Seeds of Hope (Review)

This review is for the book "Seeds of Hope" by Barbara Cameron. I really enjoy the genre of Amish fiction and this book really did not disappoint. It had all the great elements of a romance novel and was still unique and held my interest.

Miriam and Mark grew up together, but only because Mark spent some summers at his Amish grandfather's farm working. There really isn't any hope for a relationship between the two of them considering he is English and she is Amish. Unfortunately for Mark, his big-time lawyer position is in jeopardy. Fortunately for Miriam, that means he is spending a lot more time at his grandfather's farm. It doesn't take long for them to realize there are feelings between them. But Mark wouldn't dare leave his law firm and his whole life in the city, right?

I loved the characters in this book and the easygoing pace of the story. There wasn't a lot of drama or anything like that. It's just a feel-good read.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book. 

Sacred Rest (Review)

This review is for the book "Sacred Rest" by Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D. I will just go ahead and say this is one of the best books I have read in the last year. I needed this book so badly and didn't even realize it.

The book begins with why we need rest. It is crucial for our bodies, minds, emotions, spirituality, our creativity, and even for the social aspect. Then the book talks about the gift of rest and how we can come to that place. It might be setting boundaries and telling people no. It might be taking a break to do literally nothing. It might be figuring out the love language for your family members.

I'm telling you, this book is so well written. It's like she could see into my head and my heart to know what I needed! I am in love with this book.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of this book.

Many Sparrows (Review)

This review is for the book "Many Sparrows" by Lori Benton. In this book, Colonists are moving westward which means they are coming onto territories which belong to Native Americans. The Inglesby family is on this journey when Clare's husband Philip is sent on a mission for help. Philip doesn't return and suddenly Clare's son has disappeared without a trace. To make things worse, Clare is about to go into labor any minute. She has to pull herself together in order to recover her son from the Shawnee Indians. Luckily she has someone come to her aid to help her through this situation.

This book intertwines suspense, romance, and faith in a way that comes together with ease. Benton is such a great author and if you like historical novels like this you will definitely enjoy this one.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

God's Crime Scene for Kids (Review)

This review is for the book "God's Crime Scene for Kids" by J. Warner Wallace and Susie Wallace. I absolutely loved this book! This is such a cool idea! In this book, Jason has uncovered a mysterious box in his grandmother's attic. He wants to figure out the mystery behind it, so he goes to his friends and Detective Jeffries from the Junior Detective's Academy to solve the mystery. As Jeffries helps the kids with the box mystery, he also helps them discover how to learn that the universe points to the existence of God. In this book, he never says it is just because the Bible says so, or any trite thing like that. He points the kids to science and lets them answer their questions on their own.

This book is meant for young kids - I'd say 3rd grade and up can really enjoy it - and teaches them early apologetics. There are great illustrations, the conversation is really easy to read and follow, and the chapters are short. Perfect for me to give to my kids to read now that I've finished it! This will make for a very cool book for me to discuss with my kids as they are reading it.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

World View (Review)

This review is for the book "World View" by Marvin Olasky. In this book, Olasky wants readers to discover how to speak the truth but also show mercy in our everyday lives. This book is actually comprised of several columns from World Magazine. These are personal encounters and interactions that Olasky has had with people across the globe and events that he wants to bring to light. The book is very deep and thought-provoking and Olasky will definitely lure you in with his strong words and thoughts. I highly recommend others read this book as it will make you self-reflect and think on things that we don't often think about.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

KJV Know the Word Study Bible (Review)

This review is for the KJV Know the Word Study Bible. I was so excited to get this Bible! I love a new Bible and I especially love a good study Bible. This Bible gives you three options for studying: by the book, by the verse, or by the topic. It's great for getting into a daily routine of Bible reading. The pages are a beautiful design and easy to read. There are tons of notes throughout the Bible for you to read as you study. There is a concordance along with several full-color maps in the back. I particularly like how this Bible points out the origins of the words that are used in the scripture.

I love this version. I like to read a different version of the Bible every time I read through it, and this is one of the best ones I've read. I  highly recommend it. It is not only a great version, but very sturdy and well-made.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Rule of Law (Review)

This review is for the book "Rule of Law" by Randy Singer. This book was a really great political thriller. In this novel, a specific SEAL team has been sent on a rare mission by the president. They head to Yemen to do the mission, but it fails. When it does, the SEAL team learns that maybe the president had that planned all along. Paige Chambers, a lawyer who personally wants to know if the president knew that the mission would fail, goes on a search for answers. Going after the president is a huge risk, so she definitely needs to know what she's doing.

This book has it all - politics, twists and turns, romance, and suspense. It is a bit of a slow start trying to learn all the characters and learn how they play together in the book, but then it turns into a page-turner!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Imperfect Justice (Review)

This review is for the book "Imperfect Justice" by Cara Putman. Now this is a definite page-turner. I loved this book from the very beginning because it had me on the edge of my seat. In this book, Emilie is supposed to be helping Kaylene escape from her abusive husband when Kaylene suddenly doesn't show up for an appointment. The next thing Emilie knows, Kaylene is dead as well as one of her daughters, and the other daughter is fighting for her life in the hospital. The husband is blaming it all on Kaylene.

Emilie struggles to clear Kaylene's name without having any evidence to her point. She pulls in Kaylene's brother Reid for help, but unfortunately he hasn't been in touch with Kaylene in ages. They still work together to try to figure out how to prove Kaylene's innocence. Throughout it all, Emilie is also dealing with someone stalking her and feeling a lot of pressure since she's so sure Kaylene was innocent.

This book is so great. I love the characters and the suspense throughout the book. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Deadly Proof (Review)

This review is for the book "Deadly Proof" by Rachel Dylan. In this book, we meet Kate Sullivan, who is a lawyer involved in a lawsuit against Mason Pharmaceutical. This is a huge case that could make her career, but it is also a case that quickly turns dangerous for Kate as well as her clients. Fortunately there is a private investigator who comes in, Landon, and he is there to handle security.

This book is chock full of suspense and danger. I like how the romance and the spiritual aspect are woven into the story but not overly cheesy. I did think some of the legal parts made my brain spin because I don't know a lot about that kind of stuff, but I think it was necessary for this book to make sense. I really like the characters and the storyline. It looks like this is the first of a series so I will look forward to reading more in the series.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Ordinary Graces (Review)

This review is for the book "Ordinary Graces" by Lucinda Secrest McDowell. I always love reading anything by McDowell because I know that it is going to be something great.

This book contains 120 different devotions that cross four different categories - grace, strength, gratitude, and life. Within each one of those categories are 30 daily devotionals. They are short, with a scripture to start with, a personal snippet or an example from the Bible, and a prayer.

I love these types of books because they are easy to fit into my busy lifestyle. I can read one a day or several a day. I definitely enjoyed this and would highly recommend it to anyone needing a little extra boost in their devotions.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Pass It On (Review)

This review is for the book "Pass It On" by Champ Thornton. This type of book is something I have seen before, but I absolutely love the design and the idea of this. It is a journal for you to use as you study the Proverbs. As you read the scripture, this book will tell you a summary, and then ask several questions which you should actually answer by writing in the book. You will connect your life with the gospel through this journal, and then be able to pass it on for others to learn from and see that connection.

What a brilliant idea! And what a beautiful journal this is. I cannot wait to fill out all of the pages and pass this on to my children to read.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

She's Got the Wrong Guy (Review)

This review is for the book "She's Got the Wrong Guy" by Deepak Reju. In this book, Reju attempts to talk to Christian women about why we tend to settle for less than what (or who) God wants for us. First of all, he discusses why we sometimes settle, and then he goes into how to live by faith in your relationships. This is a very eye-opening section, because he touches on the very true fact that we are NOT promised a man will chase us, and we are NOT promised that we will settle down with the love of our life forever. These dreams sometimes come from romance novels and movies, but that is not necessarily God's plan for us. The author goes through a bunch of different guys you may come in contact with while you're dating, and then how to pursue a real Christian man.

I love this book and I think that it could not come at a better time. Our society is so impatient, and we are inundated with dating sites, phone apps, commercials, romance movies and books, that we sometimes feel like it is never going to happen to us. What an important thing to remember - that God's plan is perfect for us.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Murder in Disguise (Review)

This review is for "Murder in Disguise" by Donn Taylor. This is a Preston Barclay mystery, which I had never read before, and I definitely have to say I want to read more about Preston Barclay! I loved this character! Barclay is a history professor but he somehow finds himself a detective in murder mysteries as well. In this book, it's a friend who has committed suicide that has Barclay curious. This friend exhibited no signs of suicidal tendencies, and his widow begs Barclay to investigate.

I loved all of the characters, and the twists and turns of this book. It definitely held my interest. I would love to read another book in this series.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Hope Toler Dougherty's 'Rescued Hearts' Blog Tour and Kindle Giveaway

This review is for the book "Rescued Hearts" by Hope Toler Dougherty. I love her books, so I was excited to get my hands on this one! In this novel, we meet clothing designer Mary Wade. Unfortunately, as we meet her, she is being kidnapped. Fortunately for her, one of the kidnappers is actually an undercover agent, so he is able to get her out of the situation. UNFORTUNATELY, this puts them both in danger. Mary Wade and Brett are thrown together in this situation and that makes for high emotions, but they can't totally attribute their attraction to one another just based on the high emotions. And it turns out that Mary Wade is stronger than she gives herself credit for.

I loved this book and the characters. You will fall in love with Brett's spunky grandmother! Great story and I look forward to reading more from Dougherty!

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Her personal safety isn't the only thing in jeopardy-so is her heart. In Hope Toler Dougherty's new novel, Rescued Hearts, children's clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball's soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Discovering the kidnapped woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Brett forsakes his three-month mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind . . . and then Mary Wade's safety is threatened once more.




Cozy up this fall with Hope's new book and enter to win a Kindle Fire!







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One grand prize winner will receive:




• A copy of Rescued Hearts


• A Kindle Fire 7

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 13. The winner will be announced November 14 on the http://litfusegroup.com/category/blog" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Litfuse blog.







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Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Counseling Under the Cross (Review)

This review is for the book "Counseling Under the Cross" by Bob Kellemen. I was really intrigued about this book because I have learned a lot about Martin Luther recently, and the subtitle of this book is "How Martin Luther Applied the Gospel to Daily Life". This book was incredibly interesting and an in-depth study on Luther's theology, but somehow written in a way that keeps the reader's interest.

In this book, Kellemen spends a chapter on a specific theology of Luther's, and then follows up with a chapter on his methodology. For example, he explains Luther's theology of suffering in one chapter, and then in the next he shows how he applied that theology to everyday life. The book also begins with a background of Luther so the reader becomes more familiar with his spiritual journey.

I loved this book and found it very fascinating. I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Beginner's Gospel Story Bible (Review)

This review is for the book "The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible" by Jared Kennedy. I had barely even taken this book out of the box it was mailed in when my 8-year old daughter grabbed it, curled up on the couch, and began reading it. By the next night, she had finished the whole thing.

Now, I will say that this Bible is probably meant for a younger child, I can see why she devoured it. The pictures and illustrations are colorful and fun. The text is in a font that is very easy to read, and there isn't "too much" on a page as far as wordiness goes. There are questions strewn in for the kids to think about when reading it alone or with parents, such as "What is your favorite thing God has made?" when reading about creation, or "Have you ever been afraid to speak up for someone else?" when reading about Queen Esther.

This is one of the best Bibles I have ever seen for young children. It focuses on the promises of God and how the promise of salvation is throughout the Bible, but it will most definitely keep their attention and be fun for adults to read as well! Well done, with this book.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

All Things Now Living (Review)

This review is for the book "All Things Now Living" by Rondi Bauer Olson. This is the first book in her series about the Seventh Daughter.

In this book we meet Amy, who is sixteen years old. Almost the very first thing that happens in the book is that she "accidentally" gets trapped in New Lithisle, which is a home in a dome where she's always been taught that the people who live there are mutants who deserve to die. She's terrified based on what she's heard about these people her whole life. Turns out that her father is a sympathizer for these people, and Amy is pretty special herself.

The book focuses on Amy's relationship with the New Lithisle people (particularly one named Daniel), and her journey to save them before the dome collapses.

This book was really interesting, and although there were some things that I felt were a little confusing to me, the story as a whole is a great adventure and is intriguing. I'll be very interested to read the rest of the series and find out what happens to Amy.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

The Gift (Review)

This review is for the book "The Gift" by Shelley Shepard Gray. She is one of my favorite Amish fiction authors, and this book was not disappointing at all. This is the second book in her Amish of Hart County series. Unfortunately, I have not read the first book yet, but fortunately, that did not matter when I was reading this book! It was very easy to keep up with all of the characters and the backstory.

In this book, Neil Vance and his family are upset over losing their family farm, and they're kind of taking it out on the Schwartz family who have moved onto the farm. But soon, the daughters of the Schwartz family seem to have some really awful luck - getting shot at, falling into an icy creek, etc. Neil and his brother start to think that maybe those accidents aren't just bad luck. They all begin working together to do some investigating, and throughout their time together, they start to form some relationships.

I really liked this book because it had a little bit of everything - romance, suspense and mystery, and I really liked the characters. I can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

Total Christmas Makeover (Review)

This review is for the book "Total Christmas Makeover" by Melissa Spoelstra. This book contains 31 devotions to prepare you for the upcoming Christmas season. I really love books like this, and this book was no disappointment. Each devotion focuses on something different, such as serving, or forgiveness, or rest. Each chapter begins with scripture and then there is a short devotion, a prayer, and then questions for reflection and ideas for how to put the devotion into practice. For example, the chapter on serving suggests signing up to ring the bell for Salvation Army, or offering to help with children's classes at church during the holidays.

I loved this book because it was really easy to find time to read the devotional each day, and it gave me a lot of ideas for how to slow down and really appreciate this season as it approaches. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.

A Letter From Lancaster County (Review)

This review is for the book "A Letter from Lancaster County" by Kate Lloyd. In this book we meet two sisters named Rose and Angela. Even though they are grown, they still struggle with jealousy and sibling rivalry. When they receive a letter from Lancaster County, both sisters decide to travel to see their Aunt Sylvia, who is a Mennonite. Aunt Sylvia is just the ticket for these girls, plus getting away from their everyday lives and getting a new perspective on each other. As they all find out some secrets about their family, they actually do become closer.

This book was very well-written and I really liked the characters. I see that this is the first book in a new series so I will look forward to reading the rest of the series!

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book.