Stretch Marks: Review

Stretch Marks

by Kimberly Stuart

Mia is a granola-eating, sensible shoe–wearing, carbon footprint–conscious twenty-something living in a multicultural neighborhood in Chicago. Her mother, Babs, is a stiletto-wearing Zsa Zsa Gabor type who works as an activities hostess on a Caribbean cruise line … and if you guessed there’s some tension there, you’d be right. Factor in an unexpected pregnancy and Mia’s idealistic boyfriend—Lars is such a visionary he doesn’t believe in the institution of marriage—and the mother-daughter relationship is, well, stretched very thin. As is Mia’s sanity when Babs shows up to … help.


Actually, Mia has a whole neighborhood of quirky characters who want to help, including her BFF Frankie, a magenta-haired librarian; Silas, the courtly gentleman of indeterminate age who lives downstairs; and Adam, proprietor of the corner grocery store where Mia shops. But it’s Adam—endearing, kind, possessed of a perfect smile and impeccable Persian manners—who ultimately charms Babs and rescues Mia from more than one mother-induced meltdown. Could it be that Mia and Babs might actually be able to get along?


With Kimberly Stuart’s trademark irreverent humor and a surprising and satisfying take on romance, Stretch Marks is an authentic but tender story about family, grace, and the importance of a good grocer.


Warning!! Do not pick this book up if you have anything that needs to be done, because you won't get to those things. Why? Because you will be unable to put the book down... no joke! This book flows so easy that before you know it you are half way through it, and in another blink of an eye you are done.

This book was wonderful, filled with friendship, love and family!

Stretch Marks is a quick and witty read, perfect for an escape!

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

In the Arms of Immortals: Review

In the Arms of Immortals :

A Novel of Darkness and Light

by Ginger Garrett

The Black Death sweeps through a medieval Sicilian village…revealing old secrets, true character, and stunning spiritual realities.


When the Black Death and sweeps through a medieval Sicilian village, three women must face their true selves…and their eternal destinies.


In the time of the Black Death, when the faithful had no answers and the faithless had no hope…only the bravest dared cling to a silent God.

From the Back Cover

“The time of the angels is over.

“Never again will men believe in unseen goodness.

“The age of fear has begun.”

Sicily, 1347. It starts with a strange ship in the village harbor. That night an old man falls ill…then the baker’s wife…then a street urchin. By morning half the townspeople are dead and more are dying—horribly. Civic order breaks down. Wolves are moving in from the countryside. And no one has a clue what is happening or how to stop it. Not the local priest. Not the rich baron. Not the baron’s proud daughter, nor the powerful knight who loves her. Certainly not the outcast healer whom many call a witch.

Only the Destroyer and the unseen Watchers know the real story…along with an unwilling visitor from another time. Mariskka recognizes the Black Death that soon will decimate Europe. But she has no voice to speak, no way to help…until she dares open her pain-hardened heart to unfathomable truth.

Richly imagined, tautly suspenseful, and deeply moving…another heart-stopping historical thriller from the author of In the Shadow of Lions.

This was a very entertaining book, and I must say it was nothing like I thought it would be. This is my first book I have ever read by Ginger Garrett. I don't think I have ever read a book that is even close to the nature of this one. It was complelling. I will forsure be looking into more of Ginger Garrett's books.

I am giving In the Arms of Immortals 4 stars!

Thank you to B&B Media group for a copy of this book. I was given the book for an honest review.

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

The Transformation: Review

The Transformation :

A Project Restoration Novel

by Terri Kraus

Can a good, hard-working Christian man disregard his cultural and religious admonitions—as well as his mother’s plans for his life—for the love of a woman and an historic church building?

Oliver Barnett is a good contractor, a good Christian, and an obedient son, never in trouble, never one to rock the boat … until real estate developer Samantha Cohen enters his life. Samantha, full of life, vitality, and wit, is unlike any woman he has ever known—in more ways than one. Not only is she planning to transform an historic church near downtown Pittsburgh into a restaurant/nightclub, but she is Jewish and has a less-than-innocent past. Oliver finds himself in a most unsettling dilemma. Does he do what’s right by the nice girl his mother has chosen for him, or does he do what his heart is telling him to do?


From the Back Cover


Oliver Barnett is a good contractor, a good Christian, and an obedient son, never in trouble, never one to rock the boat … until real estate developer Samantha Cohen enters his life. Samantha, full of life, vitality, and wit, is unlike any woman he has ever known—in more ways than one. Not only is she planning to transform an historic church near downtown Pittsburgh into a restaurant/nightclub, she is Jewish and she has a less-than-innocent past. Oliver finds himself in a most unsettling dilemma. Does he do what’s right by the nice girl his mother has chosen for him, or does he do what his heart is telling him to do?


This book is filled with real life people, in fact when reading this I bet you can relate to each character with someone in your real life. Reading this book you have to believe in redemption and hope. This was a great book, and it has made me what to go back and read the books that came before it in a series. I normally try not read books out of order if they are in a series, but this book had no problem standing alone!

5 stars!

Special thanks to B&B Media Group Inc for sending me a copy of this book to review. These opinions are my own, all I recieved for this review was a copy of the book to read.

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

Jesus...No Greater Love

www.NewJesusMovie.com

Guest post by Bruce Marchiano, producer of Jesus...No Greater Love

The truth of the gospel never changes. But Christianity has many faces. They reflect the customs and cultures and the beautiful diversity of the global church. They are lined with the wisdom of age and vibrant with the passion of youth. One gospel for all the world…but how will we deliver it in a way that reaches the whole world? How will we reach the next generation?



Young Christians today are more like St. Francis of Assisi than a circuit riding preacher. “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.” This is a generation focused on being the hands and feet of Christ and meeting the physical needs of those in both the local and global community. They are building houses, planting gardens, taking food and clothes to the poor and helping the widows and orphans… and then they are sharing the gospel. And they are using technology like never before. They communicate the message through audio, film, video and the internet, and they strive for excellence within those mediums. They must. This is how they will reach their generation for Christ.



I share their passion. In the film, The Gospel According to Matthew, we were able to capture the heart of Christ that is so often missing in Christian films, but the quality of the film making was constrained by an $800,000 budget. Now we are inspiring a movement that will bring Jesus to film in a version that literally leaps off the screen and into the hearts of viewers.

Jesus…No Greater Love, the new Jesus movie, (http://www.newjesusmovie.com/) will be a word for word, verse by verse film adaption of the Gospel according to John. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. That’s really our concept, that the gospel would go out in the power of the film medium, unaltered by any human script writer.



The budget for a typical Hollywood production is $100-110 million. Actors’ salaries account for much of that cost. Because the new Jesus movie will be not be paying big name actors, our team believes we can produce a world class, state-of-the-art film incorporating the latest cutting-edge technology for just $45 million. The production will be shot on location in Jerusalem and shot digitally using CGI backgrounds and a green screen stage, providing unlimited potential for sharing the gospel for generations to come.



We are inviting people from all nations and all generations to join this movement to bring the gospel to all people. A movement made of 4.5 million people contributing a tax deductible donation of $10 each would fund the cost of the film. The Gospel belongs to everyone, and the new Jesus movie will be produced expressly so it can be accessed by everyone, no matter their financial situation. Our team's vision is to see the film translated into as many languages as possible and supplied to mission organizations and churches all over the world.



You can become a part of the movement to reach the next generation. Please help us spread the word to your friends and family. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at http://www.newjesusmovie.com./

Also, you can keep up with our progress by visiting any of these links:

www.facebook.com/newjesusmovie

www.twitter.com/brucejesusmovie

www.youtube.com/newjesusmovie

www.tangle.com/newjesusmovie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce Marchiano is an actor, author, international speaker, and the founder of Marchiano Ministries, a non-profit organization reaching out to people both spiritually and practically in the USA and across the world. He is best known for his joyful, passionate portrayal of Jesus in the film, The Gospel According to Matthew.

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

Live Deeply & Live Relationally: Review

Live Deeply

by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose

In Live Deeply, women will dig deeper into the meaning of Jesus' parables to uncover their important meaning for their walk with Christ. Based on the inductive Bible study method, each lesson conjures vivid imagery of the sights and sounds of Ancient Israel alongside poignant application questions for today. There's something here for Christians of all shapes and sizes everyone will leave with a more profound understanding of Christ's amazing parables.

Live Relationally by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose

The Fresh Life series was created by women, for women who crave a profound experience of God's Word. Perfect for every age, appropriate for groups or individual study, and intended for today's on-the-go woman, these Bible studies require just 20 minutes a day for a meaningful contemplation of God's Word. With probing questions, insightful sidebars, and meaningful life application exercises, Live Relationally offers the vivid lessons and rich wisdom of Israel's founding mothers. From the complicated Tamar to the often oversimplified Eve, they are wives and mothers, slaves and owners, sinners and saints . . . and each woman's story will touch hearts for God.

Each lesson is structured as follows:
Lift up (prayer)
Look at (God's Word)
Learn about (new insights)
Live out (application)
Listen to (quotes from other believers)

I am always looking for new Bible studies. I find Bible studies fine tool what you already know about the Bible, while helping you figure life lessons out. These two books did just that. When finishing these lesson plans I felt a since of peace and accomplishment! If you are looking for a great bible study book(s), look no farther!

Thanks to Audra Jennings at The B&B Media Group for the opportunity to tour this book. I received a copy of each book for my honest review

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

The Last Word: Review

The Last Word:

(Sophie Trace Trilogy)

by Kathy Herman

When Vanessa Jessup returns home from her sophomore year of college, her mother, Sophie Trace Police Chief Brill Jessup, is stunned to see that she's pregnant-by one of her professors. While Brill is glad her middle daughter rejected the father's abortion ultimatum, she's also hurt that Vanessa ignored her upbringing and angry that the professor has disappeared without so much as a nickel of child support.


But that's not all Brill's got on her plate. One of her detectives has been killed, and the attacker has threatened to come for her next. When a second cop is wounded, public criticism mounts as Brill attempts to stay alive long enough to catch the perp. And she's trying to find that deadbeat dad, while Vanessa struggles to make decisions about her future.


The killer seems to be everywhere and nowhere. How can a police chief—and a mother—do her job with her life on the line? In a show of grace under pressure, Brill will manage to have the last word, even if it kills her.

I wish I would have read the first book in this series. It might have helped me relate to the characters a tad bit more. Making a mental note to pick the first book in the series up at the library. With that said this was a well written Christian book. The story had suspense, the characters made you feel for them and the situations they found themselves in. I think had I read the first book in the series before this, I would have enjoyed this book so much more. It was able to stand alone just fine, but if you read them in order I am certain it would add so much more to your reading experience.

I am giving The Last Word

** I would like to thank Audra Jennings of B&B Media for the chance to review this book. I received a free copy in exchange for a honest review.

Until next time...
Happy Reading!