"The Complete Jewish Study Bible"

Recently, I was given the opportunity to review The Complete Jewish Study Bible, a Bible geared toward both Jews and Christians. Taking a look at this Bible intrigued me, especially since I recently learned there's a good chance I have some Jewish heritage.

divine walls product review

While I've seen wall decals in many of my friends' homes, I've never tried any in my home. Sometimes they look tacky, and sometimes they look great; it all depends on the design. I have been curious about whether I'd like the look of a wall decal in my home, so I jumped at the chance to review a design from Divine Walls.

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Divine Walls crafts inspirational and faith based vinyl wall art for the home, office, or church. Their site boasts over 600 unique designs that you can't find anywhere else online. The design and print shop are both run from their cozy space in Scappoose, Oregon.

The designs available at Divine Walls feature popular scriptures from the Old Testament and New Testament. They also carry decals of Christian phrases such as:

• "Bless the food before us, the family beside us, and the Love between us. Amen"
• "and the Blessings of the Lord Rested upon us."
• And more!

Custom designs are also an option, so the sky is the limit.

Divine Walls loves to work with churches, and they offer wholesale discounts of 10-25% based on the amount spent.

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I was able to choose any regular (non-custom) design, and I decided to go with a Christmas design—after all, can you ever have too many Christmas decorations?

Never having used a wall decal before, I didn't quite realize how they worked—it's not exactly easy to move them to a new location (or, in my case, put it up to try it out and then take it down until the Christmas season). I finally decided to apply the design in a place that's normally covered by a piece of art. Then, when the Christmas season rolls around, I'll remove the art to uncover the Christmas design.

As for the actual application process, it took me about 30 minutes. The design came with a set of very thorough instructions, and I followed them to the letter. However, the process was still a bit frustrating at times. After I marked where on the wall I was going to apply the design, I had to pull off the backing. This was more difficult than I anticipated because some of the letters wanted to pull off with the backing. I especially had trouble with the thinner letters. Once I had the backing pulled off, I applied the design to the wall.

Following the directions, I took a credit card and rubbed the edge all over the design to remove air bubbles. Another reviewer said she used a ruler, and I do think that would be a better choice because you could press harder on the design.

Then it was time to peel off the front paper: the directions said to pull down at a slight angle. Just as when I pulled the backing off, some letters didn't want to stay put. I found that if I pressed with the side of the credit card just below the place where I was pulling the paper off, the letters stayed in place better. The "y" and the script "d" did give me extra trouble, and I had to peel them off and reapply them. 

The end result is quite impressive, though—definitely worth the time and effort to apply the design!

I will say that, though I don't have other experience to prove it, I doubt that Divine Walls designs are any more difficult to apply than other wall art. I'm glad to have this design on my wall, and I look forward to enjoying it at Christmas! 4 stars.

See what others are saying.
Visit the Divine Walls website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

product review: enLIGHTen by trinity--six week update

When I initially reviewed enLIGHTen by Trinity, I said I'd update after six weeks to let you know how the product was working for me. Well ...

It's not.

Working, that is.

I know others who reviewed this product through CWA had fantastic results, so I'm not saying it's a terrible product. I am saying it's not a good product for me.

Here's the review I posted on Amazon earlier today (some of it will sound familiar if you read my initial review):

I have just a couple dark spots on my face—one close to my eye, and one on my nose. I also have terrible dark circles under my eyes. So my hope for this product was that it would lighten the two dark spots on my face and my under eye circles. (Note: Nowhere did I read that this product claimed to reduce under eye circles—I just hoped that it would.) 

After six weeks of regular use, I honestly haven't seen much difference. I hoped that at least the dark spot on my nose would diminish, but it hasn't seemed to change at all. 

My impressions of the product itself: it has kind of a green tea smell to it—not bad, but not really nice, either. I do very much like the way it feels on my skin; it has a nice cooling sensation. Also, a little bit goes a very long way, so I'll be able to use it for a long time ... but I'm not sure that I'll keep using it, since I haven't seen any results after six weeks. I do know that some people have had great success with it, but this product just didn't work for me.

I wonder if maybe my dark spots just aren't big enough or dark enough to be affected by this product. Either way, I'm glad I tried it ... and I'm also glad I didn't have to pay for it myself! 2 stars.

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Buy the product.
Discover other Trinity products HERE.

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Trinity is a Christian Skincare company that develops products for Believers. They try to reinforce the principle that God is in ALL aspects of our lives. Trinity believes in referencing God’s word as part of our identity.

As a reminder of their faith in the Lord, the company strives to see not only outer beauty, but inner beauty as well.  Trinity wishes to motivate and uplift their customers’ spirits, by celebrating both inner and outer beauty; to inspire them to look, to live and to feel their best. Trinity promises to deliver exceptional products that rejoice in beauty, both skin deep and in spirit.

Trinity is built on 3 core values:

1. The Word of God
All of Trinity products incorporate the Scripture into their design and are given names that reflect a positive Christian lifestyle.

2. Customer Experience
Providing the customer with a fantastic shopping experience, including post-sale support, open communication, and a comprehensive, no hassle guarantee.

3. Quality Products
Trinity uses only premium ingredients in their formulations. Many of their products have ingredients found in very expensive products. Trinity products are developed to improve their customers’ skin and to strengthen their faith in God.

Trinity realizes that we are all obligated to care for those in God’s Kingdom, and are all connected to the Body of Christ. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

product review: enLIGHTen by trinity

Update: To see my impressions after six weeks, click here.

Today I have a different kind of review for you: a skincare product review. I was given the opportunity to try Trinity enLIGHTen Miracle Skin Lightener. First a bit about the product:

enLIGHTen is a skin lightening cream that uses natural ingredients to lighten skin, fade dark spots and treat melisma/hyperpigmentation. Melanin is produced by the body to darken skin, and enLIGHTen helps block production of melanin, so as skin regenerates, the new cells are lighter than those they replace. The result is gradual lightening of the skin. Unlike most skin lightening creams, enLIGHTen does not contain bleach, hydroquinone, mercury or any other harsh chemicals.

I received this product three weeks ago, so it's time for me to tell you my initial impressions. I have just a couple dark spots on my face—one close to my eye, and one on my nose. I also have terrible dark circles under my eyes. So my hope for this product was that it would lighten the two dark spots on my face and my under eye circles. (Note: Nowhere did I read that this product claimed to reduce under eye circles—I just hoped that it would.)

After three weeks, I honestly haven't seen much difference, but it's important to note that the directions say you'll see results in six weeks, so I'll update again at that point.

My initial impressions of the product itself: it has kind of a green tea smell to it—not bad, but not really nice, either. I do very much like the way it feels on my skin; it has a nice cooling sensation. Also, a little bit goes a very long way, so I'll be able to use it well beyond the six-week mark.

I am a little put off by the price (currently $39.99 on Amazon), but then I'm put off by a lot of skincare prices! 3 stars. (This may change at the six-week mark.)

See what others are saying.
Buy the product.
Discover other Trinity products HERE.

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Trinity is a Christian Skincare company that develops products for Believers. They try to reinforce the principle that God is in ALL aspects of our lives. Trinity believes in referencing God’s word as part of our identity.

As a reminder of their faith in the Lord, the company strives to see not only outer beauty, but inner beauty as well.  Trinity wishes to motivate and uplift their customers’ spirits, by celebrating both inner and outer beauty; to inspire them to look, to live and to feel their best. Trinity promises to deliver exceptional products that rejoice in beauty, both skin deep and in spirit.

Trinity is built on 3 core values:

1. The Word of God
All of Trinity products incorporate the Scripture into their design and are given names that reflect a positive Christian lifestyle.

2. Customer Experience
Providing the customer with a fantastic shopping experience, including post-sale support, open communication, and a comprehensive, no hassle guarantee.

3. Quality Products
Trinity uses only premium ingredients in their formulations. Many of their products have ingredients found in very expensive products. Trinity products are developed to improve their customers’ skin and to strengthen their faith in God.


Trinity realizes that we are all obligated to care for those in God’s Kingdom, and are all connected to the Body of Christ. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"the greatest is love" by kitra kaspar

Readers who enjoy inspirational romances set in small towns that are full of quirky characters should check out Kitra Kaspar's The Greatest is Love.

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What happens when city doctor Joey Winters meets country lawyer Brad Freeman? Nothing, because Joey is determined to stay unattached. Rural Freeman, Oklahoma is not in her life plan, which means falling for a handsome small-town lawyer is out of the question. Too bad she forgot to tell her heart. However, when Joey’s painful past haunts her, she realizes she will never have a meaningful relationship with any man unless she battles her demons. She knows she needs help but believes God abandoned her long ago. Add in a gorgeous banker named Evan, and the doctor’s life seems to spin out of control. Can Joey trust in God? Does He even care about her?

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The Greatest is Love is an enjoyable, quick read, filled with characters that are, for the most part, quite realistic. (More on that later.) I really enjoyed watching Joey's transition to small-town life and her transformation as she opened her heart to Christ. I found myself completely captivated with the story as I read.

Probably because I was so captivated, Joey annoyed me far more than she would have in a novel in which I didn't feel so invested. See, Joey had two men interested in her: Brad and his cousin Evan. It was glaringly obvious, almost from Joey's first interaction with each man, which man was right for her. Her persistence in dating the "wrong" man—and her rationale for it—made me want to throttle her. Joey did have some issues from her past that informed her present decisions, but for a smart doctor, she certainly seemed dense at times! I do have to say, though, Joey did finally redeem herself, so if she drives you crazy while you're reading, just keep going!

The Greatest is Love is deeper and deals with the ugly side of life more than much of what's in the inspirational market today. I would definitely categorize it as edgy Christian fiction—it's not something you'd want your 12-year-old to read, but it's great for older teens and adults who want more than just a simple love story. 4 stars.

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A retired teacher/counselor, Kitra now enjoys retirement and the opportunity to do what she’s always dreamed of doing—write. Kitra and her husband of thirty-two years live on a farm in northwest Oklahoma. They raise cattle, chickens, quail and occasionally, a litter of kittens. Kitra has three grown children and two grandchildren. She is active in her church and several organizations.

An avid reader all her life, Kitra became hooked on romances early on. She knew she would write nothing else. Her first successes came in the way of confession stories. One titled “Face to Face with a Rattlesnake” won the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation Crème de la Crème contest in 2005-the first time for a confession story. However, as her relationship with God grew, Kitra realized she couldn’t write graphic sex, language or violence.

As Kitra read and explored inspirational romances, she felt disappointed—not because of their squeaky clean content, but because they seemed to deal with such superficial conflicts. Kitra decided she had to tackle the tough issues, like sexual abuse, alcoholism, marital infidelity and sexual promiscuity. The Greatest Is Love is Kitra’s first inspirational novel. It introduces the reader to the small Oklahoma town of Freeman. Somewhere between Mayberry and Peyton Place, Freeman has good and not-so-good people struggling with modern-day issues. Her message is one of hope that God can overcome any hurt the world can inflict, and nobody is so deep in sin that he or she can’t find redemption.

An avid observer of people, Kitra likes to use characteristics of her friends and family in her books. However, even a casual passerby with an obvious quirk is not safe from her observant eye. Book two of the Men of Freeman series is titled Lost Sheep and deals with the destructive nature of guilt and the uplifting results of forgiveness.

Connect with Kitra at Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"hope reborn" by caryl mcadoo

The older I get, the more I want to read about older heroines. We're not talking old old here, but a 21-year-old falling in love isn't really my thing anymore (with some notable exceptions). So when I learned that Hope Reborn was about a 40-something woman who had never before been married, well, I knew I wanted to read it!

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Historical Christian 'Western Adventure' Romance Novel Hope Reborn is Book 3 in Caryl McAdoo's Texas Romance series scheduled to debut Jaunary 9th, 2015.

Set in 1850, it tells the story of May Meriwether, a successful New York dime novelist thinking life is slipping away unfulfilled. She's bored with the same old heroes and heroines and stories and Uptown social circles. Then she spots an interesting article in the Tribune. Texas Ranger Levi Baylor and his Captain Wallace Rusk have captured the Comanche War Chief Bold Eagle. 

The wheels start turning. Throwing caution to the wind, she charges her companion Chester to arrange passage to Texas for the both of them. The Rangers will be wonderful hero models for some fresh stories wrought with adventure and intrigue. May couldn't know the troubles she'd find in Texas and what she could lose there in the new wild west state.

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Hope Reborn tells the story of May, a romance novelist, and Henry, a widower with quite the brood of children. The plot itself is simple and sweet: May is an independent woman who longs to be loved, and she finds that love with Henry. What complicates the situation is May's atheism, as Henry knows he can't marry a woman who isn't a Christian.

I enjoyed the slow unpacking of May's story and especially her connection to Chester, her companion. Actually, Chester was probably my favorite character in the novel—he wasn't afraid to "tell it like it was" to May, and he clearly loved her in a non-romantic way. Also, Henry's children (particularly the young ones) were completely adorable.

As for May and Henry, I struggled to get behind their romance. Perhaps I'm just a cynic, but "love at first sight" plots can be hard for me to swallow. Like or lust at first sight? Sure. But love? Not so much. Yet May and Henry were clearly in love just a couple of days after meeting, after spending only a small amount of time together. I also didn't particularly like May, and that made it hard to cheer for her happiness.

Also, though the book is written well, it never held my attention. I just couldn't muster up much interest in the story, and I struggled to get through the pages. I also had a hard time telling all the characters apart—there's a very large cast of characters—but I think that, had I read the previous two books in the series first, I would have been able to keep everyone straight.

When I was about 90% finished with the novel, something did grab my attention: the emerging story line involving Henry's daughter Mary Rachel. I do think that the novel featuring her story, which releases in May, could be fascinating.

Sometimes, a reviewer will have a completely different reaction to a book than virtually everyone else. This doesn't happen to me too often, but in this case, it has. I've seen the Amazon reviews for Hope Reborn, and I realize that my opinions are in the minority. While McAdoo's romance wasn't the book for me, I suspect many historical romance lovers will greatly enjoy it. 2-1/2 stars.

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In April 2012, Caryl met Mary Sue Seymour at NETWO’s Spring Conference and wrote her first historical Christian romance set in the 1800s especially for the agent. (Whose maiden name was remarkably ‘McAdoo’!) Mary Sue offered representation in August, and VOW UNBROKEN sold in October to Howard Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It debuted on March 4, 2014.

Six months later, book two in the Texas Romance series debuted, HEARTS STOLEN set in 1839-1844. Then two months later a new Biblical fiction series The Generations was born with volume one A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Sheriah, and Abel in Paradise with a kindly old cherub named Namrel!

Caryl, also known as Grami, has fourteen grandsugars (one more than she has books now) and enjoys painting and gardening. A proclaimed psalmist, she’s dedicated to serving God, loving praise and worship and that He frequently gives her new songs. Caryl believes all good things are from Him and prays her new books will minister His love, mercy, and grace to her readers.

To learn more about Caryl and her writing, visit her website: http://carylmcadoo.com/.  Subscribe to The Caryler while you're there and receive a FREE e-book every quarter!

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads and Google+.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"esther queen of persia" by jim baumgardner

About the book (from CWA): Hadassah, the beautiful, Jewish teenager from the city of Susa in Persia, is taken by force to the palace of King Ahasuerus. His command to find the most beautiful virgins in his kingdom, and bring them to the house of women, has placed Hadassah under the supervision of Hegai, the king's custodian of women. Hegai and his servants, have one year to prepare each virgin for one night with the king. Although Hadassah was taken from her home by force, she refuses to become bitter. She accepts being called Esther, but inside remains always, Hadassah. She continually wonders why she is there, yet remains faithful to her God, and to her identity. It is years before the answer is revealed. Her people face annihilation, and it falls upon her shoulders to stop it. Her first thought is to shirk her duty, but Mordecai, her cousin, will not allow it. His words, '"Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"' brings her to her senses.

Unlike many of the novels written about Esther, this book seeks to remain true to the Biblical account, while supplying additional historical information from the time period 486-473 B.C. The book has a five page Introduction, which gives insight into some of the things found in the story. It has a page, listing the months of the Jewish sacred calendar and the corresponding month of our modern calendar. Also in the back of the book is a listing of Scriptures mentioned in each chapter, along with a listing of works consulted in research for Esther Queen of Persia.

My take: I've always loved the story of Queen Esther, so I jumped at the chance to read Jim Baumgardner's retelling of the Biblical story. I was a bit skeptical, though, when the book arrived. Though I understand that a lot of thought and work went into the cover (and the picture makes perfect sense when reading the story), it did not jump out to me as the cover of a book I'd like to read.

"Don't judge a book by its cover," they say, and in this case, "they" are right. Esther Queen of Persia is a completely captivating look the events in the Book of Esther. I especially appreciated the time Baumgardner spent explaining what Esther probably went through as she prepared for her initial introduction to the king. I had never really considered what all would have gone into her preparations, and I wondered why on earth she needed a whole year to prepare. Now I understand.

I especially appreciated the way Baumgardner wove other historical figures—most notably Ezra—into the narrative. I tend to think of Esther in a bubble, not realizing where exactly it fell chronologically. The novel helped to bring the story and the time period to life.

One thing that did bother me throughout is that the novel needed better proofreading, starting with the title, which should be Esther, Queen of Persia or Esther: Queen of Persia. But while each missing apostrophe and misspelled plural caught my attention, the errors were infrequent enough to make them a minor annoyance rather than a deal breaker.

Esther Queen of Persia is a great book—one that fans of biblical fiction will enjoy. I highly recommend it!

My rating: 4 stars

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About the author: Born in Wichita, Kansas, Jim Baumgardner, raised by Christian parents, gave his life to Christ in 1957. The author continues to reside in Wichita with his wife Linda. They have three children and nine grandchildren. Jim has seven published books. Four are known as the Sarah books, which tell of the adventures of a girl named Sarah, set in the 19th Century. The other three are Bible novels, including the author’s latest release, Esther Queen of Persia. All of Jim’s books are primarily written for his grandchildren’s benefit.

To learn more about Jim and his books, visit his websites:
http://www.biblenovels.net/ 
http://kansasjimbo.bravejournal.com/ 
http://www.sarahbooks.net/ 
You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google +, and Goordreads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"red sky at morning" by steve wilson

About the book (from Amazon): When Marine Lieutenant Michael Neill is ordered to the former Soviet Union, his assignment is to verify nuclear disarmament. But before his mission begins, an American reconnaissance plane is attacked by a Russian fighter, and a Navy pilot is killed. After the incident, Neill’s mission changes.

Willis Avery, the President’s National Security Advisor, wants Lieutenant Neill to investigate Russian stealth technology, in addition to his original assignment. Photographic evidence—and the lack of radar images of the attacking aircraft—lead the American intelligence community to conclude that something new has been developed in the skies over Russia. Avery believes that Neill’s friendship with a high-ranking officer in the Ukrainian Air Force is the key to establishing Red Sky at Morning—the existence of new aviation technology that could upset the balance of power between East and West.

However, ultra-nationalist forces are at work. After arriving in Eastern Europe, Neill quickly uncovers a conspiracy of terrorism secretly instigated by the Kremlin. Government leaders in Moscow will stop at nothing to rebuild the Soviet Union as they try to force the breakaway republics back into the fold.

Neill discovers that the terrorism has extended to the weapons facility he is charged with inspecting. Communist agents have gone far beyond their original orders, and it’s a race against time as the Marine—with the help of a beautiful Ukrainian journalist—tries to stop them—and come up with a plan to bring down the corrupt govenment officials in Moscow.

My take: I love military movies, but I very rarely read military fiction. So it was with a little trepidation that I agreed to review Steve Wilson's Red Sky at Morning. I needn't have worried, as this book immediately grabbed my attention, and I soon found myself flying through the pages to see what would happen next.

The action moves quickly, and even though there are many characters, I didn't have trouble keeping them straight ... with one exception. The author often refers to characters by first name, last name, or both, sometimes all within the same scene. Once I figured this out, I was fine, but at first, I thought that Michael and Neill were different people!

While I enjoyed the entire book, the epilogue was, hands down, my favorite part. I don't want to spoil it, but it wraps up a minor character's story line in a most satisfying manner.

Red Sky at Morning is book one in Wilson's Michael Neill series, and I will definitely be continuing with book two. Those who enjoy military or espionage novels should definitely check these out.

My rating:  4 stars

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Buy the book. (If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can borrow the book free.)

About the series: Red Sky at Morning (the first in the Michael Neill series) is a novel of military/espionage, with ties to Christian fiction. It explores the dynamics of faith in uniform, which are often absent from books of the same kind. There’s action, military hardware, strong core values, and even a little romance. Neill’s adventures will hold the interest of young and old, and will encourage readers to value patriotism and embrace honor and integrity.

Michael Neill was born and raised in Ukraine, the son of American missionaries. As a Marine Corps officer, Neill works counter-intelligence. He is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian and brings his linguistic skills to bear on national security issues facing the U.S. The fact that he grew up in that part of the world also gives him an edge.

Neill’s faith guides his actions. He’s an individual who has suffered his share of personal loss, and the different layers of his background are slowly revealed as the series progresses.

About the author: Steve Wilson is a multimedia designer for a large metropolitan newspaper, and has worked in advertising for over 25 years. He is a prior service Marine, now serving as a Master Sergeant in the Air Force Reserve.

Over the course of his military career, he has received the Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 2010 he was named the Air Transportation NCO of the Year. His ties to the armed forces—as well as short-term mission trips—have taken him to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe and the Pacific, as well as the former Soviet Union. These experiences have helped to shape his story lines.

Steve is the author of Red Sky at Morning and Tempest of Fire, both military/espionage novels in the Michael Neill Adventure series. He is the father of two grown sons, and lives in Florida with his wife.

To learn more about Steve and his books, visit his website: http://stevewilsonauthor.com/ or his blog.

You can also find Steve on Facebook.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"journey of hope" by debbie kaufman

About the book (from the publisher): Marriage Is Not Her Mission

Escaping a society wedding, Annabelle Baldwin followed her heart to Liberia to pursue her calling as a missionary. But when an attempted kidnapping lands her under the protection of Stewart Hastings, Anna's journey takes a new turn. The wounded war veteran needs a guide through the jungle. It's a job the underfunded missionary can't refuse, despite the feelings Stewart stirs in her guarded heart.


Stewart knows he won't succeed without Anna's expertise. And when danger puts her life at risk, he realizes he cannot live without Anna by his side. But what will it take for a man who has lost his faith to capture the heart of a woman who lives for hers?

My take: Journey of Hope is both incredibly predictable and totally enthralling. The romance aspect—Anna and Stewart falling in love and Stewart coming to Christ—provides no surprises whatsoever. Anyone who reads the description would be quick to surmise that Stewart's lack of faith, the only thing keeping him and Anna apart, would disappear, paving the way to a happy union. So for me, the romance aspect was just so-so ... not bad, but not great.

What made this book so enjoyable to read was the setting. Anna is a missionary in Liberia in 1920, and her adventures are fascinating! My great-aunt was a single missionary in North Africa in the early 1950's, so I was especially interested in learning about what single women faced on the mission field. While I don't know from experience, everything in this novel (save the romance) struck me as very realistic, and I greatly enjoyed this look at the mission field.

My rating: 3-1/2 stars

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About the author: Debbie Kaufman writes inspirational romance for Love Inspired Historical. Along the years, Debbie has had a lot of adventures. They include running a rural airport, working as a small town journalist, teaching middle and high school, working in domestic adoption, and establishing a Chinese adoption program, just to name a few. And through those exciting times, she and her husband managed to raise four children, an assortment of dogs, a plethora of hamsters, gerbils, many ill-fated fish, and quite a few of their children’s friends, all while homeschooling for many years.

Since becoming an empty-nester, Debbie has learned some eclectic truths about herself: She should never be allowed in a book store with a credit card, hobby stores are off limits unless she is accompanied by a rational adult who holds the credit card, and the smartest thing she ever did outside of giving her life to God was to chase after and marry her husband of more than thirty-six years.

Concerning her books, Debbie wants her readers to know that the fact that some of her books contain cannibals should be understood as an element of adventurous historical romance stories, and should never be misconstrued as the sign of a warped mind. Debbie insists she is as normal as everyone else. To decide for yourself, connect with her at one or all of these hangouts:

Website: www.debbiekaufman.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/debbie_kaufman

Facebook: www.facebook.com/debbiekaufmanfanpage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946642.Debbie_Kaufman

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"come back to jesus" by tanya logan

About the book: Have you drifted away from the Faith? Or has life gotten in the way? If any of these:

• Busy-ness

• Relationships

• Hurts

• Addictions

have held you up, you need Come Back to Jesus.

Renew your love of Christ and your joy in building on the gifts God gave you. STOP just going through the motions. Find the time-stealers and replace them by starting afresh with prayer; center yourself in The Word.

Explore the things that could lead you off the "narrow path." Practice opening up to God, being in His presence....

Experience the love of the Lord like you may never have before. Read the book as a personal growth guide, or use it as a 6-week Bible study and share insights and encouragement with your small group.

My take: As soon as I read the description for Come Back to Jesus—and Don't Bring Your Blackberry, I knew I wanted to work through it. It is a six-week Bible study that focuses on the things that pull us away from Christ—specifically things like social media, entertainment, and hobbies. As I've worked through the first couple weeks, I have indeed identified some things that are causing my relationship with Christ to stagnate. This study isn't an easy one, but I believe it is important.

A few things about the study itself: Logan constantly uses Scripture to make her points—which, of course, I would expect from a Bible study! There's more reading here than in many of the studies I've done in the past, and the response sections are limited. I actually really appreciate this, as I often get tired of the "duh" questions in many studies. I like studies that are very personal, and this one is!

I do have to say, though, that if I hadn't read the description, I never would have picked up Come Back to Jesus. Why? Because of the cover and the title. The use of the word "Blackberry" makes the study seem a bit dated to me—how many people actually use a Blackberry anymore? And the cover photo really didn't entice me, either. I don't think many women my age would be drawn to this book because of those two things—and that's a shame, as this is exactly the kind of study we need.

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the book.

About the author: Tanya Logan found herself drawn to Christ while on a cloud-gazing walk at the age of 9. Since then, she has seen His hand in nature from her native East Tennessee to Washington, DC, Atlanta, GA and now Southwest Florida. A writer all of her life, Come Back to Jesus—and Don’t Bring your Blackberry is her 4th book. She has also freelanced extensively and is the ghost author of 11 books, 2 of which are required reading for college courses.

“If I never have another word from God, this one is enough: Go tell the people to get the “stuff” out of the way so they can worship Me better,” Logan says. Thus the 6-week study Come Back to Jesus was born.

Tanya is married to Mickey Logan and together they share an office as well as a love of the ocean, boating, reading, and much silliness.

Find Tanya on the following websites:

Website: http://tanyalogan.com/WomensBibleStudy.html

Secondary site: http://www.comebacktojesusv.com/

Amazon Author Central Page for Tanya: http://www.amazon.com/Tanya-Logan

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tanyawriter

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyawriter/

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/TanyaRDavis
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"changing churches" by dottie parish

About the book (from the back cover): Are you a "church hopper" or thinking of becoming one? Do you look down on Christians who change churches? Did you know that 76% of "church switchers" are devout Christians? Do you wonder about vast changes in church? Do you wonder what will bring church unity and transformation?

Changing Churches describes, through the eyes of one couple, the difficult journey that "church switchers" travel—a journey often precipitated by disruptive church changes. The book encourages Christ-like transformative change in churches rather than man-devised makeovers.

As you read you will learn about:
• The right reasons to leave a church.
• How to manage the pain and angst of leaving a familiar church.
• How to search for another church-the anxiety and adventure.
• How to handle conflict between spouses about leaving and searching.
• How to find the new church that fits you and fits God's plan for you.

Changing Churches is helpful in understanding the sweeping changes in churches and what we can do to build up the church.

My take: Changing churches can be a very painful thing. Though the times I've changed churches as an adult haven't been rough, I've watched friends and family members agonize over the decision of whether or not to stay with their current church for doctrinal reasons. And I've recently watched an acquaintance go through an incredibly difficult church switch because of abusive leadership. This is the type of church switching I understand.

To be honest, I've often looked down on chronic church-hoppers—those who seem to jump around between good churches. (Yes, as I'm typing this, I have a few people in mind ...) I hoped that by reading this book, I'd be able to understand those people's motivations better.

Dottie Parrish tells a fascinating story of her and her husband's journey to three very different churches. Their reasons for changing churches were substantial—at one church, their new pastor was a false teacher, and at another, the worship was very much a production, and they needed to be in a place that took worship seriously. The Parrishes fit into the first type of church switchers I mentioned, and Dottie even outlines what she feels are valid reasons for church switching. Many of those in the second group—the chronic church-hoppers—change for reasons that, at least as far as I can tell, aren't serious. So while this book didn't help me understand those people, it did give me insight into some of the pain my friends and relatives may have felt.

In the first section of the book, Dottie tells her story. In the second part, she gives ideas for pastors, church members, and church leadership—both for looking for a good church and for improving your current church. While her information is solid, I have to admit it didn't keep my attention nearly as well as the first section.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I learned a lot. I'd recommend it to anyone who is considering changing churches.

My rating: 4 stars

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.

About the author: Dottie Parish brings a seasoned counselor’s wise viewpoint and the soft heart of a child of God to her first book, Changing Churches: A View from the Pew. A longtime resident of the greater Cincinnati area, Parish holds a Master of Social Work degree from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University. She has more than 30 years of professional experience as a counselor at two family service agencies as well as in private practice. Her experience included diagnosing and treating individuals representing a wide variety of problems, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ages as well as short and long term therapy. Her private practice included individual, marital and family therapy with special interest in helping couples resolve marital differences.

She organized and led The Third Option educational group for married couples from 1996-2007 – in two locations.  Parish also wrote a weekly advice column, “Family Counselor,” for more than fifteen years for the Hamilton Journal News, Hamilton, Ohio.

Dottie Parish is a wife, mother and grandmother, and she loves Jesus and His Church. Her current devotion to God and His church stems from extreme misgivings about drifting away from God and church after graduate school. She and her husband lived for decades without faith. Their return to faith in 1990 begins the journey described in Changing Churches. Dottie blogs on a variety of subjects at http://www.faithnotes-dottie.blogspot.com and on Marriage and Family issues on www.taberstruths.com.

You can also visit with Dottie on her Author’s Website or get to know her on Facebook.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

kerri's kreations jewelry review

 Today I have a different kind of review for you: jewelry! When the CWA review crew announced they were putting together a custom jewelry review crew, I jumped at the chance to participate.

We reviewed jewelry from Kerri's Kreations, a business run by Kerri Sweeris.

About Kerri's Kreations: Kerri’s Kreations started out as one woman with a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis (MG) using her talents to bring attention and funds to a cause. It quickly became so much more!

Kerri started making MG Awareness bracelets to raise awareness for this rare disease. Then she started making earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry, some by request and others just by ideas she had or things she had seen. She donates 10% of all of her proceeds to a person or persons in her MG Support Groups online.

At the beginning of 2013, Kerri decided to build her own website. It’s been challenging, but Kerri believes it was the right decision. Kerri’s Kreations LLC now has a real presence online and continues to commit itself to the cause of educating others about Myasthenia Gravis.

My take: When I was chosen for this review, I was asked to visit Kerri's website and pick my three favorite items. Kerri would then choose one of the three to send me. She chose my top pick, Hand Wired Peach Sea Glass and Tiger Eye Earrings. I absolutely love this set! I especially love the necklace. It goes with so many things, too, because it's fairly neutral.

What you can't see from this picture is just how well these are made. The necklace chain and earring posts are very good quality, and the beads and stones don't look cheap. This is a classy set that I'll get lots of wear out of.

Kerri has lots of other pieces available in her store, including bracelets, earrings, bookmarks, wine glass rings, and key fobs. Check it out!

About Kerri: Kerri Sweeris is the owner and designer of Kerri’s Kreations. She is married to a wonderful man named Doug who is a magnificent combination of MacGyver, Daniel Boone and an Iron Chef. They have been married for over 12 years and have an amazing, brilliant little boy, Jacob, who is 6 1/2. Kerri homeschools Jacob, and runs her jewelry business, along with blogging and working on her first book. Needless to say, she is very busy.

Kerri has Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular disease that is progressive and for which there is no cure. Please see her blog for more information. Follow Kerri on her Website, Blog, and Facebook.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"everyday matters bible for women"

About the Bible: Today’s Christian Woman is so busy handling the challenges of day-to-day life that spending time in the Word can easily become yet another ‘should’ buried in that growing list of daily ‘musts.’ Created in partnership with Kyria.com, Christianity Today’s women’s magazine, the Everyday Matters Bible for Women is designed to help women develop spiritual practices that will make their lives richer, not harder. It offers practical encouragement and tools to renew, reinvigorate and restore meaning to everyday life.

This Bible features twenty-four disciplines—or practices—that position us to receive power and strength to do those things that we cannot possibly do on our own and make everyday life fuller and deeper. Each discipline is represented by a colorful icon whose illustration is a reminder of its meaning.

The contemporary language of the New Living Translation combines with content from today’s foremost Christian leaders to help readers understand and apply spiritual discipline.

Contains more than 300 articles and features by more than 140 of today’s most well-known Christian leaders and writers, including: Kay Warren, Priscilla Shirer, Elisa Morgan, Nancy & John Ortberg, Richard Foster, Liz Curtis Higgs, and Lauren Winner.

My Take: I really like this Bible. The translation is New Living, which is one of my favorites for reading. It seems like there's a Bible out there geared toward just about every type of person (and I've owned several, beginning with The Adventure Bible when I was a kid!), so you might be tempted to think this is just another marketing gimmick. But this is different from other Bibles I've seen. What sets this Bible apart are the features included. I really like the idea of studying spiritual disciplines while reading the Bible, and if you don't need an extra book to do it, then all the better!

I wasn't quite sure where to start when I picked up this Bible, so I decided to flip to Philippians, which is the book we're studying in my Monday afternoon Bible study (not to be confused with my Monday evening study over Revelation). The Philippians section contains three additional readings on the disciplines of service, stewardship, and worship. The one that really jumped out at me was on stewardship. This reading, written by JoHannah Reardon, talks about how part of the stewardship of our bodies includes learning to say no, sometimes to good things. That's one of the very things I've been learning (slowly...) this year!

One other thing I like about this Bible the index of spiritual practices (disciplines). Each discipline is listed, along with the locations for each related reading and additional verses for further study. Since the stewardship reading jumped out at me, I think I'll study that discipline first!

Overall, I'm very pleased with this Bible. I think it would be especially beneficial for use during quiet time or in a small group Bible study. (Suggestions for using it in a small group are given right before the index.) Also, because I'm a woman and care about these things, I have to note that the Bible really is beautiful! I love the cover, and the touches of color throughout the book really make it pleasing to the eye. 5 stars.

Buy the book. (Note: The Kindle version is listed as free, but it's not really the whole Bible—it's an introduction and all the readings on "Acceptance" to give you a feel for the Bible.)
See what other reviewers are saying.
Follow Everyday Matters Bible on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

shapelygirl fitness: wrap up & giveaway

I spent the month of October working out with Debra Mazda and ShapelyGirl Fitness. While the month was a challenge for me physically, I loved working out with my chosen DVD, Walking Fit and Fabulous. This DVD is something anyone can do! Sure, you may not be able to keep up all the time, but, as Debra says, "Just keep walking!"

One thing that really surprised me was that I didn't get tired of doing the DVD. I almost always picked one or two of the Pre-Mixes to do, and that helped keep the workout from feeling monotonous.

I didn't experience any giant strides in my fitness level this month, but every little bit counts! I actually enjoyed exercising, which is something I've only rarely experienced in the past. I am confident that I will continue using my DVD even though this review is finished.

Now for my monthly results:
I lost five pounds and .5 inches from my neck, 1.5 inches from my chest, .5 inches from my hips, 1.5 inches from my thigh, .5 inches from my gut, and 1 inch from my upper arm. That's a total of 4.5 inches lost!

Before

After

Not a huge difference in my appearance, but I can tell that my clothes fit differently!

To see my other thoughts on ShapelyGirl Fitness, go to my initial post and my weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 updates.

About the giveaway: I love my Walking Fit & Fabulous DVD, and I'm thrilled to announce that Debra Mazda has given me a copy to give to one of my readers! Simply enter below for a chance to win! (I'm trying out Rafflecopter for the first time, so please let me know if you have any problems.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

shapelygirl fitness: week four update

Week four with ShapelyGirl Fitness is over! This week was a bit of a challenge as busyness coupled with the flare up of some of my health issues left me with not much time or energy to work out. But I did manage to get my three workouts in!

Workout 1 (10-24-12): I was finally able to work out again today following last week's knee injury and a super busy Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday where I was home basically to sleep and shower. I did the Quick Walk & Cool Down from the Pre-Mix menu, and boy did Debra kick my butt! It felt good to sweat again and get my heart rate up, but it also wore me out!

Workout 2 (10-25-12): I did the Bonus Walk from the Pre-Mix menu tonight. It went well, and I finished feeling good.

Workout 3 (10-27-12): My goal today was to do the Long Walk ... well, I got through half of it! I was just so exhausted by that point that I had to quit. I see my doctor again on Monday, and I hope we'll be able to get to the bottom of this fatigue issue.

This week's numbers:
Weight: 191.2 (down .2 pounds)
Measurements: Down 1 inch on my chest, down .5 on my hips, down .5 on my thigh, down .5 on my calf, down .5 on my gut, same on my neck, same on my arm, and up 1 on my waist (huh???).

Check back in next week for my overall review of my experience with ShapelyGirl Fitness. In the meantime, feel free to check out my other ShapelyGirl posts. You can also check in on the other women who are on this journey by clicking below. Not everyone is giving a week four update (we had a choice about when to post our final thoughts, and I decided to do that next week), but you can check out the ones who decided to through this link up.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. 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.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.