Sunday, May 30, 2021

My Thoughts On 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know

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About the Book

 Some of the greatest painters, musicians, architects, writers, filmmakers, and poets have taken their inspiration from their faith and impacted millions of people with their stunning creations. Now readers can discover the stories behind seventy-five of these masterpieces and the artists who created them. From the art of the Roman catacombs to Rembrandt to Makoto Fujimura; from Gregorian Chant to Bach to U2; from John Bunyan and John Donne to Flannery O'Connor and Frederick Buechner; this book unveils the rich and varied artistic heritage left by believers who were masters at their craft.

Author and historian Terry Glaspey shares the absorbing true stories behind these masterpieces and helps readers see the fascinating details they might have missed. By looking through the eyes of these creative artists, readers will gain deeper perspectives about the human condition, the Christian story, and their own spiritual lives. (Goodreads)



BUY HERE


My Thoughts

I was excited to read this book because I wanted to discover new things and also remember art, music, movies, etc that I already know about. This book is not an exhaustive list of any kind but it is a fun informative almost textbook like book. I think you could add this to a homeschool class easily. There are some great pictures and I liked reading the back story to different works of art or hymns. There were some things that surprised me that I wasn't expecting but that made it all the better. If you are looking for a unique book like this I do recommend it!

Five 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."




Friday, May 28, 2021

The Nature of A Lady

 

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 About the Book

 1906


Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn't favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage's former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished.

Oliver Tremayne--gentleman and clergyman--is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he's happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth's summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it's the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can't quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love. (Goodreads)

 

 BUY IT HERE

 

 My Thoughts

I really loved the idea of this story line. The mystery and the location had me totally invested for the first few chapters. By the middle of the book I was wondering where this book was going and I was struggling with the characters. The last part of the story things moved along a bit and made the book a worthwhile read. The ending turned out to be a bit different from what I expected but not in a bad way. This was still an enjoyable story and a nice escape to a new place. I like that the cover is unique and it certainly catches the eye.

I know many people have loved this book and Roseanna M. White fans will enjoy it!

 

Three Stars.

 

“I received this book from Bethany House for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.” 

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

One On One-Gary LeVox's Solo Debut and GIVEAWAY

 


 


 

Gary LeVox was the lead singer and co-founder of Rascal Flatts. 

 

 


 

This is his solo debut which also features MercyMe, Jonathan McReynolds, Brittany LeVox and BRELAND. 

When asked about the role God has played in his musical journey, LeVox said, “I feel like God
graced us with a platform where we can not only touch people’s lives through music, but by being men
of God offstage too,” explained LeVox. “At those times when we are with fans that are going through
something like cancer, it is so wonderful to not only sing for them but to hold their hand and pray with
them. I want them to know that they have a friend in me. I’m not just some guy on the stage. I feel like
Christ has put me in this position because He knew I could handle the obligation, which often means
taking the time to lift someone up in prayer."

 

FIND OUT MORE


 
This just released May 21st so go check it out and listen here.

 $1 of every purchase goes to fight human trafficking through the Tim Tebow Foundation

 

GIVEAWAY IS A SIGNED 8X10 POSTER!

 

ENTER HERE

 
This giveaway is limited to US winners ONLY.

 

 

My Thoughts

 

I really enjoy the songs "All I See" and "The Distance". They are all good but these are my favorites and it is nice to have some new Christian music to listen to. I have always enjoyed Rascal Flatts so it is fun to hear Gary signing these songs. It is fresh new music!

I recommend checking it out on your favorite platform and entering the giveaway for a signed poster!



 #GaryLeVoxMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Many thanks to Capitol Christian Music Group for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Paint and Nectar- New Fiction from Ashley Clark!

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 About the Book

 In 1929, a spark forms between talented watercolorist Eliza and William, a charming young man who has been hired to forge her popular paintings. Her aunt makes it clear Eliza should stay away from him because of a feud between their families over missing heirloom silver. But the source of the rivalry was long ago, and as the two get to know each other, they fall in love. William regrets the job that desperation led him to take and their families' ongoing bitterness, but setting things right comes at a cost.

In present-day Charleston, Lucy Legare has just inherited an old house from a mysterious benefactor, along with all the secrets it holds, including an old silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney is determined to buy the house for his family's development company. But as Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, garden, and silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own. Goodreads


BUY HERE


My Thoughts

 

Ashley Clark does an excellent job with writing dual time line stories. In this book she even took it a step further and included characters from her debut novel which was something unexpected. 

I really liked this book. The main characters are fun and unique and I think I enjoyed the present day story a little more simply because of Lucy. The setting of course is wonderful and was made even more unique by buried treasure and an old house. This isn't a fast paced book by any means but it has lingered with me even after finishing the last page. My favorite part of this story is the takeaway that history does not have to repeat itself and we are not tied to continuing hatred or traditions that our ancestors had. 

There is a twist at the end and a mystery that threads through the entire book. I loved the conclusion and I am eager to read the next book Ashley Clark writes! 

I highly recommend either of her books!

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. "





Thursday, May 6, 2021

Hope Between The Pages Review with Celebrate Lit



About the Boohik

Book:  Hope Between the Pages

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Historical

Release date: April, 2021

9781643528267













Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter


Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.


Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

PepperBasham

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

 

More from Pepper

Books are a uniquely portable magic – Stephen King

Appalachia is known for having a high illiteracy rate. A place of beautiful scenery and rugged landscapes, the people of the mountains developed stories through oral storytelling much more than “book learning”.  As a young girl growing up in this world, I loved hearing my granny share tales from up to five generations ago, filling in the narrative gaps between a birth date and a death date on a tombstone – giving flesh and breath to the stone-etched names.

It’s no surprise then, with a heart cultivated from rich oral stories, I fell in love with reading. Books became that “portable magic” that took me places my little Appalachian community couldn’t provide. I fell in love with the Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew. Wept through the end of Bridge to Terabithia and Old Yeller. Traveled to the plains with Sarah Plain and Tall and fell in love with horses with The Black Stallion. But when I was in seventh grade, I read my very first “British” novel, The Secret Garden. In that one introduction, my world expanded into mysterious English manor houses and British classics. Before long, I’d consumed Jane Eyre, Austen’s classics, some Dickens, Dracula, Frankenstein…and the list goes on! And then…I found Tolkien and Lewis – and the ‘real’ world swelled into OTHER worlds.

I’m grateful for true stories of book-loving pioneers traveling into the world of Appalachia to provide books and literacy training to “my people”, because I know some of those books made their way to my tiny elementary school library…and not only brought me the chance to discover stories, but to write them too!

Isn’t it amazing how books can do that?

In Hope Between the Pages, I wanted to bring the same awe and discovery I felt as a child (and continue to feel as an adult reader) to the story of two people whose words had seemed small. Stories stretched their worlds, but the stories also gave them wonderful imaginations and positive perspectives. It’s still amazing to me that ink-and-paper words can make such a lasting impact on hearts and minds. They can lead us to dream, teach us new things, encourage our hearts, help us to think outside the box, swell our imaginations, broaden our horizons, and encourage our hope.

Books are not a replacement for real adventures and relationships, but they certainly provide a beautiful “door” into other lives and worlds that we may never have a chance to experience in real life. Sadie, my historical heroine, and Clara, my contemporary heroine, both have kept close to home but traveled greatly through books…and BOTH are given the opportunity to reach beyond the bindings to discover real-life adventures. I’d like to think that their love for stories helped them have the courage to step away from the page and into their own tales even more prepared than they would have been without stories.

What are some of your favorite books you read as a child? Did any of them influence you to become a more avid reader?

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, April 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 24

Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 24

Worthy2Read, April 24

Texas Book-aholic, April 25

Reviewingbooksplusmore, April 25

Christian Bookaholic, April 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 25

She Lives To Read, April 26

Books and Everyday Life, April 26

For the Love of Literature, April 26

For Him and My Family, April 26

Wishful Endings, April 27

Bigreadersite, April 27

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 27

deb’s Book Review, April 27

Inklings and notions, April 28

Connect in Fiction, April 28

Writing from the Heart Land, April 28

Blogging With Carol, April 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 29

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 29

Life of Literature, April 29

Pick a good book, April 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 30

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 30

Betti Mace, April 30

Kathleen’s Blog, April 30

lakesidelivingsite, May 1

Connie’s History Classroom, May 1

Fiction Book Lover, May 1

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 1

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 2

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 2

Godly Book Reviews, May 2

Mary Hake, May 2

Older & Smarter?, May 3

Genesis 5020, May 3

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 4

Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads , May 4

Blossoms and Blessings, May 4

sodbusterLiving, May 4

Splashes of Joy, May 5

Where Faith and Books Meet , May 5

Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Through the Fire Blogs, May 5

Pause for Tales, May 6

To Everything There Is A Season, May 6

Remembrancy, May 6

Lights in a Dark World, May 6

Live.Love.Read., May 7

Karen Sue Hadley, May 7

Amanda Tero, blog, May 7

The Write Escape, May 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the 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

This is Pepper’s best writing thus far. I have always enjoyed her stories but this book was wonderful! I love dual time line novels and she did a great job with both time lines.

I love the setting of the Biltmore it is one of my favorite places. I have been lucky enough to visit the beautiful estate so it was really fun to visualize the history aspect of the story.

The present time story I didn’t love as much but it made the book complete. I also really appreciate that not all of the stories end as you might think. Basham made the characters and circumstances more realistic with the time period and history and I loved that.

This was a pretty fast read for me but very enjoyable. I am excited to read what Basham creates next!

 

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.”