K Dawn Byrd and Amazing Love, her newest book

K Dawn Byrd's New Release! Amazing Love

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational novels in several genres, including, historical, suspense, romance, and young adult. Some of her favorite things are chocolate, cars, and her pets. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and riding down country roads in the passenger seat of her husband's Corvette Stingray. When asked why she writes, her response is, "For the simple joy of placing words on the page!"

 

 

About the book:

Amazing Love, the modern-day story of Hosea and Gomer from the Bible, speaks of God's unconditional love, mercy, and grace and how much loving someone that much can cost.

Gabe Knight, a pastor in a small coastal town, finds his life is turned upside down when Dee Dillow arrives and hires him to remodel an estate she's inherited from her aunt. Dee dashes his plans for wedded bless when on a drunken binge, she divulges that she's the highest paid call girl in Nevada and part-owner of the ritziest brothel in the state.

 

Gabe falls in love with her, but can't believe he's hearing the voice of God when a still, small voice tells him to marry her. After much questioning, they marry and he is deliriously happy. Until, Dee betrays him.

 

Gabe soon discovers just how hard it is to have the unconditional love God calls him to have for his wife, the kind of love God has for his children. When faced with losing her, Gabe realizes what true love is, how much it hurts, and just how much God loves and is willing to sacrifice for his children.

 

 

Excerpt from the prologue:

Prologue

Dee signed the letter with a flourish and then read it aloud.

Maggie:

 

For the longest time, I blamed myself. There must be something terribly wrong with me, something so bad that even a mother couldn't love me. After years of therapy, I've learned that it's not me, it's you, Maggie. You're not capable of loving anyone. That's a terrible thing to say about a mother, but it's true.

Even here at Carpe Diem, I've continued therapy via technology. Today was a hard day because it's my birthday. As was expected, I never heard from you. Like my therapist said, it's not my fault you didn't call. It's a choice you made, Maggie, like so many other bad choices.

 

I used to dwell often on the things you allowed to happen to me. You had to have known that John was visiting my room almost nightly. You chose to ignore it even though he was your husband. And then, he sold me to his wealthy friends and you stood back and allowed it to happen. Whoever had the most money. That wasn't the life I would have chosen if given a choice. Even now, I long for a life of normalcy. A husband, a couple of children, and a picket fence is just a dream.

 

There are times I hate you, but I realize you have demons of your own. Something has happened to you to cause you to be so selfish and full of anger. That's why I try to overlook your hostility and lack of love toward me. You need a good therapist.

My therapist recommends that I write letters to you when I'm angry. It helps. This is letter 642. I've kept them all. You'll probably never read them, but they're not really for you. They're for me.

 

Your daughter, Dee

 An Interview with the Author

Why did you choose to write this book?
A couple of years ago, I was the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible and the thought came to mind that it would be fun to retell the story in a modern setting.

What did you learn while writing this book?
I learned that even though the Bible gives us stories about individuals who lived in Bible times, it's vague at times about specifics. This give a fiction writer a lot of leeway to let their imaginations run wild.

 

Tell us what you think readers will enjoy about it.

 

Amazing Love is the modern story of Hosea and Gomer. It was a tough story to write because my heroine suffers severe consequences for her sins, but it was necessary to portray how low we can go and how much God still loves us through it all. I hope readers will take away the fact that no matter what we do, God loves us with an unconditional love and is ready to accept us back into His loving arms.
 

 

Tell us a little more about yourself , with three things not many people know about you.

I have a masters degree in professional counseling from Liberty University.

I'm an animal lover. I own two hairless Chinese Crested dogs, an African Gray parrot, three ferrets, and several aquariums in my home.

I love sour foods. I'd rather have olives, pickles, or dilly beans than something sweet sometimes.
 

What are you working on right now?

I'm working on a thriller about a serial killer. It's a difficult story because there are several twists and turns and I have to be careful how I write it for everything to fall into place correctly.
 

What's next for you?

I have three releases in 2012, all young adult. Something Beautiful in January. The Hot Line Girl in June. Luck of the Draw in November.

New cookbook review - A Farmer's Daughter

A Farmer’s Daughter: Recipes from a Mennonite Kitchen

By Dawn Stoltzfus  

978-0-8007-2091-9

$13.99 

224 pages

Pub Date: October 2012

 

Looking at a book that says “Over 300 mouthwatering recipes!” I’m excited! And when I check it out, this book, is so much more than a cookbook. Reminiscent of the Raised on Sunshine and Raised on Rainbows, Stoltzfus includes little tidbits such as Food For Thought that’s almost a devotional and a challenge at the end of chapters. “How do you prepare for your own day of rest?” she asks at the end of Chapter Four. “I encourage you to incorporate this principle of rest and see what it will do for your soul!” The author also makes plenty of suggestions for additions and substitutes on many recipes - a great time-saver when you're in a hurry and don't have or care for or are allergic to some of the ingredients.

I page through, seeing a few favorites, such as cheddar potato chowder, variations on meatloaf and all kinds of yummy breads. Things to do with tomatoes…tomato toppers with bacon and onions and Worcestershire sauce. Ah – Hubby has a newfound love of rosemary. I think I’ll try the Baked Rosemary Chicken tonight and get back to you. – the next morning: Pretty Good! I had to make a few adjustments as I used plump breasts and cut them open, and had no celery, so used celery seed. But it was great using our own garlic, apples and onion for the main fill. Very easy and tasty.

 

Here's what the dish looked like before I put it in the oven - I even got the professional grease on the page.

And here's the final meal, served with squash from my son's garden and green beans, a tasty meal.

I’m going to love this book! Divided into chapters that are more than just the usual meal portions, Stoltzfus includes whole chapters of season items, “Summer Sandwiches and Winter Soups,” and Spring Salads and Dressings.” And two separate chapters of sweets. A woman after my own heart for sure.

 

About the author:

Dawn Stoltzfus is a wife, a mother of two sweet little boys and a lover of anything creative. She started and ran The Farmer's Wife Market until 2008 when she sold it in order to stay at home to raise her family. She loves to cook, for one or three hundred and sees cooking and entertaining as an opportunity to serve them out of love and joy rather than out of a sense of obligation. Her love for cooking was inspired by her mother and developed as she cooked for her family of six on their active, working dairy farm in Ohio.

 

“Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

One Year Alone With God

Today I welcome Ava Pennington, author of a great new devotional, One Year Alone With God, 366 Deovtions on the Names of God.

Ava Pennington is a writer, Bible teacher, and speaker. She is the author of One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God (Revell Books), endorsed by Precepts founder and teacher Kay Arthur. Additionally, Ava is co-author of  Faith Basics for Kids. The first two books in the series are Do You Love Me More? and Will I See You Today? (Standard Publishing).

Ava has also published stories in more than twenty anthologies, including sixteen books in the inspirational Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Her articles have appeared in Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse, The  LOOKOUT, Today’s Christian Woman, and other magazines.

Ava is a passionate speaker and teacher, and delights in challenging audiences with relevant, enjoyable presentations.

For more information, visit www.AvaWrites.com.

 

 

About the book:

In the daily devotional One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God, author Ava Pennington examines the biblical names of God through 366 daily readings and helps readers discover what those names mean for their own faith.

 

Readers will learn how a particular name of God provides insight into his character, how those attributes affect them individually or how they should relate to others. Pennington examines each of God’s names for three days, applying these three perspectives to our lives.

 

Each devotion looks at a particular name of God and includes a passage of Scripture, questions for reflection, and a prayer.

 

One year from now, will you be able to say that you know God better than you did before? Revitalize your devotional life with an intimate journey through the names of God.

 

The next 366 days will pass quickly—make each one count!

 

One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God may be purchased through:

 

Amazon

 

Barnes & Noble

 

CBD

For our interview, I asked Ava the following questions:

1. What’s been a favorite work experience you’ve had so far in life?

            Although it isn’t a paid position, I’ve been teaching a weekly, interdenominational Bible study for 175+ women for the past several years. I love working with women who desire to grow in their relationship with the Lord by meeting Him in His Word.

2. If you could do anything you want, what would it be?

            Please don’t think this is a cop-out, but teaching and writing is precisely what I want to do. I am so privileged that my dream job is my present job.

3. What’s the most exotic place you’ve visited?

            Caracas, Venezuela. In my previous career, I was a Human Resources executive for several international companies based in New York City, and was fortunate to travel extensively.

 

4. What do you see outside the closest window right now?

Grass, shrubs, and a baby mango tree I grew from a seed and planted a few months ago.

I’m not usually a patient person, but since mangos are one of my favorite fruits, I’ll wait!

 

5. What do you tell people when they ask “and what do you do?”

            It took me forever to answer that question with “I’m a writer” before my first book was published. I dreaded the follow-up question…“And what have you published?”

            I finally realized that I could not expect other people to see me as a writer if I didn’t begin identifying myself as one.

    

6. Where’s your favorite place to grocery shop?

            Two places, actually. Walmart for my long lists. Publix Supermarket for the in-between trips. (And I’m a coupon-clipper!)

7. What, to you, is worship?

            For me, true worship occurs when I am so lost in who God is that nothing else is more important to me than giving Him the praise He is due.

 

It's Here! Christmas in October

“Christmas In October”

http://www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com/2012/10/christmas-in-october-october-15.html

It’s true! Your Christmas shopping can be done before the hustle and bustle even starts. Or you can just keep all the good stuff for yourself! But the good news is….

It could all be FREE!

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, throughout the entire month of October, over 40 authors will be showcasing the covers of their books, along with a short synopsis, and what they will be offering up as their giveaway!

All you need to do is comment. That’s it! Stop by www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and leave a comment. However many times you comment, your name is put in a drawing.

They Stood Alone - great new biography anthology and free gifts

 

They Stood Alone The Winner of the 2012 American Authors Association Golden Quill Award for Children’s Books

 

Follow These 3 Steps For Immediate Access To Valuable FREE Bonus Gifts! Today Only…

1. Click on any Order from Amazon.com Button

2. After Purchasing They Stood Alone visit: http://theystoodalone.com/

3. Enter Your Name, Email and Order Confirmation Number From Amazon in the Form

 

Imagine this: For centuries everyone has believed that the sun and all the planets revolve around the earth. But by studying the old books and observing the heavens, you have concluded that the earth and all the other planets revolve around the sun. Your theory is so radical that you are hesitant to tell others about it. Your name is Nicolaus Copernicus. Although at first your beliefs are denounced and ridiculed, your observations are eventually proved correct. In time, you come to be called the founding father of modern astronomy.

Or imagine this: It’s the early 19th century and women have few legal rights. Married women can’t own property, their wages belong to their husbands, and they don’t even have the right of guardianship over their children. You know the laws are unfair, but as a young woman yourself, what can you do? Your name is Elizabeth Cady Stanton. You spend your life fighting for women’s rights, and later many give you credit for being the architect and founder of the Women’s Rights Movement.

Nicolaus Copernicus and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are just two of the twenty-five extraordinary men and women whom you will have a chance to meet in this inspiring book that explores and celebrates people who had the courage to follow their own convictions, even when everyone around them said they were wrong. They were people of vision who saw life from a new perspective and were willing to question conventional wisdom. And their revolutionary breakthroughs changed and shaped the course of history.

Author Sandra McLeod Humphrey invites you to have the courage to stand alone too, hold on to your dreams, and follow your heart wherever it may lead. Like the twenty-five pioneers who lived before you, you too may someday make a difference!


Winner DIY Book Festival Award

Endorsements For They Stood Alone…

“I highly recommend this inspiring book. It should be in the hands of every parent, teacher, and child advoate who cares about our children’s moral futures.”

 

Michele Borba, EdD. Author of Building Moral Intelligence: The Seven Essential Virtues That Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing

“One word, ‘INSPIRING’ comes to mind over and over as I read this manuscript. The stories in this book reveal that distinct pathways in life can be purposeful and fulfilling with some rewards coming early and others being long delayed. In that sense, this is a book of ‘HOPE,’ not wishful thinking but hope that is driven by intrinsic motivation, a desire to give rather than take from the world, and a deep belief in the difference that one person can make when an ability, idea, or goal is taken to its highest level…All of the men and women in these stories will surface again and again in the lives of the readers as they advance through their school years. In that sense, this book is foundational to higher learning. It gives an emotional as well as an intellectual mindset to the 25 people who made a difference and, thus, they become the giants for the current generation of readers upon which to rest their feet.”

 

Dr. Donald Draayer, Minnetonka School Superintendent, 24 years. A National Superintendent of the Year.

“They Stood Alone! digs deep into the lives of those individuals who made it possible for all of us to have our own personal heroes. Through these twenty-five examples we, too, can learn how to make a difference in the lives of others and give back. This is a book that is both powerful and significant. A must read for all.”

Terry Hitchcock, motivational speaker, author, consultant
“They Stood Alone! is a book all young people should read. It contains the stories of real-life heroes and heroines who showed the courage and inspiration to truly make a difference in the world. The twenty-five men and woman featured in this book are an eclectic group ranging from scientist and explorers to civil rights activists and authors. Their dedication and commitment encourage all of us to strive to do our best and to live a meaningful life.”

Philip Bigler 1998 National Teacher of the Year

“They stood alone and stood out! Seldom, if ever, do kids have a vision without a role model. Sandra Humphrey’s new book They Stood Alone! provides kids everywhere with extraordinary people who had beliefs and convictions and stood by them to make an enormous difference. These stories will galvanize youngsters to action!”

Gene Bedley 1986 National Educator of the Year

2012 Reader’s Favorite
Silver Award Recipient



About the Author:

Sandra McLeod Humphrey is a retired clinical psychologist with over 35 years experience working with young people. She is a writer and consultant for the Heroes & Dreams Foundation which provides character education materials to schools K-8 throughout the United States and Canada and the recipient of the National Character Education Center’s Award for “Exemplary Leadership in Ethics Education” (2000). She was also “Author of the Month” for MyShelf.com 12/03 and the recipient of the Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature (7/05).

About the Book:

They Stood Alone!: 25 Men and Women Who Made a Difference is an inspiring collection of brief biographies of 25 men and women who refused to conform to the societal beliefs and expectations of their time and, by stepping out and away from the crowd, they changed their world and ours as well. It’s received the 2011 Mom’s Choice Gold Award for Young Adult Nonfiction, the 2012 Readers Favorite Silver Medal Award for Young Adults-General, and was the 2011-2012 DIY Book Festival Winner for the Teenage category. The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) also selected it for their annual list of best selections for young adults in the nonfiction category.

2011 Mom’s Choice
Gold Award Recipient

Buy a copy of They Stood Alone! on Amazon.com Today Only
and receive more than 20 Free Bonus Gifts!

Get Exclusive and Immediate Access To All These FREE Bonus Gifts When You Purchase They Stood Alone From Amazon.com Today Only! Special Limited Time Offer…

Review of Lady Outlaw by Stacy Henrie

Lady Outlaw

By Stacy Henrie

Love, Inspired

September 4, 2012

ISBN: 978-0373829347

$5.75 Print

$3.82 Kindle

 

Buy on Amazon

 

 

About the Book:

No one would ever imagine a fresh-faced young woman could be robbing stage bandits of their ill-gotten fortunes. But Jennie Jones is desperate to save her family's ranch from foreclosure. And the risks seem worth it, until her upright new ranch hand offers a glimpse of how much is really at stake.

Former bounty hunter Caleb Johnson is ready for a new, clean start. With a woman like Jennie, he could build a future there in Utah territory. But only if his gentle faith can guide her in a choice between the land she's fought so hard to save and a future by his side.

 

About the Author:

Stacy Henrie has always had an avid appetite for history, fiction and chocolate. While she had a goal to write and publish a book one day, she turned her attentions first to graduating with a bachelor's degree in public relations. Not long after, she switched from writing press releases and newsletters to writing inspirational historical romances as a stay-at-home mom. Stacy loves reading, interior decorating, romantic movies, and most of all, laughing with her husband and three kids. She appreciates the chance to live out history through her characters, while enjoying all the modern conveniences of life in the 21st century.

 

My review:

What does “desperate” justify?

A young woman left orphaned on a cattle ranch in the Wild West of the 1870s is determined not to make the same mistakes her mother did. She will not abandon her heritage or run away from a few difficulties when her younger brother and her grandmother need her. Her cattle rustled from under her nose and wearing her clothes to bare threads make tough, straight-shooting Jennie fearful of nothing – except the bank manager calling her father’s loan in early, and maybe falling love with the hired hand. Oh—and church. Those people whispered and made her feel terrible after her mother left, and she never went back. But no matter what else is plaguing her, her underlying determination all comes down to this: how can she save the ranch?

A new twist of robbing the guilty instead of the rich, Lady Outlaw is an enjoyable read from author Stacy Henrie. Her characters are fresh, the plot just wiggly enough to keep the reader wondering. How much does Jennie want to stay out of trouble, and how much fretting the gentle, faithful Caleb who agrees to work for her, will put up with, especially when he realizes the awful truth. Henrie writes with maturity, and her public relations background has obviously suited her well in her debut efforts. The dialogue is never clumsy and the action riveting. A few more historical issues could have been cleaned up, but for the most part, Henrie’s fiction reads clean and well.

 

This sweet tale of renewed conviction, vengeance served warm, and sweet romance will keep you turning pages as you spend some quality time in the Wild West with Jennie and Caleb in Lady Outlaw.

New Book from Rita Gerlach: Daughters of the Potomac Series

 

               

BESIDE TWO RIVERS by Rita Gerlach 

Book 2 in the ‘Daughters of the Potomac Series’ published by Abingdon Press, October 2012.

  The sequel to Before the Scarlet Dawn.

 

From the banks of the Potomac to the misty moors of England, comes a tale of love won and love lost, and the faith to find it again.

Vaguely can Darcy Morgan recall the day her father returned home from fighting in the American Revolution.  When he discovers his unfaithful wife had borne a child in his absence, the marriage is broken, and Darcy’s quiet childhood along the two rivers was changed forever. She grows up believing her mother dead and that her father journeyed west to the lands beyond the Blue Ridge. Her indulging Uncle Will, excitable Aunt Mari, and her five female cousins, cannot shield her from thinking of the mother she loved and the father she barely knew, nor can she escape the fleeting images in her memory of the babe Ilene and Ilene’s surrogate mother, Sarah, or the grandmotherly servant, Fiona Goodall.

In this dramatic saga that began with Before the Scarlet Dawn, Darcy seeks to unravel a lifetime of memories unaware that the young Englishman who loves her holds the answers. Her search takes her far from her beloved home along the Potomac, to a manor house in faraway England. Soon the secrets of the past slowly rise to the surface. Will she be reunited with the most important people in her life? Will Hayward and Eliza find peace and reconciliation? Will Darcy's faith sustain her to make the difficult choices, and will the love she and Ethan share endure?

Reviews

"Beside Two Rivers is much more than the sequel to Rita Gerlach’s popular Before the Scarlet Dawn. It’s the heart-rending story of true love threatened by secrets and deceit, of family torn apart by tragedy, and most of all, of the redeeming power of love and faith. Filled with vivid descriptions of life along the Potomac and rural England during the late 18th century, this is a story that will linger in readers’ memories." - Amanda Cabot, author of Summer of Promise and Christmas Roses

"Beside Two Rivers stirred me like no other book has. Rita Gerlach has an epic style to her writing that is guaranteed to sweep you away to another place and time. With a deeply emotional storyline, characters of uncommon depth, heart-throbbing romance, and the boundless love of family lost and regained, this is truly a magnificent novel!" - MaryLu Tyndall, author of the Surrender to Destiny Series and Veil of Pearls

"This is the epitome of romance with a flavor of Persuasion. I definitely had a flavor of regency in the wilderness that touched me like no other. Bring in a mix of Jane Austen with a kick of Laura Frantz and I'm on every page. Goodness, just looking back at my thoughts I feel like Rita Gerlach is presenting the best of all my favorite authors on the page! That and with Darcy's wit she even gives me a humor worthy of Mary Connealy. Could it get any better?” - Margaret Chind, CreativeMadnessMama.com

"What do you get when you combine authentic history, picturesque settings, dynamic characters and a feels-like-you're-there storyline? You get a Rita Gerlach novel, and in Beside Two Rivers, book two in her Daughters of the Potomac series, she delivers all that and more. My advice to readers: Make room for this one on your "keepers shelf." My advice to Rita: save space on your "awards wall," because this tale is sure to earn a bunch!" - Loree Lough, best-selling author of more than 85 award-winning books, including Honor Redeemed, book two in the First Responders series

  

Beside Two Rivers is available in both ebook and paperback in bookstores everywhere.

For purchase online.

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Christianbooks

In Christianbooks.com buy books 1 & 2 in a set

 

Book 3 in the series, Beyond the Valley, will be released February, 2013, and is available for preorder.


















Rita Gerlach lives with her husband and two sons in a historical town nestled along the Catoctin Mountains amid Civil War battlefields and Revolutionary War outposts in central Maryland.

Rita’s Website