A Soldier’s Promise By: Laura Scott

I loved this romance! Julie and Derek must learn to let go of their past and trust God to help them make the right decisions. Can they open their hearts and trust each other?

Julie Crain is a nurse at Hope County Hospital in Crystal Lake. She was engaged and then found out he was having an affair. She wants the truth and can’t handle someone lying to her. When she finds out Derek hasn’t told her the whole truth, will she give him the benefit of the doubt, or will she close her heart to love?

Derek Ryerson and his daughter Lexi have been in an accident and are brought to the hospital. His past has drawn him away from God. He is a soldier, found out his wife had been diagnosed with cancer, but he gets home a month after she dies. His in-laws have determined he isn’t capable of taking care of his daughter so they are going to take custody. He is on the run with his daughter when he gets in the accident.

Julie takes Derek and Lexi in. Can he trust Julie with the truth or will she turn him in, causing him to lose his daughter to his in-laws? Julie feels she must protect her heart, but she is drawn to Lexi and Derek.

Derek feels like God has turned his back on him. Can Julie help him see that Derek gave up on Him? Derek’s in-laws put out a warrant for his arrest. With Julie’s help, can he go back and face them and fight for his daughter?

Pick up this great book today!

Healing Her Heart By: Laura Scott

This is a short story about trust, forgiveness, and letting go of the past. In order to find peace, you have to forgive others. Can Larissa and Gabe forgive the people in their pasts in order to move forward with their future?

Larissa Brockman is a nurse who doesn’t talk about her past. Her step-father beat her mother and it wasn’t until he turned on Larissa that her mother would leave. Gabe Allen is a doctor at the same hospital. He had a previous girlfriend who caused him to lose his job and he has moved to Crystal Lake to start over. He has vowed to never date a colleague again.

I loved this story by Laura Scott! The characters and the setting are so real. I felt like I was in Crystal Lake and they were my neighbors. Can’t wait to read more by this author!

I’m Nobody: The Lost Pages By: Alex Marestaing

I had never read a book like this before. The characters, the plot, the back cover, captured my attention and I couldn’t put the book down until I’d read it to see what was going on. Caleb Reed hasn’t left his house since 2nd grade. He is afraid to step outside. Muggers, terrorists, global warming, viruses, these are all plotting against him. He is in 7th grade now and is worried about the house next door. He keeps waiting for someone to buy it and fix it up, but nobody does. Something has changed with the house and it bothered him. His sister died six years ago and the family hasn’t recovered.

Iris Elliott went to school with Caleb, until he was kept at home. She has decided to do a documentary involving Caleb’s house next door. Then she spots Caleb. Can she draw him out of his house? Would he agree to be a part of her project?

After Caleb talks with Iris, he notices a note on his porch. Did Iris leave it for him? He’ll have to go outside to get it. He puts on gloves, a scarf, a sweatshirt; can’t have the germs and bad guys getting him. But the note isn’t signed. And it’s a poem. Caleb decides to answer the question in the poem, but then he’ll have to go outside again to reply.

Follow the story as Caleb gets braver and braver, going all the way across the street to the scary house. He shows Iris the notes; she discovers they are from Emily Dickinson. But how can that be? She was a poet, but she has been dead for years.

Is Caleb losing his mind? Does he need to go to Oak Glen, the hospital? Or is it possible that Emily Dickinson is really sending him notes? Sometimes all it takes is a friend and a little magic. By the end of the book, I was crying and cheering for Caleb. Pick up this book and enjoy a great read!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Undetected By: Dee Henderson

Another great book by Dee Henderson! Suspense, naval war threat, romance. This book has it all. I was hooked from page one.

Mark Bishop is in the Navy. He is a commander of a submarine. Being responsible for his ship and his men is Mark’s life. His wife died, and he’s ready to get married again. Will his friend Daniel get in his way? Can he convince Gina to trust him?

Gina Gray is an ocean science researcher because her brother Jeff is in the Navy. This is how she can keep him safe when he’s in his submarine. She has mapped the seabed of the world’s oceans. She’s figured out how to use the sun’s solar flare to see reflections in the ocean. Then an event pushes her to use her abilities to save her husband and her brother in their submarines, facing nuclear warheads. The Navy wants to keep her abilities secret from other countries, but will they need to release her work in order to diffuse the situation?

Gina has been hurt in her past. She is extremely smart, but with a speaking problem, sometimes she can’t articulate what she needs to say. Most people can’t handle her impediment. Can she learn to trust Mark? How will she cope when everyone is out to sea and trouble starts brewing with China and Japan?

Gina’s faith shines throughout the book, no matter what she is faced with, she trusts God. Mark’s faith took a hit when his wife died. Can Gina help him get his faith back on track? Pick up this book for another great read by Dee Henderson.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Heaven Is For Real Special Movie Edition By: Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

What a book! You will need a box or two of tissues handy, and a supply of food and water, as you will not want to put this book down if you get hungry. Embark on a child’s journey to Heaven, and experience the events as if you were there. Want to know what Heaven looks like, what Jesus is doing, or if there are animals in Heaven? Let God’s grace fill you as you see Heaven from a child’s perspective.

Colton Burpo had a ruptured appendix and underwent surgery. He could see his body and knew where his mom and dad were while he was in surgery. Over the course of a few years, he recounted what happened during his surgery. He was in Heaven; he sat on Jesus’ lap; he wasn’t allowed to hold a sword. He met his unborn sister that he didn’t know about and his grandpa that had died before he was born.

In this story, we see a true portrayal of a pastor going through things beyond his control. Todd Burpo, Colton’s dad, is a pastor who can’t understand why God would let these things happen to him: he broke his leg, had kidney stones, a lumpectomy, and now his son was facing death. We think of pastors having “unshakable pillars of faith.” We sometimes forget they are people too. Then Todd remembers Scripture where God answered the prayers of friends of the sick and dying. He turns to his family, church, and friends to help him pray for Colton’s healing.

When Colton talks about what he saw in Heaven, Todd backs that up with what Scripture has to say about that. When Colton describes Jesus, what the throne looks like, and nobody is old or feeble, Todd shows where in the Bible it talks about these things and what it says. Each one lines up with what Colton said he saw. When Todd asks Colton why Jesus died on the cross, Colton has the answer because Jesus told him. He says that Jesus told him he died on the cross so we could go see his Dad. Todd has this to say, “In my mind’s eye, I saw Jesus, with Colton on his lap, brushing past all the seminary degrees, knocking down theological treatises stacked high as skyscrapers, and boiling down fancy words like propitiation and soteriology to something a child could understand.” This is what struck me about this book. We must have childlike faith. That doesn’t mean we understand as a child; it means we have faith like a child. We don’t have to over think it. God said it; believe it. It is as simple as that.

The big question from this book: Do you really believe what you say you do? And if so, how does that change the way you live? In the busyness of life, we tend to forget Heaven is real, God is on our side working things for our good, and we get run down in the everyday. This book puts that back into perspective.

The movie edition also includes pictures of Colton and his family, pictures from the set, and interviews with the cast and crew.

I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Moms’ Night Out And other things I miss… Devotions to help you survive By: Kerri Pomarolli

This is the devotional inspired by the hit movie Moms’ Night Out. From reading the introduction, I was hooked at, “They say the madness will pass and someday all the socks in my laundry will have mates.” I’m still waiting for that day. If you are too, this devotional is for you! And if this isn’t you, this devotional is still for you. It’s one of a kind!

Have you realized you are exactly enough as you are, in God’s eyes? God sees you as beautiful, created in His image. Each devotion is geared toward helping you see your worth in God. Did your day not go so well, did you lose your temper, or did you feel like you failed? God is still with you and loves you. He cares for you and is waiting to hear from you.

These devotions are short, but packed with truths. They are lighthearted and in many instances you have experienced what this mother is going through. Feel like you are alone in your struggles? No longer can you feel that way. After reading this devotional, you’ll realize others share your struggles and understand. And through it all, God is right there with you! Journey through this devotional and realize your worth in God!

I received this book free from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Moms' Night Out by: Tricia Goyer

This book was inspired by the hit movie, Mom’s Night Out. What happens when three mothers want a night off to go out on the town, have some fun, without the responsibility of motherhood? Anything and everything can happen! Including figuring out what this thing called life is about and what is really important.

Life getting away from you, whether it’s the house never stays clean, or the kids are always out of control, or everyday is filled with noise and work, causes stress paralysis. You never feel caught up. You feel overwhelmed. You just want a night out, to de-stress, with friends who understand what you are going through. Or maybe they don’t, but they make you laugh and forget. I loved these three ladies and could relate to what they were going through. One was a pastor’s wife. She felt like she had to be perfect; she couldn’t be herself; she was always on display for others to watch. If others don’t know what you’re going through, they can’t help.

Part of the story is how the husbands managed while their wives took the night off. Kids say the funniest things. I laughed out loud at their antics. But then, something happens and the ‘kid’ acts like an adult and you realize, it’s going to be ok.

Learning that life is about your family, your work, being content with who you are, is a huge step. Being happy, peaceful, content with our life is not what we’re taught. We have to enjoy life, not let it drag us down. “No matter who you are, what you do, how far you run. Jesus will always be lovin’ you with His arms open wide. Just for bein’ you.” In God’s eyes we are enough, just the way we are.

I received this book free from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

MOMS’ NIGHT OUT | No More “Frumpy Mommy” Challenge! ($200 Visa Card Giveaway!)

USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer has written the novelization to the much-anticipated movie, Moms' Night Out. Don't miss this hilarious family comedy that celebrates real family life—where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right.



And, look for the companion devotional written by comedian Kerri Pomarolli, Moms' Night Out and Other Things I Miss: Devotions To Help You Survive.



Tricia and Kerri have teamed up for the "No More Frumpy Mommy" challenge.

Motherhood can sometimes seem like survival of the fittest. Every day brings its own troubles, and by the end of the day, you’re spent. Between school, soccer practice, cleaning, laundry, cooking dinner, putting away dishes, and keeping your kids from going at each others’ throats, the last thing on your mind is getting away for an evening. If that’s you, you’re invited to take part in Tricia and Kerri's No More Frumpy Mommy challenge.

Tricia and Kerri will choose 10 winners to receive a Fandango gift card to see Moms' Night Out, as well as copies of Moms' Night Out (the book) and Moms' Night Out and Other Things I Miss. One grand-prize winner will receive $200 to put toward her own moms' night out or her own moms' night out "ride" (getting her car detailed and cleaned).

GO HERE TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE!

The Advocate By: Randy Singer

Have you ever wondered how people lived in Jesus’ time? How court was held during Caesar’s time? Or imagined the gladiator fights, or Paul’s case before Nero? Here’s your chance to experience all this firsthand.

Theophilus is the advocate who defends people brought to trial. He is present when Jesus is performing miracles and brought before Pilate. How could the Nazarene be so serene when he is accused? Theophilus thinks on this over the years, and when he is asked to defend Paul, he is ready with his questions regarding Jesus.

By the end of the book, there is a band of Christians being killed. My faith and hope were encouraged witnessing their stand of faith in the midst of persecution. They held firm to God’s kingdom will prevail. The Spirit of the Lord casts out fear, for we should only fear the one who has authority over both body and soul. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. They endured all so they could hear these words: Well done, good and faithful servant.

The Advocate is a legal thriller following Theophilus’ life and the people he defends, all leading up to his defense of Paul. Theophilus—lover of God—maybe there is a small part of Theophilus in all of us. Be strong in the Lord.

The Advocate is a page-turning legal thriller. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I received this book free from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

The Nurse’s Perfect Match By: Narelle Atkins

I loved this book by Narelle Atkins! A perfectly sweet romantic story with memorable characters and a vivid setting.

Ben Morton takes care of the family apple orchard. His wife died from cancer and left him with two kids. He questions God and his faith for the situation he finds himself in.

Amy Wilkins is a nurse. Her marriage was in shambles when her husband died. She can still hear him telling her how badly she was doing as a wife. She feels guilty because she failed as a wife and mother the first time around and is full of doubt and insecurities when it comes to her relationship with Ben. Can she know how to be a good wife?

How could a loving God allow Ben’s children to suffer by growing up without their mother? How could God not let Amy have kids of her own? What happened to their faith in the midst of their lives? Ben and Amy must learn to trust God and open their hearts to love again. God can forgive their pasts and forge new futures if they will just put their faith and trust in Him.

Pick up this book today for an inspiring faith-filled romance! It will touch your heart and bring you closer to a God who loves and cares for each of us!

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Branding the Wrangler’s Heart By: Davalynn Spencer

If you love Christian romance with a handsome, hardworking cowboy, Branding the Wrangler’s Heart is the book for you! Davalynn Spencer creates real characters with a memorable setting. Once I started this book, I didn’t want to put it down. The characters drew me into the story and I didn’t want to stop reading until I’d finished the book.

Whit Hutton and Olivia Hartman grew up together. He teased her in school. She grew up to be a lovely young woman. Now he’s trying to find a way to show her he has changed. Can he do that and still tease her?

Olivia comes back to work for her grandfather after her grandmother died. Whit is a cowboy on her grandfather’s ranch. Can she prove to him she’s not the same little girl, that she can pull her weight on the ranch?

Whit’s brand that he envisions for their cattle is very heartwarming. He just has to find a way to show Olivia she can trust him with her heart. This verse sums it up: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust. They both must learn to trust before they can enjoy a future together. Pick this book up for a great love story! I can’t wait to read more by this author.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.