"The Prayer Box" by Lisa Wingate (Review & Giveaway)

ISBN:  978-1-4143-8688-1
Softcover $15.99

I'm a North Carolina girl. I grew up in the Coastal town of Wilmington and was well acquainted with the beach, the sand, the surf, the fresh breezes, the old homes, the new-comers, and unfortunately - the storms. The all-so-very-devastating storms that would toss boats from one side of the barrier island to the other or totally snatch them from their very existence. I remember a whole block of ocean front houses disappearing after one of those major storms.

So being somewhat acquainted with the coastal life, I really appreciated Lisa Wingate's story. She has brought the sand, surf, and storms to life and also the people that perpectually populate the coast.  But not only has she brought the North Carolina Outer Banks (farther north than my home area in southern tip of North Carolina) to life in spot-on descriptions, she has woven a story of lives troubled by the social mores of several generations, of dysfunctional families, and how the pain of the past can be faced, and how change is possible. It is the story of the care and bonding of folks who come together to mend storm-ravaged buildings and scared lives.

This is a story of prayer. Of letting God know your heart and then placing your burden in the hands of God and letting go of it.

It is a story worth the reading and worth the sharing with others. I'm passing my copy along to another reader whom I know will thoroughly enjoy it. I believe she in turn will pass it along to others. You see good things are to be shared. That, too, is part of the message in "The Prayer Box."

GIVEAWAY: The good folks at Tyndale want to bless one of Chat With Vera's readers with their very own copy of The Prayer Box. Use the Rafflecopter entry form below to put your bid in for a copy. Who knows? It just might be your day to have a little special blessing come your way. Begins September 1 & ENDS September 25 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to continental US addresses only.
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About the author:  Lisa Wingate is an award-winning journalist, magazine columnist, popular inspirational speaker and a national bestselling author of 16 books.  Her first mainstream novel, Tending Roses, is in its fifteenth printing from Penguin Putnam.  Tending Roses is a staple on the shelves of national bookstore chains as well as in many independent bookstores.

Recently, Lisa’s Blue Sky Hill Series, set in Dallas, received national attention with back-to-back nominations for American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award for A Month of Summer (2009) and The Summer Kitchen (2010). In 2011, Lisa's Novel, Never Say Never, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award.  Pithy, emotional, and inspirational, her stories bring to life characters so real that readers often write to ask what is happening to them after the book ends.

Lisa is one of a select group of authors to find success in both the Christian and mainstream markets, writing for both Bethany House, a Christian publisher, and NAL Penguin Putnam, in mainstream fiction.  Her bestselling books have become a hallmark of inspirational southern fiction. Her works have been featured by the National Reader's Club of America, AOL Book Picks, Doubleday Book Club, the Literary Guild, American Profiles and have been chosen for numerous awards.
DISCLOSURE: I was offered a complimentary Advance Reader Copy of "The Prayer Box"  with the request to read and share my thoughts on the book. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I received no compensation for this review. Published by Tyndale House Publishers Inc.
 

"The Icecutter's Daughter" by Tracie Peterson

In Tracie Peterson's Land of Shining Water series, the settlers of the Great Lake area which were primarily Scandinavian or Germanic folk have their stories told. In The Icecutter's Daughter you'll meet hard working Scandinavians who work Belgium horses and cut huge blocks of ice from the frozen lakes for shipping to parts of the United States.  This is a hard, rough life and takes both brain and brawn.  The Icecutter's Daughter is Merrill Krause who is the only female remaining in her hardworking icecutting family. She grew up without the influence of a mother and works right along with the men at the hard work. But she also does the cooking, sewing, and other household chores. She has not courted and no one is in sight for the role of husband.

Rurik Jorgenson decides he does not wish to marry the bride chosen by his now deceased father in an agreement with her father and he decides to leave his hometown and go to work for his uncle in the furniture making business rather than farm his father's land.  And this uncle lives in a town near where the family of Merrill Krause live. Inevitably the two cross paths and their lives begin to become intertwined.

But all is not well. The "jilted" bride of Rurik arrives on the scene and charges are made that challenge the virtue and integrity of Rurik.

I found the story interesting because I know very little of that portion of American history and very little of the way the Scandinavians who settled our Country thought and lived and how hard they worked. Learning from the research of an author such as Tracie Peterson is enjoyable and interesting.  The storyline itself is sweet and somewhat predictable. It was a relaxing and good read and is one I can recommend. You do see characters of strong faith and you see other characters who will lie and deceive just to get their way.

Now let's see a little real history of icecutting..... This is an interesting article.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of The Icecutter's Daughter from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"Shoah: Journey From the Ashes - A Personal Story of Triumph Over the Holocaust" by Canto Leo Fettman

My thoughts: This is a small book. Only 200 pages. It begins with a synoptic history of the persecution of the Jewish peoples from early times - in fact over 2,000 years. The continued persecution and disbursement of the Jewish peoples throughout history were fodder for the unsettled economic times of pre-World War II Germany and the rise of the Nazi party and its leader Adolph Hitler.

What happened prior to and during WWII shouldn't have happened. There were many red flags but folks simply looked out for themselves and turned away from the obvious.

Cantor Fettman recounts his and his family's personal story of that period of devastating history. He lost so many and so much. But he was not alone in his loss - there were 6 million Jewish souls lost to history. Also, there were 5 million others consumed by the flames of Nazi terror and hatred.

Cantor Fettman writes in Chapter 17, page 193.....

Am I a bitter old Jew? No. Old, perhaps, and hopefully wiser, but not bitter. Still, there are many ways in which the Holocaust affected, and continues to affect, my life. My war experiences left me damaged both emotionally and physically. I have frequent nightmares. Due to lingering feelings of insecurity, I keep all the shades drawn and avoid sitting on the aisle at the theater. I go to great lengths to avoid a sense of being unnecessarily exposed.

For religious reasons, my head is always covered with a yarmulke, yet I am never without a hat or a cap to cover the yarmulke when I am out in public. I still harbor the fear of anti-Semitism from my youth, more so because it is increasingly around us today.

There is the memory of gnawing hunger that returns still. Holocaust survivors often will take small bags of food when leaving home, even if just for a few hours. ..................

Not one week goes by that I do not dream that I am still in a concentration camp...............

Read the above out loud and slowly. Let it sink in. Let the horror of the events experienced by those who lived and died in the holocaust resonate in your being.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Shoah from Six Points Press to facilitate my honest review. No compensation was received for this review.

Crunchmaster Kids Crisps: Cheezy Crisps, Cinnamon & Sugar Grammy Crisps, & Multi-Grain Sea Salt Crisps (Review & Giveaway)

It's that time of year again. BACK-TO-SCHOOL. And that means BACK-TO-PACKING-LUNCHES for the Mommies in the crowd (oops! Let's not forget the Dad's that have lunch packing duties, too.) And for some of you lunch-packers there are big issues at stake. You have a kid that needs to eat a gluten free diet. Or you have a kid with peanut allergies. Or you specifically want to watch out for GMOs. Well, the good folks at CrunchMaster have you in mind. Not only for the grownups that need gluten free products, but the little ones, too.

So in their delicious line of gluten free crackers, the good folks at Crunchmaster have added Kids Crisps. These include "Cheezy Crisps" and "Cinnamon & Sugar Grammy Crisps." They are certified gluten free and baked in a peanut free facility.

On top of all that good news, they TASTE GOOD. Mom won't complain. Dad won't complain. And the kids won't complain (well, most won't anyway).

Crunchmaster sent me a small box of Cinnamon & Sugar Grammy Crisps, Cheezy Crisps, and Multi-Grain Crisps with Sea Salt.  And my hubby and I have thoroughly enjoyed this blessing. They are delicious, crisp, and a snack you can trust.

The Multi-Grain Crisps with Sea Salt (pictured here) are absolutely delicious - eaten alone or nibbled with a cup of tea.

Let's see what they are all about....

• Cinnamon & Sugar Grammy Crisps are the perfect mix of crunchy and sweet with just the right touch of cinnamon.
  
  100% Whole Grain
  Saturated Fat Free
  Cholesterol Free
  Certified Gluten Free
  Peanut Free
• There's nothing better than the savory taste of cheddar cheese and crispy Crunchmaster crackers.
  
  100% Whole Grain
  Saturated Fat Free
  Cholesterol Free
  Certified Gluten Free
  Peanut Free
  
  Crunchmaster cares so much about you and your family that they have some great resources to share with parents.  Just CLICK HERE to access some nifty recipes and facts.  Why they even have a $1 coupon for you and you can register for more information at: COUPON.
  

Read my earlier review of Crunchmaster multi-grain snack crackers. You'll see why I am happy for the kids to get some they can enjoy, too.

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GIVEAWAY:  One of Chat With Vera's readers will receive a 6-pack sampler of these crackers as a treat and blessing. You just have to follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below.  Begins August 30 & ENDS September 23 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to continental US only.

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DISCLOSURE:  CrunchMaster provided 3 sample boxes of crackers for me to review and render my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.  No compensation was given for this post.

"Unlimited" by Davis Bunn

ISBN-13: 9781433679407
Published by B & H Publishing
Softcover $14.99

About the book: Simon Orwell is trapped in a web of danger and deception. Responding to a call from his former professor who's developed an instrument that can create unlimited energy, he travels across the border--- and learns his mentor has been murdered! Can he discover the secrets to the world-changing device---and the identity of its creator's killers?

My thoughts:  I have read several of Davis Bunn's books and usually thoroughly enjoy them. "Unlimited"  took a bit for me to get into it and enjoy. It seemed that we had Simon Orwell, a somewhat dysfunctional individual wandering around in Mexico getting into one mess after another. Frankly, it is unsafe for him to be where he is and you get to wondering why he doesn't simply just pack it all up and go home.

And then the story begins to come together. You understand some of the characters a bit more. You begin to realize that there is a lot at stake. You also begin to see Simon as not just a sinful, dysfunctional individual, but as a brilliant scientist that also has a soul needing the unlimited forgiveness that God's grace provides.

The invention he and his former professor have worked on will provide unlimited power, but that is nothing to the unlimited grace that is offered by God.  This is a story of forgiveness as well as a struggle between lawless men and those who seek to live by the law.

GIVEAWAY:  One of Chat With Vera's readers will have the opportunity to receive a copy of Unlimited. Use the Rafflecopter entry form below.  Begins August 30 & ENDS September 18 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to US addresses only.
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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I received no compensation for this review.

"We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook" by Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph (Review & Giveaway)



ISBN 13: 9780310330837
Softcover $14.99

Now "Why?" I ask you would a lady-of-a-certain-age who has raised five children, married them off, and fed their offspring (13 of them) agree to review a COOKBOOK???? Do I NEED another cookbook? Am I REALLY interested in ANOTHER cookbook? Well, the answer to all of those is NO! But then there is the teaser.......

"A MOM and DAUGHTER DISH
ABOUT the FOOD that DELIGHTS THEM
and the LOVE that BINDS THEM."

That, folks, puts it in a different category altogether.  Authors Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph spill the beans (oops! that would be a kitchen mess, wouldn't it?) and share some heart (theirs, of course) as well as ways to cook some good old standbys and some new taste treats. Let's see.

First of all, these two ladies have a great sense of humor. As they tandem write the pages of this "cookbook," the situations they have found themselves in will tickle your funny bone and then tantalize your taste buds.

Becky and Rachel recount the wondrous event of daughter's first pregnancy.  All the ups and downs, the emotional rollercoaster, and then especially the occasion when Rachel goes to purchase nursing bras. Rachel began as a tiny little young lady and she, like many other ladies nearing the time of giving birth, grew to great proportions. Then at eight months the search for the new lingerie began. Oh what a tale that was. Having birthed five children of my own and having had three of my own daughters go through several pregnancies, this hit a homerun in the field of humor. 

Having a hankering to try one of the recipes these two ladies endorse, I decided to try the meat loaf. The basic meat loaf recipe was very similar to what I always prepare here in my home, the kicker was the topping sauce. I'd never heard of a sweet-tart-tomato sauce topping a meat loaf, so I took the challenge. Now their recipe calls for quality ground beef or bison. But since I have a son that hunts and keeps us all supplied generously with venison, I used that instead. It is "free-range" and hormone and antibiotic free which I feel is a great plus. Pictured is my attempt using their recipe and the picture only shows half of the meat loaf (but it is a large platter and the fork is a serving fork). The instructions are to bake it in a 9x13 pan and actually divide it into 4 sections (making 4 smaller loaves).

I was quite pleased with the flavor and texture of the meatloaf.  You blend the ingredients prior to mixing with the ground beef. The sweet and spicy sauce was very good and I enjoyed the way the salsa, ketchup, and sugar blended to tantalize my taste buds. 

What this book is really all about is the sharing of love between a mother and daughter. The joy they experience as they bounce ideas, hopes, dreams, recipes and what-all off each other. Being a mother of three daughters, I too know the joy of being there to love and support when the baby is born (or newborn), cooking for them when they are sick, encouraging them when they lose that lovely slim-me shape for the soon-to-be-a-mom shape. In other words, bonds of mother and daughter are precious and this book gives you a glimpse into the beauty of it.
 
After reading "We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook" it makes me want to have the opportunity to just run next door (well, if Becky and Rachel lived there) and sit down at their kitchen table with a cup of coffee and chat. I think you'll wish for the same thing once you read their delightful book.

GIVEAWAY:  One autographed copy of We Laugh, We Cry, We cook is being offered as a blessing to one of Chat With Vera's readers from the good folks at Zondervan. Use the Rafflcopter entry form below.  Begins September 1 & ENDS September 21 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to US addresses only
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Now just who are these two ladies?.....  

Becky Johnson is the author, co-author or collaborator of more than forty books ranging from family humor to brain science to inspiration and now, memoir. She’s a natural storyteller and spent many years entertaining and inspiring audiences of women. Today she loves getting creative in the kitchen and writes a humorous food blog with her daughter Rachel (www.welaughwecrywecook.com).

Rachel Randolph writes and speaks about young married life, parenting a toddler, and her and her husband’s unlikely journey to veganism with humor and honesty. She shares a food blog with her mom, Becky Johnson. In their “virtual kitchen” laughter and love are the key ingredients to every dish. Rachel is married to Jared, a high school football and baseball coach.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook  as one of Wendy's Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. An autographed giveaway copy valued at $14.99 is also being provided for one of Chat With Vera's winners compliments Zondervan and authors and will be shipped directly to the winner.  Only one winner per household, email address or home address. If you have won this book on another giveaway, you are ineligible to win another copy. I was under no obligation write a positive review. This disclosure is in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255 regarding the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

"An Ordinary Toad’s Extraordinary Night" by Joanne McGonagle & illustrated by Rachael Mahaffey - An introduction to the natural history of amphibians (Review & Giveaway)



ISBN: 978-0-9890088-0-8
Softcover: $17

About the book: An Ordinary Toad’s Extraordinary Night is the story of a young toad named Andrew, pondering whether his life would be more interesting had he been hatched a frog. Andrew embarks on his first solo hop to ask his grandpa some questions about what it means to be an amphibian. The story is blended with factual information that compares and contrasts the similarities and differences among toads and frogs. A young reader’s curiosity will be piqued as they consider the unique attributes of the individual creatures that make up a species, perhaps sparking the light of conservation in their hearts and minds.

My thoughts:  "An Ordinary Toad's Extraordinary Night" is an introduction to the natural history of amphibians - toads, frogs, bullfrogs, etc. 

Definition:  am·phib·i·an  amˈfibēən  Zoology  noun: amphibian; plural noun: amphibians  a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises the frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They are distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed (typically) by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.

Having been written by a zoologist holding a master's degree, the factual information in the book is appreciated. However, sensing that this book is written for younger elementary children, the wordiness, scientific explanations, descriptions, and names could potentially get lost in the reading. Just how much and how elaborate is right for the child to encounter and when or what age? Some children can take a lot of factual detail and for some a little goes a long way. Parental and educator guidance might been helpful as the book is read to or read by the elementary child. Now let's just see what this "toad" story is all about....

Andrew Toad is despairing over the fact that he is an ordinary toad and not a frog or bullfrog as he is being ridiculed by the other amphibians. Mother toad explains to him how he is a valuable individual as an ordinary toad and not to worry. But he prevails upon mother toad to let him visit grandfather toad who has lots of answers. Along the way other critters are met in the dark woods and his encounters are all learning experiences for the critters, toad, and our young readers.

Ultimately, Toad learns that being himself, just an ordinary toad, is important and good. That is a valuable lesson for the reader to take away from the story as well. Ordinary toads are important and each of us is important.

The illustrations are darkly colorful and portray the various critters so that children can enjoy and sense the "feelings."

I can recommend this book and see it can be used as a multi-tasking tool by the parent and educator.
GIVEAWAY: One copy of An Ordinary Toad's Extraordinary Night is being offered by the author to one of Chat With Vera's  readers. Use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Begins August  26  ENDS September 16 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open for US addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway About the author:  Joanne is the author of The Tiniest Tiger children’s book and the award-winning website The Tiniest Tiger’s Conservation Cub Club. Inspired by her cat Gracey, Joanne transitioned from a career in specialty food marketing to writing and studying all cats big and small. She has a Master of Zoology GFP from Miami University and an MBA from Ohio University. She recently spent time in Kenya and Namibia learning about lions and cheetahs.

About the illustrator:  Rachael Mahaffey is an award-winning freelance artist and illustrator located in the historic area of Charleston, South Carolina. She specializes in digital art media, but loves to experiment with new art techniques. Rachael has drawn since early childhood and turned her hobby into her career after graduating from the Art Institute in 2003. She loves to work with authors to make their imaginations come to life.

DISCLOSURE: I was given a complimentary copy by the author in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The giveaway copy is also provided by the author and will be mailed directly to the winner.