15 years: Former member of Israeli Security Services (Mossad), Israeli National Police, Israeli Defense Forces, with rabbinic dispensation to act as a non-Jew to carry out the work (dispensation for assassination not required).

Testimony
On November 14, 1982, he was filming a videotape for a sports league in a Catholic Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was uncomfortable and would not speak to anyone because he had been taught all his life that the devil was in the Christian churches. He heard God speak audibly to him, “You can serve the Father through Me. You will serve the Father through Me.”

He began to cry and he knew that he knew that he knew. However, he did not know anything about the New Testament except how to refute it.

To become a Jew requires at least one year of study under a Rabbi to learn 613 overt acts required each day. He immediately looked for someone to help him.

He went to the Assembly of God church in Las Cruces and found a pastor, asking what he should do. The pastor said, “Shut up! Sit down and start reading the Bible.” Three days later he went to a prayer meeting at the Assembly of God church and the assistant pastor said, “Let’s pray for this woman to receive the Holy Spirit.” Moshe was sitting next to the patio door in case he needed to make an escape since he still was afraid he might get into false doctrine. He started to pray for her - putting his hand out for her and the next thing he knew his hands went straight up in the air - then he fell to his knees speaking fluently in tongues. He knew what he was saying - and also what the pastor was saying in tongues.

Disowned - Divorced - Funeral
Moshe returned to Israel and told his family. He was divorced against his will and lost his children. His family had a funeral service for Moshe and disowned him.

Restoration
His mother received the Messiah before she died. Since then his children have been reconciled to him and 2 out of 3 have been saved. He became an evangelical pastor and in 1998, became rabbi over a Messianic congregation.

Peace in Israel
Rabbi Laurie feels God has put the Jews as protectorates to preserve the land He has given them. Most Palestinians want peace but there is a growing group who want to destroy all the Israeli people. Israel cannot give up the land - it is not theirs to give.

Rabbi Moshe Laurie

Rabbi Moshe Laurie is Chief Rabbi of two Messianic Jewish congregations: Congregation Shofar Be Tzion “Trumpet in Zion” in Ledyard, CT and Congregation Adat Ariel “The Lion of God” in Marion, IL.

President/Rabbi: Shofar Be Tzion Ministries, Groton, CT




He is the director of Bible Voice Broadcasting, USA, where he has been broadcasting to Israel in Hebrew about the
Messiah along with the weekly Parashat (Scripture portion) internationally. You may listen to them by going to:
Bible Voice Broadcasting
Related Shows
Weekly Parashat Hashavuah
Radio Show "Truth in Life"

Join in on "Truth In Life" with Rabbi Moshe Laurie. Tune your radio dial to am 1150 at 10:00 am central Saturday Mornings or hear it streamed live on WGGH.net.
The call-in number is: 1-618-993-8102
The e-mail: truthinlifetoday@gmail.com

Director of Spiritual Warfare and National Spokesperson


Guest Speaker on:
The Renshaw Report
Revelation TV
TBN
Evangel World Prayer Center’s “Word Alive”
Coral Ridge Ministries
Sid Roth’s nationally syndicated “It’s Supernatural”
National Full Gospel Businessmen meetings
News-Talk Radio AM 570 WKYX, Paducah, KY - AM 1320 WNGO, Mayfield, KY

Hosted “Spiritual Warfare: Joining God’s Army” and “Spiritual Warfare: The Call to Arms” with TCT TV
Dean of Old Testament Studies Held Hebrew chair at El Shaddai Theological Seminary (He is fluent in Hebrew. )

Performed in “The Council for Christian Arts” play “Forgiven”
Rabbi Laurie was used by the Lord to bring prophecy to England (this word was given on March 19, 05: “Stand before the Lord or kneel before the enemy. A great and terrible thing is going to happen.”), which was fulfilled July 7, 05 with the terrorist attack. With his congregation, has declared open war on evil.
Rabbi Laurie has been leading trips to Israel for the past 13 years. See our Trips to Israel page for more information.
Christians Unlimited, Southern Illinois University’s own campus ministry, sponsored a presentation by Rabbi Moshe Laurie at the University’s Student Center Ballroom on Wednesday, October 29, 2008. See: FAITH/EVENT: Israel's 60 Year Existence by Rabbi Laurie for more information.
From 2002 to 2008 Rabbi Moshe Laurie also had a Connecticut Public Access show called “Truth in Life” where tapes of his Spiritual Warfare teachings were aired the final year being pre-recorded, and the previous years Live call-in shows.
WKYC.com Faith/Editorial:
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 Politics & the Bible, by Mary Elliott
Click here to watch:
Rabbi Moshe Laurie’s dramatic testimony featured on The Coral Ridge Hour

Sunday, November 6, 2016

The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck


      I have always enjoyed reading Rachel Hauck's books and The Wedding Shop is one more to add to her impressive list of novels. Ms. Hauck does an awesome job of making her character's realistic. The duel storyline works really well with many twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed learning the history of the Wedding Shop and how it tied to Ms. Haucks other two books, The Wedding Dress, and The Wedding Chapel. Although all three books are related, they can be read as stand-alone novels.
I love the theme of these books, that real love is worth waiting for, and even more important G-d can and will forgive and restore no matter how badly we goof up.
    I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Goodreads: Two women separated by decades. Both set out to help others find their dreams when their own have crumbled.


It’s the early 1930s, but Cora Scott is walking in stride as a career woman after having inherited her great aunt’s wedding shop in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, where brides come from as far away as Birmingham to experience her famed bridal treatment. Meanwhile, Cora is counting down the days until her own true love returns from the river to make her his bride. But days turn into months and months to years. All the while, Birch Good continues to woo Cora and try to show her that while he is solid and dependable, he can sweep her off her feet.

More than eighty years later, former Air Force Captain Haley Morgan has returned home to Heart’s Bend after finishing her commitment to military service. After the devastating death of her best friend, Tammy, and discovering the truth about the man she loved, Haley is searching for her place in life.

When Haley decides to reopen the romantic but abandoned wedding shop where she and Tammy played and dreamed as children, she begins a journey of courage, mystery, and love.

As Cora’s and Haley’s stories intertwine through time in the shadow of the beloved wedding shop, they both discover the power of their own dreams and the magic of everyday love.

About the Author


Thursday, October 27, 2016

The Slender Reeds: Jochebed's Hope by Texie Susan Gregory


 I have always loved the story of Moses, so when I saw The Slender Reeds by Texie Susan Gregory I couldn't wait to read it. This book is the story of Jochebed, Hebrew mother of Moses. Gregory has crafted a wonderful tale of what life was like as a Hebrew slave to Rameses. I enjoyed the contentious friendship between Jochebed, her friend Lili and the half-breed midwife Shiphrah. My only issue with the book was the ending, it cries for a sequel, but there is no mention anywhere of book two.
The characters were well developed and I truly cared what happened to each of the girls. I could feel the heartbreak and terror when Ramses' soldiers rode through the village murdering all of the infant boys. Gregory uses descriptive language that draws one into the story. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Gregory.
I was given this book by NetGalley.com, but all thoughts are mine.

About the author: Born and bred in beautiful North Carolina, I grew up hearing the Bible stories and wishing I knew more about each person's life. What happened before? What happened next? Unable to find these stories, I began to write my own books and dream of writing professionally.

True story: As a 6th grader, I turned in a book report on my own book - written under a nom de plume!

I hold a BS in Early Childhood Education, an MA in School Counseling and an MA in Religious Education. I've worked in theatre, as a hospital chaplain intern and as a teacher in both public and private schools.
As a pastor's wife, I've served as a lay counselor, written/directed dramas for worship services and co-taught marriage seminars.
My most challenging and rewarding life work has been (is) mothering our two children.

Please visit me at www.texiesusangregory.com or Facebook Texie Susan Gregory

Free preview: https://www.amazon.com/Slender-Reeds-...

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The most delicious ice cream ever!





The best ice cream ever.  A delicious snack to go along with hot tea and a good book!

http://www.talentigelato.com/products/caramel-apple-pie-gelato


Monday, October 17, 2016

Time Trap by Danele J. Rotharmel


  Where do I begin? Time Trap by Danele Rotharmel is one of the most original storylines I have read in quite a while. The book focuses on Temco, a company that sends counselors back in time to counsel people at the crises point in their lives before they commit a crime or in some other way destroy their life or someone else's life. It was a little difficult at first to figure out the multiple timelines, complicated by the fact that this is book two. I had not yet read book one. While Time Trap can be read as a stand-alone, it would be better to have read Time Tsunami first.
          I loved the characters and became quite attached to everyone by the time I finished the book. Ms Rotharmel writes excellent fight scenes and is quite good at getting her characters into impossible situations. One word of warning, there is a cliffhanger at the end of this book, so you may want to wait for book three, Time Search, to be published before starting this series.
         I received this book from Celebrate Lit blogging, but all thoughts are my own.


https://promosimple.com/ps/a5da
https://www.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Danele-J-Rotharmel-ebook/dp/B01GKQL2JU/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476705247&sr=1-3&keywords=time+trap
To celebrate her tour, Danele is giving away a package that includes an autographed paperback copy of both Time Tsunami and Time Trap, a Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord” journal, a lovely coffee cup, and a 4X4 picture frame. Click here to enter:https://promosimple.com/ps/a5da

Sunday, October 16, 2016

A Lady Unrivaled: A Ladies of the Manor novel by Roseanna White

https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Unrivaled-Ladies-Manor-Book-ebook/dp/B01JSOXP32/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476633104&sr=1-1&keywords=a+lady+unrivaled


My only problem with Roseanna White's A Lady Unrivaled is the fact that it is the final book in her Ladies of the Manor trilogy. I find myself mourning the fact that there will be no new adventures with Brook, Rowena, and Ella. These Ladies (and the charming men in their lives) have provided me with many hours of entertainment. All three books have strong plots and the characters are quite realistic. I love the word pictures Roseanna paints when describing the settings. She is obviously a master storyteller. The only reason it took me a month to read this book is the fact that I was savoring it, only reading a few pages a day, so it would not end. Sadly, I am now finished and will reluctantly pass it along to someone else to enjoy.
I was given this book by the author with no expectations. All opinions are my own.



Mary: Chosen of God by Diana Wallis Taylor



I really enjoyed reading Mary: Chosen Of God by Diana Wallis Taylor. Ms. Wallace's version of Mary's life is Biblically accurate but adds fascinating tidbits of what Mary's life may have been like. She has obviously  done her research and sprinkles local customs and menus that Mary and her family may have eaten. She makes Mary and Joseph come alive with how they may have felt being the Earthly parents of the Son of God. This is a book everyone should read.
I was given this book through the celebrate Lit Blog with no expectations. All opinions are my own.


 http://amzn.to/2bWgO6m

To celebrate her tour, Diana is giving away a gift basket that includes Mary, Ruth, Whitaker House’s study Bible, and The Lord is my Shepherd candle from Abba Anointing Oil! Click here to enter:https://promosimple.com/ps/a5b3

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Release day for Dawn Crandall's The Cautious Maiden


Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.


https://www.amazon.com/Hesitant-Heiress-Everstone-Chronicles-V1/dp/1629116580/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620309&sr=8-1&keywords=dawn+crandall

https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Heart-Everstone-Chronicles-V2/dp/1629116599/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620396&sr=8-4&keywords=dawn+crandall

https://www.amazon.com/Captive-Imposter-Everstone-Chronicles-V3/dp/1629116602/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620396&sr=8-5&keywords=dawn+crandall

https://www.amazon.com/Cautious-Maiden-Everstone-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B01LOUGO6I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620396&sr=8-3&keywords=dawn+crandallhttps://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch

Release day for Dawn Crandall's The Cautious Maiden


Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.


https://www.amazon.com/Hesitant-Heiress-Everstone-Chronicles-V1/dp/1629116580/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620309&sr=8-1&keywords=dawn+crandall

https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Heart-Everstone-Chronicles-V2/dp/1629116599/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620396&sr=8-4&keywords=dawn+crandall

https://www.amazon.com/Captive-Imposter-Everstone-Chronicles-V3/dp/1629116602/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620396&sr=8-5&keywords=dawn+crandall

https://www.amazon.com/Cautious-Maiden-Everstone-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B01LOUGO6I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475620396&sr=8-3&keywords=dawn+crandallhttps://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch

Friday, September 30, 2016

The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep



Looking for a great historical read, then grab Michelle Griep's The Captive Heart. Samuel Heath needs a mother for his young daughter, so he buys the indenture for Eleanor Morgan and promptly marries her, Then they go off to his cabin in the woods. Not really liking each other, this is a marriage in name only. Prim and proper Ellie must adjust to life in the wilderness, not an easy task.
This book explores the awesomeness of G-d's forgiveness and shows how we all fall short. I loved the depth of characters and often found myself wanting to shake some sense into Elle. Michelle did a wonderful job of describing the surroundings This ook will go onto my keeper shelf!
I was given this book by Netgalley.com in exchange for my opinion, but all thoughts are my own.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Beyond The Picket Fence by Lori Wick


All of Lori Wick's books are wonderful. Somehow I had missed this book of short stories. I am so glad I found it in our church library. While all of the stories were delightful, I especially enjoyed the Rancher's Lady. i wish it had been a novel, I did not want it to end. As always, Lori Wick does romance the right way!

The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Everstone



I loved Dawn Crandall's The Cautious Maiden.  I believe it to be the crown jewel of her her Everstone Chronicles. The story is fast paced and although the ending is a foregone conclusion, the many plot twists along the way keep one engaged. I love Vance and Violet, they are a very interesting couple. My only complaint is the use of the word smirk. Vance smirks quite often. I have to admit I really enjoyed the visit with other members of the family. That is the best part of series, to be able to see old friends from previous books.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.