PENNY WISE

Penny Wise introduces us to yet another family in "the neighborhood"---the Jaspers, busy with demanding jobs, busy with church, busy volunteering, parents of three active teenagers, juggling sometimes crazy schedules. All good things. Until all those "good things" feed into a series of crises that affects the whole family. Something's gotta change!

The third in the Windy City Neighbors series, Penny Wise is a contemporary peek at an urban family wrestling with the spiritual and practical challenges of real life. The series employs the innovating storytelling technique of "parallel novels," each with its own drama and story arc, but whose characters' lives become intertwined with their neighbors and affect one another. Welcome to Beecham Street---a typical, isolated American neighborhood that is beginning to come out of its shell . . . for better or worse.

Amazon Purchase Link: Penny Wise Castle Rock Creative Publishers (June 10, 2014) My Rating: 5/5 stars



My thoughts...

Saying I enjoyed this latest novel from the Jackson's just doesn't cut it. I really loved this book. They've captured the stressful busyness of everyday life and thrown in some unusual extra's for an amazing read. I especially loved the "pennies", it touched my heart and made me just stop and think about how much God cares for us.

The characters are interesting and I can't wait to read more about the neighbors on this block. Meeting them has been fun. The Jaspers are the focus of this book, they're much too busy with work, children, church, and volunteer activites. Having to deal with bullies, gangs, and then a parents nightmare. So well written... a treasure.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

HOPE DEFERRED

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hope Deferred HopeSprings Books (July 1, 2014) by Elizabeth Maddrey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who loves a good happily ever after.

Elizabeth Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of computers, math, and organization steered her into computer science at Wheaton College, she always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time. This continued through a Master’s program in Software Engineering, several years in the computer industry, teaching programming at the college level, and a Ph.D. in Computer Technology in Education. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity.

She lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband and their two incredibly active little boys.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Christian fiction for women.
Can pursuit of a blessing become a curse?
June and July and their husbands have spent the last year trying to start a family and now they're desperate for answers. As one couple works with specialists to see how medicine can help them conceive, the other must fight to save their marriage. Will their deferred hope leave them heart sick, or start them on the path to the fulfillment of their dreams?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hope Deferred, go HERE.


My thoughts...

Book two in the series follows twin sisters in their journeys to become pregnant. The author has done a good job of allowing us to feel the pain, anger, and hopelessness of infertile women. Not only is the journey expensive but there are moral dilemas June and July face.

One of the sisters does become pregnant and we see how the other sister handles the news as well as the mom to be and the effects it has on her knowing her sister isn't and may never get pregnant. I liked the book and look forward to seeing what else happens in their lives.

THE OLEANDER SISTERS

An emotionally riveting tale of the bonds of family and the power of hope in the sultry Deep South.

In 1969, the first footsteps on the moon brighten America with possibilities. But along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a category five storm is brewing, and the Blake sisters of Biloxi are restless for change. Beth "Sis" Blake has always been the caretaker, the dutiful one, with the weight of her family's happiness—and their secrets—on her shoulders. She dreams of taking off to pursue her own destiny, but not before doing whatever it takes to rescue her sister.

Emily Blake, an unwed mother trying to live down her past, wants the security of marriage for the sake of her five-year-old son, Andy. But secure is the last thing she feels with her new husband. Now she must put aside pride, and trust family to help her find the courage to escape.

With Hurricane Camille stirring up havoc, two sisters—each desperate to break free—begin a remarkable journey where they'll discover that in the wake of destruction lies new life, unshakable strength and the chance to begin again. Dreams are reborn and the unforgettable force of friendship is revealed in The Oleander Sisters, an extraordinary story of courage, love and sacrifice.

Amazon: The Oleander Sisters Mira Publishers (July 29, 2014) My Rating: 5/5 stars

My thoughts...

I started reading this book right after lunch and finished before bedtime, it is that good! Talk about a book grabbing you from the first page... I love it when that happens. The characters are amazing, strong Sis who puts everyone else first and is the protector of the family, Jim who comes home from the war suffering PTSD, Sweet Mama who may be losing her mind but she can pull it together when her loved ones are in need, and a sister that wants a father for her young son so badly she ignores warning signs of danger ahead.

There are secrets and plenty of excitement from front to back, the tenderness and fun of family togetherness. This is a heartfelt story of courage, love, and the strength of family. I LOVED it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

7 Years Younger - Instant Makeover

I have something exciting to share! 7 Years Younger- Instant Makeovers. This book was written by the editors of Woman’s Day magazine, and is packed with makeovers you can do yourself and get instant results.

There are over 100 simple makeovers for hair, skin, and more with inexpensive product suggestions. You can learn how to hide (and prevent) visible veins, how to fade dark spots, and how to create face framing brows. A couple of my favorites were evening out skin tone and building a better breakfast... I am not a fan of breakfast but this helps.

Want to slow down the aging process? Try the book for 21 days risk free. 7 Years Younger - Instant Makeovers

THE STORY KEEPER

When successful New York editor Jen Gibbs discovers a decaying slush-pile manuscript on her desk, she has no idea that the story of Sarra, a young mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century, will both take her on a journey and change her forever.

Happy with her life in the city, and at the top of her career with a new job at Vida House Publishing, Jen has left her Appalachian past and twisted family ties far behind. But the search for the rest of the manuscript, and Jen’s suspicions about the identity of its unnamed author, will draw her into a mystery that leads back to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains . . . and quite possibly through the doors she thought she had closed forever.

Amazon Purchase Link: The Story Keeper Tyndale Publishers (September 1, 2014) My Rating: 5/5 stars

My thoughts...

This is probably my favorite Lisa Wingate book, I love the setting, the characters, the storyline. As I read page after page I could visualize each scene. I would love to dig into that slush-pile and read till my heart's content!

Right after Jen begins a new job with a top publisher in New York City an old manuscript appears on her desk. Knowing this came from the slush-pile that everyone is warned not to touch she isn't sure what to do at first but curiosity overcomes and she reads it which leads her into an exciting but sometimes frustrating search for the author and right back to the place she never wanted to return.

Difficult subjects are handled, we meet Jen's annoying (sometimes maddening) family and of course the author of the manuscript. Amazing story, superbly written.

I read this book through Lisa's "Sisterhood of the Traveling Book".

FREEDOM TO READ GIVEAWAY HOP

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Each participating blog has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one. This giveaway is open internationally.

The PRIZE is your choice of one of the following books:

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Check out these links for more chances to win!

Lauraine Snelling's "GIVE JOY" Sweepstakes!

In bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel, Heaven Sent Rain, Dinah Taylor has an orderly life, and that is just how she likes it. A balanced bank account, a perfectly furnished luxury apartment, a satisfying career as a scientist and CEO of her own company, and an uncomplicated personal life. Then her well-ordered world is thrown into chaos when she finds a seven-year-old boy and his scruffy dog sitting alone outside her office building. See my review HERE.

To celebrate the release of this heart-warming novel, FaithWords and author Lauraine Snelling are pleased to present the GIVE:JOY Sweepstakes. This sweepstakes features three spectacular prizes, each closely connected to the story, but each prize also comes with a twist: you “Enter to Give”, rather than “Enter to Win”!

This is your chance to do something beautiful and make a difference for a friend, family member, shelter, church, or charity.

Timeframe & Notifications:

This giveaway starts July 1, 2014 and ends July 21, 2014 @ 11:59 pm (PST). Entry is open to US residents only, age 18 and over. Winners will be selected Tuesday July 22, 2014, and announced at laurainesnelling.com.

GRAND PRIZE:

GIVE:JOY Grand Prize
HELP & HOPE SUPPORT GIFT

In Heaven Sent Rain, Dinah meets an extraordinary little boy named Jonah, and his dog, Mutt. Jonah faces a life of struggle, hunger, and poverty, but his courage in these challenges inspires Dinah to step outside her well-ordered world and do something wonderful for him. Through her choice, Dinah discovers joy is found not in getting more for herself, but in giving to make someone else’s life better. Our Grand Prize winner will have the same opportunity for joy, with their choice of :

• A $250 VISA gift card for a friend in need, or
• A $250 donation to the faith-based charity, church, or shelter of their choice

SECOND PRIZE:

GIVE:JOY Second Prize
BLESSINGS & BLOOMS SURPRISE BOUQUETS

A mysterious thing happens to Dinah several times in the story: flowers! Beautiful encouragement bouquets—with no sender's name—appear on her office desk during difficult times when she feels she can’t go on. In honor of Dinah's secret flower sender (you'll have to read the story to find out his or her identity) we're offering our Second Prize winner the chance to become a secret flower sender themselves, and brighten the day of a sick friend, a new mom, a military spouse, a weary co-worker, or some other deserving person in their life, with:

• A 3-month gift subscription to ProFlowers Bouquet of the Month Club

THIRD PRIZE:

GIVE:JOY Third Prize
VALIANT VET ENCOURAGEMENT GIFT

Like Jonah's dog, Mutt, the animals in our lives are priceless sources of help, comfort, and unconditional love. No one understands this better than our story's hero, veterinarian Garret Miller. Throughout the book, “Dr. G” works tirelessly to save and heal people's furry friends, including Mutt, and an injured service dog named Valiant.

And Like Dr. G, many real-life veterinarians and animal shelter workers make all the difference in the lives of our animals, often giving services beyond what's billed. Our Third Prize winner will have a chance to do something extra special for their favorite vet or animal shelter, with:

• A $100 veterinary/shelter donation to be used toward treatment of an animal whose owner cannot afford to pay for veterinary care, or
• A $100 Starbucks card sent to the veterinary/shelter staff as a special encouragement gift



How to Enter:

Go to http://www.laurainesnelling.com/html/giveaways.html and complete the entry box, anytime between July 1 and July 21.

About the Book

Book Title: Heaven Sent Rain – by Lauraine Snelling

ISBN:089296913X