Face of the Earth - review

What if she never came home . . . ?

When Mitchell Brannon’s beloved wife sets off for home after a conference, he has no idea that his life is about to change forever. Mitch returns from work early that evening, surprised that Jill’s car isn’t in the garage. But her voice on the answering machine makes him smile. “Hey, babe, I’m just now checking out of the hotel, but I’ll stop and pick up something for dinner. Love you.” Hours later, Jill still hasn’t returned, and Mitch’s irritation turns to dread.

When the police come up empty, Mitch enlists the help of their next-door neighbor, Jill’s best friend, Shelley, to help search. As hours turn into days and days into weeks, Mitch and Shelley’s friendship grows ever closer—and decidedly more complicated. Every lead seems to be a dead end, and Mitch wonders how he can honor the vows he made to a woman who has seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever given thought to what it would be like if your loved one or maybe a family member just didn't come home one day? No, they weren't just running late, they literally disappeared! The fear, devastation, and overwhelming inability to understand how this could happen to you just consumes your every thought!

Face of the Earth shares the story of how Mitch comes face to face with the disappearance of his wife Jill.

For me, when I hear of a persons' disappearance, I just can't comprehend how a person could deal with that. I don't know what would be worse - wondering every single minute where they are & how  they are, or the never knowing if you will see their face again. Regardless, it would be pure agony!

Author Deborah Raney pens a wonderful story of love, loss & letting go. Letting go of our own will and letting God walk with us through difficult times is sometimes the most difficult journey but leads us in to HIS will and that is the BEST place to ever be!

Thank you Litfuse for allowing me this complimentary book I'm exchange for my honest opinion!

The Offering

One innocent mistake . . . a lifetime of consequences.
After growing up an only child, Amanda Lisandra wants a big family. But since she and her soldier husband can’t afford to have more children right away, Mandy decides to earn money as a gestational carrier for a childless couple. She loves being pregnant, and while carrying the child, she dreams of having her own son and maybe another daughter. . . .

Just when the nearly perfect pregnancy is about to conclude, unexpected tragedy enters Mandy’s world and leaves her reeling. Devastated by grief, she surrenders the child she was carrying and struggles to regain her emotional equilibrium.

Two years later she studies a photograph of the baby she bore and wonders if the unthinkable has happened—could she have inadvertently given away her own biological child? Over the next few months Mandy struggles to decide between the desires of her grief-stricken heart and what’s best for the little boy she has never known.

MY THOUGHTS:

WOW.... The Offering is one of those books that you think you know just how it will play out, but in this story and scenario, it leaves you thinking about it for a VERY long time! Surrogacy has sooo many layers to it on both sides and can open doors that you never even imagined were possible. I had an incredibly hard time with Amanda. Her pity party throughout the book made me want to just jump in there and straighten her out (haha)

This story, at times is heart wrenching and as I said, will leave you thinking... not just about the story, but about family and what a gift it truly is! Some of the subject matter may be controversial to some, but as in life, Gods knows the heart of each of us, and for that I am so thankful!

BEWARE...Read with Kleenex !

Thank you LitFuse for providing the Offering in exchange for my honest review!

Jennifer an O'Malley Love Story

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingJennifer: An O’Malley Love StoryBethany House Publishers (May 1, 2013)byDee Henderson



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O'MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. These days, most authors are out there energetically promoting their books in print and broadcast and via social media—wherever they can get attention. But Dee Henderson keeps a low profile. She avoids telephone interviews because of hearing problems, declined to provide a current photo, and will say only that she lives in Illinois.



 ABOUT THE BOOK

It's a summer of change for Jennifer O'Malley. The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, and meeting Tom Peterson, and falling in love, is adding a rich layer to her life. She's sorting out how to introduce him to her family--she's the youngest of seven--and thinking about marriage.




She's falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested in a way she didn't expect, and the results will soon transform her entire family.






If you would like to read the first chapter of Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story, go to HERE.





MY THOUGHTS:

LOVE THIS! I read the O'Malley series back in early 2000. I read every. single one. and then I shared and shared them with friends, family, and anyone who I thought would enjoy them. I still share them today with my kids friends and they love them just like I did all those years ago. Needless to say, when I saw Dee Henderson wrote a novella about Jennifer I was thrilled to say the least. Jennifer was in most if not all the books but she never had "her own" book. Guess she has been driving Dee crazy until she finally gave in... JK ;)

Just like every O'Malley book I've read I couldn't put it down and since this was a novella I finished it in an afternoon and loved it! Honestly, I haven't met anyone who doesn't love the O'Malley series so if you haven't read them, I would highly encourage you do! If you know any mid-high kids who love to read this is a GREAT series for them to read, and know, they are reading great clean books!!

Once Upon a Prince ~ Review

About the Book:

Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by best-selling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale. Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life. The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simons Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love. Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation. It's the ultimate choice: His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own? 'This is classic romance at its very best.' ---DEBBIE MACOMBER '[A] surprisingly believable royal-meets-commoner love story. With only a subtle nod to Cinderella, this modern and engaging tale follows the budding relationship of an American Southern girl and a pseudo-Brit prince . . . Hauck fans will find a gem of a tale.' ---Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW for Once Upon a Prince

My thoughts:

Once Upon a Prince is a sweet read and takes you on a fairytale ride, filled with all kinds of twists and turns! Susanna is in love and is sooo hoping for a proposal. Just when she thinks the proposal might happen, she is devastated to learn, after 12 years of friendship, a marriage proposal will NEVER happen. But, life does go on and slowly but surely, others are brought into our lives when we least expect it! This is where Susanna's fairytale begins...

This book made me think so much about "Unanswered Prayers" ... So many times, especially when we are young and in love, we pray the person we are "in LOVE" with, is, "The ONE!" More times than not, it doesn't work out that way, and hearts are broken. But, as time goes by and we begin our new normal, we might just meet that special person when we LEAST EXPECT IT! Now then, we may never meet a "TRUE" Prince like Susanna has, but, you just never know right :)

I LOVED the story of Nate & Susanna and if you want a quick and cute Summer Read, this is the book for you!! Thank you Litfuse for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!



Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.

One "royal" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!