Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore

Have you ever had that feeling of being stuck in life? Maybe it's a pit you've thrown yourself into willingly because you really wanted something you knew was not best. Or maybe it's a pit that you just slipped into unsuspectingly or it's a pit that you have been literally thrown into by someone else. All of us have been through some kind of pit in our lives and many of us are still living in one. Beth Moore has written a book about the pits we tend to fall into and gives advice on how to get out of the pits we find ourselves in.

I thought that the book had a lot of good information that can help many who are stuck in different pits. I appreciated the study guide in the back of the book too. It had questions from the chapter that was read, but also personal application questions too. The verse that Beth's book is based on is Ps. 40:1-3--"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." Beth describes a pit as "an early grave that Satan digs for you in hopes he can bury you alive." How do we know when we're in a pit?  You know you're in a pit when... you feel stuck, can't stand up and have lost your vision. If you've been through tragedy that's thrown you in a deep pit or find yourself in a circumstance that is headed in the wrong direction and you can't see a way out, pick up Beth's book and find some hope in Scripture.  God can rescue you from your pit.

My Rating: ★★★

***I received this complimentary book from Handlebar Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

God's Crime Scene for Kids' Mystery Investigation Kit Giveaway

J. Warner Wallace (a cold-case detective and former atheist) has come out with another great detective book for kids. This book revolves around a mysterious shoebox in Jason's Grandmother's attic in which there is a letter address to him! He and his friends must use their detective skills to solve the mystery.  At the same time, Detective Jeffries uses the opportunity to show the kids in his Jr. Detective Academy how they can also use their detective skills concerning the universe around them.  And how everything points to a grand Creator.

I thought this book was a fun way to get kids to think about the evidence that God has given us of Himself in His creation all around us. This book helps them to take the different thinking skills they have learned through the fictional story and apply them to their real life surroundings. I like books that encourage critical thinking. If you're looking for a fun book for your child ages 8-12 yrs old, pick up this fun book that will get them thinking about how they can see evidence for God all around them. Below is the link for a giveaway contest for a Mystery Investigation Kit.  So make sure to enter soon.  The contest ends on August 31st. Also, head over to the blog tour for this book and see what others are saying about God's Crime Scene for Kids by clicking here.

My Rating: ★★★★★

About the authors:

J. Warner and Susie Wallace have been training young people in the church setting for over a decade. J. Warner is a cold-case homicide detective who has been featured on Dateline, FOX News, Court TV and other crime-related television shows. A former atheist, he is the author of "Cold-Case Christianity: God's Crime Scene," "Forensic Faith," and "Cold-Case Christianity for Kids." He has a master's degree in theology and is the founder of ColdCaseChristianity.com. Susie has a master's degree in speech pathology and co-writes (and edits) all the kids books in this series. J. Warner and Susie have four children and live in southern California.

Find out more about J. Warner and at http://www.coldcasechristianityforkids.com.

*** I received this complimentary book from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

 

 

Giveaway Info:

Join your children in learning how to determine the most reasonable cause for everything we see in creation with a real-life detective! In God's Crime Scene for Kids, J. Warner Wallace shows kids ages 8 to 12 what skills are needed to solve Jason's mystery. Jason uncovers a mystery in his grandmother's attic. He and his friends, Hannah, Daniel and Jasmine, enlist the help of Detective Jeffries at the Jr. Detective's Academy. Your kids will look at evidence in the universe that demonstrates God is the creator and ultimately learn how to make their own case for God's existence.

Help your kids become detectives who investigate creation for signs of God and His creativity by entering to win the Mystery Investigation Kit!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of God's Crime Scene for Kids
• A Kindle Fire so your kids can visit the Cold-Case Christianity for Kids website and start their journey in the Case Makers Academy
• A kid-proof, protective Kindle Fire case (your kids' choice of color)

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on August 31. The winner will be announced September 1 on the Litfuse blog.

Super Hero Kids Giveaway with David C Cook!

DOES YOUR CHILD LOVE COMIC BOOKS? HOW ABOUT SUPER HEROES?

Now is your chance to have DC and Marvel illustrator Sergio Cariello make your child's dream come true!

Parents!

David C Cook is proud to introduce the newest book in the Action Bible collection: The Action Storybook Bible (coming October 2017). Pre-order The Action Storybook Bible from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or ChristianBook.com to reserve your copy today. Plus click the graphic below to enter to have a chance to win an illustration of your child as a super hero by Action Bible artist Sergio Cariello (who has also illustrated comics for DC and Marvel!).

The giveaway is open until September 11, 2017, 5:00pm MST. Your entry must be received by then to be eligible. Five winners will be chosen at random from eligible entrants.

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{THE ACTION STORYBOOK BIBLE}

Families see the Bible in motion and put their faith into action! The Action Storybook Bible invites families with young children to explore God's redemptive story together. An entry point into the world of The Action Bible, it tells of the amazing creation story, powerful kings who reigned over ancient Israel, God's miraculous gift of eternal life through Jesus, and more! God's promise for the world is displayed throughout every page. Discover your family's place in God's incredible story and together put your faith into action! Interactive features include:

• Fifteen key episodes from God's Word-each one loaded with several stories along with over 350 brand-new illustrations throughout.
• Short and easy readings-for children ages eight and under with rich, colorful images.
• Life, Faith, Action! features-conclude every episode and invite families to talk about how God moves in the stories, how to see God in life today, how to put faith into action, and how to easily talk to God with a suggested prayer.
• Hall of Fame visual index-the place to look up favorite Bible characters by discovering their icon connections and finding them in the stories.

Learn more and purchase a copy here.

A Name Unknow by Roseanna M. White

Roseanna M. White has released a new series called Shadows Over England. Her first book, A Name Unknown, is about a young woman named Rosemary Gresham whose certain set of skills has landed her a job that will provide a lot of needed money for her and those she cares for. Rosemary has learned the art of pickpocketing since she was small and her talent has led her to larger items of greater value. When the mysterious Mr. V asks her to spy on a man named Peter Holstein, she is lured by the amount of  money he offers to find out who Peter loyal to--England or Germany.

This is a great story. I loved how the story is weaved together pulling you into the mystery at hand. It will have you guessing along the way as to who the villains is, what is the real story behind Peter Holstein and what will Rosemary uncover about him. Mystery and romance is a great combination in a historical novel and the author has done a wonderful job in crafting her story. Make sure to pick up this first book of her new series. This novel is a great one to add to your library.

You can read more of what others thought of this book by clicking here to go to the blog tour page.

My Rating: ★★★★★

**I received this complimentary from Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller

The Captivating Lady Charlotte** is the second book in the Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace series.  This book is for readers who enjoy the regency era and a good, clean, romantic story.

From the Back Cover:
All She wants is to marry for love. And as the belle of the season, Lady Charlotte Featherington should have her choice of suitors. But even this captivating lady must obey her noble papa's wishes--and the marquess has determined that his daughter will wed a widowed duke, not a dashing lord.
All the ninth Duke of Harington wants is for the lady who has captured his heart to love him in return, despite their arranged marriage. But the betrayal of his first wife and the scandal she dragged him into make it nearly impossible for William to believe a woman's heart can ever be trusted.
Now this wounded widower and the romantically inclined young lady must find a way to negotiate a future together and learn the real meaning of both trust and love. Can the legacy of grace help them to find healing and hope?

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading about the story of Lady Charlotte. I'm always glad when I can find a romance novel that is clean and wholesome. It was fun to watch Lady Charlotte grow in her character. With being so young, she had much to learn about the real world she had been sheltered from. I also appreciate a good mystery and this book didn't disappoint in that aspect. It added to the overall theme of trust and love that the author was trying to communicate throughout the novel.
The first book in this series, The Elusive Miss Ellison**was released earlier this year in February, and her third book in the series, The Dishonorable Miss Delancey**, will be released this fall on October 24th. As far as needing to read the books in order, there was enough in the novel that I could tell there was a whole story I missed with not reading the first book.  But on the other hand, it did not hinder me from enjoying the story of Lady Charlotte. This was the first book I have read by the author, and I would definitely pick up another of Carolyn's novels.

Visit the Author site by clicking here to find out more about her books.

My Rating: ★★★

*I received this complimentary book from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

**I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

You Are Free by Rebekah Lyons

This was my first exposure to Rebekah Lyons' books.  This is the second book she has written.  The first was Freefall to Fly. These books have also been made into Bible studies guides to help apply the ideas within the books. You are Free not only has a study guide, but also has videos to watch with it. Since I had recently done the study guide and videos online for this book through faithgateway.com's free online bible studies, I decided to read the book too.
The study had some good things to say, but I am concerned that others may think that their depression or anxiety needs a "grand experience of healing" in order to be free from it.  Or that they just aren't doing things right if they continue to struggle with depression. Experience can be misleading and God doesn't work the same way in each of us. Another thing that concerned me as I read the book, was chapter 5--Free to Thirst.  In this chapter she describes a dream in which she has a clear random phrase as if God was directly speaking to her and the phrase sounded biblical. She then proceeds to back up her dream phrase with different passages from Scripture.  In chapter 6--Free to Ask, she feels led to ask for the gift of healing. From my study of Scripture, I find these things disturbing.  So while she has some good things to say in sections of the book, I cannot endorse this book at all or recommend it.

My Rating:★

***I received this complimentary book from BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.