Seasons of Opportunities

  As I mentioned in my previous post , I am reading some books about how to make my home a place of beauty. One of those books is A Home Made Lovely by Shannon Acheson published by Bethany House. This book caught my eye when it became available for review as I am have been looking for ways to improve my home and create a more lovely space to live in.  Our home is not large or fancy as some, but I can't complain as it serves its purpose. Of course, there are times I wish for more space here, or something different there, and I can get discouraged or discontent with what God has given me. However, once I get my perspective back in place - that is - I recall, that God has provided a roof over my head, and a place to live that some would give anything for, I must Give Thanks! In-spite of the condition of my home, I am sure I can create a lovely space, because most of the beauty of a home is in the atmosphere not simply in the style or decor.  Back to the book.... This book i...

  Excite your children's imagination and ignite their desire to learn! Help them build a firm foundation for interacting with the world and recognizing the presence of the Creator. Clarkson shares the principles she used to successfully raise four creative, faith-filled kids. She'll help you gain confidence in your parental role as you watch your youngsters blossom. 224 pages, hardcover from Bethany. Meet Sally Clarkson  - the beloved author of multiple bestselling books, including  Own Your Life ,  The Lifegiving Home  with her daughter Sarah,  Desperate  with Sarah Mae, and  Different  with her son Nathan. As a mother of four, she has inspired thousands of women through Whole Heart Ministries and Mom Heart conferences. Sally also encourages many through her website, www.sallyclarkson.com, and on her popular podcast,  At Home With Sally . Get your Copy HERE

  Jesus knew the power of stories to touch people's hearts, so he used parables to teach his followers about the kingdom of God. If you want to know God better, the keys are in the parables. This book provides short studies on every parable in the Bible. You'll learn what God wants us to know from the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the lost sheep, the talents, the sower, and many more. Each study includes a summary of the parable, the Scripture reference where it can be found, information on the historical and cultural setting, and key points. At the end of each study are questions that open the door to discussion, reflection, or further investigation and help you get to the heart of the parable. A wonderful tool for small groups or to add variety to your personal devotions. Let these studies draw you nearer to God as they enhance your understanding of his Word.

A Corpse That Only Leads to Secrets. An Old Flame with Danger Written all over Her. Things Are about to Get Very Complicated. When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer's boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits. The already volatile situation is complicated even further by the arrival of Gabby Rowley--Finn's boss's sister and an

If we're honest with ourselves, almost every mom knows she can go from being kind to cranky in no time flat. When we're tired, busy, anxious, preoccupied--okay, so anytime, really--we tend to default to snapping and barking at the people we love best. But life doesn't have to be this way. Through coaching other moms who share a desire to be a kinder, gentler parent, Becky Kopitzke has learned the keys to taming the "momster" in all of us. And in this grace-filled book, she will help you - assess the triggers that spark your angry responses - understand your children better so you can minimize frustrations - learn gentle, effective responses to trying situations - and much more Consider  The Cranky Mom Fix  your personal battle plan to focus on who you are and how to wield God's wisdom and strength in your family. With an extensive resource section of practical activities, tips, and self-assessment tools, this book will help you reclaim true peace for your soul...

  Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours ! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author's previous book from another series, A Song Unheard . ABOUT THE BOOK Title: The Number of Love   Series: Codebreakers #1   Author: Roseanna M. White   Publisher: Bethany House   Release Date: June 4, 2019   Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough. Drake Elton returns wounde...

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.  A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother—who is battling dementia—compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns—and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers.  Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means...

For over a century, the town of Gossamer Grove has thrived on its charm and midwestern values, but Annalise Forsythe knows painful secrets, including her own, hover just beneath the pleasant faade. When a man is found dead in his run-down trailer home, Annalise inherits the trailer, along with the pictures, vintage obituaries, and old revival posters covering its walls. As she sorts through the collection, she's wholly unprepared for the ramifications of the dark and deadly secrets she'll uncover. A century earlier, Gossamer Grove has been stirred into chaos by the arrival of controversial and charismatic twin revivalists. The chaos takes a murderous turn when Libby Sheffield,

Four Historical Romance Novellas of Love (With a Twist of Humor) The ways of love can be complex. Sometimes a relationship full of unexpected twists and unlikely turns leads to a bond that's strong and secure. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that follow the winding path of romance in stories that celebrate a love that lasts forever. The Love Knot When Claire Nevin's troubled younger sibling sends her an unexpected package by rail, the gift and the man who delivers it--an unexpected face from the past--threaten to upend Claire's life forever. Fighting to hold on to all she has built, will she lose what matters most?

With Miss Bell as the Teacher, Everyone's Bound to Learn an Interesting Lesson Dance hall singer Louisa Bell has always lived one step from destitution. When she loses her job at the Cat-Eye Saloon, she has nowhere else to go but to her brother, a cavalry soldier stationed in Indian Territory. But he's run afoul of his commanding officer. Unsure what she can do to help him and desperate for a job, she doesn't protest when she's mistaken for a governess at the fort. How hard can teaching really be? Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno, especially raising two adolescent daughters alone. If this new governess doesn't work out, his mother-in-law insists she'll raise the girls herself--far away from the fort. Miss Bell bears little resemblance to Daniel's notion of a governess--they're not supposed to be so blamed pretty--but he finds himself turning

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales. Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he’s won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father’s work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.  A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--including her own--are lost?

Telegraph operator Lucy Drake is a master of Morse code and has made herself a valuable asset to the Associated Press news agency. But the sudden arrival of Sir Colin Beckwith at rival British news agency Reuters puts her hard-earned livelihood at risk. Colin is talented, handsome, insufferably charming--and keeping a secret that jeopardizes his reputation. Despite their rivalry, Lucy can't deny that Colin has the connections she needs to give her family an edge in the long legal battle they've been waging over their rightful inheritance. But when she negotiates an unlikely alliance with him, the web of treachery they dive into proves to be far more dangerous than they ever could have known.

After a sheltered life in Pittsburgh, Hope Irvine is ready for a new adventure. When her father takes a position as a preacher in a railroad car converted into a traveling church, she's thrilled at the chance to accompany him. While accommodations in their new chapel car home are tight, Hope couldn't be happier putting her musical skills to good use and ministering to the people of West Virginia alongside her father. But when their chapel car arrives in Finch, West Virginia, they find a coal mining community that has hit hard times and is suspicious of outsiders.  Luke Hughes works for the coal mine when he can, but the struggling company doesn't always offer steady work. When Reverend Irvine and Hope arrive in town, Luke is intrigued by what the reverend can teach him--and by the lovely and kind Hope.

Amid the Unforgettable Cotswolds, the Final Grasp for the Fire Eyes Diamonds Could Threaten Them All Last book in the series... Sigh...  I really loved this series and am sad to see it end, but on the up side, this book was an incredible ending! Roseanna remains one of my favorite authors.  If you haven't read this series, my recommendation would be start with book one and read them all the way through. But each book can be - in and of itself - a stand alone. The whole series revolves around the red diamonds called the "Fire Eyes" and the curse they seem to carry with them. It begins with Brook who, unknown to her, actually owns them. The mystery escalates in each book as those seeking the diamonds get more desperate, daring and dangerous with the passing of time. As the diamonds exchange hands so does the curse that follows them and the tragic impact on those who hold them. I enjoyed this book from page one to the very last. It kept me captivated and eager to keep...

She Trusts Him for the Job,  But Can She Trust Him With Her Heart? Loved this book!! Karen Witemeyer remains one of my favorite authors to read. The sense of humor incorporated in her books along with the spiritual just makes the book so worth the read.  Emma is the leader of a women's colony and very well respected. The women who live there have been abused, and used up by men and are ready to show the world they have stamina and can survive on their own! But a threat develops, and now the women are in danger. Emma feels a deep sense of responsibility as she tries to figure out what to do. In the end, she decides only One man will do. One she knows she can trust!

Secrets and Lies. Danger That Will Never Go Away.  Join Three Beloved Masters of Romantic Suspense for Novellas Where the Past Will Not Stay Buried. The three ladies that wrote this book are some of my favorite suspense authors, so I had to jump at the chance to read this novella. I was not disappointed!  All the stories were fantastic and held my attention. I was so excited to read a bit about the McKenna family history in Dani Pettrey's novella. What a fun opportunity to see into their past and how the adventurous qualities of the parents were passed down to the children. This was probably one of my favorite of the three. I also enjoyed Blackout by Lynette Eason in which Macey is slowly remembering an accident and the surrounding events of that night. But someone is not wanting her to remember, and someone is. She is facing danger from an unknown source and the suspense grows as her memories return.

Will Fleeing the Scottish Highlands Only Leave Her in More Danger? Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she’s never felt good enough–not for her father, not for the man she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping those threatening her life. Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, yet the last thing he needs is the distraction of the newly introduced Lady Rowena. He has enough on his plate

WINNER chosen by random.org is comment #4 Charis Z. Four Best Friends.  And Then One Went Missing . . .  In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore Police Department, Declan Grey would head to the FBI, and Parker Mitchell would study to become a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world--and friendships--crumbled.  Now years later, Griffin has left the police and his friendships behind. Still trying to forget a case that went bad when he was a SWAT team sniper, he's living a quiet life as a park ranger at Gettysburg. Quiet until skeletal