Song Stuck on the Brain: You Are My Sunshine - the song I sing to all my babies. :)

God Made You Just Right 

Board book

by 

Jill Roman Lord, Author 

& 

Amy Wummer, Illustrator

MY TAKE:

Small but a Fighter!

When my niece told me her baby boy would be born with physical complications I felt my heart catch. Then I told her what I knew was true in my heart. Jesus was holding her baby in the palm of His hand. However he was born, God had a plan for this little boys life. Numerous conditions were presented and ruled out. The final diagnosis, Tetralogy of Fallot. This beautiful little premie boy had a hole in his heart that would not close on it's own, he would need open heart surgery. Possibly more than one. In addition, he also has dextrocardia - his heart grew in on the wrong side of his chest. (I tell him that means his heart will always be in the 'right' place.) He also has scoliosis. He is the most beautiful and precious baby I've held in years (beside his cousin of course!)

Because of his heart conditions his breathing is labored and he struggles to keep fluid off his lungs. Eating is a challenge and a feeding tube has to load him with calories to help him grow big and strong so he can handle surgery. It hasn't been enough. So in just a few days they will perform his first surgery - a band on his pulmonary artery to ease his labored breathing so eating is not such a challenge. 

Cousins only one month apart in age. No matter how
big or small - God made you JUST right!

When I was offered the chance to review God Made You Just Right by Jill Roman Lord, I immediately thought of my tiny heart baby. What a perfect book to reinforce the message I wanted him to grow up with. Despite your differences physically - God made you just right and you are loved. I signed up immediately. When the book arrived, I held 2 month old Max in my arms and read him the simple story, showing him the pictures as I went. He was enthralled. He SMILED! And my heart soared! A sweet, simple message with colorful images. It was perfect. 

They don't use the term "half-sibling".
God made them just right as brother
and sister this way. 

After reading it the youngest I began to think how this very simple message is important to all of us. Max's cousin Ryan is a month older but double in size. He's a large strong baby. At 3 months his head measured 17.5 inches - only 2 inches smaller than his four year old big sister! Large heads and tall frames run in his family. He will most likely always be much bigger than his friends for many years. He'll get teased for his big head (despite him being adorable) and he needs the reminder that God made him large for a purpose too. 

Our family is one built of love more than blood. There are adopted siblings, half siblings, foster siblings and family that's family because we chose to make them that way. That is becoming more common every day and I'm glad to see God's message being shared in such a sweet way. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A bright and cheerful reminder that God made each of us special and unique

Here is a message that every parent will want to share with his or her child: You're brilliantly created and there s no one else like you! With easy-to-understand descriptions and simple, rhyming text, Jill Roman Lord shares the message that God created each of us in just the right way in a manner that even the youngest child will understand. Bright and engaging illustrations from Amy Wummer pair perfectly with the text and enhance the appeal of the book. Ages 2-5.

Jill Roman Lord

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Roman Lord is an author, a freelance writer, and nurse anesthetist. She enjoys running with her golden Retriever, Poppie, in Charlotte, NC, golfing with her hubby and son, sipping coffee, shopping with her girls when they’re around, traveling, and hanging on the back porch with family and friends

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:

Amy Wummer

Amy Wummer is an award-winning children’s book illustrator of over fifty titles. She received the Highlights for Children Cover of the Year award in 1998 and 2007, the 2006 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, Highlights for Children Illustrator of the Month award in October 2003 and November 2007, and was a 2002 Gold Medallion Book Award finalist.

I received a free copy of this book from Wothry Kids/Ideals in exchange for my honest review.

Dysfunction Junction is Back and the Makeover is complete

 Song Stuck on the Brain: Baa Baa Black Sheep Have You Any Wool?  This would be thanks to the ice cream truck that drove by playing the catchy little tune. :)

Have you heard the good news? Dysfunction Junction's re-release is now available! Order it in ebook or paperback to suit your tastes. Check it out here: getBook.at/DysfunctionJunctionSF

Thanks to a great response, Dysfunction Junction debuted at #266 on Kindle's Christian Women's Fiction list. (Trust me, that's a GREAT start.) You all made that happen and you can help it climb by sharing this with friends.

I love the new cover I was able to choose with Solstice, it's a great peek at the humor and drama waiting inside. If you're new to my writing, be sure to check out the sidebar to the right for book trailers for all my books. 

For all my local readers, I have two upcoming book signings. Stop in and chat, get an autographed paperback, and loads of other fun goodies. See you all there!

* Saturday, November 21, 2015 at CPRS in Independence, MO at the Christmas Bazaar.from 10am-5pm. 

* Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Living Hope Restoration Branch in Independence, MO at the Centerplace Crafter's Guild's Christmas Fair from 9am-4pm. 

CFBA: The Wood's Edge by Lori Benton

Song Stuck on the Brain: Hey Brother by Avicii

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
The Wood's Edge WaterBrook Press (April 21, 2015) by Lori Benton

MY TAKE:

The Wood's Edge showed how just a split second decision can be felt for a lifetime of  more. Major Aubrey is grieving and makes a terrible choice, to steal one of the twins from an Oneida mother and replace it with his own dead child. That would be terrible enough, but as his lie progresses it affects everyone near him. Lori Benton has done a fantastic job presenting the rippling results from a tiny stone tossed in a moment in time. Love, heartache, anger, fear - forgiveness. It's a beautiful story and the historical research and well described setting set me back in time until I felt their life in 18th century New York frontier come to life.

If you enjoy historical novels or just enjoy a really well crafted story, you won't want to miss this one.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

At the wood’s edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact?

The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths.

On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald’s wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples.

When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood’s edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin’s absence, another unaware of his twin’s existence. And for Anna, who loves them both—Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Wood's Edge, go HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori Benton spent her late teens and early twenties pursuing a career as a wildlife artist, attending the Maryland College of Art & Design before she began painting professionally. When not writing or researching, Lori can be found exploring the mountains of southern Oregon with her husband, Brian. Lori's first novel, Burning Sky was nominated as an ECPA 2014 Christian Book Award Finalist and also received double nominations for 2014 Christy Awards. The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn is her second novel.

CSFF: A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr

Song Stuck on the Brain: Falling Slowly by Lee Mead

Today I'm helping to spread the word in conjunction with the CSFF about:

 

 

A Cast of Stones

 

 

by

 

Patrick W. Carr

 

 

 

Unfortunately, do to the mail gremlins, I didn't receive my copy of A Cast of Stones in order to review it. However, stay tuned because I did just recently download the e-book from Amazon.com and I'll be reviewing it along with the sequel, A Hero's Lot very soon. In the mean time, check this out, drop by the other reviewers sites to read their thoughts on what looks to be a VERY promising novel.

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

 

 

An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.


Visit the Other Tour Members:



Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart
 Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
 Laure Covert
Pauline Creeden
Emma or Audrey Engel
Nikole Hahn
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Rachel Wyant

Teaser Tuesdays: Dysfunction Junction by April Erwin

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (or your current page)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"I want to throw my chopsticks at them, and I’m not sure which one I want to impale the most. This is going to be a long night." - from Dysfunction Junction by April Erwin, coming December 2013.

What better teaser than one from my own upcoming release? As it happens, I'm doing some final edits today and it is what I'm currently reading. :)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your teasers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

B4B: Twice a Bride by Mona Hodgson

Song Stuck on the Brain: Overjoyed by Matchbox Twenty

Twice a Bride

by

Mona Hodgson



MY TAKE:

Twice a Bride is book 4 in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series. All of which have been very enjoyable. Willow is actually the sister-in-law to the Sinclair sisters, but has been welcomed into the family with open arms, especially now that she is returned from being institutionalized for depression after her first husband died in a tragic accident. Everyone treats Willow as if she's fragile, afraid she can't stand on her own and make a new life for herself, but Willow is determined to prove them wrong. To show them the faith she has learned to depend on and to prove to herself that she can move forward and be happy. She never anticipated that love or marriage would be a part of her life again. 

Trenton Van Der Veer isn't your average romance hero. He has a speech impediment that has left him with all kinds of scars in his life, spiritually and emotionally. He's had his heart broken and abused by a selfish young girl. The last thing he wants is a wife. He hires Willow under mistaken impression she's married. When he discovers she's a widow, he realizes he's relieved. Willow is talented, they seem to fit like two pieces of a puzzle, but can they overcome their past to find a happy future?

Willow and Trenton are both and inspiration, their frailty becomes their strength as they grow in faith and it's so encouraging. The surrounding stories with the sisters, and the family dynamics keep things light hearted and rolling along at a fast pace. Romance blooms between more than just the Willow and Trenton as well, so you get more sweetness for your buck.

A great read over all. I do recommend you read the earlier books first. They're great and it makes the read smoother, but Twice a Bride can be read as an individual novel if you chose to be a rebel. :)


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Love lost doesn’t mean love lost forever.

Can unexpected romance deliver a second chance for two deserving widows?

Full of resolve, young widow Willow Peterson decides to pursue her dreams to be an artist as she settles into a new life in the growing mountain town of Cripple Creek. When she lands a job working as a portrait painter with handsome entrepreneur and photographer Trenton Van Der Veer, the road before Willow seems to be taking a better-than-anticipated turn.

With questions tugging at several hearts in town, including the Sinclair Sisters’ beloved Miss Hattie, change is traveling down the tracks as several unexpected visitors make their way out West. Will the new arrivals threaten the deep family bonds of the Sinclair sisters and the roots of love that are just taking hold for Willow?

Filled with the resonating questions that all women face, this romance awakens hope against grief, love against loss, and dreams against life’s unexpected turns.

Read a Sneak Peak of Twice a Bride HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the last twenty-five years, Mona Hodgson’s publishing credits have grown to include nearly thirty children's books, contributions to more than ten books for adults, and four historical novels, including her debut, Two Brides Too Many in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series. Mona is a popular speaker for women's groups, schools, and educators’ and writers’ conferences. She lives in Arizona with her husband and has two daughters and several grandchildren.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

Jesus Beside Me: Meditations On Matthew by David Ramos

Today I'm reviewing a Kindle book called:

Jesus Beside Me: Meditations On Matthew

by

David Ramos

MY TAKE:

I was contacted in December of 2012 by the author and asked to review his new release, a collection of meditations on the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew. I agreed, but due to the holidays and such wasn't able to actually review it until now.

Each meditation is brief, taking only 5-10 minutes to read. David Ramos has a passion for Jesus and His word and it's obvious in his writing. His enthusiasm is clear and his insights were often unique and inspired. Although brief reading, each meditation definitely left you with something to think about, and mull over as the day progressed.

I did find, that despite his enthusiasam and insightful ideas, on a rare occasion, the presentation of an idea or thought wasn't as clear as I'm sure the author intended it to be and sometimes I had to re-read portions to try and get a clearer picture of the intent behind the message. I think that was due to the effort to keep the meditations brief and focused. I don't think this drew away from the over all effort of the message though. And that message, to me, was clear enough - Jesus is the Word and His word feeds your soul and brings joy to your life.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jesus Beside Me is a collection of 30 meditations on the words of Jesus in Matthew (Volume 1 covers chapters 4 through 7 of Matthew). Each one captures a different aspect of Jesus' mission, character and power.

A meditation expresses "considered thought on a subject." Jesus Beside Me approaches Matthew passage by passage and gives each phrase of Jesus' speech "considered thought." The result includes both devotional and mindful reading that will engage the readers heart, mind and soul.

The book also serves as a reminder of the constant presence of our Savior. "We do not serve a Lord far off. We do not pray to an inattentive Master. Our Jesus is ever near, always close, right beside us."

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

David Ramos was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He has spent the last four years working in children, teen, and college-aged ministries. David's passion for the Word of God has led him to pursue a Masters of Divinity at Ashland Theological Seminary.