Book Pack Giveaway!

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Everything Beautiful: A Coloring Book for Inspiration and Reflection

This beautiful book can be a way for you to find that peace a quiet you need.  I know that sometimes I feel like my head is just spinning from all that needs to be done but what I really need it to be quiet and focus on God.  This coloring book can be a way to do that.

Each page has quotes from either hymns, Scripture, preachers, writers, or teachers.  The quotes might be what you need for that day or week and as you color it you can allow that truth to seep into your soul.

I like to listen to my audio Bible when I color but another beautiful part about this book is that they have a Spotify playlist for you to listen to while you color.  This music will draw you closer to God and quiet your soul as you color.

I received this free from the publisher.

Cautious Maiden Prize Pack Giveaway!

There are TWO prize packages for The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall.  Enter below until November 4th!

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The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall

From the publisher:
Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance;Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiancé who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust; and who to leave behind.
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This is the fourth book in the Everstone Chronicles and it is my favorite! 

Vance.  I know you are supposed to hate him at least in book two of this series, but I had a soft spot for him.  And then, to read this book....brilliance and totally happiness for my romantic heart.

Violet Hawthrone is a perfect character.  She is genuine and her character was a pleasure to read.  She isn't defeated by the changes in her life and instead innocently and bravely goes forward.  The coming together of her vulnerability, innocent, and bravery with Vance's dark past, his present conversion, and intensity is something amazing to read.  Both characters have flaws in them that conflict with the other but you cannot help but cheer for them.  I devoured this book as I wanted to know the finishing story for Vance and Violet and loving each page as I read.

I love the lessons Vance and Violet learn together.  Spiritually forgiveness and redemption and new life are things all Christians have to deal with and it was well written and dealt with, especially with some difficult topics.

I enjoyed reading more about previous characters from the other books and learning more about their stories.  As the Everstones are family it was great to read more about them.  Again, Dawn Crandall is great with secondary characters and it left me hoping and wanting her to write more to this series to bring other character's stories to life. 

I loved Vance and Violet's story and I think you will too!

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

From the publisher:

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she's asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

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This period of history is not something I have read a lot about but my heart resonated with the immigrants from the Netherlands as my heritage is from the Netherlands.  To read the history and lives of these strong and beautiful people was an honor. 

Lynn Austin is an author who writes real life.  Her stories are ones that show the pain of life, the struggles of faith, and the love of God that holds onto us even when we ignore Him.

This isn't the story where life is tied up in a neat bow at the end of it.  It is a story of struggle and heartache.  Yet, isn't that where so many of us are?  In the midst of pain and suffer that we cry out to God for direction and comfort? 

Anna and Geesje are woman who have been disappointed with love, faith, and life but they continue despite it all.  The journey that they take you on will not be easy but it can give you hope.  With Lynn Austin's masterful storytelling the lives of Anna and Geesje will come to life and in their stories I believe many will find hope for themselves.

I highly recommend you taking this journey with Anna and Geesje.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Newton and Polly by Jody Hedlund

From the publisher:
Now remembered as the author of the world’s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father—until the night he hears Polly Catlett’s enchanting voice, caroling. He’s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.

An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John’s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?

Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.

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Jody Hedlund always impresses me with her historical research.  I had no idea that John Newton was ever married or that it played such a role in his salvation and change of heart.

I learned a lot about sailors and shipping routes and the lives that many sailors led.  I also felt that my eyes were opened to the history of the times that Newton and Polly lived.  Readers will be gripped with the story of John and Polly.  Besides their growing love there are world events happening that are shaping the world around them.

Hedlund's author notes at the end of the book surprised me as I learned more about Newton.  She makes me want to get a biography of John Newton's life and reader it and I feel that is one of the best compliments a reader can give, when they make you want to dig deeper into the lives of the characters.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Q & A with Francine Rivers author of Earth Psalms

Q & A with Francine Rivers

Author of Earth Psalms

New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for Inspirational Fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Francine’s novels have been translated into over 40 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries.

1.    What motivated you to venture into your first nonfiction title?

I love reading nonfiction but had never tackled it. When I shared with someone in South Africa about doing “earth psalms” about the way God speaks to me through His creation, someone mentioned turning those essays into a devotional. I love devotionals and read a new one every year, so the prospect of writing one was exciting. Tyndale partnered me with Karin Stock Buursma and we worked together as a team. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the project.

2.    Was it hard to share personal stories about how God has worked in your life without the safety net of fictionalization?

Sharing personal stories about how God works in my life is a pleasure, and I love hearing how God has worked in other people’s lives, too. It’s the life experiences and hope we share with one another that brings God even closer. It shows how personally involved the Lord is in His children’s lives.

3.    Explain the title. How did you come up with the idea of Earth Psalms?

A psalm is a song, and the earth and everything on it, in it, above it, and beyond it is God’s creation. Everything God created sings praise to Him, and I believe also teaches us many lessons about our Creator as well. It’s exciting to look at things we might have taken for granted and see what they teach us about the Lord. We are never to worship any created thing or even creation itself. We are to worship the Creator, Jesus Christ, the Word that created it all.

4.    What will readers find inside the pages of Earth Psalms?

Readers will find an earth psalm (essay) about something God has created and a lesson God has taught me through it. There are questions for readers to ponder or use for journaling: Reflect, Apply, Connect with God. There are also some additional facts, Scripture, and hymns, as well as beautiful pictures. The earth psalm essay was my part. The enriching questions and details are Karin’s, and the beautiful artwork was put together by Jennifer Ghionzoli at Tyndale.

5.    What was it like working with a collaborator for the first time?

Working with Karin Stock Buursma was a pleasure. We talked about any editing that needed to be done, the questions and elements of the devotional. I hope to work with her again.

6.    What is your hope for this book?

I hope readers will look at ordinary things (and some not so ordinary) in a new way and search for ways God speaks to us through His creation. Just as an artist reveals himself through his art, God has given us evidence of Himself in everything He’s created. We are to be good stewards of what God has given us. Nature is to be enjoyed and appreciated. It all points to Him.

7.    Why do you think Christians need to hear this message?

We live in a busy world, and even Christians can get in such a rush they forget to “stop and smell the roses.” Imagine that wonderful scent reminding you that the prayers of believers are like the scent of incense to God. I hope readers will slow down, look around, discover the beauty, and then praise God for all the many blessings He has given us. And then, start looking for ways God speaks to each individual through His creation. The essays I’ve written are lessons I’ve learned, but God has things to point out to each individual that speak to their personal lives.

8.    How do you hope your message will resonate with your readers?

I know many other people who love the natural world and see how it is evidence of God as Creator of all. I hope this devotional will encourage them to rejoice and look for and share how God speaks to them. There are so many mysteries that can’t be explained by evolution, but can easily be explained by God. We have the inside story of how the earth was made, and our place in it.

9.    What first sparked your love of the natural world and when did you begin to connect its role to your faith walk?

Both of my parents loved nature. My dad loved to fish. So whenever we traveled, we camped by a stream, lake, or the ocean. While Dad and my brother fished, Mom and I wandered the shore, looking at rocks and flowers, keeping an eye out for animals. We also lived a couple miles outside a small town, and our entertainment was hiking and exploring. My parents were Christians, active in the church, so I grew up knowing God created the world and everything in, on, and above it. My views temporarily shifted in high school and college, where evolution was (and still is) being promoted as “the answer” to how things came to be. But the closer you look at that theory, the more illogical it becomes, the more holes you find in the thinking. Looking for evidence of God in creation became important because I wanted to pass along that mind-set to my children and grandchildren.

10.  How can exploring nature and God’s creation help to expand our love for Him and result in a closer relationship with our Creator?

I start with the thought: God created this thing, and there is a purpose in it and for it. What does this unique creation say about God? What lesson might He be trying to teach me through this plant or animal? The world is full of evidence and clues, and they all point to Him. It’s a treasure hunt! You have to spend more time with the Lord to find answers. As we ask our questions and seek answers from Him, He gives us the ability to find what He wants us to know. We are blessed that God wants us to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him and has made that possible through His Son, Jesus.

11.  What does nature reveal about our creative and generous God? How might these lessons and observations shape our faith?

Searching for earth psalms has encouraged my faith in the Lord. God has been generous in His creation. He’s given us vast variety and diversity. He’s given us color and shape and texture. We haven’t even begun to fully explore the wonder of His creation. It’s only been in recent history that we’ve “discovered” black holes and nebulae and dwarf stars. We haven’t even seen all the things on the ocean floor. Everything was made by God, an endless wonderland of things to study and explore, all to the glory of God, who made it all.

12.  How have you seen God’s character and faithfulness demonstrated in nature?

The seasons play out the Gospel every year. He gives us the air we need to breathe, the rain to grow the food we eat, the time and eternity to know Him. The one constant is the Lord, who existed before creation and will always be.

13.  God’s glory is manifested in nature all around us. How can we tune into His glorious message? What do you do to discover Earth Psalm moments?

We tune in by praying and reading His Word and asking Him to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to what He has for us. Then we look and listen with hearts fixed on Him. When we discover something that has a lesson for us, we give thanks to God for that lesson. And then we share it with others.

14.  What have your observations about nature taught you about God?

My observations about nature have taught me how much God loves me and every person on the planet. He could have created a simple, functional, plain planet for us to live on. Instead, He created one filled with beautiful, interesting things from the bottom of the oceans to the mountaintops and beyond. It makes my heart ache sometimes that my love is so limited by my human nature. He’s given us so much, gifts beyond counting. Enjoying nature makes me love and praise Him all the more.

15.  What lessons have been most surprising as you dig into the world God created?

God even teaches us valuable lessons through beetles and worms!

16.  You’ve traveled a lot. Do you have favorite places you love to explore over and over again?

My own backyard.

17.  What’s your favorite destination, and do you have a place you’ve always wanted to go?

After Rick’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s, we decided to travel as much as possible while we are physically able, and have done so extensively over the last ten years. We still have a list of places we’d like to visit, many of which are right here in California. The favorite destination of any trip always comes at the end—home. And the one place I’ve always wanted to go—and stay—is heaven.

Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers

ISBN: 978-1-4964-1485-4 

Hardcover: $16.99 | Pages: 224

October 2016

Tyndale.com