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The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer

Posted by html404 on June 4, 2013
in Blog Stuff, Books, Products for Mom, Reviews, Uncategorized

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer. I guess I went into it thinking I know what to expect, after all I’d read other books by Tricia Goyer. While The Promise Box is an Amish romance, it was much more than that. It is the journey of a hurting young woman and young man, whose lives cross and finally blend as they discover strength, healing, a deeper faith and commitment in a community of supportive family and friends.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I truly love the community and faith of Amish believers (or Christians). They have something the world is missing and I believe that is why the rest of us are drawn to and fascinated by them. It is one of the reasons the Amish are so popular among us Englischers.

Here are a few points from the book that I particularly enjoyed:

Page 185, when Gideon said:

I heard it said once you cannot train a horse with shouts and expect it to obey a whisper.

I couldn’t help but think of that in relation to child training.

Page 186, when Gideon spoke:

It’s not about pride, Lydia – it’s about stewardship. We’re supposed to take care of what God puts into our possession. Going forth and subduing the earth isn’t about forcing yourself. It’s tending to.

This made me think of our little farm and all that God has blessed us with….it’s an ongoing work to tend to and care for all of it, plus our family.

Finally, page 200 and the “Be” phrases”:

Be REVERENT in spirit low
Be GENEROUS, give all you can, then give a little more;
Be THOUGHTFUL of the people who are lonely, old, or sad;
Be READY quickly to respond to special appeals;
Be UNSELFISH – all self-seeking with abandon cast aside;
Be HOPEFUL for the best of life, for hope has wondrous worth;
Be APPRECIATIVE for great riches of Christ and His love,

As Lydia indicated in the book, these are easier to memorize than to live.

Hope you can take something from these little excerpts too. I am looking forward to the third book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. The Promise Box receives two thumbs up from me!

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Enter to Win an Amish Baking Box from Tricia Goyer and RSVP for Her 6/12 Facebook Party!

Posted by html404 on June 4, 2013
in Blog Stuff, Books, Contests, Giveaways, Reviews, Uncategorized

Enter Today – 5/22 – 6/12!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One “promising” winner will receive:

Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc…)
Sherry Gore’s Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the “The Promise Box” Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun – book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia Goyer on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

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The Offering by Angela Hunt

Posted by html404 on June 2, 2013
in Blog Stuff, Books, Family Stuff, Products for Mom, Reviews

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

The Offering by Angela Hunt is a story of an emotional journey of two women’s desire give/have a child. Mandy and her husband decide Mandy will be a surrogate for a couple desperately wanting a child since they feel they are not ready financially to add to their own family. However, before Mandy is through her pregnancy her life is changed forever by a tragic event. In her grief stricken state, she willingly goes through with her surrogacy obligations. Two years later she discovers a horrifying mistake.

This novel had to be one of the most emotionally charged books I have ever read. I have actually looked into surrogacy, but in the end because of my history of losses and age wouldn’t qualify for most surrogacy programs. I really don’t know where I stand personally on surrogacy but feel for some it is the right choice for them. I admire surrogate mothers, as well as families seeking a surrogate.

The Offering shows the ultimate sacrifice of a mother. I have no idea what I would do if I were in a similar situation to Mandy. Probably drown in my grief.

I admire Mandy and her courage to seek the truth, as well as her ultimate “offering”.

I highly recommend this book. It is a great read, full of information and will give you much to think about, however, be ready to shed many tears!

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Enter to Win a Nook HD from Angela Hunt and RSVP for Her 6/5 Facebook Party!

Posted by html404 on June 2, 2013
in Blog Stuff, Books, Contests, Giveaways, Uncategorized

Enter Today – 5/14 – 6/4!

Angela Hunt is celebrating the release of The Offering with a Nook HD Giveaway and an Author Chat Party on Facebook {6/5}.

One winner will receive:

A Nook HD
The Offering by Angela Hunt

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 4th. Winner will be announced at the “The Offering” Facebook Author Chat Party on June 5th. Connect with Angela for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Angela will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Offering and join Angela on the evening of June 5th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

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When a Secret Kills

Posted by html404 on May 12, 2013
in Books, Reviews, Uncategorized

This is another book that I read last month during the rain storms. When a Secret Kills is a part of the Deadly Reunions by Lynette Eason and is the last book of the series. Sniff, sniff.

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters in this series. It’s sad when a series comes to an end after you’ve made the characters your friends, so to speak.

When a Secret Kills kept me reading on the edge of my seat…right to the end. It was suspenseful and the plot riveting. I loved the thread of trust some of the minor characters had to have in order to have faith that God would eventually reveal the truth the characters knew in their hearts. Ten years is a very long time to pray and trust for a wrong to be made right. This is so often the case in real life – God reveals His truth in His time and way, not ours. That fact is sometimes hard for us humans to swallow, especially when we want to be in control ourselves, but His time is always perfect.

I loved the captivating plot and the sweet reunion of a family long torn apart by a secret and a crime.

Two thumbs up and I can’t wait for Ms. Eason’s next series!

“Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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Roses Have Thorns

Posted by html404 on May 5, 2013
in Books, Reviews, Uncategorized

Yes, I found some time in the April rains to get a few more books read for review features. This book, Roses Have Thorns, written by Sandra Byrd is a new book about Queen Elizabeth I. Sandra Byrd is also a new author to me. I actually enjoyed both story and author.

This novel was more than a historical romance, it was a story of the life of the lady of the Queen and her relationship to the Monarch. Lady Helena served Queen Elizabeth I through her single, married, widowed, remarried life, life with and without children.

The life of a lady of the queen was a privileged one, yet it was extremely demanding as well. Trust, devotion and true love for Monarch lead to the path of success for those who chose it. However, for those who didn’t…..they quickly discovered the consequences.

Roses Have Thorns was and is an intriguing story set in 1565 about the loving devotion between a queen and her lady. I loved seeing the story play out through threats on Queen Elizabeth I’s life, acts of treason and plots by Mary Queen of Scots; detailing the sacrifices each one made on behalf of England and her Queen.

This book kept me captivated as I lived through Lady Helena and felt her love and pain. It was extremely interesting to live the life of a lady through her eyes. I give the book two thumbs up because I’ll probably read it again. I’d also like to read the other books in the Tudor series, all written by Sandra Byrd.

To order Roses Have Thorns visit http://amzn.to/XHX5LJ

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The Christmas Web – A Christmas Tradition

Posted by html404 on April 9, 2013
in Books, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Holidays, Home, Kids Stuff, Kids Toys, SALES

This is a compensated post.

We’ve all probably participated in “Christmas in July” events or sales, I know I have multiple times over. It’s fun! Christmas is one of our family’s favorite holidays. Each of us has our own Christmas family tradition passed down from one generation to the next, but have you ever started a new holiday tradition? We have started a couple and our children have really enjoyed them.

If you are looking to start a new family tradition, consider www.ChristmasWeb.com The Chirstmas Web comes in a gift set – a hard covered, unique story book titled, “The Christmas Web” and three magic wands in nice packaging that can be used as a display as well. It’s a very cute idea to have children (or adults too!) find their special Christmas gift by following a literal web.

The Christmas Web retails for $39.99, however, right now there’s a “Spring Sale” going on and they are just $29.99. A 25% discount with the code SALE. Just enter the word SALE in the promotional code box to get the 25% discount at www.ChristmasWeb.com. One these are gone the price will go back to $39.99

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjAXh74jYZA

We received The Christmas Web and our younger children liked it and said it was a nice idea and a sweet story. A couple of them even asked when we could use the wands and I told them at Christmas. The next question was, “When is Christmas?” Then the children were trying to figure out how long they had to wait! We look forward to creating a new tradition this Christmas. Then again maybe we could try it for one of our children’s upcoming birthdays. Whether it’s Christmas or in celebration of some other event, I know our children will enjoy having fun following the Christmas web to discover a special treat or gift at the end of the line.

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My Very First Easter Story Sticker Book

Posted by html404 on March 18, 2013
in Books, Family Stuff, Fun Stuff, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Kids Stuff, Reviews

Easter is less than two weeks away and this is my first post about anything pertaining to Easter. We don’t even have any plans yet either, which is how it has been for the past few years. Our children, however, have been enjoying My Very First Easter Story Sticker Book by Lois Rock; illustrated by Alex Ayliffe.

This is a traditional Easter story book about Jesus dying on the cross, however, it leaves out why He died. Yes, He died to make the world a better place, but He died for our sins. That little piece of truth was missing, which was disappointing and seemed dumbed down, in my opinion.

My Very First Easter Story Sticker Book has a twist on the traditional books, as it has an activity at the bottom of each page and children can put stickers in the appropriate pages.

My almost 7 year old and 5 year old loved this book. They really enjoyed putting the stickers on the pages and were eager to finish putting them on – I made them do it in stages so to make it last longer. They just finished it up tonight.

This book may be purchased through Kregel Publications for $5.99 and is paperback.

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Love in a Broken Vessel

Posted by html404 on March 10, 2013
in Books, Reviews

Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews is a biblical fiction novel. My husband loves the minor prophets and I’ll have to admit that I’ve never really fancied them. I enjoyed reading through many of them when reading through the Old Testament because they were quite often the shortest books! Ha! I have found it takes a lot of brain power to try and wrap my mind around God’s prophecy concerning Israel. Biblical fiction helps me put it into perspective for some reason.

This book captivated my interest for the very same reason Rebekah by Jill Eileen Smith did. I enjoyed reading Mesu Andrews’ “take” on the prophet Hosea’s obedience to marry a prostitute, make her his wife and to love her as God loves Israel. Can you imagine receiving a command like that? It seems unfathomable, doesn’t it?

At times I detested Gomer, Hosea’s harlot wife. She couldn’t see what was right in front of her – a loving, tender man who loved her with all his heart regardless of her past or her continual gravitation back to her old way of life – prostitution. God gave him an unselfish love for Gomer and she could not see or believe it for what it really was – God’s love pouring out through Hosea. She had so many walls and barriers up around her heart…Yet Hosea pursued her. The picture of Hosea’s pursuing love showed me anew God’s love for us.

Have you ever thought of God as a pursuing beau? It’s a rather beautiful thought. God’s love is so great that he pursues us. What amazing love!

As with Mesu Andrews’ other biblical fiction novels, Love in a Broken Vessel made me want to read the book of Hosea in the bible and try to understand all that God truly accomplished through the prophet Hosea, who had the hard task of delivering prophetic messages to God’s people. This book truly showed that God’s love endures, even when we are unfaithful – like Israel and Gomer were to their bridegrooms – just as the bible teaches.

“Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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When the Heart Heals Book Review

Posted by html404 on February 17, 2013
in Books, Reviews

This is one of my last book reviews until the fall….I’m hoping some of my favorite authors do not have any new books coming out this spring and summer or else my resolve not to take any more book reviews may end up altering!

When the Heart Heals by Ann Shorey is the second book in the Sisters at Heart Series. I have to say I enjoyed this book much more than the first.

Rosemary, the main character struggles in overcoming the societal misunderstandings surrounding her employment as a war nurse. She is hired by a new doctor in town and can you guess how that ends?

I liked the bit of mystery included in this novel, as Rosemary gets harassed for using tinctures and poultices. Rosemary’s character exhibited a kind and caring spirit, as would be expected of a nurse.

She was strong and courageous in the face of opposition. However, forgiveness was her weak spot and this book shares her journey of learning to forgive those who have hurt her.

Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.