Pennsylvania Patchwork

Title: PENNSYLVANIA PATCHWORK

Author: Kate Lloyd

Publisher: David C. Cook

June 2013

ISBN: 978-0-7814-0873-8

Genre: Amish/family saga

ONE HEART. TWO LOVES. ONE CHOICE.

Seattle native Holly Fisher is smitten by Lancaster County, its simplicity and her long lost relatives. In the sequel to bestselling Leaving Lancaster, Holly embraces the Amish culture, learning to slow down to see what  - and who – really matters.

Meeting the family that her mother had kept hidden from her, Holly comes face to face with her real life and blood legacy. She also falls for the charming Zach, a handsome Mennonite veterinarian who is everything she’s ever wanted in a husband: confident, kind, successful, and authentic. And Zach proposes marriage. Is this too soon? Is this the right choice? Mother and Amish grandmother think she’s rushing into too much of a lifestyle change. Holly is in love with Zach and that precludes everything. Until she meets an attractive Amish man. And an old suitor shows up.

PENNSYLVANIA PATCHWORK is the moving, richly told story of one woman’s heart, her faith and trust, and the choices she makes. Never easy, but one choice can change your destiny.

PENNYSLVANIA PATCHWORK is the sequel to Leaving Lancaster, and while it does stand alone, readers will want to read Leaving Lancaster first so they are up to date with how Esther and Holly come to be in the Amish community.

I liked this book better than I did Leaving Lancaster, but still didn’t connect with the characters the way I’d like. Also the book ends with unanswered questions, so I’m guessing there will be a third book following PENNSLYVANIA PATCHWORK. I did like getting to know the characters better as they tried to understand and unravel the mysteries and matters of the heart, relationships, and their pasts.

If you like Amish family sagas with a thread of romance, you’ll love Ms. Lloyd’s books. There are three main female points of view, the grandmother, the mom, and the daughter/granddaughter. $14.99. 384 pages. 3.5 stars.  

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/lG7GU Meet Kate: Author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her novels. She is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. Kate and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest. Kate studied painting and sculpture in college. She's worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur. Learn more about Kate at http://www.katelloyd.net

Landing page:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/KLloyd

Adventures in Odyssey ACTS giveaway!!!!!

Answer the question at the bottom to enter.  Be sure to include contact information. 

Theme: Imagine creative and fun ways to serve using your unique gifts!



Unleashing Imagination



Children are spending more and more time in front of TVs, iPads, computers, and video games. That doesn’t leave much room for kids to dream up their own visual images—like the ones that fill their minds when they hear a great story! Rather than passively receiving images, kids actively engage in making images themselves when they hear a good story. Their imaginations are enriched and stimulated, and the material becomes more personal and memorable.

Adventures in Odyssey is all about great stories—and the power of the imagination. The beloved audio
dramas are heard on over 700 radio stations, and AIO has recently expanded to books and devotionals—
including The Imagination Station series, a fast-growing line of early chapter readers. You can check
them out by downloading a FREE e-book of Imagination Station #1: Voyage with the Vikings!

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey encourages kids to write their OWN stories, as they join in ACTS:
A Call to Serve! AIO is helping children use their imaginations to serve their family, community, and
world this summer—maybe by sending a care package to a missionary or baking cookies for the local
fire department. Check out www.whitsend.org/acts  for details and a chance to win fabulous prizes,
including a mission trip with a parent to Costa Rica!

More important than prizes are the stories your child will tell about the creative ways they served
others, and how they grew as a result. And what they come up with really might change the world!

A Creative Story of Service



Fourteen-year-old Matthew, a dedicated Adventures in Odyssey fan and natural tech whiz, was inspired by a trip to the Apple store to create a smartphone app for his church. Since then, he has created 21 apps for different ministries, including his local pregnancy resource center, Joni and Friends (an international ministry for people with disabilities), and even an “Adventures in Odyssey Fan News” app!

Matthew used his God-given talents and imagination to bless others through technology. Which of your
kid’s unique gifts are waiting to be unleashed for God’s use?

·         FREE e-book of Imagination Station #1, Voyage with the Vikings, downloadable from this private link: http://www.tyndale.com/blog/index.php/voyage-with-the-vikings/

·         An ACTS “Summer of Service” kit, available for download here: http://www.tyndale.com/blog/index.php/acts-summer-of-service-kit/

·         A giveaway of Imagination Station books #1-3. Please leave contact information. To enter, please tell us how your family is planning on serving this summer. 

Must have at least 10 valid comments for giveaway 

Slow Moon Rising

Title: SLOW MOON RISING

Author: Eva Marie Everson

Publisher: Revell

June 2013
ISBN: 978-0800734381

Genre: women’s fiction/family saga

One family. One secret. And one chance to make it right.

Cedar Key has long been a place of rest, healing, and release in the Claybourne family. But it might also be the birthplace of a lie that is poisoning the family from within. Join the strong Claybourne women--Anise, Kimberly, Jayme-Leigh, Heather, and Ami--as they each confront the truth. Their unique paths will lead them through heartbreak, misunderstandings, and pain. But their journeys will also bring reconciliation with each other and renewed love in their own lives.

SLOW MOON RISING is a family saga that spans the years from when the father courts and then returns home with a new bride—young enough to be his daughter. His youngest daughter was still at home, and she got along fine with her new stepmom, but not all the other daughters were as accepting.

As the years passed, the family started facing the truth of their real mother—what she was and what happened and how that affected them. Marriages struggled—and fell apart. Lives were not all a bed of roses—unless one included sharp thorns. And yet… will they take that one chance to make it right?

SLOW MOON RISING is what the title implies. Slow. The story does progress, but the time jumps – in years – were jarring, as were the sudden character POV changes. Written in first person, in each of the daughters, and Anise’s point of view, it goes on for chapters until you are beginning to get to know the character, then suddenly stops, going to someone else.

It is very well written, and readers who like family sagas/women fiction will be sure to enjoy this book. It isn’t a romance—though it has a couple. It is the history of a family. Not all good. Not all bad. Just like life. $14.99. 384 pages. 3.5 stars.

Tracie Peterson giveaway!

 

For nearly 100 novels, bestselling author Tracie Peterson has entertained readers with heartwarming tales of history, romance, and courage. Now you have the unique chance to win a large selection of some of Tracie's greatest adventures, along with her newest novel, The Quarryman's Bride. To enter, just visit Tracie's Book Page on Facebook and fill out the short form. Then click around to read an excerpt, take a poll, and more!

The NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women and Interview with Lysa Terkeurst & Glynnis Whitwer

Title: NIV REAL-LIFE DEVOTIONAL BIBLE FOR WOMEN

Contributers: multi

Publisher: Zondervan

March 2013

ISBN: 978-0310439363

Genre: Devotional/NIV Bible

You spilled coffee on your shirt before walking out the door. Ran late to your appointment. Snapped at your children, then regretted it all day. And spent an hour at the grocery store with no dinner on the table to show for your efforts. A typical day has come and gone.

Life is full of obligations, emotions, and relationships. Some are life-giving, yet sometimes the weight and responsibility of everyday life is heavy to bear. As wives, mothers, friends, and daughters, we need to know we're not alone. We long for someone who understands---someone to help us find perspective. When our days are long, and our nights are restless, it's easy to think we should be able to handle things on our own. Or that no one struggles like we do. And that's when we need a friend ... to encourage us, to understand us, and help us become the woman God wants us to be. You'll find that friend on the pages of the NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women.

Filled with insightful daily devotions written by Lysa TerKeurst and the women at Proverbs 31 Ministries, the devotions in this Bible will meet you right where you are, in the good days and in the hard days, in the car pool line or the doctor's office. With God's truth as the foundation, this Bible will help you maintain a peace-filled place of balance in spite of your life's hectic pace. Features: The beauty and clarity of the New International Version (NIV) Bible 366 daily devotions from the women at Proverbs 31 Ministries inspire you to live authentically as a woman of God.

I used the NIV REAL-LIFE DEVOTIONAL BIBLE FOR WOMEN with my children for Bible study/devotions so we could put it to practical use before I reviewed it. The devotionals are short, easy to read, and interspaced through the Bible. If you want a devotional, you do need to thumb through the Bible to find them. The devotions are designed for women in all stages of life.

I like that notes are included in the devotionals, so if you want to look up more verses you can. I also like that the format of both the Bible and devotionals are easy-to-read. You might want to have a notebook handy for notes and thoughts as you read, unless you like to write in margins.

If you are looking for in-depth, study devotionals, then you might want to look further. If you want a short one that doesn’t take much time, but gives you a moment with God, these are for you. Plus – there’s a Bible attached! 1536 pages. 4.5 stars. $25.00

The NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women

Every woman faces challenges that only another woman can understand. In a culture that is oftentimes antagonistic to biblical values, Christian women are desperate for a daily dose of spiritual reality and a focused time for critical thinking and reflection. TheNIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women is the consummate aid to help a woman gain divine perspective in her quiet moments alone with God. Mature Christians will applaud the depth and character of the devotional content while novices may use the new Bible to institute a fresh start or mark a new beginning in their lives.

Q and A with Lysa TerKeurst and Glynnis Whitwer What was the motivation for the Real Life Devotional Bible for Women and how did it come about? While our devotions subscriptions have steadily grown since we started them in 2003, in the past few years we’ve seen phenomenal growth.  We believe this is because we’ve identified and focused on what makes our writing unique – which is our commitment to being transparent with our struggles while introducing the hope and power of God’s Word to make a difference in our lives. Although our devotions are based on specific verses in the Bible, we believe their impact will be exponentially increased when nestled in the books of the Bible.  Readers will immerse themselves in the context of the devotional verse and grasp a greater vision for God’s heart and purpose for them. What makes this bible distinctive from other devotional bibles? We know what it’s like to struggle in our marriages, as mothers and in the workplace.  And rather than give advice on the right way to solve problems, or set ourselves up as experts, we’d rather pull up a kitchen chair, grab a cup of coffee and enter into our readers’ lives as a friend.  That’s the feel of the devotions you’ll find in this Bible. It’s one mom sharing with another how she overcame her feelings of inadequacy.  It’s one wife confessing to another how she overcame resentment of her husband. It’s one friend telling another how God helped her stop gossiping.  This devotional Bible is filled with real women writing about everyday issues – but always pointing to the extraordinary God who brings hope, comfort and healing in the midst of our struggles. How do you see the bible best being used? Women will enjoy using this Bible as part of their personal devotion time and we hope it encourages women to read more of the Bible for themselves.  It can also be used as a launching pad for small group discussions.  Also, women who are teachers can use the devotions as examples in their own ministry. Are the devotions geared more to the mature believer or the new Christian? We eliminate insider language so a woman who has never set foot in a church will understand the message of our devotions.  And yet, the themes and biblical truths are deep enough that a mature believer will be challenged.  Both new and mature believers will enjoy this devotional Bible because we deal with issues specific to women - and churches don’t always address those types of issues.  For example, how often do churches talk about a wife losing her sexual desire for her husband?  What are some of the particular issues or challenges for women that are addressed? How to not be offended by a friend, how to have greater intimacy with your husband, how to weather the storms of life, how to stop gossiping, how to pray for your children, how to control your words, dealing with hormones, discovering who we are in the midst of parenting, overcoming the shame of our pasts Are all of the devotions related to the Proverbs 31 passage? No.  The devotions are based on verses from Genesis to Revelation. How much of what is shared in the devotions come from your own personal experiences “in the trenches of life”? Our greatest lessons come from what God is doing in our own lives.  We are just ordinary women who share the vulnerable spots in our lives and invite another to walk along side us.  We’re willing to share our mistakes, our regrets, and our pain so we can point others to our Source of our help and hope.  In doing so, we find purpose in the hard things we’ve experienced.  2 Corinthians 2:3-4 says it well: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  (2 Corinthians 2:3-4 NIV) www.proverbs31.org Glynnis Whitwer is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries as Executive Director of Communications. She is one of the writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 e-mail devotions, with over 600,000 daily readers, and served as the general editor for the new NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible featuring 366 Proverbs 31 Ministries’ devotions.  She is the author of I Used to be So Organized, When Your Child Hurts, and work@home: A Practical Guide for Women Who Want to Work from Home.  She is also co-author of a Bible studies series entitled Kingdom Living. Glynnis has a degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Arizona State University and worked as a PR writer before joining the staff of Proverbs 31 Ministries 14 years ago.  Glynnis and her husband Tod live in Glendale, Arizona.  They have five children, ranging from mid-teens to early 20s.  She blogs regularly at www.GlynnisWhitwer.com. NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women: Insights for Everyday Life by Lysa TerKeurst Zondervan Release Date: 03/19/2013 Price: $34.99 ISBN 13: 9780310439363   UPC: 025986439361

Today's Shadows

Title: TODAY’S SHADOWS

Author: Becky Melby

Publisher: Barbour Books

December 2012

ISBN: 978-1616262402

Genre: contemporary romance

Sometimes the past is right in front of you…

Heather Conrad has a chance to start over. Thirty days to forget a painful breakup and work on a business plan while house-sitting for her former boss. But last-minute changes leave Heather in charge of watching a lakeside Victorian mansion and her boss’s seven-year-old daughter, Izzy. Then unsettling events convince Heather something isn’t right around the house.

Security systems installer Ryan Tobin’s goal is to become a police detective. Within hours of meeting Heather, they discover secret doors and a hidden stairway leading to clues of a turn-of=the-century maid who may have been a passenger on the Titanic. Ryan helps search for answers…while using his detective skills  to protect Heather and Izzy from a possible stalker.

As fear escalates and questions about the pass and the present multiply, will Ryan and Heather find answers in hundred-year-old words, an old steamer trunk…and each other?

TODAY’S SHADOWS is part of the Lost Sanctuary series, but it easily stands alone. I hadn’t read any of the books in this series and had no trouble keeping up. The first two books are Tomorrow’s Sun and Yesterday’s Stardust (not necessarily in that order) for those who want to read the complete series.

I enjoyed getting to know Heather and Ryan and Izzy added a nice twist. I thought I had the plot and storyline figured out, but I had some really unexpected surprises along the way. This book is not predicable. It was a fun modern day romance set in a historical mansion with secrets of it’s own. Another parallel historical romance is included, worked into the story.  If you like contemporary romances then don’t miss TODAY’S SHADOWS. $12.99. 320 pages.

Discussion questions are included at the end. 

Barefoot Summer

Title: BAREFOOT SUMMER Author: Denise Hunter Publisher: Thomas Nelson May 2013 ISBN: 978-1401687007 Genre: Contemporary romance Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything. In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian in their riverside town, the loss still haunts her. To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast. Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know. Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart. But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new love. Can their romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks? BAREFOOT SUMMER is the first book in Ms. Hunter’s A Chapel Springs Romance series, and I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I fell in love with Madison and Beckett, and my heart hurt for them as they worked through their heart-hurts and struggles. Ms. Hunter is a stellar writer and one of my favorites. Her books always go on my keeper shelf. Set on the river, this book is a great summer read, as its about learning to swim, learning to sail, and learning to open your heart. Excellent story. 5 stars. $15.99. 336 pages.  Purchase a copy: Meet Denise:  Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too! Learn more about Denise athttp://www.denisehunterbooks.com

Landing page:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/dhunter