Naomi's Gift

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Naomi's Gift  Zondervan (September 12, 2011)  by  Amy Clipston  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Amy:

A native of New Jersey, I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I often joke that my fiction writing “career” began in elementary school as I wrote and shared silly stories with a close friend.

In 1991, I graduated from high school, and my parents and I moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia. My father retired, and my mother went to work full-time. I attended Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, and I graduated with a degree in communications. I met my husband, Joe, during my senior year in college, a few days after my father had a massive stroke. Joe and I clicked instantly, and after a couple of months we started dating. We married four years later.

After graduating from VWC, I took a summer job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, which turned into an eleven-year career. I worked in the Public Affairs Office for four years and then moved into Planning as a writer/editor.

One day while surfing the Internet for a professional editor’s group, I accidentally found a local fiction writing group, Chesapeake Romance Writers. I attended a meeting and I met writers in all stages of their careers. The group helped me realize that I did want to be an author, and it was my dream to see my name on the cover of one of my novels. Through Chesapeake Romance Writers, I learned how to plot, write, and edit a novel, and I also learned how to pursue an agent. I signed with Mary Sue Seymour at the Seymour Agency in 2006, shortly before Joe and I moved my parents and our sons to North Carolina.

My dream came true when I sold my first book in 2007. Holding my first book, A Gift of Grace, in my hands was exhilarating and surreal.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you'll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman's story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams ... and secrets. You'll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the 'English' way of life---and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. Naomi's Gift re-introduces twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love and has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches---a time of family, faith, and hope for many others---Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down. Naomi's story of romantic trial and error and youthful insecurities has universal appeal. Author Amy Clipston artfully paints a panorama of simple lives full of complex relationships, and she carefully explores cultural differences and human similarities, with inspirational results. Naomi's Gift includes all the details of Amish life that Clipston's fans enjoy, while delivering the compelling stories and strong characters that continue to draw legions of new readers.


If you'd like to read the first chapter of Naomi's Gift, go HERE.

Happy Reading!!

The Shunning DVD - review

About the Author:

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is The New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books.  Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide.  A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Lewis to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with "The Shunning," which has sold more than one million copies.  In 2007, Lewis' "The Brethren" was honored with a Christy Award. 

Lewis has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC.  Lewis lives with her husband, David, in Colorado. 

About the Movie:

Before she succumbs to cancer, the dying wish of Laura Mayfield-Bennett is to be reunited with the daughter she never knew. Unfortunately, that daughter, Katie Lapp, is a member of the Amish order. Katie is about to be married, but uneasy about the path ahead.  Now she discovers the secret her parents have kept from her: she's adopted. 

The film is based on the celebrated first novel of the best-selling "The Heritage of Lancaster County" book series from author Beverly Lewis. Stars Danielle Panabaker & Sherry Stringfield.

For more information, visit these sites:

Website: http://hallmarkchannel.com/theshunning

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheShunningMovie

Trailer: http://hallmarkchannel.com/microsites/video.aspx?simscode=OWN_891400000000000&pageid=2607&pn=PN147958&tabIndex=2&pnlist=pn147958|

My Review:

First of all I have to say I love Beverly Lewis.  I have read all her books and was so excited when I heard about this movie based on her book “The Shunning”.  I loved the book so anxiously anticipated the movie.  

The movie was good, but I would probably have liked it better had I not read the book first.  I thought the story line was a little off from the book which was a little disappointing to me.  As for the movie alone, I enjoyed it.  We watched it as a family which is always a wonderful thing.  Unfortunately there aren’t many good clean movies out there so we have a hard time finding movies to watch.  This one fit all our parameters.

Katie, an amish girl, engaged to be married to the town Bishop and in love with her childhood sweetheart who she thinks drowned years back.  He tugged at her interests in the outside world, music, guitars, the Englisher way of life.  The Bishop, however, is a widow with children who need a mama.  In the midst of all this, an English woman comes looking for Katie’s mama, who becomes afraid of past secrets being revealed.

This movie is full of twists and turns, suspense, love, and trouble.  The only thing this movie is missing is a sequel which I will be looking for.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services 

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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." 

Theo - Teaching Children God's Word DVD - review

I will first say, I was expecting this to be full length like most other kids DVD’s, 20-30 minutes at least.  I was a little disappointed when after 5 minutes for one and 9 for the other, they were over.  The content was great, just short.  I will say for my younger kids it is perfect.  They loved them and will watch them over and over.

As mentioned above, there are two episodes, Saving Faith which was about having faith in the right things and Good News which was about salvation.  Theo is a grandfather type guy and he talks straight to the kids in terms my kids can understand.  I love Theo, you might remember him from McGee and Me and Adventures in Odyssey.  There are also two mice who are quite funny, but I would have liked to see them more.  Although, in such short stories I think they added a great touch.  

I think overall most parents would be somewhat disappointed at the length if purchasing just for pleasure but if used in homeschool, as a teaching tool, they would be fabulous.  Also, with us being Children’s Ministry Consultants, I can see these short Theo episodes being a great “go to” tool to reinforce something already being taught.  They do have a Children’s Church curriculum available from LifeWay Christian stores and I will be recommending it to our children church contacts for use in their preschool classes.

If you would like more information about the Theo DVD, you can visit:

Theo’s website theopresents.com

Theo’s facebook page  here

Theo can be purchased from Amazon here

Church Curriculum from LifeWay  here

Also, there is nothing better than watching your kids play and learn about God’s word at the same time, there is even a free iPhone/iPad app  http://www.theopresents.com/

And last but definitely not least, Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship is offering The Buy 1 - Give 1 Campaign!!  For every Theo DVD purchased, they will send a child in need their very own copy of Theo.

You just log onto TheoPresents.com after making your own purchase, and select the region of the world you would like another copy of Theo to be sent.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  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.”

Happy Reading!!

Wings of a Dream

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wings of A Dream Bethany House (September 1, 2011) by Anne Mateer



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

While I have been writing for what feels like my whole life, I began seriously studying the craft in 2000. Since then I have completed five novels, had several pieces published in local periodicals, attended six writing conferences and managed to final in ACFW's Genesis contest in 2006, 2008, and 2009. My first historical novel, Wings of a Dream, will be released in September 2011, with another historical novel to follow in 2012. But writing is only a piece of my life.



I am mostly just a woman trying to live her life in a manner pleasing to the Lord. That involves being a wife to Jeff and a mother to my three teenagers--neither role coming easily but both roles stretching me, requiring me to press in closer to Jesus. And because of this, Jesus has taken an insecure, fearful, sometimes angry girl and is turning her into a more trusting, peaceful, grace-filled woman. At least some of the time. There is still such a long way to go!



ABOUT THE BOOK

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promised adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry. While she waits for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans.



But the Spanish flue epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of A Dream, go HERE.

Happy Reading!!

Angel

The Survivor - review

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  The Survivor  Avon Inspire; Original edition (August 30, 2011)

 by  Shelley Shepard Gray  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven.  Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado.  She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children.  When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town's scenic bike trail.    

Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page



ABOUT THE BOOK

One of today’s most beloved authors of inspirational Christian fiction, Shelley Shepard Gray completes her acclaimed Families of Honor series with The Survivor—a poignant and beautiful story of love and faith in a small Amish community. Delving once more into the lives of these devout and fascinating folk, as she did in her popular Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek novels, Gray tells the story of a young Amish woman who has survived the ravages of cancer, but now longs for the love of the one man who can heal her lonely heart. Like Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall, Shelley Shepard Gray introduces readers to characters they will never forget as she masterfully depicts a world of simple living, abiding faith, and honest emotions.


If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of The Survivor, go HERE.

My Review:
From the beginning to the end, this book had me.  I always love a good amish story but get a little stuck on the same authors.  I've only read a couple of Shelley Shephard Gray's books and she is definitely moving up the ladder of favorite Amish authors.

I love how she made clear the struggles of being Amish, the struggles of wanting what the Englishers have.  We all know even the Amish are only human with the same struggles anyone else has, lies, deceit, babies out of wedlock, losing spouses, desease...  Shelley covers it all.  The question is do the Amish handle those issues like I do?  Do they turn to God of guidance?  Do they give in to the temptations?  You'll have to read this one to find out.

Happy Reading!!