Win an iPad Mini from @LisaWingate! RSVP for 3/19 Facebook Party!

Lisa Wingate's new book Firefly Island is beginning a blog tour with Litfuse Publicity this week.  The tour will end March 18th with a Facebook Party on March 19th.  Below you can read about how to enter for the Ipad Mini contest and RSVP to be apart of the Facebook party where you can win Lisa's new book.  Be sure to check back here for my review of this book on March 12th!

Lisa Wingate is celebrating the release of Firefly Island with an iPad Mini giveaway and a fun Facebook Author Chat Party (March 19th).  

  One fortunate winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• The Moses Lake series (Firefly Island, Blue Moon Bay and Larkspur Cove)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Firefly Island Author Chat Party on March 19th. Connect with Lisa, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Firefly Island and join Lisa on the evening of the March 19th 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 19th!

Threads of Grace by Kelly Long

Threads of Grace is the third book in the Patch of Heaven Novel series by Kelly Long.  Sarah's Garden (book 1) and Lily's Wedding Quilt (book 2) are the first two in the series.  Grace Raber was a such a young girl at eighteen when her parents made arrangements for her to marry a widower, Silas Beiler in order to settle a debt with him.  He was a cruel, angry man, but Grace couldn't bear the thought of disgracing her family especially her dad.  So, she consented to the marriage to save her family.  His cruelty was unimaginable and Grace survived it for many years until her husband passed away after 8 years of marriage.  The only good that came of her marriage was a her son, Abel.  Recently widowed, she and her son left Ohio and headed to Pennsylvania to start a new life, one that was free of bondage.  Upon reaching Pennsylvania, Grace is noticed by the young Seth Wyse.  He is very persistent and she tries to avoid him.  Her heart can't handle anymore heartbreak and men are not to be trusted.  Unfortunately, Silas' brother, Tobias Beiler has Silas' will which says that if she doesn't marry 6 months after Silas' death, then she, her son and Silas' inheritance all go to Tobias.  Tobias is just as cruel and Grace is determined to keep Abel safe.  When Seth offers to marry her to keep her safe from Tobias, she must choose to belong to another man or to run.

My heart was sad as I read this story.  There was so much grief involved in the story line that I just wanted to get the book read and review it.  Maybe because I've had sad things in my life too, I really don't want to read about them. I know that we all go through difficult times and this is a good story about how the grace of God is at work in lives to comfort and guide us throughout life....even when things are bad.  This is definitely not the typical Amish story since the early characters are pretty awful.  I will say that this is a well written book, but be aware that the story is on the sad side of things. 

***I received this free book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

The David Sticker Book

 Recently my daughter and I read this new book called the David Sticker Book written by Karen Williamson and Illustrated by Amanda Enright.  This sticker book was so fun!  While reading the stories the children are able to put in stickers to fill in the missing pictures on the page.  Stickers are always a big hit with kids, and it helps keep them involved in the story.  The book begins with the story of Samuel traveling to Jesse's house to choose a new king that would eventually replace King Saul.  The book also covers: the story of Goliath, David playing the harp for Saul, Saul chasing after David and ends with David finally becoming king.   This book is for children ages 3 and older.


I think the author did a great job re-telling the story on a child's level of understanding.  The illustrations are adorable and fun to look at.  My daughter is 4 years old and had a great time reading and putting the stickers in the book.  The book includes 4 pages of stickers!  If you're looking for a gift for a child and want something that would be encouraging spiritually and fun, then be sure to pick up the David Sticker Book.   I would definitely recommend this book.

**I received this free book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Just in Time for Valentine's day--Bible Stories that end with a hug!

Tyndale Kids has released a new book for children called Bible Stories that end with a hug! by Stephen Elkins and illustrated by Simon Taylor-Kielty.  Each two page spread includes a Bible story that has been paraphrased, and a few questions with the answers.  Each story ends with hug time.  Stories that are included are from the Old and New Testaments.  The age level for this book is 3 and up.
I think that the stories are simple enough for a three year old to get the main concept the author is going for in the Bible story.  I like how each story ends with a hug time.  For example, the first Bible story is called "In the Beginning" from Genesis 1.  At the end of the story, it says, "Give the one made by God...a great big hug!"  The illustrations are really cute and this would be a great gift for a young child for Valentine's day or any time.

**I received this book free from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate

Larkspur Cove is the first book in Lisa Wingate's Moses Lake series.  When Andrea Henderson's life falls apart, she tries to pick up the pieces as she moves to Moses Lake with her teenage son, Dustin. Andrea takes on a new job with Social Services, but has no idea what she's getting into.  The area around Moses Lake is known for "riffraff" up in the hills and drug dealers.  While on her first assignment in the backwoods, Andrea sees a mysterious little girl riding with a strange looking older gentlemen.  As she gets acquainted with the people in Moses Lake, she realizes that they have also seen the little girl, but have no idea who she is or what she is doing with a man named, Len.  Andrea is driven to see to it that the little girl is properly taken care and to try to piece together the mystery of where she came from. 
Larkspur Cove is full of mystery...trying to figure out what's really going on up at Len's place in the backwoods of Texas.  Of course, there is even a little romance in this mystery.  I really liked the way the author tells the story.  The whole book is told from the perspective of two people.  Each chapter is from either Andrea Henderson's point of view or the handsome game warden, Mart McClendon's point of view.  I liked going back and forth between the two points of view.  Usually a book is only told from one side.
If you like some mystery mixed with a little romance, I would recommend you pick up this book.  It was a fun read! 

***I checked out this book from my local library.

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

Lisa Wingate continues her Moses Lake Series with book 2  Blue Moon Bay and the Hampton family.  Before tragedy has struck their family had not been perfect, but they were a family supporting each other through life.  After facing a tragedy, their family fell apart and drifted away.  Now after 16 years, they were back in Moses Lake where the tragedy that had ruined their lives happened.  Heather, a very successful architect did not want to head back to Moses Lake from Seattle, but her mother had left her no choice.  Heather's mom was supposed to be signing papers to sell the family property in Moses Lake, but had changed her mind.  Heather wasn't about to let this deal go down the drain after working so hard to get buyers for the property.  After arriving in Moses Lake, Heather sensed that her mother and brother were not being completely truthful with her.  It was like they had something to hide and Heather is determined to get to the bottom of this mess.

This book has a lot of twists and turns in the plot.  The author does a good job of tying up all mystery leaving no loose ends.  In many ways, I could identify with the main character Heather.  She is uptight, loves a schedule with no surprises.  I know, I tend to be boring.  It was good to see how her character developed throughout the story and ended up actually taking a risk in the end.  Heather also recounts some great memories with her brother from when they were little and it made me think of my little brother....lots of great memories there.  I'll end with some quotes I really liked from this book:
"If we only love people who are exactly like us, why, we're really just loving ourselves, aren't we?"

"We sometimes don't see God because we're so busy looking for something more complicated than frost on glass, my father had told me that day.  If God cold put that much effort in to something that only lasts a few hours in this world, think about how much He pondered you."

"Our lives come as a blank canvas only because we cannot see as He sees.  Before we can conceive our stories, He has watched them in His mind's eye, and not the stroke of a pen happens at random.  Above the book, the Architect, watches with a broader eye, a greater plan, He knows what is to be written on every page."

I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a good book to read.  Make sure you have some time because you probably won't want to put it down after you pick it up.

**I checked this book out from my local library.