Summer of Promise

Summer of Promise

by Amanda Cabot

From the back cover:

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Ethan Bowles, save the day. Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or will she find her heart's true home?

This book had my interest in the beginning, even with the standard stagecoach hold-up scene - what kind of western romance would this book be without a scene like that? I found myself interested in the budding relationship between Abigail and Ethan, and wondered what was going on with Jeffrey, Abigail's sister Charlotte's husband. But I have to admit that the book seemed to drag in the middle. I don't think there was ever really a time where I was glued to the action in the book so much that I couldn't put the book down. But I would still give this book a 4, because somehow anything less wouldn't seem to do the story justice. Cabot did craft an interesting storyline - but I do wish that it had been wrapped up quicker. 

All that to say, the things I enjoyed about the book were Ethan's and Abigail's characters, and the funny antics with Charlotte's puppy, Puddles. If you enjoy western romances, you would probably like this book.

This book is now available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the author:

Amanda Cabot is a popular speaker and the author of Paper Roses, Scattered Petals, and Tomorrows Garden as well as a number of novels under various pen names. She's an avid traveler who finds inspiration for new stories in her travels and enjoys sharing new parts of the country with her readers. A former Easterner, she now lives in Wyoming. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Shadow of Your Smile

The Shadow of Your Smile

by  Susan May Warren

Description from the publisher:

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can't quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston's marriage. After twenty-five years, they're contemplating divorce...just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn't remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What's more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly slips into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can't remember? Will their secrets destroy them...or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future?

I absolutely loved this book. Having read two other Susan May Warren books that I thoroughly enjoyed, I had high expectations for The Shadow of Your Smile. Let me tell you that this book didn't disappoint me in the least. In fact, it made me love Susan May Warren even more! Her ability to tell a compelling story with memorable characters and scenes is evident in this book. I highly recommend The Shadow of Your Smile. On a side note, I can't even type the book's title without hearing the song..."The Shadow of your smile/When you are gone/Will color all my dreams and light the dawn..." It is one of my favorite songs, and this book has also become one of my favorites. I enthusiastically give it a 5!

Come Back to Deep Haven and Win a $200 Visa Card from @SusanMayWarren!

Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.


Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)

• The entire set of Deep Haven Books 

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

About the author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Chasing Mona Lisa

Chasing Mona Lisa

by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

From the back cover:

One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock. August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, the ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all - the Mona Lisa - as a postwar bargaining chip. 

But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands? 

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on - and the runners are playing for keeps.

I wanted to like this book. The cover makes it sound very intriguing - and with my love for the World War II era, you would think this would be a book I couldn't put down. But try as I might, I could not get into it. Whether it was the fact that there were too many characters to keep track of or the fact that there was so much going on it was hard to figure out what was what, I had a hard time reading Chasing Mona Lisa. I can't say it was horrible, but it wasn't very enjoyable for me either. This is the second book in a series, sequel to The Swiss Courier. Perhaps if I had read that book first, I would have understood the characters more.

I would have to give this book a 3.

This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas.

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

7 Money Rules for Life

7 Money Rules for Life

by Mary Hunt

I am currently taking a class on finances and debt at my church, so I am very interested in reading books about financial freedom. Mary Hunt's book 7 Money Rules for Life is one such book that would be very helpful to anyone who is interested in learning how to live life debt free. Hunt starts out with her personal story of how she incurred $100,000 worth of debt and how she rid herself of it. She then goes through 7 guidelines for financial freedom.

I very much enjoyed reading this book and know that I will refer back to it in the future. There are many helpful tips in this book, and many more can be found on Mary's website, Debt Proof Living. 

I give this book a 5.

This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the author:

Mary Hunt, award-winning and bestselling author, syndicated columnist, and sought-after motivational speaker, has created a global platform that is making strides to help men and women battle the epidemic impact of consumer debt. Mary is the founder of Debt-Proof Living, a highly regarded organization consisting of an interactive website, a monthly newsletter, a daily syndicated column, and hundreds of thousands of loyal followers. Since 1992, DPL has been dedicated to its mission to provide hope, help, and realistic solutions for individuals who are committed to financially responsible and debt-free living. As a speaker, Mary travels extensively, addressing conferences, corporations, colleges, universities, and churches at home and abroad. A frequent guest on radio and television, she has appeared on dozens of television shows including Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Dateline. Mary lives with her husband in Orange County, California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Reclaiming Lily

Reclaiming Lily

by Patti Lacy

Dr. Kai Chang discovers that her mother died of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and dedicates her life to fighting the disease. Because the disease is hereditary, she is determined to track down her sister Lily, the daughter her parents gave up in China years ago.   Once she finds her location with adoptive parents Andrew and Gloria Powell in Texas, she attempts to make contact with them and Lily, now named Joy. The Powells are hesitant and paranoid that she is trying to take Joy away from them. When natural disaster, tragedy, and illness come upon them, suddenly what is most important rises to the surface. 

I loved this book. I really enjoyed all of the characters, and the plot stayed interesting to me until the very last page, and the very last paragraph, with a very surprising turn of events. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading contemporary fiction. 

About the author

Patti Lacy graduated from Baylor University with a BS in education and completed master's-level courses in English at Indiana State University. She taught at Heartland Community College until May 2006, when she resigned to pursue her passion of writing. The author of three previous novels, Patti is the mother of two grown children and lives with her husband in Normal, Illinois. For more about Patti and her other books, visit her website at www.pattilacy.com. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Names of God Bible

The Names of God Bible

Edited by Ann Spangler

From the back cover:

One of the best ways to get to know God on a deeper level is to know his names and titles as revealed in Scripture. Now the bestselling author of Praying the Names of God and Praying the Name of Jesus uncovers the richness of God's character and love found in his names right within the Bible text.


The Names of God Bible restores more than 10,000 occurrences of specific names of God - like Yahweh, El Shadday, El Elyon, and Adonay - to help readers connect with the Hebrew roots of their Christian faith and experience a deeper understanding of God's character. Perfect for personal study, prayer, and reflection, The Names of God Bible includes these special features: 

• More than 10,000 names and titles of God restores to their Hebrew equivalent and printed in brown ink to stand out within the biblical text
• Names of God reading paths lead readers to the next reference of the name so they can pray and study the names of God throughout Scripture
• Name pages feature
• background information associated with the most important names and titles of God
• key scripture passages in which the name is revealed
• devotional readings for each of the featured names
• specific Bible promises connected to each of the featured names
• Calling God by Name sidebars shed light on the relationship between biblical people and the specific names they called God

When I first heard this Bible was available for review, I quickly responded to review it. Several years ago I was in a Bible study that went over the names of God in depth. I realized that this Bible would help me to utilize the names that I learned several years ago.

Each book of the Bible includes a short introduction that includes the key names of God that are used in that book. For instance, the key names in the book of Proverbs are Yah and Yahweh (Lord), El, Elohim, and Eloah (God), and Migdal-Oz (Strong Tower). Then, throughout each book, instead of using the name "God," the specific name of God is used. For instance, here are the names of God used in Job 19:25-26:

"But I know that my Go'el lives, and afterwards, he will rise on the earth. Even after my skin has been stripped off my body, I will see Eloah in my own flesh." 

When I read that passage, it was my first time reading the name Go'el, so I looked it up and discovered that it mean "Redeemer/Defender." I also found a devotional reading on it, which gave me even greater understanding of its use. 

Now that I have The Names of God Bible, I am confident that I will be able to remember and use the names of God in prayer. I believe this Bible is an excellent resource for anyone who would like to know more about the names of God throughout Scripture.

About the editor, Ann Spangler:

Ann Spangler likens herself to the proverbial canary in the coal mine. Her sensitivity to the ever-changing spiritual and cultural climate in which we live has enabled her to address themes of profound interest to many readers. Praised for the freshness, depth, and honesty of her writing, Ann writes in ways that reveal not just her intellectual curiosity but her desire for a deeper connection with God. An award-winning writer, Ann published her first book in 1994. It became an instant best-seller. Since then she has followed up with several best-selling books, including Women of the Bible (co-authored with Jean Syswerda), Praying the Names of God, and Praying the Names of Jesus. Together, her books have sold nearly 3 million copies.

By paying attention to the spiritual and emotional hungers that animate us and by finding creative ways to explore God's self-revelation in Scripture, her writing surprises by revealing a God who is far often bigger and better than we might imagine.

In addition to writing, Ann has enjoyed a lengthy career in Christian publishing, working for William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Servant Publications, and Zondervan Publishing in marketing, editorial, and management roles. Her broad experience in publishing has convinced her that readers are looking for well-written books that explore the connection between spiritual experience and everyday life, books that engage the mind and strengthen the heart.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Remembering Christmas

Remembering Christmas

by Dan Walsh

Rick Dalton's life is set with a comfortable job in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he can do and have whatever he wants. He hasn't spent much time with his mother and step-father, Leanne and Art Bell, who live in Florida. In fact, he really can't stand his step-father. When he receives a call that Art is seriously ill, and that his mother needs him to help run their Christian bookstore, he is more worried about himself and his own business than he is about how Art is doing.

When he first arrives at the bookstore he is a cynical and almost a Scrooge-like character who plans on staying for a few days just to help out his mom. What he doesn't plan on is how the bookstore customers will affect him, and how love will find him.

I really liked this book. It was a fast, easy read that was perfect with a cup of hot tea on a cold day. I could truly picture the characters and the little bookstore, and found myself wishing that they were real! I hope someone adapts it into a movie someday!

This book is available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the author:

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, The Homecoming, and The Deepest Waters. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.












Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."