Friday, March 17, 2023

"The Maid of Ballymacool" by Jennifer Deibel

About the Book

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading
this book and found it to be well written. I loved being immersed in Irish culture and wanted to step into the book and walk around. I raged with Michael and the injustice done to Brianna and tried to figure out the clues to were she had come from. I did figure out the majority of the mystery, there were pieces that I didn't put together. I liked seeing Brianna grow and stand up for herself. I look forward to reading more books by Jennifer Deibel.

About the Author

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance) and The Lady of Galway Manor (a Parable Group bestseller). Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children

"The Maid of Ballymacool" is avaliable in paperback:

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Revell (February 21, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800741749
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0800741747
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.79 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.88 x 8.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B6Q1FHXY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Revell (February 21, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 8067 KB

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Friday, March 10, 2023

"The Kingdom of God: Our Life with Jesus the King" by John Avery

(I did not read this book)

About the Book

Book: The Kingdom of God: Our life with Jesus the King

Author: John Avery

Genre: Christian Devotional, non-fiction

Release date: March 1, 2023

What is the kingdom of God? Many people only vaguely understand (or misunderstand) it. Is it a future heavenly existence where the nicest dreams come true and nightmares are miraculously purged? After all, it is sometimes called the kingdom of heaven. Perhaps we dismiss it as an irrelevant ideal. Pastors typically prioritize topics like salvation, grace, eternal life, faith, and prayer. Yet, the kingdom was central to the messages of John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and other New Testament writers. Their words and behavior show that the kingdom theme is the framework uniting those topics and the entire mission of Jesus and His followers.

God’s kingdom centers on the King. It’s a life journey shared with other kingdom subjects.

This collection of 38 short pieces (2-3 pages each) explores vital questions like:

How well do we understand Jesus’ view of the kingdom of God?
What did Jesus mean when He spoke of being in (or outside of) the kingdom?
Does the kingdom make any difference to our lives right now? Should it?
Will the kingdom grow automatically, or do we have a part to play?

These pieces can be read quickly; they’re relaxed too—but think carefully and deeply.

Author Interview

1. Do you have a special writing area?
I write in my office/library. It is quiet and I can focus. Often, I develop
ideas as I walk or work.

2. How do you balance writing time with the demands of life/family?
I have to give priority to my wife and business (to pay the bills). I
make a point of prioritizing time with people, especially making
disciples. The writing has to fit around those things. Sunday evenings
are set apart but I find time during the week too.

3. How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Almost every piece begins in my own times with Him and reading the Bible rather than in
research. I might check what I sense against commentaries or reference works sometimes
so that I am not going astray in my thinking and so I understand the meaning of the
Hebrew or Greek words, but the main message comes from those times with Him. The
amount of research varies depending on how new my ideas seem to be and how much I
already know about a topic. Currently I am reading a lot about the Trinity for an
upcoming book about being like Jesus.

4. Was there anything you found interesting while researching the topic?
I had to fact-check an idea about a word in Arabic once. A respected
commentary suggested it had a meaning that was very significant for a
major theme of The Name Quest (my first book about the names of God). I
had to go to the British Library to find a 1902 paper in French, and have it
translated. Even then, the answer was inconclusive. So I tracked down three
professors of Semitic languages. 2/3 said the root meaning did not relate to
my theme. It turned out to be a long rabbit trail but a good lesson in the
importance of research.

5. Do you read much?
Not as much as I would like to. My wife and I read part of a book each evening. We enjoy
historical fiction or classics. I wish I had more time to read Bible background and
commentaries.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

John Avery is the author of The Name Quest: Explore the Names of God to Grow in Faith and Get to Know Him Better (Morgan James Publishing, 2015). The Name Quest won the 2016 Oregon Christian Writers’ Cascade Award for nonfiction. A compilation of short pieces, The Questions of Jesus, was published in 2022.

John is a trained teacher with over thirty years’ experience as a Bible teaching pastor, small group leader, missionary, and disciple maker. He has lived in England, Israel, Africa, and the Caribbean, ministering with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), international student ministry, and local churches. He and his wife, Janet, now make their home in Oregon. John likes to hike, snowshoe, and cross-country ski. John writes short, thought-provoking Bible devotionals at www.BibleMaturity.com many of which will be compiled into books like this one. He maintains a comprehensive resource for all the names of God at www.NamesForGod.net.

More from John

This book is a collection of short devotional pieces. They’re relaxed, but they challenge the reader to think carefully too. What is the kingdom of God? What does it mean for our lives?

Many people only vaguely understand (or misunderstand) the kingdom of God. Is it a future heavenly existence where the nicest dreams come true and nightmares are miraculously purged? After all, it is sometimes called the kingdom of heaven. Perhaps we dismiss it as an irrelevant ideal. Pastors typically prioritize topics like salvation, grace, eternal life, faith, and prayer. Yet, the kingdom was a priority for Jesus.

God’s kingdom centers on the King. It’s a life journey shared with other kingdom subjects.

The pieces explore vital questions like:

How well do we understand Jesus’ view of the kingdom of God?
What did Jesus mean when He spoke of being in (or outside of) the kingdom?
Does the kingdom make any difference to our lives right now? Should it?
Will the kingdom grow automatically, or do we have a part to play?

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 10

Blossoms and Blessings, March 11 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 12

Splashes of Joy, March 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 14

Guild Master, March 15 (Author Interview)

Vibrant Wings by Valerie, March 15

deb’s Book Review, March 16

A Reader’s Brain, March 17 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, March 18

For the Love of Literature, March 19 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 20

Spoken from the Heart, March 21 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 21

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 22

Artistic Nobody, March 23

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, John is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/24b78/the-kingdom-of-god-celebration-tour-giveaway

"Honor's Mountain Promise" by Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Book: Honor’s Mountain Promise

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre:Christian Historical Romance

Release date: March 5, 2023

They both need a new start, but this looks nothing like either of them planned.

Aaron Long never expected his life to turn out this way—finally on the right side of the law, but with a bum leg and driving a freight wagon through the wild Rocky Mountains. The only excitement left in his days is his newfound faith. But in the midst of an urgent deliver to Settler's Fort, the last thing he expects is to discover a woman great with child who pleads for him to take her back to Fort Benton—the opposite direction from Settler’s Fort. He can’t leave her, but he also can’t take her where she wants to go.

Katie Barlow rarely had a say in how her life would go, not even when she married the successful businessman her parents selected for her. Nor when he brought her all the way out to the Montana Territory to start a ranch in these breathtaking and treacherous mountains. She’s a widow now and determined to take control of her future and that of the new life growing inside her. To do so, she must get back to civilization—before the babe is born. When she finally finds a freighter who will take her the first leg of her journey east, all seems to be finally falling into place. Until her transporter is killed and she’s faced with a stranger who will only agree to take her to a little mining town far from Fort Benton and the steamship to carry her home.

When Aaron and Katie set out through the mountain winter, the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading this book and finally getting Aaron's story. I found the book to be well written and a very quick read. I liked the biblical faith element throughout the book and the growth the characters exhibited. I really liked seeing Aaron interacting with Sarah. While reading the previous books in the series first would give you a fuller backstory, I think you could read this book as a standalone. I look forward to reading more books by Misty M. Beller.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

When the Other Brother Finally Gets His Story

Have you ever read a series that needed just one more book? A significant side character needed their story told?

That’s been the case with my Hearts of Montana series for two years now! I thought I’d wrapped up the series with book 3, Faith’s Mountain Home, which features Nate and Laura as they unravel the mystery around a cave near their Montana frontier town. Nate’s twin brother Aaron played a strong part in that story—and not always as one of the good guys. He was recovering from a gunshot wound that shattered his thighbone, and Laura (the heroine) was his nurse and chief physical therapy sergeant. In those dark days during his recovery, Aaron made some poor choices and definitely wasn’t the best version of himself.

By the end of Faith’s Mountain Home, Aaron saw the change in his twin brother Nate and how his new faith made him different—a better man. In one of the last scenes, Aaron apologizes to Laura for how he’s made her job harder when she was trying so hard to help him. We even get a ray of hope that Aaron might be opening himself up to God’s redeeming power.

Ever since that book released, readers and I have both been looking for Aaron’s story! The book where he finds his own leading lady and becomes the man God created him to be (but not without major obstacles along the way!)

Even if you haven’t read the other books in the series, I think you’ll love Aaron’s story in Honor’s Mountain Promise as much as I did.

Praying blessings for you!

Misty

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 1

Texas Book-aholic, March 2

deb’s Book Review, March 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 4

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 4

Splashes of Joy, March 5

Cover Lover Book Review, March 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 6

Pause for Tales, March 6

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 7

Connie’s History Classroom, March 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 8

Through the Fire Blogs, March 9

Holly’s Book Corner, March 9

Blossoms and Blessings, March 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 11

For Him and My Family, March 12

Christina’s Corner, March 12

Betti Mace, March 13

Mary Hake, March 13

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/24947/honor-s-mountain-promise-celebration-tour-giveaway

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

"In Spotlight and Shadow" by Rachel Scott McDaniel

About the Book

Book: In Spotlight and Shadow

Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Fiction / Mystery / Romance

Release date: February 1, 2023

A Gem of a Mystery Takes Center Stage

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Elise Malvern has a habit of letting people down. Her former boyfriend who hoped she’d be his bride. Her grandfather who hoped she’d take over the family’s auction company. But mostly she’s disappointed herself. What’s the point of pursuing her passion as a violinist, if she is too scared to audition for a seat in the Pittsburgh Symphony? Her internship at the elegant Heinz Hall places her in the wings of the stage, but never on it. By accident, she discovers an old stage prop. Her instincts tell her there’s more to the paste necklace than meets the eye. Whether a good idea or not, she accepts help from a childhood friend, who happens to be country music megastar—Pierson Brooks. Pierson and Elise share a history; one she doesn’t care to repeat. The more involved they become in the mystery, the more things get tangled, including her heart.

A century earlier…
Sophie Walters longs for center stage, her name on the marquee, and all that jazz, but climbing her way into an acting career is more difficult than she imagined. Having spoiled all her chances in Hollywood, she returns to Pittsburgh, accepting an insignificant role in a popular production. She watches her dreams pass by from behind the curtain at the illustrious Loew’s Penn Theatre. She finally gets the coveted spotlight, but not for her talent. No, her surge to fame is all one terrible mistake. Somehow, she’s suspected to be a notorious jewel thief known around Pittsburgh as The Mirage. The man she pleads for help is none other than the man she jilted at the altar five years before, Sterling Monroe.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked both time lines and trying to figure out how they were connected (which I didn't). I also didn't figure out the mystery, so that was fun. When Elissa and Cole appeared in the story, I got the impression that they had their own story so I did some looking and I was right. Their story is "Above the Fold". I don't think it was necessary to read that book first, though. I liked the characters and the growth that they showed. I look forward to more books by Rachel Scott McDaniel and in the Doors to the Past series.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. Rachel can be found online at www.RachelScottMcDaniel.com and on all social media platforms. Her work is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency. Rachel resides in Ohio with her husband and two children.

More from Rachel

HISTORY OF THE LOEW’S PENN/HEINZ HALL THEATER

The Loew’s Penn theater in Pittsburgh opened its doors on September 6, 1927. Thousands of Pittsburghians crammed the streets hoping to enter. Those who were fortunate to claim a seat gasped at the grandeur of what that has been billed the ‘Temple of Cinema.’ The new hotspot in the Steel City was regarded as the most magnificent theater between New York and Chicago.

The Loew’s Penn was five stories high and could seat over 3,000 guests. The grand lobby had a 50-foot-high vaulted Venetian ceiling, gilded Corinthian columns, and two spectacular chandeliers. The crystal for the chandeliers was imported from Vienna. From silk drapes to artwork by Renaissance masters to Italian marble staircases the theater seemed more like a museum than a cinema palace. As for the entertainment, the night began with a live stage show followed by a silent film feature.

Attendance averaged around 60,000 theatergoers a week. And with an admission charge of $.50, the theater made around $30,000 a week. Which was a substantial fortune during the 1920s. The theater hosted live stage shows and they also brought in national acts including Paul Whiteman and the Rhythm Boys featuring Bing Crosby. Also Buster Keaton and Eddie Cantor graced the stage.

Over the years, the allure of the Loew’s Penn faded, and the theater fell into disrepair, finally shutting its doors in 1968. The Howard Heinz Endowment purchased the building, saving it from demolition. After a 16-month renovation that had cost over $11 million, the doors opened yet again under the new name of Heinz Hall. The plush red carpet is bold and beautiful, but also a subtle nod to … you guessed it … Heinz Ketchup. The grand lobby features the original marble flooring as well as the two 15-foot chandeliers. The main auditorium seats 2,661 guests. Heinz Hall is now the home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra it also hosts concerts and Broadway touring companies.