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Thursday, August 10, 2017

"The Blue Little Moon," A New Children's Book by Kelssee Colleen





Book Review from Amazon
ByKara U. on July 6, 2017





The author is serious about helping people embrace their gifts and be who they were designed to be. Through delicate prose, author Kelssee Colleen has woven a parable to explain the light cast from the moon, using the story as an allegory for the readers to bridge to their own life experiences. But even those too young to fully grasp the significant of the text will be mesmerized by the cadence of the author’s tone.

Whimsical, elegant and expressive-faced illustrations by Heidi Thompson enhance the story and will appeal to the intended audience—God’s children of all ages. 

Children will identify with the Little Moon as she strays from the role God made her especially for… with little reason or temptation beyond sheer curiosity. The expressions worn by the Little Moon inspire inquisitiveness and empathy in children. However, this book will also make a great gift to a high-school or college-aged young person due to the subdued “Prodigal Son” theme.

To all potential readers: this book is a cozy reminder of the source of the moon’s light on nights when we feel alone in the darkness.


A portion of book sales goes to help with food and medical care for the children at The GEM Foundation in Uganda.

                                          *~*~*








Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Newest from Deborah Heal

Holding On (Love Blooms at Bethel, #1)

About the book:

A modern retelling of the Old Testament story of Ruth—a sweet romance about courage, loyalty, and second chances.

When Julia passes through the small town of Coldwater, driving her screeching pickup with her mother-in-law and everything she owns in the RV they’re towing, all she wants is to get Helen settled on what’s left of the family farm and hurry back to civilization.

Julia’s still mourning her husband, and so romance is the last thing on her mind. But whenever Neil Ashe shows up, the attraction between them flares—even though his divorce has left him leery of city women, and she’s not interested in muscle-bound farmers, no matter how handsome they may be.

Julia soon realizes she’s going to have to stick around to help Helen hold on to her forty-acres because someone is after them. Besides, how could she leave her mother-in-law to the tender mercies of the legalistic bullies who have taken over Bethel Church? They pick at Helen like Job’s “friends,” telling her God has cursed her. Why else would her husband and both sons die in tragic accidents?

Julia is determined to deal with everything on her own, just as she’s been doing ever since Lucas died. But Neil thinks it’s his job to make all their problems go away. Will Julia stubbornly go it alone, holding on to both her pride and the memory of her husband, or will she ask Neil to come to the rescue—and into her heart?


Lisa's review:

I was a Deborah Heal fan before I learned she was working on a series of Biblical fiction set in contemporary times. This story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful and timeless story perfectly fit for today. I learned a lot about the setting and fully enjoyed the characters as they played out the loyalty, despair and love that go along with making a forever commitment. I adore too-good-to-be-true heroes, even though they make me sigh into tomorrow and realize they're not perfect. That only makes them sweeter. We don't get to know Boaz's inner angst in the Bible, but the author of Holding On made an excellent and determined effort to show it.

No, it's not the time traveling adventure of her earlier series, but show Heal's versatility, and you know...in a way, we do time travel here in this story that parallels the biblical romance of Ruth and Boaz. Recommended for teens and up. Told from multiple viewpoints.

3.99 eBook
11.99 Print

Buy on Amazon US

Friday, June 23, 2017

New from author illustrator Lisa Hainline


Polly’s Pink Piggy Parlor
Written and illustrated by Lisa Hainline
Children’s literature

Hardcover $18.99
Paper $14.99
Coloring book $8.99

Buy on Amazon 

About the Book:
Once upon a time, there was a piggy...with a comb.
Polly is a lovable pig who just wants to do what she loves to do, and would rather play with her dolls than play in the Mud. With the encouragement of friends, Polly ends up starting her very own beauty salon, to help her friends feel unique and beautiful in their own special way. Polly's Pink Piggy Parlor encourages young girls to not only look their best but to discover what their talents and giftings are and develop them…no matter what anybody thinks.

My review:
Polly is a most unusual pig. Instead of the usual mud play, Polly prefers to brush her dolly’s hair, and fix the coiffeurs of other farmyard and zoo animals. She helps her barnyard friend Sally who wants to be “hip” for her trip to town and encourages Polly to practice her talent. No creature was too difficult to beautify – from a fly to an elephant, Polly used her gifts, pampering the animals with their special requests, dyeing, plucking, curling, and even nail/claw treatments. She became so well known that she started her own beauty treatment parlor, the culmination of her hard work and dreams. The story encourages readers and listeners to follow their hearts and work to achieve their goals.

Charmingly illustrated in shaded pastels, Hainlines a/a, b/b, c/c, d/d rhyme scheme will be sure to have kids begging for another read. Accompanied by an outline coloring book, youngsters can color along while listening to their favorite reader. A unique addition to the story is “finders keepers,” a counting list of specialty items found in the illustrations to help Polly put her shop in order. Printable activity papers are available free to download from the author’s website, http://www.lisahainline.com/.



About the author
Lisa Hainline is an award-winning and gifted graphic designer, art director and illustrator, producing/directing for ad agencies, major corporations, radio stations, hospitals, banks, manufacturers, magazines and other small boutique businesses. 


With over 40 years in the advertising industry, for the past seven years, Lisa has turned her focus to helping other authors self-publish their works, designing some of the covers seen on Amazon. You can see her book cover design work at her studio www.lionsgatebookdesign.com, where she merges her design and marketing experience with her spiritual gifts to help Christian authors promote the message God laid on their hearts. 

Founder and author of http://www.thehealingsource.org, Lisa also ministers to the hurting through her blog, articles and praying with others in street ministry.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Lisa now enjoys the continual sunshine in California near her daughter and son-in-law and plans to bring more of her own books to the surface. You can reach Lisa at Lisa@lisahainline.com and through her websites above and at http://www.lisahainline.com and http://www.lionsgatebookdesign.com

Friday, June 9, 2017

New Suspense from Barbara Derksen


E-book $4.99
Print $13.20
Buy the book on Amazon US
Buy the book on Amazon Canada
Buy the book on Amazon Australia

About the Book:
What happens when truth is perverted to suit the circumstances? Christine Smith, owner of Finders Keepers Investigative Services, and Jeremy Goodman, owner of Goodman Investigations, discover the answer when they decide to help a woman recover her children from a Mennonite village in Mexico. Drug running and human trafficking are justified by Elders who place money and control above the people they are supposed to lead. Christine's new faith explores the contradictions in the search for Redemptive Justice.

Lisa's Review:
I like Derksen's passion for her series dealing with the fallen side of humanity. The subjects are not easy ones to deal with, and Derksen does a great job of showing that the best way anyone can see through the depths of evil is with the eyes of Christ. This story I had to try a little harder with as I'm currently involved with a fantastic group of Mennonites who are working on various aspects of our new home. I just can't think of them acting like this, but I know it happens in every culture. I mentally substituted a cult while I read.

I admire Derksen's characters, Christine and Jeremy. Their diligence to seek the truth and find causes to aid in their separate investigation agencies is inspiring. Readers with their hearts on their sleeves for causes to fight for will enjoy this suspenseful tale of rescuing the helpless. Told through multiple viewpoints and distracting constant internal monologue--that's truly my only beef. The description and dialog are great and tell the story just fine.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

New Book Release - The Dress Shop, by Robin Densmore Fuson

A Historical Romantic mystery novella When her father is killed in a train crash, twenty-one-year-old Marian Jamison is left to care for herself and her mother. She admires Thomas Hawthorn, who enters her life by design. Mysterious occurrences and a voice in the night make Marian question her mother’s sanity. She is left not knowing whom to trust, including her own heart. Love and intrigue are woven into an intricate design, fitting perfectly inside the walls of her dress shop, but a loose thread could unravel her entire world.




"I enjoyed this sweet romance with a mystery. If you're looking for a relaxing read set in a more innocent, gentle time, this is the book for you. The novel had the feel of a classic family-themed Hollywood film, like Meet Me In St. Louis. Kudos to the author for creating an appealing world with mostly likable (there are a few snobs which you will easily spot) characters." ~Amazon Review by SD

*~*~*~*


Robin Densmore Fuson

Robin lives in Rifle, Colorado with her husband Jimmy. Together, they celebrate with seventeen grandchildren. An award winner for romance and flash fiction, Robin is multi-published and writes stories on her blog for children. Robin is a member of ACFW, Vice President of ACFW Colorado Western Slope, and member of John316 Marketing Network. She enjoys leading a Bible study group and singing in two community choirs. Robin loves company and challenging her young guests to discover the many giraffes in the obvious and hidden nooks and crannies of their home. Visit Robin's website at http://www.robindensmorefuson.com/ and http://www.kidbiblelessons.com/

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Mission Mesquite by Diane E. Tatum - New Christian Romance



While Kate Lawrence 's parents served in Cote d'Ivoire as career missionaries, Kate's education came in a French boarding school and American University in Paris and Georgetown.  Now a Foreign Service Officer for the US State Department, she wants nothing to do with the missionary lifestyle. 

When she finally agrees to visit their new mission post Mission Mesquite, the rodeo church at the Mesquite Arena in Dallas, Kate meets Tyler Hawkins, an attractive All American Cowboy who has since been crippled by a bull trampling. They have an instant connection, but Kate doesn't know that Tyler has just completed seminary and mission training and is poised to take over Mission Mesquite once her parents retire. 

How can Kate resolve the conflict between her and God and her heart? Will Tyler's past as a freewheeling cowboy cut short his ministry? Mission Mesquite is a contemporary Christian romance.      


  

                 
Diane E. Tatum
           http://tatumlight.wordpress.com/   
twitter: @DianeTatum

Gold Earrings
Mission Mesquite

A Time to Choose
Colonial Dream

Monday, May 15, 2017

Are You Ever Too Young To Take a Missions Trip? Not according to Abigail Bethany Colby

Himalayas 


Guest Post by Eighteen-Year-Old Abigail Bethany Colby
Church Service in Kathmandu, Nepal

Why?
   

“Why?” is a question I hear way too often.

“Why do you want to go on a mission trip so badly?”

“Why do you care?”

I never understand their whys. As a Christian, we are commanded to care for people and share God’s love with as many as possible. If I work hard enough, I know I can raise enough money to go on a mission trip. Even those out-of-town outreaches on Saturdays

I don’t have anything to do a lot of Saturdays, so, of course, I’m going to go. “Why not?” I find myself saying so often. The opportunity is there, and it makes no sense not to take it.
No, I don’t think I’m too young. There is no such thing as too young to serve in the best way possible and do God’s will for your life.

“Do these things when you’re old enough to appreciate it,” they say.

I know I’m capable of appreciating it now. God has put an overwhelming love in my heart for people now, so why not put it to use now? If I waited until I was older, what would I do now? I’m not waiting until I’m older because I’m capable of making a difference now.

I’m not doing this to have a good experience, or to better myself, but to better other people. Until I have ministered God’s Word to people who can give me nothing in return, I have not lived.

“God, please use me now. My life is yours; do as you please with it.”      


© Abigail Bethany Colby