BLOG TOUR OF THE BOOK THE LIFE READY WOMAN (CONTEST)

 The The Life Ready Woman: Thriving in a Do-It-All World by S. Feldhahn and Robert Lewis is a fresh perspective on life and it's problems. This is what the publisher has to say. 

Whether a stay-at-home mom or an airplane-hopping executive, a student or a senior adult, most women need a contemporary, encouraging vision for what it means to be a godly, biblically guided female in the twenty-first century. A biblical woman takes God’s Word seriously not just at church but also in the everyday walk of life.
But can a significant and satisfying twenty-first-century womanhood really be defined from Scripture? One that can apply to all women and yet not be guilty of cookie-cutter sameness, pressing everyone into a common mold? One that will stay fresh even as a woman grows older? One that can guide her to the best in life? The answer is yes, and the result is a femininity without excesses and regrets that mark those who just go with the flow of the world.
In The Life Ready Woman, best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn helps readers take five faith steps drawn from the Bible that will help to define the best life possible. Each one is easy to understand, but requires bold faith to activate. The reward is being ready for the deeper life that God has planned.

About the Authors-

Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author of the book For Women Only, national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, TNT and Fox News- to name a few. You can learn more about her many activities by visiting her website Shaunti.com or get some great mom advice from her at MomLifeToday.com. She and her husband live with their two young children in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoy every minute of living at warp speed.
 

Robert Lewis is the best-selling author of Raising a Modern-Day Knight and Rocking the Roles: Building a Win-Win Marriage. He and his wife, Sherard, have four children and live in Little Rock, AR.

My Thoughts-

I enjoyed the book. I was taught by my parents to go out into the world and be independent. My family was not very religious and after reading the book, I realized that the women of the past were similar to the women of today.

In the book, the authors discuss many topics including-

1. I am Woman- What does the Bible say about equality and the roles women play today.
2. A Satisfied Life- Do we have a life that is rewarded with satisfaction and gratitude? The bible can help us work through the issues that we may have.
3. What the Issues actually are- Some of the issues discussed are femininity,Motherhood, the do it all role, and a life full of unlimited choices that can make a women's life difficult.
4. A Biblical Definition of Womanhood, Marriage and Family- The Bible lays out certain patterns that God wishes us to follow.
5. Where it Comes Together- God gives three major callings to the Human Race. How does this effect the way we live and interact with others.

 There are many more interesting topics discussed in the book.I have a career, a great husband and two wonderful teenagers but the book helped me to open my eyes a little more about life. As I read the book, I realized that you can not have everything you want in life. We have to compromise a little to live a full and spiritual life. There were questions posed throughout the book to make you think about what you are doing with your life and there were simple answers that were easy to follow and made sense. I have read many faith based books that I found hard to read but this book was just great, informative and a quick read. It was not boring. Even if you are not a spiritual person, you will benefit from the information contained in it. There is even a Life Ready Woman Training kit (DVD) that helps explain the book and empower you.

Blog Tour Schedule

In celebration of Shaunti Feldhahn’s Life Ready Woman, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!

Not only, is MomLife Today helping promote Life Ready Woman, but they are thrilled to announce that Shaunti will be joining MomLife Today as a regular contributor!!!

Weekend To Remember Get-Aways offer marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives to strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 50 years, you will find value in the tools provided at the getaway.

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive a conference registration for you and your spouse … and more! MomLife Today will be randomly selecting NINE lucky recipients to receive one of these great gifts:

1. 2 Weekend To Remember Get Away conference registrations for two. $259 value each pair (Two couples will receive this.)
2. 2 Life Ready Woman DVD packs. $149 value each (Two different people will receive this gift.)
3. 5 The Life Ready Woman books. (Book will go to 5 people.)

To enter click one of the icons below then tell your friends. Winner will be announced on March 2nd on the MomLife Today website.

MomLife Today provides encouragement, advice and resources to help YOU with your daily Momlife! Because…every MOMent counts!

For more information please visit the Litfuse website, www.litfusegroup.com .

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR OF AN UNLIKELY BLESSING BY J. BAER (CONTEST)

In An Unlikely Blessing, we are introduced to Alex Armstrong who is a new pastor and he is assigned to a small two church  parish in South Dakota in the farming community of Hilltop Township. When he gets there he is welcomed by his congregation with a multitude of different problems and they are all coming to him for help. The description of the farms and countryside was wonderful and I felt that I was there with Alex. The two parishes are feuding and he is trying to bring them together and his faith is being tested daily. 

There were a lot of characters that I had to keep track of but they all had their little quirks that had me laughing throughout the book. I especially liked willard Packard, a young boy who loves and protects animals, and Alex becomes attached to the boy. Some of the congregations problems were unsolved but I feel that they will be solved in the next two books of the series. The book was easy to read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series Surprising Grace.

About the Book-

An Unlikely Blessing is a heartfelt story about a new pastor and life-long city dweller Alex Armstrong, who reluctantly accepts his first assignment, a two-point parish in the wilds of North Dakota. Hilltop Township, a farming community, blooms from the prairie like a wild pink rose—lovely and prickly all at once, much like the people who live there.

Unlikely.

Alex quickly finds that this lovely place is in quiet peril. Farmers are struggling to make ends meet: Jonas Owens, a faithful member of Hilltop parish, is on the brink of losing the farm. Alex believes that part of why God called him to Hilltop was to help turn things around, and steps in with ideas for saving the Owens’ land. But can even God’s minister help save this rural community?

Plus, the new, single pastor creates remarkable excitement among the unmarried women in the community. If you could die of hot dish overdose, Alex would be a dead man. Even so, day by day, Alex falls more in love with the people of Hilltop Church and he soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach him as he will teach them.

About the Author-

Judy Baer is the author of over seventy-five books for adults and teens. She has won the Romance Writer of America Bronze Medallion and has been a RITA finalist twice. She lives in Elk River, Minnesota with her husband. Follow the Hilltop characters on Judy’s blog and find out more about Judy and her books at http://www.judykbaer.com

Blog Tour Schedule

Read the reviews here.

 In celebration of the release of An Unlikely Blessing, Judy is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.

One lucky winner will receive:

• Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• A $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com

To enter just click on one the icons below and then tell your friends! Winner will be announced on February 21st on Judy's blog, http://www.judykbaer.com/wordpress

For more information please visit the Litfuse website, www.litfusegroup.com .

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF FATAL JUSTICE BY IRENE HANNON

In Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice, Book 1), U.S Marshal Jake Taylor was on a special mission in Iraq and when he returns home he is assigned to a new mission to protect  Liz Michaels who is a Federal Judge. She has kept her life secret and was married to Jake's best friend. Liz's sister was murdered in Liz's house and the killer might be after Liz. Jake was very upset after the death of his best friend who was married to Liz and he has not spoken to her in many years. While the Marshals are searching for the killers, there is an attraction forming between Liz and Jake. When it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in mortal danger.

About the Author-

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 25 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm's Way. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.


Author's Website-




My Thoughts-

 Fatal Judgment is full of suspense, faith, a little romance and is very realistic. I have never read any of the author's books before but I will definitely be reading the second book in the series. I was hooked from page one and the book was a page turner.  All of the characters were realistic and when the villain was introduced in the story, I wanted to find out more. There were times that I was at the edge of my seat and I was always rooting for Jake and Liz. So if you like suspense with a little romance this is the book for you.


Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF THE CD BEAUTIFUL DESIGN BY JASON BARE

Thanks to The Adams Group, I had the opportunity to hear Jason Bare's debut CD Beautiful Design

The album released nationally yesterday and the song, For the First Time already hit number one on the inspirational and Worship charts. All of the songs were written by Jason (with a little help from his friends) and includes a track that was co-written by his Cousin Amanda called "Story of Grace". The song was missing and Jason found it the day Amanda died in 2009 and that was when Jason decided to start writing the album.

Beautiful Design contains 10 tracks and includes a bonus song For The First Time. That song was released Christmas time and is being played at Carmax and Chick-Fil-A restaurants.  My favorite song is You Found Me because it is so upbeat and the lyrics are great.
Jason has a wonderful voice and all of the songs are inspirational. He is a great song writer and I hope he plans to release another CD in the future.

Please visit Jason's website where you can purchase the CD and find out if Jason is touring in your area.

Play Sample Songs.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the CD from the Adams Group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF CARING LESSONS BY L. ROELOFS

Imagine not wanting to be a nurse, teacher, or teacher of psychiatric nursing only to find yourself doing all three—and loving it!

In Caring Lessons, Lois Roelofs tells her stories about being a rebellious minister’s daughter, reluctant nurse, restless mom, perpetual student, and eventually, fun-loving teacher. She used to tell her students that if she, an ordinary suburban sandbox mom, propelled by restlessness and prayer, could end up having a career, growing in faith, and getting a PhD, they could too.


Roelofs brings the "therapeutic use of self" required in nursing to her writing. You will be amused, saddened, and inspired as you read this intimate and introspective memoir. You may even run to enroll or teach in a nursing program, and, if you’re already teaching nursing students, you may discover renewed gratitude for the privilege.



My Thoughts-

Caring Lessons is a wonderful and touching memoir. When I started nursing school at 16, I never fathomed how tough nursing can be and many times I wanted to quit . The author welcomed us into her life and showed us that faith and perseverance can get us through any problem. The book was well written and I could feel her emotions. Even if you do not have a medical background the book is for you and will give you an insight into the wonderful world of Nursing. I recommend this book to all nursing students because you will learn from the author's wisdom and instill them into your practice. I have been an RN for over 25 years now and I find the profession challenging but I will never give it up. I will definitely pass the book on to my colleagues and maybe they will look at Nursing differently after reading the book. 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Bring It On Communications for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

REVIEW OF FLIGHT OF SHADOWS BY S. BROUWER

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In Flight of Shadows, Caitlyn Brown is trying to remain invisible. She has a genetic code that gives her ultimate power and her that secret could change humanity forever. She needs to get away and find the person who could reverse a lab induced deformity. She is unaware that there are government agents following her every move and know about the DNA trait that she has.

She relies on a street-smart illusionist, Razor and together they learn about her past and the unique gifts of her DNA. She has to make a difficult decision, whether to keep her freedom and stay with the two men who love her or sacrifice herself to change human destiny.

In this lightning-fast chase through an all-too-plausible future, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer is at his best. Flight of Shadows is a terrifying ride into the heart of compelling moral questions about science and society.

About the Author- 

Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of Broken Angel and more than fifteen other novels, with close to three million books in print. He promotes literacy by giving writing workshops in schools from the Arctic Circle to inner city Los Angeles. Sigmund is married to recording artist Cindy Morgan, has two young daughters, and they split their time between Nashville and Red Deer, Alberta.

Visit Author's Website

My Thoughts-

This is a well written suspense/Sci-Fi  novel and I was hooked from the first page. I did not have the pleasure to read Broken Angel which was the first novel in the series but I had no difficulty following the storyline. My favorite character was Razor because he kept me guessing throughout the story. I never really knew whose side he was on and he was very street smart. If you are not into sci-fi this may not be the book for you because of all of the technology that is mentioned in the book. There were parts that were frightening and this may not be suitable for some readers. This is a page-turning novel and I enjoyed it!!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Blogging for Books for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY BY S. GIORELLO (CONTEST)

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In The Clouds Roll Away, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns home for Christmas but discovers Richmond, Virginia running low on goodness and light.

Although her exemplary service in Seattle lifted her disciplinary transfer, Raleigh lands a hometown civil rights case riddled with problems that could get her sent away again. When she helps out a fellow cop, her life goes on the line, forcing her undercover in a sting operation. As Raleigh realizes the lines are crossing and double-crossing, her domestic life starts to unravel. Her mother's mental health cracks like ice, her closest friend grows cold, and her old boyfriend DeMott comes a-calling, hoping for more than chestnuts by an open fire.

While the city glows with Christmas lights and carols, Raleigh is forced to rely on her sharpest skills to stay alive, hoping for that one clear moment when everything makes sense and the clouds roll away.

Meet Sibella:

Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mount Holyoke College. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons. Find out more about Sibella and her other books at her website. www.sibellagiorello.com

Click here to see the other stops on this virtual book tour!

You can purchase your copy here.

My Thoughts- 

The book was written well and I was hooked from the first page. This is the third book in the series and I had no difficulty reading it. As I was reading it, I noticed that Sibella included information from the other two books to keep you up to date. I really liked Raleigh because she was believable and had a good relationship with her mother, Nadine. The storyline included mystery, a little romance, and plenty of twists and turns to keep it exciting. All of the characters were developed well and there was a lot of emotion throughout the book. So go and get yourself a copy of the book. You will not be disappointed.

Win a KINDLE from Sibella Giorello!

 Sibella’s celebrating the release of The Clouds Roll Away by giving away a KINDLE prize pack worth over $150.00!

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com

To enter simply click on one of the icons below! Then tell your friends! Winner will be announced January 3, 2011 on Sibella's blog: http://sibellagiorello.blogspot.com/. 

About The Clouds Roll Away – “Beautifully written with exquisite descriptions, Giorello’s mystery also features well-developed characters…”
—Booklist, starred review

Find out more here!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the Lifuse Group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

THE 12 PEARLS OF CHRISTMAS- LOVE (GIVEAWAY)

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Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Love
by Lauraine Snelling

When asked to write a Christmas message, one of my first thoughts was Do I climb up on my soapbox regarding changing the words in Christmas songs, using only holiday, etc. I thought about it and decided no. After all, they’re only words and what difference does a word make---really make after all?

Then I kept on thinking. If they’re only words… But we as writers know the power of words, as do readers. When the wrong word is used, it jars, while the right word can be most powerful. Take one highly overused and under practiced word---Love. Four letters is all. We toss it around so glibly, saying love ya and luv and love. But think about the power in I love you. Three of the most precious words in our language when put together. Those of us who write romances or books with romance in them, understand the power when one of our characters tells another, I love you. As humans we can never hear that enough or too much.

Christmas is about love. The greatest love story ever told, that of God for us humans, and it never changes. Customs change, politics change, the years change but God’s love never, ever does. At Christmas we are invited to share that love, to give it away, to pass it around. To find wonder again and joy in simple acts of love. We make contact with people we might never see or talk with through the year. That says I love you. We buy and make gifts to give, we reach out to strangers in need, we try to make sure everyone has a special dinner and every child a present. By giving, we receive.

So, let’s use the power words, but more so, put feet on those words and pass the love around. Let’s look for and find the wonder, the joy and the peace, maybe in small bits and pieces and perhaps in an avalanche of blessings. Make your days brighter with the simple gift of a smile, a kind word, a touch, for every single one that you give away, will come back to you multiplied. As you give, so shall you receive. Merry Christmas my friends. May we all recognize our blessings----and let an attitude of gratitude permeate this holiday and every day. With love and joy on this day, Lauraine!

 ~~~

About Lauraine: Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than sixty books, with sales of over 2 million copies. She also writes for a wide range of magazines, and helps others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the country. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Chewy.

For more information please visit Lauraine's website: www.laurainesnelling.com.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. One entry per person, per day. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info




Disclaimer- I was not compensated for this post.

THE 12 PEARLS OF CHRISTMAS- AN UNFORGETTABLE GIFT (GIVEAWAY)

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Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

An Unforgettable Gift
by Karen O'Connor

On Christmas morning, 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky, fourteen-year-old Charlie Flowers and his three brothers and two sisters huddled in their beds, fully dressed, trying to keep warm as the wind howled outside their small frame house.
   
It was a desperate time for the family. Earlier that year the children's father had died. And their mother had not found work. The coal had run out and there was little money––none for gifts. Their scrawny tree with decorations made from scraps of colored paper had been given to them the night before by a local merchant.

"Can't sell this one," the man said with a nod of his head before handing it over to the eager children.

To pass the time, the siblings joked and shouted stories from their bedrooms across the hallway from one another. Then suddenly a racket from the alley at the rear of the house broke into their games.
   
"Charlie," his mother called, "would you see what's going on out there?"
   
Charlie pulled on his shoes, grabbed a thick overcoat from the hook by the door, and ran out back.

There stood a man in a wagon bent over a load of coal, shoveling it into the shed as fast as he could.
   
"Hey Mister, we didn't order any coal," Charlie shouted. "You're delivering it to the wrong house."
   
"Your name's Flowers, isn't it?" the man asked, still shoveling. 
   
Charlie nodded yes.
      
"Well then, there's no mistake.  I've been asked to deliver this to your family on Christmas morning." He looked the awe-struck boy square in the eye. "And I'm under strict orders not to tell who sent it," he teased.
   
Charlie ran into the house, his coattail flapping in the cold morning wind.  He could hardly wait to tell his mother and brothers and sisters. God had provided––just as he had on that first Christmas morning so long ago when He sent his only son to a needy world.
   
Charlie Flowers died in 1994 at age 96. And right up to the last year of his life, not a Christmas went by that he didn't tell the story of that sub-zero Christmas morning of his boyhood when two men gave his family an unforgettable gift.
   
It wasn't the coal that was remembered or cherished, Charlie often said––welcome as it was––but rather what two men brought to his desperate family. One, for his gift of recognizing their great need and taking the time to do something about it. And the other, for being willing to give up part of his own Christmas morning to deliver it.
   
That gift of so long ago has continued to warm the Flowers family from one generation to another, as Charlie's son––my husband, Charles––calls to mind these two unknown men each Christmas morning and whispers a prayer of thanks.

 ~~~

About Karen: Karen O'Connor is an award-winning author and writing mentor living in Watsonville, California with her husband, Charles Flowers. Karen’s latest book is 365 Reasons Why Gettin’ Old Ain’t So Bad (Harvest House 2010).

For more information, please visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. One entry per person, per day. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info





Disclaimer- I was not compensated for this post.