Top Ten Tuesday
I love looking back at my year of books. While this was a slower reading year for me I discovered some wonderful new stories. Here they are in no particular order:
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Favorite Books I Read In 2019
Top Ten Tuesday
I love looking back at my year of books. While this was a slower reading year for me I discovered some wonderful new stories. Here they are in no particular order:
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Wings Like A Dove Celebrate Lit Tour
About the Book
Book: Wings Like A DoveAuthor: Camille Eide
Genre: Historical fiction/romance
Release Date: December 1, 2019
Can the invisible walls that separate people ever come down?
In 1933, Anna Leibowicz is convinced that the American dream that brought her Jewish family here from Poland is nothing but an illusion. Her father has vanished. Her dreams of college can’t make it past the sweat-shop door. And when she discovers to her shame and horror that she’s with child, her mother gives her little choice but to leave her family. Deciding her best course of action is to try to find her father, she strikes out…hoping against hope to somehow redeem them both.
When Anna stumbles upon a house full of orphan boys in rural Indiana who are in desperate need of a tutor, she agrees to postpone her journey. But she knows from the moment she meets their contemplative, deep-hearted caretaker, Thomas Chandler, that she doesn’t dare risk staying too long. She can’t afford to open her heart to them, to him. She can’t risk letting her secrets out.
All too soon, the townspeople realize she’s not like them and treat her with the same disdain they give the Sisters of Mercy—the nuns who help Thomas and the boys—and Samuel, the quiet colored boy Thomas has taken in. With the Klan presence in the town growing ever stronger and the danger to this family increasing the longer she stays, Anna is torn between fleeing to keep them safe…and staying to fight beside them.
Oh, that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest…
Click here to get your copy.
About the Author
Camille writes poignant, inspirational love stories some call “more than a romance.” She lives in Oregon with her husband and is a mom, grandma, office admin, lead foot, cinnamon roll baker, and a bass guitarist. She’s a fan of muscle cars, tender romance, and Peanut M&Ms.
More from Camille
If Only I Could Fly Away…“Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.” -Psalm 55:6-8
What do you think of when you read this passage from Psalms? Does the idea of escape tempt you? Have you ever cried out for relief from life’s storms?
In Wings Like a Dove, Anna faces growing difficulties in her life. Psalm 55:6 is brought to her attention and she ponders it more than once, especially as the difficulties in her life steadily increase.
As Polish Jews in the early 1900s, Anna’s family lived in constant upheaval, so fleeing danger is nothing new to her. The problem is that Anna craves connection and community. While she was often uprooted, at least Anna enjoyed the security of family—until now. As the story begins, she is turned out of her home and must journey across the country alone, a heartache that only intensifies the persecution she faces as a Jew, an immigrant, and an unwed woman with child.
But her journey is temporarily delayed out of necessity, and she quickly falls in love with those who have taken her in. The idea of leaving them is as painful a prospect as leaving her own family, but because of the troubles that follow her, it seems she has no choice.
Psalm 55:6 isn’t tempting Anna to leave her surroundings; it tempts her to escape the negativity that robs her joy.
For Anna, and for the rest of us, we can’t flee trouble any more than we can grow wings and fly. The desire for relief is understandable. But what if there is a purpose in the difficult situations we face? What if we are called to more than simply outlast life’s storms? What if our weakest moment is exactly what God wants to use to show his power, love, mercy, and grace?
What if God is waiting for us to stop fluttering our wings and find joy in knowing that we are in the very place we need to be, for a purpose, for such a time as this?
Quote from Anna:
“If these past months have taught me nothing else, they have taught me that though I am only a seed blowing in the wind, I must still be fruitful wherever I land. I have learned that wherever we find ourselves, we must have the courage to stretch out roots and produce something useful, even in times of difficulty. We must bloom boldly in whatever field our seed has fallen.”
May you find the sweet spot of joy and purpose in the midst of your storm!
-Camille
Blog Stops
KarenSueHadley, December 17My Devotional Thoughts, December 17
Reflections From My Bookshelves, December 18
Mia Reads, December 18
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 19
Genesis 5020, December 19
Emily Yager, December 20
mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 20
Betti Mace, December 21
To Everything A Season, December 21
Christian Bookaholic, December 22
April Hayman, Author, December 22
For the Love of Literature, December 23
For The Love of Books, December 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 24
Bloggin’ ’bout Books, December 24
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, December 25
For Him and My Family, December 25
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, December 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 26
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 27
Deanne’s Book Thoughts, December 27
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 28
janicesbookreviews, December 28
Pause for Tales, December 29
Texas Book-aholic, December 29
A Reader’s Brain, December 30
Inklings and notions, December 30
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Camille is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon card & a signed book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
GIVEAWAY
My Thoughts
What a great idea for a story! I appreciate the topics this book brings up because, while this is a historical novel, it is something that can be just as relevant today. Anna is a terrific character and the story line seems to flow nicely. I think the main takeaway from a novel like this is how it makes you think. That is the reason books like this are important, they make you stop and ponder. You think about the past and how things were historically and then you also consider how people are today. You consider how we think and act in our communities and out in the world. I appreciate a story that makes a person pause and consider. I am anxious to read more by Camille Eide.
“Thanks to the publisher for offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.”
Sunday, December 15, 2019
The Camera Never Lies Review with Celebrate Lit Tours
About the Book
Book: The Camera Never LiesAuthor: David Rawlings
Genre: General fiction/allegory/magical realism
Release Date: December 3, 2019
David Rawlings, author of The Baggage Handler, returns with another probing story: what would you do if your secrets were revealed to those around you?
Daniel Whiteley is a successful couples counselor who regularly puts families back together, helping them face up to the things in life they hide. But his own marriage is falling apart.
His wife, Kelly, knows Daniel is hiding something from her, but she doesn’t dare probe for fear her own secrets will be revealed.
When his grandfather dies, Daniel inherits an old SLR camera from a time when cameras pointed away from the person taking the photograph. On the camera is an inscription: “Use this camera wisely and remember, regardless of the picture you think you took, the camera never lies.”
When Daniel first uses his new camera he finds someone has already filled the roll of film. Annoyed, he processes the film and finds photos of a secret that he’s been hiding from his wife and daughter.
He has no idea who took them.
Now every time he uses the camera, the photographs reveal another secret about himself the he is desperate to keep-as well as those of his wife, which he is desperate to uncover.
Click here to get your copy.
About the Author
David Rawlings is an Australian author, and a sports-mad father of three who loves humor and a clever turn of phrase. Over a 25-year career he has put words on the page to put food on the table, developing from sports journalism and copywriting to corporate communication. Now in fiction, he entices readers to look deeper into life with stories that combine the everyday with a sense of the speculative, addressing the fundamental questions we all face.
Read an Excerpt
Read an excerpt of The Camera Never Lies here.Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 5
amandainpa, December 5
Older & Smarter?, December 6
Through the Fire Blogs, December 6
Blogging With Carol, December 6
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 7
For Him and My Family, December 7
Christian Bookaholic, December 8
Emily Yager, December 8
Splashes of Joy, December 8
As He Leads is Joy, December 9
Mamma Loves Books, December 9
Vicky Sluiter, December 10
mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 10
Robin’s Nest, December 10
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 11
Bigreadersite, December 11
Genesis 5020, December 12
Remembrancy, December 12
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 12
Pause for Tales, December 13
A Reader’s Brain, December 13
For the Love of Literature, December 14
Seasons of Opportunities, December 14
Inklings and notions, December 14
Artistic Nobody, December 15
To Everything There Is A Season, December 15
Texas Book-aholic, December 15
Just the Write Escape, December 16
janicesbookreviews, December 16
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 16
Hallie Reads, December 17
My Devotional Thoughts, December 17
Quiet Quilter, December 18
Literary Reflections Book Blog, December 18
Godly Book Reviews, December 18
My Thoughts
Having read the Baggage Handler earlier this year I was curious to read David's new novel. This really is not an easy read and deals with the uncomfortable truths that many people deal with daily. The main focus is on a family and a marriage. For the first part of the book I thought it was simply all about the marriage and I really didn't enjoy that part. But after you get past the first part you start to realize what the author is doing within the pages. I thought it was interesting how a camera was used to expose truth. I liked the overall idea of this story because I think it is one that we can easily put ourselves into and also think on well after the last page. If a camera could catch you in your least favorite moments. If it could take a snap shot of what is in your mind, you would probably view life completely differently.
I don't think this is a book I would read again but I liked that it made me think.
Four Stars.
"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."
Monday, December 2, 2019
November Days
I sit here on a very chilly day with the wind howling in anticipation of decorating for Christmas. I wait until after Thanksgiving to delve into the Christmas decor and traditions. This next month will fly by and I am hopeful I can enjoy the moments that make this month special.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I wish you a happy month of December!
