"intersect" dvd review

Where is God in the unexpected things of life? In the good and the bad? Intersect is a tool that can be used to start discussions about God's role in our lives.

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Follow the journey of five individuals as they tell authentic stories of circumstances that have forced them to examine how God might fit into their lives.

This five-week small group resource helps spark spiritual conversations. Starting spiritual conversations with those outside of the church is a worthy, yet often difficult and intimidating task. Intersect was designed to help overcome those barriers. It is an easy-to-use resource, perfect for sharing with co-workers, friends, neighbors, and family to enter into meaningful conversations.

Each film is accompanied by thought-provoking questions designed to encourage participants to examine the world in which they live and the life they are pursuing, always ending with a conversation on how Jesus intersects the current topic. Allow this powerful new film resource to engage those you are in relationship with and then propel them forward in their next step with Jesus.

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Intersect contains five short (approximately 5 minutes each) films that cover different topics: expectation, rest, disappointment, trust, and control. Each film focuses on one person's story, which illustrates the topic. The DVD comes with a study guide that includes questions to ask before and after the film is shown.

I enjoyed this DVD. It's intended to foster discussion, and it doesn't dive deep into scripture; instead, it gets people thinking about their lives and how God might fit in. As the films progress, they become more spiritually oriented. The first film, "Expectations," talks about how life doesn't go as we plan, and that's something that everyone can relate to. By the last film, "Control," God's role in our lives is clearly discussed. I think that progression of slowly making the films more spiritually oriented is good—you won't scare people off with the first film, and by the last, they might be seriously thinking about how God could fit into their lives.

I think Intersect would be great for a youth group or small group setting where people are exploring their faith. It's not meant to be an in-depth study for mature believers, but it could be an excellent tool for starting a conversation with friends and neighbors who are not Christians. 4 stars.

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Rob Peabody left his position as lead campus pastor of a mega-church in Texas in 2011 and moved with his wife, Medea, and their two sons to the U.K. He is now the co-founder and director of Awaken, a non-profit organization that exists to provide resources and creativity to the church and reach Londoners in their 20s and 30s with the Gospel. This work is commissioned by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and in partnership with the Church of England.

Peabody also currently serves as a missional consultant for multiple church networks. He appears regularly at the Spring Harvest conferences in Great Britain and will be leading a new upcoming national U.K. conference for young adults called The Pursuit.

In addition, Peabody has written a small-group film series entitled Kingdom Rise (2013), as well as the book Citizen: Your Role in the Alternative Kingdom (2014).

Connect with Rob Peabody at his online home at awakenmovement.com, like the Awaken Movement on Facebook (awakenmovement) or follow Rob on Twitter (@AwakenRob and @awakenmovement).

Cris Rogers is a writer, pastor, speaker and church visionary. In 2010, Rogers planted a church in the poorest area of London with a dream for it to be an explosion of joy within the tower block estate in which he works.

Follow Cris Rogers on Twitter (@RabbiRogers).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"only with blood" by therese down

Set in Ireland during World War II, Only with Blood is a story of family, greed, and redemption.

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When dying Jack Flynn decides he needs a bride so that he can father a son, his young wife Caitlin proves far more than he intended to buy 

Jack Flynn, strong and aggressive but slowly dying of tuberculosis on his farm in Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, decides to acquire--purchase--a young wife who can bear him sons to inherit his family's land. His choice, Caitlin Spillane, is less than half his age, attractive and intelligent, and resents bitterly the obedience that is forced upon her. 

When a young firebrand, a supporter of the IRA, arrives in the village, he and Caitlin are drawn together in their detestation of Flynn. Flynn, traumatized by his own insurgent IRA experiences twenty years earlier, is secretly convinced that Eamonn de Valera's more diplomatic, peaceful approach to Ireland's problems is the only sane one. 

Could Caitlin be won for the cause, and leave her unloved husband? 

A novel set against the struggle for the heart of Ireland in the Second World War, when the IRA notoriously sought assistance from the Nazis, Only with Blood explores flawed characters placed in extraordinary situations. 

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Honestly, it's hard to really know what to say about Only with Blood. For the first 3/4 of the novel, I struggled to get through it. I think part of this is because I know virtually no Irish history, so the names and events, which I'm sure would have been significant to readers in Ireland or the United Kingdom, meant nothing to me. So much of the story surrounding Donal, the man who falls for Caitlin, centers on the IRA, and this plot line in particular didn't keep my attention.

While no one in Only with Blood is particularly likeable, I was drawn to Jack Flynn. Though he certainly had issues, he had a good heart, something I could sense from the beginning, even when his actions seemed to make him a villain. I especially appreciated the gestures he made toward Caitlin, despite her loathing toward him. There is a moment near the end of the novel when he explains to Caitlin why he married her, and that explanation gave me goosebumps and confirmed everything I thought I understood about Jack. The novel does end rather abruptly—as in, it doesn't really end—but I found that I didn't really mind. Jack and Caitlin's story wrapped up well, and that's the story I cared about.

If Only with Blood had simply been about Jack and Caitlin and the drama surrounding their marriage, I think I would have really enjoyed it. However, the politics—something I'm sure many readers will enjoy—kept me from fully connecting with and enjoying this novel. 2-1/2 stars.

Content note: Only with Blood contains a handful of swear words. It's not excessive, and the Lord's name is never taken in vain.

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Therese Down is currently working as the Head of English at a High School in England and has been teaching English Literature and Language for over twenty years in a range of schools and colleges. She holds a MA in Employment Law and is experienced in personnel management.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"not by sight" by kate breslin

Anxiously awaiting the final Downton Abbey season's arrival on PBS? (Me, too.) Kate Breslin's Not by Sight can be a pleasant diversion during that wait. Set in England during World War I, it's a great mix of romance and suspense.

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In the spring of 1917, all of Britain's attention is on the WWI war front and the thousands of young men serving their country on the front lines. Jack Benningham, dashing heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, is young and able-bodied but refuses to enlist despite the contempt of his peers.

A wealthy young suffragette, Grace Mabry will do anything to assist her country's cause. Men like Jack infuriate her when she thinks of her own brother fighting in the trenches of France, so she has no reservations about handing him a white feather of cowardice at a posh masquerade ball.

But Grace could not anticipate the danger and betrayal set into motion by her actions, and soon she and Jack are forced to learn the true meaning of courage when the war raging overseas suddenly strikes much closer to home and their fervent beliefs become a matter of life and death.

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Not by Sight begins as Grace and her lady's maid Agnes begin handing out white feathers of cowardice at a party. From that moment until the book's end, I found myself completely enthralled with the story. It's a book that fits into many genres: there's mystery and suspense surrounding spies, comedy as Grace tries to work on a farm, wartime drama, and compelling romance between Jack and Grace.

The characters in Not by Sight—including some of the minor ones—are dynamic and realistic; I especially enjoyed the way Jack's stodgy butler, who could easily have been a one-note character, warmed up to Grace throughout the novel. And Jack? He's the kind of lovable rogue that women have long been swooning over. His physical ailment (which really, you'll just have to read about) made him that much more endearing, and it also added just the right amount of romantic tension.

The mystery in the novel is intriguing, and though I figured out the identity of the spy long before the reveal, I still enjoyed seeing everything unfold, and the way it played out was not how I anticipated.

If you like historical fiction, you'll love Not by Sight. And isn't that cover gorgeous? It's definitely one of my favorites so far this year! 5 stars.

Buy the book.

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A Florida girl and former bookseller, Kate Breslin migrated to the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her guitarist husband and a persnickety cat. Author of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing's 2015 Best Award for first time author, and her debut novel, For Such A Time, is a Christy award, RITA award, and Carol award finalist. Kate's second novel, Not By Sight, releases in August 2015. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington's beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through its book reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"rust" by corbin bernsen + giveaway

Psych is one of my favorite shows of the last 10 years, and when I heard that "Henry" (Corbin Bernsen) had made a Christian film, I wanted to see it. I got that film, Rust, from Netflix, and I enjoyed it. Now, several years later, Bernsen has written a novelization of Rust, and I jumped at the chance to read and review it.

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In the midst of a crisis of faith, a man finds hope where he least expects it — his hometown. James Moore is a former pastor who returns home to discover his childhood friend is implicated in the arson of a farmhouse and the murder of an entire family. Convinced of his friend's innocence, James sets out to find the truth. In the process he reclaims a relationship with his father, restores hope to a floundering community, and rediscovers his own lost faith. Rust is an uplifting tale about faith, family and the powerful ties that bind a community.

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Rust is a compelling novel about faith and friendship. I watched the film several years ago, but I only remembered the bare bones of the plot—so the story was basically new to me.

What I appreciated most about the novel was being able to see James' inner struggle as he wrestled with his faith. I thought his faith journey seemed authentic—no flashes of light or voices from heaven called James back to faith, but the Lord slowly worked in his heart, mainly through Scripture.

The mystery is well done, as well, though I did question why everyone was so quick to accept that Travis, James' friend, was the arsonist/murderer. I also would have liked to know what led to James' crisis of faith—it's not important for the plot, but I'm still curious about it long after finishing the novel.

Rust is not a novel that I'd typically read—there's no romance or spellbinding suspense, and it has a gentle feel to it. I think that's part of the reason I enjoyed it so much; it's out of the norm, and it's a great story. I recommend it. 4 stars.

Watch the book trailer (which basically doubles as a movie trailer).
Buy the book.

As part of my review, I'm able to give away a book/DVD combo of Rust! Enter below. (Giveaway rules: Contest is open in the US only. Winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter.com and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Corbin Bernsen most recently starred as Henry Spencer on USA Network’s hit original series Psych. First catapulted to stardom during the 1980s by the hit NBC TV series, L.A. Law, he was nominated twice for both an Emmy® Award and a Golden Globe Award®.  Along the way, he hosted Saturday Night Live, and guest starred on Seinfeld and Star Trek to name a few notable television appearances. In the feature film arena, he starred in the comedy Hello Again, followed by other critically-acclaimed roles in Disorganized Crime, Wolfgang Peterson’s Shattered, The Great White Hype, and as the Cleveland Indians’ third baseman-turned-owner Roger Dorn in the extremely popular Major League series of films. With the film Rust, Bernsen shifted his focus to family-friendly movies and formed Home Theater Films. Bernsen’s latest film project, Christian Mingle, was released in January 2015 by Capitol. Bernsen lives in Los Angeles with his wife of 26 years, actress Amanda Pays, and their four sons. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Pelican Book Group is a producer of Christ-centered fiction and is the first publisher to dedicate an entire new-adult romance imprint to promoting sexual purity. Headquartered in the Four Corners area of the United States, Pelican Book Group serves a global audience under its White Rose Publishing, Harbourlight, Watershed, and Pure Amore imprints. Founded in 2009, Pelican Book Group publishes numerous critically-acclaimed titles by award-winning authors from around the globe. Pelican Book Group was among the first to provide subscription-based e-books to the Christian marketplace.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"dancing through life" by candace cameron bure

Growing up in the 90's, I, like many of my peers, absolutely loved Full House. Though I was closer in age to Stephanie, I identified with D.J., and I really admired her portrayer, Candace Cameron. After the show ended (which crushed me, by the way), Candace married and stepped out of the spotlight. I sort of loosely kept up with her throughout the years, and then she began appearing more regularly on Hallmark films (which I'm a sucker for!), so I started paying more attention to her and her faith. Then she signed onto Dancing with the Stars, and I faithfully watched. Dancing Through Life details her time on the show.

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Candace Cameron Bure has grown up before our eyes, and we've watched as she's balanced life in Hollywood with her faith for many years. But that all reached new heights when she was given the opportunity to join the cast of Dancing With the Stars. Being on the show was one of her dreams come true; and with that dream came the opportunity to display her Christian faith in front of millions of people, through an intense season of stretching beyond her limits, and to run the race God gave her with joy and perseverance.

Join Candace as she reflects on the self-discovery that came through leaping out of her comfort zone. Go behind the scenes and experience the highs and lows, the roadblocks, and the personal victories. Hear straight from her heart on tough lessons learned about grace, rejection, perfectionism, disappointment, accountability, dealing with criticism, and more. Through God’s strength, and with the help of endless support from her family and friends, see how Candace stayed true to herself and publicly lived out her faith in Christ all the way to the finale.

How do you stand with conviction in your world? Where does your courage come from when faced with challenges? How do you live out your faith on a daily basis despite opposition? Your stage probably isn't in Hollywood and the challenges you are facing may not be on live television, but they are no less real. Come along with Candace as she shares how she found the courage to stand with conviction on one of the largest platforms of her life.

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I really enjoyed Dancing through Life. While a portion of each chapter traces Candace's Dancing with the Stars journey, the rest of each chapter is dedicated to the lessons Candace learned each week, and she shows how those lessons applied to her own life and can apply to other Christians.

I thought Candace came across as very relatable. Yes, her life is far different from mine, but the way she opened up about her struggles made her feel like any other Christian woman who is trying to do the right thing. I also found myself challenged by her; if she can share her faith and stand by her convictions in Hollywood, surely I can do the same in small town Nebraska!

Of course, I very much enjoyed the behind the scenes look at Dancing with the Stars—I've been watching off and on since the first season, so it was fun to see some of the inner workings of the show. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read Dancing Through Life, and I highly recommend it, especially for Christian women who love Full House or DWTS! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.

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Candace Cameron Bure, actress, producer, New York Times’ bestselling author and inspirational speaker, is both outspoken and passionate about her family and faith. Known to millions worldwide from her role as “D.J. Tanner” on the iconic family sitcom “Full House,” Candace continues to flourish in the entertainment industry as role model to women of all ages. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and three children.

Follow Candace on her website and Twitter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review through Icon Media Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the hesitant heiress"--now in paperback + giveaway

You may remember me gushing over Dawn Crandall's Everstone Chronicles last year. I loved the series, especially book two, The Bound Heart, but as they were released in ebook format only, they were inaccessible to many readers. Not anymore! Whitaker House has decided to release all three books in paperback, beginning with The Hesitant Heiress.

In celebration, Dawn is giving away multiple copies of The Hesitant Heiress! Enter both giveaways below:   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Hesitant Heiress

by Dawn Crandall

Giveaway ends September 29, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the series: The Hesitant Heiress (4 stars), The Bound Heart (5 stars), The Captive Imposter (4 stars).

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A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming traditionally published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"israel's mission" by ray vander laan

View Scripture through its historical context with Israel's Mission, the latest entry in the "That the World May Know" series.

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What's your mission?

God gave the assignment to His people thousands of years ago: to bring "lost sheep" back into the love and safety of His kingdom. He said to become a "Kingdom of Priests," and put God on display to show the world what He is like. It's still our task today. In this thirteenth volume of the That the World May Know ® film series, you'll glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace. Discover the mission that can give your life - and the lives of those around you - greater meaning than you ever imagined.

Join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan as he guides you through the lands of the Bible. In each lesson, Vander Laan illuminates the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures. Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the That the World May Know ® film series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

Designed for use with That the World May Know: Israel's Mission Discovery Guide.

Filmed on location at these biblically significant sites in Israel and Jordan:

-Back to the Father's House - Negev Desert
-Show Them the Way - Timnah
-Prodigal Sons and Daughters - Qatzrin
-Return from the Far Off Country - Jerash
-Welcome Home - Qatzrin

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I confess that far too often when I study the Bible I don't think about it in its historical context—I simply read it from my 21st century perspective. So I found this DVD from Ray Vander Laan to be completely captivating. Each session takes place in the Holy Land, and Vander Laan spends a lot of time explaining the context—what those living in Bible times (and shortly after) would have understood because of their culture that those of us living now would probably miss. I was especially fascinated by the context surrounding the parable of the prodigal son—there are so many nuances to that story that I would never consider but would have been readily apparent to the Jews at the time.

The DVD has five lessons that build on each other (each is about 35 minutes long). There's also a Bible study book (called a discovery guide) available. This book has places to take notes during the video and provides discussion questions to go through following the video. Each lesson also has five additional personal study lessons that expand on the information from the video lesson. This is a very in-depth study, and it really aides in understanding.

I highly recommend Israel's Mission. It's incredibly informative and interesting, and it helps people go deeper in their knowledge of Scripture. I think it would be wonderful for a small group study or Sunday School class, and it's also great for personal study. 5 stars.

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Buy the DVD.

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Ray Vander Laan is the founder of That the World May Know Ministries and creator of the Faith Lessons video series with Focus on the Family. An ordained minister, he holds the chair of biblical cultural studies as a religion instructor at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan. He and his wife, Esther, have four children and fifteen grandchildren.


Find Ray online: website

Our task as Christians is to bring “lost sheep” back into the love and safety of His kingdom. How are you doing at welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace? Learn how to work on your task with Ray Vander Laan's Israel's Mission, volume thirteen in the That the World May Know® DVD series. Discover the mission that can give your life—and the lives of those around you—greater meaning than you ever imagined. Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

Celebrate the release of Israel's Mission by entering to win the entire That the World May Know® series—perfect for working through with your family, Bible study, or Sunday school class!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• All 13 DVDs in the That the World May Know® series

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 18th. Winner will be announced September 21st on the Litfuse blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD and study guide free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"mamarazzi" by brooke williams

Release Date: September 11, 2015 from Prism Book Group

Last winter, I read my first Brooke Williams novel. Accept This Dandelion was pure romantic comedy fun, and I knew I wanted to read whatever else Williams released. Her most recent novel, Mamarazzi, released yesterday, and it's just as fun as Accept This Dandelion! 

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Danica Bennett isn't sure what she hates more...her job or the fact that she's good at it. As one of the many Hollywood paparazzi, she lives her life incognito and sneaks around trying to get the best shot of the latest star. When she is mistaken for an extra on a new, up and coming TV show, her own star rises and she becomes the one being photographed. Add that to the fact that she's falling for her co-star, Eliot Lane, and Danica is in a whole heap of trouble.

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From beginning to end, Mamarazzi is just plain fun! I found it very easy to identify with Danica, a woman who got into the paparazzi business to pay the bills but dreams of becoming a "legitimate" photographer. Her struggles—the moral dilemma of whether to submit a particular photograph, the guilt she felt due to leaving her Alzheimer's afflicted mother in a nursing home in Nebraska while she chased her dreams in Hollywood, and the question of when to reveal her identity to Lane—felt realistic and added depth to the novel.

I enjoyed the romance between Danica and Lane, but more than that, I loved watching Danica's journey. She began as a woman who hid in the shadows (out of necessity), and she became America's sweetheart. Of course, many other things happened before and after she became famous, but those are things you should experience for yourself!

Mamarazzi is definitely a fairy tale—I would be stunned if something like this happened in real life. But that just adds to the charm of the novel—what girl hasn't at some point dreamed that a famous actor would fall in love with her? A few times, I didn't necessarily buy what was happening (usually regarding Gage, one of Danica's co-stars on the TV show), but overall, Mamarazzi is a delightful romantic comedy, and I'm looking forward to reading Williams' next release. 4 stars.

Content note: Mamarazzi is a sweet romance—no swearing or sex. It's perfectly acceptable for everyone from preteens to grandmas.

Buy the book.
Add Mamarazzi to your Goodreads list.
Join the Sept. 15th Release Day Party on Facebook. Enjoy giveaways with a dozen different authors!

Read my reviews of Williams' Accept This Dandelion (4 stars) and Wrong Place, Right Time (3.5 stars).

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Brooke Williams writes in a sleep-deprived state while her daughters nap. Her romantic comedy is best read in the same state. Brooke has twelve years of radio in her background, both behind the scenes and on the air. She was also a television traffic reporter for a short time despite the fact that she could care less about hair and make-up. Today, Brooke stays at home with her daughters and works as a freelance writer for a variety of companies. When she isn’t working for paying clients, she makes things up, which results in books like Mamarazzi.  Brooke is also the author of Accept this Dandelion, Wrong Place, Right Time, Someone Always Loved You,  Beyond the Bars. She looks forward to her first children's book release Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut in June 2016. Brooke and her husband Sean have been married since 2002 and have two beautiful daughters, Kaelyn (6) and Sadie (2).

Connect with Brooke:
Facebook
Website
Blog

Note from the Author on the book's inspiration:

I've always been fascinated by the Hollywood life and the idea that "they" are different from "us." The idea for Mamarazzi has been with me for a long time. I'm not even exactly sure when I came up with it, but in college, I had a screenwriting class and I had to write a portion of a screenplay. I wrote "Paparazzi," which was the same general idea only with a male lead character. When I began writing romantic comedy, the idea came back to me and I decided to change the main character to a female and call it "Mamarazzi." I even had a naming contest so that facebook fans and blog readers could name the characters in the book. Every character in the novel is reader named and approved! Overall, I wanted to examine what happens when you take someone from one side of the fence and plop them on the other side. In the end, famous or not, we're all just people. And in this book, they all have secrets...

And next from Brooke Williams....

"Dandelions on the Road"

releases November 5, 2015...

pre-order today by clicking below

Dandelions on the Road (Dandelion Series Book 2)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"irish meadows" by susan anne mason

Want two love stories for the price of one? Then check out Susan Anne Mason's Irish Meadows.

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Faced With an Uncertain Future, Sometimes
All You Have Left Is the Courage to Dream

Brianna and Colleen O'Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he's put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry--as long as her father's choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone's plans. 

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O'Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father's machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

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Irish Meadows tells the love stories of two sisters: Brianna and Colleen. When the novel began, I was instantly invested in Brianna's story. She yearned for two things: a college education and the love of Gil, the stable hand her father took under his wing and treated like a son. Her father's demands—that she marry an acquaintance for money and social standing and that Gil court the daughter of the man who held the fate of Irish Meadows in his hands—as well as Brianna and Gil's reluctance to defy him kept the two apart for the majority of the novel. Honestly, I quickly tired of the back-and-forth nature of their relationship (which continued even once Brianna's father's demands were no longer an issue), and while I cared a great deal for Brianna and Gil in the beginning, their story didn't interest me so much as the novel progressed.

Colleen's story was the opposite. As the novel began, Colleen was a wholly unlikeable (nearly despicable) character. But as the reasons behind her actions came to light, I began to understand and like her. The appearance of priest-to-be Rylan added much to the novel, and I found Rylan and Colleen's romance to be so sweet and sigh-inducing. In as much as it's possible to fall in love with a fictional character, I fell for Rylan. His devotion to his mother, though a bit misguided, just added to his likeability, and I pulled for him to find happiness.

Overall, I enjoyed Irish Meadows, though I do think I would have liked it more had it focused solely on Colleen and Rylan. Still, it's enjoyable historical fiction, and I'll be looking for the next novel in Susan Anne Mason's "Courage to Dream" series. 4 stars.

Buy the book.

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Susan Anne Mason's debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. Also a member of ACFW, Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. She can be found online at www.susanannemason.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through its book reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the unmaking" by nichole nordeman + giveaway

Nichole Nordeman is back with an EP full of beautiful songs that speak of vulnerability and truth.

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"Before things in our lives can be resurrected and given new life, certain things must die.  Before beauty blooms in spring, roots must do the hard work under the hard frozen soil of winter.  Before you renovate and re-build, you tear down the parts of the structure that are weak or damaged or dangerous.  Before we make, we must unmake."  Nichole Nordeman




Track List
1. The Unmaking
2. Not To Us
3. Name
4. Love You More
5. Something Out Of Me
6. Slow Down

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Nichole Nordeman hasn't released a studio album since 2005's Brave. While some fans may be disappointed that her new album, The Unmaking, only has six songs, I think the disappointment will fade once they actually listen to the music. The music is beautiful, and the lyrics are so honest and vulnerable.

My favorite song on the album is "The Unmaking." Check out the lyric video below:

I also love "Not to Us," which features Plumb. All six songs are great, and I'm super excited to have a CD to give away! Enter through the Rafflecopter below.

Giveaway rules: Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Contest is open in the US and CANADA only. Winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter.com and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Buy the album.

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Nichole Nordeman is a recording artist and songwriter for Sparrow/EMI CMG, with numerous number-one and top ten singles to her credit and cumulative CD sales of over one million.  A two-time Gospel Music Association winner for Female Vocalist of the Year, she has won a total of nine Dove Awards, including the best-selling album, Music Inspired by The Story.  Her best-known songs include "Holy", "Legacy", "Brave", "This Mystery", "Why", and "What If".  She lives with her family in Tulsa, OK.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
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Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. 

"until my name is known" by sonya contreras

Experience God's freeing of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt like you never have before in Until My Name Is Known.

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The Exodus of the Jews from Egypt is a love story between God and His people. God woos His people to Himself as He prepares them to leave. Before leaving, God must fight Pharaoh for possession of His people. See how God changes all people: some for the better, others not. None stay the same. How will He change you? Can you trust a God Who destroyed a nation before your eyes? Would you want Him as your Friend?

See God free His people from Egypt's bonds before a watching world. Trace His Finger in the lives He touches. The time: 2450 BC. The Place: Old Kingdom of Egypt where Pharaoh is god. His people worship him. Israel's God arrives. He challenges Pharaoh. His power touches all people. They must change. Some do not concede. They suffer. Others yield. They find freedom.

Until My Name Is Known brings all to see the one true God. Read it to see Him. Today's historians and archaeologists puzzle over the fall of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, But the world at that time heard of God. The world knew that He is the Lord. His Name was proclaimed in all the earth.

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Until My Name Is Known begins just after the Lord speaks to Moses in the burning bush and goes through the crossing of the Red Sea. Rather than solely focusing on Moses, Until My Name Is Known also follows several Egyptians and Israelites. I've pretty much always thought of the Exodus through Moses's perspective, so it was nice to get a picture of what other Israelites and the Egyptians may have been thinking. While there are many, many characters in Until My Name Is Known, I never once became confused about who was who—Contreras handled the multiple characters expertly.

The story moves at a fairly rapid pace, and it never got boring. However, I found myself struggling to connect with it, for whatever reason. I was interested in the story, but I wasn't captivated. Still, Until My Name Is Known is a well-written fictionalization of the end of the Israelites' time in Egypt, and I definitely recommend it to fans of Biblical fiction. 3 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.

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Growing up with five sisters, Sonya Contreras asked God many questions, even when she did not like His answers. Graduating from Cedarville University and Institute for Creation Research with a Masters Degree in Science Education did not stop her questions. Marrying her best friend and homeschooling their eight sons, she found that dreams do come true, in spite of unanswered questions.

Find Sonya online: website, Twitter

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."