Mailbox Monday - Aug 6

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Looks like Monday is back. That's a good thing, because I have some books to share.

Charlotte Hubbard's annual Christmas story is coming out. She was kind enough to send me a copy. I try never to miss any of her books. This one I will review when she tours with Goddess Fish.

I picked up the Fall in Love story collection earlier in the week. Many of my favorite authors of sweet romance are in it.

Then I grabbed this Kindle freebie on Sunday.

Other than that life is about working, gardening, and cleaning. Thank God for reading. Hope you had a nice mailbox.

Coming Soon! - Fall in Love Autumn Romance Collection

So excited that some of my favorite Christian authors have gotten together and released this sweet romance collection sure to get you in mood for fall.

BE SWEPT AWAY IN FIVE HEARTWARMING ROMANCES WITH AN AUTUMN FLAIR...

CAPTIVE AT SEA
Claire Mulvaney’s benevolent spirit has her biting off more than she can chew when she spearheads a charity fishing event to raise funds for Winding Ridge’s overcrowded animal shelter and is forced to call on fishing expert Sean Maguire.

Sean blames himself for his brother’s death. He spends his days in mourning and when Claire turns to him for help, he chases her off with gruff words meant to fortify his distance from the pain that has taken hold of his soul. But the enchanting woman with emerald eyes captivates, and Sean soon finds himself drawn to her warm-hearted enthusiasm.

NEVER THE TWAIN
Hollywood agent Cass Townsend makes a more-than-satisfactory living helping talented “wannabe” actors become stars.

Thanks to a twin brother who made it big in Hollywood and then estranged himself from his family, rugged Texas horse rancher Ryder Hayes sports oversized chips on both very broad shoulders toward celebrities. He’s not convinced any good at all can come out of Hollywood.

She’s prim and proper to a fault. He’s fun-loving, with a streak of pure mischief. Ryder’s a good man, but not a Christian—not by a Texas mile. Cass can’t remember missing a single Sunday service since childhood. They’re the epitome of polar opposites and never the twain shall meet…or so the saying goes.

FULLY COMMITTED
Receiving a Dear Rand email while serving his country didn’t douse the fire in Rand Tenneson’s heart for his high school sweetheart. Fully committed, nothing quenched that love, not even news that Bryanna married. Back home now, Rand enjoys a busy life, firefighting and clowning around with patients at the children’s hospital. But a chance run-in with his ex-girlfriend, now a widow, rekindles that spark. God put her back in his life for a reason, and he vows to be there for her.

Ten years ago, Bryanna Fenwick shattered two hearts, hers and Rand’s. But the Navy SEAL, deployed across the world, couldn’t rescue her from the real fear she faced at home. She made a choice and lived the lie for a decade. When Rand discovers the truth, she fears she’s hurt the handsome firefighter yet again and destroyed her relationship with her daughter. Can God’s grace overcome such a ginormous lie? Has He brought them back together for a second chance at love or only to reveal the truth?

WITHOUT A SONG
Still reeling from the loss of her husband, young widow Roni Marsden resolves to be strong for her precocious daughter. Invited to stay on the cleansing hills of her friend’s Nebraska ranch, she tries to figure out the next step. Should she leave Norfolk? Could she find work?

Songwriter Dawson Bennett returns home to his brother’s ranch when the production company for his first album goes bust. He searches his heart for new songs he's unable to write. Even as he seeks direction for his career, he attempts to mend the past with his elderly father. Back in high school, Dawson had crushed on the lovely Roni when she dated his brother. Those emotions are reawakened when he discovers Roni and her daughter at the ranch. Protective feelings for the child, as well as for a stray pup that arrives on the scene, work together to soften his bitterness. Will these connections enable him to write lyrics that honor God?

AUTUMN LOVES
Two years after her husband’s tragic death, middle-aged widow Rylie Thornton struggles to raise her three sons while keeping the family business in the black. As the lush colors of her favorite season display, she finds herself struggling.

Heart surgeon Micah Haden, on a rare break from his demanding profession, finds his sister’s friend a lovely mystery. He’s happy to help Rylie and her boys prepare for an upcoming autumn event. Why can’t she accept his offer with a little more grace? Is there a chance he could become one of Rylie's treasured Autumn Loves?

File Size: 2195 KB
Print Length: 519 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Sweet Dreams Publications (August 7, 2018)
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07FB3VNV3

Pre-order now! Releases August 7th!!!!

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - Aug 1

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

I'm a bit behind the eight ball this week. Several real estate calls took yesterday in a different direction than planned. Monday was already hectic. I'm hoping the next two days are a bit slower. In a nutshell, here are a few life blurbs:

• No new books arrived, but some other good stuff came in which I'll share later in the week.
• Got one of my properties under contract and signed up two new buyers.
• Furniture is getting moved out of the in-laws' place this weekend. After that the final clean up begins. 
• Cleaned out my pantry yesterday and it feels so great. First step in getting this house together. 

That's it from me. What's going on in your world?

Just Requested for Review from Tyndale Blog Network

I am a reviewer for the Tyndale Blog Network. Here are two titles I recently requested for review.

The news is filled with stories of violence, division, and despair. American politics have become polarized. Effective leadership is in short supply. Change may seem outside our reach. And Christians struggle to understand their role in reversing the downward spiral of our nation.

Dr. Tony Evans offers a healthy dose of hope: the solution to our nation’s problems and unrest isn’t out of reach. The solution is here—and each one of us as Kingdom Citizens has a vital role to play.

Be assured that our God is greater than any challenge—and He has promised to equip His people. In Kingdom Citizen, you’ll discover how to respond in faith, in spite of a country and culture in decline.

Here is a powerful call to action for concerned Christians. Here is a call for unity and restoration. And here is strong assurance that each of us has the ability to walk justly, to seek truth, and to stand in the gap for our land.

Help, hope, and spiritual strength for the mom in the trenches.

Moms today have a lot to handle! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising a family, especially in a culture that’s spiraling away from Christianity at an alarming speed. Yet our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The battle belongs to him, and his strength shines bright when we bring our weaknesses to Him and simply say, “Here. I can’t, but You can.”

Prayers for the Battlefield is a collection of prayers and reflections to help you stay strong through the daily challenges of motherhood. Whether you’re a new mom or a soon-to-be empty nester, Heidi St. John writes Scripture-filled and Spirit-infused prayers for every season of motherhood, helping you raise God-fearing children who will live out their love for Christ and make a difference in our world.

Let God determine the outcome of the battles you’re facing today—because the ultimate victory belongs to him.

Do either of these titles seem of interest to you?

Book Review: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife by Bishop Ken Giles & Pastor Sheila Giles

In this slim book, Bishop Ken Giles and Pastor Sheila Giles share their decades of combined experience of counseling others with readers.

Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife helps married couples and those considering marriage to learn the important role prayer plays in creating a healthy marriage and also encourages men and women of God to secure their leadership positions.

It's doubtful one could argue that time in prayer is necessary to our Christian journey. It is how we communicate with God: it allows us to give Him thanks and praise; it allows us to confess our sins; and it allows us to ask Him for help. The authors are spot on in stating that prayer and marriage go together.

In some ways, however, this book could be considered controversial. In this modern world, the traditional view of marriage with the man as the head of the household and the woman taking care of the kids and the household chores seems outdated. While the reader might not necessarily disagree, it's possible by the time they get to the Christian Marriage and Family Structure Assessment Inventory quiz at the end, some women might be lighting torches on fire and carrying pitchforks

Now, we have a very traditional marriage and it works for us, so little about what was in this book bothered me. My only concern is that this heavy-handed approach could make some people turn away from a God who is more about love for us than anything else. He is mercy. He is compassion. He wants us to be in relationship with Him. It is in knowing and experiencing the abundant love of our Heavenly Father that makes obedience to His Word easier. I truly wish more of that could have been communicated throughout these pages.

If you are looking for ways to refocus your marriage or to learn more about leadership roles of men and women in marriage according to His Word, then you may wish to explore Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife by Bishop Ken Giles and Pastor Sheila Giles.

Publisher: BishopKenGiles.org (2016)
ISBN-10: 1948951010
ISBN-13: 978-1948951012

I received a copy of this book from the authors. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts - July 25

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts is hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. This is a chance for book bloggers to dabble in areas besides books (but those are welcome too). Share your plans for the weekend, a rant on people not using their turn signals in parking lots, or your love of Sunday morning mimosas.

Bookish Thought: I need to finish a book.

Not so Bookish Thought: Wouldn't bed feel good right about now?

Bookish Thought: Why did I sign up for all these book reviews?

Not so Bookish Thought: Can I really function on only three hours of sleep?

Bookish Thought: One day I am going to be totally caught up on book reviews.

Not so Bookish Thought: One day this office will be clean.

Task it Tuesday - July 24

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Here was my list from last week:

• Clean out most of my in-laws house on Thursday. Dumpster is coming so hope to get a lot done. Heat might be an issue. Living areas and shed are done. Cellar and my hubby's old bedroom are the big ones that need to be tackled. I moved everything out of his attic, so that's a good start. Filled one dumpster, but I think we will need a second. 
• Post a review of The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse. Loved it! Can't wait for the next book in the series. Posted yesterday.
• Schedule a time to get the old furniture out of the house. Not that I have bought the new furniture yet, but I don't want to deal with taking it out while getting the new pieces in. I think I need a few days of empty, clean space. Talked to the contractor, but haven't set a date yet.
• Make my plan to clean out my own house: donate, trash, and clean. That might become my new mantra. The minute I am finished with my in-laws' place, this is happening. Next dumpster is coming here.

For this week, I have a few things I'm working on:

• Schedule my blogs posts. I want to schedule them on Wednesday for the rest of the month. We will see how it goes.
• Pack up items to donate when Hartsprings comes on August 2. I have three boxes so far. 
• Clean my office. I've been moving my in-laws' paperwork and filing cabinet into my tiny office and now I have too much stuff in here. Time to declutter.

How about you? Are there any tasks on your to-do list this week?