Book Review: Laura J Davis and He Who Has an Ear

He WhoHas An Ear

Laura J Davis

January 2014

ISBN: 9781492125051

Print $8.99, E-book $2.99

Biblical Exposition

More than two thousand years ago the Apostle John had a vision he received from the Lord. He was told to write seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. Out of the seven churches only two received commendation from the Lord. The rest were letters of warning. Compromise and disobedience, combined with a lack of knowledge of the Word of God, has placed the 21st century church in a precarious situation. These letters to the seven churches are a message for this generation during these last days. He who has an ear will know what to do and act accordingly.

My Review: Insightful and well documented and researched book dissecting the Revelation of the Seven Churches for today’s meanings. Having just been in Ephesus, I appreciated the effort Davis went to make these places come alive for contemporary readers. It’s always tricky to make connections between popular current movements, people, and trends to Biblical prophecy. That very issue of expectation and assumption has been going on since the first Promise, however. Davis points out historical theories and why people thought/think what they do about the Christian faith and how to practice it.

Included in each chapter are check lists about the characteristics of the churches, calls to action and contemplation, questions and dialog interspersed with segments of the Scripture. My Kindle copy has a little formatting trouble with spacing between sentences, but it was not terribly difficult to read.

For those interested in eschatology, Davis’s honed reasoning about the symbolism of the seven churches mentioned by John in the Revelation of Christ will provide much to ponder, chew over and discuss. The author includes a lengthy resource and bibliography that is also helpful to those who would like the study deeper.

Alice J Wisler's new book, Under the Silk Hibiscus

Under the Silk Hibiscus

Alice J. Wisler

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Release date: November 11, 2014

ISBN-13: 978-1941103302

Print: 11.39

Buy on Amazon

About the Book:

During World War Two Nathan and his family are sent to Heart Mountain, an internment camp in Wyoming for Japanese-Americans. Nathan's one desire is to protect the family's gold pocket watch, a family heirloom brought over from Japan. He fails; the watch is stolen. Struggling to make sense of his life in a bleak camp as the only responsible man of the household, Nathan discovers truths about his family, God, and the girl he loves.

What motivated you to write about this topic?

I grew up in Japan and so Japanese people, their culture, and their life in America are of interest to me. I want to share about the sad period of time when they were discriminated against in this country during WWII and sent to internment camps to live out the war.

What do you love about this new book?

I love that Under the Silk Hibiscus shares a portion of WWII history our country (USA) often neglects. I enjoyed researching about Heart Mountain,Wyoming, the setting for my story.  I was also glad that I could interview a woman who lived in an internment camp during the war. She gave me great insight for my novel. 

Introduce us to your favorite secondary character.

My favorite secondary character is the cookie-lovin' Aunt Kazuko, and a runner-up is the beautiful singer, Lucy. Both are in the internment camp with my main character, Nathan Mori. 

(Find the cookie recipe on A Taste of Friday)

Are you trying any new promotional venues?

I am always looking for new venues.  I'm hoping tweets will work and that others will tweet for me. I'm on a number of blogs and a few will be giving away copies of my novel.  

About the Author:

Alice has authored four contemporary novels published by Bethany House:  Rain Song (Christy Finalist), How Sweet It Is (Christy Finalist), Hatteras Girl and A Wedding Invitation, and Still Life in Shadows by River North/Moody. Her newest novel, Under the Silk Hibiscus (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) is her first historical romance. 

Since the death of her four-year-old son, Alice teaches grief-writing workshops and her devotional, Getting out of Bed in the Morning:  Reflections of Comfort in Heartache (Leafwood), covers the many losses we face and how God sustains us through each one.  In 2012, Alice and her husband started a business, Carved By Heart, where they carve memorial plaques/remembrances, house number signs, bird feeders, rustic clocks, and other home décor.

Links:

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Alice-J.-Wisler/e/B001J6GVNE/

Website:  http://www.alicewisler.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-J-Wisler/333751835453

Alice’s Patchwork Quilt Blog:  http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/

CrossReads Book Blast with Sophie Dawson

Seeing The Life By Sophie Dawson

About the Book

Seeing The Life is a look at the life of Yeshua the Christ in a way never used before. Dassa, the daughter of the innkeeper, is sent to fetch the midwife to help the young woman in the stable give birth. She and Mary become close friends as do Micah, her fiance then husband, and Joseph. Separated when the young family flees Bethlehem in the night, their friendship resumes several years later in Jerusalem. Dassa and Micah know Yeshua is special, but he is still a boy with a boy's interests and love of life. Through the years the families, though separated most of the year, spend time together in Jerusalem during the Jewish Festivals. Then Yeshua begins speaking and teaching. Micah, Joseph of Arimethea, their sons and others who follow and believe Yeshua's message. Yet do they really understand it? Is he the long awaited messiah who will free the Jews from the grip of Rome? What do the stories he tells really mean? Seeing The Life sees the life of Yeshua within the social and political culture of the time. Not only do we see his ministry but also his family and friendships as he grew. Yeshua was a normal baby who cried, spit up, wet and messed. He was a child who fell and skinned his knees. He lost his baby teeth. He had siblings. He had friends. My goal was to show the humanness of Yeshua's life. We see him as fully God but often miss that he was fully man, boy and baby also.

LINK to KINDLE | LINK to PAPERBACK

Sophie Dawson is Midwestern born and bred and is the author of several novels, including the Cottonwood Series and Stone Creek Series. Her novel Healing Love has won three awards: AuthorStand 2012 Gold Medal, Indiebook 2012 Silver Medal, and Readers' Favorite 2013 Silver Medal. Giving Love was a finalist in Readers' Favorite 2013. Her books have also been #1 Best Sellers in their genre on Amazon. Seeing The Life is a finalist in Readers' Favorite Awards 2014. She is a member of Christian Independent Authors and Association of Independent Authors. An award-winning quilter with eclectic interests, Dawson posts to several blogs, including Little Bits Blog on her website, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Iowa Wesleyan College.

Follow Sophie Dawson Website | Facebook | Twitter

Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter below to enter a $50 Amazon gift card, sponsored by author Sophie Dawson! a Rafflecopter giveaway This book blast is hosted by Crossreads. We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!

Book Review: Nana's 3 Jars by Carol Round

Nana’s 3 Jars 

Carol Round

Illustrated by Sheryl Proffitt

c. 2014 Passionate Purpose Publishing

ISBN 978-0692280195

Print Book: $12.30

Children’s illustrated story book

A visit to Nana’s house in the country is the start of a marvelous adventure for Emma and Charlie who receive a precious lesson in giving and saving.

From putting aside the coins in the saving jar for rainy-day repairs to dropping money in the giving jar for ingredients to welcome new neighbors with a pie and giving gifts that aren’t tangible, children and caregivers will see this new light on what it means to share.

Lavishly illustrated in full page washed-color illustrations.

Includes the recipe for chocolate chip cookies and downloadable, copy-able labels.

MuseItUp Author Margaret Fieland Talks Space Aliens

Ebook $5.95

MuseItUp Publishing

July 2013

About the Book:

How about romance with aliens? A treason accusation? Brad Reynolds has his hands full. When Major Brad Reynolds is assigned to head the Terran Federation base on planet Aleyne, the last thing he expects to find is love, and certainly not with one of the alien Aleyni. How can he keep his lover, in the face of political maneuvering and of Ardaval's feelings for his former partners -- and theirs for him?

Margaret, tell us what you love about your book.

I wrote it to answer a question about back story in the first Aleyne novel, Relocated, when I wondered about what happened to Ardaval's former partners. The answer ended up as a single line in the original novel -- and Broken Bonds.

Introduce us to your favorite secondary character.

My favorite among the secondary characters is Imarin Namar, one of Ardaval's former partners. He walked out on Ardaval, an action he later deeply regretted. The force of his love and regret touched me deeply.

What did you learn in your research for this story?

It's a science fiction novel, so in a sense all of it is imaginary, but a trial features prominently in the book, and I did look into procedures of the International Court when I was writing some of the sections about the Interstellar Court in the book. My father was an attorney and a couple of his close friends were judges, so I had plenty of background in the basics, but there were still some things I wanted to check out.

What do you hope readers will tell others about it?

That they love the book and are eager to read more of the Aleyne novels.

 I also hope they enjoy the poetry I've included in the novel.

Can you share what’s coming next?

The fourth novel in the series, Rebellion, is coming from MuseItUp Publishing in the summer of 2015. It tells the story of Colonel Rob Walker, the man who arrests Brad Reynolds, the main character in Broken Bonds, for treason in Broken Bonds.

I've also started working on the fifth book, a prequel that details the first meeting between the Terrans and the Aleyni.

Buy Links:

Publisher's website

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble

Bookstrand 

About the Author:

Margaret  Fieland's poems and stories have appeared in journals such as Turbulence Magazine, Front Range Review, and All Rights Reserved. She is the author of  Relocated, Geek Games, and Broken Bonds, published by MuseItUp Publishing , and of Sand in the Desert, a collection of science fiction persona poems. A chapter book is due out later this year.

 Where to find me on the web:

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/margaretfieland/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/margaret.fielandAuthor

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/madcapmaggie

goodreads:   http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4417476.Margaret_Fieland

Book Review: The Forgotten Princess of Elmetia by Rachel James

TheForgotten Princess of Elmetia

Rachel A James

 

2014 Prism Book Group

ISBN: 9781940099873

Price: Print $14.99, E-book $3.99

Medieval Romance

From the Publisher:  A tale of grace, forgiveness, and love as a forgotten princess seeks to reclaim her true identity. 

It is 616AD, and one fatal night the ancient Kingdom of Elmetia falls. Saxons kill the Elmetian King, and capture Princess Teagen. 

Teagen poses as a slave girl and works for the Saxons in the Kingdom of Deira, until she discovers her brother is alive. She finds a way to escape, and her path crosses with Ryce the Warrior. 

Struggling with his past and angry against the tyrant Saxon king, Ryce helps the princess in pursuit of her brother. But just as the connection between them intensifies, obstacles get in their way. The Saxon king now wants vengeance, and will stop at nothing to get it. 

My review:  Well-researched and documented tale based on a recorded historical event. I love this period of history and James's story was an enjoyable read. Dialect and dialog stayed true throughout the book.

Taking place during the dark days of Saxons and Celts overrunning the British Isles, Elmetia was one such small kingdom, shattered by the Saxon ruler who attempted to destroy the governing family. However, the children disappear during the battle. The dead king's young daughter changes place with a deceased servant girl and survives in the Saxon kingdom biding her time. When she overhears more news of that tragic night eight years earlier, she risks her life to seek retribution. If only King Edwin's pesky warriors would stay out of Teagan's way.

A worthy romance raised to high stakes when more intrigue comes to light. Set also during the early stages of the new faith, Christianity, readers will see it woven in naturally through the adventure, how learning to overcome the prejudices of our past believe system to know who deserves our true allegiance is the one true thing we can count on. I appreciated the hero, Ryce's, struggles on the matter of religion.

 It's no secret that Ryce and Teagan are expected to become romantic partners, but with skill, the author slowly peels away layers of intrigue, revealing new secrets and new problems that give the reader pause. It's a good thing that Ryce's companion is a physician, because there are a number of injuries to deal with. For readers who like romances with a bit of a twist, James's historical tale will delight you.

Book Review Shaken Blessings by Celeste Charlene

Shaken Blessings 

Celeste Charlene

2013 

Prism Book Group

ISBN 9781940099057

$2.99 Ebook

$13.99 Print

Inspirational general fiction

A remarkable year in the life of a businesswoman changes her and lives she touches.

Sandy Calbrin, Sister Sandy to the African people she nurses, becomes Mommy Blessing when she fosters a doomed baby. Sandy thought she was doing her Christian duty by sponsoring several girls in an orphanage in Africa. When the country underwent a coup, she decided to take a trip to check on the girls and pick up some shea nuts for the spa treatments she offers at her spa.

Things go left as soon as she arrives. The orphanage was abandoned, the military have power, and the mission asks if she’ll use her nursing experience to help stem a measles epidemic. Her situation continues to deteriorate as she accidentally breaks nearly every taboo in the unfamiliar culture.

A couple of week adventure turned into nearly a year of struggle, including an opportunity to be a mother who loves and releases her child, a health worker who attempts to teach better health habits in the face of cultural practices of generations, and grow her once-tepid faith to that of a prayer warrior who even longs to return.

This book is not a genre story, but a remarkable, almost coming-of-age book although the main character, Sandy, is not a teen. Recommended for people who enjoy reading and living about different cultures from an author who experienced the lifestyle firsthand.