Mini Review and Blog Tour with Giveaway: Mornings With Jesus 2012

Mornings With Jesus 2012 by Multiple Authors

Release Date: October 1, 2011

Publisher: Guideposts

Genre: Devotional

Pages: 312

Format: Paperback

Buy It: Amazon

“Be still and know that I am God.” is one of the most beautiful verses from the Bible, but it’s not easy to practice in this busy world. Mornings with Jesus will help you do just that—“be still” in Jesus’ beautiful and powerful presence. For those who are seeking a deeper experience in their relationship with Christ, Mornings with Jesus offers a fresh perspective of who Jesus is (the Healer, the Son of God, the Comforter, the Good Shepherd) and what that means for day-to-day life. With a warm and friendly voice, 365 short devotional writings on the character and teachings of Jesus encourage readers to greet each day by drawing near to Him and inviting His presence into their day. Spend time with Jesus at the beginning of each day and experience His nearness and peace in a new way throughout the year. Each day’s selection includes: • a Bible verse • an entry based on Jesus: His words, miracles, and parables; His wisdom, compassion, and comfort; His mystery, power, divinity, and humanity • a “faith step” that will inspire and challenge readers to apply the day’s message to their lives •

This devotional has been so encouraging to me. I currently try and read three different devotionals, and will read two in the morning and one at night. Often in the mornings I'm rushed and don't want to read them. but this book made it so I was eager to read them each morning. Many of these messages applied to me, but the ones that have really meant something to me are the ones about God's love. I struggle a lot with realizing how much I mean to God, so having that reminder in the morning helps keep it in my mind throughout the day. This book is a great resource, and I was kindly given a second copy for one of you!

IMM: 2/19/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.

For Review:
Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith
You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth
Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble
The Beautiful Wife (plus Prayer Journal and Mentor's Guide) by Sandy Ralya

Bookmooch:
TTYL by Lauren Myracle
Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

Mini Review and Blog Tour: Beyond Molasses Creek

Beyond Molasses Creek by Nicole Seitz

Release Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Christian Fiction

Pages: 320 pages

Format: ARC

Buy It: Amazon

Three lives are bound by a single book . . . and the cleansing waters of Molasses Creek. 

Having traveled to the ends of the earth as a flight attendant, Ally Green has finally returned to the Lowcountry to bury her father as well as the past. But Vesey Washington is still living across the creek, and theirs is a complicated relationship-he was once her best friend . . . and also part of the reason she's stayed away so long. When Ally discovers a message her father left behind asking her to quit running, it seems her past isn't through with her yet.

As Ally's wandering spirit wrestles with a deep longing to flee again, a young woman on the other side of the world escapes her life of slavery in the rock quarries of Nepal. A mysterious sketchbook leads Sunila Kunari to believe there's more to her story than she's ever been told, and she's determined to follow the truth wherever it leads her.

A deep current intertwines the lives of these three souls, and a destiny of freedom, faith, and friendship awaits them all on the banks of Molasses Creek.

I LOVED this book. I wasn't so sure how I would feel about the multiple viewpoints, since that often confuses me. However, the chapters were all clearly labelled so there was no room for confusion. I loved getting to know each of the three main characters in their own ways, and how their stories intertwined with each other and Molasses Creek. This was a lovely read!

I received this book free for review from LitFuse Blog Tours. I was not required to post an positive review, simply an honest one.

IMM: 2/12/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.

For Review:
The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall
The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell

Won:
Sweet Reward by Christy Reece (Thanks Romance at Random!)

RAK:
Jabberwocky by Daniel Coleman (Thanks Catherine!)

IMM 2/5/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.

Sorry, no vlog this week! I was gone all day and now my hair is up in curlers and I don't want to show them off :P

For Review:

Embraced by God by Babbie Mason

Mini Review and Blog Tour: The Jerk Magnet

The Jerk Magnet by Melody Carlson

Release Date: January 1, 2012

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Christian Romance

Pages: 218 pages

Format: Paperback

Buy It: Amazon

What if beauty is more than just skin deep? 

When Chelsea Martin's future stepmother helps her transform from gawky and geeky into the hottest girl at her new school, Chelsea is pretty sure it's the best thing that ever happened to her. But her hot new look has a downside. She's attracting lots of guys who all have one thing in common: they're jerks. Oh, and stealing the attention of all the guys in school doesn't exactly make her BFF material for the girls.

Finally a great guy catches her eye. But he's the only one around who doesn't give her a second glance. Can Chelsea come up with a plan to get his attention? Or will her new image ruin everything?

I could relate to Chelsea so much at first! Being told her father was remarrying someone she barely knew is a huge deal. It's not easy. However, I felt she became superficial when she got her makeover. I know she wasn't thrilled about it at first, but she still went along with it and it changed who she was. Then when it didn't work to her advantage she didn't like it anymore. Sadly, many girls are this way now. However, I did enjoy the book and recommend it as a quick, light read.

I received this book free for review from the Revell Blog Tours program. I was not required to post a positive review, simply an honest one.

Mini Review and Blog Tour: Summer of Promise

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot

Release Date: January 1, 2012

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Christian Romance

Series: Westward Winds #1

Pages: 416 pages

Format: Paperback

Buy It: Amazon

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads west to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day. 

Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or will she find her heart's true home?

I enjoyed this book from the start! The action of the stagecoach being attacked drew me in quickly. I also loved the matchmaking in this story, mainly due to the fact that I love matchmaking myself. This a lovely and romantic read that I highly recommend!

I received this book free for review through the Revell Blog Tour program. I was not required to post a positive review, simply an honest one.